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

St. Jude Trail
St. Jude Trail* is one of my favorite places to walk on Pine Island. Mitzy likes it a lot but Jerry loves it--twice this week I turned around on our walk to see this svelte rat terrier on his back, bony legs straight up with toes pointed skyward, writhing in pleasure as he blissfully rolled in something I didn’t care to identify. The resulting odor would make a sanitation worker squeamish, but proud Jerry inhaled with gusto. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was a dog!

This week alone I saw a flock of more than 20 roseate spoonbill, great blue herons, night herons, great egrets, brown and white pelicans, and an otter scurrying across the trail and into the water. Here is a shot of some cool art at the Norm Gowan Trailhead and a pre-dawn view from trail’s end.





*St. Jude Trail is a property of the Calusa Land Trust, a non-profit that does a wonderful job buying and managing sensitive lands on Pine Island. If you enjoy the flora and fauna of the area, consider joining. www.calusalandtrust.org

Around the Island
Here are a few shots taken on the Island this week.















Old Trucks
Here are five old Florida trucks.

Headlights

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Wildlife photography, Old Trucks, Pine Island

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

As the thermometer has lowered, so has the attendance at the campground. The percentage of tents to hard-sided campers has flip-flopped, with canvas and screen being replaced with fiberglass and aluminum. Obviously, staying warm has risen in importance! Fall is truly here with multicolored leaves falling from the canopy to the forest floor, opening up cracks in nature’s privacy screen.

Sunrises
Changing weather patterns bright wind and clouds.











Trail Hiking
We hiked Bass Lake Trail for the first time and were not disappointed--another beautiful trail through deer- and other critter-populated woods alongside Bass Lake. Once again we hiked Windy Moraine Trail enjoying the solitude.

Quick Trip to DC
I had an engagement in DC facilitating a trusted advisor training session for my business partner. Great group of people who seemed to really enjoy the session. It had been a month since I had traveled, and it was a mini-culture shock as I went from the beauty and serenity of remote woods and water to the city frenzy of concrete and steel. Nice to have my feet in both “camps!”

Down and Around to Kalamazoo



We purposely set a route we hadn’t traveled so that we could do some old truck hunting. Great scenery and we were not disappointed--15 old trucks posed for my lens. (See the pics at the end of this blog post.)

Mers’ Menagerie
We stayed at Mers’ place in the woods, a menagerie of nature. Here is a shot of Max the cat, a feeding wild turkey, a woodpecker, and the southern cousin of our chips up north.









Feed Store
Just for fun we stopped at the local feed and supply where we were greeted by Penelope the pig, Tonka the pup, and Violet the rabbit.







Ribarama
Every year our good friend Jamers hosts an exclusive (well…kind of exclusive) feast for about 50 lucky people. Along with having a great time, the event raised $1,000 for the Kalamazoo Animal Rescue and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Good stuff.





(Note: Next week I’ll be posting several more Ribarama shots for those interested. Also, if you took an especially good one or two, send them to me and I’ll include them.)

Old Trucks
Here are a few of the trucks shot on our trip down and back to/from Kalamazoo…

Headlights

September 23-October 13: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 14-26: Probably at Markin Glenn in Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida



See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Michigan, Hiking, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

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

Truck Hunting
The family headed SSE from Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore taking back roads that we had never traveled before. Our destination was Dimondale, just southwest of Lansing, but our purpose was to hunt for old trucks along the way. Along with lots of full-size old trucks (see the “Old Truck” section below), we ran across these two pint-sized beauties off a gravel road.



Dangerous Dog and Other Scenics
Here are a few other pics taken along the way to and from…





BD Party
We went to Dimondale to help celebrate Jan’s brother’s birthday (it ends in a zero). Here is a pic of Scott (that’s Debbie in the background) and a shot of Zeke, the low-clearance, garbage-eating, attention-howling, good-looking beagle-bassethound mix. Zeke is one awesome pup!





Trail Hiking
We hiked Otter Creek Trail for the first time, and just as we were at the end, a very large (probably female) adolescent Bald Eagle flew overhead--always a sign of good luck. We also revisited, Shauger Hill Trail and Windy Moraine Trail.





Sunrises
Here are a couple pics of pre-dawn skies over Lake Michigan.





Janny Art
Here is a pic dating back to Colorado, called Aspen Grove, it is one of my favorites. Lately Janny has been working on Autumn cards--here are a couple recent ones. For more, check out her web site at www.janalexanderart.com.





Chipper
As I mentioned last week, the chipmunks run the campground. Here is a picture that captures their audacity. While working outside, I made a snack of crackers and peanut butter. Within 18 seconds of sitting down, I had this little chipper crawling up my leg, looking for her piece of the peanut-butter action. In an attempt to gain my confidence, Chipper came up and introduced herself--hard to resist!





Old Trucks
Here are a few of the trucks shot on our trip down and back from Dimondale…

Headlights

September 16-October 13: Camp Hosting at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan
October 14-26: Probably at Markin Glenn in Kalamazoo, Michigan
October 27-29: Heading South
October 30-31: Red Bay, Alabama
November 2: Arrive Back in St. James City, Florida

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Old Trucks, Michigan, Wildlife 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

Sunday
Sprague Lake Hike
Early up and out as Jo and I left camp at sunrise and drove to the Sprague Lake trailhead inside RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park). Beautiful morning as we first hiked a couple miles past the lake before taking the half-mile trek around the water. The air was fresh with the smell of high-country pines as we hiked by ourselves in the brisk 8,000-feet air. Along the way we saw deer and a Momma turkey with her young.





Trail Ridge Road Day Trip



Before 10:00 a.m., all of us (three adults and three Pups) were back in RMNP looking for critters and taking in the vistas. Soon we were on Trail Ridge Road, the scenic byway that goes up and up, and then over and around the park--a gorgeous drive with high mountain views of the snow-capped Rockies, mountain lakes, and deep green valleys. It was jacket weather at the top as we stopped and I took some photos of a herd of elk feasting on the newly sprouted wildflowers.





