21 Jul 2018 – Yellow, Blue&White Blazing

Wed: our hikers started 0430hrs heading towards  (known to be the most difficult mile on the AT where I fell and hurt my back in 2005) but had to turn back due to road closure to get to the trail head from The Cabin.

Lovely day-hike Blue&WhiteBlazing@DunnNotch.

W-Branch of the Ellis River thru’ conserved wilderness, passing pools, cascades and the beautiful Upper and Lower Dunn Falls. Return along the AT for a loop hike. What a privilege to be hiking with Honey (86) and her great-grand son Josh (14).

Good lobster roll@SundayRiver Brewery.

Sunday River Covered Bridge (1872) for pedestrians only and the local general store. Good of AndyBrown to drive all the way from Bangor to catch up. The last time I saw him was@the ATthru’Hike in 2005 where he was our TrailAngel and I ate 5hotdogs here somewhere in ME.

Thu: drove to the NotchTrail to check out the trail-head for tent sites. Snacked@White Mountain Cafe/Gorham, good quiche but slow service, so if tight with time, find a fast food place!

Tent-City! and if you were starting your hike from the trailhead here, you will surely not miss us. Tents for HiHills&Frankin, PacMan&Josh, Wiggs, I, Pokey&Lizard – tkx to the Tripletts for the loan of tent, sleeping-bag, ground-sheet, air-mattress, etc, not expecting to hike, left my camping and hiking gears in SIN.

Fri: TGIF wake up call for the hikers 0430hrs – hikers on the trail by 0700hrs for another attempt for the Mahoosuc Notch&Arm. It sure took me some time to dismantle and pack the tents, must be out of touch!!

Car was dirty after driving thru’ the gravel roads to the trail-head – gave both cars a wash. Shared an omelette for brunch with HiHill@Welsh, Gorham. 

Yellow-Blaze 8mi (drive!) up Mt Washington. Had actually wanted to take the Cog Railway, but the timing did not fit, so not meant to be.

Last time here (2005), could not even see my hands when they were stretched out, had to link arms with Wiggs, Gadget&T² to hike thru’ this section. On top of Mt Washington is also the location with the highest wind record 213mph in 1934.

Drove back to the Cabin dropping Pokey’s car@GraftonNotch via Gorham.

Grafton Notch ScrewAugerFalls – is a 25-foot plunge over the lip of a broad granite ledge into a gorge. A transparent curtain of whitewater is created by the plunge. Below the main plunge, the Bear River travels through a curvaceous gorge, dropping an additional thirty feet in a series of cascades past giant potholes, shallow pools and grottoes. There is also a small natural arch here, a rarity for New England. And again had my feet in the water and it was on the cold side for a CandyAss

http://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/me-screwaugerfalls-grafton.html

Sat: group got in past 0100hrs. Heading back NC

18 Jul 2018 – Rangeley & The Surroundings

Mon: PacMan not well to hike, the rest heading out 0600hrs in Pokey’s car. Back to S Arm Rd to drive her car to the next AT Trail-Head on this lovely Mon morning. With Franklin driving his car and I driving Pokey’s car, we will manage to get it to the trail-head where they will end up this evening. Passing Roxbury on Rte17 with 22windmills on PartridgePeak, Flathead Mt & Record Hill.

16 Jul 2018 – NC, VA, WV, PA, NY, CT, MA, VT, NH&ME

Thu: leaving WilkesboroNC 0930hrs, arr to Wiggs@BlacksburgVA 1200n to pick her up.

Continued with a slight detour to check out Woodside Farm which formally belonged to Kenneth Wherman’s family (JessicaLee’s husband/HIHills&Franklin’s son-in-law). Passing by New Market VA to join the main road again.

Interesting places of worship and traffic back-ups at a few places on I-81 due to road constructions.

@The Millworks Harrisberg PA

Yummy dinner – fried green tomatoes, trout and cobbler. Arr 22.30hrs@Red Roof Inn, Wilkes Barre Arena PA US$80 shared with Wiggs, US$40pp where we were all ready to call it the day.

13th Fri: 0900hrs, sharing a good omelette+extra avocado with Wiggs@IHop before heading back to the highway. Irresistible fresh produce – blueberry-pie,  honey, plums, sweetcorn by gas station.

PA Welcome Center

On I-84E by passing Hartford CT (Waterbury Golden Dome?) detour off the interstate by fate! to capture the above pix.

