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.
No comments:
Post a Comment