Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 39

14 November 2021 - BACKYARD RENOVATIONS DONE DURING COVID 19

 

BACKYARD RENOVATIONS 

DONE DURING COVID 19

 

G'day folks,

The pandemic has caused a lot of grief to us all, but check out what some people have done in their backyards.

Work is a great distraction from everyday worries and stress, so we’re not surprised to find out that home improvement projects have peaked in the past year and a half. With all that extra free time to spend at home, many people decided to keep their minds and hands busy by transforming their weed-ridden backyards, cluttered balconies, and abandoned porches into beautiful havens, despite these challenging times.  
 












Clancy's comment: Well done, guys. Been there, done that. I'm ... 
 

13 November 2021 - THE AWESOME ZION CANYON - UTAH, U.S.A

 

THE AWESOME 

ZION CANYON 

- UTAH, U.S.A -

G'day folks,

The hike through a narrow river flanked by the 2,000-foot-tall walls of Zion Canyon is one of the best in the world. 

The trek through the Narrows of Zion National Park is a stunning sight: The path can be as skinny as 20 feet wide, while the vertical red canyon walls shoot up to 2,000 feet high on either side. It’s considered one of the best hikes in the world — but be prepared to get very wet.

Slot canyons, narrow canyons that are drastically taller than they are wide, are often on the bucket list for intrepid hikers. However, although they are formed over time by water rushing through rock, only a few still have a river running through them. That’s what makes the Narrows so legendary.

 The hike through the Narrows, located on the North Fork of the Virgin River in Utah’s Zion Park, starts at the section of the canyon known as the Temple of Sinawava, and ranges from two to sixteen miles depending on the route. 

The trek will simultaneously delight your eyes with one of the most beautiful sights imaginable and drench your clothes with cold water. This is because, for a third of the hike, the Virgin River fills the Zion Canyon from wall to wall, forcing hikers to slosh through the water atop slippery rocks to move forward, sometimes submerged as much as chest deep. 

Adventurers looking for a real challenge will attempt the Narrows in the spring, when the snowmelt makes for even higher water levels, although if the flow rate reaches 120 cubic feet per second the river is closed off to tourists.

Hiking through a slot canyon is not without its risk. Despite the dry climate of the American Southwest, the number one danger is the canyon filling with too much water. During a rain storm, the water level can rise quickly in such a narrow space. Tragically, 11 tourists drowned in Utah’s Antelope Canyon in 1997 when the water level rose in the tight, inescapable pit.

 Despite the risk, thousands of adventurers wade through the Narrows every day. After two hours of hiking through the river, trekkers will reach “Wall Street,” a deep, dramatic canyon — appropriately named, considering its wealth of good views.

Clancy's comment: Mm ... I'm not so sure about trekking through this. 

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17 November 2021 - BOOLBOONDA TRAIN TUNNEL - AUSTRALIA

 

BOOLBOONDA TRAIN 

TUNNEL

 -  AUSTRALIA -

G'day folks,

The longest manmade tunnel in Queensland is now a beautiful trail, home to a special colony of bent-wing bats.  

For train and tunnel enthusiasts there is no better place to visit than the Boolboonda Tunnel in Queensland. This amazing 630-foot long (192-meters) tunnel can either be walked, cycled, or driven through. The tunnel cuts through a granite hillside and is known as the longest manmade tunnel in Queensland.

Constructed between 1881-1884 by the O’Rourke & McSharry, the rough-hewn rock walls did not require lining or additional support due to the hard granite. The tunnel took two years to create and is located between the towns of  Gin Gin and Mount Perry. It was constructed to serve the Mount Perry Copper Mine and officially opened in 1883.

Due to the closure of the mine and declining use of the rail, the line closed in 1960 and the rails were removed in 1961. The publicly accessible, single-lane, gravel road through the tunnel is open to vehicular traffic and is now used to access other local properties.

The Boolboonda Tunnel was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1999. The tunnel is now home to a colony of protected Bent-wing bats. The unlined rock walls of the tunnel make for a uniquely interesting drive, a fun cycle, or a simple walk. 

