tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58221692604305608262024-03-15T18:09:08.291-07:00 Merikay's Dream Craig and Merikay at Avenue of the Giants, CaliforniaMerikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.comBlogger1239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-85898996715252774752023-03-09T20:31:00.000-08:002023-03-09T20:31:17.311-08:00Grand Tradition Estate and Gardens, or I'm Back AGAIN<p><span style="font-size: large;">It's been a long long time since I wrote a blog post! Although we traveled extensively last summer, I really did not feel well, and most of the time just didn't have the energy or desire to write.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was not seriously sick or anything. I have Type 2 diabetes, and it finally caught up with me. But in September, I decided to take it seriously and take control of my eating. It has not been easy, but I have had a lot of support and encouragement from both Craig and my friends at our winter home, Jojoba Hills in California. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have lost 38 pounds, am exercising every day, and my A1C is now in the normal range and I am no longer considered diabetic. I am still diligently watching everything I eat, keeping a strict log, and weighing in every day. I know I could still lose more weight, but for now I am trying to just maintain and learn to eat mindfully.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With all that said, I am looking forward to some travel next summer, and will try to start blogging again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><u> </u></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today, we did something that we might have happily done on one of our RV trips. We went out for a very nice lunch at a very special place in a nearby town.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNRLY8EEvPR8Fm83eZCCO7AzD0qtG3cRmvtKbIdn7Bu-V7QpCBK_ltpPD8CainHsYSxUJg1ipczeeoweJyFePnTYd0iwbFx72uRv0gbONSWfV7xxIQhCvUAQEaxIO9vE20HW0_3ZULBZ3ba5HPsou429SC5SJrE2TZN_qx_xqQH4v2KirJ7tvvdGG/s1000/Fallbrook%20Restrauant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNRLY8EEvPR8Fm83eZCCO7AzD0qtG3cRmvtKbIdn7Bu-V7QpCBK_ltpPD8CainHsYSxUJg1ipczeeoweJyFePnTYd0iwbFx72uRv0gbONSWfV7xxIQhCvUAQEaxIO9vE20HW0_3ZULBZ3ba5HPsou429SC5SJrE2TZN_qx_xqQH4v2KirJ7tvvdGG/w640-h426/Fallbrook%20Restrauant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, California</span><br style="text-align: left;" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I went to lunch at the estate with some of the Jojoba ladies in February, and enjoyed it so much I had to take Craig there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is a large property that is primarily a wedding venue and conference center.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu6tCkxtPwZYhlvDEoRfjG_DCKy_IikiMhDw3qiTDl5NvcEPBQg8WIrz0W2OIY5h7S9a_dCPaBi4J1EtMXf675qrtxi9hP2Zo_R2z2LU3II4Z2FyhV4Ku9-g0ITUBU7T6ZSXm3KouS220NnOpcEqPA-OGNyfIk83ENwcqXmPKddoCfwANpSfOnWBR/s1000/Back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1000" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu6tCkxtPwZYhlvDEoRfjG_DCKy_IikiMhDw3qiTDl5NvcEPBQg8WIrz0W2OIY5h7S9a_dCPaBi4J1EtMXf675qrtxi9hP2Zo_R2z2LU3II4Z2FyhV4Ku9-g0ITUBU7T6ZSXm3KouS220NnOpcEqPA-OGNyfIk83ENwcqXmPKddoCfwANpSfOnWBR/w640-h348/Back.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There is a small but elegant white table cloth restaurant on the long covered veranda, overlooking a beautiful pond. It is only open three days a week. The food was wonderful and the prices were quite reasonable. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My diet? Since I am very careful every other day, an occasional treat day can be enjoyed without guilt. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After lunch we took a walk around the pond and explored the garden.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXj0m4CoIpgSgQ_Bpmx-qpn9BR9A8P7kKmaPraRlfm4d8YXPc7raiXndXP3XO9yxbKjfaoWLEBykNhbhye8PZHtV2ozDoDW_9vXJlF8Or3rnrVx3DSNdZZNZ4eqdcacxY1Ujtis_zzLsr7AU2Pj2A0HFApIFj-y9q9mJoiyxzaEo-l2flOdd3fpkV/s1000/thepond.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1000" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXj0m4CoIpgSgQ_Bpmx-qpn9BR9A8P7kKmaPraRlfm4d8YXPc7raiXndXP3XO9yxbKjfaoWLEBykNhbhye8PZHtV2ozDoDW_9vXJlF8Or3rnrVx3DSNdZZNZ4eqdcacxY1Ujtis_zzLsr7AU2Pj2A0HFApIFj-y9q9mJoiyxzaEo-l2flOdd3fpkV/w640-h410/thepond.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> It was a beautiful, sunny warm day. We have had a lot of cold rainy days this winter, but today it felt like Spring is finally here.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Compass Garden is not big, but every bit of it is delightfully well groomed.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajwKX2VtomukP8UG_WYVotT8PnG72dWXdAjiBjyUJ_-ggP4N-9d3ST3VCGRGLok4RDF-aMdFJ2qU-WuyTXcKkvhymp8mnWPwoKdpf-jFqtgZC6ev0x33ojzE9NVxqARS42zfh_I7wfmltrwtmemH_9EXqw5UXf9tGoqClj1t1fjhUhY4Bv0qHSY15/s1000/around%20garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1000" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajwKX2VtomukP8UG_WYVotT8PnG72dWXdAjiBjyUJ_-ggP4N-9d3ST3VCGRGLok4RDF-aMdFJ2qU-WuyTXcKkvhymp8mnWPwoKdpf-jFqtgZC6ev0x33ojzE9NVxqARS42zfh_I7wfmltrwtmemH_9EXqw5UXf9tGoqClj1t1fjhUhY4Bv0qHSY15/w640-h468/around%20garden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeEtk0k43sUOvcpMwabSSpTnR_TRoTbQtYa1_hg70tyW6LFaQE3KXLNN0P-OD-VmrA8YcPjOPeNV7hgKRVCBW4Z6TpkSlx1n-jvUQ8t41ZjqjH0iIg_tatRjJPF6HuAuuAQFWu2tVnBDH5AGtdHp3sHbn80lrgVPjiWTSCkPwwk2Vp-ylL3IGcAEj/s1000/shadow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="785" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeEtk0k43sUOvcpMwabSSpTnR_TRoTbQtYa1_hg70tyW6LFaQE3KXLNN0P-OD-VmrA8YcPjOPeNV7hgKRVCBW4Z6TpkSlx1n-jvUQ8t41ZjqjH0iIg_tatRjJPF6HuAuuAQFWu2tVnBDH5AGtdHp3sHbn80lrgVPjiWTSCkPwwk2Vp-ylL3IGcAEj/w502-h640/shadow.jpg" width="502" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I love shadows.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-qu4EGO63I-nlxupPexHUcVLHsD5emaZZbbbfkH7jG4kV8oXMwseuaXwT8QbKRIAbhlPrSwV9EUtD4Uf8LLuLS87e5giO6K8iu-5QtwhFXJ7VIoc3Xoki6wkFXs3DygkVl9eKxjBmX9HdIjH_QHC7Ov5O7K-RSmPa5r0jLkSohdLrH6naD86QmuO/s1000/Merikay.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1000" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-qu4EGO63I-nlxupPexHUcVLHsD5emaZZbbbfkH7jG4kV8oXMwseuaXwT8QbKRIAbhlPrSwV9EUtD4Uf8LLuLS87e5giO6K8iu-5QtwhFXJ7VIoc3Xoki6wkFXs3DygkVl9eKxjBmX9HdIjH_QHC7Ov5O7K-RSmPa5r0jLkSohdLrH6naD86QmuO/w640-h596/Merikay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, here I am. Thinner, healthier, and feeling great! Now that the weather is starting to get nicer I am hoping to take some walks, and I might even post about them. </span></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-7690590518752294922022-12-27T14:25:00.000-08:002022-12-27T14:25:00.593-08:00September-October pictures<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A few images from near the end of our summer 2022 trip. From Newfoundland, we returned via Ontario, New York, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arizona, and points between them.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD4mYkAjF9ZGVmsnxf4PC603avgJr57xzVUrU3WkU-9h4PwKwbm8qND1kUQJ31FcOJGsQrYjrCOUXHlVbP9AXqjFXUKfWVYbDia-u3dbuPIGBb6Y3Zf4irDJjoB886GRtktM8RCXTWzsHp1KtXrGwICe7p944PJbm8dxR_jgaLJD_lL0WXM29omKv/s1000/MKbunnies8960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1000" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD4mYkAjF9ZGVmsnxf4PC603avgJr57xzVUrU3WkU-9h4PwKwbm8qND1kUQJ31FcOJGsQrYjrCOUXHlVbP9AXqjFXUKfWVYbDia-u3dbuPIGBb6Y3Zf4irDJjoB886GRtktM8RCXTWzsHp1KtXrGwICe7p944PJbm8dxR_jgaLJD_lL0WXM29omKv/w640-h394/MKbunnies8960.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the parks we stopped at kept rabbits as pets, and sold food for them</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6lam19KRq1f1LlhR7AjVbn9KRZHRlohOLWDLsNN1z5h60r1eGu27gOLsKZZ_fzUP1cd-eezVupANygrDEQrzxPtsKiZHGf_6VWbrPltLYKc6ZM2fbzNXzIP2U3BlCVVjYrdpKac7m7htxcKCn3YEPyuhVYh36XKOmWYUOnm89q5Zxpwlql5BHGix/s1000/MKbunny8964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6lam19KRq1f1LlhR7AjVbn9KRZHRlohOLWDLsNN1z5h60r1eGu27gOLsKZZ_fzUP1cd-eezVupANygrDEQrzxPtsKiZHGf_6VWbrPltLYKc6ZM2fbzNXzIP2U3BlCVVjYrdpKac7m7htxcKCn3YEPyuhVYh36XKOmWYUOnm89q5Zxpwlql5BHGix/w640-h448/MKbunny8964.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4JqggxcmhwMnidYEL_446XYzai8KgviK82KurXKExDEyskEgtFLbrrCNeu-eX3TCElYxE4T0nZEVKEaVVCNcEta-zGn-xMAPASGs70mW4xju21bzAaRgKivQKlgkuCxUjtuaf5EXjWzSDtUwRD-sW8b5lf4uHn6kwcU6BOhNLUtWt2YdT4OFNBFg/s1000/library0335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4JqggxcmhwMnidYEL_446XYzai8KgviK82KurXKExDEyskEgtFLbrrCNeu-eX3TCElYxE4T0nZEVKEaVVCNcEta-zGn-xMAPASGs70mW4xju21bzAaRgKivQKlgkuCxUjtuaf5EXjWzSDtUwRD-sW8b5lf4uHn6kwcU6BOhNLUtWt2YdT4OFNBFg/w640-h482/library0335.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library of a historical residence in Mayberry NC (aka Mount Airy)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnoWji8a6SE-usarHQIi0W9S4q4dgd_tuKQGXlIqfejxWcBmb82ZmioEFMkQtkA-cSfj5_mupJCPwuhfF5YXRxAmQLbvcJVdGqouepVtUDka8cC5qaLWthACTWAc3ScDx32T6nJFmGpK68uLI3gSGWXK4YQHEVQlXwj4KXz3LuDzW-PpGDmUwHyZU/s1000/bedroom6462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="886" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnoWji8a6SE-usarHQIi0W9S4q4dgd_tuKQGXlIqfejxWcBmb82ZmioEFMkQtkA-cSfj5_mupJCPwuhfF5YXRxAmQLbvcJVdGqouepVtUDka8cC5qaLWthACTWAc3ScDx32T6nJFmGpK68uLI3gSGWXK4YQHEVQlXwj4KXz3LuDzW-PpGDmUwHyZU/w568-h640/bedroom6462.jpg" width="568" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2275G2a0RLTgQ6XeTyVgdE42oTtWXZ51BWfXOXzZ-k6sMd29MfoyUvlazj1uUMGDUKUTLclaecvx6Rto-BweWezVpMJIm5SdXzhcV61WuC5M4enaJt1ZCNmwBn-08e2q_2WGFobIzz61qK1EyqgU8DDlYvCRGblXDnT27wFdr4ZIDqJvayqbCKTU/s1000/saguaros9539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1000" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2275G2a0RLTgQ6XeTyVgdE42oTtWXZ51BWfXOXzZ-k6sMd29MfoyUvlazj1uUMGDUKUTLclaecvx6Rto-BweWezVpMJIm5SdXzhcV61WuC5M4enaJt1ZCNmwBn-08e2q_2WGFobIzz61qK1EyqgU8DDlYvCRGblXDnT27wFdr4ZIDqJvayqbCKTU/w640-h370/saguaros9539.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the end of the journey at Picacho Peak state park, Arizona<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7I_3a1l57Mw_JiQpfvSHM-lk5x1rzjA2iVUzWs0r_WipqiTz2MZGd6V8feRtNCoFxoJEFpE2nFE-yvijtBXZiNIi0cyr0DymlpbCN8HVdYp35GBWD_Wd1zcOKjleog-HEbdKIYmVAmB61VrNgMyGk7eK2o9Zj67xHhEta7kNt_k9PXXE5mK03o0x/s1000/manySaguaros9544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1000" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7I_3a1l57Mw_JiQpfvSHM-lk5x1rzjA2iVUzWs0r_WipqiTz2MZGd6V8feRtNCoFxoJEFpE2nFE-yvijtBXZiNIi0cyr0DymlpbCN8HVdYp35GBWD_Wd1zcOKjleog-HEbdKIYmVAmB61VrNgMyGk7eK2o9Zj67xHhEta7kNt_k9PXXE5mK03o0x/w640-h404/manySaguaros9544.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-41660457405707729462022-12-20T14:47:00.000-08:002022-12-20T14:47:43.109-08:00August Pictures<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">On Aug 1, we were standing on a shore cliff near Twillingate Newfoundland, when we spotted a fishing boat coming in and crossing in front of a small island.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF1TnX3n-pcQ_LCZ6yoVNcM0fVtRH5ShBv8sLBgsV9MJkf0TfejfFKbM7uJrZqI0iHJUxsKB39M7ZpZDeakOV5-hoG8xNdS30_dJjwZeIpgIqfUi_ZcRX3aBBSFYgsOBTzu6AB_ROy6VeynSxH9_toD6j6TNP5JLVJoSK-4lmsjT2K_r6vNi-Bq3k/s1000/boatIslandWater5090.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF1TnX3n-pcQ_LCZ6yoVNcM0fVtRH5ShBv8sLBgsV9MJkf0TfejfFKbM7uJrZqI0iHJUxsKB39M7ZpZDeakOV5-hoG8xNdS30_dJjwZeIpgIqfUi_ZcRX3aBBSFYgsOBTzu6AB_ROy6VeynSxH9_toD6j6TNP5JLVJoSK-4lmsjT2K_r6vNi-Bq3k/w640-h426/boatIslandWater5090.jpg" width="640" /><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6wqnJ1pqdIjA1r3_YfhT2RGYKTz_p9gVA_Q-g-Nrr9DoaZX26YG_b_0Q6EyuVaAhGt01EazTonNcB00RGscUvG6wadM1DF1ZkWObkQfKudjMEEKlC1T6F7ABwjmOELRvV7Nt32-0bAO4H9Dy9THYB7KeUK4UtwGcwbsIksnyxqhqLoaIgWWk5uYi/s1000/boat0648.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6wqnJ1pqdIjA1r3_YfhT2RGYKTz_p9gVA_Q-g-Nrr9DoaZX26YG_b_0Q6EyuVaAhGt01EazTonNcB00RGscUvG6wadM1DF1ZkWObkQfKudjMEEKlC1T6F7ABwjmOELRvV7Nt32-0bAO4H9Dy9THYB7KeUK4UtwGcwbsIksnyxqhqLoaIgWWk5uYi/w640-h426/boat0648.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same boat, about to dock in Twillingate<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RY7U11RweGTWkwEcstkQ1FU78brx1xxc63pQDuWOLpQQO072pVFn4oB15RdvnM4zkTdRAaIFxH91kYxUR4KMu6tLgz3jJ6KxjzqzJvprPMxNdoCAryAi4UPTqrlOX_GKWU0jcZ1c8LRxqVqoUEPjyOEeOU7LZ3xesSpBfKjDePw_T0w7XvO1IqDa/s1000/centeredVista1945.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RY7U11RweGTWkwEcstkQ1FU78brx1xxc63pQDuWOLpQQO072pVFn4oB15RdvnM4zkTdRAaIFxH91kYxUR4KMu6tLgz3jJ6KxjzqzJvprPMxNdoCAryAi4UPTqrlOX_GKWU0jcZ1c8LRxqVqoUEPjyOEeOU7LZ3xesSpBfKjDePw_T0w7XvO1IqDa/w640-h482/centeredVista1945.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aug 5: Norris Point<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDefPk03qZxzQneC1PW3_OEiLsis7swzPOG2TP1OeRJzQQo37HQICs7f59BHK6a2EBYZO80oQPi2JzjkY1h-qTVI5VcZWwnXQZl0oYB_ZcsCLG2_Yxhh3Vl6GAbWh_3Ze9pDmIfwJjDyzZI37AX0FTAMQT9Ax9XNX5SQMnpH_x7a3git6M49Zgyl6T/s1000/centeredVistaTwo6557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDefPk03qZxzQneC1PW3_OEiLsis7swzPOG2TP1OeRJzQQo37HQICs7f59BHK6a2EBYZO80oQPi2JzjkY1h-qTVI5VcZWwnXQZl0oYB_ZcsCLG2_Yxhh3Vl6GAbWh_3Ze9pDmIfwJjDyzZI37AX0FTAMQT9Ax9XNX5SQMnpH_x7a3git6M49Zgyl6T/w640-h482/centeredVistaTwo6557.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaF-NduA6jMK5cyiDmbnKyvIfwUdrXvamUe8jardfi1VYZVursCXPDlHtOS8aGG2g4n7_dcr-FY_kLXwSHOtmEwPsii1Z4D6L5uCk2b2whJkJH9ktzBhnYOdfFUlxD-mUpROxrtKROuqjenh5VVmEmIn9uE26H_whOeywri9AA-C10jyCPazrbMcA/s1000/lakeBetweenCliffs7878.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaF-NduA6jMK5cyiDmbnKyvIfwUdrXvamUe8jardfi1VYZVursCXPDlHtOS8aGG2g4n7_dcr-FY_kLXwSHOtmEwPsii1Z4D6L5uCk2b2whJkJH9ktzBhnYOdfFUlxD-mUpROxrtKROuqjenh5VVmEmIn9uE26H_whOeywri9AA-C10jyCPazrbMcA/w640-h482/lakeBetweenCliffs7878.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Aug 6, we rode a boat tour of a lake near Gros Morne National Park<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9q4sMrZNrfRh3beYJeG4fo0fWlQX5SwdRLwlsCk3_68g642mQ8TnZKksKE22yIFpUAMNRpaQNnsjsdiywWkIt1Z0nBcBeS9YQYRitDwHDg6kRyp4TwhjLSyIrjPKVjyZT-IBBP4wwuB9mCzBKocG9RwntK2FR-MK_eWjwTta_dO5BogjJ4VAtr4q/s1000/waterfall2268.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="688" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9q4sMrZNrfRh3beYJeG4fo0fWlQX5SwdRLwlsCk3_68g642mQ8TnZKksKE22yIFpUAMNRpaQNnsjsdiywWkIt1Z0nBcBeS9YQYRitDwHDg6kRyp4TwhjLSyIrjPKVjyZT-IBBP4wwuB9mCzBKocG9RwntK2FR-MK_eWjwTta_dO5BogjJ4VAtr4q/w440-h640/waterfall2268.jpg" width="440" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Aug 10, we visited the</span><span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, near the northern tip of Newfoundland. It includes a simulated 11th-century Viking seashore camp.<br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTid2bSNuf8BJWQPczNPYIgJabAZExlv4oqKU3jLaMa2wZdv_ejZ71LUOIpDTdX5WDQby4qeH1yr1F9B1YvE_kU7_J2BpfXp6ZMtqn2mNHQzPTDH2fO_eKKImOYx_DeUUTHT6C3oTLkcUM3FrI49dFj-HUlrIAIuby6S3xZzcDnEQWNQS5Q2-bxc_k/s1000/vikings3181.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1000" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTid2bSNuf8BJWQPczNPYIgJabAZExlv4oqKU3jLaMa2wZdv_ejZ71LUOIpDTdX5WDQby4qeH1yr1F9B1YvE_kU7_J2BpfXp6ZMtqn2mNHQzPTDH2fO_eKKImOYx_DeUUTHT6C3oTLkcUM3FrI49dFj-HUlrIAIuby6S3xZzcDnEQWNQS5Q2-bxc_k/w640-h434/vikings3181.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal art of Viking scouting party<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJYjcEFCYCD8atpwH7H0e0QMzRZZDHwsm2b3M8E4QJDVog43aQlUyyimoFkEgNgTTGLUt-8oZVYvsmMtCj-kBt-aDnCfqGeNtl8ufTXaBY_dCVwBYGoyO6EN7BjTNtNDRnTP9eMg1ecW_mBVZpSxrJU8fTIwl9trOLIN1-dLvTtDOuJuMHYIKWfBg/s1000/MKboat9893.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJYjcEFCYCD8atpwH7H0e0QMzRZZDHwsm2b3M8E4QJDVog43aQlUyyimoFkEgNgTTGLUt-8oZVYvsmMtCj-kBt-aDnCfqGeNtl8ufTXaBY_dCVwBYGoyO6EN7BjTNtNDRnTP9eMg1ecW_mBVZpSxrJU8fTIwl9trOLIN1-dLvTtDOuJuMHYIKWfBg/w640-h426/MKboat9893.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_xqiCnUXCIibYtai7WIn9U6tfegiZrnd5KkttITecczTrnAdDI8Kug7zPBWrBXp8Z0CiZsAKGJ4isoXEzwN3Ldy0x4DmE44roo8TvHYokW3ka5VBkVQM-9y4EgHz2S2kxICNVL3GRGHx8rpVi3_4ZOP4nuHsQN5rn0v2d_7FQNzcZvjcERTyX7nA/s1000/vikingCampfire1806.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1000" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_xqiCnUXCIibYtai7WIn9U6tfegiZrnd5KkttITecczTrnAdDI8Kug7zPBWrBXp8Z0CiZsAKGJ4isoXEzwN3Ldy0x4DmE44roo8TvHYokW3ka5VBkVQM-9y4EgHz2S2kxICNVL3GRGHx8rpVi3_4ZOP4nuHsQN5rn0v2d_7FQNzcZvjcERTyX7nA/w640-h390/vikingCampfire1806.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Role-playing Vikings<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc49_A17pQkRf-z-xEkr9ubUVPejJZcVLcsOwVJWOiMvtwFGYDS1i_fJKlj2Eyztdetj0aXkALG2dmxVmrSClJSe_pvfjYhnoVuu7P3srwCh-Y4DeNfqdrbDEeIlwwG6bH7OuM76QmW0f10XRn9t1mYbe7YkLqB1FIHpI6fIjNxSEqIITtf0bOvvPt/s1000/vikingCampfireTwo8041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc49_A17pQkRf-z-xEkr9ubUVPejJZcVLcsOwVJWOiMvtwFGYDS1i_fJKlj2Eyztdetj0aXkALG2dmxVmrSClJSe_pvfjYhnoVuu7P3srwCh-Y4DeNfqdrbDEeIlwwG6bH7OuM76QmW0f10XRn9t1mYbe7YkLqB1FIHpI6fIjNxSEqIITtf0bOvvPt/w640-h400/vikingCampfireTwo8041.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GzsOLDxfXz8ecSVmXQy2NJOCX93oTL13nl_ULI6NUdMDEF7n7Z5x9SDEbBYBMQBueTFZcej48G5li34kK06Lh9Zb5jOAgkAqlsR1RujLEGAgiYXe1n1-7xuI-X2GHHKkmLavVsR5GQBXsgsB174qk_s_CMmFSF5Jyl6hhYLHrXg_6PJYobkTUvbu/s1000/livingRoom7131.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="1000" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GzsOLDxfXz8ecSVmXQy2NJOCX93oTL13nl_ULI6NUdMDEF7n7Z5x9SDEbBYBMQBueTFZcej48G5li34kK06Lh9Zb5jOAgkAqlsR1RujLEGAgiYXe1n1-7xuI-X2GHHKkmLavVsR5GQBXsgsB174qk_s_CMmFSF5Jyl6hhYLHrXg_6PJYobkTUvbu/w640-h408/livingRoom7131.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom And Pop chairs in Viking living room<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd-NhiGi3DJFR8AmODMpPlvSzQ3EKWBxazKUpLebK8BByhmUen4urGEZGulX48m6K2yhJw-shRqg09SCw1pB4xHkRC7wLAqsXvZmiS6KsnQy_iBD1TQAbbcpbFF4Gwvn1Uxoph6mMMa0VFFPlOgj3ojhh-4qf23t03SxSb5irIw5VDTLtoZIeBTjN/s1000/bellows4215.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1000" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd-NhiGi3DJFR8AmODMpPlvSzQ3EKWBxazKUpLebK8BByhmUen4urGEZGulX48m6K2yhJw-shRqg09SCw1pB4xHkRC7wLAqsXvZmiS6KsnQy_iBD1TQAbbcpbFF4Gwvn1Uxoph6mMMa0VFFPlOgj3ojhh-4qf23t03SxSb5irIw5VDTLtoZIeBTjN/w640-h506/bellows4215.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apprentice blacksmith pumping bellows<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOAay4gvZfPueg64SQjieWYh4RK1ru9Pf1-dOlzAsOK4BQx2woAKvEx-KINEHDiGjNJCx1U-gIJtzOSg5EFuqQIeoayd5DqPrrCniQY4SeVuh5QKLjLNnQfIhE76uiONIwQybHNCbq8TInFPeBWnZ6kNOArf3Tr-z_kSLLvumslHa4oaWyrYYiKvD/s1000/plantsWaterSky1820.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOAay4gvZfPueg64SQjieWYh4RK1ru9Pf1-dOlzAsOK4BQx2woAKvEx-KINEHDiGjNJCx1U-gIJtzOSg5EFuqQIeoayd5DqPrrCniQY4SeVuh5QKLjLNnQfIhE76uiONIwQybHNCbq8TInFPeBWnZ6kNOArf3Tr-z_kSLLvumslHa4oaWyrYYiKvD/w640-h482/plantsWaterSky1820.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aug 12<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIA2eWTuZaSByrjHmE-LhU9nQ_IjLuXhBuWRU189LTg5Bbea0NfjahzXn01tIKIInrYS5zSep-v0XmLxpBu6a-N0szR-zzmgnWCyeQSf6pfxJIDAVfpaSDPPezkgi7xV1yuGGBVhZmegJ643nRtZr4jk2qE7jyHlebtCulIeBbwpPXiRyc4DuL5Xx/s1000/plantsWaterSkyTwo4487.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIA2eWTuZaSByrjHmE-LhU9nQ_IjLuXhBuWRU189LTg5Bbea0NfjahzXn01tIKIInrYS5zSep-v0XmLxpBu6a-N0szR-zzmgnWCyeQSf6pfxJIDAVfpaSDPPezkgi7xV1yuGGBVhZmegJ643nRtZr4jk2qE7jyHlebtCulIeBbwpPXiRyc4DuL5Xx/w640-h482/plantsWaterSkyTwo4487.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DUgTrxF2bvC5v6sqlBGqNNm-PHHk2z7aZfpQlTANDK0ksPigowS3bbGy62zwZZnItrwmpkTDFPb8n5bRGnIl4RbM4bzSBMVff3WYiid7Bj5QT7wzXfT_VWwGseMJYtOMiwoLocl_laVj5jvlLn-7pVDQFqPFbHoD4T4eq3VIjWMPPpkm1iLDXlWs/s1000/seaShore9942.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DUgTrxF2bvC5v6sqlBGqNNm-PHHk2z7aZfpQlTANDK0ksPigowS3bbGy62zwZZnItrwmpkTDFPb8n5bRGnIl4RbM4bzSBMVff3WYiid7Bj5QT7wzXfT_VWwGseMJYtOMiwoLocl_laVj5jvlLn-7pVDQFqPFbHoD4T4eq3VIjWMPPpkm1iLDXlWs/w640-h482/seaShore9942.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aug 16<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLVXK4HaFfZmJ4BKwZovhB545er4t1qW1P19mWTtTK_7P6nHGD_VFglEazH75cy0be3a-fceAFsMDmjPwKJ87qNB7x6IHtxN6aj2zGq0dcIY2ipKQS_yd1VsbVYSsil9OMdBTGqxMTNoz9x6DI6rei8lhX-yI6xXlIrFTh5Kkx0GykgW3uJ_2N__v/s1000/plantsRocksSkyLighthouse3668.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1000" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLVXK4HaFfZmJ4BKwZovhB545er4t1qW1P19mWTtTK_7P6nHGD_VFglEazH75cy0be3a-fceAFsMDmjPwKJ87qNB7x6IHtxN6aj2zGq0dcIY2ipKQS_yd1VsbVYSsil9OMdBTGqxMTNoz9x6DI6rei8lhX-yI6xXlIrFTh5Kkx0GykgW3uJ_2N__v/w640-h562/plantsRocksSkyLighthouse3668.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobster Cove Head, Rocky Harbor<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWfXQJ9jeBrXCkQXhjotllKu5dAlwAjZrrkJkWF9GzX3pm3OYGt6qyb946RoSLz73TCSXDczX1A2yul-pu5kSuxWEOew0AXqZhRGaXn4ltDNxNb1zDE0hSNADwpZUeQhR6qUeYE4ydllPhwn-sXgn2jtInOo39w3CjPaAkBsVbSblwfCCYhtXFBSz/s1000/butterfly8927.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1000" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWfXQJ9jeBrXCkQXhjotllKu5dAlwAjZrrkJkWF9GzX3pm3OYGt6qyb946RoSLz73TCSXDczX1A2yul-pu5kSuxWEOew0AXqZhRGaXn4ltDNxNb1zDE0hSNADwpZUeQhR6qUeYE4ydllPhwn-sXgn2jtInOo39w3CjPaAkBsVbSblwfCCYhtXFBSz/w640-h374/butterfly8927.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aug 19 at the Newfoundland Insectarium in Reidville<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-72457650504955041702022-12-17T12:05:00.000-08:002022-12-17T12:05:38.502-08:00July Pictures<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">By July 1, we reached Maine in preparation to spending July 4 at Bar Harbor. We had been there before, and had enjoyed the nice hillside view of the harbor and the great fireworks display.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UmCUwq4brF4n08vD_1m6bN4YG7IC8Glnaa4QsZtkl_5QFxbVrDku6A163D64PMzRz_Xv-fg_NK7VtKSubgrUwROMBPCJSqgaHJ4LBWBUQL0FSlQmWFUr55a_QwhEY8cj3jvIeO-YCD82U4786mwYBW4xQkIfO74IJQ64DMDHQCRrpE3PKZTTi0zc/s1000/waterIslandsTrees0564.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UmCUwq4brF4n08vD_1m6bN4YG7IC8Glnaa4QsZtkl_5QFxbVrDku6A163D64PMzRz_Xv-fg_NK7VtKSubgrUwROMBPCJSqgaHJ4LBWBUQL0FSlQmWFUr55a_QwhEY8cj3jvIeO-YCD82U4786mwYBW4xQkIfO74IJQ64DMDHQCRrpE3PKZTTi0zc/w640-h400/waterIslandsTrees0564.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hike in Arcadia National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiuWn4qTfRwbjfBzjrf87bOWrJ5c93MYAxALRpDNppHB2o7osDmzKtfSeA7ExS4cMhxfvuoT7YrDgs00Xkmdokp6X0GmOv8bUuvH6XDMhL55B5lgOGXHwz3_GFle1JKto4GOkomzp_-FnjcF_FyRs_7PCQ9eXKHH_m9zcucoGPbbGKazCWTYnSxtG/s1000/MKwaving2592.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiuWn4qTfRwbjfBzjrf87bOWrJ5c93MYAxALRpDNppHB2o7osDmzKtfSeA7ExS4cMhxfvuoT7YrDgs00Xkmdokp6X0GmOv8bUuvH6XDMhL55B5lgOGXHwz3_GFle1JKto4GOkomzp_-FnjcF_FyRs_7PCQ9eXKHH_m9zcucoGPbbGKazCWTYnSxtG/w640-h482/MKwaving2592.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKF7Aqx8HxovP_UKSY3wNgGwr06jnao-0tGFPxfVbzIIdOtgN-TwcSE-OI8vBqxWlK6RTTT7a6Rv8j_CSSAFMjDLxCIJ-_Sfyn9Chuq-vyxdJAhKrPMWPW7Nmxq9KNj-eZXIWVjV9qWyI5wsRsQIqrbObkjnZdunWekIn0cvQgljhB-Sn2d4eZIgI/s1000/sidehillVista0236.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1000" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKF7Aqx8HxovP_UKSY3wNgGwr06jnao-0tGFPxfVbzIIdOtgN-TwcSE-OI8vBqxWlK6RTTT7a6Rv8j_CSSAFMjDLxCIJ-_Sfyn9Chuq-vyxdJAhKrPMWPW7Nmxq9KNj-eZXIWVjV9qWyI5wsRsQIqrbObkjnZdunWekIn0cvQgljhB-Sn2d4eZIgI/w640-h430/sidehillVista0236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVsRs42G6z7g_VqkfaF0r9COvm9rtuniyf3NcmYk_1WWzTSpK7y6XT6_XYB-wA44R9XEBEB_rlIwqVgXyn71ArgH4Jg_PrfctUSHm7DMsDlVg9bv0_vVdwTzpyiqq8fNlGgRJzmSaxjOWphMZGc6vpQqVmEB_SfEgvBwG9rd02OtsLjuM0le4IjY-/s1000/ships4941.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVsRs42G6z7g_VqkfaF0r9COvm9rtuniyf3NcmYk_1WWzTSpK7y6XT6_XYB-wA44R9XEBEB_rlIwqVgXyn71ArgH4Jg_PrfctUSHm7DMsDlVg9bv0_vVdwTzpyiqq8fNlGgRJzmSaxjOWphMZGc6vpQqVmEB_SfEgvBwG9rd02OtsLjuM0le4IjY-/w640-h482/ships4941.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the 4th, two sailboats offered rides in the Atlantic</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XkdiFecM899oF-xnqskY10gjXC7F_XZV9vaYo_nxSvdmBEJ0CQWfJ-Pmk_EIMDsPc61A-KaLGbdjsau10IZ6imYgjTCGFLQTJGjhRHDCX19MYSsfmkYxPD_QbfyMf9XiwHQD1Z04qW3RK1BSPk5GgndR_iZaDPJWg-cjjkpV7rBG8j5O1klrDzJs/s1000/band8397.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XkdiFecM899oF-xnqskY10gjXC7F_XZV9vaYo_nxSvdmBEJ0CQWfJ-Pmk_EIMDsPc61A-KaLGbdjsau10IZ6imYgjTCGFLQTJGjhRHDCX19MYSsfmkYxPD_QbfyMf9XiwHQD1Z04qW3RK1BSPk5GgndR_iZaDPJWg-cjjkpV7rBG8j5O1klrDzJs/w640-h482/band8397.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Live music before the fireworks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8ZNjmFumfxYjmu33Tbh0SyhYDziDYntNT5w2hLoRahyAzSgdXrT1NhK4oDqkbfYHXHZOP7VMexzkK1w-CjWRqPZe-tXkhDC_NJmoizQzmZjKF8sKy1SpqGpkaMiUTJhaIxxLn2NiJ463qwGvPxa_VBYYRuZ0jEYbGEnX3NDFufk9tqNM7mBBMGEm/s1000/rocks+dog8757.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1000" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8ZNjmFumfxYjmu33Tbh0SyhYDziDYntNT5w2hLoRahyAzSgdXrT1NhK4oDqkbfYHXHZOP7VMexzkK1w-CjWRqPZe-tXkhDC_NJmoizQzmZjKF8sKy1SpqGpkaMiUTJhaIxxLn2NiJ463qwGvPxa_VBYYRuZ0jEYbGEnX3NDFufk9tqNM7mBBMGEm/w640-h446/rocks+dog8757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocks adjacent to beach near Bar Harbor, with dog</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLShMAa1iG8cir_Gw6UvN9K7_stK-C3mu8PpBAnE8AFr1IuZvREMgG_uc9WBtaZNmK03bWxquhNu3Q9VtMtiJONJgXMlKjX4MQR2oyKam-1vRaaU48_y154dv5cYqXNU6grXhUkPEK2CI7jjyj6rtDkXZdU-X1QHzwEBK76REEDXTxJ4ZYjoS8MJBh/s1000/sharpRock7735.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLShMAa1iG8cir_Gw6UvN9K7_stK-C3mu8PpBAnE8AFr1IuZvREMgG_uc9WBtaZNmK03bWxquhNu3Q9VtMtiJONJgXMlKjX4MQR2oyKam-1vRaaU48_y154dv5cYqXNU6grXhUkPEK2CI7jjyj6rtDkXZdU-X1QHzwEBK76REEDXTxJ4ZYjoS8MJBh/w640-h482/sharpRock7735.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharp!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Next, we crossed the border into New Brunswick, and drove up to Sydney Nova Scotia to take a ferry to our main destination Newfoundland.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AJkm48oGF5TUtBttO_p5rlAhMzo_U6epnMzmsv0hc85BFv0lSPz-JOgNOeTsze98jTmylb-cB73v3bfH4bUcIutPjfHR1_vm7fuZCwS6vU8CqTzb5kZri2ArgdIi507U8VC2dlaUFfW66xUG1yxE7ipQGxJ00dCmPPoYw_ojzQkpBE2-0EUrhOQc/s1000/ferry0545.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AJkm48oGF5TUtBttO_p5rlAhMzo_U6epnMzmsv0hc85BFv0lSPz-JOgNOeTsze98jTmylb-cB73v3bfH4bUcIutPjfHR1_vm7fuZCwS6vU8CqTzb5kZri2ArgdIi507U8VC2dlaUFfW66xUG1yxE7ipQGxJ00dCmPPoYw_ojzQkpBE2-0EUrhOQc/w640-h384/ferry0545.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This ferry took us to Arcadia Newfoundland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5RyWDlAq66GcMBVMTrFXGhX__EEGNi2VfylRL3J6Tpl-T_aCRGcgo_552YCX-otzasZqJmVVgGC0Eb4_3canGnS1C76sor6-4MJHh5IOdxp37VqRFaGWhd7iCj7rHpgt7Zwy2JTaGFs1JX354EF2DUQ1AiqM1fifk7a01hgsX_cHybd3qMuL9FUR/s1000/cannons9418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5RyWDlAq66GcMBVMTrFXGhX__EEGNi2VfylRL3J6Tpl-T_aCRGcgo_552YCX-otzasZqJmVVgGC0Eb4_3canGnS1C76sor6-4MJHh5IOdxp37VqRFaGWhd7iCj7rHpgt7Zwy2JTaGFs1JX354EF2DUQ1AiqM1fifk7a01hgsX_cHybd3qMuL9FUR/w640-h426/cannons9418.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cannons at Castle Hill near Placentia helped defend the French from the British, and then vice-versa.<br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtogIk76WHP34coTYT8grihLm4YTvUPOxtLMIn42inyZAb3epmRop38golAsbR3jErEKO38gpk57xHnPLiM4OYuQxKIkc1emEc2P-igv8c6-ThNajn53MkU4OZrqEd8H3AfJZ54UEs8NY6DJj93yEtNr2yDpQ5nwBtcGuGHC-LiRLqk6WhK3lj5pZY/s1000/rocksGrassWaterSky5809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1000" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtogIk76WHP34coTYT8grihLm4YTvUPOxtLMIn42inyZAb3epmRop38golAsbR3jErEKO38gpk57xHnPLiM4OYuQxKIkc1emEc2P-igv8c6-ThNajn53MkU4OZrqEd8H3AfJZ54UEs8NY6DJj93yEtNr2yDpQ5nwBtcGuGHC-LiRLqk6WhK3lj5pZY/w640-h392/rocksGrassWaterSky5809.