Pokagon State Park (Indiana DNR)

Pokagon State Park is a great example of what the Indiana State Park system has to offer.  At just over 1200 acres, this park has something for everyone.

There are a wide variety of activities to choose from.  Bicycle rental, snow-ski rental, horseback riding, boat rental, hiking, fishing and a public beach. During the winter months the famous toboggan run is also quite popular.

The public beach is located along the shores of Lake James.  The lake was glacier-made and is spring-fed. The bottom of the beach area is covered with sand that was brought out in wheel-barrels during the 1940s when the lake was frozen.

The water in the lake seems very clean.  I’ve been swimming in lakes where I came out smelling like fish.  Not so here, the water was very refreshing.

We didn’t do a great deal of hiking on this trip, but did venture a little into the Potawatomi Nature preserve.   Starting at the Potawatomi Inn we took trail 3 through restored wetland and swamp area.  I had never seen wetland before, so wasn’t sure what to expect.  I found it to be very beautiful and teeming with life.  I’ve never seen so many dragonflies in my life!

After crossing a creek, trail 3 connects with trail 6.  We hiked the short .7 mile loop of trail 6 which goes through more typical Indiana hardwood forests.

Trail 6 eventually hooks back up with trail 3 again.  We back-tracked along trail 3 and then followed it out to Lake Lonidaw.

At lake Lonidaw we found some benches on a small pier in the lake.  We sat there and watched the dragonflies and birds zip around the lake.

Indiana DNR has been trying to control the spread of the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer for several years, but Pokagon was the first park I’ve visited where I was asked at the campground gatehouse if I had brought my own firewood.  I hadn’t, but there is a wagon at the gatehouse for confiscated, quarantined firewood.

Pokagon has a pretty large campground area.  When we were there most of the campers seemed to be in the electric area, leaving plenty of open campsites in the primitive area where we stayed.  This is one of the few primitive campgrounds we’ve stayed at that offered flush toilets and showers, little things that my wife really appreciated.

On our last day there we walked along the toboggan run track all the way down to the beach at the Potawatomi Inn.  Besides sun bathers and boat rentals we saw several large, beautiful swans on the lake.

Pokagon State Park is a picture perfect park.  Plan your visit today.  You’ll be glad you did!

Ravinia Woods (A Unit of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest)

Ravinia Woods is a unit of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest located just 30 miles southwest of Indianapolis. This 1500 acre area of wooded rolling hills and valleys is interspersed with fields, small ponds and several streams.  The land was purchased in 2004 from AES/Indianapolis Power and Light and is open to the public for a variety of outdoor activities including wildlife viewing, hiking, and the gathering of wild berries, nuts, and mushrooms.

February isn’t the prettiest month to go hiking in Indiana, but Ravinia is close to home and begged to be explored.

After parking at the trail head I walked across a small field to the tree line.  As I stepped into the woods I faced every hikers most annoying “companion”. The infamous “sticker bush”.  Oh, the memories of following my dad through the woods as a young boy fantasying that I had a machete to cut these buggers down!

There are no designated hiking trails at Ravinia, so even though this is a small parcel of land, a map of the area and compass are a good idea.  Not to mention the knowledge on how to use them.

Before being owned by Indianapolis Power and Light this was farm land.  And when you’re hiking through former farm land it seems you almost always come across things like this.

After hiking for a mile or so I came across a small pond that looked like a great place for lunch.  I had brought along an old MRE and once I added some water from my hydration pack, lunch was on!

Chicken Fajitas and hot chocolate on a chilly February day.  Now that hits the spot!

This little guy showed up while I was eating.  Who knew Eastern Box Turtles like chicken fajitas?

When I got back to the trail head there were several Turkey Vultures flying overhead.

I wasn’t sure what they were so excited about until I was on the road.  Guess it was their lunch time as well!

Ravinia is a good destination to spend an afternoon exploring the little hills and valleys of south-central Indiana.  I’m looking forward to returning in the spring when the trees and wildflowers are in bloom.

Dying boy’s wish – Brendan Foster

With Thanksgiving just two days away I think this is a very timely story. Sometimes it takes a child to remind us adults how we should treat the least among us. You’re my hero Brendan.

