tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29023162896767145472024-03-20T02:13:12.710-07:00Life in Amerikachufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-67500348066184446822015-01-03T14:56:00.002-08:002015-01-03T14:56:17.304-08:00Cape Cod New Year 2015<span style="font-family: "Calibri New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">I enjoyed a little more Cape Cod winter time with Mom, Pop, Mersin, Jenny and the incredible weather. It is supposed to start snowing and then turn to rain tonight. I leave the day after tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">New Year's Day - I got up "early" and snuck out for a quick morning walk. I didn't have my camera - only my iphone and it died after 1 picture. However, I think that one picture was a good start to my 2015. This is the public landing on Long Pond in B<span id="goog_703353391"></span><span id="goog_703353392"></span>rewster. Later in the day Mersin, Jenny and I headed to Capeprovidencetown for some lunch and a little window shopping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibr New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">Pilgrim Heights - Mom and I went for a little beach walk here the day after New Year's Day. The weather was a little chilly, but the sky at the beach was perfect. Still managed to find a little trash. If you litter, you should slowly and agonizingly end yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibr New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">Wood End (Capeprovidencetown, MA) - I have renamed P-town aka Province Town, MA. You are going to need adjust your vocabulary and deal with it. To commemorate the name change Mom, Dad and I walked out to the jetty Wood End Light House and took some pics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibr New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">Island Light Links
(Capeprovidencetown, MA) - On the way up to Capeprovidencetown we
stopped off at the Island Light Links to annoy the one group actually
playing golf by walking the course, taking pictures and collecting lost
golf balls. We found over 30. Got a few pics too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibr New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">Last Year - Two days after New Year's Day last year we had enough for Akiko and I to go out for some snow shoeing. </span><br />
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chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-11843096203141416792014-12-30T12:35:00.001-08:002014-12-30T21:52:58.179-08:00Winter on the Cod<span style="font-family: "Calibri New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">Every year Akiko and I come out to Cape Cod for Christmas. Akiko flies back to Japan to spend New Years with her family and I stay in Brewster to enjoy New Years with family and friends here. I like winter in Cape Cod better than any other season. The place is empty, the air is fresh and whether it is snowy or sunny the scenery is great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">Sandy Neck - I did a walk with Akiko and Pop here a couple of days after Christmas. Passed this hunting shack that made for some pretty neat pictures. I will hopefully go back again to get some more pics of the other hunting camps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibr New",Calibri,monospace; font-size: large;">Truro Coast (Atlantic Side) - I did a walk here with Pop the day before New Year's Eve. Didn't take any pictures while walking in the dunes - mostly because we were concentrating on finding and staying on the trail. Did snap a couple of pics of the so called Bog House and Pop horsing around. As Pop said, "Mind the top step." <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/42%C2%B000%2707.5%22N+70%C2%B001%2728.0%22W/@42.002546,-70.026587,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en" target="_blank">N. Pamet Rd.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ocbF_UKhsc/VKMLPbEVtDI/AAAAAAAACV8/PsBuE3HjKjA/s800/Bog%20House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ocbF_UKhsc/VKMLPbEVtDI/AAAAAAAACV8/PsBuE3HjKjA/s800/Bog%20House.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1AEK3R4ntWk/VKMJTjKN0KI/AAAAAAAACVs/fh_DmJj3_j4/s800/slacker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1AEK3R4ntWk/VKMJTjKN0KI/AAAAAAAACVs/fh_DmJj3_j4/s800/slacker.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-72371481821572706822014-12-06T20:44:00.001-08:002014-12-06T20:45:44.048-08:00Perfect Day for a Walk<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now that harvest is over we have some time on the weekends to get out and stretch our legs. Today we went for a walk in one of the tree farms above town. It was drizzly, but warm and the sun tried its best to break through the clouds, but by the end the clouds had dropped to our elevation and the sun lost out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The sun fought a good fight:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But it was a losing battle. However, even rain clouds and clear cuts can make for impressive scenery:</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Along the way we some fauna (are sally-manders considered fauna?):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qpXGrakuqzReMlvIUS8tonQHsu7TqL6aG-0kMfLQ0O4q3BRs1xfevF0ys7byHjWhFVgDqz9r7E4PsIkprTuMdu2bgVcfXZcTl4-CSdcSetbBEWQx4i7TrVvddxig1xGmMxOZask8goVU/s1600/sally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qpXGrakuqzReMlvIUS8tonQHsu7TqL6aG-0kMfLQ0O4q3BRs1xfevF0ys7byHjWhFVgDqz9r7E4PsIkprTuMdu2bgVcfXZcTl4-CSdcSetbBEWQx4i7TrVvddxig1xGmMxOZask8goVU/s1600/sally.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then we saw some flora that I could not focus on (mushrooms are flora, right?):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge18H4Xlf5fdIoSToh_rzPiz38VeCaMZCPIiu_oSnIhyphenhyphenZrHWbsMFrbWLBgmZyyorx6RP4R170lM_bsXAisQAquo-sE0S2plpUCXXahxHhs6PzMoEMX1ysjy3ZAuf4_uJ8uojM_DFxYdVMt/s1600/i+suck+at+the+focus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge18H4Xlf5fdIoSToh_rzPiz38VeCaMZCPIiu_oSnIhyphenhyphenZrHWbsMFrbWLBgmZyyorx6RP4R170lM_bsXAisQAquo-sE0S2plpUCXXahxHhs6PzMoEMX1ysjy3ZAuf4_uJ8uojM_DFxYdVMt/s1600/i+suck+at+the+focus.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also some signs of the local two-legged trash who just just happened to leave some of the other kind of trash behind. Yay for sugar and caffeine:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7hY3evb0cBueVohwneXfhiLcec0BPnyC8BYDHaBRFDcjIEngUEcD1gyJYagVNQjOTMPmnXklW9QrYVRrVaXKam9QunGPuxSCqm56P5bPisj-jyDymjT7l3AIHrcZFaDlq8sRPi7OTftk/s1600/d-bag+spore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7hY3evb0cBueVohwneXfhiLcec0BPnyC8BYDHaBRFDcjIEngUEcD1gyJYagVNQjOTMPmnXklW9QrYVRrVaXKam9QunGPuxSCqm56P5bPisj-jyDymjT7l3AIHrcZFaDlq8sRPi7OTftk/s1600/d-bag+spore.jpg" height="586" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bleach anyone:</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Plxx7pV0m8WRG5l5cX413jebfTIVbD3oLEF9ndYpDGcPlVQNgAxdnswmdqnnhlYoe7c200my2mOvEyvQdvK5So-8AB24SS-KrLJ7-1d5kM4dIK2mZhWcvXZDd12FpcF3dEi1-sjeZKt3/s1600/more+sports+men.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlAam5gVPzXbJ6em2ASichgtZKopF9Zw96MFowi9yMz6x6x4e3rqUhAihkW9prXClcr02u4mqBhMWtypnltr84aREvVo_C5Hl6rjURl8Q9GxpushAv7hTtqKvIQQGcXoRiXPrx99KNvCP/s1600/not+all+is+beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlAam5gVPzXbJ6em2ASichgtZKopF9Zw96MFowi9yMz6x6x4e3rqUhAihkW9prXClcr02u4mqBhMWtypnltr84aREvVo_C5Hl6rjURl8Q9GxpushAv7hTtqKvIQQGcXoRiXPrx99KNvCP/s1600/not+all+is+beautiful.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Disturbingly picturesque for trash, but it still makes me angry. If you litter you should eat some razor blades and chase them with a little bleach:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Plxx7pV0m8WRG5l5cX413jebfTIVbD3oLEF9ndYpDGcPlVQNgAxdnswmdqnnhlYoe7c200my2mOvEyvQdvK5So-8AB24SS-KrLJ7-1d5kM4dIK2mZhWcvXZDd12FpcF3dEi1-sjeZKt3/s1600/more+sports+men.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Plxx7pV0m8WRG5l5cX413jebfTIVbD3oLEF9ndYpDGcPlVQNgAxdnswmdqnnhlYoe7c200my2mOvEyvQdvK5So-8AB24SS-KrLJ7-1d5kM4dIK2mZhWcvXZDd12FpcF3dEi1-sjeZKt3/s1600/more+sports+men.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh, man. I was wondering where I lost my speakers and the chopped up pieces of my old frame pack:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4xxVtpJvoPgUQPCOQJKnZPVKJWgZoYBC5PEmlwbvtWz1YwafBQROcTBTsqWOGP8fmg1FVq0VGqz8pvXgNG3Ton17su6aBw-Kpt7JGqvx53nWWkJCriMUCwj3UH9L36SHukxV4S-V1roT/s1600/sportsman+spore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4xxVtpJvoPgUQPCOQJKnZPVKJWgZoYBC5PEmlwbvtWz1YwafBQROcTBTsqWOGP8fmg1FVq0VGqz8pvXgNG3Ton17su6aBw-Kpt7JGqvx53nWWkJCriMUCwj3UH9L36SHukxV4S-V1roT/s1600/sportsman+spore.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In spite of the trash we were able to enjoy more clear-cut views:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHk_Gi-EKP8VyLhWnyiHG17rJsFsLi2PAcfHDfAlYRug4PdTej5xr5pAyzN-8TQbqqQEHseiiUaJ-NezMB1IwC261c8e5-HdldnSZSVddDjkYstVUzEEMuqdWO9Osmd3jvjJ0kvgar77l/s1600/froggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHk_Gi-EKP8VyLhWnyiHG17rJsFsLi2PAcfHDfAlYRug4PdTej5xr5pAyzN-8TQbqqQEHseiiUaJ-NezMB1IwC261c8e5-HdldnSZSVddDjkYstVUzEEMuqdWO9Osmd3jvjJ0kvgar77l/s1600/froggy.jpg" height="640" width="514" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Again with the pinhole filter:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGqL33T22ksQaM3BKzosXWhO37HtOcbP0Tfwi9XybReLrYx-UmKERemnZleYoM8rZs6-p_8EbFF0c6Y_8ZwIhH1Bq7k1fvADrrA-NNHHipASINYWxtgj_AIhAIwRjwrZrAglPNq18H0E6/s1600/froggy+pinhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGqL33T22ksQaM3BKzosXWhO37HtOcbP0Tfwi9XybReLrYx-UmKERemnZleYoM8rZs6-p_8EbFF0c6Y_8ZwIhH1Bq7k1fvADrrA-NNHHipASINYWxtgj_AIhAIwRjwrZrAglPNq18H0E6/s1600/froggy+pinhole.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Franny ready for action:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcLC7PahGBOdXX5w7cpqZTgePivVio8GtdCe8Aq7_g6qw-z2yU2di-NJAaAa20RXgphU48hEtaiipFy-WBK2SvBW8mw-rqzFAs9x9pdoaEqi7JL6Ko1841Yd0wOy8UfUmP_TnuGrOaucw/s1600/excited+fran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcLC7PahGBOdXX5w7cpqZTgePivVio8GtdCe8Aq7_g6qw-z2yU2di-NJAaAa20RXgphU48hEtaiipFy-WBK2SvBW8mw-rqzFAs9x9pdoaEqi7JL6Ko1841Yd0wOy8UfUmP_TnuGrOaucw/s1600/excited+fran.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kaibu doing her side-eye-kaibu thing:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0yUr6J7_uDKy1dMfxzf-CZYJK2R1Sf2P58QMZrFn3MtaV0ezwVCUapzCKPVL6ocS7e9-hrSc5ocoM5XToJI5NODCX9giNPyiC48AcR4Qp5Earu0rqJkoVAiYGmlSVeLr0d4P4rPQBB0I/s1600/side+eye+kaib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0yUr6J7_uDKy1dMfxzf-CZYJK2R1Sf2P58QMZrFn3MtaV0ezwVCUapzCKPVL6ocS7e9-hrSc5ocoM5XToJI5NODCX9giNPyiC48AcR4Qp5Earu0rqJkoVAiYGmlSVeLr0d4P4rPQBB0I/s1600/side+eye+kaib.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Almost back at the car. The moss is crazy, but it helps keep things looking green all year long:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQxNSmD0IoeA5Q3C3MgVbRjmlhEbhzneTLcgAhGmx4G2aK3p0Sap3nOETvdb5mS10lGhD-tofs6vMHYE1KKckM8_m-NcoDf1ZTzSZ3fgaMMtH4DfDGi_hxn91SLm12rsXIpl4XQtKnZQV/s1600/Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQxNSmD0IoeA5Q3C3MgVbRjmlhEbhzneTLcgAhGmx4G2aK3p0Sap3nOETvdb5mS10lGhD-tofs6vMHYE1KKckM8_m-NcoDf1ZTzSZ3fgaMMtH4DfDGi_hxn91SLm12rsXIpl4XQtKnZQV/s1600/Woods.jpg" height="318" width="640" /></a></div>
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chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-42164532962288236962013-08-20T07:39:00.001-07:002013-08-20T07:39:14.369-07:00I wanted to add this quickly. We have done a couple of camping trips this summer. We don't really do anything special when we camp. We just go up to the mountains and find a national forest service roads that are as remote and unused as possible and search them until we find one with a view. So far we have found a couple of great spots to camp.<br />
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At camp we laze around, cook, drink, laze around some more. Occasionally we even hike or bike.<br />
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Last weekend I took the bikes along. Akiko didn't join me on the rides, but she very graciously played shuttle driver for the weekend. We were supposed to do a ride together on the last day, but the dogs were so worn out, we just did a couple of easy water fall hikes instead. Yeah, that's right. The dogs were too tired to do much more than lazy hiking to beautiful PNW waterfalls.<br />
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Just arrived at Camp:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F9qc3dHdM8k/UgxilzBZBNI/AAAAAAAABhY/fJZfItZDG3E/s1600/Trooper+first+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F9qc3dHdM8k/UgxilzBZBNI/AAAAAAAABhY/fJZfItZDG3E/s1600/Trooper+first+day.jpg" /></a></div>
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A few minutes later, the dogs and I snuck out for our first shuttle run of the weekend. Great way to start off. 10 miles of downhill single track.<br />
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View the next morning without sun:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjS5EEBjuyI/Ug2AC9WeIZI/AAAAAAAABiU/nxLXjTJFfto/s1600/morning+fog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjS5EEBjuyI/Ug2AC9WeIZI/AAAAAAAABiU/nxLXjTJFfto/s1600/morning+fog.jpg" /></a></div>