Clancy's comment: Imagine digging the tunnel through all that granite.

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12 November 2021 - MYSTERY CRATERS DISCOVERED IN AUSTRALIA

 

MYSTERY CRATERS 

DISCOVERED IN AUSTRALIA

G'day folks,

These 25-million-year-old cavities have perplexed people for decades. 

Halfway between Bundaberg and Gin Gin is one of Australia’s greatest mysteries. There, you’ll find a plot of pockmarked land that has baffled people for decades.

In 1971, this patch land was owned by a crop farmer. The farmer wanted to extend the area of his crops, but kept hitting rocks in his attempt to clear the land. He noticed the rocks weren’t like others in the area and sent off to be studied. 

It was discovered that the curious rocks were 25 million years old. Intrigued by the strange rocks, a research team investigated the area and uncovered 35 oddly shaped craters hidden in the ground. 

The mottled mixture of sandstone and ochre stain have been the subject of many investigations, and people have yet to reach a conclusion as to how they formed. Popular theories range from meteorites to ancient volcanic activity to, of course, extra terrestrial lifeforms.

Clancy's comment: The attraction is located about 330 feet (100 meters) off the highway. Beyond the craters, the attraction features a fossil collection and a fairy garden.I'm ... 
  

9 November 2021 - CANTON AVENUE - ONE OF THE STEEPEST STREETS IN AMERICA

 

CANTON AVENUE

 ONE OF THE STEEPEST 

STREETS IN AMERICA

G'day folks,

Canton Avenue, in the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh, is one of the steepest streets in the United States, with a maximum gradient of 37 percent. Though only one-tenth of a mile long, for every 100 feet there is a 37-foot elevation gain. (Although Baldwin Avenue in New Zealand is commonly cited as the world’s steepest street, its gradient is only 35%, but Baldwin’s gradient does continue for longer than Canton’s.)

 

Begun in 1983, Pittsburgh’s annual Dirty Dozen bike race takes cyclists over Pittsburgh’s thirteen steepest hills, including cobblestone-paved Canton - the steepest by far. In the words of the race’s founder: “That hill gets about half the people the first time up. People don’t take it seriously enough. Once they crash or don’t make it once or twice, then they take it more seriously. But some people try three and four times and don’t make it and give up. The hill just defeats them.”

Clancy's comment: Imagine what it would be like coming down it in a billycart?

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8 November 2021 - MAN FINDS GUNS AND MONEY IN BASEMENT

 

MAN FINDS GUNS AND 

MONEY IN BASEMENT

 

G'day folks,

This young man was stepping into the realm of first time home ownership, but what did he find in the basement?

 What he didn’t anticipate was what he would find inside his new home once he started getting settled. Scroll down and see what this guy found that had him in complete shock!

The new owner bought this house pretty cheap. The previous owner had passed way. The basement was chock full of junk when he first toured the house. The previous owner had not moved anything out.

 In the process of cleaning out the basement, the new owner noticed something odd. A piece of plywood that fit into the wall in a peculiar way. He decided to investigate the strange piece of wood further. When he tried to move it, it wouldn’t budge. Finally after some prying, he got the piece of wood to break away from the staircase and the wall. What he saw shocked, and even scared him a little. Inside the wall was a small room that measures about 4 x 4. Inside were many gun cases, military ammo crates and a big grey metal container. Also inside was a large safe.

Then there was the matter of this giant metal crate in the room. This whole crate was filled to the brim with pennies.

 

Clancy's comment: The previous owner must have been expecting a war.

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11 November 2021 - FAIRY TALE HOME BUILT FOR $5,000

 

FAIRY TALE HOME 

BUILT FOR $5,000 

G'day folks,

Everyone has always wanted their life to be a fairytale, right? Either way, you know those stories that just make you smile, yes this will be one of those.

Meet Simon Dale, a family man who lives in Wales. His love for design helped him with his dream.

 One of the main reasons Simon built this home is because, “It’s fun. Living your own life, in your own way is rewarding. Following our dreams keeps our souls alive.”

