Get Outside !!

My Mother used to yell this expression to (or "at") me all of the time. One of my favorite things to do was "get outside"...and "away" from it all. Come to think of it...It still is!
Welcome everyone !! This is the place to stop by, pitch your tent, take a stroll or just relax. Camping, hiking, backpacking...Whatever your outdoor interest is, this is a place to share it!
With the extremely capable help and hands of my friends, Tony LaPetri and Mike Webb, you will find this campsite friendly and informative. Feel free to share your experiences with us. You're always welcome at our fire!
Best, Capt. Chris

May 8th, 2010. Somewhere between Cirueña and Santo Domingo de la Calzada, on my way to Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

Guido,
Absolutely Beautiful!
I know it was an amazing experience. I am proud to know you made this journey.
Tony

The Pilgrim's Progress! Beautiful!

Guido,

That is some beautiful country you are hiking in there. Postcard material. Looks like fun..

Thanks so much Guys: it was a great experience....really!
Just 500 miles in 34 days. First 17 days constantly under the rain and snow once!
A tough test for your body and your...soul.
Lot of Americans too....

Guido-

What Randall did you pack on you "walk-about"?

Pap

Sorry to All RMK Nutts here....I did not carried any of my beloved Randalls.
I reached my starting point (French Pyrenees) by car; but once got my target, the back journey was scheduled by plane.....no luggage to check-in....just my 65litres back-pack!
I was afraid one of my RMK could be confiscated......
So I decided to carrie a Chris Reeve Mnandi folder as it fitted so perfectly on a small pocket of my backpack...just near my neck...so I was able to grab it very easyly at my need.
I didn't take that little useful knife back with me: I gift it to a fellow who shared the bad & the good of this experience....it was my sign of a heartful gratitude to our friendship.

Guido,

What (was) there a name for this experience? About how many participants were there?
It sounds pretty interesting !!

Michael,
We are talking about the "Camino de Santiago de Compostela" or ...in your case...S.James Walk...or...S.Jacobweg...
It something people does since near 1.000 years...
San Francesco did it in the year 1200....
There are various CAMINO but the most walked is the one I did: the Camino Frances or French walk. Leaving from Saint Jean Pied de Porte(France) to Santiago de Compostela(Galizia, Spain) are something like 818 km or...500 miles.
Hundreds of thousands "PEREGRINOS" walk this way every year.
You should see the movie "THE WAY" with M.Sheen....I think
It is a great experience I suggest to everybody...once...in your life.

Guido,

Thank-You for the info. I did some reading on that once I had the name. It definitely has my interest. I told my wife sometime back after watching a segment about hiking the Appalachian Trail, that I would like to do that one day. The want is still there, and seeing that you have completed something similiar, provides more inspiration.

I bet it is good for both mind & body. Thanks again...

Hey, carrying a Chris Reeve instead of a Randall isn't such a sin. After all, I believe that the Chris Reeve folder is the "Randall" of folders. By the way, Chris is from Boise, Idaho, you know.

Pap

Guido, this must have been a very impressive experience - congratulations!

What a wonderful experience Guido!
It will always be with you....

May you remain healthy, happy and prosperous!

Jerry in Tampa

Buongiorno Jerry,
Thanks so much! I do appreciate that...
Have a nice w/end.
Best
Guido

Beautiful Tuscany

Bellissimo!

Beautiful, Guido!!!! I hope to live to see it someday. Thanks for sharing the beauty!

Thanks to the Captain and Tony & Mike!!

My "girl", lokking from the Donnersberg (Thunderhill) to our home, 40 kilometers (25 miles) air-line-distance.



Her view:

Hans, a little bit more to the left and you could have seen me
Thanks a lot for the pics. Although I must say that the sky seems to be even more blue in beautiful Tuscany...

Peter,

next time i´ll take a picture more to the left!!

And you are right, the Tuscany-Sky seems to be even more blue...seems to be...!!

At the start of this thread, the Capt stated "get outside".

I got tired of indoor cycling and went outdoors the other day. It was about 3C/37F. It was pretty cool to start, but by the time I got back, 1+15 later, I was a lot warmer.

Now isn't that a "fashion statement".

Way To Go Rod!