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks6NA1PvQvK9kHdjvE4XCR2ngdvE5e-SsETcfG0H7MZ9cheyuqo_vmnfnTSKQjIvQgRLOzYZVJ_OJrSHzHEcDomjTO46ilcGKLaIQtnCMwUmeRkeLBq4N38S5rLcZX0SBgDTLZjnkNRS8LqkWncm4RdsMSfXi9aWHcIRV0Od2wBP0_pH8YF-pTY6k/s1000/rGWSnarrow4213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks6NA1PvQvK9kHdjvE4XCR2ngdvE5e-SsETcfG0H7MZ9cheyuqo_vmnfnTSKQjIvQgRLOzYZVJ_OJrSHzHEcDomjTO46ilcGKLaIQtnCMwUmeRkeLBq4N38S5rLcZX0SBgDTLZjnkNRS8LqkWncm4RdsMSfXi9aWHcIRV0Od2wBP0_pH8YF-pTY6k/w640-h482/rGWSnarrow4213.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lonely!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WXQ75eic072KrbFgmr3homE6g6GbC1Wmv9Y-TUjeO-20T0d9JQoqk0RlJJP4rKDuEy4vvO7rrb2GFAaIhTkd1uQ6segb-gTWGL7Ht7qPbCA-cNJor5GbVoFEOUhkMFbD1Ti22jxqM5Q0JOqGSLsuPuUOrx8jl0YlDTGMRhJfnv15YNhp5QXLrBtj/s1000/wideMural5862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1000" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WXQ75eic072KrbFgmr3homE6g6GbC1Wmv9Y-TUjeO-20T0d9JQoqk0RlJJP4rKDuEy4vvO7rrb2GFAaIhTkd1uQ6segb-gTWGL7Ht7qPbCA-cNJor5GbVoFEOUhkMFbD1Ti22jxqM5Q0JOqGSLsuPuUOrx8jl0YlDTGMRhJfnv15YNhp5QXLrBtj/w640-h408/wideMural5862.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Botwood NL features many murals.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyY4Y5n2r8L-_KzIdNdlQ-GodaIpVYTsHkC7drh7iZx-Q99CsmeqqmwggDbrRE249xpZqymplfXQja5YKgBdUqYDLpC9QolX5B5LHhnzeXspcaCjzCZAnoXxiaN_8E_F8hnt9Q_G2kgEj21ndWcyMtnQ_39V9fSzL8M0E9X6qXuEFelzJQTUcvCnz/s1000/outboundBeaver4637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1000" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyY4Y5n2r8L-_KzIdNdlQ-GodaIpVYTsHkC7drh7iZx-Q99CsmeqqmwggDbrRE249xpZqymplfXQja5YKgBdUqYDLpC9QolX5B5LHhnzeXspcaCjzCZAnoXxiaN_8E_F8hnt9Q_G2kgEj21ndWcyMtnQ_39V9fSzL8M0E9X6qXuEFelzJQTUcvCnz/w640-h430/outboundBeaver4637.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found a habitat housing many beavers on Woolford's Pond near Lewisport NL.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdqHrwe2_c2au23CNkOMYcfqdaHKacxqHt7fBiEJDHdFw8zI4DTxsnrk3iVcxXudF6nG9ZA41M1C6z64NJe2MEBhduiIkLJG84emh1CSnf9UZkpp0jpbhHHzyM-g8jjelnsXG-n72lfMUQoq1TC52ZIaO9zLWEgTjOjutWykclSKYh7hAX-lOQCdF/s1000/2beaverProcession3081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1000" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdqHrwe2_c2au23CNkOMYcfqdaHKacxqHt7fBiEJDHdFw8zI4DTxsnrk3iVcxXudF6nG9ZA41M1C6z64NJe2MEBhduiIkLJG84emh1CSnf9UZkpp0jpbhHHzyM-g8jjelnsXG-n72lfMUQoq1TC52ZIaO9zLWEgTjOjutWykclSKYh7hAX-lOQCdF/w640-h336/2beaverProcession3081.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSbv_vcN8nzf_It5pLQUdS2q3onNuyywNfMylwgM8DlTjDvC-XpxvVvL-8gOgVccCBzT5KDFHi4mHxHBpfPnXI4VpjUiGcLZ_luWQDpZp5VGVwdszGZt94iaPjc51_2S-kuP6vb1UNLJoGOKss-Jgz2U4Khj0uzvuSZuGxInfxodnXgFGlKMjJ0b1/s1000/2beaverCuddle9450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1000" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSbv_vcN8nzf_It5pLQUdS2q3onNuyywNfMylwgM8DlTjDvC-XpxvVvL-8gOgVccCBzT5KDFHi4mHxHBpfPnXI4VpjUiGcLZ_luWQDpZp5VGVwdszGZt94iaPjc51_2S-kuP6vb1UNLJoGOKss-Jgz2U4Khj0uzvuSZuGxInfxodnXgFGlKMjJ0b1/w640-h488/2beaverCuddle9450.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mates? Mother and child? Can't tell the beavers without a program!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D_jisfoXwnzPSyBpYo8eCLQDCkTzXApfpOq_x6QDSlTG8QNOB2OHMHXbQV6G32CVBCDwdeVwNj6UXC0dXwABObiFgFHQ7yFZ_gCysyqZqasRW5NpaE0a8UkYpUqsIz3y7LNkTU3XoDqmSk4eqgs7WI0dik3FCB7V6ZcuvkBAINqmKFQxv4rtWIHX/s1000/rTWLighthouse0903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D_jisfoXwnzPSyBpYo8eCLQDCkTzXApfpOq_x6QDSlTG8QNOB2OHMHXbQV6G32CVBCDwdeVwNj6UXC0dXwABObiFgFHQ7yFZ_gCysyqZqasRW5NpaE0a8UkYpUqsIz3y7LNkTU3XoDqmSk4eqgs7WI0dik3FCB7V6ZcuvkBAINqmKFQxv4rtWIHX/w640-h482/rTWLighthouse0903.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse and cliffs near Gros Morne National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-20835890512728200892022-12-12T10:45:00.003-08:002022-12-12T11:06:28.325-08:00June Pictures<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After our grandson's graduation, we spent June in New England playing tourist. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtW9Eky--EK7auYPB1VJXsmQWP7DWcxxNdVpG7QVAxH1smo3F3Wjp9_sJ0QcfY8nCxV8hdFBe4-z1yGDyF3F7xCSgtMXUeHSLEmyZYERGj1c9xPzXSPY2njaZtct1u9H9u8VWn60PrA-NcNoWz8KBlC5foPNENAUpv5XO7xbheVPqRFS_TPWPowal6/s1000/MKtrail0382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="753" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtW9Eky--EK7auYPB1VJXsmQWP7DWcxxNdVpG7QVAxH1smo3F3Wjp9_sJ0QcfY8nCxV8hdFBe4-z1yGDyF3F7xCSgtMXUeHSLEmyZYERGj1c9xPzXSPY2njaZtct1u9H9u8VWn60PrA-NcNoWz8KBlC5foPNENAUpv5XO7xbheVPqRFS_TPWPowal6/w482-h640/MKtrail0382.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9coNsyQIlHtpcKtHEuomKRMZE7GbtpJyabXckFcpIaVWlpEieeKGgNk52i0SBJWxB10RLdUxHNpIeWYOTD3238iqtKiXUy4d57v1tTy0tya2FHTT-7Y36XWfCw6HVQriQG6fbR2TGnjkAbOsk5ph8wcMIVn7jizxsoqOfjEhbernoW2Xug4nLp5G/s1000/mayflower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9coNsyQIlHtpcKtHEuomKRMZE7GbtpJyabXckFcpIaVWlpEieeKGgNk52i0SBJWxB10RLdUxHNpIeWYOTD3238iqtKiXUy4d57v1tTy0tya2FHTT-7Y36XWfCw6HVQriQG6fbR2TGnjkAbOsk5ph8wcMIVn7jizxsoqOfjEhbernoW2Xug4nLp5G/w628-h640/mayflower2.jpg" width="628" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayflower 2, like the one on which the Pilgrims came over</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO96pDQszLwdqAKYwYyWcxKzNNWYrzjzbBTRX6V7KTKPBokGvElMbz_8uLMyFJvBqOGVRgYrUzR4jPCfTq_6blQ2_Lln0oqe-wqVhUsSj-C_QQrR4fhOFjB6QnW_n4ZrZLmSXxlO158JImWlt1QPUu-1cDGfhVRWLgPsJcTxGhmcZtOWQnJ2LaFdRY/s1000/plymouthRock7202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="969" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO96pDQszLwdqAKYwYyWcxKzNNWYrzjzbBTRX6V7KTKPBokGvElMbz_8uLMyFJvBqOGVRgYrUzR4jPCfTq_6blQ2_Lln0oqe-wqVhUsSj-C_QQrR4fhOFjB6QnW_n4ZrZLmSXxlO158JImWlt1QPUu-1cDGfhVRWLgPsJcTxGhmcZtOWQnJ2LaFdRY/w620-h640/plymouthRock7202.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plymouth Rock, onto which the Pilgrims probably didn't step</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">FWIW, Craig's first computer was an IBM 1620.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGDiGU6g4SxJmPp4CeXM9I7EYQBtvd7Khl2kxVYy5ik3B-wrYyPNBH5RNA-b8V8AXSfs1IxVcgc5rR_7zZVTQ7yzbopMHIFlhe-8sDjZwR0JA5po742J1gcvJfhRyS2x3AQSGfmgrnRgAc5pXkEBnmdbdntFrBJy29hw632y7E31zzeJFBH9jsK6c/s1000/pinkRose6915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1000" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGDiGU6g4SxJmPp4CeXM9I7EYQBtvd7Khl2kxVYy5ik3B-wrYyPNBH5RNA-b8V8AXSfs1IxVcgc5rR_7zZVTQ7yzbopMHIFlhe-8sDjZwR0JA5po742J1gcvJfhRyS2x3AQSGfmgrnRgAc5pXkEBnmdbdntFrBJy29hw632y7E31zzeJFBH9jsK6c/w640-h624/pinkRose6915.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We visited a garden on Cape Cod, but can't remember its name</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbEaGXpH7vSuyDGsn_VwsH5vjNoy-OOPTqQ4rdX9O15zrdjOqgRPBBNmWUlzCCn2xKZAVnPKobbTWk7LMQBgnMN4ipm0kMM3nsw0iczGJ7qqAD5T9xlzSLa0Ya_5iRW3zOtWlV_S39kEMxEOUpWKC40QM_PEI2nhYmqeuVn7AXBw6Dk87kQBZwRLF/s1000/condomPlant1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="546" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbEaGXpH7vSuyDGsn_VwsH5vjNoy-OOPTqQ4rdX9O15zrdjOqgRPBBNmWUlzCCn2xKZAVnPKobbTWk7LMQBgnMN4ipm0kMM3nsw0iczGJ7qqAD5T9xlzSLa0Ya_5iRW3zOtWlV_S39kEMxEOUpWKC40QM_PEI2nhYmqeuVn7AXBw6Dk87kQBZwRLF/w350-h640/condomPlant1224.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't think of a story about this that doesn't involve what you're thinking of</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtDKMNDxWKRxBzij3zgZzrX29qooJgFBB-KxyeFPvyKAHOs0DOsmiJNrSVEb_69uGcC6y90eSxvc47QSncKCiB27o4iuRVt8IoXRk2VMMaoko2q7NA9RFLFQYvjBwNNNwUuHinI_i-vz58VWxU514Yq0Bju6WHx_Dfjw1lSFbLV_jSTs0j66uVtWh/s1000/redFlower2023.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1000" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtDKMNDxWKRxBzij3zgZzrX29qooJgFBB-KxyeFPvyKAHOs0DOsmiJNrSVEb_69uGcC6y90eSxvc47QSncKCiB27o4iuRVt8IoXRk2VMMaoko2q7NA9RFLFQYvjBwNNNwUuHinI_i-vz58VWxU514Yq0Bju6WHx_Dfjw1lSFbLV_jSTs0j66uVtWh/w640-h616/redFlower2023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4FTcwjvB81enRL-3XQaUVQXmUOul6vjWnMHN4BKPEqZnjZdKkpJOvTKZhX4YjM--e4Ug8z8pDSiXZnUedl91APOIhIRX8ZgE4-dZ5UXx5ipJLF_4Vk4Cj5echWYb3emYPA5i6nuI93iF1LH2COC5iJYhzlunqqTUWdtItSNgTZUCMacIeinzikLj/s1000/whiteFlower7319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="963" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4FTcwjvB81enRL-3XQaUVQXmUOul6vjWnMHN4BKPEqZnjZdKkpJOvTKZhX4YjM--e4Ug8z8pDSiXZnUedl91APOIhIRX8ZgE4-dZ5UXx5ipJLF_4Vk4Cj5echWYb3emYPA5i6nuI93iF1LH2COC5iJYhzlunqqTUWdtItSNgTZUCMacIeinzikLj/w616-h640/whiteFlower7319.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwpyxzLsfmV31Je2ZA1SoiW7cb_TeVasn2H2okmtC37Ee-PEmwwA8irWAs6md807KuI0GkrnKdaqDdI3Ta8yaDsxLaAzX2mAlZ3hupHAERykpHvbODhi_KsixXyZ6jqKT1LOu592HLQe0wg--FcuEvjEej7LayMrqPWj_b54RGoLyShb7lweHtPcL/s1000/sandElephant5838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1000" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwpyxzLsfmV31Je2ZA1SoiW7cb_TeVasn2H2okmtC37Ee-PEmwwA8irWAs6md807KuI0GkrnKdaqDdI3Ta8yaDsxLaAzX2mAlZ3hupHAERykpHvbODhi_KsixXyZ6jqKT1LOu592HLQe0wg--FcuEvjEej7LayMrqPWj_b54RGoLyShb7lweHtPcL/w640-h618/sandElephant5838.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hampton Beach NH was having its annual sand sculpture contest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrI5eL0uuk9wPHRa5mAe8gwggQhHOD7d3IBImA0ElfzdkvxlS1C7iZ7GTcVmeAZvwzgEJNh12duYqSXDA27cvLcDnj5qSFC-HxPgTgrDpS2SPE6mzjnVP80KPdERH_l1dM5Kud0db3HeeTbdEigcOJCylxli4muJxF0v5ARX6-VhyQLvay2XCmoNhL/s1000/sandFaces8374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1000" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrI5eL0uuk9wPHRa5mAe8gwggQhHOD7d3IBImA0ElfzdkvxlS1C7iZ7GTcVmeAZvwzgEJNh12duYqSXDA27cvLcDnj5qSFC-HxPgTgrDpS2SPE6mzjnVP80KPdERH_l1dM5Kud0db3HeeTbdEigcOJCylxli4muJxF0v5ARX6-VhyQLvay2XCmoNhL/w640-h630/sandFaces8374.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9xm5_FqTzCIByof45aX3eSJmzdbQxI06oYjR6O6QWFzPi_mdh43KWSvwh43sZ1fYEP_ioNyepuH83_RkkGM6vHaUr3uqnbQwMjjhN6SgR_G4ULn0vvkojeLBfQb23dHGfc-z63EMAUW0zmOnd3mqad74cJNx5IXRE4gfFhjhQzRmm25f05JH-4hp/s1000/sandGraphics6647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1000" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9xm5_FqTzCIByof45aX3eSJmzdbQxI06oYjR6O6QWFzPi_mdh43KWSvwh43sZ1fYEP_ioNyepuH83_RkkGM6vHaUr3uqnbQwMjjhN6SgR_G4ULn0vvkojeLBfQb23dHGfc-z63EMAUW0zmOnd3mqad74cJNx5IXRE4gfFhjhQzRmm25f05JH-4hp/w640-h436/sandGraphics6647.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sm8NF_ZurBxUNgoap7L_Gj8ncUhsvXF5F7WUbeb_U_jbvz6pxmHeiA9w727Wjtykvc8hmkvRa5vV6f3P-Z9vaI5OrwD8IWtkGejPf8wc0w3s4wfNdOhU9CxC50PZR87m453zBK7D-UOxikLn-hegQRu4DcLY042Z2mRzjkhsVX32ryS1UEG0d6Vw/s1000/sandArtists1225.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="1000" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sm8NF_ZurBxUNgoap7L_Gj8ncUhsvXF5F7WUbeb_U_jbvz6pxmHeiA9w727Wjtykvc8hmkvRa5vV6f3P-Z9vaI5OrwD8IWtkGejPf8wc0w3s4wfNdOhU9CxC50PZR87m453zBK7D-UOxikLn-hegQRu4DcLY042Z2mRzjkhsVX32ryS1UEG0d6Vw/w640-h356/sandArtists1225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ2ouwIeEXRjyU_qyRnzBHKpDKHDrGqmYXJ3WOMvNnSuh_9N-RdPDke1vJF0I5PevAOD5EBZbEQbLQ0J-RDSAelERyU4EIFJ4fw_O6F_3rXblB-dE1wU1ISsaEoYKNpV0B6P3nV0Ctbu1e6oyzdrzHEV2gOYn6X959CtZ7cRcvi5aoKmFA0A1lGDM/s1000/waterLily9385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1000" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ2ouwIeEXRjyU_qyRnzBHKpDKHDrGqmYXJ3WOMvNnSuh_9N-RdPDke1vJF0I5PevAOD5EBZbEQbLQ0J-RDSAelERyU4EIFJ4fw_O6F_3rXblB-dE1wU1ISsaEoYKNpV0B6P3nV0Ctbu1e6oyzdrzHEV2gOYn6X959CtZ7cRcvi5aoKmFA0A1lGDM/w640-h456/waterLily9385.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a water lily somewhere in New England</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Once you've selected the pictures, placing them in the post is easy!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-56881296950956006962022-12-09T13:26:00.000-08:002022-12-09T13:26:23.920-08:00May Pictures<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since Merikay hasn't posted in this blog since May, but we both continued to take pictures through most of our summer transcontinental trip, Craig is posting the best of the images, in five monthly installments. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seeing these posts will be easier if you have either of two things: fast Internet access or a lot of patience. Preferably both!<br /></span></span></p><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lyVCLT0mDoyVnbvHRDmsVnmlgkLnHneK8xTKEI82WtfFeQbpwjFZC0Y8MdF-shaE4uh4a-xq4ggmM-wrMKFB9tbkgBykOOyKC5r5H-inDIcuBzFeX_C5q8DWtnNNGjWwmxRu1EAGID3lRYbgqXJ7qVqNT8Fn_CgBtMYuSRXEAGW5rM59Fnz2IzO5/s1000/floodedBridge9175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1000" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lyVCLT0mDoyVnbvHRDmsVnmlgkLnHneK8xTKEI82WtfFeQbpwjFZC0Y8MdF-shaE4uh4a-xq4ggmM-wrMKFB9tbkgBykOOyKC5r5H-inDIcuBzFeX_C5q8DWtnNNGjWwmxRu1EAGID3lRYbgqXJ7qVqNT8Fn_CgBtMYuSRXEAGW5rM59Fnz2IzO5/w640-h390/floodedBridge9175.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hiking trail went over the bridge, but the creek had flooded.<br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCrWbQ1YkNj7bvu8Hr2JCjethqULUDgX9ojdfmjetLG6dSgIJak1JHdFM6hzOxioE7oqnqHzFndR9U6mo3k_q9fO8H9VEMFe8nQhkF3aLWgV1mpIeQMR5weefzppgNK7DMsK0NysEaufEpQsnHlYlKEppJ9SySaYVIR3Uj2tHnA4w2zVMTK4gkQkq/s1000/chapel9191.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="670" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCrWbQ1YkNj7bvu8Hr2JCjethqULUDgX9ojdfmjetLG6dSgIJak1JHdFM6hzOxioE7oqnqHzFndR9U6mo3k_q9fO8H9VEMFe8nQhkF3aLWgV1mpIeQMR5weefzppgNK7DMsK0NysEaufEpQsnHlYlKEppJ9SySaYVIR3Uj2tHnA4w2zVMTK4gkQkq/w428-h640/chapel9191.jpg" width="428" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel in the forest</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfvaFsN1ZAKbQIKh6FbBdYRQcr7Cy2Pf2bcdhqNZSvA631nchs4UzO6u8KCrG6cOR74c5oD-dwFxm5RVSgKTGi0_vfK_8s60hR9eqxE1kIZGZNszMEI9AtiMpP8Iprqbi8tAU9DNykAz3obGl-YKDV7AHAILAyN8ADbIqg2GbApFhXI4Mv2n1K6Oz/s1000/waterTrees9214.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfvaFsN1ZAKbQIKh6FbBdYRQcr7Cy2Pf2bcdhqNZSvA631nchs4UzO6u8KCrG6cOR74c5oD-dwFxm5RVSgKTGi0_vfK_8s60hR9eqxE1kIZGZNszMEI9AtiMpP8Iprqbi8tAU9DNykAz3obGl-YKDV7AHAILAyN8ADbIqg2GbApFhXI4Mv2n1K6Oz/w640-h426/waterTrees9214.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcpePD2IfsL6qbd5aYYECTT8r-WGKo2hKs7EWxWhwiA6vhRZ4MpPhUvAO4DHGmzCiRM01CR1N3nTk548JqSlrlH7dmlUFei3qtktZrmoem0Nfph-OXCZCVdvvbncGsCqUqpQabaeKJfmWlbDccqEFaQs7te2gXDZ1o0ARbCMNKP1vzc78VJcvI2Ld/s1000/waterTrees9224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcpePD2IfsL6qbd5aYYECTT8r-WGKo2hKs7EWxWhwiA6vhRZ4MpPhUvAO4DHGmzCiRM01CR1N3nTk548JqSlrlH7dmlUFei3qtktZrmoem0Nfph-OXCZCVdvvbncGsCqUqpQabaeKJfmWlbDccqEFaQs7te2gXDZ1o0ARbCMNKP1vzc78VJcvI2Ld/w476-h640/waterTrees9224.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdilxYxgBISkPinBu5-3DWXXS0i5kYIEcSu4Ob4a7ByKt6R1O77kz1CjAbmhXrx8tLyoLOM0qy7dc9zL9dW7dby14iQoIEd0Sl1lWnt6CuRs2oXbIzAghie8FXmsYAF0lXnafG_VVZsYZRGYEEqFf7ec_BH4O8g78VdZz3sbpjZuW3PNDDOrD5bBI/s1000/roundBridge9231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdilxYxgBISkPinBu5-3DWXXS0i5kYIEcSu4Ob4a7ByKt6R1O77kz1CjAbmhXrx8tLyoLOM0qy7dc9zL9dW7dby14iQoIEd0Sl1lWnt6CuRs2oXbIzAghie8FXmsYAF0lXnafG_VVZsYZRGYEEqFf7ec_BH4O8g78VdZz3sbpjZuW3PNDDOrD5bBI/w426-h640/roundBridge9231.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcU6OUO-tPyvpfNgnKoIar4iGt-KWw0FSeekocGENiQ9uIXo4R9y3C_Gg-A-8X26qbQ3KEe0lUNq5RxL6NOf7neY_p-3O07UyvGp4xFortj4nxEt8c6m2cyTqYTvkOpMvwk9DVL_UR1Ssqz4WZJDB6YjOy2dyvNEiuFFgBMDqVCneDqBpJZrqGFkn/s1000/mississippi8768.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1000" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcU6OUO-tPyvpfNgnKoIar4iGt-KWw0FSeekocGENiQ9uIXo4R9y3C_Gg-A-8X26qbQ3KEe0lUNq5RxL6NOf7neY_p-3O07UyvGp4xFortj4nxEt8c6m2cyTqYTvkOpMvwk9DVL_UR1Ssqz4WZJDB6YjOy2dyvNEiuFFgBMDqVCneDqBpJZrqGFkn/w640-h382/mississippi8768.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mississippi River looked pretty normal, as we crossed it going east.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7u8VjXtsmFlbtX4f7eTecj3qFBVutxSRiq0ifBwhh1ZnVaUjh54jdAWSIFkbX7MhOqXC27u7o-Vt-mMzJdKH-TJgJ66kXina_dTbs4RPW1CcBuQ1ZN6HmzMa1CkGY20wbxZPK060iqWpKhRXU8EW0Dr20mJBkHWaP1o0RhKVYvZLJZYWoW-rCCnk/s1000/blackBear9305.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1000" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7u8VjXtsmFlbtX4f7eTecj3qFBVutxSRiq0ifBwhh1ZnVaUjh54jdAWSIFkbX7MhOqXC27u7o-Vt-mMzJdKH-TJgJ66kXina_dTbs4RPW1CcBuQ1ZN6HmzMa1CkGY20wbxZPK060iqWpKhRXU8EW0Dr20mJBkHWaP1o0RhKVYvZLJZYWoW-rCCnk/w640-h514/blackBear9305.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was about as close to a bear as we have ever been!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cw-fqZktWszvkswxncLTL8S44xWQz-NWXrCBrTNcwnaemR3Z26i3Sd04yGNXPcKIVlnYW20zrxECKvPe3sOPIU2ONkx13w5bL-zac3CRGTLnp7idjZEw-FlToNm1sWyMVZZ0pnSM7l131CdXlzW6aFg3snOF5uTa53tsuVnYZUuX57RQ3234kK1F/s1000/deadTree8856.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="1000" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cw-fqZktWszvkswxncLTL8S44xWQz-NWXrCBrTNcwnaemR3Z26i3Sd04yGNXPcKIVlnYW20zrxECKvPe3sOPIU2ONkx13w5bL-zac3CRGTLnp7idjZEw-FlToNm1sWyMVZZ0pnSM7l131CdXlzW6aFg3snOF5uTa53tsuVnYZUuX57RQ3234kK1F/w640-h422/deadTree8856.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenic dead tree in the Blue Ridge Mountains<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3vfszd89dbmIOA-uVaOXkpVJatUPgr9ewOOcpptbOf7FrXj8ku10MWaW1-MTRiN8sSpy3Hp25FtHkJKXifcxL_zSXy_IWGw6WVHbMfFvoRIv-NPOWSB_vsKa3gQnLdu9QzQT6HKlqQpbUMM0yit0QbqsS0H2YpRPv6xK4zF-VqXH6cgvymi38W7S/s1000/craigOnRamp9329.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1000" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3vfszd89dbmIOA-uVaOXkpVJatUPgr9ewOOcpptbOf7FrXj8ku10MWaW1-MTRiN8sSpy3Hp25FtHkJKXifcxL_zSXy_IWGw6WVHbMfFvoRIv-NPOWSB_vsKa3gQnLdu9QzQT6HKlqQpbUMM0yit0QbqsS0H2YpRPv6xK4zF-VqXH6cgvymi38W7S/w640-h418/craigOnRamp9329.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craig on ramp to an observation tower in the Blue Ridge Mountains<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YipZGaAc_dZkrsLBk-126s46QnGxKTl4_DNmoW1znTf5T3Z8SXkW0D6nKO2bLyY6k45ey54omA-_Sdv4b9fL47erSj23ceF2hiBgfFqV8lRiWcplSQLiiKu_yS_zMq8vJT_0-3EwThgunDg8L0x46SI-Jd6SgmEBG6Y8Xx1jga9BVP9SzW6ljpI8/s1000/grads5109.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="635" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YipZGaAc_dZkrsLBk-126s46QnGxKTl4_DNmoW1znTf5T3Z8SXkW0D6nKO2bLyY6k45ey54omA-_Sdv4b9fL47erSj23ceF2hiBgfFqV8lRiWcplSQLiiKu_yS_zMq8vJT_0-3EwThgunDg8L0x46SI-Jd6SgmEBG6Y8Xx1jga9BVP9SzW6ljpI8/w406-h640/grads5109.jpg" width="406" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our grandson Jeremy and his friend Sreya at MIT graduation.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Both very high in academic standing.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnKV5WA1oljyhCR4-WTH8pDQA8t4wqIB0B4hLob3xSVUfeCEqbOllVUbAPOxcBYeZCCeyaOTikTSnNgK7wfuycIDLiP_NMFDTEpTv27KTWaCarDdA1u539LD25-Y-DUYxDyCEWJHtvU97lKeuWaNvPior6h2hwp16jZOIkEgIKI0ZObzVRmU3HFIm/s1000/gradClass1294.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnKV5WA1oljyhCR4-WTH8pDQA8t4wqIB0B4hLob3xSVUfeCEqbOllVUbAPOxcBYeZCCeyaOTikTSnNgK7wfuycIDLiP_NMFDTEpTv27KTWaCarDdA1u539LD25-Y-DUYxDyCEWJHtvU97lKeuWaNvPior6h2hwp16jZOIkEgIKI0ZObzVRmU3HFIm/w640-h482/gradClass1294.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIT graduation ceremony, May 27 2022<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-20196453272544816562022-05-02T12:08:00.003-07:002022-05-02T12:09:10.777-07:00We Shoot Horses<p> <span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk15O9mBYd4emRjiLqKNoZaOKb--6hCbtFj_kMekKgvabLW4Q8B2qsepnzDD_rGFtsPKCZxqMSBQPn_CgXFOUs0XVQBFaoWTZuQQ3jOwsU8g4YazM0tYPqvEfLwQh9QBRx4qmZdf1xe3SvHv5Y0bJU_OLIsM3InkOBLFEKzF_JjnZXtP5DKNa8a7H/s1000/horseHead_DSC9124.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk15O9mBYd4emRjiLqKNoZaOKb--6hCbtFj_kMekKgvabLW4Q8B2qsepnzDD_rGFtsPKCZxqMSBQPn_CgXFOUs0XVQBFaoWTZuQQ3jOwsU8g4YazM0tYPqvEfLwQh9QBRx4qmZdf1xe3SvHv5Y0bJU_OLIsM3InkOBLFEKzF_JjnZXtP5DKNa8a7H/w426-h640/horseHead_DSC9124.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think his muzzle is dirty <br />from little hands giving him a pat.</span><br /><br /><div style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Since we are spending four days in Shawnee, Oklahoma, we decided to look around and see some of the local highlights. In 2007-08 the town followed the fad, started in Switzerland in 1998, of putting up artist- enhanced fiberglass animals around town, as a tourist attraction. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Shawnee choose horses. Many are gone, and some are a bit faded, but on Sunday we found and "shot" 13 of them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTRWMEoF6xFRJltIXuf81K1qA6ms_vNtem-hMZ4zJERqHMjE_dxhXlIBRu2d1Mn-f_lRoxlIbNR2RWWTwhfFZgByMdKZlIWoZMGN1xWB8ND1uRfkyxgmJlnmoaoft4uqiG7eJCnIxEa3Q8bxm0lfmJVYs6oyK__RJBAhfp2B1FZaH0PNA8wjWE-XD/s1000/7RegalHorse_DSC9129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1000" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTRWMEoF6xFRJltIXuf81K1qA6ms_vNtem-hMZ4zJERqHMjE_dxhXlIBRu2d1Mn-f_lRoxlIbNR2RWWTwhfFZgByMdKZlIWoZMGN1xWB8ND1uRfkyxgmJlnmoaoft4uqiG7eJCnIxEa3Q8bxm0lfmJVYs6oyK__RJBAhfp2B1FZaH0PNA8wjWE-XD/w640-h530/7RegalHorse_DSC9129.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each horse was sponsored, either by the artist or by a business. This one was sponsored by the Regal Car dealership.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtkBhoa7m7cmuyF-DwnaE_nW5xRdI5kyl7speZ6iPnglBJlkmwuNTynzgQXB8KfWwYHRAkoAdVLfSsTy3wn0FeOCKuJAovCcU61LAwnZmORlGXF2rJEx8gWYk2Ye_kqOY_Gv_-f7Sku406gwxB94MPVRlaR0nLJV6eyP0pbOIW5qh4ue7xiv0EHqQ/s1000/1horse_DSC9110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1000" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtkBhoa7m7cmuyF-DwnaE_nW5xRdI5kyl7speZ6iPnglBJlkmwuNTynzgQXB8KfWwYHRAkoAdVLfSsTy3wn0FeOCKuJAovCcU61LAwnZmORlGXF2rJEx8gWYk2Ye_kqOY_Gv_-f7Sku406gwxB94MPVRlaR0nLJV6eyP0pbOIW5qh4ue7xiv0EHqQ/w640-h564/1horse_DSC9110.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sponsored by the Angelic Family Hospice, this horse had angel wings.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBN2AHvjMoxVmJZLPdYpgNbiQ4UmvDHbc9O13MF44TcmQCHnT3TanwCHec8e3I03KNlnfOAy7JSKhtwXRmoZ3hjHhOwKW8s8okxU9Bu06OZTHXd63bGNasPvkHzprQqTeL9H_KxzVdNQENa1CrJIH7uC8FCErT1hyObtjNudbA4AGdk_JIXiPBwyLZ/s1000/2horse_DSC9114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1000" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBN2AHvjMoxVmJZLPdYpgNbiQ4UmvDHbc9O13MF44TcmQCHnT3TanwCHec8e3I03KNlnfOAy7JSKhtwXRmoZ3hjHhOwKW8s8okxU9Bu06OZTHXd63bGNasPvkHzprQqTeL9H_KxzVdNQENa1CrJIH7uC8FCErT1hyObtjNudbA4AGdk_JIXiPBwyLZ/w640-h580/2horse_DSC9114.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were many names on this one.</span></div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNA54HAJWC5CIBd7zFYPCL_Vz8f4veqXp7dy0XznVkkh3qLkUYfU0QzbxPYxTUinr4VFb82hez8RzZav9rmBKr-KznJch2Pr0RYwrp-B3b1EHUQAiWllwuM_JOAJytPfCeMQEg9UvzxFmS5kcKUiDn7IeqTY2utQCGKvB9Xst5oOLAVOp6kzmdbvn/s1000/3horse_DSC8725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="835" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNA54HAJWC5CIBd7zFYPCL_Vz8f4veqXp7dy0XznVkkh3qLkUYfU0QzbxPYxTUinr4VFb82hez8RzZav9rmBKr-KznJch2Pr0RYwrp-B3b1EHUQAiWllwuM_JOAJytPfCeMQEg9UvzxFmS5kcKUiDn7IeqTY2utQCGKvB9Xst5oOLAVOp6kzmdbvn/w534-h640/3horse_DSC8725.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Bank</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeACv2gfXyF3PqQRChDdLMvvkDosZVcmzEtlrSgvIzhhIvzjucu6ipiSV_RwlDUZkhqX042cBCFIDsFmc_gQi4jVeeCQ8q4mfTVzpPSx-y1yYGerbGq2R7G_M9wJcY-xmD6klnxcCpfUhmVJ0sxPLx5ifMYWU-6PyonlTrb7fmc9k1nRXVCUy7sPQ/s1000/5horse_DSC8732.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1000" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeACv2gfXyF3PqQRChDdLMvvkDosZVcmzEtlrSgvIzhhIvzjucu6ipiSV_RwlDUZkhqX042cBCFIDsFmc_gQi4jVeeCQ8q4mfTVzpPSx-y1yYGerbGq2R7G_M9wJcY-xmD6klnxcCpfUhmVJ0sxPLx5ifMYWU-6PyonlTrb7fmc9k1nRXVCUy7sPQ/w640-h584/5horse_DSC8732.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of my favorites, done with dot painting with a restaurant's name on its side.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil23xtrUxD87TQUFs6nGQb1togavKbGS7nUnOq_ZFIGd0NF8X-Z0Ge5Jwe8ArleMnJpAMwTl4Z03MnSPFbLdoSNRn_0ybfXYEOxEUlMHxkGFAVM7ecbUIuqwvo0P3J7WWzrx4RkR96h7QItjtDa5NKngBpWC_NfeUQ1-j3oszUCNzZhvkDiteygID3/s1000/8SonicHorse_DSC9131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1000" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil23xtrUxD87TQUFs6nGQb1togavKbGS7nUnOq_ZFIGd0NF8X-Z0Ge5Jwe8ArleMnJpAMwTl4Z03MnSPFbLdoSNRn_0ybfXYEOxEUlMHxkGFAVM7ecbUIuqwvo0P3J7WWzrx4RkR96h7QItjtDa5NKngBpWC_NfeUQ1-j3oszUCNzZhvkDiteygID3/w640-h584/8SonicHorse_DSC9131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The sign said "Hole in One" outside a SONIC.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl8LBG_crIxvLnDp9VdMhjgOaFK_qU9XArJdDTaFxIngdLIaOkhZ_lg3d2nsH4-dgjD79u5nXs_4Zb2nCNeM5yNcU6SXEjZDxTzcHXwu0Lf91iPFXbnYX6k3aYs10D4Vg6DYYJyVw65nfXbUA5M8c1370KmOgy8oHEPwovLYNInHz9jGCQibOKtd1/s1000/9bankHorse_DSC9132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="821" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl8LBG_crIxvLnDp9VdMhjgOaFK_qU9XArJdDTaFxIngdLIaOkhZ_lg3d2nsH4-dgjD79u5nXs_4Zb2nCNeM5yNcU6SXEjZDxTzcHXwu0Lf91iPFXbnYX6k3aYs10D4Vg6DYYJyVw65nfXbUA5M8c1370KmOgy8oHEPwovLYNInHz9jGCQibOKtd1/w526-h640/9bankHorse_DSC9132.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another Bank</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0UZxHcF2uX8neSSlytAPYT0LbN2GeozJRAM8ExubOoac0mmRnV_70U4jRd14JdAi6gJHkE76jVRKsun_xQhf6-dsDZC5NVs_ujsW84yplOkOkzUgqhu3hb8yFw2-ijcuOtMHKR4m8Y0x_7T8et0by1snE_LGT5GG8_9ZnjyOjijcjGAKhGeTy6uy/s1000/10horse_DSC8751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1000" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0UZxHcF2uX8neSSlytAPYT0LbN2GeozJRAM8ExubOoac0mmRnV_70U4jRd14JdAi6gJHkE76jVRKsun_xQhf6-dsDZC5NVs_ujsW84yplOkOkzUgqhu3hb8yFw2-ijcuOtMHKR4m8Y0x_7T8et0by1snE_LGT5GG8_9ZnjyOjijcjGAKhGeTy6uy/w640-h572/10horse_DSC8751.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm not sure who sponsored this one. It was in front of a dental office, and had this weed control sign at its feet.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIU3NiEs08-7-piFi2TuoPrO-51dMRpJQH2SWVLSX_g1SVN8JEF1LoEJ12TE8usw4fd6KvoeqcIdi7XJI9_uHJ6bfUOgH6wuuFEgyq4hX6s9c2TWUpxz6KvSbaq6gGYS7BSnR3z-TPXGi0Y8uhNc5u5KFz8ZmOwm91_AI8Phwta0fzAQf1TzVMhhIJ/s1000/4horse_DSC9121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="839" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIU3NiEs08-7-piFi2TuoPrO-51dMRpJQH2SWVLSX_g1SVN8JEF1LoEJ12TE8usw4fd6KvoeqcIdi7XJI9_uHJ6bfUOgH6wuuFEgyq4hX6s9c2TWUpxz6KvSbaq6gGYS7BSnR3z-TPXGi0Y8uhNc5u5KFz8ZmOwm91_AI8Phwta0fzAQf1TzVMhhIJ/w536-h640/4horse_DSC9121.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The U-Haul Horse</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfepHYX6yxD02YrDdFdooGdIEx0JDQ6QTMT1zaVXXf1thQppAyunA44RTjWSO_6f4xUuJGXbl0oG2PNmObZ48IOVyHxztarHg88RIHdrQrMaEPMFLCNSdeo3iLuN5Gd-_vN3t05LQqifGNkAN_kYl2FtIoZD5sHnF-wOojl8TEagu0vO-92TiXmIv/s1000/11EagleHorse_DSC9144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="971" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfepHYX6yxD02YrDdFdooGdIEx0JDQ6QTMT1zaVXXf1thQppAyunA44RTjWSO_6f4xUuJGXbl0oG2PNmObZ48IOVyHxztarHg88RIHdrQrMaEPMFLCNSdeo3iLuN5Gd-_vN3t05LQqifGNkAN_kYl2FtIoZD5sHnF-wOojl8TEagu0vO-92TiXmIv/w622-h640/11EagleHorse_DSC9144.jpg" width="622" /></a></span></div><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">This Eagle Horse was in front of an insurance company.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalaepfGl6wW6Hz1NMBz4lzZgnl1_3G93t4dtwqVQ-vhniqEv94DwBaqoQiLIhr2jawsAl0YJ0zsP5uOzNyBN40xpZPo-bY28imYZuUtsxu1832HpmKWDH4z7mSbdgf3g5K9O0jxbST6u7dvbG5Cv773uB_oBYT67g70e9Akfc3MlaCL8i5-PMJxlj/s1000/12BlueHorse_DSC9138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1000" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalaepfGl6wW6Hz1NMBz4lzZgnl1_3G93t4dtwqVQ-vhniqEv94DwBaqoQiLIhr2jawsAl0YJ0zsP5uOzNyBN40xpZPo-bY28imYZuUtsxu1832HpmKWDH4z7mSbdgf3g5K9O0jxbST6u7dvbG5Cv773uB_oBYT67g70e9Akfc3MlaCL8i5-PMJxlj/w640-h562/12BlueHorse_DSC9138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In front of a church, we weren't sure if he was covered with fish or praying hands.