Canyon

Looking down the canyon from the road where the tunnels are. You can see the creek in the bottom.

Spotting Potami in Samos: Metamorphosis Church, Potami Beach and Hippy’s Place

Now that we have our rental scooter, Dutchman and I have started exploring Samos Island. One of our first stop that left a very long and positive impression on us, that we even both agreed to come back here another time, is Potami in Karlovasi (northwest of Samos).







This is Potami in a nutshell but there are other attractions and cool places in the area as well, so read along...



The Metamorphosis Church



As we slowly approached Potami, we saw this white and idyllic (chic-styled if I may add) small Orthodox Church. Something told me to stop by and we were glad we did. The church sits on a rock cliff and is also a viewing point! From its viewing platform are stunning views of the Potami Beach below.



As for its name, I have no idea why it is called the Metamorphosis Church.





















I highly suggest a quick stop over here for the scenic views.



Potami Beach



This beach is very distinctive because of its two side by side bays that is beautifully separated by a rock. Potami Beach is a pebble beach and the area has many interesting rock formations, there is even a waterfalls nearby in the forest and a river for those seeking a little bit of adventure and a change of scenery.

















There are tavernas on the main street and on the beach as well, and we went to check out the hip one located right on the water.



Hippy’s Place



Oh wow, what a cool lovely place!



And it looks like all the customers here were Greeks? Not sure if they were all local ones from Samos or vacationing Greeks from other parts of the country.













Having an ice cream and iced tea break from the hot scooter ride. This is indeed a very hip place.

















We are so coming back here and we’ll spend a day to laze on the beach, enjoy the cool atmosphere and music of Hippy’s Place and have lunch at another cosy open-air lounge restaurant along the main road.

Susie Island Sunsets

For the past couple of nights the lake has been so calm I couldn't resist taking the boat out to the Susie Islands to do some shooting despite having clear, "boring" skies. On days where there aren't any clouds I find the most interesting light to be either the hour before the sun comes up or the hour after the sun goes down. Cloudless days can produce a rather beautiful glow in the sky during these times.

(Above and below: Sunset from Lucille Island)

(Above: Sunlit trees on Long Island)

(Above: Twisted tree on Big Susie Island)

(Above: Evening light on Big Susie Island)

(Above: Lichen on Lucille Island)

(Above: Small rock island off the western tip of Lucille Island)

Moonrise Magic

If you've never stayed up and watched a moonrise in the middle of the night, you need to do it sometime. Put it at the top of your list! When its dark out and the moon comes up, it is soooo orange, you won't believe your eyes. Couple that warm light with calm waters and some nice clouds and you're in for a treat you won't soon forget!



My friend Roger was up for another visit, and we were getting in some more night-time shooting experience with our cameras. We waited for the moonrise on both friday and saturday nights. Both nights were equally spectacular. We made exposures anywhere from 30 seconds to half an hour in length. The clouds made for some very special images for the both of us. These two nights were some of the most fun that I've had shooting the moonrise.

Gourd in Tree

the morning glories weren't the only vine that grew up into a tree. I had a gourd vine grow up into one of my redbud trees. I knew the vine was growing up the tree but hadn't seen any gourd on it. The tree leaves hid the little gourds so well I didn't see them until they were quite large. About a foot tall. I hope the tree can handle the weight. They look like odd decorations hanging in the tree - about 5 in all. And I have about 20 more growing on the ground where they belong.

La Sportiva Baruntse revisted

With the volcano in Iceland nixing my plans to climb in Chamonix earlier this spring I had some time and money on my hands and no place I really wanted to go. That is a dangerous combination!

Daniel Harro's email last month and pictures of the work done on his Spantiks got me thinking.

The Baruntse gives my foot a great fit and offers a full length, rigid, nylon midsole so it front points very well. I like the support, lacing and cuff better for my foot than the Spantik. The over all warmth of both boots I suspect is very comparable with similar upper design and materials.







The obvious advantages of the Spantik is it has a foam midsole for extra warmth on top of a carbon fiber midsole used to cut weight and add rigidity. The other thing Sportiva used in the Spantik design is a very thin Vibram sole to also lower the weight.

After seeing what cobbler Dave Page of Seattle did to Daniel's Spantiks by adding a Nepal midsole and big block Vibram sole it got me thinking. Wrong direction for Daniel's Spantik imo by adding the weight of a Nepal sole/mid sole and duplicating the Baruntse combination, but how about going the other way and dropping a few ounces?







