Appalachian Trail Project in VA – 8/4/13 - Thunder Ridge Overlook to James
River – 13.2 Miles
We parked our two vehicles at the James River and our
shuttle driver crammed us into his too-small vehicle and dropped us back at
Thunder Ridge Overlook high up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Becky had remembered that a party to honor
her 70th birthday was planned for that evening so she and Cathy put
it in high gear to finish the day’s miles and drive back to Charlotte. We said goodbye and off they went. The remaining four of us enjoyed the day,
another 5,000 feet downhill with a couple of uphill bumps along the way.
Photos? Why, yes, I
took a few. I’ll let them do the
talking.
Starry campion
Turk's cap lily
Columbine. I
tried for two days to get a good photo but the slightest breeze, even my own
movements, would set these delicate blooms moving.
At Petites Gap, where the AT crosses a gravel road, leaves
the Thunder Ridge Wilderness and enters the James River Face Wilderness, we
took a short break. Chris made friends
with this fellow, who then peed all over her hands as I took the photo. Chris didn’t even flinch.
Jewelweed thick and shoulder height, making it a challenge
to find the trail
Beaked dodder, also known as love vine because it is a
parasitic plant that wraps its yarn-like stem around other plants. No chlorophyll.
At Marble Spring campsite, while Tamara refilled her water bottles at the spring, Chris and Andy enjoyed the peaceful nature
setting.
Looking back over my shoulder where we just went up and over
Highcock Knob
At Big Cove Branch, coral fungus in orange
And yellow
Yay, Chris finally saw a snake on the AT!
Thanks once again to trail maintainers who make hiking a lot
easier
At last, the mighty James River
On the footbridge across the James, built for hikers and
dedicated to William Foot, a thru-hiker, trail builder and advocate who passed
away in 2000.
“Every moment is a golden one for him who has the
vision to recognize it as such.” ~Henry Miller
No comments:
Post a Comment