Thomas Trails and Tales

Birthday Girl

2010-02-11T10:33:00.002-05:00

This message from my WII makes up for the fact that today I discovered that I share a birthday with this guy. Yikes.

Six More Weeks of Winter

2010-02-03T14:36:00.002-05:00

The Great Snow of 2010

2010-02-01T13:34:00.004-05:00

We got about 5 inches of snow this weekend and in true southern fashion our stores are emptied of bread, milk and cookie dough. In anticipation of the blizzard, we prepared ourselves by driving downtown and having a couple of beers rather than fight the crowds in the grocery store.

One of the best parts of snow on the ground is finding animal tracks and determining what/who is nibbling on my nandina bushes. Oh Mr. Bunny, I am going to get you.

Blog, what blog?

2010-01-26T10:51:00.002-05:00

Photographed 1/20/10 in my backyard.

Okay, so we haven't posted in a while. I am not sure if anyone noticed our pause in posting so I offer my apologies. Things were moving along at Thomas Trails and Tails, Inc. until we got this. Now, all I want to do is successfully complete the tree pose without my Wii trainer saying, "you seem a little shaky."

Fred the Squirrel

2009-07-22T19:22:00.003-04:00

This is Fred. He was named after Fred Sanford because he grabs his chest while staring at my tomato plant. "I'm coming Elizabeth, this is the big one."

Or maybe, he is just shocked that I can grow tomatoes on my deck.

At Least She Doesn't Chew with Her Mouth Open

2009-07-19T19:28:00.001-04:00

A deer eating an apple in my backyard - photographed on 7/17/09.

The Elusive Hawk

2009-07-17T15:23:00.003-04:00

Do you know how hard it is to get a picture of a hawk? This guy has been hanging around for a while and every time I pick up my camera - he bolts.

I suspect he is looking for this little guy:

A Spooky Picture

2009-07-07T09:36:00.002-04:00

This photograph was taken in Blowing Rock, NC at Glen Burney Falls on July 6, 2009.

Hummingbird

2009-07-01T04:36:00.003-04:00

Are there real hummingbirds in hummingbird cake?

When I was little, our school served a nasty concoction of yellow cake and pineapple and called it hummingbird cake - go figure.

Photographed on June 30, 2009.

Afternoon Visitor

2009-06-24T15:40:00.002-04:00

This little guy showed up this afternoon to size up the midnight buffet he plans to eat in my backyard.

Buzy Bee

2009-06-10T16:14:00.002-04:00

Good lord honey, it is hot in Raleigh. One advantage of living in this area is the beautiful flowers and another is terminally big hair.

Photographed in my yard on June 8, 2009.

He Wore Blue Velvet

2009-06-08T19:15:00.003-04:00

This guy showed up in my backyard this afternoon and stayed around long enough for me to grab a picture. Note the velvet on his antlers.

Writers in the Sky

2009-04-28T14:00:00.008-04:00

When I was working in the yard on Saturday, I looked up and saw this:

The lost art of skywriting! But hold on, what is it ... is General Electric using the sky to advertise wind technology? How clever!

Uh-oh ... this is beginning to look familiar ...

Wait for it ...

Good grief! Just how big is their marketing budget!

A Silly Picture

2009-04-21T09:10:00.001-04:00

Photographed at the NC Museum of Art.

Sunrise at Sunset

2009-04-14T09:04:00.001-04:00

Photographed at Sunset Beach, NC on April 11, 2009.

Greenfield Park, Wilmington, NC

2009-04-14T08:38:00.006-04:00

If you are in the Wilmington, NC, area this week you should check out the Greenfield Park. The azaleas are at their peak and the park is gorgeous. There is a paved sidewalk that covers a 4-mile trek around the park with lovely vistas and fragrant gardens. For more info about the park, go to http://www.ci.wilmington.nc.us/Departments/PublicServices/Parks/CityParks.aspx

If you go, you will see beautiful azalea specimens:

Fragrant wisteria:

But watch out for this:

I think somebody forgot her pants ...

2009-03-22T12:03:00.002-04:00

Photographed at the NC Museum of Art on 3/21/09.

The Big Snow of '09

2009-03-03T12:45:00.005-05:00

We had our second snow of the year and this one was very pretty and about 4 inches. Because we are in the South, our snows don't stay on the ground too long, in fact, the forecast is for 74 degrees for Saturday.

Photographed in our backyard on March 3, 2009.

What's My Name?

2009-02-24T06:43:00.006-05:00

This little guy showed up in the backyard around 4:30 yesterday for a quick visit. What is he? A wolf? A coyote? He looks too big to be a fox.

Here are a few more shots of our little visitor:

Mystery solved: he is a coyote!

Christmas Tree at N.C Capitol

2008-12-16T06:49:00.000-05:00

I Sure Hope I Don't Have to Rake These Up

2008-10-30T09:06:00.003-04:00

The eggs have hatched!

2008-08-13T14:56:00.003-04:00

I don't know how there are 5 baby birds from only 4 eggs ... double yolk?

My Hanging Basket Has New Tenants ...

2008-07-25T20:49:00.004-04:00

Every time I walk through the kitchen, the hanging basket is swinging back and forth ... suspiciously.

I decide to investigate and here is what I find:

Mama Bird freaks out every time anyone is in the kitchen ,.. I hope this is a short incubation period.

4th of July

2008-07-08T05:47:00.001-04:00

Photographed in Boone, NC.

2008-06-30T08:24:00.004-04:00

Pack of snake gourd seeds: $1.00

Wire mesh trash can: $1.50 (thank you, Dollar General Store)

Beating the deer at their own game: Priceless

Is it hot enough for you?

2008-06-09T11:42:00.001-04:00

The Plane! The Plane!

2008-05-08T02:06:00.004-04:00

Remember that scene from North by Northwest, the one where Cary Grant is being chased in a cornfield by a crop duster? Well, I am walking down the beach minding my own business and suddenly hear a noise behind me ... lo and behold ... the plane!

Photographed at Sunset Beach, NC, May 5, 2008.

2008-05-07T18:47:00.003-04:00

I don't know how they do it at your polling place, but here in the Old North State, we get an adhesive sticker to prove we've voted! Yes sir, that's how we roll down here.

I always roll my eyes when I see one of the poll workers dutifully handing them out. But you know what, this time I wore mine all day.

Because You Can Never Have Enough Pictures of Spring ...

2008-04-14T15:33:00.001-04:00

Photographed in my backyard April 13, 2008.

Find the Deer in this Picture

2008-04-04T08:11:00.004-04:00

Can't find the deer? How about now?

Photographed in my backyard on April 2, 2008.

We Hope You Had a Restful Easter

2008-03-25T09:45:00.002-04:00

Happy First Day of Spring!

2008-03-20T08:12:00.000-04:00

Photographed at Duke Gardens, Durham, NC

A Hint of Spring

2008-03-05T08:01:00.003-05:00

A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

Emily Dickinson

Picture of the Day

2008-03-04T03:11:00.002-05:00

Photographed at the Haw River State Park on March 2, 2008.

Haw River

2008-03-03T11:56:00.012-05:00

Yesterday, we drove out to Jordan Lake to investigate a hiking trail recommended by a co-worker. We exited Highway 64 after crossing Jordan Lake at the Haw River exit. Having been warned about a poorly maintained trail and questionable trail blazes, we set out.

Our first challenge was crossing the creek at the foot of the parking lot. Three tries and a dirty pants leg later, we made it over. We followed what we thought was the trail and saw this pretty view:

It was a beautiful day with lots of sun and a great breeze. We ambled down the banks of the Haw River crawling over rocks, stepping over roots, and the occasional fallen tree. We saw lots of evidence of beaver activity ...

... and freshwater clams.

After about 30 minutes of climbing over rocks and wondering if there even was a trail, we met this little guy:

We didn't linger too long at snaketown and continued hiking until the rocks became impassable. We were rewarded with this view:

The entire hike lasted about an hour and we later learned that there is a red blaze trail that was perpendicular to the river up a ridge that we should have followed. A map or better trail blazes would have been helpful. We highly recommend this trail with beautiful vistas and definitely wear hiking boots.

Self Portrait

2008-01-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

Photographed at Umstead Park, NC on January 1, 2008.

