Life In The Fast Lane

Goat jam outside Jasper ( Canada)

Fortunately this Elk didn't wander onto the highway

'Mama' Loon taking a stretch break from her nest

JASPER, (ALBERTA), CANADA - - Sights along the way in Jasper

Not seen lately in Florida

Beggar on the trail

Please, I haven't had breakfast yet!!

LAKE LOUISE, AB, CANADA - - Some of 'trail' beggars we meet are more animated than others.  This chipmonk thought he was Mike Tyson while trying to extort some food on a lake side trail at Lake Louise. 

Front yard ornament

Great Northern Railways engine

WEST GLACIER, MT - - Some people have pickup trucks or abandoned cars on blocks in their front yard.  The Issac Walton Inn (Essex, MT)  figured having a train engine was even better.  The Great Northern runs the northernmost transcontinental rail route...from Minneapolis to Seattle.

The Gang...Relaxing after a hard day

Couch potatoes

WEST GLACIER, MT - - Porky (left) and Maddie relax after a hard day at the campground.

Train-ing time

WEST GLACIER, MT - - Our campground is less than half a mile from the train tracks.  The freight trains (Burlington Northern Santa Fe, above) run 24-hours a day.  So it's not unusual to hear the engineer laying on the ??horn or whatever at 2 a.m. as he blasts through the area.  And the engineers REALLY like to make sure everyone hears them coming.  But we hear trains back home in OB so it's really no big deal.

Shaggy

WEST GLACIER, MT - - Appropriately, the area where these pictures were taken is called 'Goat Lick' The shaggy guy in the top two photos came out from beneath the bridge we were standing on to meander along side the stream before heading up hill to meet with his 'gang'.

Catch-up

WEST GLACIER, MT - - Pastoral sunshine on the ranch...somewhere in Montana.
     The Sharp-tailed Grouse (bird #1) in a previous blog was shot while we traveled on the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (a road definitely worthy of the "scenic" designation).
     Bird #2 is a Yellow-headed Blackbird.  The other bird in the previous blog is still unidentified.  The photos were shot in the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville, MT.

Clouds and cones

WHITEFISH, MT - - Low clouds, high snow and Ponderosa Pine cones seen along the way to Whitefish.  We've arrived at our destination for the Summer although we don't have to be at 'training' for another 6 days.  So, it's off to more adventures.  Yes, I forgot to find out the types of birds from my last blog. 

Bird quiz

SANDPOINT, ID - - This is a test.  Mainly because I can't find my bird book to identify the above  avian species.  ID will be provided in the next post.  We're hit and miss with spots with wi-fi. 

Signs you don't see in Florida

RED LODGE., MT - - We've found a coffee shop with wi-fi so here's another adventure.  Last night we stayed in a US Forest Service campground.  Fee: $5, of course there was no water, showers, steak and lobster, etc.  Our distinctive camp site number logo and the sign below tells you a little about the area.
     We were heading down from Dead Indian Pass and found Dead Indian Campground.  This route is part of the Nez Perce 'War' of 1877.  Chief Joseph, Lean Elk and what remained of the fleeing tribe were trying to make it to Canada and freedom.  Two troops of US Army cavalry (one behind, one ahead) were attempting to block their route.  On this day, the Nez Perce eluded capture.  However, the Indians had to leave a badly wounded warrior and he was found by the Army and killed.  Thus the name 'Dead Indian Pass'. 

More fun

CLICK ON THE LINK TO LYDIA'S BLOG ...ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS PAGE...TO CATCH UP ON MORE OF OUR RECENT ADVENTURES. 

