Bluffview Trail

 

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!