When I lived in Atlanta, I loved to go to Kennesaw Mountain on Sunday afternoon with Cocoa. There was always plenty of people there to remind me that I was in the city. But it is much different here. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago at Camp Mikell where many of us go for a quick hiking retreat. When you are there and when you walk out into the woods, you are reminded that you are definitely not near a city. It is a world unto its own.

Now it’s time for the red leaves to show off and their doing it. This photo was taken just a few days ago at Camp Mikell in Stephens County, Georgia. And the rock wall is a favorite of entry level rock climbers.

Last week an excursion train carrying visitors from as far away as New York and Virginia arrived in Toccoa for our annual Harvest Festival. We had a great time and really enjoyed the weekend—it was full of activities from Friday to Sunday afternoon. This is a photo of one of the antique cars on the train. I was shocked when I noticed the leaf color in its windows. And of course, the mayor of Toccoa cued the hawk in this photo to fly over at the perfect moment.

My Dad worked for the railroad, and I’ve always found a sense of peace in the sound of a distant train whistle or of the turning rhythm of its steel wheels on train tracks.

Then there was a wave goodbye. . . .

We’re having back to back weekend activities. This coming weekend over 300 cyclists will ride along the Tugaloo Corridor near Lake Hartwell. I’m ready for that event and for the promise of seeing some of the usually closed off native Indian property where Cherokee Indians once lived.

“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.”
—Elizabeth Lawrence

I had a friend tell me that I had lost me ability to think clearly over this photo. It was taken last Saturday of a hillside near the lake at Toccoa Falls.