I had spoken to Sharon once we got to Jamestown. We realized in the course of the conversation it probably wasn't going to work out for us to get up with her. Scheduling confusion and conflicts made it that way. I gave Nelson Matthews a call to line up a meeting with him to go riding the next day. Our friend was having a rough go with atrial fibrillation. He didn't feel like it was a good idea to go. I couldn't say I blamed him under the circumstances. The friends thing just wasn't in the cards this go round. No matter. Kenny and I would go and have fun.
Friday night we got a nice rain shower. We were glad to hear it. It quenches our drought and is good sleeping weather. I love to sleep. I had a man patient one time say to me "I'm gonna tell you about yourself." and he proceeded to do just that. He told me he bet I was rotten after my husband and hated it when he was away working out of town. He said he bet I slept in one of Kenny's t shirts with his stink on it. I was floored. I asked him how he knew? He laughed and said I'm in the same line of work. You put me in mind of my own wife. I know what she does and how she is. I was just betting you were like that. I laughed for he had described me very, very well. I always sleep better when Kenny is by me. I am ruined.
We slept in a little bit on Saturday, but got up and packed our gear and lunch. We set off toward Skinner Mountain. It felt like it hadn't been that long between trips, but it was longer than we imagined. It felt good to be heading back to one of our favorite places. The entire ride was pretty. I looked up the previous trip dates in Autumn when things were so perfect.
It was the second weekend in November 2022. We were two weeks early so I hoped the colors would be nice. I needn't have worried.
Below is a video of our ride on Skinner Mountain.
Kenny asked me if I wanted to stop at the overlook? I said of course! We rode out there creeping past The Big Crack! It is a dramatic spot on the mountain where the trail and the ridge is super narrow. Trees have come down on one side of it, and some damage has occurred to the trail. The view from the Bredesen Overlook was gorgeous! Maple and oak trees in the forest were bright red, yellows, oranges. I could still see a fair amount of green in the tree canopy so they were definitely not at peak.
Below: a zoomed in view of the colors at Bredesen Overlook.
Below: Bredesen Overlook View
Below: plaque at the overlook
Below: a different vantage catching the fiery red leaves at the far left edge of the overlook
Below: a different composition but still from overlook on the far right
Below: Tree and leaf colors in the forest just before the overlook
Below: one of my favorite scenes from all day was this shot taken on the main trail on top of Skinner Mountain.
Below is the only photo I captured of the big crack and the downed trees. I need to do a video of the crack to show how it really is. How narrow and deep.
Below is a video of the view from Bredesen Overlook
We reversed course and headed across the big crack and out the main trail. Skinner Mountain's main trail has some deep, squishy mudholes. One in particular is so bad that the work around is usually worse than chancing the regular trail. The work around has turned us over on the side before. Conditions are still pretty dry despite the rain the night before. We had a goal to get to Big Piney today so we did not take some of the typical side trips on top the mountain today. We skipped the fire tower site, pond, rat castle, and the overlooks to the north. We were able to get an answer on something today that I'd wondered for awhile. I spotted an old road heading to the north into the Mill Creek drainage.
I was able to get Kenny to slow down and really take a gander down in there this trip. There IS indeed a trail that goes down toward Mill Creek and parallels the main trail. It runs along on the hip of the mountain below. It is NOT a side by side trail. Foot travel or dirt bike only. Too narrow and it eventually comes back out on the main trail anyhow. Nothing major to see down there.
We arrived at the big intersection and headed down into Lost Cane. It was pretty down there, but the first part is a lot of second or third growth poplars tightly packed together. It is like a wall of skinny trees on either side of the trail. It will never be my favorite spot on this ride.
above: loads of skinny poplar trees to either side at the start of Lost Cane.
Below: another section of trail a bit further out Lost Cane. Lots of green down here still. Not as pretty as it will be in two weeks.
