Eight Miles for Eight Years!

This past weekend was Abigail's 8th birthday.  She wanted to go to Grandfather Mountain to go hiking.  The weather forecast was calling for 40-60% rain chances, but we decided to go ahead and make the trip for her.  Boy, was it an adventure.  We armed ourselves with ponchos, trail mix, and a couple of packs of Gushers and started the trail.  Since the area had been under a flood warning we were aware that there may be some water rushing off the mountainside.  What we didn't know was this particular trail was basically a creek while it was raining.  Going up 2000 feet over a 4 mile hike made for a rushing river by the time we were coming back down! We had periods of time where it poured down rain and then times where it stopped and we could take off our ponchos.  You had to make decisions for every foot step to keep on a rock or a root that was sticking above water level.  For the first 3 miles I was able to keep my boots dry (and therefore no squishy socks) but for the last 5 miles I walked in wet, muddy goo squishing between my toes muck!  It was like 26,400 feet of mud puddles!   Coming back down we just walked in the mud and water.  Kids never complained until we had less than a half mile back to the car.  Brandon and I were complaining of aches and pains way before that point!  I was muddy and wet from the knees down and I am pretty sure that added an extra 10 pounds to what I had to carry!  We left at 11:30am and got back to the car around 6:30pm.  We stripped down in the parking lot and changed into dry clothes.  It's amazing how shriveled your feet can get over a 7 hour period!  We set our sights on what to do for supper.  Abigail wanted Fatz Café until Brandon mentioned Hooters, so Hooters it was!

 

 

We stopped at our favorite ice cream place on the way up.  This place is in Lincolnton and we stop every time we pass through.

Abigail shopping at the Valle Crucis Mast general Store with some birthday money

Can't dress her up and you can't take her out!  Sitting at 1861 Farmhouse Restaurant in Valle Crucis waiting for her Chicken Cabernet that she shoveled down.

Night before her birthday.  Brandon started calling her Holly Hobby because of the Amish bonnet.

The entrance to the hiking trail

A water bladder and an Amish bonnet...People probably wondered about her!

My hiking champ. She made everything look easy.  All 8 miles...

After over 4 hours of hiking the visibility at Calloway's Peak was next to nothing...but we did get to the top!  It was very cold here and we sat and watched the mist blow over and between the trees.

Me and my little minions posing before the hike back down the river...I mean trail.

One of the ladders needed to scale up certain sections of the trail.  At least we were up out of the water at these points!

Emily coming down

Abigail going down

Golden Moments!  Taking a rest between trail and Hooters.



Birthday girl and dad

Abigail enjoying birthday supper at Hooters.  We ordered a table full of food and acted like we had only had trail mix and Gushers over the last 12 hours!
 

Happy 4th of July!!!!

We went to parade in Oakboro as usual and had a cook out with family later that afternoon.  Abigail received her birthday gifts and she was rather happy with the outcome.  An ipod and case, a leather bota bag water bladder, some Barbies, some Legos, and money! Finished the night with fireworks in Oakboro. 

Parade watching

My Great Aunt Ruby and Earnie.  They have seen many birthdays!

Abigail presenting her ice cream cake 

Abigail testing out her drinking bladder