Frank the Adventure Dog Passes and Snack Cake the Epic Love is Born!

Frank

Snack Cake

It has been over a year since the passing of my old Border Collie Frank, and is slightly before the one-year birthday of my new Border Collie Snack Cake.  It's kind of strange, that even though I waited and grieved the passing of Frank for several months, I still ended up with another Border Collie born in the same month that Frank passed away in.  Maybe, like the Tibetan Buddhist belief in reincarnation, perhaps Snack Cake is another reincarnation of Frank.  Okay, maybe not exactly Frank, but still very reminiscent of him.

   

Frank and I

You change after the death of a dog you loved so dearly.  You spend a great deal of time reflecting on their life and role in yours.  You go back mentally and visit the time when you saw them for the very first time, their first trick, all the memories from the prime of their life, and the moments right before the end of their life.  It all becomes so precious.  The memories, life, dogs, events with them, and so on.  Then there's the void and the grief.

    Everyone grieves differently, but at some point in life, we all grieve.  For me personally, I begun to feel loss when I left my family due to separation.  I missed Frank every day and started looking for ways to fill the void.  My first inclination was to get another dog.  But I was hesitant, because I saw it as a form of respect towards Frank by not replacing him before he decided to leave this world.  I am very glad that I didn't go out and get another dog before Frank passed away.  I was able to contemplate during the time before his passing and instill in myself a deeper love and appreciation for my loyal companion.

Spry Young Frank

    Frank passed May 7th, 2022; it was the day of my oldest daughter's prom.  How sad and hard it must have been for her to lose a childhood friend on a day that's supposed to be happy and celebratory.  When I received word from my ex-wife that Frank had closed his eyes and stopped breathing, I might as well have been stung in the heart.  My eyes welled up with tears and I sobbed for the remainder of the day.

    I remember crying for the rest of the day and my chest burning with grief.  Later that evening I would go and buy some Heineken and spend the night drinking to Frank's memory.  The next day there was a terrible void, and I knew that I had to go through the grieving process.

    But how long was I supposed to grieve?  When would I feel like loving another dog?  This I don't have a clear memory of, but I know it took several months for the feeling of wanting to move on to take effect.  It finally came to the point where I knew I needed to fill the void.  This void that I speak of is created through loss, and everyone is a little different when it come to the actual time to replace or fill it.

Snack Cake's CL Ad

I found Snack Cake on Craigslist, for sale by an eastern European woman, maybe from the Ukraine or Poland, or someplace like that based upon her accent and demeanor.  When I picked up Snack Cake, as a pup, it was like a breath of fresh air filled my lungs.  My mind was filled with wonder and excitement.  I was a new proud parent all over again.

    

Me and Snack Cake

After you get another dog, especially after the loss of another, you take more pictures, you cherish every milestone, and you give more attention than you ever thought possible to the new puppy.  The new life does not replace the old, but rather introduces the opportunity for improvement and love.

Snack Cake with a Bone

    Frank will always hold a special place in my heart, and Snack Cake has shown me the human heart is capable of infinite love.  Snack Cake and Frank have touched me and changed me for the better and I can't wait to create new adventures and love the old.

Water color of Frank
 by OakLynn Mackey

Going to the Beach with Babies and Toddlers

          Every parent goes through the initiation of baby's first beach trip.  The sand, the salt water, the sun are all factors that you as a parent must plan how to protect your child from.
         When dealing with sand it is best to keep your child's hands busy with something else, such as a toy or holding your own hands.  A good idea is to bring a fitted sheet and secure it
with objects that keep the sides pulled up.  If a fitted sheet is not available, any sheet or blanket will do.  If your baby sits in the sand, make sure to shower him or her off well, after beach time is over.
          When going into the water it is a good idea to keep your baby in no more than an inch or two of water.  Show them how to splash and have fun in the water.
            The easiest way to deal with the sun, is to avoid it all together.  Try going to the beach early in the morning or later in the evening .  If you must go during the day, apply sunblock made for sensitive baby skin liberally and try to get them to wear a hat.  It also helps to have some kind of shade whether from a umbrella or a large canopy.
             Using common sense when going to the beach with your baby is the best thing you can do.  Protect them from the elements and you and your baby will have an excellent time and you will have good memories for years to come.

