Options

The Mudslingers: Hiking Into Oblivion

schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
edited April 26, 2009 in Journeys
This weekend I had the pleasure of getting up reallyreallyreally early (well, for me) on Easter morning to go meet up with a couple of fantastic Dgrinners, camera in hand. :D

After a really great and filling breakfast, we hiked out to the town of Drawbrdge. This place is, apparently, a hot commodity on Dgrin and many of you have been there. I'd never had the pleasure but since I'm more local now I jumped at the chance to go with good company!

The weather was almost completely clear and perfectly mild. This was good, of course, because I spent many a day hiking out to abandonments out East in sub-zero cold, chilling winter rain, and soggy humidity.

False Dawn:

512155813_Wn7yK-L.jpg

Dodging trains and swamp stench, we finally made it. If I ever thought that hiking 2.5 miles each way across perfectly flat ground could be exhausting, well I never really took the loose rocks on the rail bed into account. When you have tiny feet like April and myself, you're in for a rough walk.

511804135_K8Fnr-L.jpg

There really isn't much left. The few structures available really are sinking into the mud. My husband and partner in crime, (zweilblumen) was correct in that buildings usually get covered in the northeast. But out here they're drowning.

511797367_cktvZ-L.jpg

Even most of the graffiti is already faded and old. Kids don't feel it's worth making the trip anymore, but we can freshen it up a bit in CS4 :D

511794759_LDHmQ-L.jpg

So many dead birds on the dunes. The smell was.... so special. We saw some cows, too, but not the kind of happy cows you see in happy California cheese ads!

511798811_CSmNm-L.jpg

I'm enamored by the variety of foliage out in this state. My Audubon field guide has nothing on this flower but I've never seen anything like it before, all fuzzy yellow buttons. Here is dadwtwins shooting... well, something:
511802041_kTxUf-XL.jpg

Zweiblumen demonstrating why I married him :lol3
511800182_5pMtf-L.jpg

And we had a good sit before we headed back. April (aktse) was intent on shooting my trusty wellies, and from what I saw today she did a great job!

511805127_y8vxX-L.jpg

Where there wasn't mud, there was waist-high semi-dead plant matter. It made it quite treacherous in some places because you couldn't see ditches/mudslides before it was too late. Crunch, crunch, crunch, and we scared a few ducks, too. Don't watch this unless you're immune to motion sickness :lol3

<object height="362" width="640">

<embed src="http://cdn.smugmug.com/ria/ShizVidz-2008120101.swf&quot; flashvars="s=ZT0xJmk9NTExODc0NTczJms9SkNtcGImYT03ODkyNjMzX3l4cEZTJnU9c2NobW9v" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="362" width="640"></object>

All in all it was a really great day, even if the buildings themselves are mere shells of what they used to be. I love being able to see new sights like this with good peeps from Dgrin! :thumb

Comments

  • Options
    coldclimbcoldclimb Registered Users Posts: 1,169 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2009
    Looks like fun, thanks for the pics Schmoo! :D
    John Borland
    www.morffed.com
  • Options
    tisuntisun Registered Users Posts: 435 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2009
    I knew you couldn't resist such a great place. Glad to see you finally made it there. Yah, those loose rocks are tough to walk on. I forgot to remind April about those dangerous rocks. Sorry.
  • Options
    dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2009
    This is why i love to go shooting with a few friends. To see the different shots from the same journey is always eye opening for me. Shots I missed or more importantly not even see makes me humble every time.

    Great series Schmoo.clap.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • Options
    Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2009
    thumb.gif Superb Job
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • Options
    Chrissiebeez_NLChrissiebeez_NL Registered Users Posts: 1,295 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2009
    thumb.gif nice shots! complements the other post perfectly!
    Visit my website at christopherroos.smugmug.com
  • Options
    schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited April 14, 2009
    Thanks guys! I think my trip-mates did the better job with planning. Oh for that IR-modded SLR on bright days like this! lol3.gif

    Anthony - hope to catch up with you on a shooting event at some point! I mean, again, since the Dgrin party last winter was kind of a whirlwind situation. :D
  • Options
    tisuntisun Registered Users Posts: 435 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2009
    schmoo wrote:
    Anthony - hope to catch up with you on a shooting event at some point! I mean, again, since the Dgrin party last winter was kind of a whirlwind situation. :D

    I hope to catch up with you, aktse, and dadwtwins for a shoot. As a parent, I don't get as many opportunities to go shooting as I like. I wonder how dadwtwins does it.
  • Options
    dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2009
    tisun wrote:
    I hope to catch up with you, aktse, and dadwtwins for a shoot. As a parent, I don't get as many opportunities to go shooting as I like. I wonder how dadwtwins does it.

    I throw the kids in a closet, lock it and then go shooting. If you leave the lights off, they do not hurt themselves as muchheadscratch.gif

    Just kiddin'. The wife and I worked out alternate days to care for the kids so we both have at least a day to ourselves. I must have a day away for the safety of everyone around me.:D
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • Options
    PhyxiusPhyxius Registered Users Posts: 1,396 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2009
    schmoo,
    Fun series! I especially like the blue graffiti shot. Looks like you guys had a good time. thumb.gif
    Christina Dale
    SmugMug Support Specialist - www.help.smugmug.com

    http://www.phyxiusphotos.com
    Equine Photography in Maryland - Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, Jumpers
  • Options
    schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2009
    Thanks Christina! It was really bright, but with the humidity as low as it was this time of year (and compared to Baltimore) it was livable. :D

    Anthony, hope we can catch up and go shooting, too! Especially if there's more night shooting in industrial places. lol3.gif
  • Options
    tisuntisun Registered Users Posts: 435 Major grins
    edited April 17, 2009
    dadwtwins wrote:
    I throw the kids in a closet, lock it and then go shooting. If you leave the lights off, they do not hurt themselves as muchheadscratch.gif
    eek7.gif
    dadwtwins wrote:
    Just kiddin'. The wife and I worked out alternate days to care for the kids so we both have at least a day to ourselves. I must have a day away for the safety of everyone around me.:D
    I must give this a try.
    schmoo wrote:
    Anthony, hope we can catch up and go shooting, too! Especially if there's more night shooting in industrial places.
    Definitely.
  • Options
    VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2009
    Great shots as always, Schmoo... I just don't understand why you two had to move to the other coast... :cry We all miss you back east...

    Winston
  • Options
    DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,951 moderator
    edited April 19, 2009
    Good ones, Schmoo thumb.gif

    I'm still trying to figure out the first "false dawn" shot headscratch.gif
    Erik
    moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]


  • Options
    grimacegrimace Registered Users Posts: 1,534 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2009
    thumb.gif Superb Job

    I agree. A very nice take on the area!!
  • Options
    schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited April 21, 2009
    Great shots as always, Schmoo... I just don't understand why you two had to move to the other coast... :cry We all miss you back east...

    Winston

    Thanks Winston! Seriously, with the heat wave here (even on the peninsula) it's been just like I'm in MD again. If I'd stayed out east I wouldn't have had to lift all those boxes lol3.gif

    And Doc, it's the sun reflecting on the shore of the dirty salt flats water. thumb.gif
  • Options
    Every Miles A MemoryEvery Miles A Memory Registered Users Posts: 123 Major grins
    edited April 26, 2009
    Looks very fun! Its cool to see the same place through different lenses.
    Pat Bonish
    www.everymilesamemory.com
    www.patbonishphotography.com

    All Who Wander Are Not Lost
Sign In or Register to comment.