tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137033062012-02-16T03:06:47.755-05:00Herein the musings, ruminations, and occasionally news, from a wanderer through life.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.comBlogger2001100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-54131392946995706772009-11-05T08:12:00.004-05:002009-11-05T09:30:48.987-05:00

August 15, 2009Following about a week at home, I again set out. Herself and I had planned several days in Toronto; the plan was that I would drive and she would fly. I left on August 15, and drove to Crown Point, New York, only 15 miles or so from Ticonderoga, where I was recently.Besides being on beautiful Lake Champlain, Crown Point is the site of more colonial history. It is the site of two

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-60642081960277081982009-11-01T20:17:00.006-05:002009-11-01T21:48:46.893-05:00

August 8, 2009The next morning, after visiting Mount Defiance on the New York side, I crossed over Lake Champlain into Vermont at the Ticonderoga ferry (which has recently been overwhelmed by traffic due to the closure of the Lake Champlain Bridge at Crown Point). From there I drove to the Mount Independence State Historic Site, where I went for a lovely hike through the woods, reading the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-77211171854372473552009-10-28T14:15:00.002-04:002009-10-28T14:54:49.972-04:00

August 7, 2009Having lately cultivated an interest in early American history, I decided to visit Saratoga National Historical Park and Fort Ticonderoga, scenes of colonial and Revolutionary War events.Saratoga was the scene of a pivotal series of battles in 1777 that resulted in the formal entry of France into the American Revolutionary War (it had already been "covertly" supporting the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-59324713493804574122009-10-22T16:31:00.004-04:002009-10-22T17:14:18.528-04:00

August 5, 2009This day began a six-day trip through southern Vermont and adjacent portions of New York State. My goals were two-fold: first, to explore the greener parts of Vermont, and second, to visit a few historically interesting American Revolutionary War sites.My first goal after departing the home turf was the southern Green Mountains, where I planned to camp on the first night. I drove

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-22488374479361642262009-07-27T16:40:00.004-04:002009-07-27T19:22:27.657-04:00

Los Angeles, March 7-9I drove from Carrizo Plain over to I-5, which brought me over the Tejon Pass to the Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, just north of the San Fernando Valley. The lake is one terminus of the California Aqueduct, which supplies much of the Los Angeles area with drinking water. The recreation area serves a lot of fishermen and day-trippers, but there is camping (with

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-64058018979580916532009-07-24T10:04:00.003-04:002009-07-24T10:42:26.739-04:00

Friday, March 6The drive between Pinnacles and Carrizo Plain National Monument was a rural scenic drive, continuing up the San Benito River valley. After pausing in Paso Robles for supplies and lunch, I arrived at Carrizo Plain in early afternoon.Carrizo Plain National Monument encompasses the largest surviving grassland in California. Much of its recent history includes ranching and farming,

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-72611263987210643302009-04-12T09:26:00.006-04:002009-04-12T10:08:22.776-04:00

Thursday, March 5. It's still raining, but the forecast is looking up a bit. I head out of Monterey, aiming for the valley that represents the San Andreas Fault in this part of California. While I'm not actually looking to explore the fault, we'll get to that in the next post.After passing through Salinas, I head northeast to pick up California Route 25, which goes south, up the San Benito

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-26237281938895425802009-03-23T19:35:00.002-04:002009-03-23T19:57:35.203-04:00

Wednesday, March 4, turned out to be a somewhat nice day. Maybe I need to talk to the people who schedule the weather, so it can sync with my plans. However, it did still rain part of the day, and I was indoors for a good part of it, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.Following a few fine hours spent there, I went for a drive around the Monterey Peninsula I eventually decided that I liked the beach

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-12502450137088169642009-03-15T11:29:00.004-04:002009-03-15T11:54:28.135-04:00

Tuesday, March 3 opened with some sunshine, but it was not to last. Some of the gear was stowed while wet, something I try to avoid.The drive north from San Simeon to Carmel-by-the-Sea is largely a wild, population-free drive. The southern portions of the drive are through ranch lands, populated mostly by cattle (and the occasional ranch house). The landscape becomes more mountainous when you

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-69334931112319640432009-03-11T19:51:00.002-04:002009-03-11T20:57:19.160-04:00

Monday, March 2 began as a somewhat gray, damp, and at times rainy day. This in a state that has been experiencing drought for the last two years. OK....The day's activities started with the rental-car equivalent of repairs. Yesterday, the Vibe's windshield got dinged, and a small crack had formed. Having had previous experience with things like this, I knew that small windshield cracks get

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-38195737030205097712009-03-04T10:05:00.003-05:002009-03-04T10:44:24.093-05:00

I had an uneventful flight from Boston (following an uneventful subway ride) to LA on Saturday last.My rental car was a Pontiac Vibe, which Bear felt a need to test-drive. I only had this car a little over a day (but I get ahead of myself); it did give me a chance to experience satellite radio for the first time.Since I arrived in the evening, I first flopped in a hotel, where I could sleep off

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-34916894575019514332009-02-28T09:43:00.002-05:002009-02-28T09:44:54.075-05:00

RW and Bear are heading out again. Watch this space for reports of (hopefully sunny) California.Happy travels!

