Morphination

The Tower of Mysteries

2009-08-01T08:42:00.007-06:00

After routing the remaining Norkers in the Seven Pillared Hall, the Anonymous Adventurers helped the permanent residents reestablish a semblance of order. Brugg, Ulthand, Phaledra, and even Surina worked together to organize the cleanup efforts. The visiting merchants' wares were placed in piles and notes were sent to business partners and next of kin. Once the Hall had quieted down, the adventurers took a well-earned rest and talked over their next moves.

Ultimately, the group decided to keep on the move and press the attack on Paldemar and his cohorts. Thorifin seemed confident that he knew the direction they should investigate and so despite some trepidation in placing their fates in the hands of the possessed Warlock the group followed him down the Road of Lanterns. After only a short ten to fifteen minute walk, Thorifin turned off the main passage into an adjoining one and abruptly stopped. Quite certain they had arrived, the group set about searching for anything that might be an entrance only to find nothing in the rock walls. Thorifin withdrew the Silver Key from his jerkin to find it glowing brightly and straining to be released from his grasp. As he did so it flew to the wall, engaging a magic door which swung open to reveal a small passageway and room beyond. As the group paused, slowly looked round at each other awaiting a collective decision on how to act the door closed on them. "Well, we're here," Thorifin said as he reopened the door. Heroic instincts reasserted themselves as Bercilak and Kruach led the group into the passageway.

The in the chamber the group circled around a glowing circle on the floor which looked similar to the one in the Seven Pillared Hall. "Obviously a teleportation circle," Aramil said and then asked, "Who's first?" Bercilak shook his head slightly and stepped forward. As he approached the circle flared with blinding energy for a moment. When the light faded away, a spectral, skeletal figure stood within the circle. The figure was clad in thick robes of deepest scarlet and was missing its left hand and its left eye. It spoke to Becilak, "The secrets of the tower come at a price. You must each pay for the right to enter this place. What can you offer to the dreaded Lord of Secrets? I seek lore, power, and your souls."

The group spent several minutes offering bits of information that they thought might please the thing. Some were more successful than others. Bercilak and Kruach's threats were scoffed at while Thorifin, Aramil, and Áine seemed to relay interesting information about recent events. Eventually the entity grew weary of the group and demanded a payment of life energy from anyone who still desired to use the teleportation circle. Reluctantly, all of the adventurers acceded to it's demands and felt a draining tug on their spirits.

With a flash of light the group was teleported to a small room with two exits. The walls of the chamber were covered with carvings that depicted human faces. Each face wore a blindfold or a gag. Immediately upon their arrival, the blindfolded faces animated and began to chant, while the eyes of the gagged faces glared at the adventurers with rage. As the group moved into the hallways of the larger chamber they were disturbed by columns covered in carvings of tortured and demented faces. As the heroes moved by, the faces seemed to fix their gazes upon them. Some of the group felt their memories come under assault as the columns seemed to lash out at their psyches. A quick investigation found a few norkers guarding a set of four columns arranged around a set of runes on the floor. As soon as the party finished dispatching the annoying goblinoids, a nearby door burst open and a blur of red robes ran pall mall into the mist around the runes, cackling as it vanished in a flash of teleportation magic.

The group quickly followed and found themselves in another room staring at a set of double doors and a hallway leading off to the south. The room on the other side of the doors turned out to be a laboratory. Several tables were covered with all manner of alchemical equipment. In one corner of the room was an especially unusual sight, a large glass container with metal pipes filled with an acrid glowing liquid and the head of a Bronze Warder. As the group pondered this infernal machine and its purpose Kruach growled in pain as his vision narrowed due to an instant migraine. The pain quickly subsided and the paladin became convinced of the need to protect the machine from anyone who wished it harm. He drew his sword and interposed himself between it and the rest of the party. Dismayed by the Dragonborn's aggressive demeanor the group went into intervention mode and attempted to talk Kruach off the proverbial ledge. After a few tense moments, the Paladin shook his head and turned to the machine and pushed it over. With the situation apparently diffused the group set about examining the remnants. Inside the Warder head was an odd brain in a jar. As the group debated what to do with such an odd item, Bercilak quickly scooped it up and placed it into the bag of holding and considered the matter closed for the time being. Roughly satisfied, Aramil and Thorifin offered up an explanation as to the purpose of the machine. They surmised it was the means by which Paldemar had stolen control of the Warders from the other mages. Comforted in their explanation they led the group to quickly explore the rest of the level. The quick search revealed a library full of apparently blank tomes and a summoning circle imprisoning a rather rude imp. The group pressed onward as they found another teleportation rune which they expected to lead to another level.

