Swayback Bridge Trail of Legends - 12/17/2011

Hike: Swayback Bridge Trail of Legends, Sat., 12/17/2011, 09:15-12:30CST
Distance: 7 miles  Rating: 4.5/5.0
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Mostly cloudy to clear.  Bright blue sky for most of hike.  Temp: low to mid 50s.  Wind calm.  Trails damp and eroding in spots (due to ATB traffic and steep slopes).
Thoughts/Observations:

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
-- Psalms 19:1-3 (NKJV)

I was reminded of these verses as I hiked the Pine/Hardwood Forest, looking up often at the stark contrast of dark green pine or deep gray hardwood against an azure sky.

Robins, thrashers, and kinglets were busy today.  Saw at least one chipmunk scurrying around near the lake-shore.  No whitetail deer observed -- several mountain bikers were on the trail ahead of me and probably frightened off any of these regular attenders. 

Praying for Diane's health (she has a gall bladder scan scheduled on Monday) and her final this afternoon. 

Wishing all my family and friends a Wondrous and Joyous Christmas!

Gear List: 
No camera.
Simmons compact binocs
Merrell Chameleon hiking shoes
MountainSmith Lumbar pack (with 1st Aid/Survival kit)
Gerber Prodigy

Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail - 12/16/2011

Hike: Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail (North & South), Fri., 12/16/2011, 08:45-11:15CST
Distance: 4 miles  Rating: 4.5/5.0
Difficulty: Moderate
Conditions: Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy.  Light breeze.  Temps: upper 60s to low 70s.  No one else on the trails.  Trails in good shape -- a little damp which prevents the pine straw from being slippery.  Lake below full pool (normal for this time of year).
Thoughts/Observations:

"Be still and know that I am GOD." was verse on my mind today.  What blessings YOU give us everyday, LORD GOD.  Thank YOU.

Diane being sick also occupied a lot of my thoughts -- she goes for a nuclear med scan of her gall bladder Monday morning.  My thoughts also turned to the future (my role at Liberty) and what it holds.  Of course I do not know what is in the future, but I am persuaded that YOU, LORD GOD, will take care of everything as I surrender to YOU. 

Observed two whitetail doe near the 3 mile point.  Carried binocs instead of digSLR -- made for a "close up" look at the deer as well as islands and landscapes.  I was amused at one of the doe stretching her neck to get a better look at me down below the ridgeline.  She obviously could not tell who (or what) I was.  Being wary (which is good) she stayed her distance.  Saw an old tin structure (possibly a shooting house) near the one mile mark situated on the lake-side of the trail largely hidden by pines.  Had never noticed it before, which attests to how well it is normally obscureced. 

Listening to the gentle slap of the waves along the shoreline I thought of family & friends that are so special to me.  Hope they have a wonderful Christmas and maybe they know I love and think about them.

Gear List:
MountainSmith Lumbar pack w/ 1st Aid & Survival Kit
1 Kleen Kanteen (water)
Merrell Chameleon hiking shoes
Gerber Prodigy
Swiss Hiking Staff
Simmons compact binoculars (7x35)

Hiking Mtn Creek - Sat. 12/10/2011

Hike: Confederate Memorial Park, Mountain Creek, AL, Sat., 12/10/2011, 08:25-10:25
Distance: 4 miles  Rating: 4.5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Clear. Beautiful blue sky. Calm to light breeze.  Upper 30s warming to near 50. Trails damp.  No one else on the trails today.
Thoughts/Observations:
Many gray squirrels busy on ground and in trees.  Most leaves are on ground now.  Beech and a few other trees are still hanging on to their leaves, but most of the mostly brown leaves are now a soft carpet on the forest floor.  Cardinals and a few other passarines observed.  Did not see any whitetail deer, coyotes, or rabbits. 

The Sycamore at trail's end stands tall and bright in the early morning sun.  It reminds me of a monument, a monument to the majesty of GOD.  Sycamores have always been special to me.  Few trees (especially in our area) are as massive and beautiful as the Sycamore.  This time of year, the brilliant white bark shines in the winter sun.  I see this tree on each of my hikes here, but it really captured my attention in the morning sun light.

Received the sermon topic "Get in Shape" for New Year's Sunday. 

Trying out the Gerber Prodigy during my hikes.  Wears well at my right side.  Need to put in some camp-craft tasks soon.

