Travel Journal - Ledge Creek Trail #1 - The Pond

 

Travel Journal - Last of the sketches -- Ledge Creek Trail #1 - The pond. I always find it a bit sad to end a trip, and this one, in particular had so many highlights, it was especially difficult to head back home for doctor appointments .... Looking back on my journal, though, brings back so many terrific memories, that I am ever grateful for taking (or finding, or making) the time to write and sketch along the journey ...

Travel Journal - Ledge Creek Trail

Travel Journal - The end of our trip meant we headed to North Carolina and a quick visit with my son. As we waited for him to get home from work, we took a 'new to us' trail in Stem. This trail - #1, was newly added after we left Oxford. We loved the hike and enjoyed the view of this parcel of land from another side of the property.

 

Travel Journal - Virginia Creeper Trail

Travel Journal - LOVED seeing and crossing the train trestles on the Virginia Creeper Trail ...

 

Travel Journal - Virginia Creeper Trail

Travel Journal - We are considering taking a fall bike trek through the Virginia Creeper Trail, so decided to follow the road along the trail, stopping for short hikes from various points ..

 

Travel Journal - Cades Cove, TN

Travel Journal - While in the Great Smoky Mountains, we took the drive around Cades Cove -- A beautiful, bucolic area of former farms, fields, an old mill, and more ....

 

Travel Journal - Cataract Falls

Travel Journal - While in TN, we visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We got our "National Park" stamp, then hiked the short trail to Cataract Falls.

 

Travel Journal - Tennessee

Travel Journal - We were camped at Chester Frost Park in TN, and decided to hike around the two islands the park occupied. It was a lovely campground bordered by Dallas Bay and the Chickamauga Lake.

The following day, decided to hike the Greenway Farm Trail - lots of steep hills and rocks, but found the really lovely quarry midway thru the hike.

 

Travel Journal - Rock City Gardens, GA

Travel Journal - Rock City Gardens, GA - The pathway through the gardens is mostly rock - and most often, surrounded by boulders interspersed by flowers, trees, and other flora that softens the view. Gentle music plays throughout the garden and lights of all kinds give the walk and views a hint of mystery as well as majesty ...

 

Travel Journal - TN / GA

Travel Journal - Rock City - TN/GA - After leaving Alabama, we entered Tennessee. Traveling thru South and North Carolina years ago, we always saw signs on barns and roadways stating "See Rock City." Before now, never thought to even look up what that was -- but since we were in the area and we just left a preserve of boulders, we thought we would check out "Rock City."

In Chattanooga, we took a ride on the "Incline Railway" up Lookout Mountain .... The seats on the train were cantered so that while we vertically ascended the mountain for this one mile trip, we remained upright in our seats. Quite a view - and a bit unnerving to be on such an angle! We had a gorgeous view over the mountain range!

After that, we decided to find the Rock City Arboretum -- or, according to the signs - see Rock City. This part of the mountain was located in Georgia - apparently the mountain is claimed by Georgia and Tennessee.

But oh - how AWESOME was that garden!!! Boulders, waterfalls, streams, trees, plants, a fairy garden with lights, music, replicas of Mother Goose tales, stunning views of 7 states, one of the most beautiful and breath taking gardens I have ever seen!

The pathway was one-way and the day we visited was rather crowded so it was hard to linger ... but this was certainly one of this trips highlights.

 

Travel Journal - Moss Rock Preserve, Alabama

Travel Journal - As we walked one of the trails at Moss Rock Preserve, we heard more water. This time, the waterfall was down a narrow, poison ivy strewn trail ... Charles braved the trail to make it down to the falls -- well worth the risk and thankfully, no poison ivy!

 

Travel Journal - More from Moss Rock Preserve, AL

Travel Journal - More from Moss Creek Preserve - After working our way around all the boulders -- such fun!! We heard water and followed the sounds up the trail, over more boulders to the waterfall --- a beautiful sight!

 

Travel Journal - Moss Creek Preserve, AL

Travel Journal - While in Alabama, we hiked the incredibly beautiful trails at Moss Creek Preserve. I LOVED the boulders, creeks and waterfalls ---

 

Travel Journal - Tannehill Ironworks, Alabama

 

Travel Journal - As we continued exploring Tannehill Ironworks, we worked our way to the Grist Mill and the waterfall. The mill was closed, but we were able to get a bit closer to the waterfall ...

Travel Journal - Tannehill Ironworks - McCalla, Alabama

Travel Journal - More from Tannehill Ironworks - The foundry

 

Travel Journal - Tannehill Ironworks, Alabama

Travel Journal - We continued our roadtrip through Alabama and took in another stops we had planned to make earlier this year - Tannehill Iron Works, McCalla, Alabama. This state park was once a major supplier of iron during the Civil War. Unfortunately, the Museum was closed during our visit, but we were able to see many of the outbuildings which included several log homes that we samples of the period.

 

Travel Journal - Providence Canyon, GA

Travel Journal - Another canyon view from Providence Canyon, GA

 

Travel Journal - Another Canyon from Providence Canyon, GA

 

Travel Journal - Providence Canyon, Georgia

Travel Journal - Another canyon from Providence Canyon, Georgia. What I loved about these canyons is the way the trees softened the view. According to the literature, these canyons were formed recently - all due to poor farming practices during the 1800s, causing run-off and erosion.

 

Travel Journal - Providence Canyon, Georgia

 

Travel Journal - After leaving Adamson Oaks, we headed to our campsite, Bluff Creek Campground, across the Chattahoochee River that divides Georgia and Alabama. A really lovely campground that also gave us a chance to walk around this island ....

Camping here was a 'time-challenge.' Our cell phones pinged off towers in Alabama, thus reading Central Daylight Time, while many of the area sites we visited, operated on EASTERN daylight time. So it was always a question of 'what time is it -- and where' to decide if we were on time for a museum or site being open ... lol

But we were here for one of the highlights of our trip - Providence Canyon - across the river in Georgia.

Before planning this trip, I never hear of Providence Canyon. But it was reputed to be 'the little Grand Canyon' of Georgia. We had planned to visit it during our travels west, but since that trip was canceled due to Covid, we decided to make Providence Canyon a stop THIS trip.

AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED!!! WHAT A TREASURE!! Canyons, bluffs, rocks, colors -- WOWZA! We were able to hike all 9 canyons .... from along the wet canyon floor ... and then hike the rim for awesome view INTO the canyons! Absolutely LOVED this place.

Travel Journal - Adamson Oaks

Travel Journal - On the way to Alabama, we had an overnight stay at Adamson Oaks, Glennville, GA. This alpaca farm also boasted sheep, chickens, donkeys, horses, dogs and cats --- We went on the farm tour and visited their gift shop. We came away with pecan flour, muscadine jelly, and cane syrup. WE parked the motorhome under one of the pecan trees in acres of pecan trees.