Lunch on top of Table Rock

“September 20th, 1911. Clear and cold this morning and just perfect for our drive. While Mrs. Kirkpatrick snapped a picture of us and the buggy and “Merza,” Miss Myer sang the wedding march to produce the proper expression. The road lay through the valley farm land for about five miles and then we began to climb the mountain. Merza was full of spirit and almost refused to rest. Little mountain springs were bubbling out along the way and twice we stopped to drink. When we were almost up Merza seemed tired so we climbed the rest of the way and led her. Table Rock was all they had claimed for it. We could stand out on the edge of the rock and look for miles over the mountains into five different states. We tied the horse and fed her, started our camp fire and then went off to gather chestnuts until we were ready to cook our dinner of bacon, eggs and tomatoes. Alfred acted cook and I will remember his skill in time of need! After dinner we gathered more chestnuts and then dove along the mountain top to Observatory Hill. Here a large tower has been built from which you can see in a perfect circle around you, miles and miles of wooded mountain sides broken only by scattered farms in the valleys. After gathering more chestnuts we stared our beauty drive home and reached Brookside just in time to dress for dinner. This is our last evening in our little cottage for we turn our backs on these happy five days and go on South tomorrow.”