Well this was quite the unexpected week. I had plans for about two months to join my friend Melissa in Switzerland to go climbing and camping for a week. But last minute the trip fell through due to weather and we had to scavenge for something new.
Well Melissa was in Barcelona, she had been studying abroad in Spain for 5 months. After we aborted the Swiss trip, 12 hours later we had Melissa stateside for the first time all year in Atlanta on Monday the 20th. Joy and merriment were shared as she walked through customs, the reunion of two friends that blended in with the countless groups joining together. We had a week to kill, and we pretty much destroyed it.
Tuesday starts off with exactly how I met Melissa: rock climbing! My friends Claud and Haley took Melissa and I to Tennessee to LIttle Rock City (just outside Chattanooga) for a day of warm, southeast bouldering. A beautiful woods lining a golf course, manicured grass in between outlying boulders, this was a paradise. But the area is a little odd to find. Not hard, just not obvious. We got turned around back in some side streets were I actually lodged my car in the mud. Three people to push and a driver, we got out in less than 5 minutes. But not without casualties. I suffered an onslaught of mud to my frontside.
We bouldered for the day, saw some really great climbing, and Claud and Haley left to return to Georgia. On our way back from Tennessee, I decided to take a quick detour to LaFayette to show Melissa the infamous Rocktown. Rocktown holds a special place in my mind. It was the first area I ever went camping for a week, and it was in that week that I developed a much greater love for climbing outdoors. No way I wouldn't want to share such an awesome place with a fellow friend and climber. Seeing as we didn't have time to climb though, we hit the aesthetic highlights: Don Lolo's Mexican restaurant in LaFayette, and Pidgeon Mountain's waterfall and lookout point (the climbing is referred to as Rocktown).
The waterfall lies a short 3 minute walk off the road, but it completely hidden from the eyes until you're about 30 feet from it. I had never been here in May, so we were both shocked to see the waterfall in its full roar. Coming down heavy and cold, the waterfall made for a refreshing, albeit short swim to cool us off after an accomplishing day of climbing. Next we drove the last 5 miles or so to the top of the mountain and on to the look out. I must say, Rocktown is one of my favorite look outs I've ever been to. Not because of some rare land formation, but because of it's simplicity. A straightforward 180 degree view gives you a clear sight of the rolling green landscape for miles straight ahead of you. If you're in Georgia, I think the waterfall and the look out are worth stopping over for.
Wednesday, as per usual, was actually not a crazy day. Funny, I wanted to wrap this blog around Wednesday adventures but they keep falling on Tuesday and Thursday haha. Either way, Wednesday was exciting because I FINALLY moved into my new apartment with my wonderful new roommates. Getting out of a bad area in Atlanta, I now reside in Lenox with virtually everything I need within a 5 minute walk in every direction. And my room is great, with a closet big enough to store my climbing and camping gear! And did I mention my roommates are wonderful?!
So Thursday wraps around and Melissa awoke with a bad case of Rocktown Fever. Don't be alarmed, we were in the car and then on the rocks in less than 3 hours. Her fever quickly subsided but I suspect she'll catch it again. A few detours, and maybe I got lost once or twice, we were able to do a basic tour of Rocktown, checking out about 50% of what was actually there. We might have seen more, but Tuesday's climbing and Wednesday's moving, coupled with little sleep made for a tired pair of climbers. And the fact that it was a perfect day under the trees, with a slight breeze rolling through, led to only one possible outcome. A boulder nap. Fortunately, I have a very large crash pad. We dozed for a couple hours under a problem we were working, then packed up and hit a few more boulders before leaving. We may not have climbed a ton, but it had been a while since I had climbed in rocktown, and any day with a boulder nap is a good day. All in all, it was a pretty relaxing day. The exact rest we needed for Friday's adventure.
Friday found us waking up pretty late. Which is totally fine. Because we were headed to Six Flags Over Georgia! Located only 25 miles southwest of my new place, we got our tickets and drove right on over. Today marked the summer opening day of Six Flags, as well as the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. We were concerned, but fortune favors the bold! Short lines and quick turn coasters had us all over the park, experiencing all but one of the roller coasters. And again, it was a PERFECT day. The whole week was perfect in fact, sunny weather with a cool breeze. You just can't beat it. And I was lucky to have a fellow coaster fanatic with me. This wasn't the first Six Flags that Melissa and I had been to. Last year a group of our friends took a trip to California to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain, just north of LA. Needless to say, we didn't waste any time waiting for a Merry-go-round. Around 7 we finally left the park to head back home, and were surprised with a generous gift! Melissa's parents called and told us to go get a nice dinner, on their ticket. We gratefully obliged, of course! Once again, I cannot stress how close everything is to my apartment. A quick shower and a 3 minute walk, we found ourselves at a delicious, modern European bistro. The bar manager was quick to recommend cocktails of his own recipe, and when we finally got around to the food we were not disappointed. A duck charcuterie plate and a fantastic entree of shrimp and grits gave Melissa a nice blend of the European culture she had been living in for the last 5 months, as well as a taste of the south. I gave the grits my seal of approval, despite not being home-styled. Some more wine and pleasant conversation, we wrapped up a great dinner and made the quick walk home to crash.
Saturday morning rolls through and we had to head to the airport. It was time for Melissa to actually go to her real home back in Arizona. Some laughs and some hugs, soon she was on a plane and I was headed home to my apartment. It was truly a magnificent week, a great reunion and a wonderful welcome back trip. Looking forward to the next adventure this week!
PS- Sorry this took so long to post! And sorry if the photos aren't aligning well!
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