High Country Adventure

We went for it in Pigeon Forge, right out of the gate. We polled the children last night to make sure they were as ambitious as Megan and I were. We gave them the choice, tubing in the river or zip-lining. Zip-lining one out unanimously. Even Emily Grace voted, not having any idea what zip-lining is.

This could've gone either way. It is one thing to say it and another thing to climb to the highest heights and put yourself out there. We had no idea what to expect and we're fully ready to roll with whatever punches came.

The first problem is that we could only find two zip-line companies who would take a four-year-old. One seem to be a little better suited for children than the other, not knowing anything we made a selection.

We suited up like brave soldiers:

We were all suited up, then we made the climb. First we climbed in a truck, then we climbed up a pole. Then the pole began to sway. We were all a little apprehensive at this point. We hid it pretty good but Emily Grace doesn't know you're supposed to:

She was expressing what everyone was feeling. Not just our family but the entire party.

Then we just went for it. One by one our kids went. They seemed fine but we wouldn't know for sure until we reach the next platform along with them. Emily Grace had to wait until everyone else went so that she could ride the first leg with a guide (that is just a rule to make sure mom and dad have the hang of it before she is allowed to ride with one of us). It just added a little more tension into the situation for her.

Megan and I got over to the Second landing to find a joyful and happy and laughing Olivia and Addison. I turned to watch coming in for landing behind me, an equally happy and laughing Emily Grace. They all loved it!

I wish I could've caught all of this on camera but cameras were not allowed. They want you to have both of your hands available to do the work of zip-lining. However, if you know me very well, you know I'm not much for rules. I am free in Jesus and I am saved by grace; other than that I challenge things a little.

So, you will see that the phone came out and I managed a few videos and photos.

 

This is Addison taking off on the third line.  This line went through a forest canopy and over a lake.  Easily hundreds of feet high. These are my brave girls.

 

 

Emily Grace and Megan launch on the same line,

Emily Grace took a water break between the third and fourth line.  It is a hot day.

Addison comes in for a landing on the Fifth line.

 

 

This Olivia coming out of the forest canopy into the landing on the Fifth line as well.

This is a picture of Olivia coming into a landing on the sixth line.  She is going in tandem with a lady that was in our group.  Everyone ran this line in tandem because it was a race line and more weight meant more speed.  I ran with Addison on this line.

 

The seventh line was really a line to get you down closer to ground level.  It was a slow line and everyone knew each other by now - that is why you will see the guides shaking the lines and playing with the girls.  This is Addison coming in for a final landing.

 

Olivia, as usual, was a little more vocal with the guide than Addison was.

This being the last line, and the fact that it was an easy one, had the guides determined that Emily Grace would ride this line alone. She was all for it, mom not so much, but here it is below.  I found it a little touching - listen to the other members of our group as they saw what was happening.

Megan came into the last landing with additional encouragement for Emily Grace.

I have to give this lady a lot of credit.  She pushes us to "go for it." We are always better for it and in this case everyone had a blast! It could have gone the other way in a hurry but it did not.  You know the old saying, "No guts - No glory." Thanks Megan, our family had a great time and we are all better and closer for it. We will share this experience with many others for years to come.

So we ate lunch at a country restaurant on the way back to the vacation house.  We took a little rest time and then the girls went to the pool. The pool water was very hot so they only lasted about an hour.

Back at the house we had a lazy evening.  This is vacation, after all.

How great it is to be on vacation with my favorite people - I love my family!