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-38177120652428392512008-07-05T15:44:00.002-04:002008-07-05T15:57:26.579-04:00

From Kentucky, I drove north and east, all the way to Cleveland. Unfortunately, I arrived to late to go to an Indians game at JacobsProgressive Field.Other than being a stopping point on the long road home, the Cleveland area is home to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This might be a place to insert a joke about the Cuyahoga River catching fire and what a polluted mess it might be. However, it

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-6043109103530134472008-07-05T15:31:00.003-04:002008-07-05T15:43:58.070-04:00

I left Saint Louis and headed east. I ended up in Leitchfield, Kentucky (not to be confused with Litchfield, New Hampshire, where I once lived), which was only convenient because it was near Mammoth Cave National Park.I spent a day going on two tours through parts of Mammoth Cave. This cave system is unlike the caves I saw out west (Carlsbad and Kartchner), in that it is largely a dry cave.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-44002545237882593282008-06-19T16:11:00.003-04:002008-06-19T16:33:09.081-04:00

After a quiet evening in Topeka, I headed off into Missouri. My first target was Hannibal, which is best known for being the childhood home of Mark Twain. It's a sleepy town, which, as of this writing, is probably mildly worried about flooding.The main items of interest to Twain-o-philes are the museum, which includes several buildings having some relevance to Twain, especially as viewed

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-36242542992326495752008-06-10T20:42:00.005-04:002008-06-10T21:08:04.682-04:00

The main road from Black Canyon to Denver is US-50. It goes over Monarch Pass, and in early May, it was snowing at the top. Further along the road I stopped in Fairplay, home of Two-Mile High Stadium, and apparently inspiration for South Park (not that I'm a big fan of that show).This was my first visit to Denver, a place whose airport I've seen quite a few times. I didn't spend a grand amount

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-16259666096962727532008-06-05T20:19:00.003-04:002008-06-05T20:42:01.433-04:00

It's a long road from eastern Utah back home.I didn't follow that route. I aimed for a pretty spot in the middle of the Colorado Rockies, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. (Yet another place I never heard of until I started looking at driving routes.)The canyon is sightworthy because it is one of the deepest and narrowest canyons in North America. The walls of the canyon are very

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-83706868920235440402008-06-04T11:03:00.002-04:002008-06-04T11:34:43.415-04:00

The Needles section of Canyonlands is the area of the park that is south of Colorado River. (The Island in the Sky is north of the Colorado, and east of the Green River.) From Moab, it's about 75 miles (no gas stations, sorry) to the Needles Visitor's Center. This part of the park has very little plumbing -- there is potable water at the campground, and no sewerage (toilets are vault toilets).

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-20115709644862009972008-06-02T10:56:00.003-04:002008-06-02T11:26:45.902-04:00

To the west of and south of Moab is a vast wilderness of canyons, buttes, mesas, and desert. Much of this area is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The area including the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers is contained in Canyonlands National Park.Due to the nature of the terrain (sheer canyon walls are a fairly common feature), the park is of necessity divided into

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-53675171765903711312008-05-29T20:23:00.004-04:002008-05-29T20:41:21.610-04:00

Amazingly enough, Arches National Park has things in it that aren't arches, windows, or similar sorts of objects. It's got views, hoodoo-like features, and critters.These are part of an area called Park AvenueThe CourthouseA moai-like figure.Balanced RockThese fin-like formations are where quite a few arches are found.This area of Arches NP is called the Fiery Furnace. It's a sizable area of

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-62562895217634110282008-05-29T09:53:00.003-04:002008-05-29T10:17:41.030-04:00

There are a lot of natural arches at Arches National Park, just outside Moab, Utah. This should come as no surprise. Here's a sampling of the arches and windows to be seen there. (The beer and food at Moab Brewery are pretty good, and the Moab Diner has a clock that runs backwards.)

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-65080344325138516272008-05-26T20:14:00.002-04:002008-05-26T20:36:47.413-04:00

North and a ways west of the Valley of the Gods is the Natural Bridges National Monument. This small monument encompasses a few stream drainages containing three fairly impressive sandstone bridges. It's well away from anything -- the nearest town is about 40 miles away, and isn't all that large. It also has a fairly small campground, so if you go in season, arriving late in the day may be

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-57240555512838383252008-05-25T19:46:00.005-04:002008-05-25T20:28:05.017-04:00

The main road heading north from Monument Valley crosses the San Juan River at the tiny town of Mexican Hat (so named for a particular rock formation, what else), and then heads uphill toward the Valley of the Gods, a BLM-managed tract of public land that is similar in character to Monument Valley. It's got a number of formations sticking out of the desert floor, and a (free) 17-mile dirt road

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-11307664063180865382008-05-24T21:52:00.003-04:002008-05-24T22:11:23.556-04:00

Monument Valley is a large area within the Navajo Nation on the Arizona/Utah border. It is famous for its frequent appearance in some famous movies, notably many Westerns directed by John Ford, such as Stagecoach and The Searchers.The most well-known of the formations are to be found in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where for a modest fee, you can go on a driving loop that covers most of

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-51582827309750215122008-05-24T09:55:00.003-04:002008-05-24T10:18:14.423-04:00

After having spent many days in the remote reaches of southern Utah, I landed in the outpost of civilization called Page, Arizona. Page came into existence as the home for workers constructing the Glen Canyon Dam, and is largely a tourist hub now. I went there so that I could go on a boat ride to the Rainbow Bridge National Monument.The Rainbow Bridge is a spectacular sandstone arch that is

