To Heron Back

I’m continuing to write about my trip to southern Illinois to see the eclipse. I was somewhat undecided whether to make the nearly 500 mile drive there, but what tipped the balance was that I knew there was a bald cypress swamp there.

So here I’ll describe my second visit to the Cache River State Natural Area.

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Great Eclipse

We now interrupt our non-regular and completely unscheduled set of Out West posts (yes, I’ll get to them later) for my quick trip to southern Illinois to view the eclipse in its totality.

And of course I found time to do other things.

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Scioto Grove Floodplain Clean-Up

This morning I spent a bit of time helping do a floodplain clean-up at the Columbus Metroparks newest park, Scioto Grove. The clean-up was announced at the last minute, and I only really decided to go after I got up this morning.

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Indian Wisdom

Indian Country Today had an article yesterday about Santee Sioux doctor and educator on ethnohistory Dr. Charles Eastman, entitled Dr. Charles Eastman Offered Up Wisdom On Wellness. The story is based on his 1921 article, “What Can the Out of Doors Do For Our Children?”

We (but particularly barefooters) are beginning to realize how important exposure to the outdoors is to our well-being. Here’s just one article, Health Benefits of Being Outdoors, extolling the virtues of “Vitamin N” (for Nature).

But so often Native Americans were there long before the fads.

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Dismindfulness

I know it’s been a long time since I last wrote here. I’m afraid the Muses have left me. However, I do want to at least do a summary wrap-up post with some observations about the interaction between my last trip Out West and barefootedness.

If you read all the entries, you’ll know that there were times that I donned footwear (even though I had really, really hoped not to resort to it). Here are some observations and realizations I acquired through that experience.

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Skyclad and Earthsoled

Today is Earth Day. It’s a good day to appreciate Mother Earth skyclad and earthsoled.

For how else can we really be intimate with our origin?

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This Weather is for the Birds

Except it’s not. It’s really, really hard on them. We’ve been below zero quite a few times. Also, the snow buries a lot of their regular food.

This time of year my bird feeder just doesn’t have enough slots to service all the customers.

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Barefoot Rappelling

Rappelling is one of those things that is just a whole lot more fun while barefoot. Don’t get me wrong — regular old rappelling is a lot of fun, too. But when you can feel the rock wall you are heading down, that adds just that extra touch . . .

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Barefoot Up North

I mentioned in More Bogwalking that I’d spent the previous week in northern Wisconsin. It is always interesting to be in a place that is not one’s normal stomping grounds. Even though I go there regularly, it’s not as if the people there see me all that often, the way they do at the usual places I go shopping back home.

The week we were there was rather interesting weather-wise: it started out near 80° (27C) and in a few days went to highs of around 55° (13C) and lows of 35° (2C). That’ll adjust your feet to cooler weather pretty quickly.

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More Bogwalking

I spent last week up in northern Wisconsin and had a chance to do a barefoot bogwalk again.

This time I brought my son and a video camera.

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Renewal

Last Wednesday I did another hike into the northern “wilds” of Cantwell Cliffs. It wasn’t a particularly long hike, only about 2 miles, but it is pure bushwhacking through a trailless area. I also did it (as I do in this area) doing what I call “abo hiking”, that is, not wearing much at all, similar to the Australian aboriginals.

In many ways it is barefooting writ larger.

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A Treat for the Senses

I really don’t know why I haven’t gotten more into bog-walking before this. It really is a delight for all the senses.

I had a chance to do another bog-walk two days ago.

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Cypress Bark Mulch

We now interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to offer a special deal on Cypress Bark Mulch. We have an excess supply and need to unload.

Actually, my favorite tree got blasted over the weekend.

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The Beauty of the Bog

Being back in northern Wisconsin, I wanted to revisit the bog I saw in Barefoot Boggin’. In particular, I was hoping to see the flowers of the purple pitcher plants I’d seen last October.

Part of the difference between fall and spring is not only the flowers, but the moisture level.

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Enter the Dragon . . . Fly

I’m up in northern Wisconsin again. This is probably the earliest I’ve been up here, and the mosquitoes when I first arrived were awful.

Fortunately, I was rescued.

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