Mid Fall fun

Larsen and Aki enjoy an October afternoon, and Larsen steals a kiss.

Early fall on Pine Mountain

The weather turned cool enough to dig out sweaters and wool socks, but the sun is warm in the afternoon.

We hiked Pine Mountain, right off I-75 in Cartersville, Georgia. It's a 4+ mile trail that goes up to the David G. Archer Overlook and then down into the Hurricane Valley. The way up has a number of switchbacks and we mentally computed the gradient as 10% (500 feet to just under a mile). If I'm not mistaken that is a gradient of 4.5 degrees. That does not sound like anything, does it?

The fall flowers are out, but trees maintain their dusty green from the dry summer.

Autumn flowers abloom at the David G. Archer overlook on Pine Mountain in Cartersville, Georgia.


Aki and Larsen take a breather atop Pine Mountain.

Larsen enjoys the clear view.

First day of fall

The first day of fall 2011 is Friday, September 23, according to the calendar, but we are getting an early start.

On Sunday, September 18 about 15 of us will meet at Circle W Hunting Preserve in Heflin Alabama to train our dogs, shoot our guns, and eat pulled pork sandwiches at lunchtime. The weather should be perfect, with a starting temperature of 57, and a midday temperature in the low 80s and some clounds. This is a wonderful break from the 70+ morning temperatures we've had through the summer.

We're organizing some dog-oriented games (fetch-the-hotdog?) and some clays games. Maybe some prizes, too.

It won't quite be the EPIC Game Fair or Vintage Cup, but it will be a fine time with some good companionship, canine and human.