Here's another look at my hammock chair. I put my shoulder bag in to illustrate where my butt goes when I sit. It even has a bottle holder. ;-) (That's actually the attached stuff bag.) Today I enjoyed a 45 minute lunch break in it, just relaxing in the woods. It only weighs 4 ounces. #hiking

Today I conducted a scientific experiment. Is a 7.5 mile hike conducive to an afternoon nap? It turns out the answer is...yes! :-)

I got in 6.25 miles today in about 2 hours 10 minutes of hiking. But I took a 25 minute break at 4 miles, relaxing in my hammock chair. You hang it between 2 trees about 6 feet apart, and sit. It's soft, comfy, gives back support, and only weighs 4 ounces. Like an easy chair in the woods! #hiking

Only had 90 minutes to hike today, but I was pushing it as fast as I could, including up the hills. No rest stops, no pics. So still got a good workout. Had to get back in time for Friday night fish fry, which here in Wisconsin is a mandatory. It's basically illegal not to go out for fish fry.

We were feeling restless today so I drove the bride 80 miles to Frank's Diner in Kenosha for a fried spam sandwich. So don't ever say I don't know how to treat a lady! ;-) After lunch we checked out the lakeshore along Lake Michigan. #dinersdriveinsanddives

I saw these two sandhill cranes along the trail a couple of days ago. They saw me too. I heard one of them saying, 'Who is that over there watching us?' The other said, 'Who knows? Some dope with nothing better to do!' #hiking

I walked 3 miles in town today, being that my daughter borrowed my wheels. But here is another clip from yesterday. If you play it volume up you'll hear all the little swamp creatures singing in 50 part harmony. #hiking #wisconsin

The sound of running water always soothes the soul. Don't know why, but it doesn't matter why. What matters is that it always works. I got in about 5 miles today along the IAT. #hiking #iceagetrail

I posted my original 'Dreams Again' a few days ago, but frankly I didn't do a very good job on it. I think this version is a little less bad. :-) All rights reserved. Listen to DreamsAgain10 by Ray Schrab on #SoundCloud on.soundcloud.com/XXTKzOhjq4gZ...

Spring election in Wisconsin today. Hope you can support Chris Taylor for Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

Recently, severe buffering began on our streaming TV service. 3 days ago our T Mobile internet disconnected. They told us it was due to maintenance on a nearby cell tower. But after many hours on tech support calls a tech told us our Gateway was out of date. We got a new one. Fixed it. Frustrating.

Yesterday I hiked 5 miles on the IAT, but no video from that. I didn't get out today, but this afternoon these 2 sandhill cranes came to our front yard. They said they were wondering where I was today. ;-) #sandhillcranes #birds

Here I'm coming down off the other end of the esker I posted about yesterday. The trail passed along a small marshy area and if you play the whole video, volume up, you'll hear that the spring peepers were out. I love that sound! #hiking

Here I'm hiking up and onto an esker, common along the IAT. They were formed when the glacier melted, dropping what had been stream beds comprised of rocks, gravel, and sand, on the tops of or through the glaciers. So they're basically upside down stream beds. #hiking #iceagetrail

A small gaggle of geese taking a bath. They're getting ready to move to Canada. I almost did that back in 1972. And that's all I have to say about that.

Nice hour and 45 minute walk today, including this pleasant little stretch of trail through a pine grove, with blue jays. #hiking #wisconsin

No Kings yesterday in Madison, Wisconsin. Estimated attendance about 15,000 to 20,000. #NoKings

No Kings...happening right now. Madison, Wisconsin. #nokings

No Kings...happening right now in Madison, Wisconsin. #nokings

Got in a 2.5 hour walk today. Good workout. And I learned that hiking at a good pace, uphill, while singing...doesn't work that well. :-) Also...got video of a pileated woodpecker. Not that close, but you can hear him hammering that tree at the end. #hiking #birds

Forgot to post this yesterday, when I got in 5.3 miles. I intentionally took a route with about 400 feet of elevation gain in the first 1.25 miles. Getting in shape for backpacking season. #hiking

Got out there just after the sun popped above the trees today. Down by the lake, the redwing blackbirds were singing and the mourning doves cooing. In the woods the robins were chirping, the blue jays jaying, and the woodpeckers wood peckering. Got in about 5 miles. Good workout. #hiking

When I first saw this little guy on the trail today he was shuffling happily along, so I assure you he is very much alive. But yes, 'playing possum' is a real thing. And he did a good job of it, laying on his side, mouth open, his little paws splayed out. He deserves an Academy Award! :-)

Just finished The Guns of August. Every political leader who thinks war will solve his problems should read this book. Every military leader who thinks he has a plan should read this book. It's the #history of the arrogance, ignorance, and cruelty that dropped millions into the abyss of WW1.

