The Hike Inn; Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia; Saturday [11/16].

[sword_chocobro]

One of the great things about planning these weekend get-aways was finding some really unique and interesting places all around the country, and so when Gladio set out to find somewhere to visit to celebrate Nell's birthday a little bit, he figured a place called The Hike Inn would be pretty fitting! And he was not wrong on that assumption, considering that even just getting to the place required a hike from the state park's visitors' center, so when they arrived yesterday, there was a little bit of exploration there before they headed out to the lodge deep in the foothills of northern Georgia.

They didn't entirely have the place all to themselves, but, since it was definitely at the tail end of the prime hiking season, it was still pretty quiet, and those who were also staying there or passing through were enthusiasts with shared interests that Gladio, at least, enjoyed talking to when they did cross paths. But, for the most part, it was just him and Nell, laughing at the bunk beds in the cabins that he'd been prepared for, meaning their first night had been spent making slightly more room on the floor with some sleeping bags instead.

So then there they were on their big full day there, having some breakfast in the common area of the lodge with its comforting woodstove at the center of the room, light pouring through the windows that surrounded it, and Gladio was pouring over the hiking map for the area.

"Hey, look at this," he said, with a grin, turning the map and pointing at some of the information on top for Nell to read, "they've detailed some of the more interesting plants and things that grow along the trail, too. That's kind of neat."

The whole place was, really. The survivalist in him appreciated all the eco-friendly nods to conservation, the fact that it was built on stilts to have less impact on the earth, the solar panels running the place....he was even kind of excited to check out their worm beds later that evening, so he was feeling pretty good about this pick, that was for sure.

The great company certainly didn't hurt, either.

[[ for the little lady with him (or anyone who wants to get in touch) and nfb for distance, of course! ]]

Comments

[mylandmyrules]

Nell had been enthralled by the walk up in the mist, the huge trees rising above then as they hiked in. The buildings on stilts had fascinated her and she'd been amazed at just how efficiently they ran on mostly solar energy. Not quite as efficiently as her house in Soulwood, but then Soulwood was much smaller.

The bunk beds had been a surprise to her, but Gladio had obviously been aware, and when he pulled out the sleeping bags and extra blankets after a moment of his patented head scratching and 'huh', all she could do was laugh with him.

It was more fun curled up on the floor with him anyway.

She was a bit distracted at breakfast, taking to one of the staff about the solar panels and the solar/thermal energy for the hot water, making a couple of suggestions and a plan to tour and talk about them at the end of the day. But that done, she tucked into breakfast to fuel herself for the day of exploration and the beauty of discovering new wildlife.

"Amazing!" she said. "Let's go explore!"

[sword_chocobro]

"Looks like there's plenty of side trails off the main one for us to get lost on, too," Gladio said, chuckling a little, pleased by Nell's enthusiasm, even if he wasn't the least bit surprised by it. "We're definitely going to be earning that good night's rest today!"

He was already starting to roll his shoulders and stretch his neck a little between bites as if in anticipation.

[mylandmyrules]

"Got my pink blanket so I can do a little communing while we're here," Nell said with a smile. "And tonight they're going to show me some of their solar and thermal stuff. They're having an issue with one of their things that sounds a lot like mine back home, so maybe I can help."

She loved to be able to help.

"So, were going to start off on the longer trail, right?"

[sword_chocobro]

"Look at you," Gladio said, with a smirk that was equal parts amused and admiring, "even when you're supposed to be taking it easy, you're still keeping busy as a bee. And, yeah, that's the plan; looks like the length of the main trail should take us right up to the falls, which, I mean, if you're going to a park named after them, you gotta at least check those out, right?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Absolutely," Nell said. "And we've got a great picnic type lunch to eat when we get there."

She smiled at him. "So we can relax and enjoy the waterfall. Probably all alone. Where we can just be us together."

[sword_chocobro]

"All that time with just me and nature, huh?" Gladio smirked. "If that's not just the perfect birthday, I don't know what would be."

[mylandmyrules]

"You couldn't be more right," Nell said fondly.

"Plus I got a home-cooked meal and even a green... cake-like object," she teased.

[sword_chocobro]

"It tasted like cake," Gladio countered, pulling himself up with a clearly very offended huff at such egregious slander. "That's what really counts, right?"

[mylandmyrules]

"It was delicious," Nell said, "full points for that. And no one has ever made me a cake before, so triple points for that!"

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio shook his head, unsure of whether or not he should point out how messed up that was, but figured that wasn't exactly the foot he'd want to get the day started on.

