I got an email last night from a woman I had met at National Trails Day this summer. She asked if I could help her spot her car for a hike on the North Country Trail near me. So many people have helped me on my way, as I hike, that I like to help others when I can. I interviewed her for my next newspaper column, and I also posted that on the NCT News blog. You can follow the link at the end for that story.
It worked out great for Maggie and me to hike with her, for 2.5 miles, and then she went on, and Maggie and I turned back. It had rained earlier, but was breaking up into occasional gleams of sunlight working through the fog. On the outward trip I talked with Marilyn; on the way back I hunted for camera treasures.
The Case of the Disappearing Dog! I forgot to take Maggie's orange vest. Not good. I tied some yellow flagging tape around her neck, but it wasn't much help. But it's only small-game hunting season, and those hunters are usually much more careful. I don't even go to the woods during gun-deer season. Can you see my brown pup in the brown leaves?
I just like the way the moss, lichen, and little mushrooms look against this log, dark from the days of soaking.
As I said another day, the colors this year have been predominantly yellow and gold. Here's one more little golden maple that just "popped." It's actually a red maple, which usually do turn red in the fall, demonstrating the shift to yellow this autumn.
I think this is the best one! It's Witch-Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana. Yes this is the plant that the astringent comes from. It is extracted from the wood and bark of this shrub, common to northern woodlands. I just liked the spots and the sun catching on the undersides of the leaves while the tops remain dull. You can click this one to make it bigger if you want.
Pretty nice morning! Wrote my column and some other writing assignments this afternoon. Maggie napped.
| See Infected By the H1-K1-NG Bug for Marilyn's hike
See Senator Levin Meets Nimblewill Nomad for National Trails Day 2009 where I met Marilyn |
8 comments:
The mottled leaves are definitely wonderful to see. Unusual. And Maggie is very tough to see. She is virtually invisible. It looks like that was a really nice part of the day.
Nice photographs-I like the mushroom lichen one the best.
Sounds fun, is it unusual not to have a "red fall?"
the mushrooms photo looks amazing!
Beautiful, I felt like I was walking with you! The invisible dog took me awhile--I'm very wary of hunters around here right now, too.
On the upward trip I talked with my panting; on the way back I hunted for camera treasures. This is my version.
I've been noticing all of the yellow this year too. It's the first year I've noticed that things can be different each year. And I don't trust the intelligence of many hunters. I don't mean to be insulting to all hunters, but some of those I know are probably lucky they haven't shot anybody.
These are really great pictures. I really need to get out of the house...In the meantime, thanks for taking me with you!
Julia- I love being able to take walks like this. Except for being a little nervous about Maggie without orange it was fun to poke around without thinking about making my "miles" for the day.
Mike & Cher- I'm glad you like that photo, because I do too, even though I'm not sure it's really great.
Mike- I think I'm going to blog the answer to your question tomorrow.
Will Oaks- Oh, if I can make you feel that you are walking with me I have really succeeded!
rainfield, you silly! I know you hike a lot. I'm sure you wouldn't need to pant all that much.
Ratty- see comment to Mike
Roschelle- I take and and all who wish to come! Glad to have you.
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