tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331865422024-03-07T14:23:06.257-05:00Max's Retirement AdventuresRetirement. My time to see things I've wanted to see.maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-26536833541823211592011-01-25T12:40:00.000-05:002011-01-25T12:40:11.113-05:00Cape Fear Haiti Help<br />
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It has been several weeks since we returned from Haiti, and so, perhaps it is time for reflection on what happened there. As you’ve heard, we had a small part in helping distribute Chlorox to fight the cholera epidemic. We had a small part in providing a house for a desperately needy and thankful family. We helped hundreds of school kids with medical and basic health needs. We witnessed the work that the church is doing there, and had a small part in supporting and laying the foundation for future such work. And, of course, the blessings we have received for our meager efforts demonstrate the truth stated in Acts 20:35. It is, indeed, more blessed to give than to receive.<br />
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We were also blessed by an opportunity to share our time in Haiti with Bill Glass, the President of Haiti Outreach Ministries, and his wife, Linda, as well as a cadre of long term volunteers. These are dedicated, loving people who have essentially put the rest of their life on hold to do the Lord’s work in Haiti. And, they are not just loving and dedicated, but well structured, diciplined and wise. They work hard to avoid a “handout” approach, in favor of a “helping hand up” approach that results in longer term improvement. Witness, their support of a sewing school. Witness, their policy that those who get new homes must participate in their new homes, to the extent they can, to build “ownership”. Witness, their seminars educating the public about how to avoid cholera. Witness their efforts to teach the public how to avoid problems with latrines by sourcing and using local lime deposits. The list could go on, but the point is this…HOM is an organization that can be depended upon to give thoughtful help for the maximum long term benefit, rather than just a handout. They are a great partner for those who want to help in Haiti, and want to do it with an organization they know and trust.<br />
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I’m happy to report that your generosity not only supported our Cape Fear Haiti Help team in our work, it has also made it possible to support HOM in more general ways like contributing to support of long term volunteers and other future teams. Thank you.<br />
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And, while our team has returned, the opportunities to help have not ended. One great way to help, that you’ll be hearing more about, is to sponsor a child. We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to help educate a child and make a difference in Haiti, one person at a time. You can find more information about this and other HOM programs at <a href="http://www.haitioutreachministries.com/">http://www.haitioutreachministries.com/</a>, or you can see more details about our trip at our blog at <a href="http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/">http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/</a>.maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-9294382669058691872010-11-28T18:10:00.000-05:002010-11-28T18:10:49.743-05:00Port Au Prince, Haiti<br />
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Welcome friends. Just wanted to let everyone know I am in Haiti, trying to help with reconstruction. For updates, visit our blog at <a href="http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/">http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/</a>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-11086144247302192992010-11-15T17:54:00.001-05:002010-11-15T18:05:19.372-05:00<strong>Papa, Mr Fixit and Haiti Helper</strong> <br />
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</div>Papa-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wkeeSgq0olQwzyzUYRtyuIR8FF3oAJjlyvdHtjue_ysRDd-VF6oVw_NehqO_QBX7l7FDTG94q8YNXVF9L9VcsX7sh5jhAatNYGp2aBqxT-j5re6XSEDu17FdrUIilSVkYFZc/s1600/IMG_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Ah, time for some fun. One of the great things about living here in Wilmington is the opportunity to spend time with Myles. So, it's time for a first fishing trip here at "Papa's Lake".<br />
<img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wkeeSgq0olQwzyzUYRtyuIR8FF3oAJjlyvdHtjue_ysRDd-VF6oVw_NehqO_QBX7l7FDTG94q8YNXVF9L9VcsX7sh5jhAatNYGp2aBqxT-j5re6XSEDu17FdrUIilSVkYFZc/s400/IMG_0791.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9aCMieNTXxGenvINmELMNDOEmJW1XGG_qbW9q7o0UTh_hCmIYKju023P1RtCR7hBrLwIAsqVH1g3M_6y_KRwJozpiYmQiL112-UQbCqUS24Y5cbC32Bg2bw4aLKHSzSQdbVq/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9aCMieNTXxGenvINmELMNDOEmJW1XGG_qbW9q7o0UTh_hCmIYKju023P1RtCR7hBrLwIAsqVH1g3M_6y_KRwJozpiYmQiL112-UQbCqUS24Y5cbC32Bg2bw4aLKHSzSQdbVq/s400/IMG_0808.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROUOjGg-eyLRyE-VGgAA6rgJlwpg104FHRgds1C0BzH51L37J8zMDq4LByy1IJPeqbzG0J3-90ByI5ycGbpoxxm_Bve69Uatc-g2bwA5_yLYosM0BsbVew-RBJDtVyg800JC7/s1600/IMG_0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROUOjGg-eyLRyE-VGgAA6rgJlwpg104FHRgds1C0BzH51L37J8zMDq4LByy1IJPeqbzG0J3-90ByI5ycGbpoxxm_Bve69Uatc-g2bwA5_yLYosM0BsbVew-RBJDtVyg800JC7/s400/IMG_0792.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nxr_SKenOudWlvge3lBy1sSp82n0YC3jmeYYjWCTbgI__A039cFF5R1vNW8V1_UqdiHm1rGAq7bQgIGTyMfIu48PDzfUTIGoFxyuv8OqVgFNAQa2cWzvnKaoxmJtOn8wjeDY/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nxr_SKenOudWlvge3lBy1sSp82n0YC3jmeYYjWCTbgI__A039cFF5R1vNW8V1_UqdiHm1rGAq7bQgIGTyMfIu48PDzfUTIGoFxyuv8OqVgFNAQa2cWzvnKaoxmJtOn8wjeDY/s640/IMG_0801.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Mr Fixit:<br />
With my new house, I also have the fun of nearly unlimited projects. Here are before and after pictures of a couple of the bigger ones, moving a wall to create a laundry room and closet, and repairing badly rotted exterior doors in the back of the house:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMBYrJAABhtB6a60i5vWjLUBHVVKl6sDauGvUM7FNW1fyTpHx9SH_LnGU1b8UUfkTY61noFRyjd6acStY0JJcoqLsJ_SJ8hStldQBkpKCkPEEvyaCbJaPH1C3kQafz-N3l50k/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMBYrJAABhtB6a60i5vWjLUBHVVKl6sDauGvUM7FNW1fyTpHx9SH_LnGU1b8UUfkTY61noFRyjd6acStY0JJcoqLsJ_SJ8hStldQBkpKCkPEEvyaCbJaPH1C3kQafz-N3l50k/s400/IMG_0732.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItrmXwA7RwiurhQDJLlh_P2-Eunx3I2dgbiiIdLWOcgM8Uu764yHS-_aCzUewBgH17eQWgTzYvqiEIg6_KhzR7CSsB-JVEhi8esLlUEienc6sLggefom1HW1Scee5GgqHkGkZ/s1600/IMG_0842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItrmXwA7RwiurhQDJLlh_P2-Eunx3I2dgbiiIdLWOcgM8Uu764yHS-_aCzUewBgH17eQWgTzYvqiEIg6_KhzR7CSsB-JVEhi8esLlUEienc6sLggefom1HW1Scee5GgqHkGkZ/s400/IMG_0842.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpS7aqKhN60rxPb7uOnyQRfEoiiO1rLtHok8dPzpSttVJZ54aLym6EOcvEEifVaKZAcBYPMTxS2NEPNupDEcljkdtRWE-LRStN55WxCye4ZPJ5hk_JhGVEpQ9uopSN-JODG5S/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpS7aqKhN60rxPb7uOnyQRfEoiiO1rLtHok8dPzpSttVJZ54aLym6EOcvEEifVaKZAcBYPMTxS2NEPNupDEcljkdtRWE-LRStN55WxCye4ZPJ5hk_JhGVEpQ9uopSN-JODG5S/s400/IMG_0714.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCRhkFpEkduwK1cRz0-pK5OcnSok1j9Z6ksbgo8ZN0a1KK88dpEHjpyOCZMfzEq6ja55SgDCdmjLX2_CLP1fmGBa5ls7FxLlSm1Nw3zLDuqyaI7QQ87OC9Vs7kdw1XpA-Xj9C/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCRhkFpEkduwK1cRz0-pK5OcnSok1j9Z6ksbgo8ZN0a1KK88dpEHjpyOCZMfzEq6ja55SgDCdmjLX2_CLP1fmGBa5ls7FxLlSm1Nw3zLDuqyaI7QQ87OC9Vs7kdw1XpA-Xj9C/s400/IMG_0838.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Haiti Helper:<br />
But, probably the biggest thing I've been doing is leading a team on a mission trip to Haiti. So far, that has meant leading meetings, organizing support, communicating with associated organizations, obtaining materials and general preparation. Things like our Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser. Below are pictures of our team, as well myself, mingling with customers Bill and Catha.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4pC2Yh5HA-zptAMcmqb0DoPds1M18MCzY7Q7XIJyJCEM0rLkhDbqjQm6y_3YVqnlYLYQfvun6-1mimv_lJh89ByrVALBcTiTxWBCio7J8JmMnzcVRdic_wWQjpTPpfmfLFfZ/s1600/P1030558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4pC2Yh5HA-zptAMcmqb0DoPds1M18MCzY7Q7XIJyJCEM0rLkhDbqjQm6y_3YVqnlYLYQfvun6-1mimv_lJh89ByrVALBcTiTxWBCio7J8JmMnzcVRdic_wWQjpTPpfmfLFfZ/s400/P1030558.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4Q8tTqTrtOMzs3uOgM3sOGrXMrJaH9zbuThGBdkmElI4aiEqhd22dXWcORfT_W1EOz_ULD5VIzdAVm0512_4XELpwXttRu3McfiB0LMforuM-uIqChg9ozu9j6SBG-nVeg8o/s1600/P1030552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4Q8tTqTrtOMzs3uOgM3sOGrXMrJaH9zbuThGBdkmElI4aiEqhd22dXWcORfT_W1EOz_ULD5VIzdAVm0512_4XELpwXttRu3McfiB0LMforuM-uIqChg9ozu9j6SBG-nVeg8o/s400/P1030552.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
But, in less than 2 weeks, we will be travelling to Haiti for an 8 day working trip. The problems in Haiti are big and well known, and the challenges are big as well. But, we couldn't stand by and watch, when the possibility of helping was within our grasp, and so, we'll try our best to help.<br />
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If you've watched the news reports and wished there was something you could do to help, this is your chance. If you want to know more about how you can help, with moral support, prayers or donations, visit our website at <br />
<a href="http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/">http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/</a><br />
For more visuals on the situation there, visit:<br />
<a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/haiti_ten_months_later.html">http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/haiti_ten_months_later.html</a><br />
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See you on the other side.maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-80996543137236998752010-07-26T15:00:00.014-05:002010-07-26T16:09:53.807-05:00<div><div><div><div><strong>North Carolina, Texas, Haiti</strong> <div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>It seems at least a few people are still interested in what I'm up to, despite the mundane nature of most of it. So, here is the latest report.</div><br /><div>Since purchasing my house, I've spent a good bit of time getting a few improvements done. But, in between, I've made a couple of trips to God's Country (Texas, for the uninitiated). One, to Houston to clear out my storage and drive the big yellow Penske diesel back to Wilmington to deliver my household goods. Yay, I'm no longer camping! There are even light fixtures and A/C registers in the living room.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498317118780394018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrabyokmJZxQaII-aySaN_kMhlD3DaZ3OiHgxjJoh-8BXuBm_89jNymlLgAdQrW9yuTdceNqDkMuScEGVqW4icY1PJhbyK3k-XYpX7xKcN6SBopMMkqc2FSi1VjJhMFFaSjPa/s400/IMG_0779.JPG" border="0" />Then, we celebrated my parents 60th wedding anniversary with a little party in Rhome. It was good to see everyone from family to friends I grew up with and to celebrate that accomplishment.<br /></div><div>As for my time in Wilmington...most things are unpacked and in place! And, I've managed a few projects. I've planted a bit of landscaping and replaced the column on the front of the house, not to mention pounding the front door back into alignment with its opening.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498316835443110546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnD3P2xPynZNZ8fk984OPa6-uiGju1Ecebaq1cns8J4U7WfXFYyo4GOsRgdvzTcUxF__YkhWTWOnllkwBLW0RRISHG8FvMPdE84L4sSHZpijycHJJYFNaArkIUWtx1AoNETea/s400/IMG_0777.JPG" border="0" />Gail and I doubled up on the insulation in our houses.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498318176942284898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJYPiedLQeZIkcAXv1NAFfI2uBbYdZ5gCCDs85AV0UmLMaqLckUAj_erZIqDqx5uAmQVQW7xiLwPm7Ty2EkLBKvWInUy9Irr8MkGq7Vw0_KjOYciZBKS4oThQwNzcsq81Pw2k/s400/IMG_0786.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498317828812152402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RbWeDkxIoZVpmIPPJ9rJdbcJgu8znSG9-tgvE3gWDh92hoeSG9us-OSSgorncBqYuPJQ-Jh03-mHTsRiyL7J6ecLM-xV-RM-lmBohhZ_v7eAiZNG4hH9SQkLJ-4ScgaJKgst/s400/IMG_0781.JPG" border="0" /> I procured a new cook stove and repaired the kitchen cabinets so that doors don't fall off when you open them.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498315939090063346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0DdQL_tW4qiqJq6G5gZvbK3d8dvFFy8mo7M1sg2w974zUdnpiHAp-dMlp3LGv3a424_VKQzcZPMTcVrhyphenhyphen2FwG73sHZTMor73buSrszOeViFc4E4qSA0PQcSPERtZtj8XhcmE/s400/IMG_0774.JPG" border="0" /> The biggest project I've tackled, still ongoing, is moving a closet and laundry room back to their original location. This required relocating some walls and doors and adding to the laminate flooring in the den.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498316202316520642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEq5ethbm3wtV1U0atGZg_VSjJfw1x_XWcmY_cR3vgvJx0BLEO4SUxBYtr13x-8r_Y3BL007TWqui6ZvriwqxwkmUetfWWjUmjDiz77QB0vSjM4V-2R_NCbOWywVYbWpoYZ-y/s400/IMG_0775.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498319486790025106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXl2IJlc6SEQtAvqHcf7lRbXeYQAHaTz4w2WeLbxc0QYleu65e6zD9d-pf2N7cadATTlvfGRo_7l8VISlXtPeX0yx9LnmYFJ3wuBCi-rWlAdyQrgOsXvxlgKF0EmLfk_Ppd3p/s400/IMG_0776.JPG" border="0" /> I pulled out all the copper pipe for propane heat. It was poorly installed, and propane is prohibitively expensive here. I'm going all electric, at least until I can add some alternate systems, perhaps solar or ground source.