Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Preparation
Sunday was a day of preparation, catching up on work, and getting ready for my trip.

Monday: The Big Trip
Monday morning, the Pine Island Taxi picked me up at 4:00 a.m. and the big trip began.



Basically it was all day on planes, but things went smoothly, and I was in my hotel (the Lands Inn) in Homer by 8:00 p.m. Alaska time (midnight Eastern) after a sixteen-hour journey.

Tuesday
I awoke in the pre-dawn to the sound of wind and rain (sunrise was not until 9:07 a.m.). At 7:00 a.m. our group got together for breakfast. Nice group of people--six of the ten participants had been on past photo workshops with our leader, Artie Morris, a world-famous bird photographer. We had an Aussie, a Brit, and a Russian, with the rest being Americans coming from various states.

We then spent the remainder of the morning looking at past Homer eagle slides, discussing what to expect, and recommendations as to what to shoot. We had a group lunch, and then mid-afternoon headed for the boats. In just a few minutes we were in eight-foot seas and 30-knot winds. No worries, though, as there was room for the six of us and our gear to fit inside the cabin, and the ship and its captain were well-made for these waters. After about 20 minutes the waves calmed. It was chilly on deck but tolerable, as everyone was appropriately dressed. For about three hours we shot eagles in flight along with the always-present gulls. Great fun.











Late afternoon we motored home in much calmer waters, docked, unloaded, and returned to the Lands Inn. Three of us met for dinner (I had the halibut, which was excellent, complimented by a local ale) and talked photography. Back in my room, I edited shots for an hour or so and then went to bed. Great day.

Wednesday
Yikes! The weather was still a “challenge” with high winds and big waves, but no rain. My room was 20 yards from Kachemak Bay, and you could hear the sound (often “roar”) of the waves most all the time. Here is a morning view. At 9:30 a.m. we headed for the boats, stopping to shoot eagles and the occasional otter and other bird species. We returned at noon and then did the same routine in the late afternoon. Here are a few pics from the day.



















Thursday
Following a similar pattern, we made a morning and an afternoon boat cruise.

Headlights

I’m writing this at 6:15 a.m. on Sunday morning, and I need to pack to take the “adventurous” drive back to Anchorage. I’m riding along with Aussie Mark, and we hope to get some good photos along the way. Hence, I don’t have time to finish all the shots from the entire week as I usually do, but next week I will publish the pics from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Should be fun....

Tags: Homer, Alaska, Bird photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

While Janny stayed in Apopka and helped Auntie with remodeling, I flew to Seattle on Sunday to run a services account management session for a client of my business partner Service Strategies. Upon my return to Orlando/Apopka, we packed up on Thursday and returned to Pine Island. Between unpacking, re-setting up my office, staying abreast of my consulting business, and preparing for next week’s trip to Alaska, I didn’t have much time for pictures. However, I did get one shot of Jerry in flight.



Nonetheless, I’ve selected a few of my favorites from our Motoring Across America ’11 for you to look at.

Headlights

Alas, Motoring Across America, at least our summer trip is over. However, I plan to keep posting the blog as long as I have something of interest to share. For example, I’m flying to Homer, Alaska, to photograph eagles. I’ll have some action shots for you next week.

Have questions or comments--send them in.

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Jerry, Mitzy and Friends
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

After a wonderful stay, we finally left Michigan, taking the last of the Indian Summer weather with us. We headed south and east on back roads until hooking up to I-69. Normally we avoid interstates, but to save time we took them the entire trip back, going through Louisville, Nashville, Chatanooga, Atlanta, near Tampa then over to Auntie’s place.















Raptor Center
On Saturday, Auntie, Jan, and I went to the Avian Raptor Center to view the birds of prey and watch the Harris Hawks during the falconry session. Just a great place.

Pups Across America

Headlights

October 16-19: Visit Auntie in Apopka (Orlando area)
October 20: Arrive back on Pine Island
October 24-31: Alaska

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Pups Across America, photography, Bird photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Jerry and Mitzy, over and under
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Alas, our coach repairs are taking much, much longer than hoped or anticipated, and we have been “forced” to stay in Kalamazoo. However, if one must be sequestered somewhere, this is it! Great host, wonderful home, beautiful setting, close to many friends, and near-perfect weather.

Quick Trip to Vegas
Early in the week I took a quick trip to Vegas to participate in my business partner’s, Service Strategies, executive summit. I ran a pre-conference workshop on leading a services account management organization then co-presented a keynote with a client. Excellent conference with a great bunch of people. We stayed at the brand-new, state-of-the-art Aria resort. You gotta love Vegas--as I opened my room door, the multi-, multi-sound system cranks up, a personal welcome greets me on the widescreen TV, and the drapes automatically open to a view of the city and the mountains.



