This is superb news — As many as 101 out-of-bounds mountains in the frontier region of Ladakh are about to be opened for trekking.

Right now, trekking — even travelling for that matter — in Ladakh is a terrible experience. You have to get a permit — sometimes more than one — for every direction that you travel from Leh. Still worse, the permits take more than a day to process unless you go through agents who ‘get the work done’ in a day. It is worse for foreign tourists, who aren’t even allowed as near the border as Indian nationals.

This is a pity because Ladakh is one of those rare places that you’ll remember for a lifetime; it’s a wonderful experience everyone must have. With these trekking destinations opening up and the access limitations being relaxed, it will help the local tourism, hotel and adventure sports industry — and mountain lovers like me.

So if you’re planning to go to Ladakh anytime soon, do look up the newly opened destinations. At the very least, your Facebook uploads won’t look the same as everyone else who visited Ladakh. That line always get people going.

Before I start talking about being a lush…visit my guest post on Ashley’s site about Gluten and Gluten Free Baking/Cooking. Ok..now onto being a lush former lush

I have to say, that when people ask me ‘What’s the hardest thing to give up with your food?’ I usually respond with ‘Ice cream and tequila’. I love tequila. LOVE IT!

Therefore, my afternoon snack as inspired by tequila and the fact that I no longer drink alcohol for health reasons (it upsets my tummy). A shot glass filled with 1 TB of Cranmond Cinnamon Granola (gluten free) which is going to be avaliabe for purchase from Ashely’s bake sale (Wednesday), 1 TB of vegan chocolate chips and 1 TB of dried cranberries. The Cranmond Cinnamon Granola is gluten free, vegan, dairy free and has:

• Almond butter
• Maple syrup
• Vanilla
• Cinnamon
• Rice Krispies
• Dried cranberries
• Almonds

It’s so damn good…and dangerously addictive. It’s the PERFECT topping for cereal, oats, smoothies in a bowl, or yogurt. It’s not too sweet, but has a lovely holiday taste to it. Yummy.

I invented a new recipe which I think you all will love..but I don’t think my tummy can take it anymore…no more apples for this girl

Apple/Celery stuffed Sweet Potatoes

It was inspired by this recipe. I took the following and used for the insides.

You will need to roast a sweet potato for about 50-60 minutes at 400/200. Until you can scrap the insides out. Once it’s cooked. Take out of the oven to let it rest while make the inside stuffing. The stuffing to be added to the guts of the sweet potato.

• 1/4 of onion diced
• 1 stalk of celery diced
• 1 apple, peeled and diced
• 1/2 of a chili diced
• 2-3 cloves of garlic pressed
• 1 TB EVOO

Sautee for about 3-5 minutes over medium to high heat

• 1 apple, peeled, cored and diced
• 1/2 c. of water

Add apple and water of to the mixture until water reduces. About 6-8 minutes

• Scoop out the guts of the sweet potato and add to the mixture cooking of the stove.
• Spoon the mixture back into the hallowed out shells

Bake for another 10-15 minutes. You can add cheese if you’d like.

It was tasty. I only had about 1/2 of the sweet potato and the fiber from the apple and potato combined started to affect me. Dang it. I ended up having 1 c. of rice krispies, 1/2 c. of granola (all up tonight), 1 1/2 TB of chocolate chips, 1/3 c. of frozen blueberries and 1/2 c. of almond milk for a little post-dinner snack.

I watched A&E TV all night. Intervention and Hoarders was on. I can’t pass up real-life drama. I was happy to see while I was watching tv, painting my nails, and Twittering that Brandon had put up pictures of the hike. Enjoy!

What is your drink of choice?

~M

Wherever you stand in Bali in the morning, you can spot the magnificent 3154m high Gunung Agung volcano. It is not only a volcano that last erupted in 1963 it is also a holy place where all spirit of Balinese Ancestors dwell. This mountain is also of great significance in the Indus religion. I have been watching this mountain for the last 5 weeks, waiting for a perfect day and some people who would attempt the climb without guide with me. I finally find 2 Yoga friends, Steven and Rebecca that are willing to wake up at 04:30. We drive at the foot of the mountain (1500m) and from there start the 1600m climb. It is a 4km, 40% straight-shot without switchbacks. The first part, up to 1800m is very lush. The second part until 2400m is mostly pine trees and other conifers. The last part reminded me strongly of Lanzarote: a bare, black, rocky landscape. The last meters are a bit more difficult but the reward at the top is great. A beautiful large crater of ochre and reddish rocks. At the bottom a few pools with muddy water. It is 10:30. We are at the top with a great feeling of satisfaction. The air is fresh & crisp. A welcome change from the constant high humidity back down in Ubud  .

The climb was in many ways rewarding. Yes there was this beautiful crater, but it was also a fantastic day to spend with friends, talking about nothing and everything. Last but not least a great fitness training to strengthen my knee and although going down was taxing for the knees, it felt good to know that it can hold again this type of effort.  Another 3 weeks and I will be able to start running again!!!

I look every morning at Gunung Agung from our veranda in Ubud. It is not an objective anymore, it has become part of my world, a kind of acquaintance. I am quite sure everyone feels this way with mountains. Once you have been on top of it you look at it differently, knowing the price and the reward.

(The Gunung Agung Pic is not my own)

In an effort to save over 200 panels of petroglyphs between the Interstate 80 and the Truckee River, the City of Sparks, Nevada, has joined a cooperative agreement with Nevada Department of Transportation and Washoe County. The non-profit, Reno-based Nevada Rock Art Foundation hopes to develop the Site. See more info in the Associated Press article I first saw in the Reno Gazette-Journal but here from the Nevada Appeal. According to research by the non-profit, present day American Indians do not know the meaning of the petroglyphs. Here are a few interesting articles, however:
Moonshineink.com
Field Trips for Families & Rockhounds from UNR
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Bureau of Land Management
Cooperative Libraries Automated Network – Nevada

Read more of my blogs at http://mygrandmasue.wordpress.com/

623 // November 30, 2009

At the top of the trailhead of Mayflower Gulch, my two boys are dwarfed by the mountains behind them.

I have had a really amazing last couple of days..I apologise for not having more photos published. I will try and catch you up..with pictures. We’re all visual learners..so I hope that you enjoy!

