tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38944234659571499412023-11-16T02:51:14.628-08:00cruisingat60Exploring a path with heart.cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-84546664756803634552017-03-12T11:12:00.000-07:002017-03-12T11:12:21.212-07:00The call - the irrepressible lure - of the open road<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few weeks ago I visited a friend who's a ranger at a canyon north of Tucson. I hadn't seen her in a while and was looking very much forward to our day together. I knew I'd enjoy the drive, but what I didn't expect were the feelings that rushed over and through me on the way up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was an exquisite day. Coolish, clouds on the horizon, and that blue, blue Arizona sky. As I exited the development of Tucson and saw the sky open before me, all I wanted to do was keep driving. It's been a long time since HH and I were on the road. We've traveled to many fine places since we settled here, but there's nothing like rolling the tires on the car over miles and miles. I have really missed it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last spring I sold my truck and trailer. The trailer was paid for but the truck cost an arm and a leg and at best got 17 miles to the gallon. There wasn't much point in keeping the trailer if the truck was gone, so both of them went. My new car, almost a year old now, sits at 36.8 mpg, which makes me feel less guilty every time I go somewhere. But, still... I often wish I still had that ability to back the truck onto the trailer hitch and take off. Everything's a trade off, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This wasn't the road I was actually driving. I turned off the highway onto this road to take this picture.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsxwYgLJRwrC2exn-h3RbryHVYZCjxsD1EzB26RDHcCTvvrw2bqS__Ty6UqFGn02lSUWoj165-fuBCE7X7ig_iALJ5YkuGe7zP6qMOBhTHHmenDs5ZzMkgCszRargukk2cT0BTvzPN48/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25281+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsxwYgLJRwrC2exn-h3RbryHVYZCjxsD1EzB26RDHcCTvvrw2bqS__Ty6UqFGn02lSUWoj165-fuBCE7X7ig_iALJ5YkuGe7zP6qMOBhTHHmenDs5ZzMkgCszRargukk2cT0BTvzPN48/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25281+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And this is the road my friend lives on, several miles off Highway 77, the road that goes from Tucson through the Salt River Canyon, which I've written about before.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p7S_cuglg39HFHHa4gzf1E4B05WUhV0FpltXmvJ3-NFj1yCPyhPDxxdF8tC3PtjtR_KdcdsXIP40Lx2KEPKt9JaB-zWmct7a4o_D4GBUpP499IGkbdJj-c-Dc1jBL2hjINqeF3T4GCc/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25282+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p7S_cuglg39HFHHa4gzf1E4B05WUhV0FpltXmvJ3-NFj1yCPyhPDxxdF8tC3PtjtR_KdcdsXIP40Lx2KEPKt9JaB-zWmct7a4o_D4GBUpP499IGkbdJj-c-Dc1jBL2hjINqeF3T4GCc/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25282+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saguaros, the iconic cacti of the Sonoran desert, always let me know I'm in home country. They grow only up to 4000 feet elevation, so when I made a few trips between Tucson and northern Arizona, they'd disappear as I drove to Petrified Forest, which is at 5400 feet, and then let me know I was closing in on Tucson again when they began to reappear on hillsides.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHURJUscOgQGzHaHtBurGXKB_EhH9PDhUb3kEfOdOdAXANhRQ6T1zygKu2v0gNbF5KKlPfK4Ft-rm4IY3QLDgLlEqaC3vWXZeBdvKQK5K6qb16EERFgIwx1BGrnRt8rrezzczP2HSuJk/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25283+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHURJUscOgQGzHaHtBurGXKB_EhH9PDhUb3kEfOdOdAXANhRQ6T1zygKu2v0gNbF5KKlPfK4Ft-rm4IY3QLDgLlEqaC3vWXZeBdvKQK5K6qb16EERFgIwx1BGrnRt8rrezzczP2HSuJk/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25283+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My friend and I went on a short hike to one of her favorite spots. This is the wash we headed through, entranced with the shadow play on the mountains. We spotted critter tracks and I kept hoping for a glimpse of bighorn sheep on the slopes near to us, but I was disappointed.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AO64tSjI7MBxDjJlXcMNn-3T08I724yzekic1Jp4SNbUC8vlv3h59jU26N7Bolm7yIEy2cdGyDvxGAr2SHPa_MmmhS0atQhPr2-byy_dyCHjR6tCVJaK2paa0fVmi1shaXTiXSzjK60/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252810+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AO64tSjI7MBxDjJlXcMNn-3T08I724yzekic1Jp4SNbUC8vlv3h59jU26N7Bolm7yIEy2cdGyDvxGAr2SHPa_MmmhS0atQhPr2-byy_dyCHjR6tCVJaK2paa0fVmi1shaXTiXSzjK60/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252810+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hills rose around us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdhaekgYjJyF3gLCpJErZJs7-ovNjOYYk7zkF39DqBJcu8YgF3ObeSlAqmr-kE4SZBShS6f4GjvVhmcZ3HLq6f89_OskFvxi6FrvXQ8PujGSycefPJjx_JH8-q4JToKLREn-I_2xNdPo/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25284+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdhaekgYjJyF3gLCpJErZJs7-ovNjOYYk7zkF39DqBJcu8YgF3ObeSlAqmr-kE4SZBShS6f4GjvVhmcZ3HLq6f89_OskFvxi6FrvXQ8PujGSycefPJjx_JH8-q4JToKLREn-I_2xNdPo/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25284+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2EToAtgEVMKLDh30v7SYJjaSmnyLOV-_Fp2jNYnPzDmb25MFVejR9PVLx0MuoXGfUdqY6h57j8SVwFP1LsEVB9XgjhaNCuUJQ3ke9wUk37oMrwiF68IuLCDlKSbHWdP6y2sbxS1LwPI/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25285+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2EToAtgEVMKLDh30v7SYJjaSmnyLOV-_Fp2jNYnPzDmb25MFVejR9PVLx0MuoXGfUdqY6h57j8SVwFP1LsEVB9XgjhaNCuUJQ3ke9wUk37oMrwiF68IuLCDlKSbHWdP6y2sbxS1LwPI/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25285+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been fascinated with Arizona clouds since Petrified Forest. Maybe I never looked at the sky the way I did my first summer there, but they reeled me in and I'm still on the hook.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiGV7RK5uUKNb0L7mxNCaecAhDX2z5-Lz2H81x56j0hSh5E-NCpUpPOwMYpesncuOFJg9w093M60rgtJGMuNE0qFulz4yejejqurlSOUK-WRQ0BG1FXV9NHcHmjizykVKnx61W53MHZ4/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25286+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiGV7RK5uUKNb0L7mxNCaecAhDX2z5-Lz2H81x56j0hSh5E-NCpUpPOwMYpesncuOFJg9w093M60rgtJGMuNE0qFulz4yejejqurlSOUK-WRQ0BG1FXV9NHcHmjizykVKnx61W53MHZ4/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25286+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaR_H3Ks6ob4-x0ABeudG7R8TSrytRNp4UZFUIul8sY4Uw8UmYYBY7Nc6MhauQt3e3HqPft75nD-f-0z_80M9Z4ujY6Sy8fiM9SpKeNSXK3mtOPh78uGAXDDbGQ0YoauN9GOWYx0ifwI/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25287+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaR_H3Ks6ob4-x0ABeudG7R8TSrytRNp4UZFUIul8sY4Uw8UmYYBY7Nc6MhauQt3e3HqPft75nD-f-0z_80M9Z4ujY6Sy8fiM9SpKeNSXK3mtOPh78uGAXDDbGQ0YoauN9GOWYx0ifwI/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25287+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1woPdl5nVqvgs8dqXj3lK-aTCYyMKTs2qH8kue0lUUs3OeG_lZG_RKaSmEni3EwHFhINyUz0x2TZZKLzkiaJErYzGOhZl5Uq7cMKKrfHsMTCFLs-iN242-kXpVenmO4RBr183iJTG-A/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25288+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1woPdl5nVqvgs8dqXj3lK-aTCYyMKTs2qH8kue0lUUs3OeG_lZG_RKaSmEni3EwHFhINyUz0x2TZZKLzkiaJErYzGOhZl5Uq7cMKKrfHsMTCFLs-iN242-kXpVenmO4RBr183iJTG-A/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25288+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDxdjQRLKke9wB7QLMZUx1R_MbD2pnK3xxpr9cEulwLhuaMP5QDLSjLwqABix5SMReR4RxeuCCZiyHs89uXljjzf1Wg8vBglMsNvAQb4jCucpGn2YqaN-l3gCUrMIc29HnELrqrF4ok8/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252811+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDxdjQRLKke9wB7QLMZUx1R_MbD2pnK3xxpr9cEulwLhuaMP5QDLSjLwqABix5SMReR4RxeuCCZiyHs89uXljjzf1Wg8vBglMsNvAQb4jCucpGn2YqaN-l3gCUrMIc29HnELrqrF4ok8/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252811+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is my favorite picture of the day. The sunlight on the hill of saguaros, small and almost fragile-looking before the monolithic hulk of the mountains, the improbably blue sky, the wide open beckoning of space and possibilities, made me almost weep with the beauty before me. I have missed this. I love my home and community, but I miss <i>this</i> beyond my imagining.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFNHFguHRPn8b_zr2f0esErOQJysEKuT9MbD6uSWWbybP6Vs-hiAgBI2oRBTe8IfF3WcBSSPb3m-ZebuGHMR5GTOQK4n5U_W0FMJqN3O8wEn67UeIf-tftm9FfDJMwdVxX1uaofDJs2A/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252812+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFNHFguHRPn8b_zr2f0esErOQJysEKuT9MbD6uSWWbybP6Vs-hiAgBI2oRBTe8IfF3WcBSSPb3m-ZebuGHMR5GTOQK4n5U_W0FMJqN3O8wEn67UeIf-tftm9FfDJMwdVxX1uaofDJs2A/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252812+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first of the wildflowers, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">physaria purpurea,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> was blooming.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwHU9GZqJRjsuBDr0GBezVmF72gdgGUePIv5F-x-APoSA2VMjZfVxIbK0Et6F89HwDAR1EeScg0kF1qhEBHk39v6MfDPHx7aJdzK78eInuyqZBIkPBUgUfk0MM-_zaHycEw21exxdZ0g/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252813+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwHU9GZqJRjsuBDr0GBezVmF72gdgGUePIv5F-x-APoSA2VMjZfVxIbK0Et6F89HwDAR1EeScg0kF1qhEBHk39v6MfDPHx7aJdzK78eInuyqZBIkPBUgUfk0MM-_zaHycEw21exxdZ0g/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252813+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A forest of cacti. I know all trees are unique, but they usually look so much alike they might as well be identical. Saguaros are so distinctly unique, however, that you would never mistake one for another.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gFiWX3S8W23KEN5ouDgRaRYYU_TT1mvdzABcRh2bOnXpdsPzvCq1vAB3N6-c-JyibE6q5cTj-h31wl3n2IRM-VDoz77DjYOXfUHFbyXk8b2KzsNbYrvpQ-KZl02mIaP884oDRWzOgoQ/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252814+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gFiWX3S8W23KEN5ouDgRaRYYU_TT1mvdzABcRh2bOnXpdsPzvCq1vAB3N6-c-JyibE6q5cTj-h31wl3n2IRM-VDoz77DjYOXfUHFbyXk8b2KzsNbYrvpQ-KZl02mIaP884oDRWzOgoQ/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252814+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another of the earliest wildflowers here, commonly called a fairy duster.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNYlisRwCuiPPPUkhYrt93o1jnsDRkP7s-djBPtAgTX0X49L5DJPwqEWBPOgl62_kqcoTQaZ2zg8BomnZ05MSM2zli6aIrO0gkPlBlfZ42n9KMVzNpcTlIgFgYQoWeEPAU0u1qL9kv00/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252815+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNYlisRwCuiPPPUkhYrt93o1jnsDRkP7s-djBPtAgTX0X49L5DJPwqEWBPOgl62_kqcoTQaZ2zg8BomnZ05MSM2zli6aIrO0gkPlBlfZ42n9KMVzNpcTlIgFgYQoWeEPAU0u1qL9kv00/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252815+of+24%2529.jpg" width="454" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAhAjQe-iLZTLK2TUvXpEp1sMP6QtmMesNb4prmtcRpshXwGwmrmBCA-HAXL8cb8YAW6ZH0-vhjeD1LtcEshejHSID3Maw5OITHRwL8qWGOl2IVu84d-2zh17B7FTw8GiJBdhR5SOsFs/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252816+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAhAjQe-iLZTLK2TUvXpEp1sMP6QtmMesNb4prmtcRpshXwGwmrmBCA-HAXL8cb8YAW6ZH0-vhjeD1LtcEshejHSID3Maw5OITHRwL8qWGOl2IVu84d-2zh17B7FTw8GiJBdhR5SOsFs/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252816+of+24%2529.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ranger lady at one of her favorite spots. The rocks make a natural seat from which to ponder your good luck and the glory before you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsNz58ElUf8zNDa2a0pqcT95D5QbH3RVNpCQok7TGwk_hFQkOr6J7BAq9iilU7D3gJemP47PKttAvlwXh7raheX306QBbd5w3_kKS1zZcBoq6WzPriXDWV0HgB1xoclr-2p7q-CXOy68/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252820+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsNz58ElUf8zNDa2a0pqcT95D5QbH3RVNpCQok7TGwk_hFQkOr6J7BAq9iilU7D3gJemP47PKttAvlwXh7raheX306QBbd5w3_kKS1zZcBoq6WzPriXDWV0HgB1xoclr-2p7q-CXOy68/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252820+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="https://www.desertmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum</a> says this about saguaros' growth: "[They] are very slow growing cactus. A 10 year old plant might only be 1.5 inches tall. Saguaro can grow to be between 40-60 feet tall (12-18m). When rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated it can weigh between 3200-4800 pounds."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlhso03xCIUCKLtcxFlrSv35DqTx8a6MBiS609AlqU1QvqMGdiFwk5wxXtuZmI9hfJyQ8WZypsDyRGiJGK7QVMXBnC42OcI9F_rZy6GI-rnYQUWwsGaH-eBxvvFlu4mCzcZvMbZwMKKc/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252821+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlhso03xCIUCKLtcxFlrSv35DqTx8a6MBiS609AlqU1QvqMGdiFwk5wxXtuZmI9hfJyQ8WZypsDyRGiJGK7QVMXBnC42OcI9F_rZy6GI-rnYQUWwsGaH-eBxvvFlu4mCzcZvMbZwMKKc/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252821+of+24%2529.jpg" width="466" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0qRQ4qryCN8nKNOYBY4P8doe7YZOhoh_5dBbEH62UJI7o69S6IvVLNJaLRVimmwyNSDkpyfAwJoTUvpee1oNiH627IAWioXfI2oxBX34jzeW8aGSWWvvO36DhH9zQT583_Ijq_2uITs/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252822+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0qRQ4qryCN8nKNOYBY4P8doe7YZOhoh_5dBbEH62UJI7o69S6IvVLNJaLRVimmwyNSDkpyfAwJoTUvpee1oNiH627IAWioXfI2oxBX34jzeW8aGSWWvvO36DhH9zQT583_Ijq_2uITs/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252822+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy05n4gY_lyoEAqqm6Tx_RTSUyoTGuJ_szZP4MnGpFBhlw4mFUoAg7zWpS2Ylp6xeK91IGVnhuaf8a97lOJVED-g5hvnndPW-8oUUAbGVYsu0Qbbh4BU4pTz4eObNt88rLQIf3476Wlo/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252823+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy05n4gY_lyoEAqqm6Tx_RTSUyoTGuJ_szZP4MnGpFBhlw4mFUoAg7zWpS2Ylp6xeK91IGVnhuaf8a97lOJVED-g5hvnndPW-8oUUAbGVYsu0Qbbh4BU4pTz4eObNt88rLQIf3476Wlo/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252823+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu03IVyXG-AVwyCbiiGJUK5qM9RlugmNYMNmxYu8Cw13zjlCQaw5nMzN3L3xVhJX0g7oTQlIgYe-v34lYbPpBUwAJsWU4M0cmxYwnaKwTkNL_-cyaHjmH3kQrh0TG6XLwK4ufdevDEx08/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252824+of+24%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu03IVyXG-AVwyCbiiGJUK5qM9RlugmNYMNmxYu8Cw13zjlCQaw5nMzN3L3xVhJX0g7oTQlIgYe-v34lYbPpBUwAJsWU4M0cmxYwnaKwTkNL_-cyaHjmH3kQrh0TG6XLwK4ufdevDEx08/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%252824+of+24%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had my time on the rock and then we had to leave this peaceful place. The ranger lady had work to do and I needed to get back on the road, back to home.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaVtExN2ACKiZhi-GdyCWdCgei8W2oy-fbFhEgE2Hqxrj5D4PmUrMjmc1HckbJeW_v4O_O9E2-XB95Kk-hJqODRrOdBfyEpJvJ-QG1Tgo74psN8Vwbg0hIf16HgZFCQNQi-j0FRl27ro/s1600/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaVtExN2ACKiZhi-GdyCWdCgei8W2oy-fbFhEgE2Hqxrj5D4PmUrMjmc1HckbJeW_v4O_O9E2-XB95Kk-hJqODRrOdBfyEpJvJ-QG1Tgo74psN8Vwbg0hIf16HgZFCQNQi-j0FRl27ro/s640/Aravaipa+Canyon+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fire that was lit with this day trip will be tamped down a bit when HH and I hit the road again this week. I'm finally going to a language school so we're headed to Oaxaca. It'll be our first driving foray into Mexico. We have the maps. We have the books. We have the insurance. We have the wanderlust. So off we go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">-------</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">wanderlust consumed her;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">foreign hearts</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and exotic minds</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">compelled her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">she had a gypsy soul</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and a vibrant hope</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">for the unknown.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ d. marie</span></div>
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<br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-56029913291708561062016-10-29T13:31:00.000-07:002016-10-30T09:20:32.562-07:00I love a (small town) parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A brief break from Russia pictures, if you please. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today was the annual White Elephant parade. White Elephant is the best thrift store around, and that's saying a lot because the entire Tucson area is loaded with them. Much of my house has been furnished with purchases from WE. I don't know why they have a parade but HH and I went to watch it this morning because 1) it's the first time the parade has been on since we moved to Green Valley, 2) I love parades, and 3) our good friend and neighbor Edie was the parade chair this year. Edie lives across the street, and was the first person I met in the 'hood when she came trotting across with a bottle of wine before I'd even finished unloading the first load of stuff from my truck. She's a kind, lovely person, the kind I have a hard time twisting my brain around that she's Republican, but we love her anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wanted to make sure we had a good spot to set up our chairs so we got to the parade route at 8:00 for the 10:00 start, and even so, dozens of chairs were already there. I'd been concerned about leaving the chairs unchaperoned but I keep forgetting that this is Green Valley. We wandered off to breakfast and came back with lots of time to spare - and were pleasantly surprised that the parade started on time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The parade began with several banner-toting volunteers from the cadre of about 600 from White Elephant. Right, 600 volunteers run the place. It takes that many to sort, clean, price, display, sell, and deliver tens of thousands of items a year. It takes in a remarkable amount of money, so much so that in 2014 it donated $1.6 million to local organizations like <span abp="635">St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic, </span><span abp="638" style="line-height: 24px;">Community</span><span abp="639" style="line-height: 24px;"> Health Center, </span><span abp="642" style="line-height: 24px;">Green</span><span abp="643" style="line-height: 24px;"> Valley</span><span abp="644" style="line-height: 24px;"> Assistance Services, </span>Salvation Army, area com</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">munity food banks, assorted foundations, local public and private schools, rural volunteer fire departments, community arts </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">organizations, and national disease control agencies. It also, in 2014, established a 4-year scholarship fund for local high school seniors. It's a most efficient organization, and raises that much money being open only three hours a day, six days a week. They don't take credit cards, but do have an in-house ATM. I am intimate with that ATM.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLpTYFgB7R7Rqx_QVPwh4brxZxcZ7oFeMunUGQeig82VHXARaVRgyL-fZvS5LXJId__Ei1ipgOFLzqCBD4hOU44PprwqOg7LLqaNacYoOvTKoYQoYir92hqCxu3Oheu5jZZO_3FOyAH0/s1600/P1080023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLpTYFgB7R7Rqx_QVPwh4brxZxcZ7oFeMunUGQeig82VHXARaVRgyL-fZvS5LXJId__Ei1ipgOFLzqCBD4hOU44PprwqOg7LLqaNacYoOvTKoYQoYir92hqCxu3Oheu5jZZO_3FOyAH0/s640/P1080023.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's start with vehicles. The Pima County Sheriff was being chauffeured in this gorgeous Bugatti. I noticed his finger pointing at the boy on the sidelines only when I loaded the pictures on the computer, and thought how lucky the kid was that the Sheriff here isn't Maricopa County's Joe Arpaio. He has a thing about minorities, which is getting to be a misnomer in Arizona, and it isn't a good thing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsRxuIdn5BZs0wIuAsMoUfb1O6YXGW6wv1efhj4nctVvYxHmftGOd0hPgQjq18P0dDXjPajaW-XY5w9YcrFiDQl4OvWuMo6AkkE2y32hZDtR3oESECwiiYyKoxIGJ7OwY0o7BvcBqzhU/s1600/P1080024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsRxuIdn5BZs0wIuAsMoUfb1O6YXGW6wv1efhj4nctVvYxHmftGOd0hPgQjq18P0dDXjPajaW-XY5w9YcrFiDQl4OvWuMo6AkkE2y32hZDtR3oESECwiiYyKoxIGJ7OwY0o7BvcBqzhU/s640/P1080024.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pima County vehicles, ready for terrorist threats: the Command Center and two tank-like SWAT trucks.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gg0W_pds5glsR1JpHHJ6mHJtS0BpsNgVlfqzRtfIlCPnOlFLBKAOOle7C8Z8MnZIn5xye4QaZlkZABNKlUWM_HcCYmQC7PsD9ggYFR86PeSpkyJ3ddYvcCRs_ljaqUFOjcZ_MS8W2Nw/s1600/P1080025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gg0W_pds5glsR1JpHHJ6mHJtS0BpsNgVlfqzRtfIlCPnOlFLBKAOOle7C8Z8MnZIn5xye4QaZlkZABNKlUWM_HcCYmQC7PsD9ggYFR86PeSpkyJ3ddYvcCRs_ljaqUFOjcZ_MS8W2Nw/s640/P1080025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> A shiny new Green Valley fire truck.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgTVHzbCQghMQM-awa1wP35B9Cy3Ofn59Z-YmUfehGhEY6TnPezpl60ZHRsRFlOoVmJ-HYU9scFOLENanx3G3l0UWZBptSlbBVGKpjKlveSNFt-7gSgykYlp1sMqhlPBGxDm3Allu6ZQ/s1600/P1080029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgTVHzbCQghMQM-awa1wP35B9Cy3Ofn59Z-YmUfehGhEY6TnPezpl60ZHRsRFlOoVmJ-HYU9scFOLENanx3G3l0UWZBptSlbBVGKpjKlveSNFt-7gSgykYlp1sMqhlPBGxDm3Allu6ZQ/s640/P1080029.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is from another fire truck, I think from one of the smaller jurisdictions, with a note of thanks to White Elephant.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCcjSSWI6qnj-7G4BZzITH9lamW1O4JA87fTTcGffvxuPW7sAryfWPaur27_Cis3ff8Znam22EVHqRszHZmBWCtTmaHN7H-QknSXQGN1dGGP3ACaPgf8PC2lgtqKJnRkzC7GjxkhC9mg/s1600/P1080039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCcjSSWI6qnj-7G4BZzITH9lamW1O4JA87fTTcGffvxuPW7sAryfWPaur27_Cis3ff8Znam22EVHqRszHZmBWCtTmaHN7H-QknSXQGN1dGGP3ACaPgf8PC2lgtqKJnRkzC7GjxkhC9mg/s640/P1080039.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Grand Marshal of the parade, the Green Valley fire Chief Chuck Wunder. Speaking of the fire department, they're the folks to call if you find a rattlesnake in your yard, just in case you're thinking of moving to Green Valley.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsGm7jCLz23XKRv5vWJs_Criy4NkggFfc3C8hOouF99qLf3eiQ_h0yoBLjTMges5OO5HVRTUZxM_XErFfwyJuc0yG0aVvHLRCBjXn_c5yfv_4XZGEzn_RjLTvldJndPjEVl0Rxo1vf0Q/s1600/P1080034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsGm7jCLz23XKRv5vWJs_Criy4NkggFfc3C8hOouF99qLf3eiQ_h0yoBLjTMges5OO5HVRTUZxM_XErFfwyJuc0yG0aVvHLRCBjXn_c5yfv_4XZGEzn_RjLTvldJndPjEVl0Rxo1vf0Q/s640/P1080034.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The local car club had some beauties today.