BADIN LAKE CAMPGROUND IN THE UWHARRIE NATIONAL FOREST

After a frustrating day at work, my main objective was to soothe my soul by retreating to the woods. Of course it was a full moon Friday and nothing was going right so Vickie and I decided to go camping at Badin Lake Campground in the Uwharrie National Forest on Saturday. The light drizzle was predicted to stop around 4pm and clear up to blue skies on Sunday. Bailey and I met Matt, Vickie, Kaylee, and Sadie ( their dog ) at the campground. Badin Lake Campground has 35 sites for tent or RV camping, drinking water spigots, flushing toilets, and hot showers. Each site provides a picnic table, grill, fire ring, lantern post, and tent pads. Campsites 7, 9, and especially 11 had the best views right off the lake but they were taken. We did find a double site that fit our needs pretty well. We backed our trucks up to the site, unloaded, and set up camp. Matt pulls out some fishing poles and we all head off about 20 yards behind the campsite to Lake Badin. Matt was using chicken liver while Kaylee and I used Canadian Night Crawlers. Kaylee (5-6 yrs old) was the first one to reel in a bream. I caught 3 breams and 1 striped bass, Vickie caught a bream, and Matt was focusing on catching catfish. All the fish we caught were too small to keep so we kept fishing until dusk. Back at camp we all relaxed by a roaring fire eating cheeseburgers and potato salad. And for dessert, S'mores with jumbo marshmallows. Staring at a roaring fire for an hour or so will shut some eye lids fast. The temperature dropped to around the upper 40's during the night. Perfect weather for me. The morning sun quickly warmed thing up. Full from a hearty breakfast of bacon, sausage links, scramble eggs, and toast, we decided to hike the 5.6 mile Badin Lake Loop Trail. The trail mostly hugs Badin Lake to Arrowhead Campground. It cuts through the campground back to hugging the lake on the other side of the peninsula toward Badin Lake Campground. Kaylee did so well hiking that far. Back at campsite #20 we pack up and head home.

Hike: 5.6 Miles

FATHER/DAUGHTER HIKE AT ASC GREENWAY

My daughter, Cassidy, called me to go on another day hike this weekend. She wants to get Beason, her 13 week old beagle, acclimated to hiking. The last time we went on a day hike was the Grayson Highland State Park trip to see the wild ponies. Today started off with a delicious french toast with powdered sugar and cinnamon flavor and scrambled egg breakfast. We then loaded up the dogs, Bailey and Beason, and drove to Anna Springs Close Greenway. The same place I visited last weekend but this time I get to share the experience with my daughter. We parked behind the Dairy Barn, paid our fees, and headed down the Blue Star Trail. I showed her the two 200 yr old cabins. One of them being Billy Grahams grandfathers' cabin called the Graham Cabin. We walked along the historic Nation Ford Rd Trail as I explained the history of it but Cassidy wasn't feeling too nostalgic. Beason and Bailey were enjoying being outdoors and hiking. Crossing the 175 ft swing bridge was a challenge for a short legged pup who couldn't even get up the steps. Beason and Bailey were really enjoying being outdoors and hiking around especially with all the loving and comments they were getting from so many strangers. Several staff members at ASC Greenway were exceptionally friendly including a staff member Don Woods who provided treats for our dogs. Beason, being so short and young, really was doing a great job keeping up. We followed the Blue Star Trail passing the campsites and the Rush Pavillion straight to the Haigler Loop Trail. Nice fall weather with a cool breeze in the shade and warm rays in the sunlight along with spending time hiking and conversing with my daughter makes for a perfect day for me. We lapped the lake and followed the trail back to the parking lot passing once again the Fall Frolic Festival ASCG has every weekend during the month of October. Back at home Cassidy and I dropped off the dogs and ate lunch at Azteca Restaurant for a late lunch and to close out our day hike. Thank you Cassidy for sharing the day with me.

