4-15-17 back to Amicalola Falls!

Any chance I get, I'm ready to head up into the mountains.  So after having brunch with the kids in Chattanooga, Ken and I took the long way home by way of Amicalola FAlls.  We had been there about a month ago when we were leaving from our weekend in the cabin with Angie and Josh and his folks.  But it was still winter then and quite cold and cloudy that day.  Now it's Spring and getting quite green.  It was also a beautiful day with white puffy clouds and lots of blue sky.
Since we were coming from Chattanooga instead of Buford, we got to see some different areas in North Georgia along our way.
Although this was right along I-75 before we got off onto a state highway.

 This was the rest stop where you first enter Georgia on I-75 South bound. 

 I was surprised to see these are daffodils.  I thought they were done blooming already!

 BAck on our way---and onto a state highway.

 A historic site---This historic sign talks about the highway we were turning onto being the first vehicular and postal route across Northwest Georgia.  The land behind the sign is part of the James Vann house property.  Vann was instrumental in building this highway and was a leader of the Cherokee Nation at one time.  Didn't see the house from here, but checking it out online later shows it's quite the large 2 story brick house.  Will have to make it back here some day to check it out and  and Cloudland State Park.

 The historic sign about the Forks of the Old Federal Road.

 heading down the Old Federal Highway.

 our detour from I-75 to Amicalola was about 1 1/2 hours through the Northern Georgia mountains.

 a reminder that tomorrow is Easter

 another religious reminder.

 scenic farmlands along the way

 scenic barns along the way

 Finally made it to Amicalola State Park.

 I  took a hike up to the first boardwalk overlook while Ken napped in the car.  This is the longest cascading falls east of the Mississippi.  Here are some of the lower cascades.

 lots of small wild flowers along the route.

 lots of cascading water.

 another pretty little wild flower

 continuing along the paved trail.

 more little flowers.

 love the affect of the water using a slow shutter speed.

 another interesting wild flower.

 almost to the overlook.

 from the overlook towards the top of the falls.

 the bridge I walked up to last time.  Since Ken was in the car, I didn't go any farther.  it probably took my about an hour to walk this far and back with all the pictures I stopped to take.

 more Spring flowers.

 Thoroughly enjoying the falls.

 this view of the first 175 steps is quite deceiving.  It really wasn't that difficult, but it appears a lot higher when you're on the bridge looking down.

 as wide as my 18-300mm lens would go.

 Same view from our March trip --- what a difference a couple weeks makes!

 heading back down.  Some of it's steep enough that switch backs are used.

 a flowering tree by the parking lot.

 from there we drove to the top of the falls lookout where this drone was hovering about.

 Much more impressive view from the top today then last time.

View from the top on March 12, 2017---

 view on April 15th, 2017---

 love the bark on this tree

 this time we even drove up to the Lodge.  Looks really nice!

 flowering trees near the lodge.

 Lots of climbing and zip lining stands near the lodge.

 Driving through the park.

Pretty orange blooming trees here and there scattered throughout the park.

 on our way back to Buford by way of the scenic countryside.

 Came across these wild turkeys and about 30 deer.  Wasn't able to get a good picture of any of the deer---not that this is really a good picture.

 love all the colorful blooming "trees" in the shadows of the taller trees.

 back into civilization---?

 Saw quite a bit of cacti up in North Georgia. too.

 Even came across another egg in Cumming that I don't think we saw before.

 After a bite to eat in Cumming, we went to West Bank Park on Lake Lanier to catch sunset.   The lake is still about 8' low.  But I was surprised to see people swimming in it.  I would think it is still pretty cold?

 Not a very colorful sunset, but it was a pretty evening. 

Another great day in Georgia---and Tennessee!