North America – Page 11 – PalmTreeMusings

Appalachian Trail: Trailfest at Hot Springs North Carolina

April 12, 2014May 19, 2023Posted in hiking, North AmericaTagged Appalachian Trail, best things to do in, Chris Hikes the AT, hiking, hot springs, north carolina, Trailfest North Carolina, travel, travel blogLeave a comment

I arrived in Hot Springs, North Carolina, around 2 pm on a Saturday in April. I knew Chris had camped the night before at mile 253, so he’d have to hike 20 miles to get to Hot Springs. I figured he’d get in around 5. So that gave me a couple of hours to walk around town, check out the Trailfest Weekend going on in town, and explore the crazy 170 year old inn we were staying at. It’s a beautiful house with crazy rooms, sweeping staircases, slanting floors, and wrap around porches on both floors. Owned by a 3-time thru-hiker, it’s $20 a night for hikers. What a deal.

hiker tent and poles appalachian trail north caroline — Striking camp for the day

hiker at North Carolina Georgia state sign appalachian trail — Striking camp for the day

The inn, built in 1840, was later used during World War I as a boarding house for wives of the German officers who were being held as prisoners of war across town (three blocks away) at the Mountain Park Hotel, next to the mineral springs. Later, the house was a boardinghouse for teachers who worked at the Dorland-Bell Institute, a school for Appalachian girls.

AT appalachian trail sign on sidewalk — AT sign in Hot Springs

hot springs north carolina trailfest appalachian trail — AT sign in Hot Springs

Chris came limping into town at 5:20 and after showering and changing, we walked through the town. He was so happy to grab a beer, some salad greens, and hot wings and sit on the patio of the Quarter House Tavern, overlooking the French Broad River. He told me about his hike- some rain, some wind, ice chunks and heavy frost, but no snow. He saw one bear north of Clingmans Dome and some cool birds, two deer, and lots of hikers. In town we ran into Indiana, Rhode Island Red, and Admiral Caboose, all thru-hikers he had met on the trail in the past two weeks. After dinner a band played on the patio and it was a very relaxing evening.

sunrise meadow mountains appalachian trail north carolina — Ready to start the day

Hiker at waterfall along appalachian trail north carolina — Ready to start the day

On Sunday we walked around Hot Springs, had a delightful pancake breakfast with a bunch of hikers, and visited the Hot Springs spa. On the banks of the French Broad River, the spa has a dozen outdoor hot tubs, enclosed on 3 sides by a gazebo, fed by the hot mineral springs themselves. The open side looks out over the river and it was a lovely long soak and a pleasant way to spend an hour. In fact, we enjoyed it so much we went back the next day for another. After a “Hungry Hiker skillet” breakfast and a long soak, Chris got back on the AT to make his way 120 miles to Elk Park NC, where I will see him next Sunday.

man in Georgia Tech shirt on laptop on bench — Checking Email

man in hot tub hot springs north carolina outdoors — Checking Email

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

March 30, 2014May 19, 2023Posted in hiking, North AmericaTagged Amicalola Falls State Park, Appalachian Trail, best things to do in, Chris Hikes the AT, hiking, Springer Mountain, travel, travel blog1 Comment

Deah and Chris AT Georgia Springer Mountain Appalachian Trail

Chris (my partner) is set to hike the Appalachian Trail for the next few months. For the past month he’s been reading all about the trail and what to pack and what food to buy. He’s a pretty experienced camper and hiker already, so he pretty much knows what to do. Last week he purchased all his food for the first month and got it all measured out and packed away. And finally this weekend we drove down to Georgia to get him started.

one week food preparation for appalachian trail hiker — Food for a week

woman at AT Approach Sign West Ridge Staircase — Food for a week

We stayed at Amicalola Falls State Park lodge, one of the two main places that people start the trail. The AT actually starts at Springer Mountain, GA, but there is an 8 mile approach trail that leads from Amicalola Falls to the trailhead. While we were at Amicalola, of course, we visited the waterfall, a bit of a tradition with us (no arrests this time!).

