Timbals

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

“Old Age Isn’t For Sissies”

It must have been more than 25 years ago when I first saw that bumper sticker. “Cute,” I chuckled to myself, “What will they think of next?” (How about “Whirled Peas”?)

Now in my fifties, I’m learning first hand what they’re talking about. From the frumpy grey-haired stranger that looks back at me from the bathroom mirror every day to the closet full of too-small clothes that I really should donate to the local mission. And I’m beginning to understand my grandmother’s affinity to Ben Gay.

In fact, it’s the aching joints that bother me the most. After all, I don’t have to look in the mirror, and I’m quite comfortable wearing my sweats most of the time. But denial can only take a gal so far. When I’m lying in bed with an aching shoulder, it’s not denial that helps me fall asleep.

It’s my herbal heat wrap, with a little help from the microwave oven.

I discovered this delightful remedy at a local tourist attraction, complete with free entertainment, numerous food vendors, and lots of “mom and pop” product booths. As I walked through the small vintage firehouse, the smell of lavender was inviting, so I took a closer look.

20 minutes later, and about $60.00 lighter, I walked away with my only inedible purchase of the day. I had this lizard shaped thingee around my neck, and a more versatile rectangular wrap in the bag.

Having had my heat wraps for several weeks now, I can wholeheartedly recommend them. Of course, I recommend Heat Treats herbal wraps because that’s what I have and I know they work. These heat wraps are filled with a combination of flax seed and lavender. The flax seed releases a moist heat, while the lavender helps me relax.

While there’s nothing I can do to prevent getting older, at least I can put off feeling older for a while longer.

Now if only I could solve my “secretary spread” as easily.

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Friday, November 7th, 2008

Gloog

Gloog is a website dedicated to funny image edits. On www.gloog.net you can find funny
edits of images/logos and also animations have been added
recently. Go here for an enjoyable time on the web!

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Friday, November 7th, 2008

Survival Tips For Backpackers

Why survival tips for backpackers? Certainly backpacking may never become a matter of wilderness survival for you, especially if you are careful in your planning. Still, getting lost or twisting an ankle far from any road is always a possibility. In any case, learning a few new things from time to time is a great way to make your trips safer and more interesting. With that in mind, here are a few random survival tricks and skills based on my own experience.

A Few Survival Tips To Remember

You can make snow-block shelters without tools when the conditions are right. I have made trench-shelters of 2 x 3 foot snow-blocks with no tools. I stomped rectangles in the heavily-crusted snow and lifted up the resulting blocks. Stacking them on either side of a trench in the snow, and then across the top for a roof, I was able to make a shelter in twenty minutes.

Syrup is made in late winter and early spring from both maple and birch trees, but it is too much effort to in a wilderness survival situation. However, you can get a couple hundred calories per day by just drinking maple or birch sap. Collecting it can be as easy as snapping off the ends of twigs and putting something underneath to catch the dripping sap. I’ve collected a quart per day for several days from one cut branch.

How about a survival tip that makes for a delicious meal? Crayfish turn red just like a lobster when they are boiled, and you get a little chunk of meat from the tail of each. Lifting rocks to find them is much more efficient than baiting them. They swim backwards, so reach from behind them to catch them.

Porcupine can be killed with a stick. They will not die easy, but they are slow, so you’ll have plenty of time. Dress them from their underside, where there are no quills. They taste good when roasted over a fire. The mountain man tradition was to never kill them unless it was an emergency, because as long as they’re around, there is easy food for survival situations.

For quick ropes and lashings in the desert, peel yucca leaves into strips and braid them together, overlapping the ends. It took thirty minutes for me to make a rope like this that four of us couldn’t break (two on each end).

I have cooked in containers made of birch bark. There are two methods. One is to drop fire-heated rocks into the liquid to bring it to a boil. The other is to use the pot directly over the flame. If the flame doesn’t go above the level of the liquid, the pot birch bark pot won’t burn, because the heat is conducted away quickly by the liquid inside.

