Land of milk and honey

Along Bridge Creek Road, Tiger

(Those are bee-hives along the back fence line. And, no, these aren't dairy cattle, but cut me some slack!)

Not referring to a nostril

Near Osage Tree Farms, Scaly Mountain, NC

Paddy O'Possum -- Rest in Peace

Leaves changing

Crescent moon sunset

Red barn

On Persimmon Creek Road, at Mellie Keener Road. The stream is Little Persimmon Creek.

Catch and release

We heard about Natalie Sharp's guide service through Rabun Trout Unlimited's newsletter, and decided to check it out. Originally we were scheduled for early May, but were rained out, and reset for October. It was a birthday present for George (February), and also for Buck and Debbie (May), but finally happened late enough to include me, too (September). Happy birthday, one and all.

Nice one!

Took a long time to land this rainbow!

Buck had the first fish of the day.

This was a private stretch of the Toccoa River, just north of Suches on Gaddistown Road. Our other guide, Bobby, is the land-owner, and he stocked the rainbows about ten years ago; they've been reproducing ever since. We even caught a few fingerlings, along with some big ones.

Misty morning

Six and a half inches of rain yesterday, and then a misty start to today.

St. George dawn

Stormy morning

St. George Island, Franklin County, Florida

Where we are this week.

Memorial Day weekend

Gigi and Charlie

I love the Blue Fish Lodge!

Scrub-a-dub

First mate

Cheers!

Minnehaha Falls

Saturday morning excursion to Minnehaha Falls on the south side of Lake Rabun.

Charlie and Papa at Minnehaha Falls

Dicks Creek Falls

 We hiked in from Sandy Ford Road (off Warwoman Road), following Dicks Creek down to the Chattooga River. The last part of the creek forms a waterfall, where the creek joins the river.

Dicks Creek Falls, at the Chattooga River

Bob and Nancy

Chattooga River shoals, water-carved rocks

Taylor and his mom

The Old Man and the C

Charlie (Mr. "C") takes the helm under the old man's watchful eyes.

Being the captain just wears me out, Dad!

Watching the boat parade from the sun deck. Check out Charlie's
fancy new blue plastic Adirondack chair.

High water

After four and a half inches of rain over the weekend, Lake Burton is several inches over full pool, which must mean water is pouring over the top of the dam. Our boathouse decks are above water, but some of our neighbors are not.

Doc and Beverly's swim dock, in the water; note reflection of the back rail

Doc and Beverly's boathouse

Water is within inches of our boathouse deck

Swim ladder platform is under water; swim deck a few inches above

Snakely

This Southern Water Snake lives in the sea-wall stones between the spa deck and the Bill-Garden (our new share-cropping vegetable garden on Bill's lakefront). He's harmless, unless you startle easily and twist an ankle in this rocky area. He comes up to sun, but disappears down his hole if he sees you. About 3 feet or so, and well fed.

Tallulah River above Lake Burton

We explored the Tallulah River, looking at a stretch from the first bridge above where the Coleman River joins it, down to the lake. This is a possible paddle trip for the future. Looks challenging. Also, the Tallulah is a great fishing river.

Upstream from the put-in point (bridge),
the river is Class 5 stuff  like this waterfall.

Water-carved rocks

Macro close-up of a patch of moss, a miniature forest

Paddling: West Fork of the Chattooga River

This was a solo 'scouting' trip, to get an idea what this stretch of river is like.

Short answer: really nice! Very scenic, with fast, rocky stretches mixed in with deep, slow pools. Saw lots of birds and fish; paddled over a couple of 14"-16" trout. Water was just above 2' on the SR-28 bridge gauge.

Sorry, no pix!

Went from the West Fork Campground (one mile north on Overflow Creek Road, from the Warwoman Road bridge over the West Fork), to a take-out on the river-side of SR-28, about a mile south of the end of Warwoman Road at SR-28. Probably 2-3 miles on the river, about 2 miles from take-out back to put-in. Which I was doing on foot today, this being a solo trip.

The takeout has a nice spot for camping, and a rope-swing out over the river.

Bird takie-outie

This brown thrasher has picked up one of George's live meal-worm's (look for them in the fridge!), and is headed home with his meal. The wildlife camera caught him jumping up, before he spread his wings.

Taylor Creek

Went for a walk at Black Rock Lake in the state park. It is fed primarily by Taylor Creek, and is on the Tennessee River side of the Eastern Continental Divide. Saw some bufflehead ducks on the lake.

Taylor, at his creek

Black Rock Lake

Better bluebirds

How about some better bluebird photos? Last month's were taken through window and screen, and weren't so hot. Anyway, they're still here!