Nice Rod

I see your housed number is 5, is that why you like RMK model 5's so much?
We have snow on the ground here, so not much mountain biking for me lately

Peter

Peter

We looked for years before we found a house that we liked that was numbered 5!!!! Just kidding. Pure luck

Rod, you have inspired me to get on a similar outfit today, and pedal my $75 Trek 21-speed mountain bike bought at a garage sale.

I'd like to get my Holdsworth frame English bike equipped with "Campy" running gear back in service. I can't figure out why the Chinese can't make a quality sew-up tubular tire like I used to ride. Guess I have to get up to speed with clinchers.

Nice bike. What make?

Training's started...already !
Go for it my Friend
Guido

Buck
It is a Specialized Secteur Elite. Bought it when we lived in Ireland. Put on about 3500 kms/2100 miles on it, this year.

Guido
Been at it since mid November. Denyse is doing 5 days a week at the gym. I am either at the gym, swimming or spinning class. We have about two months here before we head to France.

Rod,
That dog has been waiting on you to come back as long as you have been waiting to go back.Carry rocks in your pocket this time instead of having to stop and look for one!!!!

Never know what you will see when you get outside in D.E.TX.

Shot this though the Jeep window on the way to Caddo Lake.

No, it's not Louie Gohmert's office reacting after hearing that John Boehner was re-elected as speaker of the house.

Tom
That is real neat.Looks more like what Obama is blowing up our
pants leg every time he opens his mouth.Cleaned it up for some of
our members!!

Well I braved the cold of Northern NY state yesterday and shot a USPSA match. It was -15C/about 5F when we got up and it did warm up, a bit, by match time.
That is me with my wheel gun. You did not want to spend much time with your hands out of your mitts.

Bravo Rod!!

Just spent a week in Northern Ontario, visiting family and friends. Saw a Black Bear sow and two cubs, right by the road, but by the time we got turned around, for a Kodiak moment, they were in the bush.
Got out fishing one day. Got a couple of lake trout. Pic 1 is my wife's cousin, holding one I caught. He was the guide!!!, running the boat and netting the fish.
Great week, no bugs, 28C+/80F and blue skies. Don't want summer to end, but early goose season opens next week!!

Way nice and sounds like the weather was super. Great pics!!

Pap

Thank you Pap. It was a great time, wish it could have been longer.

Hi Rod
Glad to see you getting out and posting photos
Looks like a great time in the north

Peter

Peter

I do spend a fair amount of time out of doors. But it is usually on my bike. Not a hope of taking pics and pedaling at the same time though!!!

Rod
I know what you mean, I don't even take my camera when I am mountain biking, so no photos from that activity from me
Peter

Mountain biking is great! Me and the dog have a great time on the trails. Without any real mountains I ride a hardtail. Once the kids are older I'll check out some Colorado and Pacific Northwest trails.

Try Sun Valley, Idaho, they have some of the greatest mountain biking trails in America.

Pap

@ Leatherman Better be careful with that bike

A few years ago. Whale watching on the Saint Laurent river, just outside Tadoussac, Canada. So far, the best "shot" in my life.

Attila,

Have seen other similar examples but the water cascading off the tail adds life to the shot. Well done!

Great shot of the whale.

Had to chase these elk away from my flowers tonight.

Pap

They're there to say hello to Lucille. They know, you know....

Well said, Warren!
Pap, glad to hear the positive update.
Walker

Pap,
Super nice view. Hope that all is going well.

Wayne

Pretty special to have those magnificent animals out in your front yard!

Hello Lucille
Sharpi

My youngest daughter brought my new son in law down to the woods for Christmas a day early so that WE could BOND!!! (Whatever the heck that is.)

Anyhow, she wanted me to introduce him to MY winter pastime so I did.

He proved to be a pretty good hand! As you can see, we stacked up a respectable pile of Fire Wood that day.

Wow Coach, he could be a winner. Now you need to teach him to cook, and you'll get to fish more. Impressive.

Pap

I'm happy for your Daughter and laughter at the same time. Sounds like maybe he's winning your heart Coach.
That's a bruiser pile of wood.

My front yard tonight.

Pap

Now there’s some elks!

Great scene right there!
Walker

Pappy that is a great shot there. I love seeing the wild game pics. Living in Va. we have no elk but plenty of whitetail deer, in the evening I have about anywhere from 4 to more that 15 in the back yard, also have about 12 to up to 30 wild turkeys on a daily basis. There are 3 really big Gobblers that put on quite a show every day, I think they are trying to impress each other more than the lady's.

