Green River and Lake Adger

A wrap up of the Blue Ridge Mountain Spring trip--

I had a morning hike after breakfast  Monday, I knew I had to be home in time to feed my dogs so didn't mess around much I had the van ready to roll by 11:30 check out is noon. Like the day before most of the birds were up high and I couldn't see them! Could hear plenty tho...one chickadee photo not much to show for all my phishing..

Black Capped chickadee

I took this weird pano of the van, I kinda like the way it looks, like it belongs in a cartoon strip or something...a guy asked what does the Dixxeland Express mean, after viewing my front plate, so I thought about it and then said "It means it's my way out of DixxeLand" he didnt like my answer, and replied Whaaaat? I explained its my escape mobile....he liked that better..

I planned to stop at a couple places on the way home in Polk County, the Green River Gamelands and the Adger Lake which is right next to the gameland.  The Green River flows through the game lands and the road follows the river to the lake...the upper part of the road is SOMETHING else tho!

This is Green River Cove Road in NC east of I-26.  Talk about a hair pin?? It was a series of hairpins for 3 miles!! I put my van in 1st gear so as to not wear out my new front brakes!!  I had to blow my horn on a couple of turns I could not see if anyone was on the way up and I did encounter 2 cars coming up.  

Hairpins

Finally when the road straightened out I found the river...

The clouds had come over and it chilled off....once again birds were scarce, so I kept driving...came across one Wild Turkey moving fast to clear the highway...

When I arrived at the lake there was a parking area and boat launch sign said Lake Adger Marina, but I saw no buildings of any kind, a few slips most empty some with pontoons.  

You can see how the day had turned grey and chilly and the wind was gusting again not as bad as earlier in the weekend but not comfortable either....I found this gazebo and had a spot of "tea"as they say under the willows.  Those concrete tables--one was off balance it threatened to fall over the other the benches were so short the table was up to my chin...very odd...

I scanned the far bank area of the lake and spotted a couple of Greater Yellowlegs, got one horrible fuzzy shot cause they were just too far away...then a Great  Blue Heron flew by 

On the way out near the reeds and cat tails I spotted a couple of Red Winged Blackbirds...

male 

female 

Some barn swallows were up on the power line preening, 

....I set my GPS, Wilma to Home and off we went...took only 3 hrs for her to announce "you have arrived to Home" 

Had a great trip, arrived to a wonderful greeting by my dogs who missed me as much as I did them!!

I am planning some day trips hope the weather will be more co-operative so I can spot more spring birds!

Time...Well Spent

PEACE

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

Davidson River Camping

Sunday after the hike at Ivestor Gap I had a quick lunch and then drove back to the Blue Ridge Parkway this time I turned east and turned on Hwy 276 South.  My plan was to stay at Davidson River campground for the night and along the way make a few stops.  My first stop was Sliding Rock Falls..

It gets that name because in summer this place is hopping with people who enjoy sliding down this rock on their butts! A little rock rash happens Im sure and probably more than on ones rear! You can do this all day for $2 a head!!

 a little off-roading on a gravel Forest Service road #475 B takes me to view this small falls called Slick Rock Falls, 

the name fits perfectly as the rock is glossy black.  

Some sweet Azure Bluets on the way up to the falls.

The last falls is one I've stopped at many times Looking Glass Falls its a roadside falls..

Then finally I arrived at Davidson River Campground, in Transylvania Co, NC.  

It is a fantastic campground and can get crowded....but with the cold snap everyone left! I got one of the roadside sites which are quite large!! $11 with my Senior Pass. There is a bathroom with shower in each loop, all with nice hot water!  This is one of the cleanest and well maintained campgrounds I've been to!  Everything worked and is open, the sites are all large private and well laid out. 

Loved it.

I had my very own mountain to hike up and it was a very interesting hike..leading to an historic cemetery!

the little cemetery has 8 graves only 2 have proper headstones, the rest are simple stones stuck in the ground...the 2 headstones are a mother and 5 yo daughter both died on the same day, July 16, 1916!! I had to find out what this mystery was about!  See *footnote* below.

There is also an historic English Chapel on the grounds of this CG, which is in the Pisgah National Forest.  The original chapel was founded  in 1860, by Rev A. F. English and the wood was milled at his saw mill on Avery Creek ,by 1940 the "little old church in the wildwoods" was all but falling down so it was rebuilt with stones from many of the southern states! It's about the prettiest Church I've ever seen! Campers are welcome says the sign. 

There is a nice trail that goes around the entire campground and it's great cause the joggers and dog walkers don't end up coming thru your camp and getting in the road...the trail follows the river on one side...

the Davidson River is a typical mountain stream swift moving shallow and filled with rocks...

and along this trail is the swimming hole! 

lots of birds were out but so HIGH up I tried to call some down only got very little results...

and this red fox squirrel ignored me but I got a shot of him anyways! 

