June 14 – Peaks of Otter Walks

The morning started out nice and cool but then it got blazing hot again. The forecast called for afternoon thunderstorms so we just did two short walks near home.

We got our morning internet fix at the Lodge and decided to do the 1 mile walk around the lake.

The view from across the lake of Flat Top Mountain, as opposed to Sharp Top Mountain which is behind us.

Our next walk was a 1.8 mile loop to the Johnson Farm. We first had to go under the Parkway.

The next part was nice and cool, along a small stream.

Then we had to cross a couple of meadows. It was very humid and with the sun beating down, we didn’t dawdle.

Back into the forest before the final short climb up the hill to the farm.

We were greeted by this gentleman who guided us around the outside sights. His wife does the inside the house tour.

He sure liked to talk. I asked him a few questions and he would sort of answer before going off on a tangent about his youth. It was fun to listen to him.

He described all the old farm equipment. The place was in use from the late 1800’s to the 1940’s.

We had him to ourselves for quite a while but as soon as another group came up, it was like a switch went off and he left us for them.

Heading into the house.

A lot of the stuff in the kitchen reminded me of things we use or used to use in our grandparents time at our cottages.

I am sure we have most of these somewhere.

The bedrooms were upstairs.

Back outside.

The lady explained that after the last couple’s husband died, the wife supported herself by growing flowers to sell down at the Lodge.

A game of throw the feathered corncob through the hoop.

They had a small vegetable garden for themselves and an orchard of all kinds of fruit trees wherever the land was too steep to farm.

We went over to say goodbye before we left.

The trail continued up hill for a view down on the farmhouse.

It was pretty hilly country to be farming.

The trail traversed the hill we had just climbed.

Quite the collection of mushrooms.

It almost looked like baked bread.

Then we dropped down at the end to go back through the tunnel to the car.

Note that it had been bright and sunny so far. We got back to the RV by 2 pm. By 3, right on schedule, a large storm went through with lots of rain and thunder. Unfortunately we couldn’t see any of the lightning, being buried in the trees. It has stayed kind of grey for the rest of the day.