The Nantahala River

When I was growing up, our family would raft on this river in North Carolina. It's a Class 3 so is pretty mild. It's slow enough that you can enjoy the surrounding scenery but rough enough not to be boring.
At the end of the ride, there's a six foot drop off that was loads of fun to go over. Now they make you get out earlier. Spoilsports!
Earlier this summer when I was at the John C. Campbell Folk School taking a digital photography class, we took a day trip to Asheville to photograph the city. On the way back we went through the Nantahala Gorge and just had to stop and take pictures of the mist rising off the river.
Since my photo taking skills had risen a lot during the week, I was able to get these photos when the night was almost completely dark. I was in full manual mode so was able to let in a lot more light. I turned my ISO up to 1600 and rested the camera on the handrail to avoid camera shake. I'm pretty pleased with the results.
My photo-savvy friends kept telling me that when I went manual it would open up a whole new world. They were right. Thanks, Jenny and Charlotte.

Yumzers!

Mom took us to Miller Creek a few days ago, thinking that we needed a run (and we did), but... once we discovered the gifts on the forest floor, we stopped our runnin' to investigate...
These are pretty awful pictures of us, but you can see us nosing around the leaves for something...
And here's a short movie of what we are doing...

And below... what. we. are. nomming. on. Yumzers!

Bradgate Park - Beacon Hill - Ulverscroft Priory - Newtown Linford

Walked on Monday 10 September , with Barry, Gordon and Maureen. Mostly fine.







We parked at the Newtown Linford car park, and took the low level path along the main drive by the river Lin, towards the ruins of Bradgate House, childhood home of Jane Grey, the nine-day queen. The park has been a deer park from way back when, and there are still plenty of deer in this area.



There's a lovely stretch of river.





and some impressive trees.

Remains of Bradgate House and a moody sky

Uphill to the obelisk

Just before reaching the ruins of the house, we took the path uphill to the left to reach the War Memorial, where there was a keen cold wind. We didn't hang around, but followed the path through the spinney to Old John.

18th century folly and great viewpoint

Who said down hill was easier?

We headed to the Hunts Hill car park on the north west side of the park. The way ahead was over the crossroads to Benscliffe Road, and after a couple of hundred yards we turned right into Rough Hill Wood - the path went up slightly then downhill to a golf course. Part way through the golf course we crossed Joe Moore's Lane. The golf course was busier on a Monday than it had been on a Sunday, but no problems and the way is easy to follow.

After leaving the golf course the path crosses a couple of fields to emerge on a track, then goes past some stables and a large garage, then swings left and comes out on Maplewell Road. Here we turned right and followed the road towards Woodhouse Eaves. We didn't take the first footpath signed to the left, but turned left at Mill Road. This turns into a track and climbs fairly steeply towards Windmill Hill.

Up towards Windmill Hill

Looking over to Broombriggs

The windmill with viewing platform - the stairs are under repair at present

We chose not to go up to the windmill on this occasion - I'll put it in the good intentions file. When the mill was operational there were no trees surrounding it.



We came out at the car park for Broombriggs Country Park, cheaper but more remote than Bradgate. We crossed Beacon Road, turned left along the cycle track, then right on to a path for walkers. After about 100 yards we turned left again on the main path. Dappled shade makes this a lovely walk, in spite of some traffic noise from the road.

A great opportunity for posers?

We turned off the main path along the grassy track which leads to the summit, via the toposcope, which claims views as far as Boston Stump over 50 miles away. Not today - though there was a group of trees in the way.





Great views all round, even so.

Like the earrings

The obelisk and Old John from Beacon Hill.

From here we followed the route down past the car park, turning right past the toilet block and down the path parallel to the road.



At the charcoal burner we took the small path to the left which came out at the crossroads. We crossed over to the Copt Oak road - there is a verge, but not quite wide enough for comfortable walking. Luckily this is a short section and we turned left along a footpath on the drive to Black Hill Farm. After the trees stop the footpath heads off to the right along a hedge. You're not likely to make a mistake here, as there is a warning notice on the drive.



The path is clearly marked, and takes you along field edges to Ulverscroft Lodge Farm. Here we turned left to go round the house and meet the drive which took us to the ruined 11th century Ulverscroft Priory. The cottage nearby is inhabited, and there has been scaffolding up on some of the ruins for years.

Pond near the priory

Ruins of Ulverscroft Priory

The drive comes out on Priory Lane, and we crossed over to Ulverscroft Lane. I'm hoping the resurfacing they've just done doesn't encourage a lot of traffic - it's pleasant and quiet at the moment.



Just under a mile along the lane we turned right to take a footpath which leads through fields. When the path opens out in a field you fork left after crossing a stile. After this the path is clear and goes through woodland. This was a bit muddy. There is no problem until you pass a ruined building on the left (Ulverscroft Mill). Here you meet another path, and turn left and shortly afterwards right to cross a footbridge. The path leads into Newtown Linford coming out near some thatched cottages.





We turned right along the main street, full of interesting very well-kept houses. It's probably just over half a mile back to Bradgate Park, and nearby there's a selection of tea-shops.

Happy Birthday Sugar with A Ramble 'Round Old Miller Creek

We want to paw a big Happy Birfday to our pal, Sugar, who is celebrating her 9th Barkday today! Cheers to you! We've had another busy week, but got to have some fun in and around Miller Creek last weekend! Come along with us, Sugar, for some cool fun!

I don't know why my assistant can't get my photoshows to line up center, but it's still "viewable" - hope you enjoy! Sugar: we feel you are with us in a furry virtual way!

Later at home, we still had energy to burn and had to have some zoomies and crazy faces in the back yard. Note apples on other side of fence? Avalon and I try to escape our summer confines to get at them... they sure are yumzers! Sugar, I know you'd love these fresh apples!

And we always cool down and make up after our adventures!
( Some of you have asked if I am still doing obedience and the answer is... YES! Mom just hasn't had a helper to take pictures of me and her at work! We're progressing pretty well in "Open!") Hope you are having a good week and Sugar, we know you are having a pawesome barkday!

Stage 03

The garden in August just after the replacement of the plastic tub with a ceramic container.

Fall Semester Begins

This is Gabriel, our adopted college student. He's a music performance major at our local university; lucky for us. He serenades us with Chopin, Rachmaninoff, etc. when he comes over. We usually have him over to eat Sunday dinner with us after church.
Our church has this program where college students who want to be adopted while they're in school in our town and going to our church sign up. They're then placed within our church families.
We've had some not so good ones in the past, but we scored big with Gabriel. He's only a sophomore, so we'll have him around for a few more years.
I gave him the score from the movie Pride and Prejudice for Christmas last year. It's the most beautiful music I've ever heard. Within a few weeks he had it all worked up and was playing it for us. There are definite perks to this adoption thing. Now if he'll only do the dishes!

Snowpack Profile Update. Waffles!

Wow, big news here at the Old Station in Paradise. We now have a computerized weather display running 24hrs and Waffle Weekdays will be starting this week!

The computerized weather display is located inside the Old Station in the windows to the left of the inner door.

You read that right. If you can't get enough of the Mountain during the weekend and can make it up on Friday you can join the ranger(s) in the Old Station for hot drinks and waffles. Start your weekend early between 11 and 3 this Friday, February 10.

Please bring your own cup or mug, donations of hot drinks, waffle makings and fixings will be gratefully accepted (new and unopened) to keep Waffle Weekdays happening.

Now for why you really read this, the snow pack profile update. No failures were observed in either the compression test or extended column test. All layers were fairly dense and well settled.