Three days on the Bartram Trail

Susan and I did a rigorous three day loop earlier this week and my legs are still a little sore.  The Bartram Trail is a 100+ mile gem running from SC into GA and NC.  New extensions pop up here and there, but I think the trail originally began at Rabun Bald in GA.  Staring at the map, Susan and I dreamed up a loop from Rabun Bald to Otto, NC with a bicycle trip back to the car.  The hiking was fairly straight forward, but the biking after all the hiking was quite rigorous.  Here's what we did:

Sunday: drop bikes in Otto, NC.  Drive to Beegum Gap, GA.  Camp.
Monday: hike to the top of Rabun Bald without packs (4 miles, round trip).  Hit the Bartram Trail North.  Camp at Tessentee Creek.  4 miles plus 11 miles = 15 miles.
Tuesday: Tessentee Creek to campsite 2 miles above Buckeye Creek Trailhead.  9 miles.
Wednesday: Walk 7 miles to Otto, NC.  Bike 16 miles back to the car.

See the map below the photos.  Click on the photos for full resolution.  Photos clockwise from top left: Susan on Scaly looking back at Rabun Bald, a painted Trillium, a cute salamander, a cute rattlesnake, a patch of yellow Lady's Slipper, and a lovely log.