I love the fact that there are other nuts roaming the woods at the same time I am and are picking up on all kinds evidence such as, my footprints in the sand at some fallen tree out in the middle of nowhere in thunder and lightning storms. I will definately have to show this dialogue to my girlfriend to convince her I'm not the only person doing this. I drive a somewhat haggard 89 Jeep Cherokee. You made me feel better about her! It got a flat today which I am positive happened when I pulled through an old gas station before we got into the trails. I perhaps, stupidly, drove throughtout the pines without a spare all day!
I didn't check out across the road from the Clay Works, but noticed that there is another lane there which apparently was made in areas of high traffic! It blows my mind and bewilders to imagine those days. I also initially tried to find what was left of the bldg. that the current topo shows at the end of the small indicated trail and did see the kiln remnants in the approximate vicinity. That would be truly fantastic to see the tools salvaged from this former facility. A picture, as in many cases, would be a dream come true. Do any exist? Also, does anyone know the approximate dates when Union Clay operated?
I have previously followed my topos through straight (as you mentioned) past Union Clay and through the small trail and listened to the metallic screech of branches against my Jeep in the past, but that just winds up turning left back onto the main trail just the same. I see the old maps show Red Oak Grove in between the current main road and the older (narrower) one and I know where the vehicle chasis lies, but found absolutely nothing in that area. Of course that doesn't mean this is not the exact location of Red Oak Grove. It was just the home of a particular investor person if my memory serves me well, so there may not have been significant development there and contained no cellars. Thank God for the installment of cellars by those who did! Those old maps have been pretty accurate as far as the locations of the old towns in association with their placement to the particular roads that used to service them. I think it MAY be possible,however, that they were off in the case of Red Oak Grove, but will of course not jump to conclusions. That cleared area at the curve further up the road is just VERY interesting and is not labeled on any maps I've seen yet. If anyone finds anything out about it, please let on!
