Sasquatch Country

Gold Bluffs Beach, Redwoods NP

Brookings, Ore.

We’ve been out of WYFI range for awhile at Redwoods NP so haven’t been able to post.  The CG there is a little primitive, so much so that it’s almost like camping.  We spent quite a bit of time on the beach trying to get some shots of those Roosevelt elk that stay down there’ but no luck.  Evidently they’re more likley seen in the spring so we might catch them on the way back.  We hiked a lot of the trails in the redwoods and there’s still a couple more groves to the south of us.  No sasquatch yet, bu thats a gap I hope to fill…. 

Once the weather cleared (up around Bandon, Ore.) it’s been great ever since.  Great sunsets. We’re in Trinidad now and will head down to Eureka tomorrow for a few days.  Then its down to Cape Mendicino.

"If you've seen one Redwood you've seen them all." Ronald Reagan Now tell me he didn't have alzhemers before he was president

Pistol River, Ore

Black Oystercatcher

Gold Bluffs Beach.Redwoods NP

God Beams, Redwoods NP

Harbor Seals, Patrick Point SP, Ca.

OK now, two by two, no pushing!

Just as we were about to accept species applications for two-by-two inclusion onto the cramper the rain stopped. A good thing since it was a little crowded with the sea lions. Man! It was about five days of steady rain, at times heav, with no let up. I guess a bnch of houses slid off the hill up in Florence, and it doesn’t surprise me. I noticed the rooms in Ft. Clatsop were about the size of the cramper, and L&C spent four months in them when it rained 90% of the days. So it can be done. However, the troops were beginning to revolt and I had to have a public flogging. Morale soon improved.

We headed south to try and get out of it, and got down to Bandon, Ore. before it slowed to a drizzle. It cleared for a little while and were able to get some storm surf at Cape Arago. We’re now at Brookings for a few days and it’s finally cleared. We passed a lot of neat stuff between here and Bandon, so we’re going to work that area for awhile.

We have a lot to pick up in North Oregon on the way back, but wen we leave here its California and the redwoods.

Storm surf, Cape Arago

Sunset, Bandon Beach

the quick brown fox....

Home at Last (for awhile)

We got home Monday, eight days short of six months. Along the way we visited traveled 22,051 miles, and visited 18 states, one Province, 11 National Parks, 13 National Wildlife Refuges, 3 National Seashores, 27 State Parks, and 7 county parks, most of them new for us. It was quite a trip, and a lot of fun.

We stopped at the Badlands, Devils Tower, and Little Big Horn on the way back. It was good to be back “beyond the hundredth meridian” especially after dealing with the humidity in West Virginia. Abby looked like she’d been reborn.

Now we’re cleaning out the trailer (so that’s where that lens went) and adjusting to our HUGE house. I think I have a little editing to do so I’d better get started. I’ll leave the final words to Alice….

Wow, what a trip!  Several times this past six months the theme song for Dirty Dancing has played in my head:  “I have had the time of my life . . . and I owe it all to you”  It was an amazing time . . . the time I spent traveling with Pete, the time spent experiencing amazing places in this country, the time spent visiting with family and friends.   A big thanks goes out to everyone that we stayed with and to those that joined us on this venture.   Thanks everyone who called, texted, and emailed, those links were priceless.   Thanks to Carol, Dan, and Mark for the play-by-play texts of the WVU Final Four Game when we were sitting in the middle of the Okefanokee Swamp.  Thanks to Marty for keeping our mail organized and senting it out.   But the biggest thanks goes to my mom and dad for taking care of  Abby and put up with her “shed factor”.   Would I do it again . . . in a heart beat.   And while I am waiting for the Grand Adventure Part II . . . there is always golf!!!!  :o)

Homeward Bound (I wish I were)

Greetings from beautiful Peoria, Il. We left Alices folks this morning and we’re figuring on a marathon drive back to Dillon. We’ll probably stop at the Badlands and Little Bighorn and then right to Dillon.

The trip to Newfoundland was pretty good. Cape St. Marys, the Gannet colony, is really impressive. Theres lots to photograph as there’s always hundreds of birds in the air, plus the nesting ones. There are always fights going on, and just a lot of activity in general. Murres, razorbills, gullimots, and kittywakes are also nesting on the cliffs. Unfortunately no chicks had hatched, so I guess we’ll have to go back for them. (I got some good stuff, but there was that 8 gig card I deleted before downloading, so only I know how good alll that flight stuff in the fog was). The Puffin place was about four hours to the north on the Bonnavista Penninsula. That’s a little more problamatic for photography as the birds are on an offshore rock that’s about 30′ too far. Puffins don’t do that much other than stand by their burrow, so there’s not as much activity.

Newfoundland was cold and windy most of the time. I had all my stuff for camping, but wimped out. I ended up hainging around St. Johns for a couple days at the end because the rental car had a 2000K limit and I didn’t feel like paying .18/K just to drive around.

