Moccasin Creek State Park

Kate at the trailhead.

When we made the decision to go to Rabun County for fall break, I had NO idea there were such wonderful state parks to explore. Our last day we visited Moccasin Creek State Park on the western side of the county.  Our destination was Hemlock Falls Trail.  All the trails we traversed were found in the book Hiking Georgia.  We found the trailhead to Hemlock Falls easily, and it was a gentle trek beside the creek.  The trail was an out & back, about 2 miles round trip.

Moccasin Creek

Crossing the creek

Exploring the rock bed in the creek

End of the hike.

Hemlock Falls

I love the auto timer on the camera, but positioning it on rocks is  a challenge!

We will definitely return to this area of the state in the future!

Fall Break in Rabun County, part 2

 Our two night stay in  Dillard Georgia was at Chalet Village, which is owned by the Dillard House. This property has about 20 cottages, some that sleep up to 14 people.  Our little house would sleep five - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a pullout sofa.  It was a nice place - quiet, clean & simple! Perfect for the three of us.

Great place to enjoy the quiet.

Side view of the house.

View from our porch. There is small pond, tennis courts, pool & hot tub in this area.

This picture is from the den. You can see the two bedrooms. The kitchen, family room and eating area
are all in this big room.

 After our morning at Black Mountain State Park, we ventured south to Tallulah State Parks. This park is worth the drive to northeast Georgia.  The visitor center is amazing.  It has helpful, informed volunteers. The habitat exhibit is beautifully crafted.  We enjoyed looking at the many animals, birds, reptiles that can are indigenous to the area.  Our plan was to hike on the rim trail, and possibly down to the suspension bridge. After talking with one of the volunteers we learned there was a special event taking place! More on that later.

Checking out the gorge from the suspension bridge.  It's over 300 steps down to the bridge.

Looking up at the rim from the bridge.

 Kate & I went all the way down to the river, which was another 300+ steps.  Of course, that means we had to go back up!  Good thing I have been using the elliptical, it really helped my ability to not "die" on the way back up to the rim. The total number of steps is over 1000!! Randy stayed at the suspension bridge.

Waterfall at the bottom of the gorge.

Mom & Kate at the bottom of the gorge.

We made it back to the top of the rim, and here is  view! It's a LONG way down.

 The special event I mentioned was a rehearsal for a rescue.  There were lots of EMT's, and other rescue type personnel at the park.  There were rescue personnel were at the bottom of the gorge with a backboard.  A helicopter was scheduled to come into the gorge and practice picking up the backboard.  It was so cool to watch this undertaking. According to the park volunteer, there is typically one rescue a year at Tallulah Gorge.  People fall rock climbing, or get dehydrated and can't make the return trip. He told us of one couple that had a tree fall on them and break their legs. To make sure they are rescue ready, they come in and train for the real deal.  I'm glad it was just a drill.

Do you see the helicopter? This was crazy to watch, such precision & patience is required

Tallulah Gorge State Park is one of three state parks in Rabun County.  So, if you like to get out and enjoy God's creation...Rabun County has lots to offer. My next post will highlight the third park of Rabun County, Moccasin Creek State Park.  We were pleasantly surprised at all this county has to offer in terms of  exploring the great outdoors!

Fall Break in Rabun County, part 1

First Hike, Black Rock Mountain State Park

The first week of October was fall break for Rome City Schools.  Berry wasn't on break, but I managed to disappear for some R & R at the end of the week with Randy & Kate.  The other kids had school and/or work.  I made reservations for us in Rabun County Georgia, with our destination being the Dillard House.  We stayed at Chalet Village, which was perfect - quiet and away from the big city of Dillard.  If you aren't familiar with Dillard, Georgia it's in the northeast corner of the state, only a few miles from the North Carolina border.

Kate at the HUGE country breakfast. This is what the Dillard House is famous for!

We ate breakfast at the Dillard House because we had heard such rave reviews.  It was good, but it was TOO much food.  We wasted so much.  On a positive note, we didn't need lunch that day. We also took some leftovers with us, hence our snack.

Wildflowers on the trail.

Tennessee Rock Trail hikers. Excited, huh?

Scenic overlook on the hike. The colors were just beginning to turn, we were too early in the season.

