The original plan for a second vacation was to stay in Missouri after Gateway Cup for a week and a half. We have been wanting to visit the Ozarks and southern Missouri for a while now. We want to see Branson and then work our way down into Arkansas where there are some killer mountain biking areas that have been developed recently. But the plan didn't work out. We have been waiting to take the first Pilates Matwork course for work. We had signed up for one back in July when we had some off weekends. We also needed to take a CPR re-certification course. The CPR class came first. We had to drive down to Murfreesboro to find a Saturday course. That is a bit of a drive for us, but we made the most of it by doing some exploring over at Stones River National Battlefield. Both of us had been there before, but it had been about 8 years since Shannon went and 4th grade since I was there on a field trip. I remember seeing a cannonball lodged in a tree on that trip. We searched everywhere for it this visit so Shannon could see it, but never found it. I saw one section of woods that looked just like I remember, but no cannonball. Maybe the tree finally died. Maybe we were in the wrong spot as my brain was trying to remember one walk through the woods 23 years ago. We forgot a camera so no pictures from the battlefield.
The Matwork course was supposed to be a weekend class in Franklin the next weekend. It was canceled and we didn't find out until the day of. STAR had payed for Shannon to take the course. I couldn't afford it at the time so I was going to have to miss it. There were no other courses planned anywhere near us, so Shannon got a credit and waited for new classes to be scheduled. Suddenly in August, a class was scheduled in Dallas, TX for the end of September. It looked to be the only one that would happen outside of California in the next year, so Shannon transferred her fees to the Dallas course and we changed our fall travel plans to go to Texas instead of the Ozarks. By this time, I had saved up enough money to sign myself up for the class too.
We planned everything out for Texas. We found a place to stay near the class location and were about to book it when suddenly things changed again. A new Matwork course was added in Huntsville, AL. We got only two weeks notice for this one, just enough time to transfer our registration yet again, this time from Dallas to Huntsville. This would be sooo much closer, but also ruin my plans. The Huntsville class was the weekend after Labor Day. My parents were taking a trip to north Georgia and wanted me to go with them. I agreed to go and show them around Hiawassee, Clayton, Helen and Blairsville since I have been there so many times. They were heading out Labor Day weekend while we were in St. Louis, and I was to join them on Wednesday and stay through the weekend. With the class change, I had to cut short my portion of the trip with them. I was tired after Gateway Cup. We got home late Monday night, I worked a 10 hour day on Tuesday followed by tending the veggie farm. I got everything unpacked Tuesday night, only to repack on Wednesday morning and head out for Hiawassee. I really didn't want to go now as I was super tired, but I didn't want to bail on my parents. They had scheduled a lot of their trip around me coming.
I got to Hiawassee Wednesday early in the afternoon. I threw my bike into their truck and off we went to Tiger, GA, where I took them mountain biking on the Stonewall Falls trail. I liked this trail when Shannon and I were here two years ago. It had that remote feeling and you ended the loop with a few waterfalls deep enough to take a little dip in. The trailhead can be hard to find, so I doubt my parents would have tried to come here if I hadn't been on the trip.
Ocoee Dam on the way to Hiawassee
We had a good ride on the 10-mile loop. I hadn't ridden since the race at Benton Park on Monday so my legs were a bit funky. Some portions of the trail were overgrown, but most of it was good. Both of them liked the trail. We saw a hognose snake, something I had never seen before. It was a fairly large snake and acted like I have always learned hognose snakes will do. It puffed up, hissed a little and then played dead. They are such strange little creatures and I was happy to finally see one.
Some of the open sections were a bit overgrown.
Eastern Hognose Snake
We stopped to enjoy the waterfalls at the end of the loop. Both of my parents seemed to really like this part of the ride. My Mom could have done without the creek crossings you have to wade across. They are pretty deep. My Dad refused to walk and just plowed through them. He got across most of them, but a rock hiding along the bottom of the creek got him on the last crossing and he had to put his feet down in the water.
Mom coming to the first creek crossing
Shoes off crossing it on foot.
Dad prepping his line for the last crossing.
He went for it...
...and wet shoes.
Little drop above the upper falls
The top of Upper Stonewall Falls
The bottom ledge of Upper Stonewall Falls
Lower Stonewall Falls
My Dad hardly ever takes a picture of anything so he must have enjoyed this.
