Look Familiar?

Hike Ku for Hellcat Swamp Trail

Leaf percussion drifts
Across a rustle of grass
Salt marsh band plays on

Hike Ku for Sandy Point Loop

Reflecting water
Sunset glories on the beach
Look up and look down








We made our way back out to Plum Island, since this is the weekend of the 60/60 return. We've been to Plum Island before of course, with you (Sarah) as well as on our own previous hiking adventures. I'm quite happy to note that the birds are as lively and present as they ever have been, although on this particular evening the mosquitoes were equally lively and present. Damn. After a morning preaching gig at work and an afternoon nap to sleep off the night before at the Z's, we headed out for an evening sunset hike. It was stunning as the pictures can atest. The only hitch was that we ended up staggering across the dunes trails - which are not all that direct - as the sun went down and by the time, we got back to the car and on the way back out on the refuge road - it was after hours. At which point the security guy stopped our car and gave us a scolding. Since it was obvious that we weren't drinking -although Steve was clutching a salami (part of his picnic dinner, as well as his heritage)- we escaped with only the scolding, no fine. I wondered if that was the security officer you (Sarah) remembered from your days on the refuge. You know, the one with anger management issues? We didn't stick around to see how he handled all the people we had left behind at Sandy Point, including a rather drunk fisherman. Ah summer nights at Parker River. Makes you nostalgic, doesn't it?

Wood Orchids

Hike Ku for Ravenswood Park

No Mountain Laurel
Though Blue Iris flags blooming
Lady Slippers too

We headed out early, before the heat (and since I have a sermon to edit into shape, an afternoon of working for me) to pick up another one of the 60/60. This one at Ravenswood in Gloucester. I've been there before, Steve and I hiked it during our mad dash to complete the 50 hikes in Massachusetts challenge. It was the last in a day of three hikes - we started early in the mountains and raced through Ravenswood as the November light faded. I believe we ended in the darkness. Since that outing had more of a flavor of nature as treadmill, we didn't really savor the hike as much as I would have liked, so it was nice to redeem the outing by a more leisurely amble. Not too, leisurely mind you, the mosquitoes were doing a fine job of herding us through the woods, since every time we stopped they settled on exposed flesh for a morning snack. And then there were the other dogs and the attendant stress of having some big thing charging toward Rascal . No doubt they onnly want to give a friendly sniff, but since she is the demon spawn of the Bitch Goddess, Rascal only wants battle. Not the most relaxing way to hike. The good news was that most of our hike was in the more remote part of the park where we had it to ourselves. And the demon spawn of course. We had read that Swamp Magnolias and Mountain Laurel would be blooming in early summer, but it must be about a week too early. No blooming this morning - at least not on the trees. The irises were spectacular in the marsh and like most of the other places I've been in the past week, Middlesex Fells and Monadnock, wood orchids -Lady Slippers- galore. We even caught sight of a couple of water lilies - the lotus types.

Now to that sermon, or at least to some new way to procrastinate. Maybe I'll make the pie that I've got planned for dinner at the Z's tonight. . .

Hey I'm Back

After this blog's significant hiatus -I'm back. Why? Because I actually have things to write about. With the improving weather and a slight let up in the crazy mad work days, we're back out hiking, I'm starting to get a handle on my sleep again (which mean's I'm actually getting sleep) and summer is beginning. Stay tuned for random hikes. Hike Ku. The occasional crazy leg. And pictures of epic meals we have loved and eaten. And when July rolls around - tales of the fair Sarah's stateside adventures.