“Written in Early Spring” by William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

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  I HEARD a thousand blended notes   While in a grove I sate reclined,  In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts  Bring sad thoughts to the mind.  To her fair works did Nature link  The human soul that through me ran;  And much it grieved my heart to think  What Man has made of Man.  Through primrose tufts, in that sweet bower,  The periwinkle trail’d its wreaths;  And ’tis my faith that every flower  Enjoys the air it breathes.  The birds around me hopp’d and play’d,  Their thoughts I cannot measure,—  But the least motion which they made  It seem’d a thrill of pleasure.  The budding twigs spread out their fan  To catch the breezy air;  And I must think, do all I can,  That there was pleasure there.  If this belief from heaven be sent,  If such be Nature’s holy plan,  Have I not reason to lament  What Man has made of Man?

Bucket List: Pacific Crest Trail

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Not many items on my Bucket List, but here's a peek at one of them: hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Or any portion of it (mostly the northern).

Described as "the wild and scenic path from Mexico to Canada" this 2,659 mile trail starts in the California desert, moves over a grand total elevation change of 420,880 feet through Oregon and ends in E.C. Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada. The highest point is over 13,000 feet.

This guy did it and put together a nice seven-minute video of 2600 miles. What an amazing contrast from beginning to end.



(ht: Boing Boing)

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