Hikes

Looking Back – YE Travels Ormond Beach to Pasadena #4 – On the Road in NC

On the 27th we started our drive across country utilizing our preferred routing – off the interstates. We enjoyed the back roads of NC, a walk around the NC Zoo grounds to breakup the drive, a stop in Wilkesboro NC for lunch and a hike along The Cascades Falls Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wilkesboro is also the home of the legend of Tom Dooley (http://visitwilkesboronc.com/2013/05/23/the-tom-dooley-mystery/) – you should check it out — lunch at Dooleys Grill and Tavern was fantastic with sandwiches big enough for lunch and dinner.

Back Roads North Carolina

Cascades Falls Trail

April 7, 2020 2

Hiking Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area

You will see a remarkable number of different Florida landscapes here, with elevations ranging from five feet above mean sea level at points along Black Creek to 90 feet above mean sea level on the sandhills. Some areas within the conservation area are classified as being imperiled in Florida because of their rarity and vulnerability to natural or man-made factors. Consisting primarily of pine flatwoods, sandhills and wetlands, this property’s most distinctive characteristics are the seepage slopes and steep ravines that result from a series of naturally eroding seepage streams. These sensitive ecosystems support a wide variety of native aquatic and wetland-dependent species. About 2.7 miles of the south shore of Black Creek is protected to maintain the important recharge functions of the upland sandhill community.

One of the special highlights of this property is its ravine system, which is almost a mile in length and almost 95 feet deep. Ravines are created when an underground soil layer, typically comprised of dense clay, prevents rainwater from percolating downward through the soil layers and into the water table and instead forces the water to move laterally across the landscape, creating natural erosion that begins as a small gully and over time grows into a large ravine. Additionally, one of the features not to be missed at Black Creek Ravines is the spectacular overlook of Black Creek. The bluff stands almost 30 feet above the creek, an elevation rarely seen in Florida and provides a breath-taking view of the creek.

November 26, 2019 2

Day 2

Early morning hike along the High Shoals Trail passing Blue Hole Falls and ending at Shoals Falls. This 2.4 mile trail was well marked and described at the trail head except for one important point -a bridge over the stream to the falls was out. It was a quick wake-up fording the stream – glad I wasn’t doing it in the spring.

Moving on to Brasstown Bald which is the highest point in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located in northeast Georgia, the mountain is known to the native Cherokee people as Enotah. The bald is 4783 feet above sea level. You could hike from the parking lot to the bald but after doing the High Shoals Trail I opted for the parks shuttle bus — but I did hike down to my car.

My next stop was Anna Ruby Falls. Anna Ruby Falls is a pair of beautiful waterfalls, cascading in tandem through a beautiful slice of North Georgia forest. The twin waterfalls spill from a towering cliff in wispy white tendrils before splashing and pooling over mossy boulders.

The final hike of the day was Dukes Creek Trail a moderate 2 miles out and back through a beautiful, mountain stream-filled forest in Georgia just north of Helen. The trail descends alongside a shallow, mossy stream, hiking to several large, cascading waterfalls that tumble at the convergence of Davis Creek and Dukes Creek. At trails end the main attraction is a multi-tiered, 150-foot-tall drop of Dukes Creek Falls.

High Shoals Trail

Brasstown Bald

Anna Ruby Falls

Dukes Creek Falls

Day 3

Awoke to a light rain so I donned rain gear and headed out. First stop was Helton Creek Falls. Helton Creek Falls cascades in a set of two waterfalls, sliding down a beautiful, hemlock-

filled creek valley. Getting there was half the fun – fording two streams and hoping the Rouge

was going to make it.

The weather went down hills as I headed to Amicalola Falls. Amicalola Falls is a 729-foot waterfall on Amicalola Creek in Dawson County, Georgia. It the highest waterfall in Georgia and is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. The name “Amicalola” is derived from a Cherokee language word meaning “tumbling waters”.

Too bad I didn’t make it — the rains were so heavy I need to pull off the winding mountain roads because the wipe couldn’t clear the windshield. When I arrived at the park the ranger didn’t advise hiking to the falls — so I headed south to Ormond Beach — but is was a fun trip. You can check out Amicalola here:https://www.atlantatrails.com/amicalola-falls

Helton Creek Falls

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 25 – Italy – The Chianti Region

Our first real rainy day in 25 but it didn’t stop us from driving around the area stopping for tastings and checking out the city centers. Our stops included:

– Castellina – Radda – Gaiole – Greve – home of Verrazano – Panzano

September 29, 2019 0

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 19 – VF Sunrise hike, Vulture feeding – travel to Botswana & Sunset Game Viewing Cruise on Chobe River

Early wake-up and bus to Victoria Falls for a Sunrise hike to see the suns magic on the falls along with the possibility to see rainbows. Back to our lodge for the 1:00 vulture feeding (these birds are near extinction because of limited natural food). Then on to Botswana and an evening game cruise. A 2 hour + cruise along the Chobe River watching the wild animals return to the river for their evening drink.