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BJWQICY0YBaSHJwtvTCi1gniqlmQJs76tfGVxgKkGdw0bxPnpda1wvNocvMkR1meXzEg8xyzaWwLT535ey1vOuHeQGajOSqDhhk9iyTqSG9b_NhFepyWnBw_yg0-ib7a3qRn28JtZsIqmDmoWhu0W9xoRkHCW7s219UGen0oIu8XR6_GdZcjS58I/s1000/12BlackandWhite_DSC8758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1000" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BJWQICY0YBaSHJwtvTCi1gniqlmQJs76tfGVxgKkGdw0bxPnpda1wvNocvMkR1meXzEg8xyzaWwLT535ey1vOuHeQGajOSqDhhk9iyTqSG9b_NhFepyWnBw_yg0-ib7a3qRn28JtZsIqmDmoWhu0W9xoRkHCW7s219UGen0oIu8XR6_GdZcjS58I/w640-h554/12BlackandWhite_DSC8758.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This beauty, sponsored by another bank, was my number one favorite.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zNG2mSsgIJBJN4hhXOToyDTbbASD4O-pB0YnZT6SqoMJkrwHypyrZQ5u7l9CQAqjpYnI7jQUZXrNeBEfD3kq6OlNxtOlK7OwmqDIgbZhS2vqXgla_3GvCN9N_HhEinTZW1MooJDiWZQ49oores2uI1GXC2oOVYDbiIWEzEmuiWURdv7fa8StWSuB/s1000/6VansHorse_DSC9127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1000" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zNG2mSsgIJBJN4hhXOToyDTbbASD4O-pB0YnZT6SqoMJkrwHypyrZQ5u7l9CQAqjpYnI7jQUZXrNeBEfD3kq6OlNxtOlK7OwmqDIgbZhS2vqXgla_3GvCN9N_HhEinTZW1MooJDiWZQ49oores2uI1GXC2oOVYDbiIWEzEmuiWURdv7fa8StWSuB/w640-h574/6VansHorse_DSC9127.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And finally this guy in front of the Van's Pig Stand, a BBQ restaurant. We had dinner there. The ribs were pretty good, but the rest of the meal was not.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Monday a big rain storm came through. So we hunkered down, enjoyed reading our books and writing this blog post.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Check in again soon.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-33351207230303107572022-04-28T13:42:00.004-07:002022-04-28T15:44:54.369-07:00On the Road Again, after a Creative Jojoba Hills Winter<p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Hello all! </span><span style="font-size: large;">Merikay's Dream is up and running again.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvFlGwSjXLEXKMrsadjunFTA3Xso-wEE5wfJx-agyXcF49O1kh1eXV7SPp5QZjXvJe48rInG5LrSLf6hhg-s-AKTRUJzsgvFSrOAAP8B5M_ZZUX9KzDP_0hy7f9gTACFRZpAGEqvoAelzIV3EWAOak1oWx7bSJ6d-AjdNhjCdnYSREbV5bwV-Q2eA/s1000/Cloud9109.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="652" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvFlGwSjXLEXKMrsadjunFTA3Xso-wEE5wfJx-agyXcF49O1kh1eXV7SPp5QZjXvJe48rInG5LrSLf6hhg-s-AKTRUJzsgvFSrOAAP8B5M_ZZUX9KzDP_0hy7f9gTACFRZpAGEqvoAelzIV3EWAOak1oWx7bSJ6d-AjdNhjCdnYSREbV5bwV-Q2eA/w418-h640/Cloud9109.jpg" width="418" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />A beautiful big storm cloud hovered over us at our site in Santa Rosa Lake State Park, New Mexico. Unfortunately it only yielded a few half dollar size raindrops before it blew away. The horrible drought conditions have almost dried up the lake in the park.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We started our 2022 summer travels on Saturday April 23rd with a short run from Jojoba Hills in Southern California to the Velocity Truck Center in Tolleson Arizona, which is just west of Phoenix. Our annual maintenance work was completed in one day, but not much of the other desired work was addressed. To put it mildly, we were dissatisfied with their service, and have now secured a fall appointment in Gaffney, South Carolina.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Gaffney appointment, at the Freightliner headquarters, will be the third firm destination in our East Coast itinerary, which includes:<br /><br />1. By the end of May we need to be in the Boston area for our grandson's graduation from MIT.<br /><br />2. By the end of July we want to take a ferry to Newfoundland, and spend most of August there.<br /><br />3. By late September we will get to Gaffney South Carolina for the appointment.<br /><br />If you add on our return, and a few side trips, we will be traveling about nine thousand miles in six months. Just for comparison, we drove 13,766 miles in 2014, and 11,096 in 2019. Although it can be stressful at times, we do enjoy driving, trying to limit our days to around 300 miles maximum.<br /><br />But before I start writing about our new travels, I want to write about what I did during our Jojoba Hills winter.<br /><br />For any new followers, we have a home base RV site at Jojoba Hills, an SKP resort in Aguanga, California. We spent six months there in 2021-2. Jojoba offers many creative opportunities, but after retiring from my own animal head sculpture business, I didn't do much art work or participate in their activities for several years. Finally, in November I joined a Gnome-making class at the pottery studio, and was hooked.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRY8FiK9cum7e-Azp8jTI0D6e2u9yfWMSjL6gsILKew3jrdfkZL9wm_sxhAdo1_NaJ5bmj3HNuTZfENyHbUkdbbmJFih1jxslpIpsvIx7sWPqe9n8qwshpzIlM2-KyTqeYhrrpwZ_LXU6S52DqSTiMyvPpqPFkxqLy7MOdEXb5pf43_-zcqqpxM91/s1000/brightened1000Nomes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1000" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRY8FiK9cum7e-Azp8jTI0D6e2u9yfWMSjL6gsILKew3jrdfkZL9wm_sxhAdo1_NaJ5bmj3HNuTZfENyHbUkdbbmJFih1jxslpIpsvIx7sWPqe9n8qwshpzIlM2-KyTqeYhrrpwZ_LXU6S52DqSTiMyvPpqPFkxqLy7MOdEXb5pf43_-zcqqpxM91/w640-h336/brightened1000Nomes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Over the next few weeks, I made 4 gnomes and 3 mushrooms for our yard.<br /><br />I then spent most of the winter days creating sculptures for my "Alice in Jojoba" project. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I plan to hang them in a roadside tree on our site next fall and call it an "Installation".</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMODhLdvp53eAUWX08sDwQ5GsN29fotp4RlFh-kO3ergYLBnOdotmtaD5g1kehY23r3TNfvfEQcpUdTum-bsFgI7oNGJn2riwDu1D_Bun7fxlCUWMpHumNeobARy5LquqpLNmVfOhHPu1WpH3utgX0ajMbP__1ZxjiUL1cIht5FFgw-SUm8Mcb2ZKi/s1000/collage2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1000" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMODhLdvp53eAUWX08sDwQ5GsN29fotp4RlFh-kO3ergYLBnOdotmtaD5g1kehY23r3TNfvfEQcpUdTum-bsFgI7oNGJn2riwDu1D_Bun7fxlCUWMpHumNeobARy5LquqpLNmVfOhHPu1WpH3utgX0ajMbP__1ZxjiUL1cIht5FFgw-SUm8Mcb2ZKi/w640-h458/collage2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are just a few of the sculptures for the tree</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I also did a couple of ceramic projects that will be donated and sold at the Jojoba "Artisan" Fair in December. The proceeds from the sale will benefit the Art, Craft, Pottery, and Sewing centers.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYC7uvCHKQ5D9vxLzrykzqhwCepeFc4njajJyvB-dalvGcsyhHu24yLayPY0eSEng0LWSQI8Viq2TksZ2PqU1acOkfozINw_UcGJcPRbJyf8KMXsJP2JTTxXZB_x_1N-R0gL6VBaIo6hY3Mk7uUrLG6R3PiwIaLtY7UORY4AXQFstWYrnZoYsAZaT/s1000/pendantsForBlog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYC7uvCHKQ5D9vxLzrykzqhwCepeFc4njajJyvB-dalvGcsyhHu24yLayPY0eSEng0LWSQI8Viq2TksZ2PqU1acOkfozINw_UcGJcPRbJyf8KMXsJP2JTTxXZB_x_1N-R0gL6VBaIo6hY3Mk7uUrLG6R3PiwIaLtY7UORY4AXQFstWYrnZoYsAZaT/w424-h640/pendantsForBlog.jpg" width="424" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />These are the first few ceramic pendants I created. Each butterfly is freehand glazed. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I use one to hold my name tag pin. <br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sf6LllYLFV-lsCL-8WuDjrgb5y-NFFS8fpoDBSyZuryYkQuSfQvVCCP4uIWgr85LQKvuLlPqWJy3cgwOSfSP82CiCGiBahkojLa7T7KEXhJXZwgfJfFf-kSSFEypLodlx0C4AesxjTzOA0y5PGnTwD90Gxg5kneD-c5n-BgtGQaGzvptiOwdhPNm/s1000/GlazingButterflies.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1000" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sf6LllYLFV-lsCL-8WuDjrgb5y-NFFS8fpoDBSyZuryYkQuSfQvVCCP4uIWgr85LQKvuLlPqWJy3cgwOSfSP82CiCGiBahkojLa7T7KEXhJXZwgfJfFf-kSSFEypLodlx0C4AesxjTzOA0y5PGnTwD90Gxg5kneD-c5n-BgtGQaGzvptiOwdhPNm/s320/GlazingButterflies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I spent many contented hours in the Alfa glazing larger butterflies.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwemHWUshJOZgl5J1QAwF2NBylVTm72SSJy3VAhV8XCprTxGBfy2YDIhYu0hOnVt-oG6cIX3_Us0OWAqy2JUHnse-dMH8tfoxwS6ntcQeqYSIURcRgJxiHrBaLrPqsLJR2CrbsKADNTHdMgVpiGc26HOXZ1ztYs6R6AHU4ES2AgZ6IemfL5dlRf7D/s1000/butterfliesForFair.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="1000" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwemHWUshJOZgl5J1QAwF2NBylVTm72SSJy3VAhV8XCprTxGBfy2YDIhYu0hOnVt-oG6cIX3_Us0OWAqy2JUHnse-dMH8tfoxwS6ntcQeqYSIURcRgJxiHrBaLrPqsLJR2CrbsKADNTHdMgVpiGc26HOXZ1ztYs6R6AHU4ES2AgZ6IemfL5dlRf7D/w400-h275/butterfliesForFair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Each of the larger ones is about 4" wide. I cut the shapes out of clay with a cookie cutter. I used epoxy glue to attach sticks so that they can be put into flower pots. They will also be donated for the Fair. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Pottery studio has been my happy place this year. I have met the nicest group of creative people I have ever known. Everyone is so supportive and fun!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just before the end of March I signed up for a small sculpture workshop in the Art Studio trailer. I just wanted to experiment with a yard art piece, but ended up expressing what this year has meant to me:</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLwFqeWg3ZyGuPX2NumMQ4o8mDQa_GsIiD_dnW58LLcqRPS_6gpfm-MXe_ig7AzOTDL81sqEJ2QQyRHRpxRGYP4-gVGaJ-IS2IHgz9adKyvkvjmfibH-kB5havx4eYT1DqtY1e75pHeWhKOkLowX6uuSeMWB56Dwi-JZ1KymlLrZWsOCOtOiIo7sa/s846/MKbird8625.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="705" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLwFqeWg3ZyGuPX2NumMQ4o8mDQa_GsIiD_dnW58LLcqRPS_6gpfm-MXe_ig7AzOTDL81sqEJ2QQyRHRpxRGYP4-gVGaJ-IS2IHgz9adKyvkvjmfibH-kB5havx4eYT1DqtY1e75pHeWhKOkLowX6uuSeMWB56Dwi-JZ1KymlLrZWsOCOtOiIo7sa/w534-h640/MKbird8625.jpg" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I called it JOY</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I write this blog for several reasons. By writing about the places we go, and taking and posting pictures, it strengthens my memories and give me a way to look back on them. At the same time, it gives me a reason to "look" more closely at a place and take pictures. I enjoy knowing that other people have read my ramblings, and appreciate any and all comments. They let me know YOU are out there and give me another reason to keep it up.<br /><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">FYI: How to find me</span></h3><span style="font-size: large;">Obviously, because you are reading this, you have found me, but if you want to share, I post links on my own Facebook page and on our Jojoba Hills Unofficial Chat Facebook group. If you are also on Blogger and are one of my followers, you will see new posts on your Blog List.<br /><br />I'll post again soon, so come along for the ride.<br /></span><br /><p></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-17481169268400341142021-12-07T18:54:00.002-08:002021-12-07T19:34:29.448-08:00We Are NOT really stuck in Iowa!<p> <span style="font-size: large;">It seems that my blog gets stuck every year as our annual travels come to an end. I never seem to get around to writing that last couple of posts.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My last post this year it was on October 15, when we started heading south. We left Minnesota just as the weather started to change. I really enjoyed seeing the fall colors, but it was time to leave, as many of the parks were shutting down for the season.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So I start this post with a couple of pictures to go along with the "Update" Craig left on our last entry:</span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>[Update from Craig] Older rock fans might call Clear Lake IA "the place the music died". In 1959, </i></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near here.</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdWY4O4iMkpStsZiev54kgUgvI1Oc6h4pmlSoBbU7EuxpZu5a_LVG_nd2DMvhbs92ZcB817SS1CkUS4DGqui9dBR7uFjILplvFVDzcNAUt4PPg5AsHOj-HUcNOVwddHlJg0NK3nk1-FvGcdWXjoxGEjQpzrUouIQEKG_qgjDRG0UPttoF3zlHVNzgT=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1000" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdWY4O4iMkpStsZiev54kgUgvI1Oc6h4pmlSoBbU7EuxpZu5a_LVG_nd2DMvhbs92ZcB817SS1CkUS4DGqui9dBR7uFjILplvFVDzcNAUt4PPg5AsHOj-HUcNOVwddHlJg0NK3nk1-FvGcdWXjoxGEjQpzrUouIQEKG_qgjDRG0UPttoF3zlHVNzgT=w640-h430" width="640" /></a></span></div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>A giant pair of eyeglasses are the only identifying marker to the path to where their airplane crashed.</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiy37BlO4QUlLyuHrx6Nyzy3emcamZpNPyyoY1d5pTHMla9JPNZweUCJSJP7ta_MnK46oVUKypackMK85Ns_7mi02zmWROYUEHy3hq3R00eHpi4KSD2tqk2xX_-MZH8oCjDZXdtGVuhewupqifOsAB8TDi86n_GtgF1cKNordNGcCbWrSMZruPIKm0Q=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiy37BlO4QUlLyuHrx6Nyzy3emcamZpNPyyoY1d5pTHMla9JPNZweUCJSJP7ta_MnK46oVUKypackMK85Ns_7mi02zmWROYUEHy3hq3R00eHpi4KSD2tqk2xX_-MZH8oCjDZXdtGVuhewupqifOsAB8TDi86n_GtgF1cKNordNGcCbWrSMZruPIKm0Q=w640-h416" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><span style="font-size: large;">The walk in was about 1/2 mile. You could see the way was well worn by the feet of visitors. We met one couple coming back when we arrived, and one couple arriving as we were leaving. </span></span><p></p><p><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEAz56UcDK4koOWI3PtETJ-uRkZwVdazb21CN1aSZqaTa1Jw_ry5Kz9joSPpoUTsrWbQP0a86iceAVbUS3U7Lw1WrF0H051PdbXGLjkccoJ1mHSMpz3Ugx6zunIQYOaS0_L-zWpwI4S7UuSAsqMlrN9avUGuI3Aq3ZdHJbQu6rZAcu5vWT_sB-gD4P=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1000" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEAz56UcDK4koOWI3PtETJ-uRkZwVdazb21CN1aSZqaTa1Jw_ry5Kz9joSPpoUTsrWbQP0a86iceAVbUS3U7Lw1WrF0H051PdbXGLjkccoJ1mHSMpz3Ugx6zunIQYOaS0_L-zWpwI4S7UuSAsqMlrN9avUGuI3Aq3ZdHJbQu6rZAcu5vWT_sB-gD4P=w640-h442" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"> "Bye Bye Miss American Pie..."</span></span><p></p><p><span><span style="font-size: large;">After Clear Lake, Iowa, we stopped in was in Missouri, and Arkansas. I had my doubts about the park in El Dorado Arkansas. It was named the "Gator Den" and was described as rustic on the edge of a small pond. There was no office, and when I called we were told to pick a site and call the owner who would "come by." It turned out to be a delightful place with a very nice pond, no alligators, and a pleasant proprietor. He had asked where we lived when I called. When he came by to get our check he explained that he did not allow anyone who was from less than 50 miles to stay there in order to discourage locals with broken down rigs from taking over. That was fine with us. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">From there we went to </span>Louisiana for some routine maintenance work by Ronnie Wolf at Albrittons. Alfa owners know it is a great place to get our coaches fixed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I plotted our route home to California, I noticed we would be passing near Carlsbad Caverns and the White Sands National National Park. I had been to Carlsbad many years ago, but thought it would be a nice place to visit again. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6zEseyszy8YJ0sh-FOBBvC0xgbhayuGQw0mJ6V8Ir-N-r5SqfXAcK32KBb6FdcI5W5MHgcNa33jWOQZs33axKrOtKcXM8eN-tcT8rvLX4oHcgMaTPc8kLHXY8o8I7VDc4d9D2b0dnuZPnwyF1oQlv5stZaE41Vik57-qhStoqeQQ8xm0n_Xi7Shs_=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="1000" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6zEseyszy8YJ0sh-FOBBvC0xgbhayuGQw0mJ6V8Ir-N-r5SqfXAcK32KBb6FdcI5W5MHgcNa33jWOQZs33axKrOtKcXM8eN-tcT8rvLX4oHcgMaTPc8kLHXY8o8I7VDc4d9D2b0dnuZPnwyF1oQlv5stZaE41Vik57-qhStoqeQQ8xm0n_Xi7Shs_=w640-h328" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />When you look out over the land from the Visitor's Center it is hard to guess the wonderful cave that lies below.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg60_wl83ZSmNIQ5V_SXxI5PxyxfjOED4yACw71K8lvUImDI_EKsyweAsSHESGErOxiWV-pcza4-lv5TEZ3fdp8YD9LSlWSGuyO8qm5ZeDbvMOtwVC71O_ZZp2unLCoo1PQXPGZnZ0QF8MV5HDdo9F7qx_HkQbCbGV44AqFK6A_Dnv8fFzSxRGrGUNK=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg60_wl83ZSmNIQ5V_SXxI5PxyxfjOED4yACw71K8lvUImDI_EKsyweAsSHESGErOxiWV-pcza4-lv5TEZ3fdp8YD9LSlWSGuyO8qm5ZeDbvMOtwVC71O_ZZp2unLCoo1PQXPGZnZ0QF8MV5HDdo9F7qx_HkQbCbGV44AqFK6A_Dnv8fFzSxRGrGUNK=w600-h640" width="600" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />While I would never want to be a spelunker, exploring unmapped or wild caves, we do enjoy going through those that have paved walkways and lights to make it safe for an old lady like me. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHdAmGdrDu_4OTt2wTelxsS1G4qXIOs9A7-Hdtliu9lL7TUg7wTGijSiX73FyFNpCo9iDt043ix3qy35LfdxhokWCnIHkoTwG2k21whqI26jjJKjISSXdPEXCu4513phlzSjIfVS2JzfDPxsrJn8pCM8pD1xZy9QioSc243-CzeMCUPx75ekWKEut3=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="818" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHdAmGdrDu_4OTt2wTelxsS1G4qXIOs9A7-Hdtliu9lL7TUg7wTGijSiX73FyFNpCo9iDt043ix3qy35LfdxhokWCnIHkoTwG2k21whqI26jjJKjISSXdPEXCu4513phlzSjIfVS2JzfDPxsrJn8pCM8pD1xZy9QioSc243-CzeMCUPx75ekWKEut3=w524-h640" width="524" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I think Craig took close to 100 pictures in the cave. It was very hard to select just two.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgelZEyqgwHQAMVjS2XOTwMO0zkXkWjgU3wj-LziEAhaILxR7DKgwE9YZoB3domL9WujqMJyHIeo1aY9WQhwF2JtCzr1jPzGFcF_90yFhyqT19dwpsCxuwGFUuw5Fb9kaoTpgI8Va1ePS_XoM3dOvjSIEyFRtI6qhAdrIII4XIgHQzNpNl5QcfC3sO1=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgelZEyqgwHQAMVjS2XOTwMO0zkXkWjgU3wj-LziEAhaILxR7DKgwE9YZoB3domL9WujqMJyHIeo1aY9WQhwF2JtCzr1jPzGFcF_90yFhyqT19dwpsCxuwGFUuw5Fb9kaoTpgI8Va1ePS_XoM3dOvjSIEyFRtI6qhAdrIII4XIgHQzNpNl5QcfC3sO1=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Our next stop was the White Sands National Park. </span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><b>From Google:</b> The sands of White Sands National Monument are formed from </span><b style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">gypsum</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">, a soft mineral often left behind when water bodies evaporate. ... Over many years, gypsum crystals deposited in this basin were subjected to freezing, thawing, and wind, and broke down into tiny grains.</span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36);"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlmeZBhA6Rc6Pc--j7U5l2EpS1AxHiHnYm0cTS5FstA4YZuyGA_iLiiNfN5Ovy3bk_LyvV-fyDiaWk1rEJHdKWvmK2EqHDy0erz8vdR4TA95IicH6OfOfhceqddN5PcF0t260MvAKyYGjLZDpHhvi8GwbSfWRY94mQ4DKZDhJnK4MIYB_MuYnExl9z=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1000" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlmeZBhA6Rc6Pc--j7U5l2EpS1AxHiHnYm0cTS5FstA4YZuyGA_iLiiNfN5Ovy3bk_LyvV-fyDiaWk1rEJHdKWvmK2EqHDy0erz8vdR4TA95IicH6OfOfhceqddN5PcF0t260MvAKyYGjLZDpHhvi8GwbSfWRY94mQ4DKZDhJnK4MIYB_MuYnExl9z=w640-h374" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I saw this good looking guy just standing out there on the sands, and I couldn't resist taking his picture.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRRBsa-halJU1FzQojO-n8xdEKSJav9j1_HMfee3DA1266KPhWT-j1-136Vbl-BrQvPmZ5H8tjP6TDdTMHmy5uhRgqF_bG3mrymdbP1pUDmsEJXgE0Tq3Y8VXIdpqCCLs9C-RbkkjaP97LeAAPDTCNSsmScrBfnRIhXFnELIQm-pRo-iZfT6tp8RQA=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1000" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRRBsa-halJU1FzQojO-n8xdEKSJav9j1_HMfee3DA1266KPhWT-j1-136Vbl-BrQvPmZ5H8tjP6TDdTMHmy5uhRgqF_bG3mrymdbP1pUDmsEJXgE0Tq3Y8VXIdpqCCLs9C-RbkkjaP97LeAAPDTCNSsmScrBfnRIhXFnELIQm-pRo-iZfT6tp8RQA=w640-h260" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The white gypsum dunes cover 275 square miles. There is an easy loop road for the public and many places to pull over and get out to explore. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We stopped a few more nights as we drove West to California. We try to limit our days drive to 300 or less miles. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So, now we are back in Southern California at Jojoba Hills, an SKP RV resort. We will be here for the next five months. We are close to our daughter, and enjoy the activities and people in the park. I have started playing in the pottery studio and am splashing in the large heated pool doing water exercises three days a week.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I might put up an occasional post, but if I don't, please check back next spring. We are already planning new adventures.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-4256001546635550012021-10-15T17:43:00.004-07:002021-10-16T05:36:39.308-07:00Goodby Minnesota<p><span style="font-size: large;">October 15. Time to leave Minnesota, it is getting cold!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5mZuN6y8u5Ct2KS-PpOALvrl260o1N7CO8WCe2RtbxJ0UtL8XjGAG-n_e050MTk29qw5LXO9ur5poK0SyzFxAfgXy8auYgZ_UAK2854E8S1uG7ZtYeg7Na8mj_05MzhqEOPuGs1v--MvXi6hTndifxb0MOEQ4ueccG5vilpKRNJe1RUmqeNABZ4GK=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1000" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5mZuN6y8u5Ct2KS-PpOALvrl260o1N7CO8WCe2RtbxJ0UtL8XjGAG-n_e050MTk29qw5LXO9ur5poK0SyzFxAfgXy8auYgZ_UAK2854E8S1uG7ZtYeg7Na8mj_05MzhqEOPuGs1v--MvXi6hTndifxb0MOEQ4ueccG5vilpKRNJe1RUmqeNABZ4GK=w640-h372" width="640" /></a></div><span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I sure have enjoyed the fall colors.</span><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrtwWUubYIaRoXUH6YHx8uFfSyPHvZfmJSy0gidSEdcVVpnx7t8acZ01jP8GTQinBUnWn8dyoz9jT33z4bgsr2pF_A-OITiyZuB1LHdwjloSMY6-2xfMbMlk4EHgdUbh475EPQn21axyR9B_FHh481cu4m4rnaTuacB5852lI9SZGy4xhOirH8Yw2A=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1000" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrtwWUubYIaRoXUH6YHx8uFfSyPHvZfmJSy0gidSEdcVVpnx7t8acZ01jP8GTQinBUnWn8dyoz9jT33z4bgsr2pF_A-OITiyZuB1LHdwjloSMY6-2xfMbMlk4EHgdUbh475EPQn21axyR9B_FHh481cu4m4rnaTuacB5852lI9SZGy4xhOirH8Yw2A=w640-h410" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We took several "Peeper" drives. Pretty trees were not all we saw.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW8V89km9PnrU7LP3uqhzPae7dEm_7ljfZ1M0-neDC-P_w-Nb8H4L2064_wTVVtBhpS_6QxzUlwGVPa3ySJ1SpXiy_t6-Q7uKzL-6XSpGWNOqXNUikc3L2Eo-1wUL1V35GpZL-Z1r4vcWjDRPF-OEgszgx_l6VZQUVn_8PrcEwhJrJCkxBGksRF4Lt=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1000" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW8V89km9PnrU7LP3uqhzPae7dEm_7ljfZ1M0-neDC-P_w-Nb8H4L2064_wTVVtBhpS_6QxzUlwGVPa3ySJ1SpXiy_t6-Q7uKzL-6XSpGWNOqXNUikc3L2Eo-1wUL1V35GpZL-Z1r4vcWjDRPF-OEgszgx_l6VZQUVn_8PrcEwhJrJCkxBGksRF4Lt=w640-h580" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We were surprised to see these critters in a small pasture. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1RLybCOMlt4gJz2T56y1KxwU46JUPRxGsLPIEsA0dm-g7eH34V4G3x4m4VXZsAYjG6FrBS1st7caYRuVwGZ-a8XiL1maJnt7Oam_OLwL2IpMmStqyIgC063Gm8Q0qIoHNcBC1yINAZMxFNZSolsx3c5OvqeYtSNqmtuL0QlKUnaHuLE2DDcLBahpe=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1000" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1RLybCOMlt4gJz2T56y1KxwU46JUPRxGsLPIEsA0dm-g7eH34V4G3x4m4VXZsAYjG6FrBS1st7caYRuVwGZ-a8XiL1maJnt7Oam_OLwL2IpMmStqyIgC063Gm8Q0qIoHNcBC1yINAZMxFNZSolsx3c5OvqeYtSNqmtuL0QlKUnaHuLE2DDcLBahpe=w640-h570" width="640" /></a></span></div><span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I wonder what they were. Based on pictures on the internet, I think they were yaks. </span><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXyadHmqI8SLpd7FMj-nhuuUDdPdPyUHhaZDJQljLIjLnLLjPTedoZ2wV8XYUbGk6XkWxprvuzvs-JAXFUI5suThDkPxEPvcVvHnuju6LIU3_-KHshVIJnqXQneeQgc4Ska70G7iWYuj5ukigD88_HQrMQG9ZEZkeFN0J_TvfchUygkTgr3MwXRrBp=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1000" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXyadHmqI8SLpd7FMj-nhuuUDdPdPyUHhaZDJQljLIjLnLLjPTedoZ2wV8XYUbGk6XkWxprvuzvs-JAXFUI5suThDkPxEPvcVvHnuju6LIU3_-KHshVIJnqXQneeQgc4Ska70G7iWYuj5ukigD88_HQrMQG9ZEZkeFN0J_TvfchUygkTgr3MwXRrBp=w640-h364" width="640" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of them was not satisfied with the nice grass in the pasture. He or she worked very hard to eat the grass as close to the fence as possible. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGZSthm6CEZ-Sqs3immrH1UlBowNJxY5hjH421gEYxwGtPDhSHTll3o7a2GzGbGZ4HrH4lnN4HsIZQCvtFuzGSfF1AX6nbniEmCZjk5wlshhfRQ6yNCFquImmAZEOZrfer0cwx7cNQLGSY_khxN4tOp4FaYz_Ah7QNhWDbCQVMp63km6X0cN0_ERyM=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="1000" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGZSthm6CEZ-Sqs3immrH1UlBowNJxY5hjH421gEYxwGtPDhSHTll3o7a2GzGbGZ4HrH4lnN4HsIZQCvtFuzGSfF1AX6nbniEmCZjk5wlshhfRQ6yNCFquImmAZEOZrfer0cwx7cNQLGSY_khxN4tOp4FaYz_Ah7QNhWDbCQVMp63km6X0cN0_ERyM=w640-h366" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. This was one small one. Maybe it was just a pond. The tall water grasses waved gently in the breeze.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpGQ1DyJqm-zveM3bwFtPWZVLZnGYFRkbxIEpzhauV0iPGkXoG8I87MWoHGZAZctimALacUZHkmdpj19am4nz5aj8QxYJVyTbrB3hW6LcEqGSS99DPEUaVWMqsBaEpNEmlIliLxmBppVIHeIybCcxYnhXP9U1Mr9GD4jJuAunxpNBbx9OGMFFwnhuk=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpGQ1DyJqm-zveM3bwFtPWZVLZnGYFRkbxIEpzhauV0iPGkXoG8I87MWoHGZAZctimALacUZHkmdpj19am4nz5aj8QxYJVyTbrB3hW6LcEqGSS99DPEUaVWMqsBaEpNEmlIliLxmBppVIHeIybCcxYnhXP9U1Mr9GD4jJuAunxpNBbx9OGMFFwnhuk=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></span></div><span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The RV parks seemed to be telling us it was time to head south! We stayed at Pete's Retreat for a week, up to October 1 when it closed for the season.</span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtohOvUDtgtev1vBwYBtyouTzrNEDDrPbNqVx3s8fEO_c7IzolzEVYVmqPbR-JIgSp-fy1ryIkhv2PqSEUn-tVqHhQrEw4ti1oYWdbXxn85zUFGEJm8erApYffNWX_UC7mcrDYY6jwpVX5S3RT_i4_qKSyefv4qm4w0ImRGJx2eJyQ4PbiNqUqoBin=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtohOvUDtgtev1vBwYBtyouTzrNEDDrPbNqVx3s8fEO_c7IzolzEVYVmqPbR-JIgSp-fy1ryIkhv2PqSEUn-tVqHhQrEw4ti1oYWdbXxn85zUFGEJm8erApYffNWX_UC7mcrDYY6jwpVX5S3RT_i4_qKSyefv4qm4w0ImRGJx2eJyQ4PbiNqUqoBin=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Many of the days were quite blustery with threatening clouds. This park, the Grand Casino Campground in Hinckley Minnesota, had shut down large areas. </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOAjPgiGsvMz0rr-1_s9fH_xjJV830E06DR485PRAbD7LsjtEROxEgoD8yleakHLkC-XmlWxK4znJbi9tvt3M3PIgo2kAkICjJUUDiYKWz_5xYRptwEFwhxiX0djU1TJNFsS8YjYrs8jc66qRmk_wjzot3fEcwfxfTOq25BP2fHfsNySHaOmMAfw5p=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1000" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOAjPgiGsvMz0rr-1_s9fH_xjJV830E06DR485PRAbD7LsjtEROxEgoD8yleakHLkC-XmlWxK4znJbi9tvt3M3PIgo2kAkICjJUUDiYKWz_5xYRptwEFwhxiX0djU1TJNFsS8YjYrs8jc66qRmk_wjzot3fEcwfxfTOq25BP2fHfsNySHaOmMAfw5p=w640-h404" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The section we stayed in had only a few rigs.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Next we stayed at Lake Elmo, a small county park, and then at Dakotah Meadows Casino Campground near Minneapolis. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed the beautiful fall color all around, but didn't do much walking because Craig was having trouble with his hip. He is going to have it checked out when we get back to California. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While at Dakota Meadows we drove into the city to see the <a href="https://vangoghmsp.com">Van Gogh Immersive Exhibit</a>. It was a wonderful experience. The still pictures below cannot express the full impact of the exhibit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghrBJk3PK7aadOd1KPLl8xgNQ4Gazo9455Apw5NZ6hDMNLdRfn-kfFfKedt_Dr8BBUAOymUNtFZzrTATGPi6RpHieErDy_HhaLtdfsrKBmtfBpqw5QlHBXkk1zM4kQ7aSa9HQU7BCoHfrX2xEY0oksESLAkpKfssPr8z7qHkz468n6XU44aTTQhqvv=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="1000" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghrBJk3PK7aadOd1KPLl8xgNQ4Gazo9455Apw5NZ6hDMNLdRfn-kfFfKedt_Dr8BBUAOymUNtFZzrTATGPi6RpHieErDy_HhaLtdfsrKBmtfBpqw5QlHBXkk1zM4kQ7aSa9HQU7BCoHfrX2xEY0oksESLAkpKfssPr8z7qHkz468n6XU44aTTQhqvv=w640-h354" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There were two galleries; both had the same show. All four walls formed a continous screen. If you looked carefully you could see the screens were broken into repeated images but were blended perfectly. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Van Gogh's work is all about light and movement. This projected show was made up of many layers of images from his paintings. They moved and changed and were accompanied by a fantastic sound track. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>In the first gallery (above) everyone either stood or sat on the floor </span><span>for the half hour show.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv5phel2s_JZNkCljbiuQjB1OiXNXvlc5Vgp-fwhEiTBtv8EDktOVQ7vVNbhVdaMhtPEFJQfzWUjD-Qmmix3JraFrLhO-BAlHWaI3w4vyvcZgBgQpkGwtAPoV_lNbNpGOzTJwd4HQl26lSfaYIxIF9QPr1YfOj1LAExeM-XQR7wPx5u2-hAOvbSyTS=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv5phel2s_JZNkCljbiuQjB1OiXNXvlc5Vgp-fwhEiTBtv8EDktOVQ7vVNbhVdaMhtPEFJQfzWUjD-Qmmix3JraFrLhO-BAlHWaI3w4vyvcZgBgQpkGwtAPoV_lNbNpGOzTJwd4HQl26lSfaYIxIF9QPr1YfOj1LAExeM-XQR7wPx5u2-hAOvbSyTS=w640-h416" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the second gallery there were several benches. We stayed and watched the show a second time after scoring a bench the minute someone else left it. For our old bodies, it was nice to be able to sit.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPEFRo45MnqHo1Uu2qf-l3FA8rHrrilsaQhuR0OPBO1uDj704qKObTNiTFDavMnSMF-7-GExjTUi3dPtlzYXNbZxFAiSDERUcu1WjHIxvV2gFkH_0DGdbKCWdFNIKHvSaMKO0NChxOF_r30zjNZdi_GggwIYqcwG2oKENHFXv02qjS-zi1ffPJ_L72=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1000" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPEFRo45MnqHo1Uu2qf-l3FA8rHrrilsaQhuR0OPBO1uDj704qKObTNiTFDavMnSMF-7-GExjTUi3dPtlzYXNbZxFAiSDERUcu1WjHIxvV2gFkH_0DGdbKCWdFNIKHvSaMKO0NChxOF_r30zjNZdi_GggwIYqcwG2oKENHFXv02qjS-zi1ffPJ_L72=w640-h444" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1GAlVyHVSsfT-QnRumLWpgRcMCyaYnX0HMsYoKuOmgNuv0xu-5kligdtxNUsxKMdGDotZTjppBvLxYe4WBlzWxYFMfoszkzrCt6EXujVD_b_qu2RSm-2sZx5HEBIW2uQbFN4_k8l8clenGdDS1kg14kkFJBvdQO7igFlLjhg9-wbpDOJCuiIrjLo_=s1000" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1000" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1GAlVyHVSsfT-QnRumLWpgRcMCyaYnX0HMsYoKuOmgNuv0xu-5kligdtxNUsxKMdGDotZTjppBvLxYe4WBlzWxYFMfoszkzrCt6EXujVD_b_qu2RSm-2sZx5HEBIW2uQbFN4_k8l8clenGdDS1kg14kkFJBvdQO7igFlLjhg9-wbpDOJCuiIrjLo_=w400-h368" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Several of Vincent's self portraits appeared throughout the show.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This was my favorite. The flames on the candles flickered as if they were actually burning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At one point I said to Craig: "This would really blow Van Gogh's mind!" <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I appreciated the fact that everyone was required to wear a mask in the galleries. Not "recommended", "required!" Throughout our summer travels, we have met people who were not vaccinated. I am not afraid to ask, and if someone tells me they are not vaccinated, I just move away and don't continue any contact with them. The case numbers are going up in Minnesota, but at most stores you see very few people wearing masks. We do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">This last week we went to a CVS and we both got our flu
shots. A few days later I got my Pfizer Covid booster. Now that it has been approved, Craig will get his
Moderna booster next week. All we can do is take care of ourselves. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">So now we are in Iowa at an almost empty state park in Clear Lake for three nights. The trees are just starting to turn here, but the temperatures are going down. Autumn is truly my favorite time of the year. </span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>[Update from Craig] Older rock fans might call Clear Lake IA "the place the music died". In 1959, </i></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near here.</i></span></p><p><span><span><br /></span></span></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-11190430017836262212021-09-27T05:06:00.007-07:002021-09-27T14:59:05.438-07:00September 2021<p><span style="font-size: large;">I have not been keeping up with the blog again, so this is a catch up post.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Overall, we have had a very pleasant September. We have met up with and/or visited two of our favorite RV couples: Jeannie and Eldo, and Karen and Steve, but for some reason the cameras never got used. Both meetings were very nice. It is always good to see your online friends in person, even if it is only once every few years.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9EDvgn6vmdU18yOD9JI82gwlSWXn6d0as65dtAEdytpxLKv9K_wpN0R2T-DBsrOZqoO53tZJX5PuAsZynZDnPw_SBm4b2vK7uoYGDO98t6Q1Ar7GHu2lBTNfML1B1ZmW5GmFG8RCZig/s1000/pond8779.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1000" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9EDvgn6vmdU18yOD9JI82gwlSWXn6d0as65dtAEdytpxLKv9K_wpN0R2T-DBsrOZqoO53tZJX5PuAsZynZDnPw_SBm4b2vK7uoYGDO98t6Q1Ar7GHu2lBTNfML1B1ZmW5GmFG8RCZig/w640-h386/pond8779.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">After a week in St. Ignace we traveled north to Tahquamenon Falls. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
was one of the places we wanted to stop at on our Lake Superior
Circle tour a few years back, but cancelled so we could stop at a
recommended place on the Canadian side.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOMWhVR5Bs5SITxCZ-3ZELBAhmpFUtND2RC-pSbRzcKhoqwAp8zLuIblr6tKNkKCaYfLjc_4NYv8stSbgJfMhN_jon2FUkFp5rXNHcr_b7gdhWKJBSgPCPgoXymEtnbLQSWt1woP4hNA/s1000/Lower8070.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOMWhVR5Bs5SITxCZ-3ZELBAhmpFUtND2RC-pSbRzcKhoqwAp8zLuIblr6tKNkKCaYfLjc_4NYv8stSbgJfMhN_jon2FUkFp5rXNHcr_b7gdhWKJBSgPCPgoXymEtnbLQSWt1woP4hNA/w640-h416/Lower8070.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are two falls located in the park. The lower falls are a cascade.<br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvrdTYWu_xyzv8EQtAYcVbFYvr_ek4LCYpYANyPUX6ciNGdX2KbjZYDPz4xEEovT2RwsPmVDscXdF1IF9xY6IKv80OWSZp0tnet8YqgdNAIx5kfu87FEIkXHjcGc1aX-QhdNmAB6T3QQ/s1500/UpperFalls8036.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvrdTYWu_xyzv8EQtAYcVbFYvr_ek4LCYpYANyPUX6ciNGdX2KbjZYDPz4xEEovT2RwsPmVDscXdF1IF9xY6IKv80OWSZp0tnet8YqgdNAIx5kfu87FEIkXHjcGc1aX-QhdNmAB6T3QQ/w426-h640/UpperFalls8036.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Falls</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The Upper Falls are taller and there was</span><span> </span><span> quite a lot of water coming over.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also took a couple of nice walks along the river that was by our campground. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw6B0wz3PGmgFZpMbrqrZuDCsbMYIWGVSqo8F-r5QgAzj7nZCEcROca7ue813yRx56W0h_Iu9GjepQUfhpEV8OfUiaoa_ALLt5ra32Hu3PZOabe1F1eI1zpqz1AKitHcNsFY1lanXDxk/s1000/TreeInRiver0911211324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw6B0wz3PGmgFZpMbrqrZuDCsbMYIWGVSqo8F-r5QgAzj7nZCEcROca7ue813yRx56W0h_Iu9GjepQUfhpEV8OfUiaoa_ALLt5ra32Hu3PZOabe1F1eI1zpqz1AKitHcNsFY1lanXDxk/w640-h360/TreeInRiver0911211324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The cloudy sky was reflected as silver. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
UP is one of my favorite late summer destinations. We had pleasant
temperatures, few mosquitos or other bugs, and a couple of rain storms.</span></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj84oAslR2YP_RpTrR9nSJnOJTQAi6YzCxwy31NirbWJjSqe1GCUoLFcWLrQEnTBrti_YRdrE6HsjWWXe5Rfo3Ov_XsQqeDdz7SXH3B1xlpdtnFLXkvZF_3KDiiHLno6Sfq7Z-hZ1Llw/s1000/munising8792.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="838" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj84oAslR2YP_RpTrR9nSJnOJTQAi6YzCxwy31NirbWJjSqe1GCUoLFcWLrQEnTBrti_YRdrE6HsjWWXe5Rfo3Ov_XsQqeDdz7SXH3B1xlpdtnFLXkvZF_3KDiiHLno6Sfq7Z-hZ1Llw/w536-h640/munising8792.jpg" width="536" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Evening </span><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The next stop was at Munising Tourist Park. We were here once before and had done most of the usual walks and other activities. The gal at the office suggested we take a half hour drive, west, to see Lakenenland Junk Yard Art. <br /></span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTxjjChxT7G1_fkjzTJ3PFMeJuoKYmHTIJABfouCcwF28mSqfdLsrBJbbwLEdZi9UXe0b8DLWtgIRuOTLYmIqC36wRwlvCBvTHDnc8850Ehm7R79Qrx9eZKXQTMwX5Kpg62xUz3WRQA8/s1000/JunkYardArt8811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1000" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTxjjChxT7G1_fkjzTJ3PFMeJuoKYmHTIJABfouCcwF28mSqfdLsrBJbbwLEdZi9UXe0b8DLWtgIRuOTLYmIqC36wRwlvCBvTHDnc8850Ehm7R79Qrx9eZKXQTMwX5Kpg62xUz3WRQA8/w640-h374/JunkYardArt8811.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUpqhjce_9jrhJBkWlhjHIFLO0t2qqwUteOj9WUEKwWPmGJHCwYb8y4OMlF9rAlpE_iglMQS8OpBkHSkrvyrMn-FEwhdVsC1d3GlbYkY3JSaSNcInRbklxTLZlnAYYRUBSJJKxebe-jw/s1000/cowboy8805.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="601" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUpqhjce_9jrhJBkWlhjHIFLO0t2qqwUteOj9WUEKwWPmGJHCwYb8y4OMlF9rAlpE_iglMQS8OpBkHSkrvyrMn-FEwhdVsC1d3GlbYkY3JSaSNcInRbklxTLZlnAYYRUBSJJKxebe-jw/w384-h640/cowboy8805.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><br />It was a delightful collection of large "found object" sculptures, that you could either drive or walk past. Worth every penny of the free admission.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj478zaMm5jDlrsmclOgYNusdyD1qSlBgyv7wOiD4bBu_Zlo6Je5__1EmFylVK2aaegUZde7JQqALRSUOOSNJH65JxBHJg9pafbKWYyUJ7IHkP4Q-xE2PcJRM-44S_7SBYEpCiUCdghckc/s1000/bog8813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj478zaMm5jDlrsmclOgYNusdyD1qSlBgyv7wOiD4bBu_Zlo6Je5__1EmFylVK2aaegUZde7JQqALRSUOOSNJH65JxBHJg9pafbKWYyUJ7IHkP4Q-xE2PcJRM-44S_7SBYEpCiUCdghckc/w640-h426/bog8813.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We also went on their Bog Walk. The ground was dry alongside the planks, but you could see that in wetter weather it would be quite soggy and the planks would be necessary.<br /></span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcJjj6H-UEDWM-a-3-y4vRNfUqBoLDhESjUbk8BHCMNMXs4AuO8_klPYeY2u3X0AR72ecw0vFE26D00j6UwAMDzwLGzozjwzGxnCnJND7bTizQzPD4ET9t8NWwqqzEL3jceHdQ0mZYVs/s1000/Oconto0915212000d_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcJjj6H-UEDWM-a-3-y4vRNfUqBoLDhESjUbk8BHCMNMXs4AuO8_klPYeY2u3X0AR72ecw0vFE26D00j6UwAMDzwLGzozjwzGxnCnJND7bTizQzPD4ET9t8NWwqqzEL3jceHdQ0mZYVs/w640-h360/Oconto0915212000d_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we visited Karen and Steve, we stayed at the Oconto Holtwood park. We took a stroll along the river at sunset. The water was so still it was a perfect mirror. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the necessities of having a motorhome is the need for maintenance and upkeep. This month we had our roof recovered in Alexandria, Minnesota. It took four days, during which we were able to stay in the Alfa. For some other repairs we have had, we were not able to be in the rig when it was in the shop. For the roofing we could, and it was odd to sleep in the Alfa while inside a building.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not every driving day is easy. We had to leave Alexandria before 6 AM in order to get to Brainerd MN for a 8:15 AM appointment at Pleasureland RV, to have our new Blue Ox tow cable evaluated and ultimately replaced. In addition to being much too early for our taste, it rained very hard all the way there. This was particularly stressful because it was so dark and we were on unfamiliar roads.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All I can say is we were both glad when we got there without any problems.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After Pleasureland we had only eight more miles to go to our next stop, Lum Park on Rice lake.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB31hxqzwv3vJpk935sfe66UBYPpVrS4gPPMF1CEKlipUlvRwL0Ol2B9xtFn3xOQkakvxT5Oh7bdo112yVXKVdamPg53ECzhptsN07u_LFre5O9Z4n83y9lUqBaui-ncsnVKjTAhTwAk/s1000/1slide8867.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB31hxqzwv3vJpk935sfe66UBYPpVrS4gPPMF1CEKlipUlvRwL0Ol2B9xtFn3xOQkakvxT5Oh7bdo112yVXKVdamPg53ECzhptsN07u_LFre5O9Z4n83y9lUqBaui-ncsnVKjTAhTwAk/w640-h426/1slide8867.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we went for our park walk, Craig let go of some of the stress by trying out the dinosaur slide. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwUrCA0ZCs8KrAqTg08s7bnCMKtalGdpXn9sd77Xdn3uUG9oDEaQvuat5D0KJD0twYXrjgjnV97NIWjTfLG8RQlPXb_R4azgf9TRsbckWz9SiTnr2_IzWeykMiIPEWLzY7P4lHywKaoc/s1000/2slide8871.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1000" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwUrCA0ZCs8KrAqTg08s7bnCMKtalGdpXn9sd77Xdn3uUG9oDEaQvuat5D0KJD0twYXrjgjnV97NIWjTfLG8RQlPXb_R4azgf9TRsbckWz9SiTnr2_IzWeykMiIPEWLzY7P4lHywKaoc/w640-h428/2slide8871.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, he did slide down. There were no children around.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday we took a long drive around a couple of scenic road routes to look for fall color.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNr13Fm7XJgvPcydbwyYMTmvZ5gk_F2LYInv4YOyXEtsCjdlo4nq16bGYVMV5NovOBQjSsRrgil_oOM9LFyomMD1Jc0QBX8RRzpflfjzqlaVvkwRXVs-jFY2YevcrpbvX-u29QYn54Js/s1000/treeColor8855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNr13Fm7XJgvPcydbwyYMTmvZ5gk_F2LYInv4YOyXEtsCjdlo4nq16bGYVMV5NovOBQjSsRrgil_oOM9LFyomMD1Jc0QBX8RRzpflfjzqlaVvkwRXVs-jFY2YevcrpbvX-u29QYn54Js/w640-h426/treeColor8855.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The color is starting to show, but it will be a while before it comes to peak.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9G2SMlVYE5XfyAmPkUAr2iRbTaoqoDquWjjsP-86Iza-mBweKw6tvUvdEZjVwTNEdovlkrbAtO7YMmg7dVryEoejIjlMR6FBIIwyUg6x1ftn3sdneUP6ARn49KJBkSh0oJaude-BUWU/s2048/partial8839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2048" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9G2SMlVYE5XfyAmPkUAr2iRbTaoqoDquWjjsP-86Iza-mBweKw6tvUvdEZjVwTNEdovlkrbAtO7YMmg7dVryEoejIjlMR6FBIIwyUg6x1ftn3sdneUP6ARn49KJBkSh0oJaude-BUWU/w640-h352/partial8839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In many places it seems like only the tops and tips of the trees have been kissed with color.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We will be in Minnesota for another two weeks, so I do expect to see a lot more fall color. I got a reservation for the upcoming week, the last week of September, but I don't yet know where we will be going after that. I have called or otherwise checked a number of RV parks in "good color" spots, only to find out they will either be closed after October 1, or are already full. After a carefully planned and reserved summer, this give ME a bit of anxiety. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> If nothing else, there is always Walmart!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Check back to see where we land.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-7896685597112020392021-09-06T14:43:00.002-07:002021-09-06T21:14:05.650-07:00North Shore of Lake Michigan<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4NE7P5uLWvTqLU8Md7e3_Dv1jVxJHjR0GssUpKWXbJJYmcjsdir0AZ-gy2PD2SQDl4omLRkFEA-bS-wbt-lC5UM7QsjBResLQ_1mTcE-q721JGP2jCQpkq16Yw2P73MWyLY_KfOppN8/s1000/lakeMichigan0905211227a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1000" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4NE7P5uLWvTqLU8Md7e3_Dv1jVxJHjR0GssUpKWXbJJYmcjsdir0AZ-gy2PD2SQDl4omLRkFEA-bS-wbt-lC5UM7QsjBResLQ_1mTcE-q721JGP2jCQpkq16Yw2P73MWyLY_KfOppN8/w640-h342/lakeMichigan0905211227a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lake Michigan</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop along US 2 was on the Garden Peninsula, which extends 22 miles southwest into Lake Michigan.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fayette Historic State Park features a somewhat restored "company town" that was built in the late 1800's for the management and workers at the Fayette Iron Smelter.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXM3MfHYwtACyAPsgYrSMruHZpGSha5VpgNvN-fwX25TlmwMsOWPcCaDmM3iyP77tKyA6Z4j0pEg-Ceg_EFBVU1RGZzNm35a0kScK_bnw8ncmdYtEbx9YxgBxn7xUrxA4_6Q4ZVw14RRY/s1000/town8685.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="1000" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXM3MfHYwtACyAPsgYrSMruHZpGSha5VpgNvN-fwX25TlmwMsOWPcCaDmM3iyP77tKyA6Z4j0pEg-Ceg_EFBVU1RGZzNm35a0kScK_bnw8ncmdYtEbx9YxgBxn7xUrxA4_6Q4ZVw14RRY/w640-h174/town8685.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The buildings were empty, but there was plenty of signage that explained what each was and how they fit into the life of the town.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_ep84VLA73gN9FtV3HPmfkClXEmWwIR3Skc-upK-auhh1_YdURiME1BSFoiNQ0k5WkTM990LllAKWPTF9HiPujl0ztjRrdUIB-m0SvjlWutLzEx3NjbaAObUCblta2GQlgNbJ_7T95A/s1000/smelter8692.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_ep84VLA73gN9FtV3HPmfkClXEmWwIR3Skc-upK-auhh1_YdURiME1BSFoiNQ0k5WkTM990LllAKWPTF9HiPujl0ztjRrdUIB-m0SvjlWutLzEx3NjbaAObUCblta2GQlgNbJ_7T95A/w640-h426/smelter8692.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Smelting iron ore was an arduous process, using heat produced by burning large amounts of charcoal. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqbKx9hv87xljwn4DpripRYpMo_1luxZepBFDB8n55jWcPYPyuG9X7V1UXdktbBLS3ydrVyFd5U33g9APjXznMRorr4bHJRAbCzZaXSHkyEd6m_UZtQSGnIYBn7a_Gd0RhyDh9Jdxkpo/s1000/charcoalFurnace8694.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1000" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqbKx9hv87xljwn4DpripRYpMo_1luxZepBFDB8n55jWcPYPyuG9X7V1UXdktbBLS3ydrVyFd5U33g9APjXznMRorr4bHJRAbCzZaXSHkyEd6m_UZtQSGnIYBn7a_Gd0RhyDh9Jdxkpo/w400-h330/charcoalFurnace8694.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The charcoal was made in these large kilns. Several years ago, we saw similar cone-shaped kilns in Death Valley.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXCR9VSvrA6tmRna68xSwUmX7h4NRL2ffWLbaIzLFVW1ndXHrsOqDkjpx546tIUmpYt9wtDdNho6dgURsQTAZA1xfzgxe9cetcCY1qBU44j55SYTj2Yax92tPfNrJyrtWLceI7bKRulw/s1000/fromInside8696.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1000" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXCR9VSvrA6tmRna68xSwUmX7h4NRL2ffWLbaIzLFVW1ndXHrsOqDkjpx546tIUmpYt9wtDdNho6dgURsQTAZA1xfzgxe9cetcCY1qBU44j55SYTj2Yax92tPfNrJyrtWLceI7bKRulw/w640-h388/fromInside8696.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Looking up at the hole at the top of the kiln can make you feel a bit dizzy.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqhku9HZqcE2ZQPLbyzpSKhSpnGRiTFxPA2wfPD49n_MmAYyxy-QZTUTjuRYq6_kLSK6xtpw8PYPREaVv9Uzgqu0L6-BM-AGygE-XDnAn5TzAxr3iYI2jSHFdKpkxFS6PrgvEg49Mqs0/s1000/pigiron8697.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="978" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqhku9HZqcE2ZQPLbyzpSKhSpnGRiTFxPA2wfPD49n_MmAYyxy-QZTUTjuRYq6_kLSK6xtpw8PYPREaVv9Uzgqu0L6-BM-AGygE-XDnAn5TzAxr3iYI2jSHFdKpkxFS6PrgvEg49Mqs0/w626-h640/pigiron8697.jpg" width="626" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> The end result was charcoal pig iron, which was then sent by ship to the Great Lakes steel companies.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavlb5EeyWNzAyIM6D1g7lqGjtlHyDpNSSEMY05HoOIAUYNXe1V7JImVYXveuO8yEZHIp8cWun3p-IBCgHOcP6tD8jrxKAxEJmpK26FTuwGfGn0X1Laeaj7_5A7iuEJ-Wu1I1dIjYr8Zg/s1000/alfa8711.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1000" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavlb5EeyWNzAyIM6D1g7lqGjtlHyDpNSSEMY05HoOIAUYNXe1V7JImVYXveuO8yEZHIp8cWun3p-IBCgHOcP6tD8jrxKAxEJmpK26FTuwGfGn0X1Laeaj7_5A7iuEJ-Wu1I1dIjYr8Zg/w400-h251/alfa8711.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The Fayette state park campground was pretty, but quite crowded.</span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Although there were a few larger RVs, most of the campers had smaller trailers, pop ups, and tents. It seemed almost every site had a trailer, a tent or two, a boat, and a screened easy-up over the picnic table. For all of that, everyone was peaceful and there were no loud groups.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh687fp_tE8nn8Hl7Ts-OvSnNwrDqSoksfSItPtl3mqK-4IxsmhjUDvH65r35eamTpAUe6rSLF3Qr99JrXvIygLQ-LMgsYxdw5ANYcBCqF34RJ2ihLz4upzQWlcNUCQ9zAmEDhNcIquRWQ/s1000/SatHole8712.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="654" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh687fp_tE8nn8Hl7Ts-OvSnNwrDqSoksfSItPtl3mqK-4IxsmhjUDvH65r35eamTpAUe6rSLF3Qr99JrXvIygLQ-LMgsYxdw5ANYcBCqF34RJ2ihLz4upzQWlcNUCQ9zAmEDhNcIquRWQ/w418-h640/SatHole8712.jpg" width="418" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Many state parks have no hookups, or as in this case electric only. Starting with a full fresh water tank, we can be self-sufficient with respect to water for about five days, or up to a week if we use the park bathhouse and are careful with our water usage.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">State park campgrounds are often "in the trees." We were lucky to find a small hole between the branches which allowed us to get satellite reception.<br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzxvxCcJHNLqiurVoqqv21lJvXuR6CJj28FgqG5EX5ppQUbkRsANjpnvSyRHNRnw79jKDCpNNTRfU4AItMCm_IqlnPwf_WeoehJ19BOdJbHKB0XDx1CeLGKA1DJq9v7WBrKEn7N6AgrE/s1000/trees8654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1000" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzxvxCcJHNLqiurVoqqv21lJvXuR6CJj28FgqG5EX5ppQUbkRsANjpnvSyRHNRnw79jKDCpNNTRfU4AItMCm_IqlnPwf_WeoehJ19BOdJbHKB0XDx1CeLGKA1DJq9v7WBrKEn7N6AgrE/w640-h404/trees8654.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We took a couple of walks while we were there. This short peaceful wooded trail was quite a contrast to the busy campground.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMANBuz-E-GHCX1PGXY-rZCo9XKRbpKwTtoVeaNicDxiZNJd7tfatYbt5c_dk-6BBOuxUSRKjgL83_sV7Zh63-TQcotX0XyiH5S0FzSp9gWS4x2RHpC0PlgxelHSGb9eDtidCXfgCA9w/s1000/rockyC8663.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMANBuz-E-GHCX1PGXY-rZCo9XKRbpKwTtoVeaNicDxiZNJd7tfatYbt5c_dk-6BBOuxUSRKjgL83_sV7Zh63-TQcotX0XyiH5S0FzSp9gWS4x2RHpC0PlgxelHSGb9eDtidCXfgCA9w/w640-h454/rockyC8663.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span> A rocky shoreline was just a short walk from our camp.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObLbIJlHrHkVQtabP99nf9TSjykPlIbvZQ4kJfCFNmDKEIgBg9ANrdOMotfPcVGuI-NRlLgNATHvDRcOy1NAIuaI-E_W_3i2frXjvskUGTu7F-w5npD1mvGNyv-7rrgu0M8sbMNZn1Ls/s1000/sandy8664.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1000" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObLbIJlHrHkVQtabP99nf9TSjykPlIbvZQ4kJfCFNmDKEIgBg9ANrdOMotfPcVGuI-NRlLgNATHvDRcOy1NAIuaI-E_W_3i2frXjvskUGTu7F-w5npD1mvGNyv-7rrgu0M8sbMNZn1Ls/w640-h472/sandy8664.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>We also found this stretch of sandy beach.<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZUP81PgfO3-ZHbrHx3zdfUCVYtp7ukyeIhB8kWCQtZEhZzcERy6lv58BH2IhnLjCFhl62LRJGLxd3nyD1WlYRQcLrPhq6TUoGp3xT6uG5a0penAYR_WStIVRuRxkZSXpR_V0tBJqRIE/s1000/family8672.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1000" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZUP81PgfO3-ZHbrHx3zdfUCVYtp7ukyeIhB8kWCQtZEhZzcERy6lv58BH2IhnLjCFhl62LRJGLxd3nyD1WlYRQcLrPhq6TUoGp3xT6uG5a0penAYR_WStIVRuRxkZSXpR_V0tBJqRIE/w640-h328/family8672.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[From Craig] The patriarch drank too much, but the young ones were fine upstanding folks.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Not far from the sandy beach above was the old Fishermen's Cemetery. There were some very old stone markers and some new wood crosses marking old graves. One of the churches in the area maintains it. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjGZTx-3K2l3qp6wqMcbKHyOzTxFW5-3sm8TjWTDifV933BgHlyKghNjuKdYhj0Xj6qM0bTQ7Lp0Mqi35JoxgG-YvSPt1yJigUT6izfz5FKotNuCOHe2AhewAzhzxW9QaPQyAXBBCrzs/s1000/brokenCross8674.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="813" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjGZTx-3K2l3qp6wqMcbKHyOzTxFW5-3sm8TjWTDifV933BgHlyKghNjuKdYhj0Xj6qM0bTQ7Lp0Mqi35JoxgG-YvSPt1yJigUT6izfz5FKotNuCOHe2AhewAzhzxW9QaPQyAXBBCrzs/w520-h640/brokenCross8674.jpg" width="520" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>Although it was broken off, this was one of the more elaborate markers we saw. I think it was a family plot marker. Many of the graves are unidentified.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UwQm6bT86KX07Y56Ab-3DvbgQuXpJoEkNBBhBNu7BDQT_TofVD3rKTn4rK0nO4tYa6HY-wVWQQENPcrqk3Q8GmLSjfQg-OONEZqnlSbCKnZfTyYjWI0dpV8fKSNn4p2F6FY225AzwOw/s1000/berm8681.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1000" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UwQm6bT86KX07Y56Ab-3DvbgQuXpJoEkNBBhBNu7BDQT_TofVD3rKTn4rK0nO4tYa6HY-wVWQQENPcrqk3Q8GmLSjfQg-OONEZqnlSbCKnZfTyYjWI0dpV8fKSNn4p2F6FY225AzwOw/w640-h504/berm8681.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On our walk back to campground, we went along this berm in the forest. We discussed how and why it was there, and decided it might have been an old road going to the cemetery.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGrlVKAhYctGI8RediX9zZvPCeDY2bB1nsWg3zGR1xlGDItwAkinLT8djEMxAPCtzoCMt8XMpHh7bYpDWRKwCxTmZDZ7qL7LQaudjkp20bxQCkjrHLa1BtIjii6K7vLxWQf4MO7TjY34/s1000/LakesideBeach0905211232.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="694" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGrlVKAhYctGI8RediX9zZvPCeDY2bB1nsWg3zGR1xlGDItwAkinLT8djEMxAPCtzoCMt8XMpHh7bYpDWRKwCxTmZDZ7qL7LQaudjkp20bxQCkjrHLa1BtIjii6K7vLxWQf4MO7TjY34/w445-h640/LakesideBeach0905211232.jpg" width="445" /></a></div>On September first we went back to Highway 2 and headed east to St. Ignace, which is at the north end of the Mackinaw Bridge.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad I made our reservation here way back in February. Our week included Labor Day, which is always a busy time in the campground world. They had a very nice pot luck for us campers on Sunday. Many of the campers come here every year for the end-of-summer holiday. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We didn't do much while here, this being our third time in the area. We didn't go over to the Island, nor across to the Fort because we had already done those tourist things.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We did go on a nice walk in the Hiawatha National Forest. No signs of fall color yet, but the wildflowers are making their last stand.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0pao_9bpMC4CZnkH_eEFgBQEKqxrurYQeTSheDWTZZlpJzb6v6mPXxCgppxP_dhKkc_zEFeH_mIHRtaJhGu1r-s8h9gJSiOBh9QPi1FW_1PwCBY0RkuT4BOie3G_v0NHfZt-ECILWRY/s1000/flowerDSC8714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1000" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0pao_9bpMC4CZnkH_eEFgBQEKqxrurYQeTSheDWTZZlpJzb6v6mPXxCgppxP_dhKkc_zEFeH_mIHRtaJhGu1r-s8h9gJSiOBh9QPi1FW_1PwCBY0RkuT4BOie3G_v0NHfZt-ECILWRY/w640-h572/flowerDSC8714.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I have noted before, our route this summer was based on driving US Highway 2 from end to end. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFgLi8B_h0DxMyF2w2EwQZAnj1Hg-VcTpCirp5bc1rUxPlDbEDVmQwy_mbrTpmzghX_iHGbBixXfUfi11C8T1TyvcXVdrP6qzGPT10DQi5uig-Cpt7t6wekCJfPPqTgqu5CV-YED_GTg/s1000/end+of+2+8027-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="704" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFgLi8B_h0DxMyF2w2EwQZAnj1Hg-VcTpCirp5bc1rUxPlDbEDVmQwy_mbrTpmzghX_iHGbBixXfUfi11C8T1TyvcXVdrP6qzGPT10DQi5uig-Cpt7t6wekCJfPPqTgqu5CV-YED_GTg/w450-h640/end+of+2+8027-2.jpg" width="450" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Well, we made it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Longtime readers may recall this similar image from Key West in December 2014.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR2Epv5UcOlJ4HS4huCyEZFP3W2-_cBScAdH4fs5fE_NxklcBQTnmFWt9soY9Nhhwr5B0LoknnpEZp3CgC3uXt5CWF-V38xkOfHoDRwVsLYorhBWrqhJp6V3wWgL_vL-6Yenx6OG_I1E/s1000/mileZero8157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="484" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR2Epv5UcOlJ4HS4huCyEZFP3W2-_cBScAdH4fs5fE_NxklcBQTnmFWt9soY9Nhhwr5B0LoknnpEZp3CgC3uXt5CWF-V38xkOfHoDRwVsLYorhBWrqhJp6V3wWgL_vL-6Yenx6OG_I1E/w310-h640/mileZero8157.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We still have some good plans along the route back to California: including visiting with old friends, stopping in Minnesota for a new RV roof, and taking a swing down to Louisiana for some routine maintenance on the Alfa by one of our favorite RV techs. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So keep an eye out for my next update, and come along for the ride. </span></div><div><br /><p></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-21203211454320419392021-08-27T17:12:00.005-07:002021-08-28T07:29:44.253-07:00Iron Mine Tour, Vulcan, Michigan<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Max,</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">
