Heinz's in Georgia: Friday -- Walking, Swimming, Sliding

Our mornings often started slowly, with a walk through the cabin area and a good breakfast. The cabin area in the hills near the Unicoi state park consists of a number of large cabins with log facades. They are scattered about and new, each having its own little differentiations – a hot tub, different windows and different views of the mountains.

A pajama walk with Aunty and Frank

Granny and Brano capture the morning quiet

Morning poses for Gran and Early

The view from the front porch

Brano shows his athleticism

Maddie already tired of having pictures taken

Morning swimming

Morning Ballooning

The day before we had gone to the Helen tourist center and had asked about places to swim. The jolly Helen woman directed us to an out-of-the-way place called “Sliding Rock”, where you can, you guessed it, slide down a rock.

We drove from our cabin in the opposite direction of town and north toward Lake Burton. When there we took a small county access rode up alongside a creek to this infamous watering hole. When we arrived there were only two people enjoying the lovely weather and we jumped in. No one had the urge or the guts to go sliding down this natural rock formation. Savannah wanted to, but as it got more and more crowded, she began to lose her nerve.

So, Earl went. A couple of times.

Finally Savvy took a turn. Then again and again. In the meantime, we went of a reconnaissance mission with the locals, swam around, and watched the general shenanigans of the groups of people ferociously sliding down sliding rock.

What fun! A gorgeous location with sunshine, fresh mountain water running (and sliding) past and lots and lots of laughter.

Madison, the water fairy

Aunt E, the life guard

Earl slides as an example to Savannah

Mimi and Madison have a discussion

Earl and Savvy have a discussion

Savvy's internal debate

Earl pulls Mimi in

Madison as a mermaid

Earl slides again

Probably discussing where to go next

Before the slide

After the slide

Talking about the slide

Savvy goes it alone

From there we took the “long route”, i.e. got lost on the way, to the public Lake Burton beach -- great spot for the kids, with lots of fish in the warm, soft water. Savannah and Madison are truly fish. They swim, the hunt rocks, Savannah snorkled and watched the minnows and blue gill swim about. We ate sandwiches and fresh cherries. Maddie was very surprised to find the pit. It was her first fresh cherry… she ate them by the handful. Savannah lost a tooth, so we had a visit from the Tooth Fairy to look forward to that night.