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-54942199460943514722008-05-23T13:52:00.002-04:002008-05-23T14:23:36.076-04:00

A few miles down the Cottonwood Road from Kodachrome State Park, you get a colorful view of parts of the Grand Staircase.While the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument's purpose is to preserve wilderness and provide access, said access does not have to be easy. In fact, the Monument has remarkably little pavement, and relatively few roads of any sort. However, there is actually a paved,

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-83747123077248282592008-05-22T19:42:00.003-04:002008-05-22T20:07:38.179-04:00

When you head east from Bryce Canyon NP, along Utah SR 12, you descend the Grand Staircase to the small town of Tropic, where I stayed while visiting Bryce. A short way further down SR 12 is Cannonville, which is one of the jumping-off points for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This monument basically consists of two sections, the Grand Staircase and Paria River drainage in the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-64579418327731654232008-05-22T10:00:00.004-04:002008-05-22T10:32:54.969-04:00

Days 67 and 68 of my trip were spent at Bryce Canyon National Park. It was late April, and Bryce, which is at elevations over 8000', was on the chilly side. Some trails were still snow-bound and not recommended for hiking. That said, many of the best trails were open. I first went on the Navajo-Peekaboo-Queen's loop, roughly 6.5 miles of hiking amongst the hoodoos. The next day I went to

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-44369252955219815792008-05-21T16:05:00.002-04:002008-05-21T16:16:42.806-04:00

It's not often that a road merits attention. Some, like the Cabot Trail and the Pacific Coast Highway are fairly well-known. Utah's SR 12 is another such road. Lots to see.I actually drove only a relatively modest portion of it, only covering the western 30 miles or so of it. Most of these pictures here are from the Red Canyon area immediately west of Bryce Canyon. The first picture is from

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-66559849089529041232008-05-13T21:42:00.002-04:002008-05-13T22:13:47.239-04:00

I spent 2 1/2 days hiking around the lower reaches of Kolob Canyon, in the northern section of Zion National Park. (Apparently the upper reaches of the canyon are a real canyoneering challenge, not without some risks. Fear not, I wasn't there.)The principal hiking feature to see in this canyon is the Kolob Arch, one of the longest arches in the world. It's a 13-mile round trip to the arch, and

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-28031638801443654522008-05-09T22:42:00.002-04:002008-05-09T23:01:45.810-04:00

The American National Park System has a trifecta of "grand" places in the Southwest. One is the Grand Canyon. Another is Bryce Canyon (pictures coming soon to a blog near you). Arguably the most accessible of these grand places, and certainly equal in beauty to those, is Zion National Park.Zion differs from the Grand Canyon in that most of the tourist action takes place in the canyon, rather

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-10642115376082625152008-05-09T00:02:00.003-04:002008-05-09T00:15:10.666-04:00

One day we drove down to Sedona to see the red rocks there.We also made a brief visit to Walnut Canyon National Monument. This is a place with pre-Columbian archaeological remains. However, due to a rock slide, most of it was inaccessible (not that we didn't get a nice picture out of it).We took a scenic drive from Flagstaff to Las Vegas. Along the way were several series of safety-related

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-46746217492493312972008-05-08T23:52:00.002-04:002008-05-09T00:01:38.430-04:00

Since Herself still had jet lag, we arose early the next morning and took in the sunrise too. It was extremely misty, so the photography wasn't the greatest... It was also cold, near freezing.After the sunrise tour, we had breakfast at El Tovar, the classic hotel located on the rim. We then spent the rest of the morning driving along the South Rim.We ended up in Flagstaff, which we used as a

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-23356046152586752812008-05-08T23:42:00.004-04:002008-05-08T23:51:48.138-04:00

The day after my 8 days hiking down in the Big Ditch, I was joined by Herself. Of course, we first enjoyed a lovely (if chilly) sunset at the South Rim.waiting on the rim for HerselfIt was a nice sunset...After the sunset, we enjoyed a dinner at the Arizona Room.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-91330895652584473352008-05-07T16:11:00.002-04:002008-05-07T16:14:40.108-04:00

And on the 8th day, we worked. We got up early (4:30 AM wakeup call) in order to beat the heat. We left camp at 5:45. The first of us reached the rim around 9, the last at around 11:30. Yours Truly arrived around 10:30, near the back of the pack.this part's not too steepooh, some sun!the canyon's getting a bit narrow up herenot a lot of great options for going up here...got over that bit,

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-57441978838589231012008-05-05T10:49:00.000-04:002008-05-05T10:50:11.801-04:00

On the seventh day, we rested. Well, except for hiking about an hour down to the river from our camp, relaxing most of the day, and then hiking back with water for camp (collected from the side drainage between the river and where we camped) on our backs.going down to the riverbear sunning by the riverThis is the pour at the end of the drainage we camped in. No, we didn't climb down (or up)

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-72395335927917358372008-05-05T10:47:00.000-04:002008-05-05T10:48:22.846-04:00