Monday



Mountain Hike
I had Jerry and Mitzy on the Lily Mountain Trail by 5:30 a.m. We watched the pre-dawn skies as we hiked the two miles up the steep trail toward the peak of Lily Mountain. The trail information called it “strenuous,” and they were quite accurate as it gained over 1,000 feet in elevation. It was a wonderful hike, but I was happiest when it was over.

Old Trail Ridge Road
Later in the morning we left the Pups to rest in BERT and headed back into RMNP. This time we took the Old Trail Ridge Road, a nine-mile, one-lane, bumpy, winding dirt road that weaved its way up to the Alpine Visitor Center--a nice and slow scenic trip that gave another perspective to RMNP. Right before the end of the trip we were rewarded with a group of a half-dozen mature male elk grazing right by the road. Naturally, I got out of the car and took a few pics.





Tuesday
Lake Gem Trail
Early morning we drove to the 1.7-mile Lake Gem Trail. Very nice hike through the forest surrounded by boulders with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. We were rewarded by viewing Gem Lake at the end of our uphill journey.

The Stanley
After a pleasant lunch outside at the Stanley, the world-famous historical site and hotel, we took the Ghost and History Tour. As you have guessed, not only was the Stanley the basis of the movie The Shining, it is haunted. If you are staying in the area (and not RVing), this is the choice for lodging.





Wednesday: Independence Day
Change of Plans
Janny’s Mom took a turn for the worse, so we decided to head to Michigan early. Hence, we drove to downtown Denver to drop Jo off and then continued on to Parker to drop off Charlie, the pug we had been babysitting. Then we returned back to Estes Park.



Thursday
Early Departure
We were on the road by 6:00 a.m. taking 34 East along the Big Thompson River. We saw a couple bighorn sheep ewes along the way.

Across the Plains
After 80 miles or so, we picked up I-76 east then I-80 east as we rumbled through eastern Colorado, across Nebraska, and into Iowa.

Old Trucks
Here are some old truck shots from this week.

















Wonderful week.

Headlights

July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-?: Traverse City, MI
???

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Old Trucks, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park

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
We hung around our campground in Larkspur until we could confirm that our next campground would be open.



The soon to be notorious Waldo Canyon fire had started the day before and was spreading like (you know what) wildfire. Cheyenne Mountain State Park is located just a few miles southeast of Waldo Canyon, so during our stay we had views and smells of the smoke from this growing fire.

Our good friend, Suzanne, flew in to camp with us and meet up with our other RV buddies from Oregon, Kathie and Gary. Here is a shot of, from left to right, Kathie, Suzanne, and Jan.



Monday
Morning Hike
Upon checking with park rangers, I learned that there had been a recent bobcat sighting, so early morning Suzanne and I did a three-mile hike on Blackmer Loop and Cougar’s Shadow seeking out these cats. The only critters we saw were a doe and a fawn deer, but a nice hike nonetheless.

Royal Gorge



After a late breakfast, the five of us drove south on 115 then west on 50 through Caynon City to the Royal Gorge. Over our couple-hour stay, we drove and walked the bridge plus took the tram.









Tuesday
Zoo
Although close to the fire, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo had not been closed, and we arrived shortly after the gates opened and just in time to help feed the giraffes.





Will Rogers Memorial
Above the zoo is a winding road that leads to the Will Rogers Memorial atop the mountain. Very tastefully done, the wall murals tell the story of this area of the West, and the photographs give a visual interpretation of one of America’s most famous icons. From this vista point we had a good view of the fire as well, and we watched the planes making drops in the hope of containing this cantankerous beast.











Wednesday
Sunset View of Fire
Sitting outside we enjoyed our first powerful sunset of the week.



Canine Courtship
We were pup-sitting Charlie, the distinguished pug of the Helman family. This fun-loving bulldozer of a pug fell head over curly tail for Gary and Kathie’s elegant Madeline. Here is a shot of this canine courtship.



Thursday
A Change of Plans
Originally our plan called for spending two days in the Pike National Forest. However, the wildfire took this option off the table, and we were lucky enough to be able to extend our Cheyenne Mountain stay a couple of days. We stayed close to home, though, just in case an evacuation was called.

Friday
Old Truck Shoot
Late afternoon we drove east of Colorado Springs out into the prairies in search of old truck photo ops. We were in luck--see a few of these shots toward the end of the blog.

Saturday
Hike
Jan and I were on the trail at sunrise for a three-plus mile excursion through wooded areas, and down across Prairie Dog Towns.







Pick Up Jo



We timed our departure out of Colorado Springs to pick up Jo in BERT at the Denver airport. It worked great--we swung through the Southwest departure area just as Jo walked out the door into the sunlight. From there we got back on the interstate, and headed west to Estes Park.

Old Trucks
Here are some old truck shots from this week.

















Wonderful week.

Headlights

July 1-4: Mary’s Campground, Estes Park
July 5-7: St. Vrain State Park
July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-?: Traverse City, MI
???

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Wildlife photography, Waldo Canyon Fire, Cheyenne Mountain, Royal Gorge

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

Rough and narrow, steep and winding--the title of this week’s blog describes our road trip up and over Cumberland Pass at 12,000-plus feet. This week you’ll see a bighorn sheep that is helping out the postal service, a dedicated marmot with a mission, a Chihuahua that bites, a bird or two and, by popular demand, more old trucks.



Sunday
Gunnison National Forest
Mid-morning we pulled out of Montrose and drove the 115 miles to One Mile Camp in the Gunnison National Forest northeast of Almont (east of Gunnison). Yes, you have heard it multiple times from me, but it was a gorgeous trek along this stretch of West Elk Scenic Byway--tall mountains, lush valleys, gurgling streams…ho-hum….

Postal Service Cutbacks
As you all probably know, the U.S. Postal Service is in financial trouble. Here at Almont they are taking an innovative approach. They have sold all their mail trucks and are using bighorn sheep to pack the mail along the routes. Here is one guy who got his days mixed up and came to work on a Sunday.



