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Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

House guests and a small triumph

Holy Moses, we’ve had a lot of rain!  My guess is about 5 –6” in the last four days.  Emma and I only made short forays out the door so she could relieve herself yesterday.  On the positive side, we really needed the rain and it was a great rest for my hip.

Emma and I were able to sit outside this evening, and while we were doing that Connor, the biology intern, came to tell me that he had spotted some guests taking up residence in my rig.  Thankfully, it wasn’t mice.

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The view out his window is of the driver’s side of my rig.  He had noticed a couple of Carolina wrens visiting the space under the front slide out.  I went to take a look, and here’s what I found:

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I pulled out this rather large nest that they had built in the protected area where the slide arm goes in.  No eggs yet, so I yanked it out.  Male wrens usually build several nests, and the female chooses which one she likes best.  I’m guessing she liked this one and would have been laying some eggs in the near future into the cup that is located near the top right of the photo.  Had there been eggs, I probably would have left it there.  Not sure I want the mess of a young family under my table seat.  If they rebuild in the same spot, I’ll probably leave them alone as they should be done with the brood by the time I pull out.

As for the small triumph, I’ll try to explain.  Ever since I’ve arrived here at Okefenokee, I’ve noticed a foot bridge in the forest each time I drive to work.  I tried to get to it before my hip replacement, but it was beyond my abilities at that time.

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So once the rain quit and the sun came out this afternoon, Emma and I hopped in the car and made our way to the Canal Diggers Trail.

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It’s only .65 miles long, but that was more than I could do before.  If you’ll enlarge the photo on the right, you’ll read that the entrance road to the refuge and many of the trails were originally established by the men of the CCC.  Eventually, I’d like to do the longer Longleaf Pine Trail, but today’s challenge was the Canal Diggers Trail.

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It starts out nice and level through the pines and palmettos, but it soon has dips and rises in the path.

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                              Can you guess that Emma was thrilled to be out and about on the trail? 

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This was just before we had to head downhill to cross the footbridge over the canal and then trek uphill to the other side.  I’m afraid the photos don’t give a true idea of the steepness for someone with a new hip.  I told Emma to go slow so I wouldn’t slip, and she did.  It’s amazing sometimes what she understands.  Of course there are other times when I’m shocked at how she totally ignores what I have to say.Confused smile

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At the top, we encountered the junction for the four mile Longleaf Pine Trail.  We turned right today.

IMG_1629Then, there it was.  The illusive footbridge.  Yahoo!  I finally went up and over it, and I made it all the way around the trail and back to the car without pain or having to quit.

To paraphrase a famous quote from Astronaut Neil Armstrong on Apollo 11, today was “One small step for mankind, one great leap for this woman!”

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

31 comments:

  1. That's a great accomplishment, Judy, and shows just how much you've progressed since your surgery. :)

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  2. I tell ya, that turtle's pose is exactly what I am going to do when the sun ever comes out here. :)

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  3. Excellent hike! I'm glad you got to do it..and I am never surprised how much my dog understands...it's just that sometimes they don't choose to understand! :)

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  4. The path looks like one we would really enjoy. Now, the bridge Paul wouldn't mind but I would have to build up my nerve before I would cross it.

    You make me very happy with all the good news about your hip. So glad to know you are doing so well so quickly.

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  5. Did you bring back any rocks from the trail? That is exciting for you and Emma to get out and walk. It looks like a gorgeous day to have been out. We had on the other hand.....(see blog)

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  6. nice to hear that you are doing so well, Judy! one day at a time or even one walk at a time!

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  7. Good for you - you are progressing so well. When Emma listens she is probably remembering when you had surgery and wasn't with her. As time goes on she'll no doubt forget or it will get fuzzier in her mind. Isn't it amazing how we find the work of the CCC in so many places - the hope it must have given the boys & men who built all of the civil projects we still enjoy today. More amazing is the fact that it could not be repeated in today's times.

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  8. What a nice walk you and Emma had. So glad you are out and about getting fresh air, sunshine and exercise! It's great to know you are doing so well.I do think pur pups understand alot more than we give them credit for.....sometimes it's not what we say.....it's our body language they respond to. I'm sure Emma knew to help.

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  9. It is great to hear that your are getting back to the old Judy; out and about enjoy and enjoying nature!!

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  10. How fantastic is that! Congrats!

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  11. So good to see you out doing what you love...and Emma too! Looks like a nice trail even is it was a bit of a challenge.

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  12. yaaa. . .seems like a great hike. . .especially since you are "still" recovering.

    Those Carolina Wrens are wicked fast with that nest building. . .after the exhaust vent, and the bicycle seat at our place. . .they then tried the slide out arm. . .about the same place you pointed out in your photo. . .I now have a towel stuffed in that opening. . .sure hope I remember to remove it!

    Janice
    ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing Blog
    FaceBook.com/ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing

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  13. Your post reminded me that before we left TX a wren was checking out our rig... if they built a nest the brood should have fledged by the time we get back... but the sticks etc sure could wreak havoc if it's blocking something. Glad you're out and about again... that's a major accomplishment! Great hike!

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  14. Great news of your hike! Really happy to hear that you're continuing to do so well with your recovery.

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  15. Congratulations on your victory. It's definitely one to celebrate!!

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  16. When you said you had guests and it wasn't mice, I immediately thought Carolina Wrens! They sure can build the nests, can't they? They are such fun little birds though. We had them nesting in our flower baskets on the front porch in our house, and got to see how they are with their babies. Those babies have to "come home" at night and mama calls them until they all are back in their bed! They are so cute. Glad they hadn't started laying eggs yet.

    What a good milestone with your hike. I'm sure there will be many more to come. Hey, you asked for rain!

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  17. Your progress is simply amazing following surgery, congrats! I'm not surprised that Wrens would seek to find refuge with your as, after all, you are the 'Bird Lady of Blogland'.

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  18. You and Emma are quite the pair. Nothing gets either of you down for long.

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  19. Those Carolina Wrens will try to nest anywhere. A favorite spot seems to be under the hitch of our fifth wheel...

    Mark

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  20. Good job, I hope you weren't too sore after that hike! too bad for those poor wrens, I hope that they will find another place to have their babies... but I totally understand why you wouldn't want them nesting under your table seat!

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  21. Yay! for you Judy!! You are doing well, just don't over-do. That looks like a really neat path to hike on.

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  22. We cannot seem to find a wren who likes our wren house...or maybe it's his woman who doesn't care for it, eh?..Great job on that walk...Baby steps, girlfriend, you will be doing 2 miles before long, but take your time...

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  23. Congratulations on your triumph ... it's not the number of steps that count, but that you are taking them and doing so well, too.

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  24. Man, we've had the rain! (nice to see the sun now!)
    Cool beans on the hike!
    Hmmm -- I spied a wren on Tergel's front tire yesterday. Think I better take a closer look! :)

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  25. Fantastic news Judy. It is great to see you back in the game.

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  26. Exceptional hike! I'm very happy you got to done it. Really nice info here you have shared with us.

    Thanks!!

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  27. Cool beans on the climb!

    Hmmm --I spied a wren on
    Cool beans on the climb!

    Hmmm --I spied a wren on Tergel's front tire yesterday. Think I better investigate!Tergel's front tire yesterday. Think I better investigate!

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