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.

Labor Day Weekend - Rafting, Hiking, New Pontoon Boat

We had a great Labor Day Weekend.

The McCaslins came down on Saturday and we spent the day in the water. Josh and Ally tried their hands at rowing their new rafts; the McCaslins took Bandit (their new puppy), Harley (theier Lab) and Bailey (Todd's Lab) out for a swim; and we ended the day grilling hamburgers.

On Sunday, I hiked the 3.6 mile trail (7.2 miles round trip) to the top of Table Rock Mountain.

On Monday, we bought a new pontoon boat. The McCaslins came back down to the lake and we took a ride to the southern park of the lake. Had lunch at the Tiki Restaurant at the Keowee Marina in Seneca before touring the lower park of the lake.