PJ's Run: Trail Quest Goes Southeasterly! Part 1 of 3

It all started while running with a friend. Of course. Randall seemed to be ramping up her training last fall and I asked her what she was getting ready for. The answer: a favorite run - along a beach to a lighthouse in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. After her description of the run, I said that would be the trail run I would do in South Carolina. One thing led to another - weather history reviewed, tide charts scrutinized, schedules examined - and Randall declared she and husband Dan would be hosting us in South Carolina during low tide of hopefully still-cool March. Thus the plan for the southeasterly portion of the Trail Quest was hatched!

Part 1: Boulder, Colorado to Charleston, South Carolina covers a whole lotta states!

Oklahoma - State #15 - March 12, 2017

It reads: "This is the highest point in Oklahoma. 4,972.97 feet above the sea"

The Black Mesa Summit Trail had been on my list since I first started researching trails. In the very northwestern bit of Oklahoma, it reaches the highest point of the state. Research also indicated that one might want to avoid the trail from April to October due to rattlesnakes and copperheads. I was a bit leery about the snakes but a mile or so into the run I realized I had a bigger concern. We had left Boulder later than desired and due to the 30+ miles of back roads from the last town to the trailhead it took a lot longer to travel to the trail than expected. Bonus feature, though: a herd of big horn sheep along the way! In any case, as I was running up the trail, I realized the sun was dropping down in the sky - and I knew there was no way I would be able to negotiate my way back down the trail in the dark. (Note to self: always pack a headlamp on these trail jaunts!) The result of my dash to beat the sunset: a full-out gallop up the 4.3 miles of uphill followed by by far the fastest 4.3 mile downhill run I've had in my life - all while marveling at the view. New Mexico was just a few hundred yards west, Colorado a few miles north and Kansas off in the distance northeast. A great trail and fabulous run to start the trip!

Ready to start

Sights along the trail

Benches at each mile to enjoy the view

Looking south and east

And looking north and west

And now heading back down the trail. Weeehawww!

Made it!!! With daylight to spare!!! Whew!

Texas - State #16 - March 13, 2017
When thinking about Texas trails, I figured I would run something in Big Bend National Park. However, as we drove (and drove and drove) through Texas from Oklahoma to Arkansas, I discovered we would be going right by a trailhead for the Caprock Canyon State Park Trailway. What the heck; we're here, the trail's here, let's do it! Thus we check off the state of Texas (with a promise to ourselves to still visit Big Bend National Park sometime in the future).

The east trailhead of Caprock Canyon Trailway

Elegant portapot just a few hundred yards down the trail. Bonus!

Cactus to the left of me

Cactus to the right of me

Trail Quest Texas - Done!

Arkansas - State #17 - March 14, 2017
Researching trails in Arkansas hadn't come up with much that fit our route or tickled my fancy. But while lounging at the campground in Texarkana, I found a wee trail right in town, on the Arkansas side of the state line, that was referred to as a "trail" in every reference. So why not?! The Nix Creek Trail. Yes, in town, but lovely, serene, and accompanied only by bird song all along the way.

Proof! In Arkansas!

Ready! Set!

Louisiana - State #18 - March 14, 2017 (two states in one day!)
My Louisiana trail was recommended by an internet running buddy (a member of the Dead Runners Society (DRS) email group that I've belonged to for 23 years now!) - the Wild Azalea Trail - a real trail trail: butterflies, bogs, blossoms, pine needle floor, stream crossings. A most excellent run!

A lovely wooded run:

Sometimes mud-protected crossings...

Sometimes not so protected...

Yes go down down down to the creek

Maybe get your feet wet...so refreshing!

A wonderful day, wonderful run

Mississippi - State #19 - March 15, 2017
Another trail complements of a fellow DRS member, Becky Ryder, who met up with me for the run. Becky moved to Hattiesburg when she retired and has become very involved with the Longleaf Trace rail trail - a fantastic companion for the run along the Trace.

Becky and pj at the start of their run along Longleaf Trace

Running the Trace, from Epley Station to Jackson Station

Depots kept up along the way

Many events and much of the support for the Longleaf Trace
are provided by the Pine Belt Pacers, Becky's run club

Post-run bbq- A big thank you to the fellow at the Longleaf Trace management office who gave us the recommendation. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's oh so good inside!

Alabama - State #20 - March 16, 2017
And another trail recommended by a DRSer! The trails in Gulf State Park where we camped and I got to run right from our campsite! I purposely picked trails that had "alligator swamp" noted on them on the map. Drat. None seen. Perhaps the temps in the 30s when I started out had something to do with their scarcity. Enjoyable running and sights even without the alligators - and, even better, finishing the run on the Gulf Shore beach!!!! Waaahooo!!!!

Armadillo Trail into a woodsy swampy bit

Rosemary Dunes, yep, closer to the ocean...but not quite there yet.
No tortoises spotted (besides the Trail Quester)

No alligators spotted either - but I sure was looking!

Is this the "Rosemary" of the dunes?

I don't think we're in Colorado anymore!

BEACH!!!!

OCEAN!!!!

PELICANS!!!!

Florida - State #21 - March 17, 2017
The highlight of the Florida portion of this trip was the visit with my Uncle Kent (my mom's baby brother). What a treat! We only went south far enough to get to his house where we spent the night and visited over breakfast. Then it was north again and on to the Amelia Island State Park Trail (part of the East Coast Greenway Trail) that I ran to Peters Point Beachfront Park - and more ocean!

Uncle Kent - so good to see him!

Lots of flowers along the way...

And moss...

And tree canopies ...

And, if you're in Florida, you can't avoid high rise development and golf courses...

But then there's the ocean.

It makes us smile...

Georgia - State #22 - March 18, 2017
I was intrigued by Savannah and found a trail that runs from just outside Savannah toward Fort Pulaski: the McQueen's Island Historic Trail. The trail follows the right-of-way of the Savannah & Tybee Railroad built in 1887 to carry passengers from Savannah to Tybee Island and goes along the banks of the Savannah River, a major shipping route into and out of the Port of Savannah. A good run followed by a visit to Fort Pulaski, then a fabulous seafood lunch before heading north to Charleston and our visit with Randall and Dan!