McGill Creek Falls Trip Report

 

 

Log by the bridge over McGill Creek with fungus growing on it

McGill Creek Falls  Trip Report

(2nd try)

Kenny & Dana Koogler & grandson Michael Lindsey age 11

Saturday January 2, 2021 

McGill Creek Falls on Tennessee Landforms

McGill Creek Falls Pix Here 

McGill Creek Falls Section of the Cumberland Trail 

**The website information on the link above says that the CT is not open past the bridge over McGill Creek.  It is not completed officially, but it IS open and can be used.   It does not have an official connection to Leggett Road at this point so 

it is best to hike it as an out and back.  ** 

   We  had wanted to get out and hike some for exercise and fresh air.  We had promised our oldest grandson, Michael, age eleven, we'd hike with him over Christmas break.   We realized that we'd best get cracking on that as school was set to resume on Tuesday.    We planned with him to go hike to McGill Creek Falls down near Dayton.     It was not a real long ride. We stopped and got breakfast and then continued down the road to the trailhead.  It is actually just past Dayton out in the countryside near Graysville, Tennessee.   It is one of the newer sections of the Cumberland Trail.    

         I had seen people's photos of McGill Creek Falls and how pretty it was.

I wanted to see it for myself.   I knew that the bridge was up to ford McGill Creek, but had been told previously it was a rough bushwhack from just past the bridge to the falls.   I heard back from friend Gary Stephens that the trail was now constructed so as not to be a bushwhack any longer.   Though the trail is not officially open we decided to chance it after he gave it a thumbs up!  

     Michael is a pretty able hiker and getting to be moreso all the time. 

We selected the parking area along Brayton Mountain Road. It has room for a couple vehicles to pull off.    The views down the mountain here were great. Wide and sweeping terrain unfolds before you.   The trail is well marked, but you have to pay attention as the area is crisscrossed by former logging roads and atv trails.  

ATVs are no longer supposed to be in this area. You couldn't take one further than McGill Creek anyhow because of the terrain.   It would be a boring ride for sure. 

     We began our hike along the shoulder of the mountain heading toward the first stream crossing. We came to the first crossing which was an easy rock hop thankfully.   It is across a small spring branch that empties into McGill Creek.   

The terrain flattens out here for awhile and parallels McGill Creek stream left. 

It is very pretty.  We did see one massive landslide area and some fallen trees that came down at the edge of the creek, but it was across from us and did not affect our hike.  

Above: part of the hike along McGill Creek is fairly level, but not for long! 

   We worked our way through some boulders and down to the bridge that crosses McGill Creek.  It is well constructed, attractive and offers a safe, dry way over the creek. It also provides a good platform to take in views of the cascading waters of the stream.     We spent a little time there checking out the view.   

Above: Kenny gazing upstream from the bridge

Above: Michael and Kenny on the bridge

Below: view upstream was very pretty. One cascade after another! 

   Once across we resumed our hike on the trail.  I could tell that while we were on the proper course it had changed.   It was no longer blazed except for occasional survey tape.  It was a little more rugged.  I think they have not worked all the kinks out of this section.  The website does say the trail is not open beyond the bridge.  

While the trail is a little tougher here, it is certainly open and easy to follow for the most part.     Michael took one slight detour on the hike back, but it was a matter of perhaps 10 feet in the wrong direction.  

Above: Kenny & Michael ahead of me on the gently winding trail

Below: A  look at the trail behind me.   Copper beech leaves give the forest a dash of color on a Winter day. 

      Once across the bridge and on to the opposite side it was only a quarter mile til we arrived at the falls.  The maddening part is that the first bit is easy and you soon come to a point where you can get your first look at the falls in the distance.

The trail here instead of taking a direction course to the falls goes up, up, up, and around.. and back down to the falls.  Why? Because the gorge slopes are steep here and there is no place to walk down next to the creek.   We went a tad over 1/10th mile on the far side before the terrain squeezed in tight forcing us to climb to get round the boulders and the cliff.  

