The workshop has been blood-warm much of this month so I bought a chip carving knife and some basswood and have been sitting at my desk to practice. I may be approaching a charming level of mediocrity.

On my substack: I officially started hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Falls of the Neuse. Geology, longleaf pines, funny dogs, deadly floods, and a bald eagle.

The trail into a not too recently burned patch of long leaf pine forest at Falls Lake. The bark is still visibly singed, but saplings are growing back.

Cursed with a nationwide shortage and blessed with a rampant garden, I made my own sriracha. It tastes pretty good, but the real test will involve tater tots and mayonnaise.

Virginia day flowers growing by a utility pole.

On looking down: Wildflowers along the Crabtree Creek and its tributaries

Thanks to whoever it was recommended (or at least mentioned) Matsuo Basho’s The Narrow Road to the North. I am enjoying it.

On the absurdity, and necessity, of walking in a technological age. Warning: This essay mentions bindlestiffs and name-drops Edward Abbey.

I have decided to start hiking the North Carolina Moutains-to-Sea Trail in stages over the next couple of years, and also to blog the experience on Substack: The Road to Jockey’s Ridge. Free and available for your consideration. I’ll link individual posts here as well.

Say hello to my little friend: or, contra myself on reference works and conviviality

I always wanted to write a blog post that began “Contra myself,” and now I’ve done it. Cross another one off the bucket list.