What used to be a blog about experiencing the places and cultures of the world has morphed into one of living in my adopted home of Wyoming.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Meet Gabriel
Some of My Favorite Photos
My Favorites
Originally uploaded by partially landed vagabond.
From Top, Left to Right:
Morocco, Morocco, Wyoming, Ohio, Cambodia
Morocco, Morocco, Canary Islands, Thailand, Singapore
Norway, Nepal, New Zealand, Cambodia, Morocco
Morocco, Morocco, Morocco, Singapore, New Zealand.
Looks like I've got - by count anyway - a new fave setting for travel shots!
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Hocking Hills trip
This weekend, I decided to go camping and see what fall colors were presenting themselves in
What was surprising was encountering people along the trails fitted out in full-on trekking gear - gaiters, wind- and water-proof jackets, trekking poles, camel-back hydration kits – the whole 9 yards. The only time I’ve used gear like this is when doing multi-day backpacking at elevations above 10,000 feet. I can’t imagine lugging that stuff on a mile long loop. The longest trail was a 2.5 mile loop, with an elevation gain of approximately 100 feet - all of it via wooden staircases. This is a tendency that I've noticed before in
Turns out, this was to be my new friend, Brenda, who lives in
The Hocking Hills area was a nice surprise to visit - most folks I work with recommended it as a camping /hiking destination, describing it as the "prettiest place in
I opted to stay in one on Saturday night (ref. getting soaked in an afternoon rain earlier). I just didn't want to go damp-camping. So, I turned a hard left when driving by a cute little place, the Rest Nest, and got myself a little cabin with an outdoor hot tub. Of course, I didn't bring a bathing suit. But, this place was so nestled in the woods, I figured that once night fell, taking a soak al fresco in the all-together wouldn't be too much of a risk.
After dark, and after checking to ensure I could see no other signs of civilization from the hot tub deck, I opted for a little skinny dip. It was great. I'd picked up a little wine earlier, and the night insects were putting on a concert. But then, they stopped. OK, so maybe a deer wandering in the woods stepped on a stick and startled the crickets. Then I heard the footfalls, and quickly realized they weren't human - maybe a deer, but a really big one. Another moment or two, and the animals were visible in the half-moon light: 4 horses. With riders. They were finishing up a day ride after the rain delay, apparently. I tried to remain motionless and silent, and from the snippets of conversation I heard, I assumed that I was successful in not being noticed, and that the paying riders were grumpy about getting fed soon.
All in all, it was a great weekend escape. The leaves have started to change color, but slowly - almost tentatively - so I think I may need to make another few weekend trips to monitor their progress. With a back-up bikini, just in case.
Fall Weekend Photos
Upper (or lower?) falls at Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills State Park, SE Ohio.
Fall colors, streamside...
This formation is called "Devil's Bathtub". It's limestone but with an area that's slightly softer (and more easily eroded) than the surrounding stone - so with continuous water flow, it's the soft stuff that gives way. It was interesting to see one of these in water action - the only other type I've experienced has been dry 'sinks' in Utah's canyonlands. Ask me one day to tell you the story of trying to climb down one. Actually, climbing down it was easy - it was the climbing back up that was difficult, without ropes or shoes or my camera - they were all at the top rim, that I was trying to get back upon....but that's another story. This "Devil's Bathtub" has water year-round; just sometimes there's more volume.
Warning!!! Cheesy Caption coming!!!
.........Stairway to Heaven........
Sorry about that. That was my exact impression when I saw these steps, and of course - that triggered the song's memory for a full 22 minutes.