Below: blue skies over Winter trees of green and gray.   We were down in a hole for sure!

     

Below: the trail climbs now

Below: can you see the tiny sliver of neon orange survey tape? 

The stream below the trail 

Below: I loved this shimmering pool along the creek 

The trail stays in the bottom of the gorge for a short distance on creek right

Above: more placid pools of water shining in the gloom of the woods

  We approached the falls from above it working our way down the bank slowly and carefully.   I was impressed with what I saw.  I knew it was a pretty falls from seeing other people's photos, but until you are there it is hard to get a feel for how powerful the stream is. The falls was larger than I'd expected and running very strongly.  Seeing it in person and especially from the side conveyed the scale of it better for me. 

Side shot of the falls

  Kenny was prowling around looking upstream.  Michael had sat down and was talking to me above the roar of the falls.   I could only hear parts of what he was saying, but he was talking about climbing on the falls, swimming there sometime, and then he went on to tell me he was going to swim at Abram's Falls next time he was there.   This lead to a quick physics lesson about waterfalls, swirl eddies, and hydraulics.   I reminded him how quickly things can turn bad such as the time he slipped and fell blacking his eye at Gee Creek.   He blanched out white at the thought.   It was a pigman's legacy moment.  I hated to be the one to deliver the sobering message, but if it saves my grandson's life I'll play the bad guy.  

    I have been striving with all my grandkids especially Michael since he was a baby to teach them to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. To have fun, but be smart about it and not to take foolish chances.    I got some photos of the stream at the brink of the falls.  I then very carefully made my way down over the slick bank to get pictures from the base.  I tried my best to convince Michael to come on with me, but he was still stunned I guess.   He was getting over the shock and realization of what he'd been contemplating and how dangerous it could have been.  

  

Above: The beautiful McGill Creek Falls from the base

Below: same falls.. silky shot

  

  Kenny helped me carefully get down to the base over the slick rocks.  I hung around down there taking photos and enjoying the sight of the falls for awhile.  I was able to climb back up myself being extra careful.  He once again gave me a hand to help me over the land rock which was slippery.   We sat up at the falls and ate lunch.   It was not cold, but it was not as warm down here in the gloom of the gorge as it was walking out in the midday sunshine.   

     Once we'd finished visiting here Kenny urged us to go up the bank and see another falls he'd spotted.   It was on a side stream that flows down and empties into McGill Creek.   It was quite pretty today and worth the short side trip to see it.   I have a feeling that part of the year it dries up a good bit.   From here we could look upstream and see an even larger falls.   No trail between here and there.  It would be a bushwhack and rock hop. Not real far, but tough.  Michael was not feeling the off trail thing.  He was far more reticent now.     

    

This lay between us and the upstream, big falls we spotted. 

scenic cascade on a side stream

Above: Looking upstream you can see many cascades and white water. It is hard to see through the trees the size of the other falls.   If you look at McGill Creek on satellite view it is easy to see the force of the stream and the fact it is rugged and one waterfall after another.

a closer look at the side stream with the waterfall. the trail actually curves round and provides a view of this.  It appears to continue in its roughed in form. 

Above: I am at the base of the falls looking downstream.   It is hard to see, but there is a spring flowing out from beside and under this boulder on the right.  I walked down through there and the bank had at least three springs running!

     Once we got done checking out this area we turned and retraced our steps along the path.    We were still on the super steep, rocky section that works around the cliff to put you at the falls when we encountered our first other hikers of the day. 

We ran into a man and woman and greeted them.  Once we'd gotten closer we stood and talked with them a bit. They were very friendly and a pleasure to chat with.   They both knew a lot about the area and lived nearby.  They were just out for exercise today.   We stood there discussing the trail and the area I kept thinking they looked mighty familiar.   

    Before we parted company I worked up the nerve to speak up.  "You both look extremely familiar to me.  I think I keep up with your blog and have for some time now. "  They both grinned and introduced themselves.  They are a sweet couple.. Laura and Craig. I keep up with Craig's blog and have for I don't know how many years.    It was a treat to finally get to meet them.   They realized who I was as well.    How funny.    Michael was restless and we were aware he wanted to get going so we all hiked out together.   They are fast hikers so they put us behind them rapidly.    

