Greater Roadrunner On A Patio Morning — Images by kenne
This time of the year in the desert is so pleasant. The mornings are cooler, so after a walk, I like to watch and listen
to the many birds coming to our feeders and water at the fountain. Occasionally, a Greater Roadrunner appears on top
of the patio wall on their way to get water at the fountain. I happened to be sitting there with my camera and got a few pictures.
Sonoran Desert Tortoise Spotted On The SCVN Lizard Walk (August 3, 2024) — Images by kenne
Source: Wikipedia
The summer heat helps bring a lot of birds to our patio water fountain, including this juvenile cooper’s hawk.
He/she has spent much time in the olive tree, which looks down on the fountain and bird feeders.
They haven’t learned yet that other birds know they are there, so waiting will get he/she nowhere.
Windy Point On Catalina Highway — Images and video by kenne
August of 2010, only two months after arriving in Tucson, I was driving up Catalina Highway. Like many people new to the area, I stopped at Windy Point, which provides great views of the Tucson valley area.
After leaving my car, I noticed some young people rock climbing. They were actually climbing the Windy Point Rock Spire to do a photo shoot on the top. While they were climbing and later taking photos, I took photos of them.
After climbing down, I introduced myself and gave them my business card, telling them to contact me if they would like any of my images. I never heard from them.
Now, some three years later, I decided to do another posting on this photo-opt that became a project by accident.
In the summer time I’m up in the Catalina’s about three times a week and think of the rock climbers each time I drive by Windy Point.
kenne
Red Rock Canyon — Photo-Artistry by kenne
While Joy and Jill were in the Vegas casinos (July 6, 2023), Hugh and I went out to nearby Red Rock Canyon.
(Click on any tiled image to see them in a larger slideshow format.)
After spending the morning at Universal Studios Hollywood, Hugh noted that we were just a few miles
from where the 1932 Academy Award-winning film “The Music Box” – starring Laurel and Hardy was produced.
This is the actual filming location of the movie – where the comedy duo attempt to carry and deliver a piano
up the long flight of stairs, failing miserably multiple times. Hugh grew up loving Laurel and Hardy movies, particularly this movie.
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy “The Music Box” 1932
Hugh Poland On The Music Box Steps
The Music Box Steps
The Music Box Steps
Jill, James, Hugh, Joy, and I drove seven hours from southern Califonia to Springdale, Utah, staying
at the Bubbleberry Inn outside of Zion National Park. Zion is one of our favorite national parks;
having been there several times now.
(Click on any of the tiled images to see them in a larger slideshow format.)
Driving Through Downtown Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park
right in its backyard. I would love to go back and spend more time there. It’s the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts.
We are driving through Jackson Hole nine hours after leaving Butte Montana this morning, which is three-four hours
longer than it should normally take to drive the same distance, even including driving through two national parks.
In hindsight, we should have made plans to stay in Jackson Hole.
Jackson Hole has plenty of friendly brown bears.
After finally getting through Jackson Hole we headed up through the Teton Pass.
Next stop, Pocatello, Idaho, three hours away.
The most common animal observed in Yellowstone National Park is bison.
However, we didn’t see any elk, which are the most common animal in the park.
Bison, lying in the dirt near the river, begins to scratch his chin.
Bison Chin Scratching
A bison moving quickly, but . . .
. . . causally by people fishing in the river
Once entering the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, we followed vehicles on a twisting two-lane road (closed December-April).
We first stopped to video waterfalls just to the road’s left. After a bit of research,
I was able to identify the falls as Rustic Falls on Glen Creek.
Hot Springs
Devils Thumb
Mammoth Hot Springs with travertine terraces, which are formed from limestone.
Thermal water rises through the limestone, carrying high amounts of dissolved limestone (calcium carbonate).
At the surface, carbon dioxide is released, and calcium carbonate is deposited, forming travertine,
the chalky white mineral forming the rock of travertine terraces. The formations resemble a cave
turned inside out. Colorful stripes are formed by thermophiles or heat-loving organisms.
Hot Springs
Hot Springs
Bison in a meadow below several hot springs.
Bison below several hot springs.
Hot Springs Near A Creek
In 1912, the Hoonah Packing Company built the first cannery in the area which today is Icy Strait Point. Icy Strait Point was originally built as a Salmon Cannery and has been an important part of the community for many years serving many functions. Currently, 85% of the staff at Icy Strait Point are local Tlingit from Hoonah.
Icy Strait Point is a privately owned tourist destination just outside the small village of Hoonah, Alaska. It is located on Chichagof Island and is named after the nearby Icy Strait. Owned by Huna Totem Corporation, it is the only privately owned cruise destination in Alaska, as most stops are owned by the cities in which they are located.
We each had an original The Crab House Bloody Mary — delicious!
The City and Borough of Juneau, more commonly known simply as Juneau (/ˈdʒuːnoʊ/ JOO-noh; Tlingit: Dzánti K’ihéeni Athabaskan pronunciation: [ˈtsʌ́ntʰɪ̀ kʼɪ̀ˈhíːnɪ̀]), is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alaska. Located in the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan panhandle, it is a consolidated city-borough and the second-largest city in the United States by area. — Source: Wikipedia,
Downtown Juneau is nestled at the base of Mount Juneau and across the channel from Douglas Island. As of the 2020 census, the City and Borough had a population of 32,255, making it the third-most populous city in Alaska after Anchorage and Fairbanks. Juneau experiences a daily influx of roughly 6,000 people visiting cruise ships between the months of May and September.
The Red Dog Saloon
Originating during the heyday of Juneau’s glorious mining era, this world-famous saloon has provided hospitality and fellowship to weary travelers and local patrons alike.
Looking back at the Seattle Space Needle as we depart the pier (May 27, 2023).
Cruising To Sea Images
Dinner Table On Memorial Day
Our stay in Portland was at the Pineapple Rose Hotel, a funky choice in Portland boutique hotels located directly across from
Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the beautiful Willamette River, which is a major tributary to the Columbia River.
Willamette River, Portland, Oregon
Fountain in the Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Pineapple Rose Hotel (Click On Any Image To See In A Slide Show Format.)
Our next overnight stop headed north will be Portland, but I could not pass through Eugene without stopping to see
the University of Oregon and Hayward Field. Hayward Field has been the home of legends since its inception.
Named for one of track and field’s most innovative early coaches, by the time the first grandstand was built in 1925,
the University of Oregon had already produced two All-Americans and won a Pacific Coast Conference title.
The current facility was completed in 2020, providing so much more for track & field athletes.
My brother Tom and I grew up loving the sport of Track & Field. Before retiring, Tom taught high
school English and coached the girl’s track team in Seattle.
It just so happened that on this day it was the first day of the Oregon State Track & Field Finals.
(Click on any image for a larger view in a slideshow format..)