Monday
Guardian of the Valley
Brrr…22 degrees when I awoke. I am all into this hiking thing, but that is a tad chilly. Hence, we all loaded into the car at 6:30 a.m. for a wildlife-spotting drive. We took the back roads leading to the Spring Creek Reservoir admiring the scenery as we drove. Several miles up the road we pulled off to let the Pups stretch their legs in a valley. I heard a shrill whistle, and then spotted a marmot on guard duty across the valley. After our walk on our drive out, I spotted this same fellow perched atop a boulder. He was attentively watching our every move, sounding his warning call at regular intervals and showed no intimidation as I photographed him. In fact, by the look on his face, I think he would have attacked if I got out of the car. Here he is sounding the alarm.



Crested Butte
That afternoon I needed to make a business call (no AT&T at the camp or nearby areas), so we drove back to Almont and then east to Crested Butte. This area is known for its beautiful wildflowers, and that is one of the reasons why we chose to stay in this area. Alas, lack of rainfall had a big negative impact on the flowers. After my call and a nice lunch, we both walked and then drove the streets of this attractive burg. Here is a shot of a home on a side street.



Gothic
From here we continued north, first through nearby Mt. Crested Butte, then along a dirt road to Gothic. On our return home, we took a ranching country shortcut where I shot these cowboys and their dogs having lunch along the river, and later I captured this bird of prey in flight.





Tuesday
Big-Time Road Trip
At 5:30 a.m. we were out of camp, heading up to the Taylor Reservoir. I shot a bighorn on the dam, but aside for chipmunks and a few birds, that was all the critters we saw for the first hour of our journey. We spent some time at the charming town of Tin Cup, first viewing its cemetery (complete with Protestant Ridge, Catholic Ridge, Jewish Ridge, and Boot Hill), and then back to town for a hardy breakfast at Frenchy’s. In town this handsome Violet-green Swallow posed for me. Also, here is a shot of a canoe at Frenchy’s.







From town we drove up the two rugged miles to Mirror Lake. We hiked around the lake, drove down the mountain, and continued on. As we ascended, our road gradually narrowed down to about a lane-and-a-third, the rocks enlarged from golf ball-sized to baseball-sized, and the switchback became more severe until we could see the back of our car trying to pass us around corners. However, the view from the more than 12,000-foot Cumberland Pass made it all worth it. Jan took this shot at an old mining camp on our return.



At Pitkin we stopped for snacks, and I took this shot of a boy and his beloved Chihuaha (he bites).



Here we picked up the road, continued on to Gunnison, then back to Almont, and then returned to camp completing our all-day, 100-mile journey.

Wednesday
Nathrop



After a nice hike along Taylor River, we broke camp and drove the 99 miles to Chalk Creek Campground in Nathrop, Colorado.

Thursday
Camping Grandkids
Our Grandkids (along with their parents and our Grandpup) arrived in the early afternoon for a mini-camping holiday. The highlight of the day (along with a campfire and S’mores) was a visit to the local hot springs.





Friday
Horseback Riding
Our big event on Friday was horseback riding. Here is another pic.



Saturday
We packed up and moved about 15 miles to the Snowy Peaks RV Park just north of Buena Vista. I kept my head down at the computer while Jan did her work.

Old Trucks
I’ve gotten several positive comments on my old truck shots, so I will make a regular blog entry.













Trivia Update on the Million Dollar Highway
Last week I mentioned the Million Dollar Highway south of Ouray. My friend Gene is a successful gold prospector and responded back to me with the real story of how the Million Dollar Highway was named: After the road was built, they discovered gold in the gravel, and someone estimated there was a million-dollar’s worth! Thanks, Gene.

Wonderful week.

Headlights

June 17: Snowy Peak RV Park, Buena Vista, CO
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28-29: Colorado Campground, Pike National Forest
June 30-July 4: Mary’s Campground, Estes Park
July 5-7: St. Vrain State Park
July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-?: Traverse City, MI
???...

RV Park Review
Check out www.rvparkreviews.com for my reviews and those of other travelers of recent campgrounds we have stayed at.

See you next week.

Tags: Nature Photography, Wildlife photography, Bird photography, Colorado, Gunnison National Park, Cumberland Pass, Old Trucks

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: Cowboy Country
Mid-morning we pulled out of Cortez and drove the 115 miles to Ridgway State Park, five miles north of the town of Ridgway. We took Highway 145 through Dolores, passed through Rico, passed by Telluride, turned east at Placer, and north at Ridgway. We were fortunate to reserve a site overlooking a pond adjacent to the Uncompahgre River--just gorgeous. We spent time relaxing outside admiring the fly fishermen and watching kids play around and in the water. There are trails all over and the mountain views are fantastic. This is one nice State Park. Fans of Western movies might recognize the Ridgway area from viewing How the West Was Won and John Wayne’s True Grit, which were filmed here.

Monday: Back to Durango



We had business that required us to go back Durango, so early Monday morning we got onto the San Juan Skyway and headed south. Just 19 miles down from our campground is the town of Ouray, billed as the American Switzerland--a beautiful town in a stunning setting. Just south of Ouray is the 12-mile stretch that is referred to as the Million Dollar Highway. I’m not sure of the reason behind the name, but it sure provided million-dollar views as we drove along, up and up around curve and curve with snowy mountains above, flowing waterfalls across, and deep valleys below. My hunch is that the contractor for this job started running out of money at this stretch of road. Many of the most extreme curves over really deep fall-offs had no guardrails, and, at some of the most door-handle-grabbing sections, the pavement seemed to be a couple feet narrower than normal. No wonder many RV drivers avoid this road like caster oil, preferring to detour many miles to travel less stressful roads! At over 11,000 feet we crossed Red Mountain Pass, later Coal Bank Pass, and finally Molas Pass before reaching Durango. This is one gorgeous drive. We stopped along the side of the road to shoot this old truck.



On our return trip just south of Coal Bank Pass, we saw a small bighorn sheep jump down from a rock onto Highway 550. The car in front of us luckily slowed way down, and I pulled off just 20 feet from this large lamb. He let me shoot him for at least five minutes before he methodically bound from rock to rock back up the mountain. Handsome fellow, isn’t he?



Little Molas Lake
Later in our journey we stopped at Little Molas Lake to enjoy the view of this postcard setting.



