Bartram Trail Hike

The Bartram Trial is well known in North Georgia but it also has a portion we hiked outside of Augusta surrounding parts of Clarks Hill lake. The Saturday before Mother’s Day “Moonbeam” and I decided to hike the Bartram Trail about ten miles from where we live. Our first thoughts were to walk it alone but “Trail-sniffer” would not hear of it. As we were getting ready his excitement grew. There was no way we would leave without him and as the car was being loaded “Trail-sniffer” kept a close watch on us. In he jumped and off we were.

We parked at the entrance to Petersburg Campground and began the hike. This hike trail is also a bike trail but I enjoy the walking aspect. Hearing movement in the woods or the many sounds of nature allows me to reflect on God’s creation. It was also perfect for “Trail-sniffer”, who loves so many different smells. The one sound we heard the entire walk were the cicadas that have been singing their praises to God in this area for the past few weeks. It was great for on the trail we could see much evidence of the cicadas having burrowed out of the ground, climb the trees, and then molt out of their body into the flying beauty God created. We also found many along the trail whose time was finished.

We were unsure how far to walk for “Trail-sniffer” enjoys himself but afterwards his hind legs get real stiff. So at one point while very close to the water we decided to stop and rest while eating a snack and to allow “Trail-sniffer” the freedom to play in the water. You could see small fish in the shallow water. I found a stick, which “Trail-sniffer” would fetch each time it was thrown into the lake.  He grew weary of the game after a while and decided not to bring back the stick. It was then we knew it was time to head back. While walking back a small black snake, which I think to be a coach-whip, slipped up into a bush hoping to be ignored and after a moment we continued on, thus ended a wonderful day hiking the Bartram Trail.