September 21, 2019 2

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 18 – Mosi-oa-tunya (Victoria Falls)

Packed day today – starting with a 2 mile walk along the falls eastern bank. Then a walk with 9 mo old lions followed by a rollicking dinner & drum show.

The falls are running at their low water flow mark (spring rains have not arrived yet) but still the amount of water generates a heavy mist. Our guide tells us when flowing at full force the best view is from a helicopter.

Continuing our packed day – we went to a lion rehabilitation reserve for a stroll with 2 – 9 month old cubs then rushed to a dinner show where we were given some African garb and were treated to the tastes of Africa. Grilled lamb, impala, guinea hen, crock, kudu and wort hog. Everyone received a drum and tried to play with the group. A face painter was painting African animals on faces but he screwed up when he came to me.

September 21, 2019 0

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 13 – eSwatini to Kruger National Park

Another long travel day today with a couple of stops to break up the trek. This morning we stopped at the Ngwenya glass factory for a tour of the production facility ( they only use recycled glass) and another way to back stop the eSwatini economy. A few hours later we again crossed the boarder back into South Africa (eSwatini (Swaziland) is land locked with in South Africa and is a one man monarchy). We stopped at the Matsamo Cultural Village to learn about Swazi traditions, customs and an African lunch. The onto Hazyview South Africa the door step to Kruger. Up an at them at 4:45 tomorrow and an 8 hour game drive (3 down & 2 to go).

September 12, 2019 0

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 6,7,8 – Cape Town

On our 6th day we flew to Amsterdam, the 7th from Amsterdam to Cape Town and here on the 8th our first day in Cape Town. In the AM we meet out tour group and then bused to Table Mountain over looking the city – we traveled by cable car to the top of the mountain at 3300 ft above the city. Interesting cable car which help 65 people and the floor rotated so everyone got a complete view of the trip. The mountain top was at one time a sea floor bed and was raise by igneous and glacial action 529 million years ago. Table Mountain is at least 6 times older then the Himalayas making it one of the oldest mountains in the world. After a brief driving tour to see the the mountain from sea level we headed to Victoria and Alfred Waterfront a major mall and dining area multiples the size of Baltimore’s inner harbor. After lunch at a local brewery we headed back to hotel for a much needed nap to recover from jet lag. A group dinner tonight at a elegant restaurant Beluga (https://beluga.co.za ) and a fine meal.

Off to the Cape of Good Hope tomorrow.

September 6, 2019 2

2019 Europe & Africa Trip – Day 5 – Malaga Second Day

We returned to Malaga to visit the Picasso Museum and the Alcazaba de Malaga. I thought that by visiting the museum I would finally understand the thinking behind Picasso’s drawings, painting and sculptures – not so – the so called experts talking about Picasso’s works seemed to be providing their views and not any real insight into Picasso’s. No pic’s here cameras restricted.

The Museo Picasso Málaga is a museum in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain, the city where artist Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born. It opened in 2003 in the Buenavista Palace, and has 285 works donated by members of Picasso’s family. (see https://www.museopicassomalaga.org/ for more info).

Alcazaba de Malaga

Constructed on the ruins of a Roman fortification during the reign of Abd-al-Rahman I, the first Emir of Cordoba, in around 756-780AD, the Alcazaba’s original purpose was as a defense against pirates, thanks its commanding position with views over the city, down to the sea and across to Africa. The fortress was rebuilt by the Sultan of Granada, Badis Al-Ziri, from 1057-1063AD, while the fortified double walls that connect the Alcazaba to the neighbouring Castillo de Gibralfaro, over the Coracha ridge, were built by the Nasrid ruler Yusuf I in the 14th century, when most of the inner palace was also refurbished. As a palace, it was home to a number of Moorish rulers. For more info: http://www.malagaturismo.com/es/recursos-turisticos/detalle/alcazaba/6

Our Spanish adventure ends tomorrow – we fly to Amsterdam, spend the night and fly to Cape Town on Thursday — see you then.

BTW – the colors on the Cathedral were much different this morning then on our last afternoon visit.