Mike Talmarkes home in Raleigh NC

Went for a walk in the woods near Mike Talmarkes home in Raleigh Nort Carolina. Sun's out and warm enough for T-shirt. Yay! Must be so beautiful when the Spring comes and all the leaves, bulbs and blooms are out and even more birds are around.

Mike Fly Fishing just bekow the dam in one of the Woodlands of Raleigh. The water was too muddy, so no bites, but one snake dropped into the water off the bank further down! We did a hike for about three and a half hours or so.

Some colour in the woods on the way back from our hike. Seriously good exercise climbing up through the woods and then back down along a different path for most of the way.

Some of the Town Houses nearby where Mike lives in Raleigh. All pretty nice and comfortable and clean with well kept gardens all along. amazing watching the efficiency of garbage collection with a truck that picks up the garbage wheelie bins off the road and dumps them in the top. All very clean and clinical and very fast. All you do is make sure the bin is on the raodside for easy access.

Spring has sprung in the Southern USA and the warmth has brought out the birds in their hundreds. Mike's neighbours have a whole bunch of feeders and I was able to indtify a whole host of birds. Mostly, Gamerican Goldfinches, without Spring plumage yet, Cardinals, Sparrows of various kinds, Junco's, Tit mouse, Chikadee, Robins, Cowbirds, Blue Jays.

The 'well-worn' path near Mike's home where I walked a few times in the mornings. Saw some Pileated Woodpeckers. Very impressive birds and loud.

New house in a new housing estate just through the woods from Mike's home. Impressive how quickly they can build such a large home. You can see the guys busy tiling the roof with ropework to prevent falling. Once done, an instant garden appears courtesy of the building contractors and developers. Mike is in this business as a civil engineer.

Mike's new home. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms and basement gargae. Has a nice deck at the back around the right hand side. I secretly planted some bulbs 'somewhere' in his garden. Hope they 'emerge' as a surprise for him!

If anyone can see the deer, let me know. I am still amazed at the amount of wildlife in Raleigh and generally in US cities. The city of Raleigh is actually a wide open city with wide easy to use roads and the shopping centres are very nice, specially the neighbourhood ones. There is a Chain - Harris Teeter - which puts the best SA chains to shame in orgnization and products available. Organic 'Farmers Market' food section is magic and so well laid out too.

I thoroughly enjoyed being with Mike and he is such a superb host. He has done SACS proud and is well liked by all I met because he has the manners of a SACS man ingrained.