We then stopped in Silverton to check things out. Shortly after we finished lunch, the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge train pulled into town. We walked down and took a few photos. Here is my favorite.



The Million Dollar Highway always requires vigilance, but it is far less stressful going north rather than south, as you can hug the mountainside instead of treading on the edge. So this portion of road was child’s play compared to the morning’s trek.

We drove around Ouray, and when the lightning started we darted into the Historical Museum of Ouray County for an enjoyable and enlightening hour learning about the local area. They had some beautiful flowers showcasing their facility.



Tuesday: Really Big Cat
The day started with a brisk, one-hour walk starting at the edge of our campsite and winding up and back the Uncompahgre River. I took a few shots of flowers along the way. Here is one of a false lupine.



Later in the day, we took a scouting car ride into the Uncompahgre National Forest. I was hoping to find some potential trails for hikes later in the week--typical forest roads, rocky, narrow, and steep, with switchbacks that provided the occasional wonderful view. Fourteen miles up the road (close to an hour’s driving), we turned a sharp corner to see what first appeared to be a dead elk with its mother/sibling standing by its side.

As we approached within 30 feet, we discovered that the standing creature was not an elk but a really big mountain lion who had just made a kill. Finally noticing our presence, he slowly raised up from chomping on the carcass and looked our way as blood ran down his chin. This guy appeared to be in robust maturity, tall at the shoulders, square of head, and sporting a tail that looked long enough to jump rope with. Two big bounds and this master of the woods was out of sight, probably watching us and waiting to get back to his lunch. Although I had my big camera on my lap, the three-second or so delay in taking action meant it was too late!



Wednesday: One More Time
Although the odds of seeing the Big Cat again were phenomenally against us, we couldn’t resist the lure of trying. So before dawn we re-traced our steps to the location of our sighting the day before. No carcass, no cat, but we continued to drive up, seeing patches of snow and numerous deer and elk. At one point we saw a newborn baby elk hobble across the road testing its legs as it followed its mother in retreat from our presence. We drove past the pass and went on and on all the way to Silver Jack Reservoir.



Here we unloaded from the car, and with the Kids in the lead we hiked for an hour along the lake, through a meadow, and then up into the woods. Our path ended at the dam where we decided to walk the dirt road back to our point of origin. Another beautiful hike with head-turning sights everywhere.







Box Canyon
Late afternoon we went to Box Canyon, housed within the city limits of Ouray. Along with a beautiful waterfall, Box Canyon is one of those rare places on the planet where black swifts nest. Apparently the swifts had just returned from their winter migration in Brazil and had not yet started their nests. The photographic challenge is that the black swifts are black and swift--we didn’t see a one, but enjoyed our visit.





Thursday: Telluride



Another scenic drive took us to the famous ski town of Telluride. We started by driving the streets lined with quaint shops and well-groomed houses (and an old vehicle or two), and then drove to the edge of town by the old mill to take in the view of Bridal Veil Falls. Next, we parked and walked the streets before taking the free tram to Mountain Village, Telluride’s sister city. This was the Pups first tram ride and they handled the affair with calm and dignity, just as you would expect of these worldly canines.





On our return home we took a diversion off of 145 taking Fall Creek Road south, down to the Woods Lake recreation area, another isolated location. Driving into the campground we saw this marmot.



Friday: On to Montrose



We took the short but pretty drive to Montrose. Here we had a very enjoyable evening visiting with Marge and David, our camp host friends from last year at Highline Lake State Park.

Saturday: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Early in the morning we drove the 20 miles to Black Canyon National Park. We parked at the campground and took the two-mile Rim Rock Nature Trail along the canyon wall trek to the Visitor’s Center and back. The Pups enjoyed the walk, and we had some nice views of the canyon. After that we took the scenic park drive stopping at some of the lookouts. We ended our time in the park by taking the East Portal Road down to the bottom on the canyon and on to the dam. Just as we turned onto this stretch, we saw this female dusty grouse cross the road.



This is Jan’s kind of road--hairpin turns and 16 percent grades.

Once again we ended the day with a nice visit with Marge and David talking about old times and new adventures.

Bonus Pic
Here is a pic from last week’s Anastazi ruin, Lowry Pueblos, visit that I neglected to put in last week’s blog. I really like this image, as it communicates the feeling of isolation and foreboding.



RV Park Review--Great RV Resource
Before I book a park I find myself going more and more to www.rvparkreview.com to get opinions from others who have stayed there. In fact, this is now my main resource. I was starting to feel guilty about using this great tool without contributing anything, so I am now writing reviews after each stay. If you are an RVer, I strongly recommend it.

Wonderful week.

Headlights

June 10-12: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 13-15: Chalk Creek Park, Nathrop CO
June 16-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28-29: Colorado Campground, Pike National Forest
June 30 to July 4: Mary’s Campground, Estes Park
July 5 to 7: St. Vrain State Park
July 8-12: Travel East
July 13-14: McHenry, IL
July 15: Homer Glen, IL
July 16-17: Travel
July 18-???: Traverse City, MI

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Nature Photography, Colorado, Montrose, Ridgway State Park, Durango, telluride

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: Mother’s Day Adventure
After a brisk walk in the 34-degree daylight and breakfast, everyone loaded into the car to celebrate Mother’s Day with a hike and a road trip.

Golden Eagle Encounter
Within 300 yards of leaving San Luis State Park, a mature (meaning really big) Golden Eagle swooped up from the desert directly to our right then cut across our path no more than six feet off the ground and within six feet of our car windshield. We could see every feather detail of this mottled brown giant as we barely missed a collision. I’d had my camera on my lap, but had no photo op during this three seconds of raw action. In my mind I hoped our new friend would circle back, but he kept on flying. Added to the consumption of a pot of strong coffee, I was buzzed for the day.

Zapata Falls Hike
Just five miles south of the Dunes is the Zapata Falls Recreation Area run by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). We took the three-mile path up the bumpy, curvy gravel road, ascending a couple thousand feet in the effort. At the trailhead we trekked up the old stream bed, stopping off to enjoy Zapata Falls. From here we continued up the mountain, climbing another mile before retracing our steps. Along the way we had panoramic views of the Dunes and the entire San Juan Valley. Wonderful hike.