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireEzG-59bL0j-tei1q1HNTUWvfbK3ZWKv3rCYj1gMurSuWb5vt02xg8O0UG4etw5atT9epghrxHb4Gx6-UvP_jcUlASuq4SlghE0vKXedmpV_Wg9l7Bd4Dztd61mzn8Jj8vMZewz4KY8/s1600/P1080042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireEzG-59bL0j-tei1q1HNTUWvfbK3ZWKv3rCYj1gMurSuWb5vt02xg8O0UG4etw5atT9epghrxHb4Gx6-UvP_jcUlASuq4SlghE0vKXedmpV_Wg9l7Bd4Dztd61mzn8Jj8vMZewz4KY8/s640/P1080042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vOJvkM6UObvOmz2aDNT53bRtrVk2ruBzaERSNYMW7uNC6EzEFPgYa1OokgeR2DeRM5qea3aGPpQVR4wtCuzrmbWdi2LTBrtLFK9A0nulJSjMWP81rSf6f3dzUshGj79-xJBODiWwK4o/s1600/P1080050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vOJvkM6UObvOmz2aDNT53bRtrVk2ruBzaERSNYMW7uNC6EzEFPgYa1OokgeR2DeRM5qea3aGPpQVR4wtCuzrmbWdi2LTBrtLFK9A0nulJSjMWP81rSf6f3dzUshGj79-xJBODiWwK4o/s640/P1080050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePFpJz6lnovRmDRMVlNdQ3ww9NVGetzHFiFDdee7KBtQE7fZUNtt2s6Hk3vgcxAvQZAdFUEuhKPDO0HDOavvnD7ZVctLxI7h34yBJT0n12AsI6cwnxsLXiXQ6svaghjSdlljEf4Uv9_Q/s1600/P1080051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePFpJz6lnovRmDRMVlNdQ3ww9NVGetzHFiFDdee7KBtQE7fZUNtt2s6Hk3vgcxAvQZAdFUEuhKPDO0HDOavvnD7ZVctLxI7h34yBJT0n12AsI6cwnxsLXiXQ6svaghjSdlljEf4Uv9_Q/s640/P1080051.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plus this work in progress. He got a lot of cheers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYdakCQt-xnqMQ401Z0pvlDvwleewp2si_S7sjUTHRDZl2N0tbF2qOmlX4V337S6C9HRRVaxC3VBIy19u6nHa46FB_w5i0orpE81u_cdpCQraBuT6NNvla1pXkwuCwAzvEJriaQDGdgs/s1600/P1080045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYdakCQt-xnqMQ401Z0pvlDvwleewp2si_S7sjUTHRDZl2N0tbF2qOmlX4V337S6C9HRRVaxC3VBIy19u6nHa46FB_w5i0orpE81u_cdpCQraBuT6NNvla1pXkwuCwAzvEJriaQDGdgs/s640/P1080045.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And this Caddy, which gave me an immediate flashback to when I lived in Detroit and they were fondly called Pimpmobiles. No disrespect to the current owner intended.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjKDD0wsnPxotGQSgSVB6Hrs8h75KTRJl1FjIckduPSQ72MpfNmxqE36-pSjeQUfb7RprlC6vD6QWbuep5lWzmIFRvnIN76WcZyuu3GOVn_NGzCmOiJmOXbHVrD3fzGZxGNOKPAnG8rA/s1600/P1080052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjKDD0wsnPxotGQSgSVB6Hrs8h75KTRJl1FjIckduPSQ72MpfNmxqE36-pSjeQUfb7RprlC6vD6QWbuep5lWzmIFRvnIN76WcZyuu3GOVn_NGzCmOiJmOXbHVrD3fzGZxGNOKPAnG8rA/s640/P1080052.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This bee-utiful T-bird was carrying someone from one of the local school boards.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNRDoaypWkEYHEKOZkmiWwXfKPqQqGt64Jpj3CeMRmWdLLjmah66uW-wP5SK2_2jYZycD5OizXFc6_A6SrmTIdFvtEpzPr-uIPNK8F8cEgHHaApwLie4XFS3pfmA1IuFgcvVH5p32ttk/s1600/P1080106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNRDoaypWkEYHEKOZkmiWwXfKPqQqGt64Jpj3CeMRmWdLLjmah66uW-wP5SK2_2jYZycD5OizXFc6_A6SrmTIdFvtEpzPr-uIPNK8F8cEgHHaApwLie4XFS3pfmA1IuFgcvVH5p32ttk/s640/P1080106.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We saw two animal-driven vehicles, including this stagecoach,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTF_xQTLhQuA0KEmqnxwvCjCnWUp4gaAcnyvrzQz3YMyH-v9tMnpcpdAcfmjwAzkxaTRamwl-6ufiAuC-K5CzB5f9OxgAYIwgUigdgd6VnzOvjQCMo9QyqwTxhvxrFyyWVmFMtkRftQ8/s1600/P1080053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTF_xQTLhQuA0KEmqnxwvCjCnWUp4gaAcnyvrzQz3YMyH-v9tMnpcpdAcfmjwAzkxaTRamwl-6ufiAuC-K5CzB5f9OxgAYIwgUigdgd6VnzOvjQCMo9QyqwTxhvxrFyyWVmFMtkRftQ8/s640/P1080053.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and a pup-powered cart. I've seen this woman and her dogs several times when I'm out walking, but I've never seen her in her fairy costume.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8jjDUY5gQYDc9vLXYkd_1XGV-lMmAu2S391ELT3pOczilrJsF43VYeOUaz3pGEKcSgXVp9YZOQE9-64FdaoE1xNnaWzCYR_9xyjg9KHn2XdBZlZ6xAzLtA5fTYv_x9jJjxSVLdBAhgo/s1600/P1080055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8jjDUY5gQYDc9vLXYkd_1XGV-lMmAu2S391ELT3pOczilrJsF43VYeOUaz3pGEKcSgXVp9YZOQE9-64FdaoE1xNnaWzCYR_9xyjg9KHn2XdBZlZ6xAzLtA5fTYv_x9jJjxSVLdBAhgo/s640/P1080055.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have photos of just two Green Valley Cadillacs, aka golf carts. They're quite popular here because most everything is within just a few miles and it keeps wear and tear off the car. There are even golf cart lanes on most streets. I looked into getting one but for what they cost I can pay for a lot of wear and tear on my car.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtknkEjsitP9AQoKGvBVrEPh7sjztCWJXYYZMAKosSAhLIszQBpUAOsgYGLiKD5B3ftsM1RGVHRrY1azD8elFEQearWXhpSwhbQqJyh1R0pTBbkTzyRdKwoi1HU-jHTLeJg34aIJoJ6vA/s1600/P1080032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtknkEjsitP9AQoKGvBVrEPh7sjztCWJXYYZMAKosSAhLIszQBpUAOsgYGLiKD5B3ftsM1RGVHRrY1azD8elFEQearWXhpSwhbQqJyh1R0pTBbkTzyRdKwoi1HU-jHTLeJg34aIJoJ6vA/s640/P1080032.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Quick!! Who remembers this song?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR0XLpN5Wmj8Ig1lLYDLOsLLAK_JGN-tec5LU83Prck5w3eZh6eCX9w_82TtHXZqX_QbmTklcuJnIOXwx2ms09dlPvtxb7d1iNE-BnHrtuRDX3PmLsTMra6mdj-HQYGN7V2p11-P58eo/s1600/P1080105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR0XLpN5Wmj8Ig1lLYDLOsLLAK_JGN-tec5LU83Prck5w3eZh6eCX9w_82TtHXZqX_QbmTklcuJnIOXwx2ms09dlPvtxb7d1iNE-BnHrtuRDX3PmLsTMra6mdj-HQYGN7V2p11-P58eo/s640/P1080105.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This next section was HH's favorite - tractors. Even I identified the Hit and Miss engine idling on the trailer.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BpUc97hTZ3qyDP_pLgHrHnptU8ZdqCkxwGM77nOiHxr5MKcRJSkXlHpFZWGT0YipHZVzkt12lAIfVy-eYT2FScaHytHyXtgr14HgHOjKpqDqkez6K3HE3V4NkvAR_N-xokbt0XMGFLs/s1600/P1080085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BpUc97hTZ3qyDP_pLgHrHnptU8ZdqCkxwGM77nOiHxr5MKcRJSkXlHpFZWGT0YipHZVzkt12lAIfVy-eYT2FScaHytHyXtgr14HgHOjKpqDqkez6K3HE3V4NkvAR_N-xokbt0XMGFLs/s640/P1080085.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEgcUdR-6EYvHz7qH8rlXE3wK_Bas6VOjoOy1woJ9irIIPfv7U1GlclXOzO2YCif1k49iKUT9CcmRZj-Z-fpb9iztBugzRXFGso9QDCpDjK-Ba84gczT6SGAhLFKvCFJPeA_Sp1pNEUg/s1600/P1080093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEgcUdR-6EYvHz7qH8rlXE3wK_Bas6VOjoOy1woJ9irIIPfv7U1GlclXOzO2YCif1k49iKUT9CcmRZj-Z-fpb9iztBugzRXFGso9QDCpDjK-Ba84gczT6SGAhLFKvCFJPeA_Sp1pNEUg/s640/P1080093.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As HH commented, really all you need is an engine, wheels, steering, and a place to sit. This is a minimalist tractor.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuysyCHlcVDOtoWFSL8IPVzcf-wkRfnXe3SxKPaxfVLjlYX4P2KWzvN5kqMdoddqobvx6h-9cxrgS7bzhCAEr3mj3zVKNGWDrsHUyZTEfGw9fwL-H8Vr757RhyhjZvC6Ky45sYOFyIzM/s1600/P1080094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuysyCHlcVDOtoWFSL8IPVzcf-wkRfnXe3SxKPaxfVLjlYX4P2KWzvN5kqMdoddqobvx6h-9cxrgS7bzhCAEr3mj3zVKNGWDrsHUyZTEfGw9fwL-H8Vr757RhyhjZvC6Ky45sYOFyIzM/s640/P1080094.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> A parade would not be complete without the Shriners...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">or school bands.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxSgjEPtX3UxMAfMjvB5_8wKTqzrwvlJR6NAZoQ5mmJzfYdcurKvzK0TWsgwRa9srMz4k15bHKP0OlFOlZvALAToQgvWadWr0skBnpU-_GFNxQ6RE6dzu3SbiV9Vwb74fbU2GMI4LhBg/s1600/P1080056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxSgjEPtX3UxMAfMjvB5_8wKTqzrwvlJR6NAZoQ5mmJzfYdcurKvzK0TWsgwRa9srMz4k15bHKP0OlFOlZvALAToQgvWadWr0skBnpU-_GFNxQ6RE6dzu3SbiV9Vwb74fbU2GMI4LhBg/s640/P1080056.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rio Rico High has some great uniforms.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRfk10RjZxsYMpnXiavrTUJFIMA7apJle3-6AW8B3QcoDSSRHnCqLN2en7WbYlCkcKOnR_Ky_sdwlUTEKRpPMQyAsSF3seHhs0kJQCheoZace5S8YUWczNSOK20RKgqSEOdHxA2K8a-I/s1600/P1080060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRfk10RjZxsYMpnXiavrTUJFIMA7apJle3-6AW8B3QcoDSSRHnCqLN2en7WbYlCkcKOnR_Ky_sdwlUTEKRpPMQyAsSF3seHhs0kJQCheoZace5S8YUWczNSOK20RKgqSEOdHxA2K8a-I/s640/P1080060.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMs809LOIfT0hudbzBP6N4hSp-EKj2qSsb33HzIP58hkROT0rSQm3wqk5K3QJhxhrT1oTyQQpVs1U08PN5biDq3aonLGltmtUARtDIjFAi1LxRgH_gGwZnljXAkwMAx-W-xegJXq-L9A/s1600/P1080079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMs809LOIfT0hudbzBP6N4hSp-EKj2qSsb33HzIP58hkROT0rSQm3wqk5K3QJhxhrT1oTyQQpVs1U08PN5biDq3aonLGltmtUARtDIjFAi1LxRgH_gGwZnljXAkwMAx-W-xegJXq-L9A/s640/P1080079.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJJBvM3kD_EO1262q98H2jFpXxd1LaKL8Nm8b_Hp2WqgqFda1edx_bqeu9xZ1SDCQzhsvzBL90A3ADgy-tyGXuhWRfWPh4-DpRrQa4L_4RcdI84dMCqvwlLUxMFbG_FWW-DB-9F1Sfak/s1600/P1080108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJJBvM3kD_EO1262q98H2jFpXxd1LaKL8Nm8b_Hp2WqgqFda1edx_bqeu9xZ1SDCQzhsvzBL90A3ADgy-tyGXuhWRfWPh4-DpRrQa4L_4RcdI84dMCqvwlLUxMFbG_FWW-DB-9F1Sfak/s640/P1080108.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Instead of marching, this school has a riding band.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-v95Y9LsjhUwVNkLjqqB7CA-L2aoXYTLKM69MGVKJ6ZtaqrFvEYio8Ck-P6eYIIkH9l_otawPpZBmBCMYWIKakAkH6C9iex6vfDQih_CJTsbECKe_Xzh4sDdVrqnEVxWcm-kVQavXeQ/s1600/P1080104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-v95Y9LsjhUwVNkLjqqB7CA-L2aoXYTLKM69MGVKJ6ZtaqrFvEYio8Ck-P6eYIIkH9l_otawPpZBmBCMYWIKakAkH6C9iex6vfDQih_CJTsbECKe_Xzh4sDdVrqnEVxWcm-kVQavXeQ/s640/P1080104.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This girl is my hero. She did not falter, wobble, or weave as she walked backward, directing the band. The only thing she could have done that was harder was wear heels.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekNtpgSyjkJYDQKxehf0Oh4ag9D4oQL-uSkbdUKqt7SflVdGvMTM_402_0uWo1vSHVLW-s5FPd9ASHlPUSt_h932HDeDsTwFANlRwxj3dSN_uAnnMRfZA5AN1RdBEp7P7cQOjHPtNxjg/s1600/P1080099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekNtpgSyjkJYDQKxehf0Oh4ag9D4oQL-uSkbdUKqt7SflVdGvMTM_402_0uWo1vSHVLW-s5FPd9ASHlPUSt_h932HDeDsTwFANlRwxj3dSN_uAnnMRfZA5AN1RdBEp7P7cQOjHPtNxjg/s640/P1080099.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cutest of the bunch was this pack of Cheetahs who actually did very well with chanting, some fancy leg work, and pom pom shaking.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1poY_RcKv7pE4pP1kKZIhhtAyhQAZGjA1m0HGhq_0hyphenhyphenwH6io2pf7AGMYRgvmyhBb8vK9jgGeLIoGEiBAgFwG66udsAHatIyGJifxZbzQbqHPjumrNFyfVx97QGIZGjtm8hLwhOCZO-Ng/s1600/P1080110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1poY_RcKv7pE4pP1kKZIhhtAyhQAZGjA1m0HGhq_0hyphenhyphenwH6io2pf7AGMYRgvmyhBb8vK9jgGeLIoGEiBAgFwG66udsAHatIyGJifxZbzQbqHPjumrNFyfVx97QGIZGjtm8hLwhOCZO-Ng/s640/P1080110.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were also some special interest groups such as the Cub Scouts, Border Patrol, the Animal League of Green Valley (a no-kill shelter), the Rotary, retirement communities, commercial businesses, and the Paws Patrol which came with their van,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">advertising BARK, Bath & Beyond.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNAuT9ia2D0TwmvHDFN-QTzB1kFjxWrnvYr5VlurVnBYuElzmy8hYvMj9Bj-D_z2fhORZnJYz0OHujv8ZXYeTbaWBhFB60beYaiGkcwnhnx1XjVEy28RFQdxRtqNPKHxbOzgpRKaXL0g/s1600/P1080083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNAuT9ia2D0TwmvHDFN-QTzB1kFjxWrnvYr5VlurVnBYuElzmy8hYvMj9Bj-D_z2fhORZnJYz0OHujv8ZXYeTbaWBhFB60beYaiGkcwnhnx1XjVEy28RFQdxRtqNPKHxbOzgpRKaXL0g/s640/P1080083.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Veterans of the USS Tucson.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HgUsIefmmK6dS7xphLnUhcnQFNezFb06oUxwMt0I2M_x4JhXhxDMSTt8EXU7Bp_Qp1wVuYIZxmZuUQ8zeXrfFE4JZ7OISJqzhYxBZG-NcSiKJQv2ROLOcKbzYI0tjq0DNEXv-Rt3-No/s1600/P1080059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HgUsIefmmK6dS7xphLnUhcnQFNezFb06oUxwMt0I2M_x4JhXhxDMSTt8EXU7Bp_Qp1wVuYIZxmZuUQ8zeXrfFE4JZ7OISJqzhYxBZG-NcSiKJQv2ROLOcKbzYI0tjq0DNEXv-Rt3-No/s640/P1080059.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The local McDonalds franchise holder.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2qes9QvB375-q8wZV7A7SPaEgAMzogcGbsevstq2wiZSLAGC-cVuBs_o-n4tcOxd14cwyj3kGX0IdzNzu90UU9XsuoRgoRm1IBx7mX5VALri56cfM5afcHDuRoll0wmrMh-0FvcIcUI/s1600/P1080107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2qes9QvB375-q8wZV7A7SPaEgAMzogcGbsevstq2wiZSLAGC-cVuBs_o-n4tcOxd14cwyj3kGX0IdzNzu90UU9XsuoRgoRm1IBx7mX5VALri56cfM5afcHDuRoll0wmrMh-0FvcIcUI/s640/P1080107.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think there were about 100 entries all told. It was a great way to spend this beautiful, sunshiny morning. Good job, Edie!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you're not in the parade, you watch the parade. That's life. ~ Mike Ditka</span></div>
<br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-77139398490165468792016-10-26T13:31:00.001-07:002016-10-29T12:44:16.012-07:00The kindness of strangers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">HH and I went to Russia in late September. We took a river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow and it was more than I ever expected it to be - both the cruise and the experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we returned a friend asked what was the best thing, and I was stumped. There were so many best things so where do you start? The Hermitage, which has been on my bucket list forever? Catherine's Palace? The Kremlin? Red Square with St. Basil's Cathedral? I just couldn't pin down one thing. Then I started processing photos and knew what was the best thing about the entire trip. Bear with me; I'll get there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On our first full day on the ship we went to the Hermitage; it was one of the package of tours included in the fare. We decided to extract ourselves from the group once we were in the door, though, because I wanted to be free to roam and not be herded. It was marvelous. We wandered at will and had just decided to rejoin the group for the bus trip back when I saw a small placard for a special Vermeer exhibit. Well, don't ask me twice. Also, HH remembered being at the Hermitage years ago and entering a gallery to find Rembrandts set up on easels all over the space. Not fastened to the walls, not secured with motion sensors, just loose on easels. So between the Vermeer and the possibility of finding the Rembrandt room I went to the ticket counter and paid for admission again because we'd exited the turnstile and the admission ticket is good for one entry only. If I remember correctly, it was 600 rubles, less than $10. They really need to charge more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But first, let's dispense with The Hermitage in general. I always thought it was pronounced Hermitaj, like the Taj Mahal, but it, in fact, is pronounced like the word that indicates a shelter, a refuge. The current building - a greatly truncated version is shown below - is the fourth iteration of the Winter Palace. It eventually became one of the largest and oldest museums in the world under the eclectic collection policies of Catherine the Great, who is said to have initiated her collections based more on quantity than quality.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4UeO8wp3J4yD4obWQYdplRDAKogJwA1moIX6IChlEKP1Og49y5nCU2CZLBwczv2mgB88EE89ASMxv60p1O9JVL9WF8oAplfUDi34BLZ3aY_D4qk1q0SoTHvZxkiTO4tGOaCJh0vp1PU/s1600/Hermitage+%25281+of+7%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4UeO8wp3J4yD4obWQYdplRDAKogJwA1moIX6IChlEKP1Og49y5nCU2CZLBwczv2mgB88EE89ASMxv60p1O9JVL9WF8oAplfUDi34BLZ3aY_D4qk1q0SoTHvZxkiTO4tGOaCJh0vp1PU/s640/Hermitage+%25281+of+7%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A very small portion of the line waiting to get in is in the lower right of the photo, three-fourths of which was Chinese tourists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The place is so huge it's impossible to get all of any one room in a photo. The next photo is a tiny portion of the landing after the first flight of stairs. I thought of how OSHA would go crazy when I saw a housekeeper vacuuming the red carpet on the stairs, trailing the cord willy-nilly, with tourists going up and down, looking everywhere but where they were going.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpU5K0vhKcHWymgx7ZiI31SjKe4mAJOej5P__3kZS_PD2-sVoaaeKZB_xTLtgkiYPtzi_ILAkx9fdk_DTWHA6dwKwADGiOaf4hkX4-oz0eemRMnoCzs4lzfPlKQ_6EiewCv0mQ9_1LWk/s1600/Hermitage+%25283+of+3%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpU5K0vhKcHWymgx7ZiI31SjKe4mAJOej5P__3kZS_PD2-sVoaaeKZB_xTLtgkiYPtzi_ILAkx9fdk_DTWHA6dwKwADGiOaf4hkX4-oz0eemRMnoCzs4lzfPlKQ_6EiewCv0mQ9_1LWk/s640/Hermitage+%25283+of+3%2529.jpg" width="562" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In no particular order, mostly because I didn't take notes, I present a minuscule percentage of the grandeur of The Hermitage.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSmIdstNlrRx1ZsoCmjR-IVUBSBrL0b8eopmjhtMCSgZ4MbYeVFhWi1eaIuDEkAXn5WRUzK6YQvrQrBv8Hqv_se-PiqI6KBrcA0cz5sqim_lWH12_8tTY_T8DnMd7awQlVnoZn6Nt3Lc/s1600/Hermitage+%25281+of+132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSmIdstNlrRx1ZsoCmjR-IVUBSBrL0b8eopmjhtMCSgZ4MbYeVFhWi1eaIuDEkAXn5WRUzK6YQvrQrBv8Hqv_se-PiqI6KBrcA0cz5sqim_lWH12_8tTY_T8DnMd7awQlVnoZn6Nt3Lc/s640/Hermitage+%25281+of+132%2529.jpg" width="432" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnYa7zMEYC-AG-o63HBrW1HMViDx65X-2H9PLh5s2cnlT1WvK0pDLUEhEuyfSXMi3tDl_vDdm_KcBjLDI1RIXW5X2upY-vkPA7HLz3Iup_SNNY6KWI5MnjPfZyGqYyVCsesKnmFGsaxU/s1600/Hermitage+%252880+of+132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnYa7zMEYC-AG-o63HBrW1HMViDx65X-2H9PLh5s2cnlT1WvK0pDLUEhEuyfSXMi3tDl_vDdm_KcBjLDI1RIXW5X2upY-vkPA7HLz3Iup_SNNY6KWI5MnjPfZyGqYyVCsesKnmFGsaxU/s640/Hermitage+%252880+of+132%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZeAkEGMWLcaFlaInwH2nRuZIPNqOVwovF8oblySzXQi3UFp7bJ4JOh9mHW4jIE_ru_jE9N1r6K2Km9dPLt5WZ5WxA8ciDs_6R0JqOXzXvENP7dyYRr2SkM6faK7E9Hcbn1-sC81t1uI/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Armorial+Hall+designed+after+fire+1837.+Coats+arms+%2526+heraldic+emblems+of+Russ+provinces+attached+to+bronze+chandeliers%252C+gave+the+hall+its+name.+Used+for+balls+and+receptions+%252813+of+166%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZeAkEGMWLcaFlaInwH2nRuZIPNqOVwovF8oblySzXQi3UFp7bJ4JOh9mHW4jIE_ru_jE9N1r6K2Km9dPLt5WZ5WxA8ciDs_6R0JqOXzXvENP7dyYRr2SkM6faK7E9Hcbn1-sC81t1uI/s640/Hermitage%252C+Armorial+Hall+designed+after+fire+1837.+Coats+arms+%2526+heraldic+emblems+of+Russ+provinces+attached+to+bronze+chandeliers%252C+gave+the+hall+its+name.+Used+for+balls+and+receptions+%252813+of+166%2529.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2ZV1l9PQ_6kpDK8Yf_cL00kzpQgPyeJLwO3V3JN2BcLxwQS0B1flbA3UycSm4MyzfmmqueaCloUVMvRUC4N53BkRmL4IZ_koE0WPNH5wzV_D-I1mE8C7SveR30UhzTmyEYOCWEgqvkQ/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Armorial+Hall+designed+after+fire+1837.+Coats+arms+%2526+heraldic+emblems+of+Russ+provinces+attached+to+bronze+chandeliers%252C+gave+the+hall+its+name.+Used+for+balls+and+receptions+%252812+of+166%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2ZV1l9PQ_6kpDK8Yf_cL00kzpQgPyeJLwO3V3JN2BcLxwQS0B1flbA3UycSm4MyzfmmqueaCloUVMvRUC4N53BkRmL4IZ_koE0WPNH5wzV_D-I1mE8C7SveR30UhzTmyEYOCWEgqvkQ/s640/Hermitage%252C+Armorial+Hall+designed+after+fire+1837.+Coats+arms+%2526+heraldic+emblems+of+Russ+provinces+attached+to+bronze+chandeliers%252C+gave+the+hall+its+name.+Used+for+balls+and+receptions+%252812+of+166%2529.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIybb4vH1_e0VCfg6hbD3gyp7kHmWudgvc6S5tGw3zAyIPlwi1-U03TxiWgkgsCuq-BL2alHA2ddrZce0xEPYaFngNJwwSLu1GBfg8rtTLEYvsyfo5sLF26vbmRPN-CMHqwO2pWcjp0QY/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Armorial+Hall+designed+after+fire+1837.+Coats+arms+%2526+heraldic+emblems+of+Russ+provinces+attached+to+bronze+chandeliers%252C+gave+the+hall+its+name.+Used+for+balls+and+receptions+%252815+of+166%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIybb4vH1_e0VCfg6hbD3gyp7kHmWudgvc6S5tGw3zAyIPlwi1-U03TxiWgkgsCuq-BL2alHA2ddrZce0xEPYaFngNJwwSLu1GBfg8rtTLEYvsyfo5sLF26vbmRPN-CMHqwO2pWcjp0QY/s640/Hermitage%252C+Armorial+Hall+designed+after+fire+1837.+Coats+arms+%2526+heraldic+emblems+of+Russ+provinces+attached+to+bronze+chandeliers%252C+gave+the+hall+its+name.+Used+for+balls+and+receptions+%252815+of+166%2529.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5ShIpNeM-mst073wtBC0yy7rzcqaU0VVFa9YjMsyji81-tA1basl7VtVOoDrJvfLRBKCbPnEmGaESYQjdBptAl_yJL-eq_Hk8SonmZNhcc1vtIM6C7MIeDUF_s-nYl0R1gyhF6eJAqo/s1600/Hermitage%252C+hallway+%25281+of+5%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5ShIpNeM-mst073wtBC0yy7rzcqaU0VVFa9YjMsyji81-tA1basl7VtVOoDrJvfLRBKCbPnEmGaESYQjdBptAl_yJL-eq_Hk8SonmZNhcc1vtIM6C7MIeDUF_s-nYl0R1gyhF6eJAqo/s640/Hermitage%252C+hallway+%25281+of+5%2529.jpg" width="412" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4jJ23kxFUP7pkilbCzzCEEWi5J5OsFxlKL4g-Ut1fJ9uDHbFPqqvtOAp2NGKcBMKxclhDOk2u0lhI8nbFqWL3JhlwoVJtIWhzTi8-RSY_PZzUrwWP37p45FpJztsTaXN74-cTUBtFmQ/s1600/Hermitage%252C+hallway+%25282+of+5%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4jJ23kxFUP7pkilbCzzCEEWi5J5OsFxlKL4g-Ut1fJ9uDHbFPqqvtOAp2NGKcBMKxclhDOk2u0lhI8nbFqWL3JhlwoVJtIWhzTi8-RSY_PZzUrwWP37p45FpJztsTaXN74-cTUBtFmQ/s640/Hermitage%252C+hallway+%25282+of+5%2529.jpg" width="566" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a little bit of individual works of art. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Sleeping Ariadne by Paolo Andrea Triscornia, purchased by the museum in 1798</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkuA7KJrdHLaVShU8LLeGjZO3577UoGls3Pe5woQrM5q8S4MUCFYqgH4Lsn-qeCt4g6d5rXKY-gQ0ak4IVl_Sic4FTqenG-3BJllm3hLOYmWcUypRNU1buS4k18z3gJPQdGw8-J_SFn4/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Sleeping+Ariadne+by+Paolo+Andrea+Triscornia%252C+purchased+1798+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkuA7KJrdHLaVShU8LLeGjZO3577UoGls3Pe5woQrM5q8S4MUCFYqgH4Lsn-qeCt4g6d5rXKY-gQ0ak4IVl_Sic4FTqenG-3BJllm3hLOYmWcUypRNU1buS4k18z3gJPQdGw8-J_SFn4/s640/Hermitage%252C+Sleeping+Ariadne+by+Paolo+Andrea+Triscornia%252C+purchased+1798+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Psyche in a Faint by Pietro Tenerani, ca 18th-19th century</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARVa1TSd2Ei076448Z40Sde08SLe0R9o2j96SJ4GCnSPEsUPLe8kD1bxAn-mOQAQUyIisGO17-2wthVmMKcsFyFwyT9nIcM19JS8qCqgvwtEwGySJt9C2zrvUKX2MoDKuo69UWfiary0/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Psyche+in+a+faint+by+Pietro+Tenerani%252C+18-19th+c.+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARVa1TSd2Ei076448Z40Sde08SLe0R9o2j96SJ4GCnSPEsUPLe8kD1bxAn-mOQAQUyIisGO17-2wthVmMKcsFyFwyT9nIcM19JS8qCqgvwtEwGySJt9C2zrvUKX2MoDKuo69UWfiary0/s640/Hermitage%252C+Psyche+in+a+faint+by+Pietro+Tenerani%252C+18-19th+c.+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" width="476" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Carrying the Cross, the Crucifixion, the Lamentation, early 16th century</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98bCWp2e2eDGLn8PPelqxlhSm1WnlP9Ucd133GoRRq6Q4aGbTSfgdWcRVFCJJoIdRgEAYHvwJiNnlurxHmiTt68QgYEdgNMv6wrURzDGyi2jSM-l6rnTtrV3RAvAt-x1u_wtTaU4TIbo/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Triptych%252C+Carrying+cross%252C+Crucifixion%252C+Lamentation%252C+early+16th+c.+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98bCWp2e2eDGLn8PPelqxlhSm1WnlP9Ucd133GoRRq6Q4aGbTSfgdWcRVFCJJoIdRgEAYHvwJiNnlurxHmiTt68QgYEdgNMv6wrURzDGyi2jSM-l6rnTtrV3RAvAt-x1u_wtTaU4TIbo/s640/Hermitage%252C+Triptych%252C+Carrying+cross%252C+Crucifixion%252C+Lamentation%252C+early+16th+c.