Imagination: A Good Thing to Possess

September 26, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

I named this rock formation “Alien Rock”

I didn’t get on the river until around 4:30 p. m. and I knew I wouldn’t have time to do a lot of fishing. I did realize that the retreating sunlight should present some great photo ops so I began looking for those shots that would show the amazing beauty of Mother Nature.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

My mind was working overtime and my imagination was like that of a 60s “flower child” who had taken a hallucinogenic drug. I took several pics of the rock I had named “Alien Rock” trying to capture what I was seeing in my mind. I think the above pic was the best picture to portray what I was seeing and I hope you can see it too.

To me it looks like an alien’s head slowly ascending out of the water just revealing its eyes and nostrils that had just broke the surface of the water. I imagined it rising completely out of the water revealing a body as tall as the bluffs around it.

Well, maybe I am losing it. Maybe the crazy stuff going on in the world is finally taken its toll on me. Maybe I have drank too many Jack and Cokes in my life time. Naw, one can’t drink too many Jack and Cokes. I got it, I need to quit drinking the kool-ade! That’s it!

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.” – Robert Fulghum; All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten: Thoughts On Common Things

Was the alien there extracting lead from underneath the river bed; after all this is part of the old lead belt, or was he looking for a McDonald’s fish filet sandwich? Maybe he is stashing green kryptonite in case he ever had a run in with Superman? Was he a game warden in disguise spying on me. Oh so many possibilities!

Hello, earth to Wayne. Well back to regular programming. Once I figured out what the alien was doing I began floating back to what the locals call the “Bone Hole” and fished as I went. I managed to catch a small largemouth and several small perch. I think the alien must have scared the fish off. Oh crap, it is getting dark. Where did that alien go? I am skeered I tells ya!

“Logic will get you from A to Z; Imagination will get you everywhere”. – Albert Einstein

I hope you enjoyed today’s blog. I am a firm believer that great artists ( painters, writers, musicians, etc.) are full of imagination. I feel it is a must to be really good at what you do. I think we need to emphasize it more than we do. One can not suffer from too much imagination; well maybe I need to rethink that one.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. It is deeply appreciated. Remember to spread the love.

My Sanctuary

September 24, 2017 / doubledacres / 3 Comments

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“The gross heathenism of civilization has generally destroyed nature, and poetry, and all that is spiritual.” – John Muir

It was a little late in the evening when I decided to load the yak and do some fishing on the Big River. I spent more time taking photos than fishing. There was a hint of the approaching fall season on the leaves of the trees. The temp however left one shaking their head in disbelief, as I did, wondering if we were going to bypass fall this year. I could see that my sanctuary was preparing itself for a dance with autumn.

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“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” – Lauren DeStefano, Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)

The river is my sanctuary. I feel safe there. I feel content and satisfied no matter how bad life has been to me. You can talk to the river and if you listen very carefully you will here its answer manifested in the sounds of the rapids or the croaking bull frogs. The river has been responsible for some great concerts in the past. It usually starts with a choir of crickets and bull frogs, followed by the bass created by the beaver slamming its tail upon the water. Then if you are lucky you will hear a pack of coyotes join in with their howl and high pitched yips. If there is a full moon overhead reflecting its beautiful light upon the river; then it is a perfect night.

In my sanctuary I recharge my spirit and cleanse my soul. I become one with the river. If you learn to use Mother Nature’s river you will be surprised at what it can do for your self esteem. If you have never meditated on the river you have no idea how you can really cleanse the garbage from your mind that you acquired by the negativity that tried to creep into your life.

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The next time you are on the river slow down and observe what really goes on. Focus on all the wild life that lives within the banks of the river. Do yourself a favor and even start keeping a Journal of your time on the river. Notice how the riparian system works to make the river better. There are so many things that work together to keep the river alive. If you have never been on the river then by all means make plans to visit a river near you.

As a point of clarification, I really do like all rivers even the big ones. I prefer the Ozark streams to the Mississippi or the Missouri. The Show Me State has been blessed with several pristine streams. The Bourbeuse, Current, Jacks Fork, Meramec, Courtois, Black, Eleven Point just to name a few.

Now for the part that gets my panties in a wad and always will. PUHLEASE! Pack your trash out with you. Don’t leave it laying around on the sand and gravel bars. NEWS FLASH!!!! One does not need a special permit to buy trash bags. They are readily available and if you need instructions as how to use them I would be glad to give you instructions. No one has ever reported any deaths that can be attributed to picking up your trash.

