O & W Bridge

(I did this hike on 10/19/15, selected the photos for the blog post, and never did the writeup! I was able to fill in some of the gaps by looking up a chat where I told my sister about the hike.)

This hike was fun, but longer than I expected, so I was pretty tired by the end of it! It was a beautiful walk, though, on the O&W Trail. It starts at Leatherwood Ford, walking 2.3 miles along the river to the old 0&W Railroad Bridge. The fall colors were really gorgeous.

I went out on the river bridge and took photos downstream and up before I started on the trail.

Jewelweed! I always see the orange variety at home, so the yellow was a little startling.

The pods were ready to burst!

Looking at those trees across the river, you can definitely tell which way the river flows, and just how high it can flood!

One of those interesting trail routes.

The colors on the far side were really vivid. 

These asters were a very pale purple, which doesn't quite show here, except for the centers.

A rare chance to actually get down to the river - most of the trail was well above the water, because it does flood so frequently.

Goldenrod, and more asters - the flowers of fall. This is the forest variety of goldenrod.

Those giant magnolia leaves really carpet the ground when they fall!

More colors, through the trees... Wait, what's that?

Hey, there's the bridge!

I always love seeing random rock outcroppings in the woods!

When I got to the bridge, I had to wait to cross it because there were several horses and riders coming the other way!

Looking further upstream.

Looking back the way I came.

Looking straight down.

This horse did NOT like the bridge and had to be led. I don't blame him!

So many rocks in this gorge.

I walked just to the far side and turned around. Obviously, you can drive to this point as well.

So many little red trees.

I walked back across and then went down along the shore just upstream.

High water lines.

The calm before the rapids.

More water lines.

I ran into some other hikers who recognized me from the visitor center, and they took my picture for me!

Bigleaf magnolia leaves have a heart-shaped base.

Umbrella magnolia are tapered at the base.

More big leaves overhead!

I had one other encounter, on the way back - I met an older couple looking for a place to fish, so I told them there was a spot just ahead where they could get over to the water. 

They had a very fat corgi, and I could hear him barking a few minutes after that.

Almost back to the bridge, looking back through that crevice.

Same view, different lighting! The hike back took me two hours, and that was without stopping as much!