Hiking and Beer are two of my favorite things and when REI occasionally offers an event that combines the two, I can rarely resist. Today's little adventures sees us meeting up at Pontoon Brewing in Sandy Springs. Once we've done a quick round of introductions, we load into the van and take a five minute trip to the Island Ford unit's visitor center of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. I've hiked this area a few times, but it's a nice trail right beside the river and I'm in good company.
Our pace is pretty decent and first get a mile or so in along the shoreline of the river before turning inland and getting in some short climbs. The group is very friendly and we talk of other adventures, of bears and joro spiders, and of course of beer. Our guide is knowledgeable and very outgoing. She makes it something of a choose your own adventure as we decide as a group which way to go upon examining the installed map stations at various points.
After about 4 miles, we have returned to our staring point. Now it's time to refresh ourselves. As our guide pulls the van back into the breweries parking lot, she mentions that she will go in and get drink tickets for each of us. The first pint is on REI. Being a beer explorer though, I opt to start with a flight of some selections I haven't tried and then later return for my pint. Most of the group hangs out on the outside picnic benches and we continue our conversations for earlier over our tasty beverages. After an hour or so of spirits and lively conversation, we break out and head in our respective directions, but it was a beautiful day for a hike and a pint and I'm glad I decided to come.
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