Abi and I have Seen Rock City

According to SeeRockCity.com, in 1832, sightseers came and rode mules through the naturally formed streets and avenues of the place they named Rock City. In 1928 Freida began a 4 year adventure of mapping out trails. Garnet Carter introduced Freida's gardens to the world in 1932. In 1936 he began his barn roof advertising. By the 1950 there were 900 barns from Georgia to Michigan and West to Texas with See Rock City painted on them.

It's 2011 and after living here for over 4 years now I can now proudly say I have now Seen Rock City and I like what I see. Abi went with me today and we had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and she was a trooper. We walked for a couple hours together, seeing water, tunnels, bridges, pretty plants, funny rocks, lots of steps, narrow crevices and even a swinging bridge.

Guess what Abi said was her favorite? (Abi will be 3 years old in May.)

This is a dog friendly place too. Since I purchased an annual pass I intend to go back often and take my trusty friend (who happens to be sitting on my lap right now). Maybe, since it is on Lookout Mountain it may be a nice place to cool off on a hot summer day. I expect it is about 5 degrees cooler on the mountain and perhaps even cooler in the shade of these gardens and rocks.

Anyway, Abi was very intimated by the narrow crevices and low ceilings. Maybe it was the fact that she couldn't see the end or maybe just that it was kind of dark but she wanted to be carried in those areas. She buried her head in my shoulder when we went through "Fat Man Squeeze" (but she peeked). It was a trick to get through that one without scraping elbows or knees but we made it. Just a soon as we emerged she was back on her feet again and ready to go. She would often say "Bye" and wanted to go off on her own. Of course Grandma was always close at hand for those scary moments, like when she found a caterpillar.

Abi wants to go again next week. Next time, I'm taking my own camera (these photos are not mine). As for her favorite part? Believe it or not, she liked the Swinging Bridge most. I carried her the first time. The second time she walked it by herself (with me right behind of course).

Where was Larry today? He was flying in the right seat of a small CAP aircraft in a practice mission. Next month there is a coordinated practice mission with 8 states involved as they prepared for the "big one" on the New Madrid fault along the Mississippi River near Memphis.