Outside the park entrance is a CCC monument. 

It was much warmer on Sunday night so a very comfortable night in camp, and I even had a Verizon signal...the town of Brevard, NC is not far away....  

PEACE

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

***Footnote***

I found out about the "Flood of Record" that happened in 1916 in this area of western NC and  it hit SC too.  The highest rainfall ever documented in one single day fell that July.  Saturated dirt caused a landslide and that is what killed  Martha  Sentell and her daughter Avo. 

Still Off the Rez...

Home is a place to hang out between adventures right?

...when last I left you I was waking from a frigid night of camping in Sunburst campground in the Pisgah National Forest.  

 I was warm as toast in the van. 

The morning was cold but no wind! Yes!! And the birds were singing...after a fast pot of cowboy coffee & breakfast I put on every coat I had, hat, and gloves.  And went out to check them out.  I knew it would warm up but it sure took its own good time!  First off I heard this...

I've never heard a chipping sparrow sing so beautifully! I think he was saying, the wind is gone, the wind is gone, great God Almighty, the wind is gone!  Other birds were singing in the woods too...I phished between teeth chatters....a few came out and took time to pose for me, the robins were back waiting for the frost on the grass to burn off...so they flicked leaves near the forest edge looking for a meal...some perched to wait it out..then another great singer emerged...

the song sparrow

Peeking out from under the shrubs was a dark eyed Junco...

And  I know what a horrid photo this is but the Ruby Crowned Kinglet had his crown out for viewing and look how brilliant it is!!

On the ground white throated and fox sparrows were busy digging for worms...I didnt get any shots of them due to the cold mainly I kept having to put my hands back in my gloves and missed lots of good pics due to that...but I did get this good look at the

                                   Eastern Towhee, love that eye!

An 

Eastern Phoebe gave me the over the shoulder look...

But the star of this show was a bird I know as the Solitary Vireo, but his name got changed to the Blue Headed Vireo! He was so curious about me...in fact he was following me around...

He just kept posing for me! I was quite the curiosity. 

I could' of stayed  here all day, but I wanted to get in a few more stops on this good weather day...but

first I walked across the road to see what was happening at the Laurel Branch, only thing seen was the green hued water...

Then I left Sunburst Campground 

and headed south on hwy 215 back to the parkway, I made a right and headed west and turned south on Hwy 64.  I went to see the French Broad Falls, and Mill Shoals! 

Its on private land so I only got a couple photos and then hi-tailed it but they give permission for the public to view their falls.  I missed out on the 3rd falls (Bird Falls) which was down stream I missed that in the waterfall guide! Im kinda working on my NC waterfalls list..altho I havent finished SC yet.

don't know why I didn't think to make a pano so I could get both falls in same shot...duh....a couple of fly fishermen were busy trying their luck...This property is owned by Healing Waters Ministry...

I turned around here and headed back up to the parkway.  I stopped to view the Devil's Courthouse..Indian Legend has it the Devil lives in a cave under this rock! Who am I to say he doesn't? 

I needed some exercise so I headed up Black Balsam Trail Parking.  There's several hikes to take from that lot.  I peeled off at least 2 layers, the hat and gloves before visiting the stinkiest pit toilet ...

east of the Mississippi (it is a unisex so yes both men and women used it, no one had to show any credentials on their sex at birth, thank goodness!)  I chose the easy trail, I hoped for some birds got skunked on that but saw some lovely scenery! I chose the Ivestor Gap Trail if followed to the terminus 4.5 miles away it brings you around Black Balsam Knob to the Graveyard Fields Loop trail! It would be a fun backpack trip but camping has been suspended due to black bear activity..It's a rim trail which I prefer over a ridge trail or a summit trail! You can barely see the trail in this shot on the hill on the right....see it?  Its actually an old road a very ROCKY road!

Lots of water on the trail also...

...in fall this is a 4 x 4 road, could def bust up  your front end here!!  Found this mystery I tried to research it but came up with Zip! I hope its a spot where someone's ashes were released, and not where someone took their last hike! It wasn't that steep but a fall would def be life threatening, due to the rocky landing. 

Sgt M R N Penland SA

...and altho I don't suspect this to be the cause, I learned recently the 3rd cause of death in our Parks is suicide! Last year in our national Parks alone 93 people died by suicide in the parks, the other causes of death are heart attacks and falls!! I turned around at about 2 miles so my RT hike was an easy 4 mi. on this trail...

Back on the Parkway lots of ice still hanging on...

The Yellow Prong River 

I'll post the rest of this day in next post! I had a great day of birding in the morning and hiking in the afternoon...I'd say this was one heck of a day to be off the reservation!!

PEACE

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