Here's some of the flora and fauna that we saw down in the Grand Canyon...the flower of a yucca plantindian paintbrushcactus flowersyellow desert flowersWhen the agave plant flowers, it puts up a large stalk, which flowers, and then the plant dies. The third photo shows living and dead agave next to each other.a bighorn sheep (the only one we saw the whole week)this is probably an eagle or a

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-11684724224450178602008-05-05T10:43:00.001-04:002008-05-05T10:46:57.315-04:00

On we go, down the river. Day 6 we have some issues finding water for camp. If you hear me talk about polliwog water, this is where it's from. (The water had algae in it, which affected the flavor even after treatment. Only heating the water got rid of the "green" flavor...)At one point, I shot a panoramic movie of the scene. It's a large Quicktime movie (40MB), so please try to avoid

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-9484777353023285332008-05-04T18:42:00.000-04:002008-05-04T18:47:57.996-04:00

Days 3-4We hike further downstream, traversing up and down the side canyons.morning on the riverhiking up the side canyonhikea hikea...back on the Tontohiking on the Tontohiking on the Tontoa big hand...hiking on the Tontohiking on the Tontohiking on the Tontohiking on the Tontohiking up another side canyonside canyons have side canyonsoh look, some rapids (with rafts approaching)I think we're

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-66270104738199690752008-05-04T18:40:00.001-04:002008-05-04T18:42:04.769-04:00

On the second day, we hiked all the way down to the river, and camped there.sunrise...on the trailsee the rivera river runs through iton the TontoAmi hikes down the Tontoyep, it's a river down thereheading up a side canyonis that the rim up there?see the lovely schist

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-25718649194481122432008-05-04T18:37:00.000-04:002008-05-04T18:39:39.718-04:00

Here are some people pictures from the Grand Canyon hike:Back row, from left to right: Ami, Jon, Celia, Tony, Becky, Your Truly, Myla, Don. Front row, left to right: Ron, John, George.Don rests on the way down...Ron, taking picturesMyla, our fearless co-leader, enjoys the trailDon and Jon pose during a rest stopJohn, our fearless leader, relaxes at the end of the dayAmi relaxes at the end of the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-38883306286359053712008-04-30T00:34:00.002-04:002008-04-30T01:00:45.214-04:00

The Tonto trail runs east-west, roughly paralleling the Colorado River. However, it also tries to maintain a somewhat consistent altitude, which leads to some extra work when side canyons are encountered. Because these side drainages are sometimes fairly large in their own right, traversing around them at a more-or-less-constant altitude is an exercise in zig-zagging around the side canyon (and

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-42217598293552468612008-04-30T00:07:00.004-04:002008-04-30T00:27:28.350-04:00

The day before the hike, the group met for the first time, mainly for briefing and to distribute the "commissary", or shared load. The commissary consisted of pillow cases containing about 10 pounds each of food, kitchen tools, cooking fuel, and so on. Each person in the group carried one, which, fortunately for us, got lighter as the trek progressed.The morning of the beginning of our trek, we

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-49859669693595934352008-04-29T23:23:00.003-04:002008-04-29T23:46:03.861-04:00

I had a day in Flagstaff to deal with final logistics before heading up to the Grand Canyon. I took part of that day to visit the Museum of Northern Arizona, another showcase of local history and archaeology (not to mention a gallery of Grand Canyon art).My drive up to the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff had a side-trip. I chose to take the slightly longer eastern route, which conveniently passed

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-12285619361474976732008-04-26T00:22:00.004-04:002008-04-26T00:34:03.462-04:00

Considering I'm about 3 weeks behind in the story, it's surprising I still manage to leave something out. Note to self: check the picture folder before posting for pictures that might precede what I'm righting about.Alongside the Desert Museum outside Tucson is one arm of the Saguaro National Park. (The other branch is on the east side of Tucson.) After visiting the Desert Museum, I spent the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-45262102649672977202008-04-26T00:04:00.004-04:002008-04-29T23:22:02.503-04:00

En route to the Phoenix area, I visited the Casa Grande National Monument, which is a small site containing a multi-story Hohokam structure. It is not actually in the city of Casa Grande, where I spent a night.I also spent a night at the Lost Dutchman State Park in the hills east of Phoenix (pictured at left).Rather than fly up I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff, I decided to take a more scenic

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-91967250675173788362008-04-25T23:51:00.001-04:002008-04-26T00:04:12.078-04:00

After my fascinating visit to the Chiricahua National Monument, I passed through Tucson on my way toward Phoenix and points north. Outside Tucson is the Desert Museum. This is basically a combination arboretum and zoo, showcasing the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert, which is the principal desert area of Arizona. (Parts of Arizona are also in the Mojave Desert, but that'll be a different

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-65304576976229943892008-04-25T18:55:00.006-04:002008-04-25T19:03:29.352-04:00

In addition to rocks, Chiricahua has a few other things, including a natural bridge. (I've highlighted the bridge in the photo -- it's in the upper right.)

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-12593171399380708172008-04-25T18:42:00.002-04:002008-04-25T18:47:37.660-04:00

I found these rocks to be particularly interesting...

