Our Labor Day Trip

We hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. Unfortuantely I had to work all weekend, finishing up reports, and poor Jason did not have much to do, but relax :) So we decided to take Monday off (like normal people) and travel over to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. Unfortunately, the weather was not very good...there was an unexpected front that came through and when we first got there visibility was zero! But we decided to enter the park anyway and we were glad we did. After a nice lunch at the restaurant, the temp jumped up a little from the initial 58 and the clouds cleared out a little. Later, we decided to trek over to Linville Falls and enjoyed a nice hike to the Erwin Lookout.

Enjoy the pictures!

Me at the bear exhibit - Just for you Suz!!

And Jason - feeling not so happy about being so close to black bears...

Next we visited the Eagles - this one's for you Brooke...he's bathing...

Next we went to Split Rock...literally a split rock...which is over 461 billion years old

This is a picture of me at another split rock...I like to call this one "Kellee in the Crevasse," for those of you who are nature freaks like me and LOVE the show "Man in the Wild" you would understand that it is not pronounced "Crevice" but "Cre-vasse" with the emphasis on the "asse".

Jason by the road...

And then Jason relaxing by the fudge shop :) Looks like our front porch!

Next, we climbed out on some cliffs...unfortunatley, that zero visibility thing came into play here...

It's funny that although everyone climbs out on these cliffs like it's nothing, Jason and I were nervous being that we are SUCH HUGE CLUTSES!

No explaination needed!

If Jason had a thought bubble in this picture, it would say..."Let me get this straight...you want me to walk across WHAT?!? And it's secured HOW?!? The things I do for love..."

More pictures of us...on big cliffs...

Next, because he's such a great husband and married to such a nature freak...I convinced Jason to hike down a trail below the bridge with me...This is us in front of a cave...I wanted to go in but that was where Jason drew the line :) Can you see the thrill on my face? :)

Jason insisted that I add this picture - his favorite that he took today...

On our way out of the park...this is Jason with Grandfather Mountain in the background...And me...

Next, we headed over to Linville Falls, where again, I convinced Jason to hike quite a way...this is us at the top of the overlook...You can just see the waterfall in the background...the river is VERY high right now!

A better view of the waterfall...

Just chillin' at the top of the world...

This is at a lower observation area, right next to the vortex of rushing water...I wonder how deep that water is...

Jason and I by the upper part of the waterfall...

After that, we headed North on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Boone, where we ate a YUMMY dinner at the Daniel Boone Inn! A full day of exploring, exercise, yummy food, BEAUTIFUL scenery...and home before dark...I know I've asked this before, but honestly...how could you possibly want to live ANYWHERE else?!?

Smooches!