Copyright 2018

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Small Tents on A Small Budget

       Are you headed to the back country for the weekend, or just looking to lighten you pack weight.  How about trying a small less expensive back packing tent.  I will review a few of the cheaper backpacking tents that can be had at the current time.
      Ozark trail has been making low-cost good quality tents for years now.  Finally, they have some lighter weight tents as well.  A tent worthy of mention, is the bivy one man.  This classic tent style has been around since the early days of going to the outdoors. It can be a little difficult to set up due to all the guy-lines, but is fairly stable once it's staked out.  This particular model has the vestibule flap that comes down and can be zipped up in the event of bad weather or if you can't stand the bugs.  This tent costs $30 from
Wal-mart.com. 
       Another smallish tent is the Coleman Hooligan 2 person.  This tent is nice because it has a full cover rain fly.  The tent is a all season tent and the only issue is that it weighs in at almost 9 pounds.  The price is hard to beat at $39.95 from Wal-Mart.com.  Tents such as this one are nice because they are free standing and the rain-fly is all that needs to be staked down.
        One thing I like about the Ozark Trail 1-person hiker tent is that it is completely free standing and weighs only four and a half pounds.  The tent also has a full cover rain fly and is a three season tent.  Another amenity, is the small gear loft and the price is $29.97 from Wal-Mart.com.
         These three tents are just a few of the budget small tents.  Wal-Mart.com is probably the best place to shop for low cost tents.  I prefer light tents, so I would go with the bivy one person.  The only problem with this is that it leaves your pack mate without a place to sleep.  One solution, buy two!
     

Copyright 2018

If you like this blog, please tell your friends about it. Thanks!

Topsail Island: Nice Waves and Family Fun

         The strong ocean breeze is cool and revitalizing and the Atlantic water is warm and soothing.  Topsail island is a paradise of ocean front homes, where family  memories are made that last forever.  The beaches are clean with white sand and an infinite number of sea shells to be combed through.
         One interesting thing about the island are the fossilized shark's teeth.  One has to look carefully at first, but once you find one they become easier to spot.  Some of the teeth are tiny, but if you're lucky you might find teeth as big as your index finger tip.
            On the island there's not a whole lot of entertainment, however once you cross the bridge there is a miniature golf course ten to fifteen minutes
down the road.  The bridge is entertaining to watch when a large boat needs to pass.
             The bridge instead of raising up draw bridge style, turns sideways opening up passage for a boat.  I always thought this was a curious way for a bridge to allow boats through.  Currently in 2018, they are building a new bridge that spans the distance of the canal and is tall enough to allow the larger boats to pass underneath. So in the near future, there won't be any traffic jams to deal with on your way to and from your beach house and the grocery store.
              Our beach house was oceanfront, meaning as soon as you stepped off the back deck you were on the beach.  The house was a cute split level, with living quarters upstairs and downstairs.   My family had reign of the downstairs.  There was a smallish bathroom, a bedroom with bunk beds, and a master suite with a queen sized bed. Oh yes, I forgot about a pull out couch bed where my oldest daughter slept.
                Usually, we were up by nine oclock and down on the beach at ten o'clock .  While at the beach, the waves would carry my oldest daughter ashore on her boogie board, each time she would run back out to the breakers and yell "Is this a good one,is this a wee-doggie?". Me, my wife, and my yougest daughter would hold hands and jump into the breaking waves.  A few of the waves were big enough to knock us back.  We would stay on the beach until the heat of the day around one o'clock, and then come back to the house eat lunch and take showers.  During the heat of the day, we would hit a couple of the "tourist trap" stores.  It always puzzles me why these shops have such high ceilings, that's a lot  of cooling.

          The weather was also great.  There were a few thunderstorms that blew through in the evening, but otherwise it was sunny and in the mid 80's. The weather was great for sitting out and reading a book.
          Topsail Island is a wonderful place to spend a week or two with the family.  My suggestion would be to split the cost of housing amongst family or friends.  This is our third time visiting Topsail and as always it never disappoints.

I would like to say thank you to Papa and Meme  for a wonderfull time

My Survival Pack

          Many people attempt to make the quintessential survival pack.  The quest is never ending for a pack that includes an implement for every event that may arise.  My approach is to carry a few items that are going to have the biggest impact while lost or bored on the trail.

I usually carry a small fixed blade or more often my Swiss Army knife.  Also pictured is a magnifying glass multi-use key chain.

          First and foremost, you need a good pocket knife.  Yes, I am aware of how treacherous of a topic it is as to which knife to carry.  Lets not go there; simply, I always carry a small blade such as a Swiss army knife. This knife is used for small chores such as sharpening sticks, cutting cord, and generating sparks with a flint or fire steel.  A larger knife has it's advantages and should not be left off the list if you are preparing for extended trail stay.  Once again, you want to always be prepared, so a smaller pocket knife is easier to keep with you at all times.
         Carrying a lighter or matches at all times is handy, but water and cold temperatures can effect whether these items make fire.  A good alternative, is a small magnifying glass or fire steel.  Both of these have the advantage of being small enough to attach to a set of keys and will also work under wet or cold temperatures. 
          Lastly, I carry a "last ditch" container that is waterproof and contains matches, a length of fishing line, and two dry flies.  The container is small pill bottle that goes on your key ring and I bought it at Wal-mart for two dollars.  The dry flies are included just in case no bait is available.  Otherwise bait could be attached to the hooks.  The fishing line is 6 lb test tippet, used in making leaders for trout fishing.  A tippet has the advantage of being more invisible than most regular fishing lines.

