Adventures of Kim and Sam

Grand Isle Birding

2011-04-05T18:02:00.016-05:00

It's Tuesday and a front has passed through last night, making for a north wind today - favored conditions for a bird migration "fallout". So, we head down to the coast, Grand Isle for a day of birding.

Turns out that the fallout didn't occur, and we struggle to see a few species of migrating warblers. The highlight of the day was back at the "Exxon ponds" on the east end of the Island. Here we were delighted to find many of our old shorebird friends.

Watching the Reddish Egret do it's dance while hunting for fish is always a treat, but the best shot of the day was this one, where in a single frame we have the Reddish, a Little Blue, a Tricolor, common Egret and several Snowy Egrets - Wow - all five at once - unusual indeed!

Arrive in Louisiana!

2011-04-03T22:28:00.001-05:00

It's Sunday afternoon, and as we approach the Scott exit (just outside of Lafayette) the rig is magically drawn off I-10 to the north for a quick stop at Best Stop. Anyone living in Louisiana will tell you that their smoked Boudin, and fresh Cajun sausage is absolutely ranked No. 1 in the State! A few pounds of each should get us off to a good start on sampling once again that wonderful Cajun cooking.

It's not too much longer before we arrive at our first destination, Angelle's Whiskey River Bar. This place has been around for many a year, and is noted for it's rockin' Cajun & Zydeco music starting at 4pm every Sunday afternoon!

As the cars keep rolling in over the top of the levee, we enjoy the beautiful view of the Henderson Swamp behind-

Folks step up to the forty-some year old bar as Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie take the stage!

Within minutes, the floor is moving to the beat of that great Zydeco! Hey, WE'RE IN LOUISIANA NOW!

LOUISIANA DISCOURAGES RV TOURISM!

2011-04-03T15:38:00.002-05:00

Kim & I were shocked today when we pulled into our favorite Fausse Point State Park in Henderson Louisiana. Louisiana, as of this year, has increased their State Park rates by some 20% and has removed the 50% senior citizen discount for all non-Louisiana residents.

While we support the effort to make State Parks affordable for locals, the removal of extra help for visiting seniors in a time of high fuel costs and rising inflation is a serious mistake! In an effort to increase revenues, the blind Louisiana legislature and Office of State Parks fails to realize the tremendous loss of tourism dollars to the State that this policy will cause.

So, fellow RVers please join us in our boycott of all Louisiana State Parks!

On the Road Again!

2011-03-31T17:13:00.041-05:00

We off to a life of RVing adventure once again. But we are not able to leave New Mexico without a few surprises. The morning before leaving, we're greeted by some of the neighbors. I guess they felt that "good bye's" were in order!

Driving out Red Rock Road, a local cowboy bids us farewell.

By Thursday noon we pull into the Escapees RV Village in Livingston, Texas. Luckily, we get one of our favorite spots in the older section of the campground. It's great to see the fresh lime-green colos of spring! A few days of business here in Texas and we're off to Louisiana.

KIM OPENS NEW HANDMADE JEWELRY SITE!

2011-02-15T17:32:00.000-06:00

Kim has become very involved in making unique southwestern jewelry.
see her beautiful work here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/burromtnarts

Mark Competes in First Ironman!

2010-10-20T18:29:00.002-05:00

my Son Mark competed this past weekend in a half ironman in Austin. Finished 2nd in his age division out of about 150, and 36th overall out of over 2000 competitors! Check it out at his new website:

http://markbfry.com/

This Place is Amazing!

2010-08-10T16:50:00.001-05:00

Watching the Rufus & Allen Hummingbirds yesterday evening, fighting over the feeders...

Then believe it or not, picking apples, yes apples right here in Silver City!

Last Day on the San Juan

2010-08-02T13:33:00.003-05:00

No fishing trip would be complete without catching and tasting a few fish. So last evening at the Cottonwood Campground, Jonatan & I caught these nice Brown Trout - pretty tastey!

Jonathan Fishes the San Juan River with Andy Kim!

2010-08-01T23:55:00.184-05:00

For those of you that haven't read the former post on fishing the San Juan, you should to get the background on the River. Read it first here:
http://adventures-kim-sam.blogspot.com/2010/07/trout-fishing-on-san-juan-river.html

Having met master guide Andy Kim a couple of weeks ago, and knowing that Jonathan would be here soon, I decided to hire Andy for a day to help us catch those big San Juan Trout! Andy's been guiding & fishing the River for over sixteen years, and has developed his own fool-proof systems and flies for use with his clients. He specializes in wade fishing, and has very high success with his customers. After reading this post, should you decide to fish the San Juan, Jonathan and I highly recommend Andy for your first day. You won't regret it, I caught more fish, of larger size with Andy's coaching in a single day than Ken & I had for the entire week before!
http://www.yspecial.com/ Be sure to click on "Andy's YouTube" in the left sidebar to view tha great video he shot of us on the water. And if you're wondering, all the photos & videos are part of his service!

We got an early start, and Andy was surprised to see the light fog layer rising above the water when we first reached the Kiddie Hole. I knew from that moment that we'd have a great day!

We were barely in the water before Andy had us rigged up with a couple of "Young's Special" and after a little coaching had turned me loose and was working with Jonathan. Since Jonathan had never held a fly rod, Andy's efforts included teaching this first timer the in's & out's of casting and mending the line.

His patience with a twelve year old student was amazing. He actually mentioned he loves to teach kids - unlike us adults, they haven't learned any bad habits like me! My bass fishing experience doesn't apply to fly fishing at all.

I decided to move a little upstream and was soon rewarded with a nice "hookup". Even though it fought like a monster, turned out to be a fifteen incher.

Jonathan sees the action, and moves up beside me in one of Andy's "honey holes" and proceeds to get a nice one on almost immediately. Interesting how fast kids pick up on new things.

Turns out it's a nicer one....

And before long Jonathan nails the biggest one for the day (Well that doesn't include the 22" 4pounder I fought for about 15 minutes only to lose due to a pulled out hook!)

More and more nice fish come quickly and easily as we gain confidence and technique.

Then there are those that even jump out of your wet hands!

In order to give Jonathan a break, Andy took him aside and let him catch some samples of bugs & baitfish...yummy trout food indeed.

As the day progresses, I look around the Kiddie Hole and realize that with Andy's system we are outcatching all the other fishermen by a factor of eight or ten to one. What a great way to learn and have lots of fun while doing it!

Finally the time came to get Jonathan into the netting action. Armed with Andy's big net, but a very fiesty fish on "Pop's" line, Jonathan makes multiple tries before bagging the fast critter, without knocking him off the line!

We end the day with some instruction of another kind - beaver dam destruction. Yep, the breavers dam up the free flowing waters, trapping trout in the process. With little water flow, and no food the trout soon die in the beaver ponds.

I think Jonathan had the most fun of the day right hear, he especially enjoyed having the honor of taking out the last big piece of this huge jigsaw puzzle...

So ended a great day on the River with a great instructor - Andy Kim!

Fun at Canyon de Chelly!

2010-07-29T21:40:00.130-05:00

Trying to keep things both educational and interesting for 13 year old Jonathan, we had a blast today on the unique "deuce & a half" tour of beautiful Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Northwest Arizona. What a unique collection of Anasazi ruins, fabulous views and interesting Navajo culture! We load up early to hit the Canyon,

and, of course there's only one way in and out of the Canyon by vehicle, yep, you guessed it right up the river!

First stop was at some pictographs for a few minutes explanation from our well-versed host, then we're off through the water again, blasting & bumping along in our pre-WWII army vehicle.

Around the next bend are our first set of ruins, dating back some 1000+ years, they were discovered and protected due to the hard work of Earle Morris and his collegues.

We get a nice glimpse of "Cat Rock" as we motor farther up the Canyon for more adventures.

Ruins and pictorgraphs abound ahead, nicely preserved for us moderns to vist the life of a past culture.

Jonathan & Kim enjoyed the native crafts, especially the jewelry and beadwork.

while across from the displays, a group is set up painting the colorful canyon walls before us!

Heading in farther, we pass "Fortress Rock" where Navajo's fought off U.S. cavalrymen for some two months, only to be captured later. http://www.navajotimes.com/news/2009/0609/060409fortress.php

We approach a very muddy area only to witness the tour truck in front of us get stuck! and everyone had to get out as both our driver and the driver of the stuck vehicle shovel extra sand under the tires and successfully get the truck moving again... our tall-tired 2-1/2 tonner got right through without any problems.

The Canyon walls get increasingly interesting and diverse...quite a few Navajo families "own" property along the Canyon floor and we see several Hogans (summer houses) along the way as evidence of their presence.

We are now in South Canyon headed for our last stop of the day,

As we pull up before "White House" ruin, one quickly sees why it is so named,

we have a relaxing rest at this stop, and Jonathan & Kim have plenty of time to inspect more of the exquisite Navajo beadwork.

On the way out we see a nice group of native horses. Many roam the Canyon, and are used to help maintain livestock in the area.

Out the way we came in, the sky has cleared and turned a deep contrasting blue, making for a nice final memory of the day's adventure!

Jonathan Hikes at the Grand Canyon!

2010-07-27T18:22:00.007-05:00

It was late afternoon when we arrived at the Canyon, so we went straight to the Bright Angel Lodge, out the back door, and Jonathan got his first awesome view! Conditions were a bit hazy, but I managed to get a couple of nice rim pix before it got too late.