Hiked lighter today - No camera/pics.

Hike @ Swayback Bridge - 12/03/2011

Hike: Swayback Bridge Trail, Sat., 12/3/2011, 08:25-12:10
Distance: 8 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Mostly clear, bright blue sky.  Light breeze stirring the tree tops -- bringing down a few leaves during the hike.  Temps cool at the start but warming to mid 60s by noon.
Thoughts/Observations:

Started on the Black Trail in Reverse.  Included portions of the Red Trail and double-track.  Many hikers with dogs out today but they were all friendly.  Only met 4 mountain bikers. 

Observed many robins again near the 2 mile marker.  Not sure what attracts them to this area so much.  They fly away from me as I hike the trail but never leave the general area.  This forest is predominantly oak and hickory -- perhaps this area is abundant in one of their favorite foods.  Observed about 4 whitetail deer (doe).

Thoughts on GOD of Wonders - message for tomorrow. 

Right foot bothered me a little starting about mile 6.

Hike Swayback Bridge Trail - 11/14/2011

Hike: Yellow Trail, Swayback Bridge Trail of Legends, Mon., 08:45-10:50
Distance: 4 miles  Rating: 5.5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Mild temps (60s to low 70s); light breeze; partly to mostly cloudy.  Trails dry and in good shape.

Thoughts/Observations:

One of the best hikes I have had in a while.  I could "be still" and commune with GOD.  Reminded me of forest hikes of my youth.  Autumn canopy overhead and crisp carpet of leaves underfoot joined with the smell of Fall leaves to enrich my experience.  Words are woefully inadequate to express how I feel when I am worshiping GOD amidst HIS Creation.  HE made all of this for HIS glory and my enjoyment!  Pictures cannot convey the treasure that is found here. 

I spotted a whitetail doe (still had some spots) on the ridge line near the three mile mark.  She skidded to an abrupt halt about 15 yards away upon seeing me.  I remained still for several minutes observing her.  She even stomped her feet a few times to try to get me to move as she was unsure if I was something to be afraid of or not.  I finally moved a little and she scampered back down into the valley.  I literally chuckled to myself and her youthful exuberance.

It was such a joy and solace to be in the midst of YOUR creation today, LORD.  All praise and glory to YOUR name, my GOD! 

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
                   -- Psalms 19:1-3 (NKJV)

Cherokee Ridge Hike - 11/12/2011

Hike: Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail, Sat., 11/12/2011, 09:00-11:40
Distance: 4 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Moderate due to the many ascent/descents and the tricky footing due to cover of dry pine straw
Conditions: Glorious day!  Bright and cheerful Autumn day.
Thoughts/Observations:

Hiking under a forest canopy of gold, green, and red with an azure blue sky.  When the breeze increased there would be shower of red and gold leaves.  Such a wonderful experience. 

Observed several small fly-catcher type birds.  They were dusty-blue and gray.  Their hyper-active antics were amusing to watch.  Suppose they were searching for insects among the lake-shore trees. 

Four to five sailboats peacefully plyed the waters as I hiked by the lake-shore.  My imagination was captured by them as long as they were in view -- still dreaming about sailing to hidden coves and islands. 

Thoughts about surrender and sacrifice today.  Prayed for my brother-in-law.

Beautiful Autumn Hike -- Mtn Creek 5-Nov-2011

Hike: Mountain Creek, Sat. Nov. 5, 2011; 09:00-11:10
Distance: 4.0 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty:  Easy
Conditions: Perfect weather. Brilliant blue sky; moderate temps; light breeze.
Thoughts/Observations:

Encountered the three "attack wiener dogs" again!  This time they kept their distance.  Maybe they remembered my hiking staff! 

Trees appear to be just passed prime in their fall attire.  Some hickories have already dropped their leaves.  I hiked the trails on a carpet of brown and gold with flecks of red -- more beautiful than the grandest man-made structure.  Witnessed the occasional "sprinkle" of leaves - one of my favorite sights of the Fall.  Was a peaceful and worshipful time.  Prayed for several people and churches.  It doesn't get much better than Fall in the forest.  Thank YOU, GOD, for this wonder.

Kayakers and Blue Whales!

Unbelievable and fantastic footage of kayaker with Blue Whales!  Would be a wonderful opportunity to see these giants up-close like this...

