Waking Up In...North Georgia Mountains?

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on this blog.  Probably because my plans were far too ambitious, I felt overwhelmed.  So, I'm back to it now with fewer goals.

Morning Hike Near Carter Lake

Last week, we headed to Atlanta and drove north to Ellijay, GA to a cabin in the North Georgia Mountains.  We missed the fall colors in the mountains through Atlanta was warm and bright.  The Appalachian Trail isn't on my bucket list, but I was excited to see the entry point to the famous trek.  We took all of the kids and climbed 475 steps to the top of a water fall and could see the blue shadow of the mountains in the distance.

Our cabin was big and cozy and we could hear every footstep echo.  The kids experienced for the first time a little bit of the South -- grits, Piggly Wiggly, hospitality and manners, and words like "ain't" and "y'all".  And, we ate and then ate some more.

Waking Up in...Hawaii!

Over the past few days, each morning I woke early near beautiful Kona, Hawaii.  We went as part of an event for the company where I work.  It was such a privilege to be able to go and take my husband and kids.

Waterfall along a hike

The Big Island may be one of my favorite in the gorgeous state of Hawaii.  It is the youngest island and the volcanic features and the history make it one of the more interesting.  The geology and the natural features are fascinating.  It's a rough place, full of quirks:  feral cats, mongoose that can't catch the rats, wild herds of donkeys, volcanic flows, migrating whales, plants and insects with no natural defenses, and trees that have adapted to high concentrations of carbon dioxide and sulfur.  It is both a study in Darwinism and in the effects of migration (migration of people, dust, and animals).

People are relaxed and warm, set against a somewhat harsh landscape.  It is long stretches of roads with cyclists training for the Ironman, running by numerous fenced-off government secure areas and cooled lava rock.  There are tropical plans and palm trees and snow on the highest peak.  Hawaiian culture is natural here and not on show for tourists.  We saw young children practicing paddling in their outriggers.  We ate the BEST shaved ice ever at Scandinavian Shaved Ice.  Our boys went to their first luau where they learned some of the legends of the islands.  It was beautiful in every way.

One morning I woke early and walked along the water.  Black and white volcanic rock contrasted.  Natural ponds within the rock housed endemic shrimp breeds and birds flew everywhere.  The sun rose above the volcanic peaks and cast a yellow light across golf courses and rocky shores and lit the ocean bright blue.  The only sound was my feet crunching on these loose rocks.

Shore outside out hotel

We swam in a waterfall.  We saw sea turtles play in a waterfall.  We heard so many stories and legends of kings and gods.  We ate pineapple and drank guava juice and mellow Kona coffee.  We (attempted to) dance the hula and swam in the strong currents of the ocean.

Waking early in a new place is one of the best ways to discover where you are peacefully and observe in the best way.