The Mather campground at the village had availability, but lots of construction, so we opted to stay just south of the Park entry at Ten-X, a very nice Forest Service CG within minutes of the front gate.

Jonathan was anxious to "hike the Canyon", but not having any clue as to the depth & effort required, we convinced him that the hike down Bright Angel to the first rest stop at mile 1.5 would give us all a good workout.
We got a late start, about 8:30, but the temperature was fairly nice hiking down.

There were numerous opportunities for pictures, but again, the haze limited the colors a bit. I did the best I could working with the light available.

The trail was fairly crowded, but we did manage to find a couple of nice curves that gave us some isolation from others and made for a nice pause in the effort.

At the rest stop, Kim found the "tame" squirrels were execellent beggars, and Jonathan got a kick out of the pack mule train passing by.

This vantage point also gave us a good look farther down the trail, and of Plateau Point (another 5 or so miles) far below.

Jonathan literally sprinted back up to the Rim, he knew I'd promised ice cream! We all gobbled it down before I thought to take a picture, except for Jonathan giving one of the local beggars the last of his treat.

Next morning we headed East, along the South Rim, hit the visitor center, and got some nice views from rock outcroppings there.

The finale was a stop at the Desert View WatchTower. Kim & I enjoyed the walk from the parking lot to the tower, where many samples of the rim wildflowers were in full bloom.

Jonathan got a kick out of being able to see the River for the first time,

and especially enjoyed using the spotting acope atop the Tower for a closer view.

All in all, a short but rewarding visit to one of the world's most spectacular wonders. And, there's no doubt in my mind that Jonathan will be back for a go at the rim-to-rim hike within the next couple of years!

Jonathan Visits Petrified Forest National Park

2010-07-26T20:49:00.115-05:00

On our way up to the Grand Canyon, we took Hwy 180, which lead to the southern entry of the Petrified Forest. Great place to enter and stay if you're in a trailer. The owners of the two museum/stores just outside the gates allow overnight parking for free! So, you Rver's out there keep that in mind if you're planning a visit to the Park.

The south entry is also the iste of the Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center. Along with artifacts of early reptiles, dinosaurs, and ancient crocodiles, the museum houses several stunning examples of huge petrified trunk slices.

The Park is unique in that this is the only place in the world where "Rainbow" petrified wood was created. A twenty mile area containing the Park was a large swamp over 200 million years ago. The remaining organic materials produced the stunning colors found only here.

Behind the center is the Rainbow Forest, a broad collection of some of the Park's largest and most intact trees.

Probaly the most enjoyable hike of the first day was the Crystal Forest. A 3/4 mile stroll through an area containing hundreds of magnificant specimens. Walking through the trail one and seeing the thousands of small fragments in huge piles throughout the area triggers the imagination of what this place looked like a couple of hundred of years ago before heavy human traffic.

Early the following morning, we made the two mile roundtrip to the Agate House, a small pueblo dwelling of originally eight rooms built entirely of petrified wood. As we walked around the beautiful structure's walls, Kim & I thought how neat it would be to have part of our cabin constructed with this exotic material.

We left the Park later that morning to find a huge store just north on 180. I was captivated by their outdoor storage lot, in which the piles of petrified material seemed to go on endlessly......

Equally interesting was a nice display of unique furniture all made from combinations of Juniper and Rainbow petrified slices.

....

Anyone for a Swim!

2010-07-24T15:36:00.001-05:00

We head over to the neighbor's awesome pool to cool off after all that riding this morning. Jonathan can't believe the size of the outdoor section, which has not filled up with water yet (the rains have been short, so much for "monsoon" season). But we find the inside fabulous decide to give it a try!

The water's a bit on the cool side for Louisiana skin, but we have fun just the same. Jonathan meets a new girlfriend, hanging out above the waters....

Then decides just to relax a bit. By the way, Keith's whole place is for sale, pools included! Any takers?

More 4-Wheeling Today!

2010-07-24T15:25:00.003-05:00

Right age, right toy! We head for the big arroyo this morning for more toy fun...

AND CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esYGBWCX6lY

Jonathan's Here!

2010-07-24T10:32:00.006-05:00

Picked up my almost 13 year old Grandson Wednesday at the airport in El Paso and we sure have been having some fun!

It didn't take him but a few hours of practice Thursday to get the hang of riding the 4-wheeler, starting out by modest runs up & down the driveway (which makes a pretty good training ground for the beginner!)

Yesterday we took a break from the machines and explored the Catwalk. Although I've done this three times before, I was stunned at how different things looked now that we're in the rainey season. The amount of folage had quadrupled and everything is so, so green!

We had to try the waters, but with cloudy skies and a water temp around 50-ish, the feet couldn't stand it for more than a few minutes at a time. I guess we need to come back on a hot day and see if we could take a longer dip.

On the way out, we stop at the "real" swimming hole, and the kid comes out as Jonathan has to brave it climbing atop the rocks just above the cold rushing waters.

In spite of a slip or two, we manage to leave the creek with dry clothes and happy smiles!

Trout Fishing on the San Juan River!

2010-07-20T21:36:00.107-05:00

Armed with my new fly rod and plenty of spunk, I headed north earlier this week to fish the crystal trout waters of the Upper San Juan River located in the Northwest part of New Mexico, near Farmington.

I arrived at Cottonwood Campgound early Sunday, set up the trailer and soon my good friend Ken Samuelson joined for the fun. Ken has fly fished for many years and volunteered to come up and help me get started with this new sport.

We took a drive up this beautiful River and stopped here just across from the campground where we look upstream towards the dam, and the "Quality Trout Waters" an area of catch & release only where the prime big ones hang out!

As we climb the Navajo Lake Dam, we get a nice view down-river of much of the prized waters. If you look closely you may even see a fisherman or two way down there!

The view from atop the dam is quite spectacular, looking across the expansive Lake, which provides summer recreation, and fishing for bass and salmon later in the year.

Monday morning we're off to the local tackle shop to get the necessary flies for this River. Stunned by the numerous choices, and thanks to excellent help from David and the other seasoned folks at Abe's we get set up with the proper combination of the tiny critters that mimic those the trout feed on.

If you think the're small lying next to this dime, try feeding 3lb test line through that tiny eye, and tying a clinch knot on the water in a brisk breeze!

One of Ken's friends that has fished the river for years suggested we start at the Texas or Kiddie Hole area. Taking a look at the Texas Hole,

we decide that the water is a bit deep for getting me started, and move up to the Kiddie Hole (more appropriate for a beginner like me!).

As we're wading out to start fishing we notice numerous nice trout at our feet, following us as we stirr the bottom kicking up larvae for an easy meal (of course it's not legal to fish right behind you).

We start to work an area to the less crowded part of the "hole" Ken gets the first catch, a beautiful 15 inch Rainbow!

Struggling with learning to cast, minimizing tangles, and tying on these tiny lures, it was well into the morning before I land my first fish, rather small but at least got him to the net. This area only allows single barbless hooks, so many fish get off before they ever are close to the net.

By the second day, Ken & I are both more successful, finishing up his stay late Tuesday with many fish on and about half actually netted & released. I continued to fish a couple more days, and witnessed some largter fish caught by a clouple of fellows from Montana with the help of master river guide Andy Kim, but that's another story!

On my way back from the San Juan, I spent a night at Bill Evans Lake (about 25 miles from the cabin at Rafter D) where I caught my first New Mexico largemouth bass, about a 2-1/2 pounder!

Lots of Birds at Mangas Springs this Morning!

2010-06-15T20:41:00.004-05:00

With birding friends due in from Louisiana Thursday, I decided to check out the Springs this morning. It's been a good spot in March but didn't know what to expect today. Loaded up the camera with the new Bush Hawk shoulder mount, and although the lighting was pretty poor (all at ISO 800) under all the lush green trees, managed to get a few acceptable pix of the literally hundreds to birds around...

The goldfinches seem really preoccupied with the water, and hardly noticed my presence. A couple of house finches were much more bashful, but finally snapped one a quite a long distance.

I guess the treat was when a very careful Blue Grosbeak appeared, seemed like I waited forever for him to get comfortable enough to fly nearby, although in mostly shade.

The finally was this Western Kingbird, surprisingly orange-ish on the breast (no color alteration in editing) - may just be breeding plumage, if anyone has any better guess please leave a comment.

Other birds of interest spotted, but not photographed were a couple of Yellow Finches, a Bullocks Oriole and my old friend the Vermilion Flycatcher!

Goat Milking 101

2010-06-12T21:09:00.002-05:00

Another highlight of our return was having my life-long Louisiana friends Rhett and Ann McMahon out here. Yep, that's right, after spending two weeks here in Silver a month or so ago, they made the decision to give this place a more permanent try, and so far, love it as we did!

Rather than buy prior to learning the area, they wisely decided to rent a nice home here for the first year. As a result, we all were invited to the landlord's place today to try our "hand" at goat milking. Who'd ever believe a move to Silver City would result in this adventure!

As Francis, our great hostess, took on the first milk-laden mama goat, her pet turkey and loyal milking companion, Henrietta, greeted us all at the barn door and was close at hand to supervise the whole operation.

and, Kim and Ann enjoy playing mom for a few minutes to the "kids"...

