Latest game cam

We haven't had a bobcat picture in quite a while. This one seems particularly well-fed.

He probably ate all our chickens, but he sure is handsome.

Tentative fawn. Click to see the larger version... you can still see some spots on the haunch.

The fawn in the foreground is too dark and the deer in the background is too light, but I thought the focus was reasonably good on both of them.
It's gotten warm again lately, which means the animals have to be closer to the camera to trigger it. The weatherman was expecting a high of 75° yesterday, but I'm not sure it reached that here. (That would be a record high.)

A new arrival

This post is a couple of weeks old, but I did manage to go and buy that MTB that I was talking about. I still haven't given this machine a name yet, nor have I taken it out on any epic rides -- hopefully I'll take care of that this weekend. I did manage to take it for an 80km spin around Tomewin in the Macpherson Ranges on the New South Wales border. It wasn't the full "Garden of Eden" circuit, but that would have been pointless after the Tweed Shire Council's "upgrade" of Urliup road anyway.
It always takes a few kilometres to get used to a new bike, and somehow I managed to pick a semi-rainy day. Actually, at this time of year, the rain is more of a help than a hindrance -- heat exhaustion is the last thing I want to deal with. It was, however, a good 30km before I hit any dirt. Like any good MTB, the dirt is where you really start to see the advantage, especially over the rock on the ridge-top route on Glengarrie "Road". It's also amazing how light this thing is compared to "Kevin", the MTB that I was using previously. Before, it was difficult to get the height of a decent "bunnyhop" when trying to clear corrugations, tree roots or whatever else. That doesn't seem to be a problem here.
I'm still weighing up just how I'll convert this one into an off-road tourer later on, but right now, I'm content to simply enjoy what I have. Could another crack at the infamous Duck Creek Road be on the agenda?

trick or treat, smell my feet

Today, the lady who was driving backwards down the one way street stopped in the middle of it and rolled down the window when she got to where I was walking.
She was in a car with a bunch of rowdy costumed kids in the back seat. Cars were honking at her because she was driving backwards down the one way street. An old lady who was trying to park was shaking her finger at the wrong way driver.
I was walking down the street with my own bunch of rowdy costumed kids, taking them out for an after school snack.

The backwards lady had a big giant pink wig on and when she got to me she rolled down the window and said something like "it's official crazy day" and sort of waved her arm towards her back seat rowdiness and over towards my band of goblins and at the old lady.
And I laughed and agreed.

I'm going to bring a few glasses of wine in my travel mug while we go trick or treating tonight. And I'm going to eat some chocolate too. And act all crazy and stuff.

Best. Yard. Bird. Ever.

My Yard List has a Bald Eagle on it, does yours?

Hee hee hee.
We actually got two new yard birds yesterday -- the other was a Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto). But this immature Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was the big surprise.
We are sometimes liberal in what we consider our "yard", but if we can see it (without binoculars!) from the kitchen table, there's no question.
This beautiful creature has visited us three times since yesterday afternoon. Twice, he was chased off by a pair of Red-shouldered hawks that persisted in dive-bombing the poor thing. He didn't appear overly worried until the actual body-slamming began.
The hawks looked so tiny next to him. They must have a nest nearby... I've seen lots of Bald Eagles, but have never seen them mobbed by hawks.
The Eagle chased off a Great Blue Heron this morning, before settling onto this perch to be poorly digiscoped. He eyed a large fish lying on the ground (more about this tomorrow), then was in turn driven away by the hawks (with Blue Jay backup).
More on this saga later, including why (I think) the Eagle came to call in the first place.

Care & Industry-Trying to Find the Balance

Here is the Walker family crest; Walker being my paternal grandmother's maiden name. It means Care and Industry. I find that very curious since those are the two things I'm constantly trying to balance. On one hand I want to take care of my home, family, and friends, but on the other hand I want to get lots of things done.
You know as a child how you would stand in the middle of a see-saw and try to balance the board by keeping both sides equal distance from the ground? I may be telling my age here. Are there any old-fashioned see-saws left in the world? That's how I feel in trying to keep care and work balanced in my life.
If I care for people too much, I get angry because I'm not getting anything made or done. If I do too much art or other related things, I feel guilty for not caring for the people in my life more. It's interesting that I don't get angry when I let relationships slip; just guilty. And it's interesting that I don't feel guilty when I don't do enough art.
Any insight out there in cyberspace?

Sunrise in the Frozen Forest

This photo was made at Tettegouche State Park in Northeast Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior. Parts of the shoreline at Tettegouche are a wonderland of ice right now. Thanks to high winds and waves that hit the shoreline just over a week ago, the trees at Tettegouche are covered in ice. Some of the cliffs at the park angle back as they drop down towards the lake, so when the waves come in just right they literally EXPLODE back out from the cliff and if the wind is strong enough it will catch the spray and fling it up over the cliff and into the trees. This only happens once in a great while, maybe only once or twice every 10 years (or so I'm told). I've shared this ice experience with a few different friends of mine, and no matter how long you've lived along the shores of Lake Superior, this incredible ice makes you stare in amazement. Truly one of the most magnificent things I've ever seen in my life on the lake. This image was made with my Canon EF 24-105mm lens, shutter speed 1/60, aperture f16, ISO 100.
Below: Here is another photo of the same ice formation, taken later in the day after the sun had risen high into the sky.