Road Trip
Late Saturday morning, we took off in Jamers’ convertible with Mers at the wheel, neighbor Dave riding shotgun, with the Alexander’s in the back.



We headed north and west, taking back roads and moseying through downtown Kalamazoo, enjoying the near-perfect weather and the vibrant fall colors.







We stopped at The Pub in Richland to fuel up on homemade deviled eggs (they were awesome) and classic pub grub.



Gilmore Car Museum
From there we took more country roads to the Gilmore Car Museum, one of the top five car museums in the country. Here we viewed hundreds of classic cars on hundreds of manicured acres. If you are into cars, this is a must-visit kind of place (allow four hours). www.gilmorecarmuseum.org

























After a hugely enjoyable tour, we stopped for ice cream (Jan had a cone and Dave and I had malts) at the diner on the property. Mers spotted this frog attached to the diner door.



We then returned back to Mers’ home enjoying the warm wind and the pleasant scenery. Back at Jamers’ place we enjoyed a bonfire and another simple meal. Marvelous day.

Pups Across America

I really like these shots of Jerry and Mitzy. Out on the trail, a large branch had fallen across the path. As is their personality, Jerry leaped over it and Mitzy ran under it.

Headlights

We still are not 100% certain when BERT will be ready to travel, but we are hoping to leave Michigan by Wednesday morning. Because I have to fly to Seattle out of Orlando, we will have to beeline to Apopka, Florida once back on the road.

October 9-11: Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 12-15: Travel south
October 15-19: Visit Auntie in Apopka (Orlando area)
October 20: Arrive back on Pine Island

Note that since we will be back on the Island (hopefully) on October 20 and Motoring Across America will be officially completed for 2011, I will be in Alaska the following week and will be posting pictures of eagles at that time.

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Michigan, Gilmore Car Museum

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Jerry and Mitzy in the garden
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Turkey Attack
The lower level of Jamers’ house is completely glass, and sitting in the office provides an eye-level view of numerous critter activities. One morning Jamers and I were alerted to a noise that sounded like someone taking a rubber hammer to a car hood--Whap! Whap! Whap! Looking out of the office window we saw a savage-looking giant tom turkey in full battle regalia attacking his window reflection. Studiously he scouted out his enemy, and then timed his lightning peck with precision, ferociously jabbing his rival. I’m amazed we didn’t see chips flying--quite a spectacle.

Quick Trip to Silicon Valley
I took a quick trip to Sunnyvale to do a services workshop for a Service Strategies client. The session went very well and the travel was non-eventful--excellent trip!

Neighbor House
Early one morning in the brisk dawn (38 degrees) I took this shot of the Johnson house, Jamers’ neighbor.



Pictures in the Attic
I’d be willing to wager that at least half of all those reading this blog have a shoe box or two of old prints, slides, or negatives shoved onto the shelf in a closet, buried in a box in the basement, or trapped in a trunk in the attic; memories of the past just sitting there--what a waste. Here is a fun assignment for you:

1. Find the boxes (this could be a challenge).
2. Sit down and leisurely go through them--memories will come flowing back as you view yourself at the county fair sitting on a pony at age nine, walking on water in Cancun with your old buddies, or seeing old classmates you haven’t thought about for twenty years wearing funny clothes.
3. Digitize them. No sense leaving them in the box! Get them scanned so you can enjoy them on your digital devices. I sent all our old pics to ScanCafe and was very pleased with the results. Not expensive and easy to do. http://www.scancafe.com/

Art Prize
Saturday, Janny, Jamers, our good friend, Donna, and I drove to Grand Rapids to view the works of the third annual Art Prize. We had a great time walking through the various exhibits. Here are a few pics from the day.

Pups Across America

Here is a pic of Miitzy in Jamers’ garden, plus a couple of “blurs” I took of the Kids on the trail that I then painted.

Headlights

We still are not 100 percent certain when BERT will be ready to travel, but here is what things look like as of now:

October 2-October 7: Kalamazoo, MIchigan
October 8-9: Travel south
October 9-11: Visit Friends in Kentucky
October 12-14: Travel south
October 15-19: Visit Auntie in Orlando area
October 20: Arrive back on Pine Island

Note that since we will be back on the Island (hopefully) on October 20 and Motoring Across America will be officially completed for 2011, I will be in Alaska the following week and will be posting pictures of eagles at that time.

Have questions or comments--send them in.

See you next week.

Tags: Michigan