Jan. 18, 2010 Clark Creek Nature Preserve, MS

Clark Creek Nature Preserve is north of St. Francisville in the Tunica Hills of Mississippi. It is a lovely drive, and the hiking is wonderful, although it gets pretty steep in places. This creek is famous for its six waterfalls; the first three are the most accessible, and that's what we visited.

The start of the trail; how nice of them to include a comfy swing to observe the open area; and the first set of stairs.

Here is Waterfall No. 1.

The streambed is a big pile of gigantic chunks of clay; saw kids & adults who hiked IN this streambed between waterfalls (bet their feet were freezing!); Waterfall No. 2.

Here is where we stopped to eat our sandwiches. Lovely!

Waterfall No. 3. Only accessible by crossing the creek.....

The old Pond Store, near the trailhead. The old Pond, complete with donkeys!

This donkey yelled at me and appeared to be pretty old; then I visited with the two Mama donkeys with their young'uns.

Nov. 1 - Nov. 4, 2009 Tallahassee, Florida

We visited my sister Ruthie and her husband Jimmy in Tallahassee. These pictures include shots from a bodacious hike on the Garden of Eden trail beside the Apalachicola River, where we spotted a rare sight: Indian Pipe plants! Plus a walk through Tom Brown Park, including a pond with water creatures.











Garden of Eden intrepid hikers; Apalachicola River; tree-creature.












Indian Pipe plants; a member of the blueberry family, and not a fungus.












Indian Pipe plant; Apalachicola River; Cardinal flower.












Woodsmen (Jimmy riding a stick-horse...)! Hollow tree-creature. At Tom Brown Park;
the pond has turtles!

Anhinga drying its wings; Florida cooter turtle; Underwoods & Wilkinsons.

Ruthie & Jimmy; Nannie & Bubba.

Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2009 Visit with the Tibbets

A visit with Bubba's cousin, Margaret Tibbets, and her husband Sam.

Oct. 22 - Oct. 31, 2009 Blue Ridge Parkway

From Biltmore to the Blue Ridge Parkway.....

Quite a place, eh?


Gargoyles everywhere! View from across the pond.

Stormy weather! Parkway colors.

Parkway view; Mountain Ash tree berries; Mount Mitchell.

Parkway colors; Linville Falls - lower falls.

A yellow patch on the mountainside; Parkway Craft Center at the Moses H. Cone

Memorial Park; low clouds blanketing the valleys.

Looking Glass waterfall; Sliding Rock; Looking Glass mountain.