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 |   A Journal to impart knowledge and facts |
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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
Scavenger Hunt! What ten items do you send the kids to search for in the nearby woods? Andre is with them - I mean, what could go wrong! Right?  SCAVENGER HUNT One weekend in June we managed to round up the CHIMPS ALIVE CAMPERS for a Saturday trip to Opalescent Camp for a Scavenger Hunt. We left town early about 5 a.m. with one new member. Chad’s 11-year-old brother Ken had joined our group. Two hours later we ate blueberry waffles and bananas in the Main Hall kitchen. After breakfast I passed out maps. This time everyone received a map. "Quiet down so I can tell you the rules. 1. Stay on the marked walking trails. We are on the buddy system today. So, keep track of each other. You are all responsible for your buddy. 2. There is a horse and tractor rode. It is marked on your map. Stay on the Opalescent Camp side of the rode. It is very narrow. Wider than the walking trails, so you will know it if you get over that far. 3. Andre” is going out with you. He may or may not stay with you. If you need help yell for him. Maybe, he can help you or guide you or just send him in to get one of us. (lots of giggles and talking at this point) You already picked your buddy before breakfast so this is the list I have. Shirley is with Ken Chad is with Toby Bryan is with Jim Dana is with Sue Leslie is with Anna Are there any changes? Loud No’s. This is a group effort. Prizes will be awarded according to how many of 10 objects you find and identify. Everyone gets the same amount and kind of prizes. Darla is passing out a small fanny pack to each of you. It contains a bottle of water, one banana, and one trail bar. The packs were donated by Andre’s bar. It will be hot a summer bugs are around. Use sunscreen and bug repellent. Watch where you aim the bug repellent. (more giggles and a lot of Ha Ha) The next thing. Ned is giving out the clues. One to each of you. Each of you has to bring back the answer to your own clue. But, you can help each other find the objects that answer the clues." CLUES: 1. My leaves are called needles, they grow long in bundles of two to five. Task: Bring back one bundle of needles. 2. I’m forever green, One part of me has a crown. Task: Bring back one part that has a crown. 3. My seeds love a windstorm to disperse. Task: Bring a blossom or a seed ball 4. Many leaves along one stem. Task: Bring a stem of leaves from the plant or tree. Extra points if you identify the plant they came from. 5. I’m a smaller tree, my fruit is full of vitamin C. Task: Bring proof with some toothed leaves or fruit. 6. I grow cones. When they open seeds fall out. Task: Bring a cone. Identify the tree 7. People make syrup from me in the spring. Task: Bring some leaves from this plant 8. I’m not a tree. I have needles on my canes and in summer I grow black fruit. Task: Bring a piece of the cane or some leaves. Identify the plant. 9. Forests have many living creatures. Task: Bring back a butterfly, or bug. Take the small jar on the table for this task. 10. Task: Find 5 leaves from 5 different trees and identify the tree the leaf came from. Take your phones. Take pictures for identification and notes of what you found. "Final instructions: organize, go, identify, and stay safe." They took off whooping and hollering. All except Shirley and Jim, who walked out of the hall and off toward the forest. Ned and Darla Stepped out onto the Main Hall Porch. I stayed to clean up breakfast and make a couple hundred sandwiches for when the hunters came straggling in. I peeked out the door when I heard male voices. There were two forest rangers talking to Ned. Darla walked in and handed me one of two satellite phones. She picked up her florescent red backpack, which was hanging on a chair. While she was putting a first-aide kit, trail bars, and water into the pack she said, “The rangers loaned us the phones forthe day. I have one and Ned has one. They want us out wandering the trails, keeping and eye on the kids, because the cougar moved and they don’t know where it went.” “Where is Andre”?” “Ned saw him sitting on a tree limb eating a banana after the group went into the forest. He isn’t there now so, who knows?" An hour, later I just finished storing 50 sandwiches in the frig, when I heard Andre’ screeching and howling on the Sat phone. I pushed the talk, Darla, Ned, are you out there, Andre??? I heard, “Andre give me that phone. This is Darla. I’m on the horse trail. We have a rider down. Ned is chasing the horse. Wait a minute.?| On the trail the horse took one look at Andre standing on the trail, reared up and dumped the rider. “This is Darla. The rider was momentarily stunned but seems fine. Ned is coming back with the horse. Andre took trail bars from Ned’s pack and ran back into the woods. I’ll call you later”. I took a tall glass of lemon mint tea out to the Main Hall porch, sat in the shady swing and waited for more news from the forest. “Hello. Apondia have you seen or heard from Darla? I have Shirley and Ken here. Ken has pricker scratches. He needs first aide. Chad and Toby had a fight. Toby is with Shirley and Ken. We can’t find Chad. Darla is not answering her phone. Andre’ has been visiting everyone and running off with their trail bars and bananas. “ “Hi Ned. I haven’t heard from Darla since she was on the trail helping the rider who fell off the horse.” "O.K. Later!" 20 minutes later." Hello, Hello? Apondia. This is Dana, Darla tripped over a rock and bumped her head on a tree. She wants you to call Ned and have him meet us on the Herb Trail. " "Can Darla Walk?" "Not yet. She’s still crying." "She says no. She says she will be alright. Maybe she isn’t crying maybe she is laughing. " I can hear shouting from the phone. "Andre’, Andre’, that’s mine." Then the phone shut off. I refilled my ice tea glass and enjoyed the swing. There was a nice breeze blowing up from the river. Three hours later Leslie and Anna came walking out of the forest. They had completed tasks for two of the clues. I wrote them down on the chart. "You want some sandwiches and drink boxes? I have tuna, peanut butter and jelly, and ham sandwiches." "Can we take them to the pier and eat by the river, asked Leslie? You have to go with us Apondia, because Ned said stay off the pier unless an adult is down there with us.” We took our food and walked down to the river. When we returned to the kitchen I noticed the door was wide open. I thought I shut the door? Leslie and Anna followed me through the door. I stopped so suddenly they ran right into me. I put both my hands behind me and shoved the girls backwards onto the porch. Carefully, I reached out and pulled the screen door closed . Not that a screen door would be