Spring Wildflower Trip 2025 Day 1-- Bill's Creek and Drum Falls

above:  southern red trillium 

 Spring Wildflower Trip 2025 Day 1-- Bill's Creek and Drum Falls

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Sharon McGee

Rick Timm

Friday April 11 through 19th, 2025

Today's Adventure Friday April 11, 2025

   Last year I didn't get to go on much of a wildflower get away on account of knee replacement surgery.  I had one more knee to go so I had it replaced in January. I was determined this Spring I wasn't going to have my trip messed up.  I had planned for the next go round of Spring wildflowers I was heading to Fentress County.   I got things all lined up to stay at Maple Hill Campground in Jamestown.  I was tickled to get to go this year and be healthy.  I was happy for the company of my friends and my husband.  

Below: good smelling candle I got Sharon. Funny message and true! 

     Kenny had to work a short day Friday April 11th.  We got over to Jamestown after lunch. 

We got the camper set up and went over to visit Sharon.   It was great seeing Ken, the owner of the campground when we arrived. He looks great and seems very happy.  They have built a nice new house at the edge of the campground. Maple Hill is prettier than ever! They have expanded it getting rid of the little cabins that seldom got rented. They have one or two left, but the remainder is beautiful campsites.     

      We got over to Sharon's that afternoon.  It was so good to see her.  She is my bestie.

We went out mushroom hunting for a little bit.  We found a few, but no great shakes.  We next headed to see Drum Falls which was flowing pretty well.   Bill's Creek area was pretty, but behind thanks to the screwy weather we've had.   We still saw some very pretty flowers on the way. 

Below: long spurred violets and rue anemone near the falls

Below; Great white trilliums along Bills Creek

Below: a swarm of yellow trilliums 

below: a  huge cluster of long spurred violets

below:  Bill's Creek forming nice clear pools and rocky shoals

Below: Sharon and Otey on the slopes below the falls.  

Below: one of the lower drops of Drum Falls. 

Below: Drum Falls minus the 55 gallon metal drum!  Guess it washed away. 

Below: Kenny and Sharon chatting

Below: fiddle heads unfurling 

We had a nice quiet evening and great company and conversation.  We didn't get to do a lot, but we were thrilled to be there at last!  We made plans to meet up and go riding and exploring the next morning.   

Below is a video of Drum Falls