Finally.

Until this weekend, there was reason to wonder whether October would be a third August amid an entirely-too-long summer.

Temperatures hung in the mid-to-upper 90s even though we marked the first day of fall weeks ago. However, there wasn’t much cause for celebration then, Sept. 23, as it still felt like the middle of summer. And the annoyance of the stifling heat, which set records as the calendar moved further away from summer, was compounded by a drought, turning grass brown for reasons other than a transition to a cooler, milder season.

It seemed that the Earth was ready for a change, too, as leaves had already begun to coat the ground.

On Friday night and into Saturday, when temperatures dropped from the 90s to the 60s, it was time to open the windows and leave them there. The cooler weather enticed us to dust off our porch and patio chairs to remember what’s it’s like to enjoy a nice afternoon outside. Walking the dog wasn’t a sweat-inducing experience. And it was perfect that the first true day of fall coincided with the 40th annual Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park.

With so many places to explore, there’s something wonderful about a 70 something-degree day in Rowan County. And the good news is that there should be few, if any, days of stifling heat until spring or later. A little rain would be a nice addition to the cooler temperatures, too.

Now is the time to explore one of Rowan County’s many unique places — perhaps a paddle on the Yadkin River, an evening shopping and eating in downtown Salisbury, a short hike up Dunn’s Mountain, a trip to one of the county’s many museums or experiencing any one of the examples of natural splendor in God’s country.

After what seemed like a suffocating summer, fall is a welcome guest in Rowan County. It can stay as long as it likes.