Sperry Top-Siders - A Great Fit

Not having heard of Sperry before, I was not expecting much prior to getting the samples. We received both the men’s Barracuda Sport Fisherman and the women’s Spectra for review. Looking at the shoes, I became a bit more eager to test them out. The Barracuda is a great looking shoe. It is very light, which concerned me when thinking about foot protection, but it seemed to be well constructed.

I first wore them camping. We did a lot of hiking along trails and the inevitable security patrols around the campsite. They were exceptionally comfortable and actually felt as if I were wearing sneakers. I did notice that on the cold nights and mornings that for once I was not complaining about my feet being cold.

The next test was fishing. As these top-siders are made for fishing and boats and I already knew the comfort and warmth of the shoe, I only had a few things to review; traction on wet surfaces and how dry my feet would stay. All that I can say with regard to fishing is that my feet stayed perfectly dry and warm and not once did I slip on the deck!!!!

The final test for the Sperry’s was my hiking adventure deep into the Santa Monica Mountains yesterday. As I had become quite fond of the new Barracudas, I had to give them one last test instead of wearing my heavy-duty hiking boots.

Gearing up for our trip, I ran into the first (and my only) dislike (flaw) of the shoes. While I was lacing them up, one of the riveted eyes for the laces popped right out. The laces could still be tightened as there is another strap holding the eye in the right general location. I proceeded to wear them for the hike as I knew this would be another great test.

I have to say that I was not disappointed. We spent 4 hours in some of the most difficult terrain that I’ve been on in a long time. We hiked on mud, gravel and dirt paths, climbed steep rocky hillsides, jumped and climbed boulders along a streambed, scrambled up and down ravines with absolutely on footings and climbed steep, slick riverbed rocks. At no point did I loose traction, hurt my feet or feel anything but comfort and security with the Barracudas.

Mariah reviewed the Spectra and was quite happy with them. She wore them in a number of circumstances including; camping, fishing, kids’ soccer games and on errands.
The Spectra slip on shoes by Sperry are not like your grandfathers old topsiders, these are stylish and comfortable. She barely felt like she was wearing shoes at all! They were very comfortable and kept her feet dry … and when they did get wet they were quick to dry.

With the exception of the construction quality issue I ran into, I have to say that I LOVE these Sperrys. I give them a big BOA thumbs up!!!!!

The Barracuda retails for $90.00 and the Spectra for $80.00
Both are available at: http://www.sperrytopsider.com/

Some Specs:
Barracuda
Waterproof Construction Keeps Feet Dry in Wet Conditions
Ultra-Light Construction Reduces Foot Fatigue
Stain & Water Resistant Leather Provides Durable & Lasting Wear
Padded Tongue and Collar for Added Comfort Around the Foot
Removable and Full Length Molded Footbed with Wave-Comfort System for All Day Under Foot Comfort
Molded EVA Cushion Midsole for All Day, Under-Foot Comfort
New Hydro-Grip™ Rubber Traction Compound Offers the Ultimate Performance Traction Outsole Compound
Non-Marking Lugged Rubber Outsole with Wave-Siping™ for Versatile On/Off Water Traction
Spectra
Low Water Absorption Materials are Quick Drying
Removable, Full Length EVA Footbed for Full Foot Shock Absorption
Outsole Drainage Ports Promote Water Drainage
Elastic Lace with Locking Toggle Adjusts for a Secure Fit
Non-Marking Rubber Outsole™ with Razor Cut Wave-Siping™ for Ultimate Wet / Dry Traction

Georgia’s Premier Getaway - The Lodge at Smithgall Woods

The drive through the rolling hills and plush forests of northeastern Georgia really set the mood for what we were to find at Smithgall Woods. We spent about an hour in the car navigating through some of the most beautiful woodlands that we’d seen in a long time. It was even necessary for us to stop the car a few times just to get out, breathe in the clean air and take in what seemed to be “the perfect forest.”

