The weather today started out nice, yet last night’s forecast called for rain. Thus I was ill-prepared this morning when I awoke to sunshine.  After contemplating for an hour I decided to throw together a bag and grab the gear and hit the trails for a couple of hours.  The links to the photos taken today are included in this post and I hope you enjoy them.After my initial morning conversations and a hot cup of coffee then skirting past the cat I was off;  I threw my gear into the passengers' seat and took off driving for what seemed like hours. I finally got to the entry line for the park.  Problem is when the weather is nice lots of “fair” weather hikers show up to enjoy the trails. Me, I come and hike during almost any weather.  After waiting behind the nice couple who was asking the Park Ranger 50 questions, and hearing the conversation going in circles and sensing the Park Rangers obvious “I already” answered that question once before, but finally the couple took the park map and drove off.  This allowed me an opportunity to flash the Ranger my Annual Pass and sexy smile, she waved me through – Not certain if it was from seeing my annual pass or the way I smiled, but I am just too busy to find out + there are people honking behind me, and especially with all the photos that are yet to be taken, I must not waste my time on the unknown.I slowly drove through the park (I am a cautious driver) looking for the perfect parking spot I noticed three bikers who were preparing for their ride – maybe if I am quick, I can ask they give me a lift to the trailhead, but on second thought maybe not – too much crap.  I opened my door and glided around the back of my car trying to look fit and trim for the lady bikers, then tripped over a broken tree branch. Luckily my cat-like reflexes shot my other foot out and I went into the lotus pose as if I was preparing for the journey into the mind.  After holding the pose and feeling my less than used muscles start to complain and tighten up I decided to stand before I was unable to.  Using my passenger door handle as a crutch I managed to position myself to my feet inches away from the lady biker who was not studying me for some future project she may have – like writing a piece on “out of shape guys” As I open my lips to speak they turn and ride off leaving only the parting butt shots as they disappear down the road ahead.   After thinking for a brief moment – It was not meant to be.I started down the trail wagging my 6-pound tripod and a 25-pound

camera bag – yes I travel light :).  Normally starting out I mount on my Microlens and a working flash for the just in case situations.  Looking up in the sky I could tell my day would be shortened due to the approaching dark clouds.  I picked up the pace and over to the right was a “wash” that leads into the forest so I stepped off the trail to investigate only to find it too dark to work with, back to the trail I go and discovered a wasp on a yellow flower. Since I keep my camera at the ready on the tripod, I plopped it down and closed in for the shot.  This particular photo was using the Nikkor 105mm with an R1C1 flash system, the details were good but to be certain I re-focused and snapped off a couple more.  The one here is my keeper.  After straightening my back up and letting out a slight moan I continued up the trail and saw a nice purple plant growing on the ground.  I went over to investigate and discovered a daddy long legs, Opiliones, or harvestman depending on where you are from.  This would make my second shot for the year of this species. Normally my experience with them is they are hard to approach and run off at the slightest movement. I was lucky in the fact the long-legged spider walked up after I sat knelt down to look the purple plant.  So, here are the results of that effort, and the spider allowed me about 4 shots before I moved too much and he finally took off into the woods.  By the way; did you notice he has a leg missing, sometimes I wonder what insect battle occurred that left him a 7 legged spider.Moving past the 7 legged wonder I turned right and made my way into the darker area of the trail.  Being early October and with the weather turning colder I find it amazing the Mushrooms is still kicking.   I always sort of thought they grew only in the summer months, but once again I am proven wrong.  This photo was odd due to the shape of the fungi. I have never seen on growing in this shape, like a waterfall.  The fungi were growing from the end of a rotting log.   I don’t know if you agree, but the shape of this fungi is very odd, first I have ever seen like it.  The other oddity was the cricket who made his home there.  As my disclaimer; almost anytime I shoot a white subject on a dark background the exposure is off, I think this was close but no cigar.  Further up the trail I ran into another small grouping of brown mushrooms growing and snapped off two shots, this is the one I kept and posted to the Mushroom & Fungi Gallery.   After making my way through Mushroom territory, It was up to the main trail into a nice clearing.Side Note: Believe it or not, I was spending approximately 10 minutes per photo stop to just compose and determine the best angle, exposure and distance.  I never realized it until one day I had to spend 6 hours on a two-mile hike with over a hundred photos taken, then went through my photos and discovered I was taking way too much time and taking way too many “safe” shots.  In one hour I had over a hundred photos and I only keep about 6 – that is just way over the top. Now I try to get what I need and move on.To close out this hike I always like to capture a couple Flower or Plant photos, and today's offerings were slim but I managed to get two nice once but not without paying the price.  First the underbrush was treacherous and I ran into a thorn patch  that brought blood.  Not to mention the numerous hitchhikers that attached themselves to my pants.  What a mess – blood and sticky things.  Oh well, the sun briefly shone through the clouds and I managed to get two shots off before it went behind the rain cloud.  This is the final images for the hike as it began to sprinkle and I still had three miles to cover before I could seek the safety of my car.You can see the ending days shot in the Plant Life Gallery.  Thanks for coming along, and see you later!  True Toad

The.final sun rays lights up these shots for a brief moment then it began to rain..