F.D. Roosevelt State Park 11-21 to 11-25-14

Oh boy, getting here was a challenge!  My bus broke down late in the day so I got off work late then had to go home to finish up packing & got on the road later than expected and of course we sat in traffic through Atlanta.  FINALLY arrived about 10ish.  We were on site 313, which was pretty good, near the bathhouse, had some woods for the kids to play in and there is a small playground nearby.  There are very few RV sites on the lake, most are for tents.  The temps were great and the fall colors were so beautiful!  We have camped here before, years ago and it's a beautiful park.  We've also camped at the Pine Mountain RV Park in town but it's not very woodsy & we prefer it here.

This amazing stone building is the check-in office.  It is breathtaking! 

This is my big brother, Sandy & his son, Tristan.  They met us from Florida for the weekend.  This is behind the office, the overlook, which as you can see is amazing.  It was a gorgeous morning.

We stared hiking the Delano Trail but ended up on a longer one apparently.  Figured out it was a 4+ mile hike, which was great, just not what we set out to do! 

You would have to have (2+) kids to see the significance in this photo....She went down this ravine, because if there is water, she HAS to go!  Then what happens but of course she is stuck.  D offered to help her up!  I know.....more likely he'd leave here there....now you get it?  HAD.TO.TAKE.PHOTO.

Another camping photo with significance....
The boys see this creek & start talking about the 'sediment' on the side.  They were there studying it until we called them.  I know their science teachers would be so happy :)

Pretty big for a pine!  They were touching with fingertips.

AHHH....and then dinner got to cooking......

Another great job by Wes on the Low Country Boil.  I did take more photos but everyone has a full mouth so I won't post them (you're welcome!)  We tried crab claws this time but no one really loved them so we'll stick to Snow Crab Legs next time.

On the trolly ready for the Callaway Gardens Nights of Lights show.  If you get to go, ride the trolly!  You get a few facts about the show and to sing carols and it's just more fun!

This photo really doesn't do justice to the double lighted trees but they are amazing.  When you approach them, it looks like one tree because they are close together & they are beautiful as you keep going too because you start to see them from the side of the lake with the reflection.  I couldn't get a photo of that.

Don't you just have to put your kids (or someone else's kid) in the giant chair?  LOL  Saw this and HAD to get them up there!  It's pretty high up, which you can't tell here.

AND THEN THE RAIN CAME!  I mean, ALL day!  Thought we should have bought an Ark instead of a camping trailer for a while!  We've never had so much rain while camping but we were troopers!  We played games inside all day & went out to an early dinner.  There were creeks all over that weren't there before.  It rained non-stop from Saturday night until Sunday night!

There was sunshine again Monday & the boys played football before Sandy & Tristan had to head back to Florida.  I waited a long time to get a great catch and even though this one was to high, I still like the shot!

Not sure if you can really see the look on his face but it's pretty priceless!  I don't know what it was about but this photo cracks me up a little!

Such a beautiful park and a beautiful day Tuesday, after all the rain had come and gone.  We have really enjoyed our time here :)

Fort Yargo 11-7 to 11-9-14

Short weekend to Fort Yargo, the closest State Park to us but one we haven't stayed at yet!  We were on site 13, which was nice because we opened our door to the woods, it is flat and a drive-through site.

As hard as Wes tried, we could not get the Georgia game on satellite here but we were still representing!  In fact, some lucky camper after us got our small Bulldog flag since we left it there :(

Wes said I made the best Chili 'ever' on this trip!  It was pretty yummy considering I was winging it!  LOL
I made it with a lb. of ground beef and 1/2 a lb. each of hot & mild sausage, left over from breakfast!  

 
This is so funny!  We drove through the park looking for photo ops (me!) and saw this Mystery Machine aka Scooby Mobile in the parking lot.  The kids thought it was pretty cool but we still had to make them get the pic with it!