Kayaker and Blue Whale

When Hiking Have a Plan B

Today may have been a lesson in having a "Plan B"...  I had planned to hike the 4 or 7 mile trail at Swayback.  Upon arrival at the trail head I found about 200 people ready to start on the trails!  Today must have been "Attack on Swayback".  Needless to say, I was not keen on sharing the trail with that many other people.  One of the reasons I "get outdoors" is to seek peace and focus -- to be able to get away from the "noise" of the day and focus on what is important.  It is a time for me to worship and fellowship with GOD.  So I turned CHI-J around and headed back toward Wetumpka and Ft. Toulouse.

Hike: Ft. Toulouse State Historic Park, Wetumpka, AL  10/08/2011, 09:00-11:00
Distance: approx 4 miles  Rating: 4/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Bright blue sky.  Clear.  Light to moderate breeze.  Mild temps (70s).  Trails dry.  Some of vegetation showing signs of needing rain.  Rivers a little below normal level.  Tallapoosa River was a light brown rather than its normal aquamarine.
Thoughts/Observations:
Squirrels and passerines busy with Fall work.  Spooked two whitetail deer in the lowland area.  Encountered more people than usual on the trails here.  Guess they were enjoying the beautiful Fall weather.

Particularly enjoyed the open areas beyond the Indian Mounds and toward the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers.  Golden Rod and a tall purple wild flowers were in vivid display, accompanied in spots by sprays of small white daisy-type flowers.  The air smelled and "felt" like Autumn - my time of year.

Spent a little time after hiking exploring Fort Toulouse and the re-created Indian homes.  I try to imagine what it would have been like to live here in the 1700s.  Challenging, pristine, and wild come to mind.

Spellbinding Photo of Canyonlands

Canyonlands National Park was one of the parks we "missed" on our Great Western Expedition.  Even though we had almost a month, it was still not enough time to "take in" all of the wonderful sights.  Here's a tiny morsel of what we missed.  Guess we have something to include in the Great Western Expedition II...


Flickr user dbushue captured this breathtaking shot in Canyonlands National Park in Utah and shared it through The Nature Conservancy’s Flickr group. dbushue writes, “Seeing this iconic landmark during the middle of the day is one thing… but taking the time to be there when the sun rises is truly an awe inspiring.”

Fall Morning Hike @ Mountain Creek

Hike: Mountain Creek, Sat., 10/01/2011, 08:20-10:30
Distance: 4 miles  Rating: 4.5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Bright blue and clear sky.  Moderate breeze.  Low humidity.  Low 60s.  Trails in good shape and dry. 
Thoughts/Observations:
Many passerines of all colors and sizes (I am continually astounded at the varied species of birds I observe in this park).  Woodpeckers busy in the pine upland area and gray squirrels continued their stockpiling of winter food.  American beauty berry and dogwoods were showing off their colorful fruit.  Located a small "cherry-like" tree in the "feeding plot" that was heavy laden with bright red fruit.

Enjoyed the beautiful Fall morning.  A great time of worship of and fellowship with GOD.

Green Mango Hummingbird

Vibrant colors and an amazing job freezing a hummingbird in action. Flickr user farmhousephoto captured this shot of a Green Mango Hummingbird in Dorado, Puerto Rico, and shared it through The Nature Conservancy’s Flickr group.


Such an astounding shot and such a marvel of design!  What wonders GOD's creation contains.  Open your eyes and ears.  Enjoy what HIS hands have made.

Courageous Wrangler and Her Horse Face Down Grizzly!

Gutsy wrangler, huge horse save boy from charging grizzly

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review

 

Erin Bolster, a wrangler for Swan Mountain Outfitters near Glacier Park, poses with her horse, Tonk.

(Full-size photo)

Grizzlies are high profile this year.

A lingering winter and late berry crop kept bears in proximity to humans longer than normal, perhaps contributing to a stream of headlines about grizzlies killing people and people killing grizzlies.

Meanwhile, a young lady on a big horse charged out of the pack of grizzly stories near Glacier National Park. In a cloud of dust, the 25-year-old wrangler likely saved a boy’s life while demonstrating that skill, quick-thinking and guts sometimes are the best weapons against a head-on charging grizzly.

On July 30, Erin Bolster of Swan Mountain Outfitters was guiding eight clients on a horse ride on the Flathead National Forest between West Glacier and Hungry Horse, Mont.