VT Welcome Center – nice location with a fund-raising for a swim-team.

Hello ME – passing Bethlehem and a drive-in with personality where I had to take a leak behind this white location. Arr@The Cabin, Andover 1900hrs.

Sat: appreciations to Honey&Bear and good to see them again here@The Cabin.

Glad to see the group again and here when we can enjoy the world’s best blueberry pancakes.

While Lizard, Pac-Man, Pokey&Wiggs were hiking, HiHills&Franklin and I dropped the car to the trail-head@S Arm Rd and drove on to Richardson Lake.

Playing tourist in Andover was fun – Main St, First Congregational Church, Town Hall.

Good lobster salad lunch@Little Red Hen. HiHills had a yummy HaddockChowder which I had a taste and Franklin had LobsterBLT with fries.

MillsMarket (was told that in has been in this family for 4generations), some beautiful private property on Main St, School@PineSt.

Library (originally a church), PostOffice, Tiger-Lilly in full bloom, TinyHouse for rent.

LoveJoy Covered Bridge.

Random pix.

Sun: 16mi to grocery&lobsters shopping@Rumford.

The long anticipated infamous Surt&Turf dinner@The Cabin and well worth the wait.

Group pix credits to Daniel/PacMan, Pokey’s grandson.

A woman should never be seen eating or drinking, unless it be lobster salad and Champagne, the only true feminine and becoming viands ― George Gordon Byron

12 Jul 2018 – Greyhound & Automobile

Tue: tkx to #1 for driving me to the Greyhound Station in Columbia. She is a good driver and also a quick way to earn some pocket money by paying her to drive me instead of getting a cab or Uber. App 2hrs ride from Columbia-Charlotte – en route to the AT in ME to join HiHills, Pokey&Lizard to do a support hike.

Charlotte/NC, (2hrs layover) to catch another bus (about 1+hr ride) to WinstonSalem.

Greyhound and bus station across Main St/Downtown North Historic District@WS

Appreciations to Franklin for a tour of Old Salem, historic district of WS – a restored Moravian community which shows the culture of the Moravian settlement in NC during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Campus of Salem College and Academy

WS – Main St/Avenue of the Arts,

interesting insects! on the wall; Mast General Store with this Chaco bench!

Good Southern dinner@Sweet Potatoes: starter – green fried tomatoes&okra with a yummy sweet potato dip;  main – cat-fish with grids&spicy greens; dessert – sweet potato pudding & strawberry-key-lime pie.

Wed: Wilkesboro/NC – tkx to HiHills&Franklin for putting me up in their lovely home and for driving. Not sure how much I will be able to blog or to be online when on the road and the trail starting tomorrow until 23Jul, but will surely update when possible.

Environmentalists have a very conflicted relationship with their cars – Tom Arnold

Wilkesboro was founded in 1800. Behind this former Court-House, now Heritage Museum was a ClevelandOak tree, grew possibly 3centuries and was used as a hanging tree for at least 5Tories during the fall of 1779. Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church is a historic church built in 1849-50 by a man named Dameron for $1040.

Tom Dula (Dooley), from Wilkes County a Confederate veteran was tried and hanged for the murder of his fiancee, Laura Foster. Many people were convinced that one of Dula’s jealous ex-girlfriends murdered Foster, and that Dula was innocent of the crime. Dula’s story was turned into a top-selling ballad in 1958 by the Kingston Trio, the song was entitled Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley. The story was subsequently turned into a 1959 movie starring Michael Landon as Dula, and each summer the Wilkes Playmakers present a popular play based on the story.

9 Jul 2018 – Packed With Activities

Fri: TGIF and such a fun day@Riverbanks Zoo&Garden. Have always liked this zoo and today was exceptionally a good one with #3,4&5. Thanks to Cindy for her pass and managed to save US$70 for the 3kids+1senior. Good pizza lunch@Tuskers to fill their stomachs to last for the afternoon.

Started our tour indoors due to the humidity&heat and an excellent choice by the kids. We managed to spent nearly 2hrs@Aquarium Reptile Complex, a 20,000-sq-ft (1,900 m-sq) building where #3 impressed me with his knowledge about many of the inhabitants here.

For those who know me also know my phobic for snakes, but today somehow I managed to capture pix of nearly all the snakes housed here – RatSnake, SC Copperhead, Vietnamese-LongNose, GaboonViper+many more not posted here. Even charmed the KingCobra out of its jar. Was told by a couple of others who are regulars here for the past 20yrs that it seldom leaves the jar and today it was a privilege to see it out all the way.