West Yellowstone to Jackson

On the move again. Up early this morning for breakfast (was at the Outpost Restaurant when they opened). Back to the motel to finish packing the car and get the bicycles on the rack. Wanted an early start to be at Old Faithful before it got crowded.

Just past Madison Junction, I took the one-way road up Firehole Canyon. Had noticed this driving yesterday. Good scenery on the drive - including Firehole Falls.

Could have stopped at some of the thermal features alone the way to Old Faithful, but did not to walk too much before getting to the geyser. Parked at the General Store, Found out the next expected eruption is in just of 30 minutes. Did some shopping before walking to the viewing area. Was a little frustrated with the service at the General Store - lines for cashiers and/or cashiers heading off suddenly to do what-ever.

Old Faithful did not disappoint. Got several good photos during the eruption. Back on the road heading toward Grand Teton. Before I exited Yellowstone, we were treated to another falls -- Lewis Falls. (lower photos)

When I got into the Grand Teton NP, I stopped at Colter Bay Visitors Center. Short chat with the ranger and got a park map. Stopped many times at turn-outs to take photos of the mountains. Gave me a good "lay ot the land".

Lots of bicycle riding options put here. Most of the valley ("hole") is mostly flat. Bicycle lanes in town. There's a bicycle trail that follows the highway to Moose Junction. From there, a park bicycle trail continues to Jenny Lake Visitors Center. I am thinking I may check out the trail from Taggert Lake trailhead and north.



Processed most of my photos. Will have to use a different process for those at Old Faithful. All of the spraying water makes the photos look unrealistic. Got some awesome ones of the Grand Tetons.

Sent an message to the photographer living here - we were supposed to meet. Alas, He is in Yellowstone at old Faithful (did not tell me). I figured it was too good to be true - having a local to showing me the hidden places to photograph.

Stretched out on the bed and started looking for a place for food. Ended up selecting The Lift - neat the town ski lift area. Almost passed on eating there because the parking lot was full. I drove down a couple blocks and came back to the restaurant. Was a couple leaving and I took their spot.

Good burger, cross-cut fries and a pint. Selected the Grand Teton Amber Ale brewed in Idaho. Glad I was able to find the place and get a parking space. The food and beer were great.

Magnifying Christ

This morning's reading from Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper: "Whenever something is of tremendous value to you, and you cherish its beauty or power or uniqueness, you want to draw others' attention to it and waken in them the same joy. That is why Paul's all-consuming goal in life was for Christ to be magnified. Christ was of infinite value to Paul, and so Paul longed for others to see and savor this value. That is what it means to magnify Christ-to show the magnitude of his value."
This book is really helping me hone in on what it means to glorify Christ. We throw those words around without realizing their true meaning. I pray that I will really know Christ in all his glory-from his taking human form, to his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. I want to live the kind of life that when people look at me without even knowing me they think, "Something's different about her." I want to radiate with the love of Christ so that everyone around me can feel His warmth.
I have so far to go to be that way, but I have the hope of Christ in me that it will be so, in time.

Hawaii the Big Island - West Side

King Kamehameha. Hawaiians believe Kamehameha's birth fulfilled the prophecy that foretold of the birth of a male child who would rise to power and become a mighty conquerer and ruler of all the Hawaiian islands.

A Seer told him that if he built a Heiau (Sacred Temple) dedicated to his war God he would achieve his destiny. He built the Pu Ukohola Heiau between 1790 and 1791. He conquered all the Islands by warfare except Kauai which was negotiated in 1810 and his prophecy of Hawaii being ruled by onewas fullfilled. This is Pu Ukohola Heiau



When life hands you lava rocks - build walls. These are all hand layed without mortar.

Next isLapakahi State Historical Park

No one remembers when the walls were built or the people who first lived here, but they probably came for the bounty of the sea.





We continue up the Coast to Makapala for lunch. Just outside town was thisgreat tree house'

The road ends at Waipio Valley. We of course cannot resist the signs and take the trail down.



It leads down to beautiful Waipio Bay.

It's a rock trail with lots of switchbacks.

But we keep our final destination in mind

There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Time for a short rest.

Definately worth the trip!

A stroll along the beach before the tide comes back in.

Another beautiful day in Pardise!

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

An evening in Duluth

Duluth is a beautiful city, and whenever I come to Duluth (if I have the time) I do the good "tourist" thing and make a stop at Canal Park. My brother and I have some appointments tomorrow, but we decided to come down tonight so we could see a movie and not be so rushed tomorrow. As we came into town we noticed an ore boat out on the lake, heading towards the ship canal. We decided to check in quickly at our hotel then go to Canal Park to watch the ship come through.


When we got to Canal Park, it looked like the ship's passing was going to be timed perfectly with the setting sun. However, the ship was moving so slowly that by the time it entered the canal the sun had gone down and the ship was no longer in that nice, warm evening light. Oh well! I still snapped a few pictures as it went through. The image below was shot with my 17mm lens, which allowed me to fit the whole ship in the frame at close range, but also distorted the look a little bit.


After hanging out at Canal Park for a little while longer, we went to see the new "X-Men" movie. When the movie was over, we took a walk along the harbor past the Vista dock, and I took a few pictures along the way. I loved the reflections in the water in the image below: