Skies tomatoes butterflies

Sure, a few days ago, I said...the skies almost never have brilliant colors when we have dense fog.

And then...
we have this:

The sky was brilliant and the fog was incredible.

Below is a photo of our main road. In one township it has blacktop and in our township it is gravel. Imagine having this view on your morning commute?
That is the only thing I miss about working early morning shifts, was the drive through the valleys and ridges on gorgeous mornings like this.

Though the valley fog was sometimes pretty intense.

My sidekick, Charlie went with and we enjoyed staying until just before the sun broke through the clouds and then we headed back home.

This was one of those mornings I wished I'd planned ahead to go to the bluff at KVR and watch the sun come up and the valley fog glow below.

The rest of the day was rather boring. Chores and indoor chores.

However, we had BLT's last night and I was rather suprised by the really ugly purple tomatoes that I grew on a whim.

They were huge next to the Beefsteak Tomatoes. Rich thought the purple tomato was spoiled because it looked almost blackish.

The big purplish tomato was as large as my hand! It made for a perfect sandwich tomato.

As I write this and have my coffee this morning, I am watching another incredible sky show.

The fog is creeping up from the valley into our hollow.

The zinnias and the fading bee balm are still attracting insects like crazy. Here are two I saw yesterday in the flowers.

and...

I am new at trying to ID butterflies so if I am wrong let me know!

Stormy

Yesterday morning, the sky was interesting when the light started to appear in the sky. Ichecked the weather and apparently we were due for some storms on and off during the day.

I jumped in the 'Ru and took off to the ridge. I wanted to have some 'fun' with the Infrared camera as well as see a nice clear sky without smoke. Clouds and fog would add to the interest.

I parked and decided to walk up the road, that is until I heard the booming to the west.

I figured I had a bit of time before the storm would hit. So I hoped for a shot of some sun. I got fog.

I decided to head home. I didn't want to get caught in the storm and I knew Charlie would be having a fit if he could hear the thunder.

And then I saw the sun as the rain hit in big fat drops.

This became the start of a very long day of endless rounds of storms, lighting, thunder, and a quaking dog.

Thankfully, we were not hit by the rain like others were. 

Grabbed from VernonReportersPost on FB:

Because of the unique way our watersheds are situated, the intense rains were washed into other valleys and we were pretty much spared. Coon Valley, Chaseburg, and Avalanche were not however. Roads closed quickly outside of Viroqua as the flood waters drained down the hillsides and rushed towards the Kickapoo.

We got a total of 2 + inches in 24 hours. A tornado touched down in Boscobel and blew apart some buildings. Thank goodness no one was hurt. LaCrosse got nailed too.

This morning we had another round. Charlie got me up just as he was able to hear thunder in the distance. Other than being soggy around here right now, things are quiet for the moment. The storms may stay north of us which is good for us but bad for those in its path.

It looks like it might be a good day to stroll through the trails and see what the heat, rain, and humidity brought out. That is besides the skeeters.

Stay safe.

For those interested, the mighty muddy Kickapoo is quickly rising and doing its thing. The quiet little river always is ignored until a big hard rain. Then it reminds us just how powerful water can be.

August 5th

I woke up and could not get back to sleep. I had gone to bed with an idea crawling around in my brain.

AND it did not involve the news or Facebook .. or any Social Media.

Get up and figure out if I can get to the ponds before sunrise.

The Ponds are 23 minutes by car. Hmmm and a 30 minute walk.

On a whim I decided to head out. Ahhh, but 49 degrees? It made for some heavy fog along the river.

My drive was slower due to the valley fog. I wasn't concerned and decided I'd just keep on going and enjoy the time driving.

As a last moment's decision, I decided to drive up to the KVR Dam site and park.

The fog was hovering right over the river which is probably 50 feet below where I was standing.

I left and took a back road.

 

It was a good call. That white foggy spot is the river. 

This route was one I considered for our bicycle adventures.