So, instead, he said, "Well, great. Now I've gotta keep making you more for all those points. Maybe after a couple years, I'll even make something that manages to look like a cake, too."

[mylandmyrules]

"Yes," Nell said mock-seriously. "Because it will be harder each year to earn full points. Though... I can be bribed..."

[sword_chocobro]

"Well, here I was thinking I'd just secretly start getting Igs to make all my cakes from here on in," Gladio admitted, grinning as he leaned forward over the table and waggled his eyebrows at her, "but tell me more about these bribes."

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh no, I'd totally know an Ignis cake," Nell said with a laugh. "It would have a very fancy flavor profile and perfect icing and where's the fun in that?"

She smiled mischievously at him. "Oh, I'm sure you'll come up with some wonderful ideas. Maybe if we're alone up at the waterfall we could experiment with one or two."

[sword_chocobro]

"He can do simple and straightforward, too," Gladio countered. "He just prefers to get all fancy with it, and now you've got me wondering if you really could tell." His eyes narrowed with speculation, as he rubbed his chin and considered this cunning and clever cake plot.

The real solution, actually, was to find a middle ground and give her a Prompto cake.

But, surprisingly, cake wasn't really that on the forefront of his mind anymore. He let out a thoughtful hum and nodded. "Maybe," he agreed. "Guess we won't know 'til we get there, though. You think you're ready to head out?"

[mylandmyrules]

She finished the last bite of her breakfast and washed it down with the last of her coffee, then nodded. "All fueled up and ready for the trail."

A little stretch as she stood and got her bag. "Race you to the trailhead!"

And she darted for the door.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio was just going to take a moment to gather up their dishes and things like that to clean up a little and say a goodbye to everyone still in the common area. Sure, it was polite, but since this was for Nell's birthday and all, he figured he'd be nice and let her have a little bit of a headstart before he went jogging after her.

[mylandmyrules]

His legs were twice as long as hers! She had to be creative!

Still she was happy and cheerful, greeting him with a kiss as he caught up with her along the way. "Just keeping you on your toes with a little warm up before we start out." Her eyes were already scanning the path ahead for some of the mentioned plants.

"I'm gonna enjoy communing with the land here," she said, slipping her hand into his.

[sword_chocobro]

"Yeah, I figured you would," Gladio agreed, giving Nell's hand a little squeeze once it settled into his. "I thought about a couple of places that were pretty good for stargazing, but they're mostly in the desert. And I like all the mountains and views, so this was definitely the winner."

[mylandmyrules]

"The desert would be interesting," Nell said, "and stargazing is fun, but this is better."

No trees in a desert, that was for sure.

She smiled up at him, squeezing his hand and leaning into him a little. "This is much better and perfect for a birthday trip."

The leaning and handholding weren't the most conducive for hiking, but at the start of a hike they were much more conducive for just being able to stretch up and kiss him. Which she did.

[sword_chocobro]

And that had been Gladio's final deciding factor. Sure, there were still some interesting plants in the desert, especially the areas he was looking at, more so than most people realized, but for Nell's birthday? Surrounded by trees was the only way to go.

So it was pretty nice that Nell felt the same way, and he grinned a little, pleased with himself and pleased with the lean, but especially pleased with that kiss, leaning down into it so she didn't have to stretch up too much.

"At this rate," he murmured with another grin, keeping close and leaned in, "we'll hit that waterfall by sunset."

It did not at all sound like a complaint.

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh no," Nell murmured, not sounding distressed at all. "Wandering and kissing and then being by a waterfall at sunset? Whatever will we do?"

And she kissed him again.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio smirked into that next kiss, leaning in just that little bit more. "Well, we wouldn't want to take too long, though," he murmured, voice particularly low and rumbling. "I'd hate to miss out on the chance to see that worm bed tonight. And what if there's bears on the way back, huh?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell, of course, had never seen The Wizard of Oz, nor had Gladio most likely, or she probably would have replied with, 'lions and tigers and bears, oh my!' Instead she just laughed and said, "Oh no, not bears" and pointed out that she'd know a bear was around long before they could be heard or seen.

"And the worm beds, how could we ever miss those?"

[sword_chocobro]

"Good thing I got you around to protect me from all those bears,then," Gladio noted with a wink, because, yeah, even without his sword, he wasn't exactly worried about some measly bear. "And the worms," he had to laugh a little now with his admission, "I mostly just wanna get some good pictures and videos of to show Prompto later, see if I can really gross him out."

True brotherly love right there.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "Poor Prompto! I suppose Ignis should be thankful that there isn't a way to capture scent or taste on a phone or who knows what you'd subject him too!"