any help! "Shh! Go to one of the cabins. Lock the door and don’t let anyone in until I tell you." "Why!?" Leslie was practically shouting. "Shh! Because there is a cougar and a cougar kitten sitting on one of the kitchen tables and Andre’ is feeding our sandwiches to it." "Ohh!" Whispered Leslie. " Come on Anna." They ran down the steps and toward the cabins. I looked out toward the racket coming from the trails. The rest of the kids were running toward the main hall. Darla and Ned were trailing behind. I ran down the stairs waving my hands. "Stop right here. Stop right here." Chad was chattering fast. "We saw the cougar Apondia. It was walking down a trail with the kitten. Andre’ was throwing trail bars to it. When it saw us it off the trail into the forest. It was really big." "Yeah really big," said a couple of the others. Ned and Darla came up at that moment. “Net call the rangers on your phone. The cougar is in the kitchen with Andre’ eating our lunch." The rangers came. They darted the momma, caught the kit with some kind of loop gizmo. They had a cage; loaded them both in for transport. It took the two rangers and Ned to pick up the sleeping Cougar. "We’ll take her back up the mountain," Ranger Jeb pointed over toward the higher part of the forest range. "There is a cave up there and lots of rabbits and things for the cougar to eat." "Hope she stays there," I said. Andre’ whined and his shoulders drooped. " I know she is one of your friends Andre” but, you do want your friends to be happy?" Since the cougar ate the food. We loaded into the bus and stopped at McDonald’s on the way home. Another misadventure finished. Just another way to spend a day. THE END ANSWERS: . 1.PINE 2.ACORN 3.DANDELION 4.ASH, OAK, SUMACH, 5.APPLE 6. PINECONES 7.MAPLE 8.WILD BLACKBERRY 9. YOUR CHOICE 10. YOUR CHOICE Everyone won medals and candy bars--and a trip to McDonalds Word Count WDC:1633 |
| This week you and Andre are in charge of the kid's Summer Camp. Give us the name of the camp, the age group you're working with, and a bit of background. SUMMER CAMP SUMMER CAMP WITH COUNSELORS Andre’ on all 4’s is leaping straight into the open door of Opalescent River Camp. “Well, the door is open,” I stated, as I pulled boxes of supplies from the back door of the Camp Bus. Darla and Ned, Darla's tall, lean husband, were ushering children off the bus. The children, there were nine of them; 5 girls and 4 boys, were all carrying stuffed backpacks. I wondered if the backpacks held necessities off the lists I gave their parents, or how much other types of, deemed by the age level necessities, might be in the packs. One of the boys, Brad, wearing a blue t-shirt, with a soaring eagle on the front stopped by Ned. “That way to those cabins, boys in one, girls in another, take your pick.” Ned pointed to the 4 cabins about 100 feet away. Four cabins each with a porch, stood ready and waiting. One was forest green, one sky blue, one red, and one a dark brown. Two each, side by side, facing each other with a wide lane down the center. The camp was situated on a hill with mildly sloping ground toward the river. Then a couple hundred yards of green flat frontage, before you came to the bank of Opalescent. Rows of canoes and kayaks set on racks lined a section of the spacious area. The children were signed up for 3 days of camping by the local “Y” in Darla's neighborhood. Darla and Ned worked at the Y as counselors and teachers. Ned taught programming for teens. Darla was the crafts instructor on her days off from part-time nursing at a local first aide station. The three of us had stuffed 3 days with activities for the kids. Plant walks to identify local flora and fauns, safety with kayaks, music with cymbals & thumb pianos, hiking, building bird houses for the summer camp, and stuffing some habitat, ecology knowledge about chimpanzees into the kids, since Andre’ was along to bring exotic interest to the whole trip. I walked into the main building where Andre’ had disappeared. “ah, ha, the kitchen,” I plopped the grocery box of snacks I was carrying on a counter. Andre’ had his head stuffed in a big refrigerator. “What’s in there?” I swung the door open wider. There were baskets of lush, red strawberries heaped high on a refrigerator rack. Andre’ was munching on them one at a time. “Leave some for us,” I grabbed one of his hands and led him away from the frig. “That’s a good idea. Let’s do shortcake for lunch with burgers and hotdogs. A quick meal for today a good start for the week. Darla walked in with another big box containing paper goods and plastic ware. “Andre’ I’ll start the shortcake. You stack all the paper plates on that island counter over there. That will be our go to place to fill our plates.” The kitchen was on one end of the room the other end was filled with tables and chairs cafeteria style. “Ken is helping the kids get settled in the cabins. It’s good their age ranges are close, ten and eleven. He is going to escort them around the camp and point out some of the special spots, like where the different trails start. I gave him a map of the camp and adjoining trails. Everyone wants to visit the dock and look at the boats. Did you know there was a small garage behind the main hall. It has some 4-wheelers in it, a gas tank and even a gator with a riding deck for more than one person. Ken called the camp awesome.” Darla laughed. “Andre’ this box is full of paper cups. Stack them with the plates. You should be good at that since you bar keep.” Andre’ started jumping up and down screeching chimp talk. Then, he lit out the door. Darla laughed, then calmly stated. “ He’s going to take the tour of the camp.” The meal was a late afternoon meal. . After kitchen cleanup, We maneuvered the kids into helping us set up three tents in the center space of the cabins. I claimed one as my personal camping spot. We set up a ring for a fire and found some logs stacked by the main hall that we set up as seats around the fire. The tents were for ambience more than necessity. Darla and Ned were in the biggest tent. Andre’ had his own tent for sleeping. I actually found a portable tree type setup, with a large round nest attached to it. A really, fine chimp camping spot. As night fell around us, we discussed the stars we were able to identify. We roasted hotdogs, ate chips, drank water, and Andre’ passed around bananas. I pulled out a laptop went to https://www.releasechimps.org and read the facts called Chimpanzee society to the group. After everyone made suggestions we voted. Troy won the vote with his suggestions, Chimps alive. So, now we are the Chimps Alive Campers. Ned told stories about other camp outs he was a part of, as a child. Getting lost and falling out of a boat brought lots of laughs and kidding. At about 10p.m. I shooed everyone into their cabins. I reminded them to plug in phones to the furnished