Secret Christmas Mission: My brothers (Travis and Nicholas) and my sister (Sarah) all went out to work on a Christmas Present. It was so much fun. I can’t give too much away

Below is a sneak peek–don’t tell anyone

Family Time: Breakfast w/ my family (I had the fruit only) and visiting my Dad at his river side house..omg..I want to live there.

Like I said, I went hiking this weekend. I didn’t have my camera, so my hiking partner Brandon took pictures. Once he uploads them..I will post about it.

PUBLISHED! I was asked if I could provide some of the recipes that I’ve invented to keep my gut happy for this book!

I would like to say Thank You to Dr. Carolyn Dean for letting me be a part of this book. It’s crazy to think that I am published…but I am very thankful that I am able to share some of my recipes to help other cope with guts that hate certain food. I remember when I was first in hospital—A YEAR AGO—and was told that I would have to deal with dietary changes.

I am a FIRM believer that for many stomach/intestinal issues is about food that we eat. Food is what oil is to engines. So, sharing these recipes is a mini-dream come true. So, if you know of anyone who has a funky gut or IBS or Chrons…please have them check this out!

If you could get published, or have, what would you want to write about?

~M

by Donald B. MacGowan

Looking across Kealakekua Bay to the Captian Cook Monument, Where Captain James Cook was Killed: Graphic from Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Whether you visit the Big Island for a few days, a couple weeks or a few months, you want to make the most of your time in Paradise. With such a wide variety of natural and commercial attractions, it is natural for the visitor to get a little overwhelmed in the “Option Overload” and not be able to make a balanced and informed decision on what they want to do and how best to spend their time.

Looking Across Kealakekua Bay to the Cook Monument from Manini Beach, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Even choosing which beach you want to spend time on, or where you want to hike can be an exercise in confusion and conflicting advice.  Clearly, visitors to Hawaii could use help making quality decisions about how best to spend their time.

Aerial View of the Cook Monument and Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Kelly Kuchman

Tour Guide Hawaii is excited and proud to announce the release of their new GPS/WiFi enabled App for iPhone and iPod that helps you navigate your trip to Hawaii with hours of informative, location-aware video and information. Although our video guide will lead you to dozens of unusual, untamed and unspoiled spots, let’s look at one of Hawaii’s most significant historical and cultural parks, Kealakekua Bay Archeological and Historical State Park, the adjacent village of Napo’opo’o and the Captain Cook Monument.  We will highlight just a bit of the information you might not be able to find from maps and guidebooks that is available on Tour Guide’s iPhone App. You could easily miss a lot of very interesting places, fun things to do and amazing sights if you did not have Tour Guide Hawaii’s new App.

Kealakekua Bay Archeological and Historical District, Captain Cook Monument and Hikiau Heiau

View of Kealakekua Bay from Napo'opo'o Road; The White Obelisk at the Captain Cook Monument is Just Visible in the Center Right of the Picture: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

A place of both dramatic historic events and unparalleled scenery, beautiful and now peaceful Kealakekua Bay (Pathway of the Gods) opens beneath steep, beetling cliffs on the ancient surfing beach along the shoreline of Napo’opo’o Village. The site of arguably the most important event in the history of Polynesia, home to pods of frolicking dolphins, hosting the greatest density of hammerhead sharks anywhere in the Pacific Ocean and providing some truly breathtaking snorkeling, Kealakekua Bay is one of the most truly magical spots in the State of Hawai’i.

Cook Monument from Napo'opo'oi Beach, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Across the bay from Napo’opo’o stands the solitary white obelisk that marks the lonely Captain Cook Monument rising among the ruins of Ka’awaloa Village. High along the cliff walls can be seen numerous burial caves of the iwi (bones) of Ali’i, and in the late afternoon light, a greyish streak is visible on the northwest wall. Local legend has it that a canon-ball fired by Cook to impress the Hawai’ians left this streak as it smeared and bounced along the cliff. Close in along the beach, historic Hikiau (Moving Current) Heiau stands through the ages, witness to the tsunami of enormous changes that swept through Hawai’i with the coming of Cook and the Europeans, which began right here at Kealakekua Bay.

Perhaps the most sought-after snorkeling area in Hawai’i, visitors frequently kayak from Napo’opo’o to the monument to enjoy the Class Triple-A waters and abundant sea life. However, the monument is also accessible by hiking a trail down from the highway; this hike takes 4-6 hours round trip and drinking water is not available anywhere along the journey.

Kealakekua State Historical Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Modern Amenities: Kealakekua State Historical Park and Napo’opo’o Beach County Park stand adjacent to Hikiau Heiau and run along a cobble beach that has fabulous snorkeling although few people go in here due mostly to locals wrongly informing them of restrictions involving dolphin encounters. The dolphin restrictions apply to areas farther out in the ocean than most people swim. There are also pavilions, picnic tables and barbecues, available water and public restrooms in the park.

Hikiau Heaiu at Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Favored to figure prominently in some of the most important history of Hawai’i, Hikiau (moving currents) Heiau is a large, extremely well preserved luakini heiau along the shores of the ancient surfing beach at Napo’opo’o. On January 28, 1779, Cook presided over the first Christian ritual performed in the Hawai’ian Islands when he read the burial service for crewmember William Whatman at Hikiau Heiau.

North from the heiau is a sacred fresh water pond and site of village ruins behind the sand-and-boulder beach. This beach, once glorious grey sand, has been eroding for years and most of the remaining sand was washed away during Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Snorkelers at Cook Monument use the old pier as an entry spot, Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Snorkeling: Swimming to the monument from Napo’opo’o is recommended only for well-conditioned long-distance swimmers used to crossing mile-long stretches of open ocean; the swim takes about an hour each way. Bear in mind that this bay has the highest population density of hammerhead sharks of anywhere on Earth—not that anyone has ever been known to have been attacked. Snorkeling and scuba diving at the monument is unrivaled anywhere in Hawai’i, but access is hampered by lack of navigable roads nearby. The monument may be reached either by boat from Napo’opo’o or by hiking the trail down from the Highway. Numerous tidepools, vast underwater topography, caves and spires, a several-hundred foot drop-off and an abundance of varied sea life including dolphin, hammerhead sharks, eels and manta rays are the highlights of underwater exploration of this bay.

