My, that's poetic. But this time of year does that to me. We are in Northeast Iowa, currently at Bellevue State Park, Pursuing the Peak one might say. Every year, hotels, visitors' bureaus, and travelers try to guess when the peak of fall color will fall in this lovely tri-state area of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The date depends on a variety of factors including rainfall, frost date, and probably Punxsutawney Phil.
This second weekend of October is usually a good time but this year we think we are a little early. Quite a few yellows, some reds and still a lot of green. Or maybe it will be one of those falls when there isn't a lot of color. But it's still beautiful. Yesterday was a glorious day--no wind, clear skies, and ten degrees warmer than they had forecast. Reminded me of the bulletin board Miss Bryant put up every year in high school English titled October's Bright Blue Weather.
This second weekend of October is usually a good time but this year we think we are a little early. Quite a few yellows, some reds and still a lot of green. Or maybe it will be one of those falls when there isn't a lot of color. But it's still beautiful. Yesterday was a glorious day--no wind, clear skies, and ten degrees warmer than they had forecast. Reminded me of the bulletin board Miss Bryant put up every year in high school English titled October's Bright Blue Weather.
While the guys found a bar to watch the game (we don't travel with satellite TV), I visited with the nice women at The Book Worm, a fun little bookstore. I persuaded them to take a couple of my books and then Letha and I checked out some of the gift and antique shops. After the game we stopped at the northern unit of the park for a view from the overlook and to check out the butterfly garden. Shannon, the park manager, has been burning the prairie around the garden so the approach is rather stark but the plants while turning brown, still form a rich tapestry. Back at the campground, Josh and Shannon came for a visit with their three boys. Shannon, Letha, and I made short work of a 1.2 mile hike, probably because we were trying to keep up with a three- and a six-year-old.
We ended our day with a little jambalaya and bouillabaisse at Potter's Mill followed by Memphis Blues artist, Brandon Santini. It certainly was a fine finish to a fortuitous fall day.
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