<![CDATA[I am, in fact, still here.]]>I am, in fact, still here.

The intensity of travel days over the last few weeks has consumed my time, but I should have time to post mornings this week.

๐Ÿš— I've traveled northward along the Blue Ridge, past moonshining hotspots, to arrive at Breaks Interstate Park, Virginia.

โ›ฐ๏ธ My lodge room looks out over a gorge where a loop of river has carved out elongated bluffs called "The Towers".

๐Ÿ“ท I was able to capture sunset highlighting them last night. There are more views from other overlooks that I'll share.

๐Ÿงต

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/25d45d98-af01-46b0-aebc-47880fc220fe/i-am-in-fact-still-here.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 02:49:44 GMTTue, 21 Apr 2026 11:36:37 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 08 May 2026 12:58:39 GMT]]>โ˜๏ธ Soon the clouds were roiling. I've never seen a similar pattern so widespread. It was abstract art, mesmerizing.

๐Ÿงต

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116539072145830760https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116539072145830760Fri, 08 May 2026 12:58:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 08 May 2026 10:32:02 GMT]]>โ˜๏ธ The view of The Breaks from our spot got even more interesting when a front came through one day.

๐Ÿฅพ We were lucky to get back in time from hiking before the rains came, because I delayed rechecking the forecast until it was obvious we were at risk of getting wet.

๐Ÿ“ท Open for horizontal pic

๐Ÿงต

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116538495609442602https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116538495609442602Fri, 08 May 2026 10:32:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 08 May 2026 08:29:53 GMT]]>@carstenraddatz

๐Ÿ˜† "This is the way, really!"

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116538015291040473https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116538015291040473Fri, 08 May 2026 08:29:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 08 May 2026 08:26:33 GMT]]>]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://pixelfed.automat.click/p/carstenraddatz/958280994466842352https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://pixelfed.automat.click/p/carstenraddatz/958280994466842352Fri, 08 May 2026 08:26:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Sat, 02 May 2026 19:46:24 GMT]]>@joewynne @vlrny so cool!!

We have a bolder passage just like this in eastern Massachusetts, although probably manmade, being in the wildlife sanctuary land which used to be a private property.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/otterX/statuses/116506701594575278https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/otterX/statuses/116506701594575278Sat, 02 May 2026 19:46:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Sat, 02 May 2026 02:41:33 GMT]]>@alicefrieren

I don't have a clear favorite species, but I like to be in fern-filled areas.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116502671759732875https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116502671759732875Sat, 02 May 2026 02:41:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 20:43:35 GMT]]>Ferns thriving on steep slopes always feels like nature showing off its grip strength. Do you have a favorite fern species or are they all equally charming?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116021816019424617/statuses/116501264153168354https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116021816019424617/statuses/116501264153168354Fri, 01 May 2026 20:43:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 18:50:24 GMT]]>๐Ÿฅพ Despite being on fairly steep slopes, the forests of this area are dense. In the moist wind-protected coves, ferns are happy.


๐Ÿงต

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116500819112371729https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116500819112371729Fri, 01 May 2026 18:50:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 17:15:43 GMT]]>@joewynne
๐Ÿฅฐ

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://disabled.social/users/vlrny/statuses/116500446788709870https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://disabled.social/users/vlrny/statuses/116500446788709870Fri, 01 May 2026 17:15:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 15:21:36 GMT]]>@joewynne I feel it looking at the pictures. Waiting for your next posts!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://metalhead.club/users/contrinitiator/statuses/116499998051246773https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://metalhead.club/users/contrinitiator/statuses/116499998051246773Fri, 01 May 2026 15:21:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 14:54:08 GMT]]>@contrinitiator It was both delightful and inspiring. An awe-filled day.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116499890074432364https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116499890074432364Fri, 01 May 2026 14:54:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 14:50:34 GMT]]>@joewynne Impressive hiking!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://metalhead.club/users/contrinitiator/statuses/116499876027482191https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://metalhead.club/users/contrinitiator/statuses/116499876027482191Fri, 01 May 2026 14:50:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 14:36:30 GMT]]>๐Ÿฅพ Hiking amidst boulders.

@vlrny


๐Ÿงต

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116499820772076664https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116499820772076664Fri, 01 May 2026 14:36:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 11:26:11 GMT]]>@joewynne That's an Eastern Newt.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://gts.epigaea.net/users/unfinishedsymphony/statuses/01KQHMM0HV0H1GGPHHYY1EXW79https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://gts.epigaea.net/users/unfinishedsymphony/statuses/01KQHMM0HV0H1GGPHHYY1EXW79Fri, 01 May 2026 11:26:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Fri, 01 May 2026 10:58:07 GMT]]>โ›ฐ๏ธ Hiking trails in this park are on several horizontal levels. The middle levels give you rock walls on one side and vistas on the other.

๐Ÿฅพ And, because of a large amount of geological thrust faults, sometimes you have to maneuver through unexpected formations.


๐Ÿงต

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116498961997146381https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116498961997146381Fri, 01 May 2026 10:58:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:52:39 GMT]]>@joewynne

Come to Salamander Country!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/TheEddieShow/statuses/116451518675553432https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/TheEddieShow/statuses/116451518675553432Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:52:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:50:43 GMT]]>๐Ÿฅพ We hiked past a water impoundment that is usually disruptive to a mountaintop environment, but this one was full of salamanders!

๐ŸฆŽ These amphibians prefer cold, clean, running water as in pristine streams. This pond had to be relatively undisturbed.

๐Ÿ“ท I stayed still and got a pic of a Spotted Salamander as it floated into a sunny spot. Love the orange spots!

๐Ÿงต

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116451511049006199https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116451511049006199Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:50:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:32:35 GMT]]>๐ŸŸฃ On a hike with walls of rock on one side, we came upon a spot where water dripped down, creating a seepage slope. This type of microhabitat is often a place to find treasure and this time we were not disappointed:

A little patch of wild irises.

๐Ÿงต

Link Preview ImageLink Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116449788289383240https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116449788289383240Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:32:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:09:15 GMT]]>Today we enjoyed a small piece of what our planet has to offer to make us happy.

Happy ! ๐Ÿ’š

๐Ÿ“ธ open for horizontal pic

๐Ÿงต

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116449696542737184https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116449696542737184Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:09:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:33:39 GMT]]>@nousersmanual
Thank you, I will!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116444130123409665https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/joewynne/statuses/116444130123409665Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:33:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I am, in fact, still here. on Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:09:31 GMT]]>@joewynne the SW corner of VA is an amazing place. I hope you have a great time out there!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/ap/users/116003787099765706/statuses/116443327449599397https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/ap/users/116003787099765706/statuses/116443327449599397Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:09:31 GMT