Sorry about this post. It is a non woodworking related topic. Please remove it if I am breaking any rules.
I have to say that I’m not one for getting out and about. I do get away on a hike from time to time, but not as often as I should I suppose. I make it a point to get into the garage shop as often as possible. If I wasn’t able to I would never advance my skills, and would just be a cabinet maker building boxes. There isn’t much pleasure in that, unless it’s the very rare job that takes some enginuity, and is thought provoking. Otherwise it’s all just a little basic and keeps me from exploring my talent. So the garage is nearly a heaven for me, so long as I am doing my own thing, and not something for someone else like commission work. I like to explore woodworking, and learn by doing so. Most of the things I make are kept in a cabinet in my entry way, and really are just artifacts of my education. It’s an adventure and one I hope to do for a very long time.
But from time to time you need to step away from it. Woodworking is all I do. It’s my day job and my hobby. So getting out on a hike somewhat clears the mind, and actually allows your mind to breath. On this little hike I wasn’t expecting much. In fact I was expecting a desert atmosphere. The farther along we went the more enjoyable it became. We hiked on some limestone rocks. Went into a little cave that is said to be a hiding place that robbers used to frequent. We also came accross some critters. I saw a scorpion for the first time in the wild. A rattlesnake with a full belly, a crawdad, and some other creepy crawlies. We also saw some nice trees and plants I haven’t seen before. One of the rocks has some little caves that make it look like an elephant. There wasn’t a ton of people either, which is rare to find here in SoCal.
All in all it was a nice little afternoon adventure. Not to mention the excellent BBQed chicken I cooked up to follow. I figured I’d make a little slideshow to take you guys there. Enjoy.
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-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

















15 comments so far
Grumpy
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17840 posts in 2020 days
#1 posted 1077 days ago
Nothing like a good BBQ Keith. Had one yesterday.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
TJ65
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1332 posts in 1219 days
#2 posted 1077 days ago
You know the more you get out and experience nature as it really is, the more you can put into your own life.
You seem to have found the wonders of the natural world, all the little things that make up a great experience. Next time you go, you will see even more and appreciate what it really has to offer. The different and amazing amount of bugs, the abundance of wild flowers, the variety of bird, life just to mention a few.
It is a amazing wild world we have got, And you dont even have to travel far to experience it. You just have to know where to look.
“Look and you will see”
Hope to hear more adventures in the future. What’s good for the eyes is good for the soul!
-- Theresa, https://sites.google.com/site/tmj65treasure/
DAWG
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#3 posted 1077 days ago
Great pictures, thanks for sharing and glad you had a good time relaxing.
-- Luke 23: 42-43
doordude
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862 posts in 1152 days
#4 posted 1077 days ago
kol… nice to get away from things once in a while,if for no other reason but to breathe.
mafe
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8056 posts in 1258 days
#5 posted 1077 days ago
Beautiful pictures, I love your studys of textures.
Best thoughts,
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
Scott Bryan
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27262 posts in 1991 days
#6 posted 1077 days ago
Thanks for the slides, Keith. You are right. Sometimes we need to get away from the usual day to day schedule and recharge our batteries. I can’t think of any better way to do this than to go hiking.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
Joanne
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186 posts in 1367 days
#7 posted 1077 days ago
Thank you Keith for sharing your trip into nature with all of us, they are beautiful pictures!
-- Joanne, New York, www.creationhollow.com
jockmike2
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10636 posts in 2416 days
#8 posted 1077 days ago
Thanks, I miss Franks Walkabouts and this is reminds me how much I miss him. Very nice pics.
-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -
Dennisgrosen
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10854 posts in 1284 days
#9 posted 1077 days ago
thank“s for the show
Dennis
GMman
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3884 posts in 1867 days
#10 posted 1077 days ago
It is a need that we all have to get away sometime you did the right thing.
Nice video by the way.
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8681 posts in 2469 days
#11 posted 1077 days ago
Thank you Keith,
It’s nice to see nature in a different setting than Northern MN.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Sheila Landry (scrollgirl)
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5935 posts in 1089 days
#12 posted 1077 days ago
I loved reading about your day out! You are right, we all need that sometimes. As far as I am concerned, you can share stories like this anytime! Thanks so much for taking us on a cyber-trip with you!
Sheila
-- Contributing Editor, Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Sheila Landry Designs http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com "Knowledge is Power"
clieb91
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2674 posts in 2104 days
#13 posted 1077 days ago
What an awesome looking place. Thanks for sharing the photos.
As far as topic is concerned I don’t think it is far from topic at all as noted by several people above we all need time to recharge and look at different things other then our shops. Besides what could be better then studying trees in their natural habitat :)
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
Bearpie
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2474 posts in 1187 days
#14 posted 1077 days ago
This is not off topics, just a way to stop woodworking for a while and get recharged/rejuvenated/re-inspired that happens to each and everyone of us, we just have a multitude of different ways to do what you did. There is no right way or wrong way to get yourself feeling recharged and raring to go again, it’s just whatever works for you. I felt somewhat vicariously re-inspired after reading your post and looking at your pictures twice! Thanks.
Erwin, Jacksonville, FL
-- Erwin, Jacksonville, FL
pommy
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1695 posts in 1860 days
#15 posted 1076 days ago
Keith its always good to get out the shop and with your photography skill you make a good day out special thanks for taking us with you both
Andy
-- cut it saw it scrap it SKPE: ANDREW.CARTER69
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