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View once the sun started coming up:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-81TjaT-KPTE/Ug2AD4_96wI/AAAAAAAABio/Gl1WsgzauTw/s1600/morning+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-81TjaT-KPTE/Ug2AD4_96wI/AAAAAAAABio/Gl1WsgzauTw/s1600/morning+sun.jpg" /></a></div>
Looking back up at Camp:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eBjVS0sLAyI/Ug1_-xoOAjI/AAAAAAAABhw/nMEKh1qHgO8/s1600/camp+morning+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eBjVS0sLAyI/Ug1_-xoOAjI/AAAAAAAABhw/nMEKh1qHgO8/s1600/camp+morning+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Later that day the dogs and I did the Alpine Trail from top to bottom. Great single track ride. 14 miles of mostly downhill through old growth. I will try to add a picture of that later. Below is a shot of a meadow that we crossed about halfway down. It is not exciting or spectacular, but it was cool to just bomb through!.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFW-o70-nmc/Ug2ACErn5XI/AAAAAAAABiY/5b9R8XougPo/s1600/heide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFW-o70-nmc/Ug2ACErn5XI/AAAAAAAABiY/5b9R8XougPo/s640/heide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Handlebar point of view later on down the trail:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHHeiPiFk2o/Ug2ALzX4I7I/AAAAAAAABjY/ELU6t5xRjQA/s1600/bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHHeiPiFk2o/Ug2ALzX4I7I/AAAAAAAABjY/ELU6t5xRjQA/s640/bars.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The next morning we took things even slower, but eventually I got some of this brewed up to get us moving.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o8MzIEFeC-c/Ug2ADQ0tgDI/AAAAAAAABik/vP9RoEHAwGo/s1600/morning+ritual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o8MzIEFeC-c/Ug2ADQ0tgDI/AAAAAAAABik/vP9RoEHAwGo/s640/morning+ritual.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then we went waterfalling. The first stop was Pinnard Falls. Kaibu seems to have a little Lab in her afterall.<br />
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Overview of the falls:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zhl8j2AqERM/Ug2AEO5FLnI/AAAAAAAABi0/aJYh1od5fvU/s1600/pinnard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zhl8j2AqERM/Ug2AEO5FLnI/AAAAAAAABi0/aJYh1od5fvU/s640/pinnard1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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There were also cool old trees to play on:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63wHtnXXkhI/Ug2AFy3NlRI/AAAAAAAABjI/qODOn9rR1lc/s1600/tree+fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63wHtnXXkhI/Ug2AFy3NlRI/AAAAAAAABjI/qODOn9rR1lc/s640/tree+fun.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHeMeh3kSU0/Ug2AGJoR-hI/AAAAAAAABjQ/mprRvhU8ck8/s1600/tree+fun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHeMeh3kSU0/Ug2AGJoR-hI/AAAAAAAABjQ/mprRvhU8ck8/s640/tree+fun2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Then it was on to Spirit Falls:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_jiorXAO7JA/Ug2AEpnWMoI/AAAAAAAABjA/pnZWai40Zao/s1600/pinnard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_jiorXAO7JA/Ug2AEpnWMoI/AAAAAAAABjA/pnZWai40Zao/s640/pinnard2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Franny was pretty wiped out. She usually does not sit still this long.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ImmZw3kP4I/Ug1__fKDRBI/AAAAAAAABiA/x1zzSSeLL_Q/s1600/fran+pinnard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ImmZw3kP4I/Ug1__fKDRBI/AAAAAAAABiA/x1zzSSeLL_Q/s640/fran+pinnard.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The moss was so green and lush.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmTC8oSR8Uc/Ug2ACuoU24I/AAAAAAAABiQ/aZ2qumgZpBA/s1600/moon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmTC8oSR8Uc/Ug2ACuoU24I/AAAAAAAABiQ/aZ2qumgZpBA/s640/moon1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OQtLv2z9kYQ/Ug2AE0Pj2XI/AAAAAAAABi8/5Ak1TTw5Bno/s1600/pinnard3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OQtLv2z9kYQ/Ug2AE0Pj2XI/AAAAAAAABi8/5Ak1TTw5Bno/s640/pinnard3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Then we headed home with a side stop for an OK BBQ sandwich in Cottage Grove.<br />
chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-16990210757324036092013-02-24T18:59:00.000-08:002013-02-24T18:59:01.105-08:00Cornice CrashingWe went to play in the snow this weekend. Like a dumbass I forgot the camera yesterday so there are only pics from today. No biggie, as the views yesterday were pretty blah.<br />
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Here is the view from our highest spot of the day.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V12i2qaixHo/USrOO3n2pkI/AAAAAAAABTw/7pK3TCUVPI4/s1600/santiam+to+washington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V12i2qaixHo/USrOO3n2pkI/AAAAAAAABTw/7pK3TCUVPI4/s640/santiam+to+washington.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Very close to here Ms. Fran (our 3 year old mutt) got too far out on a cornice and it went crashing down with her on top of it. Akiko and I were standing about 3 feet away and felt a rumble and then "boom." It took us a second to realize Fran was gone. It was only about a 10 foot fall, but the cornice that came off was huge. 20 feet wide by 6 feet long by about 4 deep at the deepest point. We were just happy she stayed on top of the chunks!<br />
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<br />
After she got her bearings and a couple of minutes of slow moving nervousness, she was as good as new. That musta scared the shit out of the poor thing. I am laughing now, but was a little freaked myself when it happened.<br />
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This is a different cornice of about the same size that Fran rode down. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLKTv7EnUfg/USrTPKVmnfI/AAAAAAAABUg/8uO2jSJeir8/s1600/Another+Cornice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLKTv7EnUfg/USrTPKVmnfI/AAAAAAAABUg/8uO2jSJeir8/s640/Another+Cornice.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />
Akiko decided that it would be a fun ride if one could collapse a cornice on purpose and ride it down. So at the next small cornice we came to, she tried it out. She started to tiptoe out to the edge and I told her to hang on a second.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qJ2c0QXflU/USrOPdWRT5I/AAAAAAAABUA/98DrkxjXAJU/s1600/shiba+cornice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qJ2c0QXflU/USrOPdWRT5I/AAAAAAAABUA/98DrkxjXAJU/s640/shiba+cornice.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The next thing either of us knew she was flopping around on the ground at the bottom of the cornice. It happened so fast I did not even get a picture of her. She is not so interested in riding cornices any more though...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Or6HiE9nmY/USrOO9quqUI/AAAAAAAABT4/iOd_Kic3atY/s1600/shiba+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Or6HiE9nmY/USrOO9quqUI/AAAAAAAABT4/iOd_Kic3atY/s640/shiba+after.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />
Another pic of Akiko and the girls in the snow ghosts.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zhRgqDXEfc/USrOO-No-6I/AAAAAAAABT0/J1vdMZR8zp8/s1600/shiba+and+dogs+in+snow+ghosts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zhRgqDXEfc/USrOO-No-6I/AAAAAAAABT0/J1vdMZR8zp8/s640/shiba+and+dogs+in+snow+ghosts.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
And a shot of some snow ball tracks.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--IDvdmtFFIk/USrOPhjIkkI/AAAAAAAABUI/khrAxMB2EeE/s1600/snow+ball+track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--IDvdmtFFIk/USrOPhjIkkI/AAAAAAAABUI/khrAxMB2EeE/s640/snow+ball+track.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Fun day in the snow.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-27887075147834639542013-02-10T19:13:00.000-08:002013-02-10T19:33:12.828-08:00Hmmm...Niagara Falls Oregon?I was planning on staying home today and washing the mud from yesterdays
trip off the Trooper, but Akiko wanted to get out of the house and do
something. Since we didn't finish breakfast until a little after noon,
whatever we did had to be close. Akiko chose Niagara Falls Oregon. If you
have never been there, it is just above Willamina. A 30 minute drive on
forest service roads and then a 1 mile hike from the trail head brings
you to two pretty big falls. This trip length was perfect, because we could get
there, do it and get home before dark even with a late start. My
recovering knee didn't mind the short distance either. It would prolly
also be a good walk for kids...short distance and fun falls at the end.<br />
<br />
We got to the parking lot and I got nervous, because of "all" of the cars. <br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7Oe185eyj8c/URhZ4is1zHI/AAAAAAAABQ8/EFrYPNjQZjM/s720/nf%20trail%20head.jpg" /><br />
<br />
In spite of the impression you get from wife's attire, it was pretty warm in the woods.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9YS_qUSKvec/URhZ3oBVw5I/AAAAAAAABQg/qS0Daia2rxI/s576/nf%20fran%20akiko%20bridge.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Kaibu had some fun playing on a big ol' log.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3mmwnDFc92o/URhZ4OlVHGI/AAAAAAAABQs/ho2LukNLKM4/s576/nf%20kaibu%20log.jpg" /><br />
<br />
First
view of the right fall. Niagara Falls is kind of a funny name. I wonder
what inspired the "namer" to go with Niagara? Ignorance or Irony? The
falls are obviously much smaller than the real deal, but they aren't
packed to the edges with tourists and souvenir stands. (No the colors aren't really that red. It is one of the filters built into the camera that I prolly over use...)<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cWowEVdRC70/URhZ3b6CxXI/AAAAAAAABQc/BhN8HmqrER4/s576/nf%20filter%20right%20fall.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Here is the right fall a little closer up.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dBEZqV4I2AU/URhZ4vnry-I/AAAAAAAABQ0/ZnhB7l-jmCA/s576/nf%20right%20fall.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Kaibu, Franny and I under the right fall.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CnT-kHLCpn4/URhZ3Y_qvTI/AAAAAAAABQk/KPxOYbILp8Y/s576/nf%20chris%20right%20fall.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Kaibu
couldn't quite figure out how to get back down. It was very slippery
and she wanted to jump off the highest part of that rock into a bunch of
big rocks. After a bunch of pointing and hollering from me, she finally
took the easy, but colder way down...a little dunk was involved.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_akur77tsgU/URhZ4rmHh9I/AAAAAAAABQ4/nAsMBT3c3Fo/s720/nf%20kaibu%20right%20fall.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Akiko under the right fall, once for perspective:<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LjnRa7pJ9bw/URhahJVGcmI/AAAAAAAABRs/7WI1lATqzBI/s576/nf%20akiko%20right%20fall.jpg" /><br />
<br />
and once for entertainment:<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AGrN1L5CTlU/URhZ2WdaHLI/AAAAAAAABQA/zhe4i_R2Ev4/s576/nf%20akiko%20right%20fall%20up.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Here
is a shot of me under the left fall for perspective. (I keep saying
right and left fall, because there are two water falls. Yup, you guessed
it. One on the right and one on the left...)<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FRChkZ3eqVQ/URhZ20RMYuI/AAAAAAAABQQ/04ppnhOuZ_4/s576/nf%20chris%20left%20full.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I liked this shot of me under the fall too. The water looks pretty cool, I thought.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HFpBPK0Z3QI/URhg4ywZmeI/AAAAAAAABR8/JZze3RIdzk0/s576/nf%20chris%20left%20up.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Ms Akiko posing happily on the rocks below the left fall.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pImURvBZcCA/URhZ2R2i1MI/AAAAAAAABQI/ApoEpVjFQZo/s720/nf%20akiko%20left%20fall%20up.jpg" /><br />
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A fun, fast, little trip.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-17708053913001636382012-08-31T17:13:00.002-07:002012-08-31T17:13:57.291-07:00Name that Muscle CarLast weekend I was visiting my friend Mersin in Columbus Ohio. On our way back from shopping for Mersin's traditional Saturday night over-the-top food fest, we saw a small car show in front of a strip club. In addition to being interested in the *ahem* cars, how could I pass up this awesome piece of Americana? Muscle cars and strippers.<br />
<br />
I didn't take any pictures of the girls bending over and spread eagling themselves on the cars, because unfortunately, I do find it kinda cheap and demeaning. Go ahead call me a snob, but it ain't my thing.<br />
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There was a decent amount of foot traffic at the show, so I couldn't get any great shots of the entire cars either. At least not without getting a stripper and a handful of gawkers. So, I took the pictures below instead. Perhaps not the greatest pictures, but they make for a fun game.<br />
<br />
Name That Muscle Car!<br />
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Some of the names will be obvious, but can you guess the year as well? So bring it.<br />