+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Normally, paintings are my thing. I love them, especially in the religious art genre. I have some photos of them but a couple of different things really caught my eye this time, one of them being mosaics. These tiles are mere slivers, less than a quarter inch. I've never seen a collection of fine mosaics like these anywhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following mosaic shows a skewed perspective. This is a round tabletop and the artist compensated by making foreground objects lean inward. Brilliant. I couldn't get the whole image, just these two slices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Beautiful Sky of Italy by Michelangelo Barberi, 1846</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmWICGCDoaS-2WKXvWX3NUh6eQtGbVemvHEqFyyg-ILihPzd69KK8VdeRAaenjHzSNOpRjy7XxVzIVmk7AIqhvl7aTTrh0lhw3sSQDaWPlZ1AKYqFXoZusSAxWhU9kCwsALIaJHvRNjM/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Mosaic+table%252C+Beautiful+sky+of+Italy%252C+Michelangelo+Barberi%252C+1846+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmWICGCDoaS-2WKXvWX3NUh6eQtGbVemvHEqFyyg-ILihPzd69KK8VdeRAaenjHzSNOpRjy7XxVzIVmk7AIqhvl7aTTrh0lhw3sSQDaWPlZ1AKYqFXoZusSAxWhU9kCwsALIaJHvRNjM/s640/Hermitage%252C+Mosaic+table%252C+Beautiful+sky+of+Italy%252C+Michelangelo+Barberi%252C+1846+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg4Ol25JfVJ3E4fACLRn6b-M4rnFpsvkkSPxtH45snSbO3QIj4gDMqPfkNTxEqxXAcvmFw9Rc4gLtag0kCEpggQTVLDt-FxSmv4uC-66TDXPhATqr3qLmxchPPwITRKSaHgnjW1ixvsE/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Mosaic+table%252C+Beautiful+sky+of+Italy%252C+Michelangelo+Barberi%252C+1846+%25281+of+1%2529-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg4Ol25JfVJ3E4fACLRn6b-M4rnFpsvkkSPxtH45snSbO3QIj4gDMqPfkNTxEqxXAcvmFw9Rc4gLtag0kCEpggQTVLDt-FxSmv4uC-66TDXPhATqr3qLmxchPPwITRKSaHgnjW1ixvsE/s640/Hermitage%252C+Mosaic+table%252C+Beautiful+sky+of+Italy%252C+Michelangelo+Barberi%252C+1846+%25281+of+1%2529-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Temple in Tivoli by Giacomo Raffaelli, ca 1817</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_PIKuNiHRzp7091ymIZ4-_3JyBvEv7yM5zE_TjEJo10vm4u0hCatDyXX1zk-BHNOGLfDWIa3_ZHwDhP9GLpbvJDN36_pGCgQX8X6r92OaIt4Z6YPPGw6Cc8cbcD4X8p2cNhMKV6QU_g/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Mosaic%252C+Temple+in+Tivoli%252CGiacomo+Raffaelli%252C+rome%252C+ca+1817+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_PIKuNiHRzp7091ymIZ4-_3JyBvEv7yM5zE_TjEJo10vm4u0hCatDyXX1zk-BHNOGLfDWIa3_ZHwDhP9GLpbvJDN36_pGCgQX8X6r92OaIt4Z6YPPGw6Cc8cbcD4X8p2cNhMKV6QU_g/s640/Hermitage%252C+Mosaic%252C+Temple+in+Tivoli%252CGiacomo+Raffaelli%252C+rome%252C+ca+1817+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following five photos are sections of the same tabletop. Again, it was too big, probably three by five feet, to put all in one photo. Unfortunately I don't have the artist's name. Everything you see is mosaic, including the geometric border. It's a masterpiece.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvClUjJqWsqm8OMNrA0XBQjEStAuw6T78wYhI1NZXGZg_XxsoijC2jW3tRdo4H7UiK7wwnK4ZVzP_j6os102DoBESTt2pqyzIxerseKFQPPHwtqixEHCWLyW-azOE-zTnAvCko2ghsv0/s1600/Hermitage+%252839+of+132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvClUjJqWsqm8OMNrA0XBQjEStAuw6T78wYhI1NZXGZg_XxsoijC2jW3tRdo4H7UiK7wwnK4ZVzP_j6os102DoBESTt2pqyzIxerseKFQPPHwtqixEHCWLyW-azOE-zTnAvCko2ghsv0/s640/Hermitage+%252839+of+132%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PC8yTYkNfq-XokTwyt7xdoeiLEJiyMWERurLuVKD0hAs-HEVAVfAFcpvFeW9dOLfJH6KEy83YnDsPomwpOdIr1DD4jPLvKI6KoX_ZOQQOqO9YM9vQDS_GhmBa3AV6T5uLsVsDlDIoJE/s1600/Hermitage+%252837+of+132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PC8yTYkNfq-XokTwyt7xdoeiLEJiyMWERurLuVKD0hAs-HEVAVfAFcpvFeW9dOLfJH6KEy83YnDsPomwpOdIr1DD4jPLvKI6KoX_ZOQQOqO9YM9vQDS_GhmBa3AV6T5uLsVsDlDIoJE/s640/Hermitage+%252837+of+132%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfKT1mSQtDPxb2u82ghAi-EsfxVNMrlTW3MJsVtaYmJt3Y7WDzmZbXcMSND1Lt1OkWXm-LIUZXPVB8wWzxhjyL3tc2mEM2DWcoleF0rzG6vulRRgDd0eCpZA1HKDBzGqveyTp_Srlh_A/s1600/Hermitage+%252841+of+132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfKT1mSQtDPxb2u82ghAi-EsfxVNMrlTW3MJsVtaYmJt3Y7WDzmZbXcMSND1Lt1OkWXm-LIUZXPVB8wWzxhjyL3tc2mEM2DWcoleF0rzG6vulRRgDd0eCpZA1HKDBzGqveyTp_Srlh_A/s640/Hermitage+%252841+of+132%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy8sesNtFkGP8-W7s7c9OpSLNKhqSgZunNvZq4rSznQQ7Ldzr-zACD-Drdjo5zOhz_ehIrQt0v-0plQwt3rmYy2R2xwX2BMak91Bih6x46SBOUTXrsYMP95IWosy2kOHHMQG57HrIVAw/s1600/Hermitage+%252842+of+132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy8sesNtFkGP8-W7s7c9OpSLNKhqSgZunNvZq4rSznQQ7Ldzr-zACD-Drdjo5zOhz_ehIrQt0v-0plQwt3rmYy2R2xwX2BMak91Bih6x46SBOUTXrsYMP95IWosy2kOHHMQG57HrIVAw/s640/Hermitage+%252842+of+132%2529.jpg" width="618" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIy9s1pI33-KkropTBkdBEnXvek2nduhbZVfvjrJ5k5AF1XKeQhtJotvI8aJSND-M0hFMOosyP23ogSsn0V3ztiEs0qiFgBEorc-Iwtn9fn9HuadsWMGA6zQWHOz8OJT17le00zBMAyM/s1600/Hermitage+%252843+of+132%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIy9s1pI33-KkropTBkdBEnXvek2nduhbZVfvjrJ5k5AF1XKeQhtJotvI8aJSND-M0hFMOosyP23ogSsn0V3ztiEs0qiFgBEorc-Iwtn9fn9HuadsWMGA6zQWHOz8OJT17le00zBMAyM/s640/Hermitage+%252843+of+132%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The final mosaic piece here is this column from Italy, 13th century</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqmQPTQVVU7NVdjI9xORBFUUwxpRy-g6mlBy-EE9-bz0iXBRV-oZdo3jsIWOuUkYG5QgbOiaDCJSOhCP9kGhu5ezclmEjRDjb3adg56AeI4fXYwXcGa0uVRltX4XY7-3bIdm97jB7kZA/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Column+ornamented+with+mosaic%252C+Italy%252C+13+century+%25281+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqmQPTQVVU7NVdjI9xORBFUUwxpRy-g6mlBy-EE9-bz0iXBRV-oZdo3jsIWOuUkYG5QgbOiaDCJSOhCP9kGhu5ezclmEjRDjb3adg56AeI4fXYwXcGa0uVRltX4XY7-3bIdm97jB7kZA/s640/Hermitage%252C+Column+ornamented+with+mosaic%252C+Italy%252C+13+century+%25281+of+2%2529.jpg" width="248" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5ShIpNeM-mst073wtBC0yy7rzcqaU0VVFa9YjMsyji81-tA1basl7VtVOoDrJvfLRBKCbPnEmGaESYQjdBptAl_yJL-eq_Hk8SonmZNhcc1vtIM6C7MIeDUF_s-nYl0R1gyhF6eJAqo/s1600/Hermitage%252C+hallway+%25281+of+5%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The most abused art here is wooden inlaid flooring. There are no carpets down in high traffic areas and booties are not required as they are at other museums. Our guides were disgusted that protective booties are not given out at the entrance. But a</span><span style="font-family: '"arial"', '"helvetica"', sans-serif; font-size: large;">ren't they exquisite?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r02unnYCV_5jOUh3BUC01yXHLxUMelnLnEqnQaEJp5OCWLShMT75gREgcMYNbnF5LE5NTUtk15h33oL0BCyg-oCBK5IgxxCUw2lEVe9tp3lNApWO-2vaQ8ZuqFgAGG-0LJRC1JlMrws/s1600/Hermitage%252C+inlaid+wooden+floors+%25281+of+3%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r02unnYCV_5jOUh3BUC01yXHLxUMelnLnEqnQaEJp5OCWLShMT75gREgcMYNbnF5LE5NTUtk15h33oL0BCyg-oCBK5IgxxCUw2lEVe9tp3lNApWO-2vaQ8ZuqFgAGG-0LJRC1JlMrws/s640/Hermitage%252C+inlaid+wooden+floors+%25281+of+3%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAUbvtmgpwAcFtGEZRZV3ZQfs3wuhHBfyx07D-1sLNUZD79kdYUnINM8nDhzbfmhlL2ZXPH-jcOQRwy2-EeLpZGGoPpprKpZYBZf7KfeZlGZcrpUUy1wtcj9TnxpmcBvUN-CVOMFDgQk/s1600/Hermitage%252C+inlaid+wooden+floors+%25282+of+3%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAUbvtmgpwAcFtGEZRZV3ZQfs3wuhHBfyx07D-1sLNUZD79kdYUnINM8nDhzbfmhlL2ZXPH-jcOQRwy2-EeLpZGGoPpprKpZYBZf7KfeZlGZcrpUUy1wtcj9TnxpmcBvUN-CVOMFDgQk/s640/Hermitage%252C+inlaid+wooden+floors+%25282+of+3%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now back to the Vermeer. We asked guard after guard how to find it because the museum is a maze and apparently we're not good mazers. (A note about the guards. In the days HH remembers, women called babushkas guarded the galleries. They were sour, unfriendly people, not prone to help. The guards these days are more approachable; I think we encountered only one who must have been a holdover from the Soviet days.) We finally we found the <i>one</i> Vermeer on exhibit, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Geographer" target="_blank">The Geographer</a>, but what a delight. Because photographs were not allowed, I don't have one, but that's ok. I stood there for the longest time, completely enchanted. HH was not similarly enchanted and was wandering off, looking for the Rembrandts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are only 34 paintings firmly attributed to Vermeer, so this one allowed me to see another 3% of his work, in addition to others I've seen elsewhere. How terrifically wonderful, but still not the best thing that happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We did find the Rembrandt room and at least to me, it was a disappointment. They weren't on the easels HH remembered but hung traditionally on walls. The gallery was dark except where paintings had sunlight pouring in on them, they were in great need of restoration, and there was even a window open! for ventilation. I didn't take one photo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because we missed the bus back to the ship and because that evening we were to attend a performance of Swan Lake nearby (which we would have gotten to via another bus from the ship), we needed to make sure we knew how to get there, so we went to the museum's information desk. Olga was on duty and thankfully speaks fluent English, a good thing because the extent of my Russian vocabulary is <i>da, nyet, spasibo, and </i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>dobroye utro</i> (yes, no, thank you, and good morning). Limited, but I was surprised to see how far <i>spasibo</i> got me. When I just looked it up to check the spelling, I realize I'd mistakenly pronounced it with an <i>a</i> at the end the entire time I was in Russia. Maybe that's why the dour Russian look </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">lightened up whenever I said it: maybe <i>spacib<b>a</b></i> actually means something like, How ya doin', sailor?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Olga spent a lot of time with us, showing us on the map where to walk, what side of the street to walk on, which bridge to cross, and where to turn to get to the theater, and also suggested a couple of places to stop for dinner. Finally she said it was getting close to her quitting time and she would walk us to the restaurant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">We decided on a place called 1001 Nights, with Mediterranean food. Not only did she take us there, with commentary along the way about the buildings we were passing, her education, and her life pre- and post-Soviet rule, she took us inside, spoke with the wait staff who didn't speak any English, and made sure we were settled before she left. We asked her to join us, but the following day was her day off and she wanted to go home, which made the time she took to make sure we didn't get lost even more valuable. I'm always struck by the kindness of strangers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a building we passed; it's the "New Hermitage," the roof held up by 15-foot granite Atlases that date to the mid-1800s.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm-RkPbhGD1ejFuhD_r2uhgT6ayAfJcAdkUc4Tn83ero6SWXXy32MLMka6ajEjIMLebzCAHSuL_s12xgDRNdO9g8bG2VEjC2W-T01cHgRRJ2Z5CpDo9g2ocqo7PXKwuEO6d9_TBgMYTI/s1600/Hermitage%252C+Atlases+at+Hermitage+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm-RkPbhGD1ejFuhD_r2uhgT6ayAfJcAdkUc4Tn83ero6SWXXy32MLMka6ajEjIMLebzCAHSuL_s12xgDRNdO9g8bG2VEjC2W-T01cHgRRJ2Z5CpDo9g2ocqo7PXKwuEO6d9_TBgMYTI/s640/Hermitage%252C+Atlases+at+Hermitage+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="542" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here is the charming, cave-like 1001 Nights restaurant in St. Petersburg.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnjX29T5KrC1ivFwjENyHtw99lth5IN1yiW3JiuUY0pDihyTqRWOfsKmbKZRCfl1wka1iF1E8BvBPAHqJIKFlXj1EoZIzZYi6SLe-D4rLyCNSlPclcshhPjTKaBy2sprMUMs3BabKpcs/s1600/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25282+of+9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnjX29T5KrC1ivFwjENyHtw99lth5IN1yiW3JiuUY0pDihyTqRWOfsKmbKZRCfl1wka1iF1E8BvBPAHqJIKFlXj1EoZIzZYi6SLe-D4rLyCNSlPclcshhPjTKaBy2sprMUMs3BabKpcs/s640/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25282+of+9%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unbelievably, neither of us remembers exactly what this was. I usually take a photo of the menu but not this time. We think it had rice, walnuts, olives, tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, soft cheese, and we don't know what else. It was pretty and it was good.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-6AA4MCILkE_yGUoh2YqkQPQu5vhDNzDA_rDiEBfLfNjt29qbgBfFH1RlUBhelnZ4sbhFSLzXOiK82amoneAUhwY6mnGf-JmdVkT-4vpLJpCQkU3sMkF7NjVsx3B4uzJQlHCLjIpNc0/s1600/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25284+of+9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-6AA4MCILkE_yGUoh2YqkQPQu5vhDNzDA_rDiEBfLfNjt29qbgBfFH1RlUBhelnZ4sbhFSLzXOiK82amoneAUhwY6mnGf-JmdVkT-4vpLJpCQkU3sMkF7NjVsx3B4uzJQlHCLjIpNc0/s640/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25284+of+9%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also ordered caviar on toast. I'd never had it before but once again, when in Rome... And I loved it. It tasted like the sea. I'll never forget that first bite.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP723-JTMyG9EtSyMzdhcme1jlhHnQorUyYtW6DlVkc36PhSWHPtJsiz3lvxv5HEDXaSN_8k1UINSmJ3n39GZalqYtGrc4zYWRqfY1hXn_PWyRZMQAoE5qdJKPjAPJvUHKJ1c6PkSiLc/s1600/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25285+of+9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP723-JTMyG9EtSyMzdhcme1jlhHnQorUyYtW6DlVkc36PhSWHPtJsiz3lvxv5HEDXaSN_8k1UINSmJ3n39GZalqYtGrc4zYWRqfY1hXn_PWyRZMQAoE5qdJKPjAPJvUHKJ1c6PkSiLc/s640/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25285+of+9%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">HH ordered some kind of cake with ice cream,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sds7z8B6wzqfneb_jp4SCq665XLMDE6EhjRwBi5tkNosny7L483-abE6IHSglisZTD84ieqsBKs5ZxMaBhfjvrt9PdyMT8mLRpa9VfxEiRbBjrOe5Bo2Wvtra8ZxgFhhmsoaK__2q_4/s1600/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25286+of+9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sds7z8B6wzqfneb_jp4SCq665XLMDE6EhjRwBi5tkNosny7L483-abE6IHSglisZTD84ieqsBKs5ZxMaBhfjvrt9PdyMT8mLRpa9VfxEiRbBjrOe5Bo2Wvtra8ZxgFhhmsoaK__2q_4/s640/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25286+of+9%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and I had hot brandied cherries with ice cream.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrQlOhTvCbno4aqFqicPhYIAVgRRY_p3WE3Xq0nJ1Zn39kpMY7cqO0d7Q9eX1d7MP-XCGoDd9N5Plr10ID5AprwuqQ7dcA53j6Mcx6qMv8teUX8jIJmxscc28PiOxqqSVTkDm_MUEDTI/s1600/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25287+of+9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrQlOhTvCbno4aqFqicPhYIAVgRRY_p3WE3Xq0nJ1Zn39kpMY7cqO0d7Q9eX1d7MP-XCGoDd9N5Plr10ID5AprwuqQ7dcA53j6Mcx6qMv8teUX8jIJmxscc28PiOxqqSVTkDm_MUEDTI/s640/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25287+of+9%2529.jpg" width="422" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we were finishing, the waitress brought a phone to our table and when I took it, Olga was calling from her home. She was concerned that we would be late for the ballet if we walked from the restaurant and wanted us to make sure to get a cab, and to let us know how much we should pay for it. She then spoke with the waitress, who ordered the cab and asked us to stay inside until it came. She would not let us go out until the cabbie called to say he was there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are another two views, this time of the lobby of the restaurant while we were waiting for the cab.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs796uufrrfavd-X-onK9BAl93fv0YveuoatYFH55bUiCSDsYUqYr627uNnWc3AK3JfvWqb3VjlXy25rBmYmAioJTsEXjQ21B7_IEiKwy8CLK0gDFR2-PQyCR1mCZY3e9up05cEA80-Y/s1600/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25288+of+9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs796uufrrfavd-X-onK9BAl93fv0YveuoatYFH55bUiCSDsYUqYr627uNnWc3AK3JfvWqb3VjlXy25rBmYmAioJTsEXjQ21B7_IEiKwy8CLK0gDFR2-PQyCR1mCZY3e9up05cEA80-Y/s640/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25288+of+9%2529.jpg" width="450" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z-ydrnz43KTyaC2f07nLxp9hQAKgUnAZEiuuPlhA_s12uptkEsZfa2-e8AI3Fme5z1ufAdeIqKvlUNL5HB7pvZ4YUs3MKTic2-pBgt-iTBgICr3iWAnZqqyISejqGTJP-u_Ybhe-BP4/s1600/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25289+of+9%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z-ydrnz43KTyaC2f07nLxp9hQAKgUnAZEiuuPlhA_s12uptkEsZfa2-e8AI3Fme5z1ufAdeIqKvlUNL5HB7pvZ4YUs3MKTic2-pBgt-iTBgICr3iWAnZqqyISejqGTJP-u_Ybhe-BP4/s640/St.+Petersburg%252C+1001+Nights+restaurant+%25289+of+9%2529.jpg" width="472" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When the call came, the waitress walked us out, put us in the cab, and spoke to the driver. All I could say was <i>spasibo</i> and give her a hug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This experience, with two people who didn't know us from Adam, who couldn't do anything for them other than to say thank you, who showed us so much kindness... I will never forget this generosity. They are the best things I experienced in Russia in the ten days we were there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~ Aesop</span><br />
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cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-28744525449915511672016-09-22T09:49:00.000-07:002016-09-22T09:49:03.337-07:00Traveling in place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since going off the road just about a year ago, life has been pretty different. I sold my truck and trailer because the truck payment was a lot of money, and what's the use of a trailer without a truck to pull it with? I, however, admit to a continuing case of wanderlust. After replacing the truck with a cute little Ford Focus, though...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T9Hr4iK8WeqDVLCFugVq1thG5J7X-YaMYq0UAxp8u2Cm2y70sthsp7mx7hQwvaB64jfmGVHZPqB0WQA2m6KE5zWkTtWeaRXl_hd-CsBm_RDflF1FU4_iIEGWNxxn4ZJDinLDI2glpcQ/s1600/P1060631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T9Hr4iK8WeqDVLCFugVq1thG5J7X-YaMYq0UAxp8u2Cm2y70sthsp7mx7hQwvaB64jfmGVHZPqB0WQA2m6KE5zWkTtWeaRXl_hd-CsBm_RDflF1FU4_iIEGWNxxn4ZJDinLDI2glpcQ/s640/P1060631.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">....which will not tow a thing, any domestic traveling we do is going to be via the motel route. Having once had a paid-for trailer, the thought of the cost of staying in motels and eating out is daunting, but putting it in perspective by thinking how much the trailer and truck cost, not to mention diesel fuel at 11 miles to the gallon, maybe not so bad after all. Even so, last Sunday, to dampen the wanderlust a bit, we took the opportunity to do some world traveling via a synchronized swimming show put on by the Aquabelles of Green Valley Recreation (GVR). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">GVR is an organization that has several centers around Green Valley with pools, tennis and pickle ball courts, and fitness facilities, plus silversmithing, woodworking, ceramics, and clay studios, an art league, and clubs like mad including computers, photography, quilting, different states of members' origins, cards - actually, just name it and it's bound to exist. Membership attaches to a property's deed, which means if your home's prior owner joined GVR, you have no choice when you buy the place; you have to join too. My house was already in GVR which was ok because I wanted use of the facilities, but it's not cheap. It's about $2300 to join and annual dues are $450. However, I use the well-equipped fitness center almost daily and I couldn't join a commercial place for anywhere near my annual fee. Plus the art league with studio space and many free workshops... but I digress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Aquabelles are one of the clubs here and they put on an annual show that's open to the community; this year's was the 51st. The members pay for their own equipment, props, and decorations for the show but pass the hat for a local charity. This year any donations they receive are going to<a href="http://dazeesonline.com/index.htm" target="_blank"> DaZee's</a>, a local shelter for victims of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. I had heard of DaZee's but did not know it was a fund-raising forum for a shelter. This is only one of many organizations that raises funds for local charities in Green Valley. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was not in Green Valley last year at this time, so this is the first time HH and I, and our friend Kathy down the street, went to a performance. We had a blast. The theme of this year's show was Around the World in Eighty Minutes, so here's where my virtual traveling comes in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the pool we look out on when we're in the fitness center, and was the venue for the three shows put on this weekend, with the Santa Rita mountains in the distance.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnhXmB3RkbkYWNZfoaLNlmvMhETDmW4WWMHilqHJweBBscNVWTBB_0eh2hWQGRED8ufqECwUvE52Pq_FpG4PxTP-Y03NBeCx8yT8lRGlEyLbt0UaXIj-Yz7sqD4vwbBh2KL82S83ZK8c/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25281+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnhXmB3RkbkYWNZfoaLNlmvMhETDmW4WWMHilqHJweBBscNVWTBB_0eh2hWQGRED8ufqECwUvE52Pq_FpG4PxTP-Y03NBeCx8yT8lRGlEyLbt0UaXIj-Yz7sqD4vwbBh2KL82S83ZK8c/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25281+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I admire these women no end. They're a lesson in enjoying life to the fullest; just get out there and have fun. This is their opening dance for the New York stop on their tour. The woman on the right? I want the muscles on her back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCQoUNiWygjxrDfezCGQN7s7Ika-hE9S32gd9o54DO9y0hN8GjOz8R1VxtJjTQM8zvfvLf74p6pU8UIK-oMTFWlX8YycTQCrjHc0sXi0QJStiUI_vfOATPp5813JXqExjoMwm-4ziO9U/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25282+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCQoUNiWygjxrDfezCGQN7s7Ika-hE9S32gd9o54DO9y0hN8GjOz8R1VxtJjTQM8zvfvLf74p6pU8UIK-oMTFWlX8YycTQCrjHc0sXi0QJStiUI_vfOATPp5813JXqExjoMwm-4ziO9U/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25282+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here they are in the pool at the beginning of their act,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4ss5jIF8ejB3oOLMIftuoITnCouHyC9UALXcbW8P7ZdPahgH-LC5EeBVtkNa5LRmdYIdAxyibstxXj9amHg_miJMbGX6L5ziMY0eWDtO0C50TT6aEfphhD5T2uD6eeEW1Dg-7Lt4edQ/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25283+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4ss5jIF8ejB3oOLMIftuoITnCouHyC9UALXcbW8P7ZdPahgH-LC5EeBVtkNa5LRmdYIdAxyibstxXj9amHg_miJMbGX6L5ziMY0eWDtO0C50TT6aEfphhD5T2uD6eeEW1Dg-7Lt4edQ/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25283+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and some waving-leg work. The emcee for the show mentioned the synchronized swimming performances at the recent Olympics, and added, "That's not us." But I couldn't do what these women do and thought they were wonderful.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s2CJts4S5XgeY1Gds-_FmH0fgWOn7oPGNQ0qx_mEHIbe3JJhbZn-NCPsZqV4FcqP6KihsXARZhQ1VkxEf_lCcLU4sgEuqCULEUfFt7WqVI7AB1RQoJ_fXSozPgg1BvHq2OJHQdU3mg0/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25284+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s2CJts4S5XgeY1Gds-_FmH0fgWOn7oPGNQ0qx_mEHIbe3JJhbZn-NCPsZqV4FcqP6KihsXARZhQ1VkxEf_lCcLU4sgEuqCULEUfFt7WqVI7AB1RQoJ_fXSozPgg1BvHq2OJHQdU3mg0/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25284+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next up was a stop in England, with a performance by the AquaBeaus. They were a riot. Look at the last guy in line. How could you not laugh along out of sheer delight?