JDPFu.com 2024

We’ve all lost something in our travels. Last fall I was out hiking on a local trail and feeling good enough to jog down it after about 90 minutes of strenuous up/down hiking. Well, my legs couldn’t keep up with my mind and I took a spill off the trail and lost my sunglasses. I’ve been back on that same trail at least 3 times since that spill and always searched for a few minutes for the missing sunglasses, but never found them.

Until yesterday.

I haven’t been very active the last 2 months, so I took the reverse route on this trail thinking it was easier (that is debatable), anyway, as I was going up in the place where I had tripped previously, I stopped for about 2 minutes and searched. This time the glare of the sun off the frames was just perfect and I saw the lenses. Leaned over, picked them up and they appear to be no worse for being outdoors through 2 major snowfalls and sub-20 degF temperatures multiple times. Actually, they didn’t look bad at all.

Now if I could only get on the same airplane where I’ve left lots and lots of sunglasses in the seat backs. ;)

Anyway, it was a beautiful day for a hike, the sun was shining, temps in the mid 50s, the views from the peak were fantastic AND I found something I’d lost months ago. I couldn’t imagine any way it could have been better. I’m easily amused, but you know that already.

For about the last week, I’ve been in the Fort Collins, CO area for my niece’s wedding. That required about 6 hours total, but if I’m going all that way, I want to make it into a mini-vacation.

During the trip, I saw elk, bear, bear cub, rattle snake, rabbits, HUGE grasshoppers, millions of grasshoppers, gray squirrels, ground squirrels, and a few fish. A few interesting photos are below.

Sometimes you don’t realize what a great day you had until later.

Over Thanksgiving, I spent a day near Tallassee, Alabama hiking on the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail.

Finding the trail head from the parking lot wasn’t as easy as it should have been and later I ended up taking a turn that shortened by hike by 2 miles due to poor signage. The fallen leaves everywhere made it difficult to stay on parts of the trail. The trail was still enjoyable with ups and down parts. I rate it moderate overall with a few short difficult sections. Along the way, I saw wild turkey, deer and an interesting spider that I’d never seen before along with the normal squirrel and bird life.

According the the Bugfinder site I saw a Spiny Backed Orb Weaver in the center of its normal web. It was a little over 1cm in diameter.

Anyway, it was a nice few hours spent hiking in nature next to Martin Lake with a few overlooks.

I met up with a sister to do a little geo caching over the weekend around Cochran Mill Park southwest of Atlanta. It was around 40 deg when we got started. No trail map in hand, but we both had GPSs and coordinates for 5 or so caches to find.

In summary,

• we found 5 geo caches – searched for 7
• I lost my Bluetooth GPS receiver (normally tethered to my Nokia N800, somewhere scrambling up a very steep hill
• During a water crossing, as we returned from the first cache of the day, I slipped on some frost on the felled tree (over a stream) and took a nasty spill.
  • left shin has a superficial 3" scrap (little blood)
  • left knee has a knot on it
  • left forearm it very tender. No stress or strain is possible without pain

We kept going in search of a number of other caches for the next 4+ hours. I normally take plenty of water, but not this time. I didn’t realize how long we’d be hiking in the bush. Trails were not normally used since a direct path with GPS coordinates and bearings seem to be the quickest way, especially when we didn’t have a trail map.

After getting home, the extent of my injury became a little clearer. The leg stuff is nothing. The arm … that’s a different matter. Also, bush whacking is different from hiking. It is more difficult. My legs hurt.

In the middle of the night, I needed a drink of water. As I made my way downstairs, taking 1 step at a time and holding onto the wall, I felt like a 99 yr old must. Very stiff. Opening a drink top wasn’t easy with only 1 hand working (the other hurt too much to use).

This morning, the legs are mostly fine, not too stiff. The arm still hurts, but just a little less than yesterday. It will probably a few weeks before I get full use back.

Oh, check the gallery for photos of the day. A GPS track should be available RSN too. Obviously, it won’t be from my GPS.

Pine Mtn Recreation Area
This is my 2nd trip to this trail – nothing important is new. See the other report for directions, parking, etc…

However, this time I did both the east and west trail loops. I’m in much better shape now. ;)

The trail map is accurate, for the most part, except where it is completely inaccurate. A few of the mileage markers on map simply don’t exist. Also, the number of switchbacks shown on the smaller trail is wholey inaccurate – there are approx. double the number shown. Why do I care? BECAUSE I WAS CLIMBING THE DAMN HILL THERE.

As always, it is good to be hiking on a Tuesday afternoon when everyone else is at work.

Pine Log Creek Trail
Overview
Trail is 4.5 mile compacted soil path crossing seven rustic footbridges over Pine Log Creek.

This trail system includes two loops – east and west. I hiked most of the western loop first, taking the most western trail at the split. Then took the link over a creek to the eastern loop. I took the southern trail at the loop split. There’s a small beaver dam.

