Wednesday, October 28, 2020

The Lummox Dumb A** No More (Well At Least For Today)...


Well, Pete here and after my last blog where I ripped the Lummox a new one for being clumsy on Sunday and not getting to hike or camp. I have to give the devil his due as the Lummox came through with hiking and camping at Rock Creek yesterday and today.
I could say some derogatory stuff like a blind squirrel gets a nut sometimes or a broken clock is right twice a day. No, I wouldn't say anything like that. He sucked it up and got us out on Tuesday morning. Because he wanted to see fall colors the Lummox and I decided to first go up Cliff Ridge at Chesota. Now it meant not going up to Unaka Mountain, but almost four miles on the AT (Appalachian Trail) beats two so I won't complain. Then it was to Pleasant Garden. His search for some old trail meant more hiking for me. After it was more AT time, including Beauty Spot. We finished the day the best way possible, camping at Rock Creek Recreation Area...now that IS good shit! 


Then on Wednesday, after his teeth cleaning, he ignored the threat of rain and we did more hiking at Buffalo Mountain. That the Hiking Machine liked...BITCHES!


Sunday, October 25, 2020

Special Dumb A** Edition Of Down The Rabbit Hole

Here is a special report from Pete...today I was supposed to be camping today & hiking tomorrow, but trust the Lummox to live up to his name. The dumb ass slipped taking stuff to the car and hurt his back and said ass. I mean how hard is it to navigate stairs. I know he will say that it had rained and they get slick, but is that really an excuse. I have never slipped on them, but I am a Hiking Machine and not a Lummox. So, as he sits and rests his skinned up back and bruised ass I am just here twiddling my paws. Oh, what is a Hiking Machine to do. Well, I am out...you know the rest!

Not here camping...

...or here at Beauty Spot

...or Unaka Mountain!

Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea & Rhododendrons...2020 COVID Wildflower Special



With Wildflower Season winding down and because of this I only do one blog for the three months of Autumn why not a special to fill the gap? There is nothing more special than a Wildflower Blog featuring three of my favorites...Flame Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Mountain Laurel. Back in Spring, I didn't know if there would be special because of the COVID Crisis. But, I did get out and saw Mountain Laurel at Buffalo Mountain and the new hotspot of White House Cliffs at Rocky Fork State Park. 
However, the big event was going to the Roan Highlands during the flower season. Here, I got to see plenty of Flame Azaleas and Catawba Rhododendrons. So, with that said here are some of the special flowers I saw for this wildflower blog special, enjoy...

Mountain Laurel:

May 14, 2020: Buffalo Mountain Park, Johnson City, TN

May 14, 2020: Buffalo Mountain Park, Johnson City, TN

May 14, 2020: Buffalo Mountain Park, Johnson City, TN

May 14, 2020: Buffalo Mountain Park, Johnson City, TN

May 31, 2020: Harman Den, Pisgah NF

June 13, 2020: White House Cliffs Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

June 13, 2020: White House Cliffs Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

June 13, 2020: White House Cliffs Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

June 13, 2020: White House Cliffs Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

June 13, 2020: White House Cliffs Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

June 13, 2020: White House Cliffs Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

June 13, 2020: White House Cliffs Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

June 13, 2020: Flint Mountain Trail, Rocky Fork SP, TN

July 15. 2020: AT, Unaka Mountain




Flame Azalea:

May 14, 2020: Buffalo Mountain Park, Johnson City, TN

May 14, 2020: Buffalo Mountain Park, Johnson City, TN

May 14, 2020: Buffalo Mountain Park, Johnson City, TN

June 20, 2020: AT, Round Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 20, 2020: AT, Round Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 20, 2020: AT, Round Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 20, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF



Piedmont Rhododendron:

May 31, 2020: Max Patch, Pisgah NF

June 1, 2020: Max Patch, Pisgah NF




Catawba Rhododendron: 

June 20, 2020: AT, Carvers Gap, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 20, 2020: AT, Round Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

June 20, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Cherokee-Pisgah NF


June 20, 2020: Grassy Ridge Bald, Pisgah NF

June 20, 2020: Grassy Ridge Bald, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Harriet Bald, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Jane Bald, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Engine Gap, Pisgah NF


June 21, 2020: Roan Highlands, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: AT, Carvers Gap, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: Roan RRhododendron Gardens, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, Pisgah NF

June 21, 2020: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, Pisgah NF

Add captionJune 21, 2020: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, Pisgah NF

Rosebay Rhododendron:

July 2, 2020: Rock Creek Receration Area, Cherokee NF

July 15, 2020: AT, Unaka Mountain, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

July 15, 2020: AT, Unaka Mountain, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

July 15, 2020: AT, Unaka Mountain, Cherokee-Pisgah NF

July 16, 2020: Rock Creek Receration Atea, Cherokee NF

July 16, 2020: Rock Creek Receration Atea, Cherokee NF
July 16, 2020: Rock Creek Falls Trail, Cherokee NF


July 16, 2020: Rock Creek Falls Trail, Cherokee NF

July 21, 2020:Squibb Creek Falls Trail, Cherokee NF

August 12, 2020: Walnut Mountain Trail, Cherokee NF