I took a leisurely drive and dropped down into the valley....

It was pleasant. Buckeye Ridge Road. It was almost wide enough for two vehicles.

~~~ It's sort of funny how things go.

When I got home it was not long after the sun actually came up. I fed the mules took out Sven and Little Richard and put them in their places for the day.

I picked tomatoes and sweet corn.

All before 8AM.

I made coffee....

I checked my email and had my WOD from the coach. Uffdah. More weight lifting! 

Some days I just don't think I am going to have any energy. And then there are those other days that it is boundless.

I got Rich situated and just before lunch, Charlie and I left for an adventure.

I thought I'd try our State Park called Wildcat Mountain.

It had been a while since I'd hiked the Old Settler's Trail and I thought it would be a good one to take Charlie on. The temperatures were cooler and he had been nagging me for a LONG walk.

We actually had a very good time. However.

How...ever.

I am awfully spoiled by the reserve and other local places that are not as well known as this state park.

Dogs, kids, people.

Campers galore.

Of course! Camping may be the one safe way to avoid an infected motel room and to socially distance. It does make sense.

But the park felt crowded.

Charlie and I struck out anyway. We headed down a steep trail and met a grandmother and a grandchild with their dog 'Charlie'. We exchanged pleasantries. Grandma and child wore a mask. I flipped mine on when I saw them walking up towards me.

I passed them and took an unmarked trail. I call these trails the sneaky doodle trails.

They exist but aren't maintained. 

But sometimes they have little surprises. 

Charlie and I followed this unused trail and I could tell by the voices echoing through the woods that we were just below the proper trail.

There was a pink ribbon and an orange ribbon tied in a few different spots. This park allows bow hunting in the fall. I was on a hunter trail. 

I loved it. Charlie and I had the privacy we so craved in these Covid Times.

I just love the rocks. Rocks.

Rocks.

It appears as though a giant just tossed these here.

We joined up with the main trail and had it to ourselves. Most of the campers weren't going to hike this trail. It is a challenge. The notes on the brochure do caution that even though the loop is only 2.5 miles it has some steep inclines.

I live in this area, so I am used to the hills and steep trails.

Charlie took this incline like a trooper, pulling at his leash. 

So not all the trails are steep nor demanding.

Here are some shots.

It is a bit different looking since my first adventure along this trail in 2015.

The trail was less used and less popular. The link will take you to my very first hike along this trail which was just after sunrise....

The bridges had to be rebuilt after the 2016 and 2018 flash floods. 

The rest of my day is boring. However, I did figure out the quickest way to The Ponds!

It is do-able!

And the sweet corn is blanched and frozen.

The tomatoes are eaten.

And I was tired!

Dirt roads

...and out of the way places....

Getting there in the morning is easier now with my new stealth vehicle.

Fog can be seen over the Kickapoo River Valley and building in the dips and tiny valleys in between as the ridge starts to come alive with birdsong.

And then I waited and watched.  Zeke's cabin was quiet. He never gets up early anyway.
On days like this, I envy his view, however during blizzards and cold gusting winds...I
don't.

I turned around like I did yesterday and worked the gears and cruised towards the next high point across the ridge. Those folks that say you don't forget how to ride a bike? They are right. But the near gearing is pretty neat and allows me to get up all but the steepest of the hills.

I was sweating, but I got there in plenty of time to watch the fog start to roll across the ridge top.
According to my clock, the sun had been up for about 5 minutes, however it was hidden behind clouds.

I can't resist a good *purplie* morning. Not when there is fog involved. And from now until November, we should have morning fog off and on.

Someone said I should get a basket put on the bike for Charlie. Even if he doesn't/won't ride in it, it would be handy to carry my tripod and a few other things. I'll have to inquire at the bike shop or look around. I wouldn't mind a rack in back either.
Time will tell.

I think I'll hit some trails tomorrow, my day off from appointments. I'll just make a lunch and pack a back pack.

I'm diggin' the new Stealth Rider.