Willow Gulch and Broken Bow Arch

Thelast hike of our adventure along Hole in the Rock Road (for this trip, anyway!)was Willow Gulch to see Broken Bow Arch. We were both really looking forward to this hike, as the guide book described it as "having everything". Namely, we were anxious to see what it would be like because it was supposed to have a perennial stream which meant, possibly, a lot more vegetation than what we had seen so far on our canyon hikes. Willow Gulch certainly did not disappoint in that respect! We saw our first real spring greenery of the trip, as the cottonwoods along the trail were just starting to pop out with their spring foliage. It was a beautiful hike for sure!






































The trail went back and forth between going directly down the wash and traversing sandy desert between different sections of the gulch. Our favorite sections were the ones right in the wash in the middle of the gulch, because these areas had plenty of shade and eventually, plenty of water! It was nice to hike along a stream for a change :-) The trees all along the way were beautiful and when we finally rounded the bend which gave us our first view of Broken Bow Arch, all we could say was "WOW!".




















































We were actually starting to think we must have taken a wrong turn or something, because our guide book described the hike as being around 2 miles to the arch and we felt like we had walked 3 miles or more by the time the arch came into view. Jessica was walking ahead of me when she rounded a bend and exclaimed "I found it!". I was thrilled to catch up with her and see the arch up ahead, with a nice reflection of the arch in the waters of the perennial stream! Talk about a photographer's paradise! Jessica walked ahead again to get a closer view of the arch while I stopped to make photos of the arch and its reflection in the water. A few minutes later I caught up with her and we had a lunch snack at the foot of the arch. Again, the scale of it from a distance was deceiving, as the arch was positively HUGE when we got closer to it. It must have been two to three hundred feet high! Definitely another major highlight of our trip :-)

We Gots Incredible Loot!!!

We are indebted to Jazzie (click) for putting us bloggers together for a Christmas gift exchange. Well... we received a most ingenious Xmas package from Cleo, Winston and Amiee that made us so happy and bright!
Here we are investigating the contents of this huge box!
OMD! Look at these stockings! Each one has our name on it! I, Sammie, have never had a personalized stocking! And being as it's Avalon's first Christmas (cheer cheer!), she is one lucky pupper!
Ava is furry interested in this bear-bear puppy!
Mom's and Dad's heartstrings are pulled tight as they gaze upon the Hounddogs' bootiful artwork on Ozzie's stocking. They wish she was here to share! (She gets to wander on her own and we're furry jelly!)
Well... now I was never very good at ripping packages apart, but it seems that Avalon's a natural. Here she is... doin' her thing and enjoyin' Christmas in every way!
We are feelin' jes so grateful fur everything that we've been sent!
Oh my... and look at these! COOKIES! GIMME SOME!!!
What is not in these pitchurs is something else my pawrents got: a most beautiful (and Large) candle with a Cinnamon Blend smell, now filling up our home with its lovely scents. How can we ever thank you for these amazing, creative and fabulous gifts. Mom here: the dogs are still playing with your wonderful and "sound-producing" gifts that they can't get enough of!

Here is a movie of us... loving your cookies... and wishing you a furry, furry Merry Christmas! Thank you so very, very much...

Old Friends still pop up

It has been several weeks since I photographed every iguana I see. They still fascinate me, but how many iguana photos do I need...

I guess at least one more.

This guy lives in the rocks by our condo. He is there almost every day.



This is the 4th deer I have seen on the island. I was out walking and suddenly he was there... about 10 feet from me...



He even paused to strike a pose as he slowly ambled away...

OK, I promise, no more Deer or Iguana pictures for at least a month.

Top Secret Recipe - for Secret Agent Knatolee

I shall say this only once ...Secret Agent Knatolee...remember this post will self-destruct in 10 seconds...your younger self longed for secret ink so I have trawled my books and found some very old (the book is dated 1755) versions of secret ink for you.

• If you dip your pen in the juice of a lemon, or of an onion, or in your own urine, or in Spirits of Vitriol and write on clean paper whatever you intend, it shall not be discerned till you hold it to the fire, and then it will appear legible.


