The weather is wonderful today with the temperature at 61°F. The wind is blowing up the side of Rainbow Mountain.

The hiking is great. We are seeing a lot of hikers and friendly dogs.

We are climbing all over the rocks and fallen tree.

Our morning started out at around 33°F as we loaded up into the car. We headed into the Great Smoky Mountains in search of a good hike. We decided on the hikes near The Sinks.

The Meigs Creek Trail is a very nice hike with a very smooth trail and some nice views. The lack of leafs allowed us to see even more nice views. The trail is also very nice because you start at one creek and walk to another creek so you get to hear the rushing water.

We have been catching fish in Indian Creek.

The weather is very nice with a breeze and a lot of sunshine.

We managed to stay dry, too.

Katie Beth is having a wonderful time here in the water. She was hoping to find tadpoles.

The weather is nice, but the temperature is rising quickly.

It all ended when Katie Beth fell on the trail into a poison ivy plant! We went right home for a scrub down from top to bottom. The plants are all covered with the shiny oils of the poison ivy.

We are having fun walking around the bog.

We found this turtle and a shell from a dead turtle, too.

We started by panning for gold. I know I saw sparkles in my pan, but we had to get to hiking Helen Hunt Falls.

But, it all ended with the police ordering a forced evacuation of the area due a forest fire. And, the car wouldn’t start so a park range drove us to the Golden Bee.

Over head, we have seen fire retardant planes flying.

Our Hertz agents don’t know how to get us another rental car without getting their car back. We explained where their car was and they are still wondering what to do.

Well, we continue relax at the Golden Bee. Some of us are really relaxing.

We had a great hike today to Barr Camp. We hiked from a about 6,500 feet to 10,200 feet. We hiked 7 miles up to the camp and another 7 back down to Manitou Springs. The parking in Manitou Springs was so bad that we had to walk another mile to our the car.

The scenery was just wonderful. The temperature was hot in the beginning, but the temperature cooled off nicely.

This was Katie Beth’s first time to Barr Camp. She said it was a lot of fun. Carrying Katie Beth turned into a experience to say the still.

A quick stop on way to Barr Camp.

The weather is great. Katie Beth is enjoying the ride on my back.

But, Karen is burnt.

We had a great hike with Godmomma Allison. Allison was testing out her foot for her hiking trip.

The weather was super, but Katie Beth was a little bit of a problem at the start.