Kayaking: Many shops along the Kona coast rent kayaks to visitors for the short paddle to the monument, and this is highly recommended over swimming the mile of open ocean. Put in at the old concrete pier in Napo’opo’o and expect to take between 30 and 45 minutes to paddle to the monument. Frequently there are locals on the pier who will help you launch your kayak for tips…these people are local residents with a life-long connection to the bay—they are great sources of advice, information, local humor, stories and aloha…and they deserve their tips. Don’t go out if the swells are large, or if there is a strong offshore wind.

Be sure to return to the pier well before dark, remembering that there is little twilight in tropical regions. Take at least a half gallon of water for each person and food—none of either are available at the monument and paddling is hot, thirsty and hungry work, and you will certainly want to rinse the salt off your body before paddling back to the pier. The rewards of snorkeling the crystalline waters at the monument, the immersion in history and the panoramic views of the cliffs lining the bay are certainly more than worth the effort of paddling across the bay.

Dolphin Watchers Prepare to Snorkel at Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

A Word About Dolphin Encounters: Dolphins frequent this bay and you are admonished to keep at least 100 feet from them, although they may approach you more closely. Consider yourself lucky to see them and leave it at that. It is a violation of Federal Law to chase, feed, harass, molest or otherwise annoy dolphins.

Never reach out to touch or feed a dolphin; they are wild animals (this ain’t Flipper!) and will bite. Noting that they are among that class of Cetacea called “Peg-toothed whales”, these bites can be anywhere from a mild nip to life threatening if the dolphin becomes angered.  Always obey the areas closed to boaters and swimmers in the bay, these are “dolphin resting ares” and are important to maintaining the health of the dolphin pods.

Kayakers Amidst a Pod of Dolphin in Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Federal Human-Sea Life Interaction Laws:

• Stay at least 50 yards from dolphins, monk seals and sea turtles.

• It is not illegal for an animal to approach you, but it is against the law to approach, chase, surround, touch or swim with dolphins (or other marine mammals) and sea turtles.

• Do not harass, swim with, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal or turtle.

• Limit observation time to 30 minutes.

• Feeding marine mammals and turtles is prohibited under federal law.

• Report suspected violations to the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.

Panoramic Views of the Kona Coast are Just One Reward For Hiking the Trail to Captain Cook's Monument: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Hiking: Hiking down to the monument from Highway 11is a great deal of fun—great scenery, wonderful trail and involves complete immersion in Hawai’ian pre- and post-contact history and offers the opportunity for some of the finest snorkeling anywhere on the planet. However, the return hike is hot, thirsty and strenuous; but it is also highly rewarding, granting panoramic views all up and down the Kona Coast. The trail leaves the Napo’opo’o Road just 500 feet below where it drops off Highway 11 near a large avocado tree, right across from a group of three coconut trees, right at telephone pole Number 4. The parking spots and trailhead will show signs of obvious use, usually in the form of recently deposited horse apples from the many trail riders frequenting the area.

Ka'awaloa Village Cart Road to Cook Monument, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The first avocado tree is the harbinger of wonderful things to come, as the trail passes through an area rich in guava, mango, papaya and avocado that are free for the gathering. The 2.5-mile hike takes about 2-2 1/2 hours to descend, somewhat more time to come back up. After following a jeep road for about 50 feet, the trail turns left when the jeep road turns right onto private property. Although overgrown by tall grass for the next half mile, the trail runs more or less straight down the left side of a rock wall to the sea. As the pitch straightens out, keep to the left when the trail first forks and proceed to the beach. You will strike shore several hundred feet northwest of the monument—stroll through the remains of Ka’awaloa Village along the beach on your way to pay homage to Europe’s most prolific explorer, James Cook. You will want to bring a change of dry clothes for the hike back and the comments about taking water in the section above apply equally, if not doubly, to hiking to the monument. Simply put, it’s hot, thirsty work to get there and back and climbing back to the highway in wet clothes with salty skin is miserable.

The hike along the shoreline to Captain Cook's Monumnet is dangerous and difficult and has several passages that must be swum in dangerous currents and surf, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

It is also possible, but much less safe or pleasant, to hike most of the way to the monument along the shoreline. This hike is an uninteresting exercise in scrambling over boulders along the beach and contains at least two places that have to be swum in dangerously rough water; as such, the safety of this trek is totally at the whim of ocean tides and swells. Highly not recommended.

Bart Hunt Rehearses On Camera for a Video About Captain Cook, Captain Cook Monument, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B.MacGowan

History: It was in this broad bay that Captain James Cook made his deepest impression on, and longest visit with, native Hawai’ians when he first arrived late in November of 1778. And it was along the shores of Kealakekua Bay where he met his tragic end in February 1779 during his second visit. Forever altered from the moment of Cook’s arrival, the evolution of Hawai’ian society would soon change in ways the Native Hawai’ians could scarcely have imagined just days before the Englishman made shore here

Arriving in his ships Resolution and Discovery at the height of Makahiki, a season of peace, worship, hula, games and feasting, Cook was greeted as the personification of the god Lono, feted as a divine guest and treated with feasts, gifts, respect and awe. A god of plenty and agriculture, Lono’s personal sign was a tapa cloth hung from a crossbeam suspended from a single pole, a profile not too unlike that of the sailing ships Cook arrived with.

Hikiau Heiau, Napo'opo'o, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

On January 28, 1779, Cook presided over the first Christian ritual performed in the Hawai’ian Islands when he read the burial service for crewmember William Whatman at Hikiau Heiau. After sailing from Hawai’i to search for the Northwest Passage along the Alaska Coastline shortly thereafter, Cook and his crew had to return to Kealakekua Bay abruptly and unexpectedly to repair a mast. With the celebratory mood of Makahiki over, dismayed about the previous behavior of the sailors and noting that the Englishmen had consumed an inordinate amount of food, Cook and his men were greeted much less warmly upon re-arriving. Tensions ran high and when a group of Hawai’ians stole a rowboat to scavenge the nails. Cook attempted to take Chief Kalanio’pu’u as hostage to insure the boat’s return and to reassert his authority. A scuffle broke out and Cook was killed by the Hawai‘ians in the ensuing melee.

