Ramsey Creek and the Chauga River

Day four  (my second day in camp)....after that great breakfast of grits, mixed berries and a pan toasted Everything Bagel, I was ready to tackle the world, or at the very least the playing possum picnic table!

I managed after a major wrestling match to flip it back over still no seats attached..that's a warning to the next camper to NOT sit on this table!

Headed back through the town of Westminster where the Memorial Day tribute was still in place, It was a very nice small town display, loved this I circled the block so I could get a photo...

back through the wine country...where some new vines have been planted...

To Chau-Ram park! The Chauga River and Ramsey Creek come together here...

Ramsey Creek has a nice falls too!

The Ramsey empties into the Chauga River its just around the bend...

and spanning it is the "longest suspension bridge in Oconee County!!

Nearby was this cool Louisiana Waterthrush, bobbing his tail and checking for something to eat!

some areas were very calm...

and others were NOT...

this mountain laurel is growing out of a rock! 

 ...when I snapped this I thought it was one, so surprised when I put it on the screen and saw two!!  I believe these are painted turtles...

Then it was a picnic lunch from the shelter by the falls...

then back to site 59 after a stop for some ice cream at this road side stop! The guy who served me gave me that look when I asked if they any non-dairy ice cream...so I Blessed the cow that gave the milk and ordered up mint chocolate chip...that guy reminded me of
Charles Manson..in the early years~I was bigger and probably out weighted the guy by at 40 lbs so I wasn't scared...intimated yes, scared NO! Although I did leave my pig sticker, mace, and 2 vicious attack dogs,  in the van when I went for the Refreshment..LMBO.

yes the windshield is cracked and the  SC state trooper who pulled me and gave me a warning ticket said

"FIX IT" ---dang!

another day in paradise, more to come!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Fall Creek falls and Lake Hartwell

I'm having a sick day, this morning I HAD VERTIGO SOOO BAD,  much better now but it means I feel bad enough to just sit in my chair with laptop in lap and do nothing much else!  I really wish I had one of those little pad things, [add to the wish list] meanwhile I have this non active time on my hands may as well write up a few  blogs about my recent trip and just schedule them to post...it beats twiddling the thumbs. 

So I told you about Oak Grove, The Pleasant Ridge County Park, and then I headed out in the DLEX for 4 days of camping.  I am not rigged with solar power and at this time of yr I need it just for the fans! So the girlz and I headed to Lake Hartwell State Park...its a huge lake...I had pre reserved a spot.  #59!

But before we arrived at 59, we took a side trip to find (drum roll plz) a Waterfall, as you know it is my ongoing project...I'm really getting it down to the "strenuous", "Private Property", and "roadside" hikes. 

an upstate Vineyard

 With a bum knee this time I chose the roadside hikes...Drove up this narrow overgrown gravel forest service road, looking for some black n yellow markers-- went past due to overgrowth-- and drove a couple miles before saying "this is not right" and turned around when the thunder started I didn't want to be on a slippery mountain gravel road when the bottom feel out of those clouds...AND there it was the black and yellow markers! So we had a steep decent of about 75 ft down a rhododendron tangled hillside to get through till we found the Fall Creek Upper falls... I'm now using one of my old ski poles as a walking stick glad I had it along!

                         

Play

no problem for the girlz..

They frolicked while I photoed!  

I didn't hike down to the level of the falls, but I had a pretty good view of it,,,,,

So checked that one off the list, there is a Middle and Lower section of this falls, but I decided to save those for another time, since the thunder and rain really came...so we headed for the park...lots of farmland along the way..these are the Appalachian foothills in the background

Does this ever happen to you? What are the chances...an overloaded timber truck and a hay hauler with NO lights behind...on a curvy mountain road~

15 mph for miles and miles notice the double yellow lines...

FINALLY...

Arrived got registered at the campground, we had a lake view beyond some trees...

I had a wee problem with the picnic table...

YIKES I hit it with my van,  and it basically collapsed! I managed to roll it over and stick the legs back in place...but both seats had fallen off...oh well it kinda looked like a road-killed o'possum at this point!

ut-oh

got my camp set up anyways...very cozy! Air mattress pumped up and lays on top of the rear seat that is a fold down bed..its the most comfy bed its just right for my height....I have nice pleated privacy shades for all the rear windows...but I leave all the windows open as long as its not raining in.

Slept well...the storms circled around but spared us!  It got down to the mid 60's so it was quite comfortable....Next morning....

Grits bagel and fruit-- electric site yes!

Breakfast is ready! I watched  a kingfisher hunt his breakfast

 as I ate mine...I've got my single serve coffee pot, my hot plate with my small size pots n pans, my little tail gate folding table, and of course the screen room...its a real pain to set up, once you get one leg to slide up in place the rest go easy but it took me 1/2 an hr to get that first one going...the dogs had all the fun and I did all the work.....whew!

My best friends.

End of Day 3!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

Oak Grove Visit!

A spot I always visit when I'm at sister's home is Oak Grove Lake...The dam broke about 18 months ago so the bird-life has not returned to full occupancy but some have returned...its always a great spot to see babies in various stages of infancy!

Other Birds who love the water are around....like this Red Winged Blackbird.

and the belted kingfisher

 this fishing line scares me.... hope he never gets entangled in it...

Eastern Bluebirds are always around catching flies....

and ah......Got Worms? This Grackle does,,,,he has a mouth full!!

Lovely  wild daisies in full bloom...

and I can never pass a thistle by without getting a photo, such a beautiful plant...

Its only a 1/4 mile around this small lake but there is so much to see...these mallards look so perfect...

I have not looked this fellow up...but he sure is pretty look at those green eyes!!

I heard this call unfamiliar to me...then I saw this Pied Billed Grebe floating around in the reeds I think a nest was nearby...I tried to get his call but he clammed up when I turned the video on...

Such a cool encounter...he had his eye on me the whole time!!

another great day in nature!!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.