Today I enjoyed the outdoors. I chose to carry......

I loaded up some gear for the hunting blind this afternoon.
It looks a bit like Beverly Hillbillies.
I had acquired some pine seedlings from one of our recent trips into the land of the pines. They had been hibernating in the beer fridge for a month or so. I hauled them back to the woods and spaded them in.
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I brought some shelves that I had cut to length and stained to match the interior, but I forgot my tape and level. They will have to wait until next time.
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You might be shocked as to what I chose to carry this time. Hatsun 95 22cal pellet rifle. Squirrels are plentiful and also in season as of aug 1. 34C95D1A-F58A-44D0-A7D1-9A0AC78933F4.jpeg

The pellet rifle reminds me of, and is similar to my muzzleloader addiction.
No shots on squirrels but I did zap a few hickory nuts for fun. D72793DA-8483-4E90-85D0-8B6628DBEC04.jpeg
My lcp was along too.
 
She thinks there is too much poison ivy.

I gave up my herbicide license when I retired over five years ago. I may have helped get rid of that nasty stuff if I were closer.
But I believe you can on your own property.
Laws vary from state to state.

Good luck!
Get rid of it so the Mrs. can join you!

Happy Huntin'! :)

Edit to add...(just to keep on subject)

Today I went to what I call the "Strange Range".
Just to clean and maintain.
Beautiful day!
Temps in the upper sixties to low seventies.

Finally met someone who also reloads.
Second person in many years!
I think we became friends right there!
Yeah!
I thought I was the only one to reload.
Had a pleasant conversation and ended up exchanging brass and loading info.

Fun!
 
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Spent the past two weeks in the Smokies.
I always get a kick out of people that stop and take a picture by the entrance sign. I wonder if they get out of their car after to enjoy the park.
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We made several hikes!
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My carry was my 442. I recommend not to make your hiker lunch PB&J with natural peanut butter, it turns into liquid pb:confused:
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Enjoy see all of rhe neat mushrooms.
In Mackinaw City there is a walking trail dedicated to mushrooms. If a human was there right now, the middle of August, every single one will be in fruit.
Fawns the size of dinner plates, Amanitas as poisonous as Asriel. Coral Pinks the size of real coral, and my favorite, although not a mushroom, the parasitic Ghost flower that feeds off Birch tree sap.
There were three different colors of slime molds! All natural, not introduced.

Truly a magical trail. They were so museum quality they almost looked fake.
 
WisBorn

Great photos of the Smoky Mountains! Have been through them many times but have never gone hiking in them. Thanks for the scenic vistas!
 
In Mackinaw City there is a walking trail dedicated to mushrooms. If a human was there right now, the middle of August, every single one will be in fruit.
Fawns the size of dinner plates, Amanitas as poisonous as Asriel. Coral Pinks the size of real coral, and my favorite, although not a mushroom, the parasitic Ghost flower that feeds off Birch tree sap.
There were three different colors of slime molds! All natural, not introduced.

Truly a magical trail. They were so museum quality they almost looked fake.
We are going to try to make it to Boyne Mountain next summer for a few days. We will need to add Mackinaw City to Mackinaw Island and other areas including the UP...

I will touch base with you if we put it together for next year. It's nice to have the must do list:)
 
Spent the past two weeks in the Smokies.
I always get a kick out of people that stop and take a picture by the entrance sign. I wonder if they get out of their car after to enjoy the park.
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We made several hikes!
View attachment 1095850 View attachment 1095851 View attachment 1095852 View attachment 1095853 View attachment 1095854 View attachment 1095855 View attachment 1095856

My carry was my 442. I recommend not to make your hiker lunch PB&J with natural peanut butter, it turns into liquid pb:confused:
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I agree. See it all too often (daily) where folks will take a picture at the "picture sign" and drive through the Park and not stop. They also will stay on the "strip" (441) in Pigeon Forge and hit all the knick knack/trinket shops......
 
Contrasting ships (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and across the Sinclair Inlet). USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) and a tall ship in the Port Orchard Marina. The white thing to the right of the ROOSEVELT is a berthing barge, where the carrier's crew (mostly the inport duty section) sleeps while the ship is in the yard for upkeep.
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Watched the sea birds for a while...

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It all starts in the backyard...

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The Dude goes everywhere with ... got a little off-leash time in the nearby dog park.

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This also went everywhere with me today... a rare revolver day.

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Contrasting ships (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and across the Sinclair Inlet). USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) and a tall ship in the Port Orchard Marina. The white thing to the right of the ROOSEVELT is a berthing barge, where the carrier's crew (mostly the inport duty section) sleeps while the ship is in the yard for upkeep.
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Watched the sea birds for a while...

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It all starts in the backyard...

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The Dude goes everywhere with ... got a little off-leash time in the nearby dog park.

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This also went everywhere with me today... a rare revolver day.

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Man thats a fine looking Shep. I had one when I was nine years old. He was with me until after I was married. What a great friend.
 
This was on the trail coming back

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It clouded up and thundered and looked like it was going to rain but I think it mostly rained on the other side of the ridge.

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This is the face of Helen Hunt Falls from the trail.

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And to keep it firearms related,

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I mean true story bro, every time I go in the woods I'm carrying one of those two guns. Really, anytime I go anywhere that isn't the gym or the VA I'm carrying one of those two guns. They look the same every time I carry them. I carry them in the same holsters each time.

But I want to follow the rules so....
 

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This was on the trail coming back

View attachment 1096504

It clouded up and thundered and looked like it was going to rain but I think it mostly rained on the other side of the ridge.

View attachment 1096505

This is the face of Helen Hunt Falls from the trail.

View attachment 1096508

And to keep it firearms related,

View attachment 1096509

I mean true story bro, every time I go in the woods I'm carrying one of those two guns. Really, anytime I go anywhere that isn't the gym or the VA I'm carrying one of those two guns. They look the same every time I carry them. I carry them in the same holsters each time.

But I want to follow the rules so....
Is the green one a G26?
 
A relatively easy 7 mile hike this weekend, though it was pretty hot and humid up in the park.
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A nice quiet trail through semi-forested terrain.
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I'm glad we started off early though. No people and not too warm early on.
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We gained some elevation and left the shade mostly behind.
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But I'd brought my new Tilley hat with me (the older one now a spare). And a 686+ for company too.
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I left my wife to sit and look at this view...
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...whilst I tromped around back here (not far off) getting my feet soaked and loving life for a half hour or so.
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Been a while since I've gotten out in the woods. Walked up a creek a couple miles on some national forest land that borders our property. Spooked a few deer. Couldn't get the camera out quick enough for a photo of one of those big kitty cats that people think we don't have in Alabama. She disappeared pretty quick and my hand stayed close to my 10mm for the hike back.
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