HOOP HOLE HIKE

Way up in County Botetourt
Where the James slenders down a lot,
The outlook was far from bleak
As we set out up Stony Creek
On a summer day not too hot.

Steep at times was that ascent,
But we were not hell bent.
Creek crossings, they were rife,
And we observed plant life
As slowly up we went.

Laura's pace suits me to a tee.
Slower uphill she is than T.
Not going hell for leather,
We oft took a breather
But didn't sit down for tea.

From the creek we veered away,
Found Pine Mountain Trail right away.
The six in our parade
Were always in the shade
On a lovely day.

For a long way 'twas mostly level.
Then left, uphill, steep the bevel.
And more uphill quite a bunch
Till we stopped for lunch
Just a bit disheveled.

This seemed to be the summit.
Frisky still? Far from it.
I sat there stiff.
There was no cliff
Where one might plummet.

We could scarcely see out.
Blueberries were all about,
But they were all green.
Some service berries were seen,
And laurel blossoms were still out.

From there, of course, we went down,
Though sometimes up to go down.
It was ten till five
When we began our long drive
Back to town.

Forgive that about this I may brag:
For the last mile, where a hiker could sag,
Since important we consider,
Robert and I, the removal of litter,
A huge tattered tarpaulin we dragged.