Watching for Perseids & Hiking Swayback Red Trail

Hike: Red Trail, Swayback Trail of Legends, Wetumpka, AL, Sat., 08/13/2011, 06:15-09:30
Distance: 7.0 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Quite warm (80's) and muggy.  No wind.  Trails damp but no mud holes.  Water standing in swampy area at trailhead.  Several mountain bikers and trail runners encountered this morning.

Thoughts/Observations:

Started this morning about 4am, looking for the Perseids.  The viewing was not optimum since the moon was full and light-pollution was plentiful.  Nonetheless, I was able to see a few shooting stars.  Not as vivid and memorable as last year's event, but they did show up.  "The heavens declare the glory of GOD..."

The rising sun beckoned me as I drove eastward toward Swayback with a cran-grape colored sky.  Traffic was light this early in the morning.

Swayback was peaceful as I entered the trail head on the Red Trail.  Serenaded by the ever-present passerines, I hiked by the Swamp and through corridors of scattered yellow and lavender wildflowers.  Flying insects were in abundance, though not too bothersome.  (I did use Repel on my boots and pants legs.)

Photos taken of several wildflowers.  Enjoyed the peaceful  and worshipful experience.

(My apologies on the pics.  I used my old Kodak Digicam (because of its light weight) rather than my normal dSLR.  Sacrificed quality of pic for weight on the trail.  Won't do that again.)

Hot, Humid, and Hiking

Hike: Red Trail Swayback Bridge Trail of Legends, Wetumpka, AL, Wed., 08/03/2011, 06:25-09:45
Distance: 7 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate due to heat and humidity
Conditions: Hot (upper 80's to low 90's) and extremely humid.  Alabama Dept of Public Health issued a Heat Advisory for today.  Heat Index expected to be at or above 105 DegF.

Thoughts/Observations:

Numerous passerines (serenaded throughout the hike) as well as the ubiquitous summer-time bug.  I think I broke a spiderweb at least every 100' or so.  That's the price for being a "trail blazer" first thing in the morning!  Cicada (or locust) were loud in certain sections of the forest.

Trails were damp but only a few muddy spots required negotiation.

Forest was very peaceful.  Enjoyed the solitude.  (Met one mountain biker w/ his chocolate lab and one trail runner.)  Scripture on my mind this morning:  but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14 (NKJV)  And "YOUR Name" by Phillips, Craig & Dean kept repeating in my spirit:

As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart
And glorify Your name

Your name
Is a strong and mighty tower
Your name
Is a shelter like no other
Your name
Let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your name

Jesus, in Your name we pray
Come and fill our hearts today
Lord, give us strength to live for You
And glorify Your name

Hiking the Basidiomycota Trail

You probably said "hike what?".  For those non-biology majors:

Basidiomycota:   is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the Kingdom Fungi. More specifically the Basidiomycota include mushrooms, puffballs, stinkhorns, bracket fungi, other polypores, jelly fungi, boletes, chanterelles, earth stars, smuts, bunts, rusts, mirror yeasts, and the human pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus.

Hike: "Basidiomycota Trail" (Better known as the Red Trail @ Swayback Bridge), Sat. 07/16/2011, 08:05-11:28
Distance: 7 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy  Conditions: Trails wet and muddy in spots from recent rains.  Swampy area near trail head actually has standing water again.  Cloudy with light wind.  Infrequent drizzle, though none of the drops made it through the dense forest canopy during my hike.
Thoughts/Observations:
Okay, so why did I dub this the Basidiomycota Trail?  Mushrooms were everywhere.  GOD showed off HIS fungi today.  All along the entire trail, mushrooms and bracket fungi of all sizes, types, colors, and shapes were showing off.  Colors ranged from the "normal" white and ivory to brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds.  There were even a few large 'shrooms that were ivory colored with small blue lines -- they appeared made of porcelain.  I have seen different types of mushrooms before, but never this many and this varied.  The forest was full of these creatures. 

I must confess that I have not held the lowly mushroom in much esteem.  I considered the fungi as "less than" members of the plant kingdom and just a little above disgusting in some instances.  Upon reflection though, it is clear that GOD created these creatures for a purpose and that they ascribe glory and honor to their CREATOR in their design, beauty, and function.   

GOD told Peter in Acts 10 not to call unclean what HE has cleansed (speaking of the Gentiles).  Thank GOD that HE did not look on our outside and consider us "less than desirable".

Next time you are walking along and see the lowly mushroom -- remember these small "insignificant" organisms have a plan and purpose in GOD's Creation.  Much more so, HE has a plan for you and I.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jer 29:11-13 (NKJV)

Back on Swayback

Hike: Swayback Bridge Trail, Sat. 01/16/2010, 08:30-10:30
Distance: 4 miles Rating: 4/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Cloudy to light sprinkles at hike's end. High 50's. Light but steady breeze. Trails still wet and muddy in spots (will get more muddy after this front finishes!).
Thoughts/Observations:
Expedition #16 to Horseshoe Bend NMP was canceled. Only one other person showed up -- others sick or having to work. I did not feel right about taking the church van for just two of us, so I canceled the trip. Maybe we can reschedule again.

Since it was going to be a solo hike for me and I knew we were in for rain I decided to try out my Frogg Toggs. They work quite well. Much better than a vinyl rainsuit but still a little warm even under the easy exertion of this trail. Well worth the $25.00 paid. Still not sure about how they would withstand briers and brambles. Their combination lightweight, water-proofness, and breathability grants them a spot in my backpack.

Spooked a whitetail deer (small buck I think) as I entered the forest. Many passerines as usual. Four mountain bikers on the trail probably cleared out most fauna. Thought a lot about future expeditions and ministry efforts. My right foot bothered me a little eventhough I wore the temporary arch support Dr. Zimbleman made for me. Pain was not severe and did not seriously slow me. It was mainly confined to outside of foot near little toe.