Jan decided she’d like to see some yet-explored sights for Mother’s Day, so instead of turning south at Mosca we turned north.

Colorado Gator Farm
After careful but short deliberation, we passed on visiting the Colorado Gator Farm, continuing on past Hooper.

UFO
However, just a mile or so past Hooper we were “forced” to turn into the UFO Watchtower just as though a cosmic energy took possession of our Honda Element. What a place!



Ute Theater and Cultural Center
We continued going north on 17 with mountains on all sides to look at and not much else. We took a left at the junction of 285, deciding to explore the town of Saguache. As we turned down the main drag of this old town of 500 residents, I decided I wanted a cup of coffee to go. Pulling into a parking spot, I walked across the street to the local cafe. When I returned, Jan had found/created a new lifelong friend named Denise, the proprietor of the Ute Theater and Cultural Center. She had been drinking Mimosas outside of her establishment and had invited Jan inside to view the snack bar, wine bar, and old-time theatre…



Back in the car we returned home to the Park via Center, Hooper, and Mosca.

Monday: Breaking Camp
After four days, we had seen most all the sites in this area we had wanted to see. So by 7:45 a.m. we were on the road out in the brisk morning sun. We took the back roads all the way to Highway 160 West. As an example of the remoteness of our travels, even going 35 miles an hour for a big stretch, we drove over 30 miles with no one coming up behind us. Talk about stress-free driving.

Tuesday: Durango
We started the day with a downtown walk and stops at the Colorado Wildlife and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) offices to get ideas for hikes and locations for spotting wildlife. Later in the afternoon we took a road trip checking out both the town of Mancos and the Mancos State Park. Adjoining our campground is a ranch where horses run.



Wednesday: Junction Creek
By 6:45 a.m. we were at the Junction Creek trailhead of the Colorado Trail at the base of the San Juan Forest. We took a two-hour hike up Colorado’s most famous trail, then drove to the top of the world to Animas Overlook where we took in a vista of tall mountains, forests, and valleys.



Late afternoon we scouted out our hike for the next day.

Thursday: Hermosa Trail
This morning we took the high-altitude Hermosa Trail in the San Juan Forest.











Friday: Scenic Skyway Trip
Took an hour walk along the Animas River.





Early afternoon we took a 50-mile drive up Highway 550, part of the San Juan Scenic Skyway all the way to Silverton. Oh, yes, scenic it is! Made several stops along the way scouting out future hikes and future campgrounds.





Saturday: Navajo Country
Late morning we took a road trip south into the Ute Reservation, checking out Ignacious, Arboles, and driving through Navajo State Park, considering it for a stay in the future.

Wonderful week.

Headlights

May 20-23: Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, CO
May 24-30: Blue Spruce Campground, Vallacito, CO
May 31-June 2: Sundance RV Park, Cortez, CO
June 3-7: Ridgway State Park, Ridgway, CO
June 8-9: Cedar Creek RV Park, Montrose, CO
June 10-13: One Mile Camp, Gunnison, CO
June 14-17: ???
June 18-22: Chatfield State Park, Littleton, CO
June 24-27: Cheyenne Mt. State Park, Colorado Springs, CO
June 28 on: ???

See you next week.

Tags: Colorado, Durango, Mosca, San Luis Valley, Nature Photography, Wildlife 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

Sunday: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The wind finally settled down and we had a nice view of the Guadalupe Mountains as I took the Pups for a long walk in the chilly air (49 degrees). After breakfast, we broke camp at Van Horn at 9:30 and took a nice and leisurely 63-mile trip north on Highway 54 to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, gently rising to 5,600 feet.

Carlsbad Day Trip
After getting situated, we unhooked the car and drove the 60 miles to Carslbad, New Mexico, for a wonderful lunch of Mexican for Jan and barbecue for me (of course we brought the Kids a treat). Carlsbad Caverns National Park was right on our path, so we pulled into the visitor center and I looked around. It wasn’t hot but we didn’t want to leave the Pups in the car so we were unable to explore the caves--some other trip.



Monday: Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Alamagorda, New Mexico
Morning Hike
Before dawn, Jan and I drove to the Frijole Ranch Trailhead in Guadalupe to hike the 2.3-mile Smith Spring Trail. It was quite chilly at sunrise, but slowly warmed, and at the end of the trek I was ready to shed my jacket. We enjoyed the walk along the stony path, going up and over the hills, and around a pond and by the springs.



Shortly after returning to camp we were packed and heading west on Texas 62. At El Paso we turned north on New Mexico 54 then turned into Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, about 12 miles south of Alamagordo. After getting settled in, we drove to White Sands National Monument, stopped by the Visitor Center, and then took the drive to scope out our photography hike for the next morning.

We can see for miles looking out from our high desert campground. This park is at the very tip of the Chichuahuan Desert in the foothills.





Jan has had quite a time watching the dust devils (baby tornadoes) as they suck and spurt among the cacti and the scrub. At any one time you can see six to ten of these little turbos.

Our camp host is an amateur astronomer of over 40 years, and he was kind enough to share his views of the heavens with Jan and me. Through the viewfinder of his 12-inch reflector, we peeked back into time viewing growing stars and dying nebulae. Just a wonderful experience. Makes me want to consider a new hobby :’>>>

Tuesday
White Sands National Monument
The gates to the Monument don’t open until 7 a.m., so we slept in, leaving BERT at 6:20 to drive the 30-minute journey. Because the morning was chilly, the Pups got to go. Jan and I took the Dune Life Nature Trail hike, and after that, drove through the Monument, stopping several times when we saw something interesting. This is a very interesting and unique park--one I feel most people would really enjoy.











Dune Dogs
Both Pups love running in the sand and they thoroughly enjoyed being off the leash. Here are a couple of my favorite photos of them.





Day Trip



In the afternoon, the four of us took a day trip to some small towns east of Alamogordo within the Lincoln National Forest.

Wednesday: Sugarite Canyon State Park, Raton, NM
Morning Hike
Before dawn I hiked a short trail within walking distance of our campsite. Here are a few shots of desert flowers.











