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!

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.  

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

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

Earth Day Camping Adventures On The Camp

Earth Day 2022, I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the beauty of our slice of this world than on Camp Creek Bald.

Earth Day wasn't the only reason I also wanted to break out my drone. The place I call "the Camp" and others call Viking Mountain was the inspiration for getting the drone. See there were two pictures in the book, Exploring North Carolina's Fire Towers, that were obviously taken with a drone. So, the Camp was obviously where I wanted to take it up. 

I had been waiting for a day up on the mountain where it wasn't so windy. Camp Creek Bald is notorious for its blustery days. This April had been on the windy side, but the weather was right for Earth Day. That wasn't my only reason for going. The area of Jones Meadow is one of my favorite places to camp. I was just up here last October for a beautiful fall color overnight. 

Dillard Pond

Where I'm headed

So, I got up there and the weather was great for running the drone as I took off from the Valhalla Inn site and went over Jones Meadow. I got some amazing views of this area of the Bald Mountains. 

Running the drone wasn't the only thing I did. I also got some Hiking in. 

Take off point

Looking west at 350 feet...

...looking east

However, I wanted to go-to spots at Jones Meadow including below Blackstack Cliffs. I then headed up the Appalachian Trail (AT) looking for a camp spot. I had used the old Camp Creek Bald Lean-to site last time here. I thought about the campsite I used in 2020, at AT North Mile Marker (NMM) 297, but with it being thru-hiker season I figured it would be busy (and it was). I decided on a site one mile AT North while small it even has water, which I think was for the old lean-to. It might be my favorite campsite up here. 

Jones Meadow

Below Blackstack Cliffs

My October 2021 campsite...

...& 2022

The main event of the day was on the summit of the Camp. Here I ran the drone around the fire tower. Then I headed up to the spot formally known as Camp Creek Bald Bluffs but now the Grandstand. I mean it is sloped like a grandstand and the view of the sunset deserves one.

Above Camp Creek Bald Fire Tower

Looking East

In the middle is what I call the Grandstand...

...& sunset

Day two started with sunrise at White Rock Cliffs. I had thought of going back to Camp Creek Bald, but the winds had picked up. This turned out to be a good idea because when I reached Big Firescald Knob it was really windy. 

Sunrise

Big Firescald Knob Vista...

...& Blackstack Cliffs

Once back at Jones Meadow (after a stop at Blackstack Cliffs) it wasn't as windy or so I thought. When I took the drone up to 100 feet I got a warning...for high winds. So, I  ended up wrapping the days flying early. But overall it turned out to be a great trip to one of my favorite places...The Camp!

Couldn't get high up because of the wind

More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos

The Lummox Is Old & Is Lucky He Has Me To Carry Him!

I was supposed to go to Bays Mountain Park today, but the Lummox is old and forgot his damn drone! He wanted to go home and hide, but this Hiking Machine would have none of that So, we compromised...we went to Laurel Run Park. I got to carry that old ass of his too a number of waterfalls while I crushed trail. Oh, it was funny that he forgot that drone! As I laugh, I am out...BITCHES!