Rhett was the brave one, first to volunteer his " hands" at the new procedure and after patient instruction from Francis and the with skillful hands of a surgeon, a white stream ringing into the bucket shows success!

Having kept so many critters over the years, things came pretty easy for Kim, who took matter "in hand" with little additional coaching from Francis. However the milking must have triggered the motherly instinct in her, as you can see she just couldn't resist cuddling one of the kids again!

Annie was up next, and after heaps of concentration, discovered that by holding her mouth just right, success was eminent. Wa-la - there is milk in them little things!

Finally, my anticipation and worry that I too would be called upon to try my "hand" at this was fulfilled when Annie and Kim proclaimed "OK Sam, it's your turn". Not wanting to be left "empty handed" so to speak, I grabbed on both sides simultaneously.

To everyones surprise, the old days at my Aunt Vesta's farm helping milk the cows paid off, as an instant double flow rang into the bucket with no coaching or instruction.

I'd have to sum things up by saying it was:
Udderly Fantastic!

Back in New Mexico for Spring!

2010-06-10T20:30:00.003-05:00

After almost two months in Louisiana, it feels pretty good to be out of the high humidity! The first few days were spent unpacking and trying to find the right spot for all the stuff we brought back.

I couldn't believe the amount of "things" we'd kept, having given away and sold most everything we'd collected over the years before leaving to full-time RV! We Americans are something!

The highlight of the return had to be the yard just out front of the cabin. We were truly amazed at the number of wildflowers we'd returned to! and the neighbors say this is nothing compared to later in the summer when the rains come. So, hope you enjoy these as much as we have....

There's Hope!

2010-04-12T11:54:00.008-05:00

Well, got the new Canon camera and 400mm lens in and hope this will ignite me to get back to publishing for you all out there. Thanks for your patience, and here are a few recent pix with the new camera taken in our front yard here in the Gila!

WE'RE NO. 1

2010-03-01T21:26:00.001-06:00

WE'RE NO. 1 yes, if you can't remember our blog link, tell your friends to do a Google or Yahoo search on the words Adevntures Kim Sam in any order. We now come up at the top of the first page!!!

Our Pet RoadRunner

2010-01-17T16:26:00.003-06:00

For the past week we had noticed an awfully friendly roadrunner (my trail name by the way!) hanging around the cabin. It had startled both Kim and I a few times as we'd step out the door and see this thing shooting out past our feet. I got up as usual to witness the sunrise from our front door and wasn't surprised to find another very colorful awakening.

Within minutes, something catches the corner of my eye over near the swing, and glancing I see our pet pop out, making his morning rounds.

So as I approached "Benjamin", as Kim named him (oh, I hope it's a him?) to take a few pictures, which he didn't seem to mind. And Benny (as I'll call him) struts up, looks me in the eye, and fluffs his feathers as if to declare that this is HIS territory!

A small bug jumps to our left, and Benny is right back on the hunt. After catching and downing an easy breakfast, I move my hand out in an offering jesture, and Ben just has to come in real close for a peek. So, it's another entertaining morning here in the Burro Mountains!

Oh and late this afternoon we get back here to find our other little pets scurrying out of our way. They are a lot more wary of us than Benny though, so with late eve's light and the telephoto out at about 300, I apologize for the lack of sharpness...

PS: they are Montezuma Quail, somewhat uncommon. We count a total of six here by the house, and have jumped a larger covy down towards the casita. Oh, and that's another lifer for me!

Rockhounding Round Mountain!

2010-01-16T21:49:00.002-06:00

We joined the Silver City "Rolling Stones" rockhounding club this morning, and immediately went on this first adventure to an area on the western side of the Burro Mountains, near the Arizona border.

After driving many miles on some dusty and evntually high clearance only backroads, we arrive at Round Mountain and were amazed at the number of crystalline rocks everywhere! yes, just all over the ground!

I think Kim was in "rock heaven" babbling and shouting "Look, look at this one!" and on and on she went. It didn't take long to realize that we had to be more selective in our choices, since the first bag filled up very quickly.

It takes a while to get that "selective eye" developed, because everywhere you walk and everywhere you turn are nice looking hunks of the "chalcedony" this particular form of crystals here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcedony

I carried my rockhound's hammer for a while, but realized it really wasn't need, since most stuff was just laying right on top of the volcanic soils.

Looking through our finds after getting home, I realize we had a nice sampling of the different forms the land had to offer, including one fist-sized geode that I can't wait to cut open.

It was after we got back (and on the computer) that we realized we had not found what would have been a real prize from this area, Fire Agate... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcedony

Sorting through some larger chunks, 3-6 inches across, we'll have some nice "whatnots" to add to our already growing collection here at Gila Lodge!

Bye, Bye Alpenlite!

2010-01-15T18:12:00.001-06:00

After sitting out on Highway 90 for only a couple of days, our 29 foot Spyglass sold to the first couple looking at it! Kim will miss it more than I, but with a move to traveling only half the year, it just makes more sense for us to go back to our 21 foot TrailBlazer. We will pick it up in Oregon after returning from Hawaii next month.

I'm looking forward to the smaller footprint for towing & parking, and I think we'll make many "local" trips here from Silver City this year.

Interesting Pack Rat!

2010-01-10T09:29:00.003-06:00

RAT???? set a couple traps in the house last night thinking I'd catch a Pack Rat. Kim woke up saying "something's burning". Thank goodness - no fire, only this interesting critter in the trap in the downstair's bathroom!

Spotted Skunk - Guess that's just life in the Gila Wilderness!

Gila River Outing

2010-01-03T18:36:00.007-06:00

We explored the back end of Bill Evans Lake Rd today, after a tip from a fellow birder on how beautiful the canyon, beyond the lake was. On the drive in we encountered some interesting creatues right along the roadside!

Yep, that's it, wild turkeys and then hiking down the road, those strange guys that look like a cross between a racoon and a cat are Coatimundi....first time Kim and I have ever seen them in the wild.

Needless to say, the're pretty fast, so the shots here we snapped at 720mm focal length at an unacceptably low shutter speed, but here's a few more views of these unusual critters.

After climbing over and around mountainous ridge, we are treated to a spectacular panoramic view of the river valley, just north of the canyon.

To say the river was beautiful is a heck of an understatement, what a delight to the eyes!

On the way back to Silver, we took a side road up the five+ mile drive into Saddle Rock Canyon. Aside from an interesting 4x4 drive, the warm late afternoon colors of the rocks were a treat. We got back here last night looking on the DeLorme Topo software realized that with a dirt bike or 4x4 (or on foot) we could have gone all the way through to the back of Gila Burro!

Gila Burro Mountains Cabin - Part 1 The Property

2009-12-30T20:19:00.010-06:00

YES, IT'S OFFICIAL, IT'S OURS!
Situated about 12 miles as the crow flies west-southwest of Silver City is a section and a half of private land within the 196,000 acre Burro Mountain portion of the Gila National Forest (the light green patch near the center). Our new "home" is located on 15 acres at 53 Rafter D Road (you can do a Google map search and zoom right in on it!). The Gila National Forest is a total of 3.3 million acres, with about 600,000 being designated wilderness (Aldo Leopold and Gila Wilderness). (The large light green patch across the entire upper part of this map)

Driving into the property from Rafter D, you first pass the guest casita off to the right, climb a small hill with the drive curving around this beautiful old alligator juniper.

The cabin is nestled about halfway up a small draw, protected on both sides.

Walking up the draw behind the cabin, I glance back and get this view of the mountains in the distance (facing northeast).

A little higher up gives us a great view of the cabin complex, which includes a storage shed, a covered dog pen, two portable carports (only one can be seen here) and a large "ramada" carport in front of the cabin, which we plan to use as part of the patio.

Looking to the left, we can barely see the roof of the casita (center laft in the photo), with that stunning view in the distance.

The views from the top of the property (about 150 ft above the dwellings) are awesome! Facing east here:

More northeastward:

And on top looking due north over the Gila Forest!

Gila Burro Mountains Cabin - Part 2 Cabin Exterior

2009-12-30T19:10:00.029-06:00

Climbing back down, we get a closer view of the rear of the cabin and the "outbuildings"....

Around the front again, you notice the "permanent" carport on the left, our thoughts are to use this a a ramada (shaded area) for summer outdoor sitting and entertaining.

As I walk back up to the left of the cabin, I capture a nice shot looking just over the top of the ramada carport, and the outdoor swing. One also gets a litle different perspective walking down around the back side of the cabin and back to the front entry.

Around the right side, is the movable carport, shed and dog pen.

Kim had taken this picture of the patio in front the other day before the snow, I enjoyed just sitting a bit and taking in that wonderful view!

And that brings us back to the front, where we can now explore what's inside!

Gila Burro Mountains Cabin - Part 3 - Cabin Interior

2009-12-30T19:05:00.096-06:00

Before entering, I take a look at the porch on the right, which is set up for both summer and winter use, with screens and removable glass windows.

The stonework envelops the entire lower half of the first story, and forms a decorative table here on what is the rear of the fireplace and chimney. Pueblo Indian artifacts found on the property decorate the center, and are found along with interesting rocks and minerals along the outer walls.

Inside the log core, I look back at the front door and can't help but enjoy the view through the stained glass center.