Emerging from the mist above the teleportation runes, the adventurers found themselves in a small room with three doors in it. Each door was emblazoned with a large eyeball. The group formed up steeled themselves form impending combat an opened the northern door. A disturbing scene lay before them. The room seemed magically illuminated and was dominated by several unnerving features. Dominating the floor was a huge mosaic of the hand and eye of Vecna; surrounding it were four crystal pillars which pulsed with necromantic energies. Against the back wall was a large skull made from black rock with a eye in its right socket. The eye seemed to train its gaze upon the heroes. A large, iron statue of Vecna stood with an imposing presence in the foreground. As if these features alone were not enough to unsettle the Anonymous Adventures, a Bronze Warder, several norkers and a figure in red robes also inhabited the space. As soon as the would be heroes entered the room the worshipers of Vecna launched their assault.

The battle was quick and decisive with the adventurers acting as a coordinated group, timing their attacks and focusing attention on the mage while covering for each other and bolstering those who felt the effects of the warder's axe, the norkers' swords, or the mage's arcane energies. The room itself seem set against them too, as the skull and the statue assaulted the group. In short order the forces of Vecna fell to the Anonymous Adventurer's combined might. As the group set about finishing off their enemies and and exiting the temple they discovered a chamber to the south which seemed to be Paldemar's chambers. Along with notes on some incomplete rituals the group also found maps of Saruun Khel and of the Vale. Of particular interest to Thorifin and Aramil was a location marked on the map indicating a pyramid in the Winterbole forest. The notes claimed, "Place of power," and, "Seek Karavakos." The group gathered up any interesting and worthwhile materials and headed for the exit.

July 24th, 2009 - The Seven Pillared Hall

2009-07-29T07:44:00.003-06:00

After spending days in the depths of Thunderspire mountain fighting an infestation of demonic Gnolls and ravaging the slave trading Duergar of Clan Grimmerzhul, the Anonymous Adventurers were finally returning to the relative comforts of the Seven Pillared Hall with loot and freed captives in tow. As they approached along the Road of Shadows their throats were filled with acrid smoke and their ears with the sounds of massacre. Once the hall was in view the scene before them was one of chaos and destruction. Small, grey goblin like creatures were running about everywhere, attacking merchants and destroying anything in their path. In the distance were larger, organized groups centered around what appeared to be mobile bronze minotaur statues and mysterious red-robed figures flinging about arcane energies. The Hall was under a full scale assault!

The group quickly decided on a course of action. The freed captives were escorted to the abandoned Grimmerzhul trading house and armed with captured weapons. Then the group formed up into a tight, tactical formation under the direction of Khaine and made haste for the closest grouping of assailants which were attempting to destroy the large Minotaur statue in the center of the Hall. Once the group ascended the large, natural platform upon which the statue had been placed, details of their foes became clearer. Lofonia identified the goblinoids as Norkers, foul beasts tainted by evil arcane energies and favored guardians of many Temples of Vecna. The animated bronze statue was described as a Warder of some sort by Aramil. He believed it to be directed by the apparent wizard standing nearby. After judicious use of their prodigious talents the heroes annihilated the troublemakers and quickly set off to subdue more of the invaders.

As the group plowed their way through the brouhaha of merchants, carts, beasts of burden and norkers, they noticed that the Temple of Erathis was beset by a Bronze Warder and Red-robed Wizard. As they approached, Kruach noticed his racial kin fighting alongside the priestess and Ulthand the Dwarven smith. Even as the group prepared to assist, the defenders finished off their assailants and urged the heroes on towards another combat around the Custom House.