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#1 This shot is one of the obvious ones too, but what year?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1vtT5uZBmQ/UEFN6l8tSII/AAAAAAAABEs/gOWZQowLbhE/s1600/bel+air+cockpit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1vtT5uZBmQ/UEFN6l8tSII/AAAAAAAABEs/gOWZQowLbhE/s640/bel+air+cockpit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
same car:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AL7dj1_ypoc/UEFOAzKHgrI/AAAAAAAABFE/fIB14crpGgI/s1600/bel+air+grill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AL7dj1_ypoc/UEFOAzKHgrI/AAAAAAAABFE/fIB14crpGgI/s640/bel+air+grill.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1vtT5uZBmQ/UEFN6l8tSII/AAAAAAAABEs/gOWZQowLbhE/s1600/bel+air+cockpit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
last one of the same car:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtPej88nZhk/UEFOAncJLHI/AAAAAAAABE8/3z0mFUCICR4/s1600/bel+air+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtPej88nZhk/UEFOAncJLHI/AAAAAAAABE8/3z0mFUCICR4/s640/bel+air+sky.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
#2 Not so obvious & double bonus points for the car in the reflection. Bring it:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9rujzrNAOY/UEFODqHHKNI/AAAAAAAABFc/FqHavJYxJ90/s1600/ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9rujzrNAOY/UEFODqHHKNI/AAAAAAAABFc/FqHavJYxJ90/s640/ss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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#3 Harder still, but two chances (and bonus points for the cars in the background / reflection):<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56d-9hMqI3o/UEFOB8pF9VI/AAAAAAAABFM/VO80u7yk_oQ/s1600/chevelle+mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56d-9hMqI3o/UEFOB8pF9VI/AAAAAAAABFM/VO80u7yk_oQ/s640/chevelle+mirror.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
same car:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gVXsygaNOjs/UEFOEaa6vvI/AAAAAAAABFk/5N-vJ_OHj5E/s1600/wind+shield+wiper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gVXsygaNOjs/UEFOEaa6vvI/AAAAAAAABFk/5N-vJ_OHj5E/s640/wind+shield+wiper.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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#4 Easy one, but what year and what are the cars in the reflection?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNs9QOD2A34/UEFOC6dbu3I/AAAAAAAABFU/lVtzwIueCh4/s1600/p+gto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNs9QOD2A34/UEFOC6dbu3I/AAAAAAAABFU/lVtzwIueCh4/s640/p+gto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
#5 No chance:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GeStBHpZFVc/UEFN_3tqJCI/AAAAAAAABE0/Sc0SMR2TZes/s1600/GM+OEM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GeStBHpZFVc/UEFN_3tqJCI/AAAAAAAABE0/Sc0SMR2TZes/s640/GM+OEM.jpg" width="336" /> </a> </div>
<br />
So what are the answers? 5 cars plus bonus points.<br />
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<br />chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-61913556468954863182012-04-27T15:02:00.000-07:002012-04-27T15:05:04.931-07:00Return to the FatherlandIn April I went back to Germany for a week of work and a week of...well, I am not sure what to call the second week of my stay. It was a week for seeing old friends that we -Akiko joined me in Frankfurt at the halfway point of my trip- hadn't seen for years. It was a chance to romp in our old stomping grounds. Most importantly it was a week that will have an immeasurable effect on our lives. More about that on another day. Yup, I just did that. For now, here are some pictures of a beautiful little corner of Germany. I really wish I had taken more pictures, but I was too busy enjoying myself to pull out the camera every 5 minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWB1k92AQpFYFAbkr4SvlvsHkS9YUmEiRA7i6bNtHNiTMxtJo4H26z9JZPbGw2Qr5uHneyYOXBxD6GiwXs1KHCWkXqyVBt_Qy7ruf-v4PibmoSmmrNpeemeUBN_Eqll8_THAa_C6O81xN/s1600/Shiba+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWB1k92AQpFYFAbkr4SvlvsHkS9YUmEiRA7i6bNtHNiTMxtJo4H26z9JZPbGw2Qr5uHneyYOXBxD6GiwXs1KHCWkXqyVBt_Qy7ruf-v4PibmoSmmrNpeemeUBN_Eqll8_THAa_C6O81xN/s640/Shiba+wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Here is Ms. Akiko sporting her Harpoon hoody with Burg Schwarzenstein in the background. The yellow arrow is pointing right at it. Someday -when I am filthy stinking rich or just really lucky- I will eat in the restaurants and sleep in the luxury hotel there.<br />
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Behind Ms. Akiko in the above picture is the Chardonnay Vineyard from Chat Sauvage. Below you can see her posing like she owns it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFuTkVzdjOAJ6Oj8n-_u3GS2gYdwLKVCa5fCr-17tmlBuWAnVQ8on_Bb-cNhwRbIDKYbz2QJAVDzm3nszyAqPyfp-RJkYzAOTyVpp4COHcoiXJSJuZYgPx5_4dINVmNpcRxGMZU1xPcA4/s1600/Shiba+Chardonnay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFuTkVzdjOAJ6Oj8n-_u3GS2gYdwLKVCa5fCr-17tmlBuWAnVQ8on_Bb-cNhwRbIDKYbz2QJAVDzm3nszyAqPyfp-RJkYzAOTyVpp4COHcoiXJSJuZYgPx5_4dINVmNpcRxGMZU1xPcA4/s640/Shiba+Chardonnay.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>
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We kept walking for a little longer until we came to one of my favorite piece of architecture in the Rheingau region. Schloss Vollrads. I wanted to say my favorite, but there are so many places that are stunning for Americans and other new-worlders. Sometimes I wonder is the locals even recognize what treasure they are surrounded by. Some are grand and towering like Vollrads & Johanissberg. Some are small and quirky like Schwarzenstein or the old farm house in the vineyards below Johanissberg -can't remember the name now, though.<br />
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Below is the tower in Schloss Vollrads, which is now owned by a bank after the tragic story and end of the previous ownership. In the background you can see the main building which is absolutely unthinkably immense. Slate tiled roof that will blow your mind. Really. Apparently, there is a room that is wall-papered with leather too. It is open to the public, but I always feel guilty about clomping around in muddy hiking boots in such a beautiful looking place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZnU2OFVwHzw6QG5y6w4wgW2anAdAlGcikiU8Du5ajtEQXyD0V06Qt6arGoCQehe411phpbrI4XilJjBb5yeyBP59cOVlydk6H0SbQHKq0-4jp0_Zul6yjHHSAm14p9rbxHEyMSLCcJk0/s1600/Schloss+Vollrads+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZnU2OFVwHzw6QG5y6w4wgW2anAdAlGcikiU8Du5ajtEQXyD0V06Qt6arGoCQehe411phpbrI4XilJjBb5yeyBP59cOVlydk6H0SbQHKq0-4jp0_Zul6yjHHSAm14p9rbxHEyMSLCcJk0/s640/Schloss+Vollrads+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Not 10 minutes before this picture we watched people scurry for shelter as they were drenched with heavy rains and pelted with hail. We were nice and dry inside the vinothek bothering the staff with silly questions in japanese and american accented german.<br />
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Below is a picture of the "small" restaurant on the grounds.This place is also on my "when I am filthy rich, I am gonna..." list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySUKhGqEFJ9inF_zoqBeEjaIO15EiUvWre5q6Ehq6S7cnkJDmaRyp-eI1ZU0_dEvwrqAamQYRSKZ1diGaDihgRTxS5pVqIC5fAc-Z2qBOL6KVslrY4Zsqm0P8yLm_fnhQWFUCh5DIF1KS/s1600/Schloss+Vollrads+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySUKhGqEFJ9inF_zoqBeEjaIO15EiUvWre5q6Ehq6S7cnkJDmaRyp-eI1ZU0_dEvwrqAamQYRSKZ1diGaDihgRTxS5pVqIC5fAc-Z2qBOL6KVslrY4Zsqm0P8yLm_fnhQWFUCh5DIF1KS/s640/Schloss+Vollrads+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After our little walk we headed back to where we were staying as guests of Erik and Petra - Schamari Muehle. It's beautiful, isn't it?<br />
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<br />chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-84961860656835511862011-06-01T14:40:00.000-07:002012-04-27T14:08:47.610-07:00Memorial Day WeekendI won't tell you at first where we went for Memorial Day Weekend. Eventually, I think it will be obvious, because of some of the names.
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<br />
PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICTURES - SOME OF THEM GET CROPPED IN THE NORMAL VIEW WITH MOZILLA 4.X
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<br />
It is amazing out west how many linear miles of barbed wire fence there is. I could barely take a picture without having to climb over it or just accept the fact that I would have a fence in the shot somewhere. In addition to making picture taking a little more challenging, the amount of fenced off land speaks volumes about the land-grabbing by "ranchers" in the western states. Some of the fenced of land we passed was probably never used for anything more than a buffer zone between someone with lots of cash and John Q Public.
<br />
<br />
Anyway, we started off the trip with a view of farm land and green energy. Those units are pretty loud. Crazy low-pitch rumble that sounds pretty foreboding.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R_rO-kATQjQ/TeazAQdPHdI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Mo3jX_LnsV8/s640/Green%252520Energy.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R_rO-kATQjQ/TeazAQdPHdI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Mo3jX_LnsV8/s640/Green%252520Energy.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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We were trying to get access to the John Day River valley. We really wanted to camp on its shore for a couple of days. It is BLM managed land and as a US Citizen and a legal resident alien, Akiko and I have the right to spend up to 15 nights there. Except for the fact that between the river and us was hundreds of thousands of acres of private land that was surrounded by -you guessed it- barbed wire. The river is over there...in the bottom of that canyon out at the horizon.
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SdQ4UJPSdV0/TeazESvKYQI/AAAAAAAAAG4/r-z5EPPb7z4/s640/John%252520day%252520river%252520day1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SdQ4UJPSdV0/TeazESvKYQI/AAAAAAAAAG4/r-z5EPPb7z4/s640/John%252520day%252520river%252520day1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Old international truck on the side of the road. What a shame. Even now it has less rust than my scout had.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YBFR6t0dLiA/TeazJJ5Y6VI/AAAAAAAAAHM/SbIkgUDypNI/s640/Out%252520to%252520Pasture.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YBFR6t0dLiA/TeazJJ5Y6VI/AAAAAAAAAHM/SbIkgUDypNI/s640/Out%252520to%252520Pasture.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Not the greatest picture, but it was pretty wild to see this field full of collapsed pylons. I guess it gets windy up here...thus the wind generators...aha!
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bLeDP6ZkIM4/Teay9e1ND1I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/KHeFpw_wfYw/s640/Fall%252520down%252520Go%252520Boom.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bLeDP6ZkIM4/Teay9e1ND1I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/KHeFpw_wfYw/s640/Fall%252520down%252520Go%252520Boom.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Well we finally gave up on camping by the river. In fact, we could not find a legal place to camp at all. Barbed wire and posted signs are going to be an integral part of my next business venture. Who wants in? So we camped here. Completely and 100% illegally on land that belongs to tax payers.
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_aFEYcIdp10/Teay3MOX8zI/AAAAAAAAAFo/6dm1Hknbbgc/s640/Camp%252520First%252520Night%2525202.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_aFEYcIdp10/Teay3MOX8zI/AAAAAAAAAFo/6dm1Hknbbgc/s640/Camp%252520First%252520Night%2525202.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Kaibu, the newest member of the pack, resting on Akiko's sleeping bag.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ZUThRWuRnA/TeazD-j1TgI/AAAAAAAAAG0/HoZSO2HBz48/s640/Kaibu.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ZUThRWuRnA/TeazD-j1TgI/AAAAAAAAAG0/HoZSO2HBz48/s640/Kaibu.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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The ladies on our way to the river, finally. We had to walk about 5 miles to get to the river and back, which was not a big deal - really, it was pretty flat. It still would have been nicer to camp on the river legally. Yeah, we could have packed our stuff down to the river and camped illegally there too. Unfortunately, this was intended to be a car-camping trip and we weren't really prepared (no packs) to haul our gear that far.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4Ucg4w5HlL8/TeayzsrfY_I/AAAAAAAAAFU/Z-ur5QzHKtk/s640/aki%252520fran%252520kai%2525203.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4Ucg4w5HlL8/TeayzsrfY_I/AAAAAAAAAFU/Z-ur5QzHKtk/s640/aki%252520fran%252520kai%2525203.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Here is a view back up the river valley that we camped illegally in, the Hay River Canyon. The colors were great, but the lighting sucked. I tried to use the color adjustment on my new camera and I think the results are a little funky. Without the color adjust colors are too flat, but with it they are to burnt / hot. I need to find a middle grown. The rye (I think it is rye) really was that red / violet color, though. Oh yeah, there is some more fence...