Hello. My name is "Get Away From the Christmas Tree"

2007-12-11T06:47:00.001-05:00

North Carolina State University's Number One Fan

2007-11-13T16:21:00.001-05:00

Fall 2007

2007-10-22T11:26:00.000-04:00

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold,
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

- Robert Frost

The Standards for Decency Have Just Been Lowered ...

2007-10-18T19:11:00.000-04:00

Photographed in Blowing Rock, NC on October 12, 2007.

A Deer Visitor

2007-08-27T13:14:00.001-04:00

Last night, this little guy walked out of the woods to check out our parched yard. He drank from the pan of water I had left for him and then skipped away. I am sure he will be back later to eat my azaleas.

Easy as Pie

2007-08-17T12:49:00.000-04:00

I once bought a book called Pie Every Day by Pat Willard while on vacation in Seattle. Sadly, I make pie only about 3-4 times a year.

Here's a recipe for a really good one:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Splenda for Baking
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 flour
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks beaten
1 baked pie crust

Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Mix milk and egg yolks together and whisk together with dry ingredients. Pour into a double boiler and cook until thickened. Cooking times vary; however, 10-12 minutes should be enough time. Pour into baked pie crust.

For the meringue, combine two egg whites with 1 tablespoon of Splenda for Baking and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar. Beat with electric mix until soft peaks form. Spread on pie.

Place pie in a preheated 300 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until top is browned. Enjoy!

Dog Days of Summer

2007-08-16T10:51:00.000-04:00

Bliss

2007-08-15T15:49:00.000-04:00

We have a new addition to our backyard menagerie, a fawn born to Smokey. We have named her Bliss, because of her penchant for jumping up and down and trotting across our backyard. If you look closely, you can she has the same black marking across her face just like her mom Smokey.

A few fun facts about deer:

- Baby deer, called fawns, have no scent for the first few weeks of their life. This protects them from predators.
- The deer population in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 1980. This over population is attributed to a lack of natural predators. Deer's main predators, cougars, are mainly extirpated in the Southeast.
- They poop 16-18 times daily.

Here is a closer look at Bliss the fawn:

Danaus plexippus

2007-07-30T14:19:00.001-04:00

Photographed in Jamestown, NC, on July 28, 2007.

Butterflies Are Free

2007-07-24T16:03:00.000-04:00

Photographed in my front yard on July 24, 2007.

Raleigh Rose Garden

2007-07-22T10:09:00.001-04:00

Raleigh Rose Garden
301 Pogue Street (near NC State University; off Hillsborough Street; behind Raleigh Little Theater)
Raleigh, NC 27607-7267
919-821-4579

This is a beautiful garden park with over 60 rose beds that include a collection of hybrid teas, florabundas, grandifloras, English, and tree roses.

From the entrance on Pogue Street, you are treated to an Aeriel view of the garden as you walk down a wooden stairwell to reach the park.

There is a lovely stone archway covered in climbing roses at the north end of the park. This garden has the most wonderful array of smells and is a quiet, peaceful place stroll and admire your favorite rose variety.

There are beautiful shady vistas throughout the park:

Raleigh Wide Open

2007-07-21T17:30:00.001-04:00

This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of the re-opening of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, NC.

Fayetteville Street is Raleigh's main street and was closed in 1976 to automobile traffic and re-opened as a pedestrian mall. Big mistake. People tired of having to park their cars and walk several blocks to get to the pedestrian mall where shops and restaurants struggled to survive.

Downtown Raleigh was dying a slow death until Fayetteville Street reopened in 2006. The city decided to celebrate this auspicious occasion by, well, shutting the down street again for the day. Yes, I know how ironic this is - shutting down the street to celebrate opening the street.

A respectable crowd turned out to celebrate, note the capitol building in the background:

Fayetteville Street is also home to the Briggs Hardware Building, the only 19th century commercial building remaining in Raleigh. An interesting note, our church originally met in this building on Sundays 90 years ago before the sanctuary was finished. The building is now home to the Raleigh Museum.

The street festival was full of music and haute cuisine:

You may wonder what is in a "monkey nut" drink - my street research yields that it is some sort of fruit concoction served in a coconut shell. I don't care if it is non-alcoholic, you should never drink anything bigger than your head.

Congratulations Fayetteville Street - live long and prosper!