We rolled along down Lost Cane and passed all the spots where there are wet weather waterfalls. Not one of them was flowing. We passed the section where the monolith sits. I was very glad I got a photo of it in previous years. Today a tree had broken and was messing up the view. The leaves were not pretty this year around it at least not yet. This section of the trail has quite a few boulders to the left and right. More on the right... that are the size of houses. They are fascinating to see. I remember seeing a spot on the far left heading in where someone had stashed a bunch of sifters where they'd been looking for artifacts. This was new. I'd caught someone doing this down in Little Saigon before, but they'd moved their operation to another spot.
We got to the bottom of Lost Cane and heard other machines coming. We stopped to wait. It was a bunch of hog hunters and their dogs. They had just killed a big wild pig down in there. They left it behind. I imagine scavengers or bears will eat it.
Below: one of the dogs has been injured by the wild hog. The owner who was a Georgia boy, said he'd tend to him once they got back to the trucks. We spoke to them briefly and moved onward.
We made the turn to head to Frank's Flume. The little hunter's shack down in there is completely collapsed now. The trail got more and more damaged the further we went. Flooding, erosion, debris, hogs and use have torn the place to shreds. It was so bad the water down in that holler would have been twelve to fifteen feet deep in places during the last flood event. You could tell the level by the debris caught in the tree limbs. It would be terrifying to be down in there during such an event.
Before the water shooting out of Frank's Flume formed a pretty creek, flowed a short distance and disappeared below ground at a swallet. It still does, but the thick layers of mud, sandy sediment together with debris mats of limbs and leaves have it ugly and hard to approach. The side hollers were flushed out of debris and it piled up at their mouths. We need to take a day and open up a trail from Upper Bill's Creek down into Lost Cane that comes out BELOW Frank's Flume. There is a 10 foot waterfall on the stream and the gorge walls are pinched in so high, tight and narrow it cuts off all progress a half mile to a mile above Frank's Flume.
The trail we usually use to make a loop was so eroded it was all but impassable. We opted to turn around and leave the way we'd come in. Leaving by continuing down Lost Cane toward Boatland Road is a pretty ride, but it is rocky. It's another good place to tear something up.
Below: tobacco brown, copper and gold leaves in the part of Lost Cane heading to Frank's Flume
Below: Kenny checks the condition of the trail before we proceed
Above: Golden Woods down in Lost Cane near Frank's Flume
Below: Frank's Flume is a cave with water shooting out of it. It is still running, but there isn't much water.
Above: Our machine at Frank's Flume
Below is a video of Frank's Flume
We checked out Frank's Flume and the beautiful golden forest here. Leaves were filtering down through the air with the wind whirling them. It was glorious! We headed back and eventually made our way to the big intersection. It was around 12:30 p.m. so we stopped to eat lunch. We both felt better after a bite to eat. Kenny wanted to get going toward Big Piney. He chose a trail that went out to the left across the mountain top. I have video proof I tried to warn him off that trail. I tried to persuade him to take the trail we used the last Autumn we were here. I knew that mountain top trail went across the flat top of the ridge. It would likely be VERY muddy after last night's rain. I anticipated trouble, but Kenny had his own ideas about things. On we went. I admit it was a beautiful ride. The scenery and color here were outstanding.
We came to lots of mud holes nearly every one having its own "work around" spot to avoid going straight down the middle of them. He missed a work around and plowed on ahead. The RZR started to sink. Mud started to sling and the machine its tires like mad. Well, well, well. He was cursing now.
I got out of the machine to try to hook up the winch. It was out in the middle of that deep mud hole hard to reach without getting right in it. He told me to move that he'd reach it for me. I went round the machine to work the controls while he reached with his much longer arms. He still couldn't get it.
I handed him a stick to help snag it. Finally he got it and we fooled with it for some time. The controls were not affecting any change. The winch was as stuck as we were. I became very uneasy thinking we were done for. I could picture us having to walk back down the mountain for help.
Finally the winch came unstuck and began working so we were able to pull ourselves free.
Kenny went on out the trail, but upon seeing more and more mud holes he turned around and went the way I suggested. I was relieved!
Below is a video of us being stuck. It is worth mentioning that Kenny has already ordered a new winch cable to ensure that doesn't happen again!