When I returned, Jan already had the Pups on leashes so we took them for a nice stroll/run before getting on NM Highway 54 north at 9:00. Once again, a beautiful day. We finally stopped at another New Mexico state park a few miles outside of Raton, close to the Colorado border.

Thursday
Morning Hike
Jan and I drove five miles across the border into Colorado, pulling into the James M. John State Wildlife Area. Here we hiked by ourselves for a couple of miles around Lake Dorothey.









Capulin Volcano National Monument Day Trip



After stopping back at camp to pick up the Pups, Jan drove us west on Highway 72 to Folsom. Here we turned south on 325 to the Capulin Volcanic National Monument. After spending time at the Monument, we returned back to camp via 64 East and I-25 North. Wonderful trip. Along the way we saw scenic vistas and herds of deer and antelope.













Friday: Colorado Horse Park, Parker, CO
Baby Natalie
At 7:30 a.m. we got the call from AJ--Kelly and he were heading for the hospital. We quickly packed up and headed up I-25 across the Colorado border and on to Parker. We set up camp at the Colorado Horse Park, 15 minutes from their home. At their place we walked their dog Hanna Pug, dropped off our Pups, and drove to the hospital. Natalie Marie Helman, all eight pounds and two ounces of her, was born at 11 a.m., April 20. One glance and it is obvious that this gorgeous, intelligent young female will grow into a woman of style and grace. Here is a pic of mom and baby. (Anyone interested in our granddaughter can see many more shots [all downloadable] by clicking here.)



Saturday
Austie and Hanna Pug spent the night with us, and Saturday was quite “active” between walks, games, playgrounds, swimming lessons, car rides, setting up video…. Ended the day wonderfully exhausted. Life is good--very, very good.



Audible Books
Correction: Last week I referenced the dog-car racing book as “Driving in the Rain.” Should have had my coffee first. The correct title is The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein. Sorry about that.

This past week we made the miles fly by while listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and podcasts of National Public Radio’s “Car Talk.” Both recommended.

Headlights

April 22: Colorado Horse Park, Parker, CO
April 23 to May 5: Chatfield State Park, CO (near Denver) to visit family
May 6 - ??: As of now, our plans are to head to Durango and the Four Corners area for a few weeks.

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Colorado State Parks, Colorado, New Mexico, texas

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

Jaunt Out West
I spent most of the week on business--the first part in San Francisco for a keynote speech for a global sales force summit. From there I flew to San Antonio for a presentation to business owners of audio/video/broadcast system integrators. Great folks all around.

Island Walks
Here are a few pics from walks around the Island.







Ospreys in Turmoil
Three doors down from our house there are a pair of ospreys trying to build a nest on top of a pole. Huge credit for effort, but their results are pathetic--take a look a their nest. In addition to their building, they seem to be continually fussing with other ospreys. Here are a few action shots.











Jan’s Awesome New Chest
For the third year in a row, Jan is donating a piece of her art to raise funds for the Calusa Land Trust. It will be auctioned off at the Annual Duck Race to be held Saturday, March 3 at Woodies in St. James City (www.calusalandtrust.org). If you are in SW Florida that day you ought to come--it is a hoot.

Here are a few pictures of the steamer chest that she is donating. Yes, I know I am biased, but it is really cool…makes you want to grab your sunglasses, charter a boat, and head for Cuba!











Also, four images of Jan’s other art pieces* have just been uploaded to www.janalexanderart.com.

*For example, one of her paintings is called “The Cover Up.” Years ago when I was dating a famous Italian model, this beauty painted her self-portrait for me, which I hung in our foyer. One time I came home from a business trip and it was gone--painted over by Jan in my absence.

Headlights

MAA ’12 tentative departure date is set! We are pleased to announce that Motoring Across America 2012 is already in the planning stages and our tentative date of departure is April 13. More to come…

See you next week after a week at home on the Island.

Tags: Pine Island, Wildlife 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

Home for the Week
No travel this week--I was busy with work, but had the pleasure of spending time with Janny and the Pups and good friends and neighbors. Lots of walks, biking, golf cart adventures, and one boat ride (early in the week).

Cloudy and Cold
Although the week started pleasantly chilly and sunny, as the days progressed the weather turned into cloudy and cold. Winter jackets were unloosed from their closet shackles and the dust was blown off our little-used furnace blowers. It was time to hunker down on the island!

Pelicans
Critters are pretty savvy, and the movement of our birds aligned with the movement of the weather--they got slower as the thermostat went lower. However, I was able to capture a little activity. Here is a shot of white pelicans in formation and a pic of a brown pelican getting ready to land.





Curbside Makeover
Jan was asked by a good friend to donate a piece of artwork for an auction to raise money for the Harry-Anna Trust Fund. http://www.floridaelks.org/whoweare.aspx

This fund provides the critical financial backing for all the wonderful projects sponsored by the Florida State Elks Association, including children therapy services and youth camp, among many others. Great cause. Jan gladly concurred with the request and with a little searching found an old shelf she had rescued at the curb along with some other knick-knacks discarded by others. You know the old saying, “One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure.” Janny takes pleasure in making that happen. Below is the end result. Check out her other art at http://www.janalexanderart.com.



Good Morning Sunrise
While writing away one silent morning in my top-floor den, Jan broke the solitude hollering up, “Alex--look at the sunrise! I’m glad I obeyed her command, putting up the shade, opening the window, and setting up my tripod as the skies quickly shifted over 10 minutes, starting out as a teasing violet, morphing into pleasing pink, and then easing into to a bold orange that shouted, “Wake up”! Here is an out-of-the-camera shot taken from my window that only hints at the impressiveness of the actual sight. What a marvelous way to ratchet up the day.



Boardwalk Pups
From my perspective, it is never a good day or a good blog without pups! And as is our case when home, the Kids are with us 95% of the time. Here is a shot of Mitzy and one of Jerry coming down the dock to see what I’m up to.





Fixer-Upper
Strolling back from a morning photo walk through the neighborhoods, I stopped and studied this vacant house. The abandoned mower gave me a feeling of incompleteness: Will the owner ever come back and finish the job? I added a NIR color treatment to this image to give it this stark, infra-red look. What do you think?



