Still Gravity

A new year for the Common Era. The 2023rd planet rotation around the sun from a hidden year zero. 23rd year of the 3rd millennium - too many "3". Another Rabbit for the Chinese Zodiac.  What do we crave?   Peace, health, and prosperity for a crazy world. A bucket of water to cool down an angry planet getting too hot in its space hike.  Can we get it?  Depend on us. The whole humanity. WW2 began in a Year of the Rabbit that also started a Sunday. We don’t want to repeat the tragedy. Vote for peace - especially does who know first-hand about war.  Happy and prosperous 2023 for the entire world! New Year’s Day - sun on every field is beloved           Matsuo Bashō

Sunset in the DuPuis Wildlife Management Area (Florida) - License our images  here .      The first tale screams: beautiful sunset. The second one is less glamourous: We were trapped inside the gazebo surrounded by a swarm of aggressive mosquitoes.  This was our daily wait for the show of the bats. The hungry night flyers will come from the dark forest and, in a minute, the mosquitoes will morph from predators to prey. Sweet revenge.  

Connecting the laptop to the internet through the phone. Need to connect to the web? Use your smartphone if there is reception. This is the process for Windows.  In the laptop - Turn off WI-FI.  In the phone - Enable Mobile Hotspot Connect phone to laptop with a USB cable - ethernet icon appears when connected ( Settings > Networks & Internet on laptop also shows the connection status). In the phone -  Enable USB tethering - open  Settings  and tap  Network & internet > Hotspot & Tethering > USB tethering .  Mind your phone data plan or it may cost $$$. 

Oriental false hawksbeard ( Youngia japonica ) is a weed. But look closely and you'll discover a pretty plant.  Little beauties - License our images  here . It's said that this plant is edible - the young leaves can be eaten raw. And it's also used in traditional medicine. Studies talk of antiviral properties. Good things coming from an undesired plant. Original from China and Japan, it now lives all around the world. Globalization at its best.  

After 12 years on the camper door.  There is always a before and after, and our time lives in the in-between. The camper door doesn't look perfect now, but it shows the marks of the experiences. If you know where to look, you will find beauty in the wrinkles. Embrace the scars of time.

Talladega National Forest, Alabama - License our images  here . Camping and park fees are going crazy around the country. National, state, and local parks and forests are raising the cost of entrance, use fees, and camping. Also, the reservation system is making a fortune in fees. Nobody wants to be left out from the easy money.  Some say that the culprit is the inflation but... is it?  Sounds like a good excuse. But what about most workers' salaries? Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour since 2009. They make less if we factor inflation and parks and campgrounds cost more. How can the common folk afford $30, $40, and $50 to visit a natural park and sleep in a campsite? What a disconnect!    Are we breaking with the original ideas behind the "public lands"? Are we betraying the two Roosevelts and making just another business from these natural resources?  The fundamental idea behind the parks...is that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making fo

Santa woke early for his busiest day of the year. He grabbed a cup of fat-free milk and sugar free cookies and turned on the tv. "Russia launches fresh attacks on Ukrainian cities..." He changed the channel. "Inflation raises the prices of gas and reindeer food…" Changed again. "Planetary warming causing big winter storms…" Santa turned off the tv. The lights went off and went back to bed.

Simple and effective.          We crossed path with this DIY truck camper in Route 66 by Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The driver was an old lady with the truck dashboard packed with paper maps - do you remember the times before Google Maps? I do. If you want to live your dreams, just do it before is too late. Don't wait to have the latest toy. Go with what you have and avoid future regrets. Experiences make a difference.  (We were camping nearby in Santa Rosa Lake State Park .)

Downtown of Sarasota seen from Siesta Key - License our images  here .  What's the meaning behind the name of this Floridian city on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico?  The Encyclopedia Brittanica says that the origin of the name is uncertain, pointing to the Spaniards - something about a dancing place. While others - like in this article  - point to the word "Sahara" combined with the Indian word "zota".  The spelling of Sarasota appears in different ways in old maps, so it's hard to reach a definitive answer. What is known is that the first settler arrived in 1856 and planted orange trees here. The oranges are gone. The buildings keep growing. 

The insect exploring a yellow world - License our images  here . Not sure if it's a paper wasp or a cicada killer. Cicada killers are solitary wasps that usually don't attack humans. On the other side, the paper wasps are social insects that may attack in defense of themselves or their territory. The brighter the color, the most venomous they are. This is almost a rule for the poisonous creatures of nature - except in cases of aposematism .     If I be waspish, best beware my sting. William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew

Surfer in Tampa Bay, Florida - License our images  here .  On the other side, is the bustling city. The people, the noise, the never-ending stress. In this side is nature. The camping, the hiking, the swimming, and the surfing. Let's keep it that way. 

