It was a much easier trip this morning with only 90 miles to travel. We have noticed an increase in humidity and temp. We've gotten set up in this new to us campground. It is very typical Florida, with packed sand sites. We will be here for eight nites.
Thursday - We launched the kayaks at the boat ramp here in the park. It was high tide, so we didn't want to go towards the flats and have to paddle back against the current, so we went upstream and started fishing about 1/2 mile up. We could see some schools of bait, which was encouraging. John caught the only fish, which was a fairly nice channel catfish. It put up a good fight. We are watching the storm and have gotten a few bands, but should only be a rain/wind event here.
Friday - We had a great time visiting Trackrock friends, Chris & Sara, over in Walaka, which is on the other side of the St. John's River from Palaka. They stay in a park their in their 5th wheel. They were unable to come to Trackrock this summer because of health issues. It is about 35 miles to their place from Faver-Dykes. It was a little windy and there were a few branches down when we returned, but we were not too concerned about Hurricane Sandy. However, when we were almost ready for bed, the park ranger came to our campsite and told us that we needed to evacuate. We decided to head inland back to Palaka and stay at the Wal-mart there. The weather was quieter there than the people. Camp Wal-mart will not be at the top of our list for a return.
Saturday - We decided to return to Zephyrhills, and drove the 125 miles back.
Country Oaks RV Park - Kingsland, Ga (Oct 22-23)
Today was the longest part of our return, with 269 miles before we stopped here at 3:30pm. The trip was uneventful and not too tiring. The weather is perfect and promising for our trip to Cumberland Island tomorrow.
Tuesday - Cumberland Island - We took the 9AM shuttle over and were surprised with how warm it was. We joined the park ranger for a tour of the Dungeness Ruins. The estate was created by the Carnagees at the beginning of the last century. We brought our fly-rods and hoped to fish, but opportunities were limited. John did manage to catch an 8 inch butterfish near the boat dock. This is a wonderful area to visit, but way too big to see in one day. We saw some of the horses, turkeys, a huge flock of swallows, pleated woodpecker, and a dolphin one the way out. When we got back to St. Mary's, we enjoyed Gyros at the Riverside Cafe. We are tired.
Tuesday - Cumberland Island - We took the 9AM shuttle over and were surprised with how warm it was. We joined the park ranger for a tour of the Dungeness Ruins. The estate was created by the Carnagees at the beginning of the last century. We brought our fly-rods and hoped to fish, but opportunities were limited. John did manage to catch an 8 inch butterfish near the boat dock. This is a wonderful area to visit, but way too big to see in one day. We saw some of the horses, turkeys, a huge flock of swallows, pleated woodpecker, and a dolphin one the way out. When we got back to St. Mary's, we enjoyed Gyros at the Riverside Cafe. We are tired.
Petersburg COE - Appling, Ga (Oct 17-21)
Wednesday - We arrived here after a nice 95 mile drive. The site (42) has a beautiful view of the lake. It is a perfect day here, with temps in the 70s and clear skies. We were greeted by a bald eagle, soaring over the lake when we arrived.
Thursday - We launched the kayaks and fished for a short time until dearly dark, but nothing.
Friday - We launched again in the morning and fished for about three hours, but the result was the same. It became very windy in the afternoon.
Saturday - We drove over to Marteniz, Ga. to a home of a super lady we met last year at the Walmart near there. After talking for awhile, she gave us a tour of the area around there, which includes the Savannah River. We then had lunch at Cheddars, and returned to her house for yummy cake and cookies. She lives in a beautiful neighborhood. After stopping at Walmart, we returned to our campsite and fished from shore for about 20 minutes until dark, but again nothing.
Thursday - We launched the kayaks and fished for a short time until dearly dark, but nothing.
Friday - We launched again in the morning and fished for about three hours, but the result was the same. It became very windy in the afternoon.
Saturday - We drove over to Marteniz, Ga. to a home of a super lady we met last year at the Walmart near there. After talking for awhile, she gave us a tour of the area around there, which includes the Savannah River. We then had lunch at Cheddars, and returned to her house for yummy cake and cookies. She lives in a beautiful neighborhood. After stopping at Walmart, we returned to our campsite and fished from shore for about 20 minutes until dark, but again nothing.
Twin Lakes COE Campground (Oct 12-16)
Friday - We had a good trip over here, about 90 miles and 2 1/2 hours. We pulled into the same site we had last year, site 26. The weather today, although starting out with light rain, became perfect once we got here.
