THE GRANDEUR OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS

Thursday September 7, 2000

Time to think about getting back home. We visited the Byrd Visitor Center which chronicled Shenandoah National Park. I personally found it appalling the way the Federal Government evicted the landowners in the early 1920/30’s to create the park. The National Park Service should be good stewards of this magnificent area but they have stumbled in their programs and resolves. The deer population is overwhelming and numerous deer/vehicle accidents occur. Trees are dead throughout but NPS prohibits cutting or removing as firewood. All firewood is brought in from outside the park. Bureaucrats.

I have never created a journal anytime in my life. Evidently the Appalachian Trail hit a nerve. Note: Meriwether Lewis never compiled his journals upon completion of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I did.Covering a whopping distance of 33 miles in three days, I classify myself as an Appalachian Thru hiker, actually I'M ALL THROUGH HIKING.

January 5, 2001

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

TURNING FIFTY GIVES ME MORE YESTERDAYS
THAN TOMORROWS.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

THE REPUTATION OF A THOUSAND YEARS,
MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE CONDUCT OF ONE HOUR.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

50 IS YOUNG FOR A TREE,
MID-LIFE FOR AN ELEPHANT,
AND ANCIENT FOR A QUARTER-MILER.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

A WILL FINDS A WAY.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

ITS GOOD TO SHUT UP SOMETIMES.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

LIFE IS ONE LONG MARCH
TO AND FROM THE BATHROOM.

INSIDE A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE
NOTE THE TOILET PAPER ON THE CHAIR.
SEMINOLE RAILROAD

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

EXCEPTIONS PROVE THE RULE.
AND WRECK THE BUDGET.

OLD NAPLES TRAIN STATION (UNDER RENOVATION).

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

EVERYONE HATES ME BECAUSE I'M PARANOID.

FT. MYERS BEACH PIER

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

THE PESSIMIST COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WIND.
THE OPTIMIST EXPECTS IT TO CHANGE.
THE REALIST ADJUSTS THE SAILS.

FORT MYERS BEACH SUNSET.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

I'M GROWING OLDER BUT NOT UP.
MY METABOLIC RATE IS PLEASANTLY STUCK.

BOCA GRANDE LIGHTHOUSE

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

LOGIC WILL GET YOU FROM A TO B.
IMAGINATION EVERYWHERE ELSE.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

A SMILE IS AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO CHANGE YOUR LOOK.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

THE TROUBLE WITH GARDENING
IS THAT IT DOES NOT REMAIN AN AVOCATION.
IT BECOMES AN OBSESSION.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF IT WAS TIME WELL SPENT

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

MY GARDEN WILL NEVER MAKE ME FAMOUS
I'M A HORTICULTURAL IGNORAMUS.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

MARRIAGE IS COMMITMENT,

SO IS INSANITY.

COCA BEACH, FLORIDA

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.

ORLANDO ART MUSEUM

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN.

HEMISPHERE DANCER

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

TURNING 50 GIVES YOU MORE YESTERDAYS
THAN TOMORROWS.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

PROBLEMS ARE ONLY OPPORTUNITIES IN WORK CLOTHES

THE OLD SIGN PHILSOPHER

ADVERSITY IS THE FIRST PATH TO THE TRUTH.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

AFTER THIRTY,
A BODY HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

TALENT DOES WHAT IT CAN,
GENIUS DOES WHAT IT MUST.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

IT'S GOOD TO SHUT UP SOMETIMES.

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER

A WILL FINDS A WAY.