Stone Mountain (and a Mercy Ships reunion!)...

We visited the famous Stone Mountain Park on Saturday, 7th February. The main feature of the park is Stone Mountain itself, a large granite mountain that has a large sculpture and memorial of three confederate leaders on its north face. Our Mercy Ships friend Erin met us here and, along with Scott and Janet and their children, we hiked up the mountain and then visited some of the surrounding attractions - including the old quarry, grist mill and covered bridge. It was a really fun outing!

 Driving to Stone Mountain.

 They had a snow machine creating snow for tubing!

 The figures are Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. Wikipedia tells me that the entire carved surface measures three acres!

 Sign at the bottom of the trail to the top of the mountain.

 Map of the mountain and surrounding areas.

 Flags as we begin our hike up the slope.

 Starting out through pine forest and granite stone.

 An opening reveals the Atlanta city skyline!

 Downtown Atlanta - where we were the day before.

 Heading up a steep section.

 Almost at the top.

 With our lovely Mercy Ships friend Erin. It was awesome seeing her again!

 Candace and I at the top.

 There is a cableway that goes up the mountain. This is the upper cableway station.

 View looking down at the snow-tubing.

 And with the surrounding area too.

 Beautiful scenery!

 Cable car heading down...

 While the blue one comes up.

 Our whole group. :) Thanks Scott and Janet for taking us here!

 A pickup truck drives up the steep slope.

 Back at the bottom. The old quarry exhibit.

 This is where thousands of tonnes of granite was taken from the mountain - enough to actually be made into paving stones that would stretch from the north pole to the south pole! That's a distance of 12,444 miles or 20,026 kms!

 Surely I can make this budge?! It's not that heavy!

 The water wheel or grist mill nearby.

 The water wheel.

 Lovely clear water. It really was a beautiful day!

 Covered bridge!

 Driving through the covered bridge.

Really cool old VW bus in the parking area. :)