'Round Todd

Ann and I are back from July 3 and 4 in and around Todd, NC. Ann was selling her pottery on the back porch of Todd General Store.

I hiked to the top of Elk Knob at Elk Knob State Park Saturday. Nice trail. Couple hours plus. Last few hundred yards are strenuous and not as pretty. Volunteers have made great recent improvements below and were working at doing the same for that last stretch. The work has lengthened a 1.3 mile one way hike to well over two miles.

Hiked off the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Boone Fork Parking Area (mile 299.9) trail head to Top Crag on Grandfather Mountain. Used walking sticks for the 90-minute round trip. Snacked on ripe blueberries. The sticks were in the way at a couple of spots where you need both hands free to help you up (and later down) the rocky trail.

Sign near trail head said a black bear and her three cubs had been spotted recently.

We stayed overnight with the hospitable owners of Todd General Store. Nice home with wonderful view. Hiked an hour the morning of the 4th near there. Spotted a white tail and wild turkey.