bierkergaard

At the campground, I got into a game of tag with the kids--my two nieces and the two children in the Yurt next door. After some initial conflict between families, my brother's family had settled in the incorrect Yurt, matters chilled out. Thus the children came out to play. Somehow the game of tag turned out so that all the kids were chasing me. I decided to book it down the road and through the woods which caused great consternation with the parents. They no longer had the kids in sight. So, the parents began to chase the kids chasing me. It was quite the scene. As I ran through the wooded area, I came upon some campers eating dinner at their site and I ran by them and through the tent compound like I was on a jail break. Having a 6'8" dude coming out of nowhere huffing and puffing probably was a little disconcerting. I peered over to my right and saw that I had a clear line to the Rock of Refuge, the place of safety from the deadly tags. I turned on the after-bu

So, on Monday I was high-tailing it out of Ohiopyle State Park. It had stormed violently the day and night previous, leaving a general moist blanket on everything. Three days and nights of camping, and I was ready for my bed and some AC. Sometimes I think the best thing about camping is showing how wonderful modern shelter and conveniences are. Including our own personal commode. Driving away, I was on one of those Red State winding country roads where the locals try to cash in on the tourists by selling firewood, furniture, food, booze/beer, and plain old junky crap (er, "Antiques"). I spotted a property that had dual signs. One sign said "Beware of Dog." The other said "Yard Sale." Um, kind of a mixed message there. "Sure, we will sell you this hear 1960 sewing machine but we are going to sic Brutus on yer ass." Run fer yer life feller. Say, just a suggestion: Might want to take down the Beware of Dog sign and lock up guard dog in the ba

Just returned yesterday from camping and biking in Ohiopyle State Park in Western Pa. For the next several days, I will be blogging like an echo from that experience. I got to hang out with a plurality of family members...some don't live close enough to have made the drive but most of the Pennsylvania-based immediate family showed up for a weekend. So, we had decision-making powers and authority since there was a quorum. At least for Pennsylvania matters. I discovered that my niece Julia has a fascination with lizards. She wants one like most kids want a puppy or an X-Box. She likes bugs in general, and particularly butterflys. She was walking around with a grasshopper perched on her hand for a spell. She probably loves snakes too. So, to amuse her, I concocted a tale about "THE DEATH LIZARD" and his epic battles with the Killer Coyotes that ate his family, with the exception of his mom--who lives in the desert of Arizona in the ancestral home, now surrounded by