Road Trip 2010 Part 2

We decided to take the scenic route home from DC and drive through the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway and escape from the brutal summer heat we've been experiencing. Before we made it to the mountains we made a lunch stop at Great Aunt Susan's house in Charlottesville (not to be confused with Aunt Susie!). She had a fantastic lunch for us, and Hank enjoyed the break from the carseat for a while!

This trip was Hank's first true hiking/mountain experience, and I've never seen the boy laugh so hard as when he was riding in his backpack carrier with his Dad. We stayed the night at a fantastic lodge, the Bluffs Lodge high on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. It was a rustic lodge, with huge views of the mountains and the weather was amazing. It got down in the 60s at night, and we actually had to pull out some long sleeves! The best part of the lodge was the restaurant that had amazing southern cooking. Hank stuffed himself silly with corncakes and biscuits! A close second favorite to the backpack and corncakes was the wagon they had at the lodge. Johnny had Hank tearing around the parking lot at speeds that made mom very nervous. Nonetheless, Hank was belly laughing the entire time, so how could you say no?

We took a few short hikes along the way home, one to a waterfall (any falling water absolutely blows Hank's mind), and one to the highest point east of the Mississippi, Mt. Mitchell-Hank's first high point!! For a few moments he was the highest baby on the whole east coast! Next stop Mt. Rainier in September!

Hank ready to hike!
Flying down the hill in the wagon
First of many waterfall hikes

Hank's first high point!!

Checking out the waterfall with Dada

I love this shot of our family
Engrossed in the waterfall
Belly laughed the entire hike
Mama trying out the backpack! He's heavy!

Whew, that was a whirlwind trip for sure! But as everything is now, certainly a memorable one.