The Shallows Where captain James Cook Fell, Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Captain King’s eye-witness account of Cook’s death is as stark and barren as the cliffs that loom above the site: “Four marines were cut-off amongst the rocks in their retreat and fell as sacrifice to the fury of the enemy…Our unfortunate Commander, the last time he was seen distinctly, was standing at the water’s edge, calling for the boats to stop firing and pull in…” In this battle, five Englishmen died and 17 Hawai’ians, five of them chiefs, were killed. Eight more Hawai’ians were killed in a subsequent melee near the heiau.

Marker in the Intertidal Zone where Captain James Cook Died, Near the Cook Monument, Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Cook’s body was sacrificed to Ku, the war god, at Puhina O Lono (burning of Lono) Heiau, his flesh baked, bones flensed and body parts distributed to various Ali’i. It is said that, as a mark of honor, Kamehameha received Cook’s hair. Ever the astute politician, Kamehameha returned this grisly trophy to the British sailors soon afterward. It is neither polite nor wise to raise this subject with modern Hawai’ians, but noting that the ancient Hawai’ians were habitual cannibals used to ritually consuming the flesh of their vanquished foes, it is reasonable to assume that Cook’s mortal coil received this treatment. In fact, this cannibalistic honoring of Cook as a worthy foe comes down to us in a Hawai’ian wives’ tale of village children stealing and eating Cook’s baked entrails because they mistook them for those of a dog.

Text on Cook Monument Obelisk, Kelalakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Fearing a bloodbath after the initial fracas, Captain Clerke ordered the men of Resolution and Discovery to stand down, and the mortal remains of James Cook that had been returned by the Hawai’ians were buried at sea. Exacting revenge, a few Englishmen snuck ashore on more than one occasion, killing numerous villagers in their anger.

Summing-up the feelings of the crew after Cook’s burial at sea, the ship’s surgeon wrote: “In every situation he stood unrivaled and alone. On him all eyes were turned. He was our leading star which, at its setting, left us in darkness and despair.”

Turquoise Waters of Kealakekua Bay: Photo by Donnie MacGowan_edited-1

In 1874 British sailors erected the current white obelisk monument to Captain Cook on a spot quite a bit distant from where he was actually killed. The area remains a piece of British Territory on American soil and is maintained by Brit sailors passing through.

The cattle industry in Hawaii began on February 22, 1793, at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island. British Navigator George Vancouver presented to Kamehameha the Great four cows; in 1804, the first horses in Hawaii landed here. Today, many varieties of cow graze contentedly above the cliffs overlooking Kealakekua Bay: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

In the mid-to-late 1800s to the early 1900s Kealakekua Bay was a busy sugar and cattle port and there was a large wooden hotel at the end of the carriage road near the present site of the monument. The concrete pier at Napo’opo’o is the only physical remnant to remind us of this town’s former prominence. Regular steamer traffic bearing passengers, mail and trade goods made this port quite prominent until increasingly better roads began to be built through Kona and Kailua Bay supplanted Kealakekua Bay as a center of shipping and commerce; Napo’opo’o has slowly shrunken into elegant tropical neglect ever since.

Busy Day for Kayakers at Napo’opo’o Pier, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here. For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

Locals sell handicrafts on the precincts of once-mighty Hikiau Heiau, Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Copyright 2009 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

The Captain Cook Monument at Ka'awaloa on Kealakekua Bay, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Nairobi to Moshi by mini-bus

Semi-nomadic cattle herders encourage their meatless livelihoods across the parched Kenyan soil, oblivious to the the Mario Kart style wacky racing tournament that dominates the new tarmac road beside them. Our 18 seater racing wagon rockets down the strip, swerving frequently to the other side of the road to dodge pot holes and then sharply back to the left again to avoid the mother of all lorries. Less then an hours drive from Nairobi we come to an abrupt halt. A team of sweat gleaming labourers block the road ahead. Unperturbed, our speed demon driver edges the mini-bus over the lip of a steep embankment and then nose-dives us into a ditch. We bounce and judder in an unsavoury fashion to the dirt track below.

The rude vibrations and abrupt seat expulsions continue for the remaining seven hours of transit. I’m beginning to feel like a tinned peach, marinating in my own sweat and mosquito repellent. But within the hour I’ve retreated into some kind of monster hybrid; Buddhist detachment meets sleep deprivation induced coma! Through wobbly dust stained window I spy lone Masai cattle herders sheltering under gnarly acacia trees. Their lean bodies are wrapped in red sheets and their ear lobes are stretched into humongous flesh tunnels. Thorns are used for the initial piercings which are stretched with bundles of sticks, stones and empty film canisters. Occasionally I catch sight of a lone Masai hut, tiny camouflaged structures made from sticks pasted in cow dung. But the Sunshine is beginning to lose her grip on the blue, blue sky. Wearily, she rests her head on the horizon and reaches out to the dusty foliage with her long spindly fingers. Unable to grip, she slips silently away and we are plunged into sleepy blackness.

Moshi

Coiled around the dirt alleys of Baba Market like some fantastical albino snake, our entourage of fifteen white Kilimanjaro hopefuls instigates curiosity, weariness and relentless entrepreneurship among the locals. Exotic and lucrative, we are pursued through the winding dirt paths of the market, shamelessly charmed and then impaled with the darts of hard line sales pitches. Kilimanjaro sun hats, beaded bracelets and animal oil paintings galore! We seek refuge under the wicker roofed fruit and veg stands. Plum faced women in vibrant patterned clothes smile at us behind piles of sunshine yellow and Amazon green fruit. ‘Mambo!’ My Swahili is still foetal, but ‘pure’ I call back. They laugh wholeheartedly ‘poa’ they correct me, ‘poa!’ This is just the street language of course but our exchange translates to ‘what’s up’ and ‘it’s cool.’ Our guides are anxious to teach us the language and the majority of people we meet and converse with are pleased we’ve made the effort, encouraging us and teaching us new words. An older women perched on a wooden crate eyes us wearily but the children watch our procession in wide-eyed wonder, slapping us lightly as we walk past and shouting ‘jambo’, ‘hello!’ and then running away in high pitched squeals of laughter. We meander past whole pigs and birds strung from the roof, their sporadic blood droplets quenching the dusty floor below. Eventually we re-emerge from the roofed sections and find ourselves in a dusty square, carpeted with rugs and throws, the contents of whole shops laid bare in the open air.

