Autumn in the Mountains
October 11, 2007
Fall in the Cone Park
With the coming of Autumn
the trees put on their annual color show. 		We usually head for the mountains in May to escape the summer heat and humidity of Florida.

However, there is another group of people who head for the mountains in the fall and they are called "The Leafers."

This year the autumn colors kicked in a little early so we are able to enjoy that attraction before returning to Florida.

On the Greenway trail in Boone and also in the Moses Cone Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the trails where we walk and run become even more beautiful.

Now that we have a home in Boone, our evening walks are taken in the Greenway Park where all kinds of sports activities take place.

There are daily events like tag-football, soccer, and high-school and college cross-country meets.

We have become acquainted with many runners in the area and it's fun to meet them on the trails and follow their successes in local running events.

Greenway turning red.
Boone's Greenway Trail lets us see red.

Bass Lake at the Cone Park.
The trail around Bass Lake has a blanket of fallen leaves. 		Our other favorite place is the Moses Cone Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 26 miles of carriage trails offer a great variety of running routes; all with hills.

Earlier in the year, the lily pads on Bass Lake had colorful blossoms. Now the trees that surround the lake are creating a beautiful autumn scene.

The only problem with the leaves is that you have to watch your footing more carefully, lest you turn an ankle on a rock that is covered by leaves :-(

At this time of year, many businesses decorate their entrances with fall colors.

Last fall, we drove over to Townsend, Tennessee to spend a few days at the Smoky Mountain National Park.

This year, besides being busy getting settled into our new place, we noticed that the temperatures in Tennessee were a little too warm for comfort, so we we didn't make the trip.

There is a big cold-front headed this way, so maybe we will be glad to swap all this wonderful fall scenery for the warmth of semi-tropical Florida :-)

Norm and some Great Pumpkins.
Norm trying to select the perfect pumpkin.