Upon reaching the customhouse, Aramil quickly loosed a nasty cloud that devastated some of the lesser Norkers and cut the fight down to one front. Brugg, the Ogre enforcer was tangling with the Norkers and a Bronze Warder. Orontor, the sole Mage of Saruun present in the Hall, was being assaulted by Norkers, a Wizard, and an unknown force. As the group pressed the attackers, the tide of the battle seemed to swing for the good guys. Then, with a brutal blow from the Warder, Orontor was struck down. The group finished dispatching the remaining foes quickly and turned their attentions to the fallen mage. As the Shaman assessed his wounds, Orontor animated vividly and spoke with another's voice to the astonishment and dismay of all. "Ah, the meddling adventurers!" it spoke, "I should thank you for dealing with the Gnolls. It saved me from the effort. I assume you had hopes of discovering and disrupting my plans? You are too late, my research is finished as you can see. I'll be moving on now. Mwuhahahahaha!" Orontor's body then crumpled to the floor. With his last remaining energies the mage whispered dire warnings to the group, "Please hurry! During the connection I caught glimpses of his plans. I saw flashes of a Pyramid. He seeks to control more and more arcane energies for his Lord!"

As the group settled the rest of the Hall down, and helped get things back under control they pondered their next moves...

Chickens!

2009-05-07T19:01:00.002-06:00

So another interesting thing about Kauai is that it is overrun with chickens. Moa chickens. The story that I've heard is that when Typhoon Iniki tore the place up back in 1992 the chickens of locals got loose and have since gone feral. Cue Crocodile Hunter voice, "Feral Chickens!" Anyway they are everywhere. I only put a few pictures in here. Some are from the hotel, which is next to the water, and the others are from Waimea Canyon at around 4400 feet.

Waimea Canyon Hike

2009-05-06T23:38:00.003-06:00

Took a hike around Waimea Canyon today. Wowsa. This island is pretty incredible. The number of different types of scenery you can run into even within a few miles is just incredible. The scale of the canyon is unbelievable. Even standing in front of it, the place just doesn't look real. Humans aren't built to comprehend things this big.

Woof Woof!

2009-05-06T00:25:00.002-06:00

Check out these near sunset photos from Northwest Kauai on Barking Sands beach. The big, nay, massive cliffs are the beginning, or the end, of the famous Na Pali coast. I hope to get round the other side for some hiking later on in the week.

The sand dunes here are at least a hundred feet high in places. Walking up them in the loose sand is quite a chore.

Enjoy!

Cap'n! Thar be whales here!

2009-05-03T21:30:00.003-06:00

I didn't see any, but I did hear whale song on my dive today. How cool is that? I also saw a few sea turtles, which is always special. Oh, and I saw a Dragon Moray. Let me repeat that: Dragon. Moray. Eel. I started to reach for a d20 right then and there...

Aloha from Kauai!

2009-05-02T23:59:00.001-06:00

A day off, a few miles and a few thousand feet. Enjoy the view. I did.

Hitchin'

2009-03-30T18:55:00.001-06:00

The mighty have fallen!

Hitchin'

New photos from the office

2007-08-04T11:34:00.000-06:00

Check a few posts down. I took a few more photos of the DC-8 and the ER-2 as well as our new arrival, the WB-57.

Cataratas, Colibries, Y Mariposas! Ah, mi!

2007-08-04T11:10:00.001-06:00

Took a little trip up to Volcan Poas the other day. Of course it was clear and beautiful the day before but while I was there it was cloudy and beautiful. I didn't get to see the crater or the lake but I did get to see some very nice flowers. I also got a nice, 30 minute hike away from the other tourists, which was nice. Other than the volcanic aspect it was really like a hike in the Appalachians during Spring. Really, as nice as the higher elevations of Costa Rica are, they are very similar to the Appalachians. I'll appreciate them even more the next time I go visit.

La Paz was fairly interesting. An American gent bought the land and made a little tourist stop to showcase the butterflies (mariposas), the frogs (ranas), the hummingbirds (colibries), and the orchids (orqideas) of Costa Rica. A little too organized for my taste but the guide was nice and there were some stunning flowers.

The waterfalls (cataratas) were pretty amazing. There were lots of steps. Lots.

All in all not a bad day, except for the family from California...

Mmmmm coffee.....

