Black Bear Resort

Lora and I headed to the Roan Mountain area for a three day getaway. We camped at the Black Bear Resort in Hampton Tennessee. Very nice place up on a mountain. Very clean and very nice owners. After we set up camp, off we went on our first hike right from the campground. We did the 3.5 mile Coon Den Falls loop. That night we just relaxed around camp.

The next morning we attempted to find the Doe River Gorge train tunnel. Almost but not quite. A bridge missing the floor stopped us. We headed up to Roan Mountain to see the flowers. We crossed the Balds and made it to the top of Grassy Ridge Bald before the rain set in. It hit us hard trying to find some shelter before we got washed away. We made our way back though thoroughly soaked. We drove up to the Rhododendron gardens and walked through enjoying the flowers. After that we drove down to Roan Mountain State park and hiked the Fred Behrend trail from the campground. We got wet AGAIN! We headed back to camp and got dinner cooked before it rained again.

The next morning before we headed out we tried to hike the Laurel Fork trail out of the Dennis Cove recreation area. We didn't make it very far before we came to the first river crossing which did have a cable to use but it was so high it wouldn't do us any good. We turned around and headed back.

We loaded up the trailer and headed out. On the way back we stopped at Sycamore Shoals State Park and toured it. Then we headed to Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest city, and toured the downtown area. After that we headed to David Crockett State Park and toured it. Then we headed to Greeneville TN to tour the Andrew Johnson Homestead. On the way home we stopped just East of Knoxville to let the rush hour traffic clear and a very large storm pass.

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TTA Tennessee River Float

On Sunday June 7 ten kayakers from the Murfreesboro, Highland Rim, Nashville and Soddy-Daisy Chapters paddled about twelve miles up and down the Tennessee River Gorge.  The kayakers were Sara Pollard, Joan Hartvigsen, Lora and Craig McBride, Chuck and Patty Deen, Paulo Smith, Cathy Conley, Kim Meeks, and Joni Perrine.  We put in at TVA Raccoon Mountain Ramp and paddled upstream about four miles to Pot Point.  We enjoyed our lunch on a shady gravel bar on river left and went for a swim.  We then headed back down river, stopping a long the way to swim at several points. We took out at Sullivans Boat Ramp.  Our journey took us through Prentice Cooper State Forest, where we paddled under four occupied Osprey nests.  We also saw Great Blue Herons, King Fishers, turtles  and Loons.  Craig saw a couple of snakes swimming along the shoreline.  Through out our river journey we were surrounded by cliffs and beautiful Tennessee mountains.

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Mitchell Ford Kayak and Canoe Launch

Lora and I headed out to our new spot I found to put in Mitchell Ford Kayak and Canoe Launch on White Cave road. It is another way to get on the Caney Fork river. We had seen this parking area before when we hiked into
Virgin Falls the back way, but I did not put the two together. I just saw it on Google Maps and it was on.

They have a nice parking area and a walkway with a bridge over a dry creek and then a path through the woods and then a nice stairway going down to a not so nice area to launch. It's a LONG haul for a canoe. We did some exploring and then found a path that went to the road cutting our carry by half and a decent launching area. It was on again.

We went down stream first passing a couple of kayaking fishermen until we came to our first set of rapids. We just turned around and headed upstream to see how this would go. When it was said and done we had gone up steam and walked three different rapids before we said enough. It is a beautiful area and would recommend it. We got to see a couple of turkeys, lots of fish, a turtle, and three otters.

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Big South Fork Sawmill TTA

Michael and Sara planned a backpack for Big South Fork for Laurel Creek/Salt Pine/ Sawmill Loop. I decided not to take my stove, was going to stop at Subway for lunch/supper. Due to Covid 19, Subway in Crossville didn't open until 9 which was the meetup time. Next town, same, headed into Jamestown, same. Plan B, Hardees, closed for remodeling. Plan C get something from Mickey D's besides sweet tea. Only breakfast was being served...Plan D, chicken biscuits, one for lunch, one for supper. Oh well.

