Fourteen Mile Hike 3-17-2011

The Enoree Passage of the Palmetto Trail. Section 1-Franklin Rd Trailhead to Brickhouse Rec. Area.

Not hiking in the Mountains of the Upstate of SC was a new experience for Gracie and I, we survived but just barely. We also had a third party with us, and that also changed the hiking experience-maybe for the good or not- I'm not real sure. Some where along the trail we lost our focus and spent more time talking and less time moving toward the goal, breaks became too often and too long. I enjoyed Marks company, we just had to push it to get to the end of the trail before dark. I joke about barely surviving, it was nice not having to climb any mountains and not having to hike down the steep trails, we could see through the trees and walk at a steady pace. Saw some deer and turkey, also  saw a black snake. There were a lot of ticks in the woods and they found there way onto Gracie. Every break we would find the little buggers crawling on her fur, when we got home we found more ticks crawling on the floor. Wife NOT happy!!!!!!!! Oh well! What's a blood sucking tick between friends?

The trail was nice, part of it was on Forest Service Roads, some even on paved two lane roads, old logging roads and of course the normal type single file trail one would expect to find going through the woods. Nice bridges where needed and culverts at the smaller creeks. Would not do this hike in the summer, would be just too hot and muggy and buggy! Section 2 and section 3 add another 21.8 miles to the 14 miles in section 1 for a total of 35.8 miles.

Maybe we, Gracie and I will be able to finish the Enoree Passage this winter. Should be a nice two day hike with a good camp out that one night. Always gotta have a plan and some thing to look forward to.

New knees are now six months old as of March 21. Had a Drs. appointment and he said they look good by way of the ole x-ray machine. This is good but they still don't look very sexy, just a little bit of swelling still around the knee and a scar running down the middle. To be honest "don't look very sexy" will pretty much describe all of me, not just the knees!         

Later,

Turtle