On the Trail in Spring

April 26, 2008

I'm back on the Trail, enjoying springtime in the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area. Here's some wildlife that I met along the way - I was glad it wasn't a rattle snake. Up here at 4,000 feet elevation spring is in an early stage, but the through-hikers are out in force. 

Show and Tell ...

April 15, 2008

Here's our corn leaf dracaena (dracaena fragrans) in bloom! A thrilling event that happens every 2 or 3 years - our plant lives in our bathroom where it likes the bay windows and humidity.

Every morning a selection of flowers begins to open, by evening they are wide open and the smell is just incredible all night. When we wake up in the morning the flowers have shriveled and a new set are starting. It goes on for almost a week with such great fragrance and also some very sticky sap droplets falling from the stem. It seems to be a plant native to Hawaii - we've had ours for 25 or 30 years.

And just in time, too - I'm getting psyched to get back on the Trail next week! So look forward to more adventure stories from southern parts.

Globalization in the Time of Falling $$

February 27, 2008

We had a delightful week in Rome thanks to the Italian psych conference which invited Bob to speak - deluxe digs at the hilltop Cavalieri Hilton and plenty of time for sight-seeing.

Here Bob enjoys the sunshine in the upper courtyard of the Castel Sant'Angelo next to the statue of St. Michael.

After his presentation we jetted off to Sicily for a few days of even warmer sunshine.


If you are fond of travel slide shows ... lots of pictures can be viewed at these links:
http://homepage.mac.com/char46r/PhotoAlbum25.html
http://homepage.mac.com/char46r/PhotoAlbum26.html

Snowy Day at Velvet Rocks

February 7, 2008

Here's Oscar who went barefoot as usual, while I depended on my trusty snowshoes.

While visiting my mom at Kendal in New Hampshire, we got our excercise by hiking up the AT from Hanover to Velvet Rocks Shelter. I love this new shelter built last year with Japanese-style timber framing. I got my snow fix - not much of it in southern Connecticut this year.

Wintering with Butterflies

January 2008

On Bob's wishlist - a trip to the refuges in Mexico where millions of monarch butterflies gather from every place east of the Rockies into 12 or so tiny spots in the mountains of Michoacan.

None of our Spanish speaking relatives could spare time to go with us, so we had to manage on our own - a big adventure with Char's 20 words of espanol and Bob's books of instructions. Once we managed to get out of Mexico City, we had a fine time cruising through the country-side and up the mountain roads to Angangueo, from where we visited two of the sanctuaries that are open to visitors.

For pictures, visit this photo album: http://homepage.mac.com/char46r/PhotoAlbum24.html

Holiday Time

December 27, 2007

We were at home for Christmas, with Louisa, Li Zhuang, Mabel, and little Bea visiting. Abby and Dennis spent the holiday with relatives in southern California.

The background is the Scottish Highlands from last June's trip; insets include Charlotte in Maine, Bob in the Smokies with his cellphone, gps, and ipod, and at the bottom Oscar with Bea on West Rock here at home.

I've been hiking regularly in Connecticut with the local AMC chapter, trying to stay in shape while dreaming of getting back on the trail in spring.

New Jersey's Pochuck Quagmire

November 13, 2007

As a side trip I re-visited the Pochuck Creek crossing, an area where suburban development has left only the swamp land free for the Trail.

Back in 2001 when I was hiking this area, I looked out from the heights trail north, and spied this tall suspension bridge in the distance. But alas, there was no path to get to it - so the AT then was a road walk detour.

In 2002 the connecting boardwalks were finished by the hard-working trail builders, so now we can stroll over a mile of walkways through the marshes, crossing the bridge in the middle.

You can see this route clearly on Google Earth as well.

View Larger Map

It seems a popular route for local aerobic walkers, bird- and butterfly-watchers.

This is probably the last new addition to my AT miles for 2007 - I'm up to 1557 miles total - can't wait for spring 2008!