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-56588674328850461112008-04-25T18:31:00.002-04:002008-04-25T18:41:51.195-04:00

The monument has a large number of interesting rocks. Here's a set of odd-looking rocks.Some look like moai:There are quite a few "balanced rocks", including one real doozy:Sometimes one falls over, and all (or a piece) rests against a neighbor:

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-40361277517718275722008-04-25T18:15:00.004-04:002008-04-25T18:31:34.358-04:00

After Kartchner Caverns, I went to the Chiricahua National Monument.I know, you've never heard of the place, but I managed to take a ton of pictures there. It's a modest place, one small campground, no notable services nearby, 30 miles off the highway. But it has some fantastic wind-and-rain-sculpted volcanic formations. Herewith, a sampling of the views and vistas there...By the way, that

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-1066926367609290972008-04-20T11:22:00.004-04:002008-04-20T16:29:56.575-04:00

The Cliff Dwellings post and the Gila Wilderness post now have pictures. Check them out!The Gila Box National Riparian Conservation Area is a long name for a relatively modest area. Arizona has lost more than 50% of its riparian areas in the last century or so, a problem exacerbating the desertification of much of the state. The Gila Box area is the confluence of the Gila River (whose

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-32989326227272788312008-04-18T23:15:00.005-04:002008-04-19T00:14:48.910-04:00

Now that I'm back from my wonderful week in the Grand Canyon, I can continue the story...(the Grand Canyon pictures will come in due course, but there's plenty to tell before then).After my trek through the middle of the Gila Wilderness, I headed towards Arizona. However, I took a few hours to visit the Catwalk on the western edge of the Gila. This suspension bridge and suspended walkway are a

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-52396023238398882402008-04-05T12:24:00.003-04:002008-04-20T11:20:51.620-04:00

I went on a 4-day, roughly 38-mile trek through the Gila Wilderness. The loop provided me with exposure to a variety of terrain and environments that I tremendously enjoyed.The first day went up Little Creek. This was a wide valley (I won't say canyon, although that's what they call them in these parts), with grassy fields and a mixed ponderosa pine, pinon, and juniper forest. The creek was

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-76217557665463885962008-04-04T14:17:00.004-04:002008-04-19T00:19:09.094-04:00

[pictures will come later]From Alamogordo, I went to Albuquerque and flew home (details).Upon return, I drove south from Albuquerque to Silver City. This is one of the jumping off points for activities in the Gila National Forest. It's called Silver City because the area has lots of mines (including a large open-pit mine about 20 miles east of town), but most of the last 50 or so miles are

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-24545100353951819952008-04-02T13:13:00.003-04:002008-04-02T13:23:53.980-04:00

After my adventure in Dog Canyon, and before the interruption, I paid a brief visit to the White Sands National Monument. Some hints of it appeared in the pictures of the previous post. The white sands are pure calcite, formed in a lake bed millions of years ago. As they are exposed by wind and erosion, they get blown east by the prevailing winds, forming these dunes.Due to logistics, I didn't

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-5816503241793727392008-03-31T13:37:00.004-04:002008-03-31T13:58:18.604-04:00

Before the interruption, I was in the area near Alamogordo, New Mexico. I camped at Oliver Lee State Park, in the shadow of the Sacramento Mountains. The park is south of the city, the mountains are to its west. This place was the jumping off point for a hike into Dog Canyon.The astute will note that I was in a different Dog Canyon earlier this trip.The night before the hike, I enjoyed a

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-78036116574843562732008-03-24T10:48:00.002-04:002008-03-24T10:54:38.085-04:00

Well, the trip can now get back on track, after a brief visit back east. I'm still having computer problems, so postings will probably be sporadic. Most of the coming week will probably be spent in wilderness areas of the Gila National Forest. With luck, I will post pictures from the Alamogordo and White Sands area before disappearing there.On a semi-humorous note, Fox "Fair and Balanced" News

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-5120734218816401512008-03-22T13:01:00.000-04:002008-03-21T10:03:38.958-04:00

The Left Hand Tunnel Tour is a ranger-guided, lantern-lit trek into a lesser-developed area of the main cave. There is no pavement, and no artificial lighting. Participants are given candle-powered lanterns, with the intent of giving a feel reminiscent of what the original explorers would have experienced as they explored the cave for the first time. It's an experience that is different than

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-69812095605749146342008-03-22T10:45:00.000-04:002008-03-21T09:53:23.185-04:00

The King's Chamber Tour is the high point of a visit to the Caverns. It shows the best parts of the cave, which the original explorer, Jim White, gave names referencing royalty.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-82770411979918094052008-03-22T09:32:00.002-04:002008-03-21T09:39:43.073-04:00

The Big Room is about a mile long, with a paved path for visitors to follow. Lots of indirect lighting shows off various features to some effect.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-3222645822800514312008-03-21T13:25:00.002-04:002008-03-20T22:38:34.680-04:00

There's something odd in road-sign math on the southern approach to Carlsbad Caverns. The first picture is taken, well, 67 miles from the Caverns. But was it taken 80 miles from Carlsbad? The second picture was taken in White's City, the junction where the road to the Caverns turns off. Hmmm.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-3115353790477281112008-03-21T12:30:00.001-04:002008-03-20T22:24:09.546-04:00

[This post describes things that occurred before the interruption.]On my last day at the Guadalupe Mountains, I joined a ranger-guided drive (in a 4WD high-clearance van) to the Williams Ranch, an outpost on the south side of the park that is 11 miles over a bumpy road, at the base of the mountains. This was a poorly-promoted first attempt at this sort of thing, attended only by myself and the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-21645215578006901232008-03-21T10:12:00.000-04:002008-03-20T16:15:13.335-04:00

