And I Knew Every Raindrop...By Its Name

More backpacking on the A.T.


This is the view from Laura's living room window. Her father loves to garden.


This is the start of our trip just outside of Smokey Mountain National Park. From here it was 34 miles to Hot Springs, NC.




Laura was prancing and rolling around in leaves all day long.




It's pumpkin carving time!!!


We found a pumpkin cloned from Rob.


"Me Sloth, you Chunk." "Rocky Road."




I never would have guessed what Ed was going to carve into his pumpkin.





Thor Van Slyke - R.I.P. (8/95-10/08)

Bring Out Your Dead

A Robot Toast update is long over due! First off we have a visit from two old friends from Tampa, and then we finish off the post with a backpacking trip.


Here we are on our way to the Eno River State Park. Chris is riding shotgun and Brian is in back with Rebecca.






For some reason I really liked the fungi growing on this tree.




After a hike we went to the lake for some paddling and relaxing.


Rebecca and Chris playing Pro-Kadima.


"Ok Chris, I'll give you a push."

Mount Rogers/Grayson Highlands State Park

This past weekend myself and 8 others went on a short backpacking trip in Virginia. We arrived late Friday night around 10:30pm and just set up camp for the night.


(photo Krankin)


This was the view from my tent in the morning. I think Vijay had just set his camp stove on fire after he screwed the fuel bottle on incorrectly.






Group shot.


"Vijay, I am your father." (photo Krankin)




The leaves were just starting to turn.


(photo Krankin)




Rob was trying to ride the ponies all weekend long.


How many monkeys does it take to filter water? (photo Krankin)


Lunch time.


This was our view during lunch.


Rob and Tamara sharing a moment. (photo Krankin)








Campsite on the second night.


(photo Krankin)






Sunday was Rob's birthday, so we had to embarrass him a little bit.

I Gave Her My Heart, She Gave Me A Pen

The group known as the Paperhand Puppet Intervention puts on a big show every year that runs for 5 weeks in August and September. They offer 3 showings a week, and they sell out almost every night. We arrived 30 minutes before start time and had a picnic as the crowd filed in.


The performance this year was called "I am an Insect." The first scene was about a little girl watching all the insects play while her grandfather, the scientist, took a nap.




Notice the grandfather sleeping to the right of the stage.


One of the best things about the performance is the live band that plays the "soundtrack." It takes the show to a whole different level.


Don't forget about the rare break-dancing beetle.




I think I'm going to try to teach myself how to walk on stilts. It seems like so much fun.


While the show is geared towards people of all ages, there are some serious political and anti-capitalistic undertones.
Grasshoppers on bikes knocked over buckets of "oil and money" and shots were taken at our president. Most people in the crowd supported the views of the PPI, but you could see some people were very uncomfortable while many cheered in agreement.


The spider with glowing eyes was really cool. (Spiders are not insects are they?)




Every year they walk one large puppet through the crowd. Last year a 20 foot Buddha passed over the crowd with out stretched arms.

Check out their website for more puppets!
http://www.paperhand.org/