Galaxy S21 Ultra

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. From the Louisiana Tourist Center, complete with the sounds of an accompanying distant chainsaw. Video: 25 Seconds

Toledo Bend Reservoir, Louisiana. Day Three. Natchitoches, Louisiana to Beaumont, Texas.

Eclipse glasses — Ginger and Gary ready for the annular eclipse, in Odessa, Texas. Annular Eclipse Trip Day Four. 8

Nowhere – State Highway 206, New Mexico — Day Three. We stopped to grab a quick video of the impressive nothingness here for the folks back home. Within ten minutes a couple of guys (from the buildings you can see in the distance behind the water tank) turned up to check on us. It is not as deserted as it might appear! Video: 30 seconds

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

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.

Visitor — It’s not the first time I’ve shared my tarp with an amphibian when it rains.

Lunch Stop — Time for lunch, a cup of tea, some noodles and summer sausage. +2

Back at the Trailhead — Two nights, 18.5 miles, and 1400 ft. of elevation. It took me a smidge under two hours to hike the four-and-something miles from ‘Cab Creek’ to the Tower Trailhead. One-minute read

Camped at ‘Cab Creek’ — Finally, the sun is high enough to start warming things up. I went and sat in the sun on the other side of ‘Cab Creek’ and enjoyed the morning. +3

Day Three – tea in bed at ‘Cab Creek’. Note the sun just rising above the edge of the hollow.

I’ve taken pictures here before also, but, again, each time the light, the vegetation and the trail are different.

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