Finally the long awaited reopening of my favorite trail. It is about 4 miles of gravel and supposed to be a mountain bike trail, but there are plenty of hikers and joggers out there as well. It isn't as hilly as the trails on the other side of the road but it sure does seem a lot longer than 4 miles! Most of the trail skirts the lake so it is really gorgeous.
The trail was closed so the Army corps of engineers could rape... excuse me I mean harvest, the trees so it could be reforested with longleaf pine for ecosystem management. Sounds good and the pictures of the future are promising and I am all about reforestation but in the mean time my wonderful lake and forest looks very sorry indeed.
While wandering on the trail we noticed this little pine tree leanto that someone had built looks like to live in for a while. Kind of Gilligan's Island looking if you ask me.
Ok... it is really hard to see but a third of the way from the bottom and just left of center is the very first tiger swallow tail of the year. I was soooooooo excited to see him and just waited and waited for him to quit fluttering around and land somewhere.
the view that the houses from the other side of Waterside have. If the land wasn't so expensive and you didn't have to build a house that is twice as big as what I want.... I'd be over there in a minute. I LOVE my lake and forest. I get so excited every time we cross the bridge from our house to the state park because I know there are just so many new things to see (and yes, we do talk about how high the lake is and if it is back up to normal yet... I am forever monitoring water height). Today there were more trees bursting forth with leaves, the dogwoods were starting to bloom and whatever the lilac trees are were all over the place. I took several deep deep breathes of spring and beauty. I LOVE spring green. Hmm one little snag ... it was 80+ degrees today... about 20 degrees above normal. Sure hope we aren't skipping spring for summer.
The goldfinches seem to have hit the road. Last year they hung around until June. I miss them but don't think I will miss too much spending $50 every other week on bird seed (almost as bad as owning and feeding a great Dane).
Wood was reunited with a long lost best buddy from his Airforce days and they both got tattoos.
It was like time had never past for these two pals separated for 30 years. Such reminiscing.
Wood, Brian and Allison at Amicolola falls. I got to see a water snake :-)
And some gorgeous periwinkles!
Finally the long awaited reopening of my favorite trail. It is about 4 miles of gravel and supposed to be a mountain bike trail, but there are plenty of hikers and joggers out there as well. It isn't as hilly as the trails on the other side of the road but it sure does seem a lot longer than 4 miles! Most of the trail skirts the lake so it is really gorgeous.
The trail was closed so the Army corps of engineers could rape... excuse me I mean harvest, the trees so it could be reforested with longleaf pine for ecosystem management. Sounds good and the pictures of the future are promising and I am all about reforestation but in the mean time my wonderful lake and forest looks very sorry indeed.
While wandering on the trail we noticed this little pine tree leanto that someone had built looks like to live in for a while. Kind of Gilligan's Island looking if you ask me.
Ok... it is really hard to see but a third of the way from the bottom and just left of center is the very first tiger swallow tail of the year. I was soooooooo excited to see him and just waited and waited for him to quit fluttering around and land somewhere.
the view that the houses from the other side of Waterside have. If the land wasn't so expensive and you didn't have to build a house that is twice as big as what I want.... I'd be over there in a minute. I LOVE my lake and forest. I get so excited every time we cross the bridge from our house to the state park because I know there are just so many new things to see (and yes, we do talk about how high the lake is and if it is back up to normal yet... I am forever monitoring water height). Today there were more trees bursting forth with leaves, the dogwoods were starting to bloom and whatever the lilac trees are were all over the place. I took several deep deep breathes of spring and beauty. I LOVE spring green. Hmm one little snag ... it was 80+ degrees today... about 20 degrees above normal. Sure hope we aren't skipping spring for summer.
The goldfinches seem to have hit the road. Last year they hung around until June. I miss them but don't think I will miss too much spending $50 every other week on bird seed (almost as bad as owning and feeding a great Dane).
If you look really closely you can see the seagulls to the right and the guy fishing to the left of center
Some of the trees are starting to leaf out.
And I am so happy. The lake is filling back up with water.
The trees are starting to bud.
All the little white dots are leaves starting to leaf out on this tree.
And the pear trees have burst into puffy white clouds of delight. Brings a smile to my face every time I see them... even while stuck in traffic. The new trail is still closed for Army Corps of Engineer work (I am about ready to tell them to head em up and move em out!) so we went on one of our longer harder but more rewarder old time favorites. It was worth the sore legs and behind from going up and down the hills though.
Last night Wood and Bry took some pictures of an eclipse of the moon. Not sure how they turned out. But this morning when I went out to get the paper, the moon was just setting and, I thought, gorgeous so I grabbed a couple of shots with my trusty little camera.
