I have been waiting for today all week long!! This is because Steve and I invited a couple of our friends to go on a hike to a favorite spot, the Rogue Gorge, which a very special place where the Rogue River squeezes down into a very tight channel and shoots out the other side. It's very impressive to see, but besides the Gorge, this area has lovely trails to hike on, and endless photo opportunities! I was very excited, since I haven't been here for a couple of years, and never with my Mark II!

It turns out that we arrived a bit early for this hike, as there was still some snow on the ground and the flowers weren't out yet, nor were the amazing ferns, which were all dormant right now. But no worries, there were so many pretty things to photograph that I came home with hundreds of pictures, of course! :D

Since this area is in a deep forest, I kept my eyes open for mushroom fairies and listened for their little giggles to give them away. I knew they had to be near and searched carefully and quietly, hoping I might spot one. Looking around the endless moss-covered rocks as we walked along, I slipped ahead of our group and then I saw these two! Freezing in place, this pair gazed up at me in wonder and I smiled warmly at them as I took their picture. Then I told them that it was time to scoot, as my friends would be coming soon and I didn't want them to be frightened. With a chorus of happy giggles, they turned and glided off the mossy rock and away from me, sing-songing, "GOOD-BYYYYYYYYYE!!!!" :) :)

Günter Wilhelm Grass (born 16 October 1927) is a German novelist, poet, playwright, illustrator, graphic artist, sculptor and recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is widely regarded as Germany's most famous living writer. Wikipedia: Günter Grass

Explored on Flickr on April 20, 2013. Highest position: #470