Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Stone Mountain - April 10, 2012


Richard and I took a day off and since it was a beautiful blue sky kind of day, we went to Stone Mountain.   It was lovely, just a quiet Tuesday and very few people around.    Peaceful bliss.


From here, you would never know how many cars are bustling around busy, busy highways around Atlanta.  You can only see the high buildings.


This is 87 steps from the bottom to the top of this railing.  Very careful mountain-goat steps, I call them!

This area is usually packed with people that have come up on the cable cars...this day, hardly anyone.

No matter what, Richard always wants to bring that backpack with a cup of coffee. And you know he's got some chocolate too!

The turkey vultures were circling lazily overhead but I think Richard got a shot of some hawks flying over the lake.
 I asked the skywriter to write  "I heart u " in the sky, but Richard JUST missed it.  Sorry!
 Remember the bright red diamorpha on Arabia Mountain? This is the same red diamorpha but with the white flowers blooming on it, most of this had bloomed out, but this was at the very base of Stone Mountain, in a shady spot.
 Love this photo that I took of Richard.  We were under the most beautiful pale green leaves and he thinks he left this on the wrong setting, but I love all the green around him, lit up by the budding green leaves, just like a true gardener should be!  (And I wish that people wouldn't carve their names into trees, that was a very big tree behind him.)
 This is the photo of the tree that I had on an earlier post, but Richard always takes a more artistic photo than I do!  And Scriptor Senex, I think you are right, I think it might be an ash tree!
 The sun really lit up this trail through the wood here, but the mountain laurel was so white and beautiful!

You see, I promised you a blue sky day, didn't I?
 That really big tree from earlier?  That is the tree on the right with the big hole in the base, I could fit inside the space of that tree!


Oh my, Richard got me looking at the very tip top of this tree.  It's a wonder, I didn't fall over backward.  It is a very tall tree.  Many of these at Stone Mountain are some of the biggest that I have ever seen in the whole state of Georgia.  They are all beautiful to see at any season of the year.  Hope you enjoyed this walk in April!

33 comments:

  1. Hello Kay:
    We are so taken with the drama and majesty of Stone Mountain. What an amazing place and how splendid to have it within reach of your home. The contrast which you show of this wonderful rural area but yet with the 'spires' of Atlanta never far away is truly breath taking.

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    1. Dear Jane and Lance,
      Oh, thank you so much and now when I look at our photos, I will think of "the drama and majesty of Stone Mountain", what a perfect phrase!

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  2. No matter whether you take us with you on Arabia Mountain or on Stone Mountain, it's always a great outing with you and Richard! And I envy you for being able to walking around in short sleeves already... I still need my padded winter coat over here.
    Love that tender green of spring!

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    1. Dear Meike,
      So happy you could come with us! The pale green of Spring is one of my favorite colors. When you are able to wear short sleeves, it will be in the 90's here and we will be praying for Autumn!

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  3. Hi, I came from Pastor Dennis Blog and I saw your comment. I had to come and see. Glad I came.
    Nice pictures you have here...

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    1. Hello!
      I have seen your comments on his blog! And I thank you so much for visiting mine! I hope you liked climbing Stone Mountain with us! :-)

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  4. Husband caught sight of the lake pic as I was reading this post and asked, 'Where is that? Can we live there?' I particularly like the picture looking up through the trees at the fluffy white cloud in a beautiful blue sky. It looks like a lovely day, I've just got back from walking in fog and drizzle!

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    1. Dear Tracey,
      Thank you! I haven't told you about the lake at Stone Mountain, it has the most beautiful carillon that sounds lovely over the water! (We can hear it too on top of the mountain.) I will have to do a post about it! Richard really is good at taking photos, I think. And never mind your fog and drizzle, you will have sunny days ahead!

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    1. Dear Nina,
      Thanks so much for your comment! It IS an amazing place and we appreciate it so very much! Please come back and visit again!
      Love,
      Kay

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  6. Oh Kay - does it never rain in Georgia? You have such blue, blue skies. How I would love to share Richard's flask of coffee with a view like that for us to look at (I'll let you have the chocolate if you're good).
    John
    xx

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    1. Dear John,
      Oh yes, it does rain in Georgia! (Do you know the song "Rainy Night in Georgia"?) Come on over and climb the mountain with us and bring some ENGLISH chocolate with you!!! :-)

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    2. HA! I love that song, Kay! So funny that you mention it. I also love Midnight Train to Georgia!!! How does Georgia get all of the good songs????

