NATURAL RESOURCES SHORT BUT SWEET - BOOK REVIEW.``Best Short Hikes'' (South Sierra and North Sierra editions) By Karen & Terry Whitehill (The Mountaineers Books, 2002, $15.95) These recently released editions are updated versions of the originals, published in 1990. And unlike many re-releases from outdoors publishers, they retain their freshness and utility. What's nice about these books is they cover both short and more-challenging day hikes, from easy to difficult, and are well suited for families with children. The South Sierra edition includes the entire Eastern Sierra fishing landscape, a nice addition to the angler's library, and directions to the 200 or so trails in the two books are easy to follow. - Michael A. Anastasi ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT? - On the Internet --No water, no problem: Alice Springs Alice Springs, town (1991 pop. 20,448), Northern Territory, Australia. It lies in a pastoral area surrounded by desert near the center of the continent and is a stop on the Adelaide Darwin Railway. , Australia, doesn't conjure thoughts of sailing. After all, this Northern Territory outpost is roughly 1,500 kilometers from any major body of water. But come September, that won't stop this area from hosting the Henley-on-Todd Regatta The Henley-on-Todd Regatta (also called the Todd River Race) is a 'boat' race held annually in the typically dry sandy bed of the Todd River in Alice Springs, Australia. It began - and continues - as a joke at the expense of the original British settlers and the formal atmosphere (www.henleyontodd.com.au/). The Web site throws out this question to curious visitors: ``What internationally famous event ... has people looking like dumplings after the action?'' The race is held on the coarse sand of the very dry Todd River The Todd River is an ephemeral river in the southern Northern Territory, central Australia. It originates in the MacDonnell Ranges, north of the town of Alice Springs. After flowing through Heavitree Gap at Alice Springs, the Todd runs east then southeast into the Simpson Desert, and brings out bottomless crafts, including bath tubs and yachts. Here is the main ground rule: ``Craft must resemble a boat and encircle en·cir·cle tr.v. en·cir·cled, en·cir·cling, en·cir·cles 1. To form a circle around; surround. See Synonyms at surround. 2. To move or go around completely; make a circuit of. the four crew (members).'' Thus, expect you and your three mates to run while holding up your ship. At day's end, after such events as ``Sand Shoveling,'' ``Bath Tub Derby'' and an ``Anchor The Boat'' tug-of-war competition, the spectacular finish is the ``Battle Of The Boats,'' in which ``three battle boats churn through the sand bristling bristling see hackles. with flour mortars and high-powered water cannons.'' --Bird's the word: There are several species of birds in the Imperial Valley of southeastern California. A good Web site on what to see when visiting the area is www.imperial.cc.ca.us/birds/. Among those that can be viewed are the blue grossbeak, ash-throated flycatcher The Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens, is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It breeds in desert scrub, riparian forest, brushy pastures and open woodland from the western United States to central Mexico. and the loggerhead loggerhead: see sea turtle. shrike. - Chris Cocoles CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (1 -- 2) no caption (books: ``Best Short Hikes'' - South Sierra and North Sierra editions) Box: TUNE IN |
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