Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road


Category: Trip report

  • Plants That Bite Back

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    The great wonder of the vegetable kingdom is a very curious unknown species of Sensitive. It is a dwarf plant. The leaves are like a narrow segment of a sphere, consisting of two parts, like the cap of a spring purse, the concave part outwards, each of which falls back with indented edges (like an… Read more…

  • Bears and Butterflies

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    Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do…  Explore.  Dream.  Discover. ~Mark Twain I think that sentiment is one of Melissa’s primary views of how to live a life. But, even she was a bit reluctant to head out early… Read more…

  • Green Shelters

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    The distinctive roar of the longleaf was the sound the evening breeze made, and the odor of pine resin was the smell of the countryside…It was so much a part of their lives, so wound up with everything it meant to be southern, that it was as impossible to discern its influence as it was… Read more…

  • Crispy Cocoon

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    That which does not kill us makes us stronger. ~Friedrich Nietzche Last weekend we once again camped at Jones Lake State Park as part of an exploratory trip to the Green Swamp and surroundings. As we drove in, the campground looked quite different from last year at this time – it had been burned. The… Read more…

  • Feeling Alive

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    Go where you feel most alive. ~Author unknown I have been missing my usual winter routine of several trips down east. Schedules have been busy, and this thing called work has a way of occupying a lot of your time! So, last week we decided to make a day-trip to my favorite spots in North… Read more…

  • Heron Dreams

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    Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. ~Henry David Thoreau We all have dreams, some bigger than others. I dream of experiences, being in wild places, and seeing the spectacles that nature has to offer. I have often wondered if other species dream. Having had dogs much of… Read more…

  • Haw-inspiring Hike

    One of the reasons there are so many terms for conditions of ice is that the mariners observing it were often trapped in it, and had nothing to do except look at it. ― Alec Wilkinson I must give credit to our friend, Bill, for the title of this post (hope he doesn’t mind). He… Read more…

  • Counting Our Blessings

    There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff We had a wonderful holiday break this past week, spending time with and enjoying both families. The past few days we discussed some of the varied rituals of the holidays – specific foods for the… Read more…

  • Returning

    When the uniqueness of a place sings to us like a melody, then we will know, at last, what it means to be at home. ~ Paul Gruchow It has been almost a year since I went back to work. Don’t get me wrong, I feel lucky to have landed in such a wonderful place… Read more…

  • Muir’s Mountains

    Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir It is appropriate to start this post on Muir’s beloved mountains, with… Read more…