Christmas tradition

I want to take a moment to talk a little about a tradition I've had for the past handful of years.

My birthday is ON Christmas Day and is usually one spent in isolation as all the family and friend gatherings are over and done with by that point. Everything's closed on that day but for places like gas stations and Waffle House (and THANK Y'ALL for being there for folks like me.)

Because it's such a lonely and quiet, contemplative (for me) sort of day, I've taken to going somewhere every Christmas and hiking a bit. I usually start up at Neels Gap and take a video of their wind chimes blowing in the chilly wind. Bit of a weird tradition, but the place is devoid of people on that day and it's really beautiful.

This past year, a bit unsure where to go besides Neels Gap, I ended up at Track Rock Archaeological Site. This place was completely unknown to me! No idea we had such a thing in Georgia. Even with the diagrams and guides posted nearby, I had to squint a bit to make out anything carved onto the rocks beyond a few images. It occurred to me that carvings like this could be hidden anywhere and how fun it would be to find others.

I also walked up a bit of the Arkaquah trail across the road. It leads (straight up! I swear) to Brasstown Bald, which I had visited not long before. I'm hoping to work up to being able to tackle the Arkaquah Trail someday soon.

Seen on the National Recrecational Trails Ambassador Newsletter

April 13 - Hard Labor Creek 9/47

I got to experience my first bit of trail magic!

Went to Hard Labor Creek State Park on what looked like a rather ickily overcast day. Ended up being rather pleasant if warm. It's always a bit of a shock to enter 80+ degree weather after bundling up through winter.

I checked out the Little Free Library by the Visitors' Center and found a brand new copy of a Tad Williams book I didn't have! Happy for that bit of luck and will donate another book when I come across another Free Library.

I decided to film as much of the hike around the only two non- bike and horse trails they have at the park, both of which total 2 miles together in relatively easy loops. The place was fairly busy with people so I did what I could to avoid traffic, dropping the camera when I came across other hikers.

Feeling a bit bummed and peckish since I didn't exactly prep a lunch for myself, I came across an elderly couple who were resting beside the trail with their doggo. After heading down to try and take a decent photo of the flowering meadow nearby, the lady offered me a tangerine. Then her husband offered a square of something made from potatoes that was really tasty. Neither spoke much English at all. I bowed a lot. They seemed tickled.

I will see about cobbling together a video of the hike later.

March 30 - A. H. Stephens 8/47

Where's the trail?

That was my thought fairly frequently at A. H. Stephens State Park. I was routed through a campground at one point and had to guess where the trail picked back up between campsites. As much as I hate to say it... all in all a bit forgettable.

The old water tower is really neat though.