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498320548726998402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59ulzyLxMP7mRpfH4A_0PYVM14GRgJfyDNDJkLFZUd4KF93xPEZ1KwTci8BoUhI7zrf_HV5mxjJZj4KWbBoF4ysMMlOc6wUETYMSWOZ-_IyXSRd7bylh-1CYaThf11z241Qju/s400/IMG_0784.JPG" border="0" />I've managed to grow a reasonable garden, despite getting a late start. I've been supplying the whole church with cucumbers for the past month or so. I've been picking more okra and blackeyed peas than I can eat lately. Fresh green beans, zuchini, tomatoes and sweet corn have also been making a regular appearance, keeping me in pretty good supply of fresh groceries. Maybe I should start late every year.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498315490477183202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bauv4qAl-B35nnM8CDCZg_dMEbVoYfXgRGyGCIaMGaywxhWnWqxBEgG2IradgNxPJirYmS4JLwhpbTU2P1rv5E6JRZn7FJRBHy0wR_4rlODrkbwcwjdY6_1jOnQfQRgt3k21/s400/IMG_0771.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498317494501236850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCmnC3FIHkbl92THPIixy0Bd-P4DOFtv6So9TnMbtAhamHd9kNM-x8k7lvXyx5DZKtlzUO3oNTqqIgOsCIt4eZJh1uML2J1Rdg_ZRz7G2K7X_Tqq0uSCc5Scfhl_3bZ_VTBRQ/s400/IMG_0780.JPG" border="0" /> And, more exciting things are in the future. I've agreed to lead a reconstruction/medical team to Haiti in November. I'm excited with the prospect that we can make a difference there. If you would like to read more, or are interested in participating or supporting this effort, see our website at <a href="http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/">http://www.capefearhaitihelp.com/</a> . All help is welcomed and can make a difference in a devastated Haiti.<br /><br /><div>Well, back to work. Seems like I'm as busy now as when I got paid.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-38229128378499204452010-04-26T19:39:00.008-05:002010-04-26T20:28:02.933-05:00<strong>First Time Homeowner</strong> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>As several have observed, it has been a long while since I've posted. And, for those who've asked...no, I'm not still in Ireland!</div><div> </div><div>After almost 4 years in motion, I've decided to settle down a bit in Wilmington, NC. After a few months of toying with the idea of developing some rural property, I finally settled on buying a house in a subdivision. I bought a fixer upper, a foreclosure, and have moved in. So, I've gone from world traveller to Mr Fixit. </div><div> </div><div>The work has just begun, but here are a few pictures of the place when I moved in. As you can see, I'm still camping out. Later this week I'll travel to Houston to move my furnishings from storage.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464610974200502754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs1NYcVCRwb31LmH95e7GwXgXnKZQBUAM7_ksX-iU_35eLnlA-5c2wNAGbSHSTGrSl-Vl47gX3VfteduyGo5j50aiEukt4rnYB8NO0-dgSDna_nL87ds5Y7MQ-M5RhyE6FJW9/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464611589435450258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVShg4QpcIBMVRdZtzIyj_yOhDPa1QCEV8gtyHKA6xlwxD7oeWPQzHN_23B01ZXCC_7IiYngQ_Zk5o4-UjKHPP4Kw7BgUx1Pajk-AwDsOZawVVNQere9AWkc83dv0b_TmPXs5V/s400/IMG_0703.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464612734566818002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjlfyPQm-Pysy8HrqBpKu4N37Gqms9H3ZiCKi01ROccstgyCDPpcG1rEZwSqUEBVG3TOlxjyeXf7V07e2pA8Sb_C4skUWIbbJL1R2XegCWbJcEKnqeL8ErO0hDusjvQvy4Kp2/s400/IMG_0709.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464613482899365042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LaKbjBBcD8BaDd1xGAftQe6iQspCkAMAuYfxItM68fcdGEdxXQDhPbxOzsVe-TRUNzTJrvzeFLzyp7tWhBuvMAiOZEWsJ6SPF77gPRNj-U62y9jFKIhKwO-2gKrWlBE8ZFY2/s400/IMG_0713.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464615682959160642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiameT20pJHDxSYiWZ7u2gBYmiNLtsS2sLX1lRJeeupaMDoumpZ4It-wCcPP_0rIsqxgzIZuD5b9R-R-iomUYAeub0SQy2kqhVfHwdVKAzwSN8m1ih2xaKSVNOOXZiMAZRT3cFP/s400/IMG_0727.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Note, the column laying on the porch.</div><div> </div><div>After a few days of cleaning, my first order of business was to add a new microwave over the stove replace the vent hood which had been ripped out. I'm still working getting a new stove installed.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464614100531883586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROnLdv86uBM1_Xc2UucXvJuv9jngw2reL-r-88K2oilgj4JuQbkw78Z9_91-bCmKOyPNUPcr3tqiTybZpwP63olmFEmcw6D1vUEL-y6TFq1hnhRzIiMkfa-30XhbwnilZ2feH/s400/IMG_0715.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Then, I decided I couldn't live with the dark green/chocolate brown color of the dining/living area. Here is a picture of the original color and the new one.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464611997085806658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BKKFhMgA5utqTquis8fJ1tG_zCvDNtIG2_LJWYAFsTIpLwo0OnffIrZucAyibUO-zu4ADOgoMovfBGvQDMSv2IesQwv1jjoFETJBl6WPYdiSCw-QoXYx3qhljL39zZLGHNx6/s400/IMG_0705a.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464614625052038322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvveC6zpM_HL0sdRGOXvcFkcgwXmUeRLHszDaGUQbRD7tEho_52k_31nWau5M59syc_dNdV8wF_vpk22Vud1goozNr-IJUPa1YLi7uhiGCgtBTs6P_7q1aE9ZWzuW-aNymOkVo/s400/IMG_0718.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>And, best of all, according to the government, I'm a first time homebuyer. So, thanks everyone for chipping in on my home purchase.</div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-61141926505394861522009-12-01T12:21:00.009-05:002009-12-01T13:55:22.882-05:00<strong>Ireland</strong> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>I'm back from a quick trip to Ireland, with Jon, Ryan and Nicole. It was a great trip. We arrived in Dublin on Thanksgiving day, and immediately hired a car and drove north to Newgrange in County Meath. Newgrange is a Celtic burial site from about 3000 BC. Not much is known about the how or why of these sites, which are ubiquitous in the area, but it is pretty amazing to see them rising above the Irish countryside and they are amazingly preserved. Interestingly, the inside of them is built in the shape of a cross, even though they predate Jesus' time here on earth by 3000 years. The opening above the entrance is a ceiling window which lights the inside throughout its 65' length at sunrise on the winter solstice. And, I've included a picture of Ryan, Nicole and Jon as we crossed the nearby river on the way to the site. The river was swollen from recent floods, but it did not affect us.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410319942819770946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3vjPxEKXjAhGNDQ8xk6ub3v_ZBKBGkGbBhPWsJojIIjkpfsF9XTndeRROjM4FYE486AFN7y7uk9FPYw1rB69dVQ1SzFnqOMbrYtiGqokCrBFDS4VYk6BaFP8mFma9Spr-dG9/s400/IMG_0605.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410319600993055746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSnqdHYhUZsLRthQQ3Ap5HE3uQ6_ebWyMfVdkmvS3YPa3ON7hfxNmFwlBn0bIFH6f7zk7kjSiHP7x6HktcdZgv7ARgYBZGIsdp_KvY9XQb7BqBS9rNZxvbFA2KLR6KVDjI3e9/s400/IMG_0603.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410321505527206050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ytCzNxIUHPZeMzU_dy_sYzuA5wtomX5opuHmidKMRwPlB7I0H4qEnllHQybrDkFkvJK-Bi5B1WBxixoBT8_csJH0Gr6ollNJVUo0hPqpan9kWm67ZwII9l7mWut2SF_Zonuf/s400/IMG_0610.JPG" border="0" />The next day we drove further north to Northern Ireland, still a part of the UK. There we visisted the Giant's Causeway. These are Basalt columns on the north coast formed when volcanic lava pushed up through the earth, then cooled and cracked into octagonal columns. According to legend, Cool McFinn built them as a bridge to a Scottish Island. When he arrived, he realized the people were bigger and stronger than himself, so he retreated back across the causeway. When the giants followed, he was dressed like a baby, so they thought if a baby was that big, the adults must really be huge, so they retreated across the causeway and demolished it behind them.</div><div></div><div>We also visited the Bushmill's distillery, the oldest distillery in the world, and drove along the coast a bit while there. Here are some pictures of the area. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410321510177652962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEEI6A1xhAAZYLJFYnb0JDzVHgFpCZikcEGR3SyC8P8RN5J8LBsUgVJQWYfjWQ-c-Fsh3SgTH_dozN-EX5yefSkQkMAK_ciKwU_Fg-9fQ582VCnzXz4M8q9W4Hb4gHf8o8mM9/s400/IMG_0625.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410321516875234498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYryP9MzWZ1WvA5zCyWGl1g0XkicudaSes4EKGSjyF06CHByZdXz-IBjs7CW8flOhZrmXSfN8JUEYAyQ525c1Lvg_-9ad14qEslOtcVemYW1d_ufhsUCCVExXrOvbTz1pKU9M/s400/IMG_0632.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410321532344727858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbhjLTLq-MdFeulz-3PUC5gN8qBBu7tS1_mRnDXSbvLVxgu4VXZUr4jKSkHXhnOLGZSV7bUxmPy4DXY4KwxDAPZxJraH_2ZpIYgaCCqDnJ_9FVEArUrvrfb6JWWZLh1n5hqbT/s400/IMG_0633.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410321534490163106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5K3e8YtwDSqpR0HD4okE8C_xbsyDzzkaSbiygFVVHmybm28Utbwpl3GVstCepYV5wS33IDmgW-p8fYEh_YUjGcgFjtYKJ_Gdu98tDrHTwqh8xg4KbfYgFvTvzd9LwxwhojvQ/s400/IMG_0643.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410324562303814450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksBC995-Qll2718KZLK2WIFfOCgVk3yezxzSSnkkgzfKIUjv7NCqnRy36eyHYmuo73BDASLb4cf-m_w8GoITImFCmqYhhoxEacj616Vtpv_WM1rwRyARVf2Es5R93SgTBdbGS/s400/P1010906.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>Of course, along the way we got to see lots of beautiful Irish country side. Below are pictures of sheep grazing the a pasture along the coast, a castle which partially fell into the sea while still occupied, and the village of Bushmills.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410322459425018210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sLdk6Qmv_o0iPaj22Cgmm3cBK_dJHz1PP1mxR0h12QB04-XK1fxxUqyIfMK3IouJKw_7Sno6rDRXRhu59OszTBjHSajR6qLGx3GSHuol0LiqMIVO9ReOElsT_oUV7-LGheNF/s400/IMG_0656.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410322468616824418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcobodZ7ZPE6SkOxahXynuSD3ZZaTgJO5I9PEjrrRUfXZAMY0Bsm3Cd_1ZBUCfAStdEzfvMV19vSVxYwa_7SNPHZdxsSUR_dI7VTORCMe3WUgKLooe5kPF231C1IueiQqGM9Jb/s400/IMG_0658a.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410324572817424082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaQsjlqt06Z2hYvsbhkY_mPm9_aordEroTu7dNX0p5SL6WNR9FCfdFj73_D2fyQB9WuerSfzoXdufKIH97ZCRa1HodKWhdTtPLc_9ChnOI7d8PtGQFEYcKA4vSffWPdIIa6iR/s400/P1010911.JPG" border="0" />Then, we spent two days in Dublin. We visited the Killmainham Jail, where much of 17th, 18th and 19th century history is revisited. Prisoners there were largely political prisoners who revolted agains English rule, but some were imprisoned for crimes like stealing a loaf of bread. Men, women and children were all thrown in together and they had as many as 2500 prisoners in the prison, which included only 112 small cells, so overcrowding was unbelieveable. One notable inmate was an American sentenced to life in prison, but after Ireland gained independence he was released and later became President of the Republic. They had a problem with disease in jails built in the city at that time, so they built this one outside of town, where they would be away from the population and have a nice fresh breeze. But, it had no heat and open windows and was built of limestone, which leaks heat but retains moisture. Prisoners were given only a light blanket, so you can imagine that disease was even worse here, between the damp, cold Ireland conditions and the overcrowding. Of course they eased the overcrowding somewhat by hanging prisoners on the gallows nearby, or taking them from their death bed to face a firing squad, making sure they were punished before they could die of disease. Here is a picture of a cell, taken through an opening in the door, Each cell was about 8' by 10'.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410324580962292898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqj9Ii7Mp_Vq78_5gncG3blw6Jvvd1nRSCCp1xtQG_uSOSEEpQv6_m5sbr1QxMBlkz8n5YdL_idTcN7TT95tMoyCjTCIA3-1tb73CA4hCBgMcReatkXwOumI1GfGYROMqy21q/s400/IMG_0671.JPG" border="0" />We also visited the Guiness brewery and a Musical Pub Crawl.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410324594558028466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NB8Qu1WPC_lMLZ4kDfTJWgPPRdTyI4EUWnhZ0wW_4wa2gsPLHk3zVliv9K6A6n2yXZGBQE0gIj5NU85sVG9fi2ydL5lDcnOPNpTo6DDAOpXRiOIRxQtM-zh1HTuZqW_8DOOE/s400/IMG_0681.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410324585615695410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-eQ3h08qdIJYbN2fAKzTUVsiVbR8Fo3J210iLhU5GQ8s0MKqPlNG-kfC12LNhJ0gkL09RwLNh0No5OBHKE8bPF2tBlJS-GCDtRQltRRc-Onzia3xPSZKxINRyqcQDo6bC-ja/s400/P1010965.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Finally, we visited Trinity College and the Book of Kells, a few gardens, shops and churches and had a some nice walkabouts in the city. It was a great trip, if short and hectic. </div><div></div><div>I'm back in Texas for a few days before heading off to North Carolina and more adventures. I'll try to post occasionally to keep you up to date.