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6W0wpka6Jrk/TeazDV-tCTI/AAAAAAAAAGw/AMukPIYQdwk/s640/Hay%252520River%252520Valley%2525203.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6W0wpka6Jrk/TeazDV-tCTI/AAAAAAAAAGw/AMukPIYQdwk/s640/Hay%252520River%252520Valley%2525203.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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After our walk down Hay River Canyon to the John Day River Canyon, we loaded up the Trooper and headed to our next stop. Along the way we passed Six Springs Canyon. That road also leads to public land, but it was gated and surrounded by a half dozen "Posted" signs as well. Nice view though.
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jzLAbvXIcj0/TeazJ7HItFI/AAAAAAAAAHU/ytibB1WivX4/s640/six%252520mile%252520canyon%2525201.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jzLAbvXIcj0/TeazJ7HItFI/AAAAAAAAAHU/ytibB1WivX4/s640/six%252520mile%252520canyon%2525201.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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We arrived in Larno for some Wild Flower viewing. We were hoping to see catus flowers, but we were too early! Spring is so far behind here. This is BLM land too. There is a public access road that borders the BLM land, crosses private property for 10 miles and then enters BLM land. Where the road enters BLM land the gate was open, but a 10 foot by 10 foot signed informed us that we would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law if we continued driving onto BLM land. Another smaller sign indicated that vehicles parked at or near the gate on the private property side would be towed. We eventually parked and camped on the BLM land before the private property.
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L39ahtTUOL0/Teay0RFlH_I/AAAAAAAAAFc/sW6SLoNsQUw/s512/aki%252520in%252520Clarno.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L39ahtTUOL0/Teay0RFlH_I/AAAAAAAAAFc/sW6SLoNsQUw/s512/aki%252520in%252520Clarno.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 512px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 384px;" /></a>
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Finally, some wild flowers. Akiko taking them in.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J2CTD3SJBZg/Teayv4VKvCI/AAAAAAAAAE8/ozBqmDuhA_c/s640/aki%252520flowers.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J2CTD3SJBZg/Teayv4VKvCI/AAAAAAAAAE8/ozBqmDuhA_c/s640/aki%252520flowers.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Fran enjoying the flowers too.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7tX3lcqilDo/TeazAVOvnJI/AAAAAAAAAGg/UoXIe3M4VWY/s640/frann%252520flowers%252520carno.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7tX3lcqilDo/TeazAVOvnJI/AAAAAAAAAGg/UoXIe3M4VWY/s640/frann%252520flowers%252520carno.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Two versions of the same view. This one without the special color enhance feature. The overcast but very bright sky just blanches out the colors.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s26VO5YPJoU/Teay3WPkDwI/AAAAAAAAAFs/vz4D_dJXtcU/s640/clarno%2525201.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s26VO5YPJoU/Teay3WPkDwI/AAAAAAAAAFs/vz4D_dJXtcU/s640/clarno%2525201.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Same shot,but with the auto-color adjust. Seems too fake to me.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6fYhHQymuqw/Teay37fmINI/AAAAAAAAAFw/PRDjOUZeTlw/s640/clarno%2525202.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6fYhHQymuqw/Teay37fmINI/AAAAAAAAAFw/PRDjOUZeTlw/s640/clarno%2525202.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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A couple of faces that only a mother could love - really, they don't always look thaaat stoopid. Franny and Kaibu playing on the rocks.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l4kjM7aAryw/Teay89DBeNI/AAAAAAAAAGM/y0cWLi-wbiE/s512/dogs%252520on%252520the%252520rocks.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l4kjM7aAryw/Teay89DBeNI/AAAAAAAAAGM/y0cWLi-wbiE/s512/dogs%252520on%252520the%252520rocks.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 512px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 384px;" /></a>
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Kaibu is worn out from two long hikes and a couple of hours driving.
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OREaRby8Pd4/TeaytlxxU0I/AAAAAAAAAE4/V8SnCMFqj38/s720/tired%252520kai.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OREaRby8Pd4/TeaytlxxU0I/AAAAAAAAAE4/V8SnCMFqj38/s720/tired%252520kai.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 492px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 720px;" /></a>
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Camping spot for night two in the "desert."
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ugihueqheDE/Teay282xcLI/AAAAAAAAAFk/uLsaeolaveg/s512/Camp%252520Second%252520Night.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ugihueqheDE/Teay282xcLI/AAAAAAAAAFk/uLsaeolaveg/s512/Camp%252520Second%252520Night.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 512px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 384px;" /></a>
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Akiko doing the prep work in the kitchen.
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d_J_VRSXTl8/TeazFAGeSdI/AAAAAAAAAG8/vjBwKXiGjZo/s640/kitchen.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d_J_VRSXTl8/TeazFAGeSdI/AAAAAAAAAG8/vjBwKXiGjZo/s640/kitchen.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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The Trooper loaded up with our gear the morning of Day three. To me that seems like a ridiculous amount of junk for a couple of days. Akiko and I have spent 3 times as long underway in the mtns with just our packs, but we have 400 lbs of gear for labor day weekend. Seriously? I guess it comes down to: if it fits in the car and makes life easier, why not bring it. That is, however, a slippery slope. Next it'll be a DVD player and before I know it there'll be damned land-yacht parked next to the house. Moderation never was strongest point.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wgnOnomV4mo/TeazGz5CmQI/AAAAAAAAAHA/64FlNPnZRdQ/s800/Loaded.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wgnOnomV4mo/TeazGz5CmQI/AAAAAAAAAHA/64FlNPnZRdQ/s800/Loaded.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 462px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 800px;" /></a>
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So, we saw badgers doing something on our way out of the BLM land. Not sure if they were fighting, playing, mating or what, but there were three of them. I never saw a badger this close before...I mean, I think that's a badger.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fgF1XT8VTmY/Teay0URs7dI/AAAAAAAAAFY/O-HhhOHHNts/s912/Badgers%252520really.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fgF1XT8VTmY/Teay0URs7dI/AAAAAAAAAFY/O-HhhOHHNts/s912/Badgers%252520really.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 495px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 912px;" /></a>
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Fossil National Monument was where we stopped on Day Three. Kaibu got some leash time, which did not please her at first, but she got it figured out.
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--kAtklFyz4o/Teay92VP4EI/AAAAAAAAAGU/RQeAiadF2SE/s640/Fossil%252520Natl%252520Monument%2525202.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--kAtklFyz4o/Teay92VP4EI/AAAAAAAAAGU/RQeAiadF2SE/s640/Fossil%252520Natl%252520Monument%2525202.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Here are the ladies hanging out in the bottom of what is probably a waterfall when it rains.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--QePZJ15hwI/TeazGwx9DPI/AAAAAAAAAHE/mMu_w2RIn4Y/s640/ladies%252520in%252520amphitheater.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--QePZJ15hwI/TeazGwx9DPI/AAAAAAAAAHE/mMu_w2RIn4Y/s640/ladies%252520in%252520amphitheater.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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We headed back toward home via the Deschutes River Valley. Pretty incredible and my pictures do it no justice.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-665i2syYXSI/Teay7CQdz0I/AAAAAAAAAGA/Kq6l0kQ0bRs/s512/Deschutes%2525205.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-665i2syYXSI/Teay7CQdz0I/AAAAAAAAAGA/Kq6l0kQ0bRs/s512/Deschutes%2525205.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 512px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 384px;" /></a>
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More Deschutes scenery.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yrYcQEdQPYE/Teay5Zs0ewI/AAAAAAAAAF8/sq_LfZVk2p4/s640/Deschutes%2525203.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yrYcQEdQPYE/Teay5Zs0ewI/AAAAAAAAAF8/sq_LfZVk2p4/s640/Deschutes%2525203.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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Still more Deschutes views. I knew that eastern Oregon was dry, but I was really surprised by how much it reminded me of Colorado and Utah. The big difference to me seemed to be that the sand stone out here is a lot older based on how broken down and roundedit is. Maybe it is just softer. If you could blind fold someone and just drop them off out here and then ask them to look around and guess where they were, I do not think that many people's first guess would be Oregon!
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wgeVXIwoqAU/Teay4dPn3sI/AAAAAAAAAF0/U2vUZ2LCOzQ/s640/Deschutes%2525201.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wgeVXIwoqAU/Teay4dPn3sI/AAAAAAAAAF0/U2vUZ2LCOzQ/s640/Deschutes%2525201.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 480px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/114751793553039125117/MemorialDayWeekend?authkey=Gv1sRgCNSFn_vCsoyxJQ#">More pics here if you want:
</a>chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-35404830142178391702011-03-31T12:10:00.000-07:002011-03-31T13:14:53.291-07:00More Fun in the SnowI decided to take a day off last week and play in the snow. Tuesday night I loaded up the super trooper with winter weather gear, boots, goretex bib, snow shoes, gaiters, etc. I always feel a little silly loading up all of this cold weather gear into my car when it is 50F and raining, but I do it in the garage anyway. That helps me stay dry and conceal from the neighbors how much a of a gear freak I am. Sad.<br /><br />Maxwell Butte, a measly 6250 feet though it may be, turned me back twice before. So, I decided to make it up this time come hell or high water. Wednesday morning, I left for the mtns as Akiko was heading off to work. She was not happy about that. <br /><br />On the drive up I started to get worried, because there was a lot less snow in the mtns and the temps were a lot warmer than in previous weeks. I did not want to march through slush. 100 miles later I was pulling into the Sno-Park parking lot still not convinced that I wasn't going to be walking in corn mush all day. <br /><br />People who have ridden in my old Scout or traveled across the country with me in my VW will appreciate this part of the story. At the trailhead parking lot, which is about an eight of a mile long, the restrooms are on one side of the lot by the entrance exit to the highway and the trailhead is at the other. I parked the super trooper near the potties for a quick pee-break. When I got back in to drive across the lot to the trailhead, I turned the key and got little more than a quiet "click" from the starter.<br /><br />I got out and started pushing, once I had enough speed, I hopped in and popped the clutch to get it started. No problem. When I parked it on the trailhead side of the lot, I made sure I had pointing downhill...easier to pop start using gravity.<br /><br />At the trailhead we were alone with the blue skies and a balmy but strong wind. It was about 40F with lots of big tall grey clouds on the horizon to the south. Franny and I headed up the trail at a quick, but not crazy pace. We made it to the trail junction at the lake (see previous entry) in a little over an hour. I stopped to check out the summit, which you can see from the lake. I feel silly calling it a summit, but that doesn't matter, because I couldn't see it anyway.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlerY2_ymOvvqKigak3ERLcvBvOQp0chmyKBsI0t4pljYCOwG_-8bQniCWnPQOh_08TeIJJVDhV4yT3ez_tHMFIHS-SkM39s-XKBwgHaiZJ96E5TOLzDmzsGP7ZKE7NU9ofFiCdW-q0vk/s1600/view+of+the+top.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlerY2_ymOvvqKigak3ERLcvBvOQp0chmyKBsI0t4pljYCOwG_-8bQniCWnPQOh_08TeIJJVDhV4yT3ez_tHMFIHS-SkM39s-XKBwgHaiZJ96E5TOLzDmzsGP7ZKE7NU9ofFiCdW-q0vk/s400/view+of+the+top.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590338057468072498" /></a>The "top" of Maxwell hidden by clouds. That thing you can't see in the center of the picture is the top.<br /><br />Up to the lake the trail had been pretty well packed out, but it was warm, the snow on the ground was sticky, and the snow in the trees was melting and chunking off. Kinda crappy conditions. That is, as far as walking around in the mtns in the snow on a Wednesday morning can be called crappy. Luckily the temps started getting colder and the snow "dryer" as we climbed further. At about 6000 feet there was 18 or so inches of new snow on top of a 10 foot-ish base. I turned around to snap this picture just before the clouds completely engulfed us.