Day 1: The Rainforest

I perch nervously on my bus seat in a haze of wondrous anticipation and gruesome fear. Clouds of dusty beige evaporate into rich, orange fields through my window pane as my fear begins to dissolve, leaving my mind fertile with adventure. Crowds of tiny coco faces form outside passing schools, eyes wide and eager, little hands waving franticly, their voices hollowing at the awesomeness of their spectacle. And onwards our bus rolls, up through muddy tracks and winding into fertile banana plantations minded by weather worn workers; who kick back behind grubby plastic tables in shabby cafe structures in the warm, rainy gloom. Merchants clamour forcefully around Machame gates, knocking purposefully on the bus windows with their goods. Many of them work as porters too when they can get the work, which involves bribing the lead guide for a position in the crew, paying entry to the park and then relentless hours of tiresome work and all for a pitiful amount.

We have to hang around the gates for an hour whilst our documents and park entry fees are put in order and I’m anxious to get going. It’s that fear of the great unknown, the imagined event or challenge is often so much worse then the actuality. I can’t picture myself at the summit but my mind is geared towards negativity. Expect the worst and then every outcome will exceed your expectations, that was my motto then. I envision mind-ripping headaches of epic proportions, volcanic eruptions of vomit, tears, pain, strife, an experience more preferable in memory then in actuality.

As we wait for our park visas to be processed, we sit apprehensively on the stone steps outside the park reception. The frantic shouts of the merchants outside the arched wooden gates has subsided into a lazy babble as they wait for the next bus of white cash cows to arrive. The morning air is fresh and cool following the recent rainfall. I hear a deep vocal rumble and then the scuffling of feet, the frantic thumping of frightened hearts and the soft whistle of a moving air as I follow my group up the earthy path, past the throng of pack laden porters and onto the mountainside.

Despite our courtesy head start, the porters have overtaken us within three minutes. Straining against heavy packs and often balancing huge baskets of food and equipment on their heads, their lean black bodies charge past us. Oh the shame! I feel so puny, pale and worthless. Like a delicate china doll, pampered and privileged whilst these inky oxen struggle and triumph on my behalf. With this soulful realisation, I know I can not fail.

The rainforest itself reminds me of a charming English wood, distorted through the eyes of an acid freak. Silver barked trees twist and tangle in knots of moss and bronze in the sky above, encasing us in their enchantment. Ropes of thick green moss hang mysteriously above our heads like great shaggy serpents and a menagerie of ochre, tan and copper leaves imprint little fairy footsteps upon the ground. With so much lush green foliage encasing the path, detail loses its identity among the frenzy of colours and shapes, re-discovering itself in a 3D Monet masterpiece.

To be continued……

A few weeks ago I was hiking in Glacier Lake in New York.  It was a beautiful place and great fun to hike at.

I will have a group posted on Flickr of photos for everyone to enjoy.

How was everyone’s holiday weekend?

One more Thanksgiving trip. Why waste a long holiday on shopping when it can be used to visit some gorgeous places. So, under the leadership of Mr Viyasan 11 of us went to venture into Utah wilderness.

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

The flight was at 7AM from SFO.

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Trying to thaw from the freezing night.

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Getting up under the overhanging canyon.

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Same empty and very clean campground.

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

Last night in the motel. Losers.

http://www.naturalarches.org/gallery-StanJones-JacobHamblin.htm

In the fall of 1984, not long after starting work at Hughes Aircraft in LA (my first job out of college), my good friend Mark called from Phoenix and asked if I would be up for hiking the Grand Canyon, and I immediately said, “Yes!”  We chose to make a two-day hike over Thanksgiving holiday weekend (some of us didn’t have vacation days built up yet).

Bright and early the day before Thanksgiving, five of us left Phoenix and reached the South Kaibab trailhead, where a light snowfall had fallen overnight.  Mark made sure we were well supplied, and we started off on the first day of our hike.

(from Google Earth: south is at the top)  the two day hike began at [S] South Kaibab trailhead to [C] Colorado River, then up to [I] Indian Garden campgrounds, and ended at [B] Bright Angel trailhead

The South Kaibab is steep compared to other Grand Canyon trails.  It’s interesting in that after negotiating a goodly drop, the trail levels off along O’Neill Butte for quite a while, and then you find yourself over another edge with another severe drop to contend with, only to be repeated again at “The Tipoff”.  All the while, the trail is tantalizingly visible as a narrow ribbon in places below.

This part of the adventure started with a combination of switchbacks where we learned to carefully share the trail with the mule-mounted “hikers”.  And what beautiful vistas!  The day was crisp and clear, and warmed up nicely the farther down we got.

looking down from a seat on the edge of the South Kaibab Trail

We were sure to take several rest stops as needed, shifted our packs, and stayed hydrated and checked for any developing blisters that needed preventative moleskin pads applied to them.

South Kaibab Trail vista, near Yaki Point

We began to eventually see the river below, and eventually we reached the bridge to Phantom Ranch.  From now on, we are fighting gravity and heading back upwards.

an early glimpse of the Colorado River from ”The Tipoff”

As we climbed towards Indian Garden campgrounds, our overnight location, the day’s efforts were beginning to take a toll on Gail, and we had to rest more frequently.  As the afternoon wore on, we decided that Kendall and I would go on ahead and determine how much farther along we needed to go.  Darkness was falling, and our flashlight had a bad connection, so much of the trail for the two of us was following a gray ribbon in front and hoping that the occasional water we’d step in was a small puddle and not a little stream.

While our attention had been drawn to the lights at the top of South Rim, Indian Garden snuck up on us before we knew it.  Dark, and now with a light rain falling, we threw our tents up and fell asleep without even bothering with eating a supper.  We had covered around eleven miles this day.

starting out in the morning from Indian Garden campgrounds, our overnight location

Indian Garden is a relatively flat location on the trail where a copse of trees grow near a small stream.  As we ate a hearty breakfast and took inventory, we found we were stiff but none too worse for wear, so we packed up and began Day Two of the journey.

