Got muddy had fun on new Ross Marble and Forks of River trails

Kids just like playing in the mud

and yes we are Kids at heart 

A little mud couldn't deter a few of our Local Trail hikers from coming out and playing on some new trails.   The scheduled Wednesday hike had us doing a one way hike where we were parking at Forks of River (close to ijams) then driving around off Island Home to the back side of Forks of the River off Burnett Creek rd.    
   But with the rain 90% in the forecast I emailed the group and said I'll be there but don't blame you for bailing out of this hike.  Six of us showed up and decided to head to Meads Quarry where we caught the Dr. Bob show crew filming a spot for Knoxville City Parks about getting out and paddle boarding on the pretty quarry pond.   It was raining, we had our Covenant Senior Health Ponchos on so we headed out new ross marble area to even newer trails that wind around some neat rock areas to south side  road off Sevierville Pike. There you cross the road and are now on new trails in an old park called Marie Myers.  This trails eventually lead across a small road where you are in Hastie Park.  We turned around in Marie Myers as the recent storm had left some blow downs along the way.... but as you can see we still had fun while getting fit!  (we said harder workout with all the mud on our shoes)

Carrie & Brenda new hike buds
Carrie helps on many hikes as a PT with TOC 

 

So the next week we did the original plan and did a fun one way hike from the very backside of Forks of the River Wildlife Refuge area of Burnett Creek road and wound around along the trails close to the river where you can see Sea Ray Boat factory across the way.  There is good shade and it is amazing all the new trails that Brian Hann and the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club are creating in there. The sunflowers along the old farm road close to the parking lot were past their prime but we still managed to get a few shots!      Elle Colquit was with us on this hike and explained a little more about her role with Legacy Parks and the new Outdoor Knoxville Center down by the river.  She is the one who is managing the GREAT new www.outdoorknoxville.com website  and it is so neat to go on the site and find fun outdoor activities like hikes, bikes, paddling etc you can do around Knoxville and outlying areas.  Elle is also the co-writer of the local biking hiking books  www.miniadventureseries.com

crew staring out back of Forks of River
off Burnett Creek road 

New Trails AMB club making 

old road bed close to Parking lot off McClure road at
Forks of River Wildlife management area 

Sunflower field almost dried up my little guy Rocky enjoyed the hike 

some of ate @ the Round up afterwards
Bitsy my neighbor celebrating B day so
got the door prize WBIR mug

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