A Walk In The Woods Wednesday

The day began with an abbreviated coffee and computer session, we had to get ready for w*rk.  Really needed that coffee, though, as we were about to face 20 pre-schoolers with an attention span about as long as their age (that is about 4 minutes, if we were lucky).  West had a craft type project ready for them (making animal tracks in clay), then a movie (that was a bust), and a detective project (thank God for mothers).We were done by noon time, all in all, it went well and, for the most part, the kids were pretty well behaved in spite of their real short attention spans.  Then it was home for a little lunch before heading out in search of more waterfalls.

These waterfalls were not as easy to get to as those at Tallulah Falls or at Toccoa Falls.  We gained a whole new appreciation for Gene and Judi Curp’s hiking abilities as these trails were more in line with those on the Appalachian Trail - they were ungroomed, rough, and up and down hill.  Even though we only walked about three and a half miles on them, we felt it and were tired by the time we returned home.First we hiked into Panther Falls and Angel Falls located at Raburn Lake Campground and Recreation Area which is on U. S. Forest Service land.  Because of my “Old Geezer Pass” we didn’t have to pay the entrance fee.  There were several little waterfalls on the way in, you know, the kind where you’d like to “pitch your tent” next to.Panther Falls is 50 feet tall and in a very natural setting.  Unfortunately the sun was not at the right angle for capturing the beauty of either Panther or Angel Falls.  Photographers know that the best time for shooting scenic photos are in the early morning or late evening but, we don’t tend to be out and about at those hours – our outings always seem to take place during the middle of the day.Next it was onto Angel Falls which was further “up” the trail (and when I say up, I mean up – Remember, Judy, the hill is your friend).  The U. S. Forest Service has built a nice viewing bridge with a settee at the foot of the falls.  We sat there for a while to enjoy the falls and to catch our breath.  Angel Falls is slightly larger than Panther Falls at approximately 60 feet. Minihaha Falls is about a three mile drive from Panther and Angel Falls and even though it is an ungroomed uphill trail to the Falls, it is only about a quarter of a mile hike.  Minihaha Falls is 100 feet tall and has a nice area at the base of the falls to “play” in the water and cool off on a hot summer’s day. We took the back roads along the Tallulah River on our way home.  After returning home, we threw our worn out bodies into our recliner’s while we enjoyed a nice tall iced tea.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing and watching a little TV before retiring for the evening.