After two days of work, I made the decision to stay at the cottage for the duration I originally planned. I had several days off and intended to spend them exploring the area. I have already discovered an Amish store where I got a gigantic pumpkin and some veggies, but the main store was closed the day I went there. On one weekday, after a hike I stopped at Four Corners Bulk Food & Deli and was not disappointed. While a bit more commercial than I would have preferred, the store sold everything a typical Amish store would - preserved jams and veggies, bulk food, candy, some dairy products, seasonal veggies and sandwiches. I got a small jar of peach jam (I just can't stop buying jam!), a dozen of eggs, a fried blueberry cream cheese pie (can't say I liked the cream cheese part) and vegetables. I also stopped at another, real Amish store and got some green beans and tomatoes from a lady wearing no shoes. All staff in these stores wear usual Amish attire, so it is fascinating to visit them just to see the differences in style.
I also wanted to explore other hiking areas. Savage Day Loop in South Cumberland State Park was a pleasant 4-mile hike in the forest with a single overlook at Rattlesnake Point and Savage Falls that again was not as full as usually because of the dry several weeks.
Another suspension bridge
Changing colors
Rattlesnake Overlook
Savage Falls
Since I was already in South Cumberland State park, I decided to hike another trail. Collins Gulf Trail to Horsepound Falls and Collins River was supposed to be a moderate trail around 4.5 miles in length. I thought I read in the reviews that the falls had decent flow, but when I got there after a long (or at least it felt like long) hike in the forest on a trail that was somewhat overgrown was a trickle.
Horsepound Falls
The cool part about this trail was how isolated it was. I met just two other hikers who backpacked there the night before and were heading back. I asked them if they saw any bears as the sign at the trailhead noted increased bear activity, and they said that they did not. I was a bit more at ease after that.
The hike was exhausting though. Maybe because I had already hiked 5ish miles before, but I was pretty tired on the way back. The highlight was another suspension bridge over what was supposed to be a stream.
On another day, I wanted to get out of the house, but did not want to hike much, so I decided on Twin Falls to Downsteam Trail. Feeling a bit guilty that I bypassed a longer, more challenging trail to hike this one, I did not have high expectations. I parked in the lower parking lot and could hear the waterfall before I even got out of my car. The waterfall was right at the beginning of the trail and blew my mind. The incredible sound of rapidly falling water was filling the air. I could not believe my eyes...
My short vacation was coming to an end, and I was glad to have signed up for a hike with a Meetup group from Nashville. Besides, Virgin Falls Trail was on my list to hike, so I killed two birds with one stone and socialized while hiking. The trail was pretty difficult. We took a detour during the first part of the hike to visit Martha's Pretty Point. Indeed, it was pretty.
Martha's Pretty Point
Another point of interest was a cave. I ended up going in with a flashlight. The ground was wet, but passable. I did forget I had a head on my shoulders and hit it against the rock. It was not pleasant at all.
Inside the cave
I continued the hike to the falls. Unfortunately, the water was limited, so the spectacular waterfall was just not as spectacular; it trickled down, at best.
Virgin Falls
The hike back was pretty strenuous as most of it was uphill, albeit gradual. I got separated from the group as they were taking a longer break by the falls while I was being eaten alive by insects, as always...
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