Video: Clips of Stonewall Falls
After the ride, I took them by Tallulah Gorge State Park so they could see the massive gorge and experience the leg burn that comes with the hundreds of stairs that take you from the bottom to the rim. It was my third stop at this park. It's a cool little place, but I think I've had my fill of those stairs for a while. I was just there with Dina about two months ago.
Tallulah Gorge
Following Dad across the suspension bridge
Hurricane Falls at the bottom of the gorge
After the hiking was done and we were sufficiently tired, we cruised into Clayton for dinner at Chick-fil-A as my Dad was getting hangry and didn't think he could make it back to the campground to eat. He was worn out. Welcome to taking trips with me Dad! Now he knows how Shannon feels.
On Thursday, we started off early as my parents had a concert they were going to in the evening. We drove over to Helen so I could show my parents around. My Dad had a broken spoke in his mountain bike wheel so we went up to Woody's bike shop. He didn't have any spokes that fit his wheel. I took off on the road bike from the shop while my parents drove over to Cleveland to find another shop. Fortunately, their drive was not in vein and they were able to get his wheel fixed. I rode up the Richard B. Russell Scenic Byway over Hogpen Gap, then descended to Blairsville. I then headed over to Wolfpen Gap, which is my favorite climb in this area. I climbed to the top, then turned around and went back to Blairsville, where I then turned right to head over to Brasstown Bald. My parents finally caught up to me just as I started Jack's Gap which leads to the turn for Brasstown. I was climbing slow today as I was feeling tired and I forgot to change my cassette. I had my crit cassette still on from Gateway and was struggling on tried legs to turn a 23-tooth cog up Hogpen and Jack's. I don't know if I even had to legs to get up Brasstown, but I was going to try it. I ran out of time though before we had to head back to Hiawassee for the concert. I had to call it a day at the top of Jack's Gap with just 42 miles of riding. I hate it because my parents didn't even have time to go up to the top of Brasstown Bald. Fortunately, they did make it up there later in the weekend.
A familiar view from the top of Hogpen Gap
Starting down the Blairsville side of Hogpen
I was super tired and happy to rest at the camper while they were at the concert. My parents upgraded their camper last year, moving up to a really nice fifth-wheel with several large slide-outs. I had not stayed in it prior to this trip. It was nicer than most places I have ever slept in. I enjoyed a relaxing evening of watching movies in an air-conditioned living room and having a big dinner before hitting the bed early. I really needed that with how busy the last week has been and how busy the weekend was about to be.
Friday was absolutely beautiful with cooler temps and super sunny skies. My Dad wanted me to ride a trail they had found earlier in the week. The mountain bike trails at Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area were only a few miles away, just across the border into North Carolina. The rec area lies within the Nantahala National Forest. We detoured on the way over, going first up to the top of Bell Mountain. I saw it labeled on Google Maps and it looked like a good view. What we found was not only an unbelievable view, but also an unbelievable road to the top. It started off innocent with just a steady climb, then it gets narrow at just over a lane wide. It was tight in my Dad's big truck. Near the top it gets crazy steep. We spun the tires on not one, but two of the switchbacks. There is a small parking area before the top as the peak is pretty small so there are few spots and limited room to turn around a big truck up there if the spots are full. They weren't but we didn't want to take any chances after seeing the road up the mountain. It was a tough little hike up the rest of the road to reach the top. You can climb stairs up the rocks to a viewing platform where you can see all of Hiawassee and Chatuge Lake. The morning had been very foggy, but the sun was beginning to burn off the fog. We were above the small clouds that remained and could watch them shrink and eventually disappear as the sun baked them. The rocks at the peak are absolutely covered with graffiti. I have never seen so much paint in one place. It was a cool experience and a bit scary on the ride back down. You do not want to lose your brakes going down that mountain. It just made me want to get my bike out and try to ride it. I promise you it would take everything you have in your body and mind to conquer this thing. Too bad we didn't have time as we had another stop to make before Jackrabbit.
Great view of Chatuge Lake from the top of Bell Mountain
Their prosecuting threats aren't working...
Nice strawberry on that rock
View off the east side of the mountain
The viewing platform on top of the peak.
