More Rain in Mills River

Monday morning we woke up to more rain and everything was wet.  After breaking camp, we drove up Wash Creek Road (FR-5000) and parked at Wash Creek Horse Camp.  We were planning to hike North Mills River Trail, but the river was way too high for the numerous crossings.  So we did a short hike on Bear Branch Trail (#328).

For a few moments, it lightened up but then the rain started again.  We hiked back down FR-5001 to make a loop and then took off.

Driving east, we didn't escape the rain until past Greensboro.  Since it was still pretty early, we made a short stop at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve.  We took Robin's Trail to Old Field Bluff Trail and then got on Aphid Alley.

The trail ended back at Old Field Bluff Trail and we followed it through the powerline clearing.  There were a lot of beautiful purple passionflower blooming.

There was some thistle blooming as well.

We then took Bluebird Trail to continue through the clearing back to Robin's Trail.

A left turn along New Hope Creek led back to the car.

New Hope Creek Hikes

Sunday, I went for a couple hikes along New Hope Creek in Orange and Durham Counties.  My first stop was Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, a Triangle Land Conservancy property.  I arrived pretty early and there was still plenty of parking.  Hiking down to the creek, it was pretty dry as we haven't had much rain in a while.

I took Bluebird Trail through an open meadow along a powerline clearing.  There were lots of yellow ironweed flowering in the open area.

I continued on and got on Old Field Bluff Trail and hiked around the rest of the trails.

Finishing up here, I drove to Erwin Road and parked at Hollow Rock Nature Park.  First, I crossed Pickett Road and hiked the Headwaters Loop.  Then, I hiked Hanging Rock Loop down to New Hope Creek.

There was very little water in the creek.  The trail also passed through an open meadow.

Right before the spur, I went out to New Hope Creek Overlook.

Then I hiked under the Erwin Road bridge and into the Korstian Division of Duke Forest.  The New Hope Creek North Trail follows the river upstream.  Almost immediately, there was an old dam along the creek.

The trail stayed close to the creek through a really rocky and scenic section.

Further along, I had to scramble in places along the creek - it was a really fun trail!  Eventually, the trail departed from the creek and climbed up Piney Mountain.

I was able to make loops along the hike back to Hollow Rock and my car.

Johnston Mill & Brumley Forest

Saturday, Sandy and I took Alex to Orange County for a couple hikes on Triangle Land Conservancy preserves.  We first went to Johnston Mill Nature Preserve and parked at the main entrance on Mt. Sinai Road.  Surprisingly, there were quite a few cars here and the small parking area was almost full.  After getting our stuff together, we set out on the red-blazed Robin's Trail.  The trail followed New Hope Creek downstream and there were some nice rocky sections.

There were even some small cascades along the creek.

Where the trail crosses Old Field Creek on a bridge, there was a very interesting tree here.

We continued on Robin's Trail following the creek to the other parking area and then turned back.  Going left on Beech Loop, we then got on Old Field Bluff Trail.  As the name suggests, the trail runs along high bluffs over Old Field Creek.

At the end, we turned back on Robin's Trail to head back towards the car.  On the way back, I spotted some beautiful dwarf crested irises.

Then we finished the hike up back at the car.

It was still pretty early so we continued a little further to the north entrance of Brumley Nature Preserve, parking the old NC-10 parking area.  From here, we hiked the red-blazed Stony Creek Bluff Trail.  Near the start was an old cemetery.

It didn't look maintained and was very overgrown.  The trail soon led to bluffs high above Stony Creek.

At the end, we got on the green-blazed Dairy Farm Trail to make a loop.  The trail passed by a couple of old farm ponds.

At one spot, I spotted some beautiful orange flowers, I think they are poppies.

It was getting a little hot for Alex, so we finished up the loop and then headed back.

For Cinco de Mayo, we went to Leesville Tap Room for fajitas lunch and ate outside so Alex could join us.  He got a little fajita chicken and chips with queso to celebrate.