The weather was so perfect on this late summer day;
I did a twofer, stopping by the archery range on the way to the trail.
Nice grouping at 10 yards
A bit loose at 20
With one in the dirt
Only one hit at 30 yards, but a good one
My enemies' feet would be in real jeopardy!
Next, I drove out to the Eureka side of the Meramec, parked, and then walked across this miniature railroad junction to get to the trail head.
The track is just a foot wide!
Here we go.
Let's do the river first.
I can hear it.
There it is.
The summer turned out very dry again this year.
I'm standing in the riverbed.
The rapids make a happy sound.
Upstream
Parched riverbed
Beauty
So much beauty
And simply delicious temperatures
So I walked along with the river on my right.
And the bluffs on my left...
Until reaching the new trail head.
We're going off the tracks!
The trail went up and up.
With some huge rock formations
And shiny webs
And tangled vines
Individual plants became illuminated in the bright rays of the afternoon sun.
But there's a change in the air; summer will be leaving us soon.
Just this one quick encounter on the way up
I knew the bluff view was near when the climate completely changed.
A swing at the top!
And an amazing vista!
So parched up here
So lush down there
A last look at the river from above
And now the long descent
Hello again.
Got closer this time.
Then she walked beside me for a bit.
So long, sweetie.
Down, down, down
Walnut!
Skull-like rock in a tree
Mushroom!
A very funny fungus!