Our stressful 2 days trying to get home after vacation was not related to the TSA. Our flight was canceled due to a blizzard across the Midwest. The airline was not very helpful, but the TSA lines were not a problem. The longest line was about 45 minutes. Thank you to TSA for working without pay.

The Gulf of Mexico as seen from the Old 7 Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys. I never get tired of the different shades of blue you see out there. #floridakeys

I know there are people hiking the Appalachian Trail down there. Good luck everybody, and stay safe. #hiking #backpacking #appalachiantrail

Due to the blizzard in Wisconsin our flight home was canceled, along with every flight going north. So 24 stressful hours spent trying to rebook a way home. Couldn't even get a car to drive home. Trying to relax by watching videos of my walk thru National Key Deer Refuge a few days ago. #keydeer

Been in a 3rd floor room in Islamorada last couple of days, and our next door neighbor has been a family of ospreys. Dad stands watch while little Ozzie tries to learn how to fly. #floridakeys

The tiny Key Deer are an endangered sub-species of white-tailed deer. A large adult only reaches 30 inches (76 cm) at the shoulder. There are only about 700 left, living in the Middle Keys centered around Big Pine Key in Florida. Saw 2 today in the National Key Deer Refuge. #keydeer

Our new friend Bandit joined us for drinks and snacks at the bar. We had drinks, he had snacks. Kitty food. #keylargo

I enjoy camping and cooking over a campfire. But I'll take my meal here too. It'll do for tonight. ;-) #keylargo

We had a friend over for breakfast this morning. #keylargo

Paddled around the bay today, but my kayaking muscles are out of shape, so I took a break in the cool shade of a small mangrove island.

Sunset. What a great day. #sunset

Here comes the sun. Sunrise over the clouds today. #sunrise

About 6 miles today, good workout. It was 60 F (15.5 C) and sunny. The ice on all the little ponds in the Kettle Moraine will be gone by tomorrow. I hereby declare it to be spring here in SE Wisconsin. But...I do recall one year when we had 10 inches of snow on May 7th!

A quick look seemed to show geese walking on water. But actually, there is still ice there with a thin layer of surface water over the top.

Finally saw my first robin of the season. Here in Wisconsin, we consider the return of the robins to be the first sight of spring, although they often show up with a couple weeks of winter left. They're late this year, probably due to the winter storms passing south of us the past few weeks.

Was going through a box of old family pictures yesterday and found this postcard. It was sent by my Grandfather to my Grandmother in March of 1912, 2 years before they got married. It shows an airplane flying over Mayville, WI. Note the lack of cars. #history

5 miles today on a beautiful sunny afternoon, 40 F (4.5 C). Our snowstorm of 2 days ago is just a memory, and based on forecast, may be the last of the winter. I heard a pileated woodpecker cackling and banging on a tree, but didn't get a look at him. #hiking #wisconsin

I wrote this song during a time of futile war, lies, and protest...more than 50 years ago. Here we go again. It's called White Smoke. (Bluesky version, 3 minutes. Recorded in my bathroom on a cheap cell phone. All rights reserved.)

Nice kettle pond along the Ice Age Trail. There are lots of these in the Kettle Moraine. This one is right in the middle of the city of West Bend, Wisconsin. Got in about 4 miles today. #hiking #iceagetrail #wisconsin

One of my favorite rest stops when I'm out hiking. I'll call this video 'On Frozen Pond.' Could be the trailer for a sequel to 'On Golden Pond'? No? ;-) #hiking

Got in 6.4 miles today averaging just under 3 miles per hour. Last year I did 6 miles or more almost daily with no problem. Today, I'm beat. Got a bit lazy over winter. Easy walking though. Last night's snow mostly melted, but mud was frozen. #hiking #wisconsin

One of the sections of trail I hike has been set up as The Astronomy Trail, with a sign for each planet at a distance proportional to the actual distance between planets in space. So I went from Earth to Pluto, the edge of the solar system. No spaceship. Long hike! ;-) #hiking #astronomy

Got in a bit over 5 miles today in just over 2 hours. I was beat at the end. Too many donuts and hot chocolates this winter I think! Got to up my game before spring backpacking season. #hiking

This gorge between 2 glacial eskers collects colder air as it sinks below warmer air. And it's protected from sun. This creates a cold area where the snow hasn't melted. Eskers are long narrow hills, with steep sides, of rocks and gravel dropped by melting glaciers. #hiking #iceage #iat #wisconsin

What a beautiful day here in SE Wisconsin! 62 F (17 C) and sunny. After several warm days the snow is mostly gone. I got in about 4 miles on the IAT thru West Bend. You would never know you're walking thru a city of 32,000 people. Very nice section of trail! #hiking #iceagetrail #wisconsin