CVSD: Day 74 (Mother's Day Make-up)

Every year we try to go on some kind of adventure for Mother's Day. Often we hike. We have paddled our kayaks (one year we paddled through the lock at Chickamauga). And we have taken bike rides. Every year is a different adventure. Kind of like motherhood.

This year we had to postpone our Mother's Day adventure. But on Memorial weekend we were finally able to go. My pick was the Huckleberry Knob hike on the Cherohala Skyway.

If I am being truthful, I am generally the kind of person who doesn't like to do the same trip twice. However, I am finding that there is joy in repeating experiences and finding something, or somewhere, you truly love and returning again and again.

This was our third trip to Huckleberry Knob, and perhaps the best. As we drove, we all recognized different landmarks. Mostly random places we have stopped to let the kids pee on the side of the road over the years! Hah!

The first time we came, I carried Isaac to the top on my back and Jack probably whined about the two-mile walk. Last year, Isaac was the one doing the whining. This year, they raced each other to the top, and then back to the car!

Jack had the idea to bring his kite this year. Initially I told him no. But after explaining that whatever he brought he would have to carry, we came to an agreement. He carried his kite, as well as his own snacks and water, and his rain jacket. Isaac volunteered to carry his own backpack with snacks and water as well. We have come a long way from that first time of me carrying Isaac and Daniel carrying all the other stuff!

Hiking and adventuring with my little family is probably my greatest joy in life. I look forward to returning to Huckleberry Knob again. 

Thankfully, even though it was raining all around us, and we even heard some thunder in the distance, we didn't get rained on!

After our hike, we drove back down the mountain with Isaac insisting that Daniel drive Hyper Speed while he gleefully laughed in the back. We got back down to an open restaurant that is creek side that we have stopped at before. 

I took the kids to wade in the water, while Daniel braved the line. People were fairly good about distancing themselves. We enjoyed coke floats and hot dogs (for the kids) by the creek. It was a lovely day. 

Past Mother's Day Adventures:

Monte Sano Hike (a couple of weeks after Mother's Day), 2012

Hays Nature Preserve (a couple of weeks post Mother's Day), 2013

Biking South Chick Greenway, 2014

Family Time (no Adventure as Isaac was just a month old), 2015

Paddling Lookout Creek, 2016

Stringer's Ridge Pump Track and Mountain Biking, 2017

Paddling Through Chick Lock, 2018

Huckleberry Knob Hike, 2019

Mother's Day/Memorial Day Adventure

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Spent the afternoon on the Cherohala Skyway today. We hiked over Oak Knob to Huckleberry Knob, one of our favorite places. Then made a quick stop at Hooper Bald. We hiked a total of four miles. This was supposed to be our Mother’s Day adventure, but I’m glad we waited because we were rewarded with excellent weather (69 on the knobs!). #summer2019 #memorialdayweekend #cherohalaskyway #huckleberryknob #hikingwithkids #mohaus2019

A post shared by Cheree Moore (@mo_haus) on May 27, 2019 at 4:34pm PDT

Summer Kickoff 2017: Mushroom Rock

About a week ago I started eying the weather forecast, hopeful that we would be able to do some big adventure to kickoff the start of summer this holiday weekend.

I initially thought we might be able to go camping, but then an old friend asked if we wanted to go on the Lost Sea Adventure with his family on Sunday. We really wanted to see our old friend, so I nixed my camping idea.

It wasn't too hard to drop the idea... camping with littles can still be a bit daunting.

Even though we couldn't go camping, I had high hopes of spending Saturday on the Cherohala Skyway with stops for several short, kid-friendly hikes (reminiscent of a trip we did about this time last year). But the closer we got to the weekend, the higher likelihood it seemed that it would rain.

The weather and children are two things that do not really care about your plans.

Saturday morning started overcast and our weather app was suggesting thunderstorms that afternoon. We had a long breakfast and convinced ourselves that we should stay in town, playing at the park with friends and then doing a local hike.

We knew there was a good chance there would be no rain since we had committed to staying home...

