Mountain Adventures 2019

Anyone who knows my Slingshot (my husband) knows he treats life like an extreme sport!  He loves passionately.  He fights passionately and his motto is “I’ll just wing it!”  So, when he said he wanted to take a family vacation to the mountains this summer, I approached it as I do all things with my husband-  stock up on Dramamine and get right with the Lord cause someone may not make it back alive and there’s a fair chance we may wind up having to take on aliases (David has also been known as Daniel Flanagan).

We loaded up early Wednesday morning with my brother-in-law, Randy following behind, and set out to conquer all the adventures America had to offer between Mississippi and North Carolina.  And, yes, we drove the ENTIRE way!  With Walker’s foot resting on my shoulder, Jane hogging 75% of the back seat, and the everyone knocking the heck out of each other (David included while driving), screaming “Yellow Car!!” it was an awful long drive.   But it was well worth every minute of car sickness.

We visited Six Flags over Georgia and Stone Mountain before making our final stop in North Carolina.  Our stop at Six Flags was a perfect indication of how the rest of our trip would go.  In every photo taken from the roller coasters, Walker’s face was stone-faced and white as a ghost as if looking the Grim Reaper straight in the eye, Jane had a death-grip on her brother, my face was distorted, obviously screaming obscenities, Hallie’s eyes were closed because she didn’t want to know what was happening, and David was just grinning from ear-to-ear!  He was in his element.

Once we made it to our little secluded cabin, far away from society and cell phones, we spent the rest of days hiking, exploring water falls, white water rafting, kayaking, zip lining and paddle boarding.  We spent our nights eating, playing board games and soaking our poor worn-out bodies in the hot tub.  And it was glorious because we were all together.

The memories we made together on our adventures will last a lifetime. We will laugh forever about Jane losing her shoe in the river and David and I taking turns hiking the rest of the mountain barefoot so she could wear our shoes.  And I am sure the French family that ran off in the ditch rushed straight back to France to tell their story of meeting a real-live machete wielding American Paul Bunyun after David cut a small tree down to help clear the road for them.  They must have thought they were about to be murdered on the mountain when they came to our cabin asking for help and my hairy, tatted up, scary husband came out and pulled out this machete without a moment’s hesitation (they were grateful in the end, though, and left us a case of beer on the porch the next day).  And, I am positive the kids will taunt me for the rest of my life for having a panic attack and having to be helped off the obstacle course.  Yeah, the memories of those adventures will live on long after the vacation.  But, the bond we strengthened over those five days will be there long after I am gone.  And that is why I will always love this trip.

White water rafting was exciting.   But, watching my son and husband sit and talk by themselves in the hot tub was wilder.  There was a time when my son didn’t want me to ever date again; and wouldn’t allow David in the house.  So watching them have their one-on-one time was way more exciting than any rapids.  I may not have finished the obstacle course, but sweet Hallie did!  And proudly watching her be so brave once again, even if from the safety of the ground, made my heart flutter more than hanging from a rope.  Jane may have lost her favorite shoe in the river, but watching her big brother hold her hand and help her across, gave her the assurance that I know will carry her through life as she’s about to enter her last couple years of high school and enter the real world.  All three kids grew so much during those few days, whether they realize it or not.  And our family only grew closer.  I guess day after day of death-defying adventures can do that to a family!

My cabin came equipped with dozens of cookbooks!  I guess it was just serendipity!  Of course, I scoured through them, looking for the perfect mountain-top recipe.  I found a simple one with the cutest name!

Gold Mine Muffins

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 can (8 1/2oz) cream corn

1 (4oz) pk shredded cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cup Bisquick

1/2 cup corn chips crushed

     Beat together egg and milk, mix in corn and cheese.  Stir in Bisquick til just moistened.  Spoon batter into greased muffin tins.  Sprinkle with corn chips.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy a couple pics from our vacation!  Randy was horrible with maps!  But he was fantastic with the camera!