A group of snowy plovers on the beach  - License our images  here .           They look like toys. Cute little birds. S nowy plovers run and stop and run again, always pecking the sand for food. With decreasing numbers, these birds are now a threatened species. Lucky to cross path with this group on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Footprints of common wildlife.  Good reference for the trails. Learning about footprints. 

Ghostly campground - License our images  here . This was in the mountains of northern Georgia. A night of heavy fog and misty rain. The wind making weird noises through the tall trees. Perfect set for a horror movie.  And next day... wet and foggy hiking. Waiting for the  Headless Horseman .  The cold fog covering the trail. 

The new folding panels - License our images  here .                 We got new solar panels. They come in a foldable 350 watts portable kit made by Bluetti as the model PV350. In the first use, the monocrystalline panels gave us between 300 and 315 watts in a sunny day.           308 watts input from the new panels.           More than happy with the output. It's enough for our camping needs. Before, we used to survive with two polycrystalline panels and never went dark - well, at least the fridge.  Some specs to help my bad memory: Panels weight: a little over 30 pounds.  Peak power: 350 watts.  Maximum voltage: 37.5 volts.  Open Circuit Voltage: 46.5 volts.  Current at Max Power: 9.2 amperes.  Warranty: 24 months.  Monocrystalline cells.  Clean the panels with a wet cloth.  Something that I don

When we think of cactus, we think of the desert. But no, cactus also live in humid Florida.  Devil's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus in a Florida beach - License our images  here . Prickly pear cactus grows on coastal dunes and sand hills. They have big spines and make good natural fences. Bees loves them. Spiny stuff.  

Woke up to a condensed morning - License our images  here . The shorter days of winter are here. Yesterday, we got a frosty night. Strong winds cutting like icy knives. Now, I'm looking at the coldness with a cup of coffee in my hand. Warm happy morning. It's nice to have a home.   

Pictures from a trailhead. Important information.  Which is which? They look alike, but one is deadly. Both live close to water. Beware of the water moccasin or cottonmouth. This is a semiaquatic pit viper native of the southeast of the United States. When threatened, it coils and gets ready to strike displaying its fangs. Keep distance and leave it alone. 

The dense Sprenger's asparagus - License our images  here . It doesn't look like the garden asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ), the one we eat. Sprenger's asparagus ( Asparagus aethiopicus ) comes from the southern tip of Africa. Ornamental and at the same time invasive, this is an itchy weed.  Sprenger's asparagus is toxic to domestic cats and dogs. 

The mysterious moon came for a glimpse of the freezing night - License our images  here .  Wind is blowing hard. The night sky is tinted in red. A big cold is on the way. Time to awake Mr. Heater. Tasty smell of hot chocolate in the tiny camper. Ready for the coldness. Sign out.   

Alum Cave Trail in the Smoky Mountains - License our images  here .         Use a bridge!  No bridge? Then... this is the theory, but no guaranties.  The main danger is the current. Check its strength and direction.  Slow and slightly deep water is safer than low and fast. Check what lays up and downriver - submerged stuff can be a deadly trap if taken by the current.  Avoid turbid waters. Check for dangerous wildlife. Wait if the water level is high. Camp until next morning if there is snow drainage - level will get lower with the cold of the night. Chilly waters are dangerous. Snow bridges are risky.  Plan ways to break free from the current if pulled downriver. Cross through a straight section of the river. Untie the backpack. If the current takes you down, drop it.  Don't remove your shoes.  Cross

C by the ocean - License our images  here .  She faces the fiery gulf painted with the tones of the sunset. Relaxed. Thoughtful. Enjoying the quietness she always loves. Here is the girl of so many years. The girl of the good times. The girl of the bad times. The holder of the family when I was far away. Brave mother. Brave wife. Brave Viking girl. Best thing in my life.

The squirrel was cut in half - License our images  here .         One second alive and the next dead. Bad luck for this poor squirrel. We found the remains on a sidewalk. The killing looks fresh and is a reminder of how our natural world works. There is always the risk of dying. We live surrounded by death. Remember.  This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper.      T.S. Eliot, " The Hollow Men " 

Sandpiper on one leg - License our images  here .  No, the bird is not missing a leg. This is a common thing for shorebirds. This posture means less heat loss for the animal. Besides this, they look cool standing on one leg.

