Category: The Moosilauke Letters

Black MesaOklahomaMarch  2013 Just 137 miles east of Black Mesa as the crow flies, or 161 miles as the crow drives, but still in the Panhandle of Oklahoma, is a town called Beaver.  Beaver is — did you know this? — the Cow Chip Throwing Capital of the World.  It is here in Beaver, Oklahoma, that the… Continue reading Cow Chip

Pine Creek GorgePennsylvaniaMay  1997 Our sleepover location is the Pettecote Junction Campground, along Pine Creek.  We find a postage-stamp-sized piece of land insulated from campers moored to electric posts two sites away on either side.  Pettecote Junction Campground is set up to service the many vacationers who drive to this touristy area in their campers… Continue reading Pettecoat Junction

ArkansasJune  2012 We have summited Mount Magazine, the high point in Arkansas, and we are on our way to Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in Missouri.  We wind through the Uplands, the Ozark Plateau.  Arkansas is nicknamed the “Natural State” because, before they began to build stuff, someone noticed that the area was quite… Continue reading Rock n Roll Highway 67

Brasstown BaldGeorgiaNovember  2012 You know what a switchback is.  First you go this way, then you go that way, then you go this way again and then that way… This trail climbs a relatively steep mountainside.  To lessen the load, so to speak, design the footpath with many switchbacks.  Not so steep this way. My… Continue reading Switchback

Northeastern United Statespretty much any time you go out The older woman’s voice on the telephone says, “There is no water here, so there are no mosquitoes, black flies or vermin.”  But Grandma does warn us about snakes and ticks.  I’m not at all alarmed by this as Pennsylvania, my home state, could put anyone… Continue reading Tick Check

Boise CityOklahomaMarch  2013 These days, the Oklahoma Panhandle, as well as the rest of the state of Oklahoma, is about as Republican as you can get.  If you were to stand around with seven of your best friends during the Presidential election in 2008, and you voted for Mr Obama, rest assured that your seven… Continue reading Will Rogers — A Short Political Summary

Lick Hollow State Forest Picnic AreaPennsylvaniaJune  2019 Behold, the shortest hiking trail Lisa and I have ever had the pleasure to hike.  In the photo, the sign is at trailhead and Lisa is at the terminal end of the trail.  We didn’t get lost once.

Mount GreylockMassachusettsMay  2014 The Money Brook Trail goes off to the left.  That’s our planned route.  At the junction, we continue straight up the Hopper Trail.  Why do we continue straight up the Hopper Trail instead of turning left onto the Money Brook Trail?  I have no idea.  We read the map, we have our… Continue reading Talk Like a Pirate Day

RoswellNew MexicoMarch  2013 Continuing southwest 164 miles takes us nigh into Roswell, New Mexico.  Does that name sound familiar to you?  Many people know Roswell for the “incident.”  In 1947, there was a report that an airborne whatsis crashed on a ranch somewhere outside of Roswell, New Mexico.  Since then there has been a heck… Continue reading Roswell