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    3. Yes, Kay / Audrey, both songs are from my era.

      So that's it Kay, you only want me for my chocolate!

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    4. It is my belief that all the world's problems could be solved if everyone just sat down around a round table and ate Mars Bars together. And maybe some good wine wouldn't hurt.

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  7. That is an amazing shot of Atlanta in the distance. I'd need something stronger than coffee after making it up there - it really is beautiful though!

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    1. Well now, you have just brought back a lovely memory to me...having a small bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream and putting some in a cup of coffee after I had walked all over New York City in pouring down rain. It was life-giving!
      And thanks for your comment!

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  8. Beautiful photos, Kay. And a beautiful place! I do envy your blue sky. It's not like we never get sunshine here - we do - but certainly not as often as you do. I would love to sit up on that mountain with some coffee, too. These are the type of things my hubby and I enjoy together. We are waiting for the weather to really warm up so we can take some day trips, including doing some hiking. We are surrounded by beautiful lakes, parks and hiking trails, and I can't wait to get out there and shoot tons of photos! How nice that you took a day off together. Life is too short not to!

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    1. Dear Martha,
      I looked up where you live and it looks absolutely beautiful! (Can't remember the name now, is it, oh, something that beings with a K? I could look it up, but I'm lazy!) Can't wait to see your hiking trails and lakes, it won't be long now for you!

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  9. That was a lovely walk. Thanks. Next time I may take the cable car!

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    1. Dear John,
      Glad you enjoyed it. Next time, bring your guitar! There is a very nice guy who plays his guitar and walks up the mountain, we walked beside him one golden day, I wrote about him on one of my posts.
      John, John, John...the cable car is for SISSIES!!!

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  10. Very lovely, and yes, coffee time is any time!

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    1. Dear Mimi,
      Cup of tea or a cup of coffee...but coffee travels better, so coffee it is!

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  11. Gorgeous photos, Kay! We've come close to visiting Stone Mountain on one of our motorcycle trips, but haven't made it yet. We must one day though!

    xo,
    Shirley

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  14. I enjoyed that walk very much ~ I SO look forward to my next ATL trip when I can visit for myself. It's so lovely. Especially when it's empty like that!!!

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  15. Dear Audrey,
    Glad you could come with us! Hope you will let me know when you come, so that I can try to meet you at the mountain!
    It can get very, very busy but even then, it can be quite fun observing all those around us! I must admit though, I really liked this quiet, peaceful visit.

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  16. Kay - I love your photos of Stone Mountain. Believe it or not we climbed Stone Mountain last Thursday during spring break. Two days earlier and we might have crossed paths and never known it. It is such a wonderful climb, and my four little ones got to the top with a spring in their steps. Georgia is beautiful. You are lucky to live in such a beautiful spot.

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    1. Oh Mairead, I wish I could have seen you! We were there on the Tuesday and then, then on the Sunday, the 15th, which was my birthday! So pleased to know that you were there, I will think of you every time I climb it now!
      And I wish I could live ON the mountain! :-)

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    2. Belated birthday wishes to you, Kay. Hope you had a lovely day, and what better way to celebrate than by climbing Stone Mountain, a really beautiful spot. My husband loves to climb mountains. Last year he made it to the top of Mount Rainier in Washington State. We love to hike as a family and luckily we have some pretty nice hills around us in Kentucky.

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    3. Thank you, Mairead!
      We LOVE Stone Mountain. I wonder did you see my post about Kyle Maynard? I missed him when he climbed Stone Mountain, but he then went and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro! He is a very inspiring young man, if you get a chance, I hope you will read about him.
      Kentucky is a beautiful state, I love the colors of the autumn there.

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  17. Just found your blog and love the photos of Stone Mountain. I have wondered what it looked like since my friends moved there years ago. It is lovely. The trees are beautiful there. I have never been to Georgia but our housemate is moving to Atlanta so we may come visit. Thanks for sharing your day and your beautiful photos.

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