After a quick lunch, we loaded the boys up to drive to Prentice Cooper State Forest and one of our favorite trails. Jack is a big fan of going to Mushroom Rock. I'm pretty sure this is due to the fact that we always run into trail runners and he is in love with the idea of running in the woods (and the fact that we often see teenage boys running shirtless – I think one of Jack's life goals is to run shirtless).

Anyway, this particular hike felt easier. It is only about 2 miles round trip and Jack pretty much ran the entire way. Isaac walked a good portion himself and we didn't have to coax the kids to keep moving (when Isaac gets tired, we just stick him in a backpack).

The only thing we had to bug both kids about was staying out of huge mud puddles. Our boys love to get muddy, but they both had on tennis shoes and we didn't want to deal with them complaining about squishy feet or getting blisters. Isaac shed a few tears about not being able to wade in the mud puddles and Jack managed to stick one foot in the mud that resulted in a hot spot at the end of the hike.

But overall our hike to the rock formation went relatively smoothly and quickly. When we arrived we took a break for snacks, water, and a little climbing.

As we sat there, the wind suddenly shifted, the air got cooler, and we thought the long-awaited storms were on their way.

So we decided to get moving.

Problem #1: We left Jack's beloved stick at Mushroom Rock. Tears ensued and we insisted that he could find a new stick, and that we needed to keep moving because we didn't want to get caught in a storm. It didn't actually rain, and Jack was upset for part of the hike back but refused to pick out a new stick.

Problem #2: It was Isaac's nap time and he didn't want to walk, but he also didn't want to ride in our backpack carrier. It was my turn to carry him, so I sang the Great Green Gobs of Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts song on repeat, which settled him down for a bit until he fell asleep. When it comes to kids, you do what you gotta do. #amiright?

Overall it was a good hike. It didn't rain. It wasn't too hot. Endurance is definitely improving in both of our kids. If we had hiked before lunch instead of after, it would have been a better experience for Isaac. It wasn't the same as hiking on an open bald on the Cherohala Skyway, but it wasn't a bad way to kick off our long weekend doing something together as a family.

Previous Mushroom Rock Hikes: January 2016⎮March 2016

Memorial Day, 2017

We had a very low-key Memorial Day weekend this year. No parties to attend. Rainy weather. Just the four of us.

So what do we do between the rain?

We decided to ride our bikes to Althaus Park. There are several hills on the way there, but Jack handled the ride really well.

Once we got to the park, we tested our abilities of riding over obstacles on the tennis court (a make-shift skate park of sorts, complete with homemade ramps). Jack is getting braver and braver with each visit.

After a snack, the kids went and played on the playground... and then the rain started. We attempted to wait out the rain under the pavilion, but eventually gave in and rode home in the rain.

We were all soaked by the time we got home, especially Isaac who was riding behind in the chariot. It was a wet day, but a fun family outing nonetheless.

McCoy Farm Memorial Day Picnic

We had a busy Memorial Day weekend with a day hike in North Carolina on Saturday, a neighborhood BBQ on Sunday, and the second annual McCoy Farm Memorial Day picnic on Monday.

The picnic lasted from 11am-4pm and was free to the public, with the option to buy food from the Lion's Club and participate in a silent auction. 

We parked at the church across the street and were shuttled in a golf cart part of the way – we had our wagon with us, but the driver graciously let Daniel and I ride while pulling the wagon! The boys got a kick out of that.

At the event, we listened to live music, purchased hamburgers and pizza from the local Lion's Club, and let the boys play various games set up on the lawn. 

I think Jack's favorite things included getting his face painted, having his first taste of cotton candy, and checking out all of the fire engines.

The weather wasn't too hot yet and sitting the shade was a perfect way to spend the afternoon. Isaac was a little young to really play, but he had a blast with a couple of balloons that someone gave him.

We had a great time and look forward to more of these annual picnics. Next time we will make sure to meet up with friends, but it was fun as a family event too. 

The little green wagon that Isaac received for his first birthday is really coming in handy this summer!