June 26 Hike - Horseshoe Bottoms

I was able to get out and hike two days in a row.....very enjoyable!

On this day, I chose to park in an area that I had never used before. It is a narrow strip of land, perhaps just 100 yards wide, with private property on both sides. I followed it back to where I wanted to go, the Horseshoe Bottoms area, hiking about 1 1/2 hours to get there, wandering around there for a while, resting at a very high bluff overlooking the river, then started back. At some point, I realized that I could not find that 100 yard strip of land to reach my car...but kept encountering No Trespassing signs. I could easily have just ignored those and hiked straight north to the road and then followed it either east or west to the car, but chose not to do that, so ended up hiking west to another road, then walking a bit over a mile back to the car.

I followed a small stream heading on back to the Middlefork River.

I came across a few varieties of mushrooms in the woods. One reminded me of coral, but I do not know the identity of any.

I wandered through hills and heavily wooded areas.

This is a sign at the Horseshoe Bottoms Nature Preserve area. It is quite remote in relation to other sections of the public land and requires a good hike from just about anywhere to reach it. You can actually park at the Lake Mingo dam in the Kennekuk Cove park and hike north to this area, but it is a long hike. All wildlife and plants are protected in this area.

I stopped for a break on a bluff above the Middlefork River; just sat and rested a while, and enjoyed the view. There are numerous places along the river that offer very nice scenery looking out across the river and low lying areas.

On the way back to the car, I crossed through the river bottom area, where there was a very large number of Milkweeds in blossom. The air was filled with their fragrant odor and there were butterflies and bumble bees on the blossoms. This first butterfly certainly has beat up wings, but seemed to be getting by just fine. I believe the second butterfly is a Swallowtail, but am not sure of the first. Any help in identity of any of my pics is always welcome.

If you are able, get out, take a hike/walk and enjoy what we have available to us...until next time.....