Little River and Birdwalk Loop Trail (Cook County, Georgia)

Since I still have time remaining before I need to be at the lodge where I will be staying the next couple of nights, I decide to hike another trail at Reed Bingham State Park. This time, I'll be walking along the Little River and Birdwalk Loop Trail, which will pass over several boardwalks through the swampy bog.

The trail starts out easy enough as it heads into the woods along a wide, well-maintained path. Soon, I hit a couple of junctions, but opt to stay on my current route, which soon takes me along the river and move up onto the first of several well-constructed, but aging board walks. The ground below is a soupy black color, with lots of vegetation both growing out of and floating on top of the surface. The boardwalk is slippery in places. I'm sure both this and the state of the woods decay are aided by the humid air and the molds and other fungus that thrive in such environments.

As I continue along the river, a couple of spots allow me to walk out onto overlooks. It's a pretty standard view of a river in the south. The waters seems to sit in an perpetual state of stagnation while all kinds of plants and insects thrive around the area. All along the trail, I'm watchful for gators, snakes, or other inhabitants, but the only resident I see is a small tree squirrel who barks at me for interrupting his search for food as he runs off to climb one of the trees growing nearby the board walk.

The return trip along the Birdwalk Trail is nothing really noteworthy, but I do catch up to a couple on a small weekend vacation and enjoy a nice conversation with them as we return to the parking lot. My GPS track informs me that I hiked about 2.3 miles along this short path through the swamp. It was nice and a great way to stretch my legs a bit, but now it's time to move onto the prime target for the weekend, the Okefenokee Swamp.

Gopher Tortoise Trail (Cook County, Georgia)

 

My next stop en route to the southern Georgia sees me stop at Reed Bingham State Park. After locating the small trailhead, I park the jeep and head out to explore the Gopher Tortoise Trail, which is only a short walk in the woods. The ecosystem is subtropical here, with palmettos, pine trees, and Spanish Moss all over the woods. 

The trail makes a short half-mile loop through the area and the surface is a combination of sand and dry earth. On the first half, I don't spot any burrows, but returning on the other part of the loop, I finally locate a few. The endangered gopher tortoise digs out large holes in the sandy soil and uses them for shelter. When they move on, other creatures take up residence. I first saw these holes while visiting a set of Native American mounds in western Georgia a couple of years ago and I was later surprised to learn their source, but now I know exactly what I'm looking for and locate about five on the walk back to the jeep. I don't see any of the shelled construction crews though. Perhaps they have retreated deeper into the den or have simply moved on for green pastures.

Radium Springs (Dougherty County, Georgia)

I'm on my way to southern Georgia for a weekend camping with the Georgia Conservancy, but with a drive of over four hours and plenty of time to spare, I thought it would be nice to stretch my legs along the way. My first stop takes me to what has been deemed one of the seven natural wonders of Georgia, Radium Springs. Known as "Skywater" to the indigenous peoples and later as "Blue Springs" to the Colonials, trace amounts of radium were discovered in the water around 1925 and this largest natural spring in Georgia was given a new moniker.

During the late 1800's and early 1900's, this site was a popular tourist attraction. A resort, golf course, and many other amenities were built in and around the large pool. Gorgeous blue waters rise from a deep cave system at a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit year round and provide a moderate environment for fish and other aquatic species.

Today, the ruins of the once popular resort remain, though the main structure was demolished in 2003 after several successive floods had damaged it beyond repair. A short walk around the various stone walls and other features provides great views of the spring and the fish swimming within it. From the large pool, the waters flow south and soon join the Flint River. With a light fall breeze blowing through and no one else around, it's a very serene experience. It's time to return to the jeep though and get back on the road.

Ath Half - Half Marathon (Clarke County, Georgia)

I've been trying to get myself back in running shape, but it's been a hard road. Between breaking a finger last year and a horrific case of chigger bites, I've had a few set backs that have delayed my schedule at various times. That said, I've still be able to sprinkle in the occasional race this year. I just haven't been able to stay as consistent as years past and it certainly shows in my times. This morning, I'm running the Ath Half. This is a half-marathon course through the college town of Athens, GA.

My alarm sounded at 4:30 AM this morning and I have to admit, I had second thoughts about getting up so early just to punish myself, but I managed to roll out of bed and begin getting ready for the run. Athens is nearly an hour east of my home near Atlanta, but the drive is pretty easy. I found a parking spot and was at the start line forty-five minutes before the races scheduled start time at 7:30 AM. These sunrise starts are a little problematic for me as my sunglasses, which I run with are prescription, while my normal glasses are very loose fitting and wouldn't be conducive to running. This means that I tend to walk around without wearing my glasses before the start, which makes every thing a little fuzzy in the distance. Add to that, the brisk air of a late October morning. All good though; I'll persevere.