Your Tax Dollars At Work

2007-07-15T05:21:00.000-04:00

This mailbox was photographed on Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC, May, 2007.

R2D2 as a mailbox?

The Perfect Address

2007-07-14T14:58:00.000-04:00

This street sign was photographed in Beaufort, NC, in the spring of 2007.

If you are traveling to Beaufort, make sure you stop by the Beaufort Grocery Story on Queen Street. The food is wonderful and the staff attentive; it is a dining delight. For more information, go to http://www.beaufortgrocery.com/bgcmain.html

Beaufort, pronounced Bo-furt was known as "Fish Town" in the early 1700's when Blackbeard frequented the coast, "Beaufort Town" was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs in 1722. During the American Revolution, it was the third largest port in the state.

For more information about visiting Beaufort, please go to http://www.beaufort-nc.com/

Linville Falls, North Carolina

2007-07-09T14:43:00.000-04:00

Linville Falls National Park is easily accessible via the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile post 316.3. There are clearly marked trails just beyond the visitors center and over the footbridge that crosses the Linville River.

The Ervin Trail runs parallel to the river and is quite easy as the elevation actually dips and is 1.6 miles round trip. Here, the Linville River spills over the upper falls where it widens and pauses. Drifting into a narrow canyon, the water suddenly spirals out of sight and plunges 45 feet over the lower falls.

The Chimney View Trail, 0.7 mile from the visitor center, is the first point on the trail where the lower falls can be seen. The trail continues up to the overlook and is fairly steep and is rated strenuous - I would rate it closer to moderate.

Be forewarned: if you have an aversion to steps, you may not enjoy this trail.

The various trails take you to different perspective views of the same 90-foot Linville Falls. They are all worth checking out especially if you have a camera. Hey, you are already there, why not?

Linville Falls park is a lovely 1 to 2 hour diversion with spectacular views of a roaring water 90-foot fall. It is a great place to stretch your legs after driving on the Parkway for a while. Hiking boots and a camera are strongly recommended.

For more information, please go to http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway/general/waterfalls.asp

Hello, weather? May I speak with your supervisor?

2007-07-07T16:10:00.000-04:00

It is hot in the RDU area. I am talking Africa hot; Tarzan couldn't take this heat.

And where is the rain? Presently, we have a rain deficit of over 4 inches. We haven't had any substantial rain for over 14 days and the 5-day forecast predicts a low probability for rain until next weekend.

There are now water restrictions for all of Wake county; when you can water your lawn depends on the last digit of your house number. Wake county has hired water inspectors to catch violators and asses fines. Wouldn't you love that job?

I guess water is the new gasoline. If you don't hear from us for a while, you know we've been arrested for water violations and are serving out our sentence.

Roan Mountain State Park, Tennesse

2007-07-05T15:41:00.001-04:00

OK. It says Roan Mountain is a Tennessee state park and while the park may be in Tennessee a large part of the mountain is in North Carolina. It's a big mountain and rivals Mount Mitchell with an elevation of 6285 feet. We drove from Blowing Rock, NC and it's not the easiest place to find despite its size. I had not been to Roan Mountain in over 25 years.

I was thinking about a visit when the June issue of Our State magazine featured an article on Roan. Was it a sign from the hiking gods? The piece concentrated on the Cloudland Trail and the magnificent Rhododendron that bloom in mid June. For more information on Our State magazine, please visit http://www.ourstate.com

We drove through the park and up the mountain, past access to the Appalachian Trail to a gate house that was unmanned at 10:30 am. Honor system here, put $3 in an envelope, tear off receipt/parking tag and proceed to the parking lots.

Per the article in Our State, we parked in a huge, empty lot that is presumably for buses but also has some car parking. On one end of the parking lot there is the trail head for the Cloudland Trail and on the other end of the lot there is a restroom and a short trail to a post-civil war hotel once stood and access to the Appalachian Trail.

We followed the Cloudland trail for a ways through some rhododendron. We came to a 3-way intersection on the trail where we met some other hikers who were lost and did we know the way to the observation platform? We didn't either, but took the straight ahead fork and went past the Rhododendron garden and eventually found ourselves at the observation deck.