Mileage Summary

Directions I-75 Exit 293, US 411 north approximately 7.7 miles. Turn right onto GA 140 east toward Waleska. Continue approximately 3.3 miles to Pine Log Creek Trail System parking area on left. I had to turn around and go back after passing the entrance.

Red Top Mountain
Overview

1. Homestead Trail Mileage: 4.4 miles total (which doesn’t match the 5.4 mils from the last time I did this exact trail)
2. Total Time: 1:30 with stops for photos. I’m getting into significantly better shape.
3. This was my first hike since returning from both Costa Rica and Argentina, I expected knee problems and didn’t have any – not even a pop. Two months ago, I was 13 lbs heavier. That doesn’t sound like much and I certainly haven’t been losing weight like I did the non-travel months. Since returning from Buenos Aires, I’ve struggled to follow my calorie restrictions, exercise and stop eating after 7pm. The BsAs lifestyle didn’t allow for any of that.
4. Back to Red Top Mtn – spring has fully sprung. The trail was full of green and about 10 butterflies. The butterflies were nothing like Iguazu Falls or Costa Rice in either density or coloration, but they were still nice to see in the mid-afternoon.
5. No insect bites at all – no DEET on either.
6. My boots, purchased at Blackcomb Mountain in British Columbia, are starting to show some wear. With my weight loss, the boots fit much better and I’ve changed from liner hiking socks to medium-cush hiking socks. Another 20 lbs down and I’ll need the heavy-cush socks.

Noticeable Sights
The main thing to see is that Lake Allatoona isn’t low anymore. According to the Corps of Engineers site, 840’ is the normal lake level in summer and considered full at that level. Wikipedia Article Paths that run near the lake have … perhaps 10’ of clearance which is probably the ideal lake level.

I awoke in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina dead tired from hiking the falls on Sunday.

• Slept in as long as possible
• catch the bus into the town center
• purchase some breakfast at a local grocer
• wander in the shopping district
• sit for awhile
• water
• Lunch where I get the local interpretation of a hamburger
• wander around the small town some more
• Look for a minibus to the airport – no good
• pay a taxi AR$50
• Wait and wait in the airport
• Flight – mostly on time; I speak English so I can sit in the exit row seats.
• Flight back
  • a Chinese tourist sees all the empty seats in hte exit row and takes on. Quickly the crew asks him, in English, whether he understood them. When he refused to answer or move, 4 of the crew helped him. I suspect he was delayed significantly once we landed.
  • see some of the fires causing huge air pollution issues for the entire region from the air (camera is packed away)
  • see Buenos Aires just as the Sun sets – beautiful view
  • From touchdown to apartment is less than 20 minutes.
• Quick coffee with Jim’s family; goodbye
• Pizza! We return to the best pizza place so far. Order 4 Cokes with the pizza, 2 each, to avoid having to wait for service. The bottles are just 10oz each.

Part 2

Siesta

Ok, we take the city bus (AR$4) and Fleur gets off at her hostel as I continue back to the terminal. I know now that I should have stayed on the bus all the way to my hotel, but at the time, I didn’t. And we are walking … I see some of the town, learn the map and hike for 30+ minutes directly towards my hotel – The Esturion about 1.5 miles outside the city center, but still in the town. On arrival, the hotel claims to never have heard of me or my Travelocity confirmation code. They give me a 2 single bed room, ground floor for the same rate. I take a hot shower and nap for 90 minutes or so.

City Bus to Park

I ask the hotel which buses to take to get to the park – ’’Cataratas’’ is the name and it stops out front and heads to the park through the terminal, same price for the entire trip. I believe that I’m just a little late getting to the bus stop. About the time I’m convinced I missed the bus that Fleur and I agreed to meet on, a few taxi drivers offer me a ride. AR$15 to the park – mucho dinero I say and decide to wait for another taxi to catch. Just then – 1 minute later – the bus comes. It is running 15 minutes late. Fleur also catches the same bus – bonus.

Moonlight view of the falls – Garganta del Diablo

8:30pm-ish. ‘’Wonderful.’’ Don’t experience it alone. Bring a camera with high ISO manual modes and a tripod. If you can set the exposure manually to 2 seconds, you can capture photos of the water falls. The full moon lit the falls beautifully – none of my photos turned out. We met a couple from Israel who helped make the evening even more fun. Eitan and Inbar had an SLR camera and used a 2 second exposure to get the photos. I hope to get those via email in a few days.

10:30p-ish Diner was surprisingly good. A buffet with a good selection of different salads, side dishes, 1 chicken dish and a Carne (beef) window. I didn’t have any red meat – not my bag, but the other 3 did and said it was good. Overall, we were pleased with the meal. Catch the bus around 11:30p back into town. Say goodbye to my new friends along the way. I wish we weren’t so tired from the very long day and could hit a cafe or bar and chat some more. Alas, email will have to do as we’re all headed to different parts of the world later this week.

The bus stopped at the terminal and everyone got off except me. I moved to the front and told the bus driver my hotel was Esturion – he drove to the main drag in the correct direction and opened the door saying – 6 blocks in that direction. I’d walked it already and knew the way. 15 minutes later I’m just entering the hotel compound. To bed.