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETAPc1v0qN37FPONidHdoR49VarhzxohOPBmu-nJI3GeM7vrJRLMzcfR-osSTsFJ_9BJ946LkWXdBrc5wpxBgYp3YGnCSzso-wsNHwk1aB0MnB77y8vG0ntKfFhXQItZgqvoXZVqeyYqj/s1600/view+at+6000+feet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETAPc1v0qN37FPONidHdoR49VarhzxohOPBmu-nJI3GeM7vrJRLMzcfR-osSTsFJ_9BJ946LkWXdBrc5wpxBgYp3YGnCSzso-wsNHwk1aB0MnB77y8vG0ntKfFhXQItZgqvoXZVqeyYqj/s400/view+at+6000+feet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590336311660793010" /></a>Clouds moving in quick. This was the last time I saw the other side of the valley during this walk.<br /><br />Up to this point I had been wearing shorts, long thermal underwear and my gaiters. It probably looks as bad as it sounds, but luckily there are no mirrors out there and Franny is not very judgmental as far as fashion faux pas go. I changed into my bib snow pants, because ahead of us was a labyrinth of snow ghosts and tall drifts. At this point in the climb the pitch was steep enough that I was kicking steps into the snow to make forward progress. I figured I might need a little more than shorts to keep the snow out.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAunWmzMeCiTlktsbt84MzEujONWE165fEe34VDm7liWQW7H702hj3Rt8exi0omzoYTlVDgb0C_5XH_q_cTZdrADOpuopvIb66wfDd_86d8DC4uEdl5_Ecf74NXToKVaoY5tyMkDBaSNu/s1600/into+the+trees+with+fram.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAunWmzMeCiTlktsbt84MzEujONWE165fEe34VDm7liWQW7H702hj3Rt8exi0omzoYTlVDgb0C_5XH_q_cTZdrADOpuopvIb66wfDd_86d8DC4uEdl5_Ecf74NXToKVaoY5tyMkDBaSNu/s400/into+the+trees+with+fram.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590336297261593586" /></a>The entrance to the labyrinth of snow ghosts and drifts that I had to navigate. It was a blast.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vuU8L05WFEmTqmz2-kXYu4mr-ejR9t8wXpbmKGLz1irxsvrxrbiKEAf_lJV_xgz7gF7Q7S_DMKmGpSg9OJySmwhdJhAOvIkToK93F_h3xUb5DZ08SpEEEli5LJJ-GHelnnQxSIYlPN3R/s1600/Fran+at+top.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vuU8L05WFEmTqmz2-kXYu4mr-ejR9t8wXpbmKGLz1irxsvrxrbiKEAf_lJV_xgz7gF7Q7S_DMKmGpSg9OJySmwhdJhAOvIkToK93F_h3xUb5DZ08SpEEEli5LJJ-GHelnnQxSIYlPN3R/s400/Fran+at+top.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590336290254035650" /></a>It took a while to get through the trees and the drifts, but we made it just as the snow kicked in. <br /><br />There was no view from the top. So, I put on an extra layer found some shelter from the wind and ate lunch in the hopes that the wind would blow the clouds off and I could get a decent picture. After a half hour of waiting and walking around up on the top, there was still no visibility. So, we headed down.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAJ3Id0b8Mg7-kpYtqOxvTefTWrEuu4l-Duv7wku9dQSNZkZiFblanXs9uaRYPQjhWKo6W_mgzDKTCPrX2TrF2YKOFgyLYIx5wcYHf37pXSOG9puyNWTefBGpRRA7gAUl89y3C6-eYlVl/s1600/view+from+the+top.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAJ3Id0b8Mg7-kpYtqOxvTefTWrEuu4l-Duv7wku9dQSNZkZiFblanXs9uaRYPQjhWKo6W_mgzDKTCPrX2TrF2YKOFgyLYIx5wcYHf37pXSOG9puyNWTefBGpRRA7gAUl89y3C6-eYlVl/s400/view+from+the+top.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590336318449038434" /></a>Here is the little bit we could see to the southwest. All the other directions looked the same...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gdKmsctoEML0_g4HCYnyBoUPZQxuyS3AxhjcTdRQN5dBfFfQhsOnFmWP4mgM2XGHHQ7KWNUahiX8oL6Ur1XzsTvVBCiQ7KDWUXeQnoV2VW39cHb6NJlCj2qpdji3Q9E_cTPa-G3_oCw1/s1600/STIL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gdKmsctoEML0_g4HCYnyBoUPZQxuyS3AxhjcTdRQN5dBfFfQhsOnFmWP4mgM2XGHHQ7KWNUahiX8oL6Ur1XzsTvVBCiQ7KDWUXeQnoV2VW39cHb6NJlCj2qpdji3Q9E_cTPa-G3_oCw1/s400/STIL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590336301823489106" /></a>And here we are heading back down. Right about in the middle of the screen, where my tracks are no longer visible, is where I had to kick steps into the snow. The whole way down I was thinking about how much fun it would be to snowboard down this and wondering how badly I would mangle myself trying to ski down it.<br /><br />Franny and I took our time heading back. All together it took us about 7 hours for the whole walk. I was pretty tired, but Franny was ready for more.<br /><br />The super trooper fired right-up on the first try.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-83520209917098632702011-03-07T11:47:00.000-08:002011-03-07T12:24:19.206-08:00Denied againIt is not really a big deal, but there is this little hill that will not let me climb it. It's name is Maxwell Butte. it is around 6600 feet high and it is in Oregon's central Cascades. Yesterday was my second try and my second failure. I may try again, but I may just go do something else instead. The big reason that I have been getting my ass handed to me is the amount of snow - about 4 feet at the trailhead and I don't even want to think about how much at the top. A somewhat smaller, but nonetheless contributing reason is that I am an old fat lazy bum.<br /><br />Anyway, no big story. Tried to snowshoe up with Franny and only got to 5600' before hitting my pre-determined turnaround time of 2 pm. In the morning I followed ski tracks up. I met the two skiiers at lunch time and passed them. The skiers caught up to me again at my turnaround point and informed me that I was nuts for trying to walk up. "Try skiing it. Really."<br /><br />Maybe next year I will try it on boards. It has been years, but I think I can still pull it off. My toy budget for Winter 2010/2011 is, however, already long gone.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREwewwpP4uMERwqBpo0PZRU-PpIxYeXR2u4e5EP42br1BOJAMiw7MDkB7VNPOIrWK7kAcOn9RG1obP9pmFF4Zo_ZR0oVwHmwtlESI0jKyzW4KZGQ7P7WCyE-LZ4qu1dxI15oxHVKtNhTm/s1600/IMG_0773.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREwewwpP4uMERwqBpo0PZRU-PpIxYeXR2u4e5EP42br1BOJAMiw7MDkB7VNPOIrWK7kAcOn9RG1obP9pmFF4Zo_ZR0oVwHmwtlESI0jKyzW4KZGQ7P7WCyE-LZ4qu1dxI15oxHVKtNhTm/s400/IMG_0773.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581431350337402994" border="0" /></a>Trail head markers. You can see the ski tracks in front of me. Out here there are signs at all the trailhead parking lots telling the low-life showshoers to stay the hell off the tracks made by the far superior race of skiers. I tried to do so as much as possible, but sometimes the trail was just too narrow. The guys I met today were cool about it and actually made fun of the silly parking lot signs, "it's snow for christsake!" I didn't ask to get a picture of them because they were enjoying a little mother nature while enjoying a little mother nature...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q9mYKSTm_HSLDDJHqEsGkEL4JlY6bXRnKPSoaEw6MICQlATkUgRYkZ6-aE2xcxpxSQbRMbB-LrJSXBDi-hcA5a96CZRXIm1fIDfP8cKInrC7blkWmaEYQmZ3-wefHsPtXa48ZfVJvPfr/s1600/IMG_0774+rot.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q9mYKSTm_HSLDDJHqEsGkEL4JlY6bXRnKPSoaEw6MICQlATkUgRYkZ6-aE2xcxpxSQbRMbB-LrJSXBDi-hcA5a96CZRXIm1fIDfP8cKInrC7blkWmaEYQmZ3-wefHsPtXa48ZfVJvPfr/s400/IMG_0774+rot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581432118452962978" border="0" /></a>Fork in the road. This was the only other true trail marker all day.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9A0S76_7x9b16StNsWbW68GHV0n9-ZddL26B8yyjbgOy0MTkXGUnYLRN2v-OF5l3EfzD4RGiVZyRJLCWLmxOFXkZoynNk9tCuWX23U_MFyoqeab9iXkx7ieH-xjIR02vj7itrsBspVeW/s1600/IMG_0778.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9A0S76_7x9b16StNsWbW68GHV0n9-ZddL26B8yyjbgOy0MTkXGUnYLRN2v-OF5l3EfzD4RGiVZyRJLCWLmxOFXkZoynNk9tCuWX23U_MFyoqeab9iXkx7ieH-xjIR02vj7itrsBspVeW/s400/IMG_0778.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581432766589860834" border="0" /></a>If you look really closely you can see the unofficial trail markers that I was trying to follow. Once I could see the top, I luckily didn't need these.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ab6G3dxoR00kvYHHyALA4_mKt-_9v5AeHbxQZPxbVqioEUSj2OJ6P3cGhgmFnBnZ8BeTWdIcroyr0rxEN8gbpcc0Yf9E_pHtYE3yMQc1L_59Xp8mPEKUOEzRc5hyuLlRmg5mLe5tduXm/s1600/IMG_0779.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ab6G3dxoR00kvYHHyALA4_mKt-_9v5AeHbxQZPxbVqioEUSj2OJ6P3cGhgmFnBnZ8BeTWdIcroyr0rxEN8gbpcc0Yf9E_pHtYE3yMQc1L_59Xp8mPEKUOEzRc5hyuLlRmg5mLe5tduXm/s400/IMG_0779.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581433096065508802" border="0" /></a>A closer look. Think "Needle in a Haystack." You can also see Franny doing pretty well here. At times it way pretty tough for her and she could only walk in my tracks.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvu7ue9j7cTLmSANqQyevdO-xejoAeXQ2bl_5K9kVMwTgzYrkrCQ2ALS0dNMCVs1lrVKBAYW9UUDZuZ_M6cbipOrr0FFoLyrYdytd7Qa3EmwtHNqbs0fOwbZUPJiBj9sIgvgPacnezR-T/s1600/IMG_0786.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvu7ue9j7cTLmSANqQyevdO-xejoAeXQ2bl_5K9kVMwTgzYrkrCQ2ALS0dNMCVs1lrVKBAYW9UUDZuZ_M6cbipOrr0FFoLyrYdytd7Qa3EmwtHNqbs0fOwbZUPJiBj9sIgvgPacnezR-T/s400/IMG_0786.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581434657687525394" /></a>Here is Ms. Franny having a little tougher time of things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJngnrG3XPfAHCsYlU7yM0y3icCqcwyHttVvCQ30axelQ48JRtgvaI2SP1tg-Ao3p5MHlolieBZsMfmAEDOtL8ulv2uLizsoorZ_BE7YlUaZ8quXVJZzXILumJ9L3pAhRO7kQxcuGK3wh/s1600/IMG_0783.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJngnrG3XPfAHCsYlU7yM0y3icCqcwyHttVvCQ30axelQ48JRtgvaI2SP1tg-Ao3p5MHlolieBZsMfmAEDOtL8ulv2uLizsoorZ_BE7YlUaZ8quXVJZzXILumJ9L3pAhRO7kQxcuGK3wh/s400/IMG_0783.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581435256489920482" /></a>Looking back across the valley (N Santiam Valley is what it is I think). I should look at the map and figure out which peaks those are. No the greatest picture either. In spite of the cloudy sky in the photo, the sun where I was standing was so bright that I could not see a damned thing on the viewfinder screen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVGoAGgTMGTsqpUMrkHYLeW3GlWjmWiHPFMgBfycpNMfvK5eNAR1Lli1oQm3OlC1yK2u_63_kfQome-3k12SrMXevC0dw-qB4zuWaUstnqNKNl6o3wFUJu7VAhVzC9ycEMedg-7g28-F/s1600/IMG_0784.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVGoAGgTMGTsqpUMrkHYLeW3GlWjmWiHPFMgBfycpNMfvK5eNAR1Lli1oQm3OlC1yK2u_63_kfQome-3k12SrMXevC0dw-qB4zuWaUstnqNKNl6o3wFUJu7VAhVzC9ycEMedg-7g28-F/s400/IMG_0784.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581430923753555026" border="0" /></a>1000 feet left to go. Still breaking trail here. The snow is retardedly here. Judging by the maturity of those tree tops just poking through the snow, I would guess they are 8+ foot tall trees.<br /><br />It was a fun walk even if I did not make the top. Maybe next time. One thing is for sure, Franny and I are tired today. I haven't been this worn out and sore in years. Awesome!chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-85392318480873917612010-08-17T15:41:00.000-07:002010-08-17T15:45:15.336-07:00California Desert Racing AccidentThe accident in the California desert has done a great job of dividing two communities that I consider myself a (more or less active) part of. In the off-highway-vehicle and mountain bike communities the debate that has come out of this tragedy is, surprisingly not event safety, but one that revolves around access and / or closure of public lands.<br /><br />Save the planet. Kill yourself.<br /><br />Perhaps the above is a bit absurd, but it is the answer if we take these arguments to the extreme. Denying access of any group(s) to deserts, forests, coasts, etc. is an extreme measure and as such should only be used in extreme cases. There are some resources that we need to protect at this level. However, not all nature falls into this category.<br /><br />Jumping directions for a moment, we need to consider the implications of successful of OHV bans. To enact initial legislation to get public lands closed to any group is a large investment of time and money. However, once the process has been initiated -the precedent set- it becomes much easier to ban access to other groups. This means that just because an area is deemed too sensitive to vehicular traffic, does not mean that in five years someone won't deem it too sensitive for bike traffic and finally foot traffic.<br /><br />Do we really want to limit access of natural lands and waters only to their government appointed guardians? Not me!<br /><br />What can we do? Educate ourselves. Realize that there are sensitive areas and there are stable areas. In much the same way that there are sensible OHV users (and mtb-ers) as well as morons who live for the loud-pedal (skidiots in the mtb world). We need to be able to distinguish between the opposite poles of these two very inhomogeneous groups and the many shades of gray in between. Then we need to react to each accordingly, be it the guy who wanders off track due to lack of understanding the implications or the flora that is disappearing from an area as a result of something completely unrelated to human influences.<br /><br />I would like to be able to recreate in the desert, mtns, etc. I hope my kids and their kids can too. Closing access at random because of incidents that are not environmentally relevant is not the answer. Tearing hell-bent through the crypto-biotic soils of Moab is also not the answer.<br /><br />For the record, I sure hope desert racing is not done for. I have never seen one and I sure hope to someday see the Cali 200 or the KOH finals...from a safe distance. I also like to enjoy the wilderness without vehicles, which is pretty easy if you take the time to plan accordingly and realize that you have to share the planet.