Rockwoods Reservation: Round House and Fox Creek Spur

 We think we hiked about 4.2 miles in all--the Fox Creek Spur is .6 miles and is a gradual but steady incline for most of that distance. It really gets your heart pumping right away.  Then the first half of the 3 mile Roundhouse Trail is mostly incline as well, but once you get used to it, it's not really that terrible, although Paul thought that the condition of the trail (many grooves from horse hooves) and the inclines made it the hardest 3 mile trail he's ever completed.

The trailhead for the Fox Creek Spur is across Fox Creek Road and next to the Greenrock Trailhead. There were a few cars when we started, but none when we finished. I had completely forgotten about this trail for years.  If we'd been at Rockwoods Reservation, there would have been crowds.

Again, this is a multi-use trail, which means that the condition was not as smooth as a hiking only trail.  Although we ran into only one other hiker--and technically, she was on a different trail at the Round House cut off.

Gorgeous day, about 65 degrees, no clouds.

Inclines are the norm on this trail.

Have no idea what this is supposed to spell.

Cute outhouses in the middle of the Roundhouse Trail.

Rockwoods Reservation, March 23, 2016

 This is a great trail, located off the I-44 Service Road. Take the Allenton exit, 261, make a left onto Fox Creek Road, which is the service road--and drive to the second Rockwoods  Range Trailhead, which will be on your right.  Again, you are in Wildwood, but not the Wildwood of the Al Foster Trail.  This trail was clean, well-tended and challenging. There were hills.  I ran across one couple and their tiny dachsund, who was spry and friendly despite the little saddle bags she was carrying.

 No dogwoods yet. . .

 . . .but one red bud.

Al Foster and Cedar Bluffs Trail, March 22, 2016

 At the Sherman Beach Trailhead.

 Along the Stinging Nettle Trail

Debris in the trees. I guess this is underwater sometimes.

 Houses along the bottom land range from comfortable (above) to ramshackle and junk-filled.

 A small country church right before Easter Sunday.

 Again, lots of trash. Dumped? Brought in by the river?

 The Cedar Bluffs Trail in Castlewood State Park.

 I sat on this bench and journaled for awhile.

 An interesting glade just off the trail that overlooks the railroad tracks.

 You have to walk through this tunnel to get to the Cedar Bluffs Trail.  I had to stoop to get all the way through.

 Just as I was ready to go through the tunnel, I heard a train whistle.  Made it through the tunnel with time to spare before it thundered by.

 A roofing company run out of a house along the Al Foster Trail.  Lots of pallets.. . .

So close to the river. Here's a shell. . . .

Interesting if slightly creepy and depressing trail.  I learned about it from 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles--St. Louis, borrowed from my brother.  The Sherman Beach Trailhead in Wildwood is where I started at 11:00 am.  Not many people--one walker with an i-pod finishing up. A father and his looked to be about 9 year old daughter on bikes. The terrain goes from sandy path along the river to gravel to a trail that climbs bluffs in Castlewood State Park.  There are other connectors and offshoots, but I didn't visit them today. Hiked about 5 miles--although most of the terrain was flat.

Lewis and Clark, February 5

Unseasonably warm again for February 5. A quick hike after school on a Friday before meeting at Crow's Nest to discuss Infinite Jest. Saw only two women hiking the opposite direction, overheard them talking about the new X-files, which they panned.

Rockwood Reservation, January 31, 2016

A sad post. We adopted Lou and even this 5 mile hike and hours in the backyard did not quell his energy. We had to return him to the Humane Society where he ended up adopted by another family.  We miss him, but we think it was for the better.

Howell Island, March 8, 2016

Well, then I actually did hike Howell Island a week later. It was warm; I wasn't feeling the best--but I went anyway and took photos. The island has what I imagine as a very "Roanoke VA" type of feel. I expected the lost colonists to appear at any second. There was a family fishing from the Causeway, but once I walked across, it felt deserted, even though you can hear cars from the highway for awhile. Before long, I ran across two teenagers and presumably, their father. And then a couple that seemed like they might be on an internet date except he looked like he'd been using the Farmer's Only site while she must have walked out of 1985, hiking in her heeled boots and a black sweater with a faux fur color.

This is the biking trail that you cross after you've parked, right before you get to the Causeway.