Below: the view out the trail at the big intersection. This trail goes off the mountain down to Manson Road and is very, very steep.
We made our way off the mountain. We passed a spot where there is a DEAD END sign that has been by a gate for at least a decade if not longer. I put a way point on it because I wanted to figure where that went. I figured it might go into the terrain near the headwaters of Lost Cane Creek. I later learned it doesn't. It just comes out on some private land on the far side of Bill's Creek. There were some folks who rented a cabin up in there years ago. It comes out near that.
We finally came out on Manson Road. It was a little dusty, but very pretty. The fields there were a different sort of vegetation with lots of color. The trees and forest were a bit different. We pushed onward out Manson Road in order to go through Big Piney the opposite way of what we usually do.
On the way we passed a gate that Kenny was looking for and it was OPEN! I wanted to go down there to investigate, but he wouldn't do it. He said he was concerned there were hunters down there. He didn't want to ruffle their feathers. Trying to be polite.
^^^ The three images above are scenes from just off Manson Road heading down into Big Piney.
We were riding along and came to the point where the trail descends for the first time to go down to the creek and the floor of the holler. We heard more machines come from the opposite direction.
It wasn't long until they came into view. We stopped and got over for them as much as we could.
We stopped and talked to these folks for a little while. They were real nice. We learned some interesting things in this conversation. I recall a news article a year or so back that indicated Skinner Mountain WMA had several thousand acres added to it. It did not specify where the land parcel was.
Well today we found out. It was down in that first yellow gate for one thing! Property off Manson Road was included. The game warden had told these local guys that if they encountered anyone locking those gates to go ahead and open them. That the land was for public use. So we could have gone down there after all. Next time over we will have to go see for ourselves!
We ran into more mud holes before we reached the stream in Big Piney. Crazy as it was when we got to the stream it was bone dry! We'd never seen the entire creek bed dry, but we had also never been down there in Fall before. It was real pretty. It would be prettier if the creek was flowing, but it was nice. I was glad we went. It was very quiet down here.
Below: trail into Big Piney
Below: trail leading down to the dry creek
Below: Golden light down in Big Piney at the dry creek bed.
Below is a video of the ride into Big Piney
We crossed the stream at the main, big crossing and saw there was a little water in the stream there and there alone. Once across we began our climb up and out of the hollow. We enjoyed the scenery, but didn't try to get out to hunt for falls back in there as it was so dry now. I mentioned to Kenny that
I recalled seeing a rock house on the right side heading up toward Tay's. We found a really big one on the opposite side, but I had not gone looking for the other one yet. Today we found it, and more.
It was really easy to see because it had undergone some abuse that transformed it. Trees cut down.
A tent pitched beneath it. A fire pit built. Golf clubs. Rotten stuffed animals covered in mildew lying about. Household garbage like drink cans and food wrappers. A target put in the trees and shot at for target practice. It was a nasty mess. It makes the fifth time in our exploring careers we've encountered what we call Camp Crud. We stopped to investigate, but did not open the tent.
I didn't smell dead body so I was happy to leave it alone.
Below: trash at Camp Crud and a sifter. Someone had been digging and sifting for artifacts.
Below: Tent beneath the rock house
Below: pretty forest out from the rock shelter
Below: a view of the rock shelter which was pretty neat before they trashed it.
Above: Finally emerging onto Manson Road which is very, very pretty in Fall.
Above: Octagon House with torn up window blinds!
Finally we came back out on Manson Road and began our drive into the Wilder Mountain subdivision. We found our way onto the trail that goes by the Octagon House. It is a pretty ride with a lot of ups and downs. It crosses some drainages that have a few little cascades when it isn't so dry. We came by the Octagon House which has stood abandoned for a decade or more. The window blinds were trashed. Kenny remarked that "The cats have torn up the blinds! It doesn't matter where your house is. If you have cats and blinds they WILL tear them up!" Our cats have ruined our blinds three or four times. They are working on the fourth set now!
We kept moving and got to the river trail at last. The East Fork river was very dry also.
