Fort Mountain Trip

Today was a perfect fall day!  Matt's parents are visiting this weekend.  We decided to take advantage of the nice weather and take a trip to Fort Mountain.  After a nice breakfast of hash brown casserole and sausage links, we loaded up the van and began our trip.  About halfway on our drive up the mountain, a little bear cub ran across the road right in front of us!  It was so cool!  It happened so fast, we didn't get any pics.  We stopped at the Chattahoochee National Forest Cohutta Overlook.  It was just a small hike up there.  Last time we stopped it was raining so we weren't able to do the hike.  I was so glad we were able to get up there today.  It was so pretty.  

                                     

                                               Cohutta Overlook

Matt did this before we left.  So sweet,

When we pulled in the gates at Fort Mountain National Park there was a sign that said parking was free today.  Score!  First thing we did was have a picnic for lunch.  

 Then we played at the playground.  They added some new playground equipment since the last time we were there.

 Then we went and looked at the lake (my absolute favorite thing to look at).  I could just sit and stare at it all day long.  It is so peaceful.  I can't wait to see it when the leaves start to change their colors.  We walked around the entire lake today.  It was such a nice walk.

Kids had fun looking for fish.

Daddy tickling Aiden

Walking across the beach.

One of my favorite pics of the day.  

Aiden and Claire leading the way.

Across the lake from the beach area

After walking around the lake, we drove farther up and hiked up another trail to a lookout.  It's not as clear as it was the last time we were there, but still beautiful nonetheless.  

 We decided to take a different path back.  We had been walking for awhile and we heard a rustling off the side off the path.  And there it was...another bear cub!!  It was about 6 yards away from us!!  We all froze, and it stopped at stared at us.  After a few minutes of standing there frozen, we slowly continued on the path and thank goodness it didn't follow us!  The kids thought it was so cool.  It was the closest they've ever been to a bear.  This was definitely an exciting trip.

After leaving the mountain, we drove back through Ellijay and just outside of town we stopped at the Red Apple Barn and picked up some apple cider, pumpkin butter, pickles, and apple cider donuts.  Then as we pull onto our road, this is the view we had...two covered wagons coming down the road.  You just never know what you're going to see around here.  

We ended the night with a cookout and sat out on the deck watching the sunset, drinking apple cider, and eating donuts.  Perfect. Fall. Day!