Saturday -- Tubing, Hitting the Pinata, and Water-balloon Fun

For some reason in Blue Ridge, we learn a lesson about the limitations of youth and age during each trip. The first year, our eldest fell off the tube whilst mounting and seriously hurt herself and our youngest cried much of the time and ended the trip by sleeping on Mimi. The second year, there was a slip, 2 falls, a broken rib and many scratches.

I could say that we’ve learned our lessons this year. But perhaps also we are not quitters. If others think this is so much fun, we will have fun too! We decided to try tubing again.

It is a fun activity, especially when one has appropriate weather and water levels. This year the floaters included: Early, Mimi, Savannah, and myself. Maddie started with us for 1 second and she decided (perhaps wisely) that this wouldn’t be her year.

The waters of the Chattahoochee river were calm and shallow. Calm is ok. Shallow is not so good. The floating was with some effort. Not so much floating most of the time, but scooting, pushing, and bumping into rocks and other floaters. The lighter you are the better, so Early bailed halfway and re-joined the family.

Luckily for us, we always have reinforcements in the form of the conscientious objectors who follow our floating forward movement from shorelines and bridges. Both years, they have taken us out earlier than the destination/pick up point. This year though, it was much shorter and much better.

I will always remember Savannah’s face when, towards the end, she actually went over a rapid smoothly, that is, without getting stuck on the rocks. Her eyes lit up, she was smiling, I thought she might hop off her tube and walk back to do it again. I thought to myself, yes, this is how it is supposed to be. Perhaps these droughts are mother nature’s way of telling us that we are hurting how it is supposed to be.

We had lunch in the town of Helen, on the waterfront with some good German cuisine, beers and company.



When we arrived home we relaxed and the girls made waterballoons, make-believe salad, and later after dinner, we destroyed the piñata that Uncle Tom had packed with goodies for the girls. Another great day in Blue Ridge.

Sunday -- Riding, Panning for Gems, Creek Stomping

Sunday morning breakfast was hosted by Savannah, who has learned her way around the kitchen.

We then went to Sunburst stables for an hour of horseback riding on trails through the Chattahoochee National Forest. We arrived well before it was our time to ride. It seems we’d become accustomed to driving very long distances from our cabins in the past to “local” attractions. In the end, we bided our time by visiting a local potter (more about this particular place below).

When we returned to the stables we signed the appropriate paperwork. It seems that Maddie was satisfied with riding all of the fake horses on the premises; however, we were committed to giving her a ride on a real horse. Mimi and I were nervous. Earl was fine. Savannah was so excited and this trip was really in her honor.

A side note about horse riding… Savannah’s enthusiasm reminded me of a time long ago when we would go riding in girl scouts. I was (and Savannah is) a real animal lover. To be in the company of any animal meant a real connection of the emotional sort. When you rode your horse, say Brownie, Brownie had a personality and a character. I imagined what Brownie was thinking about me – his rider – and thoroughly examined in my mind how Brownie was feeling, what kind of morning Brownie’d had, and whether or not Brownie was enjoying himself. After the ride finished, I remember feelings a true sadness that Brownie and I would no longer be together; I projected that Brownie would also feel the same sadness because of that connection we made in an hour on the trail.

Those are the emotions felt by young animal lovers. It was precious to see Savvy feel those emotions, to see her joy as she was hoisted up on her horse and to hear her feelings of loss at having to say good-bye.

The ride was great, our guide was great. We even cantered a bit. On the trail there was also a miniature animal petting zoo, with a baby bull running alongside our horses in pure playfulness.

When we returned there were awkward dismounts, jittery legs after an unaccustomed hour in a saddle… a great time.

We then drove to the pottery store called Mark of the Potter located in an old cornmeal mill on a flowing river Soque. The cornmeal that originally was processed in this mill till the 1920s helped provide a source of food for a large trout population at the base of the waterfall on which the mill is built. We saw them still there that day, over a hundred years later, feeding on cornmeal (this time from vending machines).

The store/house/mill/studio was fantastic. It had a plethora of goods from many different ceramic, stoneware, and glass artists. There was a studio in the back where someone was working and across the street a large kiln and more studios.
I think this artist space was especially inspiring for my dad. It gives a sense of pride to be a part of this craft community as a potter from afar. We visited 3 pottery shops during our trip and each had that down-to-earth connectivity that potters all share in their creation of earthenware throughout time. Very few other art forms can be directly linked in such a profound way to the beginnings of civilization. A great reason to be in Northern Georgia.

This day we also made a trip to the other side of town. We picked up the Gran and drove to a location where they teach you to pan for gold. Well, teach is a little of an exaggeration, but the kids had fun. At Duke’s Creek Gold and Ruby Mines, we bought a bucket with semi-precious stones packed in sand. The girls then panned for the stones in long wooden troughs of water. They loved it. Each stone was a personal discovery.

We then spent the evening creek stomping. Brano and Maddie built a dam and we ate a late lunch by the side of the Chattahoochee River. Frank even got involved in the action!

Back at the cabin and ready to eat again!!! Early and dad grilled...