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-26697290699487564902010-05-21T17:37:00.000-07:002010-05-21T18:34:36.631-07:00It must run in the familySo, I finally went to DMV today to get my Oregon license. I showed the lady at the counter my passport, VA driver's license, birth certificate, SS card, two utility bills and the neatly "typed" out application for a license. She took my $5 check, entered a bunch of info into her terminal, turned the monitor toward me and asked me to check spelling, etc. that she had processed. Just as I was thinking how easy the whole process was, she looked up and sighed, "oh dear, there is a problem."<br /><br />I think that those are the last words that anyone ever wants to hear from a public servant. Coming from a DMV lady, it was terrifying even if she wasn't. She kindly explained that the state of Colorado had listed me on the National Motor Vehicle Registry as having a suspended license. Right there -no kidding- I was able to feel my blood pressure jump. A little flush to the face, a faint ringing in the ears, the eyes were a little teary and the room turned just the faintest shade of red. I wonder if someday I'll make the front page of the Oregonian or the 6 O'clock news for not being able to swallow the rage back.<br /><br />I muttered something not quite as under my breath as I should have about the lousy bastards who can't do a goddamned thing right and then quickly apologized to the alarmed looking DMV lady. I asked her for as much info as she had, which included a ticket number from Kansas and a phone number in Denver. <br /><br />I went out to the car and called CO DMV pronto. At this point I need to do a little explaining. In December 2000 I flew from Germany back to Colorado to attend my hooding ceremony and pick up my lovely dog Hannah. Due to cold weather, I could not fly back to Cape Cod where the family was gathering for Christmas. The only way to get Hannah and me to the Cod for Christmas was to drive a rental. On December 20th I left Denver international airport in some American sedan that was completely unremarkable accept for its big motor. Four hours later I was getting pulled over by Kansas trooper who cut me a real break on the speeding ticket he gave me. I was doing at least 100 mph...the roads were empty and the weather was supposed to be getting bad later in the week...and I was in rush to get home for Christmas,<br /><br />When I got back to Germany, I put off paying the ticket -I was flat broke- and eventually forgot it altogether. Forgot it until it was time to renew my CO license in May 2005 and got denied for having a suspended license. Thankfully by that point I had a German license, which even more thankfully is legal for driving in Uhmerica. I immediately tracked down the ticket and paid it. In September of 2005 I received a "notice of withdrawal of suspension" from the Thomas County Court. A call to the clerk in Thomas County KS and the CO DMV. Both groups assured me that the info would be shared and my record would be corrected. Six months later upon moving back to the USA, I applied for and received my Virginia driver's license. No mention of Colorado, Kansas, speeding tickets or suspended licenses. Although the VA DMV did punch a big hole in my CO license, but they do that to everyone I guess. <br /><br />Now, we can go back to the call to the CO DMV this afternoon. I got through to a live person after 17 minutes on hold, which was quicker than the 20 minutes that the recording had indicated. No complaints there. The second person with whom I spoke explained that the CO DMV had not received information regarding my payment from Thomas County KS and that my license was still suspended. The women informed me that it is standard procedure for KS DMV to notify CO DMV when a fine has been paid and that not such record existed. She also told me that I would need to pay the fine in KS and then apply and, naturally, pay for reinstatement of my CO license. I told her I didn't want or need a CO license and she told me to call Kansas. She also gave me the same telephone number that I got from CO DMV back in 2005. Calling the telephone number this time yielded the same result it had back in 2005 - a recording blaring in my already ringing ears that the number had been disconnected. Luckily, by this point I was dazed and couldn't do myself, anyone or anything harm.<br /><br />I still have all of my bills, bank statements and related notes for the past 10 years and I was able to find the correct telephone number in KS and the original "notice of withdrawal of suspension." The states of CO and KS were done for the week by time I found the relevant info, so, I will be drafting a cordial and respectful letter to the CO DMV requesting immediate attention to this matter that of their oversight that is jeopardizing my livelihood.<br /><br />In the meantime I am wrapping up this little rant with the following thought.<br /><br />The state governments of CO, KS and OR were able to communicate very effectively to each other that at some point I did indeed have a suspended license. In doing this they are also very effectively able to hinder me from obtaining document that is critical to my ability to function in American society. The state governments of CO, KS and OR are, however, either unable or unwilling to effectively communicate to each other that I have "made good" and paid my debt. Even more infuriating is the fact that I, a private citizen, have an official interstate document in my possession that the state of CO should have, but claims to have no record of.<br /><br />Is it a conspiracy? I doubt it. These fucking morons couldn't conspire their way out of a wet paper bag.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-91711284217646009932010-05-19T12:22:00.001-07:002010-05-19T12:57:44.681-07:00Local Pride gone awryI think the growing tendency for Americans to take pride in their communities is a great trend. I love the idea of local food and drink in particular. The only thing better than buying from local sources is growing your own. However, I think taking pride to the extreme that some do borders on xenophobia. Being proud of one's community and heritage does not give one the right to belittle, degrade or scorn someone else's community. <br /><br />I don't bring this topic up because of international politics, the crisis in the EU or the Iranian nut-jobs. I now live in a place that is immensely proud. Proud of its beauty, proud of its food, proud of its wine, proud of its history...well proud of damned near everything. In my opinion Oregon has excellent reason to be proud of many things. The local produce IS great. There ARE some fantastic Pinot Noirs to be found here. All of that said, there are some things that Oregon should not be proud of. The story in the link below is not one of them. (EDIT for whatever reason I cannot get the HTML tags to make the the link live, so you will have to cut & paste. Sorry.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/05/portland_pig_cook-<br />off_followed.html"></a><br />http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/05/portland_pig_cook-off_followed.html<br /><br />For those who are too busy to click and / or read, the article is about a chef from the town I live in who got into a fist fight, got maced by police and subsequently arrested, because he was angry about a local event not using local pork.<br /><br />Akiko and I had my birthday dinner at Berchard's (the chef in the article) restaurant here in McMinnville last weekend. We were impressed by his dedication to local food and the cool atmosphere of his restaurant. The beer and wine selection was excellent too. The beer was brewed by Heater Allen right here in McMinnville; literally right up the block from us. Akiko has two classes with the brewer's daughter at the local college. The wines were all local and the woman running the bar happened to be a friend of a friend. The food was unique, if not the best we ever ate, but Akiko and I ridiculously critical of restaurant food. <br /><br />As I read the linked the article this morning in the paper, I laughed out loud. I wasn't shocked, but as I read further it made me sad. Perhaps I should respect him for being so passionate about what he believes in. Maybe it was just the wine and booze talking and not a true indicator of who he is. Mostly it just makes him look like an intolerant little prima-dona, who, sadly, is the poster boy of the day for the region that I live in.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-63629841465360906242009-10-09T12:26:00.000-07:002009-10-11T16:45:11.017-07:00ProgressIt has been over a month since I posted anything here. It has been over two months since Akiko, Maki, Hannah, Bonnie and I set out from Richmond Va. Our two month anniversary for hotel living is next week. All of this and I still haven't managed to get more than a tease or two written about the cross country trip. So, my goal today is to get something written down here about the trip.<br /><br />However, before I attack that goal, here is a little update on what's going on in Orygun. In mid-September Akiko and I moved out of the tiny studio hotel room near Portland to an even tinier hotel room in Salem. I had been told many times that Salem was a shithole full of nothing, but migrant workers, meth-heads and religious right freaks. While that description isn't too far from the mark, there are some surprising advantages to living in Salem.<br /><br />First, it has a ton of great Mexican food. There are little trailers on every block hocking home made Mexican dishes. Most of the current Mexicans seem to be from the state of Michoacán, at least judging by how often this word is plastered all over everything. There are six Muchas Gracia taco shops in Salem. Muchas Gracias is a Mexican food chain that was started in California by a Mexican worker who was busted by la Migra and then given amnesty. He is a true believer in the American dream and now has more than 50 store locations in CA, OR and WA. Having visited several of them, they are a far cry McDonalds. They are all unique in some way although the menu is generally the same. The food isn't fancy, but I never miss an excuse to grab one of their tacos. My Spanish is dreadful, but here is the source of my info on Muchas Gracias. Correct me if I botched any details. http://www.muchasgraciasmex.com/about.html<br /><br />The second surprisingly cool thing about Salem is the number of little mom and pop stores. Fish stores, bakeries, donut shops, farmer's markets, butchers, etc. Sadly lacking are any asian super markets worth visiting. Nonetheless, in Salem you are more likely to bump into a small non-big box store than you are home-depot, Lowes or Burger king. The other refreshing aspect of all of these places is that they are not boutique -neither in appearance or attitude nor, more importantly, in price. Maybe Salem is backward and not progressive. Or maybe the people here have got it right.<br /><br />The fairgrounds are number three on my list of reason why I like Salem. People who don't share or understand my bicycle affliction can skip this paragraph. The Salem fairgrounds are my new neighborhood playground. There never really was a playground near to where I lived as a kid. We either lived way the hell up in the mtns or we lived in the sub-urbs. I am fine with that, because at age 37 I have a playground in my neighborhood. The fairgrounds are a 5 minute bike ride from my hotel room. That means that I am 5 minutes away from: a BMX track, a pump track, 4 dirt jump lines and some "north-shore-style-stunts." (For those of you who don't get the bike thing and are still reading this, think: swing-sets, slides, teeter-totters, and jungle-gyms...for bikes.) Since the rain is supposedly on its way here and I will only be in this neighborhood for a week or so more, I have been playing in my personal playground at every opportunity. In three weeks of playing, I still hold the record for the oldest guy to hit the big dirt-jump line.<br /><br />None of these points are why we moved to Salem. The real reason was that Akiko couldn't handle 2.5 hours a day in the car to get back and forth from work. This issue became particularly pressing as we got closer to harvest time, which is in full swing right now, although the harvest here is kids stuff compared to the German harvest.<br /><br />Akiko is generally working 6-10 hours per day 5-6 days per week. The times that I was lucky enough to experience the harvest in Germany the teams were working 10-18 hours per day 6-7 days per week. (I jumped in at my leisure for a few days and it was hard work.) The big difference here in the US, is that "white people don't drive tractors." That is the nice way to say that migrant labor does all of the really hard work: picking the grapes, loading the trucks, etc. If you take the picking and the transportation out of the harvest work load, you've got easy street. While it is still a bit or work and requires know-how and experience to get the grapes from the trucks to the tanks, it is a lot easier if you don't spend 6 hours of your morning picking and schlepping grapes.<br /><br />I am sure there are, in fact I KNOW there are, wine makers somewhere in Orygun or the US for that matter that actually work in the field; pruning, harvesting, spraying, etc., but I am surprised by how many do not. At the same time I am surprised by how many also claim to know "their" grapes intimately. That is tough to do without getting mud on your boots.<br /><br />OK, before I say something I will regret, let me move on to my goal for the day.