We all have major life changes. Some people cope, others fall apart and still others recover with time. In my case it is a disability that now prevents me from doing the physical work of of an eco-tour and adventure guide: climbing, hiking and herding tourists through the desert. The incident that disabled me had other effects as well so for the past few years I've been learning how to be a disabled person. To see me on a trail today or on the street you might have a hard time be able to tell with the exception of one small addition. My ever present dog now wears a vest that says "Service Dog - On Duty." Jin has also been specially trained to help mitigate my disability. FYI, the basic legal definition of a disability is "... persons who actually have physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities. For example you can no longer work and make an income in your chosen profession. That's what happened to me. How did it happen? Doesn't matter really and it's poor etiquette to ask. Suffice to say I'm not going to be doing any long strenuous hikes anymore.

What then? There is outdoor work I can do. Using my dog, a border collie, we are going to learn how to control Canada geese and keep greensward's, parks and golf courses clear. This is actually an education in itself. There is law to learn, the International Migratory Bird Treaty of 1918, the methods to control wild geese in a safe and humane manner. A few new things for the blog along like how to turn your canine companion into a Canine Good Citizen. And as always being safe when outdoors to exploreing places like Yosemite NP, the Sierra Nevada Mountains along with the entire north coast. Thee are even a few rocks I can climb within reason.

Sadly the first article on my return also has to include an admonishment to those who rent cars for a trip into the desert. In August the bodies of a dutch couple were found on Black Eagle Mine Road not far from a rented sedan. According to what I read it wasn't even a hot day (<103). This is not the first time a sedan has been found broken down off road. I've seen and rescued plenty of them. If you are going to go for a drive in our desert then rent a 4x4. Augustinus Van Hoveand his girlfriend, Helena Nuellett would be alive today if they had been in a sport ute.

Nuff Said