Our Final Day Of Agora!

We started our fifth and final day of Agora by waking up earlier than usual. We woke up at 7:00 A.M., and then we got down to the main lobby by 8:45, so that we could then leave the hotel by 9:00 A.M.  We checked out of the hotel, and then we got on a new, smaller bus. We left the hotel and we drove for about 30-45 minutes and we went to Hidden Caverns  This was a very cool experience because of all the natural rock formations that were in the cave.

Using colored lights, the caverns were lit up!

This was a grotto of water in the caverns!

There were so many stalactites and stalagmites!

We then drove for an hour and had lunch. After lunch, we drove for about 3 hours and we went to Atlanta. In Atlanta, we went to the Georgia Aquarium for about an hour, which was beautiful, because of the amount of fish and how diverse the fish were. We then went to the Airport where we all got some dinner. After eating, we boarded the plane, landed and we all went home. 

Manta Ray at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta 

Coral Reef tank in the aquarium

Did we mention that we had the coolest chaperones around?!?!  Ms. Waldron, Todd aka Skittles, Mr. Deakins, Darius and our amazing bus driver Mark!

  

Mountain trek, hiking in the clouds, and horses

We started our fourth day with a chilly hike to Arch Rock which was 1.4 miles from our starting point and then on to Alum cave which was about a mile farther. Having a weather that is in a range of 30-40 degrees, everyone was freezing especially when we were climbing mountains. Along the way, we've seen some beautiful scenery.

Arch Rock

Alum Cave

Scenery seen at Alum Cave

After our long trek to Alum Cave, we arrived by bus at Clingman's Dome; at Clingman's, there was a trail leading to the very top of the mountain where an outlook was located. We were a little more than 6,000 feet in the air and there was snow on the trees. We couldn't see very much because the clouds were hindering our vision and the wind picked up fast; nonetheless the outlook was spectacular into the Smokies.

A snowy look into the Northern hemisphere.

The outlook post; it was very windy up there.

Our final look out into the Smokies; a sight to behold.

After hiking Clingman's Dome, we were beginning to get hungry and restless about food, so we went to Dolly Parton: a STAMPEDE show. They entertained us with their wonderful banjos, guitars, and a standing bass, one of the musicians being a 4 time banjo national champion! After the performance they led us to an arena like concert, and introduced us to the beginning of the show. The show consisted of  horseback riders, pig races, chicken chases and games lead by the host and included the audience, while informing us of the nature of freedom. They offered an outstanding performance!

The Performance Arena 

Zipping and Slipping

Day three started off with an hour bus ride to Pigeon Forge Zip Lining and White Water Rafting. First up was zip lining, dividing up into two groups with two guides each, we set off into the mountain tops of the Great Smoky Mountains. We started with practice lines, and then went for the bigger lines ending with seven lines total.

Alex on the practice line, masking her fears.

Dom loving zip lining. It's her fourth time!

Katie going for her second time on the practice run.

Lizzy facing her fears on the zip lines.

Right after Zip Lining in a hot sun, we ate a quick lunch then we got geared up and took off in a bus to the chilling waters for White River Rafting. We sectioned off into three groups of six with a rafting guide at the end of each boat. Each raft went through a total of three class four rapids. Flowing sideways and backwards while being scared to fall right out of the boat, we had several fun splash wars against the other rafts...but luckily no one fell in!

We ended the night with three and a half hours of free time in Gatlinburg. We were responsible for picking our own dinners. Some of us went to laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf and shopping.  Now to bed to rest up for more fun tomorrow!

Turkey and deer and bears...oh my!!

Day two of our Smoky Mountain Agora dawned clear and cool.  Due to snow and ice, the main road through the park was closed so we switched our itinerary and did a short 1.3 mile hike to Laurel Falls.  Along the way we witnessed some beautiful mountain scenery.

After the hike to Laurel Falls we travelled to Cade's Cove where we visited several old homestead sites and a small "town" with a blacksmith and a grist mill.  Also in the cove we saw several turkey, a bunch of deer and black bear and 2 cubs.

After a dinner at The Hard Rock Café in Pigeon Forge we travelled to Gatlinburg for a ghost tour with Gabriella. 

Stairways in the Smokies

Smoky Mountain Agora 2018 began this morning (Monday) with an early morning flight to Atlanta.  Upon arrival in Atlanta we met our guide, Todd, and boarded the bus for the Tallulah Gorge. 

It's Todd!

Map of the Park

After a 2 hour bus ride we arrived and enjoyed a quick box lunch.  We then headed out for our first hike.  The hike to Hurricane Falls consists of approximately 650 stairs down to the platform.  About halfway down we crossed a suspension bridge which spans the entire width of the gorge.

Suspension bridge across Tallulah Gorge

It's how many stairs back up?

After going down the stairs there is only one way back up.  The whole group made it back to the top of the gorge and we completed the remaining mile of the hike.

After leaving the gorge, we made a LONG and WINDING trip to Gatlinburg for dinner at Mellow Mushroom.