Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 17

THE GOOD WALK
WHEN YOU
GO
CLOCKWISE FROM
TOP LEFT: The Loft Air
B&B offers great views of the
mountains.
Anglers are after " the best
catfish in North Carolina. "
Lake James is a 3,700-acre
impoundment.
The sandy swimming beach
is about 700 feet long.
THE WALK: A circuit
of not quite four miles
(including side trails) exploring
the shoreline and
woodlands of Lake James
State Park. It's a moderate
(almost moderately easy)
outing with a total elevation
gain of barely more
than 200 feet.
GETTING THERE: From
the intersection of NC
126 and Old Highway 10E
in Nebo, follow NC 126E
for 5 miles, turn right into
the state park, continue
an additional 1.7 miles,
make a left onto the road
for Paddy's Creek Campground
and park in another
200 feet.
MORE INFORMATION: A
trail map and detailed park
information is on ncparks.
gov/state-parks/lakejames-state-park.
from
the parking area to the Mill's Creek Trail. With minor
ups and downs, the pathway winds around the shoreline.
Sometimes the view was of a narrow inlet with a
couple of anglers slowly trolling in a jon boat while casting
their lines for the lake's numerous species of bass.
Two men angling from the shore of a different cove said
they were here because " this lake has the best tasting catfish
in North Carolina. "
Other times we gazed across a wide expanse of the
lake where water scooters zipped across a scenery whose
backdrop was a verdant hillside rising steeply from the
opposite shore. In one particularly quiet cove we watched
a kingfisher drop a small piece of bark into the water in
an attempt to draw a fish close enough to snag it with a
sharply pointed bill.
My additions to Dent's description of a perfect summer
day came true when the trail delivered us to the sandy
beach where we dropped day packs and took a plunge
into the lake's low 70s-degree water. And, yes, I know the
chips and ice cream we purchased from the concessionaire
may not exactly qualify as a full-fledged picnic, but,
hey, we were consuming food outdoors so I'm going to
consider it the final item in my definition.
Heavy growths of rhododendron and mountain laurel
helped provide shade on the ascending side trail back to
our starting point; yet when the car's thermometer indicated
it was 102 degrees at the parking area, we decided
another dip in the lake was in order.
Find out more about Leonard's walking and hiking adventures
athabitualhiker.com.
JULY/AUGUST 2023 17
ADOBE STOCK | EIFEL KREUTZ

http://www.athabitualhiker.com

Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023

Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 13
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 14
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 15
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 16
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 17
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 18
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 19
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 20
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 22
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 23
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 24
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 25
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 35
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 36
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 37
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 38
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 39
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 40
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 41
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 42
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 43
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 44
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 45
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 46
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 49
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 50
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 51
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 52
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 53
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 54
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 55
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 56
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 57
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 58
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 59
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 60
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 61
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 62
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 63
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 64
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 65
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 67
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 68
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 69
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 70
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 71
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 72
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 73
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 74
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 75
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 76
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 77
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 78
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 79
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 80
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 81
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 82
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover4
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