Hiking and dried apples

Loretta and I got together to hike Green Mountain/Stanley Gap area.  We met up at Panorama Orchards shop and I picked up some apples to dehydrate.  We also got fried apple pies and I had two beers stashed in my pack, for some fun.

Loretta had a pretty bad break in her arm from a recent crash.  She is off the bike for a while and is exploring other options.

I'm sure the doctors told her climbing over downed trees and scrambling up the hillside to find a trail was the best thing for her arm.....  :>)

Look closely, because she left half her clothes and her water bottle somewhere out on the trail.  Yes, we played strip hike along the way.

Beer and Apple Pies at the peak!

It was a great hike with a yummy burger at the local tavern, after.

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Jansen noticed this sign outside our bank.....just thought I would throw it in here.

More hiking at IHP

Wetland area

And finally some riding!

AT and BM section Hikes

First, local hiking with the boys and Serena.

I enjoy our hikes together.

Then Serena and I packed up for the mountains.   Here a crew is stripping the limbs from the road side of the trees.

Serena is packed up and ready to go.

I kept our miles to 12-14 a day, since Serena hasn't been running with me much lately.

After the first day of 12 miles on the Benton Mackaye trail, she was toast.  We slept well, even though it was 22 degrees.

14 mile route to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

I had not hiked this section in years, but the trail was in great condition.

We easily reached the plaque at the start of the AT.

Springer Mountain

And were rewarded with a very foggy view.  The icey white forest was amazing!

So pretty.

Gorgeous white and no BUGS!

We detoured on the Benton Mackaye on the way back to add some more miles.

Back down by the river near Three Forks.

On to hike another section toward Hightower Gap/Cooper Gap Rds.

With the foliage gone, the views were awesome!

I could stay up here forever!

Old Dogs and Halloween and Stuff

My running/hiking partner has to stay home.  Indy is a golden retriever and his is 10-11 years old.  (from the animal shelter, so age isn't accurate)  He has a problem with his back and the vet told us earlier this year that he can no longer play with me.  My response was, "Well he can hike instead of run, right?"  "No"  "But he can go in the kayak with me, because he just sits there while I paddle, right?"  Dr. Krueger chuckles and says"No, he needs to stay home.  He really can't go out with you anymore, for anything"  I just couldn't fathom.  He's my partner in crime and he LOVES being outside.  It makes him happy.

But, his eyes are cloudy, his hearing is not good and he has a hard time laying down and standing up.  He wanders around the house like a senile banshee, click-clacking incessantly through most of the night.  He forgets what he is supposed to do when walking in the back yard and often comes back inside, then tinkles on the floor.  He is comfortable and as happy as he can be without running through the woods, so we will wait and see what the future brings.

On to happy news.  Everett decided at the last minute to be the scarecrow for Halloween again this year.  He skipped it last year and we missed the fun times, but he is busy working and going to school, so we understood.

This time he texted me the evening of Halloween and said he decided to do it.  We drove to the square in Covington and as soon as he stepped out of the car a kid yelled, "Look, it's the scarecrow!"  And the evening just got better and better watching people walk into each other and shriek when they saw him move.  So much fun and  perfect weather!  Thanks Everett!!

My Aunt Alyce gave me a glass tile made by Katy LaReau, several years ago.  I have since picked up a tile each time I go to Newport.  I had 5 tiles, but the original one broke.  I contacted Katy and asked her is she could make a replacement and she did.  I then wanted a place to hang them where they would be safe and out of the way.

I found a piece of lumber in the garage and beat it with anything I could find.  Bike chains, chain rings, hammer, screwdriver:  then I stained it with some leftover stain we had.  I put three hangers on the back and cup hooks on the bottom.  I placed it over the french doors and added two more tiles for a total of 6.  It looks pretty good and I have room for several more.