2007-08-01T14:26:00.000-06:00

This morning I went on a little tour of a local coffee plantation. The place was setup mainly to show off the process of growing, harvesting, processing, roasting, and packaging coffee so it wasn't quite like a visit to a real plantation but it was educational enough.

Interesting tidbit: Most of the caffeine extracted from coffee to make decaffeinated pseudo-coffee is sold to places like Coca-Cola and RedBull. So if you're a fan of that sort of thing and not of coffee at least pay your respects the next time someone offers you a cup of joe.

Hotel Melia Cariari

2007-08-01T14:21:00.000-06:00

The hotel I'm shacking up in is very nice. Most of it is open to the elements, though here in San Jose, at 3000ft the temperature rarely gets above 85 and it dips into the 60s at night. All in all it is very pleasant. Mornings are clear and warm, then the rains move in around noon and last through the afternoon. Night drops at six and the skies begin to clear. By eight the moon and starts will be out in force.

A few snaps:

Working in Paradise

2007-08-01T14:10:00.000-06:00

Sadly enough NASA and UAH won't just pay for a nice vacation in Costa Rica for me. No, they insist on getting some work done while we are here. The nerve of some people.

A typical work day here begins at about 3:00 am. Exactly. We generally get through around 3:00 or 4:00 pm. Everything in between is a blur as flight plans change constantly, instruments act up, computers crash, and things proceed as barely controlled chaos. Once we leave the airport there's still an hour or so of email and wrap-up to be done back at the hotel too. So all in all it amounts to about a 14-15 hour day.

Here's a few photos from work life here (keep checking back as I'll add more to the same gallery in the next few days):

First Impression

2007-07-26T21:21:00.000-06:00

A group of us went whitewater rafting today on the Rio Pacuare. Check out the company's website for some pictures: http://www.riostropicales.com/english.htm It was fantastico! Think the Ocoee only in a rain forest and without all the development.

One thing that was striking was how similar some of the terrain was to North Carolina. Seriously, mountainous with forest and poor people and buses full of tourists driving through to catch the sights and enjoy nature. The same only separated by a thousand or so miles and with different vegetation.

Unfortunately I woke up late and didn't have time to pack the camera. This REALLY sucks because I could have had some very cool shots. Oh well.

Work begins (for me) tomorrow. I might even get to meet El Presidente de Costa Rica.

hasta...

The worst thing about airports...

2007-07-25T13:57:00.000-06:00

Is not the screaming kids or the people with burnt out nostrils who are unable to detect their own stink, be it from bodily odor or the perfumers of Paris and New York. No, the worst part of airports is CNN. The endless loops of inane stories about gator wrestlers, Lindsay Lohan, terrorists with cheese blocks, and National Enquirer's stock price. Over, and over, and over, and over again.

It is truly a horror that tests one's sanity. It makes me wish that I could simply blink out into another world as travelers can in one of Ursula K. LeGuin's latest books. Find it, read it, and dream of what airports could be.

Only two more hours until boarding...

Off to Costa Rica

2007-07-25T07:07:00.000-06:00

Hasta Luego!

I'm off to Costa Rica in support of the RTMMand then for some R&R. Pictures and comments to follow.

And yeah, the coffee had better be good...

Spring AT 2007

2007-06-21T17:42:00.000-06:00

Well the annual Appalachian Trail hike is over. It was one for the ages from the word go. First off, the normal crew dropped like flies before the trip so that there ended up only being four of us.

Then through a combination of too many miles in too short a time, a dirty water filter, busted boots, and being out of shape everything just sort of fell apart after only a day and a half.

So for next year, plan small and walk big. Not the other way round.

Yosemite National Park

2007-03-09T08:38:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I flew out to San Jose to meet Wyatt. He was already out there for business and suggested a trip into Yosemite. What a smashing idea it turned out to be.

See pics (volume 1) here:

Yosemite 2007, Volume 1

Both Yosemite Valley and Hetch Hetchy Valley are really too immense to be adequately expressed in either words or pictures. I'm sure there are plenty of places bigger and more impressive but this was my first experience with such immensity. I definitely have an itch to get back out there for some backcountry hiking and camping. I want to earn a view from the top of one of those big slabs of rock.

