What the storm hath wrought

We could have used all this rain last spring or summer, but it's still welcome.

Even if last week's storms are going to cause a little extra work. I wish I'd put something in there for scale - this tree was huge. I had to hop up on it to get over.

This ex-Sycamore was definitely dead already.

I think the fish and ducks and flittery little birds would like this a lot, but hubby thinks it needs removing.

Collateral damage... I wish it hadn't taken two live trees with it.

It's amazing how fiercely the Sycamore balls still cling, this time of year.

Except for this one.

Flocks of Cedar Waxwings celebrated the rain. (Click to enlarge.)

Sea traffic

Nosing into Rosemarkie Bay after the dolphins came this sailing ship, which I think may be a barque but I'm happy to be better informed.
And after that came the sea kayaks, bobbing along in front of the ramparts of Fort George. I daresay in its heyday the fort didn't have health-and-safety-approved orange street lights on its ramparts.

I'm taking a break for a few days now, to catch the summer while I can.

Chicken sign

Before we got the game camera, we had to rely on our own skills to determine what animals passed through our property. We bought a couple of tracking books, but found that animals rarely leave crisp, pristine tracks that resemble the drawings. (Unless it snows, which apparently is never, ever going happen here again.)
The animal sign that we encounter the most is actually scat. I should have been more careful, though. In-laws will think you even stranger than they already do, if you stop in mid-hike to carefully examine animal poop.
Other signs we see a lot are scrapes, or disturbed areas similar to this picture. What a huge scrape, I thought. I wonder how in the world that was made!
I hate to admit how long it took me to realize that this "wildlife sign" was actually made by... chickens.
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The best tracking web site is Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den.

Le tour de Tomewin

Believe it or not, I didn't ride last weekend. I had a nasty chest infection that effectively put paid to any riding plans I had. As bad as that was, it has now given me a chance to catch up on a few blog entries that I never quite got around to writing on recent weekends. The day after the Springbrook/Mt Nimmel climb in the previous post, I decided to seek out the dirt roads on Tomewin Mountain. The showers that were around promised to add a bit of spice to the ride.

I started off with a ride through the rainforest at Urliup to commence the Tomewin climb from the south. It was perhaps a little ironic that the rain should stop as I ride through the first patch of rainforest, but there was plenty of that to come later in the ride. The rain did return for the climb of Tomewin, which allowed me to take nine minutes off the previous week's time on the 6km climb. More importantly, the rain brought out the mist on the top of the mountain, which made some of the views even more interesting.

I took the detour along Garden of Eden road, taking in the sweeping views and the rainforest. Astonishingly, the rain that fell earlier in the week (the first in four months) hadn't cut up the road at all, which made the whole thing easier to negotiate than I'd expected. The most exciting thing that happened on this stretch was reaching the end and realising my sunscreen was still at home. Fortunately, it was only a half-day ride and it was raining -- maybe I could escape the ride without any more melanomas.


After that it was time to head out along the old Glengarrie Road. Up until a few months ago, this road used to skirt the top of the range, before winding it's way back to the coast at Bilambil. The rich boys have moved in and now the road at the top of the pass is impassable, but much of the road from the western side is still rideable, and still beautiful. I followed it across the top of the range, taking in the views until I reached the really rough part, before returning to the main road. I realised on this stretch just how much I miss the ability to ride the full circuit.


On the final descent on the ride home there was a final surprise. One of the old mountain houses was being raided by peacocks. One of them was sitting majestically on the front gate when I arrived, but didn't hang around for long enough to take a picture. Still, it was an interesting way to finish the ride, and gives me the opportunity of another half-day ride to add to my list.

