Carving Out Time

For a hike.

It's late and I should be sleeping. My folks are headed into town tomorrow morning to see Little One perform in our church's "Military Appreciation Day". She has a solo part. I am sure she will do fine. I am exciting that they are coming down for this. I know it will mean the world to our daughter.

I was propositioned by my wife today (not like that) to go see her ailing grandmother this weekend in Anniston, AL. She was in the hospital earlier this week. In the last year or so, she has picked up something that causes her extreme sickness when she eats certain foods.

Of course me being all sociably responsible and caring person that I am, I ask her if I could get a hiking trip thrown in there also. I haven't hiked in the Talledega National Forest - and I want to. She was all weird looking - but she finally gave me the okay. I pushed my luck and said "an overnight trip?" She agreed.

So, I am up late tonight ironing out the plans to hike 2 sections of the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama. A total of 30 miles in a 2 day, 1 night trip. I will start at the Burns trailhead


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and head south until I reach the Trailhead at FS-500 near Cleburne, AL.


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It should be a fun trip.

The trip is open to those who don't have fourth of July responsibilities. However, I understand you all probably have plans and Aaron if he was in the states wouldn't go because he cries "it's too hot."

Seeing the world - one step at a time.

I can't go home

Seems my childhood home is being sold. My parents decided they were going to head in a new direction. The home where I spent my childhood in will be sold. I was 1 year old when my parents moved into that home (36 years ago).

The new home I hear is nice - its 7 acres looks out over Cohutta Wilderness and Fort Mountain state park.

Congratulations mom and dad. Enjoy your new home!


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Orlando 2008

Something to think about while you do little but watch for the next few minutes of your life.

In the 60's, people bored you with canister slide shows.
In the 70's, people bored you with 8mm video.
in the 80's, people bored you with VHS video.
in the 90's, people bored you with digital photo slide shows.

Today in the 21st century, I will ask you to endure the torture of a YouTube video.

Orlando 2008

Pre Vacation Photos

These are photos others have taken of my family over the last month.

The lookouts Baseball game:

My sister (letting sun shine in) and Little One.


Me and my better half.


All three of us.


Myron Noodleman (Don't ask!)


Fayetteville, GA.

Little One at in-laws.

We're home

We are still unpacking and stuff. I headed to work on Friday. So, it may be a while before anything gets uploaded of our trip to Orlando. Since the camera was broken from the hiking rip, I didn't take any photos. I only used the flip for short videos. I will try and put something together soon.

On our way home, we dropped Little One off at the In-Laws. They were headed to Alabama for a birthday party.

OMGoodness

You guys have to go see this.

I cannot believe it has finally happened.

I am amazed and happy and all giddy.

The world is spinning in a tight spiral and it's getting tighter.

Please give a warm, bright and sunny welcome to the blogworld to...


pondering with porcupine

You guys from outta town don't know what a special person this is. She is the best! She puts up with all my jokes and weird behavior and still smiles each and ever time she sees me.

I am SO excited she decided to join us here.

Please go stop by and tell her hello and hook a girl up on a pimp link.

Hey Porcupine !

I'm back

For me, it's been a long time since I have rested in my own home. I have been traveling and understand now how tiring it can be. Lot's stuff has happened. Mostly bad. Some really good.

I will leave most out and just tell you about my travels to Providence Canyon State park. I had already been on the road 2 days and was starting to get ill. I arrived at the park on Friday afternoon. My truck's gauge said it was 94 degrees outside. I planned on backpacking to the campsite and settling in for a night on the trail. Then getting up on Saturday to due more hiking.

After speaking with the ranger, I decided to earn my first punch on my newly purchased "Canyon Climbers Club" card. I would get a bottle of water hike through the canyons for that feat. Then, come back to the truck and grab the bag and head to the backcountry campsite - maybe the temperature would drop some.

The first annoyance of the trip was finding one of my new hiking poles wouldn't lock into position. If any of you know any remedies, please let me know. This reduced me down to 1 hiking pole. I say this was the first annoyance. Really this was the second. The 94 degrees was the first.

The canyon was interesting. It is 150 feet deep. You trek along the sandy river bottom (luckily dry due to no rain in like forever). The entire area was made due to erosion. They have since planted trees and shrubs along the canyon. Great idea to stop the erosion. However, it severely hampers vision. So, Eco over hiking scenery. I can handle that.