Once we arrived at the property, we entered the welcome/visitor center for the 5,600 acre conservation area that is home to the Lodge at Smithgall Woods. Greeted at the desk by a very friendly attendant, who not only got us checked in, but proceeded to inform us about the lodge, its amenities as well as their current conservation efforts. Inside the visitor center we had an opportunity to see and hear about three snakes that were currently being nursed back to health so that they could be freed once again into the surrounding hills.

Once we arrived at the Garden Cottage, we were shown around by one of the friendly staff members, who went above and beyond to go over everything that we would or could want to know about the cabin and surrounding property. The ‘cottage’ was actually more like a state of the art condo, disguised on the outside as a rustic retreat. Inside we found all of the modern day amenities ranging from full kitchen, living room, bedroom, TVs and washer and dryer to a rustic porch spanning the entire front side as well as a 6 person hot tub hidden in a wooded nook along the side of the cabin. Our cabin faced a perfectly formed herb and vegetable garden that Smithgall’s chefs use for their organic meals.

After getting our things settled we went outside to meet up with John Erbele, the property’s General Manager and resident expert on the lodge, the grounds and the history of the area. John was, from the very beginning, a very informative, funny and personable guide and he wasted no time loading us into one of the lodge’s vans to tour us around the property.



The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is made up of 4 cottages (Creekside, Garden, Dover and Laurel) plus the Smithgall (the main lodge). With its total of 14 rooms Smithgall never has more than 28 guests on the property at a time. Surrounded by acres of hemlocks, pines, oaks & rhododendron along with walks along the many hiking trails and exploring the banks of the two pristine trout streams ultimately brings you to a seemingly flawless, ‘fairytale’ piece of the world. Smithgall also has 60 (out of the 100 on the planet) endangered evergreens growing safely on the premises.

As we were on-site on an ‘off’ day and there were no cooks on the property so we decided to make the 5 minute drive to the small town of Helen for dinner and some general exploring. Driving through the town you can’t help but to do a double take. It is as if someone decided that a small woodsy area in the hills of northeastern Georgia would be a good place to replicate a small German village…one that maybe Hansel and Gretel could use as a second home. Filled with shops, restaurants and markets, Helen is a worthwhile stop when visiting the Lodge at Smithgall Woods.


Within the Smithgall Woods Conservation area, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources does a great job of both maintaining the natural look and feel of the forest and landscape, but also strictly enforces their regulations which help to keep the resident wildlife populations intact. It is nice to know that the hunting and fishing regulations will keep these woods full of the deer, wild turkey, bear, rabbit and pristine trout that we witnessed feeding and playing in their safe haven at Smithgall. Dukes creek runs through Smithgall Lodge it is strictly ‘catch and release’ and enforces barbless hooks. The largest trout caught at Smithgall was 29 ½ inches long!

One of 7 lodges operated by Georgia State Parks, The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is by far one to make a point to visit. Make sure to reserve your cottages ahead of time. Prices range from $249 to $399 per night…and is well worth it. Smithgall Lodge is the ultimate destination for corporate retreats, spiritual discovery and a wonderland for nature enthusiasts. Although children are welcome, it is NOT geared towards children; however, they do have children’s educational programs and provide natural resources for youth programs.

For reservations, please contact the lodge at 800-318-5248 or send an email to gretchen_vanderbunt@dnr.state.ga.us
The Lodge at Smithgall Woods State Park 61 Tsalaki Trail Helen, GA 30545 800-318-5248 Lodge Reservations 706-878-3087

Desert Camping and Mud Caves

The desert … its unforgiving harshness, the cracking dirt ground begs for water, the wind and the baron trees leaves some people wondering if it is worth the trip. But... if you can sit quietly for a moment, the desert will come to you, it will lift your spirits… comforting and accepting. Wildlife speaks into the night as the stars multiply by the second…taking a deep breath I am once again filled with peace. The warm night wind travels through my hair as I watch the moon shyly make its appearance low on the horizon before settling high in the desert sky for the night. Coyotes cry, wind howls and the moon shines upon the rocks making them appear as tiny pools of water. These are the reasons I make the long trip into the desert…. It’s more than a destination; it’s an adventure, a spiritual connection with the earth.