As the start time approaches, all of the runners get into the corrals. I don't know the exact count, but there must be at least a couple of thousand runners for this event. It's a fairly popular one. With the sound of an air-horn, we're off. The large crowd of half-marathoners makes a number of turns as we weave our way through downtown Athens. The race route is clearly marked and volunteers and law enforcement do a wonderful job of controlling the traffic flow to protect the race participants. 

I start to settle into my pace and mentally get myself set for the next couple of hours. Signs held by crowds all along the way offer words of encouragement. The best that I saw was "Don't Half Ath your Ath Half!", which got a giggle out of me. Water stations and restrooms are spaced at every two mile mark, which is terrific and I take advantage of the restroom at the two mile mark. 

As I approach the four mile mark, I see a family in their front yard with signs indicating they are giving away beer to runners. I see a number of pitchers out on the table and some young children handing it out to interested runners as we pass. Loving beer as I do, I'm almost obligated to have one. As a seven or eight year-old hands me a small Dixie cup of cold beer, I can hear him ask for my ID, even through my head phones. With the white of my full beard clearly demonstrating my legality, the parent laughs and waves me on. That said though, being "carded" by such a youngster was one of the highlights of the day. 

Again at the six mile mark, I decide to relieve my bladder. Perhaps it was that shot of beer. Either way, I loose at least five minutes here waiting in line to use one of the two porta-potties. With that quick pit stop, I'm on my way and won't have to go again until the finish line. The next several miles take us through the hill laden outskirts of town and finally through the campus of the University of Georgia. 

As I approach the finish line, I realize that it is actually located inside the football stadium. We first run past the finish and then make a lap around the inside of the stadium before returning to and finally crossing through the archway. I'm exhausted, but I ran slightly better than I thought I would. My finishing chip time is 2:38:41, which is a far cry from my best times just two and a half years ago when I ran two sub-two-hour half-marathons. I'm satisfied with the time though, as I was expecting around a 2:45. After enjoying some of the races supplied snacks and refreshment, I relax for just a little bit and listen to a pretty decent funk band playing at the finish. Now it's time to head home.

Blood Mountain Sunset and Moonrise Hike via Byron Reese Trail (Union County, Georgia)

 

There are essentially four trailheads available to reach the summit of Blood Mountain, which is the tallest point along the Georgia portion of the Appalachian Trail. I've hiked from three of those four to the summit since moving to this region two years ago. When I saw that one of the local hiking groups had posted an event to hike from the fourth, the Byron Reese Trail, I just had to take advantage of the opportunity. To make it even more interesting, the event was scheduled on an evening where the moon would rise in the east mere moments after the sun had set in the west, and both would be visible along with some vibrant colors from the summit of the mountain.

I wanted to get an early start and so I left work a bit early and arrived at the trail head just before 4:30 PM, with the hike scheduled to start at 5:00 PM. Over the next few minutes, others started to arrive and with a quick "Are you here with AOC?" (AOC stands for Atlanta Outdoor Club), we easily identified each other. The event organizer and his wife arrived ten minutes or so before the scheduled start time. At the appointed time, we did a quick circle up and round of introductions, before quickly hitting the trail. We are on something of a timer as we want to ensure we reach the summit with plenty of time to spare before the sunset.

The skies are a clear blue with just the occasional wisp of cloud and the mountain foliage has just started to turn to it's fall palate. Color will definitely be the theme of tonight's hike. This trail is considerably shorter than the others that I have used to reach the summit. That said, it makes up for the shorter distance by having a steep incline and a very rocky path to the top. We will gain approximately 1,440 feet over a distance of only about 2.2 miles as we make our way to the top. Not the steepest trail I've ever hiked, but it should still be a good workout.

The group maintains a really good pace on the way up and manages to stick pretty closely together. Even as we navigate our way up stone steps and through a couple of rocky pinch points, we keep moving up the mountain. The trail uses as set of switchbacks to make the elevation gain a bit more manageable and eventually, we reach the stone shelter on the summit, often used by through hikers as an overnight lodge.

