Keowee-Toxaway State Park with Pam

Even though the hiking group has ended their hikes for the summer months, Pam and I are continuing on Tuesday's around the area.  If we get a good early start, we can be on and off the trail by lunch.  Today we visited Keowee-Toxaway State Park just a few miles from my house.  Pam brought Penny again and also her neighbor, Kim.  Kim had hiked alot before she moved here.

Starting at parking area, we headed to the Natural Bridge Trail about .5 miles before we connected with the Raven Rock Trail.  This trail is moderately strenuous and it's a 4.2 mile loop.

Pam checking out the water running under the boulders to the other side.

Kim and I were checking out this guy just a few feet away.  Not sure what kind he is.....couldn't see his tail because of the leaves.  Could it have been a rattler?  He wasn't moving.

Our journey today lead us around McKinney Mountain to a beautful area on the north end of Lake Keowee.  I believe this area is on the route to the "Boathouse" restaurant if you were traveling by boat.   It was a good descent to the lake shore.  We kept hearing noises just before here and found that there were aleast 6 convicts working on part of the trail. 

I was here!

Just a brief break before we start back to re-connect to the Natural Bridge Trail.

Another break for a picnic just at the junction.  Very peaceful spot!  It was a good day for hiking. 

To Table Rock State Park with Pam

So glad to get back on the trail today......we didn't let the heat get the best of us. Got a fairly early start with the temps expecting to reach the low 90's.



Can't hike in this weather without the Deet!



Started out on the loop of the Carrick Creek Nature Trail - about a 2 miles.  Such a beautiful trail that follows the creek a good ways.  You can connect on the route to the Table Rock Trail, Pinnacle Mountain Trail and the Foothills Trail along this area.  Think will try the Pinnacle Trail on another day.  It is suppose to have a waterfall and an overlook on the way up.



What fun to have Penny with us today.  She is so good.  Most of time she is off the leash.



Beautiful place for the kids to play or just relax!



We finished this loop then made our way over to the Pinnalce Lake side where we hiked another 2 miles around the lake.  Boy, you can really see Table Rock from here.  We encounted a beautiful doe and her fawn on this trail.  I was a little worried when the doe started pawing the ground when she saw Penny!  Luckily Penny didn't see her.



View from back side of lake looking toward Table Rock!  One day we will hike to the top!

The area had started to pick up with more hikers, bikers and swimmers just as we were finishing the lake trail.  Found a nice picnic area by the lake and had a few unwelcomed vistors.


Time to go.......and we ventured back to Hwy. 11 heading North to see if we could find a Vineyard I had heard about.

Believe we found it!

We were so impressed to have found such a treat at the Victoria Valley Vineyards, I decided this was where I wanted to come for my Birthday Dinner and so we did.......