As the leaves fall…

The other night I dreamt I was standing underneath a huge sycamore tree surrounded by its fallen leaves. I felt happiness and connection as I took in the wonder of the scene. In the dream, each time I reached down to pick up a leaf, I was reminded of a family member or friend who has passed away.

For the past few weeks I’ve been trying to make sense out of why we suffer and die. My aunt recently passed away from cancer and I have not been able to get my mind around how someone who was still fairly young and very full of life could be dealt such a blow.

In some cases it seems easy to rationalize why. “Well, she was really old.” Or “he smoked like a chimney his whole life”. But in other cases these rationalizations are more of a stretch. So, why? Many of my theist friends might say, “The Lord works in mysterious ways”. My non-theist friends most likely would offer “well it was genetic” or “lifestyle choices” or… some other cause. But these explanations lack something.

I may never know why, but I do understand that life has a season. That death is natural and necessary to make room for new life. In the spring, our blossoms promise boundless possibilities. Then in the summer we open ourselves to the sun and world around us. Finally in the fall we are colored by our experiences and eventually fall to prepare the soil for the next spring. And like sitting under a big sycamore tree, we have all prospered under the shade of love our family and friends have provided us.

As I grow older the number of leaves of fallen loved ones continues to grow about me, but each has touched me with its uniqueness and beauty. This leaf, my maternal grandfather, whose soul was full of grace and here his wife who was so feisty and fun. This leaf, my paternal grandmother, who taught me the importance of family. And here, my paternal grandfather – her husband, from whom I learned to love the land. So many have come and gone, but each so important. My father, who had trouble finding his way, but from whom I learned strength and yes my aunt. Someone who worked hard to provide for her daughter and who knew the wishes and dreams of every niece and nephew. Her “ssssh” would silence a room full of adults so she could hear what the littlest one in the room had to say. Rest now.

Richard Wright goes “on tour” and plays the Great Gig in the Sky

One of the founding weavers of the aural tapestry that is Pink Floyd has joined the “Great Gig in the Sky”. Richard Wright, Pink Floyd keyboardist, has passed away at age 65 from cancer.

You can read the BBC article here: Floyd founder Wright dies at 65

…and I am not frightened of dying, any time will do, i
Don’t mind. why should I be frightened of dying?
Theres no reason for it, you’ve gotta go sometime.
i never said I was frightened of dying.

- The Great Gig in the Sky

The Middle-Aged Boy Scout

1972 and Wearing my “Store bought” Cub Scout cap in the Smokies.

I remember the Scout Leader coming to school when I was a young boy and talking to us about joining cub scouts. I was thrilled! Hiking, camping, crafts. It all sounded like a blast to me and something I could really get into. Heck, I even thought the uniforms looked cool. I’m not so sure about that part now, but at the time I thought they looked pretty amazing.

So, I took all the information home and begged and pleaded with my parents to let me join. But for various reasons they weren’t as excited about it as me and so I had to forget about it and move on to other things. Well, sort-of… See, back then JC Penney sold cub scout/boy scout merchandise in their stores and so using allowance money I bought myself a cub scout cap and canteen.

You’d think then that when my sons were old enough I would have enrolled them in scouts right away, but I didn’t. As an adult my interests revolved more around sports. Oh, my sons were involved in scouting, but except for making Pine Wood derby cars, my wife handled all of the “scouting stuff”.

All of that is about to change though. My oldest son is very close to becoming an Eagle Scout and only has another year or so before he “ages out”. My middle son has just crossed over from cub scouts to boy scouts and my youngest son will start Tiger Cubs next year. I’ve realized that I’ve been missing out on a lot of great experiences with them. So tonight, with some nervousness, I spoke to the scout leaders to learn what I need to do to become a scout leader myself and go to summer camp with my two older sons at the end of June.

I have always loved camping, being outdoors, and all that sort of stuff. So now, I have the opportunity to share that with my sons and the other boys. Plus, I know I will learn a lot as well. I can’t wait!

So, 36 years later it looks like I’m finally going to be a scout. Now where did I put that old canteen???

Listen to your mother this Earth day!

Mother Earth is speaking

Are YOU listening?

Celebrate Earth Day by listening to your mother!

