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.

Rainy Hike at Graveyard Fields

Sunday morning, we woke up to more rain, though it was light, but the river was getting higher.

We got breakfast then headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to Black Balsam Road and parked at the trailhead for Art Loeb and Mountains-to-Sea Trail.  As we started hiking, the rain got harder and harder.  Alex had difficulty on the slippery bridges over the headwaters of Yellowstone Prong.  When we reached Graveyard Ridge Trail, we decided to call it quits and take a shortcut back.  Crossing Yellowstone Prong at Skinny Dip Falls would be impossible.  We took Graveyard Ridge Trail and Connector to return to the Graveyard Fields parking lot and walked the parkway back to the car.  We'll have to return in lower water for Alex to complete this hike.

From here, we drove down the mountain to Mills River Brewing and had dinner and drinks here.  There were many dogs here and Alex made a few new friends.  There was a short break in the rain during the evening and we were able to build a fire, but soon it started again and rained relentlessly for the rest of the evening.

Waterrock Knob MST Hike

Saturday, we took Alex to the mountains for a rainy Labor Day weekend.  We drove past Asheville and Waynesville and got on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Our first stop was a quick one at View Wesner Bald.

The sky was really beautiful.  Then we continued on to Waterrock Knob so Alex could complete another hike for #mst40hikes.

It was very cloudy when we arrived.  We took the Waterrock Knob trail nearly to the top, then took an unofficial trail that led to Browning Knob.  Near the summit of this subpeak, another path led a short ways down to an old plane crash from the 1980s.

Due to weather and alcohol, the small plane crashed, killing the occupants and the terrain is too rough to completely remove the wreckage.

Although cloudy, the area around the plane crash was really beautiful.  I spotted a cute orange amanita mushroom.

Lots of ferns and moss gave the forest an ethereal feel.

After a break here, we headed back to Waterrock Knob.  The clouds were clearing, but still no view up here.

So we continued down the mountain.

The overlook at the end of the paved trail had real nice views now.

Some yellow jewelweed was flowering.

Where the MST split to go westbound, I walked a couple hundred feet to a nice overlook.

Then we continued back down to the parking area where the skies had cleared to reveal beautiful views.

We sat at a picnic table for lunch.

After lunch, we headed eastbound on MST for Alex's hike.

There were more wildflowers blooming along the trail, including some interesting pink turtlehead.

The trail had a number of openings with nice views of the parkway and surrounding mountains.

Sandy spotted a bumblebee collecting nectar from some type of flower.

We also found a huge patch of honey mushrooms growing on a tree.

Near the end, the trail passed a small tributary of North Fork Scott Creek.

The turnaround point for our hike was just across the street at Fork Ridge Overlook.

From here, we hiked back to the visitor center.

We headed northbound on the parkway, making a few stops along the way.  First was View Mount Lyn Lowry.

There was too much foliage for a view of Woodfin Cascades.  We next stopped at the Orchards Overlook.

There was too much foliage to actually see the orchards below, we did see a lot of thistle flowering.

Continuing on, we made another stop at View Village of Saunook, but again too much foliage to see the village.

Finally, we made one last stop at Caney Fork Overlook.

The view was pretty nice and the road passes by a cool cliff at the overlook.

From here, we went into town and got take-out from Hawg Wild to eat at Ecusta Brewing.  Then we headed to North Mills River Campground to set up camp for the evening.

Cliffs of the Neuse

Sunday, Sandy had to work and I wanted to get out of Raleigh so I headed to Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Goldsboro for a hike.  I parked at the overlook with a nice view atop the cliffs.

Then I started hiking down 350 Yard-Trail that led down to river level where some folks were fishing.

Sunlight was clearing the morning fog from the river.  At this point, Mill Creek flows into Neuse River and there is a little cypress swamp at the confluence.  Unusual to see right next to towering cliffs.

The trail ended at the start of Bird Trail where there was a small but scenic cascade on Still Creek.

Bird Trail led out to more nice views of the cliffs.

Where it connected to Galax Trail, I added that loop on as well.  A spur led out to the lake and Lake Trail.

I took Lake Trail back to the visitor center and then got on Longleaf Trail.

Old Wagon Path is a new trail since my last visit that connects Longleaf Trail to the overlook parking.

After hiking the new trail, I took Longleaf Trail to the end and then followed Sand Path towards the group camping sites.

Spanish Moss Trail would complete the loop back at the parking area.  There was another cypress swamp in the floodplain before climbing back up to the parking area.

I finished up Spanish Moss Trail back at the overlook parking.

It was still before noon, so I made another stop at Old Waynesborough Park.  After parking, I got on the combined trail loop trail to hike through the park.  The trail led as far as Little River near the confluence.

Then the trail looped back around following the shoreline of Neuse River.  The noise of ATVs was coming from Busco Beach across the river.  Finishing up the main loop, I got on the Red Loop.

Then I hiked through the historical village.

After finishing my hike, I started making my way home.