Volume 2 of the pics should find its way online next week after I get Wyatt's photos.

One more.

2007-01-29T21:15:00.000-06:00

On our annual December trip to western North Carolina Becky and I went on a nice dayhike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Really. We even have pictures to prove it!

Charlie's Bunyon

Momentum is the word of the moment.

2007-01-29T21:14:00.001-06:00

Well since I wrote that last post I just couldn't help but go ahead and put up the other pictures.

Enjoy.

NAMMA Play

Procastination is the word of the day, in perpetuity.

2007-01-29T20:42:00.000-06:00

So it has been quite a few months since I've posted anything. For those of you who actually read this, you know that I made it back from Cape Verde safely. I really haven't thought about the trip for a good long while. Once I returned there was just so much to get back into on the home front. Now that things are getting a little calmer I'm starting to look back on my adventures. In that spirit I've place another web album up from the trip. This one is focused on the actual work I did over there. So check it out. There's one more coming soon that features non-work and non-diving photos so stay tuned...

NAMMA Work

Or not

2006-09-20T08:05:00.000-06:00

The Azores seem like they would be a nice place to visit, really. See I wouldn't know since we spent our few hours there stuck on the Air Force base.

They definitely made my list of top vacation spots though.

I've made it back home and I'm almost over the jetlag too.

Pictures should be coming soon. Stay tuned

Philip Parker, World Traveler

2006-09-15T14:53:00.000-06:00

Well we're coming home. Not straight home though because that would be too easy. Instead we're stopping off in the Azores before going all the way back to Grand Forks. Given the choice of a night in Grand Forks or one in the Azores guess which one I'd pick.

I should be back in the great metropolis of Huntsville on the afternoon of the 18th if all goes well.

-philip

Coming home...

2006-09-11T04:19:00.000-06:00

We only have five days left.

I'm ready.

That is all.

Brown + Blue = Green

2006-09-05T03:23:00.000-06:00

One of the peculiar things about the Riu Funana is the way in which they maintain their little oasis on this desert isle. In the mornings, since we have to be up near the crack of dawn to go do Science!, we are often having breakfast when they are watering the plants. The process is entirely automated as one might expect, with nice ground level drip hoses and a few sprinklers here and there. Nothing out of the ordinary really except for the water they use. You see, it is very apparent when the watering begins because a peculiarly familiar and unpleasant odor begins to creep into the nostrils, snaking it's way slowly into the barely functioning conscious mind. It takes a few minutes some mornings and on others it simply leaps from the palms, aloe, and creeping succulents like an angry Cottonmouth, striking without warning and poisoning the victim with all its might.

You see at the Riu Funana they are very resourceful. Water is a precious commodity on this rock. All of it that is intended for consumption is produced via desalinization, an expensive process. So, to get the most out of what they purchase the Riu Funana uses waste water to feed the plants. While unpleasant for us reluctant creatures of the morning, the plants are luscious, full, and vibrant. The Vinca are very large and flower constantly. I've literally seen the palm trees grow an inch in the space of one breakfast. Not only are they getting double duty from the water but all the money put into the various buffets is paying dividends in the end as well.

So while it may be unpleasant for the few of us who are up early enough to experience it, their brilliant water management strategy rewards the average tourist with dobs of green to go with the blue of the sky and the brown of the sand, even allowing for the occasional dollup of pink or purple from a flower to paint a rather nice picture.

-philip

Saharan Dust

2006-09-03T03:48:00.000-06:00

Take while flying over Africa. Only minutes before you could see all the way to the ground. This stuff gets sucked into the tropical waves that come off the coast to the south and does wacky things. That's why we're here with a plane full of scientists, so...

Mi hablo bonito uno dia

2006-09-03T03:32:00.000-06:00

Another day off and so another two dives!

This time we went down to around 30 meters, sorry for those metrically challenged back in the homeland but I've had to convert to stay sane. Unfortunately the visibility was not that great and there weren't a lot of fish at the first spot. The second dive was much better. We descended upon Tres Grutas (Three Caves) and found many more fish and much better visibility. The eels were out in force as well; we saw all three species in about the first 10 minutes of the dive. The Tres Grutas weren't so much caves as larger rock shelves. They were big enough to fit two or three divers in without a problem. There were also a large number of trumpet fish hanging out at the top of the overhang. The effect was like waving grass, only upside down. Very cool.