“It’s the shortest ride we offer,” she said Wednesday, recalling the incident. “We’d already led two trips that morning. It’s always been a very routine hour-long loop, until that day.”

The group included a family of six plus a vacationing Illinois man, who’d booked the trip for his 8-year-old son’s first horse-riding experience.

The young boy was riding Scout, a steady obedient mount, following directly behind Bolster, who was leading the group on Tonk, a burly 10-year-old white horse of questionable lineage.

Tonk isn’t the typical trail mount. Best anyone knows, he’s the result of cross-breeding a quarter horse with a Percheron – a draft horse. Bolster is 5-foot-10, yet she relies on her athleticism to climb into the saddle aboard Tonk.

“He was one of the horses we lease from Wyoming and bring in every year,” Bolster said, noting that she’d picked him from the stable in May to be hers for the season.

“He’s a very large horse – 18 hands high. That intimidates a lot of riders. But I’ve always loved big horses. He’s kind of high-strung and spooky, the largest of our wrangling horses. I like a horse with a lot of spirit, and I was really glad to be on him that day.”

Bolster has accumulated a wealth of experience on and around horses of national and even world class. She started riding at 4 years old, became a pro trainer at 15, graduated from high school at 16 in Roanoke, Va., and ran a riding academy for several years.

Seeking a more laid-back lifestyle, she wrangled in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic before moving to Whitefish three years ago to guide tourists during the summer around Glacier National Park and ski through winter.

“It’s the country, the mountains and the idea of seeing lot of wildlife that appealed to me, ironically enough,” she said.

Bolster quickly racked bear experience, too, although until July 30, it was always at a distance.

“At the peak of the season, we were seeing bears daily,” she said. “The wranglers name them so we can let each other know where they are. Usually the bears just keep feeding in the distance or they run away when we come. Just seeing them is a treat for us and our guests.”

Because they guide around Glacier Park, bear awareness is part of the preparation wranglers get when hired by Swan Mountain Outfitters.

“We go over a lot of wildlife scenarios in our training,” Bolster said. “We learn to watch our horses for signals of possible trouble so we can steer clear.”

That’s the key, she said: Avoid trouble with a moose or a bear.

“We can’t use pepper spray when we’re riding because that could blind the horse,” she said. “And using a gun would spook the horses and probably produce more danger than safety.”

That’s how she went to work that day: a young but seasoned pro rider on a new, huge and spirited horse, unarmed in the wilderness with eight dudes.

“It was a pleasant ride until we came around a corner on the trail and my horse stopped firm and wouldn’t move,” Bolster said. “He never refuses to go, so that caught my attention quick.”

But not fast enough to avoid the spike white-tailed deer that burst out of the brush and glanced off Tonk’s left front shoulder.

As Tonk spun from the impact, Bolster saw a huge grizzly bear crashing through the forest right at the group in pursuit of the deer. Horses panicked and guests grabbed saddle horns for the ride of their lives.

“No amount of training could keep a horse from running from a 700-pound charging bear,” she said.

Seven of the horses sensed the danger, scrambled around and galloped back on the trail toward the barn.

But Scout bolted perpendicular to the trail into the timber packing the 8-year-old boy.

“The deer peeled off and joined the horses sprinting down the trail,” Bolster said. “So the bear just continued running right past me. I’m not sure the bear even knew the roles had changed, but now it was chasing a horse instead of a deer.”

The grizzly was zeroed in on Scout and the boy – the isolated prey in the woods.

Adding to the drama, the boy’s father, an experienced rider, could not convince his horse that it was a good plan to ride to his son’s rescue.

“The last thing he saw over his shoulder as his horse ran away was the grizzly chasing his boy,” Bolster said.

With the bear on Scout’s heels, Tonk’s instinct was to flee with the group of horses. But Tonk responded to Bolster’s heels in his ribs as she spun the big fella around. They wheeled out of a 360 and bolted into the trees to wedge between the predator and the prey.

“The boy was bent over, feet out of the stirrups, clutching the saddle horn and the horse’s neck,” she said. “That kept him from hitting a tree limb.

“But all I could think about was the boy falling off in the path of that grizzly.

“I bent down, screamed and yelled, but the bear was growling and snarling and staying very focused on Scout.

“As it tried to circle back toward Scout, I realized I had to get Tonk to square off and face the bear. We had to get the bear to acknowledge us.