     We decided for the hike back up the hill to the truck we'd try something different.   We opted to follow the ATV trail/logging road for part of it.  Figuring it might be somewhat less steep.  All of it comes out the same place anyhow.   It turned out to be a good decision.   It was a little milder of a climb.   We were emerging back into the sunlight now of a pretty, late afternoon.  

     We were almost back to the truck when we passed the only other hiker we saw today.    A very attractive blonde haired lady passed us going in.. carrying a camera.   We exchanged hellos and kept going.  Kenny turned to me and said he was concerned about her trying to hike to the falls this late in the day.  I could see he was worried.  I thought about what we might do and considered leaving our phone number on a paper on her windshield and ask her to call or text to let us know she was ok?  Then I felt like it was on the forward side to expect that of a stranger.   I said a prayer for her safety and we were at the truck.   

     The drive home was uneventful and we were all very mellow. The exercise was great.  The scenery in the Dayton area and down that way is always pretty.  I just like it.   It is less crowded.     Upon getting home... either that evening or the following day I learned that the lady in question was a lady I am acquainted with through Facebook! Carolyn! She is a member of our Cumberland Plateau Group!

She said she made it out fine of course, but regretted the late start as she had to hurry and did not have the time she'd have liked to tarry at the falls and along the trail.    We were tickled to know who she was and that she was fine!  She said her husband called to check on her just as she got back to her car.

          Already looking forward to the next hike on the Cumberland Trail.  

Below is a video of McGill Creek Falls  

Wading the Creek With Michael

Cross Vine hangs over the creek 


Wading the Creek With Michael 

Dana Koogler aka Nanny Cookie and 
grandson Michael Lindsey age 6
Friday May 8, 2015

Pictures are here: Creek Wading Pix

    I had wanted to get out with my grandson Michael and wade the creek.

I wanted to hike some place pretty and quiet and uncrowded.  I wanted to take him to 

teach him to love doing some of the same things I loved as a little girl.   I loved playing

outdoors and most especially in the creek.    I spent considerable time laying on my belly

with a Dixie cup or the cup from the spring catching critters out of the creek.  I dug into

the creek bed and pulled up small amounts of yellow clay which I used to make pots.

I let the dry in the sun and pretended to be a real potter.  Every kid should have the chance

to dam the creek enough to make a tranquil little pool where they can see the creatures 

in the stream.   

       We packed us a picnic and headed down the road to just such a place.

It required donning water shoes and leaving them on most of the day.   We also took toys

and the net to catch things with.    Almost at once we began seeing beautiful wildflowers in the form of cross vines dangling from the trees over the water!   We also began seeing creatures right away.

Minnows swam and darted in the stream.   The morning was cool and clear.   We would have

perfect weather today.  

Michael getting ready to ford the creek for the first time of the day.

Michael has the red canoe tied to some jute cord so it can float downstream without getting lost.

  
Looking downstream

Some of the creatures we saw today

 Cherry Bug--many legged creature!

 Dragonfly coming in for a landing.

Salamander

      I felt like as a child that most creatures were my friends and I tried to make pets out of just

about everything.   I hope my grandkids love and respect animals and appreciate the beauty of the world outside.   I find that even as wicked an old sinner as I am I still feel the presence of God 

in Nature.  The world and every created thing bears witness to His divine power and might.  

I cannot think of anything I'd like better than for my grandchildren to relate to the Lord 

in that way.   

Pasture rose... the multiflora roses growing are invasive species, but they certainly looked pretty today and smelled marvelous.   I picked some from a bower high above to bring down for little
Michael to smell them.

 Michael at the second creek we came to. Playing with action figures in the creek.

 We have caught a crawdad in the net!  Put the net BEHIND him because he swims backwards.

 MIchael pretending to be very proud of catching a crawdad.