We met up at the Sawmill Trailhead and walked up the road to start on the Salt Pine Ridge Trail. Multi use trail, then connects to the Laurel Creek Trail where we started the crossings. We switched to water shoes and kept them on for all of the 7? crossings. Had lunch by the pretty creek with the perfect logs to sit on. Got on Black House Branch which is a horse trail, muddy, messy but that's the horse trails. And we had a few creek crossings. Along the way Granddaddy Rattler alerted us that we were in HIS territory. He said Sssssure rattle rattle are a lot of bootssssss rattle rattle on my trail. Y'all ssssshould move along, rattle rattle.  No problem Granddaddy, we'll move on.... We crossed the suspension bridge to find a big family camping on the Island we planned to camp on. Plan B, we set up on the side of the creek where me and John hung our hammocks back in January. I hung from the same trees this time. We had plenty of space for everyone's tents. Walked to see Charit Lodge, gates closed, get your water from the creek. Covid closures. Back at camp, Carson was experimenting with  a wood burning stove, she was trying different sized pieces of wood , matches versus lighter, lint/paper/. Gave up to eat supper. We had a great campfire, thanks Wayne 😉. Michael hung most of our food bags on his bear proof rope, and Wayne entertained us taking it down the next morning.

During the night I got up to, well you know, and saw green specks of light on the creek bank. I was trying to focus, thinking at first I was seeing synchronous fireflies. Only they were not blinking. Then I realized it was the glow worms like we had seen at Pickett State Park at Hazard Cave a few years ago. I wanted to wake everyone up to see it. Didn't. The birds singing at  6:30 am did that.

Sunday morning we walked to the Lodge, the caretaker was there and came to the gate to say hello. They are in Phase 1 reopening with a limit of 6 guests. Hoping to fully reopen soon. We then hiked to the Twin Arches where Wayne and Joe did some exploring, following the loop trail to come back to us. Stopped at Jake's Place for a break then out Sawmill to the Needle Arch. We separated at the Slave Falls .2 trail, said goodbye to everyone else then Carson and I visited Slave Falls. This was her first trip here and we wanted to make sure she got to see as much as she could.

Great trip with great backpacker friends.

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South Carolina

Memorial Day Weekend and we had five days, Covid 19 limited park access for a backpack, Craig said "Beach, Florida?" I said "do you have a fever?" He said no, I said Tybee, then we found St Helena, SC. I found a campsite close to the beach, Camelot Farms Equestrian Center. They said non horse folks welcome to camp here in a beautiful place. Beach here we come!  We got there around 8 pm, saw the campsites under the huge trees dripping with Spanish moss. Had to find the house to check in. Mark and his dogs were very welcoming. We got set up and tried to find the ocean before it got dark. We walked along the farm, found the marsh and river. Decided to wait till morning for the ocean.

Day 2, We called Mark to get better directions for the beach access. 15 minute walk on the farm, across the bridge, thru the woods to the road (on the left) and to the beach. Found jelly fish, crabs, and lots and lots of shells, plenty of sand, and water was cool. And we should have brought an umbrella. Soaked up a little too much sun the first day. Drove around the Islands historic area.  Old churches, cemeteries, Fort Fremont, and Piedmont Center.  Then we headed to Beaufort to walk around the city exploring history and the water front. Beautiful city to explore. Back at camp, we found the bath house. Seen better, seen worse, vines coming in around the roof. Then we grilled and watched the stars.

Day 3, Hunting Island State Park. Got there early, prime parking spot. Walked to the lighthouse, draped with Old Glory. Walked to where the trails started, then saw a trail marker that made us question. So as we were studying the map, a Ranger pulled up and asked if we needed help. I pointed at the sign that didn't match the map, and he said in the 3 years he had worked there he had never seen that trail marker. He said it would come down today, and pointed us to the visitor center (closed) with the alligator pond to find the trail. The Maritime Forest trail was like tropical forest. Palms, palmettos, moss, marsh. Then mostly flat trail to the end of the Island. A bridge over the river led to another little loop. We saw a giant racoon, and hundreds of little bitty crabs, and a deer. There were kayakers on this part of the river. Then lots of trees down at the end of the island. Someone had told us the State Park keeps losing land due to hurricanes. Beach time was a little more crowded but they limited the access to 600 and closed the gates. Everyone was spaced out along the miles of beach so we had lots of room. Only the water kept getting further away. Craig got a beach nap in without melting. Had our dinner grilling by the lighthouse. Met a family there from Johnson City, Tennessee. They knew by our hot dogs, tater salad and sweet tea we had to be from TN too. On the way back to camp we stopped by Bubba's and had us some ice cream. Then another night by the fire. We learned about Lowcountry.

