Blog-azic

Emerald Outback, searching for Backbone Trail. Found the serene ridge top, the houses on spacious yards (of this mountain beech and grass), and Oz Forest Run. Muddy, wet feet, magic mountain top. The color green in dappled light. Every puddle is an exploration. In the afternoon we drove down the mountain to Banner Elk to Tate-Evans Park. We walked the green way upstream, following Shawneehaw Creek. We picked a few black raspberries for Adella, who thought they were too tart at first, but after she realized that she could pick them herself, she couldn’t get enough. We coaxed her away from the canes with the promise of river play in the cold, clear, swift water. In the evening, after Adella was asleep, I went out in the porch and looked at the moon through binoculars. Susan joined me and we watched a movie on the porch. 

Sassafras Trail. Paved easy road. Down into the hollow. Expanses of club moss. The laurel hollows. Tulip poplars. Another family with a whining child, who silenced as we past and started again when we got further. Coaxing Adella for more steps. Buckeye Recreation Center. A wonder of a play ground, but closed. Adella tried to go under the caution tape around it. Instead, we went down, down a rocky, laurel ravine to a loudly rushing mountain stream. The trail followed along side the stream until it passed over via a bridge at a waterfall. On the other side, Adella splashed in the feeder streams and seep water. Settling on an offer. Pizza (hidden from Adella) and movie.