Chattanooga

Chattanooga is a pretty city right on the Georgia Tennesee border. The Tennesee River takes several big snake like turns right through the middle of the city. One is called Moccasin Bend. Along the river though town is a great 20 mile bike trail. John and I rode most of the trail and especially enjoyed the sculpture park with intriguing metal sculptures. Pegasus about to jump off the hillside into the river was my favorite. The bike trail goes along the river, through beautiful old homes and along a treed swamp area and around a pond. Great afternoon. Also went to see Ruby Falls which is a 200 foot waterfall that is 1000 feet under Lookout mountain inside a cave. Fun tour. Would have loved it at $10 per person. It was just ok at twice that. Next we went to Rock City. It is a walk through park designed around huge boulders and rock formations on the hillside of Lookout Mountain. Cute gnome displays and a kids nursery rhyme display. There were lots of native plants and gorgeous views of the surrounding valley. Another tourist sight that would have been great at half the price. The Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Battlefield is just outside of Chattanooga and has a terrific Visitor Center, museum and movie. There is a cell phone driving tour of the various battle locations and the markers of the states and regiments that fought there. A very moving place, it reminded me a bit of Gettysburg. We have really enjoyed our 3 days in Chattanooga. The RV park we are staying in was also a civil war battlefield and has a walk to one of the monuments.

On to Lynchberg and the Jack Daniels Distillery on the way to Nashville. Should be fun!

More Atlanta area pictures

The place we stayed on Allatoona lake was amazing. And the full moon was too. Fun waterfall hike.

April 19th - Atlanta area and a trip home

Just a quick catch up of the last month. John and I drove to a Corp of Engineers campground at West Point Georgia which is about an hour SW of Atlanta. A huge lake, pretty campground and close enough to the airport for my trip to Vancouver. Lots to see in the area;
-Warm Springs, FDR Little White House was fascinating and the tornado warning scary
-John went to Plains, Montgomery and some Civil War Battlefields

Vancouver was wonderful, tiring, busy and crazy. Izzy is the most beautiful baby ever and Shannon and Chris are great parents. Saw Uncle Erik & Aunt Jenn, Aunt LeAnne, Trina & Sue, Bonny and GrAunt Alta while I was there. Not much sleep but lots of Izzy time so who cares. Izzy loves her bath and I had fun helping Shannon. Can't wait to see everyone in June.

Sweetwater Campground on Lake Allatoona is about an hour North of Atlanta. This is probably our favorite campsite on this trip. We have a spot overlooking the lake and for one week we were the only campers on that loop. So private and love to wake up to the views of the lake. One night we had an huge, orange full moon that lit up the lake like a street light.

Spent one day in Marietta doing the trolly tour of the historic area and the Gone with the Wind Museum. Another day at the Kennesaw Mtn Civil War Battlefield. The most amazing museum is in Buckhead a very ritzy suburb of Atlanta. The Atlanta History Center has a facinating Civil War exhibit. Lovely quiet subtle gardens. The Swan House from 1928 shows how the weathly lived at the time. And the Tullie Smith homestead showed what a pre-Civil War farm life was like. Spent all afternoon here and wished we had more time. Highly recommended.

Hiked at both Red Top Mtn and Amicalola Falls State Parks. The falls required almost 700 stairs to get to the top but worth it as the views all along the way were terrific. Red Top Mtn was a 6 mile hike and we figured out how little hiking we had done with any elevation gain as we were up and down over the hills.

Next post...... Chatanooga

Thoughts on South Carolina

Tomorrow we leave South Carolina on the way to Atlanta and an airplane trip for Nana to see new little Izzy. I won't be blogging for a couple weeks since every free minute will be busy with baby and helping out.

So before I leave South Carolina and my blog, I wanted to get down some impressions of this wonderful state.
-driving through tunnels of live oaks with spanish moss dripping everywhere
-maritime forests with warm sunshine dappling through. bike rides on forest paths and across marsh boardwalks
-Intracoastal water crossings, bridges the highest spot arounds, barrier islands with beautiful white sand beaches, just right for a picnic with a good friend
- canoeing along a 'creek' that is as big as most rivers anywhere else
-huge marshes that change color in the light and breezes that are welcome
-Charleston that is so full of history, charm, wonderful homes and plantations. Savannah (it might as well be South Carolina) and its perfect squares and fountains with St Pattys Day green water.
-Congaree National park that is a perfect place for a peaceful stroll along a boardwalk through an old bottomland forest.

