Month: November 2016

In the exact middle of the Flint Hills, the undulating land rolled out in all directions. The moon shone so brightly that it brought out the color of the prairie. It was open range. Temporary cattle fence stood around a feed plot. A white-painted truck loader stretched up like an…

Screw dogs. Tobacco is man’s best friend. It’s my best friend. I look to it in times of stress, need, worry, and fear. It works well when I’m happy, excited, and contemplative. It’s the first thing I think of when I get up in the morning and the last thing…

The youth hostel in Ruedesheim stood about a mile from the train station. To get there, we had to hike the steep slopes of the vineyard. From the front piazza in front of the hostel, neat rows of vines spanned the distance from the hostel to the Rhein River below.…

Fall, one of my favorite times of year, used to come earlier when I was a kid. Here’s how I judge it: We were hiking with the Boy Scouts somewhere in central Missouri. The day was overcast and drizzly. Stair steps of roots and rocks lead the way up a…