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“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

John Muir was known as “John of the Mountains” . He loved the wilderness but had a special place in his heart for the mountains. My friend David Tripp calls me the “river sage” which in return I usually give a pretty good chuckle. I love the wilderness also but I call the river my sanctuary.

I want to thank everyone that took the time to read my blog. Thank you. (All photographs were taken by me.)

Spread the love!

Autumn: A Season of Beauty

September 12, 2017September 12, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

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“Autumn……….the year’s loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant/ Indian Summer

As autumn nears I get as excited as a child on Christmas Eve except I have visions of “frost on the pumpkin” in my head. I can smell the wood smoke as it wafts through the cool crisp air. I can smell the aroma of chili as it drifts upon the breeze and searches for an unsuspected nose. Tis the season for beans and cornbread. It will soon be time to don the hoodies. Autumn, my season of choice by far.

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Autumn is a busy time for Mother Nature’s critters. Squirrels and chipmunks are burying everything they can. The tiny Hummingbird begins its trip south. Geese can be seen in a “v” formation headed south for the winter. Bear begin gorging themselves with food to prepare themselves for their long winter nap. The days become shorter and the nights become colder as Mother Earth prepares for Old Man Winter to arrive.

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Final Autumn

Maple leaves turn black in the courtyard.

Light drives lower and one blue jay crams

our cold memories out past the sun,

each time your traces come past the shadows

and visit under my looking-glass fingers

that lift and block out the sun.

Come – I’ll trace you one final autumn,

and you can trace your last homecoming

into the snow or the sun.

Annie Finch

Autumn also signals the beginning of the holidays and family gatherings. The smell of baked turkey and dressing, pumpkin and sweet potato pie. Hot chocolate for those cold autumn nights and warm apple cider. Friends gathered around a bonfire talking about what they did “last summer” and all ready making plans for the “new summer”. Its sitting in front of the fire reading your favorite book. It is the season of Thankfulness for all the things you have to be grateful for. Autumn, my favorite season of all.

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly above the earth seeking the successive autumns.” – George Eliot

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Yep, with autumn beginning we know Old Man Winter isn’t far off. Thanks for reading my blog I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoyed it. Spread the love.

Mother Nature

August 18, 2017August 19, 2017 / doubledacres / 2 Comments

“Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level +with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.” Henry David Thoreau

nature – a creative and controlling force in the universe (Merriam-Webster)

Nature can be beautiful and peaceful, then without warning she can create a mile wide path of destruction in a few minutes and take lives along with it. After the storm clears Mother Nature can leave one speechless with her painting skills by painting a beautiful rainbow in the sky.

She gave the spider the ability to build a web of precision and beauty, then it is used to trap an unsuspecting victim, at which time the spider scampers from its hiding place to kill its prey. She painted insects colors that would blend in with its surroundings and male birds bright colors while she painted the females colors that would make it hard for enemies to see them.

Mother Nature use to keep things balanced in her world then along came man who thinks he is smarter than her. He creates pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified seeds and levees along the rivers. Then there is pollution and littering created by man. Roadsides are rife with litter and I don’t know how many sandbars i clean up along the river. Man is one of Mother Nature’s biggest enemies.

“Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.” Henry David Thoreau

Every time my eyes feast upon the sight of fall foliage I think how lucky I am to be able to enjoy the works of rt created by Mother Nature. I often wonder how long before litter dots the area that I am standing in. We have all ready made a large area of the Gulf of Mexico uninhabitable for sea life. When will the folks responsible for the litter and pollution start appreciating Mother Nature? Are we going to ever learn how important she is to our own existence?

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I ask all of you to slow down and really observe what Mother Nature has given us. Think before you throw that litter out of the window. Learn to respect her and appreciate her and help her keep nature balanced.

Understanding Nature

July 24, 2017 / doubledacres / 3 Comments

“Nature is ever at work building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing, allowing no rest but in rhythmical motion, chasing everything in endless song out of one beautiful form into another.” – John Muir

I came upon this quote a couple of years ago and since then I have revisited it several times. It has tugged on my mind from time to time and caused me to think heavily upon it. I realize it is short but there is a lot to learn from these few words.

Funny how life works. I for some reason could never exactly wrap my little mind around this quote a friend called and in conversation mentioned a work by Ralph Waldo Emerson titled “Circles”. My good friend encouraged me to read it and a light bulb went off over my head like in the cartoons. Nature is nothing more than a circle.

