The Iron Bowl

Today was raining and cold which suited us fine. Todd and I made ourselves comfortable in front of the TV and settled in for a day of football. We enjoyed watching Clemson beat the University of South Carolina. Then it was time for Todd and Bailey to put on their lucky t-shirts and cheer for Alabama in their annual Iron Bowl game with Auburn. We ended the day watching the Oklahoma Sooners claw out a victory over Oklahoma State.

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a very pleasant Thanksgiving. The McCaslin Clan arrived a little after noon and Todd, who ran a 1/2 marathon in Atlanta Thanksgving morning, got to our house around 2:00. We had a tradtional Thanksgiving meal of ham, turkey (which I did on the grill), mash potatoes, dressing, sweet potato soufle, corn, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, waldorf salad, and rolls. Carrie made a dressing salad that everyone said was very good. I was too full to try any and planned on having some as left overs today, but the McCaslins took all the leftover dressing salad home. (Maybe next year.) After dinner, we all watched the Texas/Texas A&M game.

We are truly blessed to have a loving family, good freinds, and good health. Life has been good to us!

Foothills Trail Hike

On the Wednesday morning, November 5, Joyce took me to Table Rock State Park so I could hike the Foothill Trails. I spent the next 3 1/2 days backpacking 44 miles on the Foothills Trail to Bad Creek Access. The changing leaves in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains were at their peak and I enjoyed one fantastic view after another.

Columbus Day Hike

I took advantage of Columbus Day being a federal holiday and decided to take a hike. I headed north of Wahalla and picked up a section of the Foothills Trail. I hiked along the Chattooga River (the river that Deliverance made famous) for about 3.5 miles to a the Big Bend Falls. Along the way, I also took a short spur trail to King's Creek Falls. This hike has to rank as one of my all time favorites. The sound of the rapids along the Chattooga and the changing leaves made this 8 mile hike truly special.

Keisters on Keowee

On Sunday, September 21, the Keisters met on Lake Keowee for an afternoon of fun, eating, swimming, skiing and boating. Rich and Gail Pocock, Robert and Andrea White, and Ron and Carol Link boarded our pontoon boat at Keowee Key chartered a northerly course up Lake Keowee. Eric and Connie Reschke, John and Nancy Kukura, and Kathy LaMorte joined Joyce and Jim Tollus on cruise south from the Cliffs. The Tollus Boat and Tarman Boat met at the predesignated location at the designated time and began setting up lawn chairs and arranging coolers on the dock. Finally, the Rapp boat with Steve and Maryanne Rapp, Jay and Sandy Gaskin, John and Loretta Gunn, and Greg and Susan Meyers arrived from what some of the occupants described as the "grand tour" of Lake Keowee. After shrimp cocktail and drinks, the ladies spread out a feast for fifty. Later, while several took a refreshing swim, Steve took out a group for water skiiing and our boat was selected for a tour of the shoreline of the Reserve. All too soon, it was time to stow all the gear and load our respective boats and call it a day. A great time with good friends.

Return to Miuka Falls

After thinking about it all week and being somewhat perplexed over not finding Secret Falls and the Tamassee Road Trailhead, I woke this morning and decided to return. I drove to the Winding Trail northern trailhead and proceeded to hike the 3.5 trail down to Tamassee Road in an hour. I confirmed my suspicions - I had been at the wrong trailhead. I also learned that the map I had was misleading on the location of Secret Falls. I found it about 2.5 miles into the hike.

With both mysteries solved, I enjoyed my 7-mile, three hour hike that included some bushwhacking along Secret Falls.

Hike to Miuka Falls

I had a nice hike to Miuki Falls in Sumter National Forest today.

My initial plan was to hike the 3.4 mile Winding Stairs trail from the southern trailhead to the northern trailhead at Cherry Hill Recreation Area, and return. In less than a half mile, after passing a couple of trashy areas with fire rings, the trail disappeared at small water fall that I later learned was Crane Falls. I bushwhacked my way another 1/3 of a mile, crossing the creek a couple of times, without success in finding the trail again.

I ultimately drove to the Cherry Hill Recreation Area and started my hike from the north.The trail from the north was easy to follow with a slight incline as it followed along Townes Creek. After about 1 1/2 miles, I took a side trail to the Miuka Falls. Despite the lack of rain, it was a very pretty falls.

There is supposed to be another waterfall further on, but I was unable to locate Secret Falls. I did find a small trickle of water in what I believed to be Crane Creek and suspect in wetter times there may have been a falls, but none was there on this day.

I plan to return in wetter times and try again to locate Secret Falls and the southern part of the trail.