I took my Baruntses down to Dave Page's one afternoon and described what I wanted. Dave pulled out a couple of different Vibram sole options. I had brought along a accurate electronic scale to see if the weights "added up". And sure enough, it looked like a resole with the "proper" La Sportiva Vibram would drop 4oz per boot and add more insulation under foot while doing it. ( I didn't think the added insulation was needed but..if it goes with a weight drop why not?)

I ended up with a Baruntse that weights in at 2# 15.5oz compared to the factory Spantik at 3#.05oz. A total of 1.5 oz difference. Spantik has a 26mm mid sole at the ball of the foot and my lwt Baruntse has a 25mm midsole thickness in the same place.

Original La Sportiva factory, size 45, weights:

Spantik 3# .o5oz
Baruntse 3# 2.50oz

semi custom boot weights:

Spantik with a Baruntse liner 2# 13.5oz
Baruntse w/inner and lwt sole 2# 15.5oz

I ended up dropping only 3oz per boot but I did gain some sole insulation as well. The new lug pattern has a sold toe areas and will be better for pure rock climbing. Certainly more cushion in the boot now, both in the sole sole and heel. Down side? The Vibram soles are thinner so they won't last as long on hard surfaces. Same durability issue on a Spantik as well. But the Baruntse has more surface area being used on the newer sole.














.

Factory Baruntse and a Trangpo Extreme GTX in size 45



I like climbing technical ground in the Baruntse better than in the Spantik so it is a win/win for me. And even with the resole I am still almost $200 under the Spantik retail. Would I do it again? Cost was $78.00 for the resole. No real reason to do it other than curiosity on my part to see what kind of weight loss I would come up with. But if I wanted to take the Baruntse on a cold, technical Denali route, I would do it again in a heart beat. No question it is less weight and a warmer boot now. Warm enough to leave the over boots at home above 17K.....may be :)

This is an modification that would cost La Sportiva nothing in production and it would offer us one more option for dbl boots.



Factory sole..
















Baruntse with a lwt, La Sportiva factory resole added.

Wild Woody Fun

Earlier today, Daryl and his crew, or as my MIL says "Daryl's" and Austin went to visit the Cherokee Nation. I'm hoping Austin will blog about it since I wasn't there so I can't. When they returned back to our campground, they invited us to do some Go Kart racing.



Nathan was hesitant, and I suspect that is because I have won every race we've had in Go Karts since we got married. He says it is because I am lighter. I had no idea that being lighter makes you a better driver, but he is the engineer so there ya go! Daryl and Diana are hard to turn down though. And they know just what to say/do to make it work. So off we go! (thank guys!)



On the way into the racetrack, the crew stops for a moment of silence. Or awe. Or wonder. Or something.

Because there is some crazy person detecting device here. Nathan always says you can't fight with crazy, because crazy always wins. I see now why. I mean who could beat someone who is willing to do this. Willing and actually PAY to do it. I forfeit right now. You win!

Now we're off to the track. Let's get ready to rumble!

We do the first race. I ride with Josh to help offset that lightness factor that Nathan worries about. That and Josh asked me to ride with him, and I can't tell Josh no. Daryl and Lauren ride together. Everyone else rides alone. I don't know much about the singles, because they left way before us so it was just us doubles fighting for the lead. We won't discuss this race. Let's just say I came in dead last. Hmmm....maybe there is something to that lightness factor. We still had fun.



We take Josh over to the little guys track, so he can drive his own car. He loved how I drove, but he wanted to do his own thing!



Josh was made to race cars. He's a thinker. He's independent. He is a risk taker. And he knows the important rules like let the cute girl pass you because you can lap her later, but never ever let the other boy pass you. If he does, pass him right away.

If the other boy gets upset...well, that's just part of the game.

In this game, you just gotta do your own thing. Josh takes first place. Further supporting Nathan's theory. The other boy cried a bit. Which broke my heart. But not so much that I didn't high five Josh for beating him.



The kids all want to do one more race on the big track. The adults want to take pictures. It's a fair deal. Josh and Aric just do their thing. Austin beats up on girls. Lauren is all by herself. I understand that, because she drives like a mad woman. She tried to make me spin out in the race I drove/lost. Not once. But twice she did this. She's fierce!

At some point Aric tries to lap Austin. Austin doesn't let him. They are content to do this for a few laps. Aric bumping into Austin. Austin letting me know that they've got nothing on him. Then they catch up to Lauren. It's the end of the race. She's in front. She doesn't understand the concept of "they already lapped me a few times". She just knows..she is in front. She won!

My guys are so gracious, they let her believe she won. Now that's real love. Of course, once you are married...it's a whole different tune. You only win if you win. And it's still real love. Just a different kind.



Living the life in Tennessee!