The view and the breeze was spectacular but a thick haze hung over the mountains obscuring any long distance view or photography. The hike was well worth the effort:

Walking back we stopped at the garden and walked the loop trails there. After a while all Rhododendron look the same. We got some great pictures and got to see more Rhododendron in one spot than you would see anywhere else in a life time.

It may be also worth noting that this time of year while these plants are in full bloom, they are also full of bees and other buzzing and possibly stinging insects. We suggest hiking boots, insect repellent, and plenty of water.

This was a great side trip for us. The Rhodey's were beautiful and it was fun getting back to a place I had not been in years.

We will go back and maybe next time we will be on the Appalachian Trail as it passes through Roan Mountain. As I recall, the views from the ridge the trail traverses were even better than the ones from the observation deck.

Directions to Roan Mountain: From Boone, NC take Hwy 105 to Newland, NC. Take Hwy 194 North out of Newland toward Roan Mountain, TN.

Happy 4th of July

2007-07-01T20:49:00.000-04:00

This flag was photographed at Chimney Rock Park, NC in April 2007.

A Happy Ending

2007-06-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

This week, the bald eagle was taken off the endangered species list for the first time since 1963. This is a wonderful environmental success story. At one time, there were only 400 mating pairs compared with the over 10,000 in existence today.

This photograph was taken at the bald eagle habitat at Grandfather Mountain, NC in June of 2007. This rescued eagle is no longer able to fly due to a gunshot wound and will live out his remaining days in this habitat. Even with his injury, he is a very regal bird.

Did you know?

The bald eagle is not really bald; it actually has white feathers on its head, neck, and tail. Bald is a derivation of balde, an Old English word meaning white. The eagle was named for its white feathers instead for a lack of feathers.

Glen Burney Trail in Blowing Rock, NC

2007-06-27T13:04:00.000-04:00

In October of '06 and June of '07 we visited Blowing Rock, NC for a few days. We made the town our base camp and struck out each day from there in search of adventure or at least diversion. Call us gluttons for punishment but on both visits to Blowing Rock, we hiked the Glen Burney trail.

The trail starts out in the Glen Burney Park lower parking lot and meanders down through a gorge past 3 water falls on the New Year Creek. It is 1.6 miles from the trail head to the last water fall and an elevation change of 600 feet. This might not sound like much on the way down, but it is on the return trip! Actually having done this twice now, I would have to say that the going down is slower than the going up if you are in decent shape.

Once you start out on the trail at the parking lot near the current sewage lift station/pump house, you encounter a gravel service road that narrows to more of a trail. Along this road there is a wooden fence that tries to obscure the view of or hide the hikers from an incredible house or lodge that is being built off of Globe Rd. which roughly follows the trail albeit at a much different elevation.

At 0.4 miles you come across the "ruins" of a sewer plant that served the town back in 1929. The Glen Burney area dates back to 1892. The gorge and park area was donated to the town of Blowing Rock in 1906 by Emily Pridden who founded a school and owned land in the area.

At 0.8 miles you can hear and see the Cascades "falls". At 1.2 miles you encounter the Glen Burney falls and at 1.6 miles you reach the Glen Marie falls. The trail is covered in Rhododendron. It is dark and quiet along the trail with only birds and the occasional car passing way up on Globe Rd. to disturb you. But, that is only if you are away from the falls or creek itself which are quite noisy in a pleasant way. The sound of rushing or falling water is one of nature's great tranquillizers.

When we were there last October, you could continue along the trail to reach Globe Rd. and walk back up that path. Now there are "no trespassing" signs and other signs requesting you to turn around. This is the end of the trail and the start of the moderate to strenuous walk back up the trail.

We, and the parks and rec folks, recommend hiking boots, water, a snack and a camera. We have met folks on the trail in street shoes, Crocs, flip flops and running shoes. There are lots of rocks and roots to traverse. Our June hike was just after an overnight rain and all surfaces including the dirt trail floor were slippery so the total time round trip was almost 3 hours.

This is a great little "off the beaten path" hike in the middle of a "tourist" mountain town, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, NC. Few people know about this trail and most of the ones who do, have not hiked it. There are lots of less worn paths taking off from the main trail but you are advised to stay on the main one. There are wooden stakes indicating the mile marks every so often now. Hopefully, folks will leave them where they are. The trail could uses some blazes as there are none at all and some junctions or forks in the road get a little confusing.