WIFI. I could still hear giggles and calls going on with a few “shut up will ya, I’m trying to sleep” I decided not to interfere because they would soon learn how busy we would be the next day and every day. The camp was surrounded by tall forests and brush. When the sun peaked on the wild horizon the sound of early morning bird song was orchestrated harmony. Darla came out of her tent just as I noticed Andre’ climbing down a big sugar maple on the edge of the clearing. “Hey Andre” wake up the campers for me.” He ran from one cabin window to another screeching Monkey sounds. Ned burst out of the tent, “What the ??” “Ned no cussing, Ned. Kids, shouted Darla.” “Oh Yeah.” Breakfast in the main house was rowdy. Up turned cereal bowls, pancakes sailing through the air. We decided a two hour hike was the right thing to do. I passed out paper with plant facts, plant names, and descriptive drawings. They were looking for trout lily, cotton grass, buckhorn, wild ginger, and anything they decided wasn’t poisonous. I handed out three plant field guides and pencils. “Andre is going along. Stay on the marked trails. Be sure you are back in two hours. Darla astonished said, “Are you sure that’s wise?” Andre’s with them. You can’t lose Andre’ in a forest. Besides the trails are circular they all lead back to the camp. Two hours later Dana emerged from the Herb Forest trail. Ned spied her first. “Are you alone?” Dana started waving both hands in the air. “We need your help. Andre’ climbed a tree. He climbed up really high. Troy tried to climb up like Andre’ did. Now he’s stuck. Andre’ and troy are sitting on a limb together.” Ned pulled a small rope ladder out of his tent. It was light weight in spite of its’ long length. “Show me where.” The two of them went back into the forest. “Hi guys what are you doing up there? “ “It was easy to get up here but the limbs seem smaller now, shouted Troy. “Andre come down now.” “Don’t leave me?”, “Andre has to come down first because he knows the way down.” “O.K.” “Andre, one limb at a time. No swinging down Monkey style.” “Andre, smiled like only a Chimp can smile. He even chuckled and laughed. “See him, Troy, he’s funning you. He got you stuck cause he thinks its funny. You can get down easy. Show him how Andre” or I’ll eat your supper for you.” “After that it was pretty easy,” said Ned as he related the story to us. And, Andre gave Troy a kiss and a hug, when they reached the ground. That’s good. I think you ought to clue the kids into Andre’s love for Banana Daiquiri tonight at camp fire time. We don’t want him sharing his drinks with juveniles. “Your right. I’ll do that and keep an eye out too, the rest of the trip. Kids, grab your suits, There is an inlet where people swim down the second trail to the left. Darla and I will go too. While Apondia gets lunch. I’m going to help get lunch,” stated Shirley, “Are You sure? Can you swim? Ned can help if you need tips.” “Naw I took lessons. I’ll go next time.”\ “O.K., Can you peel potatoes? Shirley and I made potato salad. I got out a canned ham. Once the ham was sliced we put out carrot sticks and yes, more bananas, and cold water bottles from the frig. We were just finishing up when the Chimps Alive Campers came back wet. After changing in cabins and hanging out wet wear on lines they all tumbled into the kitchen ready for lunch. One announcement: There is a computer room down there. I pointed at a door at the end of the room. Ned has some directions for making a jack-in-the-box work with programming. Also, after the learning session you can email your parents. After that there is a free time until snacks and campfire. If you found any plants, I want a report at campfire. Work on yours camping journals during free time or after campfire if you want. Ned knows how to work a room of kids, so lots of laughter accompanied the programming of the Jack-in-the-Box. Toby showed up later with a scrape on his arm from his tree climb which Darla fixed with antibiotic cream and band aide. Shirley won the Jack-in-the-box metal for programming skills. Also, earned the Knick-name nerd. At campfire that night, Ned handed Sue a metal on a chain for pulling Jason out of the water, when he seemed to be under too long. Jason insisting he was fine. Brad came to campfire with a whole list of Herbs and plants they had identified on the trail. He had done an exceptional job of listing them in his journal. One more metal on display. Day two. A serious hike in the morning. Ned and I went along. Darla worked kitchen duty. We explored the forest noting trees and plants. We took the longest trail. Ned found a short cut into the forest and off the trail cutting across from one trail to another. Andre’ was there swinging above us from one tree to another. The kids were thrilled to see how easily he traversed the high way of canopy. We stopped along the trail for water and snacks. Lunch was amazing. Darla made strawberry dumplings. Mashed potato with cheese and herbs and a meatloaf. We were stuffed. We had rest time after lunch. Then, kayak and canoe lessons all after noon. By evening a storm came up so we pulled chairs into a circle in the main hall. I read more rescue stories of Chimps, while we snacked on chips, energy bars, bananas, and fruit juices. It was a really quiet night. No one heard Bryan, Chad, and Troy sneak out. When they did not show up for breakfast, Ned began to worry. He sent Andre’ out to look then Andre” did not come back. It was time for lunch. Ned called in the forest patrol. Ned explained about Andre.” The forest patrol looked perplexed but, promised not to freak if they came upon him suddenly. The kids broke into two groups one went with me, one went with Darla. Ned struck out on a trail by himself. We all went into the woods. After about 45 minutes Shirley, Jenny, Tim and I decided we were on a trail no one had traveled in the last two days. We were climbing a hill when I thought I heard a Chimp squeal. “Quiet, listen.” Everyone listened intently, then I heard another shriek this one louder. “ I shouted, Andre’?” There was a rustling coming fast toward us in the upper part of trees. Andre dropped down from above, He grabbed me around the waist and shrieked. I said, "Calm down, calm down." Instead he jumped up and down pointing and shrieking. I wished I had Darla to interpret. " Did you find the boys?" He did stop screaming. And nodded solemnly. Now we were getting somewhere. "Are they very far from here?" He nodded no. I said, "Take us to them." He, nodded no and pointed at the kids. "You won’t take the kids?" No. “ I tried my phone. No signal. “Shirley, can you get back to camp from here?" "I think so." "Go Back. Keep trying to call Ned on your phone. Maybe you will get a signal part way back. See if you can explain where we are. I’m going with Andre.” The three children started back. Andre’ swung