Cercospora Leaf Spot on Crinum

I'm giving a talk on pests at a Crinum Workshop later this week at Moore Farms. When asked to do it, I think I declared, "Crinums don't really have any pest problems." But in putting this talk together, I've been reminded that they do have a scant few. This is not an overly troublesome bulb.
If you're not familiar with this plant, Crinums are old-fashioned Southern bulbs that are often found around old homesteads. Their bulbs can get really big- bowling ball size- and will form large clumps over time. My grandmother called them Milk-and-Wine Lilies; other names include Cemetery Lilies, Spider Lily, Cape Lily and Poison Lily. Poison Lily. I'd love to know the back story on that name.
One of the common diseases is caused by the fungus Cercospora. The spots are circular with a yellow halo. As the disease progresses, these spots coalesce and cause entire leaf dieback. While it doesn't kill the plant, Cercospora Leaf Spot does impact the beauty and vigor of this bold-textured plant.How do you manage this disease? By keeping the leaves dry.
Fungal plant pathogens need about 8 hours of continuous leaf wetness. If you have an overhead irrigation system that runs late in the day, the leaves will stay wet overnight.....and your chances of leaf spots (and other problems) will increase.
If you have this leaf spot, cut off infected leaves, increase air circulation (to decrease humidity) and keep the irrigation off the leaves.
If you want to know where to get this pass-along plant, check out this month's Southern Living and read about South Carolina native Jenks Farmer and his Lush Life nursery. Their article shows the more beautiful side of this plant.

Technology SNAFU With a Side of CD

This week's charming menu. When it rains it pours, at least lately... over here. Not only did Mom's 'puter take a super poo again, but the peeps' router went out too. We've spent the better part of three days 'puterless, but finally, my peeps do believe the problems are over and done with... for the moment. We are tremendously sorry not to have visited anyone lately and vow to catch up today and throughout the weekend.

We've had a pretty exciting week, with great weather for even more hikes, some obedience practices and yesterday... an obedience trial. I've garnered two legs in the hunt for my CD (Companion Dog title) and hoped that I'd be able to get that third and final leg yesterday. My dear pal, Sierra and her mom made an amazingly wonderful post here about their adventure yesterday, but I want to tell you all that they played huge roles as chief cooks and bottle washers in helping me get set up. Sierra's mom acted as paparazzae extraordinaire. She also has majorly outstanding skills setting up and organizing camp. An hour before my class, we were ready-to-go.

The top picture shows Sierra and me looking for the building where my ring will be. I'm pretty tired.
In Novice A, the judges always do a "run through" of the heeling pattern which is nice. That way, if Mom messes up, you know that she's seriously bereft of RAM and any misteaks have nothing whatsoever to do with me. (Hah! Nothing is ever my fault anyway.)
And here are the peeps following our judge to learn the pattern.
Here, I've just completed my exercises and am so befuddled, cause I couldn't figure out where to do my "front" sit on the recall exercise, which made me even more confused when Mom gave me the hand signal to finish. You can go here if you want to see the movie . But. We aren't nearly done yet.
We still have "sits and downs." Which are my fave, cause I'm kind of pokey. Mom felt terribly about her own performance, especially on the "figure 8" and, of course, the recall exercise. And she'd watched the other dogs who'd all done better than any Novice A class duos she'd ever seen! Imagine her surprise when I qualified with a second place! Here we are congratulating the winners, who were really amazing!
So, with that nice ending, I actually got my CD... whoopeee! Here we are in a traditional pose with the judge after finishing a title.
Mom had heard that she was a tough scorer, but I was happy, even with those major markdowns. Don't know if it will biggify or if it even matters!
And here's Mom and Sue (the Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue lady who put me and my peeps together!) blabbing again about "how it went."
More treats please.
The celebration and a nice pressie and card from Sue! Now we can go and investigate the party going' on outside!
Here is Sierra, ready to follow the golden ladies into the ring - they're about to be called heheh!
MMmmnnnn - scented goodies for hoomans - how's that for "turnaround is fair play?"!!! Mostly there were good scents for doggies! And funny signage!
And how's this for a statement on ironic disparity? Fluffed up Goldens backed by a Grateful Dead t-shirt!!!

I think everyone with a camera was busy snapping these fellows!
And how's about this storekeeper? He was incredibly gracious, courteous and helpful to a "T." A good time was had by all and we feel furry lucky to have the technical gizmos back again. See you shortly!

Kings Cliffe - Apethorpe - Blatherwycke - Kings Cliffe

A last minute route, led by me, with Maureen and Gordon. Just over 8 miles, Dry, windy, some sun.





We set off from Kings Cliffe church, following the road down to the crossing of Willow Brook, where it became a path shortly after an open area where an old lorry has found a home. The path leads rapidly to a track (Morehay Lane. We turned right and very soon left the track for a path to the left. This leads up and then past some clay pits, through fields. You can see Apethorpe church in the trees ahead. We didn't go right into the village, but when we arrived at a threeway junction took the road signposted Lodge Farm and Spa Farm. After a fair walk we met a turn to the left 'Private Road - Lodge Farm only' . This told us that we'd not taken the track we expected to take, so a bit of map-thinking was needed.