[This post describes things that occurred before the interruption.]The Guadalupe Mountains have a Bowl, or high valley, in a way that is similar to Big Bend's Basin. Because the location is further north, the Bowl contains a pinon/juniper forest, rather than the slightly more desert-like conditions at the Big Bend Basin.Since the mountains are all limestone, all of the water arriving in the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-67042509083511086082008-03-21T07:30:00.001-04:002008-03-20T14:49:50.849-04:00

[This post describes things that occurred before the interruption.]One beautiful (if a bit cold and windy) morning, I arose, had breakfast, and took of for Guadalupe Peak. I had forgotten that weather forecasts for valley areas meant colder weather in summit areas, so I was a bit (but only a bit) underdressed. I achieved the summit in about 3.5 hours, where an obliging German couple took our

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-7744590695646493222008-03-20T18:42:00.000-04:002008-03-20T14:31:48.242-04:00

[This post describes things that occurred before the interruption.] I've decided to describe the Guadalupes in a series of short posts, rather than long chronological ones.The Guadalupe Mountains are part of a mountain range that includes the Carlsbad Caverns. The formation is largely a coral reef that has been upthrust from the next range to the west. The peak at the end of the Guadalupe

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-32469384571074722372008-03-20T14:18:00.005-04:002008-03-20T14:27:18.092-04:00

On the sequence of flights back home, I was subjected to a piece of security theater. (For those not aware of the term, security theater is the idea that things are being done for the appearance of security, without actually improving it.)I left Albuquerque with a single knapsack, and a small grocery bag with food. The food included perishable items not likely to survive sitting in my car for 5

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-72653678308936651682008-03-18T10:10:00.002-04:002008-03-18T10:13:05.624-04:00

My girlfriend's grandmother died yesterday. I'll be spending a few days back home. (Ironically, this may give me time to catch up on the trip postings. There are a ton of pictures from Carlsbad Caverns.)

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-23145578673864090862008-03-15T12:31:00.000-04:002008-03-15T12:32:30.059-04:00

The Davis Mountains are in (surprise!) West Texas, about 125 miles north of Big Bend. They are a mere 25 or so miles from Alpine, where I left you in the last entry. The entry point is the town of Fort Davis, which, I'm sure to your vast surprise, is the site of an historic military site. I did not visit said military site (there are whole strings of these across the west, placed for reasons

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-10113037650452906362008-03-15T07:19:00.000-04:002008-03-15T01:20:45.358-04:00

After my sojourn at Big Bend Ranch, I returned to Terlingua, and booked a seat on a one-day canoe outing into Santa Elena Canyon with a local outfitter. Normally they prefer to offer rafting trips, which can cover the entire canyon in one day. However, since the Rio Grande's water levels are low, they can only use canoes, and even at that we sometimes scraped bottom...The outing included three

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-69539316731602967702008-03-15T01:08:00.001-04:002008-03-15T01:08:59.454-04:00

This is just a sequence of pictures showing how I set up camp while I was at Big Bend Ranch. Elapsed time: about 30 minutes. I chose not to put the tent fly on -- it is needed when there is rain, or when it gets windy in the desert (blowing sand into the tent, which is not exactly fun).

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-62907055664991769562008-03-14T19:20:00.002-04:002008-03-15T01:06:55.986-04:00

[Editorial aside: I'm having hardware (apparently power-supply) and network connection problems, so updates may be even spottier than previously expected.]Big Bend Ranch State Park has a history of being a ranch. It was not necessarily endowed with great physical beauty, since those accumulating the land were more interested in it for its ranching potential.There were only a few things that I

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-84596472005370169052008-03-06T18:33:00.003-05:002008-03-06T19:01:59.727-05:00

After leaving Big Bend National Park, I took a rest day in Study Butte/Terlingua. Terlingua is a small community that was originally a mining community, and the abandoned. In recent years it has started to be recolonized by artists, and it has a small walking tour around the ghostlier parts of town, such as they are.Texas' Big Bend Ranch State Park is west of Terlingua, and is about the same

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-71789394031886459872008-03-06T18:00:00.004-05:002008-03-06T18:31:13.470-05:00

While at Big Bend, I went on a two-day hike through what is considered some of the best scenery and views available in the park. This is a 16-mile loop, which some people do as a day trip, but is really best experienced as a 2- or 3-day backpack. I opted for a 2-day version.The trail I took heading up into the mountains is called the Pinnacle Trail. Hmm, I wonder why?After about 3.5 miles of

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-86113273257238779722008-03-04T07:27:00.006-05:002008-03-04T08:20:14.764-05:00

The Chisos Mountains are the central feature of Big Bend National Park, and there is plenty to see there. Some parts are readily accessible by day hikes lasting 4 hours or less.The mountain chain was formed by volcanic activity, followed by erosion of surrounding softer limestone. This gave the chain the shape of about a half dozen mountains surrounding a high valley, which is called The Basin.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-61123026300492594782008-03-03T18:37:00.003-05:002008-03-03T18:52:19.800-05:00

