Ark Encounter

Time to take the camper out. Headed North into Kentucky to visit the Ark Encounter. We stayed at Kincaid Lake SP. On the way up we stopped at the Army Corps Waitsboro Campground for lunch. From there we headed on to Kincaid Lake. There was nobody working at the campground when we got there. We just found our site and set up. There was nobody in our whole section of campsites. Hiking around the campground there were only about four campers in the other section. We decided on a quick canoe trip for the evening. We put in at the marina and paddled around til dusk. Lot's of stars tonight and then every night that we were out. Saw 2 shooting stars!

Tuesday we took the canoe back out and launched from the marina. We paddled the whole lake and down the river. Beautiful day out on the water. Still nobody working at the campground.

Wednesday we went to the Ark Encounter. It was very interesting and answered a lot of questions that I hadn't even asked about the Ark. This was during the forty days of gospel music so we had music during lunch and then a concert that evening. We stopped and ate dinner in Falmouth, KY at the Howard's Place Resturant. Very good food. Still no workers at the campground.

Thursday we headed to explore the historic town of Augusta, KY. We parked on Main street and walked to the historic jail. It had a phone number to call and we did. The very nice lady from the visitor center gave us a tour of the jail and then gave us a tour of the whole town on her golfcart. It was great! After that we ate our lunch on the bank of the Ohio river and then walked around town looking at all the historic buildings. This is also the town that George Clooney is from. Later we put the canoe in the Ohio river and paddled up Bracken Creek,  passed the two donkeys and then turned around. Nobody working the campground. 

Friday we packed up and headed out. We drove to London, KY and stopped at the Levi Jackson Mill to have our lunch. After eating we walked around the mill and then decided to stay. We camped at the Levi Jackson Campground. We walked their little trail and then went to the pool for a swim. After dinner we hiked around the park. 

Saturday we decided that we really did need to go home so we did. 

Pictures:

Soddy Lake

Today was a quick trip to the lake. Trying to beat the storms we did a loop from the park to the bridge. We got to see a huge beaver which was exciting to see. We also saw fish, turtles, and all sorts of birds. Yes, we got caught in a storm and had to pull over and get our of our metal canue till it passed.

Pictures;

Carters lake

We arrived at our campsite after lunch. After walking to the boat ramp and swimming beach, we changed into our swimsuits and went back to the beach where we spent the afternoon. We went back to the camper for dinner and walked the whole campground afterwards. There was a Casita in one of the loops.

Sunday we drove over to the Ridgeway Day Use Area and hiked the Tumbling Waters Nature Trail. Short hike to a pretty cascade.  From there we drove to the Visitor Center with overlooks of Carters lake. Then we drove to the South Reregulation Day Use Area and hiked the Hidden Pond Songbird Trail. We also walked the dam. We headed back to the camper for lunch and then canoed the West side of the park. Afterwards back to the beach. We got in another campground hike in.

Monday we hiked the Oak Ridge Nature Trail and explored the day use area. Took a trip to Ellijay. Took a canoe trip in the rain around the East side of the park. The rain stopped and we did a little swimming. Later on after dinner we took another canoe trip past the Island and a little farther East.

Tuesday we hiked the Amadahy Trail. After that it was back to swimming. Later that night we did a canoe trip West to the Boat In Campsites. Our second beautiful sunset.

Wednesday we did the campground hike and then canoe trip ending in the loading of the canoe. We did some swimming before lunch and then broke down camp and headed home.

Pictures:

Wash Morgan Hollow TTA

 Deb led another great outing. She plus 7 of us hiked up Wash Morgan Hollow SNA to the end of the Hollow to the waterfall. There is no trail here, you just hike up the creek. Up the creek we found wildflowers on the banks, fossils, and several cool rocks. Visited the Cookeville City Lake Natural Area. Then to the Boils WMA for lunch and a swim. Bill seemed to have had the most fun, trying out the swinging rope. The water was nice and cool! Then to Cummins Falls SP to see Cummins Falls and the old homestead.

I started home from there, the others visited Bee Rock on their way home.

Copied pics from Deb's post on TTA

Pictures:

 

Lost Cove TTA

 

Scenic City Chapter led by Betsy explored Lost Cove in Sewannee. Via Point Disappointment (the view was disappointing with all the leaves on the trees blocking the view) and Potter Ridge Trail. It's a relatively new trail with cliffs and rock formations. Lost Creek was dry so it must be lost too.  Hiked out and back so climbing out it was hot! We added a loop on the Caldwell Rim Trail. Picked some blackberries and huckleberries. Yummy! 

When we got back to the parking area, opened the car doors to a blast of hot air. Stopped at a market to get something cold to drink. Then on to the Natural Bridge. 

It was nice to see some friends and make some new ones. 

Pictures:

Dog Cove Historic Area

Kat Champlin, certified Tennessee Naturalist, and Conservationist led 15 hikers from Plateau/Upper Cumberland on the Hardy Trail in Dog Cove. It was recently completed, and they will put gravels in the parking area maybe next week.  It's a pretty trail with a waterfall that didn't have much water today, and an overlook that with all the leaves on the trees, you couldn't see Dog Cove. There are rock walls, streams, and wildflowers, and huckleberries! 

