Graveyard Fields

I got a Facebook message from one of the young women at church wanting
to know if we could hang out together.   I read it a couple of times, thinking
to myself, "really?", finding it a little unusual that a fourteen year old would
want to "hang out" with me of her own accord.  Well, how cool is that?
I love this kid and don't get to spend near enough time with her, so I
responded with a quick reply letting her know the things I would be doing
that week and asking her if any of it sounded like "hanging out" material.

I was thrilled when she said she wanted to go hiking with me.  Finally......
a teenager who likes to hike!

It was a hot, hot day and I wanted to get into the higher elevations, so we went
up to the parkway.  The views are always so amazing.

I never tire of the beauty of western N.C.   This is God's country.

I chose Graveyard Fields for our hiking destination.  Although I have been

by this area many times, I had never stopped to explore it.  

It looked like moderate hiking and water was involved, so I thought 

Hanna would like it.  I love this girls energy.  She led the way and set 

the perfect pace for me.  Not too fast, but fast enough.

  

 There were lots of big rocks to hike around, over and on.  We could hear the

waterfall in the distance and the closer we got, the faster Hanna hiked.  The 

water was calling her name.

Upon arriving, the shoes came off.  Man that water felt so good.

As we played in the water, Hanna kept saying, " This place is awesome.  I

love it here.  I could stay here all day."  It was pretty awesome.

We had lunch on the rocks at the base of the upper falls.  It doesn't get much

better than this.

We wished we had dressed a little better for water play, but that didn't seem

to slow Hanna down too much.

When she wasn't playing in the water, she was hopping around from

rock to rock, making me nervous. 

 "Hanna, be careful."  

"Hanna, be careful."

I'm imaging myself having to call her mother from the emergency room.

So, I keep warning her to be careful on those rocks and she keeps assuring

me, each time she slips and falls, that "I'm ok" and just flashes that crazy 

grin at me.

She told me she is related, way, way back on the family tree,  to Pocahontas.

I smiled and told her the way she was jumping around on those rocks that

I believed she did have some native american roots.

After we returned from the Upper Falls, at Hanna's suggestion, we hiked to

Lower Falls.  This was a shorter trek, but no less impressive.  Lots of people

were here playing in the water.

By the time we made it back to the car, I was exhausted.  Hanna girl, you 

wore me out.  But it was great fun!  And the best part is, I think I have found

me a new hiking buddy.  When I dropped her off at her home, she said

"I'll be glad to go hiking with you any time. Just let me know."

Yes!!!!

*MYOF Goals - #1 Take 50 hikes.