This day wasn’t the sunny hike we had the day before; low clouds and an intermittent drizzle was turning the trail into a orange clay muck.  No chance of overheating, at least.

the view behind us of the Bright Angel Trail

The Bright Angel Trail differed from the South Kaibab in that it isn’t as steep, but it turns into an almost a constant series of switchbacks.  Compared to the previous day’s vista stretching down below, today’s climb was an unending death march to the rim above.  When we finally reached South Rim, we were more than ready to be done.  All told, we had put in about 17 miles in the two days.

We climbed back into the car and drove to Flagstaff, where we stopped at a Denny’s for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner.  We shuffled/lumbered into the place like we had all just given birth, and while we were pleased with our accomplishment, we were anxious to get home to a real bed again.  I really wish I had more than my trusty little 110mm pocket camera to record the trip, but you can find great photos throught the web if you want to see the Grand Canyon in better detail.

Sorry about the long wait, but work comes first.  Anyway, I am getting back in the swing of things for a little while.

Science News in Brief

The Large Haldron Collider has resumed operation and set a new world record for energy.  Its particle beams were accelerated at over one trillion volts.  This was just a precursor to the Collider’s primary scientific tests set for the year 2010.

Still No Black Hole: Just to give you a sense of the energy involved here: a lightning strike hits with about 1 billion volts.

A cross-disciplinary team of researchers from universities across America have released a study which indicates that climate change could increase the likelihood of civil war in sub-Saharan African countries by as much as 50% in the by 2050.  These wars would be fueled by decreased water supplies, fewer food sources, and increased poverty rates.

Talking World War III Blues: Already, 5.4 million people have died from civil war the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it the deadliest conflict since World War II.

Scientists seem to have discovered the reason for the hammerhead shark’s strange head shape.  The shape allows sharks to see almost in 360 degrees in binocular vision.

Weird Animal Fact: The mantis shrimp has the best eyesight in the animal world.  It is the only animal to to have hyperspectral colour vision.  That is, it can see across the electromagnetic spectrum.  We can only see visible light.

Cool Creature

I already covered the kakapo, but I have been dying to post this video.

Feature Story: Remember Me

Are some animal species more important than others?  A recent study which examined 222 carnivore species around the world points to the fact that certain carnivores should be more protected than others due to their ecological importance and individuality.

Even though carnivores are probably the most studied animal group, their taxonomic connections are not well understood.  Thanks to genetic testing, scientists are now able to construct much more accurate taxonomic maps.

The study supports the theory that describes the split of carnivores into two main evolutionary groups: dog-like carnivores (Caniforms) and cat-like carnivores (Heliforms).  The same study also revealed some so-called Confused carnivores which do not fit neatly into the aforementioned classification.

Researchers performing the study also isolated a number of carnivores which are unique in the ecological services they perform and the way they evolved.  They suggest that these species, including monk seals, red pandas, and walruses, should be more protected than others because they are so unique.  Because they are evolutionarily distinct, they have genes and evolutionary history not found in any other species.  This makes it important with regards to biodiversity: by increasing genetic variability.

The Cosmic Perspective

All people value equality: the right to be treated with equal respect and dignity as any other human being.  Those who value the environment tend to extend that to the animal world.  We do not like to show preferential treatment to certain animals just because they are cute and cuddly.  So, this study which claims that certain animals are more important from an evolutionary perspective comes as a bit of a shock.  Why should a walrus be more important than a snow leopard?

I look at this from two points of view: that of a scientist and that of an environmentalist, because I consider myself to be both.  As a scientist, I definitely see the merit of protecting certain species.  Different animals perform different tasks in an ecosystem.  Certain animals’ roles are more critical to the functioning of the system as a whole than others.  It is a principle of network systems thinking that  nodes (animals) in a system (ecosystem) can be ranked based on the number of nodes which connect to them and the importance of those nodes.  So, the more important connections an animal has, the more important it is in an ecosystem.  However, even a few important links can prove to elevate a species to a higher status than one with many relatively commonplace connections.

That being said, all animals play an important role in biodiversity.  Biodiversity provides for the astounding variety of different organisms, genes, ecosystems in which they exist, and biological services these organisms provide for life to adapt to changing environmental conditions throughout history.  It would be foolish not to save as much as we can of the already dwindling amount of biological diversity we have on this planet.  We often do not know how important something is before it is gone altogether.

Not that I didn’t enjoy the extremely mild week-long thanksgiving vacation back to Vermont last week, but really where is the snow?  Usually late November in Vermont consists of gloomy, short days, followed by an even shorter and darker one.  However, this November temperatures have been in the 50’s and it’s actually been sunny!  But what does this mean for the ski resorts?  Nothing good.  On a day trip up to Stowe last week I was shocked when there was literally not a speck of snow on the trails.  It has been so warm that even snow making has been out of the question.  With the exception of Killington, most Vermont resorts including Smuggler’s Notch (my home mountain!) and Stowe had to push back the usual day-after-thanksgiving opening date.  Now Vermont definitely seems to be hurting but that’s not to say that we’re doing so great here in Colorado either.  I’d say we’re in need of a good storm in the mountains!  But I guess we shouldn’t get too worked up about this, snow will be here soon and after all it’s not quite December!

Editor’s note: New guest writer James gives us a sorely needed mountain biking post on the Spillway(so close!).

Just 30 minutes from downtown New Orleans is the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway.  The Spillway, as it is known locally, is a stretch of water connecting the Mississippi river to Lake Pontchartrain.  Most days, this channel is closed to river water, creating a brackish water recreation area for fishing, boating, ATV riding, and mountain biking. When the river gets near flood stage, the Spillway gates are opened and the excess water is diverted to the lake easing the stress on the river levees.  The Spillway runs from the river to the lake, but the area’s recreation is primarily based in the section accessed by Airline Hwy.  The Airline Hwy. entrance has a pavilion, concrete boat launches, ample parking, portable toilets that are cleaned regularly, picnic tables, trash receptacles, an ATV trail network, and the subject of this post, a mountain biking trail. Here is how to get there:

View Larger Map

While the term Mountain Biking is a bit comical for Louisiana, The Spillway Trail is an offroad bicycle trail through a wooded section that parallels the spillway’s main channel. When entering the area from Airline, enter the parking lot and look to the right as you descend the levee. There you will see the trailhead.