Sidney
We have some turkeys here in Garden Valley, but they travel around pretty much. I've never shot a turkey, but I do have a tag. Hope to get a chance this spring.

Pap

Pappy I read a study that said that turkeys may travel as much as 50 miles a day in feeding. I know that they can out run a horse in a short distance. I never got the turkey bug but love to watch them. Spring turkey season is a huge thing here in Va. hunters go nuts at this time of the year. Duke may be one of those as he loves to hunt and lives in a great area for said. It is wonderful to hear them gobble in the morning just before they fly down.

Just took this picture.

Pap

Mike
What a great picture and the view is spectacular. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks Rod, I never get tired of that view.

Pap

Sorry everyone, but staying home gives me limited enjoyment so when the elk herd arrives, especially with the beautiful shadows, I have to take a picture.

Pap

I just love seeing those pics of the Elk and that is one fine shot!

Pap
great Elk photos

I am getting out again today since we are allowed to get out and I go where there are no other people

Peter

Great photos.
The ice has been off the lake for about 2 weeks now. Just waiting for the water temperature to get above 50 degrees so I can start to kayak.

Ok, so this was off our deck this evening. In another month, the cow elk will kick off their last years calves, and go into the thick woods to have their new calves, and this bunch will shrink to yearlings. About 30 more days, until that happens. Until then, it's also a little unusual to see such a herd this early in the evening, but who's griping.

Pap

Ok, here's a different view. Notice that some are laying down and eating.

Pap

Yesterday, in driving rain and strong winds, my wife wanted to go walking. Her walking is a daily occurrence, no matter the weather. I cycle, but not in winds gusting to 45 mph, so I went walking with her.
Attached are two pictures of a tree that had been “attacked” by what I am guessing is a pileated woodpecker. With the wind, there was not a bird flying, so there was little hope in seeing what attacked the tree.
Any guesses if it was a woodpecker?

Yep Pileated woodpecker the culprit.

Pap

I agree. They love the dead trees around my house.

We got 'em around here.

We call 'em "Milermor" birds.

When I was a kid, I asked my Dad why they called those peckerwood birds: "Milermor" birds.

He replied back matter of factly: "'Cause you can hear them birds for a mile 'er more!

That's good Coach, never heard that one before, but big woodpeckers can really make the chips fly.

Pap

Hey Rod,

That looks like my former apple tree. We had a woodpecker last spring literally destroy my apple tree. That tree made great apple sauce, and my Nova Scotia Duck Toller misses all those apples that she enjoyed eating.

Alan

I have not seen a Pileated during our recent country side walks. But as you can see they are around.
Where we lived at our previous house ( across town) a Pileated would “attack” a stump in our neighbours yard. I could not get over the size of the bird, huge!

This woodpecker is pretty shy. But in the spring and sometimes during the summer we have them come to feed on suet at our birdfeeder. We assume they use the suet to feed the young. Less work than digging grubs out of dead trees, I guess.

Larry

We live in a log home and not friends with woodpeckers or flickers. I chase them off. Lord forbid if a Piliated woodpecker ever started on my house.

Pap

Nice Idaho spring morning, looking out towards Garden Mountain, still has some snow up top.

Pap

Elk resting in the back yard tonight.

Pap

What a sight!!!!

Nice herd, great view!

Thanks Pap.

Tom Flynn

Pap, that is a great view for sure.
Walker

For you Jeep guys:

https://www.facebook.com/338044476535308/posts/1379604499045962/?d=null&vh=e

That belongs in the WTF thread.
Strict safety protocols are followed.
Huh?

Thanks Pappy. Probably as many original Jeep parts on those vehicles as you have on your riding mower.

Yo Tom, don't have a riding mower, all done by HOA dues, but I wouldn't waste my money on a primo Jeep, just to trash it. No way.

Pap

Looked out the window this morning and had a couple of visitors on our building lot across the street. Our current home has 3 stories and we are building a single level home to better facilitate Lucille's condition. Still a nice view of Garden Mountain.

Pap

Nice Pappy, very nice.
Walker

What a view!!!

Nice PETS too!!!

I always enjoy these pics. The Elk is a beautiful animal. Pappy, do you have to have a special permit to shed hunt?

