Nothing Better Than Pork Belly On My Birthday At Southern Craft BBQ

This year for my 50th Birthday dinner I decided to go with my favorite category of food barbecue. So, Thursday we headed back to Johnson City (my second time that day) to Southern Craft BBQ. The people who own this barbecue restaurant (the Stry Fry Group) also own the Label Resturant downtown, which I visited back in March.

The restaurant, located at the corner of Spring and Cherry Streets, just off downtown has been open for only five months. When I was trying to decide, it was between here and the Shuckin' Shack, what sold me was seeing smoked Pork Belly on the menu. The interior was nice using a lot of reclaimed wood. While not looking just like it the interior was similar to the Label.

We started with an appetizer, Dips, and Spreads, which was Pimento cheese, smoked chicken salad and blue cheese dip with homemade crackers. For my main entree, I had the Burnt Ends, which are smoked for over 20 hours. Oh, and a course I had the Pork Belly, which is why I chose Southern Craft BBQ in the first place. Dad and Terry gave me a couple smoked ribs. Now all of these were excellent as I loved the Burnt Ends and the ribs were top notch but the Pork Belly was one of the best-smoked meats I have ever had! I would go here just for the Pork Belly. For my sides I had the Collard Greens cooked in you guessed it...Pork Belly. Anytime there is Brunswick Stew on the menu I have to try it and this was very good for Tennessee. I also got to try the sweet potato souffle and the baked beans both were good, but the beans weren't Ridgewood good.

While the food was arguably better than the Label (it is barbecue) the one place it could be more like its sister restaurant is the drink menu. They had a good beer selection, I had the Studio Brew Ferusgson Stout which is really good but I had the Foothills Sexual Chocolate at the Label. There is no doubt I will be headed back here because the barbecue was top notch.

R.I.P. Jane Bald Sign...Wherever You Are

On the summit of Jane Bald there once stood a large marker with the elevation of the mountain (5,807 feet). I first visited this summit in October of 2013 and the marker was there for my next three trips up Jane Bald. Then in February, I found that the sign had fallen over (it looked like it might need work in June of 2016). Well, someone had righted the sign by the time I returned in June (and the sign had been strapped to keep it together). 

October 2013

July 2014

June 2016

February 2017

June 2017

Then today someone asked me about what used to be on the old Round Bald Summit sign. I said the name of the peak and elevation (5,826 feet), like Jane Bald. He then added I didn't see it I must have missed it. I thought it probably fell over again, but when I got to the summit of Jane Bald there was a hole and no sign. Yes, not just the name plate (like at Round Bald), but the whole sign pole and all. 

July 2014

July 2017

June 2017

July 2017

Who would do this? I mean it could be the US Forest Service or the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoe Club, but neither one has replaced the Round Blad sign, so I doubt it. Anyway, rest in peace Jane Bald sign wherever you are.

Perfect Weather Highlights Day Blog On The Roans

In July, you can expect any kind of weather on the Roan Highlands, but today was picture perfect. While I will have a little more to say later (mostly with pictures) when we arrived at Carvers Gap it was in the low 50's and some overnight hikers said was cold on Grassy Ridge Bald...hovering around 40 degrees. While there were some clouds to start it cleared up and the temperatures were a stark contrast to last weekend.

Our hike took us up Round and Jane Bald where we saw plenty of "drunk" Bumble Bees on Mountain Angelica. When we got back to Carvers Gap we even spotted another Wood Booger. 

After coming down I finally went to the Miller Homestead in Roan Mountain State Park and it was really cool especially the overlook that had an incredible view of the Roans (It will be even better in winter). Like I say a Day on the Roans is better than any that are not. 

Did You Miss The Rabbit Hole?

Pete here did you miss me? Yeah, I know it has been a few weeks since I last wrote this blog on Tales from the Wood Booger. The Big Lummox has been begging for me to write one since we all know who the star of this blog is and who is the hack! I had to make him sweat a little especially since he forgot to get my picture on top of Sam Knob...but I digress. That is where we will start with the Will's overnight backpack with the Harvey Broome Group of the Sierra Club to the Shining Rock Wilderness.

When we got to the trailhead we weighed our backpack and it was 44 pounds, which means I had to carry 230, and he was the one whining. The hiking was not too difficult, I was a little disappointed we didn't camp in the open, but pansies like the Big Lummox were scared of storms. We did have one roll through, it was amazing how unprepared some of the group were, I am surprised they brought their tent. However, I made sure we had our stuff together because I follow Will's example of hike leading.

I am not going to get into the snafu at Sam Knob, just let me say when you drag someone through the dark, up a mountain you would think they could remember to get your photo at the top! With that said it was great to be out for two days.

Next up was last week at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. While I love coming here the biggest problem on this trip was not enough hiking. All we did was the hike from Thomas Walker Parking Area to Tri-State Peak, which also took us through the saddle of Cumberland Gap. For a Hiking Rabbit of my skill, I rate this hike as easy, but there was a point I didn't think we would make it. So, I took command carrying and dragging the dead weight to the top!

Then going to the Pinnacle Overlook, we didn't hike but drove up...good God, we drove like a bunch of tourists, how embarrassing. Oh, and I had to hear continuously about how hot it was.

Anyway, that brings me to this past weekend at the Tennessee Sierra Club Chapter Meeting at Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park. We did have a hike on Saturday, while easy was surprisingly fun. Ranger Randy was cool and the only kid on the trip wasn't too annoying. While some others complained about spiders and such the only thing the Big Lummox whined about was the heat, but I will cut him some slack as it was hot, really hot...that is true, that is damn true! While there are some in the Sierra Club, who cry like the Lummox, overall most are okay.