Copied from LiveScience:
Earth’s Hum Sounds More Mysterious Than Ever

By Charles Q. Choi, Special to LiveScience
posted: 16 April 2008 09:03 am ET

Earth gives off a relentless hum of countless notes completely imperceptible to the human ear, like a giant, exceptionally quiet symphony, but the origin of this sound remains a mystery.

Now unexpected powerful tunes have been discovered in this hum. These new findings could shed light on the source of this enigma.

The planet emanates a constant rumble far below the limits of human hearing, even when the ground isn’t shaking from an earthquake. (It does not cause the ringing in the ear linked with tinnitus.) This sound, first discovered a decade ago, is one that only scientific instruments — seismometers — can detect. Researchers call it Earth’s hum.

Investigators suspect this murmur could originate from the churning ocean, or perhaps the roiling atmosphere. To find out more, scientists analyzed readings from an exceptionally quiet Earth-listening research station at the Black Forest Observatory in Germany, with supporting data from Japan and China.

Different types

In the past, the oscillations that researchers found made up this hum were “spheroidal” — they basically involved patches of rock moving up and down, albeit near undetectably.

Now oscillations have been discovered making up the hum that, oddly, are shaped roughly like rings. Imagine, if you will, rumbles that twist in circles in rock across the upper echelons of the planet, almost like dozens of lazy hurricanes.

Scientists had actually expected to find these kinds of oscillations, but these new ring-like waves are surprisingly about as powerful as the spheroidal ones are. The expectation was they would be relatively insignificant.

New thinking

This discovery should force researchers to significantly rethink what causes Earth’s hum. While the spheroidal oscillations might be caused by forces squeezing down on the planet — say, pressure from ocean or atmospheric waves — the twisting ring-like phenomena might be caused by forces shearing across the world’s surface, from the oceans, atmosphere or possibly even the sun.

Future investigations of this part of the hum will prove challenging, as “this is a very small signal that is hard to measure, and the excitation is probably due to multiple interactions in a complex system,” said researcher Rudolf Widmer-Schnidrig, a geoscientist at the University of Stuttgart, Germany.

Still, a better understanding of this sound will shed light on how the land, sea and air all interact, he added.

Researcher Dieter Kurrle and Widmer-Schnidrig detailed their findings March 20 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Tibet

When I was a student at Indiana University back in the 1980s I had the pleasure of attending a lecture given by the Dalai Lama. While waiting for the lecture to begin there were Chinese students handing out pamphlets denouncing the Dalai Lama and stating how much better off the Tibetan people were now that China had taken over. I was a naive Midwestern kid and really didn’t know what to make of this. When the Dalai Lama spoke it was such a contrast to the material in the pamphlets that I was stunned that the Chinese thought any sane person would believe them. The Dalai Lama mentioned the Chinese students and asked that we treat them with respect and kindness. It was a great lecture and a time I will never forget.

Later I realized that the Dalai Lama’s brother was a retired IU professor and had opened a Tibetan restaurant in town. I ate there occasionally and got to know the family a little. I also attended some Tibetan cultural events over the years. I have never considered myself Buddhist, but have always been touched by the depth of compassion that Buddhism teaches.

Like many others I have been following the current unrest in Tibet. And once again the Chinese propaganda machine is at work. Today’s news out of China is that Tibetans are planning suicide attacks. You can read the article here.
China: Tibetans planning suicide attack
Just as I did 20 years ago, I’m asking myself, “Do they really think anyone is buying this?” But maybe that isn’t looking at the issue correctly. China is the fastest growing economy in the world and the United States is deeply in financial debt to them. China doesn’t care if we believe their propaganda or not. No one is going to try and stop them, so they can do and say whatever they want. But we ARE watching and we WILL remember what is happening. I am copying a letter from a friend of mine. Please read his message and be a light in the darkness.

 

Dear friends,

I just read about the Tibetan monks in China being detained because they participated in a peaceful march for their freedom to live and pray a they desire. Just a few weeks ago many were beaten badly–simply for existing when the police came through.

Below are the list of names, as well as the places to write letters (the real old fashioned kind) to say

1) you are concerned

2) you are watching

3) that you are looking for the faces of those detained to be safely released

4) whatever other points you ahve.

Please. These people are imprisoned and waiting for hope. Waiting to know that someone out here knows what is happening and cares.

I ask you to be that beacon of light.