This is where the trail begins. The trail is 5.5 miles long and is basically a loop so there is no worries about getting lost and there are a few spots where you can exit to the shell road on the levee if you want out. Surrounded by oaks, palmettos, gum trees, and vines and shrubs of all sorts this trail cuts through some serious brush but it is well ridden and superbly maintained by the local mountain bikers club NOMAMBO. The members of NOMAMBO are responsible for the building, design, maintenance, and administration of this FREE trail and even organize several events and races annually. Check them out at: http://www.nomambo.net/. Now to the trail itself:

The trail is pretty easy for the most part. The sections that do have more difficult features always have a bypass option so no one has to feel uncomfortable. One of the great things about this trail is that the difficulty level is directly relative to your speed. If you are riding at a slow relaxed pace the turns are nice and easy and everything flows, but as you speed up, those nice turns become twisty, technical single-track and can pose a nice challenge. There are no screaming downhills or monster climbs of course, but for an avid cross country rider this trail can be challenging and fun at speed. Likewise, at a slower pace, someone could have a pleasant, relaxed nature ride with no real trail experience. You will, however, need a capable bike. This doesn’t mean something expensive, but no street bikes, cruisers, or commuters. Have knobby tires, and working brakes, and a HELMET, which is required(I have seen a few teens out here on BMX bikes, but for that you will need teenage legs and lungs).

Gloves are a good idea but not a necessity like WATER and bug spray(in summer). The main channel of the spillway borders a good portion of the trail and makes for some nice scenic spots.  Several wooden bridges add a nice touch as well.

And of course, there is the “Teeter-Totter”(seen above). Not for the squeamish, I have personally seen this beast at its cruelest, but it is fairly easy when all goes well. When it doesn’t… well, at least it isn’t too far to walk, or crawl to the exit from here. Below you can see a profile of the teeter-totter. See the bypass? No shame in ridin’ past this. (Editor’s note: I have personally busted my ass on this thing and landed straight on the top of my head, telescopically compressing my spine. Of course, as soon as I could walk again, about 5 minutes later, I had to complete the bridge successfully one last time before retiring from the Teeter-Totter for good. My neck hurt for days, I had a waffle of mud in my hair and I was soaking wet in December, but it could’ve been much worse. Be careful on this one.)

Most of the trail is dedicated to making the most of the available space and there are plenty of turns and banks to keep it fun and flowing. The guys from NOMAMBO do a great job of keeping the vegetation under control and the trail clear. This is no small feat and they are a volunteer-only workforce so many thanks and props to you guys.  In the warmer months, the poison ivy can get pretty thick despite efforts to tame it –  so if you are highly allergic, take precautions. I have a mild allergy and have never been exposed while riding, but if you were to fall in the wrong spot, it could happen. This is really only a concern in August and only the real diehards tend to ride in 90+ weather.  In winter, the undergrowth dies back drastically and the woods open up.

Here is another easy to bypass trail feature of a “log pile” that can be used as a ramp or rollover.  There is no better time than now(fall/winter) to try this trail out. The vines are dying and the weather is exceptional. The maintenance plans are not focused on weed control, so the trail should be in tip-top shape and there will most likely be some enhancements like this being done throughout the season. Also, in winter there are no snakes or bugs.

The best thing about this trail is the location. Minutes from New Orleans and seconds from Kenner, two laps on this puppy can be a great workout in great surroundings. The Spillway is teeming with life and if you ride early and quietly you can see some of it. I have seen owls, rabbits, rat snakes, pine snakes(scarce species in area for a long time), turtles, ibis, herons, and tons of little birds and alligators. In this area, there is a native species to watch out for – Fat City types like this guy. He was well behaved this day, but…

Fat City in action!

No bypass for this thing, but you can always walk it.

Once again, there is no shame in walking(this particular rider is not from Fat City and usually would not walk over an obstacle, this was done strictly for journalistic value.)

If you have never been in the spillway or haven’t been recently you may be surprised by how scenic it can be. There are large mossy oak trees, water, wildlife, and a remote feel. Some sections of the trail are downright beautiful and can transport you to other places, like these “northwestern” looking fern gardens.

So it’s not Washington state, but it is a nearly tropical , almost rain forest, semi-hardwood swamp that you can easily drive to… and mountain bike.

This area is a swamp and the trail will need roughly a day to dry for every inch of rainfall.

Even on dry days:

There is no water at the spillway, other than the spillway itself, so bring plenty with you. There is a gas station store right across from the spillway entrance if you need anything and there are plenty of places to sit and eat if you want to bring a lunch. There are basic rules posted at the trailhead and trash receptacles nearby so don’t litter and respect the common sense rules of the trail. Most importantly, no matter how cool you are, wear a friggin’ helmet. Eventually, you will be glad you did. Plus they are great for your hair:

This trail can be ridden all year round and trail info and conditions can always be found at http://www.nomambo.net/. I would like to once again thank the guys from NOMAMBO for the great trail and encourage everyone to do something at the spillway. Besides the bike trail, they have multiple boat launches, fishing, water skiing, an extensive ATV trail system, and a large pavilion area. There are also some awesome access areas for canoeing and kayaking into areas impenetrable by boats, but that’s another post altogether.  Get out, get active, and catch me if you can…

What a BEAUTIFUL Saturday for a hike! Greenbelt had a great turnout for our November property tour at Lone Star Ranch. The sun was shining, hiking poles were out, and the view of Mary’s Peak was tremendous. Want to join us for a tour? On December 19th we will be leading a tour at the Little Willamette property, a new conservation easement for Greenbelt that is adjacent to the Willamette River, and offers fantastic birding opportunities. Come and join us!

Mary's Peak peaking through the fog

Uphill!

There’s no excuse for lack of holiday spirit in the Hocking Hills.  From parades to cookie baking classes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

This is a great time to support your community by shopping local.  Our gift shops and galleries are loaded with treasures you’ll never find in a shopping mall.  Enter Logan Town Center’s Holiday Treasure Hunt and maybe get a little something for yourself.

