Hiking Inn the Woods

For years I’ve wanted to go to a place called the “Hike Inn.” It’s a lodge of sorts, perched high atop a mountain in North Georgia. The reason I’ve wanted to go is the same reason I’ve never been: the only way to get to the Hike Inn is to hike in. Yes, one must hike through the woods for five “moderate” miles to get there.

I’m all show and no go when it comes to being woodsy or outdoorsy. I read about it and dream about it and think about it, but that’s as far as it goes. Hubby is exactly the same way. Except he doesn’t do the reading, dreaming or thinking.   

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  1. Marlene says:

    I love it! I’m so jealous, too. I wish, wish, wish I could do this kind of thing. We used to walk and hike all the time, but health issues have kept my husband from walking much lately. Every time we think we’ve got it beat, another symptom pops up. But we keep trying. This was so encouraging!

  2. Cindy says:

    Congratulations!! You did it. I love reading your articles. I have always been more of the outdoors type so reading your side of the story is very interesting. You are so funny!! Keep up the adventures though. Look at the new world you are exposing your daughter to. And remember – "You’ll be fine."

  3. suzanne says:

    Hi, the trip sounds like a blast! I want to know what the bear was doing when the "other" group saw it!

  4. carol branum says:

    Rebecca,This is completely cool,I am glad that you had fun.It is too hot here,106 degees yesterday.There is a place at Branson Mo.kind of like this,I hope to go to in late Aug.or the first of Sept.They have horse back riding,at the" Lodge of the Ozarks".I told my friend, I wanted to go more in the fall when it was cooler,but,then we can,t take in White Water.Her answer was "So,lets just go twice!"So,I have been working on the bank account.It is so expensive,her answer was to" ask another friend to share"she always,has the answer.Its nice when you have friends of the same intrest,all of my friends are cool like that too,and its great!Have a safe summer,Carol Branum,Lamar MO.

  5. Kara says:

    Is your friend available to rent out? I need someone like her to get me off the sofa. Enjoyed your adventure! Aren’t you proud of yourself? I would be! Great post.

  6. Gina Danaher says:

    I too am very jealous of your experience. I would absolutely love to visit Hike Inn. Unfortunately I am too far away to just drive over to the trail and give it a go. Maybe it’s something I can do in the future as part of a vacation down south to visit family? I will keep this in mind and my dreams.

    I really enjoyed this post!

  7. Margaretr Beck says:

    This is very inspirational. I at age 62 have almost given up on these types of adventures but after reading this, maybe not. There is hope.

  8. Rusty McHale says:

    Rebecca:
    What a wonderful experience for you and your daughter. I truly enjoyed reading your story and what a great sense of humor you have. Please post more stories that we can all read and enjoy (and maybe be a little envious at the same time).

    Love-

    Rusty

  9. Mike Flowers says:

    !!!LOL!!!

  10. Cindy says:

    Oh, so envious! I’ve always wanted to do something like that! I would wear mascara too btw….no reason not to look pretty when running from a copperhead!! How fun, glad you did it. I’m inspired now to take the plunge…or, rather, the hike. 🙂

  11. Sarah says:

    What a trip! I agree, your daughter will remember forever the time when Mom got out of her comfort zone. Would you do it again?I’m printing out that recipe. It sounds wonderful, even if I’m not hiking off any calories.

  12. Brenda says:

    Great story! Sounds like a blast. I am not sure if I have ever walked that far at once. I am doubting it. I grew up in Indiana and there are to parks there that are mostly covered with hiking trails. They are in Brown county and we went there a few times as children. There is also campgrounds. The trails are easy to extremely hard. I do not remember any being this long though. The cookies list 1 lb of brown sugar. How many does it make? Sounds yummy!

