our son is home from Colorado getting ready for his next big adventure which is hiking the Appalachian Trail…
yes you read that right… beginning in Georgia he’ll be WALKING north for almost 2,200 miles (3,540 kilometers) April to possibly September/October enjoying nature and sleeping under the stars…
Snickers candy bars are a bit of a tradition on the trail because they offer high energy and calories (walking so many miles each day it is not hard to burn anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 calories)…
in an effort to keep down the backpack weight hikers often have additional supplies and food sent that they can collect at various points along the trail (a good bit of planning goes into that)…
quite an exciting time for our nature guy and for us as Mr Magpie and I prepare for our trip to France in April…
in keeping with sharing a drink for T Stands for Tuesday here is a really nice slender water bottle that I picked up at the stationary store of all places…
I have missed visiting with everyone lately as I have been away from the computer alot…
here’s wishing you a Happy T Day along with everyone over at Elizabeth’s Altered Book Lover…
“Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light” -Yogi tea bag inspiration
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Happy T Day to you. Good luck to your son on his long march. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
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i had to laugh about the snickers photo… it must be a great adventure for your son. i wish him good luck! as well to you in France! my husband and i will go to Barcelona in two weeks, so i´m excited for taking a trip, too!
beautiful photos (as always:))… wishing you a happy t-day and a great week!
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What an adventure your son is planning. I know you’ll be with him in spirit, every step of the way.
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A looong march indeed!
Happy T-Day liebe Patty!
oxo Susi
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What an adventure! I am completely agreeing about bringing the Snickers bars, they are my favourite kind. I guess the nuts make them feel wholesome or something… 😉 Happy T-Day!
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You will be getting excited for your romantic trip Patty! We are visiting another European city…Berlin, with our kids, looking forward to some special family time.
Very best wishes to your son on his adventure too!
Alison xxx
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Wow- a lot going on in your life. France sounds exciting! I am jealous. Cool Snickers photo- you put that together nicely. I’d heard about tradition. Did you ever read Bill Bryson’s book about walking the trail? Very funny and a recommended read if you haven’t read it. Would make a good plane book.Happy T day! Hugs.
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How exciting going on such a long walk. Did you know you can virtually walk the trail yourslef? There is a site called ‘walking4fun’. The first of their trails is the Appalachian trail. I have a step counter (pedometer) and I try to walk 10,000 steps a day. I input my amount of steps into the trail, and they show me in photos where I have walked. You could do that, even though you don’t actually do any walking, and follow your son’s footsteps and see where he has been.
Yes, I’d heard about the points where food parcels can be left. He’ll need lots of snicker bars!
Have a great week,
Blessings,
Lisca
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What exciting times ahead for all of you! I really admire anyone who can train for, plan and hike the whole trail! I think I would need a Snickers dangling in front of me the whole way to keep me going. And France in April – ooh la la – enjoy dear Patty!
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I love the photo of your son and all the Snickers bars. They (and almonds) will be quite filling. I’m sure he is more than ready for this new adventure, and I’m sure you will be cheering him on every step of the way. My problem is I couldn’t go two days without coffee, so wilderness walking and living would not work for me (grin).
I’m so excited for you and Chris getting to meet in France. This will be so much fun. I look forward to lots of photos when you get home, too. I’m really quite envious, something I try not to be. The traveling teacup will get to see yet another part of Europe!
Thanks for sharing that water bottle, your son’s photo (which is adorable) and your other lovely light photos with us for T this Tuesday.
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such fabulous adventures for all of you for sure! Great photo with all those Snickers. That used to be a fave candy bar of mine as a kid. Beautiful photos along with that wonderful quote. Wishing you all safe and happy travels, and happy T day!
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Exciting times for all of you. The Appalachian Trail and those who take the challenge of walking it always blow me away. A friend of mine just completed the ‘long walk’ with it’s many challenges. Certainly will be an adventure he will never forget. And you are going to France! How lovely … much excitement. Such a rich and beautiful country. Will certainly look forward to hearing and following both of these trips. Great photos, Patty. hugs, Donna
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Yes, I also often se those Yogi Tea bag words, to give joy in my day, Patty.
So much wisdom in them.
What an adventure your son is about to start, dear, I could never dream of walking so much, but it must be something very special and wonderful, if you have the energy and will, to do it. I can imagine he will need all the Snickers, lol- a great photo.
I wish him an amazing tour, with lots of great memories to bring home!!
Your photos of blue little wonders and the amazing head wearing all the green of spring, looks so beautiful.
And then you two off to France, too- Patty I know it will be a vacation filled with wonderful experiences ,too.
Hugs and xx
from Dorthe
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Wow — the traveling Magpies! Rick’s niece did the Trail last year and said it is an unforgettable experience. And I think France will be, too — because it always is! What an exciting spring your family will have, Patty — and what memories!
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wow…amazing family adventures seem to be the order of the day! love the photo of your son with the candy bars! and a trip to Europe for you…I hope we will get to see some photos of that…what fun. Happy T day dear!