Parts of it had water, but not much. We encountered the same group of riders at the final creek crossing. One man introduced himself as Russell Hall. Kenny and him visited for awhile. They were all local and very nice people. The river trail is about the same as usual. It was drastically altered from flooding. It changes pretty much every time we go through there. The trail has some serious flood damage down near the big, main ford.
We made our way back out to Bills Creek and Boatland Road. The road between there and Sharon's where we'd parked the truck seemed to go on forever. I was so happy to see the vehicle when we got back. I was ready to go to the camper. It was a fun day. We got the experience of smelling the scents of Autumn and being fully immersed in the sights and sounds. It was exactly what I needed!
We made it back to the camper and took a breather before starting to fix dinner.
I felt like we'd had a good two days worth of riding and was satisfied to go home on Sunday.
Below is a short video of the last ride of the day. Wilder Mountain Subdivision to the Octagon House.
I've said before that something calls me to come to certain places and when I listen good things happen. Lost Cane is one of those places. I had asked about the trail heading into it from several people. The first man said he did not like it that it was really rough, the trail was confusing, it was overgrown, and that he did not feel safe there.
Talking with a few others they echoed the sentiments that the trail was very rough and overgrown and it was a place they just weren't keen on going. One weekend while I had to work Kenny, Buck and Dan Mullins gathered their stuff up and went riding. Kenny pointed out the trail into Lost Cane to Buck and said it was rough and that was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. "LET'S GO!" was his response and that was the end of that.
They found the trail to be challenging, but they came home having had a great time and done a ton of exploring! Covered lots and lots of new ground. I benefited
from their trip even though I was not able to attend. I was hunting for a cave in the area and being drawn ever onward. Finally this past Friday I answered the call to whatever I was being led to find. The timing could not have been better.
We got us a room reserved at the local No Tell Motel and headed out for a day and a half of exploring and adventure. We parked at Sharon & John's Woo Hoo Holler and hit out from there. We went up another trail and did some morrel hunting. We succeeded in finding a nice mess or two of mushrooms! It was great fun. The weather was rainy and cold,but we put on our rain gear and went on just the same. We enjoyed the scenery and stopped for me to take lots of wildflower photos. We also explored a ridge top trail we found and it was very pretty.
We stopped off by the first waterfall that emerges from a cave and goes back in the ground. It was flowing great today. No water was coming out of that hole up on the cliff. I guess it is a cave? The river was flooding today making that trail unrideable. Never saw the Obey that murky and brown before nor with that much water in it! Thinking on this made me decide it would take a Noah's Ark type flood
to cause water to flow from that hole up on the cliff. If it is not running today I had to wonder if it ever does?
Wild Columbine along the road
The slopes are covered in wildflowers and new Spring growth far as the eye can see!
Waves of trilliums in the woods
Stinging Nettle Falls emerges from the ground and falls right back into the ground.
We were pleased to find the creeks running so well. We spotted lots of wet weather waterfalls and cascades.
Bills Creek is running great today.
Pretty cascade on Bills Creek
We tore around the plateau on gravel roads and dirt tracks up through the forest.
We had a goal in mind, but had to fight the urge to explore every side path and trail. Fought to keep from revisiting every pretty place we'd already seen and once at a place had to remind ourselves to keep going. We were not in a hurry, but had to motivate reasonably to make it.Kenny & I are one hell of a team when it comes to exploring. I could not be any more fortunate to have married this wild-eyed Southern boy. No one else would have put up with nor been able to match the wanderlust that consumes me.
The path up the mountain always seems longer than it should. We wound through woods deep and dark. Some places the canopy opened and let in the sun trying to shine.
Great boulders towered and loomed up in the woods to our right. They hung draped with every manner of green, growing vegetation and flower. Purple phacelia crowned one rock making the entire top bluish purple! Blue phlox, yellow trilliums, white trilliums sprouted up all around. We made one turn and there in the deep black-green forest I spotted something out of place. Bright yellow dots! Everywhere were bright yellow blotches like they were suspended in air. I realized the yellow spots were kerria shrub! That means only one thing..... an old home site. The kerria shrub had persisted long after the home was abandoned and deteriorated. It had grown huge and was so pretty. The rocks of the foundation lay just before it.