  13. Bonnie says:

    I’m proud of you! I wouldn’t think you would have had any trouble walking the 5 miles in after training for the marathon. Of course the snake thing is a different story! But you did it and had a great time it sounds like. Thanks for the cookie recipe. My granddaughter was here yesterday and we made them and everyone who tasted them loved them! It was a great project for an eleven year old and a rainy day.
    Bonnie

  14. mellee says:

    good for you to have lived one of your dreams. it looks like y’all had awesome fun. and how lucky for you to have such a great friend; those aren’t easy to come by. i am doing my own ‘living in the city but am really a county girl’ lifestyle. i grew up in the kind of county you hiked in and can say i miss the peaceful beauty of home all the time. but i do try and keep a little of my county self alive; i have a huge vegetable garden growing in our front yard (the sun is best there:). i can also say i feel you on the snake issue; am NOT a fan. thanks for sharing and hope you have many more countygirl adventures in the future.

    mellee

  15. Debbie says:

    Woo Hoo! You go girl! See, you WERE fine! Don’t you just love friends who bring out the best in you? I have one such friend too…My Dancer friend that gave me the courage to take tap dancing lessons at 37… And then more courage to perform in her annual recital with the rest of my class which consisted of two other late blooming tap dancers in the late 30’s age range,2 years in a row!

    I loved the classes but the stage fright before the performance had my stomach in knots! Once it was over, I was fine too!

    Every once in a while, my hubby drags out the video to remind me of how much fun it was to tap dance and be center stage if only for a minute… I think that’s how long our song was…Just about a minute!

    Your hike sounds like the perfect one for someone who didn’t fashion themselves as " outdoorsy at all " . So sweet for a mother/daughter get away…What a sweet mother daughter memory you made too!

    Congrats!

    Deb~

  16. kay says:

    Hey, I’m with you, mascara and lipstick……good times!

  17. It looks like you guys had a great time. I would love to go to the Hike Inn. What an incredible experience to have!! PS I’m not too fond of snakes myself.

  18. kay says:

    Made the cookies, I only had peanut M&M’s so put a bunch in
    the little oscar and munched them up……way good cookies!

  19. nonnameme says:

    Hi Rebecca,

    Sounds like you and your daughter had a great learning experience. You should keep doing these types of trips…see if you can get hubby to go too. My O/H and I have hiked in Maine…one trip he showed me bear tracks in the sandy beach near the stream we were on….since we were 20 miles from nowhere…I was not happy he did…no one else around. I’m usually one curled up with a quilt I’m working on, so these adventures are exhausting, exhilerating, etc…but I’m glad we’ve done them. I’m now, at 57, having some major medical problems (looks like I have Parkinson’s disease), so I don’t know how many more years I’ll be able to do these things…but I have a trip to England in the plans, with my grown daughter,nieces, plus I am hoping to go SKYDIVING! for my 65th birthday…
    hope you just keep doing, while you’re young, and healthy!
    have a great summer!
    nonnameme

  20. Shery J says:

    Wow, Great fun, the photos gave me a good ‘feel like I’m there’. Beautiful place. I saved the cookie recipe too. Thank you. Hike Inn…what a perfect name.

  21. amanda says:

    Thanks so much for the recipe. We have been to Hike Inn 3 times and love it! Plan on going again soon. But always wanted the cookie recipe! My husband and his buddies are doing a section of the Appalation Trail and I plan on making these for them. Thanks again.

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You've Got A Friend

Yes, I know. You want to hear about the roof. My sweet blogging friends came through! Thank you! What excellent taste you all have! And great advice! I loved reading each and every comment and email, hearing what your thoughts are on it. And we’ll talk about the roof in just a minute. But first let’s talk about this, Friends.

Friends.

What about you? What kind of friend do you enjoy having? Do you have a large circle? Or a smaller, more intimate group? Are they all women? Or are guys in your immediate circle? Do you talk to your buds every single day?

I’ve been thinking about this because of the letters, B and F and F.

I don’t text. I don’t know how to text. I don’t care to learn how to text. Really. N4M (not for me).

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  1. Oh, I want to see them!

    Evergreen for me, please. How can any house be unhappy with an EVERgreen roof?

    If you get a chance stop over. I have a different post up today about Independence Day.

    Hope your weekend is filled with sparklers and joy!