into the trees. " Hey! I have to go on foot," I yelled to him, "Don’t go to far ahead." We started climbing up a hill. It got really steep in places but there was a lot of small trees to hang onto so I managed to keep climbing. Andre’ dropped down. He was real quiet. He motioned with his finger to his lips. " Shhh!" The trees had thinned. There were boulders and big rocks. I looked around. I noticed Andre’ hiding behind a tree. Then, above me I could see a path which looked like it led to a cave. “Andre’ are they in there?” He shook his head. " Yes.” Then he pointed to one big rock above the cave opening. The cat was large, tawny, and beautiful. I yelled, "Quick Andre’ up a tree." He swung up really high and clung to the tree. “I yelled again. Toby, Bryan, Chad are you in the cave?" With the sound of my shout the cougar sat up and yowled, a high whiney sound. Toby answered, "yeah, we can’t get out. There’s a cougar kitten in here, in the doorway.” Oh bother, I thought. You know how you have odd thoughts in a crisis. I thought what would Winnie the Pooh do? Wish I had some honey. Of course, the children made contact. Ned came with the rangers. LOUD CHIMP SCHREECHES, banging on trees and yelling unsettled the mom cougar. She moved off a way. A ranger went up with a rope and lassoed the rowdy kitten pulled him out. The kids ran down the path. The rangers turned the cub loose and ran our way. The mom was reunited with kit. We all trudged back to camp. Where everyone ate food and discussed the wayward children and other parts of the adventure. Everyone went home the next day. We all lived happily ever after??? AS Far As I Know.???? THE END. WDC word count = 2526 |
| Hiking a trail in Joshua Tree National Park with Andre" LOST PALMS OASIS We aren’t to ambitious today. We picked a trail that was well marked and not VERY long. It is suppose to have lots of wildlife on it. Reference from Wikipedia: Joshua Tree National Park is an American national park in southeastern California, east of San Bernardino and Los Angeles and north of Palm Springs. It is named after the Joshua trees native to the Mojave Desert. Originally declared a national monument in 1936, Joshua Tree was redesignated as a national park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act. Encompassing a total of 795,156 acres – slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island – the park includes 429,690 acres of designated wilderness. Straddling San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, the park includes parts of two deserts, each an ecosystem whose characteristics are determined primarily by elevation: the higher Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert. The Little San Bernardino Mountains traverse the southwest edge of the park. Andre’, Darla, and I chose the LOST PALMS OASIS trail. Temperatures here are possible to climb as high during the day as 107 degrees. Andre’ is outfitted with some open air sandals with lots of cushioning and support for the trail walk. It did not take long for him to decide the Spiky Joshua trees were not to his liking for climbing. Joshua trees come in lots of sizes, from short and bushy to tall and spindly. The amount of limbs they have depends on whether they have ever blossomed. In the spring they get a white-green blossom. Since this trail is in Joshua Tree National Park. We are seeing a lot of these trees all over the park. The Mormons gave the tree it’s name. There are different stories about why it was named after Joshua in the Old Testament of Scripture. The tree has a symbiosis with the Yucca Moth. The Yucca Moth pollinates the trees. When the larva hatch inside the blossoms they eat some of the seeds as there primary sustenance. Joshua trees, Yucca brevifolia, were used by the Native Americans to make baskets and sandals. They also added the flowers and baked seeds to their food supplies. Later settlers used the wood to fuel steam engines and built fences or corrals. You can buy the seeds on Amazon and Etsy among other places. Our walking trail today takes us a little more than 2 miles to the Oasis and back 2 miles. We brought umbrellas to protect us from the sun. I hope it works. Although the trail is fairly well marked, we have been warned to be careful to follow the markers and not move off onto any branching trails or we could get lost. I’m curious as we see quite a few branches off out trail. They are actually closed with rows of rocks to help keep us on the trail to LOST OASIS. Walking along the scenery is really special. You can see different wildlife forms as we go along. Our guide book says there are 57 species of mammals. With lots of Joshua trees along the trail we see nests in the trees built by the yellow and black Scott's Oriole. I’ve been busy noting the different bird species I see. The hummingbird is so different from ones I see at home. This one is larger and brown striped with some reddish feathers on the head. We stop for some rest along the way. There is a desert tortoise watching us along the trail. Also, seeing rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks running from us toward the nearest Joshua tree for cover. Several different kinds of lizards are along the trail. I’m surprised to learn there is a kind of equana that lives in the park. At one point Andre’ saw a rattle snake several feet off the trail. It curled and rattled its tail. Then it slithered away. The incident, made Andre’ jump onto Darla's shoulders and ride for a couple hundred feet. She said it wasn’t to bad, because Andre’ held the umbrella which left her hands free to take pictures. As we approached the Oasis, it turned out that the trees growing near the water were very large Joshua trees. We crept in quietly so not to frighten wildlife at the watering hole. There were a couple coyote there. You think of the word Oasis, when you see one for real it shows you how special an oasis is, a cool spring with shady trees in the midst of sandy heat and dryness. The oasis was partly surrounded by a ridge of high rocky soil. Our guidebook says there is a branch trail that goes up to an overlook spot, where you can look down on the oasis. It is cooler here slightly, a peaceful stopping place within the surrounding scorching, desert scenery. The trip back was more down hill, as we had to climb some rising areas, when we walked in. The scenery along the way took us through some dry washes. We also, had to walk along within a wash to get to the oasis. That was one place on the way back, we had to be careful to enter the wash and leave it at the proper place to pick up the trail. Andre’ has a knack for following trails. He kept us going the right way both out and then back. A little over 4 miles out and back. We had lunch at a picnic table in the shade when we returned. The scenery here is amazing. Very alien when compared with the North Eastern states, where we are from. I’m going to remember the environment forever. The Joshua Trees are really special when you see them up close. WORD COUNT: 968 ON WDC ![Merit Badge in Anon-Y-Monkey's Badge