Turning around (as you walk in through the door) the den and kitchen area immediately convey the rustic character of old Gila mountain construction. That's right, all of the logs and stones are from the area!

As you walk into the center of the room, your eyes are immediately drawn to the unique stairs that lead to the MBR (master bedroom) and upstairs to the two additional bedrooms.

The rough stone fireplace has outside air feeds, internal plenums with circulating fans and is capable of heating the entire house.

The kitchen is small but plenty adequate for rustling up anything from Cajun goodies or cowboy meals!

The downstairs bath boasts a jacuzzi, seperate shower and a single lavatory...

Before walking into the MBR, I stand on the steps and get this nice panoramic view of the entire cozy living area---then continue to pan around the room to give you a real feel for the place!

The master was an addition, nice complete separate area, with it's own outside entry----

and it's own bath-----

The exposed logs continue into the upstairs ceilings with a walkaround balcony opening back down into the living area.

The rear bedroom is quite large with its own closet and bookshelves.

The walkway between rooms has a nice northeast view and leads past more bookshelves into the front bedroom which will double as an office.

It also has a great view, over the front entrance looking almost due east. All-in-all plenty more room than Kim and I need, but nice for guests and the kids!

Gila Burro Mountains Cabin - Part 4, The Casita

2009-12-30T19:00:00.038-06:00

All right, here we are down at the casita which will probably serve as our living quarters for a while, since we intend to do some major cleaning and painting in the cabin.

With only about 500 square feet of area, the casita's bright open look and feel certainly will make a nice guest apartment.

Not much in the kitchen area, a "college dorm" refrigerator and a bar sink - I guess we'll have to add the microwave and perhaps a very small rangetop!

Bath has lots of potential, with a little decorating and color, it'll just be fine---

Oh, and as I drove away from the property today, I was greeted by our first guests!

Silver City's Boston Hill

2009-12-22T18:42:00.003-06:00

There's some nice hiking right here in the middle of Silver! The Boston Hill was an old mine site, which eventually was either sold or given to the city some years ago and turned into a natural area of over 400 acres. Covered with numerous trails suitable for hiking and mountain biking, this is an unusual resouce that most cities would love to have.

I started my hike at the parking kiosk on the top end of Market St, followed a long sloping trail towards the summit of the Hill.

Evidence of past mining activities abound....

Reaching the summit I was surprised to see blooming cactus up there!

I got this nice view of the valley and city.

A mule deer spike and yearling jumped out across the trail, moving far too fast for the camera.

The opposite side (southwest) showed even greater evidence of the past. A nice two-hour hike without ever leaving town!

For more info on trails and history of this nice area see http://www.townofsilvercity.org/boston_hill_trail_system.php

Silver City - Mogollon Ghost Town

2009-12-20T23:18:00.005-06:00

After leaving the Catwalk, we drove farther west to find a winding, narrow road up over a 7500 ft pass and then down into the Mogollon Valley, where and old mining town awaits our visit.

Although the drive up the pass tested our courage in a few spots, the rewarding views back behind us were worth a few stops "on the edge".

Farther along we start to see evidence of days past mining operations.

Upon arrival at the ghost town, we park the truck and walk the half mile or so up the small canyon through the old main street.

It's cold and dark in this crevice, not a sole in sight and dead quiet as we work our way past relics of by-gone days. This truly is a ghost town today...what an eerie feeling!

Obviously the summer only residents have done an excellent job of preserving the look and feel of the original dwellings, adding to the charm of it all.

Relics of the past line the street as we proceed ----

------reaching the summit of Main St we climb a slight grade to the west, and get a nice view from atop an overlooking ridge.

As we walk back through the utter quiet of the past, I notice crumbling signs of the past.

Silver City - Gila Catwalk!

2009-12-20T22:29:00.004-06:00

Today we decide to see another example of the many experiences offer by this area. We're off wetward on Hwy 180 again, this time well past Bill Evans Lake and the town of Cliff. About ten miles out of Cliff there is a Leopold Vista Pullout....am I glad we stopped! In addition to getting a short history lesson on the naming of the wilderness, we enjoy those beautilful views this area is known for....

Another short drive and we are at the Catwalk!

The Catwalk is the result of a long elevated 18" diameter water line that ran for about a mile up the narrow Silver Creek Canyon to provide head for hydro-generation of electricity in the early 1900's for the tiny mining town of Silver Creek. The pipeline had a wooden catwalk over the top to allow mine personel to service and repair the system.

Years after it's abandonment as a working water source, the National Forest Service replaced the original line with a series of elevated catwalks, providing one of the most rewarding trails in the area!
More of the history can be learned at http://www.oldwestcountry.com/tmpl1.php?CID=YQ3JG

It seems as though Kim has sharpened her focus on trees lately, especially since she's started water color painting. These strange, twisted contrasting hunks of wood offer a challenge to color and shading. We're fascinated during the first few hundred yards of the trail by the striking examples of Nature's art....

Kim walks ahead to the first entry onto the Catwalk, with the spectyacular canyon towering high above. It's an eery but delightful feeling as we enter this labryrinth.

Around every bend is a treat to the eye, with many small waterfalls in the creek's flow below.

Around turns, up and down, through mazes we go...what fun!

Up ahead is the "helicopter bridge" a huge steel arch spanning the width of the canyon --

We walk alongside the "swimming hole" It's a long way down, no diving from up here allowed!

Just ahead a nice low overhang, reminds us of places where the Pueblo cliff dwellers like to build...

Kim finds the end of the trail a bit exciting, crossing the swinging bridge - what a finale' wonderful hike on the Catwalk!

If you interested in seeing more, I found this nice video set to music on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywpb334DGN0

Silver City - Hike Up Gila Box Canyon

2009-12-12T22:25:00.001-06:00

After our visit to Bill Evans Lake, we continued west on Hwy 180 to visit the small communities of Cliff and Gila, home of quite a few of the artists that offer their creations for sale in Silver. We stopped for lunch at the Village Market in Gila (excellent sandwiches very reasonably priced) and chatted with the rock shop owner next door. He highly recommended the drive up the Box Canyon north of the town.

The Gila Lower Box Canyon is a true oasis in the desert. Since livestock has been prohibited in the river canyon since 1990, the canyon has grown into a lush thicket of cottonwood, willows, and other riparian vegetation. The area provides some of the best birding in New Mexico, and is habitat to many rare and unusual birds, including common black hawks, zone-tailed hawks, Bell's vireos, yellow-billed cuckoos, and hundreds of other bird species. The canyon also provides opportunities for canoeing, rafting during Spring runoff, hunting, and year-round fishing and camping. The river contains smallmouth bass and several species of catfish.

Among the many activities available in this area, rock-hounding is a great way to spend an afternoon. Kim ound a few choice specimens along this expansive wash (remember Lucy & Desi's "The Long Long Trailer").

We hiked up the River Trail for about an hour, spooking quite a few mallards, and even spying a trout or two along the stream. This are is truly amazing!

Silver City - Bill Evans Lake

2009-12-12T20:44:00.017-06:00

We took a dive today west on Hwy 180 to this small 65 acre stocked lake high above the Gila River (yes, the water is actually pumped up about 800ft to the man-made lake!). The project was started years ago buy a mining outfit in coordination with the Forest Service. http://www.silvercity.org/dest_Bill_Evans_Lake.shtml

In addition to holding the State record largemouth bass at almost 16 pounds! It boasts a nice population of other species including these nice rainbows caught by a local.

Kim was amused by this confused domestic duck, which had adopted the wild Mallards as it's family.

We Have Arrived! SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO!

2009-12-09T21:06:00.010-06:00

Yes, we've heard about it for 3 years....
Great small town with tons of things to see & do, arts, music, good food, sustainabilty, fabulous views, great year-round climate....

This May Just Be The Place...for a Place!

More to Come...

City of Rocks State Park

2009-12-01T22:08:00.002-06:00

Lying about midway between Deming and Silver City is a unique outcropping of volcanic rocks left by ages of continuous erosion standing alone in a flat plain. Thanks to the State of New Mexico this feature is not only preserved for us, but also available as a campground - yes, you can actually drive your RV right up within the rocks and stay!

Take a look here if you're interested in the geology of this treasure. http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/state/city_of_rocks/home.html

We spent a late afternoon/early morning there, just enjoying the colorful views of these monoliths. While I just wandered around in awe, Kim put her camera to excellent use as shown in the photo essay that follows!

Thanksgiving With New Friends!

2009-11-26T09:19:00.004-06:00

It would be hard for me to say how much ham radio has enriched my life over the many years I've had a license (since age 10), but this Thanksgiving is just one example of how this unique hobby has led to many new friendships and experiences.

Several weeks before Thanksgiving, while we were camped at El Morro, I made several contacts with N2GG, Gil and Danna Gray, who were RVing at the time in southern California. One discussion led to another, and we realized that we'd pass right through the small town of Belen, NM on our way to the Bosque del Apache for the upcoming Festival of the Cranes. Gil graciously invited us to come and park the RV at their place for a few days, and in the process of further discovery (based on a comment about flying as a hobby) we were introduced to Ken (KS2R) and Janice Samuelson.

To make a long story short, Ken and Janice offered to host us for Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday eve at their beautiful new log home in the Sandia Park area just outside of Albuquerque.

The home is filled with unique objects, and guarded by it's three true owners shown here!