  2. all8garden says:

    I love the Evergreen out of the two. I suggest a Red door. Red like you mean it. Can’t wait to see pictures of it all finished. (A little vicarious living.)

    (Love Carol King!)

  3. I’ve seen JT twice in concert here in Texas. Fabulous! I think the only thing better would be to add Carole.

  4. MARY says:

    I HAVE A SIGN ON MY WALL THAT SAYS FRIENDS ARE THE BEST COLLECTABES I TRUELY BELIEVE IN IT THE OLDER I GET THE MORE PEOPLE I MEET AND BECOME FRIENDS WITH I HAVE DIFFERENT SETS OF FRIENDS THAT IF YOU PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM THEY WOULD LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND WONDER WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE I HAVE SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS IT BRINGS TOGETHER MORE INTERESTING PEOPLE IN MY LIFE AND YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MANY FRIENDS BECAUSE OF MY WORKING SCHEDULE I AM UNABLE TO GET TOGETHER WITH MY FRIENDS REAL OFTEN BUT I TRY AND IF I CANT FIND THE TIME TO BE WITH THEM I WILL CALL THEM OCCASIONALLY TO LET THEM KNOW I AM AT LEAST THINKING OF THEM THINKING OF FRIENDS I HOPE TO GET TOGETHER LATER ON TODAY WITH A GIRLFRIEND TO CATCH UP ON HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEKEND AND MAYBE GO FISHING ON HER PONTOON WHICH SHE JUST LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE

  5. carolj says:

    Rebekah,

    I am so jealous that you got to see James and Carole. Their music was the background of my life from junior high through high school. Tapestry saw me through love and break ups. And Carole’s song "You’re Beautiful as Your Feel" was salve for my soul.

    As for the roof. The lighter green could prove the better choice if you go with the idea that light roofs are better environmentally. Having had a white house with a light green roof, I would be a bit leary. How close are the trees to your roof? Sometimes they can cause stains. And here’s a thought: You’ve narrowed it down to two choices. What does your BFF think?

    Take it from someone who has been married for 30 years. Ultimately, it is his house, too.

    Love reading your post.

    Carolj

  6. Karen Scribner says:

    In the past the red and yellow Sunbrella were not warrantied like the other colors. (And you have seen older red cars.)You might want to ask Certainteed about the durability of red, but then again, dyes may have changed.

  7. marthaellen says:

    Sometimes red fades to pink. Shocking is seeing a dayglo PINK roof blazing in the sun! Forest green is nice, my ‘someday’ house will have a deep green roof, so if it fades, it’ll still be GREEN!

  8. Shery says:

    Hmmm, is it evergreen or mint frost green or lime or emerald? I think all of the above. I am several shades of green with envy that you got to see not just one of my old music heroes, but TWO of them. Sigh. I still have both of their very first albums (you know the big round black kind). Oh you LKY GRL!!

    I bought that same JT album on a CD recently so I could have a fresh dose. you’re so right, his voice is so soothing.

  9. Jane says:

    Awesome! Always Loved James Taylor and Carole King too..
    (I am "almost" 64 (stretchin’ it out here…in about 20 days!)
    I Love watching women older then me and set them as incentives to reach for…haha!)

  10. Terrye Lenzini says:

    OK, here I am again, the first to comment. I do think that the evergreen would look fabulous, but like I said when I saw the picture that you posted with all of the green surrounding the house, I thought that it would just blend in, which is not a bad thing. Of the 2 greens, I love the deep rich evergreen. I still think that the red would look beautiful and a standout for sure. I know it must be a difficult choice for you. Love what ever you choose!!!

  11. MollyMae says:

    I have had the same BFF for 33 years now and we will always be BFFs! We have always lived in different states since we were 7, but have always stayed in touch with letters (remember those?), visits, and now emails and Facebook. I LOVE my BFF!

