I absolutely love it when friends from Atlanta visit. Without fail, Toccoa Falls is always a true surprise to them. It’s 186 feet high, and I never take it for granted. Every time I see it, I think: “Wow, this really is beautiful.” Judy and her sister Carolyn thought so, too.

Maybe you look at this photo and want to write your own story. Perhaps if C. S. Lewis was here he would read a chapter to us from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He might even read the ending to the chapter titled: Peter’s First Battle. “Then, after a bit, Susan came down the tree. She and Peter felt pretty shaky when they met and I won’t say there wasn’t kissing and crying on both sides. But in Narnia no one thinks any worse of you for that.

“‘Quick! Quick!’ shouted the voice of Aslan. ‘Centaurs! Eagles! I see another wolf in the thickets. There behind you. He has just darted away. After him, all of you. He will be going to his mistress. Now is your chance to find the Witch and rescue the fourth Son of Adam.’ And instantly with a thunder of hoofs and beating of wings a dozen or so of the swiftest creatures disappeared into the gathering darkness.’”

This photo was taken of the path on the way to the Chimney Tops—a rock formation in the Great Smokey National Park. Around here we just say, “The Smokies.” I can’t wait to meet up with my friends Ann and Marc in the park this summer. It has been way too long since I have seen them.

Last Saturday while exploring the Tugaloo Corridor, we turned off Lake Harwell and paddled up Longnose Creek to an opening where we had lunch by the absolutely wonderful waterfall. There is something about the light along these small waterways that is very inviting. I didn’t adjust this photo very much—if any. This is life at this moment—as the camera saw it.

Some of those with us couldn’t resist getting back in their canoes and paddling as close as possible to Longnose Creek Falls.

The area near it was an old homestead complete with the remnants of a family’s fireplace.

Another photo of Kelly as he stopped long enough to talk about the Cherokee Indians and the villages that once dotted this area.

This and a couple pillars like it are all that remains of a covered bridge that once spanned the Tugaloo River.

The last place we stopped was in the middle of the lake at the Indian burial mound that is protected by the Corps of Engineers. A quick note on Lake Hartwell: it is one of the most visited Corps lake in the nation. “It is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah. Extending 49 miles up the Tugaloo and 45 miles up the Seneca at normal pool elevation, Hartwell Lake comprises nearly 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles.” Kelly continued to tell us about the area and the Indians, who once lived here.

And finally Kelly took this photo once we were all back on land and after the guys had conceded that they would have to find the famous “Dripping Rock” on another day! Evidently it is a rock with a fresh water spring running near it. Some of the members of our group said they had seen and even drunk water from the spring when they were young.

Over the next couple of days, I’ll post photos I took this weekend while canoeing on the Tugaloo Corridor. Did I say canoeing? Yes! It was so much fun that I may have found a new activity. From what I gather from college friend and registrar Kelly Vickers, this is an annual event. He led the group on a five hour adventure along the Corridor that ended in a portion of Lake Harwell.

Here’s a little info about this historical area: “The Tugaloo Corridor is the eastern portion of the county adjacent to the upper reaches of Lake Hartwell and abuts the Tugaloo River to form the eastern boundary of the county. The Corridor extends from US 123 in the south, to Habersham County, in the north. The 6 mile section of the river is the last un-impounded section. Within the Corridor are a number of historical structures, including Travelers’ Rest, Providence United Methodist Church, the Prather Home, and Tugaloo Bend, an 87-acre heritage site owned by The Stephens County Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit foundation which is credited with identifying the Tugaloo Corridor and its potential. On the Tugaloo Bend property is the site of the old Estatoe Native American village. The Foundation plans nature trails, educational facilities, and a heritage education center highlighting Native American and 19th and 20th century settler lifestyles. The goal of The Foundation is to preserve and protect the area, so generations to come will enjoy the educational and recreational opportunities.” This group’s office web site is http://tugaloocorridor.org.

Some of the people that went with us were from the college, which gave me the opportunity to get to know them a little better.

This is the view I had for most of the trip—middle to back, but that’s ok. I had to pull up canoeing instructions from the past. And even then, I had to ask others how to do simple things—like how to keep the canoe going in a straight line. I thought for sure that I would be sore “to the bone” as my grandmother used to say, but I’m not. So, I’m ready to go again!

I live here—five minutes—if that from this sight. Do I miss the city? Yes, I do at times. I miss friends and wish they were closer. Friday night with Delores was lots of fun. We laughed like crazy and I wish Judy was working with me again, but life changes and we go on. I truly think they would agree: if I had to be some place other than in the city, this is a very good place to be. I’ll post more photos over the next day or so. Thanks Kelly for a great trip and for all the historical stories and facts you shared with us.

WoW! We had mostly sun today, and I finally found my yellow field to photograph. I had expected to find just a little field, but I prayed and you know how God answers prayer—over the top and so much more than you can ever expect!

Same yellow fields? I’m not sure but these fields are located in the Cotswolds in England.