It’s nice to be back. I’ve been studying like crazy with my private pilot training, and working 2 jobs, but I just had a chance to get back to the majestic world of Lost Cove. I detailed this latest trip with a new image gallery and I’m already planning a return trip this Winter.
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On the tech front, the triple-boot is still working very well. I’ve been falling back on the simple comforts of XP lately, so familiar, so easy. I’ve augmented that experience a bit to make it feel more cutting-edge - using Rocket Dock & Rainmeter - check out my latest desktop.
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October 18th, 2008
7287pwkr
As you can see I am milking my “old” 250GB hdd for all it is worth with the triple boot and another partition for all my media. I am looking at Decemeber/January to drop in a sata 1Tb drive. Wonder how long that will last?
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August 4th, 2008
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I have fixed that nagging problem with the lack of flash plugin in Firefox for linux 64bit. I downgraded to Firefox 3 32bit version and it works just fine. Also I made my Linux look like OS X for fun
Using Easy BCD I have configured a triple-boot with Vista and Windows Xp, which so far is working very well. Though lately I spend most of my time in Ubuntu.
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July 30th, 2008
7287pwkr
Very pretty as you can see, but immediately apparent Firefox 3 has been a pain (specifically flash has no Linux 64 installer as of yet). There is a definite learning curve for a life-long windows user. I have Quake 3, Quake 4, and Doom 3 running very well on it. And on the practical side, Photoshop CS2 runs very well under Wine (Windows emulator) and Ubuntu comes packaged with the Open Office suite (compatible with MS office file extensions). So -Boom- there you have your major work oriented apps & some well known games working under a free OS. It does crash and/or act odd or unexpected on occasion - though this may be a result of me learning the platform. This isn’t a deal breaker by any means because the program crashes / system lock-ups always result from the same operations and aren’t random, also they are always fixed when the system reboots. I can’t part with Windows entirely yet, so I’m still dual-booting with Windows XP- but for playing Quake/Doom, light photoshopping, word processing / spreadsheets, email, (Firefox 3 is more solid in XP right now) but when that is fixed Internet too!, & goofing around I’m sold on Ubuntu.
Pros:
Very Pretty and useful eye candy
Lesser (than Windows) / minimal Virus & malware threat
No need to Defrag
EASY install and it comes packaged with many vital apps (Open Office Suite, Firefox, GIMP, Windows-esque games, and basic burning, movie, and music software)
Runs Photoshop CS2, Doom 3, and Quake 4
Auto-updater and Download Center for easy app getting (Filezilla, Thunderbird, etc)
***it’s FREE***
Cons:
Can be a real pain (compared to Windows) to install any non-open source Linux app (Google Earth, ID Games, etc)
Occasionally buggy
There are some Windows apps that will never run on it
Learning Curve
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July 10th, 2008
7287pwkr
Since upgrading my PC - I have been very pleasantly surprised at the reliability and performance of Window XP x64 edition. Contrary to all reports on the web, it is as stable and efficient an OS as I have ever ran. I hate to part with it, but the future beacons.
I can’t not try Vista - and while I’m at it I might as well dual-boot Ubuntu Linux. I’ll keep you posted with my impressions.
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June 10th, 2008
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The legendary lost Cove - This was actually my second trip, my first party turned back about 100 yards away from the destination. It was getting late and we had no idea that we were on the right trail. We made it this time though. The approx 12 mile trek is visually stunning all the way.
The village was abandoned in 1957 (according to http://www.unclejohnnys.net/lostcove.html). My Grandfather remembers walking up to the foot of the village to escort a preacher and his family to one town church, sometime in the 1940’s. Apparently the village was abandoned because of it’s isolation and the fact that the train quit making regular stops. My Mom and Grandpa have memories of the people of Lost Cove integrating into the town life of Burnsville, NC.
Sadly some of the homes have recently been burned down (several pictures are online of homes that aren’t there now). There is evidence of fire around the village. That and the garbage strewn throughout the abandoned town make me wonder what the hell is wrong with some people.
The graveyard held up surprisingly well compared to everything else. It was surreal to come upon a “modern” looking graveyard, complete with artificial flowers, in the middle of nowhere. My Mom thinks that someone tends the graves, but I’m not convinced.
It has been the best trip in recent memory and I will return to check up on this old beauty.
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May 20th, 2008
7287pwkr
Celo Knob - Elevation 6327 ft
Starting point was off Hwy 80 and the up Little Celo Mountain, from there I took a ridge up to the Mt. Doom of Micaville, NC (Celo Knob). Here’s one log from Summitpost.com -
“One of the toughest hikes of my career. The Crest Trail from Deep Gap to Celo Knob (and return) is the ruggedest route I’ve had to negotiate. Lots of extreme drops and climbs, with some patches requiring the use of ones hands to make the scrambles.”
It was tough, but my experience was not as rugged as the poster above. It was a trek from about 8:30am to 2:30pm there and back. Spring wildflowers were in full form, examples:
Red Trillium or Wake Robin Southern Wood Violet
Large Flowered Trillium Dwarf Crested Iris
I’ve read August is a good time to return because blackberries are out and I didn’t quite make it to the summit, so I plan on making a another trip later. Here is the last good view of the summit I got as I was climbing. My full set of photos has been dropped into the image archive.
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May 8th, 2008
7287pwkr
