Abandoned Wooden Masterpiece...

This wonderful piece of medieval architecture is just one of many great homes that have been abandoned for years, hidden deep inside isolated Russian forests.
They've survived because so few people know they're there.
Beautiful monuments to their designers and deceased owners...

A Tiny Wooden Housetruck...

Mr Sharkey is well known to many alternative mobile-home dwellers all over the world.
He started a forum some years ago and has recently given it over to Stuart.
You'll find the forum at www.nomadicista.org
Have a look, it's home to some interesting folk and perhaps a place to call into occasionally.
It's where I found Yoeddynz's gorgeous little 1985 Hino's housetruck. http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=21684

A New Angle On Caravans...

For people who want to be mobile but with their own personally designed walls surrounding them, there's this production option, the Mehrzeller, the multi-cellular caravan.
Using a computer based 'configerator', every potential owner sets up a design that's unique to them. Then using 'mass customisation' the caravan is constructed and the owner is supposedly very happy living in his own creation.
For me, it doesn't have much of a relationship with nature's great outdoors where there are no straight lines, but, for some it's an option...

Up The Garden Path...

I was wandering through http://altbuildblog.blogspot.com/ as I often do and found myself up this delightful garden path.
Cast off slabs of stone have been used to create this lovely pattern, evidently designed and built by some young people in Seattle, Washington.
Or was it the result of some earthquake I wonder...

Massive Earthquake Damage In Washington DC...

As shown on http://laughingsquid.com a second cousin once removed to The Flying Tortoise, these photos indicate some of the extreme destruction caused by the largest earthquake ever recorded in the history of the Washington DC area.
My sympathy goes to all those who suffered moving experiences...

Tiny House Blog...

I found this little hut on Kent Grisworld's Tiny House Blog where there's always moments of pleasure for anyone delighting in living large in small spaces.
This little building with such a friendly shape takes us back to a time when things were simpler.
It evokes thoughts of a cave like shelter.
Put some wheels under it and it could be a Romnay caravan.
Whatever you wish, it can be.
A place for meditation perhaps.
Certainly a comfort zone...

The New Zealand Cycle Trail...

The first on road part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail opened a few days ago.
One hundred and eighty kilometres of the route between Taumaruni and New Plymouth follows The Forgotten World Highway and is framed by Mount Ruapehu at one end and Mount Taranaki at the other.
Passing through some great areas like the densely forested Tangarakau River Gorge, cyclists are assured of a beautiful scenic experience.
A great time's to be had cycling New Zealand...