I admit, I had not thought about needing a permit to pick up antlers. Google searched Colorado's rules and found:

Colorado prohibits shed hunting from Jan. 1 to April 30 west of I-25. There are additional restrictions on the Gunnison Basin.

I guess that just shows the times and the crowds that are enjoying the outdoors.

Does it count if the dogs drag ‘em up?

Somewhere out in my barn, is a bushel basket heaped up full of Whitetail sheds that Ol’ Rusty dragged up during his lifetime.

He would find them off somewheres, drag ‘em up in the yard, and chew on ‘em.

I would have to keep ‘em picked up to keep from hittin’ ‘em with the mower.

Sydney
As far,as I know, you only need a shed permit if you resell them. For personal use, no permit necessary. That includes if you make artistic use, no permit necessary.

Pap

Thanks Pappy.

Had another bunch of elk run through the back yard this evening. Something had spooked them, but I couldn't see anything unusual. You'll have to zoom in to see them. Haven't figured out how to get my phone camera to take a picture as I was seeing it.

Pap

That is absolutely beautiful !!!

Rained a little yesterday and the local bad girls came for a visit.

Pap

Pap:

I’m afraid that your porch would be a “DAY KILLER” for me!

Mine is bad enough as it is!

Coach

Had a few visitors this afternoon. Odd, they usually don't show until dusk. 40 head behind my daughter’s house across the street.

Pap

Beautiful photos Pappy.
Walker

Amazing Pap!

I’d love to come out and see ya some day.
Could happen, now that I’ll be retiring soon! 😁

Tony

Tony
Always welcome my friend. You getting any of that bad weather?

Pap

Thanks Pap!

We dodged the bullet ... just a ton of rain.

Tony

My wife snorkeling in Francis Bay, USVI. We carry Randall dive knives when we are snorkeling, as we will enter the open ocean. We see sharks all the time, but they usually ignore us. The small upload size of this photo does not do it justice. We are going back just as soon as we can,…..

Great picture for sure.
Thanks for posting.
Walker

WOW!
Great photo.

BTW,
Welcome!

Tony

Gorgeous picture!!!

We had a beautiful autumn day today. We belong to a local conservation/bird group, although we barely know the difference between an eagle and a sparrow.

The group own a few tracts of land. Today we drove to a 500 acre tract and hiked for 3 hrs. During the day we saw turkey, deer, bush partridge, numerous other birds plus we helped a little turtle across a busy road.

Had my 5-5” with me. Only needed it to cut my chicken sandwich!!

The peace and quite look remarkable! Bet the chicken samich never had a chance!!!!!

Sounds like a great time was had.
Thanks
Walker

Great time of the year.
October seems to be pretty everywhere.
Trolling on Chatfield Lake south of Denver

Very nice view for sure!
Walker

Steve
I ambushed the sandwich before it got out of the cellophane!

Yes Sir! The outdoors make me HUNGRY!!!!!

My grandson with his 10 point. Great weather today for bow hunting.

Good goin’!!!

Nice Buck!!!

Thanks Coach! Ethan is the quarterback on his youth football team. He had a tough loss Saturday afternoon, this deer brought his smile back out.

Wow!! I'm jealous!! Bigger than any whitetail I've ever harvested!! Congratulations young man!!

Pap

Thanks Pappy, Ethan really wanted this one. My Son said Ethan was all business when it crested the hill.

How wonderful to see this young man with his dad making memories of a life time.
Thanks so much for posting these pics.

Nice Buck!

Thanks gentlemen, Ethan and Colton spend a lot of time in the woods. Lexi is 3 and also loves being outside. No video games at my house!

About 10 years ago an hour southwest of Piedras Negras. We had a great hunt but I do not want to go back to the interior of Mexico again.

Turkey tacos with a tequila smile, like who cares? Love that picture.

Pap

Back when I was in college at SFA around 1975, I had a roommate whose father was a banker in San Antonio. The Father held some interest in a Ranchero near Guanajauto. We planned to go fishing at the Ranchero one Spring Break as the Father was going to fly his plane down there.

At the last minute, the Father had something come up and he couldn't fly us down there. He suggested that we instead take the "bikes". The next day, my roommate and I rode two Harley 74s from San Antonio to Laredo to Monterrey, to Saltillo, to Zacatecas, to Guanajuato, to the Ranchero.

It was like nothing I had ever done. We caught over 100 bass each day and every one one was 4-5 lbs. One of the hands at the ranchero filleted the fish and froze them so that my roommate's father brought them home on his next trip there.