Strangely enough, was standing in front of the glass when the KingCobra pop its head out, had a staring contest and asked with both my eyes and lips for it to come out! Very surprisingly there was no fear in me, but just fascinated at how it slithered so gracefully and quietly out of the jar, was totally amazed at the length! No, still not a fan of snakes and if not for the thick and hopefully unbreakable glass, would not be near these reptiles!

By the time we got out away from the snakes, the grounds outside seemed to have had a visit from some passing showers and thus cooling off a little but still humid. Breathing thru’my mouth where the penguins are housed! but they are cute and can really swim fast The movie HappyFeet came to mind.

Victoria Crown Pigeon has impressive head feathers and they are the largest pigeons in the world – my first sighting of one.

The highlight was the CA Sea-Lion, especially with the younger ones who can still enjoy running&playing with the mammal to see who can move faster! Seemed like the sea-lion also enjoyed their Happy Feet. It was such fun and more so since we were the only ppl there. Not surprisingly so, as it was closing time and we were not aware until the guard told us that we had to find out way out to the exit!!

Some random shots – this is so far the best zoo visit for me and that says a lot as I am not a zoo fan! Perhaps it was bc there was no crowds and we were indoors away from the heat.

Sat: Soda City on Main St and never too young or old for balloons or glass sculptures with Chihuly@the museum.

Tkx to Cindy for yummy pizza@Persona Wood Fired Pizzeria.

Watching the kids with their secret sign language at the State House, and somehow it will not surprise me if #5 decides to go into politics, but hopefully NOT

Hanging 2014 – most unusual piece of work, but it served its purpose when we needed a place to sit for our boiled-peanuts (a Southern thing!) break. Was lucky to buy the last package before their closing.

First time@Columbia Marionette Theatre (CMT) founded 1988 by famed puppeteer Allie Scollon and her son John.

They did a good job with Beauty&the Beast. Another form of art I do enjoy is the art of quality puppetry. We are all but puppets but some of us are aware and see the strings!

Sun: 01.45hrs picked up #1 from her trip@camp and good to have her safely home. While Cindy and the kids were at church and at her place for the afternoon, took the time to make 2dinners. L&J will be home tonight and do need some calm time to focus on getting ready to head to ME on Tue.

Mon: packing here and since was not planning on hiking this year, have that left most of the hiking gears in SIN. Hopefully will be able to borrow from both HiHills&Wiggs. This will be as close as I can get a shot of a Cardinal. A few days ago, found these feathers by the lake and #3 saw a head of a Cardinal. Seemed like a hawk had got the rest of it. Today, the neighbour’s cat could not be found, but they saw traces of blood&fur on the driveway.

5 Jul 2018 – Library & Park

Mon: Zuno brought in another baby Eastern-Box turtle. According to #3 this is another one from the usual one Zuno normally brings in – presumably #3 will recognise it as he usually washes away Zuno’s slobber before releasing it back in the yard. Tired to feed it, but does not seem too hungry or maybe it is too terrified!

Tue: #3,4&5 out blueberry picking with L while I ran a few errands before she takes off this afternoon to join J in Cyprus. He is there for a conference and since I am here, a good chance for them to spend some quality time after the conference – they need some time together away from the kids and far away from this environment.

#2 baked this yummy blueberry (self-picked) lemon pound cake for tomorrow.

A busy afternoon starting@Lexington County Public Library System – Irmo Branch. The kids and I borrowed 2books pp, but at this rate not sure if I will have the time to read them, and if not will extend the loan-time to take them to ME next week. 

Often I am happy and yet I want to cry
For no heart fully shares my joy.
Often I am sorrowful yet have to laugh,
That no one shall my fearful tear behold – BS Ingeman

A revisit to Irmo Community Park, last visit in 2014 and found the 2017 draft posting which was to be posted but did not find the right time and now is the time after a revisit.

The playground has 5 surveillance cameras now. We enjoyed this park and the surroundings and had a good time there then and now and will return another time.

