This is a collection of stories that happen in my life. Enjoy life and make the most of every moment.
Lora and I took Dad and Mom on a camping trip for Fathers Day. We went to Notchy Creek Campground for two nights. They were calling for some bad weather, but we had two beautiful days on the lake. It did rain the last night, but we had just finished grilling.
We arrived at Roan Mountain State Park to find two 21' Escapes, one Casita, one Oliver, and one Parkliner. It was like having an Egg rally. After we got set up we did the walk around the campground and tried to meet everyone. Tom and Linda, Bill and Erlene were the two in Escapes. We were invited to join them around the campfire tonight. We contiued our hike around the campground. There are two loops up top and then a camper loop, a tent loop, and a group camp down on the bottom. A lady stopped and told us to look for deer in the evenings in the fields around the pool area. She said that there were around 30 of them. So during our walk we looked for them as well. We hiked the Riverside trail and then joined everyone around the campfire. The excitement for the night was the Synchronous Fireflies along the creek. We thought they were only in the Smoky's.
Tuesday morning we got up and headed up Roan Mountain. We hiked to the Roan High Bluff first for a morning view. Then we hiked to the Roan High Knob Shelter. Just before we got there a large Black bear came down to the trail in front of us and gave us a look before heading down the trail the same way we were going. We soon came across another couple heading towards us and they never saw him. So we went up to the shelter and the high knob itself before returning to our car and lunch. From there we stopped by the gardens that only had a couple of blooms on them and then headed on to Carvers Gap to hike the balds.
On the way up we heard a bass. We found a lady playing the bass with her two daughters singing and playing the mandolin. They were up there for a photo shoot so we got to listen for a couple of songs. We hiked Round Bald, Janes Bald, and up to Grassy Ridge. There were lots of people out hiking today. We saw Ravens, deer, Azalas, Jacks, Rhododendron, and violets.
After we got back we went to visit the Miller Homestead. A really nice place to see. We went up to the overlook and cemetry as well. From there we went to the Gristmill Visitor center to check it out and get icecream. We hiked the Peg Leg Mine trail. Then we stopped at Cates Hole to see what was there. Nice swimming hole and the trailhead for a couple of trails. Later we visited with fellow Eggers and then went with Park Manager Ranger Monica to see the Synchronous fireflies and Blue Ghost fireflies.
Wednesday we went and hiked the Moonshiners Run and Turkey Trot trails from Cates Hole. After that we relaxed around the campsite as our fellow Eggers stopped and visited us. We walked around the campground again visiting with the Host and saw that another Casita had arrived. We saw a family of 5 groundhogs, and deer today. We went back down to the group campsite to watch the fireflies with our fellow Eggers.
Thursday we got up and headed to Warriors' Path State Park. We were early so hiked the Lakeshore Trail while we waited for our site to open up. We picked up a life jacket from the shore and turned it in at the Camper store. We set up camp, ate lunch, and then headed over to Duck Island to relax in the sun and swim. It appeared that I also took my wallet to swim with me, but it did not come back with me. Bummer. We ate dinner and then walked the park. We saw deer, ducks, geese, turtles, and fish. That night we had our own campfire.
Friday we hiked the Riverbank trail to the bridge and then hiked the Devils Backbone and Fall Creek Loop trails. Really nice views and pretty area to hike. We saw more fish, turtles, and a heron.
Lora and I got the opportunity to go back to South Carolina for a few days. We started out with a trip to Lake Tobesofkee Recreational Area in Macon GA. We stayed the night at their campground. It was a very nice and clean campground. We enjoyed their beach which was patrolled on a regular basis. Very nice.
On day two we headed back to Camelot Equestrian Farm in St. Helena Island, South Carolina. We had been here two years ago and were eager to go back. We stayed three nights with some wonderful neighbors. One couple was from North Carolina and the other from Tennessee.
After setting up camp we headed over to the beach. Usually we would just walk, but I messed up my back before leaving TN and was a little on the wimpy side. We came back to camp for dinner and then went back to the beach that night. On the way we checked out the Coffin Plantation, the drive was lined with live oaks, spanish moss hanging all over. The house at the end must have been the plantation mansion. That night we enjoyed a campfire with the neighbors. Lora was looking at the Big Dipper when she noticed weird lights in the sky, telling everyone LOOK UP! There were what looked like satellites, numerous, all in a row flying low in the sky. Alien Invasion? After hearing the neighbors story about weird driving experience on the road earlier, thinking Aliens had taken over someone's car....well you just never know. Miss Google said Elon Musk satellites. Hmmm.
Day Three
We got up and headed to Port Royal to check it out. We went to the Cypress Wetlands and did the walk around the wetlands. We saw lots of different birds and a couple of gators. Very nice people that we visited with as we walked. There is a little historic area here too. From there we went to the Port Royal Boardwalk and Obervation Tower. We watched a fisherman catch a shark and sting ray. From there we had lunch in the Lenora Park and then walked a ways on the Spanish Moss Trail. Time to head back to the beach for the afternoon. That evening we enjoyed another campfire with the neighbors.
Day Four
We got up and headed back to Port Royal. We went to the Widgeon Point Preserve. They have some nice trails here. We did the loop and saw lots of trees and swamps. Crabs everywhere and one Eagle nest. From there we went down to the Fishcamp and checked out the fishing boats. Then we checked out the Traveling Buoy Park, and had lunch at the Fort Frederick Cultural Heritage Preserve. We were visited by an eagle and a red tail hawk. By then it was late enough to go back to the beach. Tonight we had the campground to ourselves and just watched the stars and fireflies. We got to see turkeys with babies, and deer.
Day Five
We packed up and headed Northwest to the mountains. We camped at the Cartoogechave Creek Campground in Franklin North Carolina where we had stayed before. It was basicly a day of travel today. We walked the campground and visited with people then watched the stars and fireflies.
Day Six
We got up this morning and headed into the National Forest. We hiked two short hikes to Mooney and Laurel Falls. From there we headed on home.