“We did. We got its attention – and the bear charged.

“So I charged at the bear.”

Did she think twice about that?

“I had no hesitation, honestly,” Bolster said. “Nothing in my body was going to let that little boy get hurt by that bear. That wasn’t an option.”

Tonk was on the same page.

With a ton of horse, boulder-size hooves and a fire-breathing blonde thundering at it, the bear came within about 10 feet before skittering off to the side.

But it quickly angled to make yet another stab at getting to Scout and the boy – who had just fallen to the ground.

“Tonk and I had to go at the bear a third time before we finally hazed him away,” she said.

“The boy had landed in some beargrass and was OK. Scout was standing nearby.”

Bolster gathered the boy up with her on Tonk, grabbed Scout’s lead and trotted down the trail.

“The boy was in shock,” she said. “I looked back and could see the bear had continued to go away through he woods, but I had another five or 10 minutes of riding before I got back with the group.”

Not until she reunited with her riders – all OK and standing in various stages of confusion with their horses – did she start to shake.

“I looked at Tonk, and he was wet with sweat and shaking, too,” she said.

She was especially concerned for the boy’s father, who probably suffered the most terror in the ordeal.

“He was fine, and I got my biggest tip of the season,” Bolster said. “My biggest hope is that the boy isn’t discouraged from riding. This was a one-in-a-million event.”

For the next few days, the outfitter shut down the trail rides and Bolster joined other wranglers and a federal grizzly bear expert to ride horses through the area looking for the bear.

“They tracked it for a long way and concluded that it kept going out of the area,” she said. “Judging from the tracks and my description of how high the bear came up on Tonk, the grizzly expert estimated it weighed 700-750 pounds.

“This was a case of us being in the wrong place as a bear was already in the act of chasing its natural prey. He was probably more persistent because he was really hungry.”

Bolster and the other wranglers vowed to have bear spray on their belts to make sure they can defend their guests during breaks on the ground.

“But when you’re riding, the horse is your best protection, if you can stay on,” she said.

“Some of the horses I’ve ridden would have absolutely refused to do what Tonk did; others would have thrown me off in the process. Some horses can never overcome their flight-animal instinct to run away.”

In those minutes of crisis, the big lug of mongrel mount proved his mettle in a test few trail horses will face in their careers.

Tonk’s grit moved Bolster. She wasn’t about to send him back to Wyoming with the other leased horses.

“Two weeks ago, I closed the deal and bought him,” Bolster said as she was wrapping up her 2011 wrangling season.

“After what he did that day, he had to be mine.”

Life Theme Song...

If I had a "Life Theme Song", this would certainly qualify.  I have shown it at least twice at church.  Allow it to speak for itself.  "The heavens declare the glory of GOD and the firmament shows forth HIS handiwork..."

Almost Fall Hike - Mountain Creek

Hike: Mountain Creek, AL, Sat., 09/10/2011, 08:05-10:02CDT
Distance: 4.0 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Abundant sunshine, clear blue sky.  Low 70s to 77 degF.  Wind calm.  Trails dry. 
Thoughts/Observations:

Fantastically gorgeous day.  Forest had the look, feel, and smell of early Fall (even though the calendar says it is still summer).  Autumn touches me deeply.  Everything about the season appeals to me, the colors, smells, sounds -- the "feeling in the air" excites and deeply-calms me all at the same time.  (That sounds weird, I know.)  For some reason the worship and joy just pours out of me so freely during this season. 

Almost a month since my last hike -- it felt so wonderful to be hiking today.  I had plenty of company: gray squirrels were busy storing up food for winter; woodpeckers were fighting over the best spots; several blue jays were being their normal raucous selves.  Yellow Poplars and some other deciduous trees were beginning to show signs of autumnal color.  Already a few leaves dot the trails -- the promise of a carpet to follow.  Thank YOU, LORD, for YOUR love and presence.  YOU are indeed glorified in YOUR Creation.

NOLS Recipe for Cheesy Campsite Trout!

I cannot recall making a blog entry around a recipe before, but this one stirred me.  The idea of a fresh, stream-caught trout cooked on the backcountry fire whets more than just my physical hunger...  The pictures and recipe are from NatGeo's Adventure Travel/Best U.S. Hiking Cities.

Bon appetit!

