Bull Pen Trail

 

          Leaning against a tree catching my last breath and thankful to be standing. Sometimes I question my actions after the fact and have no good answers. Earlier in the day I had laid my tired weary body on a huge downed tree, just to relax for a moment, and when I lifted my right leg I fell off of the precarious bed and landed hard on the forest floor. First thought, That wasn't as planned. Second thought, Arm not broken. Third thought, Now I got to get up! I struggled to put my butt on the downed tree and sat debating this days agenda. 

          Bull Pen Trail! Easy hike, 6.3 miles in and out. Destination hike, goes to the Chattooga River. Ellicott rock is located nearby, the point where SC, NC, and Georgia meet. I've not yet seen the rock but hope today is the day. It has been a great day, leaving the house at 6am, stopping for a biscuit, cool ride down Hwy 11. There is a detour on 130, easy to follow and I soon arrived on Bull Pen Rd.

          Me and my truck drove past the trailhead and parked a little ways down the road on the right. A clear spot is there and a road leads into the woods, it is blocked with a gate but ample room for hikers to park. I walk back to the trailhead and begin! An agreeable walk into a canopy of trees with a gradual incline, wonderful start to a tremendous walk in the woods. This part of the ramble is up and down with one tolerable steep hill to climb, I climb it and try to rest on a log as I near the top. You know what happens there. I continue toward the Chattooga river after a drink of bottled water and a Granola bar boost my enthusiasm. The  Fork Mt. trail joins my trail, according to the sign I'm 2.2 miles in. So I'm calculating just over a mile to this river. I think it is safe to say that it is all down hill from here on out. Some sections are steep with switch backs helping to make the descent manageable but still challenging. At times I hear the river. At times I feel a breeze on my face. At times I see a drop off beside the trail. I neither see nor hear other humans. It's not loneliness surrounding my being but solitude and peace and a natural spiritual calmness. 

          The trail has narrowed to a footpath and I push through small brush when I enter the small clearing near the flowing water. I mentally mark the path so I can find my way back out. It's a beautiful river and clear and cold. I would love to wade in it and maybe take a quick swim but being alone I wisely stay on the bank. I find a log to sit on and snack and then I lay beside it and nap for 30 minutes. My trek up the mountain wouldn't be so bad if I take my time and enjoy the walk. Well I'll tell you, it's a climb! I pass two couples on their way down as I pant my way back to the trailhead. Not an interesting event happened as I made my way through the switchbacks and along the simple path to Bull Pen road and my truck.

It's a good hike, I recommend it.

In the woods, 

Turtle

 

Lake Time

 

          Lake Jocassee doing summertime, ninety-five degrees in the sunshine with a little slight breeze swimming across the clear blue water. A grand day for paddling! We, W and I backed down the boat ramp about 10:30 am and almost backed right onto a kayak resting and waiting to be set afloat. The pilot of said kayak was not a happy person when he saw how close I had come to his personal watercraft. No blows were exchanged and we parted on civil terms. Later during our canoeing adventure we crossed paths and he apologized if he came across as being angry and rude. So we were all good and I can sleep easy tonight. I have never seen as many kayaks, SUP"s, and canoes on this lake as we saw today. There was even a group of those SUP's with motors on them and the board was a couple of feet above the water. They moved fast and looked like a lot of fun. The water level was a foot below full pond, which means that there is very little beach area. If the water level is five feet low or lower it is much easier to pull up on the sandy shore and get out to stretch. 

We paddled along the shore line when we left the remote boat ramp. Our general direction was toward Fishers Knob, but it was not our goal. We were just an old man and a young boy enjoying us some lake time. Staying close to the waters edge took us in and out of the numerous coves. We sought out the overhanging limbs and shady areas which allowed us to find relief from the hot sun. After an hour our butts were tired and cracked and stiff from sitting with bended knee and steady placing the paddle in the water. Former small available sandy locales were all under water. My not so nimble body needs a close lake bottom to step onto when exiting the canoe. We finally found a bushy place at the back of a cove and we could steady the bow enough for W to hop out and stabilize the canoe for me to struggle out and stand in the water. I'd been sitting over an hour and I was stiff. The cove bottom was sloped enough for us to walk to deeper water and splash and duck under the water to cool off. Not being very hungry we ate snack stuff and took our lunch back home with us. 

Our return paddle was as close to a bee line as we could get and therefore much faster. When we landed at the boat ramp a person said, "You just beat the storm". I had no idea what he was talking about until I turned around, the sky was black behind us and slowly moving toward us, we quickly loaded the truck and got off the ramp, freeing it up for others. We left the Park and didn't get rained on till we were cruising down the highway. Drove into three different heavy showers. No trouble driving home, no problem backing down the driveway and no difficulties unloading the canoe and gear. 

Lazy on the Lake

Turtle

I'm Retired - First Hike

 

07.01.2022    Retirement begins!  

I announced a retirement date and eagerly waited for it to arrive so I could claim the retirement status and just chill. Yes, I was a small bit annoyed and surprised at the number of peoples who asked how was I going to spend my time as an unemployed healthy man. As of this very minute I have no "plan of life" but do strongly believe that these up coming days and beyond need to have a purpose. Definitely will have a lifestyle adjustment because the rotating work schedule I've adhered to for the pass twenty-five years is no longer in my life! I can go to bed every night and get out of bed every morning, unless I chose not to. There will not be the work excuse to miss church services, so gathering with Christian friends will be much more frequent. Sitting at the supper table with the wife and grandson on a regular basis is something I really look forward to. My mind is active and many things that so called normal people do are racing a figure eight through my mind. I'll not keep listing events and daily tasks which can now become common place and things I will take for granted. I'll just incorporate them in my new lifestyle and purpose for living. The length of my life is determined by God, the way it is lived is determined by me!

The first and I mean the very first day of this retirement was no different than several of the nonworking days of the past few years.  I took a hike!!  I know, hard to picture me driving to a trailhead and leaving the truck to go walking into the woods. W, the grandson was with me and he complained the entire time we were in the woods. I'll not mention that again, he was just having a bad day and I was determined to have a good one! 

The Blue Wall Preserve [ www.nature.org ] is a very cool place for a short interesting hike. We hiked to the waterfalls, a destination, and passed by and stopped at both ponds. I have been to both oceans on either end of this great country of ours and am impressed with the vastness of water, sky and never ending view. But and yes I have a But, nothing compares to the beauty of a pond nestled against the backdrop of lush green mountains. Right here in the Dark Corner of upstate South Carolina. We are very blessed. A black snake was crossing the trail and it only paused for a moment before slithering away. I took a very not clear picture of it and we let the busy serpent escape into the leafy underbrush. The wasp nest hanging over the trail was impressive enough to avoid. I had already walked under it and beyond when W said look at that wasp nest and he gave it a wide berth. sometimes you need to be thankful for the zoom feature on cameras. The sighting of the green snake was a surprise, I hadn't seen one of those in many years and never in the woods. 

Arriving back at the truck we climbed in and I started it up for that cold air conditioned air. We of course stopped at a country store for a snack and then on to the house.

Wandering in the woods

Turtle