To Court Street for lunch and back.

Along Fifth Avenue as far as Carroll Street, and down to Court Street.

Carroll Street crossing of the Gowanus Canal

And back along Bergen Street.

Houses along Bergen Street

Fabulous warm weather - walk just over five miles.

Journey to Carson Falls

So c'mon peeps, what are you waiting for? Views are pawsome and the day is wastin' - come join me for this hike to Carson Falls in yet another part of the Mt. Tam Watershed. The smells are already furry promising!

Just up the trailhead to Carson Falls, highest waterfall in our county, we look across the bay and actually see Mt. Diablo, which is 60-plus miles away. Whatta day!
And further up (and I mean steeply UP!), we see an even more incredible sight! Mt. Saint Helena at the tip of the Napa Valley, also over 60 miles away.
Don't think that all I'm doing is staring at "peep-style"scenery. I'm sniffing out my own cool views - fresh gophers, for instance! Here's a little photoshow of our hike to the Falls. Mom got a new book about all the trails around here, but they got the mileage wrong. What was supposed to be a fairly easy 4.1 miles turned out to be over nine - but it was furry beautiful! Here's a photoshow of our hike!

The California State Rock! Serpentine!
And these permeated the trails with a wonderful perfumey smell, reminding
Mom of the scent of Broom she loved so much in Italy.
Here are a couple of short movies Mom took at Carson Falls.


On the way home, there were literally a herd of
these in front of a house by the roadside.

I was so tired that although I checked them
out, I didn't even bark at them heheh! That meant I was really, really tired.
But what a furry cool day!

Technicolor Fields

Technicolor Fields, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Multicolored carpets at Shell Creek Road...the species you see here include goldfields and owl's clover.

On life and death

It is the new year (in my book), a time of renewal and rebirth. Bees are in a frenzy, trying to visit many flowers as they possibly can. Pollen is falling in lazy drifts from the pine trees. Lawn mowers are clogging the air with the sounds of their motors.
DEATH
Spring is not a time you expect death but it was at my doorstep yesterday afternoon. It is the second songbird that has fallen prey to my windows. The first was a Yellow-Rumped Warbler. This time, one of my beloved Cedar Waxwings.
They have been devouring the berries off of the Eleagnus growing along the woodline over the last few days.
After admiring her beauty, I gave her a proper burial and said a little prayer.
I love that yellow color of their underbellies.
LIFE
On a brighter note (literally), I have a Painted Bunting frequenting my feeder. Amazing.

A Good Day for a Spa Treatment...

My messy "Before" paws and below, my "After" picture!

Every couple of weeks or so, I take a little road trip to the local P.F.E. Resort and Spa where I take my treatments. Although I refuse to believe the rumors, I apparently start out smelling pretty bad. Soon, however, I emerge, to my snooter, fairly perfumy stinky, but my peeps seem furry happy with the result of all those ministrations. Here is a photoshow of my Spa experience(best if watched biggified!)

Cyclocross Photos

Velo Veloce Cycling Club and Xtreme Wheels Bike & Sport sponsored the Omaha Cyclocross weekend October 4th & 5th. The race was held at Swanson Park.
Weather was not typical cyclocross weather. The afternoon was in the 70s and sunny. The course was dry.
I only attended the Saturday race - I had another function on Sunday - a ham radio flea market.
Here's the link.
http://www.tomwinfield.com/bike/mtn-bike/mtb_races/c-cross1_08.html

Loch Muick

While on Deeside we walked part of the circuit round Loch Muick. I have an annoying Achilles tendon injury this summer, so we were limited to walking on the flat. The name of the loch, before I go any further, is pronounced 'mick' rather than the 'muck' you might think! In my experience one of the main purposes of Gaelic is to set pronunciation traps.

The loch is resoundingly bare in panorama in a way that doesn't do full justice to it. The heather was just starting to come into bloom and doesn't show up in these shots, but the track was lined with vivid purple clumps.





On the single track road in we passed a group of beehives - possibly for the Royal honey? In terms of royal presence here, the house in the first shot is Glas-allt Shiel, built by Queen Victoria as a retreat from the hurly-burly of Balmoral Castle.



Below, a boathouse towards the head of the loch, and a path which we unfortunately couldn't take that day.



Where a burn runs into the loch there's a geography lesson on river deltas in miniature.





Note the rings in this fence outside the bothy below. They're used for tethering the sturdy ponies used to carry carcasses in the deer-stalking season.





An abandoned building, very forlorn with the wind sighing through the pines all around.





And a mountain rescue post, complete with frothy honeysuckle.

Black Hill Fat Tire Festival

Ladder on the trail at Badlands

Mt. Rushmore from Iron Mountain Highway

Rocky trail - Buzzards Roost
It has been a busy week. Wednesday I headed out from home for South Dakota and the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival. Stopped in the Badlands on the way. Lots of photos in the Badlands. Spent the night in Wall (home of Wall Drug).
Thursday, more photos. Was up for sunrise but overcast day. Not an impressive sunrise. Took lots of photos in flat light. Hikes some of the Castle Trail.

Off to Mt. Rushmore (scenic route). Hiked the trail there. Lots of more photos.
Yesterday the festival got underway. Rode my bike to registration. First ride was in the afternoon. Rode Buzzards Roost. VERY rocky ride. Had to stop to rest, walk some of the trail. Did just 3.3 miles.
Ended the day with the Welcome social at the Chop House (rode my bike from the motel to the social). Mickelson Trail today.