Sunday - We went to our friends (Tom & Jane) church for a wonderful service, then out for lunch at a great seafood restaurant, Harbor Inn. We then went over to Tom & Jane's home and took a nice walk on their friends land behind them. We enjoyed their new puppy, Mocha, a gorgeous Weimaraner.
Tuesday - Tom took us out on Hartwell Lake on his boat this AM. Joan started things out with two bass to the boat. We got into areas on the lake where bass were crashing baitfish all around us, but Tom was the only one to catch any. He got a nice 4 pounder on a blue/white plastic jerk bait. Joan was using an olive wooly bugger John tied. John tried several different colored Clousers, but none worked.
View Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/114754015214438395393/TwinLakesCORCampgroundOct1216
Sunday - We went to our friends (Tom & Jane) church for a wonderful service, then out for lunch at a great seafood restaurant, Harbor Inn. We then went over to Tom & Jane's home and took a nice walk on their friends land behind them. We enjoyed their new puppy, Mocha, a gorgeous Weimaraner.
Tuesday - Tom took us out on Hartwell Lake on his boat this AM. Joan started things out with two bass to the boat. We got into areas on the lake where bass were crashing baitfish all around us, but Tom was the only one to catch any. He got a nice 4 pounder on a blue/white plastic jerk bait. Joan was using an olive wooly bugger John tied. John tried several different colored Clousers, but none worked.
View Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/114754015214438395393/TwinLakesCORCampgroundOct1216
Smokies Fishing (Oct 3)
We wanted to get in a last trip into the park and had intentions on fishing Noland Creek, which is near the end of the "Road to Nowhere" outside Bryson City. We got to the parking lot, which had several vehicles parked, so we decided to hike up the trail along the creek to check it out before trying to fish it. We got nearly a mile up before we found a place to get to the water. We talked to a group of fishermen who were just getting started, and they said that they hike up about 2 1/2 miles up to fish. We decided we would do that another day and go over to Deep Creek instead. It is really a beautiful drive up to this part of the park. When we got to the picnic area, we stopped and had lunch. Afterwards, we put on out wet wading gear and hiked about a mile up Deep Creek, and fished a few areas. Joan was the successful one, with a nice keeper sized rainbow. We stopped at Anthony's for pizza on the way home. A nice day.
Grandfather Mountain (Sept 4-14)
We stopped at Moonshine Creek CG after 97 miles of mountain driving, which is plenty for the old man. It rained off and on the whole way, and forecasts don't show much improvement. The campground is nice, but sites are closer than we are used to. The facilities are clean and seem well maintained. We are only here one nite, but we will return here on the way back next week.
Wednesday - We drive the rest of the way to Boone and set up at Grandfather Mountain CG for a week. The drive was not easy, but not eventful either. It is a nice CG, with a level, well graveled pad, and a great view of the surrounding mountains. We are rather close to our neighbors, but they seem nice.
Thursday - We did our typical first day explore and had an extraordinary time. Our first stop was Linville Falls Wilderness Area. The hike and falls we're much better than we expected.
After pizza at The Italian Restaurant for lunch, we hiked the Linville Cove Viaduct Overlook Trail. It wound around rock formations mostly under and along the famous viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Finally, we stopped at the Julian Price Lake and found out that it is stocked with trout and we can launch our kayaks there. It is a beautiful lake with great mountain views. We fished for awhile and caught a few bream.
Friday - We had planned to kayak and fish at Julian Price Lake this morning, but when we got up, it was very foggy. We didn't figure a drive up the mountain in the fog was a good idea, so we went to the outfitter to replenish our fly floatant and get an idea on some good spots. One suggestion was to fish the Watauga at the park in Valle Crucis. After checking out xxx Dept. Store, we wet waded there at the park, but caught nothing. John tested the water, and found it was 75 deg., which is too warm for trout. We wondered if the guy at the fly shop had actually fished there recently. Usually, the information we get is good, but this was questionable. It is a beautiful park, and well used by the locals. One other person was putting in to fish when we did, but didn't stick around long. It turned out to be a gorgeous day.
Saturday - It was a rainy day, so we got a walk in and spent the day watching college football. It was a great Florida game. Go Gators!
Sunday - There were signs posted in several places here in the campground that there would be a worship service in the pavilion at 10 AM. However, when we there, no one was there. Disappointed, we did a Walmart run instead. In the afternoon, John fished for awhile in the Wautaga River that runs thru the campground here. We had seen some fish while walking along the bank. It was too cool for Joan to wade, so she took a pass. John ended up catching a nice 8 inch rainbow and losing two. It was a beautiful fall day here.
