North boundary trail @ guard gate hiker/biker fun

4 hike buds & 2 dogs took off from parking area at old white guard gate off OR turnpike. The main gravel trail led uphill and was a pretty & pretty steep nice trail for hiking biking and running. At the top u can see out and pass a blue water tower. We kept going as we were talking so much we missed trail on left we planned to take called Gallagher trail. We looped back to it 45 minutes later. It is narrow pretty path thru the woods and easy.
We came out on another gravel road close to a quarry and went left and ended up mile 1/2 later on turnpike close to our cars. I am excited to go back w my mountain bike as it looks pretty non technical and "doable" for my fit fun buds I went on www.outdoorknoxville.com. To find link to trails

Mysterious guests at Victoria Inn

Mysterious masked women fresh off "Cresent" train from N.O. Appear in dining room of Victoria Inn. Or maybe it's just w all that scrumptious food (crab cakes, sword fish, shrimp grits. Red snapper w Brussels sprouts, filet etc ) the ladies were disguising themselves afterwards :). ......
We did enjoy scenic Amtrak from N O
Today then superb meal at Victoria Bikinis to Cedartown tomorrow

Green w envy @greenhouse inn

When our "fit fun buddy's bike" group arrived at the Greenhouse Inn in New Orleans we gasped at how pretty and cool this place is. 3 story green house built in early 1900's this 10 bedroom house is an oasis behind its gates.
The rooms comfy and nice, all w bath and refrig. Outside the lower rooms we could walk out to a pool w waterfall and hot tub and gardens that has the true "wow" factor. Owner Jessie a delight and helpful. We were sad to leave

Bike trip to New Orleans on Amtrak

We are having a ball. Drove to Cedartown biked 49 to Anniston spent night The Victoria now on Cresent moon train to New Orleans w 9 fun ladies Calling fit fun Buddy's bike trip as gals supporting buddy's race against cancer which is nov 11

Bucket List Hike Max Patch

Yes indeed it is one of THE best SPOTS in Eastern US to hike

I"m talking about Max Patch in Pisgah forest off Harmon Den Exit past newport and before Waynesville off I 40
  Go up 6.2 miles and turn towards left on this gravel road and in 1 mile you see the trail head.  !!! And in half mile you're on the top of the one of the most spectacular balds and views you'll ever see!!

after hike I went to Hot Springs and hiked AT w/ my youngest Gracie and buddy Reilly 

We hiked up then out towards Lemon Gap on the AT  but even the 3-4 mile loop around the base then across the Top is a great hike!!

Dowsing and Fun hike @ Mingus Mill

 The Get on Trail w/ Friends and Missy got a treat for hike number two this Oct season.
Not only is Mingus Mill area next to Oconoluftee a neat area to view the old mill which still is making corn meal and flour, it has some great trails and off trails to cemeteries close by.  And we had the treat of having some Dowsing experts with us to lead our group.   While Vol Ranger Jim Burbank and Retired ranger Ray Sellers was showing half of the group the old slave cemetery the other half walked with GSMNP ranger Lloyd Luekins and Mountain Man Glen Cantrell over to the mill.

Regina a vol ranger from Cosby as well as Patty Edwards from Gatlinburg also helped explain to the groups about dowsing.   It is not hocus pocus but even in recent years utility companies have crews out with dowsing rods (light wt rod/wires) to try to detect water and of course they are famous for finding bodies too.     You could easily see and feel (when using yourself) the rods move towards each other and cross over graves.  Patty had a book about it telling us to be ware that jewelry and cell phones on your person could block the connections etc.    We hiked up the nice wide Mingus trail a mile or more then saw the sign to cemeteries.  The small bridges are pretty but also Extremely slippery so be careful. After the 2nd bridge Jim pointed out an area where folks say there is old graves hidden and sure enough, Glen Cantrell and patty's rods were moving a lot and Glen remarked  "must have been a violent death or murder"  Of course this got everyone's attention. :)

Further up the trail it got little steeper and the end there was a old gravesite with many old markers .. One said Mathis and Glen explained that was  big family in the area that had a farm close by.   Most returned back to the parking lot while some of us headed up further on Mingus trail to the Deep Low Gap trail intersection making for about an 8 mile hike.

Might be a neat spot to explore around Halloween for fun and don't forget to stop by the Mill as they had lots of christmas packaging you can buy to send loved ones presents.   Maybe it keeps the old grave site bones happy too to keep the mill active and vibrant?

Mile up Mingus @ Rifle Range practice range for Rangers 

O.R. gals 

Leaders Jim Sarah Glen Missy Patty Lloyd Ray
(regina already up at cemetery) 

Burrells Roxy and Lynn 

Patty & dowsing rods mnt man Glen looking on 

Cov gals Missy April (RN Parkwest) Sharon