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-3038625991063862422009-11-18T00:00:00.009-05:002009-12-01T12:21:27.643-05:00<strong>Lost Maples, Cool Water Acres</strong><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>Today I made my annual pilgrimage to Lost Maples state park. I hiked the Maple trail, the East trail and part of the West trail, a hike of a little over 5 miles.<br /></div><div>Maybe the new is wearing off after visiting for each of the past several years, or maybe it was the drought, but the scenery didn't seem quite a spectacular this year. Even so, the weather was great, sunny and upper 60s, and it was a nice hike.</div><div></div><br /><div>Of course I took a few pictures. After looking at them I realized I should have had my date stamp on to prove that these were new. They are almost identical to ones I've taken before. Honestly, I really did go again. Here are a few pictures from the Maple trail.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405307231736534178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJg2qTvoFoWuxzikCe34YroihwTaMOYC20emOzu9uUvRmgUsUp6F_q_pFBsIAZhYG6g4Ko5R2wmZZULqW_OJH_-_c2y-xYeSiUnEEygoi82YJMG8ztZPsVi9LjpvifELcsZA8P/s400/IMG_0578.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405307799779406082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75zUUtCS6fnLUDXGJUNeGp7nZX5IdSLB6WREschn7Frn3eWbacT0tuMYWV1pLjJueV_OR6X2sFnJEklDp6zzzmTRgaQG37smkLeruLGlFoGwiGicG-0KukZEmXgpZOHpXRxUe/s400/IMG_0586a.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405308675086691554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMBg7ub8dpYj8FGGmxzkYkaDDgbfKHzDog1DWIP9HRfVFZO2mdQi4mJ2KQ1fjrxoJMNJI1aH0xx833v6EsEA34ENfYnTE5SLNyD1BJ8i_qZwHMJjCHPdnoRR3haicwaL8mzfS/s400/IMG_0590.JPG" border="0" />Then, the obligatory one overlooking Can creek from the top of East trail.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405309393744258466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiXOaTL6P3IklvV7cbb2gYmKMvQpdzaVfYvwR51s6CH_aF_OaB2HoOWMWl8-f1bfByQ09EUFkxo8MxYDheqFD1MSCEk6ABao7ccqa63LKeqlFwR7yRRr1fE1d4kfe-8zMxrN2/s400/IMG_0594.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Yes, it is a bit strenuous getting up there. About 2 miles of the trail looks like this. I've done it before with a full pack, so fortunately with no pack today it seemed a bit less difficult than I remembered.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405310043801468690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6BTCe1-uwEzF6hNkIrZ2975wkKsZJk61h9izAVikh_vF5O2ZK4mQnQCSmo1InDlyKrbRsGu45QdQGTT9YH9aCVKK37tKRuK15YcHdxVkjwPVZuUVWhA5_7Pz115gP3kMnsXt/s400/IMG_0599.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>It was a nice trip overall, but I'm hard pressed to say it was any nicer that strolling around Cool Water Acres. Here is a picture I took a few days ago of my cabin here. You can see why it is so tempting to just sit on the porch.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405310900544716770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5yKl1K5rqZNNCqhMJPxZ2V_px0jICwJYLzU30CdhOxt4btyqs5frrOwaJWfUNe2_RSoZpyjQy8mF-UQAZ_wT_e7QRx5VkGKFrIBg6Hv4oGgeNdajMS_0zttVImmzQlywY1I5/s400/IMG_0573.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>This is probably my last report from here, but I hope to be back on line with a report from Ireland in a couple of weeks.</div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-31561750216678241292009-11-10T17:00:00.004-05:002009-11-10T17:47:39.761-05:00<strong>Aggies 5, Texas 1</strong><br /><br /><div><div><strong></strong></div><div>Once again I was fortunate enough to be in the area for the Big 12 soccer tournament, so I went into San Antonio for the semifinal round. It was enjoyable, as always, but this time even more so, as I got to watch the Aggies destroy the Longhorns.</div><div> </div><div>Meanwhile, I've been following Gail and others on a mission trip to Thailand, which I could, and perhaps should, have been on in this time slot. You can follow their adventures at <a href="http://www.hellomaesot.blogspot.com/">www.hellomaesot.blogspot.com</a> .</div><br /><div>Since this is my 3rd visit to Bandera, I'm having a hard time getting motivated to revisit places I've been before. I'm happy to just stroll around the property and enjoy the exercise, views and air.</div><br /><div>The weather here has been beautiful. The weatherman remarked this past weekend, that the few clouds we were experiencing put an end to 8 straight days without a single cloud in the sky. Meanwhile, the temperatures were consistently in the 70s for highs, with lows in the 30s and 40s.</div><br /><div></div><div>With the low temperatures, the trees are finally starting to change. I took this picture of the Medina river near the Bandera city park.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402606376712096242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPRffbGSvp5kNSO6n7kV-2Kg6YKn024lEuRWfBNVuLMQEkst20zERL42Huhwqqtn_sVJ3pCbTYglm6xYZQHfsQVE2v-fp3UaGo5PF8BL303mA1A3EZmU4uDxvKNVC26apxcgz/s400/IMG_0567.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>The color now is mostly cypress, with the best maple and red oak colors still a few weeks away. I'm not sure how the recent drought followed by a wet fall will effect things, as I've heard conflicting stories from various people. I have seen fewer deer this year, likely as a result of the drought. But, for the first time in this area, I've seen 3 different flocks of wild turkeys. As you can imagine, they are hard to photograph, but I did manage this picture of a flock disappearing into the brush, taken while heading over to Leakey for a singing at the local church.</div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402606712775744898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPHIUXe_3KdyAP2If4JpFFusFhfDrl5Vn90spNBjSbFp2vBY9WdxRyPhdxA-jVzGBGe3AKT6KPCcTlLtB7QHPUDvVtEx0vwl5iqf9oyKzR-b0hQkbDdRYujk8kowuLZi-IzJu/s400/IMG_0550a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>My time here is nearing an end, which is probably a good thing. I need a new adventure to get me out of my chair. As luck would have it, I'm planning a first ever trip to Ireland with Nicole, Ryan and Jon over Thanksgiving. So, stay tuned...I'm looking forward to reporting on things I've wanted to see.</div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-48981721202501191222009-10-22T16:26:00.010-05:002009-10-22T17:14:42.956-05:00<strong>Texas Hill Country 2009</strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>I moved to Bandera on the 15th of October, and picked up Gail for a long weekend stay on the way. Sorry, Gail, I guess all the decent pictures of you are on your camera. But, we visited a few of the old reliable sites in the area, as well as a few new, more out-of-the way places.<br /></div><div>We took a scenic drive around the area, but unfortunately the leaves have not yet begun to turn. It has been dry here, so the rivers were low, but I did get these shots of the Medina and Sabinal rivers.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395546702891637186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHDEm3VMyO3zHrgL_rcncc5FLe60ORKFdSg9gqc2CCisBjSrbWOXQXVAqRFYaTq2mPzGKvCns7xB8rv8lgVJWr_lSsWxP69KeJwgCPCs6ZMoZVGbIBnyAorcilh4FQd0RTANI/s400/IMG_0533.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395547195569801922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif66Au0mEUvDBIAFMMWTBzx0sMQ1LNCgRWzCeJnNTBhK8mmGdXQYEiiwrPEb2b_wrqbY-zGpf6y1KnifPk1c0X9LWCyZXW-oCl_YbCVyzKNVL7dREbgPResZoWHllUd5pFE6hI/s400/IMG_0535.JPG" border="0" />We also spent an afternoon/evening in San Antonio at the Alamo and the River Walk, which were quaint, but inspiring as usual.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395545179747344498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPTS4houRg75P84UMfIMJVmslIDYQzfoJq4bekb61du7ABSiqfvZT-ZF61mFcvnj2mW3G0NAxEWGC_F2JqlE-NnmYKMrPwaX5Xn8g9sZUVPiA91-HynttH8m4ln4M2htJbz3W/s400/IMG_0523.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395544724802695698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRMTGloOwICU3yaC5x77feolZj43Jc9r50HkUDzmx-C3aJl86T2c7vCouCuz7ofb_pSWknwcIh2TVvNsqOz8EmISK_AbKVTkfK5yVirGTOlo_nakrYV7_MxrHuwl1blU949d1/s400/IMG_0515a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Gail suggested a stop at the Medina Garden Nursery, which at first seemed a bit odd. But it was a very nice garden in Medina which caters to local plants and butterflies. Here is a nice butterfly perched on a beautiful Turk's Cap.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395544282303437362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi7mlqctCNUyt2R2fOW9dMOZdU0_80cxWpShh7Pb0FylAU9vgnZhb4ydcnTSySjs6KZfoaSICtaqE5GGr9-Q-6cvzXfl7eYb6UwAwNU4iPFHgs8SZffPBiCwarsM-ERfOn5iX/s400/IMG_0511a.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>We didn't see a lot of wildlife, but I did catch these at midday from the comfort of my porch.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395548411292066130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb78-6wRZ6KSJXST7O8mdFHEzQr5_6vQE-kj6RD-RGTBQNC1douKGOCMjWIK5DpIu5Dga-EmXA_4avGv2ODSXtY-W6XmVe0ITezTKRmIna8i2SbE8d_-SvamS6KTaKvsLu2lRe/s400/IMG_0540.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395547756580480306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0O5H1l9Q82PAQUpjM-VHX0tjF9L95Eq6se0oCXPCNrD_XD4YysIkORmVs6f71_zV8voDjcFOt5Gcy2FEahCz7ecv-xLVobrWtQIyCG57Ff1BQDR3Ub-Io9_1wRQDXD7CIj9D/s400/IMG_0537.JPG" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p>We topped things off with a slice of pie from the Lost Maples Cafe in Utopia. Just another nice, relaxing weekend in the Texas Hill Country. Another month of this, and I'll be spoiled rotten.</p><p> </p>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-62504192525150918632009-10-08T15:45:00.009-05:002009-10-08T16:31:56.252-05:00<strong>Check the Sky</strong><br /><br /><br />Here in Temple, my top hobby recently has been checking the sky. A significant amount of rain over the past month has slowed projects to a crawl. We have gone from about 6" below normal rainfall for the year to several inches over normal within the last month, and several more inches are predicted for tonight and tomorrow. And, of course, as you know, getting in and out of my private retreat is often a function of the weather.<br /><br /><br />So, I've naturally started paying more attention to the sky. Last night I saw a shooting star for the first time in several years. Sunsets have sometimes been spectacular. And, the pond is full and occasionally reflecting a blue sky and green grass. Also, a few days ago, I witnessed a lightning show so spectacular that it prompted me to get out my camera. Lightning in the north lit up huge thunderheads like white pillows. Meanwhile, to the south and west, we had horizonal and dramatically forked lightning appearing to go both from the clouds to the ground, as well as from the ground toward the clouds. Unfortunately, good photos of lightning are beyond by capabilities. But after a few minutes of experimenting I did get a couple of shots that at least show some of what I saw.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390341187830738338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgSg04qqWnJwcVrwVqpvBQodCeeKMiQDU0JidQXIybrIz3jmmqDhyphenhyphenU-0P9UaM0PgA-qwp1Fnw8Vl9nwmP1YV8IqWeVxgupYDbgnxt1qiI2y6GxKklrYOQ5NfzYiVQM0V9V9Vl/s400/IMG_0473.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390341032688462066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlqF-ZvNnBtx8gdL_dn7yBAAQrh2M_ivgZyES9efGSyObj4GUd02ohLXa1AFKuQ-jJM_eZI1zCDYXofQZvYSjlLNty22eXnBGBlioVLT6HPfy35av9JapzCySh9tVfh1Bt1Kq/s400/IMG_0480.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390340708115448594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uLWOlXX6aPnz4wAs8HqRXnyjizJUZFmwxyjOqiPe7hDdj0I9Zk587MeSudf_LvCukmPApc-kTG-93sGlCJWl-s8D6xkJP8PqEUB9Fqf6MqtrOy5PmT4HVAvmKh9Ovh7Wt7H4/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390340306989207746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-JfhKg-cg7zwcn19QWhoR4zHiskScsaaY8CwlLRA_t4PZHqkIfPGYRuW9q9LrNKRueKm-_U0I8rgB4upuDGDBx4NXnFr3Z8j6olAzIAWe-zOMHQbHnHcYcFkc2nOMIl_4rba/s400/IMG_0492.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390341380562636018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz-i7I495Lstop0U6kNerSpAk5ZdWJ78HTtsptZLIB-qgNcMSw8lfh30KsHDQutmrqoe5T3Cw3ecu72-cZ5kbKPydO2AtHxaB1qm-FQ1VTQJxwYYyDcrsbn9_1FpWjTYihPvi/s400/IMG_0489.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />For all that, the rain has put a damper on my fun here in Temple. Mosquitos have become an issue for the first time in months. Fishing or hunting with the mosquitos is less fun than otherwise. The dove I enjoyed hunting in the first few weeks of the season have become more dispersed. Besides, hiking around the fields in their pursuit is less pleasant in the muddy conditions. I've even gotten to the point where I can tell almost to the minute when the rain will start by looking at the radar on the full time weather station. So, I'll soon be moving on. I leave this weekend for College Station and an Aggie game against Oklahoma State. (Oddsmakers say there is a good chance I won't like the ending, but I'll enjoy the game.) Then, it is on to Houston for a couple of days and eventually back to Bandera, where I'll be for a month and a half. I've worn out most of the great hiking spots there, but Bandera is lovely in the fall. And, several folks have promised to visit there, so maybe I'll pull out of my hermit persona for a while. After that, a quick trip to Ireland with the kids. Then, who knows... North Carolina, perhaps?