Twin Rocks, Piney Falls SNA TTA

 Deb led a great adventure hike on a hot August morning. We had to climb thru and over trees as we hiked toward the Twin Rocks. I managed to gouge a hole in my leg from a stick as I was manuvering thru the limbs. We made it up the steps at the Rocks but the view is not as good in the summer with all the leaves on the trees blocking. We took the other part of the loop down, hoping to avoid downed trees. It was better. 

Then on to Piney Falls. When we reached the lower falls we walked in the creek to reach the upper falls, then swam in the pool at the base of the waterfall. Cold clear water and fish were swimming with us. Lunch and then the climb, cable assisted up the bluff wall. 

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Window Cliffs SNA

Sara Pollard led 8 hikers on the 5 mile round trip to Window Cliffs. It was hot, but the cool stream crossings felt good. Everyone made the 18 crossings without falling in! We met several other hikers on the trail and one hardy trail runner. The abundance of wildflowers were beautiful. There's even an electric charging station in the trailhead parking lot now. Hikers were Jim Barritt, Jay Brain, Joan Hartvigsen, Cheryl Heckler, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Marietta Poteet, and J. C. Saunders. 

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Frasier Canoe Trip

 

A quick trip out to Frasier for a canoe trip. Got to see an Eagle!

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Cummins Falls, Washmorgan Hollow, The Boils TTA

 

Deb led another great day of adventures. I met the group at Cummins Falls after my GPS took me on a merry tour of backroads from 111. The new Mack Prichard Visitor Center is really nice. John ID'd several mushrooms, even scoring an old man of the woods. We adventured on to Washmorgan Hollow WMA for a creekbed walk to a waterfall. There are steep slopes 200 to 300 feet that drop to the hollow. The last adventure was swimming at the Boils WMA where the water was refreshing. A spring bubbles up from the ground to feed cold water into the river. We had lunch here. What a beautiful day!

I stopped in Sparta to visit Farmers Storehouse. I got good advise from the miller there. He milled flour for me, and I got a sourdough starter kit. The I stopped at Brockdell Amish Produce, and found beautiful wildflowers by the road there.

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Little Cedar Mountain TTA

 

As you can see from the pics it was quite foggy as we started this 3.8 mile hike. Our hike leader Tammy knew exactly where we were going so the fog was no problem. It quickly cleared and we had a very nice but humid hike. We took a short snack break where we could see thru the trees and see Nickajack Lake. We then continued thru the very lush and green forest with very interesting rocks. It was slippery at times as everything was damp. Randy and I climbed up on a rock to see the lake and bridge, and got to see an eagle!

15 hikers today.

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Michigan 2023

We took Mom and Dad up to Michigan. We had a busy itinerary to work with. We took two days going and coming. Our first stop was Lake Loramie SP in Ohio. This a beautiful and clean park which we enjoyed walking around. The next day was up to Steve's where we celebrated Betty's 93rd birthday. 

Friday we headed to Adam and McKinsey's house in South Haven MI. They have a wonderful place there. On the way back we checked out Saugatuck and Holland MI. 

Saturday we headed over to Grand Blanc where we visited Aunt Micki and celebrated her 90th birthday. It was wonderful getting with our cousins.

Sunday we headed to Elk Lake to see Aunt Janelle and Uncle Greg. We had a wonderful visit with them. Monday we visited friends and relatives in West Branch and then back to the lake. Tuesday was our down day before heading South on Wednesday. 

Wednesday we stopped at the Famcamp in Dayton OH on the AFB. Thursday we made it home.

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Harrison Bay SP

 

Lora and I had a quick three night vacation at Harrison Bay SP. We saw lots of wildlife, swam, canoed, hiked and got some fishing in. It was a beautiful park and we really enjoyed it.

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TN river Dayton

 

Took a trip to Dayton and put in at the boat ramp. Right off we got to see a duck with her young chicks. Then we got to see two really young fawns on the bank. Lot of beauty on the river.

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Barren Fork Collins TTA

Wayne Yancey led 10 kayakers down the Barren Fork & Collins River in McMinnville. There was a chance of thunderstorms later in the day so we got off the river before the rains came. The water was refreshing and we made several stops along the way for folks to cool off. We saw several turtles, cows and a herring. Also, some pretty wildflowers on the banks. We had a few ripples to guide our kayaks through but nothing challenging. Kayakers were Jim Barritt, Joan Hartvigsen, Tony Jones, Nancy Juodenas, Gary Kimbrell, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Jan Safavi, Cindy Watson, and Wayne Yancey

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Dry Creek Falls Trail

 

Ranger Stuart Carroll led us on the new segment of trail in the Bridgestone Natural Reserve Area. It connects with Dog Cove Trail and Lost Creek Trail. We met in the parking lot for Lost Falls and cave and shuttled to the Dog Cove Trailhead not too far away. It's a pretty trail with rock features and two waterfalls. Found lots of huckleberries along the way, a cool beetle, a hornet nest and lots of fungi. And still some pretty wildflowers. There wasn't a lot of water at the waterfalls but still pretty. Had a late lunch at the second falls. 12 hikers counting the Ranger and one dog. 

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