   Second creek crossing. Same creek as the first one, but we are following it up to a different ford as it meanders along.   

      We played in the creek awhile.  We were careful to watch our feet and hands for snakes are out.

We hoped to see a snake today, but we hoped it would be a non venomous one.    We hadn't seen any yet.   We had to get out of the creek finally and hike for awhile up the road to the next turn onto a different trail and go to a different creek.   The walk along the dirt road was pleasant enough.

We had blue skies and sunshine and a breeze.

          Before long we came to the deep creek ford and thankfully the tree across it was cut out.    

Michael handled it like a champ.  I knew todays creek walk and short hike would be fun for us.

So much to see and plenty of stops along the way.   We hiked in the woods now on a real trail.

Muddy in spots, but so pretty. The forest was lush, cool and green.  The creek now meandered by

bubbling and forming small cascades, gravelly shoals, and deeper pools.   We came to a split in the trail and turned left to go down to a picnic spot to eat our lunch by a little waterfall.  We approached and a gray squirrel came out to fuss at us! He chattered and barked then ran away. 

 

         The little cascade we had lunch by.

Michael at our picnic table.  It is so little used it is mossy! 

      We had a nice lunch.  Mr. Squirrel came out and fussed one more time then ran in his camper

and slammed the door.  What a grouch!   He must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today!

       We doubled back to the intersection after we finished eating.  We passed Mr. Squirrel's camper.

Michael wanted to go in to try to talk to him about his bad attitude.  He wondered what was in the camper?  I said I imagined it was full of nuts and nut hulls.  I was running out of ways to convince him we did NOT need to go in that camper when I spied a silver spoon on the trail. I said "See there! He is so angry he is flinging spoons!"  Michael kept the spoon to use to dig in the creek and the sand.

      We hiked up a bit further and at the next pretty spot along the creek he decided we'd gone far enough.   I did not want to tire him out to where he'd be against hiking.   We stopped to play in the creek again.  I went to ford this spot and as I did I looked down and there was a tiny garter snake.

He was so cute and we were thrilled we got to see a snake and it was not a venomous one! 

Michael squatted down by him to talk to him.  Baby garter snake was scared of us and started striking

and hissing.  He got on the defensive right away.   Michael was so disappointed that little snake was 

the second grouchy critter we'd run into today.   I had to explain to him that such a tiny creature is born and its mother leaves it all on its own from the time it is born.  He has to be tough to protect himself.  He feels like as big as we are compared to him that we will squash him or hurt him.

We got a great look at the garter snake, but this is the poor photo I got of him as he slithered away fast.

All smiles today-- WE were in a good mood! No grouches here.

These kinds of days are treasures to me. I hope they will be to Michael as well.

Rock art... then they get thrown back in the creek!

Mr. Smiley Face with tiny white rocks for teefs!    :-)

      We hiked back fording the creek many times.  We greeted a pair of men who were on a tractor 

at the last ford.   They stopped to chat for a moment.  Then Michael had to watch them drive the tractor across the creek.  It was deep where they forded and he cheered for them when they made it across safely.  Michael doesn't meet a stranger.  He is nice to everyone. I'm glad he is not a shy child.

He was a tired little boy but very happy.   

Pistol Creek Wetland

Swamp Milkweed growing near the board walk

Pistol Creek  Wetland  with Michael 

Friday August 15, 2014

and

Sunday Sept. 7,2014 Return visit with Kenny

Pictures are here: Pistol Creek Wetland Pix

Grandson Michael who is five and its getting so BIG! He's the biggest kid in his class!

   During the beginning of the school year for August the kindergarteners had a staggered schedule.

It was half days off and on for two weeks.   I had some fun things lined up to do with my grandson 

Michael who had just begun kindergarten on the half days.     One day we headed out to the farm at

Conings. Next stop after buying veggies was Pistol Creek Wetland for a short walk.  It is like walking

around your yard distance wise, but there is a gazebo and a boardwalk.    Last we were supposed to

go to the Sandy Springs Park across the way and eat snacks, play on the playground and play in the 

creek. I had a net for catching critters, boats, cord to tie to boats, watering can, and all sorts of 

balls. I figured we'd wear it out.  Just have one of those evenings where I'll go home when I'm good and 

ready!  He did not have school the next day at all. I did not have to work since he IS my work.  