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| Prompt: rite about a campground in your area and how a visit there with Andre went haywire I found this on the web. It was quite entertaining. I include it as an extra of this blog not necessarily a part of the camping story. Don't read it unless you have an extra few minutes, since it is a story and will take a some time to read. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ A Camping Tragedy JUNE 3,2022 The following will not have truthful scenarios alluding to the campground listed in the story as this is a completely fictional story. Activities https://thegreatoutdoorsfamilycampground.com As we arrived at the campgrounds the sky went from bright sunshine to black rolling clouds. We were given a map to the off the grid camping area. Looking at the sky, I truly wished we had not decided to camp so far away from everyone else. Storms that come up in this area, on the fly, can bring awesome displays of mother nature. I’ve seen sunny days turn into roaring windstorms with driven rain or hail so deep it covered the ground in inches of ice. Not a pretty thought. Today we were driving the jeep loaded down with camping supplies. I noticed Andre’, through my rearview mirror, sitting in his seat, belted in, looking around in a quiet interested way as the path to the campsite took us into a more wilderness view of life. I nudged Darla, who was reading the map, as we bounced down the one lane trail to the campground we were assigned. “Do you think Andre’ is unusually quiet on this ride?” “Kind of, maybe, I’m not sure?” She mumbled. Just then I noticed a large stone on the trail ahead of us. I brought the trail ready automobile to a slow halt. “The trail is blocked.” “Can’t you just inch you way around it? It doesn’t look that big.” “See how the trees grow in so close. I don’t think there is room. I’m going to get out and see if it can be moved.” "What is that? OK it’s alive." I slipped my phone out of my pocket and called the ranger station. “There is a big snapping turtle on the trail.” I reported. “You can't? How do I do that? O.K. If we can’t do that we will be calling you again.” “What’s going on?” I jumped, because Darla had come up behind me, while I was talking on my cell phone. “I didn’t know you were standing there. It’s a snapping turtle. I called the ranger station. It’s the weekend. They can’t come out to move it, too many campers need his attention. He is the only one on duty this weekend. He said they can be dangerous so don’t approach it yet.” "Oh." “Yeah, he told me how to do it. We have to find a sturdy branch and get it to bite the branch then we can carry it out of the way. He said, Be really careful.” All of a sudden there was Andre’ he grabbed a branch about 1 inch in diameter from under a tree and waved it right in front of the turtles mouth. SNAP! Faster than the last flash of a burnt out lightbulb, the turtle severed that limb in half. Darla and I took a few steps backwards. Andre’ let out some Chimp howls covered both hands across his ears, then in quick succession both eyes, then his mouth while jumping up and down. The turtle pulled its' head deeper into his shell and started slowly back peddling itself in a semicircle toward the East. Now, it was centered in the trail and moving toward the campground, one slow step at a time. We stood silently watching it. In the 6 minutes we stood there it moved a couple inches. Darla who was standing slightly to the side and back of me jerked on the side of my yellow t-shirt, "you know what, if you center your jeep just right you can drive on down the trail. I can sit beside the trail adjacent to the turtle. Just to make sure you don’t hit the beast. As soon as you clear the turtle I’ll yell, you stop, I’ll jump in, off we go.” “Sounds like a plan, Andre’ get back in your seat. By now, the clouds above had turned a dark, dark, color and a wind was picking up. Pretty soon, with Darla watching, the auto cleared the turtle. Darla jumped in and we left it behind. Once into the camping area we pulled out some sandwiches and water bottles. I watched with a sigh of relief, when the dark storm clouds rolled over, heading Eastward. The wind kept blowing. The tops of surrounding trees waved a lot, nevertheless, the appearance of sunshine was heartening. Good just blow that storm away I thought. Ok. Let’s get this camp setup. Andre’ actually helped unload bedrolls, and other essentials, even though he kept looking back down the dirt road the way we came in. "Where does the tent go?" Darla pointed and we both grabbed opposite corners of the family tent dragging it into position and unfolding it. “Andre’ can you bring us the package of tent stakes from the Jeep?” I looked around. “Where’s Andre’?” Darla stood up stretching her back, hands on hips, looking around. “He was just here.” No Andre to be seen anywhere. "I’ll get the stakes." We proceeded to put up the massive tent ourselves. Forty-five minutes later, " Where is the rain sheet?" I wanted to know. Darla just shrugged. "I'm sure it was here when we unloaded the equipment. If it rains we need it on the tent to shed the water." Spinning around toward the dragging sound Darla pointed. There was Andre’ dragging the rain sheet into the campsite. The snapping turtle was riding on the sheet. Andre’ folded the sheet over rolling the turtle off unto the ground. Just then I heard thunder. Dark, black clouds were once again rolling our way. "Quick we need to get the sheet in place and stabilized." It seemed in response to my words serious gusting winds began to rampage through the camp flinging coolers, camp stove, solar panels, a folding table, and actually everything Helter, skelter. “ Andre’ no!” I yelled as he opened an umbrella and a strong gust knocked me down It grabbed Chimp clinging to umbrella and sent him clutching the parasol high into the canopy of the brownish, green limbs and leaves above. Darla and I clawed our way toward the vehicle; against the strong torrent of water being poured from some celestial broken dam onto our campsite. The tent was flattened, even stamped into the ground, some by the force of the water. The heavy winds rocked the car a lot. The back window was still open and blew away at one point, but we were able to ride the storm out in the vehicle. As the storm abated. I laid my head down on the steering wheel, “Poor Andre’ what do you suppose happened to him?” We could see the storm clouds moving swiftly East. The winds went along with the storm leaving our campsite in shambles. I climbed down from the jeep as Darla open her door and slid out on the other side of the vehicle. She