spring break 2009 part 2

It was our last full day in Gulf Shores and we spent the day at the beach. I thought it might be kind of fun to try and dig up a sand crab. I've never done such a thing before and I confess I had no idea how much of a challenge this would prove to be. I found a 2" wide sand crab hole and began to follow the hole down by digging around and under the hole to prevent it from caving in. After digging about two feet down below shore level and two feet in length, I noticed that the hole was disappearing, not from caving in on itself but because a crab was on the run digging deeper in the sand. I was on to him so I cut him off by digging ahead of him trying to cut him off. When the two tunnels I dug merged in the center - there was no crab to be found. I thought for sure I had him, and after poking around a litte bit more I found him! His shell blends perfectly with the sand he was difficult to see because he was perfectly still but when I unsuspectingly sraped him with my shovel, he got scared and started to make a run for it! I was able to use two shovels to lift him out of the tunnels to show the kiddos. End to end this guy was 8 -10" wide. It was the first time I - as well as Naomi and Elijah - had ever seen a sand crab up close. The kids loved it and after we snapped some pics, we gently returned him to his home. It was a great way to end our trip.

spring break 2009 part one

Once again the Cooper family loaded up the family van and headed south to Gulf Shores, AL for a week-long vacation at the beach. Our journey began at noon on Friday and after a full 23 hours of driving [with a short nap in Huntsville] we finally arrived at our destination at 10 am on Saturday. This trip was filled with potty stops. [We have a three year old with bladder the size of a walnut.] Every 45 minutes or so, we'd cringe when we'd hear, "Mommy! Daddy! I have to go peeeeeee!" Then one of us would say, "You have to hold it son." He would respond, "I caaaaan't!" Even on one occasion literally five minutes after he went he had to go again. [Thanks to all those who have shared ideas on how to speed up our travel time with out slowing down for potty breaks - some were good ideas and others were just plain weird.] We joined my wife's parents, who arrived a week earlier, and we stayed in a lovely five bedroom house right on the Gulf appropriately called Yellow Bird Too. [Yellow Bird One was destroyed by Katrina.]



On our fourth day, we drove to Mobile, AL to tour the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship. I've never been on a battleship before and this was a really neat experience for us all.


Once inside the "bowels" of the ship, we toured the sleeping quarters, the mess hall, the barbershop, the rec room, the brig [see below], officer's quarters, the laundry room. This battleship provides all kinds of "services" for the sailors. Here is a picture of the sleeping quarters. Looks comfy doesn't it?




The latrine - 'nough said.


Here's a revolutionary idea - toilets with adjustable seating! Notice there's no internal plumbing or flushing handle. Kinda gross when you think about it.


The kitchen.


Ah, the brig. Can I get one of these installed in my basement? Just kidding...not really.


I took this picture from the bow of the boat - simply amazing!


After we toured the U.S.S. Alabama, we went through a submarine. I don't recall the name of this particular sub, but this one held about 50 crew members and we walked through pretty much in a single file line from aft to bow. Subs have a very cramped feeling. There's not much wiggle room or free space, so I could see why crew members had to maintain a certain weight in order to be on a sub.






We just "had" to take a picture of the shark souvenir shop in Gulf Shores. The kids were just itching to go! BTW, this place has the best cappucino and peanut butter fudge I've ever had! Excellent fudge!

The Great Smoky Mountain Adventure

Move over Griswalds...make way for the Coopers (and their minivan chuck full of stuff!) while on their Great Smoky Mountain Adventure.

To celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary, Jaclyn and I decided to take the family to The Smokies for some great hiking. (We call it an adventure because, yes, we took the kiddos along, and yes they needed to think of it as an adventure.) Jaclyn grew up going to the Smokies almost on an annual basis and this was something that she really wanted to share with her family. She always says that Mt. Le Conte is her most favorite place on earth, and now I know why -it was just absolutely beautiful. The GSNP is a very special place and I know we'll end up going back there again. So, here are some pictures from our "adventure." Enjoy!

Day 1 - Arrival

When we first arrived in Gatlainburg, TN, we stayed at the Rocky Waters Motor Inn on the north side of town. Pretty nice place inside and out, but if it hadn't been for the great deal through hotels.com, I don't think we'd have stayed there.

Day 2 - Grotto Falls

A "traditional" shot at the park entrance.


On our first full day at The Smokies, we took a short three mile hike (round trip) to Grotto Falls. We're standing behind falls as you can see. While there we met a couple and the guy sweeps his wife up in his arms and trudges through thigh high water at the base of the falls so I could take a picture of them. I wasn't so daring!

Day 3 - Laurel Falls

The next day, we hiked another trail leading to Laurel Falls, which you see here as well as the next two pictures below.





Day 4 - The Hike to Le Conte

We started our 5 mile adventure (one way) on a Tuesday morning at 8:30am. We took the Alum Cave trail up to Mt. Le Conte (it is one of five trails a traveler can take).


It wasn't long before Elijah had had enough. (We had been hiking for 20 minutes!) I'm such a bad dad, I was laughing.


At the 1.4 mile mark, we arrived at Arch Rock. By this time Elijah had been riding on my back for the last .5 miles, where he would remain for the remainder of the trip up the mountain. The total pack weight with him in it was 40 pounds (25% of my body weight!). He was very heavy to carry up.


Here's Jaclyn and Naomi climbing up a steep and rocky path using the cables for support. Jaclyn and I were so very proud of our 5 year old daughter. She hiked the whole thing all by herself. She was given the distinction of "Super Hiker." She was the only 5 year old who hiked that trail that day.


Just takin' a break.


Finally after 6.5 hours of hiking, we made it to the top of Mt. Le Conte. This is a picture I took from our cabin balcony. All the cabins are built similarly, but what you can't see is the fact that there is no electricity or running water at Le Conte. We carried water to our cabin in a bucket from a community spigot, and our cabin was lit by an oil lamp. Because there is no electricity, the workers that live there use propane for cooking and heating.


Enjoying a cup of hot chocolate in the dining hall. All those who had reserved cabins for the night dine together in the hall.


Each night, most of the people staying at Le Conte hike up .2 miles to Clifftops to view the sunset.


"Come and get it...breakfast is ready!" Elijah really like ringing the "dinger" bell. The staff serve dinner and breakfast for 60 people each day. The food was great!


Workin' our way back down the mountain the next day!


One last picture before we loaded up and headed home.

Interesting Details
- Elevation: 6593 ft.
- 5 trailheads leading to Mt. Le Conte
- Pack llamas travel up and down the mountain three times per week bringing supplies and laundry.
- Helicopters deliver 220,000 pounds of supplies annually which takes 40 trips.
- One man has hiked up to Le Conte over 1200 times.
- We met a 79 year old man who has hiked up over 80 times.
- One man hiked up with his mother strapped to a chair on his back!!!