If you make it down and back up and are so inclined, stop in the Six Pence Pub on Main St. for a pint. The Glen Burney trail and park is just off Laurel Lane which is just of Main St. in Blowing Rock. We highly recommend both.

For more information about Blowing Rock, NC, please visit http://www.blowingrock.com/

Chimney Rock Park, North Carolina

2007-06-26T13:39:00.000-04:00

Recently, we traveled to Chimney Rock Park located 25 miles southeast of Asheville, NC, Chimney Rock Park is a "fee to enter" non-state park like Grandfather Mountain. This is a beautiful park and offers trails for the novice to the expert.

Privately owned, the state of NC has purchased Chimney Rock park and it is slated to close fall of 2007 for renovations and reopen in 2008 as an official North Carolina State Park.

Chimney Rock Park has one prominent feature and that is the "Chimney" rock formation. It is accessible via a trail or elevator and stairs. We drove up to the elevator access which is through a tunnel cut through solid rock, rode the elevator up to the gift shop and snack bar, walked out on the deck and over to the stairs up to the rock.

The views are spectacular of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.

From here you can start hiking down the trail to the parking lots and hit all of the other points of interest along the way. Most of these points are rock formations and along the way is Hickory Nut Falls. The "falls" is a little stream of water shooting out and down about 400 feet. There are about 3.5 miles of trail up and down the mountain. Some of the stairs and other parts of the "trail" are a little dangerous and no doubt will be changed or closed when the state takes over the park.

The trail map provided at the park is cartoonish and we found it hard to follow.

It costs $14 per adult to enter the park. For the views and hiking, you can't beat the Blue Parkway which is close by and free. If you haven't been to Chimney Rock yet, we recommend you wait until it reopens as a state park.

How to get there from Asheville: Take Interstate 26 East toward Hendersonville. Get off at Exit #49A (Old Exit #18A - Bat Cave and Highway 64 East). Stay on 64 East for 15 miles and the Park entrance will be on the right.

For more info on Chimney Park, please visit http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/index.php

Where the Wild Things Are

2007-06-16T21:06:00.000-04:00

Do you see the amphibian in this poison ivy patch?

Do you think frogs are allergic to poison ivy? Probably not, I don't think I have ever seen one wearing calamine lotion...

Where's Waldo?

2007-06-10T19:34:00.000-04:00

Find the wild animal in this picture:

Can't find it? Look a little closer:

This shy creature is a North Carolina fox squirrel,the largest and most colorful tree squirrel in the state. We came across this little guy quite by accident as we were driving from Southport, NC, to catch the ferry to Fort Fisher. It was a treat to watch him.

A few facts about Fox Squirrels:

1) They are twice the size of the more common gray squirrels,
2) They are diurnal - meaning they are only active in the day,
3) They are solitary, asocial creatures except during mating season, &
4) They have a life expectancy of six-seven years.

The next time you are in the coastal plains of North Carolina, slow down and take a closer look at those pine-oak forests, you might get lucky and see one!

Lord of the Flies

2007-06-04T16:28:00.000-04:00

Hello, I am this week's guest editor. I am a Petite Basset Griffon Vandeen or "PBGV." My name is Petey, but I also go by Petey No!, or Petey I Said No!

I have a good life with my human family, they take me for walks and give me treats. I live in a nice house that is beautifully appointed with many things for me to explore. All in all, I have it pretty good.

My only complaint is about the flies. Yes, I said flies. Somehow, my human family's home is infested with flies. The funny thing is the flies only appear when I am completing my household chores. Do you know about household chores? I have 2 main chores: emptying the clothes dryer and turning over waste baskets.

I am an expert at emptying the dryer: I like to stick my head in the dryer, grab the laundry in my mouth, and run through the house. Sometimes, my human family runs along side of me, yelling my name "Petey No!," while we complete the transfer of clothes from dog to human. And then the flies appear, I know this because usually the older human family member grabs a fly swatter and shakes it at me! The humanity!

Haven't these people ever heard of bug spray? But like I said, it is a good life. I try my best to keep up with my chores regardless of those pesky flies.

