DITTY'S VIRTUAL HIKE
Shhhhh Don't tell anyone! Come with me and my dear friend Peggy as we head for the mountains on a hot summer day, in search of a shady, cool and secret place where Mother Nature hangs out with her kids
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It's something I do whenever I come here - it's how I log on to the site, so to speak, and a message to anyone who comes there on the same day that I am on the trail. Since the inscription is rock on lichens-coated rock, the mark is gone within a few days sort of a temporary tattoo on Mother Nature's ankle. |
Here's the gateway to a very special place, which shall remain nameless to protect Mother Nature's privacy. Suffice it to say that this lovely spot is in East Tennessee, not far from my home. As we go past the gate, I pick up a small jagged rock and use it to make my mark on the boulder to the right of the gate
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Let's follow Peggy down the trail . One of the first things we notice is the way the exterior decorator has made full use of the color green. Ferns, rhododendrons, poplars, oaks, maples, dogwoods, and birches let a cool dappled light filter through to touch us with golden green rays. As Peggy leads the way, we approach the first crossing one of many we will encounter this day, for this trail follows a wandering creek for miles. Peggy and Lisa (another friend who couldn't be with us today) and I have named this place Copperhead Crossing. Why? Let's just say that once we had a close encounter! Fortunately, it was a toss up as to who was more alarmed the snake or the humans. |
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Through a narrow tunnel of rhododendron forest, we arrive at a lovely spot we call Dragonfly Beach Peaceful, isn't it? |
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Moving on, we come to an open field and find ourselves waist high in wildflowers .ironweed and purple thistle. Once there must have been a homestead up here, although there are no signs of buildings now Just an open meadow, occupied by birds and insects . |
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Past the pond, beyond the apple tree let's move on through the path brushing our fingers through fragrant ferns to |
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where we come to Deer Track Crossing located near Snail Beach where Peggy and I once spent an afternoon watching snails in the water |
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Hmmm getting thirsty? Let's stop for a while Pull up a log Take a load off your feet And join Peggy for a cool drink Maybe just listen Rested now? Let's move on up the trail |
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Let's rest a bit with Peggy We have a bit of a climb ahead But it's worth every huff and puff
'cause it leads us up to |
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Catwoman Falls Ok. Use your imagination here. Try to see the profile in the large rock in the upper right corner. Can you see her nose, her slanted eyes, her feline jowls? The waterfall is very high, and crashes down into a narrow gorge We can sit up here a while Maybe eat a nectarine Look down See the view that Catwoman sees every day |
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Climbing up again arriving at Power Point upstream, we see a gentle, quiet space, sheltered from the direct sunlight with overhanging branches of many trees and vines, quiet quiet stand silently in the water lean over and let your hands drift with the current feel her strength and power |
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Look downstream from Power Point The current suddenly boils and crashes in Mother Nature's jacuzzi Get wet I dare ya! |
Well, it seems that we've spent the whole day on our adventure. Gee, it didn't seem that long, did it? And we didn't even get to visit another whole branch of this area we call the Sacred Clown' s Spot
Maybe next time?
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