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiCFh1VGZ215LBSZsUov60wWkV7mS-sX1ytTUrh4mowviR4TvsyGs_xFm0dI72j4SBQmP1ThLrb8W73AsXoGIakOP7zT3RTM0Y9iYbHKsdZ0DBPGnToGrjciLnAqa8mmccZzl8BOKT5w/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25285+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiCFh1VGZ215LBSZsUov60wWkV7mS-sX1ytTUrh4mowviR4TvsyGs_xFm0dI72j4SBQmP1ThLrb8W73AsXoGIakOP7zT3RTM0Y9iYbHKsdZ0DBPGnToGrjciLnAqa8mmccZzl8BOKT5w/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25285+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think they maybe rehearsed for about 15 minutes but were obviously having fun.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGYqs9w42adQvbvSTPeCAqXDu5KVZzlKZ2fyVh_4AErRvk5j91u4aYB3Mg2FbyixfK7yngnnlLi7hN1Ab0xkF7B6dei8kpB3CMmL7NCc1VFqh6kxN-volQ2T5kCwZczfVaWamjF8p1Lo/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25286+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGYqs9w42adQvbvSTPeCAqXDu5KVZzlKZ2fyVh_4AErRvk5j91u4aYB3Mg2FbyixfK7yngnnlLi7hN1Ab0xkF7B6dei8kpB3CMmL7NCc1VFqh6kxN-volQ2T5kCwZczfVaWamjF8p1Lo/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25286+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here they're performing their version of whatever the movement is called where each swimmer dives off to alternate sides. They just kind of fell over.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AoFu83_pKayqViMcSf0_JXrwAjqmSNccR90H3K5QxavrUa9I_sAC8MtMEWMuvP5nIDJWPmxAW8DGn7BcJTr5HvdQb6m-QhPvnqujReaFlxEXZyZLtF36EFZ71qjRaFSSyFTW8jOc8Z8/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25287+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AoFu83_pKayqViMcSf0_JXrwAjqmSNccR90H3K5QxavrUa9I_sAC8MtMEWMuvP5nIDJWPmxAW8DGn7BcJTr5HvdQb6m-QhPvnqujReaFlxEXZyZLtF36EFZ71qjRaFSSyFTW8jOc8Z8/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25287+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next up was a trip to the Caribbean.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-mFgsQ0pANLoNucXgvhIBtU5IFpYDIT9v67abBMvzuFU034zRcMEuZiFofqXXayXolMcm3Oe-Qf93FWUtcjv77MiryMFMjxXnTCgGSXeNmTvCpdcuwJ8BGmStiyfp08bQ3J7FRs9bI4/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25288+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-mFgsQ0pANLoNucXgvhIBtU5IFpYDIT9v67abBMvzuFU034zRcMEuZiFofqXXayXolMcm3Oe-Qf93FWUtcjv77MiryMFMjxXnTCgGSXeNmTvCpdcuwJ8BGmStiyfp08bQ3J7FRs9bI4/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25288+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This might be the opening to the Italy segment.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf66UGpf-lWobomGU9UX8yrX9XkkdYILakgeFg3jLjcMJK1R5R1uAT55SCQubqCbbNPzUj1g-ZZBvUypv4z4T8pMCgsV9Uilc7wjmyaaezDB1iHW2BIRTu1gKdrZMT92Xu4il_65NP8R0/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%25289+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf66UGpf-lWobomGU9UX8yrX9XkkdYILakgeFg3jLjcMJK1R5R1uAT55SCQubqCbbNPzUj1g-ZZBvUypv4z4T8pMCgsV9Uilc7wjmyaaezDB1iHW2BIRTu1gKdrZMT92Xu4il_65NP8R0/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%25289+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This one is definitely Istanbul.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnGaYr-5mxmwdrTLMLCXJkDP-Gka9PApqnuVRA55blYyjgafCnGp3pOJm8oKbiX5cui7-lTtK0y2o4sLlwTfZw6bYjnNy4Q8_TGG-CbBQMq62Fc8G1tbyIOaodbp7OhHYqgUInzsS5OU/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%252810+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnGaYr-5mxmwdrTLMLCXJkDP-Gka9PApqnuVRA55blYyjgafCnGp3pOJm8oKbiX5cui7-lTtK0y2o4sLlwTfZw6bYjnNy4Q8_TGG-CbBQMq62Fc8G1tbyIOaodbp7OhHYqgUInzsS5OU/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%252810+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are their jangly ankle bracelets peeking above the water.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbSEWfB3WQgYwcFVjLOacbSU3KzeB6xtIobEEq_rSvaofbhRf_YzRG_pVYZVOIG8Hfa2E9QynZNkdNZXHGXmud7Jc686Sz2JvyedPYFRVqwkcoQ6YaKBoJx1fVVYKT5TEA7C9hrwt3N0/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%252811+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbSEWfB3WQgYwcFVjLOacbSU3KzeB6xtIobEEq_rSvaofbhRf_YzRG_pVYZVOIG8Hfa2E9QynZNkdNZXHGXmud7Jc686Sz2JvyedPYFRVqwkcoQ6YaKBoJx1fVVYKT5TEA7C9hrwt3N0/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%252811+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Zandra Pardi is a native of Mexico who now lives north of the border. She teaches Spanish classes via GVR and dances at functions like this one. HH and I first saw her at a Green Valley Concert Band's performance last spring.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hHFeQ8zpOEpWb1YZsfRj2GUqPKypRvfW2QTp3W85EqLPYXxp4ixH5eWFwjgjIoZzozv-HX7kdzoRlmyNdjG33XzJCGtmWAxawo1lRMhLuzo-L_uu7scue0k7lw8bsAc9bAd3V_HnQIg/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%252812+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hHFeQ8zpOEpWb1YZsfRj2GUqPKypRvfW2QTp3W85EqLPYXxp4ixH5eWFwjgjIoZzozv-HX7kdzoRlmyNdjG33XzJCGtmWAxawo1lRMhLuzo-L_uu7scue0k7lw8bsAc9bAd3V_HnQIg/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%252812+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pqixCCyuRiNKvBjgFfb6898OaIFajrS01tEi2w_FAWomJSRzlLN2gacOfIvpauLjLj0UjRm3xkh3H2OhjhUot47S_qfDWO1q-yjhaJsad0FWesGZEgdTgjzJviTVIamLKD899w5_sl8/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%252813+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pqixCCyuRiNKvBjgFfb6898OaIFajrS01tEi2w_FAWomJSRzlLN2gacOfIvpauLjLj0UjRm3xkh3H2OhjhUot47S_qfDWO1q-yjhaJsad0FWesGZEgdTgjzJviTVIamLKD899w5_sl8/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%252813+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wrote to Zandra a few weeks ago about private Spanish lessons and from what I could decipher from her reply in Spanish, it sounded like she was too busy to take on anything else. After the show ended, though, I introduced myself to her and said I was the one who had asked about lessons, <i>en español</i>. She actually understood what I said and didn't laugh - bless her heart - and said she thought she'd have time on Fridays. I'm so excited and hope to start with her next month.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmNco0oGT7ONSp2JWKULK890coDm9X9NTazFqUDc_lCg2o8jPN2XgePGiJk6nrb-xt0sMnmFB6djRKPB0adUfLPh_icgHpxv1lZkURGrMaxI5IE3m6vMJV3UhQ_unfqrbx3ZKsuCkdFQ/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%252814+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmNco0oGT7ONSp2JWKULK890coDm9X9NTazFqUDc_lCg2o8jPN2XgePGiJk6nrb-xt0sMnmFB6djRKPB0adUfLPh_icgHpxv1lZkURGrMaxI5IE3m6vMJV3UhQ_unfqrbx3ZKsuCkdFQ/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%252814+of+16%2529.jpg" width="522" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the last performance of the day and I lost track of what city it represented. There were other places they traveled, too, but I don't have photos of those.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDHUDdJK8PuRq3gUQ1hZkFAoB_PTe3MCTxgh-f0tNWbRo6ygaN8PTphRy1SmbP7O_LkVOgLcAmrabLwcBSYIKn-OqJBCZ3hPCXBLbVAgQkbFcjH8lsKLem_oe7Ps6XKmMCV7XxTygBt4/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%252815+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDHUDdJK8PuRq3gUQ1hZkFAoB_PTe3MCTxgh-f0tNWbRo6ygaN8PTphRy1SmbP7O_LkVOgLcAmrabLwcBSYIKn-OqJBCZ3hPCXBLbVAgQkbFcjH8lsKLem_oe7Ps6XKmMCV7XxTygBt4/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%252815+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ensemble, in their wet and drying finery. We've already earmarked even better seats for next year's show.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXxo2xBga600q9oWXLCPYS61gohLrSjG_hY1p9xzIsk9c7kud54tH4AywkneD-E9rS0lt9V71HoJQtNKUa-dvvDAe2Q8jG4MR6SFEqcYMWWZmF6fs-W-suzcs91F3LFrTtID6LXX9_-I/s1600/Aquabelles+2016+%252816+of+16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXxo2xBga600q9oWXLCPYS61gohLrSjG_hY1p9xzIsk9c7kud54tH4AywkneD-E9rS0lt9V71HoJQtNKUa-dvvDAe2Q8jG4MR6SFEqcYMWWZmF6fs-W-suzcs91F3LFrTtID6LXX9_-I/s640/Aquabelles+2016+%252816+of+16%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When was the last time you did something for the first time?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– John C. Maxwell</span></div>
<br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-38042928258518617962016-09-18T13:46:00.000-07:002016-09-18T13:46:57.000-07:00Xochimilco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many years ago, about 30, I was visiting family in Detroit, and one night we went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant called Xochimilco. I remember it being on Jefferson at the foot of the Belle Isle bridge but a search for it just now says it's in Mexican Town, a few miles to the northwest (I think). That's what memory will do for you: not much. Anyway, I had no idea what the restaurant's name meant at the time and for years afterward, but last year I learned it's the name of a borough of Mexico City known for its <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xochimilco" target="_blank">canals and artificial islands</a>. I read about it in a guide book and decided we had to go there when we traveled to Mexico City last December.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">HH and I hired a taxi to take us all around the city. There's public transportation but we're lazy travelers and the taxi was so convenient. The driver was bilingual and helped me with Spanish quite a bit. He needed very little help with English; mostly it was help with pronunciation. He was quite fluent. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One day we had him take us to the canals of Xochimilco for a gondola (trajinera) ride. It was a beautiful, sun-shiny day and the crowds were out, so there were lines to board one of them. This doesn't look like many people, but there were queues like them in several places.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Fc4jdljBHuPlWe8d3azir-uf5c757-8e8fKwgc2PlcE8i8gMhd5My8VajIxLgIaaxVaCK-xkkAdeV9i7Ug1OG76QBz5GmB1Lk5Z7Tv7rX9SUVPumeeOk0Jr6MarFVxTRl213VOdt4ZE/s1600/Xochimilko+%25281+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Fc4jdljBHuPlWe8d3azir-uf5c757-8e8fKwgc2PlcE8i8gMhd5My8VajIxLgIaaxVaCK-xkkAdeV9i7Ug1OG76QBz5GmB1Lk5Z7Tv7rX9SUVPumeeOk0Jr6MarFVxTRl213VOdt4ZE/s640/Xochimilko+%25281+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The canal was full of occupied trajineras, so it looked like it would be a long wait.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTM0z0byY6bIRZ_nC8vOXIX_3qGwbpSIKDB3qBXdY6LdFJdVGDJMZQjJfmReY70shyk_-dpFNO1hCfwRzop6xVR1VKck9mOOGQDiyiDJB9Hm7JQ6-SmAw0ERfA-tVSl_wwFxvVmnfZdc/s1600/Xochimilko+%25282+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTM0z0byY6bIRZ_nC8vOXIX_3qGwbpSIKDB3qBXdY6LdFJdVGDJMZQjJfmReY70shyk_-dpFNO1hCfwRzop6xVR1VKck9mOOGQDiyiDJB9Hm7JQ6-SmAw0ERfA-tVSl_wwFxvVmnfZdc/s640/Xochimilko+%25282+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily our driver knew a way to cut the line and got us on a boat of our own.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Z8yGMjtsycezdF4MlTa_EFIcnP-BMIi3HcrBtswNb7gcJEpfX9lninEpDmeQfL1wzJ5PWe2Ilb3ojS9HO2PWmHOMkk4LQfNrSQuDwDX5Gq8xr9y7AqQHt6Kw1eda-7H7k1LHlAZ_z70/s1600/Xochimilko+%25285+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Z8yGMjtsycezdF4MlTa_EFIcnP-BMIi3HcrBtswNb7gcJEpfX9lninEpDmeQfL1wzJ5PWe2Ilb3ojS9HO2PWmHOMkk4LQfNrSQuDwDX5Gq8xr9y7AqQHt6Kw1eda-7H7k1LHlAZ_z70/s640/Xochimilko+%25285+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This has to be a hard way to make a living. There are no motors, just long poles used to move the boats along.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrNDhDGAIePWSLKGmxzkN9BxPt5ujaAyHVoN1xSIPfacAk-U9JKtaYPutrtqXd12lNCfVHOPaAUYDxbFRU2k1AUnUQwkzhcMVHcAcgEr3m8kLF0SJdRIEq-V7laJcWmwNVvekwH-RHtY/s1600/Xochimilko+%252810+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrNDhDGAIePWSLKGmxzkN9BxPt5ujaAyHVoN1xSIPfacAk-U9JKtaYPutrtqXd12lNCfVHOPaAUYDxbFRU2k1AUnUQwkzhcMVHcAcgEr3m8kLF0SJdRIEq-V7laJcWmwNVvekwH-RHtY/s640/Xochimilko+%252810+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many people come with their families and spend the entire day on a trajinera, bringing their own food and drinks. We may have been the only gringos out there that day, but that was also true for just about everywhere we went. Museums, cultural sites, restaurants, markets, churches - Mexico City and the surrounding areas are a magnet for Mexican tourists. They love their country. On the other hand, America, and other countries for all I know, have done a great job of instilling fear about the dangers of traveling in Mexico, but I believe I have a better chance of getting shot in south Tucson than anywhere I've been in Mexico.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpi5TKedkR9OIYXiPXnPQyZ4qpB_eZeyy0JT60TVNGP5dTCjKMqbkmQiTNydwUuTWTRv-dfGDsWPrWA6kUMWkj7NcfkribC0rBiUsrxseah_phMeRR9xsItrnAmcUO0QTZtmisC2qS3So/s1600/Xochimilko+%252821+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpi5TKedkR9OIYXiPXnPQyZ4qpB_eZeyy0JT60TVNGP5dTCjKMqbkmQiTNydwUuTWTRv-dfGDsWPrWA6kUMWkj7NcfkribC0rBiUsrxseah_phMeRR9xsItrnAmcUO0QTZtmisC2qS3So/s640/Xochimilko+%252821+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Passengers can buy from vendors on chalupas, a kind of canoe, who get around the same way, using poles. Food, drinks, and souvenirs are all for sale.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid94QPX_ZSCwqyhh9Q04TLiHxxmJNVo5wsjfw88p_JV6wsGfoYuiZtPPaWy8DCbZnO8Gi-pjJMSp7HJ6HjYGJoMZg-SXsmFvVv6lVrYkSJ6sCD-OKDx-OZmbsy6HkWneWCuIP0NV3ztTA/s1600/Xochimilko+%252815+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid94QPX_ZSCwqyhh9Q04TLiHxxmJNVo5wsjfw88p_JV6wsGfoYuiZtPPaWy8DCbZnO8Gi-pjJMSp7HJ6HjYGJoMZg-SXsmFvVv6lVrYkSJ6sCD-OKDx-OZmbsy6HkWneWCuIP0NV3ztTA/s640/Xochimilko+%252815+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xlgsMDpLuoU4fzxBw-D-43qc31Mjv-dM8rSC85J7hlxu8y7kZxqCTzrGkSffnQ1j_xldSbL99snuLpi4esqLvmx6WIDbaPsdCPtGUZoxYjra9v9W5KDYbQK10BYmb0xZ5zLR7fLPLp4/s640/Xochimilko+%252816+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1QOAELFvpa4gz5xu1XmQkRfVjni-frtL27uz4Y3Ydd9V52snveYjELKEQj-1YUhyqol-CjEwJYGt6mEasKk9pVyw_Nf2DswSJH2OGcJoG1fdvmSFcIWx-ciPtCKlIKXctEpJ7Y6Sr_Y/s1600/Xochimilko+%252829+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1QOAELFvpa4gz5xu1XmQkRfVjni-frtL27uz4Y3Ydd9V52snveYjELKEQj-1YUhyqol-CjEwJYGt6mEasKk9pVyw_Nf2DswSJH2OGcJoG1fdvmSFcIWx-ciPtCKlIKXctEpJ7Y6Sr_Y/s640/Xochimilko+%252829+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR2uEXUVpNhxX8f4L3p0ln3HIXUEWpb-trBg7emB515USfhlqNuU0Pgvduz27lKJrjtkrK-4FzVe7DZ0SQas_6Kq6b4u4rlsXjszochLAEXFxUMakiFl9d0lnnFktvA71e9FgQg_QPSA/s1600/Xochimilko+%252827+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR2uEXUVpNhxX8f4L3p0ln3HIXUEWpb-trBg7emB515USfhlqNuU0Pgvduz27lKJrjtkrK-4FzVe7DZ0SQas_6Kq6b4u4rlsXjszochLAEXFxUMakiFl9d0lnnFktvA71e9FgQg_QPSA/s640/Xochimilko+%252827+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some people bring their own music in the form of boom boxes, but you can also hire mariachis, who travel around the canals, offering their services. Just flag them down and their trajinera will pull alongside for a serenade.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv9rUixxZ9jnc5Tu-E8zxWfFNqb1d4vjnYEQ7ZIlrHG9r7J015Ze5ecpEoR2zCVkbieOWEZHCB28hdV0hgSE8KNcbLKfZie_dGcrdDKg4rQbvapUkyI7TIiGvoSNZBH4D1BHZs0nQFjY/s1600/Xochimilko+%252819+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv9rUixxZ9jnc5Tu-E8zxWfFNqb1d4vjnYEQ7ZIlrHG9r7J015Ze5ecpEoR2zCVkbieOWEZHCB28hdV0hgSE8KNcbLKfZie_dGcrdDKg4rQbvapUkyI7TIiGvoSNZBH4D1BHZs0nQFjY/s640/Xochimilko+%252819+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are two trajineras, nose to nose, sharing a mariachi band. It looks like the woman at the far right is protecting her hearing - they're loud!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflpyeQSV8g5Oc99fJRxRKeQeixX7wpTdvrnrJnThmV_u7p4QJhrjLg1ye6hjWwnbd_ehZpPVaY0gGOqx-aTbPVZUeBBliesNkH2OY1S-wtxbSQxBp6O6Lyk0vIi0LQGKir1JbhssLhIY/s1600/Xochimilko+%252820+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflpyeQSV8g5Oc99fJRxRKeQeixX7wpTdvrnrJnThmV_u7p4QJhrjLg1ye6hjWwnbd_ehZpPVaY0gGOqx-aTbPVZUeBBliesNkH2OY1S-wtxbSQxBp6O6Lyk0vIi0LQGKir1JbhssLhIY/s640/Xochimilko+%252820+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's a place there called </span><a href="http://www.isladelasmunecas.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Isla de las Munecas</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> - The Island of the Dolls. Legend has it a girl drowned under mysterious circumstances and the dolls are possessed by her spirit. I've seen some creepy photos of dolls on the island, particularly in shots taken at night, but all I saw were some raggedy-looking toys hanging from trees and bushes.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLoYVu6wM3kBrlGeLrA5fIs70OEYM0OERMbbLU00QwiwK384u7Mqn3t9f9fP3-VNiimykZFBPybDFwPWj1gtXm4V4l0Pyt9073TVKTYXO4ZuvDYiAFKur85pZQkeHtkjSKN0BxqmfKTw/s1600/Xochimilko+%252822+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLoYVu6wM3kBrlGeLrA5fIs70OEYM0OERMbbLU00QwiwK384u7Mqn3t9f9fP3-VNiimykZFBPybDFwPWj1gtXm4V4l0Pyt9073TVKTYXO4ZuvDYiAFKur85pZQkeHtkjSKN0BxqmfKTw/s640/Xochimilko+%252822+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I imagine that at night things look different indeed. It's possible to get off the boat and explore but, no. I could live without that experience.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oUqERy6GLscKYhAvX2JwoqJjAf66L6Mq8IhwMgeVCQ-fIm8d_F4jnlgD2tGEd9QK_TI2lqqucSrz1obugN0THdkg7DLs32QDqBfGVz6AgPzTd2LpNy4pvYYWCNX_IoDENvcU-0gcJ68/s1600/Xochimilko+%252823+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oUqERy6GLscKYhAvX2JwoqJjAf66L6Mq8IhwMgeVCQ-fIm8d_F4jnlgD2tGEd9QK_TI2lqqucSrz1obugN0THdkg7DLs32QDqBfGVz6AgPzTd2LpNy4pvYYWCNX_IoDENvcU-0gcJ68/s640/Xochimilko+%252823+of+32%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As crowded as the canals were, there were still times when we found ourselves nearly alone. It was easy to imagine an earlier time, before it got so commercial, when the boats were used to transport produce from the gardens on the islands to markets in the city, when in early morning all was quiet except for the sounds of water lapping the shore and sides of the boats...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWcuPlcrBb48OmaK0XWhK7lklV9-i_Df_hbSQx-lfhLQVhOQ5yK0InViRk2ck3QDm1K2KR9ABatmVcVSAOk0kJhH8tKQhuPdedy-QxzlRxKqxRgZWKjoSGPRu9QUk9NxZzA4ndUTYdwA/s1600/Xochimilko+%25286+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWcuPlcrBb48OmaK0XWhK7lklV9-i_Df_hbSQx-lfhLQVhOQ5yK0InViRk2ck3QDm1K2KR9ABatmVcVSAOk0kJhH8tKQhuPdedy-QxzlRxKqxRgZWKjoSGPRu9QUk9NxZzA4ndUTYdwA/s640/Xochimilko+%25286+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">...and then, BOOM, there we were back in the fray, cheek and jowl with the rest of the folks looking for entertainment. It was OK, it was good. It was Mexico and this is what we came for - the sights, the music, the people - the experience of daily life in this marvelous city.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcDZV9BnCl_FH5F4p_mOczO4BGDjQ_Ij7ozbwDJeaWPs6M4ur_4vx2lFEZl9Jywf-8hmDAqYyy63G3Zx9kuvBGXyYltiKam1AxBbqN04sDoDv6jae1wVXY5Ifd1BwJrPItx-oGPgoYDA/s1600/Xochimilko+%252831+of+32%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcDZV9BnCl_FH5F4p_mOczO4BGDjQ_Ij7ozbwDJeaWPs6M4ur_4vx2lFEZl9Jywf-8hmDAqYyy63G3Zx9kuvBGXyYltiKam1AxBbqN04sDoDv6jae1wVXY5Ifd1BwJrPItx-oGPgoYDA/s640/Xochimilko+%252831+of+32%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. - William Morris</span><br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-771693786099834892016-08-24T08:35:00.000-07:002016-08-24T08:35:34.127-07:00Mexico City, finally<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been wondering why I don't post here like I used to, when I was on the road, working 32 hours a week, and taking long day trips on my days off. I think I finally figured it out - there was nothing much else to do in the evenings but edit photos of the places HH and I had been and toss them up here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since moving to and settling in Green Valley, I've been active beyond imagining. A much more active social life than I've ever had, plus twice-weekly physical therapy for a severed tendon in my thumb, keeps me on the go so much that a day at home with nothing on the calendar is an anomaly. I like it but it does take a toll on this blog, my self-taught Spanish, and other things that used to be higher on my priority list. I've turned into a slacker in certain departments but this morning is one of my empty-calendar days, so I thought I could catch up a little.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We traveled to Mexico City at Christmas last year, which was probably the best trip I've ever taken. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_Independence" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Angel of Independence</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">was just down the block from our hotel. It was built in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence. Atop the column is a statue of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, but it is commonly called The Angel. In her right hand she holds a laurel crown above </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Hidalgo_y_Costilla" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Miguel Hidalgo's</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">head, symbolizing victory, and in her left she holds a broken chain, symbolizing Freedom. The Angel is a landmark, as in "Let's meet at the Angel." I used it a few times when I was wandering on my own and had to ask, "¿Dónde está El Ángel?" If I could find the Angel, I could find the hotel.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBJAXriINnbxhvjsYQO8qmAuc9LuQLh6sm6rW4RIhdNGkYLWKzPGDIBfGHmYzc0QR08FXajiwLk-stSitB8Rf9SAkRqEkWF3Ov0l34546BxSttClc5ZiqiK_llwEyKarmndXsqKJsths/s1600/Angel+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBJAXriINnbxhvjsYQO8qmAuc9LuQLh6sm6rW4RIhdNGkYLWKzPGDIBfGHmYzc0QR08FXajiwLk-stSitB8Rf9SAkRqEkWF3Ov0l34546BxSttClc5ZiqiK_llwEyKarmndXsqKJsths/s640/Angel+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="396" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">One morning I joined a long line snaking away from a food cart to get a real-Mexican-food breakfast. Transactions were fast because offerings were minimal and everyone but me knew what they wanted. Luckily the woman in front of me spoke English and told me what the food was. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The next few photos are what I took back to the hotel on at least a few mornings: tamales Oaxaqueños (wah ha KEN yos), steamed in banana leaves and so soft they are eaten with a spoon or fork; a couple of churros; cups of what might be champurrado, a hot chocolate drink thickened with corn masa; and fresh cut fruit from the food cart next door. All of this delicious food set me back about $5 US.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5YcMh1UHnsxPsAAOKThSvQA1f1KjI72fwMDbkdSBCbAqtg2XzhnbedE8Dk4exAbPcQC2DzRdIS4gn9LS9AQBjaktsoitJUs77VLzBgkPQ_AJ-FmZNmVbJjCY4oUMeZMlNY_I3gFJU6I/s1600/Breakfast+fruit+Mexico+City+%25281+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5YcMh1UHnsxPsAAOKThSvQA1f1KjI72fwMDbkdSBCbAqtg2XzhnbedE8Dk4exAbPcQC2DzRdIS4gn9LS9AQBjaktsoitJUs77VLzBgkPQ_AJ-FmZNmVbJjCY4oUMeZMlNY_I3gFJU6I/s640/Breakfast+fruit+Mexico+City+%25281+of+2%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4F7XO4UusD9x4iRJ5UI-99K9KIB4jIL-5AtrP0jbHR-_WsRYorGxZ8op8Ge3iuH4zTXXmKF_KLhpngj9mxcy2M2h_4WwJvtJT9nwy7YQ7DKZktRuzD0gYLC6B7kZnxYIzqvmMTpCMe8/s1600/Breakfast+tamales+and+churros+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4F7XO4UusD9x4iRJ5UI-99K9KIB4jIL-5AtrP0jbHR-_WsRYorGxZ8op8Ge3iuH4zTXXmKF_KLhpngj9mxcy2M2h_4WwJvtJT9nwy7YQ7DKZktRuzD0gYLC6B7kZnxYIzqvmMTpCMe8/s640/Breakfast+tamales+and+churros+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktH6RQLHDoMCu-6Xb5_r3am6nZbo92KXbPdB-QcbS01qHkW4y_9jNwn-bABGxKXd9xiXqNPNuZx_xQ7B1zA2skX9limKFoZin-MPD2eaL1533W1lFjcjDqU6o37hyphenhyphenXiZYrXNukwutJsQ/s1600/P1060024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktH6RQLHDoMCu-6Xb5_r3am6nZbo92KXbPdB-QcbS01qHkW4y_9jNwn-bABGxKXd9xiXqNPNuZx_xQ7B1zA2skX9limKFoZin-MPD2eaL1533W1lFjcjDqU6o37hyphenhyphenXiZYrXNukwutJsQ/s640/P1060024.