Wrapping up April; Retreading Familiar Hiking Grounds

Back at the end of April we revisited two trail that I've blogged about several times before; the Richard Martin Trail in Elkmont and the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Arrowhead Landing. Both trails offered some Spring wildflower viewing. 

First up, Richard Martin with guest hiker, Nia the Border-Beast Terrier. On this particular day we started at the north end of the trail on the Tennessee/Alabama border (in the defunct town of Veto) and hiked south into Elkmont (for goat cheese at Belle Chevre) and then returned to the north.

Ragwort

Lamb's ear

May apple

Phacelia (scorpion weed)

Buckeye

Cranesbill

Creeping Buttercup

Fleabane

Squawroot

We stopped coming and going at the covered bridge so Nia could indulge her otter genes in the creek. That dog loves to swim. I've known dogs that would on occasion swim if there was a reason, but Nia freaking loves the water.

Dogs are terrible about bringing beach blankets so Nia did her best with the available twigs and leaves along the trail.

Just down from Belle Chevre is the recently opened Artisan South art gallery.

Don't tell anybody, but I went in for the gelato...

...which I may have shared.

There are good hikes and there are "SO GOOD IN THE MUD I MUST BATHE" hikes.

Tracklog of this hike can be viewed here.
All the pictures from this day are hiding right here.


Next up was a trek around the refuge that we took on a day that we thought would be warm enough to heat up a pizza in the van while we hiked. It was warmer, but probably not heated to health code standards. We ate it anyway; all the toppings were pre-cooked. Still not the "OMG THE VAN SMELLS LIKE LITTLE CEASAR'S" moment we were hoping for.

Leather flower

Hop clover

Rough bedstraw (?)

Blue-eyed grass

Morning star sedge

Horse nettle

Oak gall

Osprey nest alongside the Tennessee River

Black racer (identified by Dr. David A. Steen via Twitter)

I-565 bridge over the Tennessee River floodplain in the distance

Esther thought it would be great to set up the hammocks under the I-565 bridge and hang out in the shade for a while. It took her about 5 minutes to get hers anchored and me about 20 minutes to decide that I wasn't all that into setting up a hammock. This is a recurring theme with me and hammocks. 

All the pictures and hanging out in a hammock that I didn't hang RIGHT HERE.