There and Back Again

It was a wonderful drive back over the mountains - we were sad to leave so soon, but there was work to be done at home, and the consolation is that in a week's time we'll be on a slightly longer extended vacation.  Again, this vacation was all about the journey, and we made several stops along the way, including for the first time the visitor center at the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  That's where you see Mommy and Madison above.  There's actually quite a bit to see and do there, to our surprise.  Here below you can see them exploring an old barn.

There was an old farm set up, with lots to see about how people lived here in this area not long ago.  There were park rangers there giving lectures, some sculpted topographical maps, information about the Cherokee Indians... and even an old outhouse.

Yes, there were real bathrooms nearby.  Madison did a great job making a funny picture with us.

We went through Cherokee on the way home, only making two more stops.  The first was McDonald's.  Again.  We're getting happy meals to get the Monster High toys inside.  You'll see one of those in a moment.  Madison now has four of them.  And a full tummy - we were munching as we drove.

But then we had to stop, because there were goats on the roof.  This is a place in Clayton, Georgia.  Last time we dropped by here, they were closed even though their posted hours said they weren't closed for another hour or so.  They just decided to close early because there wasn't enough business.  But we were there, we countered.  We're sorry, they said.  What sense does this make?

Today they were open.  And indeed we saw those goats on the roof.  What an ingenious idea - getting tourists to drop by and pay to feed the goats on the roof.  The fun comes from HOW you feed these goats on the roof.  There is one pulley that brings a cup of food from one roof to the next, where the goats are. There's another vertical pulley that we did as well.  And then there was this peddle powered pulley system, where Madison's feet would power the cup upwards and onwards towards the waiting goats!

You can see below, there were three butting each other out of the way to get to Madison's special delivery:

But we had to get home after this - Daddy still had some work to do tonight.  And Mommy had some unpacking to do - and Madison had some resting to do as well.  It's time for an early night, for sure.  Tomorrow could be a very big day.