a friend in San Diego, has asked if we meet new friends in campgrounds.
We have, but not as many as we would like. I think he imagines
campgrounds as big kumbaya meetings around communal campfires. When
actually, as campers we are fairly private, and although friendly
greetings are often exchanged, chatting with strangers is rare.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMbL8bWxHqkhW6y0SbZI8XEEPP8WyTL1-h5TcAJ0WQe58S6cvB-A1ZMSr0vTnA7qwfPwRueRx0x1cWpN6qEBbJBzOc8yGGwDapRg1UVv35ytSWy_GUiyedtpK2Dd5CfLPQINAq2uBXwY/s1000/Mike+and+Liz8651.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMbL8bWxHqkhW6y0SbZI8XEEPP8WyTL1-h5TcAJ0WQe58S6cvB-A1ZMSr0vTnA7qwfPwRueRx0x1cWpN6qEBbJBzOc8yGGwDapRg1UVv35ytSWy_GUiyedtpK2Dd5CfLPQINAq2uBXwY/w640-h416/Mike+and+Liz8651.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz and Mike<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
once in awhile the usual banter starting with "where are you from ... "
turns into a meeting of new friends. This week the couple with the
fifth wheel next door, stopped by and said hello. She saw the Escapees
sticker on our rig which led into my mentioning Jojoba. It
turned out they have been there and know Coney and Carrol. </span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We chatted for several hours and the next day went to the Mine Tour together.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprvjS0rZOIZ_EvCy0gKAq7Cgomr1MqWDw6Vp7C56_b0gozLHVXW-rDZ8WPiFMyxpGLtrxCQzHcnoqrb_T7yhWZGVdOAHHtjDA7EU9J99tnPPnb4txVHGMXHsaPTkcW8Qfs5D4ogGIftA/s1000/large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprvjS0rZOIZ_EvCy0gKAq7Cgomr1MqWDw6Vp7C56_b0gozLHVXW-rDZ8WPiFMyxpGLtrxCQzHcnoqrb_T7yhWZGVdOAHHtjDA7EU9J99tnPPnb4txVHGMXHsaPTkcW8Qfs5D4ogGIftA/w640-h640/large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p></div></span><span style="font-size: large;">I've been on coal mine tours, and I've seen large open copper pit mines, but I have never been on an iron mine tour until this week in Vulcan, Michigan.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm
not sure I like the way the earth seems to sag just above the mine
entrance. Had I noticed it, I might have been hesitant to go in! But we
did. The mine tour has been going on safely for many years.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1000" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_cwF575FbNvhek77BEb_czGwbVQsGf-NKYJQ-LEG4oD5qiueBYoPMcGm65Ln8uJMmjrHDrM8EJIajBcXLDvlaYOerFXn3ZsZuvEmgqQ3y3Io8SJsDZqbYYYn05ykp03X6iIntHM1abs/w640-h420/MACHINE8631.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The tour started with a small outdoor exhibit of old mine equipment. We had an excellent tour guide who used to be a history teacher. I just felt he enjoyed sharing history with us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNYwSxvfIy86JoSP3fnYeNZ5YSMCW_wu4rgPMgl4WfJFx6tM7nZXdAAzzSVxGyMgmZnxPhgPhscllgxQBQIIn61ire22QZ_bBN8T6ghIpffhIm6a9dC0hD9Yq35jDcB_mh_p0X_IHh5M/s2200/minetrain-1+copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="724" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNYwSxvfIy86JoSP3fnYeNZ5YSMCW_wu4rgPMgl4WfJFx6tM7nZXdAAzzSVxGyMgmZnxPhgPhscllgxQBQIIn61ire22QZ_bBN8T6ghIpffhIm6a9dC0hD9Yq35jDcB_mh_p0X_IHh5M/w211-h640/minetrain-1+copy.jpg" width="211" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We were given hard hats and rain coats to wear in the rather cold and wet mine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We rode a single wide train through 1/4 mile of mine tunnel. It took us only a few minutes, but we were told it had taken seven years of manual labor to dig out. No power tools were used.<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We then walked down into a tunnel system where the floors had been smoothed, and lights and handrails installed, long after the mine was closed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Along the way we learned more about the hand work involved in this type of mining, and the hazards experienced by the miners. At a time when a loaf of bread cost about five cents, they made seven to ten cents an hour. No benefits or safety regulations.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMyVKfPuZfzsn0SQxdFdXYckBmgHQlgFf0vlNUu0S19oNmznHLrQfVyZ3TxSjZsMCfkDmDHkjsRdyAhWtH3U6pc2JnZH00-1krUikxKqMAzWN-KRp0ZZiaeRxQRZ1vPOlSTyo_EkRDxw/s1000/signpastoven8645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMyVKfPuZfzsn0SQxdFdXYckBmgHQlgFf0vlNUu0S19oNmznHLrQfVyZ3TxSjZsMCfkDmDHkjsRdyAhWtH3U6pc2JnZH00-1krUikxKqMAzWN-KRp0ZZiaeRxQRZ1vPOlSTyo_EkRDxw/w470-h640/signpastoven8645.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After the mine tour we stopped for a miners lunch. Pasties of course. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The pasty was a lunch food brought over from the Cornish mines in Britain. It is a large closed pastry filled with meat, potatoes and/or </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">turnips that the miners could eat "out of hand." These were some of the best we have had. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We ended the day with another "sit around" at the campground. No campfire, just lawn chairs and an open grassy space.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our new friends left the next day, but we have exchanged contact information and hopefully we will meet up again. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is a "cozy" day. We are relaxing in the Alfa enjoying the sounds of a midwest summer rain. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">A good day to write a blog post. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow we travel on.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-46826786676211294762021-08-24T12:36:00.003-07:002021-08-24T15:34:21.714-07:00Beautiful Wisconsin<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">t is Tuesday August 25, our last day at the Apostle Islands RV Park in Bayfield, Wisconsin. <br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC67rySzugey-BlAQdPNky3Mdwapf7Ul38gMU2RqSEWPunUXPYmr6CYIo9AAvFlKh_TnajmuQa2sk6j-7PAXFZtsF5lFfNJ0WRQdmtUr67UyFAK5XzzlnM9aouzto0k7O1EuTra2Qo1c/s1000/Bayfield+houses8594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1000" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC67rySzugey-BlAQdPNky3Mdwapf7Ul38gMU2RqSEWPunUXPYmr6CYIo9AAvFlKh_TnajmuQa2sk6j-7PAXFZtsF5lFfNJ0WRQdmtUr67UyFAK5XzzlnM9aouzto0k7O1EuTra2Qo1c/w640-h370/Bayfield+houses8594.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a pretty, small community on the Bayfield Peninsula just below the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior.</span></span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today is a perfect day to be working on a round-up post for the week. It is raining! I know, for local residents rain is no big deal. But we have seen so little of it this last year, it is a welcome sight.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Note: rain stopped about noon.</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78UTmcVHin7tXk1Csb14UVNaZsuYS1ekNnNjqJ6G0qm70vFcKE6rXJB46QARvWr5bKt-QiOmjb1gEzI9bqN2OUHfNv5_2QeaX3prAjP9WLgyjfwMAtRcg-njZ-nnmvJJEIo4VZkwcnWE/s1000/Our+Bost7922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78UTmcVHin7tXk1Csb14UVNaZsuYS1ekNnNjqJ6G0qm70vFcKE6rXJB46QARvWr5bKt-QiOmjb1gEzI9bqN2OUHfNv5_2QeaX3prAjP9WLgyjfwMAtRcg-njZ-nnmvJJEIo4VZkwcnWE/w640-h358/Our+Bost7922.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Earlier in the week we went on the three hour Apostle Island Cruise. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a late afternoon trip and the weather was perfect. It had been a bit hot all day, so we looked forward to getting out on smooth Lake Superior.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4Fxxt9NZGE26HFGlKwgdjfVblzX-3SaE3o0hiPfJW4uc34MwkgHnBBPnrxKIt-MeHvWLjWUdOfXM5lghBFObKawGYb5qLqCerju5VE9Mi3aeO284I4tth-sxfz0aTVWywz7ucn7sspQ/s1000/line7923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="1000" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4Fxxt9NZGE26HFGlKwgdjfVblzX-3SaE3o0hiPfJW4uc34MwkgHnBBPnrxKIt-MeHvWLjWUdOfXM5lghBFObKawGYb5qLqCerju5VE9Mi3aeO284I4tth-sxfz0aTVWywz7ucn7sspQ/w640-h308/line7923.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We got to the dock area quite early since the plan had been to explore the shops before boarding. But there really wasn't much to see, so we wandered over to the pier and were actually the second couple in line. Other passengers arrived while we had a pleasant conversation with the first couple. They were from Wisconsin, but not quite locals.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VRyMnqMjLpOM5QY-r7yOI_LUQAHK1O9K-1rwobiW0X4lM_Nr4FQwUSFiofLIdbxReUY6vweAr1tSvLewy_xSvIp6fKSlgElHZWA787UzpFWWZ0NHGhJ8QmlfRYSDgQ2OUhneUbzYYwY/s1000/sailboat7932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="1000" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VRyMnqMjLpOM5QY-r7yOI_LUQAHK1O9K-1rwobiW0X4lM_Nr4FQwUSFiofLIdbxReUY6vweAr1tSvLewy_xSvIp6fKSlgElHZWA787UzpFWWZ0NHGhJ8QmlfRYSDgQ2OUhneUbzYYwY/w640-h208/sailboat7932.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>There were quite a few sailboats out around the islands. Since the Apostle Islands are a National Park, they don't have private homes on them. There are only a few "grandfathered" homesteads left, that will go back to the park when the current owners pass away.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6ztHIHHVPvpug0jzir0tzxBMfxoQV-KevAKciDP0Qdmr15Gb1GlqwuZbF8GVZPVwqX3bdPyqKQgLCLmesHIoznFEBfCoEOdKOMbqMpV2W-ozJDIowyjaEjMqYSNUNMcmnSY43-pxEfU/s1000/brownstone7935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1000" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6ztHIHHVPvpug0jzir0tzxBMfxoQV-KevAKciDP0Qdmr15Gb1GlqwuZbF8GVZPVwqX3bdPyqKQgLCLmesHIoznFEBfCoEOdKOMbqMpV2W-ozJDIowyjaEjMqYSNUNMcmnSY43-pxEfU/w640-h354/brownstone7935.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A popular fire proof building material, brown stone, was quarried on the islands for the rebuilding of Chicago in the 1870's. But when the Eiffel tower was completed in 1889, iron became the preferred material for the new "skyscrapers." These brown stone blocks were ready for shipment when the market for them crashed, and have been sitting here for over 100 years.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kz5h8Z1wZRo_x_58K30gaAl7gpKrdrNFzhJGM5n3erqmKUIcahJVoXcLYr8oZW_ikzO4M5TmoXr4Rk1SBoI87paRZsVuBCS8qzSMC-A4ogCEwNAIOVkyBn1scOCse8KdStn4faxeNTA/s1000/water%252Cwindvsrock8602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1000" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kz5h8Z1wZRo_x_58K30gaAl7gpKrdrNFzhJGM5n3erqmKUIcahJVoXcLYr8oZW_ikzO4M5TmoXr4Rk1SBoI87paRZsVuBCS8qzSMC-A4ogCEwNAIOVkyBn1scOCse8KdStn4faxeNTA/w640-h446/water%252Cwindvsrock8602.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Water, wind, ice, and time. Nature's sculpture tools.</span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKNWkpetw4bIHZKOVwQjEC4vCGzFGyOQWpJun0_A_qoumBhAyFJl_60CKRZUEpg-_EchECkzFxHI-YFaYclnluf4StIt1PJh8fiXqD615CyuH7MLi-n4_JbbywiKjDeNCTQfpPUIGdC0/s1000/devils+island8619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1000" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKNWkpetw4bIHZKOVwQjEC4vCGzFGyOQWpJun0_A_qoumBhAyFJl_60CKRZUEpg-_EchECkzFxHI-YFaYclnluf4StIt1PJh8fiXqD615CyuH7MLi-n4_JbbywiKjDeNCTQfpPUIGdC0/w640-h312/devils+island8619.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of the 22 islands, Devils Island has the deepest and most extensive "sea caves." <br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc0bJFZoHmX43ud7coxEvazywDHjwhuRhmiSrC6NxywO80pgO8ZqVGpZ6tleYuVTt5dExzhlCP9psrC8bfQ1JshxtfUBnkuvg8759WGkCXO6zBIuq805XEGZOM5s8FGYnhLgqpVtsoj4/s1000/greenwater8615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1000" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc0bJFZoHmX43ud7coxEvazywDHjwhuRhmiSrC6NxywO80pgO8ZqVGpZ6tleYuVTt5dExzhlCP9psrC8bfQ1JshxtfUBnkuvg8759WGkCXO6zBIuq805XEGZOM5s8FGYnhLgqpVtsoj4/w640-h530/greenwater8615.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the water was this green in some places.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWwyJYvY1uyRZMDG4dg5A3ze-hYl6pm_Lon3VFGiCxJFjIdPzTgj4Oct_1lRnWrZlYZXRWlLEa1C4ub6qtV8t-IvaGCY4QTs2-aZti3q2ua2VJ_pSqB_U-k-zWP-bg5F72KDlBuh8ZhY/s1000/lighthouse7997.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="1000" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWwyJYvY1uyRZMDG4dg5A3ze-hYl6pm_Lon3VFGiCxJFjIdPzTgj4Oct_1lRnWrZlYZXRWlLEa1C4ub6qtV8t-IvaGCY4QTs2-aZti3q2ua2VJ_pSqB_U-k-zWP-bg5F72KDlBuh8ZhY/w640-h338/lighthouse7997.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also went past a couple of lighthouses and an old fish camp that are being maintained for historical reasons, and learned a lot from the captain's narrative about the islands themselves.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFbWI4kuFJFTPUn_TgkXlYXf4G1SRzzM_r2_BchVkxESlK-VAzgKpc1VA7LHr9MXvDPNi_2e3B57V5pA_esjeqEhkiwUdCajsRckgxpNH7OTzzPt281uOKKVjjvbobJu078gpOUEYnUY/s1000/Last+picture7936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1000" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFbWI4kuFJFTPUn_TgkXlYXf4G1SRzzM_r2_BchVkxESlK-VAzgKpc1VA7LHr9MXvDPNi_2e3B57V5pA_esjeqEhkiwUdCajsRckgxpNH7OTzzPt281uOKKVjjvbobJu078gpOUEYnUY/w640-h429/Last+picture7936.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Finally, it was time to turn back and as the boat speed increased, we held onto our hats and faced the wind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had intended to get a fish fry at one of the many restaurants in town, but when we went into two, we were turned back by the large crowds of unmasked people, including the servers. We are being very careful about COVID exposure, and since we suspected that most of these people were NOT vaccinated, we opted for a nice pizza at home in the Alfa. <br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While on the boat we heard about a nice easy, three mile, hike on the "Lost Creek Falls" trail. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5FguG8FmyP2oqk94YCsGYgQjaDhPylvDhPa_DUvqs4POkfYh3ifLeELhdphHH2hxlBTgeX_dohb0b5ycOYxEqMUizPnX_Hr58JiSVQacQXU6_BazNODME_cg9PjnmcM23iyUsCOrG2g/s1000/boardwalk8020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5FguG8FmyP2oqk94YCsGYgQjaDhPylvDhPa_DUvqs4POkfYh3ifLeELhdphHH2hxlBTgeX_dohb0b5ycOYxEqMUizPnX_Hr58JiSVQacQXU6_BazNODME_cg9PjnmcM23iyUsCOrG2g/w426-h640/boardwalk8020.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It was very pretty, and amazingly there were very few mosquitoes. Probably because it was so dry. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">There were sections of boardwalk over many parts of the trail. You could see that in wetter weather these traversed marshy places. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxebVFENMZrZnf6hY6FyWA_BOXBepdOqyXnHOvmWkd2cxcYcA4h48hr69GqZUXEWp78CPqtBgCTwRjrR5w4bpkdZgT_4VNCo6TnBu1L9GQSAWPEC5M0LYhLdVjIrXY_-71EBY5gfNFeT8/s1000/rocks8022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1000" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxebVFENMZrZnf6hY6FyWA_BOXBepdOqyXnHOvmWkd2cxcYcA4h48hr69GqZUXEWp78CPqtBgCTwRjrR5w4bpkdZgT_4VNCo6TnBu1L9GQSAWPEC5M0LYhLdVjIrXY_-71EBY5gfNFeT8/w640-h616/rocks8022.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> Like most wooded trails, there were plenty of rocks and roots. Somehow this image does not show the steep downward slope of this and some of the other places on the trail.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGsqFWU4_2aG4RNY_-RNIORi4YN4uPoDp6W-zgWwnXMzQgHcf1fIwiWRC95GESECgtbbskx86FEHHaJhzUWpqaY5639QPLgZS5ImkOFaMP9L0LJNo5wTXHwaPnmjvfqxjF6Kxatm29kM/s1000/MKHike8019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGsqFWU4_2aG4RNY_-RNIORi4YN4uPoDp6W-zgWwnXMzQgHcf1fIwiWRC95GESECgtbbskx86FEHHaJhzUWpqaY5639QPLgZS5ImkOFaMP9L0LJNo5wTXHwaPnmjvfqxjF6Kxatm29kM/w640-h426/MKHike8019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, I have a bad knee that can suddenly become very painful while hiking. Particularly when I'm going downhill. I think it is time for a really good stabilizing brace if I want to continue trying to hike. This is the second time this summer I have gotten into a difficult situation because of it. Difficult for me, but not for 99% of other hikers!<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmkckUyInIh7Sv3-pKLj6faemlmyJYKYy9YpA5hmLSYFhkWQPdxUcIt3g43l2gPyjwdRCCGqZru7Q3lex4GEnDS6bj4rzouB-9A2nVzyEdrhkrZzECDC3ppIzVMsyG13WK0Tt0nI5wj0/s1000/falls8014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="826" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmkckUyInIh7Sv3-pKLj6faemlmyJYKYy9YpA5hmLSYFhkWQPdxUcIt3g43l2gPyjwdRCCGqZru7Q3lex4GEnDS6bj4rzouB-9A2nVzyEdrhkrZzECDC3ppIzVMsyG13WK0Tt0nI5wj0/w528-h640/falls8014.jpg" width="528" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The trail took us to the falls. I did not make it all of the way because of the incline, but Craig took a few pictures for me. This whole knee thing is a mystery to me. By the time we returned to the Jeep, on the last 1/3rd of the trail where is was smooth and level, my knee did not hurt. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5uKPLmlg3fY58_rpgCyz2MdzXLrDx-uwiLSjBzWQS0migp0w3mWMMBcwaA4SjRf3nSvvxlPI6J_jdBXemva8kSt0CPcmxNyp2_3nSH9jqNrKCHvpEjT0RlItkPlxhkZSgvC-m8psQgI/s1000/holelyTree8021.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="719" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5uKPLmlg3fY58_rpgCyz2MdzXLrDx-uwiLSjBzWQS0migp0w3mWMMBcwaA4SjRf3nSvvxlPI6J_jdBXemva8kSt0CPcmxNyp2_3nSH9jqNrKCHvpEjT0RlItkPlxhkZSgvC-m8psQgI/w460-h640/holelyTree8021.jpg" width="460" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I suspect woodpeckers may have been at this tree, but the odd thing was there were no other similar holes in any trees we could see. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Also there were no holes farther up the trunk and it was quite a tall tree!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg0EUaF94YeAwMLCpRN0krzB4R0-rCn2T6yQ3PQ-FjHuH2QApUknDo-rMMw7ESV-FWQf5EcpGXrQQal-ALQKaQuFQa8XBaSzZviACsCwBPaDeYhb81KiMcpBSpCt-ZFYBjDum_-vGx8A/s1000/creature8026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1000" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg0EUaF94YeAwMLCpRN0krzB4R0-rCn2T6yQ3PQ-FjHuH2QApUknDo-rMMw7ESV-FWQf5EcpGXrQQal-ALQKaQuFQa8XBaSzZviACsCwBPaDeYhb81KiMcpBSpCt-ZFYBjDum_-vGx8A/w640-h574/creature8026.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of natural oddities:</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Craig saw this little creature in the center of the trail. Was he just snacking on a leaf, or was he waiting to trip up some careless hiker?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday we head back to US 2 and go southeast into the UP of Michigan. We have two more stops before arriving near Mackinaw City, reaching the end of Hwy 2. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Check back to see more.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-31306664898646252882021-08-17T16:38:00.002-07:002021-08-17T18:19:02.392-07:00Heading East on US 2<p><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday, August 8, we left Lakeside and traveled all of 19 miles, around the top of Flathead Lake, to Bigfork, MT. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm71NTqz8lByFdsKLulpbPVqMAuW2KAXyUubuj0rlbp8V6hFuhRJdPiseTOJIT3U7vCWG-g_0ZWEUz0_wvWxGS-EaF9EsIz0L7Xx62_LvbYGkQ7rc0L8fYSrowYEP3w4UwMeQtR9WX9qQ/s1000/_DSC8518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1000" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm71NTqz8lByFdsKLulpbPVqMAuW2KAXyUubuj0rlbp8V6hFuhRJdPiseTOJIT3U7vCWG-g_0ZWEUz0_wvWxGS-EaF9EsIz0L7Xx62_LvbYGkQ7rc0L8fYSrowYEP3w4UwMeQtR9WX9qQ/w640-h390/_DSC8518.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We stayed at the Outback RV park, a quite rustic small place with lots of trees and full hookups. It was nice to not be looking at another RV right out of the windows!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HAX_1NLrW_GuGfsNGWmLAlQZWuBnUnqEpeEDzrxxgECWR31L-D-5lronH3mGT0vGPqoChY_9DVsrYi2p8WV-HuKmFeilkAxDrEeLYab-tPfUflvT_zXNueEfVRAbPWbVY4QRkcBReMc/s1000/our+spot+at+Outback8520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1000" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HAX_1NLrW_GuGfsNGWmLAlQZWuBnUnqEpeEDzrxxgECWR31L-D-5lronH3mGT0vGPqoChY_9DVsrYi2p8WV-HuKmFeilkAxDrEeLYab-tPfUflvT_zXNueEfVRAbPWbVY4QRkcBReMc/w640-h434/our+spot+at+Outback8520.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">We did have neighbors in sight, but not on top of us. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YSA13pJwkpr7_bR0FeK_k1t46-kNKXwSVvgi_TQ9S3kWSz7RMYX5VT_L_ChFM2kfmJZi6KQdUjsqizoCe43T_hzMZ1TmOLzLiiby40lpu5gCW6ap7v4N79ajSEQHnLGbQsqFR_L4BFA/s1000/greenRig8521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1000" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YSA13pJwkpr7_bR0FeK_k1t46-kNKXwSVvgi_TQ9S3kWSz7RMYX5VT_L_ChFM2kfmJZi6KQdUjsqizoCe43T_hzMZ1TmOLzLiiby40lpu5gCW6ap7v4N79ajSEQHnLGbQsqFR_L4BFA/w640-h514/greenRig8521.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In addition to a few newer RVs, there were some rigs that were there for the long haul. It is not unusual for people from the area to have an older rig in a park full time as a hunting / fishing / weekend getaway. These are usually not allowed in the more "touristy" places like the Lakeside park. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV8UOvbwHR0vTBUu_6_S2TCOii35mE_xTbt-xDsUkkmYSLPaTQutDroSvTYKTiU1mfpyZ-1MPjdlrLry4F6R0tiv7DHwRmIeCPuIvtt15kTULsHhDIpqnV1Q1aQtA7iHUaJzqmC8H6-M/s1000/greenUnit+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1000" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV8UOvbwHR0vTBUu_6_S2TCOii35mE_xTbt-xDsUkkmYSLPaTQutDroSvTYKTiU1mfpyZ-1MPjdlrLry4F6R0tiv7DHwRmIeCPuIvtt15kTULsHhDIpqnV1Q1aQtA7iHUaJzqmC8H6-M/w640-h376/greenUnit+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This one had a few interesting modifications. Note the wood stove chimney and the attached shed entry hall, which are both great for cold weather.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSOzfdJL0Hi_xQCG8unBy6UGhm7VKYSvL2dgOHHM04cni7DW_eeA0Jf2Yyb1N-2wxUWIb6__4H52z__56zp6kc-h_Ld9ydKZ6Mvzr6-hd0UF5M5lAmCrpjbqpp6Z3XY9sKpTsl0Nf94U/s1000/PinkBus8524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1000" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSOzfdJL0Hi_xQCG8unBy6UGhm7VKYSvL2dgOHHM04cni7DW_eeA0Jf2Yyb1N-2wxUWIb6__4H52z__56zp6kc-h_Ld9ydKZ6Mvzr6-hd0UF5M5lAmCrpjbqpp6Z3XY9sKpTsl0Nf94U/w640-h434/PinkBus8524.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>This long peach-colored bus was there for the summer. We met the young couple who owned her on our walk around. They and their two very young children were from Texas, and one or both of the parents were working at a nearby lodge for the season. Their little girl proudly told me they had beds in the bus! </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The only thing I was not 100% comfortable about the Outback was the steep gravel road we had to go down to get out. But as it turned out it was no problem for the Alfa. </span><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>[From Craig] I drove out.</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Outback is just a few miles closer to Glacier National Park than Lakeside is, so we choose Monday or Tuesday of our stay there to drive up to Glacier. Because of overcrowding, National Parks have a new system that requires you to get a "time in ticket" online either months ahead, or at 8 AM two days before you want to go. All were sold out on Friday morning for Monday before I had a chance to make a time selection. On the Sunday we had both laptops queued and ready to push the select buttons at 8 AM. I lost, but Craig got in for a 9 AM slot. </span><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE81znfvk1JujbubiToiWqMjKIWkyebz9LnhyQADJN_02KnQL4kqq2cKniEYvabswDT0UX77y0H4ZyFWwov7qWTfQ8h1FipcbgJs6LaiyZox1yRfINo0w51nvrGu9WeaQEc3CcFQRqkQA/s1000/Shuttle8526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE81znfvk1JujbubiToiWqMjKIWkyebz9LnhyQADJN_02KnQL4kqq2cKniEYvabswDT0UX77y0H4ZyFWwov7qWTfQ8h1FipcbgJs6LaiyZox1yRfINo0w51nvrGu9WeaQEc3CcFQRqkQA/w640-h400/Shuttle8526.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We choose to get tickets for the "Going to the Sun Road" shuttle because from past experience at Glacier we knew the parking at Logan Pass (the top of the road) was always very congested. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had had quite a rainstorm the night before and the morning was overcast and cool. As we waited for the bus, the ticket lady told us that it was only 39° F at Logan. I was glad I wore my warmest jacket.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRsPsJFoIaEEmwEyqv2OD3JzoPUvcYz86ZmeGRympW-PTcwS4lRGYJ5c1_mpEUMlZxaHf4adZFhFV6jAh6dqEGDSgQHFFOKFS9MXLE8YiJPbSn1BKoDOsvndJ28NHNErJrtU_0rqxNq4/s1000/fogDown8537-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="660" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRsPsJFoIaEEmwEyqv2OD3JzoPUvcYz86ZmeGRympW-PTcwS4lRGYJ5c1_mpEUMlZxaHf4adZFhFV6jAh6dqEGDSgQHFFOKFS9MXLE8YiJPbSn1BKoDOsvndJ28NHNErJrtU_0rqxNq4/w422-h640/fogDown8537-2.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even with the timed entry system, there already was quite a crowd on the road.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We really could see very little from the shuttle because of the fog. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was not long before we were up in the clouds.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we got off the bus at Logan there were only a few feet of </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">visibility. (I could barely see the people on the sidewalk in front of me.) So we decided to get back onto the next bus going back down.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiVyMo8kpTxfJYWQJQIQisSKhxECdEdip6_CrefwRoYsFPOa5ZDf6t5xuaU8REj5CmIhndhjWPvKAGBeT8ggJHSU6I31p5Dobx_iyx1x_Pmzlfr2mN0TaRzMg9Aa7SnNlsg6ISSrlxEE/s1000/treeinfog8540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1000" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiVyMo8kpTxfJYWQJQIQisSKhxECdEdip6_CrefwRoYsFPOa5ZDf6t5xuaU8REj5CmIhndhjWPvKAGBeT8ggJHSU6I31p5Dobx_iyx1x_Pmzlfr2mN0TaRzMg9Aa7SnNlsg6ISSrlxEE/w640-h422/treeinfog8540.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This sad little naked tree is a good representation of what we saw of Glacier National Park. I am very glad we came here a few years back and spent several sunny days exploring. Unfortunately with the ticket system we could not just come back the next day!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1iyWAlNyPfEU9y2amZuwBvPfzbT9pHftJ1PBwF2-1aoG1DNfHyY0bzWuvvuFZ-S9DKZr4PnoU5CJZ-Smstiz-qAhUds6wGQofju7N01R0-5WspwxWOmYLRaSOpLNHwTvx2W9dGxB5AE/s1000/cherrysign8554.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1iyWAlNyPfEU9y2amZuwBvPfzbT9pHftJ1PBwF2-1aoG1DNfHyY0bzWuvvuFZ-S9DKZr4PnoU5CJZ-Smstiz-qAhUds6wGQofju7N01R0-5WspwxWOmYLRaSOpLNHwTvx2W9dGxB5AE/w470-h640/cherrysign8554.jpg" width="470" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">August is cherry time around Flathead Lake.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In Bigfork there are dozens of small and large cherry stands, ranging from an umbrellaed table, an open garage, to commercial orchards. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The cherries, both Bing and Rainier types, are fresh picked sweet and cost much less than in the market.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Wednesday it was time to say good by to this part of Montana and head east on US Hwy 2. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIJUAZdUgR2GdUlRvLzRw5DgfW-_W49dpW7OqQg2c3gCrQ2eLOcWLHIt6ME0VRIBocq6_59aX420HbVog3vwuirTf7SsA54zKtIZqxEZvp7T9G77DWDCIllBWZz39uJQiUOzgvymcqgU/s1000/Odometer+Milestone8559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="1000" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIJUAZdUgR2GdUlRvLzRw5DgfW-_W49dpW7OqQg2c3gCrQ2eLOcWLHIt6ME0VRIBocq6_59aX420HbVog3vwuirTf7SsA54zKtIZqxEZvp7T9G77DWDCIllBWZz39uJQiUOzgvymcqgU/w640-h262/Odometer+Milestone8559.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Near the eastern border of ND, the Alfa odometer turned 100,000 miles.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Since it had 13,000 miles on it when we bought her, it means we have traveled 87,000 miles. I'm going to have to watch as we get close to 113,000 in the future. That will be our real 100,000 milestone!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv8dCEyoqHpyeDm9evakDGjNYzFNBO8iFW8U1Uh6nxhvz9WNX4gnuETDUbgoCFZuGw-T1xPtHDko-HcixnqOZBSpAD-OQzHgRurY1eMRLbrAfRHi5C8CCSYBDzYMZMf47IcYFo7Ax9L4/s1000/skulls8555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="1000" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv8dCEyoqHpyeDm9evakDGjNYzFNBO8iFW8U1Uh6nxhvz9WNX4gnuETDUbgoCFZuGw-T1xPtHDko-HcixnqOZBSpAD-OQzHgRurY1eMRLbrAfRHi5C8CCSYBDzYMZMf47IcYFo7Ax9L4/w640-h238/skulls8555.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You never know what you are going to see. These humongous buffalo skulls graced the center of a traffic circle along our way.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fq9ySDqq3SyayVWTumZxE8NMrFmuGM4e0JH7CH2tyuCmbeCAPBej0DFbRfy40QkPS1OmSIb3sZ3Fh1W0QUJNCtuBTk5XVFKAvTBwRRGW6BsQGRv7g3RtUUgVYkm_r-W3PKuBbobnXKk/s584/Buffalo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="584" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fq9ySDqq3SyayVWTumZxE8NMrFmuGM4e0JH7CH2tyuCmbeCAPBej0DFbRfy40QkPS1OmSIb3sZ3Fh1W0QUJNCtuBTk5XVFKAvTBwRRGW6BsQGRv7g3RtUUgVYkm_r-W3PKuBbobnXKk/w400-h313/Buffalo.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We did see a few buffalo in a field, but they were probably being raised for the meat trade.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrxkaRDUwwy9ImVX7ZIKr7Jpsx3ghIBqtPJ2dkcLinNehvsBAbEfqhVgQVKYriT_e55N4WMh1UGF45DnCCddwYJpUzPlzQem7uVZHXP8sLE7V_qNTxtC5-Wz_ahzndynvI9LdvV-3Fks/s600/depositphotos_177608756-stock-photo-harvested-golden-wheat-fields-blue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrxkaRDUwwy9ImVX7ZIKr7Jpsx3ghIBqtPJ2dkcLinNehvsBAbEfqhVgQVKYriT_e55N4WMh1UGF45DnCCddwYJpUzPlzQem7uVZHXP8sLE7V_qNTxtC5-Wz_ahzndynvI9LdvV-3Fks/w640-h242/depositphotos_177608756-stock-photo-harvested-golden-wheat-fields-blue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from web site Depositphotos</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;">I regret not having pulled over to take some pictures
