Sunday morn, I leapt out of the bed with the intent to go hiking. So, I called everyone that I thought may go with me, but they were all busy. I hopped in my truck and headed north towards the mountains. The previous night I had decided to hike Jone’s Gap, which is only five miles long, but the map didn’t tell me that the trail to get to that trail was two miles long. I found out the hard way that it is a very rough and arduous path. There was a very steep incline going down and coming back up the mountains. Almost half a mile of the track is extremely steep. But, I like a challenge. Have I mentioned that I’m finally o’er the lass that has been driving me mad?

While trying traverse a very slippery moss covered rock, I slipped and fell over some roots. I couldn’t help but laugh as I worried more about the cameras condition than my own. Thankfully, me and the camera are still intact and fully functional. I had a fantastic time climbing all of the steep hills, getting wet, and crossing the Saluda river on an old rotten log. Wasn’t too funny though when I was halfway across and the log started to creak. I saw several streams along the way that come straight up out of the ground. The water was so clear and devoid of any contaminants that plague the river a few miles downstream.

Excuse me while I hop on my earth soap box! I don’t believe that anyone should have the right to kill another person, except for certain circumstances, such as when one’s life is threatened. I don’t fight unless I have to. I do my best to outsmart my opponent. I can fight though. I had to box with my pops everyday, whether I felt like it or not. So, I am fully qualified to kick arse. If I ever catch someone dumping hazardous waste into my rivers or lakes, they’ll get their effing arses kicked!!! Nobody messes with mother earth on my watch! But, I can’t be everywhere at once, so I’ll just have to monitor my own backyard wherever that may be. Why do I call them “my” rivers and lakes? I’m 1/8th Cherokee! All of the land around me for hundreds of miles belonged to my grandfathers mothers people. Then, my beloved Irish and Scottish forefathers came and took it from them. Nah, I’ll blame that squarely on the English, but just so I can sleep at night. I’m just kidding.