After surviving the descent of Bell Mountain, we took an old gravel forest road up a mountain in the Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area to find Mill Creek Falls. It was a rough little road, but we were treated to beautiful forest and even saw a family of wild boar crossing the road up ahead of us.
Only caught a quick picture of one of the boar, but there were at least four of them that scampered across the road.
Mill Creek Falls was not the most spectacular waterfall. It was a short, steep hike down to what was really more of a steep cascade down the mountain. The undergrowth was thick along the creek, making for limited viewing opportunities. It was a lot of work to get around and find a place to see, but worth it. I like scrambling around.
Top of Mill Creek Falls
Steep cascade
Mill Creek Falls
Video: Mill Creek Falls
We finally made it to Jackrabbit just before lunch. I had time to ride about two hours, then had to hit the road. My Dad loved this trail as it is mostly flat and super fast. He could ride it fast without too much work, and my Mom could hold a good pace on it too. The trails wound their way around a point of land that sticks out into Chatuge Lake. You spend a lot of time right next to the water on flowy trails that are super fun to ride. There was some climbing when you got more toward the center of the peninsula away from the water. I did a full lap with my parents, which is about 10 miles in length. They were done for the day as they had another concert they were going to. I stayed for a second faster lap. The trails are so fast that you can get in over your head pretty easily. I snapped a spoke just before the start of the last loop and had to cut out. It was a fun ride and I hope to come back one day with Shannon as I think she would really like it here. There is also a campground inside the rec area, so it would be a great place to camp and ride.
Mom on the Jackrabbit trails
The trail goes out onto this tiny point surrounded by Chatuge Lake
I made one more stop on the way out of the area, going up to the Chatuge Dam which is what forms Chatuge Lake. It was a cool dam and had a nice view of the lake. I enjoyed it for a minute and grabbed a snack before hitting the road for home. I had to be home in time to unload the van, then repack things to head out early for Huntsville.
On the Chatuge Dam
Chatuge Lake
Turbine like the ones used below the dam to generate electricity
We hit the road about 5am on Saturday. We had about a 2 1/2 hour drive to Huntsville to make it to our class that began at 8am. We got there with a little time to spare despite missing a turn in town. Our class went all day long, ending about 5pm. It was a fun class with plenty of exercise along the way. We didn't have a place to stay so we decided to camp. There were open sites up at Monte Sano State Park. I had never been there before despite them having a lot of mountain bike trails. We checked out the Japanese Garden that is located atop the mountain after we registered for a campsite.
Japanese Garden atop Monte Sano Mountain
Then we drove the van into the campground. It would be getting dark soon, but we wanted to explore. I knew I wouldn't have time to ride on this trip so I didn't bring a bike. But we had feet, so we hit the trails for some hike time. They looked like they would be really fun on a bike. We hiked along the side of the mountain and then climbed up to an overlook. It was a nice view. We then finished our 2-mile hike around the North Plateau just before dusk. We had just enough daylight left to go get a quick shower, then cook up some dinner on our little stove while we listened to college football and enjoyed the stars appearing in a clear sky. We didn't bring our tent, but instead just decided to sleep in the van on our sleeping mats. We weren't sure that we would be able to get a campsite on such short notice on a weekend, and thought maybe we would have to sleep in the parking lot at the class, so we were prepared to be inside the van. It was a bit warm in there as we couldn't let the windows down due to mosquitoes, but it worked out alright.
North Plateau Loop Trail
View from the main overlook
Amphitheater
Secondary viewpoint near the end of the loop
We were up early on Sunday heading back down the mountain for day two of our Matwork class. It was easy to get out of the campground when you only have to roll up a sleeping mat to be packed. We cooked breakfast and lunch on our little stove in the parking lot at the class. The second day was a little shorter and we were out of there in the afternoon and back home at a reasonable hour. Just in time to unload and get ready for work the next day. I was happy to be home and done with what has been a crazy few weeks. It also felt good to get that class out of the way. We did it about as cheaply as possible too, so I would say it was a success. It sure beat driving to Dallas. The class also moves us one step closer to another certification, and counts for continuing education hours for both our physical therapy and CSCS/Personal Trainer licenses. Check and check.
Now what to do with that time off we scheduled at the end of September...
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