Outdoor Tips + Advice: How to Cook the Most Delicious, Cheesy Campsite Trout of Your Life

By Contributing Writer Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin, Faculty member and Diversity + Inclusion Manager at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS); photographs, from top, by Andy Clifford, Rich Brame (3)
Oh, the things you learn about yourself when you spend 35 days on a NOLS course in the wilderness with a backpack and a fly rod—and without your family.
Such as, for example, how you were so looking forward to 35 nights of uninterrupted sleep and lazy mornings, only to realize that having a kid has made you a light sleeper and a morning person.

Or, for example, how excited you are to be “living off the land,” catching and eating 14-inch golden trout every day, only to realize that you’re about as good with a fly rod as you are with knitting needles, or any other activity requiring dexterity and patience. That is, you suck at fishing.

And by “you,” I’m not talking about you, dear reader. I’m most definitely talking about me.

So let’s talk about that trout. Although I couldn’t catch one for the life of me, I’d like to think I could cook one up to delectable perfection with this easy backcountry recipe for Fresh Trout WIZNUT, courtesy of NOLS Instructor John Whisnant). “The WIZNUT appeared in 1966 as a miracle response to our desperate pleas for cheesy crunch,” reflects John. Over the years, the WIZNUT has taken many forms, but the common denominator in any recipe is a layer of fried cheese at the bottom of the pan.

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 cup mixed veggies (rehydrated)
½ cup reconstituted potato flakes (rehydrated)
¼ cup thunder flakes (onion flakes, rehydrated)
¼ cup powdered milk
¼ cup butter
1 lb. cheddar cheese, sliced thin
2 Trout—10-12” each, preferably swimming 20 minutes before cooking (go with a non-native species if you can!)
Directions:
1. Grease fry pan with a thin layer of butter. (We recommend the Banks Fry Bake, which we have used for decades.)
2. Fry the trout in the pan with spice until the meat comes off the bones.
3. Collect small dead twigs—enough to sustain a small twiggy fire on top of the pan lid for at least 30 minutes.
4. Remove fish from pan and de-bone (leave the little bits of trout and whatever butter is remaining in the pan).
5. Mix all ingredients except trout and cheese in a separate pot.
6. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with a layer of cheese.

7. Add half the rice mix in a layer over the cheese.
8. Add the trout in a layer over the rice mix.
9. Add the remaining rice mix over the trout.
10. Finish with the remaining cheese on top.
11. Seal tight with fry pan lid.

12. Set stove on a low simmer (you can do that with an MSR Whisperlite stove by slightly depressurizing the fuel can). Construct a small twiggy fire on top of the pan lid. Rotate the pan and keep the twiggy fire burning for half hour to an hour until the WIZNUT is golden brown and bubbling.

Weekend Cabin: New South Wales Australia

The structure called “Mudgee Permanent Camp” by its architect is the epitome of rustic modern with a definitively Australian bent. Located on a sheep station in central-west New South Wales, it sits atop a hill that provides views for hundreds of miles in all directions, either from the first floor with the copper sides propped open or from the roof, which doubles as a rain collection device.
Mudgee is just 10 by 10 feet, 200 square feet total, with a sleeping loft, kitchen, and wood stove. An outside is a short walk to the west. On the south side of the house, winches control the adjustable veranda roofs (and the water tank is tucked away). The copper sides, in additional to provide protection from rain, fire, and cold, connect the structure to the long building vernacular of Australian sheep ranches. 

The simplicity of this cabin reminds me of some medieval tower standing guard over a wilderness frontier.  I could get used to the spartan accommodations very easily.

Nature Photo of the Week - Fox

This photo was taken by Flickr user jcostanza4 and is this week's Nature Conservancy Nature Photo of the Week.  It is rare to catch a glimpse of a fox in the forest.  I consider it a wonderful gift when offered fleeting sights of these elusive creatures.  Seems the fox in this photo was looking right into the camera.

Get out and enjoy GOD's Creation.

Hiking / Kayaking Destination: Ecofina FL SP

Picture of Ecofina River at Ecofina Florida State Park.  Another place I would very much like to explore -- the sooner the better.  Just imagine the kayak silently slicing through the tannin-colored water of the Ecofina River with limestone banks on either side.  Along the banks stand sentinels of palm and scrub-oaks.  The stillness is interrupted only by the calls of the varied riparian birds.  This is a mystical and serene land... 

I am so ready for Fall.

Ecofina Park Brochure