<br /><br />So, I picked our day in Badlands for today's show and tell. The Badlands are an incredible visual experience, especially if one includes the approach to them. The portion of South Dakota to the east of the badlands is Microsoft Windows desktop prairie. Rolling green hills, blue skies and puffy white clouds. As much as we all tried we weren't able to get a decent shot of this landscape from the car at 70 mph. We could have stopped, if there had actually been anywhere to stop and if we hadn't been trying to make time. At the time it didn't seem worth while, but in retrospect I wish we had taken a minute to get a shot of the MS Windows prairie.<br /><br />So as we approached Badlands we were looking up at the horizon looking for jagged peaks and huge bowls. All we saw were lots of small gullies in the plains from erosion. Some of the larger gullies were brutally carved out with impressive features, but where were these maze like canyons carved into mountains? The "duh moment" came as we crested a large MS Windows knoll. There below us were the Badlands carved *into* the prairie floor. Upon seeing it for the first time it was a shock. A little reflection where we were helped it make sense. Or the other way around, made it obvious that there couldn't really be a mini-rocky mountain popping up out of the South Dakota prairie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexE_f_YzrBBefzJffT4Kf41YJe71HtrSk-uztlU14LdAJThNgW1o9si8xf0VIj9vnDdevp1vLkb6sQ98f8aCKrEeLc6FkKPxRoK_ru0Q7N8qisc1HDJZlhJkKYzuRyXfKa_YRA48FXDCM/s1600-h/badlands+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexE_f_YzrBBefzJffT4Kf41YJe71HtrSk-uztlU14LdAJThNgW1o9si8xf0VIj9vnDdevp1vLkb6sQ98f8aCKrEeLc6FkKPxRoK_ru0Q7N8qisc1HDJZlhJkKYzuRyXfKa_YRA48FXDCM/s400/badlands+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390713043302577586" border="0" /></a>This photo almost looks unreal. Part of that is because of the weird blur line half between infinite distance and very close. There may have been a drop of water on the lens as we did get hit by some rain clouds. One way or the other the colors and the shape were just incredible. This photo does not do the dramatic changes across the strata any justice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_Rl0Brx83ZrkCBDUO_OfEpoNWZ3oTfnSOBcYWjF2JkT8zyUqXry6jEQo4uxdnJUWu2Sqlgpt2DtNiln2VAV-Cq1-dVEx_5RQHs03h2GgkfERvgKF16KqXTBiglxlVkGth-PxXD0vpES2/s1600-h/badlands+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 1px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_Rl0Brx83ZrkCBDUO_OfEpoNWZ3oTfnSOBcYWjF2JkT8zyUqXry6jEQo4uxdnJUWu2Sqlgpt2DtNiln2VAV-Cq1-dVEx_5RQHs03h2GgkfERvgKF16KqXTBiglxlVkGth-PxXD0vpES2/s400/badlands+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390713037120809778" border="0" /></a>This shot shows some of the other colors that were in the soil and the rock. I think we saw red, green, purple, pink, blue, black, bone white, yellow and orange rock and soil in a time frame of about three hours. All of that with a back drop of blue skies, which explains the poor contrast (brutal midday sun).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOB5YOD7e-jdRX1BeYIgjyDivUSd2F93wGFlYx6sRr7JRLiTEcyZuFVQSkzN-vLduRZc9BheT6ds0Zj3zU0T6srUil_7kNHrzC4gMdU67K_8DBbcTBnleciWGYzyTbHLS8eaH-4IUI3KT1/s1600-h/badlands+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOB5YOD7e-jdRX1BeYIgjyDivUSd2F93wGFlYx6sRr7JRLiTEcyZuFVQSkzN-vLduRZc9BheT6ds0Zj3zU0T6srUil_7kNHrzC4gMdU67K_8DBbcTBnleciWGYzyTbHLS8eaH-4IUI3KT1/s400/badlands+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390715310367379058" border="0" /></a>Another shot showing the beautiful blue skies and the colorful strata. Whoever took this picture must have one leg shorter than the other...I guess that's me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9upS-BKN7dpxSsqPXR_rMbVZmOuaPXr66bPmcd6-PCIj_fDTssQ75q_amZMdMuiLIhySDiKZmpBzAzkN3K8H3r___l3Mf0rAtGj2PvQ6LLVG3RfUvaJRjlhEspLVX8BoUN36_K7ClmgkO/s1600-h/badlands+yikes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9upS-BKN7dpxSsqPXR_rMbVZmOuaPXr66bPmcd6-PCIj_fDTssQ75q_amZMdMuiLIhySDiKZmpBzAzkN3K8H3r___l3Mf0rAtGj2PvQ6LLVG3RfUvaJRjlhEspLVX8BoUN36_K7ClmgkO/s400/badlands+yikes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390715313328880594" border="0" /></a>Maki and Akiko. Yikes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBE1Nc0Job_yMDxBOh35R6g5NdJO0s4D9l3x2xMJzPY64IGZMsQ3fXXv_sw7yBPAwwupoWGND_ftUjVW5LFrtFZZCLmY_5tPIkrHJpR9J2Uapwc_2NumGhm9QJ742l1iH7NYpDHoHPzZr/s1600-h/no+comment.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBE1Nc0Job_yMDxBOh35R6g5NdJO0s4D9l3x2xMJzPY64IGZMsQ3fXXv_sw7yBPAwwupoWGND_ftUjVW5LFrtFZZCLmY_5tPIkrHJpR9J2Uapwc_2NumGhm9QJ742l1iH7NYpDHoHPzZr/s400/no+comment.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390720358680077490" border="0" /></a>Akiko and I. No comment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOi2IxMyJ0buaNnMHZoJr1AY5c6-qbUT2qpqEo64PNv7hyh8fuH_6VPANpDm3cWmfIKMK0vDwCkAq07N4bvBh6Jor_D95QlpFIBYLzWVR7UMgOrtzPmUetQiiGsigWyH-0K8jqXh5gm5u/s1600-h/badlands+camp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOi2IxMyJ0buaNnMHZoJr1AY5c6-qbUT2qpqEo64PNv7hyh8fuH_6VPANpDm3cWmfIKMK0vDwCkAq07N4bvBh6Jor_D95QlpFIBYLzWVR7UMgOrtzPmUetQiiGsigWyH-0K8jqXh5gm5u/s400/badlands+camp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390715324354331154" border="0" /></a>Not a terribly flattering view of it, but this campsite was actually very nice, clean and cheap. I think we paid $10. The photos above are only about 5 minutes from the campsite, which was flat as a pancake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtrJ-5kJEbdF5B7GUYT0Ym7FCLOlCz8mHpVBIl4SdzW693ahwK_7pBbC2uDkbqTN685wcUxt-LAubvYUVQbDoa5kNllepOCuFdecRwpsGiicwVd_vO_X7_798nNZTLTVglh8X32QryB-9/s1600-h/badlands+dinner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtrJ-5kJEbdF5B7GUYT0Ym7FCLOlCz8mHpVBIl4SdzW693ahwK_7pBbC2uDkbqTN685wcUxt-LAubvYUVQbDoa5kNllepOCuFdecRwpsGiicwVd_vO_X7_798nNZTLTVglh8X32QryB-9/s400/badlands+dinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390715326280027474" border="0" /></a>I am half drunk. Maki is freezing. We tried warming the plates to keep the food warm, it was windy and cold. The steaks and the mushrooms were great, but could have been hotter. The trouble with Maki, Akiko and I is that we all love beer, wine and food. The usual routine after a day in the car was to break out some beers to unwind. Whip up a small snack to eat with the beers, while drinking beer. Have a couple of beers with the small snack. The ladies would run off to shower while I fed the dogs and drank more beer. When the ladies were back we would start cooking dinner while finishing the beer and getting the first bottle of wine started. Generally by time we got done eating is a good ways past midnight and we were all pretty much cross eyed. Once we hit bear country we were forced to slightly modify this routine. I said, "slightly."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_7OynTmVe1ap9l322aX-mYKqQXyjOZdmwZe3Jh4Ledr02G4ZdExc-fXX1QL3D3Vy1HbDMg93IT3HpgmDwxZoFg_PhbFbRnxrPqpLlU07ZA705Di5zrLO4D7gDcXRM0DSI9MsUgTsXbNv/s1600-h/Badlands+Hannah+Spoiled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_7OynTmVe1ap9l322aX-mYKqQXyjOZdmwZe3Jh4Ledr02G4ZdExc-fXX1QL3D3Vy1HbDMg93IT3HpgmDwxZoFg_PhbFbRnxrPqpLlU07ZA705Di5zrLO4D7gDcXRM0DSI9MsUgTsXbNv/s400/Badlands+Hannah+Spoiled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390715336710843842" border="0" /></a>Akiko says I spoil the dog. It was damned cold (actually it wasn't that cold, but it had been in the 90s during the day) out under the open skies and the poor old dog was freezing. She's nothing but skin and bones these days.<br /><br />We got up the next day and hit Mt. Rushmore and Crazyhorse and camped at the foot of Devil's Tower. Maybe I'll get around to posting that sometime before Christmas.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-24224252958815667592009-08-30T22:02:00.000-07:002009-10-11T17:00:32.038-07:00Welcome to OrygunOK, I am still working on the pictures and random stories from the trip out to Orygun from Virginny. It has been an interesting two weeks so far and I would like to talk about my new home a little.<br /><br />Traffic. <br /><br />Where did all of the people come from? Where exactly are they going? Why am I sitting in a traffic jam at 2 pm on a Tuesday? <br /><br />Either the infrastructure is awful in some way that I have yet to figure out or there a hell of a lot of people in the greater Portland area -all of whom who want to go somewhere in their cars. I think the cause of the problem may be infrastructure. There are two large North-South thoroughfares, the I5 and 99W. They run parallel, obviously, but there are really no roads running east to west between them. The end result is that if a person wants to go to a location somewhere between Portland and Salem (that is a long "a" in "Saylem" for you "non-locals") you either have to suffer two-lane small-town stoplight hell for an hour or you can drive all the south to Saylem (I need to type it that way so I stop saying Sahlem. Sahlem really must annoy the locals because they will go out of their way to correct you for using -to the point of butting into a conversation that they are not part of to point out your blunder.) and head North on 99W. If you need to get somewhere in the North of the Willamette Valley (the a in Willamette is a diphthong ae...not really long or short. I've been corrected on that one too.), you can go North to Portland and South on 99W. <br /><br />Traffic to the coast I have yet to see aside from the way it chokes up the I5 and 99W, but if it is anything like the rest of the traffic, it is probably extremely slow and incredibly dangerous. Yes, dangerous. We saw two more accidents today. That brings our tally for two weeks to 6 serious accidents. Five crashes involved roll-overs and the sixth was a Chevy Suburban towing a water-ski boat that crossed the yellow line, crossed on-coming traffic and then plowed through the guard-rail. We must have arrived minutes after the accident, because the Suburban was still dangling over the cliff. The driver should buy stock in the hitch manufacturer, because the hitch between the boat trailer and his truck probably saved his life. Straight out of a Mel Gibson movie, the truck was suspended over the edge of the road by nothing more than the boat trailer and some mangled guard rail. The cliff on the side of the road wasn't monumental, but it was a good 50-100 feet.<br /><br />Five rollovers and a near cliff-dive is a lot of action for two weeks. To put it in perspective (my perspective), in the past two years I have driven from Virginny to Colotucky and back twice. I have driven from Virginny to Orygun and in 2008 I drove nearly sixty thousand miles. In all of that driving I have not seen as many serious accidents as I have in the last two weeks. It isn't like I am just seeing the hours-later aftermath either. Glass, body panels and luggage strewn all over the highway. People on stretchers. EMTs treating people in the median. I used to think the Colorado I70 corridor in winter was dangerous. Not so much anymore.<br /><br />Akiko and I figured it can't be the roads. If the roads were at fault, Richmond would have been a lot worse. If two foot deep potholes in a 65 mph zone couldn't cause major carnage, the relatively benign road damage here sure shouldn't. Regarding the two deep pothole in Richmond, as I swerved around this particular pothole, I looked down into it, past the re-bar and was able to see the damned rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland. The potholes in Richmond were also a part of the reason that I bought a pickup.<br /><br />I hope that I am just seeing some sort of statistical anomaly here and that there is not some weird phenomenon that makes driving in Orygun dangerous.<br /><br />Mt. Hood National Forest<br /><br />So now that I have whined a little bit, I can talk about some of the fun that we are having. We have made two outings two the Mt. Hood National Forest so far; today and last Sunday. Last Sunday our plan was to drive down to Saylem, drive across to Detroit, take some Forest Service roads to Hood River and then the I84 along the Columbia river back to Portland. Somewhere between Detroit and Hood River we planned to get out of the truck and hike for a while. I really really really should have known better, but I need this type of trip every now and again to remind myself. Remind myself to be at least a little prepared. Having a Tom-Tom and a Rand McNally Atlas of the USA for navigation is prepared for driving from Virginia to Oregon. They don't help much when following Forest Service roads in the Cascades. Who would have thought? <br /><br />Last Sunday we tallied nearly 100 miles driving washboarded, cliffside, narrow washed-out dirt roads. Luckily we did not have the dogs in the back of the truck, because the roads were so dry and dusty that by time we finally got home there was a quarter inch of fine sand-dust in the back of the truck...and nearly as much in the cab. Worse than Moab! It was actually a fun trip, even though we did not achieve our original goal -not by a long shot. We did get to hike an awesome trail that I am going back to ride sometime soon. We ate lots of fresh wild blue berries. We scared ourselves silly wondering when we were going to meet a bear, because the place we were hiking was lousy with bear-victuals. <br /><br />We wound up driving so far, because we let Tom-Tom guide us. The trip from Detroit to Hood River is actually pretty easy: you follow FSD 46 from Detroit to Hood River. That's it. Tom-Tom decided to take us a different route. Whether it was a short-cut, the scenic route, technically the fastest or shortest, a practical joke played by the navigation-algorithm programmers or just a glitch I cannot say, but it was a navigational train wreck. Thank god it was at least fun. How often do you get to see the same road closed sign from the front and back in one trip? <br /><br />The crowning Tom-Tom moment was when it insisted that we make a right down the shear cliff that the road we were on was traversing. Why the Tom-Tom "thought" there was a road there now or had ever been a road there is beyond me. This particular incident proved to be a real pain in the ass. When we ignored the order to turn right, we were told to turn around as soon as possible. We tried to tell the damned thing that we did not want take that route, but for whatever reason it insisted. We finally wound up doing an 83-point turn on the cliff side road that we were on. Then as we approached the phantom road off the cliff, which was on our left now, we told Tom Tom that there was a road block in front of us. The subsequent re-route led to yet another white-knuckle seat-swallowing-puckerfest as we did another multi-point turn on the narrow road. Why didn't we just go out the way we came in? Two reasons: 1) as stated before, Akiko and I are dangerously stubborn and 2) we were by this point hopelessly lost and completely dependent on the stupid Tom-Tom.