On Sunday, we headed to Buck's Pocket for the day hike we planned to do on our camping trip that did not happen. April already and I have been in my camper only to clean it, fix it or stock it since last June. : (
Between our really tight budget and gas going up and other things needing to be taken care of, it just has not worked out yet. But, it will. And, in the meantime, we have had some wonderful days together hiking and exploring.
We let Jake sit this one out. The pollen count was 11.5 out of 12 and he is already taking 3 different medications just to breathe, plus he has a nasty poison oak rash in his armpit. I could not see making him wear a day pack on that. Not just to all go hiking together.
At the trailhead, Matt sets the GPS to track our hike.
The butterflies were out en masse, drinking from the damp sand. Pretty sure this sand was damp from horse pee, which actually provides them with salts and other minerals they need. Even if it's a little gross to think of nectar-sipping 'flying flowers' guzzling down some urine.
Chan checking out her new hiking shoes. We bought hikers for her and Ben on Friday, and I wore my new ankle boots, so we all stopped often to adjust things and check for hot spots.
The first mile and a half of the trail follows the road to the primitive campground, it's rutted and rough in sections, but passable in a truck-as many passed us coming and going.
The trail follows a tumbling and wide creek with pockets of still, deep water until it opens out into this inlet of Guntersville Lake. The trail keeps going another mile and a half past the campground to Morgan's Cove. That section is very steep and rutted and we thought totally impassable, buy sure enough-some idiot on a 4-wheeler was pushing along, stopping every minute or two to navigate yet another fallen log.
Upon looking at a map I found AFTER the hike, I think we were on someone else's property and not on the hiking trail at all. It seems to follow the lake much more closely and not have the climb we did, it also says it's yellow blazed. I never saw a single blaze. oops! I wonder if the idiot on the 4 wheeler thought 'great, there's another idiot with a daypack in my woods.'
Upon looking at a map I found AFTER the hike, I think we were on someone else's property and not on the hiking trail at all. It seems to follow the lake much more closely and not have the climb we did, it also says it's yellow blazed. I never saw a single blaze. oops! I wonder if the idiot on the 4 wheeler thought 'great, there's another idiot with a daypack in my woods.'
The primitive campground is right on the lake. There are many wide, flat places and the bank is accessible for a good 1/4 mile or more. There is a rope swing out over the water and one that goes out over a low hill, we all took a turn.
The water is not very deep by the campground and we decided if we camped there, we would walk back up and swim in the faster-moving stream that fed into the lake.
I had to have her lean out so I could see her! hahaha
Playing around with the miniature effect on the camera.
We stopped about 1/4 mile shy of the end of the trail, as it finished up along a paved road that men hauling boats were driving so fast along that their trailers were literally swinging across the other lane when they hit the curve we could see from this little stream.
We played here for a while, then started back, stopping at the campground swing and then making tracks for the van so we could meet up with Katy and her family at the main campground.
We played here for a while, then started back, stopping at the campground swing and then making tracks for the van so we could meet up with Katy and her family at the main campground.
After we met up, we had our picnic lunch and the kids played at the playground a while, then we walked to the creek to play:
We ended up walking all the way to the bridge and throwing various things into the swirling water to see if we could see it come out the other side. We left just before dark, Ben had left his new sunglasses at the little stream, but that was right by the road, so we opted to drive back to the other end and look for them. Ben stayed with Alex at the campground, Matt will pick him up after work tomorrow.
They found a rhinoceros beetle.
And the sunset! We did not find Ben's sunglasses, but we did find a crumpled beer can where they had been laying. I guess someone decided to trade us.
The day would have been a 10 with the redneck factor removed, but I still give it an 8.5. We did have peace and quiet the bulk of the time, the hike was tough and I did not have to stop on the hills, though by the last one, I was feeling that backpack and the new boots.
I need to trade up in backpacks and wear one that has a hip belt, even on day hikes. It pulls my neck and shoulders too much otherwise. Chan needs a better day pack too. I still don't have a swim suit for this season. It seems like there's always something to put on that list.
I need to trade up in backpacks and wear one that has a hip belt, even on day hikes. It pulls my neck and shoulders too much otherwise. Chan needs a better day pack too. I still don't have a swim suit for this season. It seems like there's always something to put on that list.