Native Americans were very spiritual and they believed dearly in the Sacred Circle. The power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle. The sky is round, earth is round, moon is round, bird’s nest is round and the sun is round. Their tipis were even round.

The butterfly lays an egg, the egg hatches and becomes a caterpillar, then the caterpillar forms a cocoon then another butterfly emerges. The riparian system along the rivers are constantly repairing themselves except where man has made it impossible for it to repair itself. Leaves on the trees appear in the springtime and give shade to the forest floor so plants can grow. The leaves drop off in the fall and then fall to the ground where they self compost into the ground adding the nutrients that plants and trees need for proper growth. Perfect circles of existence.

The creatures of nature have no time to rest. Have you ever watched a spider spin its web? I spent three hours one day watching just that. How could something that seemed so simple be so fascinating? I never saw something work so hard non-stop. The intricate design of the web itself left me speechless. The spider worked relentlessly against the wind and every time there was a setback the spider would overcome and work on. Nature provides creatures with food during the spring, summer, and fall, then they are on their own. Just an example of the circle of life in nature. The weak will not make it and they will die and that spring newborns will take their place.

Nature is so much more than pretty flowers, trees, animals and sunsets/sunrises. It has to balance things too as it goes along. Man has made that job pretty hard by meddling in Nature’s business. When we eliminate predators the end result is more animals that multiply unchecked because of our interference. We add levees and cause major flooding instead of just leaving it alone and letting Nature take care of it.

Nature can be relentless and forgiving. Nature can create a tornado that leaves destruction for miles and when the storm moves on, produce the most breathtaking painting anyone ever saw in the form of a rainbow.

” The laws of nature are written deep in the folds and faults of the earth. By encouraging men to learn those laws one can lead them further to a knowledge of the author of the laws.” – John Joseph Lynch

Man needs to learn these laws and everything in nature would happen in a perfect circle. We build levees and dams to tame the rivers, we develop chemical applications to control bugs, weeds and unwanted grasses. When we do this we interrupt that natural circle. We do it in order, supposedly, to produce more food with less expense. We do it in the name of saving the world. What if we push Nature to the point that she deems it necessary to rid herself of meddling humans in the form of volcanoes, massive earthquakes, “perfect storms” etc.?

It is time for us to do something about all of the polluting and destruction of Mother Earth. Clean up the trash that plaques the countryside. It is time to start respecting Mother Nature. I do a lot of floating and I don’t know how many gravel bars I have cleaned up, It disgusts me the lack of respect my fellow humans have for what Nature has given us.

This is a subject I am very passionate about. It sickens me when I see all the litter along the roads and countryside. It is time to give Nature the respect she deserves. I am sorry this was a little long. I apologize. I hope you enjoyed my blog. If you liked it please hit the “like” button to let me know. Thanks for reading.

“We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts.” – William Hazlett

Nature: The Natural Sedative

July 22, 2017July 22, 2017 / doubledacres / 2 Comments

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“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.” – Lord Byron

Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper I have been fascinated by nature. It has always had a calming effect on me and when surrounded by it a place to think. We are lucky to have so much wilderness at our disposal so that we can experience it first hand and not have to just see it in pictures. There are some people who have never had that opportunity and I am very grateful that I have been able to enjoy it first hand.

I have been lucky enough to view nature from horseback, a kayak and backpacking. When it seemed like the world was closing in on me and I became anxious I would load my horse up and take off some where on the weekend and ride and camp out. As I would ride along the trails drinking in the beauty of nature I could feel all the negativity in my life melt away and I would become relaxed and refreshed. The effect nature had on me always amazed me. It was a natural sedative for the troubles I had bottled up inside of me.

Big River St. Francois State Park

My favorite gift of nature has to be the river. It is so easy for me to become one with the river. The water that flows between the banks makes the river and gives life to the river like the blood that runs through my veins gives me life. I am at peace with myself on the river. As I drink in the beauty of the river along with its mysteries, my spirit begins recharging itself and my soul awakens making me feel very much alive. Aggravation begins to shed itself from my mind and I feel a new tranquility surround me.

“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. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but Nature’s sources never fail.” – John Muir

Don’t take my word for it. Take the time and go out and discover nature for yourself. Close your eyes and listen to everything around you then open your eyes and absorb all the beauty around you into your mind. You will be glad you did.

“I believe that there is a magnetism in Nature,which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” – Henry David Thoreau

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked it please hit the “like” button. Be kind to one another, spread the love and take time to enjoy nature.

