2010 July 23 « Hike Our Planet – Lee Hiller Nature Photography

Blue Wings in the Park

Lower Dogwood Trail Blue Turquoise Butterfly

Floral Trail Blue Winged Wasp

Goat Rock Trail

Goat Rock Trail Scaly Shooting Star

It keeps getting hotter and the locals keep telling me this is August weather. So I am thinking what is August going to like, I will have to start my hikes at 6:30 a.m. if it gets any hotter. When I leave at 7:20 a.m. it is already 89 degrees and I am sweating before the first half mile. I hike up North Mountain via the Floral Trail and head directly to the Upper Dogwood Trail. As I begin my climb a lovely blue and turquoise Butterfly lands on the trail in front of me. It does a ballet of turning and gently fanning it’s wings, it is a peaceful moment in the heat. A lovely living work of art.

I break my own general rule of not trying to out guess Nature, because I never win. I hope to see another Deer so I hike like I have only a limited time to get to my destination. Of course I arrive to my secret location to find nothing, I stand panting, sweating and guzzling water. Laughing is my only option because the joke is on me. I decide to hike over to Goat Rock Trail and have an extended hike.

The Goat Rock Trail is beautiful, not over manicured and a smidgen overgrown. Perfect! A light breeze is traveling through the park and it feels glorious on my damp skin. Within all the green I am happy to see a lone wildflower, a pretty purple Scaly Shooting Star. Hiking down the Goat Rock Trail has proven to be a wonderful idea.

With the heat rising I decide to pick up my pace to reach the Gulpha Gorge. When I look up I spot two larger Turkey Vultures circling above me, I quickly take my pulse. Relieved that they are not here for me I head up the Gulpha Gorge Trail and then connect with the Hot Springs Mountain Trail. I connect with the Honeysuckle and then the Floral Trail to exit the park. I am now out of water and it is time to head home. I Love the park!

Nature has a wicked sense of humor when you try to out guess it
Love,
Lee