This brings me to my next observation: bath time, a weekly ritual at our house. It is the most cruel of all human rituals - soak, lather, repeat. I try to be a good dog during bath time, assuming that the point of it is to remove the flies that my human family hates so much.

As soon as the bath is over, I escape to run through the house stopping only to wiggle my backside on the carpet. Ahh, the smell of wet carpet and dog ... smells like ... victory. My human family really likes this part of the process and they usually run with me through the house carrying a towel and yelling my name, "Petey I Said No!"

I love my human family and I will keep up with my household chores remembering that after all, they are human. Let's hope they can figure out how to get rid of the fly problem and then maybe, just maybe, we can cease with all this bath nonsense.

Duke Forest Al Buehler CC & Shepherd Nature Trail

2007-05-23T17:00:00.000-04:00

Today's journey finds us in Duke Forest at the Shepherd Nature trail and the Al Buehler Cross Country Trail.

We started the afternoon walking the cross country running trail around the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Course. This trail is a little noisy as about half of it parallels Highway 15/501. The trail is nicely groomed with a fine crushed gravel that is really more like light gray sand that is has been compacted. It is an excellent walking surface. Lots of folks run this trail and we saw one bike rider who was just flying. There are some glimpses of the golf course and you walk across the paved entrance to the inn.

There are several side trails and very little signage other than mile and kilometer markers. Somewhere, there is supposedly a paved path to a 32-station fitness course. We didn't see it. All in all, a nice 2.9 mile walk in mostly shade on good surface.

Next, we drove into Duke Forest proper and went to Gate C. The letters and numbers of the gates are hard to see from the road. This is the Shepherd Nature trail that is supposed to be a 0.8 mile loop. Again, not much signage and we got a little confused on which way to go at one point so we just back tracked and got in a little extra walking. There are signs along the trail mostly identifying trees. This trail is a little more rugged in spots than the cross country trail but we easily managed it in running shoes. Boots might be in order after a rain.

We saw deer in 3 different places along the trail and lots of lizards. This trail crosses an access road or two and could use some directional signage but is a nice little walk in the woods. It is always a nice bonus to see deer and other wildlife when hiking in the woods.

For more information, please visit http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/forest/index.html

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What Happens When You Feed a Deer Peanut Butter

2007-05-14T20:28:00.000-04:00

About Raleigh, NC

2007-05-08T16:18:00.000-04:00

Raleigh was founded in 1792 as North Carolina's capitol city. It was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, who attempted to establish the first English colony on the shores of the new world in the 1580s.

Raleigh is the capitol of State of North Carolina and the county seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 276,093, making it the second most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte.

Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill make up the three cities of The Triangle, so named in 1959 with the creation of the Research Triangle Park, a research park between Durham and Raleigh (mostly located within Durham County). The Triangle is a regional population, equivalent to the U.S. Census Bureau's Combined Statistical Area of Raleigh-Durham-Cary. Its estimated total population as of 2005 was 1,509,560.

Raleigh boasts more than 4,300 acres of parkland and almost 1,400 acres of water, offering recreational activities year round. A nationally-acclaimed greenway system spans 41 miles, providing walking, jogging and hiking trails that connect many of the city's 150 major parks.

Annual snowfall: 7 inches

Annual rainfall: 41 inches

Most importantly, it is home to our beloved Carolina Hurricanes, winner of the 2006 Stanley Cup, and our alma mater North Carolina State University.

For more information about this area, please visit:

http://www.visitraleigh.com/visit/index.html

For more information about our beloved Hurricanes:

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/

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Nature's Little Pruners

2007-05-04T18:53:00.000-04:00

Have you seen a little deer,
Playing in a wood.
Sometimes he lets you go quite near,
And wonders if he should.

American Tobacco Trail, Wake County

2007-04-19T16:17:00.000-04:00

Recently, we hiked part of the ATT in Wake County from the New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd. parking area to 64 highway, about 2 miles one way. This part of the ATT uses what they call screenings for the trail surface. It is essenitally crushed gravel and provides a pretty good walking surface when dry. There were lots of walkers, runners, joggers, bike riders and horses on the trail as it was "Saturday in Wake County" as we like to say. Really it could have been a lot more congested than it was. We only had to get out of the way of a couple of horses. One guy, dressed in black riding a black horse, was going at a full gallop going and coming. This trail really caters to horse riders. Just be careful where you step!