<br /><br /><br />Ahh, the life of Riley!maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-70280691566779909592009-09-15T16:02:00.007-05:002009-09-15T17:02:25.021-05:00<strong>The Great Flood of 2009</strong> <div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>The drought around here has been so bad, we prayed at church last Wednesday night for rain. Be careful what you ask for! Even though there was some possibility for rain in the forecast, it looked little different from many other hopeful forecasts which had fizzled with a few clouds and nothing more than a scattered shower. On Thursday the rain started. </div><div><br /> </div><div>By Friday, the news was full of reports of flooding, with 12-14" reported in Salado, a city nearby. I didn't get that much, but it must have been several inches. And now, forecasts were suddenly talking confidently of heavy rains for several days. My pond was still 6 foot below full, so I was still hoping for more. Meanwhile, I decided I better try to get the car out. Too late. I moved it about 50 feet before getting stuck.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381814605856009362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF76xe0g-G0rNuGnckR3FmhElnkWFltrmEO4uEVIiWt4FqExQ_Qi0Wq925rFgLyUybxNslSO2e6F79HqsXqeEWCa_yJ-N2Xud6zwsDMdEME4oq6mFMFnjfxeRx5GStYLL8BA52/s400/IMG_0451.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div>I remember the old days, when I was paranoid about getting rain here and getting stuck. But after several months of getting out easily, spread over several years, I had become a bit complacent. Even then, I wasn't too worried. I'd just wait a day or two for things to dry up and would extricate myself. Ha! </div><div><br /> </div><div>The rain continued to fall. The ground finally had adsorbed what it needed and the excess started to flow. </div><div><br /> </div><div>As you probably know, I take my water from the pond. It had been so dry I had twice moved the pump further down the slope to keep it in the water. Now, it disappeared. I drug it out and threw it up the bank in anticipation that the water might rise further. A couple of hours later, I realized it was again in the water and the water was still rising. Again, I drug it out and threw it further up the bank. A couple of hours later, it was again under the water. I had forgotten how high the pond could rise. It had been several years since I'd seen it full. Fortunately the drainage is such that it is almost impossible to actually flood. The water overflowed the spillway, leaving it about 8 feet from the cabin.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381814100086688290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUODbYwadccBm8ZhaqsfyixOol_dLwufsWNcmLlZXlRKs6xKM_Nkkhr0GWF3ZyrhF4uX95JW4AkjmTpaJTGz1VHgiDsPlXVwC97AsysuxJuv3GwZySXBzjWnYLxnkAO5TJm-vv/s400/IMG_0449.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381815108456889474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUciOLmqZFrqWbhtkd-e1nvs6IPCo-iqD-47gS-9NHDYUI5TUiAHXTrOVivsFAcHPll3kmSQUwX_qNUr4nhsmIsZAO2DX6tx0wUjtu8uhgQ1MBGuAJ_S3C7P3gTonpckMFe2Mu/s400/IMG_0455.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Ok, I had gone to the store on Thursday, so I had plenty of food. I had a full gallon of milk and a full package of cookies, not to mention 3 liters of Diet Coke and plenty of food for probably a couple of weeks. I was ready. </div><div> </div><div>Five days later, the rain stopped. I'd missed the Texan's game. I'd missed my doctor's appointment. I was beginning to appreciate Noah. Cabin fever was setting in, and the car was still hopelessly stuck. So, I went to work. I jacked all four wheels of the car up out of the ruts and placed a large rock and pieces of plywood under the wheels. Then, I walked the car forward one piece of plywood at a time until I had progressed about 75 feet to higher ground. I was ready when a few hours of sunshine made the high ground passable. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381814921382973298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLSMAmZx4ErcoPKaxLbdUuRGuqn6RsV1B8nw9BSp6r84jNwvKBCkr9vc2MuEWS3B0ilZXOrPgmwhyBRSZnF71DKepNIHfigGF5B7X0gkBQTL9o8ZNbDV2YPFApB8Dol-zGgbF/s400/IMG_0457.JPG" border="0" />Today I made the run, and just managed to get out. Schlotski's had never looked so good, and you can thank their free Wi-Fi for this report. Now, some of the forecasts are saying the low pressure area that resulted in this rain might move back this way. Time to stock up on groceries, water and some mud boots, since mine were worn out in this siege. And, I think I'll be more careful where I park the car.</div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-55695017391304845702009-09-02T16:51:00.013-05:002009-09-02T17:22:37.440-05:00<strong>Mundane Monthly 2009</strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>Well, several have mentioned that even "Mundane Monthly" might be better than "No News is Good News". So, here you are, the latest edition of the Mundane Monthly.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>In the last few weeks, I've been watching the sunsets and sunflowers, examples follow:</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376996602757809490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZI0dleu4rDLkvgJJFJ4ZdLMN8bjuvmhS68UKOBx5ih6gkCjeu-PAKSxOeFHGpgWdhNbLUXzcxfFnqF2EX6jq2F4bgNI26b07esVPLuKspmNKz-Zdhmxfsr5o7EB9tThhtm_p/s400/IMG_0441b.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376995409582334866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bCMp1ffBRdBjGY70VkS6V8Z3OPorNi_gn5SaQK03EqV_NoRhwdh3gDmxQ_kKo_z94v0DW7M-ETjhc8Mu-3wveU-iwxF83HtRxPuxzbZfatrt_H7YEsIfK0-3JcdTtU2vFXKQ/s400/IMG_0419a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I've also been completing a few projects. For one, I've finally completed the soffits under the gable ends of the cabin. Since this was not really doing any harm, it had never been quite high enough on the to do list to get attention, despite my best intentions. Here are photos showing the before and after.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376998060913688834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIuWZCyUJ0NMpIqPagvhIDAbrL0k3jk-xOS3hYS-HoFxgZxYlLPLvPX0QbRrPDNB8xP_51byNbOrCqILStskk8Ww4n4wAfV9MaTJI8_KV6lt5zcQR5mnR4m1IxDKxxgIyXfOg/s400/IMG_0428.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376998221667958290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAiHftmPbdUr5NjatdiG4bpfCL5uaIfQiSN-PMrZwbed3xVmKKAZ7i__fW26rHxgWpQwKnUx6kB00BT1rehiSjEw6xUbPmAB-NvhWnjCmMcLvLwK7b5nFnVuNAyYRZz5J_Xgb/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>I've also been working down my supply of mesquite for cooking, toward the critical level, because my chainsaw gave me some problems last time I used it. So, I managed to get it running long enough to put up a reasonable supply.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376995593339690674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoWNBi60aLYPmjWf2dxikwREQLeNntgsezwf6DbhsZMENLcD0PwNQp7vzaLnKPp51LRXEVS_pzIL2mhWzMCIPHiuE_VH4D0zZh9iBmYrxL1tGhwdzr7FgVp4NIM9Mt4yBeCR0/s400/IMG_0424.JPG" border="0" />While excavating my ladder and materials out from under the cabin for the soffit work, I did discover evidence that the snake I killed last year was part of a family that lives part of their life under the cabin, a shed snakeskin about 4 foot long.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376996039114965922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPBhPJRF6j3xlQWtW_8KyCzMPKAu0bJQZ47rOZ2zCx6dGnsIfZhYQZCqk6Hju6ig3PYo8P4VXj1i_cnsxmGHbZIop5fmY3NDY5G1JOcYqgBtq2tHOs0tKrO9X9ciHhMG6g8fC/s400/IMG_0435a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div>Football season is finally here, at least the preseason version, so I've been journeying back and forth to Houston. On the last trip I dug my shotgun out of storage, determined to take advantage of a good supply of dove around the place. That began to pay dividends yesterday on the first day of the season. Just need to pick up some jalapenos and bacon for my first mess of dove on the grill.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-15248861636581214272009-08-06T14:51:00.005-05:002009-08-06T15:00:23.773-05:00<strong>Back on the Farm 2009</strong><br /><br />Well, I made it to Temple and got everything set up. I had to put my pump in the pond and connect up the electricity and hoses to bring water into the cabin. I took the lawn mower out of the cabin, mowed the grass and parked it underneath to clear some space. Then I moved in what I would need to set up housekeeping for a while.<br /><br />Everything seems in order, although a few mice have moved in and set up housekeeping as well. Looks like they consumed all my D-con and survived. No evidence of the snakes that sometimes follow them. No problem, just a few minutes of cleanup and a note to replenish the rat poison. Also a note to self to try to find out how they get in. It seemed like the place was tight as a drum when I left.<br /><br />The corn has been harvested, and from what I can see, it looks like we had a decent crop. So, I should get a nice check. I was a bit worried, since extreme drought in the area was prominent in the news, but it looks like we may have been on the edge of it and were lucky to get a few extra showers that prevented a disaster. I can see a significant deterioration of the crops even just a few miles to the south.<br /><br />Speaking of crops, many people ask me what crops are grown here on the farm. Most people recognize the top two, corn and wheat. But many are unfamiliar with a third, milo. So, I thought I would include this picture taken of a nearby field. Unfortunately it was taken just a few miles south, so you can see the crop is marginal. Just a couple of miles further south, it looked even worse. And, I think milo, also know as maize or sorghum is a bit more drought and heat tolerant than corn. I’m not completely clear on its uses, but I think it is mostly hog or chicken feed.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366942031953519730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 244px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsxxmTIj_zkOyh7HP87A86_TC_mHZ-405eAIM_ablwfndACQFRfw9RQv0b9mkQ9yoPtq0S_Y-G0Vm-zS1lj1S4JjUi_s_eHaJbXuz7jzmQuPhmUepmLJtnOjlyTI3p3RMARth/s400/IMG_0411c.jpg" border="0" /><br />Across the road, I saw a new crop. Looks like they are raising sunflowers for seed production. I picked a head, and have been savouring the snack. But, with the small amount of edibles from each seed, I wonder about the economics of sunflower seeds. Wild sunflowers certainly thrive around here. In fact, where I come from they are considered weeds. Check it out: it looks like they are ready to be harvested.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366941896335854562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Vcn8KHDlpwR5G7JzuxHZj99TQwEWCrwXljNI5WCtiUiwOPm2bT19FiZ7YjwZyl_8XOd3ZjNG-bmkQY-5_6zqfM_ODpQUzqlrMqFhtP0FrH49pIgLHzRmL3chHX8r8pZNE6iU/s400/IMG_0408.JPG" border="0" /><br />I made a quick trip to Houston and picked up my Houston Texans tickets, taking advantage of the opportunity to spend a long weekend with the luxuries of cable and internet service at Jon’s apartment and great meals with several friends. Jon’s apartment is very nice, including a view of downtown<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366941242496655234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRo1aHX6l1uuQIuIfBWZNA3WJmnIbb1BqARK7N9OhZOIIq4mrsTHhMP6Xu98NIUh0EW2gdImakx-TCM0D3ikHS4mpTo-I-gigRbxh7rNb1ZZWYvfFKwnUS3QAhi7Pl1HEyXFKq/s400/IMG_0405a.jpg" border="0" /><br />Now, it is back to the farm and some more mowing and clearing of brush plus addressing a few other maintenance issues. I’ve tried a bit of fishing with moderate success. The pond is less than half its normal depth and size, due to the drought. We could use a nice gully washer, although that would mean I’d be marooned here for a couple of days. There is no way out after a heavy rain.<br /><br />I planned on a big steak over mesquite for my first night here, but pork chops and sweet corn will have to do until I find some reasonably priced steaks. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366941560800846482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjJEPH0B4oaA16gEJa5r2YbKtRBXXyE9D7b0ZFpG03pEPlFIsebggMpmV0-A8Go01f4wf2GIMRkze_VB6gxLDyepNBlMwwTNgdK2HalXppnm7dPHqPjSsaXoh1RqiydE5n7vs/s400/IMG_0402.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />That pretty much brings you up to speed on my travels. After reading through this post, it looks like it is back to the Mundane Monthly instead of Max’s Adventures. Oh well, stay tuned. Maybe something really exciting will happen soon. Could be there is a 10 lb lunker lurking in the cooler water at the deepest part of the pond. I better go check it out.maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-32903028695050668462009-07-22T23:50:00.016-05:002009-07-23T01:40:38.014-05:00<strong>Wind River Titcomb Basin</strong><br /><br /><br />I made it. It was quite a journey, the kind that make these trips worthwhile.<br /><br /><br />It started in Pinedale. The Elkhart Trailhead is 16 miles up a paved road from Pinedale, where I spent the night prior to the trip. This is the only paved road to a trailhead in the Winds. The others are rough gravel roads of 10-25 miles. Pinedale and Elkhart were the starting point of my first visit here in 2006. The picture below shows the Winds from a suburb of Pinedale. Quite a view for a really nice small town.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361513705116615442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtz1mVnVG-FecHPPfqUNNu56UtrR2yeoXUQTqUXSyFZyV9Yp1p_Puo8A1Dnp5jv6xgsVUWonFlDbA_1btoornau3SIzvDBsSw3jwPwDalEDtbJsONqp9b-JL1om-q-J2AA9YcR/s400/IMG_0332a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Last time, I took just a 10 mile day trip to Photographer's point and back on the Pole Creek Trail. I traced those same steps on this trip, so I got some friends I made on the trip to reprise this photo from the previous trip.