The Daily Hoof!

Wave Therapy

2011-12-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

Kaleidoscope Sky

2010-05-01T00:18:00.000-07:00

Winter Sunset , Kaleidoscope Sky in Redondo Beach, California, USA

(Completely unaltered photo taken with my HTC Phone)

View more at my YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDailyHoof

The Sand Dunes of Destin Beach

2009-06-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

A walking tour of
Destin Beach, Florida

One of my favorite Beaches is Destin Beach in Florida's panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico. Here, I found some of the fluffliest white sand I've ever seen.

I visited Destin on many occasions over the years, with friends. Our routine was to lay in the sun until we couldn't bake anymore, then we'd wonder over to Pompano Joes for ocean front oysters on the half shell and Bushwhackers.

We discovered the Bushwhacker here in Destin. It is an alcoholic frozen coffee daiquiri drink that goes perfectly with this beach. Often, these are made with a wine concoction as some of the beach pubs don't have liquor licenses. We couldn't tell the difference between these and those mde with real rum. Try to order one of these in another city, you may or may not find a bartender who knows how to make one.

Gorgeous beach houses line the waterfront with rooftop pools and private balconies. Sand dollars, dolphins and jellyfish are regulars in the surf. Kite flying and parasailing are common sights.

This photo was taken a few years ago at the very height of the booming real estate market. These funky multi-million dollar abodes were just being built then. Look closely, you can see the stickers still on the windows.

Its interesting to see the changes in the sand dunes from year to year. This fence was slowly being buried by annual erosion. Note the fence in the very first photo (top photo in this blog post). Dunes are protected and help preserve the beach front.

We'd often walk along the beach to watch the unforgetable sunsets over the Gulf. Tiny crabs scurry along the front of the waves and tickle at your feet.

The Trails of Vickery Creek at the Roswell Mill

2009-06-08T17:21:00.001-07:00

A walking tour in Roswell, Georgia.

You may never notice the entrance to the trails at Vickery Creek. Hidden behind the Roswell Mill just off the city square, it is not visible or advertised. The road is a slightly steep decline entering the Roswell Mill area. The parking lot entrance is off to the right. There is not any signage for the trails and the entrance looks like a gravel path. You cannot see the river below until you walk over to the area but you may see the bridge from here.

But here is a peek at what you'll see along the trail...

At the bottom of the hill, you have the option of going in two different directions. On this cold December day, I walked right and took the grand cedar bridge accross Vickery Creek. It was a wonderful view and there were rustling sounds of water rushing over the rocks below. There was not anyone around. Once I crossed the bridge, there were steep cement steps leading straight up.

The night before, the temperatures had gone into the teens which is very unusual for this part of Georgia. It had also been raining recently, so things were a bit icy. I have to say it was a bit scary going up the steps. At the top, there was ice that had formed in the depressed areas of the pathway. Although it appeared to have begun its thaw, I slipped on my second stepping but caught myself before a fall. My heart jumped a little because the cliffs edge here is pretty steep and high above the river area. I continued along the grass on the side of the trail for a while.

After a fairly short walk, you can see the rocks and there is an opening in the trail. The rock waterfall was gorgeous on this day.

The water was flowing but much of it was still frozen and thawing. There is an area to climb up close along the rocks edge. I walked cautiously around the icicles, pretty close to the cliff. A short climb takes you up to a cleared area above the falls, complete with a rope swing.

The trails at Vickery Creek loop around and go off into the woods. They connect with other trails in the Chattahoochee River Recreational Areas. There is also an old mill and several old structures. Some of the trails are steep and winding but most are not well traveled. Often, you may see fallen trees or branches blocking the path and other wonders of nature.

I was fortunate to be there on this beautiful day after a freeze when everything had begun to thaw. Photos were taken by me during this walking tour.

Tour the Slideshow! (Vickery Creek)

Walking Tours!

2009-06-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

I love photography and always come back from any trip or vacation with tons of pictures of my ventures. So, I decided to write a blog about places I've been, things I've seen or any excursion worthy of note. I love walking tours and want to share my photos and include my insight, regardless of whether or not I might happen to know much about the place.

“Unexpected travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God”
-Kurt Vonnegut

Vickery Creek Walking Tour

2009-06-07T01:22:00.000-07:00

The Trails of Vickery Creek at the Roswell Mill

2009-06-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

A walking tour in Roswell, Georgia.

You may never notice the entrance to the trails at Vickery Creek. Hidden behind the Roswell Mill just off the city square, it is not visible or advertised. The road is a slightly steep decline entering the Roswell Mill area. The parking lot entrance is off to the right. There is not any signage for the trails and the entrance looks like a gravel path. You cannot see the river below until you walk over to the area but you may see the bridge from here.

At the bottom of the hill, you have the option of going in two different directions. On this cold December day, I walked right and took the gorgeous bridge accross Vickery Creek. It was a wonderful view and there were rustling sounds of water rushing over the rocks below. There was not anyone around. Once I crossed the bridge, there were steep cement steps leading straight up.

The trail breaks off again into the woods and in two directions. Up a hill to the right or to the left along the river. I chose to walk left as I could hear the sounds of a waterfall off in the distance. The trail winds around and is high above the river. After a fairly short walk, you can see the rocks and there is an opening in the trail. The rock waterfall was gorgeous on this day. The water was flowing but much of it was still frozen and thawing. There is an area to climb up close along the rocks edge. I walked cautiously around the icicles, pretty close to the cliff. A short climb takes you up to a cleared area above the falls, complete with a rope swing.

I was fortunate to be there on this beautiful day after a freeze when everything had begun to thaw. I am including my photos of this walking tour in the following post.