Have been wanting to stop to take pix of this wooden church on the main road as you enter the road leading to the park. Being not too focus, not the best angle but better than none. Prayers and thoughts went out to all in&surrounding the cave in Thailand.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-07/thai-cave-rescue-expert-divers-to-guide-trapped-soccer-team-out/9952924

May 2017 – Unhappy & Upset

Usually am not the kind to complain or find faults in this world or my life, but in this case, am extremely disappointed and frustrated in this situation where the system enables such to happen, and that there are people who abuse and mis-use their knowledge&power to make it happen.

Sometime ago I received an email from a lawyer here in CAE/SC who wanted my permission to use the pix I posted in 5May 2014 blog posting. Since this was L&J’s territory I referred on to them and they explained the situation.

Sadly some kid died from a fallen branch in this park and this lawyer wants to sue the county for negligence? about the upkeep of the park or something to that extent?? Seemingly the lawyer has been bothering L&J for some time and that I was not aware of until now!

https://amylamsg.com/2014/05/04/week-of-activities/

The above pix is the one they wanted and my blog also states that –

Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without written permission from this blog’s owner is prohibited

https://amylamsg.wordpress.com 

Remembered that day so well as it was such beautiful day and was so impressed that the county has taken the effort to provide such a fantastic space in lovely nature with nice play-grounds for the public to enjoy.

Anyone knowing me also knows that any info or pix posted by me are NEVER meant to be use with ill-intentions or malice and this has tremendously bothered me that someone is trying or going to use my pix without my permission for a action I consider unethical, indecent and immoral and on top of it all – GREED.

31May 2017: $3.6 Million Settlement for Family of Boy Killed by Falling Branch – Irmo, SC (WLTX) 

http://newirmonews.com/child-dies-from-falling-tree-limb-at-irmo-park/

Beautiful sunset on the lake with the boys trying to catch fish for dinner – will starve if my food source depended on them 🙂

Wed: Happy 4th. Congratulations to #2 & the IrmoHighSchool Team for the Born In The USA Race. Race pix credits to Alex & Elizabeth. Cindy took the kids for lunch and a movie while I got food&drinks ready to take down to the lake for the afternoon and evening.

Was on the crowded side in the afternoon, but still enough room for building sand-resort!

The crowds thinned out just before dinner time and #2 made an appearance with her friend Zoey to watch her bro set up fireworks at the dock, the safest place to be doing this!

Another 4thJuly and another sand-castle gone with another sunset.
Tomorrow is another day and come what may.

Thu: need a day to rest before a full weekend of activities ahead…

2 Jul 2018 – ByeBye June

Fri: TGIF and a good weekend to all – safe trip to Jeff who took off to Cyprus for a conference and to LInn who drove off to the SugarMts. Those who watched Incredibles 2 would have seen Bao. Like many other cultures, the Asians are complex and complicated and it is difficult to explain something that gets lost in translation, especially for those who have not grown up, integrated or lived in&with the another culture.

https://nextshark.com/pixars-short-film-bao-confusing-heck-white-people/

Sat: new toys for the lake while workmen were sweating in this heat installing new lights around the dock area. Will be nice with lights here in the evenings. Happy Canada Day️ to all celebrating.

Amazing white-flowering Crepe Myrtle trees against a beautiful sky. The various colours of this flowering tree are just absolutely lovely. Was thinking of viewing the fireworks (which I am still having some self on-going issues about!) tonight, but after 5hrs by the lake today with #3,4&5 forget that thought!! Heard the fireworks going and Zuno went crazy barking. Memories of Gator who used to hide in the bathroom whenever the fireworks went off.

Used to be a fan of fireworks in my youth, but now over the years, also being the devil’s advocate – imagine what one can do with the money used for the fireworks around the world and not to forget the pollution…

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light – 2 Corinthians 11:14

Sun: hello Jul – it was strange to see #1 off to camp, even when it is only for a week! Peter Rabbit was out to wish her a safe and happy trip. She will be missed. Thank goodness Cindy is back from her EUtrip and she took #3,4&5 for the day! Got Sun dinner ready for #2,3,4&5+Linn who is back from FL and Cindy. Dinners made here are usually for at least 5+ppl.

Jul dates to remember:

4 Happy 4th to USA

14 Happy Bday Keith and Happy Bastille Day/France

17 Happy Bday Nancy Bowman

19 Happy 21st Anniversary Linn&Jeff

20 Happy Bday David Yeoh

21 Happy Bday Albert Chua

22 Happy Anniversary Dika&Mark

23 Happy Bdays James & Lucas

25 Happy Bday Winnie/CA