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361513917690157170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL4KZfKmaew7ePbqm0mTdyt6fxA2lPKov1B7MNsLJVuBYTpnlCutzsNvc39EkWdX-pchAPWo0bEAu5EqN3HLwn2GfPoY24YMxXKIBwfomGORt3ZQ8jOKXtSdB2Ihk2LVcN8GX/s400/IMG_0337.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />But, this time I continued on to Titcomb basin on the Seneca Lake, Highline, Indian Basin and Titcomb trails for a trip of about 31 miles, billed by my guide book as the best of the Winds. My original plan was to camp about halfway to Titcomb at Hobbs lake, making the trip in 4 days of about 7.5 miles each. However, I reached this location about 3:00pm. I was tired, but while I rested and thought about it, I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes. I knew the next good camping area was about 3 miles further, along the Highline Trail. I decided to push on. Little did I know that the most rugged pieces of the trail were still to come. I finally arrived, dog tired, at a beautiful site on a 10,600' knoll near the intersection of the Highline and Indian Basin trails. It was a rugged day of 10.5 miles with about 2000' of elevation change.<br /><br />The net result was that I was able to complete the trip in 3 days of a little over 10 miles each day. It also meant I could hike the second day with only a partial pack. Good thing, because I don't think I could have made it with a full pack. But, best of all, the camp site was probably the most beautiful I have experienced.<br /><br />From beginning to end, the trails were both difficult and beautiful. Much of the high country trails were still covered in snow. But the snow was rapidly melting, making for muddy trails and high water crossings. In places we were forced into scrambling up almost sheer cliffs to avoid areas where the trail was underwater. In others we had to make our way around downed trees. Where the trails were not snowy, muddy or water covered, they were rocky. Meanwhile, any rest or meal stops were swarmed with mosquitoes, so it was not practical to take extended rest stops, despite generous applications of deet. The result is that I arrived in camp each night dog tired, barely managing to force down some dinner and hit the sack. Not that I slept...I always have a problem sleeping on these trips and that continued. But at least my tent and sleeping bag gave me some rest and respite from the mosquitoes.<br /><br /><br />Forgive my fanciful engineering, but I calculate that between weight carried, slipping in snow and mud, rock hopping and elevation change, my efforts were equivalent to running a marathon on three consecutive days. And yet, around each corner was a spectacular view that made it all worthwhile. Here are a few more pictures from along the trail to give you a sample.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361515902245897858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nEZhnkrkSgNKTUfCo2jDBlnLDXyQnBw3YdZT-RiJpUxYZYs5bZqqWGghee2uyHiG_3PySfNHfpfWi0oZR3I6u5T1m8K_urHGlt9ue9cMZ_IK81DOgYJ6xaR0icq6dhNFC0Nd/s400/IMG_0377.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361534937900047810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBZufhPlZ0-C8F0rDxRQPIJ6jFgM5-KsXmKriHFRLLZgtO-yBdkWNuOBZxA6yqaJJV9NjtxyKrPk8C623wRqUxVOBeIYVOBgPpe0c9cDWuoWy2TAlrOFEE2KIyC9QNNSk-ZWX/s400/IMG_0379.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361514204578965954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4andlGcd6dqjsqvEPV8HEvOjRuGQB-vwgN8MIcL-lTO_O2V_2LODByUunNPdFxa8xi5EWhAd5ox4GHDJOnf17ehkGt4A8p_WCVII9B4J-VJXHgv_eWTgu4ewal77mkfaE5dK/s400/IMG_0346.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361535129218305938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9h5RWZrM4Y2eyq3idU4C9lnWiVaeielrkgNJtu7jCZZpa-BifkRpw1N7-80L5ZdMF1kM-J5zU73QbnfbKf7uMWwrChXlSleZc63vn9K_g_xramvSO7cFYZpsiBJ_0zBAaTVzX/s400/IMG_0381.JPG" border="0" /><br />I mentioned the campsite. My guidebook had indicated that there were good campsites where I camped, but I was so tired by the end of the first day that I was ready to accept anything. Suddenly I look up a knoll and see what looks like a beautiful spot. Sure enough, after climbing the knoll, it was perfect. I had a least 2 parties along the way remark about seeing my tent on the knoll and what a great site it was. Here are a few pictures taken from the campsite.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361514493939764066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEu-T_rEUX4kOMmPR3Z67R6dHQT-vp2qhmX7HaoRScyLOAhb-7Thx5j-qtWx6FAobcqI5Rbk1thVDYTg9A9EzBW54Xn_5b_M3R9c6j_FYscsw66ggPMc9aKmsr0DmjXJTpuD6n/s400/IMG_0358.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361514652741566338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeUgf5S1H-upDEKNN0scUwyejKIK-o6D4qVAiiLtpi83f66HhZWYUfcMfX_9yqa-8SNRgLYabPPgNOCAujYZHKDywq_b9NHwNbMn4Shp3P8lWiK2C0TPP_ATbauKhFPju1FhQ/s400/IMG_0359.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361514840140730722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7V0NVWypn0p8ejnDxDsY76xgsM-ujIvFxqa-8ma0mlAKySfR17ek6bEgIO3b_r5ic6pbL9ecsX0iYaj18IizA7k15ok7Q41-aK06zUmULla79eEXt3ms_b1eQQSLphsOeYQA/s400/IMG_0360.JPG" border="0" />And finally, I arrived at the coup de grace, Titcomb basin. This is an area of 12 glacial lakes completely surrounded by 13,000' mountains. They fail to do it justice, but here are pictures looking in all directions from inside the basin.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361515237453384114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDAGE_4ZMkLOL5h7PpLIN-2pxm-u_su6UYnqXsk3jq-uMP4qImEwdslhdvM1IGEnXi3A8ymXFo9HzQRiBm9jn66PCaFNa-yL9gWF9eORKMIh0yt_phuI0ylq8r51qnmIjjopM/s400/IMG_0373.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361515463445134210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCabrGHTi5y0wgE0cgkg9z-rpQtBA84K_vBW8nIqqSKdhSFTeqjCb9XwBxJPDAH7Hv4b-LBZeN55Mb0zah2hKVZv3Tzb3qjTkGPTWPlM3Bz4-QrgYtt_r78My6u1Vz9SlexmH7/s400/IMG_0375.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361515054896897954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPvq5De-bLWVftjnzIjw1Wuvnh2I-Y_4LauOIhVOuq19vW3Cu6IeMAgjVX0ycKcjDuzW9LnRePbfumN0D96aF-tsGWTXVOM-B5aU6WtFIPaA_bOSFdBxRH1IuKODhg5a0pwVs/s400/IMG_0372.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361515628269820418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbedmirbnavq3ZVJUybIVM1vkivgtpoIWxha-s7mO8pv7H_lWqniwyPei7eApkqnFC9fR9gjrhtybTWKX_v8-ouhMwCf4sKzlkITko8T6c104hCPcxqopljOGQCMiaGBYSCnkZ/s400/IMG_0376.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Wildlife? Not so much. I failed to see signs of bear, deer or elk, though we are assured they are there. About the best I could do was this marmot, whom I saw both out and back in nearly the same spot before he spied me and ran for cover.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361534394180404194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwbrZWUoiSeEJiyRcTp7cHAlyP-zjprEhGH0Al_EDu0AXpgUji2aVy4MlJiZzipVZDaA0u9Q-4w8JXBEET4YrB_B_T_2ySzwbmwYaaH7hQJC59_22CVc6yidmS6cliNrbobvs/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" border="0" /><br />I've had people ask me if I'm worried about hiking solo. While most hikers do travel in groups, it feels perfectly safe to hike solo. Everyone is extremely nice and friendly, and there is enough traffic along the way in case of emergencies. I probably passed an average of 5 groups per day. I even met one female hiking solo.<br /><br /><br />All in all, a great trip. But, it took so much out of me, I've decided to head back to Texas tomorrow for a more docile life of grilling steaks over a mesquite fire followed by a real bed on my farm in Temple, and maybe an occasional visit to the big city for some football.<br /><br /><br />Ah, life is good.maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-74059271556844014482009-07-19T22:24:00.010-05:002009-07-19T23:05:00.299-05:00<strong>PoPo and Bridger Wilderness</strong><br /><br /><div>After checking out things for a couple of days on the east side of the Winds near Dubois, I decided I might be better off on the west side, near Pinedale. Access is a little easier and I was hoping the mosquitoes might be a bit less dense. Besides, some of the best hikes go from there. Unfortunately there is no road directly across the Winds, so I worked my way south and cut across the southern tip, making short hikes as I went. Again, I found PoPo Agie wilderness to be surprisingly interesting.<br /><br />I have managed to see a bit more wildlife, For instance, this mule deer seemed pretty unafraid as I snapped multiple pictures.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360379323333405378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh429KVb_mRD4khe_IEfAX7DC51B4hXJYurbSqajFgKF9cFtXP9kZPUqgH8Ve-E7Q3SDPT7dgBVGIwdSZzDtc2gkI42ErVBtHLn5vc6v-L7AuUe00H146nNJ-znRit5a-_ZUHF-/s400/IMG_0310.JPG" border="0" /><br />Some of the wildlife is a bit too well adapted. I caught this bighorn sheep visiting the lew near the trailhead. He was definitely a male, so I assume he was just following the time honored traits of males everywhere, waiting outside the ladies room for his mate to appear.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360379010661339122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61EZ0u7_cKfVS5LM_WGwKoH3ysXW_WJzQODxmrZhHYIx85_i45Sj2H4vNwNaRftNvkazItfxS3XSAcJMMu3lWriEsnZdTqQP6Jq_Q8V3iKO6jF7EUvgTUiEgU8nBLgGgQqvjc/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" border="0" /><br />Scenery abounded, even in the less well known areas. I snapped this photo of Fiddler’s Lake with the Wind River Peak in the background from a short walk near the Continental divide in PoPo.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360380557406603426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09ZPsByVLXw33Ml91erM-zvbpQDz5vdRDrWWWqvgjfNU69ClintJmydYwmQNGoXJBhlh9U0qIKdfHNtdQgfyzUFkolICgXcTqvNK-8g_ddVec4mBJZ7Op2vLdjRW5DCu6aUSL/s400/IMG_0322.JPG" border="0" /><br />On arrival in Pinedale, I drove up to Elkhart Park, one of the most popular trailheads in the Winds leading into the Bridger Wilderness. On a whim, I decided to start with an easy 4.5 mile day hike to Long Lake starting at 9450’ Elevation. And to help me get acclimated, I carried my full pack. Unfortunately, it went straight down to 7800’. That wasn’t so much a problem, but the hike back up had me thinking I’m too old for this. I was bushed after the short 4 hour hike. I felt a bit better when I consulted my book to learn that the author labeled this one of the most difficult trails in the Winds. For my trouble, I took this picture of Long Lake.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360380974448707538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaY2o35GjDOtNmuaGyDtQ8MjBGWUS6GdKq4HtLQqqHLgUaDiZ3WDPtGcPmcw-S7fXyGZe0ye4wfXz_fMae5czFSon_Ev1d50HWkBwOm8YEp4jKslo9a9rHQxs06Qwq2uFI9Yv/s400/IMG_0329.JPG" border="0" /><br />I camped near Elkhart Trailhead last night. I don’t think the mosquitoes were quite as bad, but they still were pretty bad. Add swarms of horse flies and I spent almost as much energy swatting as hiking and was forced to retreat to the tent early, even with heavy doses of repellent. I did get this shot of Mount Freemont from near the campsite.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360381563692406802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaNd90DtL23ltf54x011L8HeujydVO8B73BZshKKXIfDNjbrRvosZ4j3J9NIe1hr5AA_qmBqOxayQ9CgpLgOMJsIwzdlP3MXm778kNow3k4-hfm0WKX56q9fmaeulbQ2t-zST/s400/IMG_0324.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />One of the best hikes in the Winds is from Elkhart to the Titcomb basin. It is a 30 mile round trip, mostly above 10,000’ elevation. The ranger reported that there is quite a bit of snow remaining up there, but that it is passable. She also tells me the mosquitoes and flies are not as bad at the higher elevations. I’ve decided to try that hike over the next 3-4 days, but I needed a good night’s sleep, a shower and shave. So, I splurged with a $130 hotel room tonight. It was the cheapest I could find at a little place called the Riviera Lodge. Not a bad place and it has WiFi. I’ll head out in the morning. Look for me to be back on line in about 4-5 days with a report.</div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-36688971154898584622009-07-17T12:09:00.013-05:002009-07-19T23:22:27.028-05:00<strong>Wyoming 2009</strong><strong></strong> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div><strong></strong><div>Well, the 2009 version of my Wyoming adventures is underway. I plan to focus primarily on the Wind River Range. But, on the way up, I visited Hell's Half Acre west of Casper. This is an area of erosion in the high plains (about 7000'). There was a restuarant overlooking the canyon, so I hoped to have lunch there. Unfortunately, the restuarant is closed, so I climbed through the fences and took a short walk along the rim. Here is what is left of the restuarant and a picture of the canyon.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsnLOaQ0qLbmPD0jYcuabek98UTbhQm-fgKXPAQw_mlmBbdSZG7WgQ6Ij9sSvY7Y0wdPBt5Rd2W97Mc_aFsnmbC6psB2wWdONIfg3ndgL3oCX1LX8Gbh6vcVFyiFqRXx-SVr7/s1600-h/IMG_0253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359477564365911170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsnLOaQ0qLbmPD0jYcuabek98UTbhQm-fgKXPAQw_mlmBbdSZG7WgQ6Ij9sSvY7Y0wdPBt5Rd2W97Mc_aFsnmbC6psB2wWdONIfg3ndgL3oCX1LX8Gbh6vcVFyiFqRXx-SVr7/s400/IMG_0253.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359477910020990530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlt4toXNB7j1GIbbWptI-ouECImO96yrfGgYwKdkNC4Uo5RlUhi3CiAnUNUoL6eBU-Ht9L9-GFg5AwMmSE0W-cWv9-wNMc8o3GS43AKlePgRmiaZWpWB-puGHxY28tXF6JHnc/s400/IMG_0262.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then, it was on to Wind River. The mountain range which provides most of the interesting hiking is actually west of the river itself, and includes the Shoshoni Indian Reservation, the Fitzpatrick Wilderness, The the PoPo Agie Wilderness, Bridger Wilderness, the Shoshoni National Forest and the Bridger Teton National Forest. But, before you reach the mountain range, there is a scenic drive along the river itself. Here is a picture of the river downstream from the dam and the lake upstream of a dam along the river.</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359478200062607586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfxva3c0uJZVVigxiueTDm9H7XIf6QoJjySw0_xP_wYH0NRemC_XFqIWRKWz2E4DJZztptEG4hyphenhyphen8bjPKGu9fMQH6xjmG321H5jQ8jpC1NOhLqHr9aVT91_rhmSXGqwFMXPfog/s400/IMG_0268.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359478495787450274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyISlwUuFZPd8Gl2cyLZjaFAtoBpdDmxC6JIgjWk1Ep_74FJkJxquk9tIfn2tdvTGYSqyzKKKSc4XUD1bhnofPpOWIM8vxZWInlyw2cpdhbnQkmQ1jlc7cwt2-QTewB9qN1nnx/s400/IMG_0269.JPG" border="0" /><br />My second night in Wyoming I camped in Sinks Canyon in the southern part of the Winds along the Popo Agie river. Since the mountains are smaller along the southern end, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was very interesting. The Popo Agie river descinds from the mountains and disappears into the ground not far from where I camped. Then it reemerges a quarter mile away into a pool. It travels through cracks, sand and gravel between the two. Here is a view of the river from near my campsite.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359479123079735314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHnbtsPi7Km7jeaQD61FOWszUlJGagD42TuF1wnec9icICP_LAMxV52P0t28JmCBi50VFDhFdqAWGKAEt57SJQn2dcHlC-HU2NGpmyvGZo3W9t2joW2wV6Zi221wyfViYnW0E/s400/IMG_0275.JPG" border="0" />Here is a picture of where the river goes into the ground, called the Sinks.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359478845727925330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUg1Xp1NonRvoEkIcHr1kDPN8t1YZoloeFrSYpkf2fRDScCo5sCnyW-UA5td5Bb7rEc1qLdMr41Pucw3OyE29ARzE4mxxC64GHp1VJr_14rhpYv1srPptqrLfBPJYXATgBx7e/s400/IMG_0274.JPG" border="0" />Finally, here is the pool where it emerges from the ground, called the Rise.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359479492254521058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoOi0JtAG_vedpis7ZW7E_jIzJEvK8-piuEG0QNr8_fwQSFIHgonto2QPXjHDiNWWcCGZIEku8GADX07xp0LDWDCvJyibsdbZJNlTV5UIC9jpGrtSWmFNamn-DE-vVcy-2tnq/s400/IMG_0281.JPG" border="0" />Although always suspected, for many years it was not proven that the two were connected. But recent dye tests concluded that they are. Interestingly, the ink took longer to emerge than expected, and more water emerged than went into the sink. Very interesting.</div><div></div><div>Later, I drove to Dubois, the kickoff point into the northern Winds on the east slope. You access the trailhead into the wilderness via a 9 mile gravel road. Then I hiked on the Whiskey Mountain and Glacier Trails up to Lake Louise. (No, not that Lake Louise... I promise I'm still in Wyoming, not further north in Canada.) It was a very interesting hike. Here is a view of the lake from around 85oo foot elevation.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359480445242197634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qXCrEZE9WYDyhw2OeI2Xlhw4sQqJwN8BnFBzaHKhH5c1cXo53GuP8d-NqVuBHdDPmlHOASLMnMK6Fut8LOLmQjq4PtmtJi7s97J0y4cSpEO-56FNenBVG99G3FXkNx9jnBPA/s400/IMG_0296.JPG" border="0" /><br />And here is a view of the falls at the outlet of the lake. It was impossible to get a good picture, but it was pretty impressive to see the huge volume of water leave the lake and drop several hundred feet.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359480174728358722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1aEFrf_rzXuJwVj65rzuT3y9DjBA_Xz24Md4Q7FW2l8XBdjz10-VXSDhaYC5lI0USL9sI9NyoSh0V7wPQ7p8dl8xa3d-zaI7cU_YHp9ui4lwvIho1mK24EVZ6AR_TqEKJeGC/s400/IMG_0293.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I haven't seen too much wildlife, but I did get this picture of a chipmunk getting ready to try to steal my afternoon snack on the bluff overlooking the lake.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359480829844749666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJiVecGe5HVHM_bU4fQLf7VxlrRuGWTvsIGYVGqV2jbJW94Kh3L89KXfkL5okvbyz_y3dhvukAKEQrWWrD_gVYFb6gUTrMhzcKuf03lySX8yxzsfBx0mTaPfqUflMMnM2jnTs/s400/IMG_0299.JPG" border="0" />Finally, a couple of views from along the trail toward bomber falls. I didn't make the falls. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359481473612059554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAYRUm6vhgydDgZT7Uu31gnwVKdrwnl31H3xfgBjA-cyemZhQOH_h_0JeS4RszXScJrv7RScSG_RxmXlcH__bAOdxpIbbqVwBfQ6EtgnhLF3DxwvWWe3e48gM28xOOsHSPZLE/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359479873192350338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPh7KQG5Vp4S18XBvEtzvgQX_o48zb-j-9EfcfUmFFQn9iNu0fUPKr4OKJrLU_4QEjRlTPe-T-GXLxaibW7heT32dffS0GwWnQOQu5QGUnHSuVAaxPqS2wZWCC4ksmvh63DM9U/s400/IMG_0284.JPG" border="0" />I'm finding out that my old sedentary life in North Carolina has left me in too bad a shape to see all the things I wanted to see. I'm also finding out that July is not the time to visit. The nights are just as cool as when I was here before in September, but the mosquitoes are swarming. Apparently, they come out when the weather gets warm enough in July and the thaw is coming down the mountain. By September they've gone back into hibernation. Besides that, the hotels are outrageously expensive for my occasional night in town. Oh well, I'll see what I can see before I get carried off.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-32029092871785112732009-07-13T18:54:00.006-05:002009-07-13T19:13:50.182-05:00<strong>When In Rhome</strong><br /><br />I’m just sitting here in Rhome, watching my dad catnap in between a few minutes of looking at his magazine. Yeppers, there are lots of exciting things going on around here.<br /><br />For instance, here is a picture of dad inspecting his poke salad (or poke berry, as Gail would say). This was our followup to hours of discussion about whether it is poisonous. Dad says he eats it all the time with no problems, fresh or cooked. In fact, he even takes care of it to make sure he always has plenty on hand. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358098848595954130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjyAgF_ZPuUnlIJYAcxlNbFWVmwxPxBK5UNWdZN8SPfy15UCt8XlKsH0M3FItbWkqIgiTmnMJHubBJElenuvsCo3km8HY23LxETIb5IKt2ysxoDSEKbkjR0ctiDtVHzMpYOcw/s400/IMG_0249.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358098669424213826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSg4lOx7aZmBXMFkxZNz4b144mJNIqwv7JgUXsFre7tGYzGYJvgT2_g6RtzpUC7dT5gjhmPqfNkAxs-O7FcwJ4JKh3l3QWu9XLHww4ri1vxxkUKqyXcEOfiCzxvz9ESKW_bxFO/s400/IMG_0242.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Then, of course, there is all the excitement of visiting across the fence with my brother and his family, or looking at the latest progress on their house rebuilding job.. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358098450186530466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1K3Pu5xvyym7lL9-mfW8An16yoQbZpnONdsQ45omSv_-rvoB6Z6eLNCn7gHPsjnNg-sxqtwWxk49ev5CBVhIzrWyKfQn2XV_-HtW-KUWxAJkQAXTuIyfy_HgqGwarbHOGfEQ/s400/IMG_0239.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358098235848391122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF44RpsU5K-Igh0s3y76NF8LPGn933wyUaNRzrnE7jNcK7fvbgU_KFnrhESiSWc4QY4VmQRKCxRuOPvXqBVpBaHGoOBLEgAObHhpb6bwgNxAonyfWUFgO02kczhEaSXShDmZqw/s400/IMG_0225.JPG" border="0" /><br />A couple of days ago I took this picture of the house next door. It is on a ranch called the Chisholm Trail ranch. The Chisholm trail apparently ran through here. The house was built with a well inside to help hold off the siege of Indians in the old days. And, tradition holds that the Indians camped near the spring behind our house, where they had plenty of cool, clean water. Of course we’ve lived next door for over 50 years, but for some reason it seemed interesting enough to photograph on this day. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358099094297326146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1uGLl8Kpv1dtlzq4dXkt7pTmxCuZO6paHi3gWblBVXPO8waU9JA6BlvLf_w7npfBrmYXA_21UU1hhTmiCwJe0fyJQAyWQL4A0wsyhFdqJoT7-Guf4esanAxMCXQdhbEvsHND/s400/IMG_0251.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Of course, when all else fails, there are the absorbing pastimes here…like debating whether the high temperature each day will be 102 degrees or 103. Or whether to pick the tomatoes and squash in the morning or afternoon, and trying to decide if they’ll survive another day.. Or, arguing about the details of things that happened 40 or 50 years ago.<br /><br />As is plainly obvious, it is time to head for Wyoming. So, I'm on my way. I'm filing this report from Amarillo, on the way to the Wind River Range in Wyoming. I plan to spend 2-3 weeks backpacking there before heading back to the farm in Temple, Texas, and then eventually to Houson.maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-78350425560863487512009-07-05T20:48:00.003-05:002009-07-05T21:00:20.503-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf0OXKl-G_uj9OogDVmRp3kizNsrgU_LBOo9yC0OBfHrFXe0Nn6QfvCjI23mKRkeqn6mz78f4EdmRudaMlWqaM3-lVjgibLSSqWICZGY2Y6VGeZ4FAiotJJTcYPw75lfdL65I/s1600-h/IMG_0230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355161077777904530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf0OXKl-G_uj9OogDVmRp3kizNsrgU_LBOo9yC0OBfHrFXe0Nn6QfvCjI23mKRkeqn6mz78f4EdmRudaMlWqaM3-lVjgibLSSqWICZGY2Y6VGeZ4FAiotJJTcYPw75lfdL65I/s400/IMG_0230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Home Sweet Home</strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Just a short post to let everyone know I've arrived in Texas. I'll be visiting my parents in North Texas for a few days and may even visit my place in Temple, but eventually I'd like to get in some backpacking in Wyoming, and also spend some time in Houston. I'm not sure of the timing, but probably Wyoming before football season, then Houston after it starts so I can fully utilize my Texans tickets.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Meanwhile, it looks like the cruise to Alaska may have to wait, but there is a new adventure on the horizon... looks like I'll be spending Thanksgiving in Ireland with the kids. A great deal opened up, so we jumped on it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'll post again when plans take better shape or something worth reporting takes place.</div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-34153624831142085592009-06-22T15:08:00.014-05:002009-06-23T13:26:20.870-05:00<strong>Green Swamp, NC, then off to Texas<br /></strong><br />I was surprised (and pleased) to open this month's issue of Backpacker magazine and discover a day hike here in Wilmington, NC, of which I had never heard...Green Swamp. Seems there are good examples of carnivorous plants in Green Swamp, including the Venus Fly Trap. The magazine names the hike as one of its "treks to lifelist phenomenom".<br /><br /><div><div><div><div></div><div>I was a bit skeptical at first, since I've tried to find these elusive specimens several times, with scant success. But, after looking at the Green Swamp website I was equipped with a better understanding of what to look for and encouraged by nice pictures. I was further prodded by claims that 95% of all Venus Fly Traps are located in North Carolina and that they were native only to the Carolinas. I have a few days before my return to Texas. And so, it was off with fellow intrepid explorer Gail to see what we could see.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350250146059593298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXWFNa2hIG7NHr4QTRxEM3W0kPD6c4HlrENlOvGN34AZJhBLaB1OaIQ6AEFpwwRuvFfVWGVucJ7qxNgUC5kGnQJXkY1HHVkFceAHrry3aNbaf8u1xMdhjj9LancBH-gOIh7Fv/s400/IMG_0187.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>On a macro scale, the trail was not particularly impressive. There were no grand views or old growth forests. No dramatic waterfalls or grizzlies. Just a series of grassy fields with a few pine trees scattered around. Here and there, there was a boardwalk through boggy areas with typical flora and fauna. Orchids and other native wildflowers dotted the fields, along with a few woodpeckers and deer.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350248861311037970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE33vwkoUB2cB7crbIzwPtoZ4bftKYa1fvg98Cj431OUTgIPNFb_Dc6jOrZkYzLKUnaf3eBtxcMGysS_nW95ysTo6rgXXe7PnPQx7H5lGVxATHrYj4yrzE7wJmgrRm2FTfDIg/s400/IMG_0206.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350248572853774354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwUXcJ2nVPjdAPHo2O-VY7BVm5WSSpOEPcMdmFQYrF7pBJZMlH_8u1RLzqMbof_i4qLOi3743mx9K94-IjnN-LEcSWU1OD58Xj_xUOpHuBNMnUnyXmJ88tZA2eDfWcnSmnbbN/s400/IMG_0215a.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>But eventually, we realized that the impressive stuff here required getting onto your hands and knees and taking a smaller view. Underneath small flagging white blossoms we discovered the Venus Fly Trap.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350249754503182050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 332px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrbAGl0nQ3FqaT_h6rAu_7w5aC8vLMc-0xzt69DoXon79I6oXXFr6e_H4NAodKp40_Loc1iDcsOH-TKN5ou-pP-TyEIZKniNZ2FIDo-2tA4UflS5J8chlpEmkc7SkAz_OcAXe/s400/IMG_0188a.