Far off among the trees, a pileated woodpecker drums on a dead snag. Turtles abandon their sunny logs and disappear into the dark water. Butterflies flit over a half-acre of pickerelweed, marsh mallow, and cardinal flower blooms, while a great blue heron stands in the shallows, looking to catch its next meal. The water, stained…Read more White Oak River, NC
Video
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
Great Horned Owl – Territorial Call
A short post to share some audio! During the weekend camping and sailing last week, we had an early wakeup call at 4am, when a Great Horned Owl set up shop in a tree directly over my tent, and started making territorial declarations in a duet with another owl about 200 yards away across an…Read more Great Horned Owl – Territorial Call
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!
I’m Almost Done Talking About the Eclipse – I Swear!
Just one more memento to share - I don't have fancy solar filters and didn't spend a lot of time capturing images (just a few of the corona that I've already shared). Likewise, there's probably nothing particularly unique about this. BUT, what I wanted to capture was the personal reactions, the building excitement, and the…Read more I’m Almost Done Talking About the Eclipse – I Swear!
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
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
FISH IN FERN. The Ten Essentials: A Systems Approach
A different way to think through what you need.
Playing With Fire
Nothing beats a nice campfire. It provides warmth, light, hypnotic entertainment, and is the centerpiece of camaraderie and conversation. Relaxing by the campfire is a days-end goal that we all look forward to. Building a fire is an outdoor skill that we spend a lot of time developing, and practicing. It's ALSO a job that most…Read more Playing With Fire
3 Common Joining Knots
This week I got to playing with stop motion, using real ropes, inconsistent lighting, and permanent marker on a whiteboard (doh!) to show how to tie one rope to another, why, and under what circumstances you want to use them. The Square Knot, Sheet Bend, and Thief Knot. It's all boiled down into just over…Read more 3 Common Joining Knots
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 