One of the most often-repeated lessons I have with students learning how to build fire is: It takes patience. Too many times, we just want to pile up fuel and strike a match, and it never works that way. Fire is often compared to a living thing, and like so many things in life, it…Read more To Build A Fire
Iceland, 2019 – Part 4, Roaming in Reykjavik
This is the Part 4 in a series outlining my family's exploration of Iceland during the summer of 2019, pre-COVID. It was a mostly outdoor experience, exploring the wild and natural sights of a beautiful country during the height of summer. For the full journey, and notes on places to go and things to see,…Read more Iceland, 2019 – Part 4, Roaming in Reykjavik
First Day of Spring, 2021
Happy to start to see some glimpses of normal human interaction again. These guys sure were happy to see each other. A great (but cold!) two nights out camping.
Spring Sailing
Daylight savings time is not yet here, and so the evenings come early, and the water is COLD (about 40 deg F / 4.4 deg C), but it's hard to pass up a strong March breeze. The spring season is officially underway - maybe, finally, an indication of normal life returning.
Faxi (Faxafoss), Iceland
A bonus image of Faxi, to go along with my recent Iceland 2019 post. Great views can be had from the spot at the bottom left of the falls, but this perspective, taken from the picnic area, is great too.
Iceland 2019 – Part 3, Golden Circle
This is Part 3 in a series outlining my family's exploration of Iceland during the summer of 2019, pre-COVID. It was a mostly outdoor experience, exploring the wild and natural sights of a beautiful country during the height of summer. For the full journey, and notes on places to go and things to see, check…Read more Iceland 2019 – Part 3, Golden Circle
New Neighbors
Cutting to the chase - we have coyotes in the neighborhood. Truth be told, these days there are coyotes in most neighborhoods, but this is a new thing for me. I remember as a kid, maybe 15 years old, we heard one deep in the mountains of western Virginia on a backpacking trip - and…Read more New Neighbors
Blackwater Falls, Davis, WV
Blackwater Falls always runs dark. The tannins from decaying leaves and evergreen needles in the water stain it the color of tea. Contrast that with a fresh snowfall, a hard freeze and enormous icicles, and you have a pretty sight, indeed! (Note the figure on the balcony at left, for scale)
Iceland, 2019 – Part 2, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
This is part two in a series outlining my family's exploration of Iceland during the summer of 2019, pre-COVID. It was a mostly outdoor experience, exploring the wild and natural sights of a beautiful country during the height of summer. For the full journey, and notes on places to go and things to see, check…Read more Iceland, 2019 – Part 2, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Cold, Heartless Beauty
I have to take a break from reminiscing about Iceland to share what's going on right now. We've been accumulating freezing rain and drizzle for the past few days. This morning the sun is out, and turning every ice-coated branch into a crystal chandelier. It's beautiful - but these trees are carrying a lot of…Read more Cold, Heartless Beauty
Iceland 2019 – Part 1, Grundarfjörður
This is Part 1 in a series outlining my family's exploration of Iceland during the summer of 2019, pre-COVID. It was a mostly outdoor experience, exploring the wild and natural sights of a beautiful country during the height of summer. For the full journey, and notes on places to go and things to see, check…Read more Iceland 2019 – Part 1, Grundarfjörður
Seven Minutes of Terror
With any luck, it all happens tomorrow!! Perseverance and its little stowaway helicopter, Ingenuity, land at Jezero Crater, on the surface of Mars! I know a lot of people are discussing this right now, but after my post a week or so ago discussing the orbital mechanics of a Mars mission, and why launch windows…Read more Seven Minutes of Terror
Iceland 2019 – Prologue
This is the first in a series outlining my family's exploration of Iceland during the summer of 2019, pre-COVID. It was a mostly outdoor experience, exploring the wild and natural sights of a beautiful country during the height of summer. For the full journey, and notes on places to go and things to see, check…Read more Iceland 2019 – Prologue
Slateford Creek Falls, PA
I was recently going through some of the archived trip movies I've stored up over the past year of... well, I think everybody understands what's been going on this year. Anyway, last year this time, we had seen zero snow at home. (Fortunately this year has been a bit whiter!) We finally got desperate enough…Read more Slateford Creek Falls, PA
Puffins!
As I'm reminiscing on last summer's trip to Iceland (and working up videos, etc), I'm uncovering some photos that just make me smile. On the cliffs above Reynisfjara, a black sand beach with impressive caves and balsatic columns outside Vik, on Iceland's southern shore, dozens of puffins were nesting. These pudgy little birds were impressively…Read more Puffins!
