So, off we went - the four girls in my oldest daughter's car, and Kim and I in ours - ahhhhhh, this vacation is working out for the better already! Peace and Quiet! 5 hours later, we pulled off the highway, snaked another 2 miles through a one lane road skirting the lake, and pulled into the driveway of my older brother's beautiful lake house, most of which he built himself.

 
Built on a near-vertical hillside, this 3 level house was breathtaking. Another 30 foot drop to the boathouse, and we had the makings of an excercise filled week, except for the fact that he had an elevator going from the ground floor to the top, saving a LOT of steps!...

 
We did have a little concern over the kids laying out on the dock all day or swimming in the lake... by that evening every boy on the lake knew there were four bikini-clad girls hanging out at the dock. What did I say about strees-free? I won't bore y'all with the small details, suffice to say we had a great time relaxing with books and margaritas, while the girls lounged on the dock, played pool and went for boat rides. My brother and his wife, and their little dog took us on a tour of the lake, dragging the girls, one by one, behind us in the tube.

 
Lake Burton is on it's second generation of building... most of the original vacation houses surrounding the lake have been replaced with these huge magnificent estates - a getaway location for Atlanta people a little over an hour to the south.

 
We stopped by the Marina for gas and supplies - found the jetski rentals just a tad steep and the jetski's themselves in pretty crummy condition - we'll settle for some tubing instead.

 
 
With this house being so new, at one point the extra load of all the kids showers, laundry and flushing ran the pump dry, so the girls braved their evening shower one night in the lake. Course, ol' dad stood guard, because by this time, all the vacationing teenaged biys were well aware of the girls - and we had to put up with several of them coming over to shoot pool and keep them company - whaddahell - it's their vacation too!

 
These next couple pictures are from the two road trips I took scouting out scenic routes for Mad Maps... Pics #33-38 are of a motorcycle-only campground and resort called T.W.O. in Suches GA... looks like a great destination on one of my mountain trips. The backroads I found leading to it are spectacular, too. They have motel-style rooms upstairs in the barn and a gread entertainment room, porches, shower houses and a restaurant.

 
Pic #38 shows a not-so-stylish shed to park your bike in while staying...at least it is out of the dew... I personally perfer to keep the bike near my tent... it's a motorcycle fer'chrissakes - it's designed to get wet. Sheeeesh

 
 
The countryside all throughout northern GA, eastern TN and southwest NC are simply made for biking. There are tons of lakes and rivers and old historic buildings thrown all over. Just takes a little lookin' for them.  
 
There's a strecth of Hwy 64 that is loaded with one waterfalls after another, one (Pic # 54) falls completely over the road, where you drive under it. Watch for parked bikes and cars while they take pictures!

 
Scenic enough for ya?

 
I do hope you'll forgive me for making this one of my less-chatty journals... The experience we've dealt with this summer leaves me speachless at times. I can't imagine how it is possible to cope with the loss of your own child - although this had to have been close. Kayla was close to our family for 10 years and our kids grew up best friends. Her parents have been part of our inner circle for all that time as well. I just didn't care much for updating this site, but perhaps, the next ride will get everything back on track... -Muthuh