Oct. 27, 2019

I finally made a start (and finish) in the 2019 North Carolina Cyclocross season.

After a lot of overnight rain, the course in Boone was muddy again!

I had fun, didn’t race well, fell a couple of times, but it was great to be back on the start line this weekend!

After the race, I explored for fall colors

The light wasn’t great, so I went for a hike

Goshen Creek is a pretty little waterway

not much color on the trees

but fun to rock hop

a just enjoy the silence

then I tried another HDR of the sunset

 

Oct. 6, 2019

A weekend that changes. Instead of elk, we ended up in Boone again, since I hadn’t planned anything, we searched for a waterfall I had not been to, this is Laurel Creek Falls (I think) but we rock hopped up the creek for a long ways looking for more. Either way this is an awesome swimming hole.

A corn dog and loaded fries with a gose beer at The Cardinal in Boone! Yum!!!

No sunset tonight, only fog!

July 25, 2019

Today started with a hike to Devils Bathtub. This hike requires at least 11 creek crossings and had been on my to do list for years.

Most pictures of Devils Bathtub show this turquoise pool, but it is a great swimming hole just 100 yards from the actual “bathtub”

The “bathtub” is a 3 foot wide by 9+ feet deep pool at the base of a small waterfall.

I tried to touch the bottom… it’s deep!

The next stop, Stony Creek Waterfall

This one is awesome, you can swim behind the falls!

My cooking success tonight – I melted Hersey Miniatures in a double boiler and poured over cheesecake and strawberries!

July 24, 2019

Another day in the Jefferson National Forest and the Falls of Dismal

We had the place to ourselves, we hiked up the creek, explored the rocks and I swam around to see if I could jump from the top (I couldn’t) This is a great spot on a warm day to swim and picnic!

The afternoon was spent packing up camp to move further west, getting stuck behind an accident and waiting for Lifeflight (which circled and left) setting up a new camp, and visiting High Knob Lookout Tower for the sunset.

Love

I always tell my students, when photographing a sunrise or sunset, turn around and photograph what is being illuminated by the light!

July 23, 2019

Good morning from Jefferson National Forest, a rainy and foggy morning!

The whole site! 2 Tacomas, a tear drop, Flippac and Sam’s tent.

A cool log on the way to Cascades Falls.

Fungi

Cascades Falls

the 4 wheel drive trail to Butt Mountain

The fire tower was on top Butt Mountain, but you couldn’t climb to the cab.

On the way down, we took a different trail and James slid into a hole,

on Butt Mountain : )

luckily Maxtrax worked again… no damage! (other than a mud flap)

Keto Taco Tuesday. Chicken on bell peppers, cheese and sour cream.

 

June 22, 2019

I was up early but couldn’t run since the trail into the camp spot was under water from last night’s storm, good thing there is a waterfall to photograph. This is teh top of Wolf Creek Falls.

Just trying different angles

Sadly I chose to only bring my mirrorless Panasonic and couldn’t get the wide angle I wanted

That did force me to climb to a place I have never photographed the falls from.

Sam is ready to go…..

But even to leave, we had to use a chain saw.

Whenever we are here, we hike up Max Patch

Sam took off and hiked up alone, when I found her, this is what she was doing, I love she is happy in the moment and not because she hiked to the top.

Rain or sun?

Back to driving dirt roads.

a railroad bridge over the French Broad River in the Cherokee National Forest

 

of course we all crossed the bridge like in “Stand By Me.”

Camp site #2, on the banks of the French Broad.

Mini-moonshine, beer and shots of whiskey around a fire = a great night!

 

July 3, 2018

The day started early with a trip to Wolf Creek Falls.

We had the waterfall all to ourselves.

After lunch, we hiked to a 2nd waterfall – Little Fall Branch.

Then on to Max Patch for a sunset and Milky Way viewing party. Lighting plays in the clouds.

the sunset was amazing!

 

But the Milky Way was awesome with lightning still bouncing around the clouds below it!

June 22, 2018

Day 2 – DuPont State Forest. No bike pictures, but after the ride I hiked to Triple Falls

and Hooker Falls for a quick swim

Then to New Belgium Brewery for recovery fluids.

and the drive home sunset.

An Instagram follower asked me for interior shots of the Flippac

June 21, 2018

Save the best for last…. DuPont State Forest and last trail of the day, the super fast and flowing Ridgeline Trail.

Grassy Creek Falls

May 23, 2018

Silvervale Falls

There are a lot of road closures due to recent rains (221 south of Blowing Rock) and teh Parkway was closed at the Viaduct. SO I spent the middle of teh day driving dirt roads and exploring on my way to….

Upper Creek Falls….

and a swimming hole. The water was VERY cold!

Finished the day with a sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway