Don't be a bully!

Although it's nice to watch wildlife, it's even better when the wildlife is doing something. When I was in Arkansas elk viewing, the rut had just began. That meant there was a lot of pawing, snorting, stomping, chasing, challenging, bugling, and herding going on.

I watched this big guy go cut a cow from a neighboring herd and run her back into his harem.

"Back in the kitchen, woman!"  She does not look pleased about the current state of affairs...

While he was busy stealing the cow, these two bulls got into a little tussle. I figure they had to do it to preserve their manhood, seeing as how the other guy was a lot bigger, older, and meaner.

"Hey-let's pretend like we're fighting, so we don't notice him stealing our cow and have to do something about it."

But then one of them wandered too close to Big Bubba's gal pals, and the big boy re-directed the young'un back to his own side of the meadow. Watch the intensity (and I apologize for the shaky videography!)

The Big Guy really, really wanted to fight someone. Anyone. Please, any takers? He also wanted an up close and personal encounter with some of the cows, but they weren't having any part of it, so he took his frustration out on the brush.

Listen to this calf and cow calling to one another, when they got separated and she was trying to get the calf to cross the road and find her. I kinda know how the little guy feels. I spent a good part of one afternoon circling the top of Cave Mountain before I figured out it was loop trail.

Man, from this angle it would be easy to mistake this fella for a bear!

"You girls stay put. I'm gonna go find some punks to intimidate,"

              Happy Trails, and may adventure always be in view!

Bugle Boy of 'Campany' B

Last weekend I ran away from home. Philoboy has a standing offer to run away with me, but he mumbled something about being too busy to go camping.

Please. If I ever say I am too busy to go camping, someone shake me till I come to my senses. He's messing with the moiety of this relationship.

The upside of a solo trip is that I pack food that only I like. I eat spaghetti for breakfast. There's not a lot of meat in the food cache. Philo might shrivel up if he doesn't have meat.

My destination was the Boxley Valley in Arkansas, where elk have been reintroduced after dying out several dacades ago. In fact, they've been reintroduced twice. The second time it stuck and the herd has grown and thrived.

The first day I was there it was raining and chilly, but that meant the elk stayed out in the open for most of the day, instead of retreating to the trees after sunup.

The bugling was amazing. From mountaintop to mountaintop, from one meadow to the next, I've never heard so many bulls at once. The mist and drizzle just added to the eeriness and wonder.

Bulls challenged and bluffed and charged and pawed, and...

"Hey. I'm not taking this lying down. Oh wait, maybe I am."

The town of Ponca is located at the north end of the Boxley Valley. People line the road to take photos of the elk. There's a one-pump gas station. There are no restaurants. Elk tourism has not made an inroad into the local economy yet. Take snacks. Fill up the tank before you get there, it's a long ways to civilization.


"Hey there, gorgeous. Want to come over to my meadow?"

"Oh good grief!  You bulls are all the same! Can't you see I'm busy?!"

If you like hunting with a camera, this is the place to be.

Happy Trails, and may your adventures introduce you to something wonderful!

stuff the stuff

It's possible that we might have too much camping/hiking/backpacking/outdoor gear. I don't really believe that, but I just wanted to lay out the possibility.

For me to take a solo camping trip to Ponca, Arkansas, required a lot of deconstruction before the construction could begin. Gear inventory. It's what I do. I had to move the vehicles, the grill, the box of my children's mementos and Philoboy out of the garage to have enough room to spread it all out. Philoboy's office is in the garage. Somehow, it's important for you to know that.

At one time we got all organized and made camping tubs with cookware, and dinnerware, and emergency ware. Then we made smaller, weekend tubs. Then we made backpacking tubs.Then Philoboy needed a lighter for the grill, and it's been downhill ever since. I can't find anything.

Except for our duct-taped tent. I can't seem to get rid of that thing. It's lived through hailstorms, windstorms, I'm-feeling-fat storms. It doesn't even leak at the duct tape. It's good advertisement for Eureka tents. "Your dome away from home."

Hey, that's pretty good! I think Eureka should hire me to do their advertising!

All this 'gearing up' was so I could drive six hours to meet this guy:

Ah. Now I have your attention. Stay tuned for the whole story. There's adventure, mystery, getting almost lost. And that was just leaving my driveway.

And another thing,

Before I launch into my daily dribble, let me just say: GALS- We need more
Diana Nyads. Who's next?

OK, now that I got that off my chest. Sometimes waiting to make proclamations keeps me awake at night.

In Ponca, Arkansas, despite what everyone tells you, there are no elk. This is the section of the Buffalo River famous for herds of elk grazing along the shore. I don't believe it. There were signs of elk, like this-

But no elk. I think all the elk went to Minnesota for the summer.  I had  to limit my elk viewing to the Elk Education Center in Ponca. Very nice, with regional  history, and great displays. And free admission!!

If you're in the area, and you see some of the OTHER kinds of signs of elk- let me know. I ain't believin' it till I see it.