First Fall Hike in the Woods

The weather on Tuesday was awesome, so as soon as we were all home we headed out back for our first fall family hike. We really are lucky to have so much to see and do in our backyard!

Patrick and Elizabeth did a great job of taking about a pile of firewood Tom had laid out. Patrick was calling it our camp out spot. You know he is imaging that long twice as high with flames.
The hairy caterpillar was the only thing that would get Patrick to leave the pile of firewood alone and continue on our walk. What does a wide band mean on the hairy caterpillars - snow or no snow this winter?? I don't think this guy will live to see snow....I am pretty certain that Rusty ate him once Daddy put the catepiller back in the grass.
Elizabeth was so cute, exploring and finding lots of great sticks, large and small. She used this one as a walking stick for quite a while.
Patrick and Dad were on the hunt for deer. And big rocks. Big rocks are the best to throw in the gorge and listen to sticks breaking, of course followed by a big kerplunk!
We ended our hike in Tom's backyard. There were still a lot of blackberries left on the bushes, so we all came home with purple fingers.

This time of year, every walk ends with an apple, or five if you are Rusty!