This is the continuation of a bike loop that started at
|
Mile: 13 RT 2:15Whitmer Road |
|
|
Mile: 13.2Johnny Meadows Group Site This campsite is for group camping and horse camping. It is the only campsite not between the road and the creek. It also has the only pit toilet in the whole Dispersed Camping Area. |
|
|
Mile: 14 RT 2:21Whitmer Road |
|
|
Mile: 14.3Swimmin' Hole Here is how to find the swimmin' hole. Around mile 14.3 look for this hiking sign. There is a campsite and the Bee Run Trail trailhead. Get on the trail and start across Gandy Creek on the footbridge. |
|
|
|
Look left from the foot bridge and you
will be looking at the swimmin' hole. In the second photo look to the right side of the water and you'll see the large stone slab "beach". |
|
|
|
Here I am recreating a scene from
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Delmar O'Donnell: "Them syreens did this to Pete. They loved him up and turned him into a horny toad!" I didn't see any syreens myself. |
|
| Bike, beach and bridge. |
|
Mile: 15 RT 2:28Whitmer Road Back on the road. |
|
|
Mile: 15.1Lafe Elza Trail trailhead Map Link Elza Trail begins at County Road 29 along Gandy Creek upstream from Bee Trail. Elza is similar to Bee Trail in scenery, and it also climbs to the top of Leading Ridge. At this junction however, Elza Trail continues down the other side of the ridge to the North Prong of Big Run. (2 miles) |
|
|
Mile: 16 RT 2:36Whitmer Road |
|
|
Mile: 16.5Leading Ridge Trail trailhead |
|
|
Mile: 16.9Big Run Trail trailhead |
|
|
Mile: 17 RT 2:43Whitmer Road |
|
|
|
Critter on the road.
Not sure what kind of a snake it is. At least it wasn't rattling at me like this one was. |
|
|
Mile: 17.5End of Dispersed Camping Area |
|
|
Mile: 18 RT 2:49Whitmer Road |
|
|
Mile: 18.6Bridge across Gandy Creek. The road climbs steadily and you lose sight of the creek. |
|
|
Mile: 19 RT 2:55Whitmer Road |
|
|
Mile: 19.4This is a three way intersection. Whitmer Road ends and both Gandy-Oceola Road and Forest Road 1 begin. Go right down Gandy-Oceola Road. We will be coming back to this intersection. Turning right here will take us to the Sinks Of Gandy |
|
|
Mile: 19.9Intersection with County Road 40. We are heading southwest. CR 40 comes in from the northwest. Continue going straight. According to the wooden sign, the route to Harman is CR 40. We take the route toward Laurel Fork Campground. |
|
|
|
When you get to this intersection the
landscape opens up dramatically. |
|
Mile: 20 RT 3:02Gandy Oceola Road |
|
|
Mile: 20.7Ahead is Yokum Knob. You can easily spot it from Spruce Knob on this photo. You can't see it of course but the Sinks Of Gandy passes underground directly in front of us. |
|
|
Mile: 21 RT 3:09Sinks Of Gandy gate Right after you see Yokum Knob you'll go uphill and then around a sharp turn. As you go around the turn look to your left and you'll see this gate. The Sinks Of Gandy is on the other side of this gate. |
|
|
|
The view from the other
side of the gate. Yokum Knob on the right. |
|
|
Here is the path to the Sinks.
Remember that the Sinks sit on private property. Since there were cattle grazing nearby I didn't take my bike onto the property. I just walked. It's not far. |
|
|
Sinks Of Gandy
Yokum Knob in the background |
|
|
Views from the Sinks.
Outside and inside. |
|
|
|
|
|
While standing outside of the Sinks I
was buzzed by an V-22 Osprey. When you see one that close it looks so ungainly it's hard to believe that it can actually fly. |
|
|
Mile: 22 RT 3:14Gandy Oceola Road Get on the road and go back the way we came. This brings us back to the intersection with Co. Road 40. Directly in front is Pharis Knob. You can see it from Spruce Knob on this photo. |
|
|
Mile: 22.5Back at the three way intersection. Just coming from a different direction. Go right up Forest Road 1. |
|
|
Mile: 23 RT 3:21Forest Road 1 |
|
|
|
Why did the Ruffed Grouse cross the
road? Damned if I know. |
|
|
Mile: 24 RT 3:29Forest Road 1 Entering Spruce Knob - Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area |
|
|
Mile: 24.8Spruce Knob Lake The highest lake in the state. |
|
|
Mile: 25 RT 3:38Spruce Knob Lake Campground We end the loop where we begain at the campground entrance except now coming from the opposite direction. Total trip distance at almost exactly 25 miles. |
|
|