amicalola falls georgia appalachian trail — Amicalola Falls

hiker at the appalachian trail approach sign springer mountain — Amicalola Falls

On Saturday morning we drove to Springer Mountain and parked. From the parking lot, it is .9 miles to the southern terminus, so I hiked that part with him. He signed in at the registry, put on his pack, and off he went. I drove back to Virginia, stopping at Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina, to deliver his first resupply package, and I also drove through Hot Springs NC, where I will connect with him in two weeks, along with a Trail Days festival there.

hiker signing registry appalachian trail springer mountain southern terminus appalachian trail georgia — At the southern terminus

hikers at southern terminus appalachian trail springer mountain georgia — At the southern terminus

A little trail history: the trail officially began in 1935, after the US government purchased bits and pieces of land to make one long continuous trail/park. About 2,000 people try to hike the entire length each year. About 17% succeed. The trail is 2,1083 miles long.

hiker starting appalachian trail springer mountain georgia — Off he goes!

Good luck to all the hikers this year! You can do it!

Adventure in Arizona: Grand Canyon and Sedona

November 30, 2013March 20, 2022Posted in North AmericaTagged 89A, Arizona, best things to do in, flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Montezuma Castle, Phoenix road trip, Sedona, Sedona road trip, Taliesin West, travel, travel blogLeave a comment

It was cool getting to go see the Grand Canyon as an adult, and also revisiting places in Arizona I hadn’t been in ten years. Also great to see one of my best friends, Nicole, and her family. Chris and I flew out for Thanksgiving weekend and arrived in Phoenix on Tuesday night. We caught up with Nicole and Mark, and the next morning we did a little Phoenix exploring- Frank Lloyd Wright’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Taliesin West, established in 1937- and then the Montezuma Castle National Park, nearly 1000 years old. Because Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun is so spread out, if you’re looking to visit, you will most likely want to rent a car to visit Phoenix, and nearby attractions.

couple in front of frank lloyd wright taliesin west arizona — At Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West

Montezuma Castle National Monument Arizona cliff dwellings — At Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West

The next morning, we headed up windy 89A and visited the canyons of Sedona and all the cool rock formations such as coffeepot rock, Cathedral rock, Courthouse Butte, etc, as well as the Chapel of the Holy Cross- is there a prettier chapel in America?- and my favorite bridge, Midgely Bridge, spanning Oak Creek Canyon. We stayed up on Airport Mesa at a little place called Sky Ranch Lodge, an absolute gem. We had a fantastic meal right next door at the Airport Grill- but shhhh! Let’s keep these hidden parts of Sedona a secret.

Woman standing in front of Midgley Bridge — Midgley Bridge

Chapel of the Holy Cross Oak Creek Canyon Sedona Arizona — Midgley Bridge

On Thursday we drove through Flagstaff- I did wonder if my dollar bill that I had tacked up in Collins’ Irish pub way back in 1998 was still there- and then on to the Grand Canyon, where we spent the day hiking around the southern rim and riding the bus around the national park. What a grand vista. It is truly mind boggling to think of time and the elements on that kind of scale.

Grand Canyon, Arizona — The Grandest Canyon

woman in white coat in front of grand canyon — The Grandest Canyon

The next day, we spent the morning around Sedona, and then we took the long way back to Phoenix, passing through Jerome and Prescott and other little towns, winding up back at Nicole’s in time to have Thanksgiving leftovers and chat with them. It was a great long weekend and a lovely look at some of Arizona’s finest features.

Autumn Adventures around NoVa

November 5, 2013May 19, 2023Posted in North AmericaTagged best things to do in, biking, Halloween, northern Virginia, travel, travel blog, Virginia, Washington dcLeave a comment

Deah and Chris, Congress trip, Washington DC

Some of my new friends are complaining that I never post any pictures of life in the US here, so I don’t want to disappoint. Being home is super fun! Here are some adventures I’ve had in the last few months while hanging around Northern Virginia.