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350249069106880994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJuR2XU3fsXymIxNkprmaCFdI11anpGtj-W8tQR_2kCjhyxA6jchnc3GWS3lstsFt1yUxiT5D8PR_Ktnou9Xn3J4euS_7xVJ66TweenTXINHCjjPjzTnNHVYMe_V7_jyLz5p4/s400/IMG_0202a.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350249585502646066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 325px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIf0px8rpWbjTds8JCUcYTeL7W7dU2vCtitJ5BZ78MU2ZPa-chpWSJVrjOrQ0Nfoz1DkNOkmUJa1hCgNfBIrRbqrMHDYVX59D2Otpmf_LmQZdvfdKhoKJkhJ3I-nbMCDzXY8GH/s400/IMG_0190a.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350249439310026562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zDg3j3pHUhso69QxTdLtux8KadvM5F-GMoGiIDtV4gaYYvNgevLZRW7lwafRjLAX45aP3lry3Iqc2DYebm9U2oqzZ0qir9X_wHuiR91IDRxYtnpAJfOiIjC5QO5LgM9-MPQw/s400/IMG_0194.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>A bit further along, we discovered grassy fields strewn with various varieties of carnivorous Pitcher plants.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350247591112791170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o-ZAo6AjDoLxCTg4M_QJGqtOogAyLsmshpD40zzBZGCVGpuDWG-DZR84hHbFTBXnDeOBkydJmsLaEZDfCPrL3mQMA_SF54_MdSZWK37ncVzbqq3VWzBT6M-KfDs-DTOtPHjr/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350248043786579170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HRUubAAqClEb-6UuvlPZZ-yJ4TvRXyltOilX4rQQodmxzLq51U0v2iIm2_qxbICS8flNJUytmPIgD8YCFDzEdng-ln8HlWTqPOU8LVP5rZ9CrZdCjH1NBm7MNS9d3GKd5Qq8/s400/IMG_0217.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350248446722318994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_FBPu7W0wKqVDjrl0hQpDm4pAGXIH44_emwbFj3qvVgOHHoXMX7XCM7DbFuQvooLec9_GIvAI0mxWrwe3hVJ8unorM3fH1kRnPZSf8muTDprPMnyO8sqHnZN0CcfX1eQsCQR/s400/IMG_0216.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Later, along the edge of a pond, we found the carnivorous Sundew.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350247115774272706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQTMhIfZETHl1koHTv_JoheRrbshkL1kuJdOVqX91TD0mmyMvKlGepJKjK9q4wWtztQTl7Xpb4CLZtDTVCuPDyfBDprloixgAY4J7VKCZdic7mjEHA_Osj8BJ7NIe46VmEgIw/s400/IMG_0223.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Carnivorous plants trap and digest insects to supplement the nutrients from poor, swampy soil. So, the North Carolina swamps near Wilmington are perfect environments for them. I knew that, of course, but this is the first time that has resulted in the kind of viewing we saw at Green Swamp. </div><div> </div><div>Ah, another check off the old life list?? I never thought of it quite that way, but I have been looking for them for a while and Green Swamp is well worth the time it takes to visit.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>For those who follow me regularly, I mentioned that I'm soon heading back to Texas. I should arrive in time for the 4th of July weekend. Beyond that, my plans are a bit vague, but I plan to spend some time in various locales of Texas and there is talk about some backpacking in Wyoming and/or a cruise to Alaska with Jon.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Stay with me, my friends, the adventure continues.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-89356395357860982202009-05-26T10:00:00.006-05:002009-05-26T11:11:11.241-05:00<strong>Shining Rock Wilderness</strong><br /><div><div><div><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div>We started with the best of intentions. Drive up to Graveyard Fields overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway and hike past a few waterfalls into Shining Rock Wilderness and then on to summit the Cold Mountain of movie fame. Here we are ready to embark on the 20+ mile adventure over the Memorial Day weekend.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340163305985003666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 382px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWOcJ8_3LKuXUniqzkfR1nvm_b1je-eN00cZPe-t0bUd-mfYdQvBmn32HK0ZqXrRrK2UVNuYYb_tzruHCBAuYPUE1fv4Me_l6ltUESk6Px-u45-Gf8mDuAuzcK1mw1wYibIp7/s400/IMG_0170b.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>The first hour of the trip went according to plan. We hiked a pleasant trail down a few hundred feet along the Parkway Loop trail, then along the Yellowstone Prong back up to Upper Falls. I thought the reference to the real Upper Falls on the Yellowstone river in Wyoming was pretty cute, though of course it can't compete with the real thing. (You can read about my trip to Upper Falls, Wyoming, in my archives in September '06.) Despite the unfavorable comparison, this version was very nice and worth the hike.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340164039280044274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugKBE_H2wdss_f2TAEJows6upOetOjCQJYAlI02o_Lm7Hz5tul6nirBZFhriSZKcFrrAh7EFFdyEf1M7_1j-6a1g17I2lvI0KHAEuivWCAbC8Khnxjyr05aP9wc6yaa48bzKt/s400/IMG_0173.JPG" border="0" />At this point, the plan began to go awry. The trail from upper falls to the Mountains to Sea trail mentioned in North Carolina Hiking was not apparent. Eventually, we did find a rugged route to the top of the falls, and from there a sparse trail generally headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, that quickly turned into several hours of bushwhacking through thick brush up a steep incline. Then, halfway in, the steady drizzle began. Eventually we made our way to Mountains to Sea, but by then we were a pretty weary, bedraggled bunch just 2 miles into our plan.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340164376658278002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgr7K36ewmIq6PTT2nM3ms4j3DXG6RGlQuYkvh4gcp1k1NMj1Q20j1sDBVti9Eau0IdZJS743wDffhf7fU6TROHYDZzp0fWpRKo5pX8hcr3gXzIXCd9XeENciZBi8MC-3Qv2/s400/IMG_0178a.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>No problem, we'll just hike along the Mountains to Sea trail to the Art Loeb trail and up it until we find a decent camping area and set up camp. We'll just hunker down for the night. Tomorrow will be a better day. Uh, no. The drizzle turned into a heavier rain that lasted through the evening, through the night and into the next morning. A night of tent flooding and tent hopping to try to find a dry space left us even more tired and bedraggled the next morning with no signs of a letup. We were experiencing clouds close up and they were less pleasant from the inside than from above or below.<br /></div><div>After some discussion, we decided it did not make sense trying to continue our route in the rain, along, by now, very muddy trails. At the same time, we weren't excited to retrace our previous day back down to the trailhead in those conditions either. Fortunately, we were near another trailhead, so we decided to hike/hitchhike down the road to our car. Here we are, ready for that trek. Amazingly, we look less bedraggled than I felt.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340164686541125378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh2OcCpGx3GvsIAPLAzSMKrZAIUVbJ4nFB86O5v1tF6gJJAroI9_wcRucF4VyzoTOUnEku0WOs90qYTe0673rkBxNQYNNrttrkX8S_kNsgPEPnMNXXOxIhuNlEjy4vY5CFMQl/s400/IMG_0184a.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>After just a few minutes some nice hikers who were also giving up their plans stopped and offered me a ride to our trailhead. After some shuttling, we loaded our gear and headed home, humbled by our efforts. Apparently, the rain continued through the weekend. So, I'm content with our decision. Besides, we realized later, we now already have a nice hike up to Shining Rock and Cold Mountain planned from our second trailhead. Or, maybe we'll leave from the same trailhead and take the more established trail past Yellowstone Falls to the Graveyard Ridge trail and onward from there, with a nice weather forecast. I'm looking forward to it.</div><div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-36591405547336794812009-03-16T16:44:00.018-05:002009-03-16T18:26:19.088-05:00<strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Honda and Uwharrie</span></strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>Yes, I'm still alive, though you wouldn't know it by looking at this blog. So, here is a report to scotch any rumors that I might have perished in the local swamp.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have started some gardening, but the pictures of that endeavor are nothing to write home about yet. I've hiked the local neighborhood and a few local trails, but I've gotten into the habit of leaving my camera at home, so the few interesting photo opportunities were missed. So, you may be asking, what do you have to show for the past few weeks?? </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, I have been practicing my shade tree mechanic skills under the careful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tutelage of Jeremy. The engine in his Honda Civic recently bit the dust, and after some evaluation and visits to Ebay, we decided to buy and install a used engine.</span> A few afternoons were spent, and voila, the old Honda has returned to life. Here, for your entertainment, are a few pictures of the process.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We removed the transmission and the old engine.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313919144885665314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg222BqHEMCsqb6ERsP869FqnTtKJsZLCctwoBPM7zIKfJ1-zlP4ZkEP-tJL90F9nKx8tRMebOTpNJhNuFlRUd5UcO5T-cNS2Xmsj0G6oi9B6tCbopzeqUNlTxAZUAWYumPEQJx/s400/IMG_0553.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>We attached the transmission to the new engine and transferred various bits such as the wiring harness, distributor, alternator and power steering pump. We installed a new timing belt, water pump and accessory belts.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313919682277728754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQd9QeqqDQ16lcQTWe63eO8RldoFKJ6TkFXTt8tlqgMZVusoiUg9GMmbnZMzs5UgJl0ITpkT0YGjfsy1FalzM6PGwGmy9LMjgbuRCukjDCNPUOLFL316_CpzaTNDKQSyqmlF4h/s400/IMG_0558.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div>Under the hood looked a bit vacant at this point.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313919392228368242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXZCNOf1oeIpLl4RG1wb2B8wVy0HS2zuB3DJYyowu3J7xQ4geKkDQKyM2ruD46gIkLA5jhfUQlx97lwTxzPe22fnkyGsjeRk1tp3E30Xm-jZmrzHyRXebb7lXBi5pdGU9Goz9/s400/IMG_0556.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Then, it was back in with the new engine and transmission. Fix a few problems, troubleshoot a few issues, and .....drive! I had a bunch of fun and learned a lot...not to mention suffered a few skinned knuckles and sore muscles, contributing greatly, I am sure, to my character.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313919941687416066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UtyIiUsGz9xb72rMHbkeIY9YPBA_kHFk84QedVQmakhprzitrcNn-JIV4OxXhJxoKF7jzpEuT4knQe9NLWbw1KEzA8n5wwl0aI39UA_cs_xCJOQn2kbnP7-9SAtFhFHEXw5l/s400/IMG_0560.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313920177285653826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tCrLNT2Ai1TQtDCtAzRC_uvWaEhw7wBE-MXPcWQwVUjPQfK3alYxMPW0dHZeH4_KAGygaeMLhv4Fz4bZfbcFvL2_dhVphtWO6nhQe1pilnRLRRNPQ9gHTHAzHgpmMvApkgEJ/s400/IMG_0562.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Then, it was off on a backpacking trip to Uwharrie National Forest. I did the southern half of the Uwharrie National Recreational Trail a couple of years ago, so this time I visited the northern half with first time backpacker Gail.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We had a great time, with clear blue skies and temperatures in the 50-75 degree range. We camped near the summit of one of the 1000 foot mountains. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it gave us enough challenge with various ups and downs. These mountains are some of the oldest in North Carolina, and were once over 19,000 feet tall. Here is Gail, on the trail and preparing to roast sausages over the fire.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313921690590400546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ_kb3OK0XkTEeZdG00-3ojkuOumiuTa5QZu0jXX3GCJ7o9SHFBtfXs9KKr8uwzFd8UKnbrvhPkQ09hxQtYmR2ixfeO4YGKaS8VfZvTwu6-GVa2XHBFV15-3RbQneyuJ5BF4s/s400/uwharrie+backpacking+004.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313928769428709058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ANjmaGhaC65MOqKCePhZBPnMgXuQygYXV7Eehvak6FJ2cTml30DH42BCrqQBloAChfGkDMglv0lWeYVQmYgNZhzSj50kZ9G0AVodkDapuUD2W8lVasmn-oEFsTebf78qWP06/s400/IMG_0103b.jpg" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div>Here are a couple of pictures of Yours Truly, first on the trail and then relaxing on the banks of a gurgling creek. Yes, clearly, I'm still living the life of Reilly.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313921544317960978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjf0dwwJ5zgaOMHgLC_gbHrbj6dwbnygFvbLS5RDpwL39YHiZ1gQhRAbcEpywFqxtSe84eE57mV90aI7co5p3M5oIkJmebtul1Q8_q_dsArRKUC9d54P3JDfKFJA5HeE6alDx/s400/uwharrie+backpacking+001.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313920859783867490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTFBTUBX-IIEMNvT1EpJ_3jPQN1rNAZyR7OgQ7hiI5r7k7LDojxUnlKks_-JoXJ2jz64w4dGAoKIyqz56jinz1Nyxf_0JqFJ0aKl33s7GNHhl4yR2Cwm_DDnQn_WnIGK3zDTG/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div>And, here we are back at the trailhead, looking none the worse for wear after 12 miles and a bit more than 24 hours in the wilderness. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313921376823273730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhUifkRNqfjXfYoIuMqUKvNzLxpFOLPyyIGx2WqWOgW2wpEVre7KC7C1Wrb0n2FdznWiSZg3yTPpEeB8_mIMntG-tVMSjiw-zDWMxrCCsTq6eQEJlDkjzJIanNsxNNMjfTOnw/s400/IMG_0110.