Python Sighting
Early in the week we received an e-mail alerting its readers that a Burmese Python had been found a few streets from our home. Sadly, this is not too surprising because over the years a lot of “losers” have let loose exotic pets in Florida, especially in the Everglades. Here is the picture (not sure whom to credit) of this ominous looking fellow taken right before he/she was released upon the lot where we keep BERT our motorhome! Needless to say, it was the talk of the area--depending on the day or the mood of Pine Islanders, one could see citizens stalking around with shotguns or wielding razor-sharpened machetes.



Any Excuse Will Do
Pine Islander’s actively look for any excuse to hold a party and this was a good one. Within 24 hours of the sighting, we received an invite to a “Python and Coyote” party (yes, there had been a recent coyote sighting here as well). Saturday night, Guylynne and Wayne hosted this event in their reptile-adorned home. Wonderful people and wonderful event.

Headlights

MAA ’12 tentative departure date is set! We are pleased to announce that Motoring Across America 2012 is already in the planning stages and our tentative date of departure is April 13. More to come…

See you next week after my trip to Chicago and Atlanta.

Tags: Wildlife photography, pet photography, Pine Island

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

Saturday: Off to the U.S. Virgin Islands!
Janny and I flew out on New Year’s Eve to spend a holiday with good friends. After an uneventful trip (meaning a really good one) we landed in St. Thomas to be greeted by our hosts, Phil and Kim, along with our buddies, Patrick, Frizz, and the Mers. Phil and Kim have a spacious home atop the mountains with an easterly view of the British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean green waters.



Boring Weather
While a large part of the U.S. mainland was “enjoying” cold temperatures and snow (including a freeze-threatening, very chilly Southwest Florida), we were “stuck” with ongoing temperatures in the mid 80s, sunny skies, and soft breezes. Fortunately, we were able to endure this temperature torture for the entire week.

Sunday: New Year’s Day on Megan’s Beach
Just five minutes from Phil and Kim’s home is Megan’s Beach, a world-class beach with white sand and gorgeous waters. After a leisurely morning start, the seven of us hung there most of the day, sunbathing and walking the beach. Surprisingly (at least to me), it was not crowded at all, making our stay all the more pleasant. I waded out waist to chest high and was able to catch a few brown pelican pics along with a brown boobie and spotted ray. Lots of fun.













Monday: Virgin Islands National Park
By 8:30 our group was dressed, fed, packed, and out the door. Phil took us down to the ferry station where he drove us aboard, and we took the car ferry to St. John, enjoying the scenery and a bonus rainbow on our short voyage.







Once on St. John, we drove into the Virgin Islands National Park. After a few minutes at headquarters, our group, now expanded to 14, took an open taxi through the park to the Reef Bay trailhead. Here, Ranger Don explained a little about our hike, and soon we were in line heading down the trail. Although only steep in a few areas, the 2.8 mile trail was uneven, quite so in some areas, rocky, and slick from the morning rain. Hence, good footgear, patience, and a watchful eye were mandatory to prevent slips and slides. Don has been employed by the Park Service on St. John for 27 years, and thus was a wealth of information. We learned the interesting history of the island, its shameful period of often-cruel slavery, and a lot about the flora and fauna of the park.

If interested in learning more about this hike or the National Park, check out this link: www.nps.gov/viis/





After snacking by a rocky pool carved with hieroglyphs, we visited the remains of an old sugar mill, then went down to the beach, boarded a dinghy, and then climbed aboard a trawler to return us to the park headquarters. Soon we were back on the ferry, into Phil’s van, and back to the homestead.

Tuesday: OMG!
As you probably know, St. Thomas is a popular place. For example, on this day, six cruise ships were docked in the harbors spewing out 20,000 folks or so for a daylong exploration of the island, filling the downtown and the most popular beaches. Hence, savvy locals stay home, go off-island, or take the road less traveled, which was our approach. After a morning and early afternoon lounging by the pool, we went down to the St. John Yacht Club* for both libation and a wonderful view of the water.

A Very Unexpected Connection
A mature gentlemen at a nearby table asked us where we were from. When he heard someone from our group say “Michigan,” he appeared to take interest. He said that he had an old girlfriend from Fremont. Jan said that that was where she was from. He said his old girlfriend’s name was Nancy Mullet. Jan replied, “That’s my mother!” OH, WOW! Sixty-three years ago they met at Camp Echo, and it appears that both had a crush on each other. He gave us his card and asked if Nancy would call. (Later she did--is the old flame being re-lit?)



*Most yacht clubs around the U.S. and many around the world “reciprocate,” meaning that if you are a member of one yacht club, you can show your credentials and be allowed in to enjoy the amenities of another yacht club. Of course, you are expected to do the same when your comrades visit your club. Since both Patrick and Phil are yacht club members in Michigan, we were welcomed with open arms.

Wednesday: Clouds and Biting Fish
Wednesday saw clouds and rain darkening the sunny sky every now and then. We did a few excursions by van and enjoyed the change of pace. Later in the day we headed back to Megan’s Bay, and I once again got into the water to try my luck photographing fast-diving, low-flying pelicans and boobies. It was hard to concentrate, though, as schools of fish seemed to take pleasure nibbling on my toes and legs.















We did some serious nibbling ourselves, as our day ended with an absolute feast at Phil and Kim’s. No one starved this trip.

Thursday: BVI Boating
The morning greeted us with a beautiful sunrise, an omen for a beautiful day.



By 8:30 we were on the dock, boarding the powerboat we had hired (along with a captain) for the day to explore the nearby British Virgin Islands. Our first stop was Tortola where we cleared customs, and then we cruised through a hard chilly rain on our way to Virgin Gorda. Soon the skies cleared and our wet clothes dried as we continued our journey south. Docking at Virgin Gorda, we walked, sloshed, climbed, and shimmied our way through The Bathes, a rock conglomeration formed at water’s edge. Fun experience, but a tad more challenging than we all had expected. From here we visited Jost Van Dyke before re-tracing our trip back through customs, and then back to St. Thomas.















Friday: Birds and Rain
Phil was kind enough to drive Jan and me to meet the 6:30 ferry to St. John.





