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Sunday, November 08, 2009

Weekend Journal

A new titillating column offered by TY&B!  Whether or not it will be a weekly offering is yet to be determined, but for now, here is the first journal entry of TY&B's "Weekend Journal" for any of you who may be interested.


Weekend Journal Entry #1:   Oconee Station Hiking Trail & Waterfall

(for a closer look, just click the pics)
After approximately one month of monsoon-like weather, the clouds have cleared and, today, autumn was finally able to display itself at full glory.  Weekends up at the lake during the final months of the year are prime time to go exploring. The area is known for its many waterfalls.  Mr. YnB and I decided to try out a hike to a waterfall we had never been to.  Me, being a city girl, I , unfortunately, have prerequisites that don't go over very well with the Yorkshireman I married.  I love the outdoors, but if the trail has not been beaten down prior to my arrival by other trailblazers, I am not the one to take the challenge.  I also do not prefer to be totally alone in the middle of a forest during hunting season, but I try my hardest to keep my fears of being hunted at bay.

Our first hiking trail attempt began at the edge of an open field.  This I could accept, so we began our trek.

 Mr. YnB walking in clover

It only took us about 10 minutes to come upon our first obstacle. A wide creek.
 
Mr. YnB began his search up and down stream to possibly find a crossing that didn't include getting wet when crossing.  No such luck.  Back to the car and off to another trail.

The second attempt, since it was now mid-afternoon, was a trail we had already accomplished a couple of years ago. (It meets all my criteria for the perfect hike) The last time we had taken it was not in Autumn so, today, the trail would offer us a new perspective. 

The sun spreading its golden fingers through the trees. 


About 15 minutes into our walk led us into conversation.  Well, let's say it was moi who led us into this particular gem of a conversation.  Having been the only car to park in the parking lot at the beginning of the trail, I could not leave the beauty of nature alone without the depths of my imagination taking over.  The conversation went something like this.......

YnB:  Honey, do you think we could run into a bear (or visa-versa)?
Mr. YnB:  Possibly.
YnB:  What!!  (heart jumps into throat)
Mr. YnB:  If you see one, just don't panic.
YnB:  Are you kidding me?
Mr. YnB:  Don't worry, we're not going to see any bears.  Just enjoy the scenery.
YnB:  no friggin way can I enjoy the scenery now
YnB:   continues thinking
YnB:  They would post signs if bears were a problem, wouldn't they?
Mr. YnB:  Yes, Bean, don't worry yourself, relax. 
YnB:  Stays quiet a little while longer followed by another 5 minutes of banter about imminent danger lurking in the forest (mostly by Mr. YnB).
Mr. YnB:  Look at this.  ( Successful attempt at distraction) 

Mushrooms growing on a log

  Then we came upon this wonderful tree shaped like an elephant's hoof......




After about a half hour walk, this made it all worth it (bears included, well...maybe not)....  

The falls may not look it, but it's about a 60 ft. drop.


As we ended our hike, Mr. YnB motioned me to come over to read this (something he didn't bother to have me read when we arrived.  He knew better.).....



By the odd chance you are in need of your own writing material, and this column sparks inspiration, feel free to grab the "Weekend Journal" graphic to start writing your own weekend journal entries on your blog. Who knows who may be interested in some of your wild weekend adventures, but if for nothing else, it could be a great memoir for your yourself!


26 comments:

Unknown said...

I love you woman! This is so like me I wonder if we were separated at birth. ;)

Thanks for the giggle too.

yorksnbeans said...

I'm glad to know I'm not the only wuss here! :-)

KaLynn ("MiMi") said...

BEE utiful pictures!! I would have been wondering bout the bears too! Just like a man to blow it off!!

I will be back! Glad I found you!!

dave hambidge said...

You had a wonderful day, that is clear from the narrative and the smashing photos. I suspect that the subdued fear of bigbears added a frisson (howvever you spell it) to the adventure.

