Kayaking down the Santa Fe River

By Yvonne Adcox 

My husband and I are kayaking on the Santa Fe River in North Florida. It is a black river that rises and sinks above and below the ground for about 3 miles of its 75 mile length. It is a tributary of the Suwannee River.

The only danger that we encountered was a large wasp nest that (thankfully) didn't respond when I backed my kayak into the partially sunken branch upon which it was nested. We were in a part of the river called Big Awesome Suck which was scary enough as it pulled us with its strong current toward the hole where millions of gallons of water per day is "sucked" intro Florida's aquifers. Not that we would have been "sucked" downward into the hole had we continued down with the current, but I didn't know that. I just thought my good fortune in not being attacked by wasps was enough for one day, so after the wasp encounter, we turned back and paddled against the current back toward the river. 

The third photo below is of myself in front of a large wetland tree called a bald cypress tree. These trees keep the water clean by removing excess nitrogen and phosphorus from secondarily treated waste water.They also provide habitat for the abundant aquatic wildlife in these water habitats. What is amazing about these trees is that they resist insects and decay even when cut down and used for building products and mulch. For 6,500 years, these trees have lived in Florida wetlands. In fact, this particular tree could be as old as 500 years. 

Praying for storm to pass or at least the lightning

Kayaks on French Broad River

Caught out kayaking on French Broad River in this mess. Under a steel bridge now! (And wood)

Get the WYFF 4 Weather app http://on.wyff4.com/1nQjl24

Upcoming Virtual Field Trip Riddle!

Borrowed from http://wallpapers111.com/american-alligator-wallpaper/

By Yvonne Adcox

A riddle for you. What is wet and green and boggy all over? Many people need to drink from here for without it this resource, the most populated state status wouldn't be threatened by a *bright and shiny but skinny runner up that passed the number three *Big Apple recently. It's growth is threatening the number two *lonely one because they were so dry but now are drowning! (Who would want to live there?) I am heading to the skinny runner up Friday but must pass through *fields of cotton to where I will be going on Thursday. Which state is the most populated?

*Hints

Can you guess where I may be headed? I can hardly wait to share this with you!

Biking the Doodle Trail

Greenways

Suwannee Greenway Trail in Atlanta

One of my favorite things to do is to go outside. As a child, I spent most of my free time outside. Nothing like it is today, back then kids stayed outside until dark no matter the weather. There was nothing to do inside but watch a black and white tv, play barbies, play a board game, or do chores. I am sure you understand, Outside ruled. It still does with me. The Greenways, formerly old public right-of-ways, abandoned railroad beds, old canals, and other such spaces, have been created to give safe transit spaces to bikers (non-motorized), joggers, and walkers to move freely and safely. There are new Greenway spaces opening up in every state now.

North Oconee Trail and Greenway System, Athens

Biking

Me with Raven in Dupont Forest, North Carolina

People who know me know that I enjoy biking--in the mountains, on the beach, and on roads. Biking is great exercise. I have ridden a street bike for 22 miles in one trip and the mountain bike (which is much more strenuous but so exciting) I have gone as many as 12 miles. I plan to bike until I can't. I have two bikes: my mountain bike named Kolanu which is Cherokee for "raven"  and my street bike named Gv-na which is Cherokee for "turkey." My mountain bike is about hunting in the woods for beautiful scenes, and the street bike is about speed and efficiency.  Many of my favorite memories have included a bike.

The Doodle Trail

The Doodle Trail is a greenway trail built from abandoned railways that used to serve the industrial plants in Easley and in Pickens, South Carolina. It just opened in May 2015. I rode this 7.5+ mile trail from Easley to Pickens and back again. It was exhausting, but I rode the entire trail with my husband who was urging me forward because the light was fading. It was dark before I finished. I love this trail and went back to take photos of it. On the sides are homes, some historic "mill hill" homes that used to be owned by the mills. There are lovely views of the distant hills and Glassy Mountain, our local mountain (equivalent to Mount Currahee in Toccoa). Here are some photos. 

Steve walking Laddie.

Mill Hill homes with falling hills in the distance.

Glassy Mountain

Split rail fencing along the trail

Crossing zones and stop signs at intersections

A view of the local church from the trail

The Future

Greenways are the future. We all benefit from them. They give us a safe place to exercise, a way to get from one city to another, a place to meet friendly neighbors, and a method to increase entrepreneurship with nearby small businesses. All communities should plan to include them and to create rights-of-way for these trails. Have you used any greenway trails recently? If so, what do you think? 

View of church from Doodle Trail

Godzilla and Robots and Team Members, OH MY!

By: the totally non-robotic MizRizSchyck
If my mother were an app, she would be Field Trip by Google.  Forever on the lookout for educational opportunities, she finds little gems for us to explore.  When I took the family for the annual summer visit, she wanted to tour the Toyota plant close by in Princeton, Indiana.  With the promise of robots all around us, Mikey and I enthusiastically agreed.

They don't let you take any cameras into the plant itself, but they had a whole visitor center to let you explore hands-on what it would take to be a team member.

The first exhibit was THE LOOM OF DESTINY!

The loom was important because it paved the way for automation which is a key component in most manufacturing plants in the world today.  Plus, how cool is it that the way to greatness was paved by a loom.  Say that work five times fast. Loomloomloomloomloom.  Weird.


Another interesting tidbit is the guiding principles of Toyota.  Like our school, they have a vision--a mission.  If you had to break down your beliefs into 7 core pieces, what would they be?  Quick - jot list your seven core beliefs, then write them out into complete sentences.  How can you set future goals from the Seven Truths You Hold To Be Self-Evident?

In the plant itself, robots do the heavy lifting and most of the welding.  Over 4,000 welds go into the Toyota Sienna alone!  The biggest robots - the ones that lift entire cars (say, 1,500 pounds) up and down onto the different manufacturing lines are nicknamed GODZILLA.  *love*  The smaller ones (pictured here) are just grunts, but watching the sparks fly from their welding prowess was like indoor fireworks!

At the plant, they stamp steel for car bodies, use injection molding for bumpers and other pieces, and submerge car bodies in vats of paint.  The team members on the floor rotate through four stations in order to avoid injury and boredom.  They have to learn four specific line jobs AND be physically fit in order to work in the plant.  Below are three videos showing how injection molding works (starring The Young Master of the House...MIKEY!) and how assembly works (some of you may recognize Coach Mike and my daughter Sarah).  The funny thing about assembly is that there is a time limit before the vehicle moves on to the next station.  As you can see, both my adult team members failed!

 

So what did I learn besides the fact that welding robots are awesome?  I should play more video games so my hand-eye coordination makes it easier to assemble ALL THE THINGS!

Rambling without a Reason

     I've got no reason to write today other than to share recent ramblings. Isn't  this place amazing?! It's called Picken's Nose, and it's outside Franklin, North Carolina. I did not make that name up! If you look at this picture, you can see why someone gave it that name.

   
     My friend and fellow teacher challenged me to pick up the e-pen and re-energize this blog by sharing our journeys and our lessons learned.  

     Here is my summer challenge to myself and to you: When I spend time in nature, I get filled up in the places inside that teaching empties out so that I'm ready to give my heart and soul all over again. I become a better person, and that makes me a better teacher. 

     What fills up your heart and soul so you're ready to give your gifts and talents to others?