This is called "Trip 0" for the A2A - Paddling from Atlanta to Alabama expedition because it really is the successful reattempt at EPIC FAIL - Attempt at Final Leg of ATL50 which officially puts the proverbial bow on the ATL50 - Canoeing thru the Chattahoochee River NRA series we ran last year. I have to admit that we accomplished this in good shape. In fact, we made great time. As the Kayaking & Canoeing Google Map shows, this trip came in at about 8 miles and we knocked it out in 2 hours flat.
The river was really running; slow by most river's standards, but definitely quick for the Chattahoochee. Looking at that map link you'll see we easily got past the iScanoe resting place and the new kayaks easily sliced through the 3 major shoals of this final bit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (NRA). As expected, we have some good views of rock cliffs at the beginning.
I even got some decent pictures of Tony and his new kayak.
The river looks pretty smooth, but once we got out of the NRA we entered the more industrial part of the Chattahoochee (this section looked much nicer than I had expected) we did get hit with some rough spots (see "Gnarly" and "Not So Gnarly" Drops identified on the map). The Gnarly one would have totally destroyed Tony and I on the old iScanoe, heck, the NRA shoals did that last time we were on this part of the river, but we kept our composure and stayed in our boats this time around.
This trip had more bridges per mile than any of the others we've taken as evident by the following photos.
In the last two pictures you can make out a bit of the McDonough Power Plant where we utilized their boat launch to end our trip. Warning: this is NOT public property. I sure hope they don't mind us using it again to make our first non-zero number trip on the A2A - Paddling from Atlanta to Alabama journey.
A couple of days before we wrapped up a project in Colorado Springs, the fella who was working with me and I decided to take a drive up to the top of Pikes Peak. We probably should have taken the warning at the bottom of the mountain from the ranger who said they may have to shut down the highway based on the fact that a storm was blowing in. But... we soldiered on.
If you have never driven to the top of Pikes Peak, you should know it is VERY SCARY. Truly, I was a bit frightened at times as there are a few spots where the only thing between the road and a drop off of 100s of yards is about SIX INCHES of dirt! We did finally get to the top and what a view.
As the ranger pointed out, there was a pretty big storm blowing over as we were at the top, so we did not stay long at the summit.
We got some snowfall on the way up and there is still a little snow sticking around.
We started driving down and my coworker let me know about the annual race they have to the top. Take a look at this video as it will show you how crazy this drive really is.
We took it a bit slower up, and down, this crazy (and scary!) road as you can see from the following video and pictures.
Glad we went up and I still think it is scary!!
Maybe it is unfounded, maybe it is irrational, but I am deftly afraid of alligators and crocodiles. I even have nightmares about them whose residual images still haunt me. With that, I'm betting you could imagine what went racing through my mind when the boss said our next team builder would be in Orlando at a place called Gatorland.
To make matters worse he tells me we will be zip-lining OVER the gator infested swamp!!
Needless to say I wasn't very excited about this plan. Trying to figure out how to get out of the event I was actually happy to find out that I was over the weight limit for the zip line. That's got to be the first time I was happy to hear that. Of course, the boss already worked through this as (for a reason) the SE region of our consulting team is often referred to as the "big guys". He lined up a behind the scenes VIP tour.
I confessed my secret to the two guides and they all but high-fived each other and announced that they would "cure me of my fear". Very reassuring I'll have you know. The first thing they wanted to show us was their prized white (not albino) alligators. They took (dragged?) us INTO one of the exhibits. There we were just a few feet from our first SNAPPING alligator of the day.
Then he took us to see the 15 foot "Oscar" in the next exhibit. I was a bit worried before, but now I find myself about 15 feet away from this incredibly large creature that could bolt out of the water and have any of us for lunch all while our guides were taunting him to poke his head out of the water. Thankfully, Oscar decided he would stay submerged.
Don't get the impression I was feeling brave or anything like it. I made darn sure all four of the other people in the exhibit were between myself and Oscar. In fact, once we were clear of the exhibit I let my companions know the generations of Martins have survived by running from and all danger! In fact, back in the 90's I altered my "No Fear" rear-window car sticker to only read "Fear". 
We then took it down a notch and went further "behind the scenes" and got to see some of the animals not on display. We started with checking out some big white pythons and Jon and Terry from my team were much more adventurous than I and let the constrictors be draped over their shoulders.
Did I forget to mention I'm not a big fan of "Jake the Snake" either? We also checked out some reptiles and I reluctantly agreed to hold a cute little baby alligator.
I guess that one wasn't big enough and they wanted to really freak me out so we went to the wrestling pit and threw me in the middle of it.
Of course, the fella who was walking us around did it much better.
Next up was a walk around the swamp where we saw many large alligators all around the boardwalk.
Then for the scariest thing of the day our guides took us to an opening in the pond where we got to feed these beasts. I stayed back and then out of nowhere two little girls jumped in front of me to get a closer look at all the action. WHERE THE HECK WERE THESE GIRLS PARENTS?!?!
Then the good folks at Gatorland asked us to turn around for a nice photo. Sure, why not turn your back to a swamp full of alligators!!
Obviously, we didn't get eaten (notice I was farthest away!). We then wrapped up our time at Gatorland watching a feeding show.
All in all an interesting day for sure. Did I have a good time? Of course! Did I get over my fear of alligators? Nope – just somehow suspended it for a while!!
I was blessed with my family coming along on a waterfall adventure on Father's Day. We headed up to the North Georgia mountains, just north of Helen, to the trailhead of Horsetrough Falls. Here I am with one of my gracious hikers.
In less than a half mile from the turn off to FS 44 from Unicoi Gap was the first waterfall of the day; the 40 foot Upper Spoilcane Creek Falls.
About another four miles down Forest Service road is a decent campground and some parking spots at the start of the trail. It was a very short walk to the base of the impressive 100 foot Horsetrough Falls.
It had a very nice pool at the bottom, too.
We crossed over the mighty Chattahoochee River (which has been the focal point of the ATL50 - Canoeing thru the Chattahoochee River NRA and A2A - Paddling from Atlanta to Alabama adventures that have consumed my imagination for outdoor activities) although it really isn't all that wide (or deep!) way up here just a few miles from the very start of the river.
We hiked up a bit on both sides of the river and ultimately got to see the two foot wide, 25 foot tall, Upper Chattahoochee River Falls.
It is kind of wild that you can stand across this narrow waterfall and that it ultimately is the source of most of the drinking water in Atlanta about 90 miles downstream.
The following pictures show that I didn't climb down the steep scramble down to the creek to the the 40 foot Wilks Creek Upper Falls and the 25 foot Wilks Creek Lower Falls, but I did get to take a look from the dusty old Forest Service road.
All in all, a great day with my family up in the very beautiful North Georgia mountains – who could ask for anything more?!?!