The Birthday Boy Works Too Hard

As most of you have figured out by now, Wayne works too hard.

The craziness he's put up with for 25 years!

He's on double shifts again, and we may or may not see him for Christmas.  Today was his birthday, and he just got home.  Even when he's not at work I won't see him much over the winter because he'll be out playing with his pals in their ice shacks.

For his 49th birthday he's sitting at the computer watching videos of hikes on Half Dome and Angels Landing to unwind before bed.  One of these years I hope he'll be doing something like that instead of working too hard for his birthday.

Fall 2013 at Cumberland Falls

Holiday related posts for the next couple of days and tomorrow I'm the one working hard.  We have patients scheduled tighter than any other day this year, I'm just hoping I'll have time to eat!

Red River Gorge in Black and White

I'm trying to remember when I edit my photos to see if any of them look good in black and white, and I actually have a little collection from the Kentucky trip that made the cut.   A few I've shared already, but a few I liked so much better in black and white that I saved them for this post.

Happy Gals Overhang  in B&W

The one below is from Auxier Ridge.  The tree against the misty ridge in the background made a good subject for black and white.

This one is from the area behind Angel Windows. The detailed texture and the spots of lichen gave a gritty feel that I thought the rock benefited from.

Of course the boulders reflecting in the water were from our short walk out to the Sheltowee Trace Suspension Bridge.

And I liked the feel of the shot of Sharon at Whistling Arch in black and white.  I felt like it made nature's power seem so big and people so small, don't you?

One I saved just for this was a shot I set up underneath Moonshiner's Arch.  I think it captures my spirit of adventure and my love of exploration.

But my favorite was the one I set up just before the Beehive on Auxier Ridge in the little hidden cave.  I feel like this one really and truly is me and says a lot about how I see myself...always looking forward to what's around the next bend, always wanting to find and know more whether it's on the trail or at home in my "everyday" life.

Okay, that's enough introspection for today.  Don't worry, even though the Kentucky photos are all displayed I still have quite a bit left from Milwaukee that I didn't have time to get up yet and of course a Christmas post too.

And after the holidays the great outdoors will start calling to me again no matter how cold it is...

Auxier Ridge Part 3 - Fa-la-la-la Fungi and Lichen for the Holidays

I spotted a nice little variety of fungi and lichen on Auxier Ridge, was that really 2 weeks ago already?  Of course the lichen don't care what the temperature is, but they always look nicer in a place where they're getting a lot of moisture like the ridge there seemed to get.  The first two shots I took within the first quarter of a mile, including the festively red and green British soldiers.

British soldiers, pixie cups and common powderhorn standing tall in the back of the group

Dibaeis baeomyces?

I tried to keep up with Sharon since I knew a five mile hike could only withstand so much stopping if we didn't want to be out there all day.  But I couldn't resist the water droplets forming and dropping off this fruticose lichen.

Remember how I said we saw animal scat on the rocky ridge?  Well, it was while I was looking for evidence of mammal activity that I spotted a row of these fungi lining the trail.  There was about a half dozen of them scattered along the edge, almost like little lanterns lining a path.  When I was setting up my shot I bumped it accidentally and it shot out a poof! of spores.

Just a few feet further along I found these jellies. Amber Jelly (Exidia recisa) is mainly a winter fungus, appearing on dead twigs often on the forest floor.  This fungus can dry out and shrink to almost nothing but after rain, or simply a heavy early morning fall of dew, the fruitbodies can rehydrate and recommence releasing their unseen clouds of microscopically tiny spores.  They looked pretty "juicy" when I saw them.

Exidia recisa

At Courthouse Rock the lichen were as big as my hand and flapped in the wind like flags. Some kind of rock tripe?

This is a short one, had a busy day that started with getting an emission test done on Cory's car then the gym for a quick run before we all headed out for haircuts and grocery shopping...and the "kids" had fun alcoholic drinks with dinner at Cheddar's.

Where do the hours go, it's bedtime already.  I've said for years that there aren't enough hours in a day and I only work part time!  How those women who work full time and raise a family do it I have no idea.  Hope they all get pampered this holiday season, but I'm sure their work is just doubled instead.  If any of those hard working ladies are in your life see what you can do to help them out!

Crossing the Ridge and Kissing the Monkey - Auxier Ridge Part 2

So after the Beehive we tried desperately to take in the views from Auxier Ridge, but the fog was not cooperating.  Still, standing on the narrow ridge and imagining what was out there shrouded in mysterious mist had its charm.

photo taken by Sharon, no running into the shot this time!

Since the trail is so narrow on the ridge here we were glad it wasn't even narrower and that the wind wasn't too brisk.  We took our time but the trail is pretty easy to see and unless you weren't paying attention at all or hiking in the dark I wouldn't call it dangerous.

Along the way there were a few cool rock formations.

My favorite was the one that looked like a monkey.  I stopped to give him a kiss.  Sharon thought I was pretty silly.  I was glad she was along because it would have been even sillier to set up this shot without her and it was nice to hear someone's laughter instead of just silence like I usually do.

There is a nice stairway that helps get you to Courthouse Rock.  I couldn't imagine trying to manage getting there without it.  It probably used to be pretty dangerous doing that short section.

Courthouse Rock didn't look like a courthouse to either Sharon or I, and truthfully I enjoyed the smaller rock formations along the way, but to each their own.  Some people climb around up there, but that's not my bag, baby.  Well, not yet anyway.

steep drop-offs on either side, pay attention!

After we checked out Courthouse Rock we started down the hill underneath it to start our loop hike.  We stopped just below for our pack lunch, taking advantage of some stumps.  As we rested we finally heard and saw some other people and their small dog who arrived at Courthouse Rock shortly after we left.

The Courthouse Rock trail (#202) is quite different from hiking along the ridge.  There were a lot of elevation changes and toward the end we had to stop and rest a few times.

be prepared for some steep sections on #204!

Toward the end before it intersects with the Auxier Ridge trail again the trail was steep and littered with so many fallen trees that it was like completing an obstacle course.  I don't know if I've ever been more relieved to see a trail intersection before as when we got to the top of this one.

I also spotted a fine variety of fungi and lichen along both sections which I'll share tomorrow.  In the spring the area is covered with a surprising variety of wildflowers including lady slipper, so I can't wait to get back on a sunny spring day though as I mentioned before I might do the out and back instead of the strenuous loop.

Getting to the Beehive - Auxier Ridge Part 1

I'm getting down to the end of my posts about my 5 days in Kentucky, only 4 left to go.  The hike that Sharon and I took out to Auxier Ridge had so many cool things to share that I divided it into segments.  Imagine if we had come in the spring or the fall, how would I ever decide which photos to share??

Auxier Ridge trailhead

The Auxier Ridge trail  is located at the end of Tunnel Ridge Road and the large parking lot came equipped with a clean vault toilet which we were very thankful for.  The trail is exactly what the name promises, following the ridge and therefore the first leg of our hike was fairly easy.  Luckily it wasn't too foggy and we could enjoy  the surroundings, but the views down into the valley were not happening.

On the plus side, all that morning fog made for some fun photo subjects along the ridge.

Sharon used my lollygagging as opportunities to rest, and she found some steps cut into the rock for her first one.  Of course we couldn't pass up the chance to get our glamour shots taken there.

I just loved the exposed rock on Auxier Ridge, it came in a variety of colors and was beautifully sculpted by years of erosion.

see the fine grains of sandstone sand?

The trail (#204) is about 2 miles out to Courthouse Rock, and in the future I would hike it as an "out-and-back" but we did the loop hike with Courthouse Rock (#202) trail for a total of 5 miles that day.  While on the ridge we saw all kinds of interesting things including evidence of a past forest fire in 2010 caused by campers and animal scat in two different spots that had us wondering what was hunting up there and what was it finding?  Hopefully it wasn't domestic dog droppings.

As long as whatever-it-was was small enough not to be hunting us, right?  Black bears are in the area though, so know your bear safety and pack out your food and trash.  Not that they hunt people, but did you read that recent article about the GPS study of the grizzlies who are following hunters in Montana?

alone on the ridge...as far as we know, anyway

Nothing was following us (that we know of) not even humans.  As with our other hikes that week we had the place all to ourselves the entire 2 miles out to Courthouse Rock.

We kept hoping the fog would start lifting because as we got closer to Beehive Rock we knew we were missing some great views.  As we approached I thought I'd slither down the side a bit to see if I could get a shot of Beehive Rock from a different angle.

Beehive Rock at the end of the left

The Beehive probably wouldn't be visible from that spot when the leaves were on the trees, but I'm glad I was snooping around because I found there was a little cave under the rock we had been standing on along the trail.

Mama cave and baby cave

Inside the cave there was a little ledge to sit my camera on and set the timer for a selfie.  I got a picture here of the ledge, but you'll have to wait to see the selfie until the last post.  It turned out to be my favorite picture I have taken of myself.

anyone calling that tiny cave within the cave its home, I wonder?

We pressed on to the Beehive, getting a chance to take in some impressive views of Auxier Ridge and the way the trail narrowed as it continued on.

Auxier Ridge 

Sharon was a bit nervous as I scooted around near the edge, but I reassured her I wasn't as crazy as I looked and I wasn't getting too close to the edge.  I have a healthy respect for the dangers of falling.
Despite my hiking I'm not the most graceful girl around and I know it!

I made my way right out to a ledge near the Beehive.  Don't worry, there was another wide ledge right underneath me, and I was only a few feet from my camera as I set up the timer and tried multiple times to get into my shot.  As I sat there all I could think was that this was my idea of a place to stop and have a cup of tea or coffee.  Even the Beehive itself looked like it was steaming!

But this was only one of the many great attractions on the trail.  Things got interesting as we moved past the Beehive and the ridge narrowed.  Sharon was a little nervous, but I was thought it was the cat's meow or perhaps I should say the bee's knees!  Part two tomorrow.

Speaking of the cat's meow, the flea baths are all done.  Pumpkin apparently brought fleas home with him when he and Katrina moved back in with us.  We did not have a batch of happy kitties around our house last night.  Can you believe I didn't even think of photographing the traumatic event?  Trina did take one of the perpetrator after his soaking.

This flea ridden rascal is 14 years old and missing half his teeth, can you believe it?

 Katrina and Wayne were the washers, I was in charge of timing the amount of time the shampoo had to stay on the assembly line of cats to be tortured.  Sounds like a sweet deal except then I was also in charge of all the laundry and vacuuming of the beds.  Thank goodness we don't have carpet or upholstery due to allergies, hopefully our efforts will be enough to prevent re-infestation.

Hidden Arch at Koomer Ridge

On my last day on a trip I usually try to squeeze one last hike in even if dark is just around the corner.  Even though the fog thwarted (there's a good word) me at Sky Bridge I looked over the map and decided I could swing into Koomer Ridge campground and pick a hike in there.

Parking for hikers is just inside the entrance on the left.  After parking I put up my hood on my raincoat and mosied (another good word) on over to the trailhead.  It goes alongside the road for about a tenth of a mile and then crosses the road and goes through a small camping area and on into the woods.  Just keep following the trail signs marked "208".

The dearth (good word #3) of detailed trail information on this area is surprising.  For every post I've written I've had trouble finding proper maps and trail descriptions including mileage so I have to estimate this one at about 2.5 miles.  The To Red River Gorge site was probably the best, but I'm considering buying a book called "Hiking Kentucky's Red River Gorge" to help me on return visits.  The upside to my lack of preparation in this area is that I never knew what I was going to find.  Of course the downside is that it increased the likelihood that I might get lost.

I kept my eyes peeled since I didn't really know where I was going or what I was looking for, but it turned out that Hidden Arch really isn't very well hidden thanks to the large staircase leading down to it.  The To Red River Gorge website recommends doing this hike (a lollipop) in the reverse direction that I did, which would necessitate climbing all these stairs instead of going down them.

I didn't know it was a lollipop hike, I thought I was going to doing an out-and-back so I was surprised when I looked through the arch and saw I could keep going.

I easily scrambled up in to the arch and paused for a photo before deciding a quick look around the next corner couldn't hurt even though I knew I was running out of day.

Of course it turned out that I was only following the plotted trail which looped around and then started a pretty brutal climb back up onto the ridge through the rhododendren.  Which is worse, slogging uphill or climbing stairs?  Maybe next time I'll try it the other direction and let you know!

So I shared three good words with you today, have you got one to share with me?  I could use a few good words to mull over since my evening here at home in Wisconsin includes words like "torturous flea baths" and "excruciating mounds of laundry".