March 30 Deep River Paddle

Water level low-1.65. Temperatures nice in the am and a spring shower. An earlier start for a day that would touch 80 later. Canadas were squawking at the put in. We saw them all day including one we pushed for several miles before turning back. I suspect it was incapable of flying. Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons and wood ducks all came out in numbers. We also spotted a barred owl which frightened the daylights out of a squirrel.

At the rapid where the powerline crosses we spotted a raccoon making its way across the river. It stopped on an island and as we approached, scurried up a fallen log. I noticed it was hollow. As the critter entered it made a commotion. I thought perhaps the log was already occupied. There was a knot hole about 5 feet from the open end. I could see the raccoon eyeing me through the hole.

A bit further along we saw a small otter making its way along the side of the river until it noticed us.

We made the obligatory stop on the island before the back water. It was there I saw an active beaver lodge.

Four hours from meet up in Coleridge to final shuttle.

March 21 Uwharrie Morels

15 today!

March 20 Uwharrie Float

Here is a shot of the work going on at low water bridge. Cement is being poured today. A staircase leads from the new parking area and a cement boat launch is in place. there will a boat launch both upriver and downriver of the bridge.

We got an early start today, about 9:15 in the water. Temperatures were to heat up so we tried to avoid the afternoon sun. We saw the usual suspects, Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Belted kingfishers, a Red Tail Hawk, a couple Pilated Woodpeckers and tales of the Ivory billed. My paddling partner told the story of a fellow birder in the Raeford area of North Carolina. Over 30 years ago, this experienced birder saw what he believed to be Ivory Billed Woodpeckers. He logged the sighting. Just this year, a researcher from Cornell contacted him to describe the sighting. This researcher is trying to establish which sighting were credible. The interview is set up for next week. Some follow up, 30+ years ago, revealed trees torn up as Ivory billed woodpeckers were known to have done. No chance I'll ever see one.

Common Blue Violets here among Carolina Blue Slate at our favorite lunch stop.

Some one help me out here. Are these red bellied turtles?

March 16 Eagle Spur Bicycle Ride

Eagle Spur Trail is a short 2.2 mile trail in the Jordan Lake area. So close, less than a mile from the American Tobacco trail, I thought it would make a nice addition to regular ATT rides. It was raining on and off but I checked it out nonetheless. You park on relatively busy Stagecoach Road and ride by the locked gate. It is quite obvious this was once a rail bed. 

With only a few roots and a short sandy spot, you're at the lake in no time. Since the rail bed was raised up, it extends out into the lake for about 100 yards. This is a nice bird spotting location. I saw cormorants, ducks, Canadas and heard a pair of Barred Owls calling.

If you click on the very top photo here, you might spot the black snake crossing the trail.

Both sides of the trail were littered with upland pools. I suspect this is perfect breeding ground for pesky mosquitoes. Today there was also a nice compliment of Spring Beauties out there.

March 10 Linville Gorge Hike

Today's 8 mile hike in Linville Gorge was led by Ben Harris. We entered the wilderness on the Pine Gap Trail and then connected to the Linville River Trail and exited on the Conley Cove Trail.

The travel time from Pine Gap to Babel Tower is quite slow for a trail - perhaps just one mile per hour. We saw many folks enjoying the day. Some were backpacking and some were just day hiking. It looked like most of the campsites would be taken this evening. OF course they are all great campsites.

Almost everyone had a great time. An leg injury did slow one of the group down. However, the group stayed together all day until the final 1 mile climb out of the gorge.

We have John D Rockefeller to thank for today's hike. It was his money that purchased the privately owned gorge and gave it to the US Govt.  The trail follows the river as best it can. There are great ledges and crags, waterfalls and seemingly impassable rapids. When viewed from a distance it is easy to pick out the distinctive peaks - Table Rock and Hawksbill. In the gorge, they are just as scenic.

SILVER COMET - 80 miles today

My plan is to make it to Dallas, Ga and stay at a B&B tonight. As the day progresses, I manage to make it all the way back to Atlanta area. Starting out in Piedmont, you quickly enter flat "piedmont" type land with mountains in the foreground. Eventually, you're in the mountains. The railroad followed the easiest route it could and it didn't seem steep ever. Above, I'm in a rock cut as the trail makes its way through the mountains. the long distance Pinoti Trail passes through here as well.

I manage to make good time on the trail, breezing through Cedartown late morning. I make it to Rockmart by noon and park right downtown to find some lunch. I am directed by a friendly hairdresser to go in the backdoor or a business and come out the other side, go two door to the right and into a quilt making shop which serves food. I sheepishly explain to the hairdressers in the storefront I walk through, someone gave me directions to go through here. I find the quilt place and have beef tips with cooked cabbage, crowder peas, cornbread and some kind of pie. Interesting meal but country cooking is not a favorite of mine. Lots of locals liked it though.

Heading on, I realize I may be able to make it all the way back to my car at the La Quinta. The miles roll by. I pass Dallas and never even look for where the B&B might be. I'm determined now to make it. After 60 miles it get tough. I struggle to find a cadence which works.

Lots of blooms along the trail. It is an early spring everywhere in the east this year.