  12. carol Branum says:

    Hi Rebecca,Your so lucky to get to see James Taylor,I am so jelous,and Carole King,I bet it was a great time.I had my heart set on a red roof for you coz,I have my heart set on a red roof for daddys,but,he is so tight,and it makes your taxes higher,and he is so slow,and I have been begging him for a red roof,he is very thoughtful also of the roofers,when it cools off he says.But,he perfers green too,not me,red is my favorite color.As for the friends thing,I am luckier than most women,I have tons of friends that I have had for 35 years.I have a pal,we go fishing together,and camping.I have a new friend I met squaredanceing,and we talk everyday,she is also unlucky in love,we antique a lot.I am extremely happy,I just wish I had more money,and was,nt so unlucky in love,but when Spirit sends you wonderful ladie friends to ease the pain,it makes things wonderful.I feel sorry for a lot of married women that I know actually that don,t get to have near the fun that I do.There husbands won,t let them run off with the girls,so the next man I meet will have to let me run off with the girls,I can,t just dump them for a boyfriend now.Kay and I got a childs large pool and got in it friday evening,and made drinks and barbqued out,it was so much fun to just act silly.We have an absolute ball,wish you were here to hang out with us.I had a good 4th of July,but,I am glad that the holiday is over,too many cops on the hi way.Tonight I am hanging with a new friend that I met in Annies Project,she owns a Wool business,and just got back from New Zeland,and my friend Pam is here also,she has a bee business,and they are waiting on me to get off this computer so we can hang out,so gotta run,I am so blessed that I met Mary Janes Farm and friends too,Love ya,carol Branum,themofarmersdaughter@blogspot.com

  13. carol Branum says:

    Becka,I want ta tell ya too about this new chick I started to make friends with,well I am old 52 so I really do not tex,well,we met over rabbits,I have lionheads,and they are not ABRA registered yet,anyway but they are cute,and I met this gal at the rabbit show,that had registered jersey woolies,she is 25,and cute as a button,well,I like her,but,I am gettin old…lol,she texts me in the middle of the night about little things,like,one of her rabbits died or a million things,and my phone buzzes….lol,I like her but,these young people are so different that me,It is so annoyinglol,I just had to tell ya,gotta run,carol

  14. Nancy J says:

    wow…I must be getting old(er)…lol(laugh out loud). But I used to listen to "sweet baby james" when he first hit the radio. I was a late hippie/flower child. And I have some great memories of slow dancing with my boyfriend(future husband) to "you got a friend" with my bf(boy friend) singing softly in my ear…So, again, thanks for some great memories. BTW(by the way)I voted for the dark green roof, and I love texting my ff…rotfl(rollin on the floor laughin)ttyl(talk to you later)

  15. Pamela says:

    Ah come on go for the Red!

  16. kay says:

    Can’t say I have ever had a best friend….is that sad? Don’t feel like I have missed much. Lots of friends though
    and hubby is the best to talk to…Saw CK and JT on PBS…way cool♥♥♥

  17. Cheryl says:

    Hi Rebekah, Wow, those are some great pics, you must have had some choice seats. This is my first post on your blog, but I’ve enjoyed your columns in Mary Janes Farm for awhile now.
    On the subject of friends, I can probably count on one hand the number of actual "friends" I can call close & personal, and I know I am blessed. One friend in particular is a recent one, only about 3 years now. Her husband is stationed in Afghanistan right now and this has left us with the chance to spend lots of good times together while he is gone. Sometimes we just have coffee together and talk for hours, sometimes we do one of our favorite things and visit a local farmers market or shop in one of the smaller towns nearby (we are both in a small town just outside the big city). It is impossible not to admire her strength, even through this most difficult separation from her man. There might be 25 years between us, but it doesn’t matter ’cause we are like sisters in our hearts. Like yourself, we are farm girls at heart living in the city in the Midwest. I agree, it is so great to be able to laugh and be silly and so comfortable with another kindred spirit in those rare moments of just enjoying some down time and savoring our friendship. It’s given me a new appreciation for that blessing in my life.
    About that roof? I’d go green too, the darker one. But that red…well, it’s tempting. Anyway, good luck with that decision. And thanks for allowing me to share some thoughts too! I look forward to future chats!

  18. conniesuzzanne says:

    well not to complicate things further, but would that be brick red or apple red? Just wondering.