Just stuffing your light jacket full of dried grass can effectively make it into a winter coat. It is even better (less itchy) if you have another jacket (like your raincoat), so you can put the grass or leaves between the two. Usually it will be more efficient to look for ways to modify what you already have than to try to make survival clothing.

There are hundreds of little tricks that can make wilderness travel interesting and safer. Even if you aren’t interested in practicing survival techniques, why not at least read a few survival tips now and then. Someday you may remember something that can save your life.

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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Ten Tips For Getting Acquainted With the Great Outdoors

If you’re new to spending time in nature, but want to be a good sport, here are a few easy steps you can take to overcome your fear of crawly things and really enjoy the great outdoors.

1. Confront the Critters Head-on: To avoid ticks, apply Permethrin, a derivative of crushed dried Daisy Chrysanthemum flowers, to all garments, shoes, socks, hats and backpacks. If picnicking apply it to the tablecloth before you pack up. Permethrin also keeps chiggers and other biting insects away. Bears, raccoons, snakes - in fact, most wild animals will avoid you if they can. In the summer, I do not grab any handholds while climbing without looking first, just in case a snake has decided to sun itself on the trail. Accidental encounters are always possible. Don’t run; that will encourage a predator to chase you. In most cases, if you stand your ground, yell, wave your arms and make a racket, the animal will run away. Never, ever feed wild animals - and never try to touch or pet a wild animal - EVER.

2. Fashion Sense: Fabric Do’s and Don’ts. Fabrics for outdoor wear are lighter and more comfortable than ever. My personal favorite is wicking, because it is soft, machine washable (air dry to avoid static cling) and does not harbor body odor. Garments are different thicknesses for different seasons. You can be active and still be fresh as a daisy. Whether you perspire or there’s a sudden rain shower, wicking dries out quickly. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature suddenly plummets; being soaked is the most dangerous risk in outdoor activities. Seriously, it could kill you. Avoid cotton, because if it gets wet, it never dries. I’m still fond of wool; merino wool is soft and not itchy, but it is pricy. While silk is lovely, it’s not durable and requires special laundering.

3. Footwear: Do’s and Don’ts: If you’re hiking rough terrain, riding mountain bikes, having a picnic, or strolling the beach, the right footwear is the difference between fun and frustration. For most outdoor activities, the appropriate footwear can be rented. But you’ll want to purchase your own hiking boots. If you’re hiking under five miles, a sturdy, three-season boot with ankle support that lets your foot breathe is sufficient. I hike all year round, so my own Italian leather, Vibram sole, wicking-lined boots are the most expensive equipment I own. They fit beautifully from the first day and I’ve never had a blister.

4. Carry the Right Bag: I typically carry a bookbag-size day pack when I’m not staying overnight - and sometimes even when I am. It holds all of my pocket survival kit essentials, plus an extra layer of clothes, water, binoculars, snacks and whatever else I choose to carry. That leaves my hands free to use my binoculars, camera or notebook. Also, when I stop for a break, my pack makes a useful backrest.

5. Accessories: Hats and Belts: In winter I wear a balaclava, which covers my head and neck and can be pulled over my face. Ninety percent of body heat is lost through the head, so I wear a lined wool balaclava. If I wear a hat in other seasons, I want it to shield my eyes from the sun, cover my neck, have holes for circulation, and fit properly. Belts can come in very handy, but I typically do not wear one.

6. Eyewear: I just started wearing eyeglasses on a full-time basis. In the winter, they were an obstacle. In the summer, they’re an effective pollen and insect barrier. Sunglasses can reduce glare and they also offer your eyes protection.

7. Hair and Makeup: If you have long hair, a braid, bun or ponytail keeps your hair neat and out of your way. The older I get, the shorter my hair gets. I depend on a PABA-free 30-SPF sunscreen to cover my face, ears, neck, and hands - even in winter. Sun reflecting off snow can be very damaging. I typically do not wear daytime makeup, but if I did, I would use the sunblock as my base.

