Bill, Jan, and Julie joined John, Sharon, Chace, Abby, and friends Payton and Laura for a camping weekend at Black Top Mountain State Park in Rabun County GA over Labor Day weekend. We spent Saturday and Sunday exploring local waterfalls, burning calories, and socializing.

The group gathered at Hemlock Falls in Moccasin Creek State Park on Saturday.

Julie sets up her and Indie's tent ...

... with lots of advice from Jan and Sharon.

John and Sharon's campsite was adjacent to ours, so we had lots of social time between outings.

The family dinners Saturday and Sunday evenings were a real treat.

Sunday we headed to Bull Sluice Rapids -- a Class IV+ rapid -- on the Chattooga River close to the Georgia / South Carolina border. There was lots of activity all afternoon at the rapids -- kayakers, rafters, and spectators like us.

Abby and Laura contemplate jumping into the pool below the main part of the rapids.

Abby makes her first jump ...

... and then coaches Julie.

Rafters (in blue life jackets in upper portion of the photo) beached their rafts upstream of the rapids and walked down to see what they faced. Of the 25 or so rafts that navigated the rapids while we were there, all but three or four made it through without overturning. Kayaks did not fare as well, but all paddlers made it through safely.

They had the added excitement of watching Chace jump!

There goes John!

... and Julie again.

Great form, Julie! Sharon (foreground) gave her a 9.91 on the jump.

Everyone but Jan and Bill left for home Monday. We spent the afternoon walking around the campgrounds and enjoying the peace and beauty of the north Georgia mountains.

We had a wonderful weekend, and look forward to doing it again! Thanks to John and Sharon for letting us horn in on their weekend. James and Gretchen, we missed you!!