The memorial below is for Jennifer Ewing, a 53 year old mother of three who was raped and murdered near that spot in 2006. Her attacker, Michael Ledford was convicted in 2009 of the crime. She died a slow and painful death lying in kudzu after a severe beating. For years, bicyclists would toss water bottles at the spot. that practice is now discouraged.

It was a long day and the final 3 miles of the connector trail were difficult. I rode 78.8 miles but have been officially rounding it up to 80 miles.

SILVER COMET & CHIEF LADIGA - Cedartown to Piedmont

After a quick breakfast, I'm again on the trail by 7:20am. On the way out of town, I stop by this peaceful creek for a few minutes. Then it is a short 10 mile ride to the stateline. Crossing into Alabama is a big deal. One trail ends and another begins. There is an arch over the trail and welcome signs in marble on the trail. It does appear to be a high point, so once you pass through the arch, there is a slight downhill ride to catch your breath. Here we approach the arch.

Once in Alabama, the scenery is more rural and mountains appear. The trail crosses the same river a number of times. There are pastures with mountains as backdrops and rivers and swamps next to the trail. I pass one area that is being developed as a camp alongside the trail. Piedmont arrives 15 miles from the stateline. there is a visitor center. the two fellows manning it are friendly and offer coffee. It is hard to leave as one guy wants to relive Andy Griffith times. I'm from North Carolina so the Mayberry stuff rolls on and on. 

It is another 15 miles to the college town of Jacksonville where I find a calorie laden Reuben with fries. The corned beef was made on the premises and quite good. I push on to Weaver just outside Anniston and turn around for the ride back. I decide I need to make it back to Piedmont for a nice 62 mile day. I roll into town mid afternoon and find the new Key West Motel. At $52 a night, another bargain. There is a grocery store nearby and a Mexican restaurant. Neither was really worth the walk. Back at the motel, I see Chris, the double cross guy. We speak for a few minutes. Now we are headed in opposite directions and I wish him well on his 7 month tour.

March 5 SILVER COMET Atlanta to Cedartown

Wind gusts to 35mph forecast for the day. Tornadoes came through a couple days earlier. I feel lucky warm temperatures and no rain are predicted for the next 4 days. Even better, the La Quinta I spent the night in, right off I-285 in Atlanta, is allowing me to leave my car right outside their front door for 3 days while I bicycle. I accessed their computer to find the best route to the Silver Comet trail head. After finding a route, I realize the Silver Comet Connector Trail passes by on the sidewalk out front. So I'm all set and start pedaling at 7:20am. The connector trail follows sidewalks all the way to the Silver Comet Trail, just 3 miles away. You do need to stop at the road crossings and wait for the pedestrian light since there is an endless line of commuter traffic at this hour.

Shortly I'm at the Silver Comet trailhead. My 4 day plan is to ride to Anniston and back. I have options on where to stay depending on how I feel. I broke the two trails down and looked at them as one continuous trail. The Silver Comet mileage starts at 0 outside Atlanta and ends at about 62 at the Alabama state line. At that point the Chief Ladiga Trail starts at mile 0 and end at mile 34 near Anniston. This made mileage between points state to state difficult. So I continued the Silver Comet mileage method after crossing the state line. The places I was most interested in knowing mileage, were the towns with motels and places to get food. They broke down like this:

Start of Silver Comet Trail                                                                                      Mile 

                    Several motels located about 3 miles away, lots of restaurants        0

Hiram  -  A couple motels and restaurants                                                              15

Dallas  -  Bed & Breakfast and a couple restaurants                                               20

Rockmart - Two motels and restaurants                                                                  38

Cedartown - Two motels and many restaurants, Kroger, Visitor Center                   52

Piedmont - One motel and a few restaurants, Visitor Center                                76

Jacksonville - One motels and a couple restaurants                                              87

Anniston / Weaver - A 5 mile road ride to a motel and a few restaurants              94

Riding further away from Atlanta the scenery gradually gives way to a more rural one but it takes a good 20= miles to realize this. It is just beyond here I encounter some tornado damage on the trail. A number of trees had fallen onto and been cut off of the trail. When I saw a large section of metal roofing wrapped on a tree, I knew this had to a tornado wind. You can see some of the damage in the photo below.

As I sat eating my lunch in a park in Rockmart, a fellow bicyclist approached and asked about my trip. Chris Zacho was dressed in red and riding a purple bike or maybe it was the other way around. He did have a feather glued to his red helmet. His ride was from SC to the west coast and back. You can find him on the internet - the great American double cross.

Leaving Rockmart the trail deviates from the old rail bed. It becomes quite hilly and a bit of a challenge for someone accustomed to the gentle rail grades. It is that way about the entire way to Cedartown. The town of Cedartown has a visitors center in an old rail station. The town appears to be the largest along the trail. The very helpful greeter at the visitor center called the two local motels inquiring of room rates for me. The Holiday Inn Express at $92 was more than double the $45 Country Hearth Inn wanted. My room at Country Hearth was very nice. Zorba's Italian Restaurant was closest, so that is where I ate. I thought Zorba was Greek?