THE WEDGE > WILSON

 

 

The weekend of September 17th featured Appalachian State’s second home football game of the season.  It was also their final warm up game, featuring one of the weakest opponents in all of division 1.  We have season tickets though, and wouldn’t think of missing a game, regardless of the opponent.  This game was scheduled for a 6pm kickoff, which meant extra tailgating time as well as a very long day.  We weren’t interested in driving home late Saturday night, so I reserved a campsite at Price Park.

 

It turns out that reservations were unnecessary.  As the week progressed, the weather forecast looked more and more bleak.  Forecaster’s called for a “wedge” system to bring unusually cool and wet weather to the high country.  We ran into heavy fog on the drive up from Lenoir Saturday morning, and light rain was falling when we reached the campground.  The campground wasn’t deserted exactly, but we certainly didn’t need the reservations we’d made.  We found our campsite, set up the tent quickly, and headed into Boone.

 

Luckily, the weather dried up just in time for an afternoon of tailgating.  It certainly wasn’t a pretty day, but at least it was dry enough for cornhole.  The highlight of the tailgate party was perhaps our best ever pre-game meal.  We made a low country boil, featuring shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, corn, and other assorted vegetables.   The game went pretty much as expected, and we had dinner in town before heading back to the campground for the evening.

 

I got up early on Sunday.  Boone was ready for a hike, but Christy decided to sleep in.  I had a quick breakfast of granola cereal and hit the trail.  Boone and I hiked through a dark forest initially, before emerging into a foggy, drizzly meadow.  Boone proceeded to run full speed through the brush, rousing the ducks and other birds that were roosting.

 

With that accomplished, we headed back into the woods, descending along Bee Tree Creek.  Ironically, Boone managed to stumble into a nest of Yellow Jackets along here.  They were all over his backside, and he alternated between snapping at them and running at full speed.  I finally caught up to him and began swatting.  I thought I’d gotten them all, before spotting one last bee right next to his yellow ASU collar.  I finally got that one, but Boone was pretty put out.  I don’t blame him, as this was his second straight hike with an unpleasant bee encounter.

 

Once the excitement was over, we continued on to the rim of the Boone Fork gorge.  I made the turn to follow the creek, high above the stream.  At the turn I spotted a side trail I’d never noticed previously.  I followed it briefly, until reaching a couple of prominent “no trespassing” signs.  I’m not sure where that trail goes, but apparently it’s on private property.

 

I hiked upstream before reaching a side trail down to the creek.  I stopped there, as the path ends just downstream from a pretty run of cascades.  After a few photos I continued on.  A bit later, another side path took me to the base of an impressive cascade.  I was still well downstream from the Hebron Rock Colony, and I was surprised to find a waterfall I didn’t remember from previous hikes.  It’s not a named waterfall, and some might consider it just a cascade, but I’ve seen less substantial drops with names.

 

I took a few more photos and continued upstream.  I bypassed the Hebron Rock Colony, as I was running behind schedule.  Christy was to meet me at Sims Pond on the Parkway at 11:30, and I had planned to hike over Green Knob on my way there. 

 

I reached the junction where the Boone Fork Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail part ways.  I stayed on the MST, and managed to rock hop Boone Fork with a bit of difficulty.  From there I followed the trail through a rhododendron thicket and out to an old road.  I left the trail and followed the road out to the Parkway.  From there, it was just a short stroll down to Sims Pond.  I had planned to hike another 2 miles over Green Knob, but it was already after 11:30, and Christy was waiting in the parking area.  I decided to save that for another day, and we headed for home.  We did stop off at Woodlands in Blowing Rock for lunch, which was great, as usual.  Back home, I was tempted to skip unloading the car, since we’d be heading back up to Boone for another football game the following weekend.

 

First though, I had to make a work trip to Rocky Mount, NC.  This was amusing to Christy, as her first year teaching was in Rocky Mount.  She moved there from Erie, PA.  After a couple of days in Rocky Mount, I couldn’t imagine how she was able to understand anybody there.  It was a strain for me, and I’ve lived in North Carolina for almost 30 years.

 

The highlight of my week there was a short trip down to Wilson to have dinner with a friend.  I hadn’t seen Mark in almost a year, and he made the excellent suggestion of meeting at Parker’s BBQ.  The food was cheap and good, and best of all, the county fair was right across the street.  Mark and I joked about taking it in.  I suggested that he get cotton candy and eat it all, and then take the stick home to give to his young sons.  How much fun would it be to explain to them that Daddy went to the fair without them?  Well, it was funny to joke about anyway.

 

I escaped on Thursday afternoon and headed home.  By Friday afternoon I had the car packed for another hiking, camping, and football adventure in Boone.




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