As The Great Adventure 2010 winds down, I’ll have to say that the whole thing has been a lot of fun for both of us. We’ve really enjoyed it. The camper was never too small. The campgrounds were never too bad (well almost never). And never a cross word passed between us. I’d like to thank Alice for being unfailingly cheerful and always a great companion. And thanks to all those we visited along the way. 2011 – the west coast.

Ah, The Social Life

Well, we’re into the social portion of our trip now, with visits to Charlottesville, VA ,Gettysburg, PA,  Syracuse NY, and West Virginia. Alice tells me this is what people do on vacation when they’re not photographers. Strange.

We spent Alice’s birthday in Charlottesville.  We actually got a motel room and it felt luxurious and spacious (our house will feel like a mansion I am sure) Alice enjoyed taking her first bubble bath in five month . . . I guess it’s a chick thing.   Greg and Carolyn Tensmeyer, friends from Coeur d’Alene who were visiting their son in DC, met us there.  She is a retired teacher and he retired Forest Service.  Greg and I went hiking in Shenandoah NP, and then managed to fit in a wine tasting, art museum and brew pub before the day was out. Good thing the light was bad…  After Greg and Carolyn left we toured Monticello and on Saturday went to a lacrosse game at UVA, a first for Alice. 

From there it was a days drive up to Gettysburg to visit Dave and Barb Booz.  I played lacrosse with Dave at WVU and he was best man at our wedding.  Dave treated us to a tour of the battlefield complete with his insights (he’s a Civil War history professor).  It was fun just to hang out and catch up.  We went to a high school lacrosse game as their son coaches a high school team.   We left the camper there and headed up to Syracuse to visit Laddie and Jane.  Laddie is a high school friend and lacrosse player.  Laddie was an assistant coach for The University of Syracuse.  He and I drove to the to the University and I got to meet Roy Simons, the retired coach of the Orangemen who won six national titles.  That was a treat.   While we were doing that Alice and Jane hit a bucket of balls.  We walked around Skaneateles, a quaint New York village.  Jane and Alice were more into the quaint!!   Of course I suggested we go out for pizza  . . . I am from NY after all!  Thanks Laddie and Jane!!!

We drove back to Gettysburg and spend the night.  Pizza again . . . thanks Dave and Barb!!!!!!  Had a chance to catch up on our movies  . . . Avatar!  On Mother’s Day we drove to WV.  Pulling the trailer brings new meaning to WV being the “Mountain State”.    Abby gave a big waggy greeting to her long-lost parents but we’re pretty sure she prefers Grandpa Harry and Grandma Nell!   I will be flying to St. John’s, Newfoundland on the 18th of May, returning on the 28th.  While I am gone Alice plans to ride her bike to all the places she did as a kid and go on some road trips with her mom.   After regrouping from my trip, we will start for home.

The (Wet) Outer Banks

Well, we’re trapped in the cramper by rain for the second day in a row here in the Outer Banks. We’re staring at each other over the computer, each poised to leap for the one sharp object we have (a plastic kitchen knife) in order to gain absolute control. But only I know where the bear spray is – the final solution.

We got to looking at the distance, time, and expense it would take to get to Newfoundland and its a lot of all three. So we looked into flying me up for ten days, and I can do it for about half the cost and time. (The distance remains the same). So that’s what we’re going to do. I’ll go up there May 18-28 and Alice will stay in WV. When I get back, we’ll start home (so Alice can start golfing.) I’m pretty excited about this. There’s both a gannet colony and puffin colony on the SE corner of Newfoundland and both are easily accessable for photos. (Google “Cape St. Marys Newfoundland” to see what its like.) Anybody interested in joining me is more than welcome.

Just discovered a leak in the ceiling fan of the cramper. Thats OK it’s on Alice’s side of the bed….

Back in Business

We’re at Alices cousins in Myrtle Beach, SC again.  The computer had overheated and they had to replace a couple of parts, but it’s OK again now.  We’ve been working our way up through Georgia and SC one State Park at a time.   Most have been on the ocean and we had a couple of campsites right on the beach.  We spent a couple of days at the Okefenokee Swamp in Ga. where we rented an outboard and went back  in among the cypress.   On another day we went over to Cumberland Island and rented bikes.  Thats the only way to get around over there.  At St. Augustine I went back to those rookeries at the Alligator farm.  The egrets and storks were just beginning to nest, so there were no chicks yet.  I think that was about the last of the wading birds we’ll encounter (although I did have a two rail day at Huntington Beach,  SC).  From here its up to the Outer Banks and Virginia. 