Day 4 Heading back to highcountry, we stopped at the Plumb Branch Yacht Club on the Savannah river for lunch. Then travel thru the back country to Franklin, NC to Cartoogachaye Creek Campground on Hwy 64. Nestled in the mountains, close to the trail we wanted to hike. We set up then headed to Pickens Nose Trailhead. You have to drive up the mountain on a forest service road, and it is UP the mountain. We found a little spring time in the flowers that were blooming. Foam flower, and Umbrella Leaf abundant by the streams. There was a piped spring along the way. We went high enough our ears popped. Short trail,  .75 miles to the rock outcroppings for breathtaking views. We had it almost to ourselves. Back at the bottom of the drive we got out to inspect the water monitoring system kiosk. Got in the Jeep, looked up and a big bear was crossing the road. He wasn't patient enough to wait while we fumbled with phone and camera. We got back to camp and didn't stay up long after seeing the moon come out and stars.

Day 5 we got up to a misty morning. We decided to check out some waterfalls nearby. We followed 64 up to Highlands Lake seeing five of the falls. We finished up with a trip to see Burningtown Falls near the Macon County airport before going back to pick up the camper. Then we headed home.

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Bald River

Lora and I headed over the the National Forest for a weekend backpack. We started at the Bald River trailhead on Bald River Road. It was warm and sunny and the river was mighty inviting. There were a few people on the trail and one other family actually camping. There are numerous campsites along this section.

We got to see lots of blooms again for a spring backpack. We hiked down to the falls and then backtracked a few campsites until we found the one we wanted. We were welcomed by a Timber Rattle Snake which we both walked by and then Lora walked by again before I saw him. He wasn't interested in us and we felt the same.

We had a beautiful evening around the campfire with stars and lightning bugs putting on a show. The next morning we headed back to the car. We drove to the McNabb Creek trail which we found out right quick has not been maintained for quite a while. So down the road we went to the Hemlock trail which was in much better shape for a short period. We ate lunch on this trail and then headed back.

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Mother's Day 2020

We met Mom and Dad at Duck Park in Sweetwater for a picnic lunch. We had a good visit and did a hike around their Sports fields. After we got home we went over and had an outside get to gather with Lora's Mom and Dad.

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Short Springs SNA

Jean and Glenda me me at Short Springs on a beautiful cool spring morning. Glenda was familiar with the trails so she led us on the loop to see all the waterfalls. They are both fast hikers so I had to slow them down to see the wildflowers still blooming. We found a lot of Jack in the Pulpits, some really tall ones.

So I have pics of blooms I do not know the name of and would like someone to ID. Plant has several leaves, fuzzy and soft. Stalk is fuzzy, blooms attached all the way up the stalk, about  blooms ending with two at the top of the stalk. About  feet high. Also the fungi needs names too.

After the hike I stopped in Manchester to visit with cousins. Very blessed day, got home late, to supper cooked by my sweet sister. Fried chicken, potato salad and baked beans.

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Sale Creek to Roaring Creek

Put the canoe in at Patterson ramp. Shaking our heads how people park with boat trailers. Blue sky, birds singing, got away from motorboats. Saw egrets, blue herons, mallards, king fishers, ospreys, turtles, lots of fish, and a sneaky snake swimming saying ssssssssss, and Lora said EEK! and Craig started paddling toward the snake and Lora started paddling backwards saying NO NO NO. Not interested in what kind of snake.

The water was clear and cold, too cold for swimming. Went under Hwy 27 bridge where the swallow condos were. Looked like they all had babies in them. Birds flitting and flying everywhere taking food to the babies.

 We paddled up Roaring Creek as far as we could, paddling thru an obstacle course. Ported over one tree got just a little farther and saw trees across the creek crisscrossed. The creek was running fast so we cautiously turned the canoe around, zipped back thru the obstacle course, ported back over the tree and then calmly floated back toward the ramp. Which was now crowded with people and kayaks and boats everywhere.

It was evident that SOME people do not know boat ramp etiquette. These guys had the ramp for at least twenty minutes putting stuff in the boat, running back and forth, from the ramp to the parking lot, where their big group was getting their kayaks and stuff ready to go down there, with kids in the back of the truck they had to keep checking on. I know God has his hand over my mouth so I wouldn't point out their ignorance. Heavy sigh.

Beautiful day sun shining and birds singing.

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Collins Gulf

Today we went for a day hike along Collins Gulf. It was 43 degrees with a misty air for our hike. The wildflowers were beautiful as well as the water falls. Saw lots of Wild Ginger, some purple Phacelia, Larkspur, Dolls Eyes, Cohosh, Wild Geranium, a few trilliums, one strange one that I think is Prairie trillium but has 4 leaves. A few Chickweed, Wood violet and Birdfoot violet, and was searching for Jack in the Pulpit. Finally found one, stopped looking for it after that one. Then saw 2 more, and on the way out at Suter Falls we found two purple striped ones, that we passed by on our way in and didn't see?

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