I wanted to do another overnight backpack trip before I spent a week telling the last of my monthly stories in schools for the 2022/2023 school year. So the dogs and I left very early Tuesday morning May 16th and were hiking up the trail at just past 6 AM. Despite climbing past the turnoff to the hidden park I discovered last week, and having to backtrack, we were at our destination before 9am. The next day plus we spent exploring our temporary home and listening to the wind blowing in the Ponderosa Pine because of our somewhat unsettled weather this week.

One of the first things I discovered was a ledge around to the north side of the large outcropping we were camped next to, and that if I scooted around a rock would have a perfect spot to sit and watch the country below. Hayley and Jess always went with me. Beau preferred to stay near the tent, which I think he regards as a sort of home ground. Like Jess, Beau has backpacked with me since he was a young pup, nine years ago.

Almost every time I squeezed around that rock I glanced down at the 30 foot cliff I was a few feet away from, and told myself ‘careful’, knowing that a fall down there would ruin my good trip or worse. But in all the years I have backpacked alone, which is over 30 now, no serious mishap has ever occurred. That could be a testament to understanding that you need to take care of yourself, since nobody else will. That might translate to the rest of my life as well.

After a fine day balancing exploring with having lunch and then dinner of tuna, corn chips, and coffee and chocolate for dessert, the dogs and I retired to sleep just about 10pm, after I spent some time taking star photos before the moon came up. I slept almost the whole night through, waking up at 4am once, then going back to sleep until dawn. I credit healthy habits to being able to sleep so soundly the first night in a new camp, meaning no coffee or stimulants and no sugar, ever. Then there is the fact that I have done this so much over the years, and have my trusted friends sleeping beside me. Beau got out of the tent at 4am announcing his presence to whatever wild creatures might be nearby, which he has always done. Normally he is a very quiet dog, like my other border collies, but he seems to know there could be something there that needs to know to back off. I am perfectly ok with him doing that. He takes his role of protector of me and the girls seriously.

(click on photos below for larger image . . . - Esc or clicking outside of image will close it)

more journal notes: mid to late May 2023

May 13

Jess brought her orange fox up from the basement before she took a nap on the outside deck couch. The fox is her newest toy, that I got last week.

May 20

cruisin with Jess

May 17

I am in the last week of telling stories for the 2022/23 school year. This one is about the Great Barrier Reef, Captain Cook, some teenageTonga castaways and the sea. I bring up Google Earth on my 32 inch Smart Monitor and show them where the Barrier Reef is located, as well as Ata Island southwest of Tonga where the boys were stuck for 15 months in the mid 1060's. I also scroll to Bunaken Island, Indonesia in the google map app to show where my coral triangle photos & videos were taken.

The common theme in my nine months of stories has been the wonders of natural history and a connection to the Earth, this year and every year for the past 15 years. It is much easier to tell stories that fit with my lifelong passion for wildness and the Earth, as well as a love of animals.

My dream is perhaps I had a positive effect on their lives in some way, through the stories I told and the images I shared afterwards. Isn't there a chance that my stories could help nuture a personal passion for the natural world that is a part of us?

And what more could an elderly person hope for, than the possibility they left some good behind in the hearts of the young?

May 18

My stories were more spread out this month covering a 12 day period. I did five today, fourteen total so far, and have five remaining tomorrow and Tuesday. Today I received a bunch of end of the school year thank you letters from the kids, which I absolutely love. And one of the teachers gave me this note. Someday when I have to say done, I am sure I will read these letters and this note, again and again.

May 31

I became a Chase Rice fan after hearing this song:

Bench Seat

Song by Chase Rice

Lyrics

You were pretty beat up when I took ya in

But you've come a long way since way back when

Now one of my favorite things to do

Is hop in the truck and we'd just cruise

And we roll the windows down

You're right there in that bench seat next to me

There's a smell of fresh cut grass

Mr. Reynolds waves as we roll past

State Road 44

First light, a right, it's the best view in Tennessee

And then I'll say I saved your life

Oh, but I know that's a lie between

You, me and a bench seat

Can't beat a Sunday drive, just me and you

Now it's us plus her, man, it's pretty cool

Add a little man in, that's a family

Every now and again it's just you and me

And we roll the windows down

You're right there in that bench seat next to me

There's a smell of fresh cut grass

Mr. Reynolds waves as we roll past

State Road 44

First light, a right, it's the best view in Tennessee

And then I'll say I saved your life

Oh, but I know that's a lie between

You, me and a bench seat

Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

I always knew this day would come

Just thought I'd be the first called home

You're little boy and her, don't ya worry 'bout them

I've got 'em from now, see ya soon, my friend

And we'll roll the windows down

You'll be right there in that bench seat next to me

There's a smell of fresh cut grass

Mr. Reynolds waves as we roll past

State Road 44

First light, a right, it's the best view in Tennessee

And then I'll say I saved your life

Oh, but I know that's a lie between

You, me and a bench seat

You saved mine

Source: LyricFind

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“Wherever you go, go with all your heart"