Then we continued on to two other sites that were really close and managed a close encounter with a lobster. I have some good pictures of it.

In the evening Thomas (my German dive buddy) and I went into Santa Maria to May O'Leary's for drinks and music. The band was fanstastic! Some of the local songs were nice but when they tore into a few Santana covers the lead guitarist really opened up and brought down the house. So, it was a pretty early morning especially since we have an eight hour mission today but at least I have had my obligatory party-hangover out of the way now. It was definitely worth it.

I'm really starting to get homesick now. I'm still enjoying myself but I can't wait to get back.

-philip
P.S. The title for the post was inspired by my broken Spangluguese and Thomas making fun of me by quoting David Sedaris. Pompass Eurotrash!

My Ego Incarnate

2006-08-31T07:09:00.000-06:00

Soggy Bottom Boy

2006-08-30T03:25:00.000-06:00

Greetings again mein freunds. Thanks to all who sent e-missives from the homeland to keep me company here on Sal.

Naturally just after I post about working non-stop we promptly received a Hard-down followed by a No-Fly, which meant two days off in a row. This of course meant that I was heading to the Scuba shop. In total I was able to get 3 dives in on Monday and 2 yesterday.

Since I'm not feeling particularly eloquent this morning and since I don't have much time since we are flying in a few hours I'll sum up what I saw.

Flying Fish, HUGE Puffer fish, HUGE (4-5 long) Trumpet Fish, Several varieties of Moray Eels, a Stingray, several Parrot Fish, a Lobster, many other random Fishes.

I dove with a very pleasant German fellow named Thomas both days. I finally got some nice conversation that wasn't about work at any point and that wasn't with an American! w00t.

Alas that is as much as my brain can process at the moment. Perhaps the flight will be relatively uneventful and I will have time to compose more about the dives then.

Ate Logo!

Friends, Romans, Cabo Verdeans...

2006-08-27T04:46:00.000-06:00

Lend me your fingers!

Send me electronic missives with tales from the homeland! Home-sickness is creeping up as we fly day after day. I'd love to post more impressions and stories of Cape Verde but the sad truth is that for the past few days the only things that I've seen are the Hotel Compound and the airport. No non-work fun has really been had this week. We might get this afternoon off in which case I plan to go snorkeling or diving and so I might have a report in another day or two.

One interesting note from Friday's flight. We flew in close formation with a British jet for about 30 minutes. I have some great pictures of them right off our wing. If and when we get better internet access I'll post some of them for your viewing pleasure.

So seriously folks, send me stories about hockey, football, gaming, or just what you had for breakfast. I feel like a soldier in the trenches waiting for the mail bag to bring me stories about my dog.

-philip

Fly, fly, burn, burn...

2006-08-23T03:17:00.000-06:00

Field campaigns are odd beasts. You get sent to a very nice place with plenty of things to see and do and then are expected to put in 12+ hour days full of meetings and long flights on a cold plane THROUGH tropical clouds. Things get bumpy very often and the odd part of it all is that it's on purpose.

And then you get two consecutive days off...

It's an orgy of activity with everyone asking everyone else what their plans are and making suggestions. Snorkling, hiking, surfing, sleeping; everyone is doing something or going somewhere.

As a brief aside, SPF 30 can barely contain the tropical sun. Now back to the main narrative.

I tried to surf for the first time yesterday. The waves weren't really big enough and so the most I could manage was a brief belly ride. I'll definitely try again before I leave. Even that briefest hint of a belly ride was enough to provide an idea of what a real ride would be like, which is to say a huge rush.

The internet connection at our offices is still slow and expensive so I'm not able to get pictures out yet. I will if that changes but I'm not holding my breath waiting.

We fly again today at 11:00 GMT-1, which would be 7:00 CST so those of you who see this should check out the link in the last post to see where we are in the world.

-philip

Oi d' Cabo Verde

2006-08-19T04:36:00.000-06:00

Howdy from Caape Verde! I'd love to get some pictures up but I haven't really had a chance to take any since I've been working almost non-stop. We just got the internet working at our airport offices and the upload speed is very slow so even once I take some pictures I might not be able to post many until I return.