The eve started with a roaring fire along with some special before dinner treats. But, it wasn't long before Gil did a masterful job of carving the mouth-watering bird for the table. What a great feast with great friends...

The next morning was spent walking off the past night's indulgence, with a two mile stroll in the national forest bordering their backyard.

Ride to Abiquiu NM

2009-10-11T20:16:00.002-05:00

Took a drive through the country to Abiquiu, the final home of Georgia O'Keefe. Beautiful areas, typical scenes of the Southwest. I'll just let the pix tell the story!

Albuquerque BALLOON FIESTA!

2009-10-04T12:02:00.016-05:00

We arrive early Saturday afternoon, to find a huge field right in the middle of Albuquerque dedicated to the 2009 Balloon Fiesta.

First we notice there is no shortage of wonderful smelling foods available up & down vendor row.

Winds were high as moon starts to rise and the nine helium filled racing balloons prepared for launch, which was intended for 7PM but delayed until well after dark due to the high winds. These teams compete worldwide, and the object of the "race" is to see how far one can go in four days!

The silver balloon in the foreground was from Houston, and their team planned to catch the jetstream at 20,000 feet running at over 100 knots. They believe they will be able to reach the coast of Newfoundland by late Thursday!
The City has done a fabulous job of transportation, utilizing hundreds of school buses departing from numerous locations on the outskirts of the City. We hop aboard just before 6AM to reach the field this morning for the "Main Ascension" at 7AM.

The weather looks at bit "iffy" just at sunrise, but things seem to be proceeding well, and the winds are being much linder this morning than yesterday evening!

Excitement builds when a single balloon out of hundreds starts it's blower up, inflates, slowly, fires up the roar of a huge propane burner and prepares for a solo takeoff.

We are a bit confused until it launches, with the Star Spangled Banner being played in the background, the early solo ascent is very fitting indeed!
Within minutes, I hear another loud roar to my left, it's getting started, this is it! Burners are now roaring everywhere around us!

Soon the first group of these colorful monsters lifts smoothly & slowly into the cool New Mexico morning air!

Now, we are surrounding with noise & excitement - what a great feeling! Kim & I agree, we should be up there!

As the golden morning sun tops the mountains to our east, colors enrichen, and unique shapes pop up all around us!

Walking out to catch the bus back to our hotel, a final glance upward confirms this as one of the most beautiful events we've witnessed enjoying life out here on the road!

Be sure to check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOyoYDiLaeM

Rob Roy's Cordwood-TimberFrame-Earthen Covered Workshop

2009-09-28T20:40:00.051-05:00

This all started months ago at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair, where while attending a number of 2-hour workshops, we met Rob and Jaki Roy. By the second day of the Fair, Kim and I had committed to the Roy's upcoming 5-day workshop to be held in late September near Del Norte, CO. This worked out well for us, since it preceded the Earthship Internship we'd signed up for, and was on the way down to Taos, NM where we were scheduled to start on October 5th.
http://adventures-kim-sam.blogspot.com/2009/06/midwest-energy-fair-stvens-point-wi.html

Coming in from the northern part of Colorado, we expected to leave all the snow behind, and in a way we did, traveling mostly through lower altitudes, but as we approached Del Norte, we were taken by the rich fall colors topped by those dazzling white peaks at the higher elevations.

We noted that the antelope were as smart as us, staying down in these lower valleys, where the grass was still plentiful, and the long, open views afforded protection from predators.

After a couple of wrong turns while searching for the " Angel Rock Ranch" (named after all the angel pinnacles in the the rock behind the home) where Rob's Workshop was to be held, we finally enter a boxed in canyon, and get our first glimpse of Kim and Mike Cellura-Shield's fabulous hide-away here in God's country!
In short order, we set up the Alpenlite to the east of where Mike had already poured the slab for the "six-poster" (more on that later), as seen in this photo from up the hill. (Trailer left, and construction site mid-right, between the dark green tree, and the white panel truck in the distance.
Mike & Kim's home sits up near the rock shear wall that forms the rear of the canyon, nestled into an area that affords fabulous views of the property below.
The "house" is actually three separate facilities, the living room/kitchen cabin (above), the quaint hexagonal bedroom, and the ever charming "facilities", voted the finest outhouse ever seen by every participant in the workshop!

We approach the gathering living room cabin, I take note of some of the nice "toys" that Mike has collected, bringing fond memories of the bygone days of dirt-biking in Louisiana. As participants gather for an introductory supper the charm of this beautiful ranch sinks in, I feel completely comfortable and welcome in our new surroundings.

Kim had prepared some wonderful food, and combined with the excitement generated by the fifteen attendees, made for a fun first evening.

Next morning, after hot coffee overlooking the "spread" below, the workshop is officially kicked off by our first classroom session. Most mornings were spent reviewing Rob's thorough materials in class followed by a quick lunch, and "hands on" for the afternoon.

As a precursor to our arrival, Mike and Kim had worked hard to prepare the slab, and gather the necessary materials for complete construction of the "Six-Poster", defined by Rob as a simple post and beam timber-frame structure roughly 12ft by 20 ft. The small enclosure is ideally suited to a "trial project" which Rob and Jaki recommend for your first attempt at a cordwood project.
The small building can be tailored to serve as a sauna, small guesthouse, or in this case, a shower/restroom facility for B and B guests that stay here at the Ranch.

Although all of the cordwood (also called "log-ends") was prepared, Rob started with a good explanation of how the log-ends are cut, debarked, and stacked and dried in anticipation of a project. Mike had built an interesting device, a chainsaw version of a chopsaw, that made cutting of the 10inch log-ends easy. This same tool was used as shown here to get a nice square cut on the six 10"x10" posts that would form the supports for the roof and cordwood infill.

Rob is a master at organization, and no detail was spared in getting off to a good start carefully setting and leveling each post in place, then adding bracing to ensure all would be ready for the next days work.
The end of the first day signaled a perfect opportunity to visit a nearby hot springs. Set against a backdrop of the distant White Sands mountain range, the spa-like facility offered a large outdoor spring-fed pool, kept around 100 degrees.

Rob and Jaki were first to hit the warming waters, and Rob insisted I try my underwater camera as he and other students plunged below.

Soon I found Rob and "the girls" in the much hotter pool inside, where we all enjoyed the steaming waters and a light supper before retreating back to the Angel's Rock for a good night's rest.

Weather deterioration threatened the next day, so class was cut short and we returned to our six posts and proceeded with positioning the "girts" that would soon form the support for the entire roof. Rob insisted on taking our time, and made sure that each and every member of the crew had the opportunity to work on and understand each step in the process.

As the rafters went on, the "six-poster" soon took on the appearance of a real building, leaving us all with a high sense of accomplishment by the end of our second day.

Along with the hard work and sense of accomplishment came a good appetite, so I got my 25 quart jambalaya pot out, and cooked a large batch of "Sambalaya" my own version of one of Gonzales, Louisiana's award winning recipes.

The next morning we quickly covered the roof, except for the earthen cover of course. The foam & visqueen went on easy enough, but was a bit of a challenge to keep in place in the high winds we were experiencing...

Later that afternoon Rob explained the advantages of using the post and beam type of construction, one of which is to have a covered work area for the laying of cordwood walls, protecting them from the elements, and giving the builder a set of nice, square "forms" to lay the walls within.
A major part of cordwood masonry is getting a good mortar mix. Rob explained that along with the correct mix of components, consistency was of up most importance to quick and correct layering of the log-ends.
In addition to his favorite and proven cement mix, he prepared some "lime putty" so that the participants would experience laying logs with two slightly different masonry types (I did say this man was thorough, right?).

Speaking of thorough, I think we spent the better part of a morning on that first course of log-ends on that first wall. Rob had carefully prepped the surface, gathered tools, jigs, proper-sized chunks of wood and made sure we all understood how important it was getting organized and off to a good start on this first layer.

Let's see, mortar, spacing, insulation, logs....push into place, more mortar, insulation, logs.....and so on!

It wasn't long before master "pointer" Jaki jumped in to demonstrate the use of this odd assortment of butter and dinner knives that had been transported along with the Roy's luggage on their flight from New York earlier in the week. As we watch Jaki show her talents, each team member gets a chance to try their hand at the finishing skills. ("pointing" is the process of smoothing out the individual joints of mortar showing in between and around each log-end on both sides of the wall).

Meanwhile, the other walls get started under instructor Rob's watchful eye, so that we all have a chance to experience first-hand each and every step of the cordwood laying process.

Another hard day's work makes for another ferocious appetite, so Kim and Mike invite us to their unique Peace of Art Cafe in Del Norte.
http://www.organicpeddler.com/peace_of_art/peace_of_art.htm The cafe is part of their "Organic Peddler" complex, which features the Cafe, a store and the Casita B and B.

It becomes evident that this "six-poster" is not their first pass at this cordwood stuff, with the cafe being an elegant example of the the techniques being used on a large-scale commercial facility!

After a brief explanation of the facility, we're treated to a delicious organic/vegetarian platter that makes my mouth water, just looking at the pictures again!

The final couple of days were spent "driving up the walls" which included the incorporation of several examples of "bottle art" into each surface.