8. Water: When I hiked in the desert I carried a bladder bag, which is a pliable water bottle with a tube extending from it. The bag fit in my daypack, carried 1.5 liters of water and I could suck on the tube whenever I felt thirsty. This is another really useful hands-free, affordable device. The only drawback - this is not designed for beverages other than water.

9. Gadgets: If you enjoy new gadgets, GPS units, binoculars, cameras, and other devices that make exploring the woods, the parks, the beaches or the deserts fun will add a dimension to your experience and give you something to do if you don’t feel quite ready to put a worm on a hook or rappel that cliff.

10. Win Big: Attitude is 99 percent of any situation. Anything new takes time to really experience. You may be inspired to use your camera to photograph clouds, diffracted sunlight on a spider web or the bud just about to open. The sound of moving water always makes me feel rested, even on a very long hike. I never tire of the sounds of birds calling or singing. I’m determined to learn bird language. There is nothing quite like the smell of a pine grove or the view from a mountain ridge. And the infinite and endless variety in the texture of tree trunks and bits of rock can keep me occupied for hours.

JJ Murphy, is a nature writer, blogging hiker, curriculum creator and tree-hugger currently based in Harriman, NY. Visit http://www.writerbynature.com for more information, including JJ’s favorite places for gear and supplies.

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Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Doggin Atlanta: Where To Hike With Your Dog In The Big Peach

Grant Park, bounded by Atlanta Avenue, Sidney Street, Cherokee Street and the Boulevard, is named for Colonel Lemuel P. Grant, a civil engineer for the Georgia Railroad who helped bring the railroad to Atlanta and earned the name “Father of Atlanta.”

Grant Park is near the site of the battle for Atlanta in the Civil War and defensive
breastworks, constructed under the supervision of L.P. Grant, can still be seen in the
144-acre recreation area. The land for Grant Park was at one time part of Colonel
Grant’s extensive land holdings in young Atlanta. Dogs are welcome on the scenic
trails although they are not permitted around the two prime attractions of the park:
Zoo Atlanta or the Atlanta Cyclorama, the 360-degree painting of the Battle of
Atlanta.

Nearby to enjoy with your dog is Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
less than one hour north of Atlanta.

Most rivers meander and change course over time but the Chattahoochee River is
locked in place by the 320-mile Brevard Fault that divides the Appalachian
Mountains and the Piedmont Plateau. As such, it is one of the oldest rivers in
America.

President Jimmy Carter created the Chattahoochee River National Recreation
Area in his home state to protect 48 miles of the slow-moving waters south of Lake
Lanier. Today the 4,100-acre dog-friendly preserve - Chattahoochee means place
of flowered rocks - is one of the most popular destinations in the national park
system, attracting more than three million visitors each year.

Two visitor centers, Paces Mill at the southern access and Island Ford near the
center, service the Chattahoochee River NRA’s 14 land units and more than 50 miles
of trails. Much of the canine hiking on these day-use trails is easy, through
meadows and wooded gorges along the river. Expect a cool swim for your dog when
she plunges in - the water temperature rarely warms to more than 50 degrees.

The stability of the Chattahoochee River has enabled much of the history of
inhabitation on its banks to remain in place. Keep an eye out for archaeological
remants of the Indian tribes that lived here for hundreds of years. Among the 19th
century structures that can be seen are the ruins of antebellum textile mills.

One of the premier places to hike with your dog is the Jones Bridge Trail, a 2.6-mile
jaunt that hugs the Chattahoochee for most of its length before ascending a small
ridge.

To reach the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Paces Mill travel on
US 41, north of I-75. Admission to the recreation area is free but there is a
nominal parking fee.

copyright 2006

Doug Gelbert is the author of over 20 books, including The Canine Hiker’s Bible.
To subscribe to his FREE Newsletter on hiking with your dog and receive a copy
of Rules for Dogs in 100 of the Most Popular National Park Service Lands, visit
http://www.hikewithyourdog.com In the warmer months he leads canine hikes
for hikewithyourdog.com tours, guiding packs of dogs and humans on hiking
adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day explorations, visit
parks, historical sites and beaches.

