photo credit: Otto Afanador
On the drive to Jonestown Road for the carpool, I ended up having to get off the highway due to a "D TOUR" as the electronic sign read. Since I was headed to hike at Doughton Park, I found the D Tour an appropriate name for today.
photo credit: Otto Afanador
Its the 16.6 mile loop of Doughton Park once again! Today's route begins from Longbottom Road up Flat Rock Trail and down Cedar Ridge Trail. It was cold but I was perspiring within 10 minutes.
photo credit: Otto Afanador
photo credit: Otto Afanador
Our group of 10 became 11 at the old AT shelter on Bluff Mountain. While spending lunchtime here, the subject of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian trail was discussed. Of course the AT predated the BRP. When the parkway was built, the AT was moved to the west side.
Doughton Park is the largest park within the Blue Ridge Parkway system. It was created in the 1930's and called "The Bluffs" until the 50s, when it became "Doughton Park" in honor of Robert Lee (Bob) Doughton, a NC Congressman from 1911 until 1953. Bob Doughton was from local Laurel Springs and maintained a home there for his entire life.
In the last half hour, I spotted some Oyster Mushrooms growing on a dead tree. I grabbed a few and stowed them in my pack. Once home, I cleaned and prepared them. If you saute them in oil until all the moisture has been cooked off, they are ready to eat. I mixed them with some wild rice and wild onion and garlic growing in the yard.
Oyster mushrooms have been cultivated since the 1940s. They are one of the most widely available mushrooms in the world.
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