Next stop was the Historic Rock House, a toll house and stage stop on the early stagecoach road that ran from Knoxville to Nashville. Famous patrons were Andrew Jackson, James Polk, and Sam Houston. The DAR are custodians, the historian Rick had so many stories to share. Every artifact in there has a story, if the walls could talk I'm sure the historian would be able to share those stories too. 

Next was the Calfkiller River Trail in Sparta, then on to Happy Trails Brewery to sample the brews and wait for our reservation at Marioochi's Pizza which was great food. 

Great day with great people.  Thanks Deb and Kat!

Pictures:

Collins/Barren Fork Rivers TTA

 

We put in at the boat ramp in Pepper Branch Park in McMinville and took out at the old VFW boat ramp on 70. It was a great overcast day for being on the rivers and we had good current. It was about six river miles total. Wayne was our leader and did a good job, even showing us where not to go through the rapids. Jim did a wonderful job of providing entertainment by going under a bush. It was a great time with good folks.

Pictures:

Pogue Creek Canyon TTA

 

10 hikers Plateau and Upper Cumberland, led by Deb hiked beautiful Pogue Creek Canyon.  Lots of bluffs, 2 arches, overlooks. It was hot, just a few tiny sprinkles. Muggy. Part of the hikers exited at Black House Mountain Road. I followed Cindy back to the parking lot adding about 2.5 miles. Huffing and puffing and melting...

Afterward I drove into Big South Fork. They were having a training day for Park employees, rescue, fire and everyone involved.  Bandy Creek Campground pool is open Friday Saturday and Sundays. Drove to Millstone Farm to check on blueberries. Not looking good :( Stopped by Cumberland Mountain State Park; pool is open except on Mondays. 

Pictures: 

Mile High Campground TTA

The Highland Rim and Murfreesboro TTA chapters hosted a camping and hiking trip in the Smokies and near Shining Rock Wilderness Area off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Maggie Valley NC. 

Monday after setting up camp at Mile High Campground, we hiked the short steep trail to Waterrock Knob. Beautiful views and saw pinkster azalea blooming along with Red Trilliums. Nice campfire for the evening along with Joanie's cool colapsing sticks for roasting marshmallows. 

Tuesday part of the hikers did and out and back on Rough Fork, 3 others hiked the 14 mile loop of Rough Fork, Caldwell Fork and Hemphill Bald. Sara and I drove up to Balsam Mountain Campground and hiked the Nature Trail. Another nice campfire and roasting marshmallows.

Wednesday morning I woke up early and walked toward the bath house. I saw what I thought was a horse next to the horse trailer they store firewood in. When I blinked the sleepyness from my eyes I saw it was an elk! 

After breakfast we drove the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway seeing lots of Pinkster Azaleas along the roadside, getting to the Art Loeb Trail. We climbed to Black Balsam Knob for the beautiful views. Saw a few azaleas starting to bloom, and milkweed. We hiked on to Tennant Mountain for more views, lots of trilliums and rose twisted stalk blooming. The rest of the loop included a road bed with campsites along the way, then the Art Loeb spur then back to the parking lot. Drove into Maggie Valley for a super meal at J. Arthur's. Another campfire and beautiful sunset watching lightning storm on the mountain tops in the distance. Rain and thunderstorms moved in during the night, fogging in the campground Thursday morning. Everyone headed home skipping the planned waterfalls hike (except Joe, I think he went anyway)

On the way towards Bryson City I saw roadside signs for peaches, so I followed and found Darnell Farms on the Tuskasegee River. Got peaches, strawberries fresh picked from the fields, and heirloom tomatoes. Stopped in Andrews, NC and walked around their historic town looking in a few shops. Stopped at Ms Bee's Purple Bus near the Ocoee River to see what was there. Cool interesting place if you're looking for unique gift ideas. 

Great time with Sara, Joan, Joni, Kathy, Georganne, Paulo, Joe, Charles and Barbara. 

 Pictures:

Tennessee Summer 2022

 

We had some beautiful weather for our gathering. Deanna and Dan came in Tuesday evening. Lora and I on Wednesday. Jim and Lynelle on Thursday.

Wednesday was a visiting session followed by a card game.

Thurday we started with a hike in the Smoky's on the Baskins Creek Trail. We hiked to the Baskins Falls and back. With a minor confusion on the amount of time it took, Lora hiked back to the car and brought our lunches. It was a great save! Ice cream on the way home made everything OK. Lynelle and Jim came in that evening.

Friday we hiked the Middle Prong trail enjoying the wildflowers. Once again we rewarded ourselves with an ice cream. Afterwards Uncle Rick, Aunt Linda, and Leslie came over for a visit. It sure was good having everyone together. 

Saturday we hiked the Maryville Greenway into town and back. Lots of good food including Lynelle's flower for dinner.

Sunday was departure day with early get ups and departures. Overall great time!

Pictures: