Retreat to Edgar Evins

This past weekend we enjoyed, and I mean thoroughly enjoyed, a getaway with dear friends to the only woodsy location that still had cabins available at this point in the season, Edgar Evins State Park. 

We were not so much in the mood to pitch tents, but still in the mood to enjoy the sights and sounds of tent-pitchin' locales. :} And man, did we ever hit the jackpot in terms of cabins.  All three families were able to take advantage of the state employee discount and book a mini-cabin each for about $60 a night.  The cabins were just right!  And very nice!  We were in F4 with Cathy and Kristin's crews next door in F3 and F2.

Just inside the door - bathroom to the left, bedroom downstairs, main area up.

 

How cute is that tiny stove?!

And this view from our private balcony.

 

While we planned to make our own meals each night, we decided to splurge and hit up the restaurant at the marina instead that first night.  It was raining, but we braved the trek down to dinner anyway.

We gabbed and laughed our way through a really great meal.  The kiddos followed suit at their table.  They also enjoyed checking out the friendly turtles out by the dock.

This sign we noticed on the way back up was an interesting conversation topic.

That night, the kiddos squealed and played and carried on on their own downstairs, while the adults did the same upstairs with a simple and busy little card game called Dutch Blitz. :}

The beds weren't the MOST comfy things to catch some zzz's on, but they weren't awful either.  And they sure beat wet tents and air mattresses, so we did not complain. :)  The next day we got down to much good business together.  There wasn't a moment to lose!

First, fishing!

But, first first, family pics before things got messy and chaotic. :}

The Jeffs.

The Graffs.

Time for bait...

 

And time for wait...

and wait...

and wait.

How cute is this cast?!

Then Josh got out the kayak and just about everyone took a turn at one point or another.  So glad we had it!

I sat by the dock with Kristin and Cathy mostly and chatted in the cool breeze and attended to Lasa.  And took pics, obviously. :}

Cathy was just too much fun to watch take in all the lakeside highlights.

Kristin was always happy to hold the babe.  And I was happy to let her.  It was not by chance, I think, that the sun shone down at moments like these. ♥ 

When no one was getting any bites, the kiddos turned to shore and found their happy place climbing rocks while the dads kept on fishing and kayaking.

I grabbed my guy for a quick selfie.  Time for a new profile pic since my last was from the beach.

Another pic before heading back out.  I love Josh's ride atop our ride. :)

After lunches, we headed back out to hike ... and only got lost for a few minutes.  But we chuckled hard at the tradition that has begun of this particular group getting lost in the woods again.

Just because I thought it was pretty.  Until I heard a certain story of Craig's relating to stumps.  Don't ask.

Our hiking parade ... with this pic coincidentally taken exactly when we started veering off the trail somehow.  The leaves really covered the path on the ground and you sort of had to guess.  No worries, we found more trail markers higher up the hill when we were stopping to gasp for breath.  :}

Ryan led the pack going up... 

and these guys led the pack coming back down.

So pretty again.   

Listening to these four as we neared the end was really amusing...

Lasa was exhausted from all the exertions by the time we were back at the start.

The rest of the kiddos were, too, apparently. :}

We SWORE that hike felt longer than a 1/2 mile, so we modified the pic to better represent our experience.  HA!

Next up, chilling out at the cabins, checking out some football scores, and then checking out the dam!

From below.

And from above.

We made plans to come back in the morning when they were running tons of water through. A local fisherman clued us in on how cool it was and what time to return.

For dinner, we each made our own meals and brought them together for a group potluck that was delicious!  Also interesting was watching Ryan make his own pasta.

Anna made a seasonal headdress for baby.  Lasa was alllll about it, clearly. :}

When potato soup/beef roast/spaghetti were ready, we dined in two parties again.

And then, wanting to squeeze in another short hike to make up for our other less-than-lengthy one, we hit up Dunham Cemetery Trail at dusk.  The kid were all zombie and ghost speak on the steep hike up.

This cemetery with multiple unmarked gravestones surrounding it were at the top of the hill.  The kids were less than impressed.

Meanwhile, back at camp, Tennessee launched a BIG comeback and we were riveted to watch the final plays... and were also a little bummed to have bailed on that game earlier in the day when the Vols were behind 17-3. :} Who knew?!

A few hundred more rounds of Dutch Blitz and good sleep later, it was time to pack up in the morning.  I caught sight of Noah's weekend to-do list and couldn't help grinning at the fact that we had done everything on his list except for one... number 18 ... which we were about to offer a good-enough substitute for on the way out of town.

This drive away from the cabins was my favorite roadside view.  The morning fog was just a lovely perk at that hour.

We returned as planned to watch the dam do its thing and it was really neat to behold.  It was impressive how the water rose up almost undetected at first ... and then how quickly after that that it crawled up the drive.  The kids were all squeals and giggles every time we had to back up some more.

Snug as a bug.

Because of summer flooding, the waterfalls we planned on climbing to the bottom of were closed to visitors.  So this will have to {sort of} fit Anna's "birthday first" bill this year. Water was falling, right?  Eh.  We'll make it up to her with first-ever pedicure at a salon, which was her second choice.

It was impressive how loud it was and how stirred up the water got as it went along.  After about an hour, we headed back out, having deemed this a worthwhile stop. 

After this we checked out of the cabins and, since I had to feed Lasa one more time before we hit the road, Noah took another turn up the tower of the visitor's center.

A simple weekend, a slow pace, and such easy pleasing company.  Just a great time from start to finish.  And as all great getaways end, it wrapped up with declarations that we HAVE to do this again in the summer so the kids can swim next time.  Thankful for these good friends - Cathy and Kristin, (and missing the two other of our crew that couldn't join us this time - Cindy and Susie).

Also, shout out to the Family Brown for our first road trip as a Party of Five.  Lasa was awesomely easy to have along.  Blessed!