Here are a few critters I didn't see while I was in Big Bend:black bearsmountain lionssnakesscorpionsreptilesperegrine falconsI did speak with a group about 30 minutes after they saw a mountain lion. It was about 1/2 mile from the place I camped in the Chisos Mountains.Then there were critters that I saw, but did not photograph, often because they're hard to capture on

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-37965953092607833762008-03-03T12:10:00.008-05:002008-03-03T18:36:17.813-05:00

Big Bend National Park's natural features basically break down into three areas: desert, mountains, and the Rio Grande. One interesting thing that cuts across all three of these areas is canyons. The river flows through canyons; the desert has (generally) dry canyons; there are canyons in the mountains.At either end of the park, the Rio Grande traverses a canyon. Upstream, it is the Santa

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-82543201558552133942008-03-02T23:05:00.004-05:002008-03-03T11:02:44.369-05:00

This is some of the plant life in the desert at Big Bend.This is a sotol plant:This is probably a flower from the cactus in the third pic:This was seen on a canyon floor:This is one type of yucca (others were also seen...):I think this is a flower from another type of yucca, but I'm unsure:

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-52913795599914973182008-03-02T21:50:00.004-05:002008-03-02T22:33:44.281-05:00

Driving west from Austin, Texas, there were some clear indications of remoteness setting in. These did NOT include driving through places like Fredericksburg , a decent-sized town west of Austin, in the middle of Texas wine country, with, to the mere passerby, an inexplicable amount of German heritage.Beyond that, things got thin very fast. 80mph speed limits, desert scrub, ranches. I paused

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-25122669994628139822008-02-26T07:33:00.004-05:002008-02-26T07:47:16.176-05:00

Sleep on Sunday night was blissfully NOT interrupted by the presence of police at the place I was staying. Several rooms were taken by pipeline workers, and one of them had been, well, drinking. No damage, but the night clerk was none too happy about it, since a number of clients had complained.Louisiana's high point, Driskill Mountain is about 15 miles from I-20, roughly midway between

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-79907741336378891222008-02-25T22:59:00.007-05:002008-02-25T23:27:02.113-05:00

Driving 650 miles a day is work, which is why no updates. Today was a mere 550 or so (landing me in Austin, TX), so I actually have some time to work with the pictures and what-not.I left my parents' place outside Philly on Saturday, and drove until I dropped, which turned out to be Dandridge, TN. I didn't see much of it, since it was dark when I arrived, and was nearly dark when I left. The

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-73750368628761905902008-02-22T21:11:00.002-05:002008-02-22T21:33:13.528-05:00

My first stop on the road trip was to visit my parents outside Philadelphia. While there, we went to a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra. The major work was Richard Strauss's Alpine Symphony.Since I expect mountains to figure in this trip, this seemed particularly apposite.This work is a monster -- it requires an orchestra of about 130 players, including players for organ, heckelphone, and

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-83639541575902136062008-02-20T17:24:00.002-05:002008-02-20T17:30:13.299-05:00

Coming soon to a blog near you:Big BendGuadalupeCarlsbad CavernsWhite SandsGila Wilderness... and a whole bunch more stuff in the American Southwest. Stay tuned for photos of Bear, and tales of the road and trail!

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-76433256496713716112007-08-22T11:28:00.000-04:002007-08-22T11:38:16.909-04:00

So the recent move included my (6' Estonia piano). Considering the new residence is an old (about 100-year-old) structure, and doorways and stairs weren't built for pushing things weighing close to a half-ton through and up them, a crane was used to lift the object in question into the abode.That wasn't so bad now, was it? Service was ably provided by D-2 Piano Moving of Newton.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-59314570639299333152007-08-16T15:16:00.000-04:002007-08-16T15:28:04.703-04:00

Monday July 2Today I drove from Spruce Knob to the parents' abode outside Philadelphia. Once I exited West Virginia, it largely became the typical mass of undifferentiated interstates where the only things that change from one exit to the next are the labels on the hotels, eateries, and gas stations (which are repeated every 2-4 exits anyway...)Wednesday July 4After spending the 3d visiting with

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-49989982511121042812007-08-16T14:49:00.000-04:002007-08-16T15:16:02.156-04:00

Saturday June 30This was a day for driving through scenic eastern West Virginia. It began with a stretch of the New River Gorge, and continued roughly north and east from there. This area is generally quite rural, and the going alternates between expansive views and curvy roads up or down the sides of ridges -- this is the southeastern Alleghenies. I eventually ended up at Spruce Knob Lake

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-25586371886562759772007-08-12T09:25:00.000-04:002007-08-12T09:36:10.112-04:00

Friday June 29This was a day spent winding northward through the mountains of North Carolina, a jaunt along I-81 in Virginia, and more winding through to hills of eastern West Virginia. Parts of the day featured rain, including not too long after arrival at Pipestem Resort State Park.This park features a gorge on the Bluestone River. There is a trail down to a viewpoint (descent of about 800

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-21929034765449061842007-08-10T10:54:00.000-04:002007-08-10T11:05:17.510-04:00

Thursday June 28[Sorry about the delay in the trip details. Moving interfered, but photos are now up in the earlier trip entries.]This day was a rest day to recover from the previous 4 days of hiking. A lazy day was spent, including a slow stroll through Asheville to photograph some of its architectural variety.First up, this is the courthouse.I think this is/was a bank building.Interesting

