Willow Grove Campground

 We headed to Willow Grove Campground on Dale Hollow Lake for a few days to hike, swim and canoe. Arrived there Wednesday evening, set up camp and put the canoe in the water. Made a quick trip to the marina to get bread and ice because Somebody forgot the bread and cooler. Beautiful sunset, lots of stars. Saw one shooting star.

Thursday we hiked the Accordian Bluff Trail to the Bluff.  We got tired of the spiderwebs and heat, then went canoeing. When we flipped the canoe over we found a frog had taken up residence. Craig chased him from one end to the other, jumping in and out until he finally stayed out. Got lots of reading time in, and a couple walks around the campground. When the sun set we did a little night fishing. And Craig caught two. Lora got lots of casting in. 

Friday we hiked on the lakeshore to Accordian Bluff. The lake level was way down which made it easy to go around the inlets. Saw and eagle, a hawk, herons and an osprey. Lora found a nice fishing lure on the rocks at the point. On a walk around the campground and boat dock Lora found a nice fishing lure.  Did some more night fishing and Lora fished with her newly found lure and caught a really nice tree limb.... Saw a shooting star and enjoyed the peaceful night.

Saturday we walked to the marina and admired all the boats, houseboats and cars that carried all the people to get on those boats and houseboats. More reading, and swimming. Then an afternoon thunderstorm brought on a nice nap. Temperature cooled and we got another hike in on the Bluff trail. More night fishing and another beautiful sunset. 

Sunday we walked the campground, loaded up the canoe, went swimming one more time, packed up and headed home. Got there in time to have dinner with Nicholas and Amy, Mitsi and Paul, and Mom, who fixed dinner with banana pudding for dessert.  

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Frozen Head TTA

Joan planned a camping trip at Frozen Head camping at Flat Fork Campground. She had some issues come up and missed this trip. The rest of us carried on. I got there and set up my hammock between #6 and #7 campsites. Joe got there, then Sara, the Patty and Chuck. We got our hiking gear and headed to the trailhead to hike the Judge Branch Loop. Just a little way up the trail it started thundering and the sky turned black. I remembered I hadn't set up my tarp over my hammock, so I skedaddled back to the car and campsite to take care of that. We planned for me to come back, hike the opposite way they were going, to meet up with them. I did that but never met up, they hiked the same direction I did. They beat me back to the parking lot...

Nice campfire, didn't wake up to see the meteor shower.

Thursday we hiked from our campsites to the trailhead at the end of the road. It's not too far to the waterfalls which didn't have very much water, but were scenic anyway. Out and back was about three miles. Then we met up with Mark and Bill to hike the Rocky Fork/CT/Chimney Rocks/English Mt trail. Bill had to turn back after we got a little ways up the first climb, so Mark led the rest of the hike. It was hot and humid but we sweated it out anyway. We came up on some trail workers, swinging blades to cut the overgrowth on the trails. We made sure they knew how much we appreciated their hard work. They were excited to see hikers using the trail! The volunteers said they didn't think anybody ever hiked the trail with all the overgrowth along the trail. We let them know it was hiked a lot more in colder temps. When we finished the trail, we drove to Lancing to a really cool brewery out in the country,  Lily Pad Hopyard Brewery   They have a great menu and it's a great atmosphere. I had a 3 cheese Puffin with grapes, others tried the pork tacos. Back at camp, campfire, then me Sara and Joe drove to the Rocky Fork field to watch the meteor shower. We had warm pavement to lay on to see the awesome show in the sky! 

Friday me and Joe went hiking while the Deens went to the Brushy Mountain Prison and Sara headed home. We hiked the North Old Mac trail to Panther Gap, saw the Rockhouse, then to the Lookout Tower, and down Chimney Top to Spicewood Branch Trail where we had a lot of slick rocks and a little trail dancing. Good day of sweating out toxins and swatting gnats. Back at camp everyone was gone, Joe was spending another night, I had lunch then headed home.

Thanks to Joan for a great trip at Frozen Head State Park!

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