Kerria shrub in the forest lingers on after the home is gone.
Old foundation to a house long gone.
We passed up the old home site and had not gone far til we passed an enormous boulder about 25 feet high on the left. It was pock marked and you could almost touch it from the RZR. I did not recall seeing it before, but Kenny did. It had been night when we were there the last time so no wonder! We rounded a corner and I spotted our turn. "Here it is!" I hollered to Kenny. He just grinned and looked at me and away we went. Down into the guts of the mountain wondering what we'd find?
It was not long til I began to hear water running. I looked around the forest and through the trees spotted a shimmering white stream coming down off the side of the mountain! It was where I imagined there would be a waterfall and there was not one, but two! The second one was a total surprise. We stopped and went over to the closer one.
It was quite pretty and dropped about fifteen feet over a rock ledge down into a gorge.
Second growth trees stood like pale green soda straws all around us. Down below the stream splashed and flowed for a short ways. I could hear the second falls in the distance, but could not see it from here. Jack-in-the pulpit grew here along with trilliums and other beautiful wildflowers.
Waterfall #1 Lost Cane
Jack in the Pulpit growing on the bank
We could have climbed down from the side of the first waterfall and made our way downstream to where the second one dropped in. It came from a different stream of water coming down off the mountain at a right angle to the other falls. It was also quite pretty. It must stay at least moist all year long owing to the green algae growing on the rock. The rock is either being formed from plant matter solidifying or being discolored by the algae. It was slick and would have torn the bank up so we went down to the base of the hill and were able to easily walk over to see the second falls. It was not huge. Perhaps 20 feet high and had a fin of rock at the base over to one side.
Waterfall #2 Lost Cane
We did not linger too long at this second falls. We had a fair amount of territory to cover. I'd be interested on any repeat trips in coming back up to this spot and climbing up above this first falls to see if there are more cascades above here?
We continued down the trail and it was rough in some patches, but nothing to shout about. We also encountered some downed trees. The worst spot was a thick patch of rose bushes that crowded the trail to the point of leaving only a few inches uncovered.
We pushed through that. The other potentially bad place was a downed tree that formed a sort of bridge across the trail. I wondered if we'd be able to continue, but we did manage to get under it without any problem. The RZR's lower profile helped with that. I doubt the Rhino would have made it under.
We began to see massive rocks and could hear the stream below us now on the right.
I saw one cascade and could hear another. I hollered for us to stop. I had to check this out. Kenny was right there with me wanting to see. The boulders were room sized.
The terrain was mossy and green and leafy. It was just beautiful. We could tell the one drop off had a waterfall. We could also see another cascade emerging from the bank at a right angle to the first one. We climbed down and then things got interesting. No way to go up the creek on the right hand side. The massive boulder blocked any progress and all the water was diverted to the far left. Kenny made it round there first and I could tell by the look on his face this was going to be great!
Massive boulder blocking the stream on the right. I wondered why the stream flow seemed so small down here on this side and so big above it? I was to find out!
We worked our way across the stream and up the bank. Kenny indicated to me a hole that appeared to lead to the waterfall ahead of us. "You can crawl in here if you want to try it?!" he said. Now most wives would not be too pleased if their hubby told them to crawl in a hole, but this man knows me and knows how crazy I am. I got his point. It was a shortcut. He knew from the looks of it he was NOT going to fit but that I might be able to squeeze through. We raced to see who would make it to the waterfall first??
He took the One if by sea route... I took the land route through the hole.
Someone asked me wasn't I worried about snakes? Simple answer is yes.. and no.
It had been cold and I was not terribly concerned. I did put my hood up to avoid having a bat down the back of my neck and I kept my eyes open looking around before I plowed through there. I did not tarry, but made quick work of getting through. Lucky for me I did fit and the tunnel went in and up and popped me out in front of the falls! I have photos of this, but what shows it better is the short video clip below.
