I got a pair of these crazy Vibram Fivefingers last week.  They are supposed to give you the comfort and freedom of walking in bare feet with the protection of a running shoe.

The Vibram web site shows people running, mountain climbing, and even swimming in them.  They coin the phrase “barefooting” and call it a sport.  Take a look at this bit of PR goodness:

No matter which FiveFingers model you choose, you’ll experience a level of performance and a sense of connectedness no other footwear can match. Vibram FiveFingers footwear acts like a second skin to offer a gecko-like grip over a variety of terrain. It protects bare feet from rocks, gravel, and sharp objects. And it promotes a natural walking motion, reducing impact on your knees, hips, and lower back.

I haven’t climbed any mountains yet, but they sure did freak out the people at the convenience store.

They’re supposed to have some special anti-microbial stuff in the sole so they won’t get all funky like my old pair of Teva sandals.  My dog won’t even go near my Tevas.

I think I found my home base for wilderness exploring this month.  It meets all my immediate needs.

The Noxubee refuge is close enough to me that the commute for early morning hikes and afternoon kayaking won’t kill my gas budget.  Honestly, it would be worth every penny if it were a 3 hour drive away though.

There’s a variety of things to do.  They have trails to hike, lakes to fish, and rivers and creeks to kayak.  Several boardwalks and overlook stations make it a great place for wildlife photography also.  I understand there is a good sized alligator population, so I’ll have my camera at the ready.

Information on kayaking the Noxubee River, which runs right through the refuge, is a little scarce though.  Around here any body of water you can’t traverse with a standard aluminum boat is usually ignored.

You don’t see many kayaks on the tops of vehicles either.  Maybe I can lay the groundwork for the “kayak the Noxubee” movement.

I did a good bit of scouting around the refuge today and put some more pictures in this gallery if you want to take a look.

This is a recurring theme in the deep south of the United States.

As children move to larger towns and cities the old homestead is left behind to fight a losing battle against mother nature and time.

It’s probably been 30 years since the family gathered on this front porch to watch the summer sun go down.  Someone used to sweep that stoop religiously.  Somebody once sweated buckets giving this house a fresh coat of paint.  Those days are over.

It took me a long time to make up my mind on a fishing kayak.  There were several kayaks I considered before going with the Manta Ray.

Deprived of a local kayak shop, my purchase was made without the benefit of putting my hands on the boat.

I depended on the Internet for all the reviews and specs that helped me make my decision.  What really annoyed me was that I could never find more than a few pictures here and there.

Well, here are some up close and personal pictures of the Native Manta Ray 12 fishing Kayak in excruciating detail.  We’ll talk more about this great boat soon.

Every outdoorsman needs a reliable tent for when the weather turns foul.  After loads of researching I chose the REI Half Dome.  Here’s a quick review I did on the Half Dome for Boom!Atomic.

This popular tent from REI just kicks butt.  It’s a reliable low cost alternative for camping and backpacking.  I’ve had mine for 3 months and have taken it on 7 overnights.

Full tent deployment takes about 4 minutes.  The shock-corded aluminum poles almost assemble themselves.  There’s plenty of room for me and the dog once it’s up.

REI has also added some great additional storage space with corner mesh pockets and even a gear loft.

There are two doors, both with an ample vestibule.  I had no problem getting all my gear safely stowed and out of the weather during a nice afternoon rain shower.

This workhorse has alot of the same features you’ll find in tents by MontBell, Marmot, and Big Agnes for half the price.

The color scheme is the only thing I have issue with.  I know bright colors are used on tents for rescue and safety reasons, but it’s a little too yellow.

The newness has worn off my REI Half Dome, but it is holding up like a champ.  I try to shake it out and hang it after every use.  No funky smells yet.

I picked up an essential piece of camping gear today, and it was only 50 cents.

This little folding army can opener is a P-38.  It was designed for the army back in the 1940′s, and has become a prized piece of camping and survival gear for many.

It folds flat and can be hooked on a key chain or lanyard.  This thing feels indestructible, and it beats the heck out of my $4.00 Wal-Mart can opener.

So far I have used it to slice through the box on a new router, eviscerate the blister pack for a headlamp, and chew through the can of chick peas above.

I’m sure I’ll find lots more uses for this well designed little tool.  It just replaced my ex-girlfriend’s house key on my key change.  You see…the P-38 even helps you let go of the past.

If you want to find out much more about the P-38 I recommend you check out Georgia Outfitters.

Whoohoo, first post on OutdoorBlogging.com!  This should be a lot of fun.  I don’t know where this trail will take me, but as long as it gets me out of the computer lab it’ll be great.