Dad guards his house

Mom keeps her eyes peeled for those pesky chickadees

We've been away for a while, dealing with norovirus, bronchitis, kidney stones, and Antibiotic's Revenge (like Montezuma's, but without the trip to Mexico). Better, now!

Bluebird is back

Been in and out of the bird-house, getting ready for nesting, I guess. Last year, our bluebirds moved in about a month earlier than this year.

Sorry about the fuzzy photo; shot from the living room, through glass and screen.

PS - On a walk this morning, spotted a huge pileated woodpecker, in the ravine with the shortcut path between the club docks and Finch Drive. Big, red-headed fellow!

Vogel State Park, etc.

We set out this morning for Brasstown Bald, but when we got to the road up the mountain, it was gated. Road Closed! Probably ice on the road, or perhaps trees down; but, with 2.5 miles and 2000' of elevation gain to deal with on the way to the summit, we opted not walk in.

Instead, we went a little further west and south, on 180, then 19/129, to Vogel State Park. We hiked around the lake, visited the waterfall, and generally checked the place out.

Trahlyta Falls comes off the spillway from
the dam that forms the lake at Vogel State Park.

Lake Trahlyta and start of spillway; Vogel's facilities are at head of lake.

Waterfall video below the break (click on Read more).

First boat ride of the year

With the lake unexpectedly full in early February, due to heavy rains, we took the pontoon boat out for a cruise. At first the motor was shaky, full of the winter blues. But after a while, we were able to run it out, and it seemed good to go.

Chilly but sunny, and the lake to ourselves

A cat in the tree, at the lake shore in front of the mannequin house

Side-yard fence

I built this fence to screen the side-yard between Bill's house and ours, which is full of such useful but homely items as propane tanks, air-conditioning condensers and whole-house backup generators. 

Remaining to be built is a gate, which will be hinged left and swing towards the street. The gate will match the height and style of the main fence panels, left and right of the gate opening. The opening width is 34", more than wide enough for the existing equipment to be removed and replaced, if necessary. The gate posts are set in about a foot of gravel, with another foot of concrete to grade level. The limit on post-depth was the concrete top of the septic tank, 2 feet below grade. The ends of the fence are attached to the concrete masonry walls on each side, using TapCon screws.

The lower panel on the right side of the fence breaks the symmetry of the upper fence panels (which are each 4'x4'), but was necessary because the grade drops sharply to the right. Without the lower panel, cut to fit the grade, our propane tank would have been visible. We will probably plant something climbing, like jasmine or honeysuckle, on that side of the fence.

Update, February 9: Built the gate earlier in the week, at home, then installed it today. Check it out:

Around the house projects

• 12v lighting at boathouse (bridge, stairs).
• Side-yard fence.
• Rail alongside dock at lower landing, boathouse.
• Handrail along inside of entry stairs at house.

To-do list for paddling adventure

• Paddle the portion of the Hiawassee, above Lake Chatuge. This looks like a good warm-weather activity, occupying most of the day. Check TVA gauge for water level from 2.5 to 6.0 feet, Hiawassee at Presley.
• Paddle the Tallulah, from just above Tallulah River campground, to Plum Orchard road (boat ramp). USGS gauge, Tallulah River near Clayton, above 2.45.
• Paddle two easier sections of Chattooga River: West Fork to main river, and SR-28 to Earl's Ford. Refer to on-line gauge (Chattooga River near Clayton).
• Upper Chattooga (section "00") - new rules for limited access.

Tray Mountain hike

Hiked up to the summit, from the gap just south of Tray Mountain, with Don and Carol. Cool (about 40) and very clear, after a week of rain in Northeast Georgia.

Feather frost coming out of the wet ground; sometimes called hoar frost.

George and Carol, at the start of the 1 mile (+600 ft. vertical) trail to summit.

George and Robert, at the summit.

Extreme telephoto shot of the head of Timpson Cove, from the Tray summit.

For the converse view (mountain from boathouse), see our previous post about Tray Mountain.

From the Blue Fish Lodge, take US-76 west to GA-75 south, to Indian Grave Road on the left. Indian Grave fords a small creek in the first quarter mile, then heads uphill to the trailhead for High Shoals and Blue Hole falls. From there it continues to Andrews Cove, then uphill to join with Tray Mountain Road. Go left (north) on Tray Mountain, a mile or two, to the gap trailhead and parking area. The trail to the summit is about a mile, and a 600' elevation gain.

San Diego

Went west to celebrate family friend's wedding in San Diego. Great city, lots of fun.

Botanical Building, Balboa Park

Fountain, Balboa Park

George, on beach at Hotel del Coronado

Mermaid pose, beach at Del Mar

Sunset from wedding reception porch, La Jolla, CA