screamed. I ran around to her. “What’s wrong? "I almost fell over Trudy." "Trudy?" "Yeah. Trudy turtle." "The turtle? You named it Trudy?" "No. Andre said it’s name is Trudy." "I thought you couldn’t speak Chimp?" "Well sometimes he makes things really clear. Look!" Darla was pointing upward toward the tops of the green soggy leafed trees. The largest umbrella we have was floating quickly downward. It looked like a large green very solid parachute with a reddish brown chimp hanging from it’s handle. Every once in awhile Andre’ would reach out and grab hold of a limb slowing his descent, if it became too fast. Closer to the ground he reached out and drew himself onto a lower limb dropped the parasol and climbed the rest of the way down from a large maple tree. My phone rang. “ Hello.” Just then a herd of White-tailed deer bounded into the clearing. One stopped by an upside down cooler. It picked up a bottle by the cap and started shaking it. Liquid poured out. Andre’ started screaming in Chimp language, running at the deer in his lopsided gait. He waved his long hairy arms in the air as he toddled along. “What’s he screaming about? Darla giggled, "the deer was emptying out his saved bottle of Banana daiquiri.” "That was the Ranger on the phone. He is bringing a crew of campers who volunteered to help clean up the campsite." A half dozen men and several women rode into the camp on a John Deere Gator. Together we put all the camp back together even though everything was too soggy too use. They brought a long rope which we tied to some trees and hung out clothing and bedding to dry. Andre’ sat beside Trudy moaning over his empty banana daiquiri bottles. The ranger sat down beside him. “ Let’s go back to the ranger station, you can spend the night in the spare cabin behind the station. It’s stocked with food and bedding for emergencies. You can soak some bananas in a bottle of vodka I have. "What about Trudy?" I asked. "Oh. there is a small pond a few hundred yards to the East. That’s where she is aiming to go I think." As he spoke Trudy slowly aimed herself in the direction he pointed and moved off at her own speed. We all piled into the gator and headed for the ranger station. All WORDS = 1627 (THE END) |
History: Did you know in June,1938 Superman debuted in Action Comics Issue 1? Do you enjoy reading comic strips with superheroes? What's your favorite? I've liked a lot of superheroes over my lifetime. Superman, Spiderman so many others. As an adult I began to realize that even Tarzan of the Apes was a kind of superhero. I read all the books written about Tarzan as a teenager. Jungles and animal friends were the draw. I was interested in being a veterinarian. Enjoyed the Tarzan movie when it was released. For a while The Fantastic Four held my attention. Lots of adventure and different talents of each member. I don't as a rule go out of my way to find superhero stories anymore. Although, if there was a comic bookstore anywhere near me I might. I know I can get comics on Kindle from Amazon. I like science fiction. Maybe the Superheroes of comic book fame fostered my enjoyment of science fiction. I guess the one I relate to is Wonder Woman. Who wouldn't like to wear wristbands that you can bounce bullets off? Or have an airplane you can call remotely to transport you to a downtown mall in the middle of a traffic jam. |
| Use at least six of these words in your entry: tent, campfire, shadow, noise, tree, sleeping bag, cereal, backpack, trash, bear, owl, flashlight, camera, wooden spoon. THE GRAND ADVENTURE by Apondia I don’t remember whose idea this was? Certainly, not mine. Here we were bouncing along on a 4-wheeler toward a heavily wooded campsite, Darla, Andre’, and I. I was driving, Darla was riding behind me, and Andre’ was sitting on top of the little cart we were towing. Andre’ was way up on top of the mound of equipment. Every time we hit a bump in the trail he let out a riotous monkey screech. Think about it! Monkey screams, in the deep green forests of Penn’s Woods. Wonderful noise, just not something you expect in this environment. The cart was loaded with 3 - 5-gallon jugs of water, sleeping bags, food, and numerous other odds and ends we thought necessary for a camping trip. We left the truck back at the ranger station. Where I was assured that if I took the second right turn off the main trail and traveled for exactly 20 minutes we would enter a clearing which would be our destination. According to the ranger at the station this part of the forest was possibly haunted. “Be sure to secure all your food and equipment before turning in for the night. We have had some odd happenings recorded over the summer.” When he saw Andre’ all he said was, “Well this ought to be interesting? "Andre’ took the rangers picture with his camera. Well. Maybe it was more like 25 minutes but, there was a rather large circular meadow, surrounded by large, stately trees. The meadow was filled with sunshine. The surrounding forest, darkly looming, completely surrounded the campsite; except for the narrow pot hole filled trail we came in on. Andre’ jumped down as soon as our 4-wheeler caravan came to a halt. “Darla, please go tell Andre’ to stay close while we set up the camp. After camp is set up we can explore the forest. “ I dug down under the three backpacks to haul out our tents. Camp set up went well enough. I positioned my tent facing South, unfolded the two solar panels and ran the wires and battery back up into the tents, which were in a semi-circle. We had a small electric cooler filled with good things to eat. Battery driven lanterns in each tent, and chargers to keep our Kindles and phones active. Darla rolled a map out on the camping stool. “Look Apondia, there is a stream just off here. I noticed a footpath leading into the woods in that direction. Let’s see if we can find it?” She rolled up the map. We headed down the path. First Andre’ was ahead of us, then behind us, then up in the trees and over us. I was a little dizzy trying to keep track of him. Darla pointed, “Look, a sign.” Spinners Creek, Caution-wild animals. I looked around. “Where’s Andre?” We went on down the path. Around the next bend was a wide shallow fast running river of water. “I thought this was suppose to be a creek? Look!” Darla was pointing across the expanse of water. Andre’ stood on the other side. He was staring at a big buck. It’s antlers were spread wide with evenly, spaced tines. The rack on his head was symmetrical and looked dangerous. The buck put down its’ head and pawed the ground. Before we could take another breathe, it charged Andre’ who ran up a tree. Andre’ dropped out of the tree directly onto the bucks back grabbing its ears to hang on. The buck began to bounce and twist in the air running straight across the flowing water to the side we were on. I hid behind a tree with Darla hiding