After the rain

         Sunday was a rainy day to say the least . Spent the day at my elder son's home enjoying the grandkids . And helping them take naps . 

 

          Monday was forecast to be a nice day with a few clouds so we decided to head back up to check a few places we had bypassed . On our way to Blood Mountain Creek Falls we had to pass Dick's Creek Falls . Yes , the infamous Dick's again . 

        Dick's was running fast and hard making for some fantastic photo ops . Notice I said ''ops''. I'm still new at this photo thing and sometimes , OK most of the time what I think I am capturing isn't always what develops .                                                                                                                                                     

     As we were leaving Dick's an SUV rolled in carrying a couple of kayaks . Of course we didn't think anyone would really kayak here . We headed off to Blood Mountain Creek Falls just a short run down the road after fording Crow Mountain Creek .

    After getting geared up for a short hike up the creek,my first pic came from the bridge crossing the creek .

 

        And the another 10 '- 15'

       According to the directions I had , the left hand side was the route to take . They lied . Less than 20 yards upstream the ''path'' disappeared straight up the mountain into a laurel . So we went back across the little bridge to the parking/camping area and went up the right , and correct side of the creek .  In retrospect  maybe creek left is the same as river left . Oh well ....

      Maybe 100' from the truck was the next set of falls . Giant rocks tumbled into a maze . These boulders are typical of what the name Chattahoochee means , Flowered rocks or painted rocks . These pictures really do not do justice to how beautiful these waterfalls are . You can literally drive any type of car to within an easy 1 to 2 minute walk to view them .

     On the way back out we noticed that the 'yaks had been taken off the SUV . Damn , I bet that was interesting  ! Well lo and behold  as we came around a curve there was a 'yak in the middle of the road and another one poking it's nose up from the steep , overgrown bank . We had to stop and ask how it went .

      We were surprised to see it was the lovely young lady we met at the Walisi-Yi Center last trip . The young man with her had a little bitty kayak and she had an odd looking canoe with full flotation . After turning around we offered them a ride back to the falls . They were going to make another run down the creek and graciously allowed me to take a few pictures . Oh , to be young and adventurous again . Don't believe I would have had the good sense to wear a helmet though .

     I had to make a stop at Byron Reece trailhead again . There was some CCC stone work over Shanty Branch Creek that I hadn't found last time and after some head scratching I figured out where it was  . Kind of looks like either a Troll hole or a Fairy door .

    The parking area wasn't overflowing but it was getting crowded .  The reason I mention this is because as much use as this trailhead gets , these picnic tables didn't look like they saw much use . Odd , considering how pretty and peaceful it was  by the creek .

     We then took 180 east to 348 south or Richard B Russell Scenic Byway . And it is scenic ! We stopped at Hog Pen Gap for a few photos and to water the bushes . 

There was still ice hanging on the rock face from the last cold spell we had  and huge chunks that had fallen to the base of the wall .

    Most of the fall colors are gone or faded but this vista of Lawdamercy Cove was still  nice . And yep, that's the name on the map .

     I read in the Longstreet Highlands Guide that there was an easy , I repeat easy , short cut to the top of  Dukes Creek Falls which is actually on Dodds Creek . That should have rung a bell .  Not only was that a lie , it was a damn lie , not only that ,  it was a damn , boldfaced lie , not only that  , it was also  B. S. You get my drift . 

    In all fairness , there really is a trail . And to be honest , it may be easy if you are young and  in extremely fit condition . Or a mountain goat with low  4 wheel drive feet . Ok , or a damn bird . 

     For old fat guys there should have been a warning sign that said ''Don't even get out of your truck . Just drive on by the trailhead , content that you could hear the falls off in the short distance . ''

    I swear to you that the guide says right there in black and white that the falls are ONLY about 1200' from the road .  Oh , Hell ,Yeah !!!!!  There are about 60'-75' that are actually doable then another 50' or so through a leg breaking tangle of downed trees , then a leaf covered , bobsled of a ghost of a trail down the mountain through a laurel hell . It was so steep and slick I was afraid to let go of the small trees I was clinging to , to  take a picture .

      I stopped just this side of the hell . I could hear the roar of the falls and feel the cool breeze coming off them . Yeah , I know . So close and yet so far away . Boohoo . 

      The gate across Davis Creek was open so of course we forded the creek . One more inch of water and we would have been floating off . Dang crossing was way deeper than it looked . Next time I will have Ron wade across to check the depth . He probably would have gone downstream fast though . Two wheel drive wasn't looking too good today cause we still had to turn around and cross it again to get back But the old Dakota made it through .  We stopped for a photo of Dodds Creek on the way out . Some idjit had spread corn  all around the campsites there . Turned the camping area into a  taco stand for the bears . ( Camper in a sleeping bag or tent . )

      We passed on the Raven Cliffs Falls hike . We will have to make it the focus of a morning trip so we can make the two and a half mile hike up to falls , and more importantly , the two and a half mile hike back to the trailhead . 

     As long as we were in the area we decided to make a couple more easy  stops before calling it a day .  Unicoi Lake is beautiful at any time of the year .

      Stovall Covered bridge was our last stop before heading to Waffle House . 

                                          

                                                  Another good day to be above the dirt .