We arrived a little before 7:00, had a bite to eat, and then took a taxi to the Francis Bay trailhead. Here we met seven other people for our guided birding hike. Our NPS guide was a very knowledgeable birder, as were many in our group. However, “Young Audubon” had the best ears, the best eyes, and maybe the most birding knowledge. Only 12 years old, his goal is to go to Cornell and become an ornithologist. The birders had a great day, identifying 27 different species. We had a good time, but the best moment for me was photographing a young brown boobie by the water’s edge. This handsome young fellow (or gal) was not afraid at all and seemed to pose for us as we admired his beauty.



After the walk, we took a taxi back to the ferry station and did a little browsing/shopping before ferrying back to St. Thomas. Here we took a taxi back to meet our group for lunch. The rest of the afternoon we did a little exploring--jumping into stores, restaurants, and bars to avoid the sudden downpours.

Old Stone Farm House
That evening we had a special treat--we had reservations at one of the nicest restaurants in the USVIs.

Our personalized menus displayed a dozen appetizers ranging from escargot to Maine lobster to ceviche to beef carpaccio. Jan had the Grapefruit Salad and I had the Fire and Ice Chilled Soup. The main courses included kangaroo, wild boar, West Indian Pumpkin Thaibbean Curry, Pad Thai noodles, sea scallops, Mediterranean Sea Bass, local wahoo, Angus filet, and shrimp. We all went back to the kitchen where the chef showed us our choices. The nice thing was that you could combine things into any combination you wanted. Jan had the sea bass and scallops, while I had the wahoo atop the Pad Thai noodles--very, very good. For desert we shared a couple Banana’s Foster flambes. Wonderful evening.

Saturday: Back Home
For our last morning, we went up to Mountain Top to enjoy the view from the highest point on St. Thomas. From there we started our journey home, arriving back home greeted by a pair of tail-wagging, wide-grinning pups.

Headlights

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Bird photography, U.S. Virgin Islands

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

Christmas on the Island
We were fortunate to have a “boatload and a half” of relatives down to spend the Christmas holiday with us on Pine Island--a total of 16 people and 5 dogs. The weather was magnificent, so we were able to spend a lot of time on the lanai, on the boat, or on the golf cart.







Christmas Pups
As you might have surmised, this is a dog family. Here is a picture of Jerry observing the activities, Mitzy checking out the opening of presents, Millie just being Millie, and Jessie, the pup, awaiting the next opportunity for mishief.









Wildlife
Here are a few shots of birds and one of a dolphin that followed us forever on a boat ride on Pine Island Sound.















Time for a Tub
Yes, it was great seeing everyone, but it is always good to get back to normal (whatever that means). Here is a shot Jan took of me during re-adjustment.



Mystery New Year’s Eve
Saturday, Jan and I flew off to…(to be continued)

Headlights

See you next week with pics and a report back from our mystery trip.

Tags: Pine Island, pet photography, Wildlife 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

Schnauzer Shoot
One morning I took some photos for Jan S., our good friend and Schnauzer breeder. Her Teacup Schnauzers had just opened their eyes and were getting mobile! With Jan and my Jan’s help, I took scores of images of these adorable youngsters that weighed just two ounces at birth. Interested in a cute addition to your family? Call Jan S. at 239-980-2564.













Boating Sunsets
One evening I took out a boatload of family for a cruise on Pine Island Sound. Here are a couple of sunset pics.





More Birds
Lot’s of birds on the Island, here are shots of hawks, ospreys, pelicans, a vulture, a woodpecker, an anhinga, a frigate bird, and a mockingbird.





























Haiku Fran
Here is a candid shot I took of our neighbor and friend, Fran, as she was bicycling home. As you can tell, I added a little modification!

Headlights

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Bird photography, Pine Island, pet photography

Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Pups Across America! - Fish House pup
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

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

Rearview Mirror

Christmas Boat Parade
We drove the golf cart down to the Monroe Canal Saturday early evening to watch the Annual Boat Parade sponsored by the Pine Island Boat Club. Twenty or so well-decorated boats and crews made their route bordered by throngs of Islanders along the path in the 70-degree temperature. Here are four photos that Jan took of the parade.









The Lost Pictures
While downloading Jan’s boat parade images, I came across a surprise--some images I had taken a while back. Here is a shot from our Motoring Across America tour of Mitzy resting on the dash in the coach.



Also in the camera where a couple of shots I took while bike riding. One is a blur (intentional ☺) and the other is a one-handed shot of a hawk flying across the bike path.





Misto Bar and Grill
We went with good friends to a new restaurant in Cape Coral called Mistos. Islanders will remember George, the chef from Visuvios; this is his new place. Wonderful food, fine service, and great ambience. Jan had the Red Snapper and I had the Grouper Jambalaya. Definitley worth getting off the Island for--give it a try.





Hangin’ On the Island
Here are a few walkaround shots from morning Pup walks and late afternoon golf cart rides--a couple out kayaking Pine Island Sound, a squirrel, a couple of hawk shots, a young eagle, a posing pelican, a Night Heron, and five Great Egrets imitating a weather vane.

Pups Across America

Here is a shot of a momma dog that was out wandering around by the Fish House.

Headlights

See you next week.

Tags: Pine Island, Wildlife photography

Contents

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

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

Rearview Mirror

Poker Run
The first Sunday of every December is the Calusa Land Trust’s Annual Poker Run, a fundraiser to acquire and manage environmentally critical lands on Pine Island (www.calusalandtrust.org). It is a great organization and a really fun event. Here is a shot of me and my crew aboard Rough Draft as we headed from one stop on the water to the next.


(Photo courtesy of Tom Bridges)

Island Walks
More and more birds to view and sights to see during my walks around the Island. Here is a Wood Stork in flight, frangipani blooms with birds in the background, a duck cruising on the Sound (can a duck expert tell me what kind he/she is?), a hawk scouting prey, a few pelican shots, and a flock of crows.

Pups Across America

Here is a shot of Jerry and Jan on the golf cart.

Headlights

See you next week.

Tags: Wildlife photography, Calusa Land Trust