Another creative RV in a campsite. Once in a while, we meet curious, strange, and interesting camping vehicles in campgrounds. This one was made with an airplane fuselage, but as said on the bumper, it's "not a UFO". Clever and durable for sure, but it also attracts a ton of attention. 

Kayak in the Little Manatee River - License our images  here . A day of hiking in this small Florida state park located south of Tampa Bay. This place is crossed by the Little Manatee River. Waters are clean but tinted by tannings - it's a blackwater river. They look like slow flowing tea. The trails are sandy. We found many fallen trees blocking them. The victims of hurricane Ian. The longest trail is on the north side of the river. Its trailhead is outside the park entrance. It runs for six miles.  There is a small campground in this park. We may return to camp here. 

Reddish daisies - License our images  here .  Mexican sunflower ( Tithonia rotundifolia ) grows in the range of 4 to 6 feet tall. Some of the plants have three lobed leaves and other not - no idea why. The underside of the leaves is hairy. Deadheading the spent flowers will prolong the blooming. In Spanish they are known as girasol mexicano, acahual rojo, o jalacate. 

The campsite of The Runaway Gang in Turtle Beach, Florida - License our images  here . YouTubers in the camp! These folks have a cute little trailer and a gazebo similar to ours . Let's do some free advertisement for them. Check The Runaway Gang  on YouTube. 

Yellow leaves here and there - License our images  here .  They look like flowers from the distance. But they are just dry leaves that represent the sacrifice of the few for the many. Some biologists say that they help to filter the salt - there are different opinions on the matter.  Mangroves are important because they stabilize the land and offer some hurricane protection. Save the coastal "walking trees".

The "paintings" - License our images  here . What are those yellow spots on the bark of red mangroves? Lichens. Red mangroves are the perfect home for them. And what are lichens? A mix of fungus and blue-green algae - the first one is a parasite of the second one. Science doesn't know well the relation between them and the coastal tree.  There are many species of lichen in the planet. The count goes for over 18,000. What a big family.

The fishing pelican - License our images  here . The pelican flew twice over the canal before dropping to the water in a big splash. Then the floating bird remained still, carried by the slow current. Lighting fast, the pelican scooped a fish. I was too slow and only got the aftermath, the gulping of the prey. Death comes fast in the natural world.

The Little Manatee River by Ruskin, Florida - License our images  here .  Some Mr. Ruskin was the founder of this city in the early years of the 20th century. It's on the eastern banks of the Little Manatee River near its delta to Tampa Bay. We did a bike tour of the small town.  Stop for a break at Ruskin Commongood Park. Just us and a couple of folks launching boats at the ramp. Small and quiet place.  On the western bank of the river is Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park. We didn't go there - it's a group of islands only accessible by boat. The name comes from the Spaniards. They knew the horseshoe crabs as cockroaches.  We saw new real estate developments in the surrounding area. It took a century, but Ruskin is growing. 

Interesting bus conversion - License our images  here .         We saw it in a campground of Florida by Tampa Bay. Not the most aerodynamic design, but very creative work. We guessed how it moves on the roads with such a structure. In another camp, we saw one that looked like a plane - need to find the photo.  PS: Found it! Check it here . 

Bahia Beach, Florida (St. Petersburg seen in the horizon) - License our images  here .       White sands on the murky waters of Tampa Bay near the delta of the Little Manatee River. Nice residential community with marinas and a restaurant - the Sunset Grill.  Seated on the fishing pier, we took faraway glimpses of Downtown St. Petersburg with its domed Dali Museum - we've a picture  of the building from a previous trip to Fort de Soto. A little to the west, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge crossing over the mouth of Tampa Bay.  Curious 15 miles bike ride that ended with a tasty lunch.  We find amazing places exploring. Get lost and enjoy the trip. Forget about the destination.

Our campsite in the West Campground - License our images  here . Coast of mangroves, manatees, and infinite species of mosquitoes, gnats, and no-see-ums. Five days at E.G. Simmons Conservation Park in Tampa Bay, Florida. Daily walks on the swampy little beach by the bay. It's been taken by an army of pelicans. Strong smell of fish. The tallest buildings of Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa peeking us from across the bay at our favorite spot: Panther Point.  Every sunset, a horde of mosquitoes met us with German punctuality. From the safety of the camper, we saw them come and go until complete darkness. Then we got permission to get out.  C couldn't escape the tiny no-see-ums and she made a skin reaction to their bites. Bloody bastards.