A bit of history

RIVERTON, WY - - Friday, we were meandering our way somewhere on a scenic back road in the Medicine Bow National Forest.  The cloud cover was dropping as was the temperature.  (There's still plenty of ice covering the small lake in the bottom center of the photo.  The pull out where we stopped had an info board about the Snowy Range Mountains and 12,000'+ Medicine Bow Peak (to the left). 
     A small plaque nearby served to honor 66 individuals  who perished in 1955.  Interest piqued, I checked Google.  United Airlines Flt. 409 left Denver headed to Salt Lake.  The Douglas DC-4  was prop-driven and assigned a flight plan at 10,000' - - plenty of altitude for the surrounding mountains if you stayed on course.  It is believed that the pilots, 80-minutes late at take off, decided on a short cut, and (apparently due to a faulty altimeter)  flew head on into Medicine Bow Peak.  It took five days on the steep, snowy slopes to remove the remains.  At the time, it was the deadliest plane crash in U.S. commercial aviation history.

Marmot life

ESTES PARK, CO - - The Yellow-bellied Marmot clan was out in full force on our Tuesday tour of the high country in Rocky Mountain National Park. One wanted to show off a shiny coat while the other thought that sticking a tongue out was a good way to show displeasure at being disturbed while scrounging for hand out near a trash container.

Getting High in Colorado

MANITOU SPRINGS, CO - - Today, we climbed Pikes Peak - - by cog railway.  Sure, you could hike up the 13.1 mile trail to the top at 14,115'  and it would only take seven hours of oxygen deprivation.  You do the math.  We live at about 50' above sea level.  The campground we're staying in Manitou Springs is at 6800'.  Oh, yeah the temperature on top was mid-30's with a 30mph+  wind.  After taking some photos we decided to get out of the wind (top).  What looks like  traffic jam is actually a work train (left), a train heading to the top (middle) and our three cars heading down.

The Man of Steel ... or bronze in this case

ST. LOUIS, MO - - It all began with a trip off the interstate to look for gas at the exit to  Metropolis, IL.  As fans of superman comic books know, a fictional Metropolis was home to the 'mild mannered' Clark Kent and his employer, The Daily Planet newspaper.  (The real Metropolis' newspaper is named The Planet in honor of The Man of Steel.) 
     Metropolis 'adopted' Superman over 40 years ago. On January 21, 1972, the town received official permission from DC Comics to call itself "The hometown of Superman."  A large theme park was planned with a 200' Superman statue which cars would drive  under (through out stretched legs) to enter.  Unfortunately, the oil crisis of '72 ended that grand plan.  A few years later the town erected a 7' fiberglass statue.  Sadly, "The Man of Fiberglass" was no match for steel bullets.  The effects of target practice on Superman ended that plan.
     Plan C evolved.   Today, there is a 20' two-ton,  projectile-proof, bronze statue on the courthouse square.  There is a museum and stores sell Superman items.  Superman still lives in America's Heartland spreading his motto:  Truth - Justice - The American Way.

Zoo Zoo

WEST END, NC - - Sunday, we took a trip to the zoo. The North Carolina Zoo, near Asheboro, is off the beaten path in a hilly, wooded area.  It has two sections - - one for North America and one for Africa.  There are also birds and animals from other parts of the world.
     The sharp looker with the fancy headgear in the top photo is a Victoria Crowned Pigeon found on the island of New Guinea.  The Electus Parrot, in he middle photo, also inhabits New Guinea as well as the Solomon Islands and Australia.  There were at least six Ring-Tailed Lemurs on the 'Lemur Island' enclosure.  They played in the trees, but when on the ground seemed to like to sunbathe frequently.  This fellow looked more like he was singing an aria from an opera.
     We're now on the road headed West.

Alf (1998 - 2012)

Up, Up and Down

SANDHILLS, NC - - A quick update: Lydia and I celebrated 20 years together on Thursday.  Friday, we were on the road to Montana and our summer job.
     On a sadder note, On Thursday we lost Alf, our furry, four-legged friend of 15 years (pictured as my profile foto) after a year's battle with a hyperthyroid problem.  I miss her curled up on my lap while I tried to read or work on the computer.  I miss her wandering around on the bed at night seeking a spot to curl up against my side and sleep.  I miss her.

Flight Time

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Yesterday afternoon the Yellow-crowned Night Herons were back in action despite the windy conditions.  Facing into the wind is fine if you can hold onto the rope railing on this pier.  When in doubt about strange people taking your picture, take flight...and show perfect form as you fly away.