Kim had done a skillful job of planning and sketching out each design, giving us the guidance we needed to complete these colorful creations that would carry a theme thoughout the "cottage". Along with their unique design, Kim had thought out their placement to take advantage of the wonderful morning and evening light hitting the east and west walls.

We got as far along as setting the first "windowbuck" into place on the west wall. By noon Sunday, we had three of the wall sections well along their way, including getting a few logs in around the first windowbuck. Upon formal completion of the course, Rob handed out our "diplomas", certifying each as every one of us as a Master Mortar Stuffer!

Monday a group of us took a drive to Pagosa Springs to visit a rather unique concrete dome house, but that's the subject of the next post. Kim (my Kim) and I returned to the ranch that afternoon to find Jakie still at work on that west wall windowbuck. Turns out that Brian (one of our classmates) had stayed on to help with the mortar mixing and cordwood completing one side of the window opening with another beautiful combination of wood and bottles!

All-in-all this was a great workshop, given by two wonderful & competant instructors (Rob and Jaki) hosted by our new friends Kim and Mike in a setting of pristine beauty and remoteness. We highly recommend both the Workshop and their excellent DVDs & books:

http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/

You might also want to plan a visit to see Kim & Mike in Del Norte.
http://www.organicpeddler.com/

UPDATE: as of this writing, Kim has sent these photos, showing the additional work they have completed on the project....beautiful bottle art!

A BIG SURPRISE TODAY!

2009-09-12T20:14:00.010-05:00

We're crusing westward on Hwy 2 in North Dakota, when a lady pulls alongside frantically waving and pointing to the trailer. We stop, and discover this! WOW!

While standing there in awe, a truck with some migrant farm workers (from Brazil) pulls up to say they had left their buddy back a quarter mile to recover the tire & wheel. Of course, the wheel was destroyed, but we managed to save the tire.

So, the entire wheel sheared all eight 1/2inch lug bolts, and departed rearward, ripping and crushing the fender well/skirt on that side. Most surprising is that we never heard, felt or saw anything!

Luckily, it happened in a town that had a large tire shop across the road, and a NAPA parts store nearby. So, since everything closes at 2PM on Saturday, we rush frantically to get new bolts, nuts, new seal etc.

The parking lot repair went smoothly, and in about 2 hours we have the new wheel on, and were back on the road.

We decide to camp in a Wal-Mart tonight here in Williston, and discover another problem, when trying to get the slide out. The thick aluminum fender has been crushed around the slideout mechanism, and jammed it.
Out with the aviation metal shears, and wack the thing off! So, another trailer projects awaits when we reach a good landing spot...

Quick Update

2009-07-31T07:24:00.002-05:00

Both Kim & I are back in the land of internet signals after a week of being in the boonies! Kim went on a four night paddle with her Sister & friends out of Sawbill Lake while I went up the Gunflint Trail and stayed at Flour Lake.

We both took a few pix and will try to get posts done over the weekend, so standby it's a coming!

The Rylander's Incredible Journey! "Earthward"

2009-07-10T19:39:00.024-05:00

Have you ever read "The Celestine Prophecy"? If not, perhaps you should...it basically uses a fictional story to portray the author's belief that no chance meeting in life is without meaning. Today was just one of those events, that I'm sure will lead us down new paths, and remain in contact with a couple of the earth's most wonderful folks!

When a fluke search on the internet a week or so ago regarding "cordwood masonry" homes produced a link to a book entitled "Journeying Earthward", along with the fact that it's authors, Edith and John Rylander, lived only a few hours from Duluth, I picked up the cell and gave the strangers a call. In short summary, the friendly couple was delighted to hear from us, and after a series of emails, graciously invited Kim and I to visit their unique home of twenty-plus years.

A three hour drive across some of the prettiest farmland in America, through the quaint town of Little Falls, and down a winding back country road through Swan Lake, MN led us to the doorstep of our first encounter with an "earthen-sheltered, cordwood masonry" home.

John greeted us at the driveway and walked us back towards the home???

At first glance it appeared to be nothing more than a large earthen mound.

Hummm..so where'd the house go John?

Down a short path, around the protruding berm a unique object comes into view. Yes, it's John and Edith's version of a "weather stone" (You know, if it bright & dry - sunshine, if it is swinging - windy, if it's dripping wet - expect rain!).

This hundred or so pound hunk of sandstone was found on the property a few years back, complete with a "hanging hole" which was filled with ancient sea shells, reminiscent of eons past when Swan Lake was much larger than today!

And then, to our left, there it is, EARTHWARD!

They carefully explain the techniques and process used in the construction while we enjoy their interesting incorporation of many natural elements into the outer walls.

As we're welcomed through the front door, we see evidence of much love and care of the place, such as these carvings given to them by local friends.

First step inside one comes face-to-face with a large wood stove, complete with masonry surround - the physical source of the home's warmth. That's right, the spiritual one is evident in Edith and John's pride with which they tell of this journey.

Gazing around the cozy, inviting dwelling, one feels immediately secure and protected, it's solid, quite earthen and wooden arms surrounding one with a feeling of both peace and strength. No detail was spared....many interesting examples of local woods, artifacts and stones are found incorporated throughout.

Kim loves the rounded curves and rich colors of this center support post, while I enjoy the thoughtful addition of "the library wall" which boasts an example of every type of wood used in the structure within it's picture-like frame. John points to the lamp nearby, which was a gift from a nearby friend, handmade of course from the wooden base and column to the woven basket shade.

The years of dedication to detail are evident as we sit and chat about the surrounding detail, every aspect has meaning - quite different from today's 3000 sq. ft. thrown-together, characterless boxes of pre-manufactured particle board, hard, synthetic surfaces and flat, sheetrocked walls.

Edith invites us to walk through "the trollway", a narrow path through the rear that opens at the back of the mound to reveal a large, thriving garden.

As we walk along it's rows, they explain that almost all their food is produced on their forty acres "of heaven".

Before we left, I wrote in the Rylander's guest book "We came here this morning as strangers, we leave here this afternoon as old friends". Now loaded up with fresh greens from the garden, a bottle of John's prized, homemade pure maple syrup and a couple of copies of "Journey Earthward" we are almost reluctant to leave. We somehow know that true to the Celestine Prophecy, this acquaintance will endure and lead us to subsequent visits and perhaps a "journey earthward" of our own...only time will tell!

AFTERWARD: July 15th -----
I have now completed reading about half of "Journeying Earthward", the Rylander's personal story of a bold decision years ago to give up "the good life" of a California professor, modern family, living in a commercial driven society. I must say that it's not exactly what I expected, covering far more than just the details of their journey and home construction, both John and Edith have done a great job of reviewing Minnesota's rich history and geology, along with the numerous stories and benefits of living a simpler life in a caring community in rural America.
http://www.amazon.com/Journeying-Earthward-Minnesota-Edith-Rylander/dp/1591960843/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247664929&sr=8-1

Sawbill Revisited

2009-07-08T21:28:00.000-05:00

White Iron Lake Paddle

2009-07-06T23:00:00.012-05:00

Today we visit our new friends Don and Chris on White Iron Lake, just southeast of Ely. They have just completed their new garage (with apartment upstairs!) and horse stable at the lower end of a beautiful twelve acre plot situated near the end of a long, isolated bay.

Their setup is just about picture perfect, homesite looking over the bay, nice boardwalk across a deep green marshy area, and almost complete separation from the main body of the lake. It's early evening here, with the sun's golden hue shining across placid waters of the bay. As I help Kim launch and look out across the narrow waters, I know this will be a nice relaxing couple of hours.

Chris is last to launch in here Wenonah Prism, a favored solo boat here in the Boundary Waters.

I'm in the front of our big Clipper tandem, a perfect spot to enjoy the scenery and take a few pix.

Once on the waters, Don and Chris glide across the ripply surface as we ease slowly along to visit their favorite spots along the opposite shore.
A mile or so down, we spot a lone deer swimming across ahead of us. "Paddle faster Kim, let's get close for a picture!" doesn't seem to produce much extra energy,

Kim just laughs as I watch the large doe disappear into the thick cover.

Farther along we reach the mouth of the Kawishiwi River, noticing a series of glistening rapids a few hundred yards ahead. As we turn to float back on the gentle current, Chris waits patiently in the narrow opening back into the lake.

I marvel at the pristine beauty of this part of the country, and wonder why it's taken me the better part of a lifetime to discover it's beauty.
We spend another hour or so returning, and top off a wonderful eve with a sparkling glass of Shiraz, a warm fire and interesting new friends!

ELY! - Steve's Cabin

2009-07-06T09:23:00.003-05:00

We leave Duluth early with anticipation as we head north to Ely, a special town nestled on the edge of the Boundry Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. The mornings rich, warm sunlight combined with nature's awesome display of wildflowers along the way made the drive a delight. Every roadside, every field brushed in colors of spring! (yes it's spring up here!)

Kim's favorite is the lupines and I enjoy the fiery colors of the Indian Paintbrush....

A couple hours drive and we arrive at our good Louisiana friend's cabin situated within the town of Ely on Miners Lake. As we exit the Dodge and walk into the "back yard", our first view of the Lake, down the hillside confirms that the flowers abound here as well as on the highways and byways.

Steve and his family have done a wonderful job creating a charming place to enjoy our stay here in Ely. From the old canoe within the entry to the greeting of the wood stove, one feels welcome upon entering the massive stacked logs, handcrafted by "Stevo" Jr.

