Aug. 14, 2017

Macro photo of toad’s eye.

August 1, 2017

Vacation Day 4 – We headed back to Panther Falls and had the place to ourselves. Jumped off the rocks, swam, tried to find the cave entrance behind the waterfall, and had lunch. After lunch, a couple other groups had arrived, our cue to leave!

Crabtree Falls – Hike #26 #52hikechallenge

This was a more strenuous hike than we thought, mainly cause it is straight up. The waterfalls were pretty – something about being tallest east of something or another….

but needed more water flow

 

Sam adds a cairn to the 100s built along the trail.

But this Copperhead was not interested in a cairn…

July 29, 2017

Vacation Day 1 – A foggy on top Brush Mountain deep in the George Washington National Forest, in fact only 1 truck passed our site in 3 days.

Camping with Beth and Jim mean you do things like, I wonder if this leads to a overlook as we bush wack through head high brush.

It didn’t, but at least there were butterflies.

Camping with Beth and Jim also mean you eat well – dessert? Bananas Foster flambe.

May 27, 2017

After the hike we camped for the night, waiting for our morning ferry to Cape Lookout – the South Core Banks. Kodak seemed happy to back at the beach.

We drove around looking for a secluded area to camp and found this fresh turtle track, she must have laid her eggs hours before.

This site is perfect, can’t see a camper down either side!

Clay fishes for bait.

Sunset

Kay wanted her picture with her fish – then it jumped (or whatever fish do)

Light painting – two Tacomas with Flippacs.

 

May 26, 2017

Hike #20 of #52hikechallenge – Neusiok Trail in the Croatan National Forest. The trail is part of the Mountains to Sea Trail and starts along the banks of the Neuse River.

This Osprey chick was calling for diner and hiding behind a stick…

 

May 14, 2017

Mother’s Day – Breakfast in bed. (Uncle Wayne, do you recognize the pan?)

Deb went back to bed to celebrate her day and I went for bike ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is me trying to rescue a snake.

Then some work around the “mountain place” including yard work and finding thsi salamander.

Then it was time to hike. #19 #52hikechallenge – Gragg Prong Falls. Sam and I started last year to hike to these falls, but it was getting woods dark and we didn’t have a place to camp yet so we turned around, really glad we went back, awesome place and great swimming hole when it warms up.

The whole hike is beautiful!

There are a couple of creek crossings, in the end we gave up trying to keep the boots dry!

May 7, 2017

Hike #17 #52hikechallenge

The Uwharrie Trail to the peak of Little Long Mountain. I had no idea the Uwharrie’s had a bald mountain top, so once I read it, we had to see it.

Clay taking pictures again…

Since Clay just bought gold pans we had to try it.

We found some – 8 “colors” or TINY specks.

April 17, 2017

One for my mom.

April 9, 2017

Today was another day in the woods. We started on a section of the Uwharrie River I have wanted to paddle for a while. It needs spring rains to be deep enough to paddle.

After the thunderstorms in the middle of the week, it looked promising, featuring over 12 class I rapids (easiest) and good flow. I don’t have pictures, but we started almost immediately when Sam flipped her boat when she hit a strainer (tree)

A great couple of hours on the water!

Then hike #15 of #52hikechallenge – Birkhead Tract of the Uwharrie Game Land.

What is Clay photographing this week?

An Eastern Fence Lizard.

April 1, 2017

A day in Uwharrie Forest, starting at the Uwharrie Jamboree celebrating the opening of the OHV trails for the season. Then Clay and I drove around some of the back roads.

Remember my series of Clay bending over playing photographer?

This week it was a snake. Nerodia

Then Hike #13 #52hikechallenge – Uwharrie Trail starting at the Jumping Off Rock trail head.

The Jumping Off Rock