Home Is Where You Park It!: Walking the Gorge

Decided to walk the Gorge this morning despite 94% humidity... sort of like breathing through a wet sponge.

The trail starts in the camp ground between sites 37 and 48 marked by blue blazes on the trees.

My first wildlife encounter was Mr and Mrs Hairy Woodpecker,
who didn't stay around long enough for a photo.

Not that it mattered, since I elected to carry the little Canon instead to conserve my energy.

After a very steep descent, thank goodness for walking sticks, I approached the first of 3 footbridges, just a tiny 2 track along the boggy edge. The abundant rainfall is obvious as the trail is soggy and the bogs are floating.

Robins accompanied me the entire way and one lone Chickadee put in a brief appearance.

The excessive rain and winds have taken a toll on the trees. The root base on this one was taller than me. Pine trees don't have deep tap roots and doesn't take a very strong wind to bring one down when the ground is saturated.

I know the sign says 0.5 mi but I swear I walked 10 miles getting to this point.

End of the line, and this little bench was a most welcome sight... Weather changed dramatically when when I reached the river, a cool breeze whisked away the sweat and the refreshing sound of cascading water had a definite psychological effect.

A Common Yellowthroat surprised me singing loudly from a short shrub with a very northern accent. Didn't sound like the "witchity witchity witchity" I'm used to hearing. Took a visual to confirm the ID, the picture is proof, but no good enough to share.

Perfect gnome home...