Wildflowers Of March 2023

The Wildflower Blog...once a centerpiece of this space. But, last year, while I had plenty of motivation to take pictures of wildflowers, I had far less in getting them up on the blog. The last edition on the Tales was in 2021. Well, that is going to change in 2023. I am going to try and get wildflowers up. If that's once a month or weekly, I will try and just use some of the ones I take. Anyway, with that said, here we go...

Walker Cemetery, Greene County, TN (03-23)

Periwinkle

Tusculum Trail, Tusculum, TN (03-23)

Field Pansy

Dandelion

St. Clair, TN (03-25)

Blue Violet

Laurel Run Park, Hawkins County (03-26)

Dwarf  Larkspur

Golden Ragwort

Canada Violet

Rue Anemone

Trout Lilies

Carolina Springbeauty

Wakerobin Trillium

Quaker Ladies Bluet

Halberdleaf Yellow Violet

Appalachian Trail, Cherokee-Pisgah NF (03-30)

(Above) Downy Yellow Violet; (Below) Carolina Springbeauty

SmugMug Photos

Quick Sunday Hiking To Laurel Run Falls

This past Sunday I was scheduled to go to Johnson City for First Aid/CPR Training because I missed the one I was scheduled to do in February because of COVID. But since that was in the afternoon I had the morning to do a hike and I chose Laurel Run Park.

My First-aid/CPR Class in Boones Creek.

I chose Laurel Run because it wasn't out of my way. See my training was actually in Boones Creek which was before Johnson City. However, the main reason is there aren't too many places in early spring that has the wildflowers this small park in Hawkins County has. It also would allow me to run my drone, which I didn't get on my last trip here (I forgot the SD card). Since I only had a set amount of time, I planned to go to the main waterfall. But, I still went up the Overlook Trail on the slopes of Canebreak Mountain. There are always wildflowers going up and plenty coming down the other side. While I will try and do a Wildflower blog I have to say I didn't know if it was too early for a Drooping Wakerobin (Trillium). 

Heading up the Overlook Trail.

The Overlook

(Clockwise) Carolina Spring Beauty, Wakerobin, Trout Lily, Fond Fern, Twinleaf.

When I reached Laurel Run Falls I wanted to run the drone over it. Now I have run the drone around waterfalls before, but this was the most turbulence I have encountered. The drone would be pushed one way by a side draft, pushed by a down draft, and then lifted. No, other waterfall matched this. So, I decided to bring it in for a landing and as I was landing a side draft pushed into my chest and the drone crashed. It was okay and so was my chest.

When I got back I tested the drone and it was just fine. I flew it over the park and got some great views of the Holston River. My chest probably faired worse than my drone. I was happy and most of all so was Pete.

SmugMug Photos

Sunday Shredding Trail Day With The Hiking Machine!

Hell yeah! The Hiking Machine is back and crushing trail! I dragged the Lummox out of bed and to Laurel Run Park. See, he had first-aid/CPR training on Sunday. Since it wasn't until after lunch I said "we're hiking!" The Lummox was still dragging from AT trail work. I was ready to go...Thursday afternoon. Anyway, while I shredded trail he got to look at wildflowers and crash his drone...LOL! Well, with that, there is only one more thing, I'm out...BITCHES!

First Post COVID Trail Work Day With Carolina Mountain Club

Since having COVID, I have slowly been getting back to normal. Whether it was my first hike or getting my taste back. One more thing I had to get back on the horse for was doing trail work. So, on Thursday, I headed back out with the Carolina Mountain Club and to where I had worked before the Appalachian Trail (AT) reroute near Log Cabin Road near Allen Gap.

Cemetery near our work site...

A bridge under construction from Dec. (L), Jan, (R) & Cover Photo after its completion.

A Wood Booger leans Grip Hoist (Dec.), heading out (Jan.) & Thursday...

This is the third time I have been out with my fellow club members and every time has been working on this trail relocation. For most of these times, I have done the same job...stump pulling, and that is what I was doing today. It isn't easy, and one particular stump was a pain to remove. 

I tried to pace myself, but I was operating the grip hoist, I was digging out around the stumps and chopped roots with a Pulaski. I will admit that after lunch, I was pretty gassed and took out early. While a hard day, it was good to be back out. Also, Pete was happy just to be on the AT...( Photos of me by Kit Ogburn).

The group gets finally instructions.

Some of our hard work.

Sawing Trees.

(Above) Removing stumps! (Below) part of the new reroute (L) & old AT (R).

SmugMug Photos

The Hiking Machine Is Back In The Saddle Again!

Finally! The Hiking Machine is back in the saddle and back on a trail! While it was just a trail over at the Cabin, I will f***ing take it! I know all the Peteoholics are having withdrawals from not reading of my exploits. Well, there is a reason I haven't had none! If you have seen the posts and blogs from the blockhead known as the Lummox, you will know that the idiot caught COVID from a bunch of mouthbreathers! Now, besides the fact I continue to mask (yes, I have questioned the Lummox about his masking habits), my constitution is just too strong for the virus to take hold, unlike the weak and puny Lummox. So, I have been on the sidelines chomping at the bit while that wuss recovered. Finally, this past week, we finally got out in "Fort Blackmore" and I finally could get some trail time in. I wanted to go up my Knob, but the Lummox was too weak. If I had let him, we would have just gone to the barn and back. So, we compromised on the Superloop, but the hard direction (down the road and back). While I was fine shredding trail and crushing the miles the Lummox, predictably, the Lummox struggled. I thought I would lose him at the other barn, and we still had the big climb. Let's just say I had a sore back. We got a break when we got to the top of (Wood Booger) Ridge as he wanted to run the drone. If it gets him out on the trail then I'm fine with the damn thing. It also made my trip back easier because the Lummox wasn't all the dead weight after the break. 

After we got back, he relaxed by the fire, and I thought about my next outings. Oh, I forgot there were some guys putting in fiber optic or something like that. The Lummox asked about the internet, and I was like, "HELL NO, I will never get him on the trail." Well with that there is one more thing...wait for it...I'm out BITCHES!!!

The Post COVID Clock Was Ticking On Getting Some Maple Syrup Done!

Do you remember when I tapped trees back in early February...I didn't either and the time arrived to cook it down to Maple syrup. Actually, it was past time. I pulled the taps the day before I was diagnosed with COVID. So, my plan to cook down the sap was delayed because of being sick & then getting a "RONA" Rebound. After three weeks that meant the clock was ticking on the sap, I gathered (not to, also, mentioned what I had frozen last year). See, sap does go bad eventually. Since I already had sap in the freezer I didn't have room for more and it needed to be used eventually. 

So this weekend it was time...and I mean it takes a lot of time to make Maple Syrup. I started at 9 am and finished around 8 pm, that's 11 hours. At that time it is mostly about the gathering of wood and feeding the fire. For the first six hours, I had two pots, to which I add sap before boiling it off. Finally, I get it to one pot for two more hours. 

Around 6 pm it gets to the point where I need a more controlled boil and move it to an induction burner. Then it is 500° before it gets down to that final hour where I reduce the temperature and watch the candy thermometer get to 219° which time it is done. I always ask if is it worth the work? I keep doing it so I guess that is the answer...

Finally After Three Weeks I'm Negative!

Just an update on my blog from Friday...I finally tested negative for COVID! While I have been feeling better it is great to get the negative test...