Hammock Camping in Paddy Creek Wilderness — As it is going to be a short day in terms of mileage, I don’t have to rush to get on the trail. I took the time to light up my Firebox Nano stove for my morning coffee, breakfast, and a follow-up cuppa tea.
Morning view from my hammock — Day Two, Camped in Paddy Creek Wilderness.
Ooh, it fits! Camped in Paddy Creek Wilderness, at a spot I’ve nicknamed Paddy Creek Trolltunga. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, December 2023.
The well was dry — I was surprised to spy a rat at the bottom of the well.
Gary on the trail (and a new hat, too) — on the South Loop at the short cut junction. Backpacking the Big Piney Trail, December 2023.
Sun burst through the trees — Taken on the South Loop at the short cut to the North Loop trail junction. I’m continuing on the South Loop — into the sun. It took me just over three-and-a-half hours to get here.
Not a lot of water — This is Little Paddy Creek. I’ve never seen it this low, it was not really running. That doesn’t bode well for my trip. And all the small springs I have passed so far have been dry too. 2
Roby Lake Trailhead — The Big Piney Trail, December 2023. And my plans for a four-day, three-night trip. Three-minute read, +1
Sea Rim State Park, Texas.
Beach Camping at Sea Rim State Park, Texas — We had the whole beach to ourselves and 80°F in November. We saw some alligator tracks in the sand, and when it got dark, we found out why we had the beach to ourselves — hordes of ferocious mosquitoes. +1
Fish – Toledo Bend Reservoir, Tourist Information Center, Louisiana.
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Louisiana. Day Three. Natchitoches, Louisiana to Beaumont, Texas.
US 71 in Louisiana. Day Two. Hot Springs, Arkansas to Natchitoches, Louisiana. +1
Annular Eclipse Timelapse — A series of hand-held photographs of the Annular Eclipse taken by Ginger on her cell phone using a pair of eclipse glasses held in front of the lens.
Eclipse glasses — Ginger and Gary ready for the annular eclipse, in Odessa, Texas. Annular Eclipse Trip Day Four. 8
Day One — Annular Eclipse Trip. The plan is simple. We have set aside three days to drive to Odessa, Texas, which is in the middle of the Annular Eclipse track, where the weather is set to be clear and cold. We’ll watch the eclipse and then spend two or three days driving home. +2
Small Product Photography Setup — Once we’ve been using it for a while and know what we like and don’t like, I’ll tidy away the cables and power supplies. Until then, it’s going to be a bit messy.
Harbinger — The yellow light at sunset is a warning of the incoming storm.
Lanie’s been in Europe since December. It’s been my job to give her car a run out every now and then while she’s gone. One has to do these things in style 🙂 +1
Family range time — We organized a family trip down to the Sound of Freedom in Ozark and had some fun. Katie is trying out a scope on a pistol. Gary is reloading. There was also a new AR15 to be tried out and sighted in, and some other new handguns we’d not taken down the range.
I finally found a use for one of the few small rock samples I have collected over the years. I also tried out some new (to me) technologies in creating this post.
Cats need glasses — and Morty agrees (sort of). Anything for a fluffy lap to sit on. +1
Ginger & Morty — Morty has a particularly strong headbutt.
Scenic Overlook of Paddy Creek on the Big Piney Trail, Paddy Creek Wilderness, Missouri.