behind me. We watched the buck leap high into the air standing on its’ back legs. Andre clambered up over the bucks nose grabbed a limb and swung up into the tree. The buck recrossed the water and ran off into the brush. When we reached the camp we decided to have our evening meal. Andre’ dragged a camp stool over to a tree. He stood on the stool banging a long-handled wooden spoon on a low hanging limb. “Darla, give him some of the Banana Daiquiri we brought.” The Daiquiri calmed Andre down. He crawled into his tent, curled up on his sleeping bag and began to snore. With the stars shining bright in the sky a peace fell over the camp. Darla and I crawled in too. I startled awake. The lantern in my tent cast shadows on the walls. What was that noise? I was a deep-throated loud groaning noise. I lay on my stomach in the tent and carefully opened the bottom zipper of the doorway. I just slipped my face enough out, so I could see a little. Then I pressed the button on my solar flashlight. The white beam lit up the entire campsite. A medium sized, snuffling bear was calmly examining everything we had siting in the campsite. It snuffled its nose over the 4-wheeler and cart, next examining the locked food frig. It rolled the frig to one side then the other. I drew in a breathe. The claws on it’s paw were long, long. The light was attracting it. I flipped the switch to off. Time seemed to stop. I was to curious. Flipping the light back on I saw the bear raise up on it’s hind legs and start walking straight toward me. I froze. The bear opened it’s mouth wide and let out a terrible roar, it’s long, white teeth gleaming in the light of my solar torch. Just then, Andre’ jumped from his tent, ran up a tree and out onto a limb that extended across the campsite. Andre screamed and howled like only a Chimp can. He swung down under the limb then back up onto it all the while jumping up and down and howling. The bear looked up, saw the raging Chimp, and ran off into the dark forest. Early morning, I heard the loud Who, Who, of an owl. We stayed another night. We fished, hiked, and rested. No further incidents were reported to the ranger. I did have to give Andre’ extra banana Daiquiri for his bravery. word count = 1065 |
 I've been away again. Not by choice. For a few months my computer was down?? It simply would not boot. I struggled on to continue to get to WDC when I could use someone else's computer. Then most suddenly on the last week of May my seemingly dead computer booted up and has been working properly ever since. Spooky! Crazy things continued; however, my Kindle went dead the same day my computer started working. It would not charge. Just stayed silently not working. Then our WIFI stopped working. A couple phone calls to our provider resulted in new equipment, since we use a dish. It was decided the modem was out of date. That took another week to fix. So, no WIFI over Memorial Day. Now, all is seemingly well in our world of technology. The Kindle started charging this morning??? We did not slow down. Lots to do for spring. I planted lettuce. It is up, also some squash. Put in the porch screens. And started the grill for some great Memorial Day food. The TV is on an antenna, so we were able to watch the Memorial Day concert. Just goes to show, life goes on. Happy Trails. Stay Safe. ![Merit Badge in News
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For [Link to Book Entry #1024225] Very well written. An eloquent personal account makes what seems to be mere 'news' to others more meaningful.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-News-1130.gif) |
 Prompt: The biggest plus for living in your town area. There are lots of plus ideas here. I think if you are rural inclined it's a place with opportunities and a positive life. However, if you are looking for a particularly large income and have big plans for advancement in manufacturing or education, or technology. Those kinds of careers are around for only a few people. So, there is lots of competition for jobs like those in the area. This property I live on has been in the family at least 150 years. It passed from my grandparents to my dad and then to me. It was a farm for the families who raised children here. Dairy cattle, work horses, then dairy cattle and tractors, then to me, horses, sheep, milk goats, with a few chickens, turkeys, ducks for just the experience. My family raised their own eggs. One of my sons sold the extra to schoolteachers for his allowance money. Two of my sons were entrepreneurs, before they left to go to higher education institutions. All three of my sons did something special with their lives. Even if it does not seem special to other people I know, they worked for what they now have in life. I'm not sure how well another bar would be appreciated in the nearest towns. Even a fun one like Andre runs. We used to joke, that there was a bar for every church in near towns. Not so much anymore. Bars and churches exist because, of a particular batch of customers. People looking for something that one or the other can provide in a social atmosphere. I read a psychological fact today in a website I visited. "Kindness is not flirting." It says a lot about small town and rural area living. You always have to be aware of what is going on around the area. It can be the safest place or the most dangerous place to live. Automobile accidents on rural roads at 2 or 3 a.m. where people lost their lives. When you wonder why people were out there at that time of the morning. Human prowlers at any time after midnight, when you wonder why they don't just go home and stay for the night. In a small town or rural area people can be trying to guess what you are doing or thinking instead of just talking to you. They often take what you say and twist it to mean nonsense. Watching the deer, rabbits, counting bird species at the feeders. and the peace of caring for livestock, that becomes a way of life is one of the pluses. After my children grew up, some of them realized how much we actually had even though we could not always supply some things city kids grew up with. Not as many summer vacations. Home baked cookies instead of store-bought treats. One Christmas instead of a big turkey dinner, which we could have had, I bought all the fixings for submarine sandwiches. I still smile at how much everyone enjoyed that as a celebration treat. The biggest plus for me is the wilderness. Watching the Snow Geese flocks moving toward Canada in front of a storm. Looking for the Canada Geese as they move onto the Beaver Dam on an Early Spring Day. The first birds, Red Winged Black Bird scouts, arrive back even before the snow stops. This year a whole flock showed up at the feeders just the day before a weeklong snowstorm moved in. I was happy we had extra bird seed to feed them through the cold. We have deer eating apples off the ground under the apple trees and grazing on the hay fields after haying is over. The back yard shows us wild rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels. and sometimes an owl in a tree or a red-tailed hawk flying off with a rodent it caught in the field. The green comes back into the forest at different months of the year depending on the weather. Last year we had green in the trees in early April, this year not until May. I've lived in city homes and dwelled in trailer courts. It's easier to have real friends in a more human crowded living area. And, I miss some of the just pure friendships I had in less rural places. Still, there is no better place to watch the earth and nature just be itself, than where I am now. Every place has its up's and down's. What is your reason for being where you are? word count:763 THE END  |