Hotel

Yawn. 10am checkout time. Nice shower. The toilet seat is a really cheap plastic model. A bottle of water is AR$20 – ouch. The A/C is very loud, but works well enough to remove the humidity. Simple and mostly clean. I won’t stay there again after my overall experience. Free wifi, but only in some part of the hotel that I wasn’t.

Part 1

• Taxi – WOW!
• Airport/flight
• Minibus
• Puerto Iguazú City Bus Terminal/Hawkers | Google Map Link
• Cataratas del Parque Nacional Iguazú | Google Map Link
• Siesta
• City Bus to Park
• Moonlight view of the falls
• Hotel

Taxi – WOW!

5am taxi pickup outside the apartment. The taxi driver would have beaten Mario Andretti in a race to the airport. Hang on, ignore red lights, and watch for other drivers doing the same was the rule. Oh, and lane markers mean nothing, even more than usual. After running a light at about 60MPH, he pulled to the right into the turn around lane crossing the road we were just on to enter the airport. The light changed for us and we started slowly across the road. Another car came flying (guess 80MPH) and seeing us, slammed on his brakes, sliding and screeching to a stop almost thru the intersection. A quick nod from my driver and I was out of the cab – AR$15 including tip.

Airport & flight

7:20am flight
Ok, so now I’m at the airport in record time 2 hours in advance. Yawn. The security isn’t open, so I camp out on the floor (no chairs exist there). Security doesn’t require taking off my boots and I’m thru with zero fuss. Waiting for 90 minutes near gate b12 or 12b until they say something in Spanish and almost everyone forms a line. There’s no boarding by zone here. The flight is uneventful – most of the emergency row seats are empty … hummmmm.

Minibus

9am-ish arrival
At the Iguazu airport, there’s a bunch of vendors and taxis trying to get you to pay way too much for a ride someplace. I ask the information booth which minibus goes to the park directly. I’m traveling very light and want to do as much of the park today as possible. There are no direct connections to the park, so I take a minibus (AR$15) to the main bus terminal in the town. Along the way, a Dutch girl, Fleur, and I chat a few minutes.

Puerto Iguazú City Bus Terminal & Hawkers

Then I walk the gauntlet of hawkers selling packages inside the terminal building. Each claims to be Information, but really they are trying to sell you a boat ride and more. English barely exists here and the physical layout is less than ideal for determining where the actual bus terminal ticket window is – I never found it or perhaps it doesn’t exist. Anyway, after talking with 3 different windows, I purchase 2 one-way tickets on the city bus to the national park and head towards bus boarding area 11. AR$4 each way. Up and over the bus loading area and stand where a bunch of others are also standing. There’s the no. 11 – good. The bus winds around the town for a few stops then heads back towards the airport. Along the way, the same Dutch girl, Fleur, gets on the full bus. I’ve since learned that by just standing at the no. 11 bus boarding area and paying AR$4 as you get on, you can ride the bus to the falls without dealing with any hawkers. Don’t expect any English from the drivers.

Cataratas del Parque Nacional Iguazú

10:45a-ish – AR$40 for foreigners (AR$14 for Argentines). Fleur speaks advanced Spanish, nice. We decide to hike the trails together – working backwards from the normal tourist order. This was recommended by Jim based on his trip here in December. Using this reversed viewing, we begin with a distant view of the falls and some close views of the Inferior Falls. We build to larger and larger falls with closer and closer views over the day. [[Iguazu Trails in Order]]
The free boat trip to the island provides 3 more views of the medium sized falls – medium is like Niagara I hear. The initial steps from the boat onto the center of the island was very strenuous. Possibly the most difficult climb I’ve done – even more so than the mountain in Costa Rica. A Boat ride back from the island, and around other lower trails. All along the way we see wildlife – butterflies, spiders, rodents, birds and mammals. I’ll have to look up the names later.
Next is the Superior trail where we walk over the edge and falls we’ve been viewing all morning.
To be clear, most of the tails are rock or steel. I don’t think I stepped on dirt all day except sand on the island. Food and water were readily available and expensive – 3x normal prices or more. In this part of the world, tap water isn’t safe to drink.
After the superior trail, we catch the free train and head to the devil’s throat – Garganta del Diablo. This is about a half mile steel walkway out over the river feeding the falls you’ve already seen with a few islands along the way. Tons of butterflies all along. The steel ends on at the falls edge with a fantastic view. Take your own photos and/or pay the photographers there for unbelievable photos of you, your group and the falls. I’ve seen the results – but if you’re still reading this, you know how cheap I am. Staring into the falls for hours is easy. I’m soaked multiple times from a mix of sweat and mist. It dries quickly each time. The temperature was only mid-80s, but I was very near heat exhaustion due to the high humidity and exertion climbing steps. I saw 2 older people sitting on the steel trail – who appeared to have collapsed. They were being helped by the park and their families.
It is getting late and both of us feel done for the day. On the way out, Fleur and I commit to the dinner and moonlight viewing package (AR$95 ea).