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thus fortified, we set off for what was at the top of the long list of places I wanted to see: the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Anthropology_(Mexico)" target="_blank">Museo Nacional de Antropología</a>, the National Anthropology Museum. Because it isn't an art museum, I thought it would be a quick-ish trip in and out but oh, no. We spent the day there and went back a second time to finish. It's that good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRf07TRKjAox6nNqhzkzXhZPVzn8DS6Kji52IkIAmUV2vv2KihklLRvo1q3xNgc5YI4utjLeFguhhvsBH-GOqCjapEAlGGdcnLHEmw0Z3IHNDXWMGdG6Eifa1UASrkx9SRN_2-GgbrsI/s1600/Entrance+to+Museo+Nacional+Antropologia+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRf07TRKjAox6nNqhzkzXhZPVzn8DS6Kji52IkIAmUV2vv2KihklLRvo1q3xNgc5YI4utjLeFguhhvsBH-GOqCjapEAlGGdcnLHEmw0Z3IHNDXWMGdG6Eifa1UASrkx9SRN_2-GgbrsI/s640/Entrance+to+Museo+Nacional+Antropologia+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The entrance with ticket booth ($65 MX pesos each, about $4 US!!!) and fantastic gift shop are in the first building, which leads to a large courtyard and the entrances to the s</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">alas - huge galleries that are each dedicated to different anthropological and cultural collections. As a side note, Mexico uses the $ symbol for its money, which kind of freaks you out when you look at a ticket price of $65. Once you get used to it and start dividing it by 17, the rough exchange rate in effect for the three trips we have so far taken to Mexico, nothing seems so bad. Even the hucksters, selling any- and everything, say, "It's almost free!" in very good English.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This waterfall is in the courtyard. Museum policy prohibits playing in it, but people did and security was there to shoo them away. It was stunning, if only for its size.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUPp1xaaWGDKnkRNwZ5siZGUhpNgMJfkuHHtF5TtKWuk64QlrpOfAeYU0jFUo38Jo8zZ9RL-p6WTzAvAbj-pV3U-kph837q_g8lb0iBN7Z_wj8638MZ3cVR0v3JozK4Cpo-0wR8nm0Eo/s1600/Fountain+in+museum+courtyard+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUPp1xaaWGDKnkRNwZ5siZGUhpNgMJfkuHHtF5TtKWuk64QlrpOfAeYU0jFUo38Jo8zZ9RL-p6WTzAvAbj-pV3U-kph837q_g8lb0iBN7Z_wj8638MZ3cVR0v3JozK4Cpo-0wR8nm0Eo/s640/Fountain+in+museum+courtyard+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="566" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On to the collections. I took so many photos it was ridiculous and will only show a few things here and not necessarily in chronological order.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Carved shell, Michoacán, 1200-1521 d. C. (después, or after, Christ).</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBoTUjEmKUXrT7aB3Ty0msATjPpVOIrmrjuyB7GhEWmFylgBAIF2s4IweiUuqfeJnqrmruJCDUyqlYAbQ63VsaFPU0Iuvs-GBFFIYly-qMdSF4zUYVSqefZfJTKPjrhrEUIZzkXuKapM/s1600/Carved+shell%252C+Michoaca%25CC%2581n%252C1200-1521+d.C.+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBoTUjEmKUXrT7aB3Ty0msATjPpVOIrmrjuyB7GhEWmFylgBAIF2s4IweiUuqfeJnqrmruJCDUyqlYAbQ63VsaFPU0Iuvs-GBFFIYly-qMdSF4zUYVSqefZfJTKPjrhrEUIZzkXuKapM/s640/Carved+shell%252C+Michoaca%25CC%2581n%252C1200-1521+d.C.+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ceramic teapot, post Classical, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1200-1521 d. C. I don't know </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">where the water and tea leaves go in. Down the spout?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNmgB0tatMGeKnXM6wm9IsUE9eE29oP2UKsjeU_XK-DSkAjqO3vOQgCjdT-s-N2wmxngR4gLVezuAFbuikeCLQvncbhbXFJZlGQQBDZWLVZ4tAnpJwUu74COaLmW1xkUQh2wQ7MRDMYo/s1600/Ceramic+teapots%252C+post+Classical%252C+1200-1521+d.+C.+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNmgB0tatMGeKnXM6wm9IsUE9eE29oP2UKsjeU_XK-DSkAjqO3vOQgCjdT-s-N2wmxngR4gLVezuAFbuikeCLQvncbhbXFJZlGQQBDZWLVZ4tAnpJwUu74COaLmW1xkUQh2wQ7MRDMYo/s640/Ceramic+teapots%252C+post+Classical%252C+1200-1521+d.+C.+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" width="602" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jester swirl bowl. Cute, huh?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7anl8dGiCvqMGArhx_h1teLgcXYBCBMu3R-EbLea7ua8I10Ggnaiuo8dKTdE2_MOFUHeygy9QEt4aWkz7XfN3p3Mp8pkNvajU5nrciiWbmCZApi6hOgBB0TGd6tftumZ3oACw4O71Q5k/s1600/Childish+pot+with+face+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7anl8dGiCvqMGArhx_h1teLgcXYBCBMu3R-EbLea7ua8I10Ggnaiuo8dKTdE2_MOFUHeygy9QEt4aWkz7XfN3p3Mp8pkNvajU5nrciiWbmCZApi6hOgBB0TGd6tftumZ3oACw4O71Q5k/s640/Childish+pot+with+face+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9JKdOZirqo3iuSBsfSTsWJIKgQzIjZpb7m06IlspWnFrQLK_iHb329e5ZfDiQWTdMsAScd_jId5IjVNtvgLtD9Slmu0W36AMxcRDQUu_gecJwpgRnbPCsxSb_gOuyvEZL61eqK2JK5s/s1600/Wooden+representation+of+cut+paper+figure+of+The+Siren%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cut paper figures come from the Nahua, state of Hidalgo. The figures have historically been used in ceremonies, representing gods and nature spirits and used in rituals to ask for rain or cure disease. They're never based on Catholic saints, having come down from pre-Hispanic Mexicans.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is at the entrance to the gallery.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9JKdOZirqo3iuSBsfSTsWJIKgQzIjZpb7m06IlspWnFrQLK_iHb329e5ZfDiQWTdMsAScd_jId5IjVNtvgLtD9Slmu0W36AMxcRDQUu_gecJwpgRnbPCsxSb_gOuyvEZL61eqK2JK5s/s1600/Wooden+representation+of+cut+paper+figure+of+The+Siren%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9JKdOZirqo3iuSBsfSTsWJIKgQzIjZpb7m06IlspWnFrQLK_iHb329e5ZfDiQWTdMsAScd_jId5IjVNtvgLtD9Slmu0W36AMxcRDQUu_gecJwpgRnbPCsxSb_gOuyvEZL61eqK2JK5s/s640/Wooden+representation+of+cut+paper+figure+of+The+Siren%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="515" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfmnB1AH4FFg1ghVbczZE0LetcJZuDTcxrl3AMMHBOz5Rz1n7FfpWUxpt0FkQHbK4h5WTgfFvI7NAjFNh0asqrald24SAeBmZvlAnt3C47AM2zgoNQqEOCi6nbln3ajpK_JW-W8ZYHgQ/s1600/Cut+paper+figures%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25281+of+3%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfmnB1AH4FFg1ghVbczZE0LetcJZuDTcxrl3AMMHBOz5Rz1n7FfpWUxpt0FkQHbK4h5WTgfFvI7NAjFNh0asqrald24SAeBmZvlAnt3C47AM2zgoNQqEOCi6nbln3ajpK_JW-W8ZYHgQ/s640/Cut+paper+figures%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25281+of+3%2529.jpg" width="388" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3np3lk4QfrvbovNpfT4Q9klRAJVHMvMDg9UIbwF-1WQcm-HX1EtJWPLnxKGkDLIU9BFeJk2TGjBfcxSpIRt0ve0doa-bQG1hlkv1F6uQ3P0ado1qDpLMG02EcwfzAQH9sLos34h6xh8/s1600/Cut+paper+figures%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25283+of+3%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3np3lk4QfrvbovNpfT4Q9klRAJVHMvMDg9UIbwF-1WQcm-HX1EtJWPLnxKGkDLIU9BFeJk2TGjBfcxSpIRt0ve0doa-bQG1hlkv1F6uQ3P0ado1qDpLMG02EcwfzAQH9sLos34h6xh8/s640/Cut+paper+figures%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25283+of+3%2529.jpg" width="257" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tShSLh9QylRW5IGrFoRzRFWjMnSOUZmhlHObapI9WQg3WY9PyyMYeKiAMbeNByhRm0EPUqsJTjqyLuNPV1YBwcDdJtA5dZ2uBq4JkqYK1eXJeakLg0Jei9b8tsmT220075USp0Bmxag/s1600/Cut+paper+figures%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25282+of+3%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tShSLh9QylRW5IGrFoRzRFWjMnSOUZmhlHObapI9WQg3WY9PyyMYeKiAMbeNByhRm0EPUqsJTjqyLuNPV1YBwcDdJtA5dZ2uBq4JkqYK1eXJeakLg0Jei9b8tsmT220075USp0Bmxag/s640/Cut+paper+figures%252C+from+the+Nahua%252C+state+of+Hidalgo+%25282+of+3%2529.jpg" width="296" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't remember what this is from, other than a church in general, but I liked the shapes and lines, so here it is.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYASm3K2uhoVSLhAWi1YXTwyjaMtxthyphenhyphenDUaNkUpIWWR_kC6f1COpXZ746oEMu-jR6yemTwPtwGf2R89IwerdPciDdVxIOIelfd77N5VL5llLk30ngw1EY7zBnIJQxIadbYhAhBSNMTcUg/s1600/Cross+in+front+of+doorway%252C+Nahua+culture+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYASm3K2uhoVSLhAWi1YXTwyjaMtxthyphenhyphenDUaNkUpIWWR_kC6f1COpXZ746oEMu-jR6yemTwPtwGf2R89IwerdPciDdVxIOIelfd77N5VL5llLk30ngw1EY7zBnIJQxIadbYhAhBSNMTcUg/s640/Cross+in+front+of+doorway%252C+Nahua+culture+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="468" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were several figures like this around the museum. Aren't they chill? I loved them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNDOrD9TuVpcxfbxGe1w-N73F-b555PTSCH_Le_YXFhYHZz8fC54gSI_6kdgFGtoZY1MEESuUGmCyKNsPaf5uAtxtsibtKkdxCTJvrSRVZXzWCmhbFnbd-isAjVW92ppXpzdAz-DIiLA/s1600/National+Anthropology+Museum+-+Mexico+City+%2528258+of+359%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNDOrD9TuVpcxfbxGe1w-N73F-b555PTSCH_Le_YXFhYHZz8fC54gSI_6kdgFGtoZY1MEESuUGmCyKNsPaf5uAtxtsibtKkdxCTJvrSRVZXzWCmhbFnbd-isAjVW92ppXpzdAz-DIiLA/s640/National+Anthropology+Museum+-+Mexico+City+%2528258+of+359%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrAgIz_3XZuKZ5kaMcLtiICdDZERo8TJXnvWJIQXS6yvgdVrbmXAa3AXUYGfKqmFGCEaL6sAvPxd2D0nKh5xDfYyVvL1R53sx8gHLs09vQUB6bcz3X0sBTtisjohX0sP3M6jer5xKeSI/s1600/Carved+figure%252C+post+Classical%252C+1200-1521+d.+C.+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrAgIz_3XZuKZ5kaMcLtiICdDZERo8TJXnvWJIQXS6yvgdVrbmXAa3AXUYGfKqmFGCEaL6sAvPxd2D0nKh5xDfYyVvL1R53sx8gHLs09vQUB6bcz3X0sBTtisjohX0sP3M6jer5xKeSI/s640/Carved+figure%252C+post+Classical%252C+1200-1521+d.+C.+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVB3FMlrTHtVk8jU0-jF2gjQibNMCH5hcXC3Fn6E21Hgioe24BOKRZlPu3TLzXWAI8oc1MfKephwgQipvhkjfvnkEYJ2iN_aD0SyYVQK9gl1KLqpTadDWbd7UGQFzI_0bp9yRiLLLak6o/s1600/Chac+-+Mool+de+Pa%25CC%2581tzcuaro%252C+Michoaca%25CC%2581n+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVB3FMlrTHtVk8jU0-jF2gjQibNMCH5hcXC3Fn6E21Hgioe24BOKRZlPu3TLzXWAI8oc1MfKephwgQipvhkjfvnkEYJ2iN_aD0SyYVQK9gl1KLqpTadDWbd7UGQFzI_0bp9yRiLLLak6o/s640/Chac+-+Mool+de+Pa%25CC%2581tzcuaro%252C+Michoaca%25CC%2581n+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The caption next to the wood carving/etching below read:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Conca'ac. The People.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>There was no earth, there was only the sea, the sky, and the sea animals. To make the earth the animals came together and decided to go to the bottom of the sea to bring the earth. But none could reach the bottom, until it was the turn of the giant turtle, the seven row turtle.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The great turtle took a month to go and come back, but when it reached the surface it had some sand under its nails and thus the earth could be created. That is why when the Seri catch a seven row turtle they do not kill it but take it alive to their village where they hold a festival in its honor to thank it for the feat of its ancestor, and then they return it to the sea.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN-90QZbDGejfEMwOhc3L_Cw17eT5ZPnXyDagz7Foy2l073fOusuqE2Eoj-LATtYUGm12ag8ivCFa_phjPHh8kBIRTbXpXkOWLXGt8CgI7X84kk4ZXDqCHhVA_Ynb1DssYUTxoM9KOJo/s1600/National+Anthropology+Museum+-+Mexico+City+%2528158+of+359%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN-90QZbDGejfEMwOhc3L_Cw17eT5ZPnXyDagz7Foy2l073fOusuqE2Eoj-LATtYUGm12ag8ivCFa_phjPHh8kBIRTbXpXkOWLXGt8CgI7X84kk4ZXDqCHhVA_Ynb1DssYUTxoM9KOJo/s640/National+Anthropology+Museum+-+Mexico+City+%2528158+of+359%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A frieze fragment mirrored in the top of a shiny display case. Pretty cool, isn't it? From Yucatán, 250-600 d. C.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYMRP6-Zf72RoszZ8rUWkGKZ3v7OO9T_8h9LAvnzqKOUl8LTIEE8HJQhWj-8TUwLWWCqKm_vcM5y8ZEuHCb6SWJwNQJijdaQqTnlAvxsuzK8OOcU3AIQfvr9iLjxfXqomwoZ-3JTLQjI/s1600/National+Anthropology+Museum%252C+Mexico+City+-+mirrored+frieze+fragment+250-600+dC%252C+Yucata%25CC%2581n+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYMRP6-Zf72RoszZ8rUWkGKZ3v7OO9T_8h9LAvnzqKOUl8LTIEE8HJQhWj-8TUwLWWCqKm_vcM5y8ZEuHCb6SWJwNQJijdaQqTnlAvxsuzK8OOcU3AIQfvr9iLjxfXqomwoZ-3JTLQjI/s640/National+Anthropology+Museum%252C+Mexico+City+-+mirrored+frieze+fragment+250-600+dC%252C+Yucata%25CC%2581n+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mosaic disc from Yucatán, 1000-1250 d. C. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Itb0dLa66oHNqTTbDa4yPWg9jaX1rkVFPLYEbigPKLVTS6L7xeeC1edkKIgokk14Lq52BslZQMxvonxP5zMfSvdm48xFNgqmXUr0by0hj48kz0_ZCtyhyphenhyphentnfBoYU93UOAE1sZWouz8c/s1600/National+Anthropology+Museum%252C+Mexico+City+-+mosaic+disc+ca+1000-1250+dC%252C+Yucata%25CC%2581n+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Itb0dLa66oHNqTTbDa4yPWg9jaX1rkVFPLYEbigPKLVTS6L7xeeC1edkKIgokk14Lq52BslZQMxvonxP5zMfSvdm48xFNgqmXUr0by0hj48kz0_ZCtyhyphenhyphentnfBoYU93UOAE1sZWouz8c/s640/National+Anthropology+Museum%252C+Mexico+City+-+mosaic+disc+ca+1000-1250+dC%252C+Yucata%25CC%2581n+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition to artifacts from ancient cultures, the museum also showcases contemporary arts, like this carved wooden figure with its distinctive Oaxacan style. The colors are vibrant, almost neon. There is no mistaking Oaxacan art.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEoeg_2TkyxDiKMfzI2RrTVpS_OLjf_vA6hC1U_fR2u2ysvHSnzPgn_41bmevSQ3qZRoarbUOzE_-_yhYOjeqrcmnh7O4mGLcgMaXTZ8ofAyLgo2oyOjpL1AJnXlQ9ydHUZg3x2Nnd-8/s1600/Oaxacan+carved+figures+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEoeg_2TkyxDiKMfzI2RrTVpS_OLjf_vA6hC1U_fR2u2ysvHSnzPgn_41bmevSQ3qZRoarbUOzE_-_yhYOjeqrcmnh7O4mGLcgMaXTZ8ofAyLgo2oyOjpL1AJnXlQ9ydHUZg3x2Nnd-8/s640/Oaxacan+carved+figures+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" width="568" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This oversized basket and interesting stand were at the entrance to one of the galleries.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoz0d3EO5fv_N17-Q1U7sYhcFmYQH93cKPE3gnNdi3wWrjh4h9V0H1ntkdJthmYTHx-b52JgqSCsjGMX4Ld8hYUqA-snHMg2hg5ifbmniZk8USekYy3-ikXnz47fgaTBnIcCbu0xix0o/s1600/Overized+basket%252C+Apache+gallery+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoz0d3EO5fv_N17-Q1U7sYhcFmYQH93cKPE3gnNdi3wWrjh4h9V0H1ntkdJthmYTHx-b52JgqSCsjGMX4Ld8hYUqA-snHMg2hg5ifbmniZk8USekYy3-ikXnz47fgaTBnIcCbu0xix0o/s640/Overized+basket%252C+Apache+gallery+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two painted pots that I did not get any info on. Similar styles but different when you really look at them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijElqqe8go-iGiYHrMbtsP4PIpamY5TkKELSpqozPA6dGhOknffBoDEd13GVfgFCz9U5TorX-16rqsUfKF1NW02238LciFizux3QcwpjOi0OULiQSs9MXSTI-_HvQ6XVi7HATT9XjvOn4/s1600/Painted+pot-man+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijElqqe8go-iGiYHrMbtsP4PIpamY5TkKELSpqozPA6dGhOknffBoDEd13GVfgFCz9U5TorX-16rqsUfKF1NW02238LciFizux3QcwpjOi0OULiQSs9MXSTI-_HvQ6XVi7HATT9XjvOn4/s640/Painted+pot-man+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first thing that sprung to mind was The Queen of Hearts. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Qhd1dchDtW6YTVHejlxcJQqSqjrmrQNR_8MVnfjwzvpoMrWm1nxtd_EUsXp_IwIAduKDnOsrdXYwrrWrKE-f4n4N6wTu-DMC-UMjg2FqFNIAXXtl8jRtvQWvoH0oqJUbik0vWs8SNcY/s1600/Queen+of+hearts+pot+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Qhd1dchDtW6YTVHejlxcJQqSqjrmrQNR_8MVnfjwzvpoMrWm1nxtd_EUsXp_IwIAduKDnOsrdXYwrrWrKE-f4n4N6wTu-DMC-UMjg2FqFNIAXXtl8jRtvQWvoH0oqJUbik0vWs8SNcY/s640/Queen+of+hearts+pot+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This figure looks distressingly like Hitler.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEhE0O2IzbChMe447YlEh2npnX5Ggut-dPtNzRxoSPcccM1HXzVaMoUCopEpMo1P0gcUbKlNXm9OVIumTCCTZFiX_oqsbx1j1867Q3NgebiJr5b4fOrAnKN7c7g0HuCNUfqj4yAhCqWI/s1600/Statuette+looks+like+Hitler+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEhE0O2IzbChMe447YlEh2npnX5Ggut-dPtNzRxoSPcccM1HXzVaMoUCopEpMo1P0gcUbKlNXm9OVIumTCCTZFiX_oqsbx1j1867Q3NgebiJr5b4fOrAnKN7c7g0HuCNUfqj4yAhCqWI/s640/Statuette+looks+like+Hitler+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="612" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the famous Aztec calendar that you may have heard about. Technically it's called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_calendar_stone" target="_blank">Sun Stone, Stone of the Five Eras</a> and dates to the late 14th-early 15th century. It was straight ahead as I walked into the gallery and it stopped me in my tracks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrA_YFhZffE3_8ZecbwoFixY2Qlsn6bZ2ZkfYoLzuD5rp0fHc2Eb616ot815S-mG64w8fOAz40EdCCg9D0DC5qBu8QqEiKwroI3RMVhLZRsb_wAQnpvp-DVBSrBZRjM22Bnk-4NcZgbQ/s1600/Aztec+calendar+%25281+of+1%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrA_YFhZffE3_8ZecbwoFixY2Qlsn6bZ2ZkfYoLzuD5rp0fHc2Eb616ot815S-mG64w8fOAz40EdCCg9D0DC5qBu8QqEiKwroI3RMVhLZRsb_wAQnpvp-DVBSrBZRjM22Bnk-4NcZgbQ/s640/Aztec+calendar+%25281+of+1%2529-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a closer look, and the last of the museum photos for today. More from here and the rest of the trip to follow.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh_qcR18theuVGkbrrz5EMXi8IuGjTby2HV31URnPixZ6so42p0kjzDmlOnitkwRarDC9M2UE7kfz8Y7uHltEFpEKLugXh7__fsNpInuJ9orJq7sAjXhSVEGqf8BG19db6q0gnYUUGds/s1600/Aztec+calendar+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh_qcR18theuVGkbrrz5EMXi8IuGjTby2HV31URnPixZ6so42p0kjzDmlOnitkwRarDC9M2UE7kfz8Y7uHltEFpEKLugXh7__fsNpInuJ9orJq7sAjXhSVEGqf8BG19db6q0gnYUUGds/s640/Aztec+calendar+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we left the museum to forage for food, we came across this vendor selling snacks. All of it was more or less straightforward and I got a bag of pepitas.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRmdM_erekQ0Lkum5_NiSngEB7yIXKQo8gx9As-0b_K9GoYjt_CbTeeP2sOc54Va01-SBSY8pnvtfoq6d19F7RY9eQ-9XaK6WNWuOSutchcp-uJGCY46Bk6ai9Ia7sCZMy7I3VBtfyPo/s1600/Insect+and+snack+seller%252C+anthro+museum+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRmdM_erekQ0Lkum5_NiSngEB7yIXKQo8gx9As-0b_K9GoYjt_CbTeeP2sOc54Va01-SBSY8pnvtfoq6d19F7RY9eQ-9XaK6WNWuOSutchcp-uJGCY46Bk6ai9Ia7sCZMy7I3VBtfyPo/s640/Insect+and+snack+seller%252C+anthro+museum+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, I passed on this pile of delicacies, grasshoppers. I'd have to be pretty hungry and might like them if I ate one, but that will remain one of life's great unknowns.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6wSvSPSUgA5sTaKwkVjXzp6ajDn-M6rZNnbUR63-3wSplf-ljaHwNlQ-26F6DhpmsnAXXNBSblXB6Rl7isyFvnExnaUXq9yo5C-UvuiS5nSP6oDmbzkY4E72LILHSm1s9d8dfjeItyc/s1600/Insect+and+snack+seller%252C+anthro+museum+%25281+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6wSvSPSUgA5sTaKwkVjXzp6ajDn-M6rZNnbUR63-3wSplf-ljaHwNlQ-26F6DhpmsnAXXNBSblXB6Rl7isyFvnExnaUXq9yo5C-UvuiS5nSP6oDmbzkY4E72LILHSm1s9d8dfjeItyc/s640/Insect+and+snack+seller%252C+anthro+museum+%25281+of+2%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would much rather look at one in stone.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-GoiDGi_fMgBHo4lYPMScMo6SsUOjP-_Vi6ESjrloN5mh2QEitz8eqyYaHQnWcgteVNkVqxKULMSq38mXekwSR5X4JfPAzgtUAMVWKedyoaLq-OL4B6oeYXwu-1Ug8WfkghGRb8U2Hk/s1600/Grasshopper+at+Museo+Nacional+Antropologia+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-GoiDGi_fMgBHo4lYPMScMo6SsUOjP-_Vi6ESjrloN5mh2QEitz8eqyYaHQnWcgteVNkVqxKULMSq38mXekwSR5X4JfPAzgtUAMVWKedyoaLq-OL4B6oeYXwu-1Ug8WfkghGRb8U2Hk/s640/Grasshopper+at+Museo+Nacional+Antropologia+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" width="588" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If Jesus was a Jew, how come he has a Mexican first name? ~ Billy Connolly</span><br />
<br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-22226538139883807722016-04-02T09:02:00.001-07:002016-04-02T09:02:43.555-07:00It's been pretty quiet in these here parts<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hoo, boy, a lot has happened since my last post, way back in September.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My experience at Yosemite was not the best, for a lot of reasons. but it was a catalyst for a big move in my life. One day last summer I had my truck at the dealer in Fresno for something or other, and while waiting for it I started looking at real estate in Green Valley, Arizona. Why? I sure don't know, other than I love Arizona. There must have been some subliminal juju going on because I never, ever expected to settle down just two and a half years into my time on the road, yet that's exactly what happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was volunteering at Tumacácori in southern Arizona in the fall of 2014, HH and I drove by Green Valley on our way to Tucson but never exited the freeway to take a look at it. So it was kind of strange that I started looking in Green Valley and not Tucson, for example, but I found a townhouse in Green Valley that I fell in love with. It had been recently remodeled throughout and was turnkey ready for move-in. It had almost everything I wanted. The only problem was my work at Yosemite was nowhere near being finished to free me up to return to Arizona to make the deal, and the ex-husband and I had our Washington house on the market but no takers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was not long after this that HH and I went to <a href="http://cruisingat60.blogspot.com/2015/08/changed-my-mind.html" target="_blank">San Juan Bautista Mission in California</a> where I lit a candle to the Lady of Guadalupe, asking for help in getting the house sold, and two days later we had an offer. I'm not making any judgments about this kind of cosmic assistance, I'm just telling what happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I kept watching the Green Valley house online, sure that every time I looked it would show as Sale Pending, but it was always available. To this day I don't know how it didn't sell but when I finally got back here in late September there it was, waiting for me. After being yanked about by the buyer of the Washington house way too many times, she finally came through and we closed on that property, giving me the money I needed to buy the house HH and I now happily live in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had next to nothing to furnish it with and thereby began the mad rush to 1) drive to Wisconsin to pick up what belongings I still had in storage there, with a detour to Minnesota to see the grands, and 2) to start hitting the plentiful and darned good thrift stores around here for furniture, etc., etc. The drive up north was 4016 miles in eight days<b> </b>or something like it, and I had the best, if frantic time, shopping for and refinishing furniture, trying to get it all done before I moved in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've been busy to the point of hopping since we moved in in November. It took a good two months to settle down even a little. There's so much to do here that I've had to jettison some activities to make room for those that matter more to me, and we're still discovering new places to go and things to see. It's really the best place I've ever lived, including my house, the neighborhood (a <i>good</i> HOA if you can believe it), my neighbors, and the Green Valley/Tucson area in general. We've done some traveling to Mexico, twice, and have another trip there coming up. We've been to the opera, a concert/ballet with a Latino flavor, another concert by the Green Valley Concert Band, and a performance of instruments called melodicas at Tumacácori (and now that we have, never have to again). These are just the tip of the iceberg of things we've done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm still busy finding furniture to work on. My latest completed piece is this spinning chair I found at a consignment store:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhQxjYWNlz_9tWXqIA_YxlAcANT-CVlNUGi05TpF26MIKAusvj-2n-mnxnR98ffJkQYJGmWFRIbdXxGL7zb5b3ul_XnrQ6omcdgnYmEgpendZkeEvWgjjAuzRtUxUO6X3cls1MJ0P0OQ/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhQxjYWNlz_9tWXqIA_YxlAcANT-CVlNUGi05TpF26MIKAusvj-2n-mnxnR98ffJkQYJGmWFRIbdXxGL7zb5b3ul_XnrQ6omcdgnYmEgpendZkeEvWgjjAuzRtUxUO6X3cls1MJ0P0OQ/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="312" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> An overexposed shot of the original, after I gave it a scrub and put it outside to dry.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR8XirSj1oYWcxlOREJA1LHc20jBZF9izyS6YqG-qaLhjM3GArI2aJmN5aT2JSGXFqpBjM7NOYvZSsl35O_J_YHre_A2YkLayEhtPUMgaWMyuG2ILRp7WXHFEuIBcMA_MnG8fKa1OJcg/s1600/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR8XirSj1oYWcxlOREJA1LHc20jBZF9izyS6YqG-qaLhjM3GArI2aJmN5aT2JSGXFqpBjM7NOYvZSsl35O_J_YHre_A2YkLayEhtPUMgaWMyuG2ILRp7WXHFEuIBcMA_MnG8fKa1OJcg/s640/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the finished piece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The chair has a stamp on the back. It says it was hand carved at the Studio of Arts and Antiquities in England. I just followed the carving which made it so much easier to paint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The other two chairs are Goodwill finds, even better because I got a 20% Senior Citizens' Day discount. It's almost a sin to pay full price for most things here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The prior piece I finished was a cherry cabinet that belonged to HH. We tried to send it home with his son and daughter-in-law when they visited a few months ago but they didn't want it. I finally got the idea to paint it in this design from a book of Mexican motif patterns, and just love it. It's in the office, storing supplies. Again, not a good photo and it has the cat in it. There's also an oval mirror that hangs above it, painted with the same kind of wavy line that's on the cabinet.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EDmQseFFUf2d7Fj26uf1IdMXoQNxuVuGXg2K1xw1xD_8tPSvZeycPObyHMvW0Unz_2Znn8t7uafEOaIA-KU7NCkXloeVSszFmhVAfZuQynsr2UVPONvHFJiGtfBCcZqDTsV-98ulgoc/s1600/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EDmQseFFUf2d7Fj26uf1IdMXoQNxuVuGXg2K1xw1xD_8tPSvZeycPObyHMvW0Unz_2Znn8t7uafEOaIA-KU7NCkXloeVSszFmhVAfZuQynsr2UVPONvHFJiGtfBCcZqDTsV-98ulgoc/s640/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mexico photos will follow. We returned from Mexico City, a fabulous place, with more than 1600 photos and I'm in the process of exerting some sanity on them. I'll try not to wait another seven months to post again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My goal is to create a life I don't need a vacation from. - Anon (good old Pinterest)</span></div>
cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-2184923682797310712015-09-06T16:46:00.002-07:002015-09-06T16:46:41.132-07:00Finding community<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In late July HH and I flew to Boston to attend his grandson's wedding. The wedding was in New London, Connecticut, but we had the morning of the day before the wedding to ourselves in Boston, which I immediately commandeered for a trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. This is what I miss about not living on the east coast, when I could take Amtrak from D.C. to New York for a long weekend of museum-hopping and theater-going. I miss art museums a lot. The photos from the Boston museum are still in the works and would probably bore the socks off just about anyone, but I enjoy photographing the art even though I rarely look at it again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That afternoon HH's son picked us up at the museum to drive us to New London to the bride's parents' house for a clambake. It was an amazing meal and I wonder why there are no photos of it - oh, right! I was too busy eating lobster, clams, mussels, and corn on the cob. The caterer did a fantastic job in an outdoor cook space, plating meals ahead of time so all we had to do was pass through the line and grab a plate. I refused to wear a lobster bib and came through, by sheer grace, without a drop of goo on me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following morning, the day of the wedding, we again had to ourselves because the wedding wasn't until 2:00. I had spied a church spire a few blocks away and wandered over to see if I could get in. I was testing doors, finding them locked, until a man drove into the parking lot and led me into the church, St. James Episcopal. He is an active, long-time member there and told me about its history and mission. There's a lot of information between his narration and the church brochure he gave me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The original church building opened in 1732. It operated as Church of England, a break from the Congregationalists that had been the established church of the colonies. Ironically, this original "church of England" was accidentally burned, along with the city of New London, by British troops under the command of Benedict Arnold in 1781. Not only were the parishioners displaced, they were divided by split loyalties to the old and new governments. Also, Bishops, the only source for ordaining clergy, were all back in England, by then foreign and enemy soil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three years after New London burned, a new church building was being planned. It, too, no longer exists. They still needed a Bishop, though, and found one in Samuel Seabury. He had been elected Bishop in Connecticut in 1783 but of course had to go to England to be consecrated by the Bishops of the English church. A loyalty oath to the crown was required for ordination, but as he was a son of the New Country that was not possible, so he traveled to Aberdeen, Scotland and was consecrated there instead. He returned to the colonies as the first and only Bishop in America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seabury was an ardent rebuilder of the local congregation, traveling through New England confirming congregants and ordaining priests, working with them to found the Episcopal Church in America. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the middle of the 19th century, New London had become the country's second-most important whaling port, with corresponding increasing fortunes, and this church became one of the beneficiaries. English architect Richard Upjohn, who had already built Trinity Church in New York, developed an early version of Gothic Revival design, and the church was eventually filled with medieval symbolism and elements such as crosses, candles, vested choirs, divided chancel, and stained glass.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNTn9qk7zsIc3UnOoMExwFoMvdXSKblCOoP_A_tlIePSCdgd1VtVdGfw7TGKbc25pSFlMNqGm-Qdlq0o9oKZKDVhIhaMP-hQfjX7Gg63o_L5lCHW77EtQ0PuVPMJjh50SS45VxbR4dIU/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNTn9qk7zsIc3UnOoMExwFoMvdXSKblCOoP_A_tlIePSCdgd1VtVdGfw7TGKbc25pSFlMNqGm-Qdlq0o9oKZKDVhIhaMP-hQfjX7Gg63o_L5lCHW77EtQ0PuVPMJjh50SS45VxbR4dIU/s640/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-41.jpg" width="298" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The building became home to a "procession of memorials," as the brochure puts it, including an assortment of stained glass representing the craft's development in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is said to to include the largest number of Tiffany windows in any single New England building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once again, I had to shoot handheld and kind of on the fly, as the nice gentleman who gave me the tour had other things he had to do, so these are not up to the standards I prefer for churches. They do, however, give a glimpse of this beautiful structure built with love and devotion by its parishioners. When it was dedicated in 1850, it even, already, contained a shrine. The body of Bishop Seabury was interred in a burial chamber beneath the high altar. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-yipZRvwId_0FCse2xQ5kg7pAB-ZKYI-R4nDCLD1-dTa_zDJDRJ8m5Fo8uJhgPVzm5_cRvQNa0fHqFwVVQgIpNDNyJmaRXaLO2rJPBfQ9AXWatUiq4u8n4OkO2ZWI9Kjo0c68jTRJW4/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-yipZRvwId_0FCse2xQ5kg7pAB-ZKYI-R4nDCLD1-dTa_zDJDRJ8m5Fo8uJhgPVzm5_cRvQNa0fHqFwVVQgIpNDNyJmaRXaLO2rJPBfQ9AXWatUiq4u8n4OkO2ZWI9Kjo0c68jTRJW4/s640/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-23.jpg" width="614" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some years later, the body of Rector Robert Hallam, the man who led the challenge to erect this building and who was one of the largest contributors to the cause, was interred in the same crypt as Bishop Seabury. The space is used for worship and is known as Hallam Chapel.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpg9kcmUfJm9mnHFckjNAm9Rr3zn9YSzX-ADPd085FDUpgQKqp1SYwKYPSdabNYZaU5J4pNDE_bWVys9fTCUvsXhgS8t-sNeRqc0hx7WuqcHwY1WLntXh6ZTzRWpqeTjvdrig9AF4Lu0/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpg9kcmUfJm9mnHFckjNAm9Rr3zn9YSzX-ADPd085FDUpgQKqp1SYwKYPSdabNYZaU5J4pNDE_bWVys9fTCUvsXhgS8t-sNeRqc0hx7WuqcHwY1WLntXh6ZTzRWpqeTjvdrig9AF4Lu0/s640/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-6.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The "marble" below is in memory of Bishop Seabury. It is somewhat subdued, more so than what you might expect for this father of the Episcopal Church in America. I show it here because I love the fifth line from the bottom, which says, "[he] was translated from Earth to Heaven..."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZL8WgxVdQ9J5klJO8blp9njIrN7ryXu3V4ca9oMNsa7mK2RZKjWQAkmFAbXknIpgHWQI-GUEFf0QCal6LdLjcHCDBpXuZjzLw3cki03sSc6wb8DjhNJczzF22HwoVOTAvGzAAgMOPVA/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZL8WgxVdQ9J5klJO8blp9njIrN7ryXu3V4ca9oMNsa7mK2RZKjWQAkmFAbXknIpgHWQI-GUEFf0QCal6LdLjcHCDBpXuZjzLw3cki03sSc6wb8DjhNJczzF22HwoVOTAvGzAAgMOPVA/s640/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-3.jpg" width="417" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I look now at the brochure I got when I was leaving the church that describes its different features like the baptistry, a painting attributed to Bellini, and the Seabury and Hallam cenotaphs, and I see that I missed so much because of the necessary quickness of my visit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The description of the windows in the brochure says most of the windows use larger pieces of glass and less leading than traditional styles. Some of its shading is achieved by varying the thickness of the glass, or building up various colors. Tiffany windows are translucent and when light shines through, the picture is illuminated like glass slides. Even when not illuminated, the picture is visible, albeit quite different from when it is lit. If no light passes through ordinary stained glass, the picture is dark with nothing really visible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So now, forthwith, the windows, the crowning glory of this special place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Lawrence Memorial Window, commemorating Joseph and his two sons, Francis and Sebastian Lawrence. It shows St. Sebastian, St. Joseph holding Jesus, and St. Francis. Tiffany, installed 1910.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPponYh1RUxQ-85kkkeXDdSs13rFMvs7DpJPAUd-mezQJkS-OsywDmXb8DWO8FJKcFk-IohhMVwNbfTJb69pAbFXsakkLkd0tEK8N4qo_gZ9rRndmvuAKGPVT_dNORgrLqksog0Iwdeg8/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPponYh1RUxQ-85kkkeXDdSs13rFMvs7DpJPAUd-mezQJkS-OsywDmXb8DWO8FJKcFk-IohhMVwNbfTJb69pAbFXsakkLkd0tEK8N4qo_gZ9rRndmvuAKGPVT_dNORgrLqksog0Iwdeg8/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-7.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Lyman Allyn Window, depicting the Holy Family. Tiffany, installed 1910.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtqCFljfz0B84bI7klYMz6Do0kZjfvoSdlLA-3heOXTMuG_X2TXZnNvVDXBvxamyjDToIWwhG98oQsSNANa3zz5D18ZCj1xeGyNGUr65qrYgODlfiKncVdnS0rmNxcn9p29aqgRF8Nkk/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtqCFljfz0B84bI7klYMz6Do0kZjfvoSdlLA-3heOXTMuG_X2TXZnNvVDXBvxamyjDToIWwhG98oQsSNANa3zz5D18ZCj1xeGyNGUr65qrYgODlfiKncVdnS0rmNxcn9p29aqgRF8Nkk/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-9.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Betsay Ingram Whittlesey Window, Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tiffany, installed 1910.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkac5ELe5-qPGNeOaLT1IoafWrFiKMeW-wtkbdbYTdb-cXBRL_XDo3rfuLDIxL2SCKQXplO67VrQoDVIVuS8TaXA21jBItgo4QR5CP_pvk6iz14ZM3cOtWWy9hV_z1vqR7R9f9bwKyedY/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkac5ELe5-qPGNeOaLT1IoafWrFiKMeW-wtkbdbYTdb-cXBRL_XDo3rfuLDIxL2SCKQXplO67VrQoDVIVuS8TaXA21jBItgo4QR5CP_pvk6iz14ZM3cOtWWy9hV_z1vqR7R9f9bwKyedY/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-11.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't know what window this is, other than it being about the Resurrection. And I also can't seem to get it centered.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBhhyphenhyphenpiGPWiyzGhKOY_7cK3uasu_RIjNoz_nJ3UBbgSPXvO0ugsyNLARqcvHiiUYLYft2PD1ld5PA7Ne5H0e9s0ZnsNPBhF30Q0kQMJSnL4sDHF5c9EVcGgOMAi3BPjCHOaW6HHkOek4/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBhhyphenhyphenpiGPWiyzGhKOY_7cK3uasu_RIjNoz_nJ3UBbgSPXvO0ugsyNLARqcvHiiUYLYft2PD1ld5PA7Ne5H0e9s0ZnsNPBhF30Q0kQMJSnL4sDHF5c9EVcGgOMAi3BPjCHOaW6HHkOek4/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-15.jpg" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">George W. Whittlesey Window, depicting the Angel's appearance to the shepherds, announcing the nativity of Jesus. Tiffany, installed 1910.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4aT55GyfJBrNIYdqDgsoqvxTs2LDp_-YnRw6_3pI1l7WFj2Nw-y1xj7Hf2xSOMe8GF61ux1HaQyxfVtIkPCkeIfjgOvSQHQZQo3BUXy__pRv9kXI8zVh9AFZW61MF_TufvgDJVF0HIk/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4aT55GyfJBrNIYdqDgsoqvxTs2LDp_-YnRw6_3pI1l7WFj2Nw-y1xj7Hf2xSOMe8GF61ux1HaQyxfVtIkPCkeIfjgOvSQHQZQo3BUXy__pRv9kXI8zVh9AFZW61MF_TufvgDJVF0HIk/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-12.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Stark Window, depicting the Resurrection. Cox and Sons, London. Installed in 1881-2 in memory of Robert Hallam; donated by Benjamin Stark. I wasn't allowed to close the open window.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NdHHVrESPODO-56nYbp06DoCDal_Vgb5hUxb1YejQCLKu8flkTeL0Xs9atqqacJ_dYpnrvABvAIZQ2KCkcIni3PvAnmUxkFsebWW7h6pW309kguQ6L4QK-xKFZDvJzESicPulw-kN9Y/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NdHHVrESPODO-56nYbp06DoCDal_Vgb5hUxb1YejQCLKu8flkTeL0Xs9atqqacJ_dYpnrvABvAIZQ2KCkcIni3PvAnmUxkFsebWW7h6pW309kguQ6L4QK-xKFZDvJzESicPulw-kN9Y/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-16.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ironside Window, Appearance of Christ on the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection. Tiffany, installed 1911. Not my best work, but the color is magnificent.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalSv77Gg3itw7p_5Mk__w7w_uvbQUTLsw9hNZh2vor2iOyrtQQfanIJS7a7M3Efo9wC8txlxy0cpAhBCJ-T0nBvUHnlVlj1g4SZJXhllH8g7kWdNw2wXCZeViCAVtqLJZktM5EC9vsPo/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalSv77Gg3itw7p_5Mk__w7w_uvbQUTLsw9hNZh2vor2iOyrtQQfanIJS7a7M3Efo9wC8txlxy0cpAhBCJ-T0nBvUHnlVlj1g4SZJXhllH8g7kWdNw2wXCZeViCAVtqLJZktM5EC9vsPo/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-18.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mansfield Window, depicting two friends who died in action in World War 1. J&R Lamb Studios, installed 1922.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGAi97n_jhYfec4pMKenjGEC1QuxiMHnyHKQA5NktihC4KQVELaOPNFXjJaV9meWO0pHdrHZmVOtVZFqgVXujot0uyFAl9dkCTsaAtis43CL8txYGajDVYVFB2U9-QPOTCvek9dBPH8s/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGAi97n_jhYfec4pMKenjGEC1QuxiMHnyHKQA5NktihC4KQVELaOPNFXjJaV9meWO0pHdrHZmVOtVZFqgVXujot0uyFAl9dkCTsaAtis43CL8txYGajDVYVFB2U9-QPOTCvek9dBPH8s/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-19.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hilliar Window, Angels singing and praising God. Susan K. Van Heukelom, installed 1993.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2C_TvXfxNnMt_OH1YpEDLIubIa08GG3VbpnbW79XxHMAULj_hR7wZgaTctvNciLRdyMEpo4EI6dbNHluwwobtHTAdYbKVpr5LLE_5560nSzFqaCR3_WBFApp_XC3A8WXQZYHYGt47jE/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2C_TvXfxNnMt_OH1YpEDLIubIa08GG3VbpnbW79XxHMAULj_hR7wZgaTctvNciLRdyMEpo4EI6dbNHluwwobtHTAdYbKVpr5LLE_5560nSzFqaCR3_WBFApp_XC3A8WXQZYHYGt47jE/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-22.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The organ is an Ernest M. Skinner from 1914. It has four manuals and sixty-five ranks of pipes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihx6ffNmdnzhGSelWL9MSzFY0WQUNASEzi-Kjiim6-z2_hz55cyduibRyZ5G-Y6dgwO0TEbQB18wBTzFWbjfmQpLmXsiMmN2ECenEqUsMkYQWo2WrV174-7iHHznmEzjLxQzM6n1R6cK8/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihx6ffNmdnzhGSelWL9MSzFY0WQUNASEzi-Kjiim6-z2_hz55cyduibRyZ5G-Y6dgwO0TEbQB18wBTzFWbjfmQpLmXsiMmN2ECenEqUsMkYQWo2WrV174-7iHHznmEzjLxQzM6n1R6cK8/s640/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-27.jpg" width="524" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are other windows there that I could not get at because of the angle or light fixtures hanging in the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This final window is behind the altar. What I like to do when I have a tripod is to take three to five shots in sequence at different exposures, then blend them into one when I process so I get all the lights and all the darks. I didn't have that luxury so this window, believed to be by the Henry E. Sharp studio in New York, is not at its best.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDDXN035Vcz4jgO1MbmpG2wppANtUGOn5CrTIqgDoH61Xb6tc4EXJ28HTQgz70TDF9fiGQAdBd8RQpgck-vsvh9i3r2BXmcvFvDPwNnij2UGW6rlnd6sQGHcxWYh3siOuSdE-jOXh0dM/s1600/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDDXN035Vcz4jgO1MbmpG2wppANtUGOn5CrTIqgDoH61Xb6tc4EXJ28HTQgz70TDF9fiGQAdBd8RQpgck-vsvh9i3r2BXmcvFvDPwNnij2UGW6rlnd6sQGHcxWYh3siOuSdE-jOXh0dM/s640/St.+James+Episcopal+-+New+London+CT-37.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being a true community church, St. James has an active ministry with other organizations in New London. It co-founded a shelter for homeless men, women, and families. It provides a monthly community meal for anyone who wants one, which was going on when I was there. There were more than a dozen workers in the parish hall, preparing hot meals, boxing them up, and handing them out with a bottle of water to whoever walked through the door needing a meal. They participate in a grass roots volunteer organization for the development of New London's commercial district, which is not the booming center of commerce it used to be. They work with Habitat for Humanity. The parish lends space to Head Start, AA groups, A Moveable Feast, and other faith-based and non-profit community groups, and in the past opened its doors to other Christian organizations which did not have a home. They organize an annual concert series and host other musical groups for concerts and recitals. And every other year, they send a group to Guatemala to build or renovate schools and churches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am no longer a church-goer. A Catholic born and raised with twelve years of Catholic education under my belt and the scars to prove it, I find organized religion leaves a bad taste in my mouth. However, I will say that if I were looking for an organization to call home, it would be a community like St. James. They are Christians - humans - in the most caring sense of the word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The man who gave me the tour talked openly with me about his upbringing as a Catholic and not feeling accepted because of his lifestyle as a gay man, but had found a home here. I can understand why. As I left, I shook his hand, thanked him, and said, "You're a prince." He said, without pausing for breath, "No, I'm a queen." Now that's a guy I like.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think tolerance and acceptance and love is something that feeds every community. - Lady Gaga</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-17428808348733411132015-08-30T11:12:00.000-07:002016-06-10T17:06:13.662-07:00Building and riding the rails<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">HH is a gem at going along with anything I want to do. He is unique among anyone I've ever known in that he is never, ever bored. Ever. And everything interests him. Granted, some things interest him more than others, but I've never encountered a topic that he won't engage in a discussion about. It's an impressive attribute, and he keeps me hopping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first photo I saw of him was with a group of fellow photographers. It was a casual gathering - those in the front row were lounging around in chairs, smokes in their hands, laughing and chatting. The rest of the group was standing behind. HH was at the far end of the back row and his expression of what I thought was bemused detachment I later understood to be what is now familiar: he was thinking. He doesn't remember that particular day, but agrees that there was some <i>thing</i> he was figuring out how to solve or build or move. He does love all things mechanical, from farm equipment to trains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He most agreeably went with me to the <a href="http://hagginmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Haggin Museum</a> in Stockton several weekends ago. A docent there told us that the <a href="http://www.csrmf.org/" target="_blank">California State Railroad Museum</a> in Sacramento was worth going to, and I decided I could do that if he could suffer through an art museum for me. Come to think of it, though, there wasn't a lot of suffering going on because half of the Haggin is art but the other half is history, with lots of farm equipment on exhibit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The railroad museum is in the Old Town section of Sacramento. It was a gorgeous day and there were swarms of people on the streets and in the museum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once inside, we split up and HH went to look at machinery and I took in the archival and museum material, occasionally getting back together when one of us would hunt the other down to say, You have to see this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like many museums, this one is kept dark and I could shoot handheld only, so just like at San Juan Bautista, nothing is as sharp as I'd like it to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've often said I don't know how I got along without the internet. When I got my first smart phone I couldn't imagine any other use for its internet connection than to research prices of children's books (which I collected) when I was at an antique store or book sale. That narrow focus didn't last long, and thank goodness for unlimited data use then. I don't have unlimited data anymore, but then I'm not usually in a place where I can actually get data. This little discussion of changing technology segues me into the telegram below and its subtle boasting about the "new multiplex automatic system" and eight telegrams being printed automatically. I'm sure there was no less awe at this marvelous method of communication than there was when I realized what utility that first smartphone would eventually offer me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWuv5FV9NV6s3mKCYOW5YMXXcB3XuTL_YwUc4r-tmrj3PxwUNGg6xHWPPZxOzbJXIaDfTInIYeDUxmuw0IYIgCBw7eEvx1ADVsaPTcnvzOZ1RMW2tSKo9Zb7iMWFcsqme2xAqzErc3RE/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWuv5FV9NV6s3mKCYOW5YMXXcB3XuTL_YwUc4r-tmrj3PxwUNGg6xHWPPZxOzbJXIaDfTInIYeDUxmuw0IYIgCBw7eEvx1ADVsaPTcnvzOZ1RMW2tSKo9Zb7iMWFcsqme2xAqzErc3RE/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If there's one thing they do really well at this museum, it's dioramas. They're so skillfully executed that I stood in front of this one for a while, systematically looking at the wall section by section until I could see where the 3-D snow shed left off and where the mural began. The reflection in the mirrored wall on the right added to the illusion.