Sky Dive Georgia

My grandson  Carson, his father Shaun, and his Uncle Tim, celebrated Carson's 2018 graduation from Harrison High School, Kennesaw, Georgia with a tandem sky jump.

They jumped from 14,600 feet.  The total jump took approximately 4 1/2 minutes. The free fall was one minute, followed by a 3 1/2 minute parachute flight to a safe landing.

Carson will be attending the University of Mississippi this Fall. 

Carson's sister, Madison, did the skydive in 2016.  She is a senior at Auburn University.

Carson Skydiving 2018



Shaun Skydiving 2018



Timothy Skydiving 2018

Maddi Skydiving 2016



Video by a Proud Grandfather and Father
Preparation, Pre and Post Interviews

Never say, " I wish I had been skydiving"

Sky Dive The Farm

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" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"
Steve's 5th book is now available. Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book motivates friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life.

Steve’s books are also available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle .

How close is “too close” when viewing a bear?

I have lived in New Hampshire for many years and have had glimpses of black bears as they crossed my hiking paths or roads. These brief sightings were so quick I was never able to get a picture.

I also heard “Do not get too close to a bear – particularly when cubs are present”. With this caution, last Monday I was in my front yard in Bedford, and lo and behold a mother bear with four cubs following, crossed the road … a 100 or so feet in front of me.

With iPhone in hand, I stealthily walked up the road to see if I could spot where the bears entered the leafy green and dark woods.  I turned onto my neighbor’s lawn outside the forest.

No sooner did I make the turn, when over the knoll ahead was a large growling upright bear facing me with paws up ready to box.  The mother was protecting her cubs and warning me to “stay away”. With camera rolling, I was able to get a glimpse of her standing.  Then returning to all fours, she lumbered into a dark hole in the forest where she had already cleared her cubs to safety.

This was my first challenge by a bear – and a warning, “do not get too close”.

My wife joined me for a view and we watched the bear from the top of the mound ... maybe fifty feet from the dark forest hole where the bear was camouflaged in the woods. We could only see her eyes, nose, and slight body movement. The mother was in front of a tree urging her cubs to climb the tree.

As we silently watched waiting for a better picture, she unexpectedly roared while rushing a few feet out of the woods  ...  and immediately returned to her black forested cave.  She was again challenging us to keep away from her cubs ... and to leave.

This was a more vicious second warning "to leave".

This is when I realized, “too close to a bear”, means being within sight of the bear.

We retreated to the road, and walked to the other side of the woods. We could see one of the cubs clinging high in a tree.  We knew the mother was still below the treed cubs, and we nervously kept an eye on the ground level, anticipating a charging bear from the woods.

It was time to leave before my foolish bravery resulted in personal danger.

My lesson and warning to all my readers is, if you want to observe a wilderness bear, stay out of its sight ... as far away as you can.  Use your zoom camera lens, and if you do not have a zoom lens, then leave.

Remember, getting close to a bear, means staying out of sight of the bear.

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" Everyone must do something.  I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Steve's 5th book, Outdoor Play Fun 4 4 Seasons Volume II, is now available   

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Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book motivates friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life.

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle.

Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) Hike at Mink Brook Nature Preserve, Hanover, New Hampshire

Let's go hiking with the ORFS!  Today's outdoor trek will be in Hanover, NH at the Mink Brook Nature Preserve. Weather is sunny and in the low 70's ...AND the black flies are still sleeping!

The Mink Brook Nature Preserve protects habitat for wild brook trout, bears, and many other creatures while offering a natural retreat within walking distance of downtown Hanover. Owned by the Hanover Conservancy, this 112-acre preserve is the result of deep generosity and community spirit. Through the millennia, Mosbasak Sibosis (“Mink Brook” in Abenaki) has been an important center of life for Native Americans and remains so today. (Mink Brook Nature Preserve Map and Guide)

The above map’s red arrows begin and end at the Parking (P) area and proceeds through the wooden gate onto Quinn Trail along Mink Brook; continues on the Forest Loop; crosses the Bridge to Trout Brook Trail; and returns back to the Bridge and exits at the wood gate on Quinn Trail.  Our trek took about 1 ½ hours.

Who are the ORFS?

The Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) group meets every Tuesday year-round at 10 am.  In the summer we kayak/canoe, swim and hike.  In the fall we hike, and in the winter we snowshoe and cross-country ski.  Our trips are from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, followed by lunch.

Directions and location are available for our Tuesday 10 am outings via email and the monthly New London Chapin Senior Center Courier newsletter. To learn more and join, contact the Chapin Senior Center at 357 pleasant Street, PO Box 1263, New London, New Hampshire 03752 or go to their web site at http://www.coachapincenter.org

ORFS is a very informal group and participation is for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting guaranteed good exercise with a friendly fun group.

References

Hanover Conservancy

Hanover Conservancy Map and Guide

More Blog Posts on Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS)
1. ORFS Winter Hike Puts Safety First: Kidder-Cleveland-Clough Trail

2. Christmas Caroling with the ORFS
3. Radio Interview with Pearl Monroe - WTPL 107.7 Concord
4. Bowling Day for Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS)

5. An Outdoor Recreation for Seniors(ORFS) Celebration of Spring

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" Everyone must do something.  I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Steve's 5th book, Outdoor Play Fun 4 4 Seasons Volume II, is now available   

Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book motivates friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life.

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Kindle.