where are we going

Retirement planning/camper decor...

Pulled this map/sticker out of the closet, it is perfect for our next chapter. Where have we been and where are we going? 

We have been to more states than these marked, but we decided to just put the states where we have actually camped. 

So now our future is mapped out, literally. The Pacific Northwest and the Atlantic Northeast are definitely on the list, and we want to revisit some of our favorite places also. 

The countdown is on, 12/31/2019!!!

water water everywhere

Water, water everywhere at our getaway to Enota Mountain Retreat near Hiawassee, Georgia last weekend. In addition to the deluge of rain falling, the 5 mountain streams and several waterfalls made for wet weekend activities - listening to the rain on the roof, watching it rain, hiking in the rain, watching the streams rush by.

first impression ... are we gonna get stuck?

check in at the lodge built by CCC in 1930s

perk of wintertime camping, the whole place to ourselves

exploring - one of the many waterfalls

pond with dam built by CCC

bridge? on trail to big waterfall...

second waterfall

third waterfall

great creekside tent campsites

five mountain streams, water everywhere!

a first - umbrella hiking, works pretty good!

Like most land here in the north Georgia mountains, this land was originally occupied by the Cherokee. Over the years it was a farm and mill site.

In the 1930s the CCC set up camp here while building the lookout tower on nearby Brasstown Bald. Some of their handiwork is still here, the lodge and big stone fireplace, the stone dam at the pond.

The YMCA used the property for nearly 50 years as a camp, and the present owners have been here since 1998.

Enota Mountain Retreat located on highway 180 between Brasstown Bald and Hiawassee.

Five mountain streams tumble down from the surrounding mountains into the valley of the campground, making almost every campsite a stream site. Two large waterfalls are within a short walking distance. The sound of water is everywhere.

The setting is beautiful, lots of water and trails, rhodendron, hemlocks. We enjoyed the peace and quiet and of course the sound of the water.

It rained the whole time we were there, but what's a little more water? A nice little get away not far from home.

Enota website and article.

the blue lagoon

Found in a state park in inland Florida, land of caves and sink holes, swamps and gators… the Blue Hole swimming area stands out with it's jewel colored water.

No one was swimming there, maybe it was a school day, maybe the weather, but it could have possibly been the snapping turtles swimming or the gator sunning on the edge of the water (didn't have my camera that time, duh).

Florida Caverns State Park near Marianna is one of 8 parks in the state built by the CCC back in the 30s. The stone visitor center is a testament to their hard work and craftsmanship.

A nice park to see, camp, hike, take a cave tour, or swim in the blue lagoon...


more pics here

point of view

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Florida

Going on vacation changes your point of view, puts things into perspective, things like - work isn't life... and you can actually function without cell phone and internet, who knew?


whether you are in search of the perfect seashell... or dinner,

taking time to read a book with your feet in the sand,

riding a bicycle, the wind in your hair, only stopping for the occasional deer,

or just sitting and staring out at the vastness of the ocean...

Camping out at the beach is awesome, from the picnic table covered with collected shells to the sandspurs in your flipflops, it was a great week off... do I really have to go back to work?

holiday camping

Not since the traffic jam at Panama City Beach many years ago have we ventured out on a holiday weekend. But that changed this past weekend when we decided to go camping at Unicoi State Park.

The route between home and there is mostly back roads, so we avoided most of the traffic, other than making the mistake of going through (tourist trap) Helen, Georgia.



The over 1000 acre park is beautiful, with the lake being the central focal point. On our hike around the lake we saw the people enjoying the beach, fishing, on the water in canoes and pedal boats. The trail passes by the unusual barrel cottages, the amphitheater with live music, the trading post, and crosses the dam.



Unicoi State Park is adjacent to Anna Ruby Falls which is on national forest land. A mere 5 mile hike from the campground (which we have done before) or a half mile hike from the forest service parking lot (which we did this time) brings you to the beautiful falls at the intersection of 2 mountain streams.



We enjoyed the wildflowers along the trails, feeding the fish in the lake, and watching the squirrels play in the woods, but spent most of our time sitting 'round the campfire and enjoying the time off.

more pics here and here

take a hike

A beautiful weekend for camping and hiking. The sky was clear, the air was crisp and cool, the trees were putting on a show of fall colors.

We hiked 5 miles roundtrip from the campground up to near the top of the mountain on the Gahuti trail (Cherokee for Mother Mountain).

Then we climbed up the steps built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s to the top of the mountain, to the stone fire tower also built by the CCC.



Along the way we passed by the mysterious wall of rocks which give the mountain its name. The wall is 855 feet long, two to six feet high, made of non-native rock. Experts date it to around 500 AD, and attribute it to either native Americans or Welsh travelers.

Fort Mountain State Park, Georgia: 3,712 acres, 14 miles of hiking trails, 27 miles of mountain biking trails, 25 miles of horse trails. Camping and picnicking year-round, and summertime activities include rentals of fishing boats, canoes, and pedal boats, a sandy beach for swimming, and miniature Golf.



more pictures here

more about the park here

more about the mysterious wall here

back to nature

There are some places that you go and say, "been there, done that, mark that off the list" (like last year's trek up Mount LeConte). And then there are other places that you keep going back to, places you cannot get enough of, places that are comfortable and peaceful, a place to get away from it all...

The Elkmont area of the Smokies is like that for us. We have been going there for at least 20 years to camp, picnic, hike. It is a beautiful place to be, with the Little River flowing by over big round rocks, campsites scattered along its banks.

The area is rich in history, and every time we go, we find something new to explore, old homeplaces, cemeteries, roads, trails.



These steps lead up to the old Wonderland Hotel, a remnant of an earlier time when this was a resort area, back before there was a Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The building was on a hill looking down on the Little River, with a view of the Smokies in the distance from the rockers on the big front porch.

picture from Wikipedia

The Wonderland has been in bad disrepair for a long time, its ultimate fate being decided by lawyers and the government. The decision was finally made to remove what was left of the old wood frame building, after fire and time had made it beyond repair.



This is all that remains of the old hotel, in operation from 1912 - 1992, demolished 2006. The area will go back to nature, but the fireplace and steps will remain for a long time, for future generations to discover and learn about.

weekend senses

weekend in the smokies - too soon over - more pictures here

you fill up my senses
like a night in a forest
~john denver

Cloudland Canyon

Weekend at Cloudland Canyon State Park in the Northwest corner of Georgia. We hiked the 4.8 mile west rim trail loop plus down into the canyon to see the two waterfalls, then up the other side to the east rim.

Perfect weather for camping and hiking - cool and clear - with an extra bonus of beautiful fall leaves.

Cloudland Canyon State Park website here.

More pictures at webshots (click the picture)

outside the box

It was just a short get-away from home and work,
a nearby lake campground,
but turned into discovery of a great place to come back to.

~Bald Ridge Campground at Lake Lanier 7 October 2006

the real Florida

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

… the real Florida

A sweeping landscape of towering dunes and untamed wilderness encompassing 2516 acres.

On the gulf of Mexico, 9.5 miles of snow-white sand beaches lapped by clear, aqua-blue waters.

According to the brochure quoted above, the destination of the real Florida sounded very refreshing, especially after our last two Florida vacations in the un-real Orlando area (theme parks, etc.).

Our campsite was facing the sand dunes, and just over the dunes was the ocean. A short walk brought us to the spectacular beach.

The ultimate goal of sand between the toes was met, the beach chairs facing the ocean were comfy, the sunscreen worked well, the weather cooperated, total relaxation was achieved.