On our return, we went through San Luis Potosi instead of Zacatecas. Even though we sported the "Mescal grin" the entire trip, I will never forget it.

We had no trouble whatsoever, but like Tom, I would NEVER do it again.

And I sure don't want to go after what happened in Cancun the other day.

Anyone here hunt coyotes????

We have a big coyote problem here. No closed season and no bag limits.

Advise is,if hunting and you see one,take it.

While squirrel hunting,I would see one ocassionally but I only have a high powered 22 air rifle and cannot humanely take the shot.

No squirrels,now that I am coyote hunting (squirrel season closed) no coyotes but squirrel galore!!!

Wayne

Hi Wayne, same thing with White Tails. The day after the season ends they're back in the hay field and behind the house. This year after dark I turned on my patio light and there was a 12 point buck walking around, , regards, Mike

Wayne

I hunt coyotes. I did not this winter due to foot surgery and being in a cast for 3 months. But I usually go out and scare them, at least. .243, 108 grain Hornady ELD. I used 87 grain bullets a few years ago, but put on a new/custom barrel with a 1:8 twist. With the new barrel, I can now use heavier bullets and they are better at 300-400 yds. So far the couple I shot could not tell if I was shooting 87 gr or 108 gr!!

Mike
With social media, I think Deer now have access to hunting regulations and calendars. It is the same with turkeys. Or at least it seems that way.

Some of the new electronic calls with a wiggling tail are very effective. I have a TC bull barrel 22-250 that does the trick. Also another good trick is to get a couple tins of cheap sardines, barely open it, drip some oil on the ground then tie it up out of their reach so it just drips. Only thing is bearsike it too.

Pap

Uncle Mike,
I guess when hunting squirrels,I should bring along my coyote rig and fool them!!!!

I swear that the game animals read the fish and game seasons guide lines!!

RodBrown,
Faster twists do stabilize heavier bullets. Sounds like you have a nice rig set up there!!

Foot in a cast?? I was on crutches for 3+ years and managed to quail hunt every year.

My late wife used to say that I had no brains,therefore no feelngs. (no comments please)

Pappy,
You always seem to come up with yet another cleaver idea.

Wayne

I would also recommend a Savage 24V in 222 Remington mag over and 20ga under for the perfect squirrel and coyote gun. Hard to find but gunbroker usually has one for sale.

Pap

Pappy,
Unfortunately in my area,center fire rifles are pretty much a no-no so it is either shotgun (#2 shot the largest allowed) archery or muzzle loader.

By any chance,are you the guy that touched off the round from the old cannon on Cannon Road and Rt 7 one Halloween night???

The very next day,the Town Fathers had cement put into it.

Wayne

Wayne....
Do you live in the USA??

:-)Rocky

Wayne
No that wasn't me,although I wouldn't put it past me. Lol.

Pap

Rocky,
Yep,born and bred USA.

If you were wondering about the fish & game regulations,some states with higher populations regulate the use of higher powered firearms for hunting.

Pap,
Yep,one Halloween evening,some enterprising young man put a one pound coffee can filled with pebbles in it and touched off that cannon and sent it over Rt 7 and Allens field.

Wayne

Can't imagine that my crowd didn't think of that!! Darn!!

Pap

Pappy,
I have the feeling that stories of your "escapades" are still floating around the hallways of Police HQ.

Wayne

'62 and '63 were vintage years, for sure. We could drive to Pound Ridge at night without headlights,no problem. Lol. Coach Nick Zeoli loved us and he is still kicking in Vermont.

Pap

Pappy,
I remember Coach Zeoli and glad to hear that he is doing well.

Getting back to the main gist of this thread,I was out coyote hunting this morning.

It was just above freezing and a light drizzle.

The coyotes? They were in their hidey holes no doubt laughing at the big dumb guy sitting out in the weather.!!!!!

Wayne

You need a good electronic predator call setup. They work.

Pap

Pappy,
I use an Olt predator distress call. It works very well and obviously quite portable (in my pocket).

I am basically a "hobby"predator hunter so no need to go to the expense of the electronic calls.

Wayne

PM sent.

Pap

Pappy,
PM received and reply sent.

Wayne

Here's some interesting camping and 4x4 products.

https://www.outbacktracks-au.com/

Pap