of the vast rolling wheat fields we passed. The above image is from the
Web. They were beautiful. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4VRaWZGGEcTvWPGwIphldQHzIJVRQ1KUvnmzX-Sx99N5vM3eoqryiZVMa1Z4pJrWZQqzNw6xXmlE-HeNUbj8e8AO7J6btSjSQg1ZQa0hRzTAb5cNvTCTKj1i4Uf0tCf1l-DW9dF5Tbg/s970/hay-haystack-field-montana-wallpaper-preview.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="970" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4VRaWZGGEcTvWPGwIphldQHzIJVRQ1KUvnmzX-Sx99N5vM3eoqryiZVMa1Z4pJrWZQqzNw6xXmlE-HeNUbj8e8AO7J6btSjSQg1ZQa0hRzTAb5cNvTCTKj1i4Uf0tCf1l-DW9dF5Tbg/w640-h480/hay-haystack-field-montana-wallpaper-preview.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">We also saw a lot of big hay or straw bales.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjVRV7-QNn7bjBTTZBJtlIromD5mdNOum8NluUFsotU_YmDJZbee03QxJaK78P1H5lB7k58Y_Zl-J3D-ZdVNao_3i1tH5W7WuLjttQ3HUCGss6UTWd5ZgH5hUtZXq465VQhMLkCQq0E/s1200/oil-well-montana-0323211.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1200" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjVRV7-QNn7bjBTTZBJtlIromD5mdNOum8NluUFsotU_YmDJZbee03QxJaK78P1H5lB7k58Y_Zl-J3D-ZdVNao_3i1tH5W7WuLjttQ3HUCGss6UTWd5ZgH5hUtZXq465VQhMLkCQq0E/w640-h432/oil-well-montana-0323211.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Web stock picture</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">I spotted the first oil rig in eastern Montana, but they became more plentiful along with fracking sites in North Dakota.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In five days we drove over 1000 miles. We stopped one night in Havre, MT at the Great Northern Fair Park, which was a narrow strip of land just feet from the edge of Hwy 2 with full hookups for RVs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Then one night</span><span> </span><span>in Williston, ND, </span><span>at the Fox Run RV park, which was a large parking lot with hookups for oil workers and lost travelers. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">(I will not write about the hour we spent driving on gravel roads around the Williston Airport because we took a wrong turn. It was not a fun time.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And two nights in Devils Lake at APRV, a very easy in-out grass field with hookups. I don't like to drive more than three days in a row without an extra day to rest!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then we stopped in Bemidji, Minnesota, for three days at the Royal Oaks RV Park. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH5hr5llj5dmvN3mXjUn_HBcLc53YOR1HvjhG1ojbM9_EVXcTjvWewWqR2rBL8yx7GwWlg6PqIM5UGEi-hDkYOl9p51QPVFjoyuHIxVjcPtQw8R1l7K6fEpXsrFzBuv7aor6zinLcdFY/s1000/Royal+Oaks+Park8585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="1000" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH5hr5llj5dmvN3mXjUn_HBcLc53YOR1HvjhG1ojbM9_EVXcTjvWewWqR2rBL8yx7GwWlg6PqIM5UGEi-hDkYOl9p51QPVFjoyuHIxVjcPtQw8R1l7K6fEpXsrFzBuv7aor6zinLcdFY/w640-h290/Royal+Oaks+Park8585.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The park felt "tired". The area has been very dry for a long time. They had no snow last winter and so far no rain this summer. Most of the grass in the park and in the town was dead, and the trees look sad.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwIt1QlUa4CRtIIIa67nzoTurTis4oeTXpdUamYJ3Vi13GZCRdaN9AxIr7VyRW4c7meYL3yNy5AwBt5_lVO7-hNQccf3Tv7OlC6-WwfMbBvh20NAmIJXU0lhTbMIYInP2GiPXPy5Qkco/s2797/Downtown8580.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="2797" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwIt1QlUa4CRtIIIa67nzoTurTis4oeTXpdUamYJ3Vi13GZCRdaN9AxIr7VyRW4c7meYL3yNy5AwBt5_lVO7-hNQccf3Tv7OlC6-WwfMbBvh20NAmIJXU0lhTbMIYInP2GiPXPy5Qkco/w640-h258/Downtown8580.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Downtown Bemidji was not very busy on a Monday afternoon. We walked a few blocks, but not being shoppers there was little of interest to us.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay7r4V4sHXqWg7zDgMstjR52dZnrDnL4L-_hl_YL_f3pPDMpIi246zeyApIuNJ2KU5-wTd5TRGtC4UkmqvPx0lE1dHDvaJsfOSQ7LhfM84RvcehNsBYkgr8uJRqDIU0yYDTVGYVFDlww/s1000/BlueOX8566.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay7r4V4sHXqWg7zDgMstjR52dZnrDnL4L-_hl_YL_f3pPDMpIi246zeyApIuNJ2KU5-wTd5TRGtC4UkmqvPx0lE1dHDvaJsfOSQ7LhfM84RvcehNsBYkgr8uJRqDIU0yYDTVGYVFDlww/w640-h384/BlueOX8566.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Across the way was Bemidji Visitor Center and one of the two lakes. We had to stop and admire the great Blue Ox.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcgFO7UelUc7qRAK00YvczJ6s-3Zpoojr4HWAJJpCc8e5Rqq52C_L3P-XqPZgKOzC8Js6uzr4DKoWDVUGQZnVRPwfjeI95d621RXVBG_ycylOjAghqKMCLxhiH-kmt71-PTpPXdrvIrw/s1000/Chief8576.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcgFO7UelUc7qRAK00YvczJ6s-3Zpoojr4HWAJJpCc8e5Rqq52C_L3P-XqPZgKOzC8Js6uzr4DKoWDVUGQZnVRPwfjeI95d621RXVBG_ycylOjAghqKMCLxhiH-kmt71-PTpPXdrvIrw/w398-h640/Chief8576.jpg" width="398" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This statue of </span><span style="font-size: large;">Shaynowishkung stands in the park along the lake shore. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The plaque picture below tells some of his story.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In these times of our becoming more aware of some of the actions taken against the indigenous residents, I think it </span><span style="font-size: large;">reminds us there were real people here before us.</span></div><div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHll5sXeHd2oQ8uFqsaHdcTO064M8R3u5kfzK5y7dz-x3pADx1D7T0LPc9sPVttPHFOKkEkDS-P59OaxrkRZgbRJAF2le_laA1vgVjERBdNBoLqR1OT0aOr-gHuCjSzEHyTCFzKgVtTE/s1000/Words8577.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHll5sXeHd2oQ8uFqsaHdcTO064M8R3u5kfzK5y7dz-x3pADx1D7T0LPc9sPVttPHFOKkEkDS-P59OaxrkRZgbRJAF2le_laA1vgVjERBdNBoLqR1OT0aOr-gHuCjSzEHyTCFzKgVtTE/s16000/Words8577.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_ErxNblHoLchJ2YKWlP3zrLogFO8uKXCKiN52aj0bSNZs69NVMF4gXuOLDwFbtMrEAPDFNQbXs7P7Va5gaKVZzOGZdHJP6EQpY_1Ol4ggn3iKg4z3QSG7hZCW6GoIMMXyE_kjRBmztU/s1000/dancing+indian8582.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="649" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_ErxNblHoLchJ2YKWlP3zrLogFO8uKXCKiN52aj0bSNZs69NVMF4gXuOLDwFbtMrEAPDFNQbXs7P7Va5gaKVZzOGZdHJP6EQpY_1Ol4ggn3iKg4z3QSG7hZCW6GoIMMXyE_kjRBmztU/w416-h640/dancing+indian8582.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">This sculpture is also in the park. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Cmnhs79uxLNkd-yhWDcqftHRhrS9UE7AOuYuGyFklTWUfmFlv_R3ZUvG6Fg0FTNxVZH0qIXhLRtp7PKr7YdlbEfdYfJpigMyygfBkKrc2J59JrMdPPsXNQhmn32bJ4paB_wxHVRVAxs/s1000/geese8572.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="1000" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Cmnhs79uxLNkd-yhWDcqftHRhrS9UE7AOuYuGyFklTWUfmFlv_R3ZUvG6Fg0FTNxVZH0qIXhLRtp7PKr7YdlbEfdYfJpigMyygfBkKrc2J59JrMdPPsXNQhmn32bJ4paB_wxHVRVAxs/w640-h304/geese8572.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />As were this small group of Canadian Geese! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop is along the south shore of Lake Superior. I think of it as the beginning of the next chapter of this year's travels.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-88265474410561227482021-08-08T13:45:00.000-07:002021-08-08T13:45:32.571-07:00Flathead Lake, Lakeside, Montana<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRThxA7DuLQ6EuubThxAALZkf4KaYJygUdqimwZ58BNR6qoKCkJhmo99yfxWyN75FwGCgg1jpEWih6pvNAim5Xcyk-m5I28TlAlo4MGqPpOZ-g9XOXsc12gV5G_4u0kOc9tRY-UbrTuw/s1000/_DSC8477.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="1000" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRThxA7DuLQ6EuubThxAALZkf4KaYJygUdqimwZ58BNR6qoKCkJhmo99yfxWyN75FwGCgg1jpEWih6pvNAim5Xcyk-m5I28TlAlo4MGqPpOZ-g9XOXsc12gV5G_4u0kOc9tRY-UbrTuw/w640-h288/_DSC8477.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday August 1</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">On most of our days at Lakeside on the west shore of Flathead Lake in Montana, the sky has been smoky giving the days a gloomy overcast and the setting sun an other-worldly orange glow. Fortunately neither of us has respiratory problems, but my eyes have been more irritated than usual.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Monday we tried to take a walk at a local Lavender Farm, but just as we arrived it started to rain and they closed. The rain didn't last long, but we headed back to the Alfa anyway. On Tuesday Craig, with the help of a mobile RV repair guy, successfully installed a new microwave to replace the one that had failed in July. It weighed 75 pounds and we felt it was best to get another man in to help.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNwc5yGzdi40AxxGZP6Z3JF9ofPiyJ4QPK1RQBNB4yOmdVQciccP8tmLsKUsyaY2uPujI97zg34luZ5zRMpo1f3nPsbu6wbrNnxhi7qR-Zmr1iDPEndx6H5XSHEWlhCLXZ9_gaPWFgPA/s1000/Blueskydock8480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNwc5yGzdi40AxxGZP6Z3JF9ofPiyJ4QPK1RQBNB4yOmdVQciccP8tmLsKUsyaY2uPujI97zg34luZ5zRMpo1f3nPsbu6wbrNnxhi7qR-Zmr1iDPEndx6H5XSHEWlhCLXZ9_gaPWFgPA/w640-h426/Blueskydock8480.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday the smoke cleared for the day and we decided to take the evening Far West Boat Cruise.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvH5UhsAFIyqWwyNthFNy0qoD1tx_xZET8ioqqx59tgiivw2xDF12v61Bmv3Kf4LjyRietE5vJIdLE5z9DUH2QwVUbfQ1c_wrWj_EMByF7_kUujWsVMCdf3UUGr592_ohCaTf9Fcp_t4/s700/10441219_866102150085943_1640196365288577701_n-700x466.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvH5UhsAFIyqWwyNthFNy0qoD1tx_xZET8ioqqx59tgiivw2xDF12v61Bmv3Kf4LjyRietE5vJIdLE5z9DUH2QwVUbfQ1c_wrWj_EMByF7_kUujWsVMCdf3UUGr592_ohCaTf9Fcp_t4/w400-h266/10441219_866102150085943_1640196365288577701_n-700x466.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The dock was just across the street from our RV park. Taking boat trips like this is one of the things we enjoy doing. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;">We do not pull a boat of our own and do not fish, so this is one way to see the larger waters we visit.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Northwest shore of Flathead lake is very built up with huge homes built quite close together.</span></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNrd12jDyUftZIoTWwHOwvgiJv_TY4q_Rk-zdmwR45jSAFslZgu89xR5hgiw96o8BbmU3bV10NQLHiv69vIRLTaulWTs1NmWcFS7kRohyV0nYDP7PTEoY-Z7L6RA-K-VOvOqHOA-jTVw/s1000/rowOfHomes8484.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1000" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNrd12jDyUftZIoTWwHOwvgiJv_TY4q_Rk-zdmwR45jSAFslZgu89xR5hgiw96o8BbmU3bV10NQLHiv69vIRLTaulWTs1NmWcFS7kRohyV0nYDP7PTEoY-Z7L6RA-K-VOvOqHOA-jTVw/w640-h392/rowOfHomes8484.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Each of these has a multi-million dollar price tag.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj_f2voPDasbuVLViT8uiwz5U1EiZrpU-_V3Dhc_D1l9cw06XwZicuYJ1oWTCbef7-lCtO95g-4DV97nys6Rrnase_CerkyIRo0FTgIVMYdYsst5SvXuOVZsQDvBgnxpoRulumTzJjEo/s1000/BigHouse7803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1000" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj_f2voPDasbuVLViT8uiwz5U1EiZrpU-_V3Dhc_D1l9cw06XwZicuYJ1oWTCbef7-lCtO95g-4DV97nys6Rrnase_CerkyIRo0FTgIVMYdYsst5SvXuOVZsQDvBgnxpoRulumTzJjEo/w640-h388/BigHouse7803.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">No two are alike, and our cruise announcer dropped numerous famous names. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUEX9jcKDSARjOWaN-j0DVC0u-Kj3leBc4pLjXWPyJ3PQf5is5CZi3UOqAnT0BlI-yYD9HxFa1AmZra09Coz3C2OgwhWJRQRx3sUbTSahM50FR20LquQdwXfuipJzJsx6fdMxyubcByI/s1000/lift8491.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="710" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUEX9jcKDSARjOWaN-j0DVC0u-Kj3leBc4pLjXWPyJ3PQf5is5CZi3UOqAnT0BlI-yYD9HxFa1AmZra09Coz3C2OgwhWJRQRx3sUbTSahM50FR20LquQdwXfuipJzJsx6fdMxyubcByI/w454-h640/lift8491.jpg" width="454" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This one was built by one of the original owners of Starbucks. While most of the homes are built as close to the water as possible, this one is high up, and there is a clog lift down to their dock. A good view and a four minute ride up or down.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SI90jvQ0pT4Q7dRu_XE_-J-utKNHEz9LSAiv4NiKjGxnWhdthoR19HSWiKamvJHFNL28OqTkRpPoLXLizBK7g4WCmzpY1Sog5QxEPx3gjnKI8fpxpHoIjdM_pfQFgy-bMaKPZBt_W2I/s1000/onRocks7841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="1000" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SI90jvQ0pT4Q7dRu_XE_-J-utKNHEz9LSAiv4NiKjGxnWhdthoR19HSWiKamvJHFNL28OqTkRpPoLXLizBK7g4WCmzpY1Sog5QxEPx3gjnKI8fpxpHoIjdM_pfQFgy-bMaKPZBt_W2I/w640-h382/onRocks7841.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I can only think "Location!" when I look at this one.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We cruised south for about an hour and then turned around to go back to Lakeside.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWcFfMe3n6ZYTJvt75Oa1hmenyNstBGRyo0s_8UVeVWp3LGc6Be3jZ8RZvZZwx05in8dSUamf8wYnK1OEerD0fJdhvcm6EzItChbfsfQ_iShlMTcvsgej9DE7czb1qYaSN0N2CtkrORU/s1000/1sunset8492.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="1000" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWcFfMe3n6ZYTJvt75Oa1hmenyNstBGRyo0s_8UVeVWp3LGc6Be3jZ8RZvZZwx05in8dSUamf8wYnK1OEerD0fJdhvcm6EzItChbfsfQ_iShlMTcvsgej9DE7czb1qYaSN0N2CtkrORU/w640-h398/1sunset8492.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span><p><span style="font-size: large;"> As the sun slid towards the mountain ridges, we could see there were promising elements of a beautiful sunset. A scattering of clouds and a reflective lake only required us to sit back and be patient.</span></p></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmNM3f8taOVJ7JPJuLExmq13eHpCFJsaMphExal4GBkEKVefPQQDplAZuTParatQ8THMSzW7T06iHSS18LRvVCDUcZ8punaQIgHVG3Uy6vFsNFWLQftH3QelbF19dSSN1cn5dtmvIEvY/s1000/Arizona7870.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1000" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmNM3f8taOVJ7JPJuLExmq13eHpCFJsaMphExal4GBkEKVefPQQDplAZuTParatQ8THMSzW7T06iHSS18LRvVCDUcZ8punaQIgHVG3Uy6vFsNFWLQftH3QelbF19dSSN1cn5dtmvIEvY/w640-h408/Arizona7870.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This reminded us of the Arizona flag.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczQwl-Io3rTu2x9cwh6aMLzzaE05ibuc5ucbMtQTMUPu0NrIiDI86hJsAaM1NGJ8UTVQZ31lj0d0ZnmodSrzGVgyfUeNZOv5EtWIiOX3TwS8cLhaBUW6cfC7wukhLRxFxfeD_7G8hVc0/s1000/3flag8510.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="1000" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczQwl-Io3rTu2x9cwh6aMLzzaE05ibuc5ucbMtQTMUPu0NrIiDI86hJsAaM1NGJ8UTVQZ31lj0d0ZnmodSrzGVgyfUeNZOv5EtWIiOX3TwS8cLhaBUW6cfC7wukhLRxFxfeD_7G8hVc0/w640-h396/3flag8510.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It just kept getting better</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_r0DMdfmdF1LXbiUvDA1KyINXxlwH_3j94z3IXRbd22ovPXgtVOD2lx6HC8ScakpQkNEOF_d0y9fHoNwMspTJywc4RkfhaagKGsxSEFkoaUO4zaDPnXtIbGH1OnfZBQrTnVholTjvLw/s1000/Gone7897.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_r0DMdfmdF1LXbiUvDA1KyINXxlwH_3j94z3IXRbd22ovPXgtVOD2lx6HC8ScakpQkNEOF_d0y9fHoNwMspTJywc4RkfhaagKGsxSEFkoaUO4zaDPnXtIbGH1OnfZBQrTnVholTjvLw/w640-h426/Gone7897.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">until it was gone. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday we decided to drive around the lake. We headed around the top of the lake and down the east side.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp9ZXewJAdVaZOkSn8xXLmdIP_Sj_Vb3OqpQNIVy5s44J7JREmyB2Rp-fECsqyofqsf3FbywmBkH4GZYDOZAoFx2lexfQKS3FVwt6IRpn5fcteTqftq-m6u6DAKWij9qfOTp0MBh4eOM/s1000/1roadclosed8512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1000" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp9ZXewJAdVaZOkSn8xXLmdIP_Sj_Vb3OqpQNIVy5s44J7JREmyB2Rp-fECsqyofqsf3FbywmBkH4GZYDOZAoFx2lexfQKS3FVwt6IRpn5fcteTqftq-m6u6DAKWij9qfOTp0MBh4eOM/w640-h382/1roadclosed8512.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But we were stopped by a road closure due to a wildfire.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We turned around, went back to Lakeside and headed south on the west side of the lake. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprtPj2YBkJKQN01TSHOX_Gez87D75P-FqcZl5B4Aiq5ezShQfl0PAwYUEVGLxSy4YHIIlYFHY2nhVXbSgbFcsPBYizX2mYOLY9atBeu7XCPjbY8gFL0zdoXaeWucjnZUdlSgYKibgSxc/s1000/2roadclosed8517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1000" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprtPj2YBkJKQN01TSHOX_Gez87D75P-FqcZl5B4Aiq5ezShQfl0PAwYUEVGLxSy4YHIIlYFHY2nhVXbSgbFcsPBYizX2mYOLY9atBeu7XCPjbY8gFL0zdoXaeWucjnZUdlSgYKibgSxc/w640-h414/2roadclosed8517.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As expected, we were turned back again, just past Polson. But all in all it was a nice drive.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you're interested in old machinery and oddities, visit the Miracle of America Museum in Polson. We did not go in, but these were a couple of the unusual items along their driveway:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyhZ2fUnBAZSh3su55_f9Bl43YD8lb04TPXso-RmAIbp5TuNdhbkPxAF_D5T1O2Nh7mORWVHt1zvGKyCZBAEEPwxeAZskkptBPZQYL3OymN6iLWk3rDhxC5MAEOnpTzpyUuX-CaJcmuI/s1000/fish8514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="1000" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyhZ2fUnBAZSh3su55_f9Bl43YD8lb04TPXso-RmAIbp5TuNdhbkPxAF_D5T1O2Nh7mORWVHt1zvGKyCZBAEEPwxeAZskkptBPZQYL3OymN6iLWk3rDhxC5MAEOnpTzpyUuX-CaJcmuI/w640-h164/fish8514.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfQnlrqV54Rd_d9FiVRVtdYDwPt_miKY3I2Jk27Mb2fwspHtFsrDbtcrAkhMdeLSU2HPKIgz3uLHTNncKIlfTMO2aUtH557iIaOuWlRI_RVCAQx78x93Tq-j2i2gbk3MJ2w7UXORkqcM/s1000/pig8515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1000" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfQnlrqV54Rd_d9FiVRVtdYDwPt_miKY3I2Jk27Mb2fwspHtFsrDbtcrAkhMdeLSU2HPKIgz3uLHTNncKIlfTMO2aUtH557iIaOuWlRI_RVCAQx78x93Tq-j2i2gbk3MJ2w7UXORkqcM/w400-h336/pig8515.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I love stuff like this! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It makes me smile, and there is nothing better than that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-68323059992029548852021-07-30T14:19:00.003-07:002021-07-31T09:18:07.535-07:00News From McGregor Lake, MT<p><span style="font-size: large;">July in Montana:</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-B0gxZVSv4_JfxfwqE1laGUeTk16KRN4vmfmjvjWGYGijoDN6Dafs2wjNi-BR1Gyjyx3asnwhzfnBKnDoEZZYSunQv6NnEgh7NvYgirJ0jOrXk6q4xnS3U3y3RZ7-lPQ37Bu5I2_MskQ/s1000/threeLittleflowersDSC7758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-B0gxZVSv4_JfxfwqE1laGUeTk16KRN4vmfmjvjWGYGijoDN6Dafs2wjNi-BR1Gyjyx3asnwhzfnBKnDoEZZYSunQv6NnEgh7NvYgirJ0jOrXk6q4xnS3U3y3RZ7-lPQ37Bu5I2_MskQ/w400-h266/threeLittleflowersDSC7758.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Sometimes it's the little things that are special. These three tiny flowers were ever so perfect.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA0-2wtV0hu0FZe34ym-UJi7NWcsdJgs8T9N9Ejf2VfTkvYJbPjRuORkxi5I41RkANsOVTji0-N9OeXZf9nPIZ6AuwNk9mOUa0J-F-Z2utblOE1gxF0VFvFB6jTYVLo7OWW4VCW7RYIU/s1000/lakeDSC7755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1000" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA0-2wtV0hu0FZe34ym-UJi7NWcsdJgs8T9N9Ejf2VfTkvYJbPjRuORkxi5I41RkANsOVTji0-N9OeXZf9nPIZ6AuwNk9mOUa0J-F-Z2utblOE1gxF0VFvFB6jTYVLo7OWW4VCW7RYIU/w640-h381/lakeDSC7755.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We have been at McGregor Lake RV Resort for a month now. I am really looking forward to moving on Sunday. McGregor Lake is very pretty, but we do not have a view of it, and there is no nearby public lake access. </span><p><span style="font-size: large;">I choose this location for the month of July in hope that the weather would be pleasant and that there would be opportunities for us to hike on "easy" trails. The weather has been great, but unfortunately the walks have been far and few between.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The RV park itself is fine. Spaces are level and easy to get into. The spaces are large enough, but we still are quite close to our neighbors. Lots of repellent is required for evening outdoor activities. We were fortunate to get a satellite-friendly site. However there is no cell service other than through the park WiFi, and that has been a bit temperamental. <br /></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9XtF6AfSyaW88boRrywkdEv5qmECsPrvosM1VN8mmQr9qKHbkYfV9wE4wPJFxIQl_9MMpso93Lcn4Rafj6Z0s_WWiMKmpd8q8fbhpITsy-nzKfxFmCLeFZ1ENMzJQ-mPH6ilSfHbmCg/s1000/Craig+on+trailDSC8377.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="803" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9XtF6AfSyaW88boRrywkdEv5qmECsPrvosM1VN8mmQr9qKHbkYfV9wE4wPJFxIQl_9MMpso93Lcn4Rafj6Z0s_WWiMKmpd8q8fbhpITsy-nzKfxFmCLeFZ1ENMzJQ-mPH6ilSfHbmCg/w514-h640/Craig+on+trailDSC8377.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />A few days after arriving, we found a trail on the far west end of the lake that looked promising. In the past it would have been a wonderful hike, but not so this time. The trail was very narrow, rocky, and full of tree roots. I did not take my hiking poles, and for some reason I experienced a bout of vertigo. I think we had gone about a half mile before I had to turn back. It made me very sad. I hope I can do better another time.<br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Next to the RV park there is a little road that goes to a small lake called "Little McGregor Lake." </span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8v0NjHbLvkVAIpeclEI6z0KUzDsPfy0IutlJwSHw_negNkod-zIO8SqeJ8L4nzknLbKIn5GhHSQ3dMAd0fWTLWEMJxeMuAURBoYBlxnkIIIjHQNdU1VZUclWr4VDI06DB5EFUEAz7Xk/s1000/littleMcgregor8386.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8v0NjHbLvkVAIpeclEI6z0KUzDsPfy0IutlJwSHw_negNkod-zIO8SqeJ8L4nzknLbKIn5GhHSQ3dMAd0fWTLWEMJxeMuAURBoYBlxnkIIIjHQNdU1VZUclWr4VDI06DB5EFUEAz7Xk/w640-h426/littleMcgregor8386.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBwCqoSe6IL1kUIdgVG6fD4vt4cUY96PcOaB5-CEa2ircDjIyB3mZJ9wcg-w56TZARN_htyCSSsGHC1uyzTW2UBGiXPglU512g21F70t54qDqy4nU1GBmZejEPg5B9iOVwsTqJ9Azsoc/s1000/MKatLittleMcGregor8393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBwCqoSe6IL1kUIdgVG6fD4vt4cUY96PcOaB5-CEa2ircDjIyB3mZJ9wcg-w56TZARN_htyCSSsGHC1uyzTW2UBGiXPglU512g21F70t54qDqy4nU1GBmZejEPg5B9iOVwsTqJ9Azsoc/w640-h426/MKatLittleMcGregor8393.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was a short, easy path along one side of it. I am happy to say I did not have any repeat of the vertigo, and had no problems that day.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEfatVAiFZSo5O4BIcwS_QCMV7U-ei4FPWvgEJD4gwEoPjaRpjjMr2GNj0RoWy0aXIAOUF1Cu5AGe2-st06zDEOAEubVkqJc1qOVtOucvitAlv9k5qLQxHVdOzdqn7_fyxw3RMM1DgAQ/s1000/roadsign8471.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1000" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEfatVAiFZSo5O4BIcwS_QCMV7U-ei4FPWvgEJD4gwEoPjaRpjjMr2GNj0RoWy0aXIAOUF1Cu5AGe2-st06zDEOAEubVkqJc1qOVtOucvitAlv9k5qLQxHVdOzdqn7_fyxw3RMM1DgAQ/w400-h230/roadsign8471.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">After we had been at McGregor Lake for a couple of weeks,</span> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">just hanging out and not doing much, </span>we decided to take a recommended day trip with our Jeep. It was 57 miles back west on Highway 2, to Kootenai Falls Overlook and the Swinging Bridge which are just outside of Libby MT.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJiy3OBK0eNY1OvfMzNsR2ayRV188bGZXgbSKBT5Hxp79jS7g10f5vfPmm12g7BU-1R47rdTJDxFFVH2deTUHvP1k2IHAyxG2ZFJqcswTETViXbGa-ZbnLIw2gWC9xF3AqttQXDcRtD0/s1000/smoothPath8408.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="685" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJiy3OBK0eNY1OvfMzNsR2ayRV188bGZXgbSKBT5Hxp79jS7g10f5vfPmm12g7BU-1R47rdTJDxFFVH2deTUHvP1k2IHAyxG2ZFJqcswTETViXbGa-ZbnLIw2gWC9xF3AqttQXDcRtD0/w274-h400/smoothPath8408.jpg" width="274" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> The day started out with a bit of rain, but by the time we got to the Falls it had cleared and was beautifully cool. The rain may have also discouraged a few of the others that may have planned a stop there, because when we first arrived the parking lot and trail were quite empty. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The beginning of the trail was what I like, wide and smooth.<br /><br /></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipI2cP5c4hFDtfUDWBkYBtXhE6n5sQQL5TcBSHeCActwUVCndGojEh79rc8G1_Ho8VW7R98YEjPn8kYlPEramVkBphj8PO5FtTh70C5osxpAgPa7yAQzHcTIeqSnGZAQNuq4I9Fi8eKig/s1000/trail8442.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="719" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipI2cP5c4hFDtfUDWBkYBtXhE6n5sQQL5TcBSHeCActwUVCndGojEh79rc8G1_Ho8VW7R98YEjPn8kYlPEramVkBphj8PO5FtTh70C5osxpAgPa7yAQzHcTIeqSnGZAQNuq4I9Fi8eKig/w460-h640/trail8442.jpg" width="460" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It did get a bit more rocky further on but was navigable. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4C5V8TbDzg2ET7TexM9U1v2V282O3IAATaXNxr5uglqpy-fu2Q3rs2U2NYySlmM9bKLc_9UPaW1tBybdditnyXZyYNJJATOvft2iWyHxyTZl1KIPcFXJWfTR2PAXgHQUvt-jH3Uuh0M/s1000/falls8426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4C5V8TbDzg2ET7TexM9U1v2V282O3IAATaXNxr5uglqpy-fu2Q3rs2U2NYySlmM9bKLc_9UPaW1tBybdditnyXZyYNJJATOvft2iWyHxyTZl1KIPcFXJWfTR2PAXgHQUvt-jH3Uuh0M/w640-h426/falls8426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The falls were well worth the drive. Quite wild.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgtQsoaKZsZci5COZ7aRpqfuftmz2VMHuriozoh6fc6iU5aFRcHP6jBffLuTDTRJWLGL4jgLuqDULWl3_G-NgMpCliLJFSbhMLV7PnTAy9f_fy3Oofx0XLeUzpdU_b5lByscevb4zNhE/s1000/river8413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgtQsoaKZsZci5COZ7aRpqfuftmz2VMHuriozoh6fc6iU5aFRcHP6jBffLuTDTRJWLGL4jgLuqDULWl3_G-NgMpCliLJFSbhMLV7PnTAy9f_fy3Oofx0XLeUzpdU_b5lByscevb4zNhE/w500-h640/river8413.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The white water tore through the rocks for some distance.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsbSU-Gx_0gPhvA2BrqZBtm5ziRYrxr_tC24vSx119VNqppZK1OUpaPh2hgvOelL_9j6chdamWu4iuu0p61gXP35LwVzTPCoy_KMAqVZQKUjYY7SpniKgMt2RT5abWmgGFXl965qQOto/s1000/whitewater8414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="928" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsbSU-Gx_0gPhvA2BrqZBtm5ziRYrxr_tC24vSx119VNqppZK1OUpaPh2hgvOelL_9j6chdamWu4iuu0p61gXP35LwVzTPCoy_KMAqVZQKUjYY7SpniKgMt2RT5abWmgGFXl965qQOto/w594-h640/whitewater8414.jpg" width="594" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful!<br /></span><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCxAqWxAl0InJjaT3jfQZBVHvXTf7i-zB9MORlKWNkRR7PAQxq20NuR4sldzONsb6UA6ymDR_1rApSvtbBVW8EF0YsEfpl4pAtQtnKsob-B5jF7-cFmZSc2cFM1VeRZyF6MQZLLL9zIo/s1000/bridgeSide8464.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1000" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCxAqWxAl0InJjaT3jfQZBVHvXTf7i-zB9MORlKWNkRR7PAQxq20NuR4sldzONsb6UA6ymDR_1rApSvtbBVW8EF0YsEfpl4pAtQtnKsob-B5jF7-cFmZSc2cFM1VeRZyF6MQZLLL9zIo/w640-h494/bridgeSide8464.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Swinging Bridge is a well-constructed one over the Kootenai River. It was originally built to help the Forest Service access the area across the river to help fight forest fires.</span></p><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVHKQkHVJD4v4AnPJxCWoavu7xLoAfkC_H7_UEzCMVvmJ9iIvNL3hr80Zx9cpzQggTswMrSQkI2IBahWvi4UbXqp6a18p9Trge4bCroCKS4RSwSLpKa-CZ4_gVkqlyiQy7_zU_xnDqho/s1000/overthebridge8460.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1000" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVHKQkHVJD4v4AnPJxCWoavu7xLoAfkC_H7_UEzCMVvmJ9iIvNL3hr80Zx9cpzQggTswMrSQkI2IBahWvi4UbXqp6a18p9Trge4bCroCKS4RSwSLpKa-CZ4_gVkqlyiQy7_zU_xnDqho/w640-h366/overthebridge8460.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It does sway quite a bit.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpKSXBRhbokJDRy7A4mH2xz_G6c16Mlffur7zb73_Gfzu1Bsl_-wKgova2TKqvzxS00KcpEQUWk13YPYI5-sgH2du9qj-dmili9l9MyvH0N5V8xh56v0Diedpd6fF55WGA6yh6Eim6y4/s1000/Back8461.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="965" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpKSXBRhbokJDRy7A4mH2xz_G6c16Mlffur7zb73_Gfzu1Bsl_-wKgova2TKqvzxS00KcpEQUWk13YPYI5-sgH2du9qj-dmili9l9MyvH0N5V8xh56v0Diedpd6fF55WGA6yh6Eim6y4/w618-h640/Back8461.jpg" width="618" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a day when there were fewer people around because of the rain. I wonder what it is like when there are more wanting to go over and back.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have been over to the city of Kalispell a few times for grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions. We have not talked to many people, and have noticed that mask wearing is very limited even though Montana's vaccine rate is fairly low. I have not been comfortable being indoors with the locals under these circumstances, so we have just kept our masks on and tried to maintain some distance. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlaETPxZbf30BP7EOVfUXNqsOYrT7KBGPfNRr2rzZrbDkQ8_nZudJLv5R9k9OR-36zuWfdB3l_wKwU5mRXea6XLVT-hg6N0alTt1xer1398mWsIfEyBjrwcivbfHpub8XGXdI-fY8YIE/s1000/Hy2-7751-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1000" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlaETPxZbf30BP7EOVfUXNqsOYrT7KBGPfNRr2rzZrbDkQ8_nZudJLv5R9k9OR-36zuWfdB3l_wKwU5mRXea6XLVT-hg6N0alTt1xer1398mWsIfEyBjrwcivbfHpub8XGXdI-fY8YIE/w640-h404/Hy2-7751-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday we will hitch up and continue our journey east on US Highway 2. We are only going 46 miles to a resort on Flathead Lake. Hope the weather stays nice.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-76501810743367751792021-07-03T10:15:00.001-07:002021-07-03T10:24:28.102-07:00Eggplant in the corner<p> <span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9-WJYr-6wdvh81ePyxKUdD54MXuUZLWB6rlgiPHlEcnVoC1ow0V0irC-MJ7yGYcSf75RZIFe6HYU4o7QWPEYxB-mmuPptVgcE5Obh79Y4kEG66OzAen0D9wIg5CtszzUwmvVkWE-oO4/s1000/Eggplant8370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="1000" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9-WJYr-6wdvh81ePyxKUdD54MXuUZLWB6rlgiPHlEcnVoC1ow0V0irC-MJ7yGYcSf75RZIFe6HYU4o7QWPEYxB-mmuPptVgcE5Obh79Y4kEG66OzAen0D9wIg5CtszzUwmvVkWE-oO4/w400-h264/Eggplant8370.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">So... </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Why is there an eggplant in the corner of our bedroom?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Was it a "bad" eggplant and made to take a time out?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Did it escape from a grocery bag?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Is it lost or just shy? <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Is it some sort of weird good luck symbol?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">None of the above. Eggplants are delicate and should be used within a few days of purchase. They do not do well stored in the refrigerator, and can quickly become over ripe if left out in a warm place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We stopped at a grocery a few days ago and I bought enough fresh produce to last a week. All were "top priority" on my meals list. We have no cool, dark storage place in the rig. The bays are not cool in summer, and with the extreme heat we have been having, I have notice that even the insides of my cubboards are hot. My kitchen counter space is very small and always subject to some heat from the windows. I have open wire baskets, next to the table, where I usually store onions and potatoes, that are fine in the winter when it is cold outside, but they are presently against the sunside wall and are a bit warm.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Alfa has a basement air conditioner and the cool air comes up out of the same vents as the heat from the furnace. Thus, this corner was the coolest place for my eggplant to rest for a few days. This would not work if we were driving. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTAPoyf3Nu5A3KBs9uLln23CPf0ELS8amBofcVHGhmj0-HAoywugcO-07OKOe232miVN515YRo2wf2Iko4wiY3Vr8FLot_6USPc-JR0fAHUk8AZygzNuamU8u6VxNquBP4uQAih9gM5I/s1000/McGregor+Home8374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTAPoyf3Nu5A3KBs9uLln23CPf0ELS8amBofcVHGhmj0-HAoywugcO-07OKOe232miVN515YRo2wf2Iko4wiY3Vr8FLot_6USPc-JR0fAHUk8AZygzNuamU8u6VxNquBP4uQAih9gM5I/w640-h424/McGregor+Home8374.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We made it safely to McGregor Lakes RV Park, 66 miles west of Glacier, on Thursday. The scenery on US 2 was beautiful. Many different things to see: mountains, wheat fields, rivers, forests, and scrub land. Even the small towns were interesting. The two lane road was smooth and the traffic was light in most places. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Praise be, the temperatures are a bit cooler. Thursday night there was a short thunderstorm. I was a bit worried about possible lightning-strike fires. Last night we had to close the windows and use a blanket to keep warm in bed. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This 40-space RV park is right on Hwy 2, but we do not hear any traffic. There's not mcuh to hear. The spaces are open enough to get satellite TV, but there is no cell service of any kind. We usually use our Verizon hotspot, but the park does have free Wifi, and so far it has been fine. We were asked not to stream any movies or Zoom. They said that when someone does, it really slows down the internet for everyone else. All it takes is a few selfish people. So far no problems though.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPCthkdTa8XlpPmhWpKptywUGW5Us1VGdlv2Idq9zEeZ1DLfSLMSnLmvsfM7f4drhTEShcQ6s1Jt6jtpRTKIz1Ys4s9yBOhFf8IVtRZDCVRyqKJgr8enh2EPJ0VSFpd-N_AmoNaYKfro/s1000/5inARow7740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPCthkdTa8XlpPmhWpKptywUGW5Us1VGdlv2Idq9zEeZ1DLfSLMSnLmvsfM7f4drhTEShcQ6s1Jt6jtpRTKIz1Ys4s9yBOhFf8IVtRZDCVRyqKJgr8enh2EPJ0VSFpd-N_AmoNaYKfro/w640-h358/5inARow7740.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Craig took this picture on our walk around the park last night. He noted there were five black and white trailers all in a row. Our spot, more toward the front of the park, is larger.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We will be here for a month. <br /></span></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-87209291792458915022021-06-30T17:24:00.007-07:002021-07-03T16:34:19.777-07:00Historic Heat Wave (114°+)<p> <span style="font-size: large;">So, what do you do if you are RVing in a historic heat wave? The answer is, frankly, not much. We gave up going for walks when the temperatures were just in the high 90°s. We have changed our average departure time from around 9:00 am, to as early as 6:30 am. A few days ago Craig got up before dawn so he could wash the windshield before it started to bake.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieICra8IpoVJTw5TuVEV2f76rRgwk6EvoTCz6sePjNI8mvUj9BlvPmNgl2C7Sbz1AuLkR_Pekq301WiYHcEub4V5j7evhw2_LWZiodF4OSSUNHCYZgGU-hEwGl4QPDM_FtxRnar47u_i8/s1000/rock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1000" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieICra8IpoVJTw5TuVEV2f76rRgwk6EvoTCz6sePjNI8mvUj9BlvPmNgl2C7Sbz1AuLkR_Pekq301WiYHcEub4V5j7evhw2_LWZiodF4OSSUNHCYZgGU-hEwGl4QPDM_FtxRnar47u_i8/w640-h388/rock.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Basically we have been </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">about as active as a rock!</span> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We spent three nights in Cashmere WA, but did not go out except for a quick run to pick up some takeout BBQ. We kept the mini blinds closed, a large box fan blowing and the coach AC running. Netflix, TV and our mutual love of reading kept us occupied.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have continued our usual after-dinner game of gin rummy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The dash air of the Alfa has not worked for a couple of years. We got it "fixed" but the fix didn't do much, so as we drive in this hot weather we have been running the generator so that we can run the coach AC. It works to keep things tolerable, but we still have felt the urgent need to drive as many miles as early as possible. I know many RVers get up before dawn and get going. I have seen them leave the parks. This has not been our style, and we look forward to returning to more leisurely departures in the future.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXcQAATZHT3oOQSeFzvq-UxXoTw6gHwyD8YOZrGASnTFIz4AfxoqeChTszlpk0uJyxQlhCiMxi_lKTaFIiNI9mvfehMwMf1J8XrhUhf8ulpLKzpB4UDDlcMk-5D1HoqaIbhgWl2j61VE/s1000/mainDamDSC8350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1000" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXcQAATZHT3oOQSeFzvq-UxXoTw6gHwyD8YOZrGASnTFIz4AfxoqeChTszlpk0uJyxQlhCiMxi_lKTaFIiNI9mvfehMwMf1J8XrhUhf8ulpLKzpB4UDDlcMk-5D1HoqaIbhgWl2j61VE/w640-h364/mainDamDSC8350.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: large;">W</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">e arrived in Grand Coulee, not far from the dam, early on Monday.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On
the first night we went to the dam to see the laser light show at
10 PM. By this time </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">the temperature had gone down to the high nineties, but although it was after dark, we noticed the cement benches were
quite warm from the day's heat. </span></span> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkrsdbqvryD_e8l91BrjBFV0uyFYha0MGNwVy0GzhUutGW9ngoN0pEIOsIBVm6urR_3Gib2mPzQjEYCyLsw1JqfipEPI_xF1Eu1tBALv-02TqATF7u0ZarpHv0Ut6YlvsOKDwRP4X0pI/s1000/SpillWayDSC8351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1000" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkrsdbqvryD_e8l91BrjBFV0uyFYha0MGNwVy0GzhUutGW9ngoN0pEIOsIBVm6urR_3Gib2mPzQjEYCyLsw1JqfipEPI_xF1Eu1tBALv-02TqATF7u0ZarpHv0Ut6YlvsOKDwRP4X0pI/w640-h344/SpillWayDSC8351.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sJ4MMNxxlQTsLKhat9E6FP35Zo13g9XMZGiOA-Hfu7tjTWgcGkaBlVC2dt1sRs-Aqv1EPwJMlSo5yTTr4cfeoHGR8WOFynIiyyaY29v_ahYpog6xZka3-WaGNvOcrZvTy4hozFMzTzw/s697/lazer.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="697" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sJ4MMNxxlQTsLKhat9E6FP35Zo13g9XMZGiOA-Hfu7tjTWgcGkaBlVC2dt1sRs-Aqv1EPwJMlSo5yTTr4cfeoHGR8WOFynIiyyaY29v_ahYpog6xZka3-WaGNvOcrZvTy4hozFMzTzw/w200-h134/lazer.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the show they open the flood gates on the spillway (dark gray section on the right of the above picture) </span>and project an animated "stick people" story on the white water pouring down. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Tuesday we went to the Visitor Center. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_WyvcbH_45eWA40Byd7f0F2mHiWpTW5oqClltjNll8ud83-u4PfHYn4oPcA3lQDZtEKsmX_0I0Ehn_tAwsd0UqWRjMVo5Ok12SvylGM7HilFhDpDofZ15-aiu0JQA_aTVKyb_EqN2jk/s1000/power8353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1000" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_WyvcbH_45eWA40Byd7f0F2mHiWpTW5oqClltjNll8ud83-u4PfHYn4oPcA3lQDZtEKsmX_0I0Ehn_tAwsd0UqWRjMVo5Ok12SvylGM7HilFhDpDofZ15-aiu0JQA_aTVKyb_EqN2jk/w640-h388/power8353.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We knew it would be air conditioned. We learned a little more about the Grand Coulee Dam and the forward-thinking President Franklin Roosevelt. His fearless leadership was such a big factor in our country's recovery from the Great Depression. It makes me wonder if we as a country can come together and deal with the challenges of climate change. We have come so far, it would be a shame if we allow the minority in the Senate to prevent the much-needed work to be done. While I'm skeptical that man can actually change the course of climate change, I feel we must make major changes to improve our chances of dealing with it. More clean energy is needed, sooner rather than later. We will need more power for air conditioning in summer and more power for heating in winter.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of climate change, on Wednesday we took a 30 mile Jeep drive south to see an area called the Dry Falls.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1weIkbOhNu5R0o6YC_PvG59NWcn88CI8oXF9i3fkg4x4aY02RdbAWXUOpb1SeHK9fJZdXwSpPSUde1N5DcBwxnanH_HzLNlxYeX9Od6wEWM5APS_N9zx8lVYuSf74GP02jvsoUuiah0/s1000/SignAtFalls0630211008a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1000" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1weIkbOhNu5R0o6YC_PvG59NWcn88CI8oXF9i3fkg4x4aY02RdbAWXUOpb1SeHK9fJZdXwSpPSUde1N5DcBwxnanH_HzLNlxYeX9Od6wEWM5APS_N9zx8lVYuSf74GP02jvsoUuiah0/w640-h348/SignAtFalls0630211008a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the last Ice Age the melting glaciers resulted in huge lakes. The coulees are the result of when they broke and caused massive floods. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpjzchYQvMjH29arAabQwhuKYNBma2iq_RY4JsHpdOLD1ILTxRf2ZQzCsp1IhpvpmRvBYGxPBJkBcej9K8RBj5oKcrgG-MM579RXTXqjWKX_Eu1T-OVqbkkRnU1OknIkJzNcdaImqMIs/s1000/DryFallsPoolsSC8356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="1000" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpjzchYQvMjH29arAabQwhuKYNBma2iq_RY4JsHpdOLD1ILTxRf2ZQzCsp1IhpvpmRvBYGxPBJkBcej9K8RBj5oKcrgG-MM579RXTXqjWKX_Eu1T-OVqbkkRnU1OknIkJzNcdaImqMIs/w640-h290/DryFallsPoolsSC8356.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The waters crashed over long falls that were bigger than Niagara.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MtMQBiZv5i-Fag32DJ852xTqCPvv9pvOSFpDBlSYPLSMXRc9sKX-wOgyadLfpYPKc9JPA11xABrh0TMQolKF7ff-jgHuO3uSdDrnxeXkTpZsEiJsCd7AZe67ZMW2st5whXK3kpPKL24/s1000/DryFallsAreaDSC8361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MtMQBiZv5i-Fag32DJ852xTqCPvv9pvOSFpDBlSYPLSMXRc9sKX-wOgyadLfpYPKc9JPA11xABrh0TMQolKF7ff-jgHuO3uSdDrnxeXkTpZsEiJsCd7AZe67ZMW2st5whXK3kpPKL24/w640-h426/DryFallsAreaDSC8361.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />These massive basalt cliffs are what remains.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FfTa_TD2F_-Ta4CuDNQG0LXxZ-TLerxaIrKAtuw8pDcRv8bHG3Y4Qsffd1yYnnnpj9yTyllWoIW28LQhyiuZT0WzM3FL9zL3JU3L4swmkN8bRlFrm8ZOtHeeg2Df7f-cmE16fyeMPfA/s1000/dryFallsCanyon8359-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FfTa_TD2F_-Ta4CuDNQG0LXxZ-TLerxaIrKAtuw8pDcRv8bHG3Y4Qsffd1yYnnnpj9yTyllWoIW28LQhyiuZT0WzM3FL9zL3JU3L4swmkN8bRlFrm8ZOtHeeg2Df7f-cmE16fyeMPfA/w640-h426/dryFallsCanyon8359-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWDaET7BXcLAnrJ4Xv9KM53g1SVsv8NdWnTcWsmPWQK8QUo5nw0Q4EyO5MfbW9ZIv4Rb_Q1suAQwopuBv6sUiAczcbv4loHh0ZMYTxah4bYicDAuaHL9pSXYzSWCsJy9ZxcxtHTsVsr8/s1000/BanksLakeDSC8354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1000" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWDaET7BXcLAnrJ4Xv9KM53g1SVsv8NdWnTcWsmPWQK8QUo5nw0Q4EyO5MfbW9ZIv4Rb_Q1suAQwopuBv6sUiAczcbv4loHh0ZMYTxah4bYicDAuaHL9pSXYzSWCsJy9ZxcxtHTsVsr8/w640-h380/BanksLakeDSC8354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">On our way there and back we drove along Banks Lake. The water was very still and we only saw one boat in a half hour.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-BFFuQ0RGxLL_INbR77uGa-P6IZ01ltKil1MzPc3cPO-YqQk_C-E_74iV3uWXm0730JX8JXV_S0CTvSKQ0NI9HbNDITy5x6EHM4YVpW4rbv8QJ5Qk7ZqMbVNB8ni74S9TPiRBk3d4WQ/s2913/Steamboat+Rock8369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="2913" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-BFFuQ0RGxLL_INbR77uGa-P6IZ01ltKil1MzPc3cPO-YqQk_C-E_74iV3uWXm0730JX8JXV_S0CTvSKQ0NI9HbNDITy5x6EHM4YVpW4rbv8QJ5Qk7ZqMbVNB8ni74S9TPiRBk3d4WQ/w640-h238/Steamboat+Rock8369.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">One remarkable sight along the way was of Steamboat Rock. It was carved by the same flood waters and is 800 feet tall and covers 600 acres. In many ways the area reminded me of the carved cliffs of southern Utah, except the rocks are brown and black instead of rusty red.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we visit areas like this I am in awe of the power of natural forces. This happened millions of years ago. Reminding me that our time on earth is so brief. And yet when I visit the dam, I am also amazed at the power of man to use natural resources. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have been so lucky these last six years to have been able to see so many places. Even short outings like this drive will remain in our memories. Blogging helps!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop is at McGregor Lake, about sixty five miles west of Glacier National Park. We have checked the weather forecast and are happy to see it is a bit cooler there. Only in the 90°s! </span></p><p><br /></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-26749522214040401842021-06-25T18:10:00.005-07:002021-06-26T01:05:27.169-07:00A Right Turn <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Many of you know that we drive an Alfa, manufactured by a company that went out of business in 2008. They have always been a brand with many fans, but are slowly going away. But by the end of the three days, we were sharing </span><span><span>the Washington State Fairgrounds RV Park with four other</span></span><span> </span><span>Alfas</span><span><span>. I often wonder if owners of o</span></span><span>ther brands smile when they see their own brand.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dZHgMKY39jhtCrnne_Tb8QBN4ngLPRzyZHVWwrpK8QKpbE15ONgdwy5GhfyO3sAlAf32mb5htCibph7pNf1JHcYOI3gxanvc1RvcrGRbFxGI07zCg8rsYC-GZ5fRjCVbKQ02RwWlEbI/s1000/JelliesDSC7700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="1000" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dZHgMKY39jhtCrnne_Tb8QBN4ngLPRzyZHVWwrpK8QKpbE15ONgdwy5GhfyO3sAlAf32mb5htCibph7pNf1JHcYOI3gxanvc1RvcrGRbFxGI07zCg8rsYC-GZ5fRjCVbKQ02RwWlEbI/w640-h274/JelliesDSC7700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzsRkGAjtoroBoDO98HePot5maYm-w3f8cQFMMCj5D0ZPwP4iiusungPNgSMrdEeDcqkbAPHjqwC3ulcZnOS1n-zQFP_jd4EhbxpTTnjhQQGJsHHdXpFiQ8DDloCSLZ7Ti6d6cvXoN2Q/s1000/TwoBigFish7683.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="582" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzsRkGAjtoroBoDO98HePot5maYm-w3f8cQFMMCj5D0ZPwP4iiusungPNgSMrdEeDcqkbAPHjqwC3ulcZnOS1n-zQFP_jd4EhbxpTTnjhQQGJsHHdXpFiQ8DDloCSLZ7Ti6d6cvXoN2Q/w372-h640/TwoBigFish7683.jpg" width="372" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div>On Thursday we went to the Tacoma Zoo and Aquarium. It wasn't the best we have been to, but since it was our first real activity in over a year, it was good to be out.</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We did make a parking mistake, and ended up walking (uphill) for quite a long way before we actually got to the Aquarium. I was not a happy hiker. Too hot!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the fish were pretty cool, and with limited admissions it was the least crowded aquarium we have ever been to.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These two fish reminded me of us. I'm the bigger one on top, but Craig is a bit round too after our inactive year. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our goal for the summer is to get more exercise and eat less. The extra walk was probably good for me. Now if the weather would just cool down a bit! <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdENMNbtUPOv-uZ6-pKiN5aLXuKQyO1j872Au-JRSGrpauQOvIQPuez0DGueoY_Mdt_xMdn4Mxe-9w8V-Pkp7yXIvpZk31rE_vA2qEZem-0wZdwwKRMUs1y0BRkYC-qlW0HYZ-ak0hn8/s1000/grumpy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdENMNbtUPOv-uZ6-pKiN5aLXuKQyO1j872Au-JRSGrpauQOvIQPuez0DGueoY_Mdt_xMdn4Mxe-9w8V-Pkp7yXIvpZk31rE_vA2qEZem-0wZdwwKRMUs1y0BRkYC-qlW0HYZ-ak0hn8/w640-h426/grumpy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Craig was not a happy fish Friday morning. He had a new problem with the dump valves that we had had repaired a few days ago. </span><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFwfduoFUiZfCdzWW5swHdm2o5-fD0VYt0ns-AFlmMKt8fqimgDNwPkVlU_KspWt5KMjXHujzD0fM2KmF9a-OGWWkJth2pG6She2hCmXWtBfcB1jZLHejVX3w4_4iXmTbYG1R2i_OdlA/s1000/shark8319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1000" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFwfduoFUiZfCdzWW5swHdm2o5-fD0VYt0ns-AFlmMKt8fqimgDNwPkVlU_KspWt5KMjXHujzD0fM2KmF9a-OGWWkJth2pG6She2hCmXWtBfcB1jZLHejVX3w4_4iXmTbYG1R2i_OdlA/w640-h484/shark8319.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I was not in the best mood either when he asked me to try and find a repair place. Everyone I called was booked for weeks if not months out. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The problem was that he could not get the gray tank valve to open so he could empty the tank. I kept making calls and he kept trying to get it open. After a while, it opened, he dumped the tank, and we were on our way. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-itY-kRhIZvd9x2QAYQwW2PAVIYwBE4kELsoaFKnhyUAUym_iv9s6XmwbYgzWr5jATl4kO_yqJSAaYAPZxnbJarpKpeD_tYWlSRk_EwaYfsGtod2a54FXv-uOzEztlbIBYcdIhKhN5ng/s1000/Seattle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="1000" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-itY-kRhIZvd9x2QAYQwW2PAVIYwBE4kELsoaFKnhyUAUym_iv9s6XmwbYgzWr5jATl4kO_yqJSAaYAPZxnbJarpKpeD_tYWlSRk_EwaYfsGtod2a54FXv-uOzEztlbIBYcdIhKhN5ng/w640-h310/Seattle.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Driving in any metropolitan area is no fun, and Seattle is no exception. I got to drive so that Craig could catch the "start of US 2" image below. I just kept reminding myself to keep calm and be patient. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9BjXTpmXVsAElKLmcGaX3gFX8kfKBgYLHeRthH2-qD-ZWCOYO2p5Pr96MFrxM7MhX5-jIBGGeDpHVXvxriYDk97Q3AuUd2bYB6SM4ULZ5QKoQI9wifkjTerm06EqZgF8c1b-R6s3sg4/s1000/sign8342.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1000" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9BjXTpmXVsAElKLmcGaX3gFX8kfKBgYLHeRthH2-qD-ZWCOYO2p5Pr96MFrxM7MhX5-jIBGGeDpHVXvxriYDk97Q3AuUd2bYB6SM4ULZ5QKoQI9wifkjTerm06EqZgF8c1b-R6s3sg4/w400-h281/sign8342.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We both smiled when we saw the sign for the turn onto US 2 East. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were really ready to say goodby to I-5. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfxbztaGztfBzOt-z3ICapwhF0saylshLUFltUabaRYuvOsRWjrqO3I6FgZqb5Lr9lSs86nZIDxTtypngWWXkeAiTBSLvV1lDtWv2Z4jpUsZS7sk-9GK2bZQZqSGp9b_yGMj6suDp9Cg/s1000/openRoad8347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="1000" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfxbztaGztfBzOt-z3ICapwhF0saylshLUFltUabaRYuvOsRWjrqO3I6FgZqb5Lr9lSs86nZIDxTtypngWWXkeAiTBSLvV1lDtWv2Z4jpUsZS7sk-9GK2bZQZqSGp9b_yGMj6suDp9Cg/w640-h236/openRoad8347.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We were now officially on a road we have never traveled. US 2 goes from Everett WA to Mackinaw City MI. While some of it is a divided highway, mostly it's a 2 lane road that goes through many small towns and scenic country.<br /></span><p></p></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The first 50 miles or so were beautiful. The high country of the Cascades is covered with lush forest. The alpine meadows are still the greenest green you can imagine, and we traveled along the fast-flowing Wenatchee River. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We are now in Cashmere, Washington. It is on the east side of the Cascades; the landscape is dryer and trees are quite sparse. It is going to be very hot here for the next few days. I doubt we will go out much, but the Alfa is cool and comfortable and we heard there is a great BBQ place in town.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>[From Craig] The white water of the Wenatchee River was exciting to drive next to. It was so captivating that I had to force myself to keep looking back at the road. So if you come this way and have two drivers, let the one less whitewater-oriented drive the stretch along the Wenatchee.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-89228279963366420062021-06-23T14:13:00.000-07:002021-06-23T14:13:23.552-07:00Everything Going Smoothly - and find the hidden Alfa<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes the moon doesn't have to be full, or the sunset briliantly colored to be peacefully beautiful.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1uIiahMlF0kYFjTOIZFHAqTpEC655Ar-BxN_OGTwcNqX20MJXwA2dhr7kruzRW4Vc3QdFvWZyiqm3u6L2K4QI8b51C4s4YPvtDSOJ36S1cKwi3vKiSvQpkjx4PJ3GO-fEn-i3SFl8vM/s1000/couds306.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="1000" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1uIiahMlF0kYFjTOIZFHAqTpEC655Ar-BxN_OGTwcNqX20MJXwA2dhr7kruzRW4Vc3QdFvWZyiqm3u6L2K4QI8b51C4s4YPvtDSOJ36S1cKwi3vKiSvQpkjx4PJ3GO-fEn-i3SFl8vM/w640-h396/couds306.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We seem to notice more sunset skies as we travel than we do while in Jojoba. There our western view is somewhat obstructed, and only the more spectacular colors are noticeable.</span><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nibvB-mk90edJzSPLGaal23LcpZCtUKstuiKPaVRB4iMKWWoSo2X-auRJ3F2QtK5TaQJzNR-nijB7F-VNSSJKDlSPe09ZFTK06jYMSZiE1mRfShmynwSobwJ-kptHjsbtCsvwURHxIo/s1000/Craig+and+MerikayWithSueAndMo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1000" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nibvB-mk90edJzSPLGaal23LcpZCtUKstuiKPaVRB4iMKWWoSo2X-auRJ3F2QtK5TaQJzNR-nijB7F-VNSSJKDlSPe09ZFTK06jYMSZiE1mRfShmynwSobwJ-kptHjsbtCsvwURHxIo/w640-h380/Craig+and+MerikayWithSueAndMo.