James H. Floyd State Park 10-10 to 10-13-14

We spent this long weekend at James H. (Sloppy) Floyd State Park in Summerville, GA (north of Adairsville).  We ventured farther away since we had 3 days off work and school.  I thought by mid-October the leaves would be more colorful this far north in the state but they were just starting to turn.  Still, it's a beautiful park with a smaller camping area (which we like) two lakes, fishing, hiking and a playground.  It rained hard every night except the last one, when we had prepared for it, but the days were fine.  The temps were in the mid to high 70's in the day.  The day we left it was cool & windy.  We met some nice new friends (Hi Kim & Chris!) and Belle got a new pen-pal....she makes friends no matter where go.

Representing, no matter where we camp!!!  Wes managed to make friends with the Camp Host right away since he has an outdoor TV.  Luckily he wasn't using it since he doesn't like football (I know, what's wrong with him?!?!).  Anyway, we didn't miss the Dawgs beating up on Missouri.
                       WOOF WOOF

 

We hiked up Marble Mine Trail, which leads to a 35' waterfall, generated by spring & winter rainfall, over a marble outcropping.  It was beautiful and a great day for a hike.

Dawson running up Marble Mine Trail.

And you probably know by now, I'm always looking for mushrooms.  I think they are such a beautiful part of nature!  This was about all I found except some giant squishy ones by the lake, which me & Dawson ended up having a battle with (sorry, no pics of that!).  I'm pretty sure I lost anyway since I still have mushroom in my hair & ear :/

                                                                                   Marble Mine
                                                      Notice the cave behind them?
                                                           There is one one each side.
                                                                                        Very cool!

 

Me & my Honey by the campfire

Boo got to camp with us for the first time.  This is one of my favorite pics, both my boys looking out the window!!!  He was a great camper but definitely got homesick.  He was pitiful by the time we were ready to come home, wouldn't eat & just moped around.  Now he's exhausted!

We rented pedal boats to have some fun on the lake.  Thank goodness I got Dawson for my partner.  The pic below is a pretty good depiction of how the other boat got around!

Belle helped Wes make Shepherd's Pie for dinner!  Wes only seems to like to cook when we're camping & I LOVE it!  It's so nice to be able to relax and not have to make all the meals.  The pie was delicious :)

                          LOVE LOVE LOVE

 My sweet Boo Boy laying in the moss

And now he's ready to go home.  Slept all the way....

another trip over and back to reality....sigh.....

Yonah Mountain 9/26 to 9/28/14

Short weekend at Yonah Mountain in Cleveland, GA (just south of Helen).  I think I love it here so much because it has activities for the kids, a Clubhouse (for watching football!), a pool and hayrides this time of year yet it's a quite campground that's not to big or overcrowded.  I wish we had another day....or two! 

I like this pic because Jazzy looks like she's sticking her tongue out at everyone else!  LOL

Dawson & I got up early to photograph the sunrise before heading to Smithgall Woods but it was overcast.  This is at Unicoi State Park.  Sunshine or not, it's beautiful.

Then went to Smithgall Woods as volunteers to shoot "Your State Parks Day" (you get into GA State Parks free this day and they use volunteers to do work around the parks) and these are a couple of good nature shots we got.  He is becoming quite the photographer!  We added up what we did between the walking around photographing and the hiking we did afterward and we walked about 8 miles!  WHEW we were tired but I sure did enjoy all that time with my boy! 
Meanwhile, Wes took Belle horseback riding and her stupid horse tripped and fell to the ground throwing her off, over it's head.  There aren't any pictures of that :/  Poor girl.  He did make her get back on the horse.

Just to prove I do go camping, since I'm rarely in the pics!

Dawson enjoyed a giant burger at Troll Tavern in Helen!  He ate the whole thing ;)

If you've never played this, you should!  It's a workout!!!  Dawson kept winning :)~

Jazzy playing on the playground!  CrAzY dog!

Correction:  Wes did have a pic of Belle on the stupid horse (he said his name is something Indian for Dumb Ass).  No pic of her falling off!