Crawford Notch, New Hampshire

Returning to New Hampshire

We had driven through Crawford Notch six weeks ago while heading to Maine and thought it would be a good place to spend more time in the future if we got the chance. We got the chance and took it staying a campground in the White Mountains without internet or TV reception. It was raining hard the first day we arrived. There were too many hiking trails to choose from and just a few miles up the road from us. Once the rain broke, we headed out.

Someone took some time and effort collecting rocks to make some rock art along the Saco River Trail.

 

 Wiley House family homestead

We were able to combine trails to make a good hike with elevation climbs of 1000 feet in a mile.

Tough Frankenstein Cliffs hike

 The road goes through the bottom of the Notch which means the trails all go up. But they were pleasant walks with nice payoffs of views and waterfalls. There were plenty of boulders and slick roots which made us appreciate the hiking poles keeping us upright.

 What a great treat as we reached the summit.

This was a good stop for us to spend some time before heading out west again.

 

 

Crawford Rail Station at the trailhead

The top is where we had the view.

Appalachian Trail is so steep and traverses the summit of these mountains. 

One more waterfall, Riley Falls

We have spent the past 6 weeks in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine and have not seen a single moose. I guess, we were sleeping in. 



Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park 

It was time to head for the mountains as Charlottesville was heating up. The Shenandoah
National Park's scenic roadway, Skyline Drive, follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Parkway,
which stretches 469 miles south to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As we climbed
up to 3500 feet above sea level, the temperatures dropped to the 60s in the sunshine.
Shortly after turning onto the parkway, a big black bear bounded across the road.
Once she was in the woods, she looked back at us as we stopped in the middle of the
road. No one was behind us so we enjoyed the moment.







Traveling in the shoulder season is the best. No reservations were needed at the Big Meadow
Campground. We settled in after our 55 mile drive and took a hike to Dark Hollow Falls and
made a stop at the visitor's center to listen to the naturalist's talk. After the talk, he
took us out to see a nest of the Junko, a bird that nests in the grass. We missed the baby
birds but the parents were out.



Dark Hollow Falls

Most of the trees are just starting to bloom, making getting a peak of the views from the trail possible.

One evening after we had gone inside, I noticed an older lady pull up across from us in a Class C motorhome. I noticed she was alone and didn't think much about that until I heard hear trying to level the RV. She would back up and try to get a running start to get on the levelers. They would shoot out when she hit them making lots of noise. I told Mike that I was going out there and help her. That really meant that he should get his shoes on and give us a hand.

She was quite a character and had flown from Tallahassee to purchase the RV from a couple of elderly ladies. She previously had a Road Trek and she was getting acquainted with the Class C. She had never married and had traveled to all 49 states and Canadian Provinces in that Road Trek and was ready for a larger unit. It was fun to hear her story and adventurous spirit. "We" got here all set so she could get some rest. 

Not an easy bike ride uphill at 4 mph but the downhill was sweet at 30 plus mph.

 After our bike ride on Skyline Drive, we stopped at the visitor's center. While taking a break at

picnic tables, we met "Born Ready", his AT hiking name. He was happy to sit and visit about his journey on the AT which runs by our campground. He retired at 65 and decided to take on the challenge, leaving Springer, GA on Feb 15th. He said that it was harder than anything he could have imagined even after training for several weeks before starting. We have done day hikes on many sections of the trail and agree that it is tough.

The number of hikers on the AT is at a high number this year. The few days we got to spend in
Shenandoah National Park, there was a steady flow of hikers. The different hikers we have spoken with agree that the weather has been tough the past two months.

Lewis Falls

The mornings before the sun comes up is the best with the cool morning air and peaceful quiet before

people start moving around. It also makes taking this picture pretty nice.

We saw plenty of critters but most of the time no picture, except for this guy.

    At the tunnel leaving Shenandoah a bear cub turned and ran up the hill as we got close. The two bears  we got to see were quite a treat.

In the mornings, We would wake to the whippoorwill's song and the hoot of the owl as we closed our eyes at night. I am sure glad that some very smart people felt this was something important to preserve.

Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls

Oconee State Park

We drove a short 60 miles to this great state park in South Carolina. It has been fun spending time at a place and driving a shorter distance to the next. It has been raining on us a bit every day for a while but pretty heavy the past two days. We still get out in our rain gear.

The lake is peaceful now in the shoulder season but has to be crazy with families in the swimming areas and boats that can be rented in the summer are many cabins for rent and over 140 campsites. Right now, there are less than 20 sites in use.

I love the fog over the lake in the morning. South Carolina has quite a number of state parks in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

1. 
   
2. 
3. 1930s CCC flag. Of course, they were involved in building this park too.

The park has several places with internet. Saturdays in the summer, they have square dancing lessons.

Old water wheel

Many miles of hiking trails from the campground.

 The 1,617 foot long Stumphouse Tunnel is an oddity. Started in 1852 to connect the railways from Charleston to Knoxville and on to Cincinnati, the Civil War—and lack of funds—brought construction to a halt. There were various efforts by the Blue Ridge Railroad to revive the tunnel, none of them came to pass and it stands today as a monument to the efforts of pre-Civil War engineering

In 1951, Clemson University bought the tunnel and used it to cure the South's first blue cheese with its constant temp of 50 degrees and humidity of 85%.

Many tunnels we have been in have been damp but this one was really wet.

Around the corner from the tunnel and over the bridge was a trail to the falls.

Issaqueena Falls

Legend has it that the falls is named for an Indian maiden, Issaqueena, who warning the white settlers of an Indian attack, was then chased by Indians and she appeared to jump over the falls. By actually hiding behind the falls (or some legend-tellers say she hid behind a stump, hence Stumphouse Tunnel), she tricked her pursuers and survived.



Oconee Station

Originally a military compound and later a trading post,



Mountain Laurel lining the trails

Station Cove Falls

 A 50-foot high ledge at the end of a .7 mile trail in Oconee Station State Park near Walhalla, SC. It's an easy and peaceful 20-minute hike on a wide, rolling trail after walking along the pond.



Walhalla, SC

 After our morning of sightseeing, we found a place that served home cooking. An older lady sitting next to us made some suggestions as to what to order. Once our meals came, the waitress asked if we needed vinegar or butter for my turnip greens and cornbread. I said that I was fine. The lady next to us said "She's not a Southerner". I then told the waitress I would take some vinegar and butter after all. The lady gave me her Pepper Sauce and told me to try it. I felt obligated to try it and liked it. This little lady eating alone made our day. She was a hoot as she told us her stories.

Hidden Falls on the Foothills Trail



There are so many waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We set out to see more and this time it wasn't raining. But all that rain made for some nice falls even if it makes me sweat something fierce.

The forest was such a pretty color of green.

We made it.

 This trip continues to provide so many varied experiences with interesting people. No wonder we need a nap at times.