Tuesday, June 20, 2006

I know, I know...

I've been lax in my blogging dutes. But it's like this: I do the vast majority of my blogging from work. Like a lot of people do. I usually have a fair bit of free time at work. Like a lot of people do. But last week I was on vacation and half of next week I'll be on vacation as well. That means I not only need to get caught up on everything I missed last week but I also need to get things prepared so I can be gone for 3 days next week. That puts a damper on the blogging.

On to better things than work. On Friday night I am driving to central PA to meet up with the Spousal Unit's (who is Sylvia for all feminist readers) dad, brother and her brother's really-we're-not-a-gay-couple housemate. Housemate of like 10 years. But they're not a gay couple. Really. Uh-huh. No, no, we believe you guys. It'll take me about 9 hours or so to get there but we're heading out on a 5 day/ 4 night backpacking trip of the Black Forest Trail. I've been there twice before and it's beautiful. The hike is fairly strenuous. My little brother and I did the entire 42 mile loop in 3 days when we went and it was a haul. This time we'll be giving ourselves a couple more days so it should be a little more leisurely, if you can ever call walking 42 miles with a 35 pound pack on your back leisure. I do.

Nervous Nellies stop reading now. Still reading? Ok then. Things to worry about: the last time we were there my brother and I saw a black bear. It was at the bottom of a ravine and we were at the top and he was just moseying along, sniffing logs and looking for unwary hikers rabbits or whatever. It was really neat but was a not so subtle reminder that we are not necessarily the top of the food chain. What I'm more worried about: rattlesnakes. Yes, there are rattlers there. I've read several trip reports where people mention seeing them and even encountering them a little closer than intended. I'm fully aware that they won't bother you if you don't bother them and I have no intention of bothering them but sometimes you cross paths and the possibility of "bite first, ask questions while dislocating your jaw to devour the biggest thing you've ever killed, later" is there. Man I love backpacking. I'm not exactly an extreme sports guy so this little bit of danger and thrill is plenty for me. And I just love being in the middle of nowhere and sleeping in the woods. I'll try to post some pictures when if I get back.

I just learned the html strikeout thing so I had to try it out.

7 comments:

Phollower said...

Yeah, those rug munchers will pretty much put up with anything.

Phollower said...

DB- You're a true outdoors woman. I'll I've to thank Joefish for the "just lay there" tip. The Spousal Unit has used the "run like hell in order to avoid getting fucked" trick on me before so I knew that one.

Dirty Bunny said...

Sylvia~I'm thinking you'll be in better an better environment and state of mind if you see a bear.

If you partake of enough gin and tonic and a bear needs a snack you won't feel a thing.

Elle said...

For my mom's 50th birthday, my brother led our family expedition down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I feel that I may have been the only one not under the "leisure" influence, as I had to wake up at 4AM, and then sit around the campsite in the afternoon, eating tuna out of a vacuum sealed bag.

Phollower said...

The Spousal Unit's dad is pushing 60 so we won't be doing any 25 mile days or anything. We're also doing our best to keep his pack weight down a little. We've given ourselves quite a bit of time to do the hike and he's a pretty sturdy guy so I think it'll turn out ok. And that vacuum tuna is pretty good but the vacuum salmon is excellent. Especially in some pasta-roni type stuff. And I'm weird too.

Zoe said...

Is vaccum tuna the same thing as camel toe?

Phollower said...

Pretty close. You need to be wearing spandex though.