Chimney Rock

The kids were SO HUNGRY when we got to the park, so we caved and bought snacks at the gift shop.

After church we headed to Chimney Rock State Park.  I wanted to check it out.  And I knew my daredevil family would love climbing up to more high places.

We liked these rockers outside.

We didn't really know what we were doing when we arrived.  The ranger at the bottom of the hill said, "Our shuttles usually make it up the road okay, do you want to try it?"  Michael gave an enthusiastic yes! and we started up the hill, Billy towing Sally.  It was... crazy.  Lots of twists and turns and near death experiences.

But we made it.

And parked at the half-way point.  The rangers wouldn't let us drive any further.  We took a shuttle to the staircase to Chimney Rock... and climbed hundreds of stairs to the top.

Jonah made it first.

Maeryn is standing tall on the rock on the left.  Michael is adjusting his camera.

Jonah and I headed off of Chimney Rock to see if there was any more food available.  There wasn't.

We headed down early because Maeryn entered the "danger zone" as she became exhausted.  Some of you will remember this from our trip to Niagara Falls and our excursion up Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park.  She and I walked together back to the shuttle bus - you can see Michael and Jonah ahead in the distance.

That's my backpack in the gravel.

My favorite Billy portrait to date.  This is where they asked us to park when they told us we couldn't continue up the road.