I have to keep this brief as we are about to go flying but I just wanted to let everyone know that I am safe and having a pretty good time. I'll report more when I get a day or two off. Hopefully I will have something to talk about then other than work.

For those so inclined you can follow each flight in Google Earth by loading the following link:
http://branch.nsstc.nasa.gov/NAMMA/namma.kml

You'll want to look for the DC-8 flight track and then the 15 minute version.

Enjoy!

F-4 Cockpit

2006-07-20T19:49:00.000-06:00

This thing was a bit spooky. The wings are off to the side in the grass and silt.

More ok than ok.

2006-07-18T17:13:00.000-06:00

w00t! Scuba is teh r0x0r!

Attack of the Killer Bluegill!

2006-07-18T17:12:00.000-06:00

Viktor deftly dodges the ferocious charge of a passing Bluegill.

Observe this!

2006-07-18T17:11:00.000-06:00

I'm pretty sure that watching the stars from this observatory is an exercise in futility. The underwater version of tilting at windmills perhaps.

Recon!

2006-07-18T17:08:00.000-06:00

Apparently the F-4 was a reconnaissance jet. The 106th is an Air National Guard unit based out of Birmingham. Their nickname is the "Recce Rebels".

New crew

2006-06-25T17:59:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Smeagol, the newest Pod member.

Savage Falls!

2006-05-28T08:42:00.000-06:00

Along with the many overlooks of the Gulf, the Falls were a highlight of the trip.

See previous post

2006-05-28T08:41:00.000-06:00

Here's where the trail actually goes. Kevy was circumventing this pool in the previous picture. Crafty bugger...

Make your own trail!

2006-05-28T08:39:00.000-06:00

As it had rained quite a bit prior to our arrival, we often had to search for the best path across some of the streams.

Into the Gulf

2006-05-28T08:38:00.000-06:00

Wonder at the savageness!

The View!

2006-05-28T08:34:00.000-06:00

Kevy enjoys a granola moment at one of the many scenic overlooks.

Lady Slipper?

2006-05-28T08:32:00.000-06:00

Is this Lady's Slipper in a pre-bloom state?

What counts as a person?

2006-05-28T08:29:00.000-06:00

Here we see Adventure Outfit Nolin as he prepares to cross a raging torrent on a hastily constructed bridge. The natives were kind enough to install a warning sign. Does a pack count as a person?

Another hike!

2006-05-28T08:27:00.000-06:00

We prepare to enter the Savage Gulf!

Mystery Plant

2006-03-15T16:03:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure what this is, but the foliage is nice.

Flox this!

2006-03-15T16:01:00.000-06:00

This lovely batch of flox is a nice surprise as I was just admiring such plants at Bennett's recently.

Boxed OUT!

2006-03-13T19:29:00.000-06:00

No more boxwoods! The Dusty Miller is being used as a place holder until more suitable plants are found. The little green gem on the end is a variety of bee balm that should get 3 to 4 feet high with bright red blooms.

Basket Numero Dos

2006-03-13T19:24:00.000-06:00

Contains Sun Coleus, more Creeping Jenny, and Dusty Miller.

Basket Numero Uno

2006-03-13T19:22:00.000-06:00

Contains Creeping Jenny, "Blackie" sweet potato, and parrot's beak.

Full Frontal Gardening

2006-03-13T19:19:00.000-06:00

Here's the front after just an hour or so of labor. The boxwoods were moved to the rear near the deck. The stones are to be more permanently set to create a bed in front of the porch. Two new hanging baskets are also present, thanks to my lovely gardener in crime, Becky

The Plan.

2006-03-13T19:17:00.000-06:00

Here's a good context shot of the new herbs. To the left of the herbs, in the open space between the deck and the fence might go a butterfly bush. To the right where the irises are currently is the direction in which the herbage will expand.

Herbs Galore.

2006-03-13T19:12:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the new herb garden at Casa de Double P. It contains Italian Parsley, sage, rosemary, sweet basil, onion chives, cilantro, and lavendar. Over time this bed will be expanded, stage right, and will have more herbs and some florals.

