Welcome to Breakfast in America
My photo journal is an eclectic mix of things; there’s no guiding theme or topic. It is whatever happens to catch my attention, what I’ve been thinking, doing, and whatever my current obsessions are. At the moment, they are clearing some of the backlog on my ‘honey-do’ list, backpacking, hammock camping, and, I’m always, taking pictures.
Recent posts
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Dusk at the Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail cairn
Dusk at the Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail cairn — Right on target, 25 minutes from the trailhead. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Sunset on the trail
Sunset on the trail — Five minutes into my hike and the sun has almost dropped below the horizon. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Day One – Setting off
Setting off — I am back at the Hercules Glades Tower Trailhead about to set off on my first backpacking trip of 2023. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I am back at the Hercules Glades Tower Trailhead, about to set off on my first backpacking trip of the year. It was around fifty degrees when I arrived, but it was dropping rapidly as the sun went down. I decided to wrap up warm and not start my trip by getting chilled. I have been there and done that.
My plan for the trip was simple:
- Day One – Hike the six miles to my ‘Deep Hollow’ campsite. I could stop and review my progress when I arrived at ‘Twin Falls Hollow,’ around the halfway point. If I was running late, I could stop there for the night, but that would put a major dent in my plans.
- Day Two – Hike the six miles back to the Pees Hollow Trail and camp at ‘Wahoo Point’ or even ‘Cab Creek.’
- Day Three – hike the Pees Hollow trail
The weather was predicted to be mid-twenties on the first night and low thirties on the second night. Daytime temperatures were slated to be in the mid-fifties to mid-sixties. It should be fine, clear weather with no rain.
That should rack up 18 miles of hiking, which will do for my first trip in two months.
There are no major gear changes this trip. However, I have finally got around to replacing my twenty-year-old Thinsulate beanie with a new, hopefully, less itchy, fleece beanie.
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Packing for my first backpacking trip of 2023
Packing for my first backpacking trip of 2023 — The temperature is forecast to vary from the mid-twenties overnight Saturday to the mid-sixties on Monday, so it is a full winter load-out plus some spring additions. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I haven’t been backpacking since the beginning of December. The weather looks good, and I’ve cleared enough work for me to take a couple of nights away in Hercules Glades.
I won’t be able to get away until late in the day (it’s Saturday), so I’m going to have to do another night hike. This time, I’m planning to hike over six miles, with a third of it on a difficult trail, and then do some bushwhacking too. If everything goes according to plan, I should be at my destination by nine-thirty. I have the option to stop halfway if the night hiking is too slow.
The temperature is forecast to vary from the mid-twenties overnight Saturday to the mid-sixties on Monday, so I’m packing a full winter load-out plus some spring additions. Altogether, including food, water, and fuel, it weighs in at around 26 lbs.
My Electronics, Spares and ‘Go-bag’ — The bag itself is water resistant, and I keep the contents in ditty bags to make finding things easy. Clockwise from the left, I have my headlamp, power brick and charging cables, camp light, and finally, spares, first aid and odds and ends bag. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
My Electronics, Spares and ‘Go-bag’ — All unpacked. From the contents of my Odds and Ends bag, I’ve never had to use the fire steel, needle and thread, or the repair tape (duct tape has always got me sorted out so far). Everything else I’ve had to dip into at one point or another. Allen keys for my camera and hiking poles, my meds — obviously. The line I use to suspend my camp light above my cooking area, the khaki strap holds my tripod onto larger trees than its Velcro straps can cope with, and the black straps fit the bag, so I can carry it around my neck or over my shoulder. It holds a lot and has proved helpful more than once. Copyright © 2023 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.My Electronics, Spares, and ‘Go-bag’ — The bag itself is water resistant, and I keep the contents in ditty bags to make finding things easy. Clockwise from the left, I have my headlamp, power brick and charging cables, camp light, and finally, spares, first aid, and odds and ends bag.
And, all unpacked. From the contents of my Odds and Ends bag, I’ve never had to use the fire steel, needle and thread, or the repair tape (duct tape has always got me sorted out so far).
Everything else I’ve had to dip into at one point or another. Allen keys for my camera and hiking poles, my meds — obviously. The line I use to suspend my camp light above my cooking area, the khaki strap holds my tripod onto larger trees than its Velcro straps can cope with, and the black straps fit the bag, so I can carry it around my neck or over my shoulder. It holds a lot and has proved helpful more than once.
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Remington Model 31 12 Gauge shotgun
Remington Model 31 12 Gauge shotgun – According to the barrel date stamp it was manufactured in August 1931, so quite early in the production run (as the serial number confirms). Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I was given this shotgun a short while ago, and I have only had a chance to fire a couple of shells to date; just enough to know it works and I can hit what I am aiming at.
According to the barrel date stamp, it was manufactured in August 1931, which means it was quite early in the production run (as the serial number confirms). Some of the other markings on it suggest it might be of military origin.
It’s a ‘three and done’ pump action, referring to the magazine limit of two shells, which makes it compliant with the three-shell regulations for migratory waterfowl hunting.
I did some skeet shooting in the UK. Now I’ll have to find out where I can shoot poor innocent skeets here.
Remington Model 31 Waterfowl Magazine tube detail – The magazine is crimped to limit it to two shells. This is to comply with a Federal law limiting shotguns to three rounds when hunting migratory waterfowl. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Remington Model 31 trigger and safety switch – In this picture, you cannot see the pump action lock which is mounted on the opposite side of the trigger guard. Copyright © 2022 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