   Looking up into the top of the gazebo.  


  The farm visit went great.   The wetland visit was cut short by him suddenly not feeling well.

It was very hot and I don't know if the heat got to him or what went wrong?  We made it through two

parts of our trip, but he just wanted to go home.  My usually energetic little grandson did not even
care about going to play in the park with Nanny.  I determined then I'd go back to finish up my exploration
on another trip.  I went back and finished up this past Sunday Sept. 7, 2014 with Kenny, my spouse.

   Pistol Creek Wetland Center is located in the city of Maryville, TN.  It was part of the old Delozier

Farm.   Pistol Creek passes through one side of it with housing developments on either side of it.   A large 

spring is in the middle of it.  A gazebo and walkway have been constructed along with a permeable

concrete parking lot equipped with a drainage system to deal with run off water and feed it back into the

ground or the wetland.   The gazebo is a gathering place and they keep educational boards and handouts there.  It tells about management practices for the wetland here. It also educates about wetlands and about 

ecologically sound practices such as use of rain barrels, permeable concrete parking lots and that 

sort of thing.   The area students get a chance to learn about the ecosystem.

   I  noticed on this last visit that the wetland was very dry.  I also noticed they had cut all the shrubs and large trees. Overgrowth of vegetation especially large trees and shrubs or cattails in a wetland is one way to ensure it does not remain a wetland!  Willows, alders, cattails and large shrubs are sure ways to suck up the water and dry a place out.  I still recall my very smart Papaw Bradley 

had a bad wet spot in the yard up to the Country.  It was a place we liked to play volleyball in the backyard.

He removed a dozen cattail plants from the marsh behind the house and planted them in this spot and in a couple years that area was dry. It was as normal as the rest of the yard.  I read after beginning to type up this
blog entry that the wetland was drying up and going away! It was disappearing despite the 100 gallons per minute being pumped into it by the spring!  I learned from the article I read that the spring here is THE Sandy Spring. It has sand in the bottom of it sure enough.   So the city hired a manager for the wetland who
has the appropriate experience to help manage a wetland ecosystem.   I took it for granted coming from
where I did that anyone would have sense enough to know you'd best cut back some of the trees and shrubs and dig up some cattails or you won't have a wetland for long.   They also said they found two drainage ditches in it once they had cut the brush back.  It appeared the ditches had been filled once they were discovered.   Hopefully this will help restore the wetland.

     

     Sandy Spring in the middle of the wetland. This is the water source that formed it. It pumps out 100 gallons per minute!

Michael with the critter catching net on the boardwalk.





Pistol Creek below. It is not real pretty today.



Blue lobelia was blooming on a repeat visit with Kenny!

 
Great blue lobelia, orange jewelweed, red cardinal flower, white  snakeroot in bloom by the spring.

   It was a beautiful walk and very short.  It was hot today.  I enjoyed it.
Wildlife seen the first visit? A flock of goldfinches and a green heron.  Second visit? Only a few minnows in the spring and one hummingbird feeding on the jewelweed.

   Flower species seen in combination of both trips:

Cardinal Flower          Great Blue Lobelia
Swamp Milkweed        Purple New York Ironweed
Mist Flower                 White Snakeroot
Golden wingstem           White wingstem
Spotted Jewelweed        White turtleheads
Black eyed susans           Goldenrod

Joe Pye Weed                 Wild Clematis vine in flower
Shrubby Seedbox          Sneezeweed
Thistle                           Square stemmed monkey flower

Look Rock Tower and Spruce Flats Falls

Michael with the Ninja Turtle Lunch Box

Look Rock Tower and Spruce Flats Falls --Two Hikes in One Day With Michael! 