• And, if with any of the aforementioned you write on your skin, as on your arm and back of your hand, etc, it shall not be seen till you burn a piece of paper and with the ashes rub on the place and then it will appear very plain; and this I have experienced and try'd, and therefore can say Probatum est.


• Another way is when you write a letter that you intend it shall not be discovered, but to those you think fit first to write your thoughts on one side of your letter with black ink, as usual, (but it ought to be on thin paper) and then on the contrary side, go over the said matter that you would have secret, with a clean pen dipp'd in milk and that writing shall not be read without holding it to the fire, as mentioned above, and then it will appear legible in a bluish colour.


• Or, you may write to your friend in proper sense with common ink, and let the lines be at so commodious a distance, that what you intend to be secret may be written between them with water, wherein galls have been steeped a little time (but not long enough to tincture the water) and when dry nothing of the writing between the said lines can be seen, but when it is to be read, you must with a fine hair pencil dipp'd in Copperas Water, go between the said lines and so you make it legible.


• Note: this way will give no ground for suspicion, because the letter seemeth to carry a necessary sense in those lines that are set at such a proper distance...

So, Secret Agent Knatolee - you have no excuses now.

To work!

Aldwincle circular via Titchmarsh and Islip

Led by Mel, with me, Norma, Brenda, Gordon and Maureen. Very warm, pretty flat, two breaks. Just over 8 miles in all.

We set off from Aldwincle tea-room, turn left from the car park, then cross Main Street and turn right down Baulks Lane, which takes us down to Lowick Lane, where we turn right. Soon we go through the car park on our left for the Nature Reserve, and then along the track. Once through the gate into the reserve we turn left through the trees, and follow the main track - we have a quick look in the hide, but can see little but distant ducks and swans, so continue. Before long we turn left and cross the river. It looks clear and deep, with fish swimming in and out of the water weed. Almost tempting.

Weed and reflections in the river

We walk southeast towards the A605 - a busy road to cross before we take the road into Titchmarsh village.

Church of St Mary the Virgin, peeping modestly from a veil of trees

We haven't walked far yet, but it's hot, people would like more water, and there's a community shop.



The helpful woman behind the counter suggests we can sit outside, and then I spot that the shop sells coffee. This temptation is not to be resisted. Unfortunately we can't agree on biscuits, so we make do with the drinks.



Definitely not resisted. A great place to stop on a hot day. But we can't hang about all day - there's walking to be done. Onward.

A couple of hundred yards along the High Street, and there's the footpath, going off to our right, through a stile/gate, past a small allotment, and a few sheep, then over another stile. We follow the edges of a field, and the path soon takes us over a minor road, then further down to another crossing of the A605. When we arrive at a lake we turn left - walking south west, just north of Thrapston.



We have another break by the skateboard park, sitting on a shady stone. I could get used to these two-break walks in the sun.

It's a duck's life!

Over the bridge by the mill, and up Mill Lane on the edge of Islip.

View from the bridge

Very pretty alien invader - Himalayan Balsam.

We turn right along Ridge Road towards Aldwincle. At the start of the woods we take the path to the right, and walk as far as the river. We keep this on our right and go past Aldwincle Lake and Heronry Lake on our left. We rejoin our route from this morning just before the bird hide, and retrace our steps back to the cars.

Fire Tower and the Milky Way Galaxy

My favorite shot from this weekend :-) This photo was taken while we were watching the Perseid meteor shower. My camera had been set up doing a sequence of images for a timelapse video when I noticed the nice alignment of the Milky Way between the fire tower and these trees. I had to take a break from shooting the timelapse sequence in order to capture this photo before the Milky Way moved too far to the west. Sure was a beautiful night for photographing the Milky Way.

Below: A couple more shots from the weekend.

And then there was... um.. 3?

We have gained a new member to the party. Jez-bra has decided to come along for the ride! He flails a wild cadence and flaps some mad chops! This dude is traveling light! Just stashes all his food in that face hair! The best part is... decisions no longer will be solved with coin tosses or roshambo. We will just simply ask Jezra the answer. Like a true bro he'll stand guard while we sleep and guide our way on the back roads. Locking the bikes is no longer an issue and its real saftey in numbers now! I sure wouldn't mess with a guy with chops like those! All I got to do is share my coffee? No problem man, Thanx for coming along.