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Monday, November 3rd, 2008

All About Winter Park

Hate the dreariness of the plains or the heat and dust of summer? Looking for a winter park? A vacation spot that will give you the freshness of mountain air, the adrenaline rushes from skiing or snowmobiling, or simply the cool and calm that the wondrous natural beauty the American Rockies bring to the tensed and tired soul tortured by the strains of modern urban living? If you have zeroed-in on Colorado’s Winter Park, look no further - here’s your gateway to heaven!

Be it winter, spring, summer or fall - there is something for the visitor to Winter Park and Fraser Valley all through the year. In winter, make the most of the snow all around you. Snowshoeing, dog sled riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are just some of the outdoor activities that you, your friends or family can indulge in. For the less adventurous, there are great spas and hot springs, opportunities to shop till you drop, gorge to your tummy’s content and guzzle as much as you like.

In summer, skiing is no longer the primary draw, but nature nonetheless keeps vacationers coming. You can go for hikes along beautiful wild-flower strewn trails if long walks are what you enjoy. If you are a bike enthusiast, opt for the many mountain-biking opportunities that beckon you at Winter Park. If white-water rafting is what excites you, head for the several facilities that offer both beginners as well as advanced enthusiasts a wide diversity of rafting experiences.

Though established only in the 1940s, Winter Park has a lot to offer even to the historically minded. While there are many trails named after historic personalities, there is also Cozens’ Ranch House Museum just north of town - the site of a stage stop and post office set up in the 1870s. Don’t forget to drop in at the room commemorating Doc Suzie, the area’s first female doctor.

Located just 1 1/2 hour’s drive away from Denver, Winter Park Resort receives the most snow of all Colorado destination resorts. The area has five different mountains - Winter Park, Mary Jane, Parsenn Bowl, Vasquez Cirque and Vasquez Ridge.
To proceed from I-70 out of Denver, take the exit 232 to US Highway 40, and over Berthoud Pass. From the exit, Winter Park is only about 25 miles away and just about 60 miles from Denver overall.

Accommodation is no problem at all with over 30 places to choose from and many more in and around the place. Restaurants provide delicious German, spicy Cajun or Mexican food to meet the needs of cold weather activities and shoppers can buy all that they need from facilities around the town.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head for the coolest spot in the West!

Jim Hartley recommends that you visit http://www.vacationsinc.com for more information on Winter Park lodging.

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Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Why Salvino from Albania Takes His Annual Leave in Chamonix Mont Blanc

Chamonix ski resort is a unique town with the legendary Mont Blanc as well as jagged glaciers. The group enjoy going canyoning or sometimes visiting the Aiguille du Midi. I usually travel from Lynchburg and stay at a Chamonix luxury catered chalet during my stay.

I used to stayed in AmeriSuites Flagstaff Interstate CR but it rarely met the standards of its description: This AmeriSuites is located approximately two miles from the Lowell Observatory and 3 miles from Flagstaff Airport. The hotel is also 10 miles from Walnut Canyon National Monument, 17 miles from the Arizona Snow Bowl, 27 miles from Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon, and 35 miles from Wupatki National Monument. The Grand Canyon is 80 miles away. Hotel amenities include the heated pool, whirlpool, fitness room, laundry facilities, and complimentary breakfast buffet. The hotel also offers free parking.

On the other hand in Chamonix Haute Savoie France the catered chalet is nearly always fine. Moreover dining in my number one cafe, El Tequilense, munching cheesy ro-tel chili brisket tacos is a pleasure. Chamonix France is a big enough town to insure that there is plenty for the skier to do. Amongst other things it includes a museum and a number of restaurants, Chamonix offers a mix of walking, alpine charm and shopping which few ski resorts can match.