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-15609303765531362412007-07-09T15:54:00.001-04:002007-08-10T10:49:50.031-04:00

Sunday June 24 to Wednesday June 27On a fine warm North Carolina morning I set out to climb Clingman's Dome. Here are a few factoids about it, before we get started:It's the highest point on the Appalachian Trail.It's the highest point in the state of Tennessee.Its summit observation tower is pretty close to ADA-accessible. Wheelchairs and stroller will make it, but not without assistance (the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-8637402100027386332007-06-28T10:05:00.000-04:002007-07-09T16:26:18.308-04:00

Saturday June 23Today was divided between preparing for tomorrows departure into the Smokies, and a drive to the south of Asheville. The first destination, which was really more of an excuse for a country drive (besides being South Carolina's highest point), was Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina. Read the link, it's a decent description of what to expect. (My consolation is that I already

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-86621181296006897452007-06-23T11:14:00.000-04:002007-08-10T10:38:09.180-04:00

Thursday June 21This day was partly a logistics day. Some necessary shopping, some supplies for at least tomorrow's assault on Mount Mitchell. I also visited the Folk Arts Center, which has nice displays and sales of contemporary regional folk arts, and a cool display on the design and construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway, going into some detail on the design principles that make the road as

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-70579661841219239822007-06-21T12:03:00.000-04:002007-08-10T10:46:34.942-04:00

Monday, June 18Today I drove down a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic road stretches from Northern Virginia to southwestern North Carolina. Today I drove about 100 miles, taking about 4 hours, including stops to enjoy views and such along the way. I made my way west along an extremely windy stretch of US 58 to Virginia's Grayson Highlands State Park.This gem of a park contains

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-73795823682323587502007-06-18T12:19:00.000-04:002007-08-10T10:53:13.520-04:00

Saturday, June 16Leave Cambridge 9:45. Arrive Pine Grove Furnace State Park (PA) about 6:15. In between I noticed that Russell isn't the only one going to or through Newfoundland. (Newfoundland, PA is just east of Scranton.)Unbeknownst to me, Pine Grove Furnace State Park is the semi-official 1/2-way point on the Appalachian Trail! I chatted with some through-hikers while there, and read the

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-10711676698899595722007-06-11T18:20:00.000-04:002007-08-10T10:20:18.929-04:00

Hi there, I'm back!The upcoming adventure this time is of a different sort. I'm about to sell the Raving Manse, and move into a slightly cozier abode in a nearby town. As I am forced by the unfortunate juxtaposition of property closings to be homeless for a period of 3 1/2 weeks, I am availing myself of this homeless period to embark on a modest road trip. Destination: North CarolinaWhat's

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-1166395049175918712006-12-17T17:27:00.000-05:002007-02-04T13:22:53.748-05:00

This entry contains the links to my blog entries for the fall 2006 trip to South America, in chronological order from oldest to newest.For readers who have been following along in my travels, you can revisit the entries up to Pucón to see pictures, which have been added. For those who didn't follow along, you'll have to read on to find out why there aren't more pictures than that.I've also

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-1166048437094425472006-12-13T17:03:00.000-05:002007-02-04T13:22:32.403-05:00

My time in Lima was, well, somewhat uninspiring.Lima is a difficult city to navigate. There is no subway; there are no organized, documented, bus routes. Taxis are risky; gringos are likely to be scammed, and you have to negotiate prices. I had arranged transport to the hotel ahead of time (the round trip costing more than one night's hotel room), and the driver described how people were often

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-1165844130739417192006-12-11T08:15:00.000-05:002007-02-04T13:21:56.674-05:00

I think I will remember yesterday (Sunday December 10) for a while. It's not often that you get to observe people celebrating the death of their former dictator.I spent much of yesterday just enjoying the parks of Santiago, since I didn't have much else that I really wanted to do, and I had an evening flight to Lima. At around 1:30 I was in Parque Bustamante, which is south of Plaza Italia.

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-1165695516801431322006-12-09T15:13:00.000-05:002007-02-04T13:21:33.438-05:00

The ice cream in Chile (and Argentina) is pretty good. While it's not up to the very best that Boston and Italy have to offer, it's pretty close. And the portion size for the price is also pretty good. For about US$1.50 I get a "small" which is about the size of a typical New England small cup -- somewhere between 1 and 1.5 cups of ice cream.But they have flavors here that we don't see often

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-1165629323889747862006-12-08T20:42:00.000-05:002007-02-04T13:21:08.302-05:00

I went to Valparaiso today. While it is a city with a certain charm, I was not as taken by it as some people (like, say, Pablo Neruda) have been. It has a charm similar to that of, say, Venice. It's a place that was once great, but no longer is. There are buildings that predate a 1906 earthquake that are beautiful. The city is full of colorfully-painted, if poorly constructed, houses that

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13703306.post-1165523681287112532006-12-07T15:28:00.000-05:002007-02-04T13:20:33.909-05:00

So yesterday's objective was to get to Santiago from Bariloche. This was accomplished by almost reversing the buses taken to get to Bariloche in the first place.The first bus, leaving at 9 in the morning, took the same pass over the Andes as the one going the other way, only it left me in Osorno instead of Valdivia.I can report that Osorno is even more boring than Valdivia was. I was there for

Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962167404633374555noreply@blogger.com0