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Big River, The River of My Choice.

July 18, 2017July 18, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

“Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time? That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere and the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.” – Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

I have had some people ask me what it is that attracts me so much to Big River so for this blog I thought I would share why this river has mesmerized me with its beauty and mystique I cherish so much.

Big River begins near the summit of Johnson Mountain near the ghost town of Enough. It flows through the Missouri counties of Washington, Saint Francois and Jefferson then it empties into the Meramec River near Eureka, MO. It flows through Washington State Park, St. Francois State Park and through the Lead Belt mining district. It meanders 145 miles through the Missouri countryside. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass, longear sunfish, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish and red horse suckers are some of the fish that can be found in the Big River.

Big River above Leadwood Access

Big River

“Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the river words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.” – Norman Maclean A River Runs Through It and Other Stories

I seem to always be drawn to big the Lead Belt area of the Big River. The 108 years of mining in that area took a toll on the Big River in the form of contamination by lead. There is a contamination warning on certain kinds of fish caught in the Big River. There are pipes that go into the old mines that are still in the river. I am not sure what they were used for. I was told that they were old test holes, used to pump water out of the mines and numerous other things but do not know for a fact what exactly they were used for.

Big River

I spend a lot of time camped out at night in this area. It seems to hold so much mystery within the banks of the river. Sometimes there seems to be a presence with me as I go about my night of running limb lines and sitting by the camp fire. Not an evil presence but like another presence in another dimension. Sometimes when I am running limb lines and the fog is lifting it looks like spirits rising from the mines out of the water on their way to somewhere else. Some nights it even makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Oddly enough it is a pleasant feeling. At times I have even thought that maybe they are wanting to share their secrets with me. Maybe it is the past inhabitants of the ghost town Enough wanting to converse with me. The mystery stirs my soul deep inside hoping that one day they will share those secrets with me. One night while I was sitting by the fire I smelled cigarette smoke like someone was sitting right next to me smoking a cigarette. Am I crazy? Maybe, maybe not.

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A couple other things that attract me to the Big River is the beautiful scenery and last but not least the fishing. My photos will never do the beauty of the river justice. The tall bluffs and rock formations and the lined banks of beautiful trees make the Big River a great place to float and enjoy life. If the river could talk I wonder what it would say. Would it tell me about the people that came before me, tell me about how it was before they started mining. Oh the things it could share with me.

I hope you have enjoyed my blog. I hope you find it interesting. Maybe some night you will get to camp along the banks of the Big River and you can tell me if I am crazy or not. Be kind to one another, spread the love and don’t squat with your spurs on.

Life, Are You Living It?

July 15, 2017July 15, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

“Life isn’t about finding yourself

Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

Life can be so complicated and full of twists and turns. Are you living it to the fullest or are you just merely nothing more than a slave. Are you one that runs up your credit cards? Do you live from paycheck to paycheck? Do you suffer from instant gratification? Instead of saving the money to buy something one buys the merchandise on a credit card because they want it now. So you run up your cards and you can’t pay it off. Now you are a slave to the banks/credit cards. Credit cards can become a financial burden that can make it harder to enjoy life.

Are you a workaholic? You just have a need to work. If you are then you need to step back and reevaluate where you are. If you are single then you are only hurting yourself but if you are married, then the whole family suffers. You will begin losing touch with your family. Children need their mother AND father.

“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”– Norman Cousins

When we are young it seems we have so many dreams and things we want to accomplish in life and then as we grow older some of those things start to die a slow death. Perhaps it is because we give up too soon or as we grew older we lost interest or in our mind, thought they weren’t attainable. Never give up.

“It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

I realize I am no one special, no doctor or shrink but I am going to share what I think one needs to do to live life. Slow down, look around and take a good look at the things in nature that surround you. Maybe my elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top but I take great joy in watching a honey bee work a flower, a spider spin it’s web. I love to hear the birds singing in early dawn as I watch the sun rise. I love sitting on the river and watch the wildlife starting their day in the early morning dawn. At night on the river I listen to the symphony presented by the bull frogs and crickets. The crack of a beaver’s tail warning the others. These things are simple but rejuvenate the spirit. The greatest thing is they cost you absolutely nothing but slowing down and taking the time to enjoy them. That my friends is what I call living life at its fullest.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you like please let me know. Be kind to one another, spread the love and don’t squat with your spurs on.