15 TIBETAN MONKS DETAINED

Samten (m), aged 17, Lungkar Monastery, Qinghai Province
Trulku Tenpa Rigsang, (m), aged 26, Lungkar Monastery, Qinghai Province
Gelek Pel (m) aged 32 Lungkar Monastery, Qinghai Province
Lobsang (m) aged 15, Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Lobsang Thukjey (m), aged 19 Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Tsultrim Palden (m), aged 20 Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Lobsher (m), aged 20 Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Phurden, (m), aged 22 Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Thupdon (m), aged 24 Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Lobsang Ngodup (m), aged 29 Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Lodoe (m), aged 30 Onpo Monastery, Sichuan Province
Thupwang (m), aged 30, Darthang Monastery
Pema Garwang (m), aged 30, Darthang Monastery
Tsegyam (m), aged 22, Kashi Monastery
Soepa (m), aged 30, Mangye Monastery

WRITE TO:

President of the People’s Republic of China
HU Jintao Guojia Zhuxi
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Salutation: Your Excellency

Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People’s Government
Qiangba PUNCOG Zhuren
Xizang Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu
1 Kang’angdonglu
Lasashi 850000, Xizang Zizhiqu
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Salutation: Dear Chairman

Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China
MENG Jianzhu Buzhang
Gong’anbu
14 Dongchang’anjie
Dongchengqu, Beijingshi 100741
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Fax: 011 86 10 63099216 (it may be difficult to get through, please keep trying)
Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

Mayor of Lasa Municipal People’s Government Tibet Autonomous Region
LOBSANG Gyaincain Shizhang
Lasashi Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu
16 Jinjulu, Lasashi 850000, Xizang Zizhiqu
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Salutation: Dear Mayor

Ambassador Wen Zhong Zhou
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Fax: 1 202 745 7473

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

The Natural Heritage Of Indiana

My fellow Hoosier Blogging friends. I caught a great program on PBS last night that I highly recommend. It’s called The Natural Heritage of Indiana. Yes, it’s a nature documentary and some of you might start having 5th grade Indiana History flash backs watching it, but it is a really well done show. I learned a great deal and discovered several new places around my fair state that I just have to visit now. Looks like the next air date is March 25th at 4:30AM on WFYI. So set that DVR or Tivo and enjoy this great state of ours!

Here’s a blurb from PBS’s web site:

Marion Jackson described his vision for the book The
Natural Heritage of Indiana as “a celebration of Indiana’s natural
heritage – its natural and human history, its landscape and its life – what
it once was, what it is now, and what it promises to be.” He emphasizes the
importance of understanding the past to prepare “us better to mold Indiana’s
future.” He issued this challenge: “if you feel moved to help protect what
remains of Indiana’s natural heritage, our objective will have been
fulfilled.”

This series shares that mission. Documentary filmmaker
Samuel Orr is creating a series of programs that combine breathtaking
videography with scientific accuracy.

Here’s a link to the web site:

http://www.wfyi.org/naturalheritageindiana.asp

After a Long Winter’s Nap…

Last years garden covered in straw

The land is waking and so am I. This has been a long winter and has drug on and on. We didn’t really get much snow this year. The temps however, rarely approached 40 F and the sky has stayed gray for most of 4 months.

A week or so ago, I stood on our patio holding the leash while our dog “took care of business”. I watched as an old leaf floated lazily around our backyard before finally landing in our garden. Right after that a flock of geese flew over our house heading north. I took this as a sign that spring was on it’s way.

A couple of days later, I noticed the sky was more blue than gray and there was a strange yellow globe in the sky. I stared at it dumbly until finally a word came to me from the winter-adled recesses of my mind. “Sun!”

So, spring is almost here and I am ready to shed my winter’s coat of corpulence and spend as much time outside as possible. Here are some of my immediate plans:

• Garden. We had a small garden last year with the usual sort of plants. This year though, we are going to expand the size of the garden and grow a wide range of fruits and vegetables. I’ve ordered a variety of organic seeds, so we should have a great garden with very healthy food. I will post updates as the spring/summer progress.
• Backpacking. I’ve ordered some new sleeping bags and repaired some broken gear. My oldest son and I can’t wait to hit the Tecumseh and Knobstone trails this summer!

There are other aspects of my psyche that are also “waking to a new day”. But I’ll share more about those in future posts. Stay tuned…