No detail was spared in using the big white pines to dress and frame every doorway. A quick glance at the staircase shows that an enjoyable winter was spent here just months ago.

The upstairs bunk room continues with a rustic theme, and boasts a fabulous apex through which one has a nice view of the lake.

Our favorite spot is the back deck, we spent many an hour out here just enjoying the view, warm sunshine and an interesting book or two. The property was buzzing with bees and chirping with birds, so Kim took advantage of the nice viewing area almost every morning.

And, for those who would prefer a more rustic experience, Steve moved "Old Log" over from Wolf Lake. I'm not sure of it's age, but from the looks of the fir and finish on the original logs, I'd say it's well over fifty years!

Amateur Radio & Field Day!

2009-06-27T15:01:00.016-05:00

Thanks to Kim's friend Jim, we have a beautiful "base camp" here in Duluth to locate the trailer. Since we'll be here for a few weeks, and there's plenty of room, for the first time I set up the new vertical antenna with all of it's "radial wires" for great performance. It's been a little over two years since I've gotten back into amateur radio, a hobby I've enjoyed on and off since I got my license to operate at age nine. Earlier this year while in Florida, I treated myself to this new antenna, and a "new" (actually slightly used) ham radio. It certainly has been a positive decision and experience. In these few short months, I've enjoyed talking to other "hams" all over the world! One of amateur radio's primary roles is to act as an emergency radio network in cases of national emergency or disaster. In fact, hams played a crucial role during Hurricane Katrina, being one of the only reliable communication systems that prevailed throughout and after the storm. In order to test the readiness of hams all over the country the ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League http://www.wedothat-radio.org/ ) has a yearly event called "Field Day". The idea is to operate stations remotely, from a non-permanent location solely on emergency power (solar, battery, generator, etc). http://emergency-radio.org/

To make the event more interesting and challenging, the ARRL sponsors a contest for a 24-hour period during the yearly weekend. The goal is to make as many "contacts" with other stations as possible. Scores are assigned to each contact depending on the type of station used and it's location.

The Duluth Amateur Radio Club actively participates in Field Day every year. So, I decided to join in the fun up on top of Thompson Hill, a great high location for temporary antennas. It was a dismal and foggy morning as local club members set up two primary stations. This nice motorhome and 60 foot crankup tower array took the better part of the morning to get set up and operating.

At the same time, other club members were stringing up wire antennas in the parking lot, and the Club's emergency "RACES" trailer was commissioned across the lot. http://www.usraces.org/

I parked the Dodge between the two, and with the help of a couple of locals, strung a temporary wire between a light pole and a small tree behind the truck. With a few minutes, I was set up and operating, and although the contest had not officially started, made the first contacts of the morning with my little low power (5 watts) rig in the truck.

By 1PM (official contest start), the club was in action. Doug is shown here to the right, operating in the big motorhome, primarily operating CW Mode (morse code)...while a group of others man the RACES trailer on SSB (single sideband, voice mode).

I came back out the next day (Sunday) to see how things were going. The weather top the hill was much improved, and operators were still at it, having endured the night, working in shifts. The CW boys had a fantastic event, logging over 1600 contacts in the 24-hour contest period. I never found out what the final tally on the voice contacts were, but I'm sure close to a thousand! What a fun weekend, with a great groups of folks enjoying a wonderful hobby!

UPDATED! Trailer Repairs....

2009-06-25T21:21:00.011-05:00

While parked for weeks in the Duluth area, I decided to take care of a few "trailer chores" that I'd put off for long enough. More than a few weeks ago, the slide out mechanism quit working. We could hear the DC drive motor running, and manually crank the slide out, so I suspected there was some sort of clutch between the motor & the gearbox that had failed.

I removed the gearbox easily enough, and once the box was open, the problem was obvious, there was metal residue in the grease, and the teeth on a drive gear were completely gone! It took about a week of research on the phone and internet to confirm that the 1998 Alpenlite used a mechanism manufactured by Barker. The Barker folks were great, shipping me the near gear assembly promptly at a very reasonable price, saving a few hundred dollars on a whole new mechanism and a dealer repair!

I also decided to check the brakes and repack the bearings on the trailer. Over the past couple of months, the brakes seem to have weakened, and anticipating the mountains of the southwest later this year, the timing was right.

The first couple of wheels proved my suspicions that the shoes were in bad shape, worn thin with cracking across the linings. Opening the second wheel I had a surprise---the cotter key used on the last brake job was one size too small, had broken off, and that tiny bit of weight wobbling around in the grease cap had caused it to fall off in the wheel hub cover and roll around in there for quite a while. So, impending disaster saved!

The big surprise was in the third wheel. When pulled off one of the brake shoe linings was riding inside the drum, the drum was badly scored, and the DC brake solenoid had grabbed the inner drum surface, bent it's retaining arm, and was badly worn at an angle across it's face. The local folks at Lakehead Brake and Clutch had all the parts, and were able to save the drum.

As I finished up the last wheel with new linings and fresh grease, I realized how lucky we were to have avoided a complete failure somewhere on the road!

When we bought the truck last fall in Portland, the previous owner had passed along a brand new US Brake "D'Celerator" exhaust brake for the Cummings diesel. Another case of procrastination, I had put off this job too long also. So, since the brakes were done, I headed over to Bill's Muffler Shop, and Bill himself did a masterful job of cutting a section of the 4" stainless exhaust pipe out, and installing the new brake mechanism. A little wiring when I got back "home" (the trailer), and we now have a diesel exhaust brake like the big 18-wheelers!

so, if you here that bla-bla-bla big truck noise, it just may be us coming to pay a visit...

July 13th - just got in and installed the new Xantrex C60 Charge Controller which has more capability (up to 60amps) and has equalization for the batteries. The install took the better part of a day, largely due to having to snake larger solar array panel wires through the side of the trailer, and take apart most of the kitchen cabinets to run the small cable for the remote display.

While I was at it, I made the tilt brackets for the solar panels and even this early in the morning here in Duluth, the charging output went from 6 amps to 7 amps, just from tiliting the panels about 18 degrees!

Yes, We're In DULUTH!

2009-06-22T21:54:00.001-05:00

We apologize for disappearing for a while. We've been pretty busy for the past 3 weeks getting up here to MN, and then with Kim's folks after arriving. Our Verizon (aircard modem) signal is pretty lousey where we are staying, but we found a laundromat nearby that has a hi-speed free wi-fi.
Lake Superior is as beautiful as we remember,
and we've really been enjoying the evening hikes with Kim's Mom, Lois and her neighbor, Sarah. They live in a nice apartment complex located right on the shores of Superior, which ties into a network of trails running along the lake and into the downtown area of Duluth.
For Father's Day, we drive north along the lake. First stop is Gooseberry State Park. As Kim pauses to relax at the falls, the kids confirm that summer is here. No relaxing for them, just having a blast in the cooling cascades!

We meet Kim's folks at Ken's favorite resturant located just north of Two Harbors, where we have a great dinner followed by their Father's Day specialty below...YUM!

Midwest Energy Fair - Stevens Point, WI

2009-06-19T09:53:00.020-05:00

In case you haven't picked up on it yet, Kim and I are very interested in energy efficient home construction techniques, along with individual resources that yield energy independence. While in Bayfield, I went to Oly's Barber Shop and Oly is very interested in building an "off the grid" home. While discussing some ideas for construction, he explained that the nations premier energy education event, the Midwest Energy Fair, was being held this weekend. http://www.the-mrea.org/energy_fair.php

It didn't take much discussion for us to decide to make the 280 mile drive down for the weekend. We left the trailer in Duluth, opting to rough it at the fair. We beat the crowd entering the makeshift (but nice) campground on Thursday eve. Our tent site was in a thick pine forest, next to a large field.

A short hike through the "back woods" made easy access to the fairgrounds. The owners of the property had done an outstanding job of preparing for the large crowd of campers that arrived Friday!

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association headquarters and test facility is right there on the grounds.

The site has several installations of both solar and wind devices, with demonstration areas that house all of the control systems that feed the building.

By 9 a.m. Friday morning a large crowd stood ready to enter the gates, beyond which were several rows of large tents, each color-coded for certain workshops throughout the 3-day event.

Just past these tents are three large barn-like structures, in which over 270 vendors of energy related equipment, services and supplies stood ready with their wares. If you were not quite ready to take the plunge on equipment, there were hundreds of books and DVDs available on just about any energy related topic of interest.

We spent most of the two days in workshops. My favorite was the series given by Rob Roy on various types low-cost, owner-built construction, which included talks on earthen covered, cordwood masonry and timber framing. We were so impressed with Rob and his concepts, we signed up for his 5-day workshop in Colorado this September. http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/

In addition there was a demo area where workshop hosts actually constructed small examples of the techniques. One of the most interesting was an area devoted to whole tree construction. http://www.wholetreesarchitecture.com/

There was lots of good food to choose from, including ethnic varieties and meals cooked in solar ovens right at the fair!

Another interesting concept in building the "Edge" employs unique architectural design and features with European-style machined woods. This modular home of some 400 sq ft can be custom ordered with various options, and assembled on site in less than a week! http://www.revarch.com/pages/Pages/pages/Concept%20Home.htm

Throughout the day Friday & Saturday, and both evenings we were treated to live music at one of three stages, the big tent hosting a rock band and dance each evening - what a party!

