After spending a week on the other side of the country, and then pulling off 40 hours of work on the weekend, a sane person spends the Monday relaxing. Right?
Well… perhaps it is insanity, but Monday I was up early to go hiking an hour or two out of town at Red Top Mountain. Why? Well – why not?
In Retrospect
I’ve heard great things about Red Top Mountain for a while now, and passed the park quite a few times on my way to other Georgia trails. So when the opportunity arose for me to see it in the flesh, saying no was not an option.
Really, none of you should be surprised. If it’s one thing anyone should learn from my trip out west is that I will gladly give up sleep for adventure!
A Long Trek
It was a long way, and the longer I walked, the more I began to wonder if I was on the right path. I had passed a big lake on the way in, but for all I knew, I could be going in the wrong direction.
The Water
Finally, the water appeared through the trees, and after another half mile or so, I had arrived. Our rivers in Jamaica are usually clear with sandy bottoms, but this was green and murky with a muddy bottom. Needless to say, I was skeptical to go in, but eventually worked up the nerve.
There were a lot of other people out in the water – boats, tubes, kayaks, and swimmers – but not so many that it felt crowded.
After a quick swim, I changed back into my hiking gear and explored the surrounding areas. There wasn’t much else to see but more and more green, but it was good to be near the water again.
Twilight
Soon, the sunlight began to fade and it was time to start the long walk back to the car, and then the long drive back into Atlanta.
Final Thoughts
Red Top Mountain is a great trail, but is best done when not in a hurry, because it really is a long one. To add to this – at least when I visited – the trail was poorly maintained.
There were often huge trees felled on the trail. On the way back, there was a point where I had to go about 15 feet off the trail and navigate my way through a muddy swamp, to get back onto the main trail.
It was all fun and games for me, but I could have easily hurt myself, fallen into the mud, and come in contact with the creatures that love the swamp on a warm summer’s day: ie snakes.
But.. who’s complaining when there are adventures to be had?
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What hiking trips have you taken lately? Tell me all about it in the comments below!
Thanks for sharing my travel post!
Beautiful (;*
Thank you!
You see,it is very very important for one to explore the beautiful creation of the creator for us to understand how loving this God of the heavens and the earth loves us,hiking on the red mountain is one aspect of it, i loved one day to hike.
I’m not religious.
I enjoy hiking for the exercise, the fresh air, the opportunity to take great photos of nature, and to just clear my head in beautiful surroundings.
It is a shame when footpaths are not properly maintained. We found that in England when following the ancient Ridgeway walk along the Thames river that passes through Buckinghampshire (about 100 miles). There were parts that had been so churned up by 4-wheel-drives, motorbikes and horses that were simply impassible. We always wear good boots and gaiters, but it was still a nightmare to walk on. If they are walking trails, no vehicles should be allowed. Also, the West Highland Way in Scotland, the first proper long-distance trail I ever did about 21 years ago was also an endurance walk with difficult access at times, having to jump close to 2 meters, rucksacks and all, in order to continue. Still, here is to youth and adventure! Cheers!
It really is, especially since they get money to do it. Most of these parks get state funding, and there’s also the money we pay to park our cars there.
Did you walk the whole 100 miles? If so, sounds like a lot of camping! 😄
Yes, and we also walked the South Downs Way in the south of England, another 100 miles. The one I wanted to do but never got a chance to was Hadrian’s Wall, which goes from East to West coast in the north of England . We camped for weeks at a time, each walk usually took 6 or 7 days.
Oh wow. You’re a real adventuress! That’s great that you’re out and about though. We’re in that era where traveling is sitting in a hotel room, and entertainment is Netflix.
We’ve always been active. TV is for winter!!! 😉
Haha, I do slow down in winter too!
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Thanks again for sharing my travel post!
Thanks for sharing my travel blog post!
Those are some lovely photos. Looks like you had fun. Hugs and be good to yourself. Have so much fun!
Thank you! I’ve never had a bad hike, so that’s a given that I had fun *knocks on wood* 😄 Do you go hiking often?
Wish I could–too busy trying to pay debts and make ends meet. But just hanging out outside, being away from the phones and crap…that’s my idea of a great day. I’m trying to save money to I can explore more local hikes. Just need to be able to afford a day off once in a while, and thanks to Harvey, there’ll be a lot more penny pinching for a few months…but I’m determined to give myself some me time (and hikes are good ideas–it’s why I like looking at yours. Gives me something to look forward to).
Hiking is free though. We should never be too busy to LIVE! I work up to 90 hours per week! I set my own hours though so that makes it easier to make time.
Wow–wish I could get that many hours, just a few here or there, and then a last-minute schedule change comes along and cuts ’em in half. Easier to save when you know how much is coming in–it’s why I’m trying so hard to look for another job that will give me breathing room and “mental health days.” I can’t write much (or well) when I’m a stressed wreck. But I’ve got my trail books and will be planning some when I have an impromptu day off and enough gas in the tank to get there.
I own a business, which means most of those hours are not paid for. I don’t “get” the hours. I do it voluntarily to build my firm. I make less than most Americans, after company expenses. I’m just exceptionally good at living way below my means, and I’m debt free.
If you really and truly want something you’ll find a way someway, somehow. Keep at it!
What a gorgeous place, thanks for sharing your pics. I’ve got to get out into nature again soon, I haven’t left the city for nearly a year.
Nearly a year??? 😮 Wow! Yes, you definitely should get out when you can. There are probably trails in and around your city too, though. We have quite a few in Atlanta.
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Surely a great place to visit!!
Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed the hike!
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
Thanks for sharing my travel post. 😊