The Cure For Cabin Fever

Finally, a Sunday afternoon with blue skies and mild temperatures! I just had to get outdoors, even if just for a little while. I decided to take a short drive down to the arch bridge on Hwy. 215. It would give me a chance to stretch my legs, see if I still remembered how to operate my camera, and try a new water filtration gizmo my daughters gave me for Christmas.

Arch Bridge, Highway 215, Haywood County, NC  -  2014

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

After arriving at the bridge, I scrambled down the rocks to the river. Unlike my last time rock hopping, I was properly equipped to have both hands free for climbing. Down at river level, there were several huge boulders to provide a stable base for my tripod. After getting a few shots of the fall beneath the bridge, I started experimenting with my water filter.

My daughters gave me a Sawyer Squeeze water filter to give me safe water to drink while hiking or backpacking. It is able to filter out the nasties like giardia that can put a miserable end to an otherwise enjoyable weekend in the outdoors. With .10 micron pores in the filter, it can even filter out bacteria! I was quickly able to purify a liter of ice cold mountain water for a refreshing drink before returning to the truck.

Old Man Winter is forecast to make another return tomorrow, so I was thankful to be able to get out for a few hours and relieve some of my cabin fever. Spring can't get here fast enough for me.