Noisy Royal Tern between annoyed seagulls - License our images  here . The male was calling nonstop puzzling the nearby seagulls. Looks like a non-breading adult because it lost its black cap and now shows its bare forehead. Royal Terns are social but territorial. The raised crest is a sign of aggression. After a while, the other flew away and the angry screamer followed. Big relief for the seagulls.

Sunset in the Gulf of Mexico - License our images  here . The good: camp close to the beach. The bad: camp close to the road. The awesome: the sunsets of the Gulf of Mexico. Some days of beach relaxation in the west coast of South Florida. Bike rides through Siesta Key. Food and drinks at the Village. Hike to Casey Key - a place that we dubbed "gnats beach". There were YouTubers in the camp . One day, their gazebo came down under heavy rain. New adventurous content for their channel. LOL.

They look blue to me, but the bird plumage is brown. Really?  A brown Blue jay? Are you serious?  - License our images  here .  Yes. All is about light refraction. Welcome to the world of structural colors. Look for the explanation on this page of The Cornell Lab. The structural colors of the Blue Jay. Amazing illusion.        

The shy Southern ring-necked snake - License our images  here .  Don't kill them. Neither be afraid. These Florida snakes only grow to a foot and are harmless to us. They wander mostly at night and feed on small animals. In cloudy days - like was the case of our photo -, they can be found during day hours.

Mora knives are good for survival and bushcraft. They can do many things in the camp.  Our Morakniv Garberg knife.  This knife is full tang, has a carbon steel blade, and a scandi grind profile - means Scandinavian ( check this video ).  Carbon steel is easier to sharpen compared to stainless steel. The knife spine also works for starting fires with a ferrocerium rod. The bad part of carbon is that it becomes rusty with moisture. The blade must be kept clean and dry. Once in a while rub camellia or mineral oil to keep it healthy - canola or corn oil work. The scandi grind.  Rust can be removed with steel wool, but there is also the potato method - insert the blade in a potato for an hour and remove the rust with a soft sponge.  Old newspapers work for sharpening if we don't have tools - glide the blade flat on the paper sheet. Another option is to use a ceramic coffee cup - turn one upside down and pass the blade through the edge of the bottom at the right angle. A third method

Small colorful weed - License our images  here . Behind these tiny flowers hide an invasive species of the lawns. This is  Commelina diffus a, an immigrant from Asia. There, it's used as dye and for traditional medicine recipes. This research paper  says that this plant has been used to heal swelling, treat urinary and respiratory infections, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids - among many other things. If true, no doubt that the tiny blue flower is a very useful weed. 

Drawing illustrating the article of the  Scribner's Monthly  magazine - Image: Public Domain.  This adventurous account was published in the edition of  Scribner's Monthly  of November 1871. This magazine was published from 1870 to 1881, and one of its well-known contributors was the famous naturalist John Muir.   The author of the text is the protagonist of the ordeal: Truman Everts. This was the guy President Lincoln chose in 1861 to take care of government taxes in the Montana Territory.  Truman joined the Washburn Expedition of 1870 to explore Yellowstone - they were the folks that named the Old Faithful geyser. During a terrible storm, he got separated from the team and went lost for 37 days without supplies and equipment in the wilderness of Yellowstone.  Truman Everts survived eating thistle - the plant was later named "Evert's Thistle" -, and at the time of the rescue his weight was around the 50 pounds.  This ordeal happened before the creation of Yellows

We reached Palo Duro through the small city of Claude, Texas. At The Burro, we stopped for a coffee. This part of town smells to old history with the 1912 building of the courthouse across the coffee shop.  45 miles later, we stood looking the multicolored rocks of Palo Duro Canyon from the visitor center. Palo Duro Canyon, the "Grand Canyon" of Texas, seen from the rim - License our images  here .  Layers of orange, red, brown, yellow, grey, and the shining white veins of gypsum competing for space on the face of the tall cliffs. Color lines that show the age of Palo Duro canyon. 240 million years. What an elder.  Around the canyon rim, the flat expanses of the Llano Estacado - Staked Plains - nurture endless winds. This treeless world of grass of the Texas Panhandle inspires a sad mood. The canyon is an oasis.  Palo Duro means hard or strong wood in Spanish. The name is for the Rocky Mountain junipers that grow in the canyon. This wood is very rot resistant.  Apache Indians