When One Door Closes....

Well, today was my last day of work here at Brasstown Bald. It was bittersweet, as I am ready to explore other places and get back to school, but I will truly miss being here. I have worked with some wonderful people and have thoroughly enjoyed my job here in Georgia!

Tomorrow I will leave my cozy life here on this mountaintop in Georgia and venture out on a 9 day road trip up the east coast and then back to Minnesota. And the best part....my Mom will be joining me for the trip!! Here's the last of my time here in Georgia.

 I'll start with a few birthday wishes - this past Saturday was my Great Aunt LaVerne's birthday and this past Sunday was my older sister Kayla's birthday! AND, today is my Aunt Nicole's birthday as well as my Godchild Ruth's 7th birthday! Wishing them all many more blessings!

Appalachian Trail (AT)

This past Monday I spent working most of the day, even though it was my day off. Preparing to leave has been hectic but all for the better. I'm excited about all of the projects we've completed and all the changes and improvements we were able to implement during our internship. On Monday I also began the joyful task of packing. Though I do not have that much stuff here in Georgia I have learned my lesson many times over to start early and slowly chip away at it. So, that is what I've done and it seems to have paid off, as I don't feel like packing was a burden.

On Tuesday Claire and I went hiking first thing in the morning, which I always enjoy. It helps gets me moving and utilizes my 'morning person' energy. We hiked from Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area up Slaughter Creek Trail to the Appalachian Trail (AT), down the AT to Jarrard Gap and then took Jarrard Gap Trail back to the parking area. The 6 mile hike began with a little rain but ended in a foggy mist that filled the forest, making for some great photos! The rest of Tuesday was spent doing chores and packing. I should also mention that I had a wonderful video chat with my best friends Anna and Hannah!

The rest of the week was spent working on projects, cleaning, and packing. In case you see photos and are confused, on Wednesday a dog was left at Brasstown Bald so we had a temporary pet for a two days. He was pretty cute!

Claire, Pam, Myself, and Julia at The Copper Door

So, on top of being the best supervisors, on Thursday evening Pam and Julia (my supervisors) took Claire and I out to dinner to thank us for our time as interns here at Brasstown Bald. We ate dinner at The Copper Door, which is a very elegant restaurant in Hayesville, NC. I had a gourmet caesar salad, duck breast with rice pilaf and vegetables, and creme brulee for dessert! Yum! Then, on top of that, they gave us each a ceramic mug made by a local artist a few miles from here! And, to top it off, after dinner we went and walked the Chatuge Dam and saw the sunset. A perfect ending to my amazing internship!

My new mug :)

As I said before, I have learned a lot here and it will be tough to leave. It has truly been a memorable experience!

AND......tomorrow Mom and I begin our 9 day road trip!!

Be sure to see check out my photos and to check the blog throughout this week, as Mom and I will be blogging along the way! Please wish us safe travels and I will check in with you all a few states and many hours of driving down the road!