<br /><br />We finally did go back out the way we came and headed back to Portland -actually to Tigard, which is pronounced with a long "i." For today's trip we were armed with a topo-atlas of the area and a safely turned-off and stowed Tom-Tom. Without the Tom-Tom we arrived exactly where we wanted a little ahead of schedule and completely without 100 mile detours. How boring.<br /><br />The trail we walked was not boring. Last week when we finally decided to give being lost a break for a while and got out of the car for a walk, we were at a lot higher elevations. The trail we walked traversed an area that had either been logged or burnt recently. (Not sure if the Forest Service sub-contracts forest management / allows commercial logging National Forests...) The growth was dense and scrubby. Today's terrain was completely different. Old growth! I had heard about old growth, read about it and saw pictures of it, but was not ready for experiencing it first hand. It is breath taking! No forest that I have seen before compares to this. Nothing in the Appalachians, nothing in the Rockies, nothing in the Alps, nothing in the Pyrenes, nothing in Asia! I am sure there are places that compare, but nowhere that I have been. I am sure the Sequoias in California and the big Cedars in British Columbia are even more impressive, but this was my first time to see really BIG trees. I was blown away. <br /><br />These are the real sky-scrapers. It was a still day, so the trees were perfectly motionless. We stared up the trunks and tried to imagine how long it would take us to run to the end (assuming the trunks weren't shooting into the sky). There were Doug firs and Cedars. The Douglas firs were more plentiful and easily two to three times the width of the Cedars at the base. The Cedars just barely made up for their lack of girth in overall height -at least as far as we could tell standing on the ground. The shape of the Cedars and the D-firs were completely different for trees that appeared to grow to the same height. Whereas the D-firs were retained their thickness to incredible heights, the Cedars tapered down very quickly, but seemed to grow on and on to a tiny needle point at the end. <br /><br />It was also impressive to see the dead-falls. There were two that fell just perfectly as to form a bridge out over a depression and back. A very long and fairly high bridge. Akiko saw me looking at them and knew immediately what I was thinking. "Go on. I'll take a picture from here." I denied that she had been able to read my mind. Mostly because I hadn't been doing any stupid-person-tricks lately and was not feeling too confident, but nearly as much because the natural bridge made by the trees was pretty damned high. A mis-step would probably not be fatal, but would definitely hurt. "Go on. Are you scared? You ride your bike on stuff like that all the time." I seriously wondered for a second if she had a secret life insurance policy and was trying to off me. I have been pretty cranky lately.<br /><br />She was right on both counts though. I was scared and I do ride my bike on a lot more technical "stunts" pretty regularly. There was not much more I could argue, but I tried. "Come on. It's getting late." My desperate last grasp argument seemed to work and Akiko shrugged and headed down the trail. Unfortunately, she turned around and saw me still looking at the bridge. "Oh, go on!"<br /><br />In the end it wasn't worth all the drama. The bridge was high and a bit exposed, the dead-falls were probably 20 feet of the ground at the highest point, but they were also 3-4 feet in diameter. It was like walking down a sidewalk...20 feet off the ground. The first couple of steps out were hesitant. I was just planning on walking out a little, having Akiko snap a picture and then scurrying back to safety. Once on the big old boardwalk, I decided to walk to the middle. As always looking down was sobering and brought to mind thoughts like: Am I the 200 lbs straw that is going to break this camels back? What happens if the bark under my feet is loose and shears off under my weight? Looking straight ahead and focusing on walking calmly and breathing regularly pushed those thoughts away. After completing the little bridge walk I remembered why I liked adrenaline sports and also realized that I have become a total sissy. The elevated heart rate, the slow motion, the clarity and then the sheesh-that-was-easy feeling have been missing from life. Time to dust off my "man-card" and go do more stupid stuff. Probably should grab the health insurance card, for whatever its worth, too. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIf68FfI5vuU5jqI_c2U9Xw_iXHdmO2JGz5LEf8NWHpAf-AtUJlkqZXlt2xHQxe90UWZ9IGVEzSAaXYXfhiveSiX4KgQfyGeOztANv9wy0gtAH8o9AXRG9svqH9NMJD5U5YFoQCwnC1Fde/s1600-h/higher+than+it+looks+mt+hood.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIf68FfI5vuU5jqI_c2U9Xw_iXHdmO2JGz5LEf8NWHpAf-AtUJlkqZXlt2xHQxe90UWZ9IGVEzSAaXYXfhiveSiX4KgQfyGeOztANv9wy0gtAH8o9AXRG9svqH9NMJD5U5YFoQCwnC1Fde/s400/higher+than+it+looks+mt+hood.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376034034779904642" /></a><br />Me on the elevated boardwalk. That look on my face is somewhere between shit-eating-grin and get-me-outta-here. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbO33el5lerwn-qE604UHT8hZgPPPvHiSUYxl7EMtN-81b8-pxCBrqwlBvM-XBrnTBkcAhjtX2joAfN2uPdIZvHVUOlHQqoG4QlzwtGWumAHZk0OULfgLE45wQgExru0klS5cbDtyo0RD/s1600-h/akiko+mt+hood.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbO33el5lerwn-qE604UHT8hZgPPPvHiSUYxl7EMtN-81b8-pxCBrqwlBvM-XBrnTBkcAhjtX2joAfN2uPdIZvHVUOlHQqoG4QlzwtGWumAHZk0OULfgLE45wQgExru0klS5cbDtyo0RD/s400/akiko+mt+hood.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376034691476970514" /></a><br />Akiko trying not to fall in. The difference in air temperature at this little fall was impressive and welcome. It gets pretty stifling in the dense part of the forest.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-19915545387870535792009-08-19T16:49:00.000-07:002009-08-20T12:33:24.280-07:00Portland or BustEveryone has made it to Portland alive. It was truly touch and go for Hannah Dog for a few days, but she soldiered through the trip and is doing great now. She is 14 and does not do well in heat or cold. She does, however, like to jump off of things like pickup tailgates and river-banks. When she is not jumping of them, she tends to fall of them. She is deaf, dumb, stubborn and somewhat addled -the perfect companion, but more about her later.<br /><br />Between our starting point in Richmond VA and our destination of Portland OR we conquered 13 States, dozens of different "local" beers, a handful of mom and pop diners, the greatest local supermarket ever and a few National Parks. In my Toyota Pickemup, which I once thought was HUGE, we fit three people, two dogs, a thyme plant, a sage plant, a shiso plant, a rhubarb plant, an oregano plant, a jade plant from a clipping of my cousin Timmy's plant, a chive plant, two little green caterpillars that ate most of the shiso plant, and enough gear to supply a platoon.<br /><br />Why we dragged the plants and all their soil completely across the entire country is now a mystery to me. When we left, it seemed not only logical, but like a great idea. They nearly got planted a couple of times at rest stops along the way, but my lack of a shovel saved them in the beginning. As the trip went on it became more stubbornness that stopped me from abandoning them and anyone who knows either Akiko or me can confirm that one of us can usually out-stubborn the other.<br /><br />I have tons of photos and even more stupid anecdotes that I intend to post here. I will try to keep it from becoming one of those dreaded "hey look at my slide show from our summer vacation." I do not intend to post things in order nor to post everything nor to post regularly. I will post stuff up as the fancy strikes me. Normally, I would be worried that my awful memory would not let me drag things out, but I actually took notes during the trip! Look out world.<br /><br />Akiko and I right before leaving (yes the truck was a little full):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD59CzjcfP0c2_ifHGwEUDDS1j_QgKFjdKhfFcwdaJWgQJEQe6YhBdIdz2_NDnP3NkM2_reIA3uPmrzLhZpq3UYE00cjGXVIjR-NcEC_CdgDBS1vFA6_38u1B6WY1K4xdu-9fQN6h3bUv/s1600-h/start.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD59CzjcfP0c2_ifHGwEUDDS1j_QgKFjdKhfFcwdaJWgQJEQe6YhBdIdz2_NDnP3NkM2_reIA3uPmrzLhZpq3UYE00cjGXVIjR-NcEC_CdgDBS1vFA6_38u1B6WY1K4xdu-9fQN6h3bUv/s320/start.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372130883931945874" border="0" /></a>chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2902316289676714547.post-25485802237280531692009-07-07T12:06:00.000-07:002009-07-07T14:38:43.484-07:00The BeginningI first met Akiko in 1995 in Tokyo Japan...at the bar where she was working. Cerveza -Japanese originality at its finest there- offered 100s of different types of beer from all over the world. At the time Akiko did not drink beer. She liked cocktails. I don't even know what kind of cocktails, because as is typical of a person whose head is lined with stone I just stopped listening and started explaining to her why beer was so wonderful. She was crazy not to drink beer.<br /><br />While my delivery was less than stellar, let's face it - I was right. Most importantly, Akiko agrees with me that beer is great even after completing her engineering degree in Wine Making at the FH Geisenheim in Germany. By the way, any winemaker who doesn't agree that beer is a wonderful beverage probably spends too much time in the office and not enough time in the cellar or vineyard.<br /><br />Three years ago work brought me back to the USA. I had been living in Germany since 2000 working first as a scientist then as an overtitled traveling salesman. When Akiko finished her degree we had to decide whether she was going to come to the USA or I was going to go back to Germany. I had a decent job in the US and I thought my being a citizen might make life a little easier for us. So, we decided on the US as our home and got married here in VA on April 29 2009. Sadly, there aren't too many days that go by where at least one of us doesn't regret that decision...the decision to choose the US that is!<br /><br />Don't get me wrong! The USA is a gorgeous country. Some of the finest natural landscapes in the world are here. Americans are great people, if incredibly myopic. My family is here and many of my closest friends are here too -even the ones who will give me hell for my comments here. These are the things that have so far kept us from starting the trip back to Europe. It isn't the "land of the free" that keeps us here, because, man, there is nothing in America that's free. It isn't the home of the brave, because American soceity is scared of it's own shadow these days. It sure as hell isn't because the US is the land of opportunity that we stick around. What opportunities are available to my wife- a foreigner stuck in limbo as she waits for the government to make a decision on her legal status?<br /><br />As a foreigner in this country without a social security number, you have the opportunity to stay at home and do nothing. You want health insurance? Sorry. You want a driver's license? Nope. You want a bank account? Hell, you aren't even allowed to work here. What do you need a bank account for?<br /><br />As you can guess, right now we are going through a teensy bit of an adjustment period. I suspect we aren't going to convince American bureaucracy, society or culture to adapt to us. So, this blog shall document our (re)adjustment to Life in America. The bad will also come with plenty of good. Highlights over the next few months will be our trip across the US from VA to OR via Chicago, the Badlands and Yellowstone to name a couple of way points. There should be lots of fun episodes when Akiko starts work this fall at the winery in Oregon. The 2009 Harvest will be one to remember.<br /><br />There will also be accounts of our trips to DMV, dealings with the USCIS and insurance company antics -my personal favorite- to round out the content a little. I will also see if I can get Ms. Akiko to weblog every now and then to keep me honest.chufferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02116901342589520268noreply@blogger.com0