My Secret Hiking Spot 2008, Part I

This is not my first trip this year to my secret hiking spot.  The truth is, I have some wonderful photos from April when I first went, but never had a chance to put them up!  Today, I went with a newfound friend who is from Canada and showed off my secret hiking spot.

When entering the area, there is a dirt road, which is in full sun.  Along the road, there are rasberries and blueberries and black rasberries...and dragonflies to match!  I wish my photos of the red rasberries had come out better, but so be it.  To get an idea, look in his eyeeeeeesss........!



I know, the photo is very, very busy, but it was in full sun.  He was extremely patient with me.  We saw large blue and black dragonflies, also, but I couldn't "focus" with the kids going nutty behind me.


Beyond the sunny dirt road and after the pines begin to cool us off, we got to the pond.  I found a green Heineken bottle tucked, for some odd reason, beneath a rock along the pond's edge...so I played!



OK, OK, I grabbed a "normal" photograph of the pond...beautiful, isn't it?  The wind was acting up today, and as you can tell even through the green glass, the small waves were cresting.

We turned our attention to the path and were musing about mushrooms when we realized they were EVERYWHERE!!!  Because I don't "know" my mushrooms, I will just let the photos speak!


Mushroom I


Mushroom II


Mushroom III


Mushroom IV


Mushroom V


Mushroom VI


Mushroom VII


Mushroom--WAIT!  This is NOT a mushroom!  It is a flower:  Monotropa Uniflora, a.k.a Indian Pipe

So there it is...my first official "My Secret Hiking Spot" essay of the year of 2008!  It is no less magical than it was LAST year!

If you are interested in viewing last year's series, follow the links below:

 My Hike Today (photo essay)
 
My Secret Hiking Spot (Part II of a series?)

My Secret Hiking Spot-New Discoveries (Part III)

As I did last year, I hope to make this a series.  So long as I am disciplined enough to take time out FOR ME, it should be possible!