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Saturday, November 1st, 2008

Bald Eagles arrive in Squamish BC

Once again our planet’s largest gatherings of Bald Eagles in underway in Squamish British Columbia, just North of Vancouver BC, and just 50 km south of the world class Whistler Ski Resort. Based on population estimates, up to 5% of the world’s bald eagles winter in the very this very accessible area. From one viewing space, often dozens of Eagles can be seen, and a short walk in the right direction will allow you to see many more.

For decades, thousands of majestic Bald Eagles have been gathering on the riverbanks of the Squamish and Cheakamus Rivers, feasting on the ample salmon that either did not quite make it to the spawning channels, or have accomplished their life’s goal, and thus have met their subsequent demise. Working to preserve their energy in the winter months, eagles will eat up to a two pounds of this high value protein every day.

The highlight of the eagle-viewing period is the annual Bald Eagle Count, which will take place on January 8th this year and is headquartered out of the Brackendale Art Gallery. Using consistent methodology, a count of the eagles in the area on this weekend every year has been kept since 1986. In 1994 a world record 3769 eagles were counted within a few kilometers of the Squamish area and its tributary rivers.

Bad weather can be good for eagle viewing as the eagles tend to stay closer to the riverbanks and closer to viewing areas. When the weather is great, they are more likely to be off for a little fly around the rivers, mountains and forests of the Squamish area.

One of the best ways to see the Bald Eagles in their spectacular surroundings right in their own habitat is on an Eagle Float tour, or Eagle Safari through Canadian Outback Adventures. A dream experience for adventure travelers, photographers, families, schools and educational groups, it is the best way to get up close to these raptors without disturbing them. While they usually run white water rafting trips in the summer, in winter, Canadian Outback takes vacationers, school and educational groups on float tours down the rivers in the area in order to see these spectacular birds in their natural habitat, all with stunning mountain and forest backdrops.

The closest Squamish accommodation to the prime eagle viewing area in Brackendale is the Sea to Sky Hotel & Conference Center on Highway 99 at Garibaldi Way. Excellent eagle viewing areas are only about a kilometer away. The hotel also offers discount ski packages to those traveling to ski or board at Whistler Blackcomb.

There are other good viewing areas in town, particularly along the river dykes at the end of Judd Road, and around the spawning channels between the Mamquam River and the Squamish Valley Golf and Country Club.

Directions: To see the eagles from arguably the best viewing area, turn west from Highway 99 at Garibaldi Way. This is a left hand turn if you are coming from Vancouver, or a right hand turn if you are coming from Whistler. Turn right again in about 20 metres at the T-junction with Government Road. Follow Government road for just under one kilometer, and you will be at the Eagle Viewing area. There is lots of parking on the right and an interpretive center on the dyke from which you can get a great view of dozens of Bald Eagles. If you are very lucky, there may also be a few seals around, as well as a variety of other bird species. On weekends from December to mid-February there are often volunteers from Squamish’s Eagle Watch program on have to offer more information and a peek through higher powered telescopes. Other great viewing areas are near the Tenderfoot Fish Hatchery, The Squamish Estuary, and near the Spawning channels between the Mamquam River and the Squamish Valley Golf and Country club.

Squamish is an outdoor recreation Mecca with thousands of rock climbing routes, hundreds of kilometers of Mountain Bike trails, a dozen excellent day hikes, some of the best windsurfing and kite-surfing on the west coast of North America, excellent white water rafting or kayaking, and scuba diving in Howe Sound. For the less adventurous, there is fishing, 3 scenic golf courses, walking trails, beaches and lakes, and sailing available. The new Squamish Adventure Center was recently opened on Highway 99.

Gord Addison has travelled extensively through four continents. Currently he lives in Squamish BC and writes when he is not running, hiking, mountain biking, cycling, or rock climbing.

