I was sorting through some images and found a few favorites from my many trips to South Africa.  This is of the Jacaranda, a 2,000 ton Greek coaster that ran aground under mysterious circumstances (some say it had to do with insurance money) off the Wild Coast of South Africa, specifically the Qora River Mouth.  The spot is pretty inaccessible and you have to hike a good ways along the beach to get to it, so it has remained relatively untouched over the years. Local herds of Nguni cows wander through there, a few hikers, and one or two photographers like me, but otherwise it is a wild and unspoiled coastline. I played with it to give it a painted look.  Think it might be nice on canvas …..

We are excited to announce the birth of precious Euphrates Eve Jourdain, sister to big brother Gideon and my second grandchild.  Those of faith, please pray for her – she needs surgery to correct a blockage in her intestine and will later need heart surgery.  She is a fiesty little munchkins, born today at MUSC.  Congratulations Leigh and Josh – God is good.

I suddenly realized that this was the last few days of the Coastal Carolina Fair and I really wanted to go.  Since this was the only opportunity I would have before it left town on Sunday, I headed out there after work and enjoyed a beautiful evening watching everyone having a very good time.  Here are some of the images.

I am so sad about the sinking of the Bounty.  What a tragic end to such a grand lady.  My heart goes out to the family of the crew member who didn’t make it, and my prayer is that by some miracle they will find Captain Robin Walbridge.  What else is there to say ..

Paul and Laura are expecting their second child within a couple of weeks, so we quickly took the opportunity to photograph them as a threesome before their daughter arrives.  We bribed Donovan shamelessly with jelly beans to encourage his participation!

My time spent poking around the roads less traveled in western North Carolina has unhappily come to an end.  Fall in these parts is as good as it gets.  Some locals I spoke to talked about the colors not being as brilliant this year, maybe because the area had a lot of rain through the summer.  Yes, the foliage was a little muted, less fiery reds and more jewel tones – amber, rust, topaz, etc., but it never ceases to create a sense of awe.  Just drop dead gorgeous.  I left Asheville before dawn this morning and headed for the Brevard area, remembering a particular valley that I visited a few years ago.  It was foggy in the low-lying areas until the sun finally blasted through at about 9am, and within half an hour all the fog was gone.  By 10:45 I had used up the best light and it was time to set my course for home.  There is so much that I love about Brevard; the farms, the rural valleys, the waterfalls …  Next year I won’t bother to go anywhere else.  A great day but now it’s time to do laundry, pay bills, get ready for work tomorrow, etc.

So this morning I was back on the road before sunrise looking for some soft early light in the Valle Crucis area.  Clouds completely nixxed that idea so after awhile I decided to head back towards Asheville, my last port of call for this Fall trip.  On the way I thought I would revisit twin tunnels that I had photographed a few years ago in the Black Mountain area.  I had made a mental note at the time to revisit during the Fall.  Long story short, I got lost and walked 8 miles (in inappropriate thin-soled fashion sneakers) with my camera, two lenses and a tripod.  Yes, I found the twin tunnels, but my mind was pre-occupied with trying to remember where I had put the Ibuprofen.  Later, after soaking in a tub of hot water, I figured I would try and find a good sunset spot on the Parkway, but it was very crowded and the light was boring and blah.  So, some days are diamonds and some are rust, and in terms of effort for output, I have certainly had better.

It’s been a long day of hiking and driving.  If I got as much exercise every day as I’ve had in the last two days I would never have to worry about what I eat.  The fall colors are gorgeous, but for the higher elevations like Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock, I missed peak by about two weeks.  It’s hard to get it right – nature does as she pleases.