When I emerged at the top of this hole and looked around Kenny was only 1/2 way to the falls! ha! I won! I also looked back at the hole and knew that I'd never have tried to crawl through it from this end. It looked tiny!
Kenny's bridge building route
Tiny opening to that shortcut tunnel
Here was our reward for making it.. the third and biggest waterfall on Lost Cane Creek.
A nice 50 footer!
We checked out the waterfall and the big rocks directly in front of us coming down the creek. Very cool. Far to the right on the bank was another nice sized waterfall.. about a 25 footer shooting right out of the bank. It was coming out of a cave, flowing down and re-entering the earth in a swallet. Part of the flow went into the swallet while part of the water went in the direction of that big boulder which blocked the creek completely on that side. It appeared that pretty much all the flow from this falls goes back into the ground in two spots! The rock here was carved into arches and potholes and all sorts of neat forms.
Waterfall #4 Lost Cane--out of a cave.. into a swallet.
I was absolutely overcome with excitement at finding and seeing all these beautiful things. It was time for a little trail romance.Yeah. I love my friends, but I love my man more and he comes with some benefits so I was glad for the privacy today hey hey.
After our little romantic escapade we found a simpler route back up the bank to the RZR.
It was a rocky hill climb, but it was way quicker.
Back on the trail and heading ever down the mountain through its heart.
We spotted more rugged trail. One path lead off to the side avoiding a rocky dirt ditch.
But what fun would that be? I told Kenny this trail was like a freaking rollercoaster ride!
I was elated. He responded "Why do you think we loved it so much when me, Dan and Buck came down here?". He was grinning ear to ear.
In all this excitement of waterfalls and beauty and Freak Nasty.... I somehow missed the mark in hunting the cave and the cave drawings. I think I know where we went wrong. We passed a foot path heading up the left bank into the rocky cliffs. It was either that spot or down closer to the end there was a big dirt berm that appeared to have an old road going up to it. I am betting it was a cave entrance. It was just down out of view behind that bank of dirt. That can only mean one thing.. repeat trips til the cave is found!
The Dirt Ditch-- the photo from the bottom does not do it justice.
We no more got down the dirt ditch than Kenny exclaimed "More waterfalls!"
and indeed we did stop and find more! We were able to stroll up to two more waterfalls in what had become a repeating pattern. One waterfall coming directly down the stream. A second waterfall entering the creek from a side stream at a right angle. The fifth waterfall was the one on the creek. The sixth was the one coming in from the left. It was about fifteen feet high and flowed over some ridged rocks and dropped into a swallet across the creek. Below all this jumble of boulders and beautiful cascades was a cave and a rock overhang. I could hear water running down in the small cave entrances.
I walked over and stood before the sixth falls. It was situated in a green leafy amphitheater. The ridge above was letting the sun peek over. The hill above the falls was dotted with wildflowers. I stood with one waterfall before me and another behind me. Surrounded by all consuming beauty. I was on total sensory overload and filled with joy.
I found myself misty-eyed as I sometimes get when I am in such situations. I composed myself and just gave thanks for the experience. Kenny said "You're in Heaven!" and I had to agree. I always think days like this make up for some of the not so good ones.
Waterfall #6 Lost Cane Creek.. out of a spring and into a swallet.
The Green 'amphitheater' behind and above the sixth falls.
The fifth waterfall was interesting. It was about 20 ft high and cascaded down through a jumble of boulders. It had a part that was over ridged rock with horizontal lines in it.
Waterfall #5 seen from in front of it.
Waterfall #5 seen from the left. That gives a better look at the ridged rock lines in it.
We wandered around here a bit and checked out the cave, the creek, the wildflowers and boulders. Finally we loaded up again and headed down the trail. We did not find anymore waterfalls from that point, but the trip remained beautiful, wild and interesting.
Now we began the trip through the land of dry creek beds. We'd see or hear the stream for a little while and then it was gone again. We did not get out to examine every place the stream appeared and disappeared. Had we done so we'd have been all night getting through there!
