(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This picture of Hurricane Falls was taken in May, 2010. We had stopped by Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia, when we were on our way to the beach. We didn't have time on this trip to hike to the bottom of the canyon, but I got this picture of the waterfall from a short hike along the south rim of the gorge.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

I was working with some of my older picture files last week when I came across this picture of wildflowers in the rain. The picture was taken at Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia in May of last year.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

A kayaker going through Bull Sluice rapids on the Chattooga River near Clayton, Georgia.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Bull Sluice on the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River near Clayton, Georgia, is really a Class V whitewater rapid. But since it was included in one of our waterfall books, and since it definitely involves falling water, Betsy and I decided to check it out on our way to the beach. A pleasant hike through the woods led us to an overlook. We heard the roar of the water long before we came upon this view.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

When Betsy and I were in Dahlonega, Georgia, in March I caught sight of this dam as we crossed a bridge over Yahoola Creek. The water flowing over the top of the dam looked so pretty that I just had to find a place to pull off so I could get a picture.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Several days ago I posted a picture of Jigger Creek Falls (here), which we visited in northern Georgia while on my birthday trip. The drawing above is based on another picture I took that day. I used Photoshop to convert the photo into a line drawing.

I first learned how to turn a photograph into line art of Scott's wonderful photo blog, Finding Another View.

********************

Betsy and I will be taking a blog break for about a week. I'll be back about April 4, the yard willing.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Muddy water flowing down a creek doesn't usually present a pretty picture. But I shot this photo just above Clay Creek Falls in Dahlonega, Georgia, last week after a heavy rain. The water makes me think of billowing chocolate-colored satin.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

On our way to Amicalola Falls State Park last week Betsy and I visited a new waterfall (for us) in the Cohutta Wilderness Area along the Tennessee-Georgia border. Jigger Creek Falls is a pretty waterfall adjacent to the road -- no hiking required.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Tempesta Falls is one of five major waterfalls in Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia. There is no direct access to this waterfall, and this picture was taken from the south rim of the gorge in May, 2010.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

L'Eau d'Or Falls is one of five major waterfalls in Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia. This waterfall can only be viewed from the rim of the gorge, but is still very beautiful from that vantage point.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Sometimes we have to visit a waterfall long distance. We try to avoid that if possible, but sometimes there is no other way. Estatoah Falls, near Dillard, Georgia, is up on Ford Mountain on private property and no access is allowed. However. thanks to a telephoto lens, we were able to add Estatoah Falls to our collection from the highway.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

A large waterfall such as Niagara can fill a person with awe at the power of the water roaring over the falls. Smaller waterfalls can exude peace and tranquility. Angel Falls, in north Georgia, is a quiet little fall in which the water serenely flows over many thin layers of rock.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The picture above was taken in June of last year at what has become one of our favorite places to visit -- Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia. The top of Oceana Falls, one of five major falls in the gorge can be seen at the bottom of the photo. The river is about 750 feet below the overlook from which the picture was taken.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This is the view from the Dillard House in Dillard, Georgia. Betsy and I had a delicious meal there on our anniversary in June, and after our meal we walked the grounds and I got this picture of Rabun Gap in the evening light.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

In June Betsy and I visited some waterfalls in Rabun County, Georgia. One of the waterfalls we visited was Panther Falls, which we found after a pleasant hike through the woods. The nicest thing about this falls is that we had it all to ourselves even on a beautiful summer day.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This picture obviously not taken this week. It was taken back in June on the grounds of the Dillard House in Dillard, Georgia. The gazebo looks like the perfect spot to spend a summer evening after a delicious meal.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

In June Betsy and I went to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia. While there I hiked down to the floor of the gorge to the base of Hurricane Falls. The trail down led to a suspension bridge over the river directly above Hurricane Falls. I took the picture above looking down the falls, a perspective I usually don't get when visiting a waterfall.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

One nice thing about visiting waterfalls is the hike that it often involved in getting to the waterfall. In August we visited Desoto Falls Scenic Area in Georgia and hiked to Middle Desoto Falls. The falls, and the setting, were very peaceful and tranquil.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This picture of my beautiful bride was taken when we visited Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia this past June. It was a beautiful day in which the sun was almost as bright as Betsy's smile.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The picture above was taken in June and shows Tallulah Gorge in Georgia. The gorge contains six waterfalls which we enjoyed seeing from the rim. There is a dam at the head of the gorge which restricts the flow of water.

This morning Betsy and I are leaving for a couple of days in northern Georgia. They are releasing water from the dam on Wednesday and we want to be there to see what the waterfalls looked like before the dam was built. We've had this trip planned for several weeks.

Then on Friday we are going to Jacksonville for Ray's (Betsy's brother) memorial service. We will get back home on Sunday and then on the following Tuesday I will take Betsy to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, for her getaway with her grade school girlfriends.

I can visit you using my iPod Touch, but unless I can pry Betsy's laptop from her, I don't think I'll be able to post for much of that time. But don't give up on me -- I'll be back as soon as possible.