It finally feels like Fall

After many weeks of temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, it finally feels like Fall is here! The first real cold front managed to push deep into the South yesterday evening and the temperature has dropped about 10 to 15 degrees. As I wake up this morning, it is a very nice 53 degrees outside! And the high today is only going up to 78. True enough that the highs do creep back up to the mid 80's over the next few days...but compared to the past few months, that is a welcome relief.

I am heading up to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a few days, where the forecast is calling for highs around 70 and lows around 50 each night. I am so ready for Autumn to get here!

Wet Hiking

Dockery Lake is normally a busy little campground through the summer. The lovely small mountain lake is surrounded by miles of wilderness with good hiking trails and interesting nearby points of interest. There are only eleven campsites, so getting one is usually a hit or miss chance.

Not during a weekend in late September, when four GWS members camped along the shoreline. In fact, the first two nights, we were alone!

How could this be? It might have had something to do with the buckets of rain that fell from time to time. However, in between, were many hours of cool, foggy weather that was perfect for short hikes.

Crash in my front yard!

A truck blew a tire, ran off the road, hit a power pole, and then flipped...right in front of my house tonight! The power pole is snapped in half, so I am not sure how long I will have power.

Click to enlarge the images!







And here is a little bit of video of the aftermath (below)

Baby Rat Snake

This little gray rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) was perched upon a wire fence next to my garage today. He must have had some good luck in hunting as you can see by the large lump in his middle!

Just for Laughs

Photos from Sapelo Island

Here are a bunch of photos from this past weekend's trip to Sapelo.

Click on them to see it enlarged, then use your BACK button to return here.

Gone to the Islands

I am off for a few days to Sapelo and Cabretta Islands off of the Georgia coast. Hoping for good weather, to be able to snap a few photos. Friday is the full moon, so maybe even a few night shots?

Wait and see what turns out. Have a safe holiday for those of you in the USA!