Hike: 3 miles

Cassie and Beason crossing the 175 ft swinging bridge

Haigler Lake

Kayaking on Haigler Lake

Beason

Geese along the Haigler Lake Trail

Geese along the Haigler Lake Trail

Near a primitive campsite along the Haigler Loop Trail

Donkeys huddling in the corner

Sheep napping in the field

HIKING AT ANNA SPRINGS CLOSE GREENWAY

The weather forecast for the weekend was partly cloudy on Saturday and rain on Sunday. Not wanting to pack out from a camping trip in the rain I went online to locate an alternative plan for this weekend and came across somewhere local and interesting. Anna Springs Close Greenway is a 2,100 acre nature preserve in Fort Mill, SC. Opened to the public in 1995 as a non-profit tribute to Anna Springs Close, this nature preserve has an enormous amount of amenities including a 1940's dairy barn, a 125 ft suspension bridge, two 200 yr old log cabins, nature center, a 28 acre lake, four fishing ponds, equestrian, camping, and over 40 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Only 20 minutes from Charlotte this was my best choice for a day trip. To get to ASC Greenway go down I-77 to exit 88/Gold Hill Rd, turn left and continue onto Springfield Parkway, pass two lights to Old Nation Rd and then turn right onto Dairy Barn Lane. At the parking lot is an informational kiosk with trail maps and an honor system fee box. Fees vary per activity but for a non-member hiker is only $3. After paying my fee, the trail combination I selected started off passing the Dairy Barn, the Faires-Colthrap Cabin, the Graham Cabin, two friendly donkeys, and a 125 ft swinging bridge within the first mile. Bailey was a little wary of the swinging bridge. After crossing Steele Creek the Blue Star Trail takes you up a service gravel road passing the nature center, the Rush Pavillion, and the primitive campsites straight to Lake Haigler. ASC Greenway offers kayak/canoe rentals on a first come bases or bring your own. I then hiked along the Haigler Loop Trail to Billy's Walk and connected onto Muscadine Trail. This horseback/hiking trail goes deep into an isolated hardwood forest. One would assume they can find great solitude in such an isolated place but the low-flying planes, the charging locomotive passing over the trail, and a nearby roadway reminds you that the sprawling suburbs are all too close. At one point the Muscadine Trail, following Steele Creek, sneaks under the scenic Southern Railroad Trestle to a replica of the Webb Grist Mill. If you block the background noise you'll enjoy over 100 species of wildflowers and a large variety of birds and other wildlife along the way. The trails are not easily marked for a first time visitor so I had to pull my map out several times throughout the day. After crossing over Steele Creek on another swing bridge the trail loops back around. At one point the trail parallels the creek on the left and a hidden open field on the other. The Steele Creek trail runs straight into the Nation Ford Trail. The Nation Ford Trail follows the footprint of the historic Nation Ford Road; part of the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road and a pathway that was used by Native Americans, European settlers, Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, traders and trappers for hundreds of years. Anna Springs Close Greenway provides a lot of history. Nation Ford Trail took me right back to the Dairy Barn parking lot. Spending most of the day at ASC Greenway I only experienced a small portion of what this nature preserve offers. My next visit I will bring my fishing pole and try my luck at Steel Creek, Lake Haigler, Lake Frances, Lake Crandall, or Stumpy Pond. These lakes and ponds are stocked with bass and catfish. Bass smaller than 12" in length must be released but I can keep all the bream I catch. Fishing here is restricted to members only and a SC fishing license is required. Anna Springs Close Greenway is open year-round, seven days a week from 7am to sunset. I definitely plan on visiting ASC Greenway again and again until I've hiked all 40 miles of trails.

www.ascgreenway.org

Hike: 7 Miles

FAIRES-COLTHRAP CABIN

DONKEY

HISTORIC NATION FORD ROAD

TABLE AT CAMPSITE

LAKE HAIGLER

BAILEY RUNNING LOOSE ON THE MUSCADINE TRAIL

SOUTHERN RAILROAD TRESTLE

A SMALLER SWING BRIDGE

SOUTHERN RAILROAD TRESTLE

GRAHAM CABIN