I've posted this shot before, but prompted by the word "Pedestrian", I had to share it again. Taken from back in the days when I used an enormous external frame pack, this is a single-frame ode to walking, and encapsulates some of my fondest memories. Backpacking is a sublime combination of personal challenge, solitude and…Read more Not Just A Pedestrian
Trips
The Dove
In 1634, two small ships, the Ark and the Dove (replica shown here) landed on a small island in the Potomac River and thanked God for a successful voyage, marking the first Catholic spot in the New World. The voyagers then sailed back downriver, and found a place to settle, establishing the colony that would become Maryland, at…Read more The Dove
Constant Change on a Tranquil Sea
I'm making up for some lost time with a rare double post! I wanted to share a quick video featuring a quick look at the southern barrier islands of North Carolina. I've never been one for lounging on a beach, but I do enjoy watching the constant movement - not just the waves rolling in, or…Read more Constant Change on a Tranquil Sea
Sleeping In On A Rainy Day
We've all been there. Lying in bed, knowing it's time to get up - but outside it's raining. You can hear it on the roof, on the windows. So you pull your covers over your head and doze off for another half-hour (if you're lucky). Scientists link rainy-day drowsiness to a lack of sunlight. Light…Read more Sleeping In On A Rainy Day
Paddling With Dolphins!
Yesterday, we had a tropical depression ("TD Number Ten" - it never got a name) go over. Today, the ocean was relatively calm, and the clouds were breaking up. I made the attempt to get the kayak out through the surf and see what I could see. (It only took me two tries....) Once I…Read more Paddling With Dolphins!
Paddling Mallows Bay
In April, 1917, US President Woodrow Wilson issued a challenge to his country. World War I was raging in Europe, and Allied shipping was being torn apart by German surface ships and submarines. As a result, the US churned out over a thousand wooden-hulled cargo ships in about 18 months. The war ended in November,…Read more Paddling Mallows Bay
Lighthouses and Lobsters
The last time we visited downeast Maine was about 12 years ago. Now we've got a new generation to raise, and exposing them to New England, to lobster, to people who lengthen A's and drop R's completely, to granite carved by glaciers, beaches made of rock instead of sand, and plants and animals they've never…Read more Lighthouses and Lobsters
St. Mary’s Wilderness
East of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, but west of the main Blue Ridge, there's a jumble of rugged mountains marked by cliffs, steep-sided gorges, and crystal clear streams. This area contains the St. Mary's Wilderness, the largest Wilderness Area in Virginia, and one of my favorite spots for over 30 years. Like most designated Wilderness Areas,…Read more St. Mary’s Wilderness
Respect
Things have been really busy over the past couple weeks. Work and kids' schedules have made it really hard to keep up with writing. I've had a couple good events, and another teaching opportunity, thankfully - it's just a matter of catching up. So while I know I'm running behind on my usual posting,…Read more Respect
Screwpile ’17!
I am beat up. My arms, shoulders, and back are particularly sore, from hoisting sails, climbing up a slanted deck, and shoving a spinnaker pole around against a powerful 'chute. My legs ache from balancing on a half-inch toe-rail, changing headsails while the boat plows through waves that occasionally lift me off the deck. And…Read more Screwpile ’17!
James River Heritage Trail (Blackwater Creek), Lynchburg, VA
The James River Heritage Trail system, in downtown Lynchburg, VA, is actually a collection of five interconnected rail-to-trail bikeways that make up 9.5 miles of trail system in and around the Blackwater Creek Natural Area, the riverfront area in downtown Lynchburg, and Percival's Island. All these trails offer a pleasant escape while mingling with active…Read more James River Heritage Trail (Blackwater Creek), Lynchburg, VA
FISH IN FERN. The Ten Essentials: A Systems Approach
A different way to think through what you need.
Lost Creek Wilderness, CO
Work has been busy lately, so when I got invited to a series of meetings in Colorado Springs, I saw an opportunity and took it. I arranged to fly out a day early, and do a quick overnight somewhere in the Front Range between Denver and Colorado Springs. A little research led me to the…Read more Lost Creek Wilderness, CO
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 