Signs of Spring .4 /  by Dave Hileman

Now we are at the most improbable sign of spring - at least in the form for gardens are indeed underway. But what sets this apart is that I am now farming. Yup. (That’s farmer talk for yes) I - who have not grown anything other than a few herbs in a pot at someone’s request, now have a pretty big spread. I am farming more than 16 square feet. I installed a raised bed that is 8 by 2 and 17 inches deep and filled it according to my choice of many YouTube videos that all purport to be the very best way. Not sure which one i picked. Anyway I have quite a crop started. There are Tomatoes both in the tub and in an auxiliary field :), lettuces, chard, spinach, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and strawberries. Certainly by summer you will find me at the local farmers market vending all my produce to hungry customers.

Perhaps this ought to have been posted on 4/1.

You can find my theme song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzT1kO_-xbQ

Signs of Spring .3 /  by Dave Hileman

This sign of spring requires you to look up. Always a good idea at least metaphorically.

Tune in tomorrow for the most unexpected sign of spring or maybe in the mode of Don Quixote

2 Hikes 2 Walks 1 Nice Day .4 /  by Dave Hileman

Our last walk was at the Alvin York State Historic Site. Sergeant York was a reluctant WWI war hero and all the honors he obtained he well deserved. This small park in a remote Tennessee valley is still very rural and several of his descendants live in the area. The park consists of portions of his farm and house, which was a gift to him by the people of Tennessee, his store - now the Visitor Center, his mill and some reconstruction things like a replica of a WWI trench. There was more to see and a house tour which we did not have time for but we are planning a return visit someday. Jill and I also watched on YouTube the movie about him starring Gary Cooper, it held up pretty well and is a great story.

2 Hikes 2 Walks 1 Nice Day .3 /  by Dave Hileman

Our second hike was not too long but very interesting. It too, like yesterday’s short walk around the lake, was at Pickett State Park in Tennessee but this time to a cave. You start down about 25 steps, familiar process with hikes here, and then walk about 1/3 mile to this vast arched open cave. It went in quite a distance and the effect was of an amphitheater where you might come to hear a concert. There was a small stream fed by water dripping down the walls of the cave and filled with rhododendron that must look beautiful in the summer.

2 Hikes 2 Walks 1 Nice Day .2 /  by Dave Hileman

The first "walk” was brief. It was over a swimming bridge and across the top of this small lake at Picketts State Park in Tennessee. So, I have added a few more of the Twin Arches hike from yesterday. Picketts is adjacent to the Big South Fork area and besides the lake had very nice cabins. All this was built by the CCC in the 1930s and this particular park honors those workers.

2 Hikes 2 Walks 1 Nice Day .1 /  by Dave Hileman

On Saturday Jill and two friends (Jim and Leann) drove north of Knoxville to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. It is immense park covering 125,000 acres on the Tennessee and Kentucky border. The drive took about 2 hours to our first stop the Twin Arches trail. These are two large arches and if they were out west at Arches National Park they would be among the stars of the show. Here, because they are remote and in the midst of a vast forest they are popular but the parking lot only holds about 20 cars and the dirt and gravel road - one lane for much of it - is nearly 5 miles long to get to the hike starting point. But what a treat for a big payoff with just over a 1.5 mile hike (and 100 stairs on each leg of the trail) on the loop trail.

I was able to squeeze, literally, through this opening - cool spot.

A River Runs Through It: Bow and Saskatchewan /  by Dave Hileman

Linking both Banff and Jasper National Parks in Canada along the Icefield Parkway are a series of lakes that link the Bow River in the south to the Saskatchewan near Jasper. Some of the most breathtaking scenery along the highway and well worth frequent stops to stand in awe of the created beauty. Here are photos from that section but I no longer know exactly which lake or what river I was when the shot was taken. So suffice to say the Bow and the Saskatchewan, enjoy.

A River Runs Through It: Niobrara in Nebraska /  by Dave Hileman

The Niobrara National Scenic River runs across the southern edge of most of the state of Nebraska - It may dip into Kansas at times because while we flollowed the course of the river for many miles it was often not close the the rural roads we were on. There were many bright spots along the way including an historic bridge and a new bird, a Lark Sparrow.

A River Runs Through It: Obed in Tennessee .1 /  by Dave Hileman

From the NPS web site: “The Obed Wild and Scenic River looks much the same today as it did when the first white settlers strolled its banks in the late 1700s. While meagerly populated due to poor farming soil, the river was a hospitable fishing and hunting area for trappers and pioneers. Today, the Obed stretches along the Cumberland Plateau and offers visitors a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.” I took these about six years ago now I live 90 minutes away.

Low Country Vignettes .4 /  by Dave Hileman

Our last look - for now - from the South Carolina coast. All these shots are from the Magnolia Plantation near Charleston. Lovely day on their grounds. The gardens here have been a tourist destination since 1870! I shall ask Dennis what it was like back then. The gardens are also one of the countries best collection of camellias. The gator was an only about 5 feet but just a bit off the path.

Low Country Vignettes .2 /  by Dave Hileman

On the pier for the ferry to Bull’s Island. The long pier and the attendant boat launch area also attracts fisherman and birds. This morning I was out with Dennis Mook of The Wandering Lensman blog. That is not Dennis in the photo but how your Costco gas attendant spends his day off!

Arrival

Departure

Low Country Vignettes /  by Dave Hileman

The Low County is basically coastal South Carolina though it may include a part of Georgia. These are some shots from my week there a couple of weeks ago. First up is Fort Moultrie. It is a part of the Charleston defense system in place before the Civil War and while the National Historical Park is known as “Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie” the latter is not very well known even though it was an active fort well before the Civil War and was manned until the end of WWII. This fort was used in the bombardment of Fort Sumter that opened the drama we know as the American Civil War.

Fort Sumter is mostly hidden behind the tree in the center of the photo but the cannon is one that was used in the opening days of the Civil War. This is a more tranquil scene with kites, bikers, beach walkers and dogs along the beach.

Tugs ply these harbor waters all day. Fort Sumter is visible on the horizon in the right of the photo.

THis 35 star flag was an authorized flag for two years 1863 and 1864 the new star representing West Virginia. The tower is q WWII observation and communication addition.