Laurel Bluff trail runs along Eno's south side. Near the Pleasant Green access, the trail is near enough to I-85 that there is a constant traffic din to be heard. This is also the area of the Eno quarry and Cabe lands. There are many signs of early American presence here. The John Cabe homesite, mill site with race and cemetery can be found just to the east of the quarry. The Bacon Quarry appears to be an early to mid 20th century enterprise. It has filled with water, as many quarries do. There is a high pile of quarried rock by the river and some flat landscaped land nearby.
Walking around the quarry pond is along a narrow berm of dirt and rocks on the east side right next to a small creek.
The John Cabe Family Cemetery is nearby. There appear to be many graves here but only about a dozen are marked. I'm told this dates to 1808.
Bloodroot
Trout Lilies
Cole Mill area
I passed through two mills along this hike, Cole mill and Cabe Mill. The Cabe Mill had a long race, several hundred yards long. It terminated at the ruins of the mill. All four stone sides were still standing. It appears to have been an undershot waterwheel. Water enters the wheel in its lower half. There was an outlet in the wall facing the river for the water to head back home.
Grind wheel at Cole Mill
Homesites seem required to have daffodils. Narcissus, jonquils, lent lilies or daffodils, take your pick. Every one I saw today at about a dozen spots was the same small yellow trumpet variety.
Hunting lodge
In 1930 Samuel Sparger bought 48 acres and this hunting lodge. The chimney is constructed of quartz rock, although the firebox is free of any quartz. Searching in the area, I could not find any trace of an old road leading to this lodge.
Ruins of Cabe Mill built 1779
Hepatica
Race to Cabe Mill
Narrow pathway along the quarry.
The Bacon Quarry pond. It's 80 feet deep.
Pile of quarry rocks
The Bamboo forest
Bamboo is in the grass family and this seemed like walking at the base of a giant lawn.
Spring box by the Bamboo forest
Ruins at Pleasant Green
This area was a hydroelectric powerplant here. The dam was removed 2005.
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