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the joys of fulltime RVing is being able to vist RV community friends we have met over the years. When we were in Grant's Pass Oregon we met up for a nice Sunday night dinner with <a href="https://mohotravels.blogspot.com">Sue and Mo</a>, a pair of delightful ladies we met through our mutual blogs. I hope to see them again the next time we come this way.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is always good to take care of a maintenence problem before it becomes a problem. Recently, Craig noticed the black tank valve was leaking a little when he dumped. Knowing we had an easy travel day on Monday, I called around about a week ago and found an RV place that would shift their schedule so that we could just drive in, get the one hour valve replacement job done, and be on our way. <a href="https://www.twistedtrailerservice.com">South Country RV Repair</a>, in Myrtle Creek, did a good quick job of it. The tech also noticed </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">that </span>a row of screws had broken, so that the lower part of the side fiberglass was no longer firmly attached to the frame. They fixed that too and charged us for 1/4 hour labor to do it. Always good to know you have a tight bottom!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had planned on overnighting at Timber Valley, the SKP park in Southern Oregon, but they do not take reservations, and all they had available when I called that morning, was in their boondock area. Since the daily high temperature was still hovering around 100° I called our planned alternative, the <a href="https://www.co.polk.or.us/search/site/RV%20camping">Polk County Fairgrounds</a>, near Salem to get a space for the night. We have stopped there before and I knew that there were no events going on, and so was sure we could just drive on in. However, since they have locks on the power and water it is a good idea to call before the office closes for the day to let them know you are coming. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN3goozrykJyzIQ-XEEFH0Vt12A0yfaQMvH94uBIXFH6D5G_HihWyCkzrxb6PaDOka-B6Zv1AgiFyrNubn79qWEXVEtO899FNdMleFbCJLmBzkeokwsXdmOu_m1_JIIPbHRDuv-kkhhs/s1000/spacing8304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1000" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN3goozrykJyzIQ-XEEFH0Vt12A0yfaQMvH94uBIXFH6D5G_HihWyCkzrxb6PaDOka-B6Zv1AgiFyrNubn79qWEXVEtO899FNdMleFbCJLmBzkeokwsXdmOu_m1_JIIPbHRDuv-kkhhs/w640-h280/spacing8304.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Craig sent me out to take this picture. Notice the big space between our Alfa and the Rig to the left. He called it "Social Distancing for RVs". </span><span style="font-size: large;">It is a very basic place, but it did have water and power for air conditioning. For $25 a night with no reservation needed, it was great for an overnight stop. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Note: We can boondock in the Alfa, but</span> </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>prefer to have power when it is so hot. I don't mind listening to the generator running for a few hours in the morning, but not at night. We did consider solar panels in the begining, but knew we wouldn't be boondocking enough to make them worthwhile.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiaE6ScUmz9jqPDznf2fCSRu8Rftb6wP1PD-xFwfLv1GUtsmkfUXtQSzuH9rrC7zF2qbBArV0BpmVA4YW3I1fHkt3ju5gqZ0778fqFChD69CdaM-N6iZwmeaShGKD-r5514Y3UNflOe4/s1000/puyaloop8310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="1000" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiaE6ScUmz9jqPDznf2fCSRu8Rftb6wP1PD-xFwfLv1GUtsmkfUXtQSzuH9rrC7zF2qbBArV0BpmVA4YW3I1fHkt3ju5gqZ0778fqFChD69CdaM-N6iZwmeaShGKD-r5514Y3UNflOe4/w640-h242/puyaloop8310.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Alfa owners: There are three Alfas here. Can you find them all?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday's drive of 210 miles, was to Puyallup Washington just east of Tacoma. The Washington State Fair <a href="https://www.thefair.com/general-info/rv-camping/?utm_source=campgroundreviews.com&utm_campaign=RVLife_Campgrounds&utm_medium=referral">Campground </a>was totally full, but we had reservations. It is not a "pretty" park, but it is convenient to a couple of urban things we want to go to. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We tried to go to a farmers market on Wednesday, but it wasn't open. Thursday we are planning on a trip to the Aquarium in Tacoma, and a stop at Trader Joe's. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Friday is another "drive day", the last on I-5.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-71545429594613886302021-06-19T11:50:00.000-07:002021-06-19T11:50:45.814-07:00Heat Wave and an departure "OOPs"<p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm afraid the current heatwave has done in our summer walking plans for a while.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We left Redding CA very early to make our drive north to Valley of the Rogue state park, located between Medford and Grant's Pass Oregon. Luckly the tempertures at the park were a bit cooler. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiuRMJnlsayI9Cu5SPmgt7Yhsnyb7RRyrHsPHbcin7OWT1iVN979LZtezcvV-PYoAuoBtyf5uPVOM7Xjlpr3Ac1mcWZ5BQGq_GZhwsT-sAvDEjY3R3mh3igcIR6V5IaQmypPAdjL1Mlc/s1000/oursiteatRogue8295.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1000" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiuRMJnlsayI9Cu5SPmgt7Yhsnyb7RRyrHsPHbcin7OWT1iVN979LZtezcvV-PYoAuoBtyf5uPVOM7Xjlpr3Ac1mcWZ5BQGq_GZhwsT-sAvDEjY3R3mh3igcIR6V5IaQmypPAdjL1Mlc/w640-h467/oursiteatRogue8295.jpg" width="640" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Site B5 at Valley of the Rogue State Park in Oregon<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;">We did have one small OOPS on our way. Apparently, I did not close and lock the power bay door correctly. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_TtvArSCUfVciugvfWDBbk5E5adH90eiu-kx7jPx6IgBa1nD0FLFb_qYs_H5yV-7QCAbMj9uRQNuMOT9ZNzLbT_0kocji6HYFCFWY3b-RyPzMi2G4qpWGg7vOyNYf1GubeUN52XBI8Y/s1000/doorClosed8299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1000" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_TtvArSCUfVciugvfWDBbk5E5adH90eiu-kx7jPx6IgBa1nD0FLFb_qYs_H5yV-7QCAbMj9uRQNuMOT9ZNzLbT_0kocji6HYFCFWY3b-RyPzMi2G4qpWGg7vOyNYf1GubeUN52XBI8Y/w320-h235/doorClosed8299.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It popped open and the lower edge dragged (a little) on the road. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We did wonder why those three nice big rig drivers honked and waved at us as they passed us on I-5. They were not just trying to express a friendly "Hi".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were actually very lucky the whole door did not tear off and cause a road hazard for someone else!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't take any pictures while it was in the broken stage, but basically the edge was roughly burred and slightly bent, the hinge on the aft side was broken, and the door would not close.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Craig used his sander to smooth the burrs, and we were fortunate to find an RV Mobile service that was willing to come to the park that afternoon. The guys from Granger Mobile RV service from Gold Hill OR managed to get it all straightened out in a short time. They had the right tools and know-how. We felt the $85 service charge was well worth it since we didn't have the tools along to do it ourselves. Craig will touch up the scuff marks with a bit of paint.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHkZZmXH0moaP4F_XzU21q3QIOJcaPyGLA6nDGPxQPOti6DIj0Gk4qV_RKKFnytXhhJzGz2peDBmeszII7vU-XXNn_kc3JWUi_IWqRtdO46kB4EgUjShkHXpZtTp_OaRD-tcL4qhqfJk/s1000/door+cables8297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="601" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHkZZmXH0moaP4F_XzU21q3QIOJcaPyGLA6nDGPxQPOti6DIj0Gk4qV_RKKFnytXhhJzGz2peDBmeszII7vU-XXNn_kc3JWUi_IWqRtdO46kB4EgUjShkHXpZtTp_OaRD-tcL4qhqfJk/w240-h400/door+cables8297.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />There used to be two cables that held the door parallel to the ground when open. Both broke shortly after we bought the Alfa. Since it was easier to access the power cord and water filter with the door open all the way to the ground, they were never replaced. They were yesterday, and we will now be able to see the bay door if such a thing happens again. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have to say I really appreciate the fact that when I do something stupid like not closing the door properly, Craig does not give me a bad time. I felt bad enough by myself. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just another bump in the road! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>[From Craig] Actually I-5 was quite smooth. If there had been bumps, the door would probably be laying along the road.</i></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-70247123100059307972021-06-15T08:04:00.001-07:002021-06-15T09:02:14.385-07:00BLOGGER VS FACEBOOK<p><span style="font-size: large;">Nowadays people have a variety of ways to keep in touch with each other and to share their daily experiences. Personally I don't use Twitter or TikTok at all, but I do look at Facebook almost every day. For me it is a way to keep in touch with friends, family, and a few groups I belong to. But, for me, it is not a satisfying way to record and share our travels or pictures we take.</span></p>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8xdBoLWwdBXrl6vzl7aF_fUi85KEddZWGCRabogA6E1TBXAzLlwEVOU3e-_9cw91Kg8c_q7eDriK9TkYR30OV8s5BJ14OYqIKXQiKbjOPKB2CvRLZkqss1PNsJnS80znP0vFSdp9ocQ/s1100/_AbutterflyHeader7635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1100" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8xdBoLWwdBXrl6vzl7aF_fUi85KEddZWGCRabogA6E1TBXAzLlwEVOU3e-_9cw91Kg8c_q7eDriK9TkYR30OV8s5BJ14OYqIKXQiKbjOPKB2CvRLZkqss1PNsJnS80znP0vFSdp9ocQ/w640-h446/_AbutterflyHeader7635.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Swallowtail at McConnell Arboretum and Garden<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> In my eye, this blog is more like a diary or a series of travel articles. It gives us a place to share our photography. A single picture on Facebook works, but adding several becomes a mismash. When I create a post on Blogger, I try to look at it as if I was creating a magazine page layout. <br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmd1u6jAk60TQQVMpPD3FETUfUXccCxliVNkoqNZ4VvN9dyavch5NTnHDYtUYcTEeOaUYRfj7qIW8xPClmnf8cM3peRP_nMbwLNySW66Mn6JL72pZ-wDPK9BO_Uv8oGXZNJd1lxb72-E/s1000/_ACloud7665.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmd1u6jAk60TQQVMpPD3FETUfUXccCxliVNkoqNZ4VvN9dyavch5NTnHDYtUYcTEeOaUYRfj7qIW8xPClmnf8cM3peRP_nMbwLNySW66Mn6JL72pZ-wDPK9BO_Uv8oGXZNJd1lxb72-E/w426-h640/_ACloud7665.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> A feature of the Blogger platform I really like is the ability to go back and see what I wrote in past years. I don't know how many times I have used the SEARCH function on my blog to verify when we went to a particular location. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Try that with </span><span style="font-size: large;">Facebook!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I do put links for my Blog posts on </span><span style="font-size: large;">Facebook, so my </span><span style="font-size: large;">friends there know when I write a new one. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy2X4aMR8ozFKaLQgdxsR77EVKeNMWXZ3Fa2yRlIWniOlFVOOaFmwhQ3uRciZaPlbAoiwZU0cdJlH65KO4Rb2X9RgH1ctLIhagDYgfMsf2jkjpJxUyC63b1P3MvwN_D7uEKJ8sxaRVUo/s1000/_ALily8259.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1000" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy2X4aMR8ozFKaLQgdxsR77EVKeNMWXZ3Fa2yRlIWniOlFVOOaFmwhQ3uRciZaPlbAoiwZU0cdJlH65KO4Rb2X9RgH1ctLIhagDYgfMsf2jkjpJxUyC63b1P3MvwN_D7uEKJ8sxaRVUo/w400-h373/_ALily8259.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />For now, I want to say thank you, and welcome </span><span style="font-size: large;">aboard, to my friends who commented on my first blog of the year and wrote they would be "traveling with me</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>. It makes me feel like I am writing a letter to each of you when I do a post. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXolv5nhIZiFu1hTUCiSQ8q9yscnMUa25z_uS1VnYvfGTkzupRL8yZCDcdayxHdNGr1aju6tLlsiPyrnYUNwmV2e4KAqB0i3Ma0qJsBcX0JiSzrrjOZwASsL44oyPabYrAm276KZd_9c8/s1000/_Aorchid7593-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1000" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXolv5nhIZiFu1hTUCiSQ8q9yscnMUa25z_uS1VnYvfGTkzupRL8yZCDcdayxHdNGr1aju6tLlsiPyrnYUNwmV2e4KAqB0i3Ma0qJsBcX0JiSzrrjOZwASsL44oyPabYrAm276KZd_9c8/w400-h354/_Aorchid7593-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The pictures in this post were all taken Monday at the McConnell Arboretum and Gardens. It is located in the same park area as the Sundial Bridge. These orchid-like flowers grew on a tree!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeyAhfAXsF48DgRh-SqlPbA3a1g7YtsfHst0pTtwKKtOSk5lVauaw0ZyVineftF98VmzagphWLLQ-gMPZrZa5tutUo7fXNZzksZLxdToo9NlVnBQ0_6AkjqVit0yvb_CQF3KYN2z5jBc/s1000/_AwaterLily7661.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeyAhfAXsF48DgRh-SqlPbA3a1g7YtsfHst0pTtwKKtOSk5lVauaw0ZyVineftF98VmzagphWLLQ-gMPZrZa5tutUo7fXNZzksZLxdToo9NlVnBQ0_6AkjqVit0yvb_CQF3KYN2z5jBc/s1000/_AwaterLily7661.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1000" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeyAhfAXsF48DgRh-SqlPbA3a1g7YtsfHst0pTtwKKtOSk5lVauaw0ZyVineftF98VmzagphWLLQ-gMPZrZa5tutUo7fXNZzksZLxdToo9NlVnBQ0_6AkjqVit0yvb_CQF3KYN2z5jBc/w400-h339/_AwaterLily7661.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We walked 2.4 miles, just a little farther than on Sunday. Monday was quite warm, but some clouds kept it from getting as hot as the day before. </span><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqCO_BVfPNiCj7XygASwURF_ZsVprSq-_F8Woq2VoyTDnePvcLpMpAMcgcW5q4eybX8pHAdN8CQkKMU5K1_4BRY5kWfABh2R4JbW96boeogoAw2ac737VKMUgCh7jtY8SL4BRoLYdoRM/s1000/_ABirdBath8272.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1000" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqCO_BVfPNiCj7XygASwURF_ZsVprSq-_F8Woq2VoyTDnePvcLpMpAMcgcW5q4eybX8pHAdN8CQkKMU5K1_4BRY5kWfABh2R4JbW96boeogoAw2ac737VKMUgCh7jtY8SL4BRoLYdoRM/w640-h414/_ABirdBath8272.jpg" width="640" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Splish splash, I'm takin' a bath.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQNtGgCYTFgFpLSGxcHjH37M7rocdf9wHZOTs0qPEL8SLqyOkNUun-OI-nXeGkmPe78ntPhI5RmnzAm1E3Qw3DBEuaXmdTwf5o7bYcheRoLxY7vkGs6G-WSgcZk3RYpSfrEj5O0dIsdE/s1000/_AtallTree8233.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQNtGgCYTFgFpLSGxcHjH37M7rocdf9wHZOTs0qPEL8SLqyOkNUun-OI-nXeGkmPe78ntPhI5RmnzAm1E3Qw3DBEuaXmdTwf5o7bYcheRoLxY7vkGs6G-WSgcZk3RYpSfrEj5O0dIsdE/s1000/_AtallTree8233.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="561" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQNtGgCYTFgFpLSGxcHjH37M7rocdf9wHZOTs0qPEL8SLqyOkNUun-OI-nXeGkmPe78ntPhI5RmnzAm1E3Qw3DBEuaXmdTwf5o7bYcheRoLxY7vkGs6G-WSgcZk3RYpSfrEj5O0dIsdE/w225-h400/_AtallTree8233.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Not all interesting things in nature are "pretty". I find the vast range of textures in both living and dead plants to be like eye candy.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL29qs6o2o76jWy_BcSo62Med7ViSOiVO_TEXJX-wnww2pBKxdwu0XxjTmSJ46PKttpHOm41-ZVQQQPInTm9QxhIehSDKaTpoatAnQx9hVffZRMtKz_tmO4JmgIzstvFlxJc3PMOYAyU/s1000/_Alog8251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL29qs6o2o76jWy_BcSo62Med7ViSOiVO_TEXJX-wnww2pBKxdwu0XxjTmSJ46PKttpHOm41-ZVQQQPInTm9QxhIehSDKaTpoatAnQx9hVffZRMtKz_tmO4JmgIzstvFlxJc3PMOYAyU/w640-h360/_Alog8251.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This fallen log definitely says: "don't sit on me!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We will still be in Redding, CA on Tuesday, but do not plan on any outdoor activity. Predicted temperatures are over 100°. There is a bowling alley just around the corner from the RV park we are at. We haven't bowled for 40 years. It might be fun if our old backs and knees feel up to it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Check back for the rest of the story.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-63861768164941565232021-06-13T13:56:00.004-07:002021-06-14T17:41:49.286-07:00On the Road Again<p><span style="font-size: large;">After seven sleepy months at our home base, Jojoba Hills SKP Resort, we hit the road again in our 07 Alfa motorhome for a long summer of travel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7_eOTu14dZsaUDTeQa9R6j5qNlf-pwQ-ul2GR3C59-uuR0gEW_GeXREc4GSG4OcsF3KGUt61j-FTa-nxmeua7Q-gX9tkFXyodNlhO8ufhlSRYXMoBYJBw_fyBJw2EEJ4YcMYGbdBcq0/s505/2021+Route.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="505" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7_eOTu14dZsaUDTeQa9R6j5qNlf-pwQ-ul2GR3C59-uuR0gEW_GeXREc4GSG4OcsF3KGUt61j-FTa-nxmeua7Q-gX9tkFXyodNlhO8ufhlSRYXMoBYJBw_fyBJw2EEJ4YcMYGbdBcq0/w640-h362/2021+Route.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Our route will include more stops than shown on this map. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />We are going to drive US-2, the northernmost US highway that runs from Everett Washington to Mackinaw City Michigan, about 3446 miles. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our return route will be conditional on fall "color" and weather.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have posted a page, <a href="https://merika-merika.blogspot.com/p/summer-2021-when-and-where-we-will-be.html" target="_blank">Summer 2021</a>, on the right side of this blog that lists what parks we will be stopping at and for how long. I do have reservations at most of them, but I am always open to the fact that RV plans are written in Jello and can change for a lot of reasons.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So far we have driven a little over 700 miles and are in Redding California where we will stay for four nights. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5HoJapcIdwUYG6QLXLbnIeswSOvWePClh6BPf0kBk1j0UjaPmcwYxp1cGh3TSPfGPftuORayqajQaujRhfZ5h8OKS5gi-6uvJObg1biMcV4_WmBjZDxrzbRhUyrdg5HIRtY90anFYQE/s1000/MKonBridge7588.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="633" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5HoJapcIdwUYG6QLXLbnIeswSOvWePClh6BPf0kBk1j0UjaPmcwYxp1cGh3TSPfGPftuORayqajQaujRhfZ5h8OKS5gi-6uvJObg1biMcV4_WmBjZDxrzbRhUyrdg5HIRtY90anFYQE/w406-h640/MKonBridge7588.jpg" width="406" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />On Sunday we took our first walk of the season. We were very lazy over the winter, and my knee blew out this spring, so we are starting very slowly. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Also, we have both gained weight during this COVID year, and although we are not yet officially on a diet, we are trying to eat less. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTkEp9XJ3b6vo7zmwqI2wnT5tVUSYTrTpi0C0RqFgo_wzzwzx3jsSL9jIq4x1jvCtLanZ2Yl88RSd3SwH9rVKVLlG8P-uha3rPZZmauMk2L4Kv5gydQfEYGEENbVRz90Gq8yKsY41UJ4/s1000/Bridge7553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1000" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTkEp9XJ3b6vo7zmwqI2wnT5tVUSYTrTpi0C0RqFgo_wzzwzx3jsSL9jIq4x1jvCtLanZ2Yl88RSd3SwH9rVKVLlG8P-uha3rPZZmauMk2L4Kv5gydQfEYGEENbVRz90Gq8yKsY41UJ4/w640-h493/Bridge7553.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We went to the Sundial park which is the starting point for several easy trails along the Sacramento River. The bridge itself is very interesting.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Fa8L5u8YUhg9jbNF8WAEmdw5U9OV-_C99KHfq3mYcoqwWe-mqoGAsunYmr_rifxW_61pgdV3fGM1LfnuLsISuFbKuPL7VSQfR_6wcTrNxlVZPldL4By1lEoPUhDoPUMsCg3gF6vt-jw/s1000/river7544.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="1000" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Fa8L5u8YUhg9jbNF8WAEmdw5U9OV-_C99KHfq3mYcoqwWe-mqoGAsunYmr_rifxW_61pgdV3fGM1LfnuLsISuFbKuPL7VSQfR_6wcTrNxlVZPldL4By1lEoPUhDoPUMsCg3gF6vt-jw/w640-h326/river7544.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The water sparkled in the sunshine.<br /></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaQZypgGZpHxD1VDjMioPSBQwQEdHforK6q7WYETsubKFqdL9SfwA0gbgsQBJUuSy63xCUPtwTRNkSN6v5pcJtoyFx2SSRVsAt_vVnMl7OJUilPT3-TwWgTbKFUAnf5f-FwoPKjP4qic/s1000/goose7563.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1000" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaQZypgGZpHxD1VDjMioPSBQwQEdHforK6q7WYETsubKFqdL9SfwA0gbgsQBJUuSy63xCUPtwTRNkSN6v5pcJtoyFx2SSRVsAt_vVnMl7OJUilPT3-TwWgTbKFUAnf5f-FwoPKjP4qic/w640-h510/goose7563.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Several Canada Geese kept an eye on the people.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVynUaa62iMPDSv4qVghXx7KZtYzW09bme8x1ZgQM8c4pZKJzcJfDW2PDbKlsVQMWy5P6-tplGqBJhJOkuZMu3Q9x2YUsc9RbsNY4fU82hyphenhyphenli4_HiPJqyYP7jESQV6w4MbcrKToHbAc1o/s1000/hot7574.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVynUaa62iMPDSv4qVghXx7KZtYzW09bme8x1ZgQM8c4pZKJzcJfDW2PDbKlsVQMWy5P6-tplGqBJhJOkuZMu3Q9x2YUsc9RbsNY4fU82hyphenhyphenli4_HiPJqyYP7jESQV6w4MbcrKToHbAc1o/w640-h400/hot7574.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I was somewhat disappointed in the fact that the trail we took was not along the edge of the river. At ten in the morning it was already in the 90s. I do have to get used to the heat! This trail goes on for 17 miles. We walked 1.7 miles (round trip). <br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We will do better tomorrow!</span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822169260430560826.post-70105887364698130972020-10-07T21:41:00.000-07:002020-10-07T21:41:44.740-07:00Elk in Orick<p><span style="font-size: large;">As we were driving north on US 101 through Orick to go to Fern Canyon, we passed a lot of cars and people on the side of the road. Sure enough there were Elk in a yard and an adjacent field. And of course we stopped too!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7qIyMHJD_NXSiM8cxbSct10AqVNczTL432df-16TA1dLaN6MZ-z7h-bRnYHQMbn834_jCAml4ZOm7Kqisq-I8Zb80aZPo3tV_RQsMv421ov-B16U6RjU1EbNm99cHk9FC1KCeaZ_FWg/s1000/ElkWithHouse8029-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1000" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7qIyMHJD_NXSiM8cxbSct10AqVNczTL432df-16TA1dLaN6MZ-z7h-bRnYHQMbn834_jCAml4ZOm7Kqisq-I8Zb80aZPo3tV_RQsMv421ov-B16U6RjU1EbNm99cHk9FC1KCeaZ_FWg/w640-h344/ElkWithHouse8029-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">I guess if you live in this little yellow house you are used to the herd. I don't see any flowers planted anywhere.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6-uzUmgwh8iH_84g67577gjN_AaQv87gCHFd-pnKGHXcGfwCFj1OaIc9jAQLWV-tN-8DtXbCgZsO2YAvgIIGnfSQZgyUOOfpPcL290U8zwhf19HcuitaN_7VDtThACODLkyG_QAsOpg/s1000/InField8023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="838" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6-uzUmgwh8iH_84g67577gjN_AaQv87gCHFd-pnKGHXcGfwCFj1OaIc9jAQLWV-tN-8DtXbCgZsO2YAvgIIGnfSQZgyUOOfpPcL290U8zwhf19HcuitaN_7VDtThACODLkyG_QAsOpg/w536-h640/InField8023.jpg" width="536" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The herd was a mix of cows and bulls. Some were lying down in the field next to the house.</span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o_pB9l4ITsgroP5WsjU1iKqCOrdRQoiyXWRCNtH-iZYdVzDnE_HtSmnfoRltGGhTxse8-_myCbHwyz5h83CPMsqWzZ28A8dRvBeWGWYZmVPW_x0YKnOO0jWfn7uKDv9mf_-bbl-4jGw/s1000/feeding8038.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="939" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o_pB9l4ITsgroP5WsjU1iKqCOrdRQoiyXWRCNtH-iZYdVzDnE_HtSmnfoRltGGhTxse8-_myCbHwyz5h83CPMsqWzZ28A8dRvBeWGWYZmVPW_x0YKnOO0jWfn7uKDv9mf_-bbl-4jGw/w375-h400/feeding8038.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Some were peacefully grazing.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzLbOIoQorhyphenhyphenzhDGLdknnpFy4P1PzIem476Mzg-ooJZcnIDx1Alq7STnl1nTuadH9tOj3Gex9BRH3ErXk6p1XFMKVd4RjrUSMA4O4R5kd4IXiiUuZakC-zcWkEav7g1UlxbjGRepEvmA/s1000/BigGuy8040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1000" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzLbOIoQorhyphenhyphenzhDGLdknnpFy4P1PzIem476Mzg-ooJZcnIDx1Alq7STnl1nTuadH9tOj3Gex9BRH3ErXk6p1XFMKVd4RjrUSMA4O4R5kd4IXiiUuZakC-zcWkEav7g1UlxbjGRepEvmA/w640-h616/BigGuy8040.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Until this big bull came from behind the house. Then the cows started moving around more and the smaller bulls went across the road to the field.</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhX0sP2zooMRyKSD3KQjWEKf6XAz1u5keFwxtOzzIcM1xx6IJ6zhblWv8vbp-YKM4_aZV8PYgRNSltGVkLyVEHVaxctxMugZp8dwhMRisJ9msF-_YU3irpa65uhG6-bU7eSuAzNf8jd00/s1000/sniffing8044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhX0sP2zooMRyKSD3KQjWEKf6XAz1u5keFwxtOzzIcM1xx6IJ6zhblWv8vbp-YKM4_aZV8PYgRNSltGVkLyVEHVaxctxMugZp8dwhMRisJ9msF-_YU3irpa65uhG6-bU7eSuAzNf8jd00/w640-h358/sniffing8044.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>He did some serious sniffing.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72i7s49TrkmWfxawS6YeTkYZmAJlyTzPXuLUmIzR82VJpTLqM7sQ2Cc-XCWh0FCZqRPVZPcmxObytLQTpI61bLb3lWYPT4jMqFhl3qqvzaTnVpu7Go87JxpNTq4Twi-ANNw-owapZwyc/s1000/Kanoodling8045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1000" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72i7s49TrkmWfxawS6YeTkYZmAJlyTzPXuLUmIzR82VJpTLqM7sQ2Cc-XCWh0FCZqRPVZPcmxObytLQTpI61bLb3lWYPT4jMqFhl3qqvzaTnVpu7Go87JxpNTq4Twi-ANNw-owapZwyc/w640-h482/Kanoodling8045.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>And some canoodling. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN33Wl3IMC2E3-D3CZqFRfzGmYXbvy52gV-3lTMSoRVKyz_iyGgh83Uz6Blpfc-xvRjrxSnlh4GfxKZvGZW-qeuSLkSNpCHvnKwvGXg7ZhkqP9pkzEAdybF_f7j89OV92rGB9aSC5di3Y/s915/look8045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN33Wl3IMC2E3-D3CZqFRfzGmYXbvy52gV-3lTMSoRVKyz_iyGgh83Uz6Blpfc-xvRjrxSnlh4GfxKZvGZW-qeuSLkSNpCHvnKwvGXg7ZhkqP9pkzEAdybF_f7j89OV92rGB9aSC5di3Y/s16000/look8045.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But from the look in her eye I would guess she was thinking: "Not today mister."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgFc9-8Yr0dEVcBzQ3jDkcNq9IsBH_x_54V11vakxckvE4LE5imzW26AUauQtCTDTuaSbHsq1lPVA4rt1Mrk3NyLRgzhrFD9dYzB_nORC_fGA6uCcjvFNzVnOhFLtIdwEQ9_nb7JnSFA/s1000/followed8046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1000" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgFc9-8Yr0dEVcBzQ3jDkcNq9IsBH_x_54V11vakxckvE4LE5imzW26AUauQtCTDTuaSbHsq1lPVA4rt1Mrk3NyLRgzhrFD9dYzB_nORC_fGA6uCcjvFNzVnOhFLtIdwEQ9_nb7JnSFA/w640-h578/followed8046.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />He followed her around for a while like a randy stud at a sleazy bar, trying to convince her to give him a tumble. He was ready.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ4WBC0p2WR-a5w1ag2Zqo0TQFcF7OZFEafvSNkxcA37E854UZMpEx6t2xkmsFAtDOXvfFINY6YIEndQddUyiQ3kpam5ETOYEzxH9szWHbD57NGhJis3PPSuBK13Y8XNscI5Vp5FCZbk/s1000/bugel8035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ4WBC0p2WR-a5w1ag2Zqo0TQFcF7OZFEafvSNkxcA37E854UZMpEx6t2xkmsFAtDOXvfFINY6YIEndQddUyiQ3kpam5ETOYEzxH9szWHbD57NGhJis3PPSuBK13Y8XNscI5Vp5FCZbk/s16000/bugel8035.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />A little later, when the cow in question went over a small fence to get away, this slightly smaller bull also made a bugle "pass" at her. Or, perhaps, he was mocking the big bull's lack of a "score." </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I always enjoy seeing the wild creatures living their lives while ignoring the people watching them. So, if you are driving in Elk country and see lots of cars on the side of the road, there are probably Elk to be seen. But don't get too close, they are dangerous at this time.<br /><br /></span></p></div>Merikayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05378095339747943548noreply@blogger.com3