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div>And the fun continues. I'll be planting the summer vegetables soon, while harvesting some of the early stuff. The attic project continues. Myles will be celebrating his first birthday in a few weeks. I'll complete my bracket and enjoy March Madness, as usual. And Amanda has been promising to organize an exciting backpacking trip into the Appalacians soon. Who knows, even the stock market seems ready to resume its upward march...or is this just another bear market rally? Either way, I am truly blessed.</div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-90744942486568784452009-02-05T12:42:00.007-05:002009-02-05T13:13:33.135-05:00<div><div><div><div><div><strong>My Life In Wilmington<br /></strong><br /><div>Well, life goes on, here in Wilmington. I’ve been here about one and a half months now, and am starting to slip into a routine. My little cottage once more seems like home. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to try my hand at a few culinary dishes from the past. I tried out a Texas Chili recipe, and even entered it in a chili cookoff. (Did not place...even though I tried to tone it down, I think the spice may have been a bit much for the local palate.) I cooked up some Trinidad Doubles. They were good enough to at least be reminiscent of the good ol’ 6 years I spent in Trinidad. Same with a batch of chicken curry. Now, I’ve stocked up with the ingredients for my Chinese cabbage soup, so I’m ready for the Singapore repost.<br /><br />I’ve also had the chance to indulge my project DNA by working in Ryan and Nicole’s attic. We have carved out 400+ sq ft of living space there by rearranging the framing to accommodate a living area, bedroom and bath. Jeremy and Amanda plan to give up their house down the street and move into this space, and Jeremy told me they have now given 2 months notice on their house. Gulp! We better turn up the heat on that project. Here are the latest photos. First, looking from the living area through the bath toward the bedroom.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299372037835296530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt3_H7REvaho0sI7Dvfy6I_9WDjmfnqyFDWJRUS2fGZQeoYVWhHf8ekrFV2Ndh6ZV9XxUOzvP1BTz1dQpXGswEdSHLFy50htu-v2d53CICa1Wte4apj7myEC2z2igCqsu8jdq/s400/IMG_0102.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then, looking from the bedroom through the bath and down the hall toward the living room.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299371776709736738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwInSBR7uNlOrtjFz161nVVelFjuTA8srtYgvYiGQRDWjW94GWI0l8FZfTUmT2d3nLcRRnPbbS_C03p2dCzm7EXqkQQc-CX9s_oXgipzDzDkFHUUcBep7g5tGifEWDhSFq3OP/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" border="0" /><br />My old staple of activity, hiking, has been pretty slow, since I’ve hiked most of the nearby trails several times. And the nicer hiking areas in the Smokies are 6 hours drive away. I am planning to attend a presentation of the Mountains to Sea trail, a 900+ mile hike from Clingman's Dome in the Smokies to the Outer Banks. And, I did return to Carolina Beach State Park for a nice Sunday afternoon hike with Gail, a friend from church. Here are a couple of pictures, first of Snow's cut, then of Gail overlooking the Cape Fear river from Sugarloaf. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299370502877634530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl7-RClqmslNSCCgFplhWbMQqCfE0GJU7ny2qbHbyNjAiTQAmNpk6yOCZCE9QQzajRT8TVkF20xPb75AiQR0I0ycX_ulFwZ4aXb47Oj8ZvQFoTEoQHibt_aILohpez43b_RMA/s400/IMG_0087a.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299370811066354914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WxxvxaCt0cRhtmNCxMKm7Ln57GcMlUXEAZiu8oi4m_VAQjVCBdunGonkPAGueEEFBY1WSgFXQQM4fOPnBp_zr7CFAsPGu1qKFmGBYfH-C5r96FhGGePhjMTUMny-zaY4ETu3/s400/IMG_0092.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />As usual, Joe and Kathy opened up their home (and big screen plasma TV) for a Superbowl party, as well as a few Aggie basketball games we can’t get. And every now and then, I get to babysit Myles.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299372426481152898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34ePrBfZuyWEjO9tyiGIl0nJCOpO1ETad6ooqzMtE34Zx_ZdHfFxgAS_PmkgT0zwPdgC8wkjNJUVPYXELVMsN8AxSkH10I_zE-_YU560ps398vSCdKHkdK3E1X9bBZ8RaL_yp/s400/IMG_0096.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />It is about time to start thinking about gardening. I bought seeds for a few early vegetables yesterday, so I’ll start getting my hands dirty in the next few days. Ah, yes, life is good.</div></div></div></div></div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-3371244628811143712009-01-21T15:57:00.007-05:002009-01-21T21:44:49.160-05:00<div><strong>Wilmington Winter 2009</strong><br /><br /><br />Wilmngton, NC is below the Mason-Dixon, no? Maybe so, but for a Texas boy the winter weather here is a bit much. I've been here since just before Christmas and already I've had my fill of winter.<br /><br />For the first few weeks, we had quite a few nights when the temperature fell into the 20s, or even the teens. Fortunately, it was dry, so we usually had good warmup during the day. The only ice I saw was in this yard near my house, where they obviously forgot to turn off the sprinklers.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293860364133721186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9VYB2kkjsaxbc890R_dbS3qWyu2JLB6MreolxOaeXuhqSnVoxRULKwH7Q51rCE8vpDSM4dG0r7idmXmHHTTVEkvAMbibbQt53YXVCdBJRz6-3-BIM7WJ81ygSz0_cPNNC8yP/s400/IMG_0074a.jpg" border="0" /><br />Now, we're getting cold rain and snow. Here are pictures of my house yesterday.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293860857418735202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4JV3iGfUHsixCS7qhKDY8euOOzowTFmZuXDuYc6pl6VD_2YgQfdIS0s02uH1p0F0q8WuB04y7rlAzaZ2IROlrLZeO9ml9y1LUyqkiSKCED1ceJ6SOaX3IGTdvBcqEAQEpAoK/s400/IMG_0078.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcYm1qMRqAXxcBIyAU4YQhRsrfpCHOm4Y7pWwqSmFuj4bR9aJqQCO_TmE4d6-jm0wLXNaRiQZSZWWINf_28ZeDsFoQVRduNAn14DgkEW_M0Xd-2F-fetIF4t5aXzpWE_dRtM9/s1600-h/IMG_0081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293861240472587442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcYm1qMRqAXxcBIyAU4YQhRsrfpCHOm4Y7pWwqSmFuj4bR9aJqQCO_TmE4d6-jm0wLXNaRiQZSZWWINf_28ZeDsFoQVRduNAn14DgkEW_M0Xd-2F-fetIF4t5aXzpWE_dRtM9/s400/IMG_0081.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This house is the same one I rented last spring. But, in these conditions I'm seeing the limits of air to air heat pumps, which don't work well when outside temperatures drop below freezing. It doesn't help that the house has insulation typical of its 1940's vintage (read little to none).<br /><br />Ideally, I'd have a house where I had lot's of indoor projects to work, but I'm hesitant to do too much with my short term rental. Fortunately, I've been able to help Ryan and Nicole with some projects around their house.<br /><br />Let's see, there are now 2 more months of winter? I better find some winter activities. Maybe I can babysit for Myles. He seems to know how to handle this weather.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293943378376601554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicREWV9d5UWzj6YNotpsbEnLbfir1V-O9pzVIWF0LbTiNCa6sJSbz68G_FvonVnRqvq0SJBTBd4p6TdQgo4hnrxiZRdJInz9G2XeK5-D96QLFpY24XEPBjZa38jp__t8Uz2Wzg/s400/n507628597_1457433_9493.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-24334336855356021482008-12-14T23:50:00.010-05:002008-12-15T00:49:24.524-05:00<strong>Sayonara, Temple</strong><br /><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>Yesterday, I took leave of my little cabin in Temple. After a stopover in Houston I'm headed to North Carolina in time for Christmas.<br /></div><div>I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in Wilmington, but it is somewhat bittersweet, leaving Temple. In the past few weeks I've grown pretty close to the folks at Canyon Creek Church. And, while it is pretty basic, my cabin had begun to feel a lot like home. I've sometimes questioned the wisdom of building the cabin on the pond, well away from the road as well as the original house and barn on the place. But, the more time I spend there, the more I like the isolation and natural feel. I thought these photos at least partly captured the serenity here.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279882864650276594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwSxroAG5Xtg58bLKpcGq7VLB2OkwXfWWxGEdlpkkgglKKRd-NYGQF18usSN490yBWKAESnaEkHqyqKG38GU67pwQuzQazllWJVCxMX5up5-LG3XEADw2Ycwe50NcXF308mvU/s400/IMG_0052.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279883622986611586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD-u0ZB9KLArb00Ie4mHtTvU__hCovzXd82Na79XJUo2m63DCFZRZDvjJwHVhbTrqXQwL9lwJuNLdhC2sGpJd91uPH8jmzqcIAbacew97zLyB-C1myyRlpGJkH1bBMpLuOpx-/s400/IMG_0062.JPG" border="0" /><br />And, I took this picture through the window of the cabin.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINK7nnADU-Y4lH92iZWK6Ia7sFOhxlFYPNpVLHkUyb1or58WNBwY2msd8qCyUSvhGMBY2mVj9qMp9WTCLD-6faDZiFcKqQ_1dShNSJrdwcvz_0rRizu4i9A4oZGE6Z_R7EWh5/s1600-h/IMG_0043a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279882568796745218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINK7nnADU-Y4lH92iZWK6Ia7sFOhxlFYPNpVLHkUyb1or58WNBwY2msd8qCyUSvhGMBY2mVj9qMp9WTCLD-6faDZiFcKqQ_1dShNSJrdwcvz_0rRizu4i9A4oZGE6Z_R7EWh5/s400/IMG_0043a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>A few nights ago, I awoke to the sound of coyotes, howling just outside. A few ducks have been settling in the pond over the past few days. And, last week, several hundred geese spent the night in a nearby field on their journey south. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Even the moon seems bigger out here. For the past few nights the moon has been so bright, it seemed almost like day. I even got out of bed a couple of times thinking someone must have pulled up with their headlights on. I could walk around at night without any need for a light, and shadows were very distinct. I captured this picture of the moon, because it is the closest I've ever come to seeing the man in the moon. Can you see him?</div></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279889317664366930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxh3Zw2EmP07xC8i1bSVs_NxqT7XcVYZDD-8wsI2KmeaM4vMtRM6YY8pRwbgtXlgK3P0CBc9yi6mlmc7sSTVm4jeXQ2mnixK2A5hgN6JHm49dWDWLOrPYus8KelLXz5LroPKx/s400/IMG_0072a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>And, here, the view of the cabin from my car.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279883286522883522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNlX2kj_GkjIa051675Ryy1ljoePRC6JWvlvXfa-meMcmwC63VCOBV0lVqHM6oBGJO4jJo0pIyFl4wAETYUgnduTiygHf3Klig8tElSaQf-65onhbUgwWgmatHmn7tLGUL1Dz/s400/IMG_0059.JPG" border="0" /></p>Anyway, enough of the past. I've already rented a house in Wilmington, the same one I had when I was there earlier this year. So, on to the future.maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33186542.post-52348810761537462202008-11-26T14:32:00.004-05:002008-11-26T14:40:17.478-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1zG3mPB2Jzk7XX10TfStRkQplOrhGYSvQ1CZRUEtix1gZR5ipICVxZdJGtb5MA6ISLHmqkassehHdAeT-CTe0Z-fLEcjwIzq-jK0e6pZZ9-oDZXnuxN0aqNdWylSCjQNaPP4/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273051733754973218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 431px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1zG3mPB2Jzk7XX10TfStRkQplOrhGYSvQ1CZRUEtix1gZR5ipICVxZdJGtb5MA6ISLHmqkassehHdAeT-CTe0Z-fLEcjwIzq-jK0e6pZZ9-oDZXnuxN0aqNdWylSCjQNaPP4/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong>Texas A&M 84, Wilmington 65</strong><br /><br /><div>I’ve been promising myself I’d take advantage of the fact that I’m only about an hour and a half from College Station by catching some Texas A&M football games. Before I knew it, football season was over, but hey, I’m starting to like basketball more than football anyway. So, when I noticed that UNCW was on the schedule, I finally swung into action.<br /><br />It was a lot of fun, sandwiched between very pleasant drives over and back. I somehow ended up in the second row of the student section under the basket with the Reed Rowdies. They really keep you fired up.<br /><br />I liked the score, too, although the coach seemed upset with the level of play in his interview after the game. There is lots of talent on this team, and I’ll admit they never quite seemed to play up to their potential. Hopefully they will pull things together and we’ll have some real fun in March. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUXvyY8ic398wpOEIy52rs1-FzyCG1puPvlmi9cPxxAKay8zHYRwsepQrc-XPRfxld2q5zOOoSVqd7Byvw-31W8eD6SCWPCSGNMt0_t_WjUqwau077u4P8ngCCfdpLPxi42B-/s1600-h/IMG_0038a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273051848986016514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUXvyY8ic398wpOEIy52rs1-FzyCG1puPvlmi9cPxxAKay8zHYRwsepQrc-XPRfxld2q5zOOoSVqd7Byvw-31W8eD6SCWPCSGNMt0_t_WjUqwau077u4P8ngCCfdpLPxi42B-/s400/IMG_0038a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh, and hello to all my friends in Wilmington. Hope to see you soon.</div><div> </div><div>I’ll be with Jon at Mom and Dad’s for Thanksgiving. Then, at the first ever Monday night game for the Texans on December 1.<br />Holy smoke! I have to get this posted and meet Jon at the farm. No time for projects.</div>maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916081164267815374noreply@blogger.com2