Black Rock Mountain is the highest state park in Georgia.

Damage from the spring storms.

Our first hike was a loop at Black Rock Mountain, 2.2 miles.  Kate kept asking where the trail would take us, we kept repeating it was a loop.  WELL, we made it to the summit, and we could hear traffic on the park road.  We assumed we were near our car.  We go a few hundred yards and find the road, but not our car! We think it is around the next corner.  We went both directions on the road...not really knowing where we were as we left the trail map in the car!  We eventually met a couple walking, and they told us that the trail turned back to the left at the road . We came out too early.  We had a lot of downhill left, but eventually found our car - back at the start of the loop!!

This picture courtesy of our being lost on the loop trail!!

Kate enjoying the view.

Friday Nights in the Fall

It's that time of year, football Fridays.  Fall at the Nobles house is all about the Friday night game. Home or away there is a Nobles in attendance.  Why? Because of the band! For me, Friday nights are about half-time! In fact, I will go and leave after the half-time show. For me, they play football before & after the band show.

This is Kate's first year in middle school band, over 200 7th & 8th graders! Many high school bands wish they had those numbers and sounded so good.  My kids are fortunate to be in a system with a great fine arts program.  Year after year, Wade Williams & Mark Hester do remarkable things with adolescent musicians.

Kate playing the trombone before the pregame show on Friday night.

Listen to this great music! 12 & 13 year olds in their 2nd and 3rd year of a band program.  Amazing!

Carrie is a senior, and a leader in the trumpet section of the Rome High Band.  The Sound of the Seven Hills is known for performing difficult music with intricate drill. This year's show is the music of Stan Kenton.  Carrie is part of a trumpet trio, and I've included a clip here.

It's kind of hard to see Carrie, but she is the trumpet on the left during the trio...too many others in front of her, but you can hear them.  They sound great & get better every week. Being the band takes a lot of time, patience, cooperation and dedication.  Sometimes they get frustrated, and want to give up.  It takes perseverance.  It's good practice for life!

Mountain Day 2011

Today was the celebration of Martha Berry's birthday, known to Berry folks as Mountain Day.  It's difficult to describe if you have never experienced it firsthand.  For Berry students & alumni it ushers in the fall season in a way that others don't understand.  Mountain Day  is the equivalent of homecoming, but without a football game!  I hope the latter doesn't happen, but there is talk of adding it as a sport.

I don't think I've missed a single Mountain Day since 1978.  We've had soccer games, and band competitions that occur, but I have always managed to attend the big event.  It helps that I live 20 minutes away.  I love seeing former students, and catching up with what they are doing.  It's usually a quick conversation, but it gives me that glimpse into their lives.  

There are some alums that return every year, and others that rarely attend.  Since Randy & I are both alumni we have old friends that we occasionally see, but we typically hang out with the younger crowd.  The kids who are returning with their dogs and/or children.  The kids that sat at our table.  The ones who taught our kids in youth at church.  The kids that we attended their weddings. The kids that I taught in piano class or accompanied.  It's always wonderful to see them after  they have moved beyond the Berry bubble!

Today was Alyssa's last Mountain Day before joining the ranks as an alumni.  The past two years she has played in the band, but today, like her freshman year - she marched  in the Grand March.  It was a beautiful fall day, a bit windy - but otherwise perfect. 

Here are pictures from today's Grand March.  For those non-Berry folks, here is my best explanation of the Grand March.  Berry students gather on the mountain campus and tromp up & down a hill.  They put pennies in a basket as a gift in memory of founder, Martha Berry. When they have come down the hill in ranks of 16 across they sing the Alma Mater.  All the while, the band plays, family members watch & fun is had by all.

Rebecca & Caitlyn, good friends! Rebecca 's mom was at Berry with me.

 Alyssa making a silly face.

 The lovely Amelia (blonde w/ sunglasses) & Rachel on their first trip up the hill!

 Noah Stricklen dropping nerds in dad's hair while he watches the Grand March

 Jonathan Surls, head RA at Dana...just like his dad. Love the family connections at Berry!

The annual family photo from Mountain Day!  It's a great family tradition & one that Carrie hopes to continue next year.