I am torn over the feeling that Summer is almost over and Fall is oh so close. I love love love fall but I feel like I have not had a full Summer yet. Maybe it is because I have spent more time in the mountains this summer than ever before. Usually I reserve the mountains for Fall and Winter when the bugs are gone and the views are better. The wildlife in much more abundant this time of year and that makes for great mountain hiking.

I keep a running list in my yearly planner of places, goals and random things I would like to do. Eagles Rest has been on the list for quite some time. I don't even remember now how I first heard of it. It is in a really strange spot. This is probably why it is not a more popular hike. Located at the end of a very long dead end residential street that pretty much just ends at a cellular tower. No real parking lot, just kind of pull over where you can. Equipped with a compost toilet shack and a few gorgeous overlooks, there isn't much but what little is here packs a punch. It is tick season and there were lots of them around this spot, so bring bug spray. This year has been bad. I thought with the cold winter it would have killed some off but nope. Worse than last year and last year was terrible. The trails are also overgrown and narrow so zip off pants would be ideal for hiking around the area. I am not about getting chiggers again. That said, we didn't venture too deep down the trails.

Not too far way is the Fainting Goats Vineyard. Complete with 2 fainting goats, Ronnie & Reagan and their protectors, Teddy & Rosie, both Great Pyrenees. My husband and I may not be the most eloquent wine drinkers but we certainly are adept vineyard critics. The winery itself is situated on a hillside overlooking grapevines and sweeping mountain views. It was a little busy the day we went and I did not get that personal vibe we usually get from talking with a sommelier. Not that the service was bad, or cold, just that part of the draw for us has been the unusually colorful wine stewards we meet on our wine explorations. Even though we did not get that experience we did get goats, music and the most amazing cheese board ever. That alone will bring me back.

Our goat friends were hanging around close to where we were sitting up until I was ready to go up and say hi. I should have done that first but my cheese board won out over the goats. Next time!