Random Sky

2006-02-28T19:03:00.000-06:00

Merry Chri'ma'!

2005-12-24T18:12:00.000-06:00

Ho-ho-ho!

The Bikers

2005-12-10T09:04:00.000-06:00

The Mountain Bike Crew at Tsali on Friday. I was hiking. I chose to bike on Saturday, when it was colder and raining. I may be a beginner, but I am hardcore. Nice, sunny weather is for wusses!

Another trip into the Appalachians

2005-12-10T09:02:00.000-06:00

A view from the lovely cabin managed by the Nantahala Village.

2005-09-10T08:53:00.000-06:00

Roan waits for their return. Next year... Next year...

2005-09-10T08:51:00.000-06:00

Reluctance and eargerness mix as all prepare for the trip home...

2005-09-10T08:50:00.000-06:00

The group reunited at last!

2005-09-10T08:49:00.000-06:00

The scouts wait for their friends, weary from the effort of the previous day...

2005-09-10T08:48:00.001-06:00

Family conquers all...

2005-09-10T08:48:00.000-06:00

A well earned rest...

2005-09-10T08:47:00.000-06:00

The path is easy to find but still one can be easily lost in this place...

2005-09-10T08:46:00.000-06:00

A fair morning greets the rearguard as they trek to the rendevouz point...

2005-09-10T08:44:00.001-06:00

The moon ascends high into the sky...

2005-09-10T08:44:00.000-06:00

Surely the work of great magicks...

2005-09-10T08:43:00.001-06:00

Nature rewards them for their efforts...

2005-09-10T08:43:00.000-06:00

They reach the top!

2005-09-10T08:41:00.000-06:00

Whilst the advance scouts near their goal...

2005-09-10T08:40:00.000-06:00

The others make camp...

2005-09-10T08:39:00.002-06:00

They take up the trail once more...

2005-09-10T08:39:00.001-06:00

And looking forward towards their destiny...

2005-09-10T08:39:00.000-06:00

Looking back over their path...

2005-09-10T08:37:00.001-06:00

And yet filled with beauty....

2005-09-10T08:37:00.000-06:00

Their way is dark and treacherous....

2005-09-10T08:36:00.000-06:00

Two are chosen to scout the way ahead as the ravages of the trail being to take their toll on the group...

2005-09-10T08:33:00.000-06:00

They push on looking back on the splendor of Big Hump...

2005-09-10T08:32:00.000-06:00

Once reunited after an arduous climb, the merry band rests...

2005-09-10T08:31:00.001-06:00

But the others are not far behind...

2005-09-10T08:31:00.000-06:00

The first group crests Big Hump...

2005-09-10T08:28:00.000-06:00

Big Hump stands between the adventurers and their ultimate goal...

2005-08-27T22:10:00.000-06:00

Another bright morning...

2005-08-25T17:53:00.001-06:00

Adventurers at their craft...

2005-08-25T17:53:00.000-06:00

Preparing the evening's sustenance is a joy...

2005-08-25T17:52:00.000-06:00

Ramps!

2005-08-25T17:51:00.000-06:00

All fall prey to the majesty of this place...

2005-08-25T17:50:00.001-06:00

Some ponder themselves...

2005-08-25T17:50:00.000-06:00

Some ponder the journey...

2005-08-25T17:49:00.000-06:00

Once again the group's wisened elder brings forth fire...

2005-08-25T17:31:00.000-06:00

After a short but difficult march they reach their destination... Doll Flats...

2005-08-25T17:29:00.000-06:00

But rewards the trekkers with alluring views of the surrounding countryside...

2005-08-23T20:03:00.000-06:00

The way is steep and dangerous...

2005-08-23T19:47:00.001-06:00

As do a group of wizards...

2005-08-23T19:47:00.000-06:00

Fresh trail greets them with the dawn...

2005-08-23T19:45:00.000-06:00

Whilst others take shelter in the Apple House...

2005-08-23T19:44:00.000-06:00

After a long day of toil the group go through their pre-rest rituals...

2005-08-23T19:42:00.000-06:00

Into fields Elysian...

2005-08-23T19:41:00.001-06:00

Over mighty obstacles...