The terrain was flattening out. I could tell at one point we had not only lost most of our elevation, but we were down in the depths of the Cane. All those times looking at the topo map where the lines made concentric shapes getting smaller and smaller... toward the middle. We were there now. Down in the flat. We did see native bamboo. We also saw lots of brambles, some downed trees again. It is pretty clear this place doesn't see much traffic or many humans period. Everything is quiet except for any noise we might be making. Moss covers most surfaces. We found a small sink hole. A rock mound out in the center was completely moss covered. The fields down here and forests were a feast for the eyes. Wildflowers! Everywhere in this bottomland. Loamy, rocky soil and wildflowers. We saw evidence of wild hogs in the form of digging, but mostly their scat.
Grapevines hung thick as a man's arm from the trees. Lost Cane was like a combination of Eden and Saigon. You'd be a long way from help down in here if anything went wrong. I knew all this but even so I did not feel uncomfortable at all. I mention this because I will be going some place in the future where that is not the case. The spirit of place here is good.
Down in the depths of Lost Cane. Much is covered with moss and vines.
A smorgasboard of wildflowers!
Kenny found this spot in the woods that was completely carpeted by Virginia bluebells and wood poppies. Phlox and yellow trilliums were also thick here.
We made our way along once again. We found a downed tree that was going to have to be cleared. It didn't take long with the chainsaw and two pairs of hands. We had it gone and were back on track in about five minutes. We finally came to the point where we turned right and headed uphill. Kenny was sure this was the place we needed to turn to go up to the cave. I stopped and looked back over my shoulder. I disagreed with him as soon as I took that backward glance. The so called signs for the cave were warnings that Tennessee's caves were closed to entry. They were on two adjacent trees we had just passed. The signs were up facing in the direction to get the attention of anyone going UP the creek. Not turning right and going up the hill. He took another look and realized I was probably right.
We went ahead anyway to see where this trail went?? It went uphill and I knew from the terrain and distance we were almost certainly too far down the mountain to be anywhere near that cave. I've got it in my mind where it lies and this just seemed wrong.
It was a fun, rocky, steep hill climb that was a challenge to go up and come down. Glad we checked it out. It petered out and you could tell beyond a point it was not traveled.
We came back down and thought about our options how to finish the trip?
We could do as Kenny had wanted and go down and turn around and go back out the way we came in. Back UP the mountain. That was going to be a long way out.
A glance at the time and we knew two things 1. we'd have to boogie to get out of there and 2. we'd not have any extra time to stop on the way out and look for things we'd missed. I felt the temptation to stop would be overwhelming to me on the way back that way. I convinced him it would be closer and smarter to go out the bottom. We'd have more time and be closer to the truck when we emerged back out on the road.
Kenny's main concern leaving this direction was how rough it was going through that creek bed and with me along! Now that I wanted to finish the journey this way he was all about it.
Downed tree over the trail.
Rocky dry creek bed. This is only a small sample of the miles of this we had to ride.
The dry creek bed is hard. Buck and Kenny and C.D. are experienced riders and found it fun and challenging. It takes time. It may be the shorter of two distances between points, but it is not going to be the fastest or easiest. I wanted to be able to say I'd done the entire trail from begining to end even the bad stuff. So on we went.
Kenny handled it great and was glad we chose this route instead of back up the mountain.
That would have taken forever. The jarring and bouncing and grinding down the dry creek was something else awhile. Every so often down this trail we'd seen pipe. Black pvc pipe like someone had tried to pipe water. Kenny made me put the camera up and get my parts INSIDE the RZR for the rest of the trip since it was hairy.
We finally made it out and were real glad of it. It was an awesome adventure.
We had a little daylight left so though we were damp, cold and hungry that did not stop us from a few side excursions on the way out. Then back up the road to Woo Hoo to load up and head to the motel. We were glad to get in where it was warm and get some dinner in town. The No Tell Motel is actually the Jordan Motel and while it lacks some fancier things more modern hotels have it is inexpensive, clean and relatively comfortable.
It is the only game in town so we know we'll be back again.
We got some sleep and prepared for the next day's adventure!
Good Night!
above: Red Maple Leaves near the Bredesen Overlook
