As I mentioned in the last post, we are having to make adjustments to our route. Our original plan was to make it to the state line by our anniversary. Well yesterday was our anniversary and we are not there yet. We are still going, just trying to work the route a little differently so we can get there before the snow starts falling. And truth be told, the area we've been walking in for the last couple of hikes has been sadly lacking in scenery. I know, I know..flat boring land in the midwest should not have been a surprise. But still we've decided to alter the route a little so we can get back to hiking in the woods.

So we took our route a few miles south today (but still headed toward the state border) and found ourselves back on wooded trails. The tall red pines were gorgeous.

The forest floor was covered in pine needles and the air in the woods smelled like Christmas.

Instead of following the canal, we hiked out to this calm blue lake.

Our hike wasn't a long one today, but it was very different from our last few. The trail went up and down a lot of hills, making it challenging in a whole new way. We found this great spot for a rest and water break.

The lovely views, the sounds a pine forest makes as the tall trees sway in the wind, the twisting, winding trail...and a day in the woods with my husband...a perfect way to spend our anniversary.