And enjoying it all with my darling husband and dearest friends (Trina, Sue, Kirsten & Cline). What a lucky person I am. Life is good.

Isabelle Maryann Martin Arrives!!!!!

Well, I had to do some serious catching up on my blog because there is really big news to report.

Shannon & Christian had their baby at 3:18 pm on 3/18/11! She was 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Her name is Isabelle Maryann (in honor of Chris's Mom) Martin. She is the most beautiful baby in the world. After a very long & tiring labor Shannon is doing well, and so is papa Chris. Isabelle has some jaundice as I write this, but is in the hospital and expected to be fine. Her parents are seriously sleep deprived. Since Izzy was 11 days earlier than her due date, I am scrambling to change my flights and other reservations. We have had some electrical problems with the coach and are hurrying to get them fixed. We are in Edisto Beach, SC and need to get to Atlanta, GA to catch a plane. I will get to Vancouver on the 28th and finally get to hold my newest grandbaby. Can't WAIT!

Savannah & Charleston with Trina & Sue

Picked up the girls at the Charleston airport and headed directly for Savannah. Weather was 70s and sunny the 2 days we were there. The city was preparing for St Patty's day as they have the second largest St Patricks Day celebration in the country. Had a fabulous first day touring the city on the Trolly Tour. Stopped in a park and several of the old squares to walk around see the flowers and the fountains that all had green water in them for the holiday. Lunch at the Olde Pink House, sitting outside in the sun. She Crab Soup is a local favorite so we shared a bowl. Lots of cream, crab, crab roe, and sherry. Very rich and good.

Next we toured 2 of the historic homes. The Davenport House and the Owens Thomas House. had to go see Jim Williams home from Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil. Just loved this city and all the old squares with their parks and flowers.

The next morning I toured the Savannah History Museum and Sue & Trina went to the Art Museum. We met in the old city market to do some shopping and had a wonderful lunch at Belfords which is noted for the best crab cakes in the city. From there we went to St Johns Cathedral which has amazing stained glass windows and painted ceilings. I thought it rivaled the cathedrals of Europe. By now it was late afternoon and time to head for Charleston.

Arrived in Charleston in time for the wine & cheese hour at the Ansonborough Inn where we were staying. Headed out for dinner in the historic area with Trina's sister Valeria who lives nearby. Our first full day in Charleston we did another city overview tour. The day was mid 70s and bright sun. So fun to see this old city on such a pretty day. After lunch we headed to the Fort Sumter tour. Took the ferry across the harbor to the fort with dolphins accompanying us. All the way over and back, we listened to a recap of the history of this fort where the Civil War began. The ranger at the fort gave an interesting talk and then we walked around the battlements. I must admit to being very distracted as Shannon had called that morning and was starting into labor. (much more on this later) Valeria came into town again to join us for dinner.

Our last full day in Charleston was full again. Up and out early to Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Toured the old plantation home and walked the gardens. Camelias, magnolia, azaleas, and south carolina jasmine along with pretty plantings of annuals. The dogwood trees were in bloom along with other flowering trees. Very pretty.

Our last big activity in Charleston was the Home & Garden Show. Once a year the historical society has a show of private homes and gardens to raise money. One of the homes was from the 1700s and belonged to the family that owned the Magnolia Plantation that we toured this morning. Valeria joined us for the formal tour and also gave us a bit of an informal tour of her historic Baptist Church and interesting places nearby. We finished up our Charleston visit with a shopping trip to the old City Market. The trip was a fantastic success. Both cities are full of great things to see, wonderful restaurants and we had perfect weather. But the best part was sharing it with such precious friends. Our annual trips are so fulfilling and have made my life so rich. Love you Sue & Trina!

Edisto Beach State Park- on a South Carolina barrier island

John and I arrived at Edisto Beach State Park on March 13th. Wonderful park right on the atlantic ocean with miles of white sand beaches and tons of shells. There is also a maritime forest area of the park with walking and biking paths and an interesting nature center. Kirsten & Cline are coming to stay for a week while I am in Savannah & Charleston with Trina & Sue. John will have some company and a peaceful place to relax while I am gone.