Description

I own no land, instead I have wheelestate. I’ve been a full time RVer since 1997. Working summers as a Park Ranger takes me to many beautiful places and playing during the winter takes me to many more. This blog is simply the story of my life's adventures.

Moved

Thank you for stopping by. Just to let you know, I'm still blogging but have moved to Geogypsytraveler. Hope you'll follow my adventures. Just click here.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Three Rondavels Mpumalanga South Africa

02 Three Rondavels overlook Mpumalanga ZA pano (1024x682)
The Blyde River Canyon is 10 miles (16 km) long starting at Bourke's Luck Potholes and ending at the Three Rondavels. Read more here.


Friday, September 3, 2010

Hiking the Transept trail

01 Transept trail NR GRCA NP AZ (768x1024)
Staying home on a quiet weekend often finds me hiking the Transept trail along the west rim of the North Rim's developed area located less than .25 mile from my RV home...(read more)

Thursday, September 2, 2010

SWF – Sunset from the Grand Lodge

01 Sunset over Widforss Point from Lodge NR GRCA NP AZ pano (1024x477)

One more time,

02 Sunset from Lodge NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x546)

Rangers get paid in sunsets.

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Monday, August 30, 2010

MWT - Mycology

01 11-98 Gaelyn with Lobster mushroom at Eagles Cliff  WA (563x800) (559x796)

Lobster mushroom - Eagles Cliff, Washington - November 1998

I am not a mycologist. I am a generalologist. Yet when I lived in the Pacific Northwest I learned to confidently gather about 14 species of wild edible mushrooms. And let me tell you, they are delish. I enjoy learning about all the plants wherever I am, but especially the edibles. You just never know.

02 Gaelyn deydrating mushrooms ORCA 9-03 (796x594)

Dehydrating at Oregon Caves

In between seasons leading cave tours at Oregon Caves National Monument I volunteered one winter and helped with their mycology inventory. It’s a job I’d never been hired to do, but then you can volunteer to do a lot of things you’re not qualified for.

(all following images taken along the Widforss trail Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim)

03 01 unknown mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

I’d walk trails hunting mushrooms, take photos on site, give each one a number, carefully pop it out of the ground and take more photos, then gently pack it in a box and go on to another mushroom.

04 02 unknown mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

I built a lab in an abandoned building for the next step which included filling out a form with as much description as possible, photographing again, whole and cut in half, then put them in the dehydrator.

05 03 unknown mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

Once dry, I’d package them in plastic bags and put them in the freezer to await shipping to the real mycologist in Portland. When I found choice edibles I was allowed to gather enough to eat, plus some for my supervisor.

06 04 unknown mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

When Mike and I discovered such a variety of mushrooms hiking the Widforss Trail, including a choice Oyster, I emailed our Science division and asked about their mycology inventory.

07 05 unknown mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

After about six people that couldn’t tell me a thing I was finally sent a list of the North Rim inventory, taken back in the 1950s. And by the looks of it, whoever found the mushrooms around our Administration offices didn’t know any more about mushrooms than I do.

08 06 Maybe Russula mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

I was invited to help out. I mentioned the need for a dehydrator so samples could be added to the Park’s herbarium. Maybe next year I was told.

09 07 Maybe Russula mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

Two weeks later I returned to the Widforss trail to look for mushrooms, taking more photos with identification in mind.

09a Widforss trailhead from 01 unknown mushroom NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x768)

Barely 100 yards (91 m) from the trailhead I spotted a variety of species so sat down with my notebook, camera and knife.

10 08 unknown mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

After eight species my pen ran out of ink.

11 09 Gem-studded Puffball Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

So I continued my hike just taking more photos and looking for the Oyster choice edibles but they were past their prime.

12 10 unknown mushroom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

That’s the day I came home and Mike showed me the choice Shaggy Manes.

13 Poisonous Fly Agaric mushrom Widforss trail NR GRCA NP AZ 

So, I’ll just keep on looking at mushrooms in the meantime and hoping for some more choice edibles.

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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Scenic Sunday – Light & Shadows Grand Canyon

01 Morning light & clouds over canyon from Lodge veranda NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x755)

Saturday morning I saw the canyon in yet another mood.

02 Morning light over canyon & temples from Lodge veranda NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x747)

Even though heavy clouds hung over the horizon morning sunlight found its way to light up the canyon walls and temples.

03 Morning light over Brightr Angel Canyon from Lodge veranda NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x738)

The air was crisp and clearer than I’ve seen in quite a while. Feels like Fall is coming on.

04 Morning over canyon from Lodge NR GRCA NP AZ - Copy (1024x954)

A shaft of light highlighted the tip of Angels Gate.

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