From there, we climb up to the top of the rocky outcropping that offers a spectacular view of the setting sun. The southern peaks of the Appalachians are laid out before us and with the sleepy sun preparing for it's nightly rest, a haze over the green and orange mountaintops adds some ambiance to the rolling hills before us. Everyone takes a few pictures and enjoys whatever snack or dinner they brought with them. After just a few minutes, the sun has retreated behind the horizon and a rich red lingers in the distant clouds. With each passing minute, it becomes a deeper shade of red. While I've been told that Blood Mountain was so named because of battles fought between the Cherokee and other neighboring tribes in the distant past, I can't help but wonder if it also might have been inspired by this rich color scheme I am now witness to.

Climbing back down the rock outcropping, hiking back past the shelter, and stopping on another flat rocky section just a couple of hundred feet back the way we came, we can now see the bright orange full moon rising over the mountains to the east. It appears gigantic as it makes its first appearance of the night and over the next few minutes resumes it's normal yellowish-white color, but as it has just awoken, that bright orange takes a little bit of time to fade.

Though it is now night time technically, the full moon offers some degree of light as we begin our trip back down the mountain. Everyone has brought headlamps or other light sources along and we are able to return to the parking lot without issue. I do notice a few black newts or salamanders as we make our way down the steep trail, and warn those walking behind me to be careful not to step on the little nocturnal guys. 

Finally returning to the cars at the trailhead, we thank the organizer and wish each other safe journeys home. My tracking app shows that this hike was only about 4.7 miles total, but the marvelous colors made it all worth while.

Carolina Renaissance Festival (Mecklenburg County, North Carolina)

 

Instead of hiking this weekend, we decided to drive up to the Carolina Renaissance Festival, held just outside of Charlotte, NC. This one is run by the same organization that puts on the Arizona Renaissance Festival, which we've attended a couple of times in the past. The hotel was only about seven miles away from the fair grounds, but at this is one of the largest events of its kind in the country, traffic was backed up and it took us a while to get in and parked in the gigantic grass field designated for that purpose.

Upon entering the fair, the world is transformed (at least partially) to the times of long ago. The town crier announces at the top of his lungs, the merriment that are underway and planned for later in the day. Among the items on our agenda are sitting in on a couple of shows of our favorite comedy troupe, the Tortuga Twins. Additionally, there is a brewfest here today, which has my attention.

As we make our way around, we grab some period food to fuel our walking. Everyone seems to be in a great mood and the festival workers do a great job of putting on a show. Around every turn, there is some musical or comedy act. Eventually, reaching the brewfest, I have a few samples. Out front of this mini-event, a brewing setup, proper to the period, has been set up and a brewer is explaining the process to interested visitors.

From there, we enjoy some of the shops and games, and towards the end of the day, make our way to the Edgewood Stage to see the final show of the Tortuga Twins, which they deem the "R-rated Show", as the content tends to be a bit racier than their earlier shows. We've seen this show a couple of times before, but it's no less funny. The twins (all three of them) make a joke of parents who have brought their nine-year-old daughter to the show - all in good fun. I've not seen this behavior before, but throughout the show, audience members approach the stage and stuff money in the twins' belts. It's almost like a strip show, without the stripping thankfully, lol.

After the show ends, we begin the long trek back to the parking area. It's been a fun day, but I'm a little sunburn and my back is killing me from standing (or sitting without backs support) all day. It will be good to get some dinner and then crash back at the hotel.

Moore Cove Waterfall (Transylvania County, North Carolina)

 

The second waterfall I will be visiting today is at Moore Cove, which is only a mile or so up the winding mountain road from my last stop at Looking Glass Falls. Here too, a number of cars a re parked alongside the road allowing their owners to visit the natural wonder. This one, however unlike it's neighbor, does require a short hike through the woods to visit. 

The trail is very well worn leaving little doubt of the correct path. It starts out by crossing a bridge over what I believe is Looking Glass Creek once again, but I may be incorrect and this could be a tributary. Either way, the trails heads slightly uphill from there. Recent rains have left the surface a little muddy, but still in pretty good condition. This trail is pretty popular and I pass a lot of families as I make my way. For better or worse, my hiking pace is much faster than the average site-seer. 

Arriving at the waterfall, erosion has carved out an area behind and under the drop. While it's possible to get back there, I decide to stay dry and avoid the muddy section today. The flow of this water passing over the cliff is much less than my previous stop, but it's still an impressive site as the small stream descends fifty or so feet to the creek below. I take a few pictures before turning around and heading back for my jeep. I still have a couple hours of driving to do before I get home. This little 1.4 mile hike was a nice, relaxing break though and to see a couple of beautiful waterfalls is always a joy.