 The home is constructed from wood, stone, straw, and has a sod roof. It’s heated with a wood fireplace and has a solar panel for power. Most materials were scavenged and refurbished appliances. The effect, though, isn’t of a run-down get-by-with second-best . It’s creative, artistic, elegant, and cozy. It is, in fact, magical.

 The attention to making the home eco-friendly extends to a compost toilet, the use of straw over a plastic layer for insulation, and a refrigerator that’s cooled with air that flows from under the home’s foundation. Cement is a high carbon emitter, so the interior walls are finished with lime plaster instead of cement plaster.

 

Clancy's comment: Wow. What a cute home.

I'm ...

 

7 November 2021 - THE WISDOM OF MAYA ANGELOU

 

THE WISDOM OF 

MAYA ANGELOU

G'day folks,

Maya Angelou is perhaps one of the most renowned modern poets and writers and is a common name in nearly every household.  Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, her older brother christened her Maya. Her childhood years were tumultuous, due to her parents crumbling marriage. Shuttled off to live with their grandmother after the separation, she enjoyed a few good years with her grandmother before being forced to return to her mother's home at the age of 8. It was here that a tragic series of events led to 5 years of silence from the young girl, during which she developed her passion for the world of literature. 


Over the next few years of her life, she pursued this passion wholeheartedly, along with dance, music. and acting. A life filled with adversity and struggle burst forth the civil rights activist in her. Apart from her work in the arts, she also held a multitude of other jobs, including sex worker, fry cook, and even professor. She came to be a spokesperson for her gender, her community, her country, and her strong philosophical ideals. Her most famous work is entitled “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, and it is an autobiographical piece that tracks this artist’s journey from a victim to a pillar of strength and dignity, first for herself, and later for the world.  Though we lost this strong soul in 2014, her books, poems, and other expressions remain close to us. Her words remind us to find our own strength and that hard work and perseverance are the greatest tools we all possess. Here is some of her wise words.









Clancy's comment: An extraordinary woman with great passion and a sense of decency.
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6 November 2021 - HOW TO MAKE MOSS GRAFFITI

 

HOW TO MAKE 

MOSS GRAFFITI

 

G'day folks,

Here is something for you keen gardeners.

I was really confused when I heard the term ‘Moss Graffiti’. The name sounds simple enough, but really? After looking into it a little more, this may be one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Of course, we would only suggest doing this on your own property, especially because it does take a little bit of maintenance to get it going.

To get started you’ll need:

3 cups of moss (washed clean of soil)

2 cups buttermilk OR 2 cups of yogurt (should be plain yogurt)

2 cups of water or beer

1/2 tsp of sugar

corn syrup (optional)

A blender that you probably won’t want to use other than for this.

Collect about 3 cups of moss. You can sometimes buy this at a nursery but you may be able to find it right in your yard as well.

 Once you collect the moss, rinse it as much as possible to get rid of the soil.  Break up the pieces as much as possible and put them in a blender.

Add yogurt OR buttermilk, water OR beer, and sugar. Blend until this is completely smooth and has a paint like consistency.

 Use a paintbrush to make the design that you’d like with your moss graffiti.  Once you are done with the painting, you’ll want to check on it regularly. If you live in a very dry climate, use a spray bottle to keep the paint moist and to help promote moss growth. You can also paint over the design you did to encourage the moss growth if you do not have a spray bottle available.

 

Clancy's comment: Amazing, eh? Give it a try.

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4 November 2021 - WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE DALAI LAMA

 

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM

 THE DALAI LAMA

G'day folks,

Now, more than ever, these wise words apply. 

* Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk

* When you lose, don’t lose the lesson

* Follow the three R’s- Respect for self, respect for others, responsibility for all your actions

* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck

* Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly

* Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship

* When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it

* Spend some time alone every day

* Open your arms to change but don’t let go of your values

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time

* A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation of your life

* In disagreement with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past

* Share your knowledge, it’s a way to achieve immortality

* Be gentle with the earth

* Once a year, go some place you have never been before

* Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other

* Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it

* Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon

 

Clancy's comment: What is left to say? Loved the last piece of advice. 

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