Ann’s Kind of Happy!

Posted by AR on January 8th, 2012 filed in The Company of Friends
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My good friend Ann always loved smiley faces. When we worked together in Atlanta, she had lots of these images hanging around. And because she was a graphic designer, it only seemed natural for her to collect these yellow guys. But that was then and this is now. Today, she is on the mission field with her husband on the other side of the world. Still, it is hard to see a happy face and not think of Annie. This one was located on the side of a hotel building in Chattanooga.

Rainy Day Photos

Posted by AR on January 7th, 2012 filed in Fall and Winter in the Mountains
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Even though the day was rainy in Chattanooga, the time spent inside with friends was warm and relaxing.

Quite a different place to put in canoes and kayaks. That is what the small center ramp  is used for.

Visiting The Whiteboard Guys

Posted by AR on January 6th, 2012 filed in The Company of Friends
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Dropped by this afternoon to see Taylor Jones at Whiteboard Network in Chattanooga, TN. We talked about our web sites, and I was so right: there was plenty of light in the office area, brick walls, a total crash pad and lots of creativity. I almost forgot to mention that there was plenty of good strong coffee. I’m so grateful for this team of professionals. Check out their work: tfc.edu.

 

Lunch earlier at Niedlov’s Breadworks and . . . it was really good.

Waiting for The Return of Summer

Posted by AR on January 5th, 2012 filed in Fall and Winter in the Mountains, Hiking Through Northeast Georgia
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This past weekend I was at Vogel State Park with the dogs and while it was as beautiful as always, there was something missing. I think it was the people, those who camp and swim and relax in the little boats while floating lazily out across the water.

Wow! Here’s another lakeside view.

Hog Pen Gap

Posted by AR on January 4th, 2012 filed in Fall and Winter in the Mountains
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Here is a quick photo of Hog Pen Gap, which is located on the Appalachian Trail. Just a short distance south of this point is the Walasi-Yi Center at Neel’s Gap where the trail crosses the mountains. In fact, the center’s breezeway contains the familiar white blaze that marks the AT. The trail actually runs through the structure. It’s the only building that actually sits on the trail. It’s here that thru hikers stop, repack, and unload items they realize they won’t use. I’ve written this before but I have found out new information.

The Mountain Crossings Center at Walasi-yi was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 and completed in 1937. It was originally an inn and restaurant for the brave souls, who ventured this far into the wilderness. This is the oldest part of the AT. A hundred years before the trail was constructed, the Cherokee Indians had a path in this area. It was a major trade route and settlers often wrote about Frogtown Gap, the original name for Neel’s Gap.

The remains of the original Cherokee town are below the Walasi-yi Center. This portion of the AT climbs 800 feet in a mile and a half to the breath-taking vista on Hogpen Mountain.

I love visiting Neel’s Gap any time of the year. I always take the dogs but we did not go far this year along the AT. I’ll write more about that on the next post.

Isn’t this a cool looking structure and it’s located flat on the AT.

It always amazes me how many shoes are left behind at Neel’s Gap. Hikers who don’t have the right gear to hike the trail usually know it by the time they reach this point and shed the things that just don’t work. In the case of “shoes,” hikers leave their old ones behind (some toss them up in the generous oak that borders the center) and purchase new ones at the Mountain Crossings Walasi-Yi Center.