This article with pictures is posted at:
http://www.seatoskyhotel.com/dyn.Squamish_BC_Eagles_Article.php

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Friday, October 31st, 2008

Bird Watching Competitions - I Spy With My Little Eye

Bird watching typically conjures up images of people pursuing a relaxing day of staring into the sky with binoculars. Ah, but then there is the competitive side of birding.

Flying Emus…err, Elbows

For many people, something is only worth undertaking if there is an element of competitiveness. With bird watching, no such element really exists unless you include adding to your life list as a competition. Even if you do, it is a rather vague, indirect form of competition. This is where bird watching competitions come in.

Also known as “bird days” or “big days”, bird watching competitions are typically one or two day events held in a specific geographic area. The idea behind the competition is to bring a bunch of birding enthusiasts together and see who tally the most species in a particular time period.

Since the honor code is tied into reporting your tally, the competitive aspect of such competitions isn’t overdone. This isn’t a situation like bass fishing where they roll you into a stadium afterwards to count your sightings in front of screaming crowds. Then again, perhaps an opportunity presents itself…

Can you imagine ESPN covering the event?

“Bob, it looks like Longbill Louie is in fine form today. Look at the way he balances those binoculars and what rotation!”

Probably not, but a man has to dream!

Back in reality, participating in a bird watching competition is a good idea for two reason. First, the organizers tend to pick spots with lots of species you may not have documented before. Second, it is a tremendous opportunity to meet other people who have caught the itch. This often can lead to future opportunities to bird watch with new friends in previously unknown areas.

If you must compete, there are official bird watching competitions. The World Series of Bird Watching is put on by the New Jersey Audubon Society. Teams of birders are formed and pitted against each other in early May of each year. With humorous names such as the “four loons”, “stokes stompers” and so on, it is a good time. The next competition is May 13, 2006, so you have plenty of time to get in top birding form.

Birding competitions are a bit serious for me, but to each his own. Having a Big Day, however, is a great way to get kids interested in watching.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com makers of diary and writing journals for bird watching. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles on bird watching and the great outdoors.

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Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Underclothing Unmistakably #1 Gratification for Today’s Girls

Not unexpectedly, a recently published research project reveals that in-style nightclothes are positively the talented request known to cause today’s ladies to convince themselves they are really winsome. The number one in the luxury nightclothes market place, Myla is a celebrated English business headquartered in London, UK concentrated on permitting today’s ladies to feel enthralling and unique in in-style night underwear.

Focusing on the absolute best in sexy bliss the team at Myla displays provocative nightclothes constituted of lavish textile fibers encompassing pure silk, lightweight chiffon, tatting lace & soft mesh. Zeroeing in at coquettish members of the fair sex, young and old we can purchase underwire bras plus, even better, silk and lace open knickers, soft triangle bras plus, even better, corresponding frilled thongs and body lace garter or, simply, sweet playful lace-trim babydolls constituted of lightweight chiffon and tatting lace. As is to be expected, their cosmopolitan inventory displays shell mesh basques, frill knickers, sheer silk camisoles & long satin silk halter nightshirts.

Simply great for the lover’s den, you can get wonderful silk satin and tulle lace up bodices, silk and lace open knickers, smallclothes, feather detail g-strings and bands. If you’d like to add some flirty sleeping room apparatuses devotees will choose waterproof vibrators, satin stiletto shoes, pantyhoses, body lace garters and alluring fragrant flirt candles. Inveigle and entrance with Guinea fowl feather ticklers, feather fluff & satin tie ups, silk tie blindfolds, sexy scented massage oil, tasty chocolate body paints or a playful paddle.

Focusing on the absolute best flirty toys, the team at Myla displays a sweeping product line of intimate pleasure toys exclusively designed by a flock of celebrated artists and designers. Lingerie lovers may choose amongst a top quality product palette encompassing Rachel Wingfield’s vibrating Sphere, Jimmyjane’s platinum bow engraved vibrator or Paris based Marc Newson’s great sensual Mojo.

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