Dad's Birthday

 No, not Father's Day, but my dad's Birthday, born on this date.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Earth Day 2025

Think about it....

Isn't the world worth saving?

https://youtu.be/2rA_EXYf0kA

Nothing unexpected, but travel to US down in March

 Nothing unexpected, but travel to US down in March

Originating Non-Stop Air Travel in March 2025

Non-U.S. citizen air passenger arrivals to the United States from foreign countries totaled:

4.541 million in March 2025, down 9.7 percent compared to March 2024.

Asian citizen arrivals to the U.S. were down 33.3 percent compared to March 2019.

Source: U.S. International Air Travel Statistics (I-92 data) 

next worldwide day of action

 

Hands Off!

 Hands Off!

Find a location near you. Volunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · Hands Off on Mobilize

Annual April Fools Day Post

 

Our Felon.  Can't get any more foolish than this guy!

Canada to US Tourism continues to drop, drop drop

 As tensions flame, Canadians are seeking other Snowbird destinations this Spring as flights and car rental fall as much as 30% in April 2025.  The Guardian even reports a 70% drop!

No matter what percentage, things are changing as more and more citizens from around the world, decide it might be better to travel elsewhere?

Why spend your money in the States when other places are more welcoming and warmer than even Florida?

Oh yeah, you need Real ID soon.

Arrivals to US down

As the US becomes less welcoming, the data shows:

Originating Non-Stop Air Travel in February 2025

Non-U.S. citizen air passenger arrivals to the United States from foreign countries totaled:

4.116 million in February 2025, down 4.8 percent compared to February 2024.

This represents 88.2 percent of pre-pandemic February 2019 volume.

Source: I-94 Arrivals Program

A friend from the UK reported to me:

"All the news that we get on this side of the pond paints the U.S. as a dystopian, fascist regime that's not even safe to visit — which definitely gives me pause for whether this is the right decision (to return home)."

Rain Gardens

 While April Showers brings May Flowers, it also brings Spring Floods.

so here are a couple of links for you to learn more.

Rain Gardens

Building a rain garden | UMN Extension

and grab this one,  before the Mr. Trump removes it.

Soak Up the Rain: Rain Gardens | US EPA

and don't dump stuff down the storm drains.

National Trails Day 2025

 That time of year to start thinking about ...

American Hiking Society - Protect the Places You Love to Hike

Great Cardboard Boat Regatta

 50th Annual Great Cardboard Boat Regatta

The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta originated at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1974.

This fun, family–friendly event continues to draw aspiring boat builders and spectators to Southern Illinois each spring to race cardboard creations (and watch them sink).

Date: April 26, 2025

Time: Races begin at 1 p.m.

Location: Becker Pavilion (Boat Dock) on Campus Lake

1493 Douglas Drive, Carbondale, Illinois

Great Cardboard Boat Regatta | Conference Services | SIU

and a video from last year

Hundreds attend 49th annual SIU Cardboard Boat Regatta

Lunar Eclipse the other night

 With clear skies, a great opportunity to see a Lunar Eclipse from the back yard,  Enjoy,

Essentially, all 4896x3672 pixels

Shot with a DMZ-ZS40 Camera

f/6.4, 4 seconds, ISO-400

Tripod of course and shot at 2 am, CDT, 14 March 2025 in Carbondale IL.

International Women's Day

 

Boycott Friday 28 February

 

You can buy my Appalachian Trail Book and support a non-profit anytime. 

Appalachian Trail Museum - Welcome

Federal Terminations to Impact the Management and Protection of the Appalachian Trail

 Read the response from the ATC:

Federal Terminations to Impact the Management and Protection of the Appalachian Trail | Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Volunteer Spring Break Trips

 Time to showcase the wonderful Volunteer Spring Break Trips sponsored by the American Hiking Society. 

See the webpage for details.

Grateful Dead Live at Warfield Theater on 1982-02-17

 Today in Grateful Dead History:

Grateful Dead Live at Warfield Theater on 1982-02-17, download free here.

Stream the Soundboard here.

The Real Appalachian Trail BC* Paperback – February 1, 2025

 Fifty years after completing the Appalachian Trail, the book that tells the story is available on Amazon and the Appalachian Trail Museum.

All proceeds go to the AT Museum.

It is now available directly from the AT Museum and they in turn will get a higher donation.

35th National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium (NERR)

 the 35th National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium (NERR), March 30 to April 1, 2025. We look forward to seeing you in Virginia Beach, VA! 

Here are a few important reminders:

Early Bird Registration: Don’t miss the early bird rate—register by February 15, 2025 (2025 NERR Registration)

Hotel Reservations: Book your stay at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront to enjoy the special conference rate of $139/night and discounted parking (NERR Symposium Hotel).

You’ll find more details about registration, hotel accommodations, and the conference schedule on our website: http://nerrsymposium.org

Become a Special Issue Reviewer: We’re seeking reviewers for the JPRA special issue featuring Research Notes from the 2025 NERR Symposium. If you’re interested in reviewing during late spring/summer 2025, we’d love to have your expertise—please contact special issue co-editors: Kofan Lee (klee18@olemiss.edu), Stella Liu (hliu35@gmu.edu), and Ellen Drogin Rodgers (erodger1@gmu.edu).  

 

My AT book going to press

 So, after two years of writing, my Appalachian Trail book will soon be out.  Available first on Amazon, the beneficiary of ALL proceeds will be the Appalachian Trail Museum.  I will send out the details as soon as it is public.

Hope you enjoy it.

More AT books to check out

 Just a small sample of Appalachian Trail books in my collection. Do check them out.

Multi and Extra Sensory SenseScapes

 

Pick your copy up here Sensory Tourism: Senses and SenseScapes Encompassing Tourism Destinations by Ian Jenkins | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

or hardbound here Sensory Tourism: Senses and SenseScapes Encompassing Tourism Destinations: Jenkins PhD, Ian, Bristow, Robert S.: 9781800623583: Amazon.com: Books

Kevin Lynch

Kevin Lynch, Professor at M.I.T., published The Image of the City. His goal was to identify what features of the built environment were important to the people of the city.  Lynch identified five key elements that make up an individual's perception of their city: paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks.

Paths

Paths consist of the "channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves". These can include streets, paths, transit routes, or any other defined path of movement. It is important to note that the paths an individual identifies may not correspond to a traditional street network. These are often the most predominant items in an individual's mental map as this is main mechanism for how they experience their city.

Edges

Edges provide the boundaries that separate one region from another, the seams that join two regions together, or the barriers that close one region from another. They are linear elements, but are not the paths along with the individual experiences the built environment. They can be physical edges such as shorelines, walls, railroad cuts, or edges of development, or they can be less well-defined edges that the individual perceives as a barrier.

Districts

Districts are "medium-to-large sections of the city". They are typically two-dimensional features, often held together by some commonality. The individual often enters into or passes through these districts. According to Lynch, most people use the concept of districts to define the broader structure of their city.

Nodes

Nodes are points within the city, strategically located, into which the individual enters (and which is often the main focal point to which she or he is traveling to or from). There are often junctions – a crossing or converging of paths. They often have a physical element such as a popular hangout for the individual or a plaza area. In many cases, the nodes are the centers of the district that they are in.

Landmarks

Landmarks are also a point-reference (similar to nodes). However, unlike nodes, which the individual enters during his or her travels, landmarks remain external features to the individual. They are often physical structures such as a building, sign, or geographic features (e.g. mountain). The range of landmarks is extensive, but the commonality is that they are used by the individual to better understand and navigate the built environment.

This Day in Grateful Dead history

 Try this classic show.

Grateful Dead Live at Madison Square Garden on 1979-01-08 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Set 1:

d1t01 - Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo ->

d1t02 - Franklin's Tower

d1t03 - New Minglewood Blues

d1t04 - Candyman

d1t05 - Me And My Uncle ->

d1t06 - Big River

d1t07 - Friend Of The Devil

d1t08 - It's All Over Now

d1t09 - Brown Eyed Women

d2t01 - Lazy Lightnin' ->

d2t02 - Supplication

Set 2:

d2t03 - Scarlet Begonias ->

d2t04 - Fire On The Mountain

d2t05 - Samson And Delilah

d3t01 - Terrapin Station ->

d3t02 - Playing In The Band ->

d3t03 - Drums ->

d3t04 - The Other One ->

d3t05 - Wharf Rat ->

d3t06 - Good Lovin'

Encore:

d3t07 - U.S. Blues

AT Books of the Decades since 1960

Appalachian Trail books of each decade starting first in the 1960s

 From 1960 we have

For the 70s, for me and my "bible" how about

Moving to the 1980s try this one

1990s offers this title

2000, and the books begin piling up but Gene Epsey's book, while showcasing his 1950s hike, was published in this Decade.

2010 a new breed of hiker would have read this one

2020 is still going strong so who knows.