I hiked in Umstead State Park again today. Only did 6 miles, but hiked it in just over 2 hours with my 40 lb pack. It was about 70F today, and highs are expected in the high 70's-low 80's. If I listen carefully, I can hear the snow-bound northerner's wistful sighs. Today there were many more trout lilies blossoming along the trail. I'm back home now and taking care of tasks that need my attention in the next few weeks. I need to replant the amarylis bulbs that have been hardened off. This is a year where I'm going to miss them. If I can get them into pots, they'll be blossoming a few weeks after Easter when I'm hiking in western NC. The hollies in the yard need to be trimmed, and all of the azaleas need a bit of fertilizer to enhance their blooms. I was a rainy day yesterday and so I took the day off and converted the last 12 lbs of pale malt into a fine ale that I'll be bottling in 10 days. It should be waiting for me when I return from the trail. There are also 3 gallons of cherry wine from fruit that sister Barb picked last summer, and 5 gallons of blackberry wine from fruit that Cheryl and I picked last summer. Both need to be stabilized and bottled in the next few weeks.
Well places to go and things to get done.
25 days before I leave.
Good luck on your journey! Looking forward to your trip posts....have fun!!
ReplyDeletePlease let Jerome know, when he passes through Maryland, that his old elementary school classmate, Tom Seivert, would love to rendezvous.
ReplyDeleteI could meet Jerome in Harper's Ferry & take him off trail, if he likes, to visit the Antietam battlefield. Can also host him at our house for a day or so, if he wants to soak his feet and eat non-trail food.
I'm not a member of any of the networking sites to login & don't want to create accounts, so please have someone (or Jerome, if you follow this) give me contact information & an estimate of when he'll hit Maryland at tomseivert@comcast.net . I'll reply with all of my info.
Tom Seivert