BUT where was tootsie in all this. Left at home to party? I hope not...

linlah said...

Love the shot of the light through the trees. Also, maybe if you had Tootsie with you she could have fended off the bears.

yorksnbeans said...

KaLynn...Welcome! We love seeing new faces here at TY&B. Hope to see you again!

Dave....It certainly made me more aware my surroundings, that's for sure.

Linlah...You and Dave are absolutely correct, I must bring Tootsie along on our next adventure. Thanks for thinking of her! :-)

Mari said...

What a beautiful walk! I love the waterfall. I wouldn't have wanted to know about the bears while walking either.

yorksnbeans said...

Hi Mari! So good to see you! It was a much more pleasant walk denying the possibility! ;-)

Don "Grizzly" Mills said...

Lovely post YnB and a great shot of the waterfall.

Don

(And I didn't steal your bear theme - just a happy coincidence.)

yorksnbeans said...

Don....thank you and good to see you as always. In my book, you are a cuddly teddy bear! ;-)

Anonymous said...

That was very funny. Fantastic photos and heaps of trees to run up if confronted with a bear!
I once took a group caving (little cave) in the forest. They were all a bit worried about going into a cave, I said not to worry nothing can get you in a cave. The entrance was down a steep embankment. Anywho, I race down it and come to a grinding halt in front of a rock.I look up to see I am eyeball to eyeball with a friggin snake (hell yes, poisonous). It was sunbathing on the rock.I think it got just as bad a fright as I did. It fled one way while I fled the other. Caving abandoned!

yorksnbeans said...

Loon, I was so obsessed with the thought of bears, that snakes never even crossed my mind until the last steps of our walk. Just glad we didn't encounter either! :-)

nonnie9999 said...

maybe you should talk to stephen colbert about bear warnings having to be large and posted on every other tree. he knows that bears are the number 1 threat to america.

p.s. the pics are gorgeous. i'm still jealous.

Big Pissy said...

What a beautiful place to hike! Love all the pictures. :)

Joanna Jenkins said...

You are a VERY good photographer. The pic of the creek is amazing!

It sounds like you had a great day-- despite the bear fears-- which, by the way, would have kept me in the CAR! Glad you ventured out.

xo

Anonymous said...

I love this idea!

It almost felt like I was exercising vicariously through you.

Maybe next weekend your weekend journal could hit the treadmill? I've been really lazy lately and I need to get back into it slowly.

ps. Your photos are stunning.

lynn said...

these images are simply stunning....there's nothing like being outdoors in the fall. great post.

yorksnbeans said...

Thanks everyone. It's hard not to take beautiful photos on such a glorious day!

B....photos from a treadmill might be a bit boring for most viewers. ;-)

Bearman said...

You sure that tree looks like an elephant leg. After coming from Lynns site, it reminds me of something else.

delicate flower said...

Wonderful addition.. I will expect to see a journal entry every weekend... might give it a go myself.
thanks.

yorksnbeans said...

DF...don't hold your breath on that...I'll certainly try, but whether all my weekend outings are interesting enough for a post, is questionable. Please do give it a go, I would love others to give it a try. It might be an incentive for all of us to make the most of our weekends!

Bill Lisleman said...

Good story and pics. I thought that conversation was going to end with Mr. telling you that he didn't really need to worry about out running the bear - just out running you. Of course, he probably has more sense than me and wouldn't tell you that.

dave hambidge said...

Just a thoughtette, could the next monthly comp be a brief account of a recent weekend, with photos, and we have to guess who had the adventure?

yorksnbeans said...

Dave...that thought could go one step further. Everyone writes a weekend journal post, BUT! I distribute those stories to different bloggers to post and then you have to guess whose is whose. :-)

NobblySan said...

Fantastic pics, YnB.

Just watch out for that elephant in future - it's a right big bugger!

dave hambidge said...

YnB, positively inspired idea...