Quick change of plan, and we continued towards Spa Farm Cottages, and Spa Farm itself.

The path carried on in the same direction (S.W - ish) and just after a hedge, we found a trig point 85 metres above sea level according to the map.



On along the clear path through the cornfield, touching the corner of Briary Wood.

A slight change of direction to our left ( more to the south now) took us past the corner of Hostage Wood and in the direction of an abandoned building.

Nice place - how do I get the furniture in though?

We didn't cross the stream, but continued round the edge of the field, turning sharp right.

We were slightly off track, as we follwed the stream rather than the edge of Bushey Wood, but there is a gravel track which led us up to Hostage Wood again. We kept the wood to our right and followed the path slightly up hill, until we turned a corner and found a convenient bench for a snack break.





Straight along the path still, in the middle of trees forming the field boundaries, past Keeper's Cottage, with its crowing cockerel and barking dogs, and down to the road into Blatherwycke. A hundred yards or so along this road, past the alpacas in the field, and on the corner we followed the footpath off to the right.

Cool haircut

Wistful thinking?

The path passes Blatherwycke church and a large building where a lot of work is being done. We saw the statue on the skyline to the right.

Apollo Belvedere

I found this picture I took in Feb , with my comments:

" I wonder who he is, with his cloak,and

fig-leaf. His right arm is leaningon a

tree trunk with a snake coiledround it.

He stands on a hefty plinthwith carvings.

He probably belonged toBlatherwycke Hall,

which was demolished in 1948.

The Hall was used by troops in

World War 2, and was in a poor state."

My thanks to Barry for pointing me to thisinformationon East Northants website):

Sir Humphrey Stafford and his wife built Blatherwycke Hall in 1713, but it was pulled down in 1948 after irreparable damage by troops billeted there in WW2. The only remaining remnant of the estate is a statue of The Apollo Belvedere in an adjacent field.

Today we carried on along the path, past the recently planted trees and views of the lake and a house by the water. At one point we had to turn slightly to the left through a hedge, to keep on the path towards Alders Farm. The path is clearly marked from here - some small trees have been cut down since I was here last.





On through fields, keeping the brook to our left, over stiles or through gates, over the brook by the footbridge. We went through a field of cows, and another grassy field, along at the bottom of the allotments, and followed the road/track through the back end of the village until we reached the church.

There's something about allotments.

A Perfect Lake Tahoe Hike

After all the fun yesterday, we drove southward around Lake Tahoe towards Emerald Bay. Little did I know what a pupalicious day I was headed for. Mom and Dad took me on a hike up to Eagle Lake - a tarn (glacial lake) surrounded by the Sierra's Tahoe peaks.
C'mon - hurry up - this is gonna be great!
Whatcha waiting for? Hurry - I can smell all kinds of fun up there!
I think we should go this way - I always follow my nose.
Dad and Mom said I was a great trailblazer.
Go carefully here folks - it's a bit rocky.
Dang! Almost got that wily lizard - they are fa-aaast. Here we are at about the half-way point with Emerald Bay below us, surrounded by Lake Tahoe.
Could that possibly be a marmot? I think it is - ooooh - be right back.
As we come around a corner and hike over the last crest, Eagle Lake lays before us. Isn't it magnificent? Click to watch a short vid of my enthusiastic arrival here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aSvrOiVXjo
Okay Dad, whenever you're ready to throw that stick, I'll oblige.
Met a new pal - I think his name was Jack - I hope his peeps don't find this bloggie and see that I forgot his proper title - big oops. But... I had lots of fun swimming with him, trying to play keep-a-way with the stick.
After he left, I swam for hours in this cool, pretty lake, chasing a stick. Stick-chasing may be a first for me!
Here's another first - I don't ever recall swimming with my dad!
Check out the majesty of this place. But all great things seem to come to an end, so I took up my place as trailblazer again.
Happy and a bit tired as I pose with Dad - what spectacular scenery.

Well, I got them up and down safely, so I celebrate this bridge crossing towards the jeep with paws on railing, so I can see the pretty waterfall below. Thanks for coming along on my journey with me to Eagle Lake. Mom promises that she'll catch up on bloggies this week. I know she's been wretchedly behind.