This section crosses a beaver kill apptly named Beaver Creek and at the 2 miles mark almost to Highway 64, there is a driving range with signs on the trail warning you about errant golf balls (not too cool if you get beaned by one, they hurt). This entire part of the ATT is approx. 5.5miles long according to the brochure but another section may have been added at this writing. One day we will go to the other end near White Oak Church Rd. to see for ourselves.

For more information, contact the park at (919) 387-2117.

Greenfield Park in Wilmington, NC

2007-04-19T14:48:00.000-04:00

The week before Easter, we went to Greenfield Park in Wilmington, NC, just prior to the annual Azalea Festival. Greenfield Park is a large intercity park that includes a lake and a mostly sidewalk trail around the lake through neighborhoods surrounding the park.

The "trail" is about 4 miles. As you might imagine, there are azalea bushes everywhere and also lots of wisteria which smelled wonderful. There are lots of cyprus trees and "knees" along the lake shore and trail as well. This is a beautiful walk when the azaleas are in bloom. Highly recommended!

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Yates Mill Park

2007-04-18T14:34:00.000-04:00

Today, we went to Yates Mill Park off Lake Wheeler Rd., Exit 279 off 440, 2.8 miles south of the exit.

Yates Mill Park features a nature education and research center as well as a working water powered grinding mill for corn. The mill was not in operation today and it would appear that it is only operating on certain Saturdays. Call before you go I guess.

We walked the trail around the pond (approx. 0.75 miles)as well as the dead end trail (approx. 1.0 mile each way) that goes back in the woods next to the NCSU Research farms. This trail was extremely wet and muddy. We did not reach the end due to the wet conditions. Based on what we saw, this trail would always be wet unless extreme drought set in and then I'm still not sure.

The mill and pond are picturesque and we saw lots of deer tracks, Canada geese and dwarf trillium.

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Alleghany section of Raleigh Greenway

2007-04-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

We walked the Alleghany Trail section of the Raleigh Greenway today from North Hills park to Aldirt Root School at Lassiter Mill. This is a good hour round trip walk with down hill sections at the beginning and end of the walk which of course become uphill sections when you turn around.

Some Canada Geese were seen in the creek and on the creek banks. I think we saw 4 pedestrians and one bike rider and it was midday and a little cool. We heard a "plop" as we were walking by the creek - a muskrat jumped in the water. We followed him as he swam upstream. You get to see the back yards of some beautiful homes on this walk.

As you approach Root school at Lassiter Mill, the paved trail gives out to a foot trail over some large tree roots, a bridge and some wooden stairs, then you take the side walk down past the school to Lassiter Mill Rd.

Lake Johnson

2007-04-12T14:24:00.000-04:00

Today we walked Lake Johnson (proper), the paved 2.6 mile trail around the flood control lake. As soon as we started walking, my eyes started itching and my nose started running. Despite the rain all day yesterday and the storm overnight, there is plenty of pollen still in the air. The wind was blowing in gusts but the temperature was around 70. It was a beautiful day and almost shorts weather. We walked from the Lake Dam Rd. parking lot toward the boat house and even with a quick pit stop there, made it around the lake in 55 minutes. We saw where the trail spur at the dam crosses Lake Dam Rd. (Upper Walnut Trail) and will have to walk that next time.

Welcome

2007-04-11T09:04:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our blog, a joint effort by the two of us, to record our hiking journeys, daily adventures and experiences. On average, we walk about 15-20 miles weekly and are always looking for new trails. We hope you enjoy our blog

Walked the Art Museum Park trails today. Please note if going, the Art Museum addition construction project is in full swing and getting into the museum grounds and parking is a little confusing. It looks like they are trying to get a new road graded and paved to make this easier.

We walked the Green Trail, Prarie Trail and House Creek Greenway trail across 440 to Meredith and back. It took us about and hour to walk these trails. There is not much in bloom at this time but we did see some Fiddle Head ferns along the Prarie Trail. Enjoy the pictures.

For more information, please visit http://www.ncartmuseum.org/museumpark/plans/chronology.shtml

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