The Walker Sister Cabin

What to do on a Sunday afternoon?

Not far from our RV park were a slew of hikes

surrounding the GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS!

Our selection was The Walker Sisters Cabin

HERE WE GO!

It's about 100 degrees,

100% humidity,

100 species of flying insects,

and

100% chance of at least one tantrum

The girls used to actually live in this cabin.

When the government took over this as preserved land,

they made a deal to stay.

They would get visitors and make them food and souvenirs.

But first we have to get there...

just over a mile to go!

 Coolest log bridge!

We actually crossed several of these.

Hidden stone steps

Half-way through we came across the old schoolhouse.

Take a load off...

Drink some water...

Review the graffiti artists who defiled the chalkboard,

despite the several warning posted outside...

Skip to the Lou my darling.

Getting a little foot rub...

The meltdowns are commencing...

Britta's sore feet,

Mitchell's long disdain of bugs flying in his hair,

and Cora's being four-years-old.

Many tears were shed.

Still, always in the mood for LIMBO!

Easier for some than others...

We made it to the main event!

These clever girls had a homemade FRIDGE!

The freezing cold stream running underneath,

kept this place nice and cool to preserve their food.

Unfortunately, the inside of the cabin was under repairs.

But we peeked into windows 

and looked all around the outside.

Barnyard!

Headed back home in the buddy system.

Sweethearts!

When every other friend is gone

and you put them in the middle of nowhere together,

then they have a lot to talk about in the 8th grade world.

Tag-along with Mom in the back of the line.

Being in a different part of the country,

we found a whole RAINBOW of beautiful things.

Gross spider webs

(Mitchell still has nightmares about)

A fat, juicy centipede!

Slippery snails

(now you understand Mitchell's bug meltdown!

A huge beetle flew straight into his hair!)

Plus, there were gnats literally everywhere.

Let's change the subject...

Lots of leaves!

Sticks...

More sticks...

...and (thank goodness) a flower this time!

A flosser?

A pretty pink pinecone

that we took home and tried planting the seeds.

(nothing grew)

A sweet hiking dog

A fallen log big enough to climb through!

(hypothetically)

Loads of mushrooms,

none of which are edible.

Back over the bridge

and back to the van!

Everyone's sweaty,

tired and hungry!

Which is surprising considering 

how many gnats we surely swallowed.

Here's two-minutes to follow us a long.

Not a bad Sunday afternoon.