While I was in canyon #4, I was doing something mundane and dropped my new digital camera. The battery compartment popped open and the batteries went rolling. Remember, it is in the almost dry sandy river bottom. Annoyance #3. I picked up the pieces and studied the camera. Nonfunctional. The lens cover was now jammed open by small grains of sand. The in/out lens motion was motionless. I stuffed it in my pocket and moved on. More than mildly irritated by this time.

Bugs. Have you ever been to south Georgia in the summer. You ought to go if you haven't. No matter were you live (other than south Georgia) it will give you an amazing outlook on your hometown. Nats, flies, bees you name it buzzing around my head. Landing on my forehead, ears, neck and everywhere else. Of course by this time I was soaking wet walking around in mid 90 degree weather with a large bright sun overhead. Annoyance #5.

Did I mention coyotes? Yeah, the park ranger mentioned them to me during her spill about backcountry camping. I still had that looking forward to. She also mentioned that armadillos would "run into" my tent. But, don't worry, they would just turn and continue on.

I did see a large fox squirrel. It was cool. You don't see many of those around Atlanta. Around the same area, I heard an owl. I never saw it - But, I could hear it hooting.

So, I returned to the truck with a wet body, broken camera and bugs stuck to my skin. I now had to return with a large pack carrying all my essential needs for the night.

It was an uneventful hike into the backcountry. If you call sweating your drawers wet uneventful. Pitching a tent, eating trail mix and "marking" your territory - just in case those coyotes were to visit was all I had in me. I had planned to read, write, contemplate and enjoy nature. All I wanted to do was sleep.

For all you who skipped this trip, consider learning something from your ole pal Rake - Don't backpack in south Georgia in the summer time. I am glad you could learn that lesson from you own homes. I had to learn it the old fashion way.

Now, of course what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Let's get to the good stuff. The few photo's I do have of Providence Canyon before the camera broke.



















I keep remembering the question the ranger ask as I was leaving. "Do you have a favorite state park?" I stammered nothing coherent. She said "Maybe by tomorrow Providence Canyon can be your favorite." Sorry sister. It's nice and all - but not backpacking 5 miles on a almost 100 degree day with bugs the size of our cat swarming around to eat some of my flesh.

I would go back. However, it will only be in the months of November ~ February.

Good Night Knuckleheads.

A Great Weekend

My youngest nephew graduated from Northwest High School. While I wasn't in attendance, I hear everything went well - except for traffic. His mom, step father, both grandmothers, grandfather and girlfriend was there to witness it. My father celebrated by taking the graduate and his girlfriend, his brother, his mom (my sister), Cinderella, Little One and me to the Chattanooga Lookouts game. While I was pulling for the Huntsville Stars, the rest of the family enjoyed the beating that the Lookouts put on the Stars 12 to 5.



Saturday, I got up early (6:00AM) and headed out for the trail. I packed light and drove the 20 miles to Chickamauga Creek Trail. It was still before 7:00AM when I hit the trail. The air was cool and crisp. I hiked the 6 plus miles of the trail in about 3 hours. I started out at a slower pace. At about 1/2 way, I picked up one Geocache and got settled for the remaining hike. I noticed then that my pace was a little slow. So, I cinched up my pack and clipped along at a good pace back to the truck.

As I was nearing the truck, I came up on a man and a woman out for a walk with their pups. A quick "Morning" and onward I went. I chuckled when I got back to the truck. For a second I thought about outdoorliving365. They had a white 4runner just like his. I sat for a few moments on the tailgate catching my breath and "airing" out. My shirt was soaked. I finished up one bottle of water and opened another. Soon, I was headed back to my parents house.

I arrived back and to my surprise - my grandmother and aunt was visiting. The same ones that took the westward trip with my mom. They were on their way to Canton, GA to visit my uncle.

That afternoon I took a nap and was soon ready for the Lookouts game. Although my plan was foiled by the Lookouts winning, I still had a great time with family I don't see as much as I would like. We didn't get home until just before midnight.

Sunday, we headed home after attending church with mom and having a great lunch of grilled cheeseburgers (thanks papa). We stopped on the way home for some candy and so Little One could have a slushy.

I didn't feel well Sunday evening. I went to bed around 7:00PM.

Have a great week. I will be in town for a few days then it's off to Dublin, GA. and then onto Providence Canyon State park for the weekend.

Take care Knuckleheads.