Chimney Rock

We rented a little house on the Rocky Broad river in Chimney Rock for a couple of nights. The house was over a hundred years old and had a lot of character. We got to Chimney Rock only to discover that the elevator is being replaced and won't be functioning until next spring. I should have checked beforehand. We decided to take the stairs...the equivalent of 26 flights. Madeline wouldn't let Jason take her in the Kelty so I had her on my back. Ethan ran up, and Colin didn't complain at all until the very end, and then not much.

Apparently riding on my back made Maddie very thirsty.

Maddie let Jason carry her down (thanks, Mads) and on the hike to the waterfall.

This is Maddie's "Mom, don't take my picture!!" stance. Stinker.

We left Chimney Rock and stopped at Laura's House for lunch, where the food (especially the cakes) were as good as we remembered. Then we headed over to Lake Lure and rented a pontoon boat for a couple of hours. The kids (and Jason) loved it. Jason tried to fish along the coast but didn't have any luck, and Maddie was starting to melt down by then, so we headed back for dinner and bed.

Poor Ethan always has to share a room (and usually a bed) with Colin when we travel. Colin is a very restless sleeper (he reminds me of my sister Erin at the same age). Ethan was in bed trying to fall sleep when Colin suddenly flung himself over Ethan. That's Colin's pillow over on the right side. They're laying across the bed...if they sleep the other way Colin inevitably ends up on the floor, so we put Colin parallel to the headboard and use Ethan to block him in. Sorry, Ethan!