This is Alice.   I am enjoying every second in the Carolinas.  The state parks have preserved precious parts of the coastline, so with the good weather I have finally gotten to have some beach days.    My other joy has been experiencing a “Southern Spring” for the first time in many years. ( The azaleas have been “eyegazmic” and of course dogwoods are a favorite, too.)  I am also glad to have the computer back since it’s our link to the world.  A big thanks to John, Paula’s husband “The Handyman King”  He figured out our DirectTV, the awning, and our grill.  After only four months it will be fun to have all of these up and running. ( April 15th marked 4 months since leaving MT and the 28th it will be 4 months of the official trip.)  Pete’s says now we can stay out another 6 months . . . Not!!!!!!!!!

North with the Spring

It looks like our turn to the north is coinciding with a turn in the weather. It’s been in the high 70’s the past few days and we’ve been able to reak out the shorts ant T-shirts on a permanent basis. We came back from La. to the Panhandle and spent 4 consecutive nights at 4 different parks on the west coast. Manatee Springs SP is centered on one of those huge springs that are all over NW Fla., and was easily the most interesting. They have a great cypress stand surrounding the spring and the whole park is pretty interesting. Even with the rain.

Before heading north we came back to the east coast to Viera Wetlands for four days. It’s easily the best photography we’ve had and was worth another visit. Now we’re up in St. Augustine at another rookery. Alice is out getting a full day at the beach, probably the first of many now. Tomorrow we head for Georgia and the Okefeenokee Swamp for two nights (more if we like it).  Here the big challenge will be seeing WVU in the Final Four,  as the park is pretty remote. Is that banjo music I hear?

If you’re lucky, Alice will tell you about having to go to three different buildings to find a hot shower the other night, and then getting lost riding her bike back to camp. Touring the campground in her PJ’s has been the biggest crisis so far.

The Big Freezie . . . yes it is still cold!

Okay Milo . . . you are so right . . . we need to post . . . it has come to Pete photographing  red wolves behind fences! After a wonderful visit with Virginia we headed up the West coast of FL and into the panhandle.  What a refreshing part of the state, especially the eastern part of the panhandle.  Very much old school FL.   A big thanks to Alice’s cousin Terri and her husband Eric.   We had a wonderful visit and they were able to give us great tips on places to see and photograph and of course Hannah’s delicious Tupeol honey!!  Going back to the Apalachicola area is on the list for The Grand Adventure Part ll.  From there we made a beeline for The Big Easy.  When we passed into Alabama and then Mississippi it just felt refreshing that is was not FL.  (We had been in Florida since January 11th ) For those of you that camp, Louisiana State Parks are the best deal going.  It costs only $18 dollars a night and they honor the Golden Age pass (it’s Pete’s card by the way) . . .  so it becomes $9.  $9 dollars to stay in New Orleans! (and they have free laundry!)  Bayou Segnette State Park is conveniently located to NO.  We drove about 20 minutes, paid 5 bucks to park and took the Algiers Ferry (about a 5 minute ride)  The ferry docks next to the River Walk and about two blocks from the French Quarter.  We spent two days in the city.  The WWII museum is a fairly new addition to the city and very well done.  We took a Hurricane Katrina tour.  It is amazing how far the city has come and how far it still has to go.  There are so many more areas damaged as badly or worse than the 9th ward.  The last evening there we hung around the French Quarter since Pete had not been exposed to Bourbon Street after dark.  I took him to Pat O’Brien’s since the music there is right up his alley.  No he did not have a Hurricane but of course he had beignets at Cafe de Monde, it’s a powdered sugar thing!

From there we camped at Grand Isle State Park and then  headed to New Iberia which is in heart of Cajun and Creole country.  (SPICY)  We met Barry and Linda Hicks from Missoula, MT but who are natives to Louisiana.  We toured the Tabasco Plant at Avery Island and different parts of New Iberia and ate wonderful food:  etouffee, gumbo, muffolettas, and boudin.  Yum!  I still need their expertise on how to eat crawfish,  I don’t have that down pat yet.  But even better than the food was spending time with such good friends.  Saying goodbye was hard!

Heading back east, I will miss that South Louisiana drawl! 

Pete

NOLA was fun, but not too productive photographically.  Aside from risking my life (see pic) to get armadillo photos, the cameras stayed in the car.  I was hoping for something better from a trip out on the delta to Grand Isle SP.  I wasnt prepared for how overwhelming Big Oil was down there: offshore rigs, stockpiles, refineries, helicopters, pumping stations, Halliburton, tankers.   It was kind of like Wyoming with water.  New Iberia has been somewhat better.  There’s 3 rookeries here:  Avery Island  is an egret rookery with thousands of birds.  However they all nest on prepared bamboo platforms, so you can’t get any nesting behavior.   You can get flight shots, and because the pond was covered with duckweed, they were somewhat unique.  Lake Martin is an egret rookery with thousands of birds, few of which can be photographed. Too far away, too many branches.  Jefferson Island is a spoonbill rookery but the birds haven’t come to yet.  should be about two weeks, by which time we’ll  in the Carolinas. Oh well.

As you can see, I’ve kept up my wolf photography skills.  But judging by what Kim sent around, that’s as close as anyone got this winter.