  19. Jane says:

    Do the red!

  20. Raynita says:

    Wow! The closest we got to that concert is the DVD which is amazing. I saw JT last year and I still think that I was so overwhelmed, I just didn’t take it all in like I should have..lol…if that makes sense? We would love to see him and Carole King…..you were so close:)

    Okay, RED! Red is like Carole King at 68 dancing on stage in high heels and enjoying every second with one of her best friends, James Taylor….That’s RED! Shocker Red as you said makes you happy:) Happy is a good thing.

  21. Betty says:

    I’d go with the green, evergreen sounds great. A neighbor just put a green metal roof on his house down the street. It has been four or five years and it still looks great. Fits in with the trees around it, nice and cooling.

    Betty in Pasco

  22. Dianne says:

    I’m sooooooo jealous. You seeing James and Carole. I just LOVE him!!! His voice is so clear you can hear and feel every word and his guitar. It seems like he would be nice. When we did our metal roof, we picked silver because I like that galvanized look. Ha! Ha! I think the Dark Green would be pretty.I always enjoy your blog. I’m with you no texting, especially while driving. Happy Summer Dianne xxoo

  23. Ellen says:

    I was driving home yesterday and heard this. An interview with James Taylor and Carole King on NPR! I wanted to make sure you knew about it. It was fabulous! http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128359410&sc=ipad&f=124289519 Aren’t they something else? I hope to see them before they wind up the tour. Soundtracks from my life.

    Enjoyed your post!

  24. Pam says:

    We had a red roof on our last house (my husband picked it). We flew over our house to go to Dallas and you could see our house plain as day! When we sold our house we let the buyer pick the new color of the roof and he changed it to brown.

  25. misty says:

    All us "with it chicks" know you can have multiple bffs. So I think your longtime friend certainly qualifies for an upgrade from ff to bff! You should call her up so ya’ll can plan a ceremony celebrating that fact! Invite some more upgraded bffs and make it a party

  26. Aunt Jenny says:

    I say Evergreen for sure! Red would be my second choice. Green is my very favorite color though.
    I do have a couple forever friends and kind of a large circle of buds. I don’t really talk to any of them every day but one in Alabama and one in Calif I would consider my co-bffs I think.
    And JT AND Carole..holy cow..I would love to go to THAT concert!!! Lucky you!
    We re-roofed our 125 year old house this spring and took off 5 layers in some places (the front of the house had 5 layers and the back had 3 mostly) including the original wood shakes. Jeesh!! What a huge huge mess. I agree…spring or fall are way better than summer..I can’t imagine doing it right now in the heat of a Utah summer.

  27. Cindy says:

    I’m just LOL about you inviting JT over for dinner? You really did that! Cindy

  28. Vickie says:

    If this is the house you’ll have forever, I vote for red. If you are going to have to please a buyer one day, I’d go with green.

    I know you probably know this already, but during that tour, James and Carole raised more than a million dollars for charity. I think they are great! In every way!

    Love your blog, as always! Vick

  29. Audrey says:

    I’m the same way, Rebeka! My husband is my BFF. I have a bunch of girlfriends, but none I’d consider a BFF. Lighter relationships. There’s just something  about James Taylor, isn’t there? He makes you feel all is right with the world. I need to order the DVD of that concert. I can’t believe you were that close and couldn’t talk your way into getting an autograph. Maybe next time. Have a great day!

  30. Penny says:

    Great post! I LOVE THEM! They are MY era. It’s great to see them being appreciated by the younger era. I’ve got to find their dvd as well, I missed the concert in my area. Enjoy your blog so much!

  31. Fran says:

    I don’t know what I think is cuter. James and Carole on stage or you asking him to dinner!

  32. Mattie says:

    I grew up with them. WHat a treat to see them perform in person. And "btw," I refuse to text!

  33. Angie says:

    I truly loved reading your post. James Taylor sets the bar high. His music is wonderful and he cares about the world. If only other entertainers would be more like him!

  34. Harley says:

    The blog is cool

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