Summer Morning Hike @ Swayback Bridge Trail

Hike: Red Trail - Swayback Bridge Trail of Legends - Sat. 7/24/2010, 07:15-10:15
Distance: 7 miles  Rating: 5/5  Map Coord: N32.62458 / W86.24049
Difficulty: Moderate due to heat/humidity and distance.
Conditions: Humid, warm.  Partly cloudy. Light breeze. 80 F.  Trail surface in good condition.  Light rain during the night.  No standing water, but ground was damp.  Wet-season streams are pooling - no flow in them today.
Thoughts/Observations: 

Plants were the stars today.  GOD produced many meadow wildflowers of gold, yellow, white, lavender, purple, and pink.  Some broad leaves as well as pine needles were coated with droplets of water from the rain last night.  There were different shades of green and contrasting textures vividly displayed throughout the forest.  Some of the ferns, vines, and the Big Leaf Magnolia made me feel as if I was in some primeval forest.  It was a veritable concert of sight.  Many passarines about as well as chipmunk and gray squirrel  Butterflies and bees were busy with the meadow wildflowers.  A particularly mesmerizing blue Damselfly was busy near the lake's edge near the 6 mile mark.

Song "Cry Out For Love" was on my mind.  Talked with GOD about a lot that's on my heart.  Was a very good hike.  Thank YOU, LORD.

Walking The Amazon Update: 18 Days To Go!

Walking The Amazon Update: 18 Days To Go!: "

After 841 days walking the Amazon Jungle, Ed Stafford is finally nearing the end of his expedition to cross the rainforest on foot. In fact, he even has a detailed schedule of his final days planned out, and promises daily updates to his blog to help us follow along over the final stage of his incredible journey.



Today Ed announced that there are just 18 days left until he crosses the finish line, in this case the finish line meaning a plunge into the ocean. He says that media attention has begun to increase, and he was even joined by a reporter who will be tagging along with he and Cho over the next six days. She's going to get an education on survival in the wilderness, as those next six days include a trek 'straight through the unknown jungle on a compass bearing. No paths, no settlements to stay at, just swamps, river crossings and sore shoulders that never go away.'



Ed's final schedule looks like this:

22nd to 27th July - last 6 days of walking through rainforest.

28th - Walk the Trans Cametá Highway to Cametá.

29th - Paddle across the Trocantins River.

30th - Walk back on the far side of the said river to correct any advance downstream the previous day [see rules on FAQ page].

31st to 3rd August - 4 days walk down highways into Belem City itself.

4th - Meet Keith (photographer) off plane. Interviews.

5th to 8th - 4 days walk towards the Atlantic Ocean to just short of Marudá.

9th August dawn - final 5km in the dark and arrive at Marudá, the Atlantic, for sunrise (0630 local time, 0930 BST, 1030 BST). Fall in the sea. Job done.

"
Wow... what a walk! 859 days is almost 2 1/2 years of trekking through the Amazonian Rainforest. Imagine the things seen and experienced during this time. If there's a book (and I imagine so), this is one I want to read.

Stonehenge's Twin?

Click on the title above to see the story

Interesting news-piece from FoxNews on the archaeological discovery at Stonehenge.  Highlights just how much mankind does not know.  "New things" come to light all the time.  GOD is not surprised, but we sure are!
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Day Hike Lanark - Alabama Wildlife Federation Nature Center

Hike: Hilltop Pass, Turkey Ridge, Still Creek Run - Lanark, Sat. 7/17/2010, 09:00-11:45
Distance: 6 miles  Rating: 4/5
Difficulty: Easy  Map Coord: N32.47717 / W86.38391
Conditions: Partly cloudy.  Hot and very humid. 09:00-11:45
Thoughts/Observations:
Got a little later start today than originally planned.  Saw my friends off at church before coming to trails.  Missed them a lot today.  Legs felt a little heavy and I was sweating a lot today - humidity was very high.  Trails were in good shape and I had all of them pretty much to myself - met one man and son on Turkey Ridge.  They have added a loop off of Turkey Ridge called Tadpole Pond Loop that highlights a pond and aquatic ecosystems.  Some of the largest tadpoles I've ever seen are living in Tadople Pond!  Dragonflies were the stars today.  GOD created these magnificent creatures in all sizes and colors.  They were showing off today.  Red, blue, green, black - even some quite large blue ones with sliver, lacy wings.  They darted all around me as they hunted for their food or a mate.  Damsel flies were also in abundance in blue, black, and brilliant, bright green.  The Damsel Flies seemed to favor the boggy areas while Dragon flies were more numerous over open water and flowing streams.  Passarines were in abundance as usual - I really enjoyed several friendly and melodious cardinals on the creek side trails.  One large black racer slid from the Tadpole Pond area up under the boardwalk as I hiked by.  He was very shiny and swift.  Many small lizards with blue stripes ran up and down the boardwalks staying just out of reach.  Gray squirrels and chipmunks were busy scurrying about in Hilltop Pass and Turkey Ridge. 

Was able to spend some time in prayer and worship.  Humming "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore THEE".  Didn't feel as good as usual during this hike.  Felt a little light headed or shaky.  Not sure what's going on.

Very Creepy!

Thousands of creepy spiders crawling out of the cargo hole of a ship and onto an island!  Sounds like something from a B-rated Science Fiction Movie.  Look out Guam.

Mountain Creek Hike 7/5/2010

Hike: Pine Upland and Hardwood (Riparian) Trail - Mountain Creek, Mon. 7/5/2010, 07:30-09:30
Distance: 4 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy  Map Coord: N32.71956 / W86.47324
Conditions: Mostly clear.  Bright blue sky.  Swift passing clouds.  Moderate, steady breeze.  Feels good.
Thoughts/Observations:

Absolutely gorgeous day!  Had the park completely for myself.  Gray squirrels and birds in abundance as usual.  Chipmunk scampering for cover.  Large mammal (from the sound it made) near Hickory Hill - probably whitetail deer.

Such a treat YOU have given me today.  I pray that my eyes, ears, and heart will always be open and receptive to YOUR truth.  I so want to teach others this love and appreciation of YOU that I feel; to be able to teach them to open their eyes and see YOU in the midst of YOUR creation.

Early Morning Hike - Swayback Bridge Trail

Hike: Swayback Bridge Trail, Sat. 7/3/2010, 06:30-09:30
Distance: 7 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy    Map Coord: N32.62435 / W86.24025
Conditions: Clear.  Surprisingly mild for July.  Less humid this morning.  Very nice, steady breeze.  Felt good.
Thoughts/Observations:
Thinking about freedom in CHRIST (Rom. 8) and about how I do not take every thought captive as I should.  Plants were the stars today.  GOD blessed me with beautiful wildflowers and inspiring hardwoods.  It was a feast of light, shade, color, texture, and shape.  Mimosa perfume permeated the air throughout much of the hike.  Thank YOU for the caress of the breeze and the opening of YOUR treasures on the forest floor.  I have ID the large leaf hardwood.  It is a Big Leaf Magnolia.  Somewhat rare apparently.  Well represented here and at CRATA.  Several mtn bikers and trail runners today.  Lots of vehicles headed down toward Coosa River launch at Jordan Dam.

Nature Photo of the Week: Summer Mist

Nature Photo of the Week: Summer Mist: "

Wow and Double Wow... Just look at this view. This is the Napali Coastline in Kauai HI. It just moved up even higher on my "To Do/See List". How I would love to be there today. It's hard to take my eyes off of it.