All Smiles Heading to Balsam Mountain So my preparations and planning had all gone pretty well. I checked our SOPs (standard operating procedures) several times. I was pretty much on target with getting the goods in place. I spent some time cooking apple chutney, squash and white bean soup, and taco soup ahead of time. … Continue reading Daddy/Daughter Camp #12
One Week till Camp
Maggie and I at Twin Falls Back in April Maggie and I went on a great camping trip to see state parks and waterfalls on the Cumberland Plateau in middle Tennessee. It was wonderful in so many ways. We got stamps in 6 different state parks—we like our Tennessee State Parks Passport books. We also … Continue reading One Week till Camp
Mighty, Marvelous, Flying Mammals
Tiny education bat I had wrestled with whether to attend the program on bats at Seven Islands. It was a night program which almost always means that I’ll be up later than my usual bedtime. I had the Tennessee Naturalist Program on Invertebrates scheduled for 8:00am the next morning. I had already done one night … Continue reading Mighty, Marvelous, Flying Mammals
Hike-a-Thon Done
It’s just about done once again. April has become my Hike-a-Thon month in which I try to raise awareness and funds for the TennGreen Land Conservancy. This wonderful non-profit organization works to preserve and protect Tennessee’s special places. They work to establish conservation easements or purchases so that properties can continue in their natural state. … Continue reading Hike-a-Thon Done
Hike-a-Thon 5
So we’ve reached April. It is spring time. It is time for the TennGreen Hike-a-Thon. I’m registered and ready to hit the trails. I’ll be sharing adventures and raising both awareness and funds for their conservation efforts across the state. This will be my fifth Hike-a-Thon, and hopefully my best. So I registered on March … Continue reading Hike-a-Thon 5
If You Sit Still …
Several months ago, I started following the Walk for Peace. It was a group of about 20 Buddhist monks from Texas. They had received guidance, wisdom, or whatever you might call it, that they should be leaving the Monastery and walking out into the world to highlight the cause of peace. Not a protest, but … Continue reading If You Sit Still …
Daddy-Daughter Camp #11
Maggie and I are back from camp. We were up in Elkmont for a couple of days. We ended up in Campsite J14 again—this was our third stay at J14. We had a good camp, even though I was somewhat ‘off my game’ in terms of prep and execution. We celebrated the Autumnal Equinox so … Continue reading Daddy-Daughter Camp #11
Back in the Saddle
So it had been a minute, as they say. Actually it had been more like 50 years. I decided to go bike Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. Good news is that I made it. Less good news it was not without incident. But let’s back up to start. My story with bicycles is … Continue reading Back in the Saddle
Going to Water
The Cherokee have a saying: “going to water.” It’s a phrase that refers to their tradition of going to water early in the morning to submerge themselves. It is an ancient tradition that connotes healing and cleansing. It was a way to wash away negative things like anger or bad thoughts so that the person … Continue reading Going to Water
Hail to the Hikermobile!
Hail to the Hikermobile! It has served me well for many years now. It has gone many miles in search of adventures and trails and campsites. It is, like me, showing the wear and tear of the years. I have joked with folks saying that its stickers are now what’s mostly holding it together! It … Continue reading Hail to the Hikermobile!
