Afternoon "adventure" with Me n Mrs Schmittie

[schmittie]

I've been on third shift lately which means I've not seen Mrs Schmittie as much as I'd like. Today, we headed out to our favorite hiking/fishing spot to enjoy the great outdoors.

The start of the trail-

Wait up sweetie! Why does she always charge ahead? There's cool stuff to check out!

This sign fortunately doesn't describe the knife I brought along for the hike. The ever faithful Hiking Buddy. (Btw, Herber's sheaths are amazing! You gotta get one!)

This hiker needs a hat, how is he planning on keeping ticks out??

See? I always have my tarp hat. These things rule.

One of the things I like about this 3 mile trail are the bridges. There's a bunch that have held up well over the years.

Some parts of the trail are a steep climb as well.

There was lots of prettiness in the woods today. I love every season and embrace each as it arrives.

Waaaaaaaaaay in the back, this pond pops up out of nowhere. I really would like to fish here. I doubt many have.

And then we hit the mother load! This was what I was hoping to find today-

I collected some of these guys to make some tea. I have researched and heard that stinging nettle makes a nice tea. I'll find out later.

All in all, we had a great hike. It was a little muddy and wet in the low lands but lots of fun. I'm glad she likes being outside as much as me! All I gotta do next, is get her her very own Fiddleback and she'll be set.

So......remember that comment about ticks.....? Yep, the Mrs almost freaked when she found this one on her shirt. Be careful folks. This seems to be a bad year for em.

We then drove down and crossed the road to the lake. It was clouding up so photos were awful gray and it sprinkled a bit. But we fished on anyway. She was tearing up the bluegill! It was hilarious.

Then she landed this bass. It was awesome seeing her get so excited! It was just a youngster, but it put up a good fight for her.

Then I landed this monster!!!

Oh yeah!

On the way out, just as we were passing up the lake, this guy was crossing the road.

Pretty cool! It's not every day I come a cross a snapper, especially one this size. He had to be 14" across. I really shoulda picked him up for a photo!


I had a great afternoon. Had my best girl at my side and a trusty Fiddleback as well.

Thanks for comin along.

 

[Joe Duder]

Nice thread. I have to hit the trails in my neck of the woods. I also want to buy my wife a fiddleback, just have to pinch the dough without her knowing.

 

[adodge]

Who makes that tarp hat? I've been looking for one like that.

 

[schmittie]

^^ email sent

 

[NoFair]

Great pics, thanks for posting.

I Norway some people make nettle soup (preferably with the shoots, young leaves)

 

[Mistwalker]

Cool pics man! Surprised you weren't sporting that new Bushfinger, but I love that Hiking Buddy!

Are the plants with smaller leaves different than those with the larger leaves, and the smaller ones stinging nettle? The larger leaved plants look like hydrangeas to me.

 

[Mountain Wildman]

Nice pics.
Thanks for sharing!!

 

[schmittie]

Nice thread. I have to hit the trails in my neck of the woods. I also want to buy my wife a fiddleback, just have to pinch the dough without her knowing.

THAT IS the challenge, isn't it?? Why can't they just let us surprise them?

Great pics, thanks for posting.

I Norway some people make nettle soup (preferably with the shoots, young leaves)

Interesting. I understand it can make a great broth for vegetable soup.

Cool pics man! Surprised you weren't sporting that new Bushfinger, but I love that Hiking Buddy!

Are the plants with smaller leaves different than those with the larger leaves, and the smaller ones stinging nettle? The larger leaved plants look like hydrangeas to me.

I wanted to take my Bushfinger but I envisioned myself falling in the lake and I could risk it with that new beaut!

The plants are all nettle, I believe. I really should have spaced those two pics, they kind of run together. One is taken at a distance, then the other up close. AND they stung the crap outta me in the process! They are appropriately named for sure.

Nice pics.
Thanks for sharing!!

Glad you enjoyed!

 

[pveiled]

Looks like a really great day of hiking, schmittie. Glad you and the misses had a chance to get out and enjoy yourself in the woods! Btw steamed nettles are delicious IMO.

I hope the ticks don't get too bad...we're already being warned up here that it might be another bad year for ticks, and last year was awful. I actually pulled one out of my sisters horse a few days ago that was bigger than any I'd ever seen before...damn those things are ugly haha.

 

[thurin]

Great pics Schmittie! Thanks for sharing your hike with us. Enjoy the tea.

 

[Raining]

Looks like fun! Thanks for sharing your photos! :thumbup:

As an aside: Stinging nettles are really great. They can be used in place of spinach. Nettles are loaded with minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein.





And the stalks can be dried and made into cordage!

 

[schmittie]

Great pics Schmittie! Thanks for sharing your hike with us. Enjoy the tea.

Thanks. I really do need to get out more. I always enjoy Mistwalker's posts of things like these.

Looks like fun! Thanks for sharing your photos! :thumbup:

As an aside: Stinging nettles are really great. They can be used in place of spinach. Nettles are loaded with minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein.

And the stalks can be dried and made into cordage!

Thanks for the comments and pics. That info was a nice addition.



Gentleman, I do realize I made a small mistake. These are actually Wood Nettle, not stinging nettle. Maybe that's why the pics looked a bit off Mist??

 

[awestib]

Great, thanks for sharing!!

 

[dcycleman]

Time well spent