The Joy of Friendship

July 9, 2017July 9, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

Long time friend David Tripp

“The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.” – Hubert Humphrey

David and I met in the second grade and thanks to FB we reconnected. David is a retired educator and a profound artist and writer. He now lives in Texas and when he comes to Missouri to visit family we always try to get together and chew the fat. We try to plan a fishing trip once a year and this past week we managed to get some fishing in.

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Rock of David

There is a rock formation on the Big River up river from the Leadwood Access that David wanted to see. I had sent him a picture of it some time ago and he did a plein air water color of it that I was very impressed with so I named it the Rock of David. He finally got to see it Friday with his own eyes and rumor is there will be another plein air watercolor of it in the future.

Since we went to view the Rock of David we decided to get some fishing time in. The river was low so we pulled the boat up on a gravel bar in the middle of the river and did some wading. We caught several fish, panfish, David caught some smallies and I caught a spotted bass. Some of the perch were the size of our hands. We both thought the day felt like a fall day.

It was a good day. We talked about the town of High Ridge that we grew up in. remembered classmates and wondered what happened to some of them. Discussed teachers and sports. Laughed. There was also a lot of quiet time so we could take a walk down memory lane alone. We shared war stories and discussed books. We solved all the world’s problems.

“Friendship is the fruit which the year should bear; it lends its fragrance to the flowers, and its in vain if we get only a large crop of apples without it.” – Henry David Thoreau

Big River

“Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.” – Emma Smith

It is always fun to share the beauty of this part of the river. I don’t think David was disappointed. This stretch of the river has never failed to mesmerize me every time I pass through it.

Big River

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Big River

As the sun began to sink into the western horizon I realized that this perfect day was about to come to an end. I realized how lucky I was to have a friend like David. As I watched the sun as it light seemed to make its final escape from the river the realization that the day was about to end, I realized just how we sometime overlook the importance of a good friend. To think a liberal and conservative spent the day together and didn’t kill each other. Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you enjoyed the photos of the Big River. The beauty of it is stunning and it is easy to get lost in it. Remember to be kind to one another, share the love and don’t squat with your spurs on.

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Almost There

June 23, 2017 / doubledacres / 4 Comments

{Left to Right} Mark’s Grandson, David, Me and Mark

“Remember the most valuable antiques are dear old friends.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr

I thought the above quote was quite appropriate however I can’t speak for David and Mark. In the movie Wild Hogs four middle aged men hit the road for adventure on motorcycles. So I guess for three guys hitting the open river for 7 days in kayaks and canoe, I guess we would be called the Wild Yaks. Hopefully we wont hear banjos.

Some months back I had mentioned to them that I was going to do a seven day float on the river and they thought it was such a great idea that they wanted in, so on Saturday the Geritol Crew will begin a seven day journey down the beautiful Big River. I guess we should call it the Rice Krispies float because every time we get out of the boats you can hear snap, crackle, pop.

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One of the places we will pass by. I call it Rock of David, because my friend David brought it to life in water color.

I hate to say it but this float trip was brought together by Facebook. Mark, David and I graduated together and were reunited by Facebook. I will let you know how many bottles of Geritol we go through. Instead of butcher, baker and Indian Chief we have, retired teacher, bails bondsman and semi-retired horseshoer. What a combination. Well with three wild sixty-three year old men unsupervised on the river, I think the bails bondsman will be most beneficial. I just hope I don’t overdose on Geritol.

Another site we will see on the Big River

I have our trip planned to cover around 6 to 8 miles a day. I hope we reach Cherokee Landing by Monday evening. Our final destination is going to be Washington State Park south of De Soto, MO. I figure it is about a forty-five mile float. I hope to get lots of pics and fish. My wish is to some day float the whole Big River and Bourbeuse River.

“Friends…they cherish one another’s hopes. They are kind to one another’s dreams.” – Henry David Thoreau

As our time draws closer my mind wanders back to the times in school when life was so much simpler. Then my mind rockets back to the present making me realize how much different things are today. We all seem to have a little more snow on the roof. Our step doesn’t have as much spring in it as it used to have. I know some mornings I get up and notice that the “git” in my “git along” all ready got up and left without me. Our friendship has endured a long time. I am looking forward to taking a trip down memory lane this weekend, going back to a time when you all climbed into one car and dumped all your change out to get enough gas in the car to ride around all night. Life was good.

Another place on the river we will pass by.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you enjoyed it. Be kind to one another and share the love. Don’t squat with your spurs on and God Bless you one and all.