I’ve been riding my bike more often- I did a very fun 25 mile ride with some friends in Dover, Delaware in September, and this past weekend I did a 56 mile ride to the end of the Washington/Old Dominion trail here in Virginia. The nice thing about getting out on a bike is being out in the fresh air, enjoying the fall weather, and not having it hurt every fiber of my body, like running does.

bikers taking a break eastern shore bike ride — Dover Delaware Ride

five ladies bikers eating pie eastern shore virginia — Dover Delaware Ride

Man biking on Washington Old Dominion Trail Leesburg WOD Virginia — Riding the WOD out to Purcellville

purcellville bike trail washington old dominion biking leesburg virginia WOD — Riding the WOD out to Purcellville

Speaking of running, I did the Army 10 Miler with my sweetheart and some friends, but due to security measures, couldn’t take my phone with me to get pics. But we kicked ass at 2 hours, 11 seconds.
The fall weather up here does something amazing to the trees. We don’t have beautiful fall leaves down in Texas- they just turn brown and fall off. Here in NoVa, they turn sunny yellow, brilliant orange, fiery red, majestic purple, and some just stay a glossy green. Really. It’s very beautiful, and it makes my daily drive home on Fairfax County Parkway really great.

fall foliage leaf peeping virginia — Beautiful fall foliage in Northern Virginia

Fall trees, northern Virginia NOVA — Beautiful fall foliage in Northern Virginia

Last week, I took a day off work to do some things, and wound up in a corner of DC that I had never been to, and ran smack into (not literally) the Washington National Cathedral. I had heard of it but never really seen a picture of it or been to it. Wow! What a gorgeous cathedral. I can’t wait to go check it out with some friends and tour it. We also were able to visit the US Capitol on a school field trip, and I took Chris along as a chaperon. We met the representative from our district.

National Cathedral exterior in the fall leaves — National Cathedral

Washington DC National Cathedral — National Cathedral

And, of course, my favorite event of all time occurs around this time each year: Halloween/ my birthday. Accompanying that is decorating the house, carving pumpkins (this year I did some drilling!), dressing up, and going to Oktoberfest (where we volunteered for the city of Reston’s Oktoberfest at the wine tent). And getting a year old, which turns out to not be so bad (so far).

painted pumpkin decoration halloween — tape+paint+pumpkin=fun

drilled hole pumpkin decoration halloween — tape+paint+pumpkin=fun

couple dressed as sheik and german beer girl halloween — Celebrating Halloween

4th of July at Niagara Falls and Toronto, Canada

August 11, 2013May 19, 2023Posted in North AmericaTagged best things to do in, July 4th, mystic muffin, Niagara Falls, Toronto, travel, travel blogLeave a comment

Niagara Falls with skyline in background

For the long July 4th weekend, we decided to drive up to see Niagara Falls and Toronto. We left Wednesday after work, and spent Thursday afternoon and Friday morning at the Falls. We took the Maid of the Mist boat tour, saw the fireworks for the 4th, and tried a couple of restaurants. All in all, Niagara is a cute and somewhat tawdry place to visit for a day or two, not really enough for a whole weekend, unless you also go visit some wineries in the Niagara On the Lake area.

Man standing at Niagara Falls Canada — Niagara Falls

On Friday afternoon we drove to Toronto to check out the city. We stayed close enough to downtown to walk in, and we visited the CN Tower on the first day. We also had some great Indian food, but unfortunately I can’t remember the name of the place. On Saturday we had breakfast at Mystic Muffin, which was a really interesting place, and we enjoyed talking with the owner- a super nice guy. And amazing apple cake. In fact, I planned on going back on Sunday morning to grab some stuff for the drive back, but unfortunately they are closed on Sundays. Sad.

We enjoyed the parks and greenspaces of Toronto, as well as the museum, and overall, had a very enjoyable visit there. I’m glad we visited in the summer- it was hot but not too bad, and we didn’t have to deal with all the snow!