We Have Enough Time

Sorry this is so small. Double click to read it better.

The Bay or the Gulf … Take Your Pick

Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore (GINS), Florida
Temps: Lo 44F / Hi 62F (7C / 17C)

What a gorgeous day we had! After two days of dreary overcast conditions, today’s blue skies and sunshine were such a welcome change. The day dawned cold, with a breeze that added to the chill. But by mid-day the air was still and in the sun it sure felt warmer than the recorded high of 62F (17C).

Fort Pickens Campground is located on Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island that sits between the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Pensacola Bay on the other side. The gulf waters are a beautiful aqua, the hues changing from pale to dark depending on the depth. The bay, on the other hand, is a moodier body of water, its color ranging from blue, to navy, to brown-black in places. Both are bordered by white beaches, but the sand on the gulf side seems finer, brighter, and whiter. Each is beautiful in its own way; and we got to experience them both today.

Before our mid-morning date with former-fulltimers Chuck and Anneke, Mui and I donned our layers against the wind-induced chill and took the short, sandy path that connects from loop E to the narrow stretch of beach that fronts Pensacola Bay. We sprinted down the beach in an effort to stay warm, but enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.

Seeing stingrays washed ashore was a first for us; unfortunately, neither was alive.
No rescue opportunities today.

In September, we walked the beach at NAS Pensacola, across the bay from where we are today.

The sanderlings were busy looking for breakfast and weren’t as skittish this morning.

We met Chuck and Anneke (of Goldenshoe RV Trip) for the first time last September when we came out to Pensacola to establish our residency. Today, they drove out to check out the campground here at Fort Pickens and then came by the motorhome.

From the laughter and chatter, you would have thought that we’ve known each other for years. Yup; it was a typical meeting between fellow RVers with a common interest. Around noon, we headed out to Niki’s, a Greek/Italian eatery in Gulf Breeze. We all ordered gyro wraps, which were quite tasty, but difficult to eat … next time, I’ll just get the platter. Of course, the good conversation and laughter continued through our meal.

Sorry no photos of the four of us from today, or of the food! I’ll have to try to remember to get a few shots the next time we see them. In the meantime, I’ll re-cycle the photo we had taken at McGuire’s Irish Pub last September. The attire we had on that day would definitely not have been appropriate for today’s much cooler temps!

Thanks for the company, Chuck and Anneke.

After returning home, we made a couple of phone calls and then headed back out again — this time for a walk along the beach fronting the gulf. I love deserted beaches. We saw a father shelling with his two sons, and that was it. The breeze from the morning had died down, so we didn’t need as many layers this afternoon. Had it been a little earlier in the day, I think Mui would have gone swimming. As it is, he’s still hoping to get a chance for a quick dip before we leave here.

I’m perfectly happy standing on the beach, but …

… Mui feels the urge to walk out to a sandbar.

White sand and blue skies … what a great combination.

I’m no good with these small birds, so all you birders out there need to help out with an ID.

We returned to the campground via an inland path that took us by a couple of the Fort Pickens batteries that overlook the beach. I’m going to leave those photos for after we do a tour of the fort — maybe later this week.

Once back home, we didn’t stay long. Picking up wool caps and windbreaks, we hopped in the car and headed out to Fort Pickens to catch the sunset. It was a pretty sunset, but we didn’t get the riot of colors we enjoyed a few days ago. Still, it was worth the short drive, and as a bonus, we had a very nice chat with a couple from Wisconsin who are in a different loop at the campground; they’re making a meandering trip down to Orlando and Key West. Hopefully we’ll be doing that too — but next winter.

We’re not the only ones out here waiting for the sunset.
Brown Pelican

The setting sun had set the windows of this Fort Pickens building afire.

Though the colors are more muted, we still enjoy the sunset.

A local who was enjoying the sunset with us thought this boat was probably going out for bait.

It was a great day to be sure … and to wrap it up, here’s a sighting that really excited us. This nine-banded armadillo did not cooperate for a photo op, scurrying into the underbrush when we came upon it. But what I did catch makes a great …

The End!

Ruby Falls

So, after the "warm" ride this morning, it was time to do something cool. How about tour a cave!
Yesterday, when I purchased my ticket for Rock City, I got the "double play" ticket - Rock City and Ruby Falls. Its not easy to find Ruby Falls from the back side (from the battlefield). Most signs are to point from the Interstate.
Eventually I found the route, and parked at Ruby Falls. The falls is underground - some 260 feet down. An elevator takes visitors to the cave. Once in the cave, its an over 2000 foot walk underground to the waterfall.
During the tour, the guide and signs point out special features of the cave. I shot a good number of photos during the hike.
While the cave was interesting, it was nothing like the waterfall at the end of the tour. The walk/hike was worth it. The waterfall is incredible!
The hike back was uneventful. After the tour, I at the snack stand - was getting pretty hungry. Then time to call it a day, and head for the motel. From the ride and the hike, I was tired.

New chickens

The newer chickens never seem in the mood for portraiture.

We came up on the losing end of the chicken lottery this time. Out of eight mystery chick picks, five were cockerels (males), and only three were pullets (females).
What kind of homesteading woman am I, if I couldn't watch what had to happen?

The squeamish kind, I guess.
Hubby is just as content to do it all himself, I think, to avoid having me standing over his shoulder. "Offering suggestions," as I see it... "Bossing me around," according to him. "And stressing me out."
We made the rookie mistake (according the the Backyard Chicken Forum) of cooking them without letting them rest in the fridge for at least 24 hours, so they were a little tough.