[1] Grotto Falls

Christopher woke me up a 6:30 this morning so I could take him fishing. I was the mama human going along to protect my young from bears. We found a beautiful spot along a roaring river and he fished while I drank coffee, talked on the phone to Tim (I can’t always get a signal out here) and read the Bible. Oh, I took a few pictures, too. I have now used up 4 rolls of film.

I could be heard chanting, “There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears, no bears at all.”

Really!

Yesterday we took what was dubbed an “easy hike” up to see The Grotto Falls. I did think I was going to die a few times but I was determined not to harm the children’s fun by pooping out. Whew, we made it to the falls, read a chapter of The Princess and Curdie and made it back to the van. It was well worth the pain and suffering but I felt very sorry for several groups of elderly people who also bought the “easy hike” promo. I was like a prophet of doom as we descended, telling older groups of hikers they had a long way to go.

I think we may go to Cades Cove today before the leaves drop.