No renwable energy fair would be complete without a focus on transportation. Although no major car manufacturers were there, several do-it-your-selfers had some interesting "plug and play" concepts on hand. My favorites were the solar-powered bicycles,

along with this hefty surprise.....yes it works and does about 50mph! True to the farming area the event is hosted in, a local fellow had an old diesel engine powered by bio diesel turn a 5KW generator!

Bayfield, WI and the Apostle Islands

2009-06-15T09:51:00.020-05:00

As we work our way to Duluth, we decide to stop over and see Kim's Sister, Lisa and her husband Dick in Washburn (WI), where they keep their beautiful boat within the southern end of the Bayfield Harbor. As we climb aboard, a large sign warns us to be careful of their new guard dog "Liddie". I guess the name let's one know right off that this beast really can't be too bad! While Kim and Lisa catch up on things, I just sit back and enjoy the wonderful view of the area from atop this lofty perch.

As we wave goodbye, I can't help but think this how nice it would be to have a 30+ foot sailboat parked next door...humm....

A short drive farther north brings us to the town of Bayfield, quaint fishing village turned tourist town because of it's proximity to the Apostle Islands National Park. We opt for a small campground on the town's edge run by the local Ojibway Tribe. The manger insists we take site no. 12, and once we get the Alpenlite parked we understand why, what a spot!

Early next morning, while sipping my coffee, two fishing "luggers" heard out, most likely looking for Lake Trout or Whitefish.

We spend some time looking around the town while awaiting boarding time for our three plus hour tour of the Apostles.

Finally we are ready to load - as I look out across the Bayfield Marina it appears we've picked the perfect day for a water adventure!
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Outside the protection of the harbor, my suspicions are confirmed by the absolutely flat blue waters of Lake Superior.

Evidence of the past is still visible on most of the Islands. We ease past this old rock quarry, long closed as now the area is protected by the National Park. The ride out to deeper waters is a pleasant one, we enjoy the sunny skies, and beautiful rock outcroppings as we glide past several of the smaller islands.

It isn't long before we see our old friends from early this morning, lines out and ready to bring those big trout in!

A few miles along is more evidence of the attractiveness of fishing here, the now abandoned Manitou Fish Camp.

As we finally approach Devil's Island, we get our first glimpse of the famous Apostle Island Caves, those large caverns carved into the sand stone by thousands of years of waves bashing against the huge rocks. We take our time and cruise along the entire length of the caves, also passing the Devil's Island Lighthouse. Be sure to watch the entire segment on our YouTube site at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCLRqk-eSg8

On the backside of the Island, in the distance, we spot a group of kayakers, no doubt heading to explore the caves - a favorite out here with the paddlers. Last stop on the tour (well, I mean place to slow down and putz by) is the Rocky Island Light, now preserved, modernized and still serving to warn sailors in the night of impending danger.

As we head back into the Harbor, a huge group of gulls catch our eye, and we soon realize that our companion from this morning must have brought home the catch today.

In the background, we break out the binoculars and see our home sitting peacefully on the point where we left it earlier today.

We are so intrigued by Bayfield and the entire Apostle Islands area, we spend the better part of our next day checking out local cabins and property. I guess the bug didn't bite, since my savings account remained the same at the end of the day.

Kim mentioned that the sunrise may be really nice in the morning. I got up a bit earlier than usual, and on that final morning captured these beautiful images that will always remind us of this stellar stay looking out towards the Apostles!

Porcupine Mountains State Park

2009-06-12T09:50:00.020-05:00

From the tip of the Keeweenaw Peninsula we head southwest to one of Michigan's crown jewels..."Porky" State Park (as the locals say). If you're ever in this part of the UP, this somewhat out of the way stop is a must. And, THE place to camp here is back in the far reaches of the Park, which is a 25 mile drive past the Visitor Center, but well worth it.
We arrive before the weekend to grab one of the best spots in the campground, with a clear view of Lake Superior, where we set up our chairs and small "wine and cheese" table, for a delightful view of a stormy sunset!

Early next morning, it's down the nice staircase to the beach, and hike along the Lake's shoreline to the lower part of the Carp River, where we find a large "pool" inhabited by a mother Merganser, and her newborn chicks.

Later that morning, it's off to the Summit Point Trail for a 4 mile loop up to Mirror Lake to experience the interior of this beautiful woodlands. First stop, the observation tower, at the peak for a nice overview of the entire park. We're greeted with a splendid cool clear day! This shot is looking out across the park to Lake Superior, visible out there just beyound the hills in the distance.
We continue the hike and come across many of nature's displays as we wlk along.

A surprise waits us down a long hill - the lower reaches of this area become a large swampy bog, that reminds us somewhat of our home state of Louisiana. The park has done a great job of building many elevated boardwalks through the marshy bottom.
As we emerge from the low areas, we're surprised to find a small stand of old growth white pines. Pretty amazing the size they reach when you consider the growing season is only a few months each year.
Next day it's back to the river, where we sample the hiking along the area above the pool (pix above). The numerous waterfalls are easy to get to again thanks to the nicely built trails, stairs and boardwalks along the river.
No trip to the park would be complete without a drive to the highest part, to view the most photographed spot in Porky, Lake of the Clouds. What a magnificant site!
Our final evening at the park is spent along the shores of Superior, where we witness a series of intense thunderstorms over the lake.

As the sun finally leaves us behind, I sit in wonder thankful that Kim and I made the decision to embark on this journey of North America almost exactly two years ago!

The Beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula

2009-06-09T09:50:00.031-05:00

Reaching far into the southern center of Lake Superior is a long arm - Keweenaw, with the small town of Copper Harbor at it's tip. It's a long drive to this remote point of land in the upper reaches of Michigan's UP, but worth every mile!
If you do venture up that way, you simply must stay at the Fort Wilkins State Park. We found a private spot near the end of Lake Fanny Hooe, where the park is located. The view across from our campsite was very special, like having our own private deck into nature's mirrored solitude. Walking the lakeshore early morning we discover a sleepy fog sheltering birds and wildlife within its still waters.
A few hundred yards from camp is the old fort standing proudly along the Fanny Hooe. The canon still guarding approach from the lake. A sparkle on it's wheel catches my eye, while a lone merganser swims across to the right.
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More signs of nature await on the parade grounds, Canada Geese march along to the early call of Revelee!
I find myself immersed in a world of a hundred years ago, a time gone by, when handmade barracks and homemade bread were part of a soldier's daily life.

Later that morning we stop at the harbor overlook for another glimpse into the past, one of Michigan's oldest lighthouses, dating back to 1846. As I delay to take some pictures, Kim searches the shore for agates. I find it amusing that she can be in three places at once.

Within minutes, the fog to the right of the harbor lifts, and we get a nice view of the old structure, somewhat corrupted by the presence of the modern beacon tower nearby.
One can only get a good perspective of the area by driving the "loop" from Copper Harbor to Eagle River then back through Central to the park. Driving along, we notice what appears to be a large house, maybe a church along the shore.

Across the street is a small bakery, and it's here we learn it is a monastery for a small group of monks that supplement its income from handmade breads, other baked goods and jams! http://www.societystjohn.com/vocations/vocations.php

What a terrific treat, and of course we had "lunch" a bit early...cookies and jam, of course!
Within the eagle River community we discover a picturesque stop where we pause to finish off the last of those great cookies.

Around the bend, the shores of the lake touch the towns edge bringing together an interesting contrast of river, beaches and dunes.

The town preserves it's own lighthouse, almost of replica of the Copper Harbor light some miles away.

As our journey progresses we learn more of the area history, particularly that of the copper mines that thrived here during mid-1800s. http://www.exploringthenorth.com/cophistory/cophist.html We visit the Cliff Mine and meet Bob, a fellow who has been searching the tailings for years. He uses his metal detector, passing over chunks of the green tarnished metal. Before tackling the hills of tailings, we opt for a quick tour of some of the old buildings that remain at the site. Kim enjoys the simple elegance of the old furniture while I marvel at the size of the thick plank floors under our feet!

So, up we go slipping and sliding to reach the prime hunting grounds proclaimed by Bob. We dig scrape, slip and slide for a couple of hours with only dirty hands and jeans for our reward.

But the view at the top of the tailings pile, back over the overgrown remnants of past years seems to make it all worth the effort.

It's time to move on, to another one of the peninsula's unique sites.
After quite a drive down 4x4 roads, we are in the old grove stands of Estivant Pines. Although these trees are what's left of the old growth pines that were ravaged years ago by clear-cutting,
we are somewhat disappointed by their size. Having done the Mariposa giants of California within the past year, these trees seem small in comparison. Kim managed to spot one interesting relic from the past...now how'd it get way out here!

Back in Copper Harbor, we walk the town a bit. Signs of a long winter's work lay in the front yards. And, we're surprised to find a small unused cottage built of cordwood masonry to inspect (more to come on cordwood as we move further North).

It's Kim's birthday (June 11th) and we celebrate by having dinner at Harbor House, it's entrance marked by this huge chunk of copper from the mines. We enjoy the our views of the Harbor, watching the late afternoon arrival of the Isle Royal ferry.

We are then treated to a nice dinner and splendid view of the lake as we end our vist here at the Keweenaw.