After the day of mist and fog, we woke up on Saturday with the sun shining valiantly through the clouds. Excellent hiking weather; climbing a mountain in the blazing sun isn’t my idea of fun, especially since I am so pale I’m practically translucent, and I burn if I just look at the sun.

Aargh, LOOK at it. So fantastically beautiful!

Yep, the clouds were coming out in full force. But soon we were in a foresty bit and didn’t notice…

And then we turned a corner and saw THIS:

Now, a series with a donkey, just because I can.

I call this first one, “You Shall Not Pass.”

“No, seriously, I’m guarding this path.”

“Oh, all right. Not that it matters.” (he’s such an Eeyore)

I thought this guy was totally adorable. And I felt so bad for him because he was just covered in flies.

So naturally I decided he needed a nose rub to get rid of those pesky flies. Equally naturally, he decided to eat my jacket (don’t worry, no harm done).

I had my husband take these. Look at us, friends forever!

Or at least until we walked away and left him standing there looking depressed. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

I’ll leave you with these two, taken just on the outskirts of the Berg:

Clouds and pretty rolling hills. Oh yes.