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne1LhpWtOcVUjfXTICwNJTneRBlwvLC1GkFbHMpubYD2oixAVXlthcPqogvz5uHnrHuuv0u94pZq_Tdihd-2soDkmaDO63HnYNXPY7K-Wy4_d5mJc0bjZU4coAoyYSKK_DtKS52LvTMM/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne1LhpWtOcVUjfXTICwNJTneRBlwvLC1GkFbHMpubYD2oixAVXlthcPqogvz5uHnrHuuv0u94pZq_Tdihd-2soDkmaDO63HnYNXPY7K-Wy4_d5mJc0bjZU4coAoyYSKK_DtKS52LvTMM/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Central Pacific's first locomotive was a classic American type, and was purchased in 1862 from a factory on the east coast. After traveling around the tip of South America, it arrived in Sacramento and was named the Gov. Stanford after Central Pacific's president and the governor of California (at the same time?). It was donated to the Leland Stanford Jr. University in 1895 and, while this photo doesn't show its fine condition, it still looks nearly new after 30 years' service.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkrZKyR2qRIEW8aTdzPzreV4nEouDUZqtXhCq-iCOOm65CT8QMJyWjNyZjGd5e3d8XmAw4BAoQ-TAPwct3UZo-MHdUbf7ljLd1-xGp0ChKcOXXsTdKaMPQ1JcKujIBxMYBPplMRKTHmk/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkrZKyR2qRIEW8aTdzPzreV4nEouDUZqtXhCq-iCOOm65CT8QMJyWjNyZjGd5e3d8XmAw4BAoQ-TAPwct3UZo-MHdUbf7ljLd1-xGp0ChKcOXXsTdKaMPQ1JcKujIBxMYBPplMRKTHmk/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-3.jpg" width="474" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A giant poster on one wall capitalizes on the romance of California, the Golden State.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmlW82TMMuDQIub0w0jvSbUgB3VEXRTYcKpLAYBZlkPuDXkfXT93oeqKnE7miCdBQZOK3N8g14aFEelV9IMiGpBBo3E4ovzEwbL1ulw2EOAq-Bf2IeMfYjUP5F227B6Whp1yqcXCbO28/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmlW82TMMuDQIub0w0jvSbUgB3VEXRTYcKpLAYBZlkPuDXkfXT93oeqKnE7miCdBQZOK3N8g14aFEelV9IMiGpBBo3E4ovzEwbL1ulw2EOAq-Bf2IeMfYjUP5F227B6Whp1yqcXCbO28/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-5.jpg" width="628" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the first time, thanks to an exhibit label, I understand what's meant by railroad gauge. It's the distance between the inside edges of the rails. In the US and much of the world, Standard Gauge is 56 1/2 inches. When track was first being laid in this country, what some called "English Gauge" was used, but because it varied between 56 and 57 inches it wouldn't have been useful nationwide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Subsequent railroads in different parts of the US proceeded to use a half-dozen different, and of course incompatible, gauges. This meant that passengers and freight had to unloaded and reloaded whenever a different gauge track occurred at a junction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1862 Lincoln set what was to become the national standard of 56 1/2 inches for the Transcontinental Railroad. On Memorial Day, 1886 the remaining odd gauge tracks were re-spiked to the "new" standard. The only other common gauge left is 36-inch narrow gauge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No one knows how the 56 1/2-inch gauge originated. It may have been related to the wheel spacing of ancient Roman carts, and the early English tramways from which the railways evolved just adopted that spacing as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In
addition to having a standard gauge for railroad conformity nationwide,
railroads created Standard Time and time zones to bring safety and
uniformity to train operation. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
concept of clock time was still new to the US when the first trains
began running. What was the importance of clock time to an agrarian
society? If the sun was just coming up, go feed the cows. If the sun was
directly overhead, it was lunchtime. For every 13 miles one moved east
or west, Sun Time changed by a minute. But as railroads grew longer,
coordinating accurate time became difficult; the Union Pacific used six
different times on its route between Omaha and Salt Lake City. It took
50 years of being confused until the railroads agreed on a uniform,
nationwide system of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">November
18, 1883 was "The Day of Two Noons." At the prescribed hour, every
railroader in the US and Canada awaited countdown to the new Standard
Time when each railroad timepiece was set to the new Noon. Railroad time
became America's standard time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The monthly Official Guide was the standard reference for passenger train schedules in the United States and Canada. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4sCH1o0e-FYbOrJARjuxKADIw5Ehy05pCAAkbzOHsg1FYdvSN5jgbcfWKYsQH33-1dJ9ZYMphej7btHlxeWki_mqZ_UoO2_q10xFCHaTMiygLuldWVOEJKsOrydQxelx4BMNxzSYsDE/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4sCH1o0e-FYbOrJARjuxKADIw5Ehy05pCAAkbzOHsg1FYdvSN5jgbcfWKYsQH33-1dJ9ZYMphej7btHlxeWki_mqZ_UoO2_q10xFCHaTMiygLuldWVOEJKsOrydQxelx4BMNxzSYsDE/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-7.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Railroad torpedos were new to me and, surprisingly, to HH. A fellow museum-goer who heard us puzzling over them explained: when work was being done on a rail line, someone would go some distance up track and fasten the soft metal of the clips around the track. Then, when a train came chugging in the workers' direction and rolled over a torpedo, the small explosion it made could be heard in the engine car as a signal to come to a stop. Brilliant, really, and so simple.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwpTmZDOvz_ucHN5rcjd1r5OCFlsr_h6n__FYAfcefi3FjC73mF7tmwrwB6FqrAzEm1R9v8x1lHl_3uk5Xybr-RCjcG1Z4Z5ADYsRrSJxAHJ9xWu23DJ9BOqNIr-zM06jgjOGnpiQ0cU/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwpTmZDOvz_ucHN5rcjd1r5OCFlsr_h6n__FYAfcefi3FjC73mF7tmwrwB6FqrAzEm1R9v8x1lHl_3uk5Xybr-RCjcG1Z4Z5ADYsRrSJxAHJ9xWu23DJ9BOqNIr-zM06jgjOGnpiQ0cU/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-8.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTLXxSneRrYpTb92HJDfLAS3rXkCrVa9oQFjm13ibLjlHbKSZVq_kmsjKm1S__J45OHWsKpE2HGiJA66FZqRocVTZIEUcOrHgYrw6t3YJGm-MhMsEMy6iDsVZLpKfIqyIE4X5MqUcsdY/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Religious tracts were distributed to railroad workers in an effort to save their souls via the hell and damnation route. You have to admire the creative writing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7bBdKtpAKMWRPtlQKmDrEyFjUpFcPl-SbvsBw1LRe400YWlvcnDG7F7XMP6CiaEX7XHOkeoqHHjiou8POv4wu3PNKnHD-gXit13HmJyXT6VADureMaPNM-K5PBVh-hO6Ae1A6E2iXUE/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7bBdKtpAKMWRPtlQKmDrEyFjUpFcPl-SbvsBw1LRe400YWlvcnDG7F7XMP6CiaEX7XHOkeoqHHjiou8POv4wu3PNKnHD-gXit13HmJyXT6VADureMaPNM-K5PBVh-hO6Ae1A6E2iXUE/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-9.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How realistic are these figures? This diorama demonstrates the tight conditions of a typical galley. Chefs could turn out four-star meals three times a day from spaces no larger than this.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2guYN1DNEAyg0hv3LeJk8MYeC-3gfHN8PAVWb6O5BZuo3osRAPT44lmy0ff2XCw5ho7xYvTv_dsiDpJH_hX5AcYXfffg9wOiX1hFRsPMfDGWfK1fMjvOz4fuh9KUaCTZ02u7TwX0B_34/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2guYN1DNEAyg0hv3LeJk8MYeC-3gfHN8PAVWb6O5BZuo3osRAPT44lmy0ff2XCw5ho7xYvTv_dsiDpJH_hX5AcYXfffg9wOiX1hFRsPMfDGWfK1fMjvOz4fuh9KUaCTZ02u7TwX0B_34/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-14.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A different view into the same galley as above.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvAQ4jtdWjqNvQF8T0XxHruA_qbKbUGx1b4DsAzNOmGh_pFbNlTwnKpNdcMaRUkabkxqgsvT5aQz6KeIVv7XOGFM1K2UNy3KDvdYphw-8QY0YkijnShURDD5ZlrOlv93-tmnI9kNNIUQ/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvAQ4jtdWjqNvQF8T0XxHruA_qbKbUGx1b4DsAzNOmGh_pFbNlTwnKpNdcMaRUkabkxqgsvT5aQz6KeIVv7XOGFM1K2UNy3KDvdYphw-8QY0YkijnShURDD5ZlrOlv93-tmnI9kNNIUQ/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-13.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is one of three chandeliers that hung in the Oakland train station from 1912-1989. It is believed that the glass was produced at the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company. The Botti Studio of Architectural Arts in Evanston, Illinois has records from the early 1900s that show an order for "chandeliers for the railroad depot," leading museum staff to believe that that is where the three were designed and built.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGCO5Hx1eaZUKDaUrA4DTMt0C_ZZpetVoJ342M9c1MDweuDq1MAc92isoDB80jyVCx6fEnIhyphenhyphenFQEM20eTuPtyCrgj3UlFTdWbhOZfFbnqhIc7PXRje0fli9gmoDYinex5S1hqu34DiBc/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-16.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A small exhibit label shows a photo of two of the globes in place in the train station:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNJRWYD1xfMLTiTFQTsO4aHE12ha6Iny9K4thM5oHgzUAPMs2NNiidxyhnqShyxkOsSNPqoZEThUZ5qO-rtzMDNQzTftrqMjKW2MHYLEyePCGXY_fWP5Ejv90uK15Vyw7iHzwVWJoQP8/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-15-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNJRWYD1xfMLTiTFQTsO4aHE12ha6Iny9K4thM5oHgzUAPMs2NNiidxyhnqShyxkOsSNPqoZEThUZ5qO-rtzMDNQzTftrqMjKW2MHYLEyePCGXY_fWP5Ejv90uK15Vyw7iHzwVWJoQP8/s400/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-15-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another realistic diorama shows workers swinging a pick and levering a pry bar while maintaining a rail line outside a small station building. There is no shortage of work: a mile of track may have over 3,000 cross ties, 1,000 bolts, and 15,000 ties.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFLb5uqxzlAkoH7B4dUHlQE_r_gyvu_xAZPa0SrikolMmW1ur-Zrd4TDy3Qzwbk20KlDL4C7LfALE68gTn1xszsdj1yDj5VTOzQkEr40wGGcv_vypV_QJNviXGWnSZ1I6KGryQ_FAgD0/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFLb5uqxzlAkoH7B4dUHlQE_r_gyvu_xAZPa0SrikolMmW1ur-Zrd4TDy3Qzwbk20KlDL4C7LfALE68gTn1xszsdj1yDj5VTOzQkEr40wGGcv_vypV_QJNviXGWnSZ1I6KGryQ_FAgD0/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-17.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The mail car was interesting because a former worker was there, telling the story of his years running the rails. This form of picking up, sorting, and delivering mail was discontinued in 1977. More photos of this particular car and a history of the railway post office can be found on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_post_office" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4Ufxorc8Uh-a6PVyNNnjW7SDVbcJYq0BPF5qL_Y2tuQiQcNHsZnWh-HuWQLVb1XioY1dkINT4O-j6kVYDGu9b3JsIFaDVxYZL6mF3Sw2HDsPk8uNouJRWdqU3WM_9OIRiBkod2VDnAw/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4Ufxorc8Uh-a6PVyNNnjW7SDVbcJYq0BPF5qL_Y2tuQiQcNHsZnWh-HuWQLVb1XioY1dkINT4O-j6kVYDGu9b3JsIFaDVxYZL6mF3Sw2HDsPk8uNouJRWdqU3WM_9OIRiBkod2VDnAw/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-12.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A refrigerated car exhibited old fruit crate labels, a lost art form. The addition of the twitter icon on the peach box from Costco that serves as my fruit and vegetable bowl just isn't the same.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73D-xixNt5xP-BKQlSslWav0WmBTwk8WC34jAOnK1l3a-6bl-iiCkm2YolZmldDFnYShy_1dPbH1AiYIRWOwU1NsrXlhFsQ4A3C4lKzKLwG8sM5vomt8j2O0_Ksf1gVPCr4xkfPKXR8s/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73D-xixNt5xP-BKQlSslWav0WmBTwk8WC34jAOnK1l3a-6bl-iiCkm2YolZmldDFnYShy_1dPbH1AiYIRWOwU1NsrXlhFsQ4A3C4lKzKLwG8sM5vomt8j2O0_Ksf1gVPCr4xkfPKXR8s/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-18.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinotIxECfTchSrrTtlQ_mVw3NSxE71d9QK5U3eEeDofQl889kcsVl0X6bSDfr_FFubgRjFnA6_7zk4qxpYB2NRJFVRuoPci4JSn7nQhYDf-tCDbAFfQBVZT6yNPIqQABsU0jH9-5_wS1U/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinotIxECfTchSrrTtlQ_mVw3NSxE71d9QK5U3eEeDofQl889kcsVl0X6bSDfr_FFubgRjFnA6_7zk4qxpYB2NRJFVRuoPci4JSn7nQhYDf-tCDbAFfQBVZT6yNPIqQABsU0jH9-5_wS1U/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-19.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOVS4eZac6uy-xEyu6I53LePHJMIV7a4tCjZpOjSq_sXzV9mWOzcvCVmq7wVgG-aYsDLXlzFXBwCKoUnTPtDqeOHxeWNs6IoJKjk2BYGkUr9GNnLYFRK0Bxp0SF-B5MSkNN8UD35etUw/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOVS4eZac6uy-xEyu6I53LePHJMIV7a4tCjZpOjSq_sXzV9mWOzcvCVmq7wVgG-aYsDLXlzFXBwCKoUnTPtDqeOHxeWNs6IoJKjk2BYGkUr9GNnLYFRK0Bxp0SF-B5MSkNN8UD35etUw/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-20.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUBxumjOOKOJpJRkE75Ae229vvdTScTawAdBoYwWGYOPiMXG8EofTW3zkn-VfEQfNc00Nb6VCBCcN1TT3WZobgfYByNpcz916u7x_tHtcLXJ5eUqiTSGVcw5j1UUQUSeWzECUOMcHo14/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUBxumjOOKOJpJRkE75Ae229vvdTScTawAdBoYwWGYOPiMXG8EofTW3zkn-VfEQfNc00Nb6VCBCcN1TT3WZobgfYByNpcz916u7x_tHtcLXJ5eUqiTSGVcw5j1UUQUSeWzECUOMcHo14/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-21.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT58gGWTL2ya2Q9td1iu7f1uGIFA0xRiq2xAAK_u2n5_Xqs8uYH1iSBhSgsF5HBVfRdGUSN0uRQU04YGIsPU-WhIxLikeAVewPbST0nh9RLMxnAuaQw7-0TvZszCQJ1Z1U9UTWA7Wr3TI/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT58gGWTL2ya2Q9td1iu7f1uGIFA0xRiq2xAAK_u2n5_Xqs8uYH1iSBhSgsF5HBVfRdGUSN0uRQU04YGIsPU-WhIxLikeAVewPbST0nh9RLMxnAuaQw7-0TvZszCQJ1Z1U9UTWA7Wr3TI/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-22.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxdg6s6dptxVxRXJWVtpotanEpKQnENdMFLkMEA5PNIzbb54MzAWKDIkfT6duwFem2diecZ_yMbW55LRZyvHxPWLXFJxxCUC5WKJaH4ns_1A0eMVE2p9UOxl2JN1XE6ZOqXIKsDdO1dw/s1600/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxdg6s6dptxVxRXJWVtpotanEpKQnENdMFLkMEA5PNIzbb54MzAWKDIkfT6duwFem2diecZ_yMbW55LRZyvHxPWLXFJxxCUC5WKJaH4ns_1A0eMVE2p9UOxl2JN1XE6ZOqXIKsDdO1dw/s640/CA+State+Railroad+Museum-23.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The long drive to Sacramento proved to be worth every mile. We found a nice restaurant for lunch, and on HH's suggestion, I bought three wooden train whistles to mail to my grands. Paybacks are bliss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On a completely different topic, I forgot to add a photo of a rainbow that we saw as we left the <a href="http://cruisingat60.blogspot.com/2015/07/listening-to-ancients.html" target="_blank">Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest</a> in July. It was spectacular, so much so that the highway came to resemble a parking lot as people pulled to the side to photograph it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh76d3CQb2QbrsN-V0ueXydfqko8DopsoBr097YH1vQd926xwjI9B6AYQ0598ASoKmhLOhIJTL5Q7dqPAW8We1Vdqww43D5-41ZHaP2nFnq2oc-m2IxU-7UqIFfLxi4E6lr1a1SQ1B6qw/s1600/Rainbow%252C+Hwy+395%252C+CA-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh76d3CQb2QbrsN-V0ueXydfqko8DopsoBr097YH1vQd926xwjI9B6AYQ0598ASoKmhLOhIJTL5Q7dqPAW8We1Vdqww43D5-41ZHaP2nFnq2oc-m2IxU-7UqIFfLxi4E6lr1a1SQ1B6qw/s640/Rainbow%252C+Hwy+395%252C+CA-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Faster than fairies, faster than witches,<br /> Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;<br /> And charging along like troops in a battle<br /> All through the meadows the horses and cattle:<br /> All of the sights of the hill and the plain<br /> Fly as thick as driving rain;<br /> And ever again, in the wink of an eye,<br /> Painted stations whistle by.<br /> Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,<br /> All by himself and gathering brambles;<br /> Here is a tramp who stands and gazes;<br /> And here is the green for stringing the daisies!<br /> Here is a cart runaway in the road<br /> Lumping along with man and load;<br /> And here is a mill, and there is a river:<br /> Each a glimpse and gone forever!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> - Robert Louis Stevenson, <i>From a Railway Carriage</i> </span></span></span>
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<br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-70478088977237913642015-08-27T15:55:00.001-07:002015-08-27T15:55:26.606-07:00Diggin' PEFO<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wrote some time ago about the fledgling </span><a href="http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Petrified Forest Field Institute</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> at Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) and the class offerings that were due to start this month. When I got an email from PFFI a couple of days ago, I realized that here we are with August almost done, and I'd lost track of the goings-on in northeast Arizona. I don't know about the other courses, but they've had amazing success with a paleontology dig that took place early in the month. This is from the email I received:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When park paleontologist Dr. Bill Parker’s group took off the morning of August 8th, they all had high hopes for finding fossils. After all, they had all signed up for his “<strong>Dig Fossils for a Day</strong>” class with the Petrified Forest Field Institute (PFFI), a new program in its inaugural year. But even the most optimistic participant could not have anticipated an exciting discovery that could rewrite the scientific journals!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img align="left" alt="Saurichthys" class="CToWUd" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEghCVpAPDVYMb11MpRqjy-L7XBl-6mi5-yTWMcyn9h1Rt1TJ9NPueJ7Sh8LAFzAMP75eHpZ7iorWAkwEuqPg5gUHHHuhsyrAkLo4XCYp6AKhT1Boqkbn1G36JXhfKh0bN9zPnXn9eqwbId_mfxx0xHttXo_aHQza_ko0nMUfZqvcPexJpzQAdQJkVq74yQlLku2bJyUcC8PYCPqV2_sQhjwo57nvYUW_g=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px currentColor; margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; min-height: 123px; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;" width="300" />One student found the jaw of a long-snouted fish that had previously been thought to be extinct in North America during the Late Triassic, about 220 million years ago. Prior to her find, the fish, which is closely related to the genus <em>Saurichthys</em>, is from a group of fish known globally in the Early Triassic but up to this point had only been found in China in the Late Triassic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The class made other finds that were exciting as well. They included vertebrae of a very long necked lizard (<em>Tanystropheus</em>) first found in the park only last year and teeth of the large carnivore <em>Poposaurus</em>, both considered rare in the park fossil record.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There aren't any more of these one-day digs until next year, but in late September there's a five-day, camp-in-the-desert paleontology outing. I wish I could go, but because I can't, the next best thing will be seeing what that one turns up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...' - Isaac Asimov</span>cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-72486714665677315962015-08-25T15:18:00.000-07:002016-04-02T08:18:47.065-07:00Changed my mind<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK, I give. I started putting these photos on Flickr and realized it's much more work than I remembered it being when I used Flickr a lot in years past. I still have to do the research, still have to try to write something intelligent about each one, and of course they still all need processing. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I take back what I said about suspending cruisingat60. If the work is the same, or nearly so, then this space is a much better chronicle of my journeys to places near and far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've pretty much scraped the closer-by areas clean of things to see, and are having to go farther afield. A few weeks ago we went to Stockton to a very nice art museum there, <a href="http://hagginmuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Haggin Museum</a>, and to Sacramento, to the <a href="http://www.csrmf.org/" target="_blank">California State Railroad Museum</a>. We've about reached our limit for day trips: four to five hours one way makes for a very long day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A while back I saw a Spanish mission on the map and asked HH if he wanted to go; it's on the outer limits of day-trip miles. True to form, he said, Why not? and off we went a couple of weekends ago. Following Alta California's Spanish mission trail, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Camino_Real_(California)" target="_blank">El Camino Real</a> (The Royal Road, or The King's Road) is a bucket list item for me as well as following the mission trails through Mexico and Arizona. I'd hoped to follow it sequentially but hit-or-miss is all right, too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">San Juan Bautista is in the town of the same name, northeast of Salinas. Founded in 1797, it is the 15th Spanish mission established by Franciscan Father President Francisco de Laseún. The church's brochure says it'</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">s the largest of the mission churches, but I don't know if it means just those in Alta California or all of them. It sits astride the eastern edge of the Pacific Plate and San Andreas Fault and has suffered earthquake damage over the years. In fact, there's a warning sign outside the complex about the buildings not being earthquake-proof. The remains of El Camino Real can be seen from the fault line. El Camino Real connected a 600-mile circuit of California missions, presidios, and pueblos of the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">Here is the entrance to the museum, gift shop, garden courtyard, and church.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMajIlNRutjIe3sihe2LHlHD2iKDSTJJAu3Ye5q0zc1b4lUsRkK_hLRfgxSMhCkKeyUqxAWRm7PhL54b41RL1wFDxwmuLpjwn5wUMpb-4k4Xf4-1bMjiRYK7SWhFrwBLTom_iE643bCDQ/s1600/san-juan-bautista-spanish-mission_20822618375_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMajIlNRutjIe3sihe2LHlHD2iKDSTJJAu3Ye5q0zc1b4lUsRkK_hLRfgxSMhCkKeyUqxAWRm7PhL54b41RL1wFDxwmuLpjwn5wUMpb-4k4Xf4-1bMjiRYK7SWhFrwBLTom_iE643bCDQ/s640/san-juan-bautista-spanish-mission_20822618375_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the museum that precedes the visit to the church is this <i>Himnario</i>, maybe two feet tall.