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Best wishes to your son! How exciting a visit to France, enjoy… Which part of the country will you be visiting… If ever your have the Loire Valley in your plans, let me know :)… This is where I am. xo
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And my first question is -will he blog his hike 😉
Happy T Tuesday!
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I was born and reared in Asheville, North Carolina and have spent a great deal of my life in those mountains. I am very familiar with the Appalachian Trail. Our mountains are not like what they have in Colorado and are much older. To tell you the truth Patty – I would rather go with you to France!
Enjoyed all of your pictures – what a great sport your son is for letting you take a picture of him surrounded by snicker bars!!
sandy xx
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Even with Snickers being my FAVORITE candy bar, I don’t know if they would take me along the Appalachian Trial……*grin* But what a great adventure this will be for him. Now France is another thing….I can be packed in the wink of an eye…….and I’ll even bring my own Snickers!!!
Happy T-day………and I haven’t been on the PC as much either….just quick posts last week, then onto “life” around here.
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A young man I met down here in Florida did the trail a couple of years ago and last year did the one that starts in California not sure to where but hopefully he did. Wonderful experience for your son.
Have a great trip to France. I can just imagine the beautiful posts and collages you will make afterf this trip.
Hugs
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For some reason I enlarged the photo of your son (?) and all the Snickers bars, and some of the bars have different words on them(?). It’s such a descriptive photo of the walk and the energy needed (what a good excuse to eat lots of chocolate bars). And you have a beautiful photo of these lovely blue threads just above where you say supplies are sent en-route – are you sending needles and thread, haha! anyway it’s a really good set-up and lovely photo, I do like your small installations so much..
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OMG Son is very busy seeing the world, haha! What a nice picture laying in his snickers bars…I would prefer to eat dates and nuts together to get the amount of calories, and I would be afraid of the sun melting all my snickersbars, haha! I wish him tons of fun and happy moments on his trail!
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The Appelachian Trail sounds like a real adventure! This time next week Tony and I will be in Paris! We have a day before my SIL arrives -one or two places we want to go to but looking forward to seeing them and you and Jim! I hope the weather improves though! Love your photos! Hugs, Chrisx
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So cool – I really want to do that as well!
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Wow – what an amazing trip he will have. I’ve read the book Bill Bryson wrote about the trail and it was amazing too. Made me wish I could visit the trail (altho’ I’m by no means a hiker).
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Wow…now that’s a long walk! I bet it will be amazing though. Paris sounds like a great time as well. 🙂 I have a couple of that same brand of water bottle, only in a different style. J tells me the brand name means “with you” in Spanish.
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How exciting for your son!!! My son and his daughters are planning to do that hike when the girls get out of High School. A few years away yet. But they are always training for it. 🙂 Lovely photos today ♥ I have a flower pot very similar to the head one . It’s one of my favorites,
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Thank you Conny. The candy bar photo was his idea. He is a very healthy eater normally but these bars are recommended for the calorie count and they travel well. Some hikers put peanut butter on them! There will definitely be some healthy nuts and other foods in his backpack 🙂
oxo ~*~ Patty Magpie’s Nest Blog *“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” -Mary Oliver*
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A wonderful post to read and photos to look at , your son’s trip sounds exciting. Hope you enjoy your trip to France as well.
Yvonne xx
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He is on a SERIOUS adventure! I hope he has a companion, but then again, maybe not. I think someone with could be harder than doing it alone. It’s hard to wrap my mind around. I look forward to seeing your photos from France when you return. Be safe!
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Good luck to your son. He sound fit enough to do it for sure. I knew there was a reason I loved snickers bars – ha ha. Exciting times. Looking forward to seeing shots along the way. xox
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What a funny photo of Colin between the Snickers, but it is a pity that he don’t show us his face. I wish him all the best for his journey on the Trail and send him a lot of good energy and light for it. For your journey through France the same. Thank you for sharing the nice photos. I love your stone head with the fern in it. It is funny we call that kind of fern “Frauenhaarfarn” what means “woman’s hair fern”. So you put him on the right place. 😉
A question: Does Colin use a cooler bag for his Snickers? They have chocolate around it and that could melt.
Liebe Grüße
Sabine xox
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Wow what an adventure you son is going on, I admire people that are so adventurous. I hope you are able to stay in touch with him as he travels on foot. Also sounds like you are heading on an adventure as well 🙂 Enjoy. Your photos in previous posts are also gorgeous, I’ve scrolled down to see what I’ve missed. Take care, Shirleyxx
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oh this is so exciting Patty….my hubby is dying to do that trail……
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Your travel to France and Colin’s trek on the trail both sound exciting and fabulous. So excited for all of you.
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Best wishes to Colin on his travels on the trail! My brother and nephews also did this- all the credit in the world to these brave adventurous souls! heehee although not for me!
I have missed you as well, as I have not been around as much.
Have a most wonderful adventure in France! Will the traveling tea cup be joining you? Or shall you pick up a new one along the way? Dear Patty, I wish you and Mr. Magpie a most beautiful and wonderful time on your trip and look forward to tales and photos afterward!
Love,Jackie xoxo
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