        My idea is to carry items that are kept with me at all times and would be useful if needed.  Of course there are many variations and mine is simply one variation of a useful survival pack.  After writing all this, I realize it would be more appropriate to call the article survival pocket gear.  Either way, small, useful, and easy to carry is the take home message.

Disclaimer:  The above information is simply the authors opinion and should not be viewed as fully inclusive for survival skills.  Always seek professional advice or training when preparing for surviving any environment.  The author is not a professional source and assumes no responsibility.

Camping with Canines: A How to guide.

      It is a rewarding experience to be able to bring your dog camping with you.  After all, nothing beats having your favorite sidekick sitting with you in the warm glow of the camp fire or gracefully blazing the trail with you.  But there are some considerations and preparations that help make this experience a natural, harmonious endeavour.

      First, consider who your dog is.  Think about how he interacts with people, such as meeting strangers on the trail and walking by groups of people.  Give consideration to health problems or limitations that your dog may have.  For example, older dogs may have hip problems or smaller dogs may have difficulties in keeping your pace.  If you are going to be strapping a pack onto your dog, do not overload and provide ample water to drink. For example, my dog carries a bottle of water, small plastic bag of food, a few treats that are high in fat and protein, and a portable water/food bowl. For toys, he finds sticks to play with along the way.

      Dogs are constantly being bombarded by smells and sounds that could attract them, so do not let them out of your sight.  There's nothing worse than having your best friend return to camp smelling of dead opossum.  Make sure that your dog does not ingest anything it is not supposed to.  Mushrooms are the first thing that comes to mind, but food scraps are probably more common as a means to making your dog sick.  When your dog has to make a waste deposit be watchful and clean up the mess.  Nothing worse than stepping in a smelly mess on the trail.  Apart of keeping watch over your dog is making sure they are leashed where required.

       Leashing your dog ensures his safety and you a level of control over his actions.  Some people may not want to be greeted with two muddy paws.  Leashing also ensures the safety of others in the area.  Horses are usually an uncommon site that sends most dogs into frenzies.  If your dog spooks the horse and it reciprocates by throwing its rider, you're in a bad spot.  Leashing keeps you and your dog in a good range for communication.  It is nice to be able to give commands when needed, but also casual conversation will more likely occur.

      Double check your resources and itinerary to make sure accommodations are made for your dog.  Decide before heading out, whether your dog will sleep in the tent, what to do if it rains, and how to accommodate him being with you at all times..  Nobody wants to hear a dog left at the campsite barking, crying all day; it creates stress for everyone and is not fair for the dog.

        Having your dog at camp is real treat for both you, him, and others you may pass.  Follow the above guidelines and you can't go wrong with camping out with canines.





                                          



Horace Kephart: The Original Carolina Adventurer

 
 Photo Credit:  http://barkriverknives.com/albums/album369/Horace_Kephart.jpg
    
      Horace Kephart was not only a master outdoorsman and accomplished writer, but more importantly he was an advocate for environmental policy.  Kephart utilized his literary background and love of the mountains to persuade leaders of the early 1900s to create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Kephart's obsession with mountain places, people, and wildlife culminated in his writing, and gave a voice to all who lived in the Great Smoky Mountains.  It was a combination of Kephart's writing and his friend George Masa's photography that helped create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
      Horace Kephart serves as a example of what passion and drive can accomplish.  Before moving to the mountains of North Carolina, Kephart demonstrated a high level of ambition through his work as a librarian.  He was appointed of head librarian at the St. Louis Mercantile Library, after gaining experience in library work at Cornell and Yale.  Looking for a new start on life, Kephart left his library position and headed for the mountains.  He now lived in an area that he was passionate about and had ample subject matter to write about, so he supported himself through writing for outdoor magazines.  Kephart's love for the mountains continued to grow as he now began writing letters and brochures expressing the need to preserve such a beautiful place.  He described the Great Smoky Mountains as "one of the finest primeval forests in the world".
             There exists an innate goodness that nature possesses and Horace Kephart saw this.  During the early 1900s, forests existed for the sole purpose to be cut down; forests were viewed by amount of timber they would produce.  This form of destruction Kephart viewed as wasteful and envisioned better way to use the land.  He brought his vision before others and with the help of his friend George Masa, put forth a very compelling reason for the forest.  This ultimately saved the land and created the Great Smokies National Park.
      Horace Kephart was a visionary outdoorsman that preserved a gem for future generations.  He was a very intelligent, educated man that felt passionately about the outdoors.  My wish is that, like Horace Kephart, we use the power of one to move mountains.