Monday - We launched the kayaks on Price Lake, and fished both ends. We only managed a few bream. This is a stocked lake, but must not have gotten any trout for awhile. To console ourselves, we stopped at Applebee's for dinner.
Wednesday - We had one of the best days of our trip today with a ride to New River State Park. This river, they say, is the second oldest in the world, with only the Nile being older. The park is beautiful, with only the very best facilities. The river is gorgeous and very popular for canoe/kayak trips and fishing. We decided to wet-wade, armed with wooly buggers on our 4 wt. fly rods. John had the right color today and caught two smallmouth bass. They were small, but put up a nice battle before being released.
Thursday - We are back at Moonshine Creek, between Sylva and Waynesville overnight, and will head back to Trackrock tomorrow.
View Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/114754015214438395393/GrandfatherMountainSept413
Wednesday - We drive the rest of the way to Boone and set up at Grandfather Mountain CG for a week. The drive was not easy, but not eventful either. It is a nice CG, with a level, well graveled pad, and a great view of the surrounding mountains. We are rather close to our neighbors, but they seem nice.
Thursday - We did our typical first day explore and had an extraordinary time. Our first stop was Linville Falls Wilderness Area. The hike and falls we're much better than we expected.
After pizza at The Italian Restaurant for lunch, we hiked the Linville Cove Viaduct Overlook Trail. It wound around rock formations mostly under and along the famous viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Finally, we stopped at the Julian Price Lake and found out that it is stocked with trout and we can launch our kayaks there. It is a beautiful lake with great mountain views. We fished for awhile and caught a few bream.
Friday - We had planned to kayak and fish at Julian Price Lake this morning, but when we got up, it was very foggy. We didn't figure a drive up the mountain in the fog was a good idea, so we went to the outfitter to replenish our fly floatant and get an idea on some good spots. One suggestion was to fish the Watauga at the park in Valle Crucis. After checking out xxx Dept. Store, we wet waded there at the park, but caught nothing. John tested the water, and found it was 75 deg., which is too warm for trout. We wondered if the guy at the fly shop had actually fished there recently. Usually, the information we get is good, but this was questionable. It is a beautiful park, and well used by the locals. One other person was putting in to fish when we did, but didn't stick around long. It turned out to be a gorgeous day.
Saturday - It was a rainy day, so we got a walk in and spent the day watching college football. It was a great Florida game. Go Gators!
Sunday - There were signs posted in several places here in the campground that there would be a worship service in the pavilion at 10 AM. However, when we there, no one was there. Disappointed, we did a Walmart run instead. In the afternoon, John fished for awhile in the Wautaga River that runs thru the campground here. We had seen some fish while walking along the bank. It was too cool for Joan to wade, so she took a pass. John ended up catching a nice 8 inch rainbow and losing two. It was a beautiful fall day here.
Monday - We launched the kayaks on Price Lake, and fished both ends. We only managed a few bream. This is a stocked lake, but must not have gotten any trout for awhile. To console ourselves, we stopped at Applebee's for dinner.
Wednesday - We had one of the best days of our trip today with a ride to New River State Park. This river, they say, is the second oldest in the world, with only the Nile being older. The park is beautiful, with only the very best facilities. The river is gorgeous and very popular for canoe/kayak trips and fishing. We decided to wet-wade, armed with wooly buggers on our 4 wt. fly rods. John had the right color today and caught two smallmouth bass. They were small, but put up a nice battle before being released.
Thursday - We are back at Moonshine Creek, between Sylva and Waynesville overnight, and will head back to Trackrock tomorrow.
View Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/114754015214438395393/GrandfatherMountainSept413
Standing Indian NRA (Aug 12-17)
This is a great area to camp, fish, and hike. It is only about 40 miles from Trackrock and lies at an elevation of about 3500 ft. which makes it cooler. We made a reservation this time and stayed on site 12, which is large and private. The other section is mostly open, with visibility to other sites. There are no hookups here, so running a generator is necessary to keep the batteries charged. We caught some fish, and one rainbow Joan caught was about 9 inches, which for here is a good sized fish. We used mostly a size 12 green dry fly with a yellow foam parachute that John ties, but Joan's bigger fish succumbed to a yellow foam nymph that John also ties. One nite our new friends, Sonny and Shirley, brought over a yummy gumbo and shared it with us, which was followed with a nice chat around the fire.
View Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/114754015214438395393/StandingIndianNRAAug1217
View Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/114754015214438395393/StandingIndianNRAAug1217
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