Tuesday, May 31, 2022

A Hiking Machine's Happy High!

 

How do you make the Hiking Machine happy? Get him high in the mountains, which is what I got to do Monday and Tuesday with a trip to Mount Pisgah and the BPR (Blue Rudge Parkway). It seems these days I don't get to crush as many miles because of the Lummox, but I did get to camp at my new favorite place...Mount Pisgah Campground. While the posers stayed across the BPR at the Pisgah Inn, in my tent the way a Hiking Machine is meant to be! One of the best things that happened Monday was that damn drone of the Lummox stopped working! The camera was working or something (how should I know I'm just about crushing trail) so I thought of a drone-free trip. But somehow that idiot got it working...🤦‍♂️

Anyway, I did get some miles in Tuesday morning ripping it up to Fryingpan Mountain Fire Tower. I will cut the Lummox some slack for cutting the hike from 3.2 to 1.4 miles. A the Fryingpan Gap parking I hauled him up the 0.7 miles to the tower. I got a big laugh when he discovered that the catwalk was closed on the 70-foot tower. But, he would pull out that damn drone! Well, as another great bunny said..."that's all folks" and I'm out BITCHES!


Sunday, May 29, 2022

It's The 6th Annual Wildflower Hike At & Above Buffalo Mountain

 

It is May and it means one thing...it is time for the annual wildflower hike at Buffalo Mountain Park on Wednesday. This was my sixth time going to this mountain I have enjoyed since the late 80s. The main reason is this is one of the best spots for Mountain Laurel. I saw plenty of it and Flame Azalea, but no Pink Lady Slippers.

I was also here for another reason...to fly the drone. I wasn't sure I would get to it as Buffalo Mountain was obscured by clouds. But when I got to my first take-off spot of Huckleberry Knob it was somewhat clear looking toward Johnson City.


However, by the time I got to Tip Top, it had learned...well, almost. Looking towards Pinnacle Mountain It was clear (except for the higher peaks like Unaka Mountain and Big Bald). However, the communication towers of Buffalo Mountain had a bank of clouds rollover.



The last place I flew the drone was at White Rocks. By this time it was clear except for the higher peaks. But it still made for some incredible panoramas looking back towards Tip Top.


When I returned on the Noggin Trail where it bottoms out the rain had made for a wet trip back to the trailhead, the last thing of note. It didn't help I tried to backtrack to at waterfall, but the trail was unpassable. Anyway, it was another excellent May trip to the Buff!


More Photos: SmugMug

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Flying Over The Spring Green In Scott County


As Pete already elaborated on our trip last week to the Cabin in Southwest Virginia.
When not mowing I ran the drone a couple of times. First last Wednesday it was not just sunset, but also another taking the drone to the FAA limit. 




Then on Friday morning, it was a hike and another drone run. This time I launched from Wood Booger Ridge and took it out to a point where I could see the Cabin from at least a thousand feet. When doing this I got another warning of a weak signal. I think one of the many reasons was the trees had fully leafed out. After I brought it back overhead I accidentally took it to its highest elevation from the ground (not overall that was Camp Creek Bald). 




Oh, I forgot one thing, Dad thought he had killed a Carpenter Bee and one of our Porch Lizards, a Five-Lined Skink, found it and decided it was dinner. Well, it wasn't dead, which I think the lizard liked better anyway/



Still, it was a fun time and I think deep down Pete loves the drone...


More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos

Thursday, May 26, 2022

If I Waited On The Lummox I Would Be A Grey Hare!



You know that old saying..."s**t or get off the pot? Well, that describes the Lummox most of the time and his blog this time! The Peteoholic wants to know about my latest adventures and the first was almost a week ago at the Cabin. I shredded trail up to Wood Booger Ridge so he could run that stupid drone. 



Well, the next outing was Tuesday and it was to Buffalo Mountain Park (Johnson City). For the Lummox, it was about pansy wildflowers and running that drone, but for the Hiking Machine....crushing trail? Up to Huckleberry Ridge, then Tip Top, and finally White Rocks. But, the best park fording creeks on the Noggin Trail. Yeah, I had to carry the Lummok because the baby didn't want his feet but I got my paws right in the water...HELL YEAH! Well, that is about it, so I'm out BITCHES!


Monday, May 16, 2022

I See A Blood Moon Arising!

 

Sunday night or this morning it was a matter of perspective for the viewing of a special Blood Moon. This is the only total Lunar Eclipse of the year for the part of the world I reside in. This total Lunar Eclipse was fully visible  During a Lunar Eclipse, the Sun, Earth, and moon become closely aligned in the sky, and the bright moon slowly turns darker and changes its color as it drifts across the Earth’s shadow. Light-reflecting from the sun makes the moon appear to glow in a rusty orange or reddish color, which is why many astronomy experts and writers refer to this moon as a “Blood Moon.”


The eclipse started on Sunday night at 9:32 pm. with the full eclipse beginning about an hour later. It ended Monday morning at 12:53 am. It was definitely worth going out and observing it. I also tried to get photos, but the low light of the eclipse made it tough, but I got some.  




Thursday, May 5, 2022

What Better Back-Up Than The Waterfalls Of Laurel Run Park


If I said my hike on Monday went as planned I would not be totally honest. While I technically did hike on Bays Mountain it wasn't at the park it was another...Laurel Run. See I had planned to go to Bays Mountain Park and run the drone. However, about Allandale (just inside Kingsport) I discovered it wasn't in the car on the porch at home. So, I just didn't want to go to Bays Mountain Park, so I turned around and headed back to Church Hill and drove to Laurel Run Park. 


There have been a few changes since I was last here a year or so ago. The most disappointing was not even in the park. It was discovering that access to Bays Mountain Falls had been restricted with No Trepressing signs...sad! The next was new signage in the park, including the main sign near the bathroom. Then the old cabin used for the movie The River had been removed, but the smokehouse remains. Finally, my favorite swing down by the Holston River was removed.





I did see something cool just before entering the park, a big Tom Turkey. I see a lot of Hens, but to see a big male strutting around was cool. For the rest of the day, I went up the Overlook Trail, saw plenty of wildflowers, and enjoyed six waterfalls. Even with the problems, it was a good day on the trail.









More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Spring Has Sprung In Southwest Virginia


Last week, after my trip to Camp Creek Bald, I was off to the Cabin in Southwest Virginia. This trip was mainly about mowing, but I did get in a Morrel Mushroom hike. Between me and my Dad, we found six.





The other thing I got to do was test another limit with the drone. Because of calm conditions, I took it up to its legal limit of 400 feet. When it approaches this height you get a warning about violating FAA rules (but you can go above this I'm told). Anyway, it did give me a great view of the sunset as I got above the ridge...




More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos