Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim

Way back in August, I talked about the Widforss Trail on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Now I have additional information about that trail.
It's a back track trail that is 5 miles long, making it a total of 10 miles hiking. You don't end up where you think you should. As a visitor to the Lodge on the North Rim, you look west to a camel back point and think, that's where the Widforss trail must go because the rincon wall, to the north, is part of that trail. But there is a surprise awaiting you because after you travel 2 1/2 miles and find yourself at #14's point of interest, as per the park's handout, the trail turns southwest and heads into an aspen meadow. With hills lining both sides, so you no longer see the canyon, you are guided down the middle of a delightfully green wildlife pasture. After several miles you start to climb out of that peacful meadow to finish your hike back along the ridge of the canyon.....but it isn't on the Transept Canyon. There are several fingers at this point, some of which you think, gee, I could get over to that view if I only went this way or that way.
If we would have taken advantage of our backpacking/camping pass for Midforss Point, we might have been able to explore, but it was raining so we changed our mind and rented camping spots at the campgrounds.
Clouds were moving in and out of the main corridor of the canyon. They were below us making for a photographers dream. The light was moving with the clouds so all you had to do was keep your triger finger on that shutter release and you would get outstanding images. Anyone camping on the Tonto Platform or at Phantom Ranch got soaked. We just moved into the Lodge as the rain moved up on to the north rim. When the sun went down I only had 3 spaces for images left on my San Disk.

Bigfoot in Ohio

Legends of Bigfoot are numerous in the Northwestern United States. You see Bigfoot tracks painted on sidewalks, Bigfoot's Favorite Hamburger is on the menu, and, of course, the innumerable Bigfoot T-Shirts.

Last week I went to Ohio and I did not expected to hear about Bigfoot. But Salt Fork State Park is home to Ohio's Bigfoot. Accordng to those that have witnessed the creature, he is very similar to the Northwestern Bigfoot and is about 9-feet tall. Since 1972, there has been 24 different sightings, the latest in 2010. Also, like the Northwestern Bigfoot, no one has found a body to prove the legend, but the believers seem to agree -there is SOMETHING out there.

Bigfoot has stirred up enough interest that Don Keating has founded the Eastern Ohio Bigfoot Investigation Center. They have a yearly convention at Salt Fork State Park that sells out early. Salt Fork State Park has a lovely lodge with plenty dining and meeting room. Then, there are the woods just outside the lodge. Miles of trails allow for plenty of hiking and hoping to sight Bigfoot.

For more information visit www.eobic.net or e-mail Don Keating at eobic@yahoo.com.

Am I a believer? I'm not sure, but I did keep a sharp eye out while I was in the woods at Salt Fork State Park. Go there and see for yourself. It's a great family destination whether Bigfoot appears or not.

Daytona Beach, Florida

A picture is worth a thousand words and so I tried to download a picture of Daytona Beach, taken on Sunday Sept 3, 2011. I don't know what happened to it. It could still show up. Some times it takes a few minutes.
Dayton Beach is a white hard sands strip along the Florida coast line. With the tide going in and out 24-7 it stays hard enough for vehicles to drive on it. When hotel umbrellas are set up on the beach for their customers comfort, they first dig a hole about a foot deep, to set the pole in. Lawn chairs add to the decor of the beach and walla.....it's sun on the beach time. Families drive up in the family SUV, pull out coolers, chairs, buckets for castle building and they are ready to spend the day. So different from Arizona.
(I don't see any picture yet. If anyone out there knows how to add a picture to a blog, please contact me.)

Light Stations, Florida (continued)

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum has a competely different focus than the Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station. While the Ponce Light Station exhibition centered around the lens and operation of a lighthouse, the St Augustine Lighthouse museum has more information on shipping, ship wrecks, shrimp fishing and marketing shrimp. The history of the Coast Guard was well displayed also.
Three floors of the Lighthouse Keepers home was gutted and restored after a fire. The basement floor had a video and map information on the latest discovery of a ship wreck just off a sandbar on the coast. They had retrieved a pot with square handles. Treatment to remove the ocean cement will take about one year but the speculation is, it dates back to the seventeen hundreds. On the museum grounds, they had two canons undergoing the same kind of ocean cement removal treatment. There are a few reproductions of smaller boats that transport sailors from the main ship to shore, being built on the property also.
Both Janet and I have had experience with ghosts while on assignment. The Lighthouse Ghost Tour wasn't available while I was visiting but I'm sure we would both sign up for it if we could connect at the same time.

Light Stations, Florida

The Hertz rent-a-car map that is provided with your vehicle, does not list Light Stations. Being fond of Lighthouses, I scouted out two. The first one being Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station Museum on the southern most tip of Ponce De Leon Inlet or south of Daytona Beach.
The light of this 175 foot tower could be seen as far out to sea as 20 miles, using a 5 wick kerosene latern. Once the lighthouse was electrified and a 500-watt frosted bulb was used, the beacon could be seen 18 miles. There are 14 items of interest to experience, once you have paid your $5.00 entrance fee. The Lens Exhibit Building, was my favoriate. Photographing all these lenses with various angles of light producing vibrant colors, was a fun challenge. This lighthouse museum focused on how a lighthouse works, the men that kept it operating and their families.
The nature trail produced a young box turtle to photograph. Being true to the Inlet's first name "Mosquito Inlet", I didn't stay long.

Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, Florida

Plantation Road is a one lane, dirt, canopied road with thick underbrush that embraces both sides, creating a tunneled entrance. We found this treasure by traveling north of Daytona Beach on A1A road to Tomoka State Park. Head west at the High Draw Bridge Road to Old Dixie Highway. Follow the blue signs that say "Sugar Plantation Ruins".
This is a very impressive ruin with a very sad story. Settlers tried moving in on Seminole land. The government intended to send the Seminoles to reservations and a war erupted. This all took place in the early 1800's. Several plantations and "Bulowville" were burned. The sugar mill was built out of stone so it still stands and is very stately indeed.
Along with the ruins is the Bulow Creek. There is a boat ramp for canoes and 13 miles of creek to follow. Now Janet and I will not be getting into the same canoe together on this creek but if any of you are game for adventure, this looks like a beautiful possibility. Be sure and bring the insect repellent and plenty of it. Bernadette

Grand Canyon, North Kaibab Trail

The parking lot is full by midmorning, at the North Kaibab Trailhead. This is the only trail off the north rim, into the canyon and it's very popular, in the summer. Bright Angel Canyon is where the North Kaibab Trail travels through once it gets past Roaring Springs. This section of the trail decends hard and fast.(Roaring Springs is the water supply for the North Rim.) If you are in good shape, Roaring Springs is a good place to stop, have a light lunch and start back up again. If you applied to the backcountry office and how are the proud owner of a permit to camp down in the canyon, Cottonwood Camp is seven miles from the trail head. With a four or five day pack, Cottonwood Camp is a full days work. Usually, I'll stay a couple of nights at Cottonwood before moving on to Bright Angel and Phantom Ranch. Rainbow Falls is south of Cottonwood Camp, close to a mile, and I spend one whole day there just enjoying the sight and sounds of falling water.
It's another seven easy, fairly flat, miles to the next camp, which is Bright Angel. Bright Angel Canyon and creek is a relaxing experience. I like to just stroll through this unique area.
Once Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel camp is reached, so is the commercial area of the inner canyon. This is the freeway of the Grand Canyon. There is call out phone and flush towlets. Wild turkeys and deer visit camp sites looking for handouts. Ring tail cats just help themselves to what ever inexperienced backpackers leave out. Phantom Ranch serves beer and juice drinks and has chocolate bars. Mules carry everything in and out so the selection is limited.
Here is an option if you don't want to backpack into the canyon. Get reservations for Phantom Ranch for both a bunk and meals, hike the 14 miles from the Kaibab Trailhead to the ranch with just a day pack. Spend a couple of nights down by the Colorado River and then hike out the South Kaibab or Bright Angel trails. You still have to be in excellent shape to hike 25 miles with an elevation change of 7,000 feel both down and then up. A mule can carry down your pack from the south rim. All this can be arranged through the reservation office at Bright Angel Lodge.