Anza Borrego is located about 110 miles East of San Diego, Ca. Besides being a fascinating desert location, Anza Borrego also has some interesting history, exciting off road trails, ghost towns, mud caves, hot springs and ghostly appearances that are said to roam the Vallecito campground. We ended up camping at Agua Caliente because Vallecito was full due to the 150th anniversary of the Stage Coach crossing. Agua Caliente campground has a natural hot spring that campers can enjoy, there is a children’s spring and a separate indoor adult spring, and the campground also has hot mineral water showers as well. The kids were plenty occupied right at our campsite, they dug for treasures and climbed the rocky mountains for hours, not once did I hear “mom I’m bored” in fact they were close to tears when it was time to leave.

Take the time and follow the dirt roads and you will once again be greeted by more mysteries of the desert ….cool caves and long slot canyons. It takes a keen eye to spot the mud caves, they appear like small holes in the dirt, but once you reach the entrance you will be pleasantly pleased by the gifts that are there for you to explore. The caves are made from mud and they have a creepy feeling to them, they seem like they could collapse at any minute. Each mud cave is unique, but they all share some similarities, they are formed by erosion of the ceiling breaking through to the top. Some of the caves can be 80 feet or more underground, most caves follow a serpentine course back and forth. They are all cooler than the sometimes oppressive heat of the desert. These caves are pitch dark, (except for the surprising skylights) so be sure to bring more than one light source and as always bring plenty of water, a spare tire, a shovel (to dig yourself out of the dirt) and snacks….the dirt roads can be slow going. There are approximately 22 mud caves and 9 slot canyons for all ages to explore…if you dare!




The main road that travels through Anza Borrego is creatively called S2; leaving the Agua Caliente campground and traveling further south on S2 will lead you to a dirt road on the left called Vallecito Creek follow the dirt road for about 2 miles and look to the left and you will see a sign called Arroyo Tapiado follow this dirt road for a few miles and you will find the caves.

Traveling to Anza Borrego may be slow, but if you can find the time it is a great trip for all ages
if you cannot get into one of the San Diego run campgrounds, you can also find state run campgrounds by going to www.reserveamerica.com and search for Anza Borrego State Park

Reservations for Agua Caliente campground can be made by
through San Diego County






About the campground:

# of sites – Full hook up 53
Partial Hookup 53
Non-hookup 35


Tenting vs. RV – Tents and RV’s are pretty much separated and it is 50/50

Bathrooms – Clean

Showers – Yes! Hot mineral water showers

Water – yes

Electric – yes

Convenience Store – down the street

BOA Recommended sites – 130,129,128,127 in that order for tenting only

The Three Thieves- Eco Wine

Bandit wine by Three Thieves comes in a clever eco-friendly “box” , whoa, don’t be scared because it is “boxed” wine… this wine is as good as any bottle of wine that I have had. The best part of it is the handy box that it comes in, it won’t break, it’s recyclable and if you are camping, you can just throw the box in the fire when you are finished with it.

The Cabernet was smooth and delicate without any harsh aftertaste or smell, it was my favorite. My sister, however, preferred the chardonnay and proclaimed that it was “buttery smooth” We took the smaller versions (approx one glass each) with us on a hiking trip and they fit perfectly in our backpacks without the weight or hassle of the glass bottle… Plus no need to bring a wine opener, you simply pull off the foil covering and voila you are drinking wine on a mountain with your sister. When we were done we literally crushed up the box and brought it back down the mountain.

The Three Thieves have created a wine for the rest of us, their one liter jugs were an instant hit and the Tetra packs are becoming increasingly popular because of their size and convenience.

This is a wine that is definitely a must for anybody on the go!

Bandit wine and more of The Three Thieves Wines are available at www.threethieves.com or
wherever all great wines are found!

Visit the Thieves and enjoy the wine!