Head to downtown Logan on Saturday, November 28th for the Santa Parade and the kick off of the Holiday Treasure Hunt.  Just visit 6 participating merchants (no purchase is necessary) and you can enter to win one of more than 20 prizes awarded on December 18th.

In fact, there’s a holiday celebration every weekend in downtown Logan.  Don’t miss the Festival of Trees opening reception on December 5th at The Bowen House.  The kids can make an ornament at the Bowen House on December 5th from 10 to noon then hang the ornament on the Christmas tree next to Santa’s house in Worthington Park.

From 3 to 9 on December 5th stop by the open house at Flowers by Darlene and enjoy all the seasonal décor and refreshments.  On Sunday, December 6th the Scenic Hills Senior Chorus will be giving a concert at 2:30.  At 5:30 head to Worthington Park for the Celebration of Lights sponsored by the Hocking Valley Community Hospital Auxilary.

The following weekend, December 11th to 13th, don’t miss the Hocking County Children’s Chorus performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  All performances will be at the ” Prokos” Building, Corner of Main and Spring Street.  Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Come on down to Worthington Park on Friday, December 18th for the Holiday Treasure Hunt finale.  There will be entertainment, luminaries and prizes!  The last day to enter the Holiday Treasure Hunt is December 16th.  Entry forms are available at participating merchants and businesses in downtown Logan.

Wow – and that’s just Logan.  Nelsonville will become “North Pole Nelsonville” from November 27th to January 3rd.  There’s ice skating every weekend.  The Nelsonville Christmas Parade is December 5th at 11am.

What would Christmas be without the story of Scrooge?  Catch a performance of ABC Players’ presentation of “A Christmas Carol” at Stuart’s Opera House from December 4th to 6th.  Hop on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway for the Santa Train or the North Pole Express, running every weekend through December 20th.

Take a hike at Lake Hope State Park in December and you’ll be treated to over 100,000 lights.  The Holiday Trail of Lights is every evening of December from 6 to 10.  There will be additional special events on the weekends.  Begin your hike at the Nature Center.
On December 12th join the Hocking Hills State Park Naturalist for Christmas in Ash Cave.  Celebrate the season with a candle-lit stroll to Ash Cave, refreshments, a bonfire, carolers, Santa and a tree decorated for wildlife.

For a hands-on holiday try a wreath making class at the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls on December 1st.  Try new Holiday Cookies recipes at the Inn’s most popular cooking class December 3rd, 9th and 11th.

Leave the work to the experts and enjoy holiday themed dinners at Glenlaurel and Shaw’s.  Gourmet dinners with a special holiday theme are featured on several nights in December.

Consider sharing the wealth with a contribution to our local food pantries and don’t miss the wonderful seasonal musical performances at area churches.

Happy holidays and may the New Year bring everyone happiness, health and prosperity.

Sorry for the silence.  I was having so much fun with my family while they were up here I forgot to blog.

On Friday I went hiking with my brother, uncle and cousin.  We decided to climb Mount Yonah in Cleveland, an impressive-looking mountain (for here, anyway) that rises 3,186 feet above sea level.

There are three stages, more or less, to the trail.  The first is a winding trail with a shallow grade through the lower forests that passes by a lot of huge boulders.  This culminates in an overlook with an impressive view, and the first rock face for climbing or rappelling.

The next stage is much steeper, but shorter, than the first, going over lots of smallish rocks perfect to roll your ankle on.  No big views, but the hiking gets easier when you turn right onto the road (they use this to bus Army Rangers up to the cliff face).  The road leads in to a campsite with restrooms of a sort and nice places to build a fire.  The campsite is open year-round except when the Rangers are up there to train (call 706-864-3327 to find out when they’ll be there).

Continue up the road to reach the summit and the third stage of the trail.  At one point you’ll see a trail that leads off of the road: you definitely want to take it!  All the best views out over the valley are located off of this trail–you can see some of them in the photos below.  Although the temperature was about 55* down at the parking lot, there was ice up here near the top– the main cliff face features ice climbing in the winter–and the winds were astonishingly strong.

A little farther on we reached the summit, which was a whole different animal from the rest of the mountain.  The winds abated to a light breeze, the sun felt balmy overhead and the top was a grass-covered bald surrounded by trees, with a fire circle and great camping spots.  It was a peaceful rest after a strenuous climb.  We saw two, four and then an improbable dozen eagles soared out over the side of the mountain, diving occasionally as they hunted.  We had lunch, rested, looked fruitlessly for my poor cousin’s cell phone which he’d dropped, and headed back down, taking the road this time.

In total, we took about two hours to get to the top, counting breaks, and a bit less than an hour to get back down.  There were points when we looked all the way up toward the summit and considered turning back, but it was well worth it when we reached those views!

-Caedmon’s Call, Lead of Love

Something you should know about Lead Of Love LyricsTitle: Caedmon’s Call – Lead Of Love lyricsArtist: Caedmon’s Call Lyrics Visitors: 4008 visitors have hited Lead Of Love Lyrics since May 27, 2008. // <![CDATA[ tf_sid = "PMMBs0001"; tf_artist = "Caedmon's Call"; tf_song = "Lead Of Love"; document.write(''); // ]]> Listen to Lead Of Love Caedmon’s Call music, lyrics and more! Listen to it with the free music toolbar. free-music-online.com Lead Of Love Lyrics All Caedmon’s Call Lyrics from largest lyric site on the net! best-song-lyrics.com Ads By Monetized // Send “Lead Of Love” Ringtone to Mobile Looking back at the road so far The journey’s left its share of scars Mostly from leaving the narrow and straight Looking back it is clear to me That a man is more than the sum of his deeds And how You’ve made good of this mess I’ve made Is a profound mystery Looking back You know You had to bring me through All that I was so afraid of Though I questioned the sky, now I see why Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view Looking back I see the lead of love

Beautiful photos – makes me want to get out there for a hike. But, Rick doesn’t say where on the FLT he was. Can anyone venture a guess, based on the photos?

Somebody actually spent money to do a study to decide that hiking and biking are good for us! As Homer Simpson would say, Duh! Click here to read about it.