To the Devil and Parfrey

With a three day weekend to burn we headed out Saturday morning, once Grace could work it into her social schedule and I into some hunting time, for Devil's lake state park.  Heading south allowed us to hit some more fall foliage at its peak and we hike trails literally around the lake.  It was amazing beautiful.  The maples were at full yellow and cast a golden glow to the light and reflected off the carpeted forest floor of the same hue.  The stark contrast of the foliage and ancient quartzite rocks was gorgeous as it has been since the last ice age.  14000 years in the making.  The trails are steep enough to be considered moderate plus.  We hit the hot-spots of elephant rock, Devil's doorway and Balancing rock.  We actually passed the spur trail for balancing rock but it didn't disappoint when we headed back to check it out.  It may have been the busiest state park we were ever at, I am not sure we were ever more than 50 feet away from another person or group doing the same thing we were doing.  Sometimes there is a reason an area draws a crowd.  We grabbed a hotel and dinner and had a chill evening and a little swimming.  The morning gave way to more sites to visit and out of the handful of options we opted for Parfrey's glen. It is an easy walk initially, and busy with people again, but then gives way to some boulder scrambling up a creek bed to a fair-sized water fall (10'-12').  The glen is deeply walled and 100 foot high in some areas, the geological striations are really great to consider.  The Glen is also the states first designated natural area.  Preserved and rededicated to the citizens to protect its unique beauty for all.

Hiking the high cliff

Merrick finished up his school soccer season earlier in the week and after a day of chores, the nicer of the two fall days, we headed to High Cliff state park to hike through the autumnal color pallet.  The trails were muddy in some places and really muddy in others, the kids' tennis shoes took a beating but the woods time was great.  The garage sink has an inch of dirt that we brought home from the state park. We scrambled around on the ancient limestone and the dogs even got a little off-leash time to stretch their legs.  We tried to stop at the chubby seagull for some ice-cream but it was closed for the season all ready.

Smoked fish?

The fall colors are nearing their peak and with a forecast of late day rains and possible snow we made a quick run to the hill areas near Dana Farm.  The dogs needed to stretch their legs and being that is an area of planted pheasants..Hazel's nose was all a 'twitter.' She swam through the head high grass bounding and porpoising in search of feathers.  All her and Oliver found was mud but the bright sun and even stiff breeze made a perfect morning autumn walk.  We wandered through the fish ladders along the lower Kewaunee River.  The large rainbows and maybe even some browns were making their way up the mocha water, churned from the continual rains.  They are slabs of muscle on their last swim up stream.  We swung by Fonfrek to see the new viewing platform and check out what a fall full of rains had done to the waterfalls too.  Almost home before noon, but a large plum of dark smoke skyline, sent us further south.  We could smell the acridness of the fire.  We found the scene of what was likely a planned burn of an old house.  The winds seemed pretty strong for such a plan but again, with all the rain of late, there is little fear of a stray cinder starting a blaze.

And the beat goes on

Ella was finally able to practice their band routine after a rain out and some issues with the under classmen.  She looked great and loves the marching band and all things music.  We have hit record rains already this year so everything is weather dependent and the mosquitoes are ferocious. The dogs didn't mind though and stretched their couch legs in the woods...and then brought a bunch of ticks home.