Last Paddle

Cascade Lake CG site #P4
Pisgah Forest, NC

Yesterday morning we didn’t get out of the MH except to walk Smudge.  We enjoyed some relaxing time with the computers.  Gin has been working on our information cards and they are ready to be printed now.  In the afternoon, we put the kayaks in the lake for one more slow paddle up to Hooker Falls.  Gin took her fishing gear but didn’t have any luck.  As we were leaving the CG part of the lake, all the local geese were too.  Five adult geese have started hanging around the family with little ones.  That’s what the goslings will look like when they grow up.

We went up a cove that has had a beaver dam in it at one time.  It’s a little shallow and is full of fish beds.  All the geese followed us.

As we rounded the point, a Great Blue Heron flew away.  A pair of Belted Kingfishers also like that cove and flew by flirting with me to take a picture.  They wouldn’t stay still very long so this is the best shot I got.

Just before you leave the CG part of the lake, there is a nice little boat landing.  They allow small boats with a maximum of 12 hp in here.  Most people use canoes and kayaks.

The mountain laurel is starting to fade a little and the rhododendron is just getting started.  They should look real good in a week or so.

Here’s one more shot of the falls just to say that we made it.

I love the rock and plant life along the bank.  I don’t know how plants hang on so strong.  The moss and fern are so green and really help to take the stress away.

There were some fish in this oxbow so Gin cast her rod a few times but didn’t have any luck.  She saw a river otter on the bank, but he was way too fast to get a picture.  We also saw a lot of newts in the shallow area.  I don’t know what kind of bush this is but the fruit look like tiny cherries.  Maybe it’s a wild cherry tree, but I sure wouldn’t eat any.

As we were slowly paddling back to camp, this herd of noise came paddling by.  The boys looked to be 12-13 years old and three young adults were with them.  Too much energy for us.  I counted nine boats and most were tandem.

As I approached camp, our geese family greeted us.  I was hoping they weren’t so protective that I couldn’t get out.  They sure have grown a lot this week.

Today (Wednesday) is our last full day here. After seeing rain in the forecast, we packed up the outside stuff and relaxed inside for the afternoon.  The rain started about 3:00 and it was the gentle napping kind.  I’m glad we put away the stuff while it was dry.  We plan to leave fairly early tomorrow since it’s a long drive.  We like this CG and plan to be back next summer (after retirement).  We may even be full-timing by then.  It would also be a good place to be a volunteer host couple.  The manager couple is Jeff and Lisa Shepard.  We camped next to them last year.  He is a retired Transylvania County Deputy and his son Chris is a NC State Trooper.  The Cradle of Forestry in America is the concessionaire.  They also handle the Davidson River CG on Hwy 276 along with many other facilities in other states.