"Nanny Cookie" aka Dana Koogler

and Grandson Michael Lindsey age 5

Wednesday August 6, 2014

Total hike distance 3 miles round trip

Pictures are here 

Look Rock & Spruce Flats Falls Pix

     I am now the grandparent of a kindergartener!  Michael started school this past Tuesday. 

They do things differently now and they go 1/2 day for two days the first week, 1/2 day every other day the second week, then the third week they go the normal schedule from 7:45 am to 2:45 pm.  

He is liking school a lot.  The days  he is off he is here with me.   We decided to get to the woods and enjoy 

Summer on Wednesday.  He is getting to be such a big boy now and can hike further. It has opened up lots

of possibilities as to what he can do and where we can go!  

      I asked him if he wanted to climb a tall tower and look off on Wednesday and then go to a pretty waterfall? He exclaimed YES!, but  ONLY if we can get in the river!  So it was agreed upon. 

We packed a picnic and some toys.  We took Dissy blanket.. yes. Dissy doesn't go to school, but it is

still important to take our security blanket on hikes. 

    We left the house about 9:30 am and drove up Foothills Parkway to Look Rock parking area.
I had a thought about getting him interested in the hike and drove a short distance past the parking area.
I turned around and headed the jeep back in the right direction and started slowly driving back. I found
a spot to pull over on the shoulder. I told Michael to get out of his car seat which he did.  He came up to the front of the jeep with me and I was able to point out the tower in the distance.  I asked what he saw?
His answer was a wide-eyed "Can we go there?!" We made it to the parking area and got ready to hike.
We gathered the camera and a small lunch box of stuff and hiked the 1/2 mile up to the tower. Nanny had to
stop and take photos of every thing because it was all fascinating to Michael. Mushrooms, leaves, bugs, rocks!   He had to climb on the rocks and eat a cookie.   He noticed the shortcut trail.. the unofficial trail up
to the tower. Who does that remind you of?   He did not find the hike up to be hard at all.  I had taken him
up there once before, but he was still a papoose then.  He has not been when he was old enough to recall
the trip until today.   He was astonished when he got the first glimpse of the tower from the trail.

       He ran up the ramps and was checking out the rocks and the surroundings. He was disgusted when he
realized we were not allowed to climb the spiral staircase or go up into the cab.   I know that feeling well.
He still enjoyed the view and told me he was just sure he could see my house down there!

Top: Look Rock Tower
Bottom: Michael enjoying climbing around on rocks

Checking out the view from Look Rock Tower out across Blount County, TN

     It was a new experience for Michael coming to the tower, but he did not find it that interesting.
He was ready to go see waterfalls and play in the creek.  He was unhappy that we had to drive in the jeep
to get to the next place.  I told him it was not far and to hang in there.  I bribed him with promises of a
visit to the visitor center store at Tremont.  I had not bought him anything in awhile and I can usually find him
something there that is a little educational as well as fun.   We made it there without too much complaining.
He enjoyed the visitor center and the staff there was so nice to him.   A lady was there and had brought her
little dog in the store for a short visit. He got to pet the dog and liked his name which was "Banjo".
He picked out a stuffed bear to cuddle and named him Scout.   We learned about bird banding. We learned about bears and what they do.   We had us a nice picnic lunch at the Tremont Institute on the grass.
Scout got up in a tree like bears do and did not get our picnic basket.   It was a chance for me to start educating him about NOT feeding bears or wildlife, chasing them, or otherwise harassing them.  I certainly
don't want him to fear wildlife, but respect it and enjoy it.  We had sweet tea, homemade lemonade,
turkey sandwiches, and homemade brownies for dessert.

         We did a quick Presto Chango into swim trunks. Grabbed our toys and walking sticks and backpacks and all our stuff and away we went down the trail. I had taken time back at the jeep once the Look Rock trail was done to ask Michael "Do you know how far you just walked? ONE MILE!" He was tickled at that and remarked "That was NOTHING!" And for him it really wasn't.  I then told him the hike to the waterfall would be one mile. He again said "That's nothing!" and true to form ... it wasn't for him.
He is a big, long legged boy for age five. He is in the 95 percentile for his age on height and weight.
He has an uncle who is about seven feet tall and Pawpaw is 6'4". He's a hoss.