| Prompt: What industry was your town/area noted for in past years? Industries :Since I'm rural. Five miles from nearest small places, 16 miles from nearest medium communities, and 25 to 35 miles from nearest larger cities, kind of settles it. When I was 30- or 40-years younger there were some Oil refineries in the area. Not to close, not too far away to travel back and forth in one day. They are gone now. There were also furniture factories and a foam factory. All are gone now. I worked as an assistant to a secretary in an intern capacity, in a factory, that made church pews, when I was a senior in high school. Wow, about 60 years ago. That factory is no longer in the area. Other places I worked for short periods of time during my life: one of the furniture factories, the boat factory, and a donut shop. None of the chair factories or furniture factories are here anymore. Some went out of business, others moved to Southern States in the USA. There is a Boat factory still putting out boats. Other manufacturing in the area include: a Dog Food factory, tool design, exotic metal fabrication, lumber, hardwood, floor materials, Feed mills that serve the farming community by taking in crops and turning the crops into feed for animals. I probably left out some manufacturing lots of small business in the area. Easy to drive to included: pewter making, pottery, Amish quilt and blankets, candy making, cake baking. Because the area is so rural, there are lots of people willing to run a small business from home. Word Count:255 THE END apondia#1781748 |
| Home Sweet Home: Prompt for Richard and Andre What food or foods are your town/area noted for? What's the prevalent cuisine? Where is your favorite place to eat out in your neck of the woods? ![Merit Badge in Food Cooking
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"Good insight into your eating habits over the years. *^*HeartO*^* A very simple diet growing up (me:yes), supplementing with homegrown foods (me:no), lots of self restraint (so not me). I was raised on leftovers so that's what it often is. I hate throwing out food. My diet isn't good. I'm often sluggish. I have less urge to eat when I travel."](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Food_Cooking-625.gif) Well, I'm winging this one. There are lots of small towns in the area. Eating places in small towns come and go. Probably, has a lot to do with cash flow. The cuisine is so varied I can't find one, that is more prevalent than any other. Right now, there is a new coffee shop in a close town that, one of my neighbors is raving about on Facebook. Another town about 16 miles west of us has a gas station with a food venue inside. We can get good chicken tenders there. The same town has a really good hoagie and submarine sandwich shop. There is a good pizza place 10 miles or so north of us. The best pizza often comes from my kitchen. I bake it in a Nuwave oven, spread it with whatever sounds good or is available. There is a McDonald's close. During Covid 19 pandemic they stopped selling salads. The last time we were there we stopped for milkshakes and burgers We rarely go out to eat. Over the winter food seemed unimportant. I still cook. Baked potatoes, meatloaf, spaghetti, chili, sloppy Joes Tila Pia with vegetables, beef stew, with beef chunks or hamburger stew, chicken with stuffing, or just potatoes and veggies. we have a large variety of different meals at home. There are lots of fast-food places in the area. McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, The grocery stores also offer choices of small meals that can be heated up. Some of the grocery stores cook meals. Tops cooks' whole chickens for pick up. Also, whole Thanksgiving dinners can be ordered. We used to go grocery shopping in one of the larger cities nearby. Stopping at a restaurant was a treat then. We kind of got out of the habit because of Covid-19. Seems like we've been home pretty study for at least two years. That really isn't a bad a thing. Cooking for two people who don't really crave a special kind of food very often is pretty easy. I looked up Restaurants near us.. This is the list, J.J.s Retro Eatery, Subway, Goldstar's Chinese Restaurant, The Buzz of Union City Cafe, Pizza Hut, Countryside Grill, MaDonna's Family Restaurant. The Frog Pond, and Happi Jax. Happy Jax is at the lake and only open summers. It is basically takeout. Certain times of the day and times of the year it is so packed you can barely get into the parking area to go order at the window. The food is pretty good. If I had to choose It would be Subway because of all the fresh veggies, they pile into a sandwich. I don't know what K would chose. A big thing about food is it's a recreational thing. We have so much recreation time on our hands, that food is not all that big a deal. My dogs are hungrier than we are. They eat with gusto. We use to keep a regular eating schedule. The scheduled meals are not so necessary as they use to be. Nevertheless food is a well versed subject: "Blueberries" by Robert Frost Frost's ode to blueberries contains the lines: "Blueberries as big as the end of your thumb, Real sky-blue, and heavy, and ready to drum In the cavernous pail of the first one to come! And all ripe together, not some of them green" "The Pumpkin" by John Greenleaf Whittier Whittier's 19th century poem about pumpkins discusses both eating and carving pumpkins. It contains the lines: "Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better E’er smoked from an oven or circled a platter! Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine, Brighter eyes never watched o’er its baking, than thine!" https://www.writerswrite.com/poetry/food/?msclkid=554c6ae0d16511ecad96542fb2dc1e... Another thought, about food has to do with keeping the children fed as they grow. Once that phase of life is done, food is not as necessary as before. You can pick and chose what you want to eat or not eat. Word Count:696 |
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