Snake shake and fly away

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - The Yellow-crowned Night Herons are making an appearance in OB just when we thought they would bypass us this year.  This evening a short walk to our nearby fishing rewarded us with a 'food fight."
    This YCNH had captured a small snake.  The only problem was that he/she had is by the tail so it was harder to kill before consuming....unless you try beating it to death.  The furious activity alerted a nearby Snowy Egret who was a proponent of the "It is easier to steal a meal than find it' school of birding.  The egret stalked and the heron took off to save its meal.
    Go to Lydia's blog (see link) and then click on 'more pictures' which is he Flicker account for more  photos

Friendly, but wary, neighbor

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - This Siamese lives a few houses away with about 8 brothers and sisters...depending on the time of year. 

Back to Glacier NP

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Here's a view from my shuttle van at Logan Pass Visitor Center under blue skies and tall piles of snow on July 13, 2011.  We're headed back to the land of mountains and snow to work another summer as shuttle drivers on the Going to the Sun road in Glacier National Park.  They say this year's snow isn't as bad as last year.  We'll see. 
     We've started getting ready for the trip, but won't leave for a couple of weeks.  Stay tuned.

Duck tricks, Beach bunny & Squirrel tails

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Mr. Mallard can stick his bill in his armpit (wing pit?) and stand on one leg...can you?  The 'beach bunny' and this alert squirrel were waiting for breakfast to appear.  Obviously,  not a lot or action on this Sunday morning.

Ahoy!!

 ORMOND BEACH, FL - - There is a lot of traffic on the Halifax River in the Fall and Spring.  Folks heading to (or from) spending their winters in South Florida or maybe the Caribbean.  Sometimes,  the 'boat' is grand enough that you really wonder who owns it.
     In this case a Google search turned up some interesting info on the S.S. Sophie. This 80' Trumpy Motor Yacht was built in 1947.  It is all wood, diesel-powered and has a 19' beam.  Home base is in the Chesapeake Bay area and it can be found in the Clearwater (FL) area in the winter.
  S.S. normally stands for 'steam ship' in nautical-speak.  In this case it refers to a (deceased) Springer Spaniel named Sophie, a favorite of the yacht's owner Greta Van Susteren (Fox News, On the Record host) and husband John Coale, a Washington lawyer.
     

Thistle-licious

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - An early morning trip to Lake Woodruff NWR found us gloomed-in by overcast skies.  This honey bee didn't care.  There was plenty of nectar in this thistle flower.

Hiding and gliding

 VIERA, FL - - Most of today's subjects in Viera Wetlands were in survival mode.  The Limpkin (above) and this Great Blue Heron were using nature's camouflage to blend in. 

 This Osprey, in full landing mode, used this high perch to zero in on some Coots down below.  He tried dive-bombing them twice without success.  Since Osprey subsist mainly on fish they catch we wonder what the bird would have done if it had snatched at Coot.

Return to the Grand Canyon

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Grand Canyon vista (North Rim), circa summer 2010.

Alaska days

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Talkeetna, Alaska, is a bit like Key West...only with mountains nearby rather than the ocean.  The most notable nearby peak is Denali, at 20,320, the mountain is also known as Mt. McKinley, and is the tallest mountain in North America.  This photo is from May 5, 2007 and the climbing season was already under way.  Today, there are mountain climbers from all over the  world either in town or on the way hoping to add Denali to their list of accomplishments. The chances of reaching the top:  40% over the years are successful.  There were 7 deaths on the mountain in 2011.
      INTERESTING NOTE:  Denali lies at 62-degrees North latitude.  There are over 450 peaks higher.  Nearly all peaks over 20,000' lie within 30-degrees (north or south) of the equator.  Denali is an anomaly.    

Moose hang out

From the archives:  Mama Moose and a not very small youngster.  Along the Alaska Highway.  Late April 2007 on the way to Denali NP.