       We hiked the trail out to Spruce Flats Falls and he was thrilled at seeing the water tower.
He really was intrigued by that.  He liked the log steps too.  He liked the narrow trail and the views.
He saw salamanders in the springs coming down over the trail. He loved the woods.  He held my hand and made sure Nanny did not fall or do anything unsafe.  He kept pointing out roots to me and rocky places and telling me to be careful.  A few times he got uneasy and wanted me to lift him down over a bad place which I did.  He is a leader already, but he is not embarrassed to ask for help when he needs it. He told me one time on the hike "I need your help. I'm just a little boy!"  We encountered another family on the trail who had
a little boy with them.  His name was Ian and he was also five!  It was his first trip to the waterfall and
he and Michael hit it off right away.    Michael is competitive and was determined he was going to get there
first. He got me by the hand and whispered "We can't let them beat us!"  He was pleased that we got there ahead of them.

    He was pleased at the first sight of the falls and was hollering WHOA!  but he also let me know right then that we needed to go right up to the falls!   First we need to play! So play we did.  We got in the creek and
visited with Ian and his family. He shared his toys with him and other kids.  It was very sweet. He threw rocks in the water, but was sure to be careful and only throw them in the water and not at people or anywhere near people.   The boys dammed the creek. The checked out crawdads, salamanders,and minnows.  Lots of time for building rock stacks and digging sand and rocks. 

Spruce Flats Falls

Michael & Ian playing together. It's great to be five!

Michael has found a stick that looks like a Pow Pow!   Woo Hoo was the mood of the day!








Sharing toys and digging sand and rocks. Putting them in the lunch box!


           The rest of the trip was not photographed.  Why?  Because we were too busy playing in the water.
Lots of families were here today with us.  All nice people. We were the only ones who were "locals".   Everyone else was on vacation. Everyone was in a great mood.   We visited with children and grown ups
of every stripe and description. They were all lovely.   The older kids were sweet as could be and had nets.
They were gently catching critters in the stream and bringing them over for the smaller children to see.
Michael got to touch a crawdad for the first time.   He could not believe that Nanny would pick it up!
The presence of the other families there really made it fun.

    Today's visit to Spruce Flats Falls was the most fun hike I've ever taken there. Hands down.
I have visited there too many times to count.  I had never climbed up into the waterfall until today.
I had never been swimming there before until today.  Today was a breath of fresh air with a little boy who
knows how to have a good time and takes the party with him where he goes.   We were sliding down a small cascade into the plunge pool. We got IN the waterfall and let it splash us and pelt us with cold drops of water.  We swam in the plunge pool.  Michael swam across on my back. I was like a momma bear.
It was great fun.   I will never forget it.   I could hear other kids and parents remarking about us.
I could not hear all of what was said.   Later a mother of two older daughters told me what she thought.
I figured she was going to correct me for teaching my grandson to be reckless.  She said she thought
it was great that we were having a good time, but being careful while doing so.  That is always a good policy.
Enjoy yourself. Have fun, but use some common sense.   It is not necessarily so common, eh?

    We spent 2 1/2 hours at the falls swimming and playing.   Finally we had to leave. We put on our dry shoes for the hike back.  We told our new friends good bye.  Michael had two brownies while I put my boots on.  He hopped, skipped, jumped, ran, and pretended to fly like an eagle along the trail on the hike back.   Thanks so much to the family who was behind us and played along with him being the hike leader!
He had that chest stuck out and was showing us how to get back to the parking lot.

        We put our things away. He told the other family good bye. We changed into dry clothes.
He hugged Scout and his blanket and we had only gotten as far as Townsend IGA when he konked out.
He slept all the way home. We played hard!  Five and one half hours outside and three miles of  hiking, swimming, sliding and rock throwing will do that to you.

          I look forward to more adventures and opportunties to teach my grandson to love outside!