Big news

So this month I crossed a couple big newsworthy life events.

First of all, I have moved another decade forward in oldness. Things that still seem fresh in my mind really happened a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far from here.

Second of all, it is good that good things are still happening as I move forward. This weekend, after cooking up a lobster tail dinner, I managed to overcome a great deal of nervousness and ask Alison to marry me.

She accepted, as the photo indicates. No immediate specifics have been decided yet - one thing at a time :)

Bump.

Yeah, just checking in to see if anyone has defaced the page. Other than me. Looks like no.

Happy 2009. And shout-out to the new Prez - what up! Lookin' good. Now do some good.

A new dawn of American leadership

For those of you that haven't already seen it, take the time to watch president elect Barack Obama's speech from last night. If you can't watch it, read it. Even if (perhaps especially if) you didn't vote for him. You won't find a single word in eight years of the Bush Whitehouse that carries as much compassion and hope as this speech did.

"While the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

And also, how about this:

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there."

Obama chooses the right words to both acknowledge the singular importance of himself and his campaign and without egotism recognize the countless shoulders upon which he stands; the greatness he is now in company with.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said,
"I may not get there with you.
But I want you to know tonight,
that we, as a people will get to the promised land."

It's hard for a politician to pull those words, tweak them enough to make a point, and look into the crowd and have them come from their own heart, but Obama did it and I'm convinced he means it and will try to live by reaching out instead of striking out, both domestically and around the world.

It's a change our country needs now as much as it needed it in 1968. Dr. King didn't get here with us, and we are certainly not in any kind of promised land today. But I believe he would see the election of Obama as progress up that mountain...a country lurching again back in the right direction.

"To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

Being compassionate is not a weakenss, and it never has been. Obama addresses these words toward our own country as well as the rest of the world. You don't need religion to see the wisdom and respect of "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you".

I am afraid our nation is nearly as divided and intolerant as it was in the 1860's. But Obama says it's time to summon the unyielding hope of Lincoln, King, Kennedy, and - to do our part to push back against hatred together. He asks, can you give the uneducated redneck doofus down the street a lesson in civility without being an elitist jackass yourself? It isn't easy, but it is once again time to try.

"I will listen to you, especially when we disagree."

Let it be.

Cave exploration and Shatley Springs

So guess I will combine a couple things - went out to the son of a friend of mine's property this Saturday, and explored a small but well decorated cave there. Took a few pictures.

The trip was a lot of fun, and the cave long enough to survey sometime in the future if it has not already been done...need to check the records. Also possibly made some connections to adjacent landowners that may have some caves.

Then Sunday Alison and I went on an all-day excursion the check out the fall colors and visit a "home style" restaurant down in North Carolina at a place called the Shatley Springs Inn. Weather was fantastic.

We probably should have gotten reservation as the wait at the inn was over 2 hours, but we killed time by hiking around some and also traveling to a nearby park and getting some good photos of the surrounding area. In any event it was a relaxing day. I may not need to eat again for a while either.

Hike to Apple Orchard Falls

So this past weekend, we took Vega out on the trail. The plan was a fairly lite overnight backpacking trip. And so that Vega wouldn't be nervous of others on the trail, we went through a trail guide for south west virginia looking for some loops and such that would not be heavily traveled and found a stretch of the AT near Peaks of Otter that had two side trails which connected into a loop - the Apple Orchard Falls Trail and the Cornelius Creek Trail.

We got onto the AT just past Peaks of Otter at a parking area a mile or so from the Thunder Hill shelter, and set off into the woods. I didn't bother to look which way we were going, and after a few crossings of the Blue Ridge Parkway was almost convinced we'd gone the wrong way. Luckily right when I was ready to turn around (and go back to the car and get a map), we arrived at the shelter and knew things were correct.

After the shelter, this trail is 100% downhill. About 3 miles or so past the shelter, you intersect with the Apple Orchard Falls trail, and we headed down that. It is very steep in places, and as you approach the falls there are even stairs. Along the way there are a number of really great views, and the forest was cool with mossy boulder flows and ferns. Due to the current drought, there wasn't any water anywhere along the trail until we reached the Falls themselves, and the falls were pretty dry. Still very pretty though.

We hadn't picked a campsite ahead of time (more great planning on my part), so just hiked past the falls and started looking for a place. We found out the next morning there are several nice sites about 15-20 minutes just past where we stopped and "made do". It was right beside the creek and really was a good spot, but not as flat as would have been ideal. We built a small fire, cooked up some pasta, and drank a little wine before going to bed early.

Next morning we set out, still on the Apple Orchards Falls trail, but headed downhill some more and intersected with FR 59, the trail head for Apple Orchards Falls and for Cornelius Creek trail. As soon as we started up Cornelius Creek I knew we were in trouble. I hadn't really looked closely at the elevation changes along our planned route. Turns out, there is a LOT of climbing on the second day. Pretty much it's all uphill, and there is a lot of elevation to be gained back. And it's longer than the first day. Yep, another great plan by me.

Nevertheless it was beautiful and other than a very serious case of blisters on the heels from all the uphill, we enjoyed it quite a bit. We only saw a few other hikers, so it was very peaceful and Vega didn't have any trouble at all. Check out the photos here.