
Tucker County West Virginia
RM1329.7/T1108 Leadmine WVa–left CR7 South–red headed woodpecker, deer(9).
RM 1330.3/T1124 Buttercups


Tucker County West Virginia
RM1329.7/T1108 Leadmine WVa–left CR7 South–red headed woodpecker, deer(9).
RM 1330.3/T1124 Buttercups


Lumpkin County Georgia
RM72.7 T0953 Stop @ Hardees. Cold, Cold, Cold.
Dep 1016
RM73.2 T1019 Stop in Dahlonega Square
Side note: TOTAL MILES ON BEAGLE
100,034.7 over 100,000
RM76.0 T1102 Left on CR187 Wahsega Rd toward Camp Frank D. Merrill
RM81.9 T1113 Left on CR166 Berry Miles Road.
RM88.3 T1123 Arrive JCT CR72 Hightower Church Rd @ Etowah Headwaters Crossing.
DEP 1129. The Cream Colored Carolina Vetch is out. Tosses freshly in the wind. Shivering as if from the cold.
Robbins Plantain resists stiffly.
Right on CR72
RM83.9 T1137 Stop for Crested Iris


Arise 0900 RM(road mile) 118.6 Union County GA
WOODTHRUSH. Even tho’ this camping setup is dominated by trout fishermen(Cooper Creek, too), and even tho’ fishing and hunting campsites usually get all beat up and trashed up, my site still grows a number of nice flowers. Especially Rose Trillium. Abundant moisture really brings out the flowers. Even in well-worn spots. Arranged and re-packed the truck. My rhythms need revitalizing, and parts of my gear, too. Batteries run down. Items missing. Odds-and-ends pulled out of my total “road kit” during the house move. Oil can. For several months I have suffered tears and heartbreak at an ever-intensifying rattle and clatter in the Beagle’s back tailgate and/or flip windows. Hopefully, this morning I have found the problem. The main lynch pins in the two hinges in the tail gate had worked their way loose. The left one had slipped about 3/4″ to the right(out of its socket). The left had worked, maybe, 2 1/2″ left out of its ratched, and completely out of its right hand anchor. With my hatchet, a hammer and channel locks, as driver, I knocked them back into place. A drop-or-two of oil would’ve helped. Let’s hope that my back door rattle blues will now abate for a while.
RM118.6 T1029 Engine on. Gear stowed.
RM118.6 T1033 Head back North, the way I came last night, on FS4/CR228. That’s Mulky Road and Mulky Gap from old Lotus Blossom Days. This time, however, branch east from Mulky Road onto FS39/CR109. Thence up to the crest of Duncan Ridge–headwaters of the Tennessee and —-. East back to Sosebee.
RM118.6 T036 Depart FS4
RM119.3 T1041 Stream side campsite.
RM119.6 T1044 Arrive FS39/CR109 at Mill Shoals Creek. There’s a creek side pulloff @ Mill Shoals Creek.
RM121.4 T1106 Arrive Crest. Could be Shape Gap. Yes. Creekside camping @ Shape Gap at Pretty Branch.
RM121,6 T1112. Found Wildflower NO. 400
Pink Lady’s Slipper. Wildflower Walk. Crested Iris, Bellwort
RM121.6 T1257 Depart


Little Brown Jug Hexastylis arifolia 2003 photo by Roy Burke

Smyth Co Dames Rocket Barn photo by Roy Burke
In 2005 on his annual Blue Ridge sojourn, Roy logged an amazing amount of things, including Dames Rocket(Hesperis matronalis) on Day 5 of his trip, in Smyth County Virginia on County Road 660 East. It was one of his favorite wildflowers, easily accessible, not exotic, reliably found along many of his favorite country roads.

May 22 2007 Mitchell Co NC Dames Rocket photo by Roy Burke

Nicholas County WVA North Fork Cherry River photo by Roy Burke
By 2007, Roy’s vacation road logs had become a model of organization and a data mine into the ecological and aesthetic ebb and thrum of the backwoods he traveled. On May 25, 2007, Day 5 of his annual Blue Ridge ramble, he logged the following botanical observations: cinnamon fern, yellow daylily, fire pink, butterwort, black snakeroot. Wildlife sightings that day were limited to a single box turtle. He took this pic of the North Fork, Cherry River around 5:21pm that afternoon.

Southern Nodding Trillium-Trillium rugelii flower 02 photo by Roy Burke

Dawson Co GA Kudzu photo by Roy Burke

Dawson Co GA Sm Red Morning Glory photo by Roy Burke

Dawson Co GA Ironweed photo by Roy Burke

Dawson Co GA Ironweed photo by Roy Burke

Gilmer Co GA Wild Clematis photo by Roy Burke

Gilmer Co GA Goldenrod photo by Roy Burke

Gilmer Co GA Queen Anne’s Lace photo by Roy Burke

Gilmer Co GA County Road 188 photo by Roy Burke

Gilmer Co GA Bellflower photo by Roy Burke

Gilmer Co GA Jewelweed photo by Roy Burke