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl64VVy5uLWjWZw9nGGMBRS3ylPUyyaEcA-FEXJdwbDeWaC_9BiSUudYkY4xd0uHalkfmsyD1o2rA4S8a7KafZNrSj_-S8cR5fJhTICr4YKAoGV5HMughQr21CwYQYFwAOX_Bk-KdJoXc/s1600/himnario-in-the-museum-at-the-mission_20634598820_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl64VVy5uLWjWZw9nGGMBRS3ylPUyyaEcA-FEXJdwbDeWaC_9BiSUudYkY4xd0uHalkfmsyD1o2rA4S8a7KafZNrSj_-S8cR5fJhTICr4YKAoGV5HMughQr21CwYQYFwAOX_Bk-KdJoXc/s640/himnario-in-the-museum-at-the-mission_20634598820_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vestments on display in the museum. Some are from China, Russia, and Venice, and were used here until the 1930s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qcXdbo6Hkx8Vl4HvQg4B5kvBYHMHiNIbdk57itokjzQpyL1YKrgW6w8jUJRpFVetzTF7Dv3yulWn1RCDy3MpoyXeLZj2-M46wXn38mvR6HgUV1sr6WbU6dsjUljNVjB5hfpYubGoGgo/s640/vestments-on-display-in-the-museum_20635898659_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the entrances to the church from the garden. The church was secularized in 1835 when the Mexican government seized much of the Mission property. In 1859, the present mission buildings and 55 acres were given back to the Church by US federal decree.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMWj-O6Pd7_2Oc-wSu3yzlb6dVHPGJdWGAnRiSgrjJSfWvZ-ZO3MgwBcJfJX-qU63Re3zl-nlH_KXJDrDYZs9nHnaqhaaCYQDM2z67PmbrP1ysn3GOAEPu1lkgkbb3TOFoX1Z63xShbw/s1600/entrance-to-the-church-from-the-garden_20635890109_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMWj-O6Pd7_2Oc-wSu3yzlb6dVHPGJdWGAnRiSgrjJSfWvZ-ZO3MgwBcJfJX-qU63Re3zl-nlH_KXJDrDYZs9nHnaqhaaCYQDM2z67PmbrP1ysn3GOAEPu1lkgkbb3TOFoX1Z63xShbw/s640/entrance-to-the-church-from-the-garden_20635890109_o.jpg" width="482" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of many doors that once led to the Padre's living quarters and workrooms for Native people. The space is now used for the Museum and Archives.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o2ZVQFw5R9QgLj70mIsnO0n7X4nwzjFkW7BQGJaZ3iImRAs-zpp-LhOSarhOTRwJ7nFoUCrdqN0DbvMNTmFG6g28m8aOHXcxNGKlI9nT0QbGvfYvjM2O2XLrUHEeb-fwBU1izVH5rpI/s1600/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-4_20796353826_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o2ZVQFw5R9QgLj70mIsnO0n7X4nwzjFkW7BQGJaZ3iImRAs-zpp-LhOSarhOTRwJ7nFoUCrdqN0DbvMNTmFG6g28m8aOHXcxNGKlI9nT0QbGvfYvjM2O2XLrUHEeb-fwBU1izVH5rpI/s640/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-4_20796353826_o.jpg" width="606" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">San Juan Bautista was the setting for Alfred Hitchcock's 1957 movie, <em>Vertigo</em>. The 1865 Victorian-era bell tower seen in the movie no longer exists and didn't even exist when the movie was filmed. The original tower was demolished in 1949 due to dry rot and structural damage, so Hitchcock used Hollywood magic to recreate it for the film. We tried to stream the movie on Netflix the other night but it's not available. I do not understand licensing. This three-bell campanario, or "bell wall," located by the church entrance, was fully restored in 2010.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0ZYdh-5jglqgsFas42p0gtUYqQSZjPDvm5wtadCuvhGNmyx16Ih4bGntp3iGnFyasj__Iv21MfQZ92WRLhVfaLiKLali-6xDE-lr0fQ5LecrpM-YHnWxYwYszWhn-e645TIjRCuxJu0/s1600/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-124_20813121732_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0ZYdh-5jglqgsFas42p0gtUYqQSZjPDvm5wtadCuvhGNmyx16Ih4bGntp3iGnFyasj__Iv21MfQZ92WRLhVfaLiKLali-6xDE-lr0fQ5LecrpM-YHnWxYwYszWhn-e645TIjRCuxJu0/s640/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-124_20813121732_o.jpg" width="418" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The pulpit is reached via a stairway on the other side of the wall. Stations of the Cross in this church are in the form of paintings, but I'd say not the originals because of the painted curlicues that can be seen peeking out behind them. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwLuIia1vChopVd8tMFYYxRztPPlaUocCTrrFucMfnETlXQ36Ix-ri5tjB26UK8KKTO89BGI2kQoroxLSjqXAtwSFmeXiyrDKxNOZnWCHddCnAeEVQT7b7HeIjGI3ApW6Q5iG1wNKAPY/s1600/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-78_20635875419_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwLuIia1vChopVd8tMFYYxRztPPlaUocCTrrFucMfnETlXQ36Ix-ri5tjB26UK8KKTO89BGI2kQoroxLSjqXAtwSFmeXiyrDKxNOZnWCHddCnAeEVQT7b7HeIjGI3ApW6Q5iG1wNKAPY/s640/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-78_20635875419_o.jpg" width="634" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A cat door in the bottom of the people door allowed cats access to the church at all times for mouse-catching duties.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6yK015QGcO882jsP22bve2RsWrnXpnyblUDfi0xCg6K8Xf14VviDSGvMPAIkRS61l8ZPQY-1eKVCKC0uQrvh1x0IdKWT0QMtTQOuDWaKnqx4w9K7EY5528VV-liESVXSxWs4VOzdzT8/s1600/a-side-door-includes-a-cat-door_20200025714_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6yK015QGcO882jsP22bve2RsWrnXpnyblUDfi0xCg6K8Xf14VviDSGvMPAIkRS61l8ZPQY-1eKVCKC0uQrvh1x0IdKWT0QMtTQOuDWaKnqx4w9K7EY5528VV-liESVXSxWs4VOzdzT8/s640/a-side-door-includes-a-cat-door_20200025714_o.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1997, the site of the original chapel was restored and dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. This is the altar used for daily Mass.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20O1lfwpo2gY1EjofCb28q_oPFw5LLn_lXLulBTH4MZEX7dECw_9IupI3LLKOk4HUGM3k4s3ZZDBu_XyT1ie-UPtzsccWdCT2z8MsY7_EeagQrJO754mySRWEwPxeoT8z1N2ZBhAKtrg/s1600/our-lady-of-guadalupe-altar_20829701491_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20O1lfwpo2gY1EjofCb28q_oPFw5LLn_lXLulBTH4MZEX7dECw_9IupI3LLKOk4HUGM3k4s3ZZDBu_XyT1ie-UPtzsccWdCT2z8MsY7_EeagQrJO754mySRWEwPxeoT8z1N2ZBhAKtrg/s640/our-lady-of-guadalupe-altar_20829701491_o.jpg" width="388" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Front and center, below, is the candle I lit in front of the altar, along with buying a statue of St. Joseph from Amazon to be buried in my yard, in an effort to direct cosmic energy toward the sale of the house Voldemort and I still own. When I told the volunteer in the gift shop why I was buying the candle, she said, "Sometimes it's good to ask mom for help." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two days later, after the house had sat stagnant on the market for four months and before the candle had time to burn down or St. Joe got planted, we had an offer on the house. We're losing money by the bucketful but it will soon be gone and I won't have to listen to him about <i>that</i> topic any more.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqhVHLRfMkbXvnLqzMU7w89hQ0kdijTlq11lcVTuvR1WnLD7i2N7AIANfncVvmxOs3KdMJTRzg8VpCAsIzvNhFXCt4FiwK4G8-foGxtie1v1ed_oqb9NSKtpfyQN6Klp0STGEe2Cf0yM/s1600/offertory-candles-in-front-of-the-altar_20634572620_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqhVHLRfMkbXvnLqzMU7w89hQ0kdijTlq11lcVTuvR1WnLD7i2N7AIANfncVvmxOs3KdMJTRzg8VpCAsIzvNhFXCt4FiwK4G8-foGxtie1v1ed_oqb9NSKtpfyQN6Klp0STGEe2Cf0yM/s640/offertory-candles-in-front-of-the-altar_20634572620_o.jpg" width="494" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the main door at the back of the church. That's another Station of the Cross to the left, number VII.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV5ULVJLell_Z60gbLqloqwEW4odfn_5AVEevs9rUFMCSiyRdECwO5Sfv5ukp7G1iJrvBgNhNpSEhGSlLv38ssE7b8pdFSZa2suwh-gmnK-mB4NfmFZYoCzypIJOkuGuDRNN97tZwLRY/s1600/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-90_20796326426_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV5ULVJLell_Z60gbLqloqwEW4odfn_5AVEevs9rUFMCSiyRdECwO5Sfv5ukp7G1iJrvBgNhNpSEhGSlLv38ssE7b8pdFSZa2suwh-gmnK-mB4NfmFZYoCzypIJOkuGuDRNN97tZwLRY/s640/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-90_20796326426_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The baptistry features the original fonts. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHddXuQkr4uPF_qq6a4mfseJTlYsD3YWLpEaV8pIRQMicpVgNyYIxTpKauU5kmy7IoO1sw0Q5k_5h9-UED2wTZ8qIZib4zmf9OZt9NoptpYB4Qpi0pWP8SVKgF-2E_7nufuBVxyawJkFQ/s1600/the-baptistry_20634638268_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHddXuQkr4uPF_qq6a4mfseJTlYsD3YWLpEaV8pIRQMicpVgNyYIxTpKauU5kmy7IoO1sw0Q5k_5h9-UED2wTZ8qIZib4zmf9OZt9NoptpYB4Qpi0pWP8SVKgF-2E_7nufuBVxyawJkFQ/s640/the-baptistry_20634638268_o.jpg" width="450" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A holy water niche at one of the doors.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_t1XYqDL3dR4Wfw-Ezno33HWXT30HnpY7nAscq9GdUYoFRsKYNpyn_qQojIir6r5zLljJtOD4AQ09uaSDxn_CayfFqS_LzVztC7q6v2kVxnNHVJ2NJGeCDglNwFhU5TrxAAN414fCzQ/s1600/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-73_20635877969_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_t1XYqDL3dR4Wfw-Ezno33HWXT30HnpY7nAscq9GdUYoFRsKYNpyn_qQojIir6r5zLljJtOD4AQ09uaSDxn_CayfFqS_LzVztC7q6v2kVxnNHVJ2NJGeCDglNwFhU5TrxAAN414fCzQ/s640/san-juan-bautista-mission-ca-73_20635877969_o.jpg" width="472" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I shot everything handheld because I was too lazy and it was too hot to go back to the truck for the tripod. None of these is as sharp as I'd like, but you get the idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every December 21st, the light of the midwinter solstice illuminates the main altar tabernacle. I would like to see that.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u4Yw7BTRNgK3GdfZk34-kCYLyOOTWLJvl3RfYvURbGJPXc68dpbS_pcCSnufVVMHeCk2kPUgoYzJ2-mSVx4sVczEFlJeCBghFfCmEf4MRvPYxYLgHVfRVUIoplLPZDVMFXML7XuU-Js/s1600/toward-the-main-altar_20829707641_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u4Yw7BTRNgK3GdfZk34-kCYLyOOTWLJvl3RfYvURbGJPXc68dpbS_pcCSnufVVMHeCk2kPUgoYzJ2-mSVx4sVczEFlJeCBghFfCmEf4MRvPYxYLgHVfRVUIoplLPZDVMFXML7XuU-Js/s640/toward-the-main-altar_20829707641_o.jpg" width="472" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sanctuary and reredos were painted by Boston sailor Thomas Doak in 1818 in exchange for room and board (and maybe sanctuary?) after he jumped ship in Monterey.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhUjCsJLTijowNVvZrszLJtdmWgovmc2WHC53lABY9YN74C_YON1HYonn3n-nlnw6eA1xvqtgWRbKnQUSdOjFIn-hBUu2gOPnETV-GvrSMxvBZV2ikjKHQgRIIylDvqytAFi57c0Ugs4/s1600/the-sanctuary-and-reredos_20635357798_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhUjCsJLTijowNVvZrszLJtdmWgovmc2WHC53lABY9YN74C_YON1HYonn3n-nlnw6eA1xvqtgWRbKnQUSdOjFIn-hBUu2gOPnETV-GvrSMxvBZV2ikjKHQgRIIylDvqytAFi57c0Ugs4/s640/the-sanctuary-and-reredos_20635357798_o.jpg" width="534" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's another mission near Carmel, which we intended to stop at on our way home, but traffic was a nightmare. Instead of battling it and getting mad, I elected to come on home. It will have to wait for another day when we can get on the road early.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you never change your mind, why have one? - Edward de Bono</span>cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-48054861461602045722015-08-08T14:01:00.000-07:002015-08-08T14:01:31.490-07:00Say goodnight, Gracie<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have decided to suspend cruisingat60 for a while, indefinitely. There isn't enough time in my day, and rather than do a mediocre job at everything, I have to pick and choose. I will get back to tossing some photos up on my </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tiz_herself" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flickr</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> page, which has been neglected since I started cruisingat60. They will be the same photos that I would show here but will take much less time to post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This has been an interesting journey.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> If I can find more hours in the day, I may be back. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for reading along.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can have it all. Just not all at once. - Oprah Winfrey</span>cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-42191708929943943462015-07-22T09:34:00.001-07:002015-07-22T09:34:28.445-07:00Yes, we wanted rain....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the past two days, we've had buckets of rain for relatively short periods of time. It's amazing to watch on radar as the cells move in and out. Yesterday's rain came in two cells separated by less than half an hour. The first was unusually heavy; it was a pounding that made me very glad I was inside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This morning I was at my desk, fortunately looking somewhat busy when my boss walked in. She works in the Valley, a good 30 minutes away, and I don't see her often. It turns out that she can't get to work via her regular route today or for the undefined future because Highway 140 between where I live and the park entrance is under a rockslide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last October, as the story was told to me, an RV was traveling 140 in this area and scraped its roof against a rock overhang that extends over half of the road. HH and I eye that overhang when we drive that road, and speculate whether or not the trailer could pass underneath, because there is no sign indicating clearance. When the RV connected with the rock, sparks flew and started a fire up the mountainside. The fire grew to at least 200 acres, and an airplane pilot died while flying over to drop retardant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fire left the mountainside bare of vegetation, and the past couple days' rain brought it down. I got this photo from the grapevine. I don't know the photographer's name, but she was driving along the road when the slide occurred. No one was hurt but lots of people had to do some walking to get out of the area because their cars were trapped in the debris.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKvftItFpy-A0_iL9uU4dG0oEAh0KKxe4pf73Cbjbl0kVIXjWeQrGi2xEB20AYdRYiNAe58Z5W0gq91hBEwEJxBw4I5SJ0jxNlVBCnyUhLxoCEyCIhICsLz1SYz1wT8uwDW__ZWhJ9ag/s1600/11778231_10153528183469185_24605859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKvftItFpy-A0_iL9uU4dG0oEAh0KKxe4pf73Cbjbl0kVIXjWeQrGi2xEB20AYdRYiNAe58Z5W0gq91hBEwEJxBw4I5SJ0jxNlVBCnyUhLxoCEyCIhICsLz1SYz1wT8uwDW__ZWhJ9ag/s640/11778231_10153528183469185_24605859_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My guess is it's not a matter of shoveling the rocks and mud off the road; the slope will have to be stabilized and the road itself repaired. There are other entrances to the park, of course, but they're all spaced far apart. What a mess to be faced with at the height of the tourist season.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Behind every cloud is another cloud. - Judy Garland</span>cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-9607111525275842482015-07-17T11:15:00.002-07:002015-07-19T17:18:43.172-07:00Fresno's not bad at all<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We often head in the direction of Fresno when we set out to explore on the weekends. People in the office speak disparagingly of the city but I don't understand why. Voldemort (the ex-husband) also made jokes about it, but he also said Flagstaff, which I love, was a dump, so that should have told me something. Maybe because HH and I usually live so far away from "civilization" that any decent shopping sends us into ecstasy, but we think there's a lot to like about Fresno, other than the summer heat.</span></span><br />
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A couple weekends ago we went to tour the <a href="http://www.undergroundgardens.com/" target="_blank">Forestiere Underground Gardens</a>, and to follow a driving tour of National Register buildings. I took several photos of the gardens but none of them turned out to be worth keeping, so I'll jump right in to the driving tour. Unless you like architecture, you should bail now.</span><br />
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The building below isn't on the National Register but we passed it on the way to one that was, and I walked back to get a better look. Our first sight of it was from the right side of the building, which reveals its triangular shape designed for a triangular lot. If not for its shape, I probably wouldn't have looked twice. It was built to be a fire alarm station in 1917 and is now a 911 call center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRA6f2DMplLCFGWWWCjm7cvO_fDujtbyzXoSiT3sVPTSQVuSj5iYN8cIVPx6kW2MEhMWGrm085T3dIUJasEKcEusQOLzB4Cs7lfza35uSecPxBW4TH3RAPnIEt74_khC9HJkLnDOIs-M/s1600/Fire+Alarm+Station%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRA6f2DMplLCFGWWWCjm7cvO_fDujtbyzXoSiT3sVPTSQVuSj5iYN8cIVPx6kW2MEhMWGrm085T3dIUJasEKcEusQOLzB4Cs7lfza35uSecPxBW4TH3RAPnIEt74_khC9HJkLnDOIs-M/s640/Fire+Alarm+Station%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the building we were driving to when I saw the fire alarm station. It was the home of Herman and Helen Brix, completed in 1911. Brix tried his hand at farming but gave it up to go to Alaska, where he made some money in gold. Meanwhile, oil was booming in California and when Brix returned he invested in oil properties and made his fortune, adding to it with investments in Fresno property. The historic Fresno website describes the house he commissioned as "a brilliant example of a period-inspired Italian Villa, the only residence in Fresno built in this lavishly-embellished style." Brix's home is now home to a law firm. It's so good to see a building as lovely as this being maintained.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ln5bWR6JD5bQobEjHOswMrI_D75UEMWRj9kMlmmi1-eE5iKNC24T4PZHQzBr9A6Yvjj21jysD_WirWZBni4QdrSOXZd-uSKQjYhgi6onj6ePGF4I7ETyjO5d5SI1MFdJIXKxwdVgSjo/s1600/H.H.+Brix+Home%252C+1911%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ln5bWR6JD5bQobEjHOswMrI_D75UEMWRj9kMlmmi1-eE5iKNC24T4PZHQzBr9A6Yvjj21jysD_WirWZBni4QdrSOXZd-uSKQjYhgi6onj6ePGF4I7ETyjO5d5SI1MFdJIXKxwdVgSjo/s640/H.H.+Brix+Home%252C+1911%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" width="630" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church was the first church built in the tradition of Armenian church architecture in the United States, and the first designed by Fresno's first Armenian architect, Lawrence Karekin Cone (Condrajian). It's the dome that sets this church apart as Armenian. It wasn't open and no one was around, so I couldn't get in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb8PK0Tztbuav__uSujT1yqTAQOtnV875mp1n3eqqC61KBGHqPUh_KByqw3kG9iB3DOZ6pWQ2htHo2fa_D5tO12jn86GN_ZfHm1Yg2NRkRAtVs_vqAZfCQqT9O_lZpzWYejA7pw00nQY/s1600/Holy+Trinity+Armenian+Apostolic+Church%252C+1914%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb8PK0Tztbuav__uSujT1yqTAQOtnV875mp1n3eqqC61KBGHqPUh_KByqw3kG9iB3DOZ6pWQ2htHo2fa_D5tO12jn86GN_ZfHm1Yg2NRkRAtVs_vqAZfCQqT9O_lZpzWYejA7pw00nQY/s640/Holy+Trinity+Armenian+Apostolic+Church%252C+1914%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" width="638" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of this description of the Kearney Mansion was taken directly from the <a href="http://historicfresno.org/tours/nrhp.htm" target="_blank">Historic Fresno</a> website: Martin Kearney (1842-1906) was a substantial contributor to the agricultural development of both Fresno County and the state of California. He devised a subdivision system whereby fencing and irrigation for all the lots in the colony were provided cooperatively. This enabled middle-class purchasers to start farming without the tremendous financial outlay otherwise necessary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rudolph Ulrich, a landscape architect from New York, laid out the design for this park and the boulevard leading to it. Over the next fourteen years, Kearney turned a flat, barren landscape into what The San Francisco Chronicle called the "most beautiful park on the West Coast." At the turn of the century the park may have contained more species of trees, vines, shrubs and roses than any equal area in the United States. The eleven-mile boulevard leading from downtown Fresno to the park was lined with alternating eucalyptus and palms, interspersed with 18,000 white and pink oleanders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The house is a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">basic rectangular form with walls of two-foot-thick unstabilized adobe brick, covered with a thin coat of plaster for waterproofing. Between the thick walls and the covered porch on all sides, the house would have stayed quite cool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8awu3IRMKLjEsFtNdUeE8JKWWCJ2dWgzju-pu93uXZ0xpHlrsck9C7OxV46Gp6iUe0h6gbgHByR6cTJyeJPCI01_QMIxd23U2jUGZYBGcP5Brw4bkzRv6wHNgkx8flEA61zaXF-xPd_o/s1600/Kearney+Mansion%252C+1903%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8awu3IRMKLjEsFtNdUeE8JKWWCJ2dWgzju-pu93uXZ0xpHlrsck9C7OxV46Gp6iUe0h6gbgHByR6cTJyeJPCI01_QMIxd23U2jUGZYBGcP5Brw4bkzRv6wHNgkx8flEA61zaXF-xPd_o/s640/Kearney+Mansion%252C+1903%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6e6462;">The Meux Home was built in 1889 by Dr. Thomas Meux (1838-1929). During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the Ninth Tennessee Volunteer Regiment of the Confederate Army. After four years he left the service as an assistant surgeon with the rank of Captain. The Meux family moved to Fresno in 1887; the house was built in 1888. Meux established his medical practice the following year and served as a physician from his office and home the rest of his life. The home was continuously occupied by the Meux family for eighty years. It was later acquired by the city of Fresno and is presently open to the public as the Meux Home Museum.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaviKGpFniJgavNZ4adCs7e6sqYEHdVrWlRaee5vhmFx6BXoW1d1_yKWQh1h1E5jd5VNtfRC4-SfaXHJY44NclkNCGAetBBnItJUt1txkdIDhBSfjlRVtdeAHWFt5FZdKvwISxohyUvY/s1600/Meux+Home%252C+1899%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaviKGpFniJgavNZ4adCs7e6sqYEHdVrWlRaee5vhmFx6BXoW1d1_yKWQh1h1E5jd5VNtfRC4-SfaXHJY44NclkNCGAetBBnItJUt1txkdIDhBSfjlRVtdeAHWFt5FZdKvwISxohyUvY/s640/Meux+Home%252C+1899%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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The old Fresno water tower </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">is is my favorite building on the driving tour.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It made me think,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <i>Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioO2qL3Q5VwpE73YxTUeRSjruxudT-XEGLbgF1b_LTf3ZMP7u4G-3CM-lNSmdl7cxbbsORBNLbE_VfX_eBXFigcgOwViTxzVEsrUe5XXFG06XbtC2v6pNlvrNBNH67HaYXryZV8zKAoJ4/s1600/Old+Fresno+Water+Tower%252C+1894%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioO2qL3Q5VwpE73YxTUeRSjruxudT-XEGLbgF1b_LTf3ZMP7u4G-3CM-lNSmdl7cxbbsORBNLbE_VfX_eBXFigcgOwViTxzVEsrUe5XXFG06XbtC2v6pNlvrNBNH67HaYXryZV8zKAoJ4/s640/Old+Fresno+Water+Tower%252C+1894%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" width="388" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This may be the first time I've seen one of these markers. It was near the door - An American Water Landmark, significant in the history of public water supply. There was probably one on </span><a href="http://cruisingat60.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-dam-tour.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Boulder Dam</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> but if so, I missed it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V9gYIHxrDavehJ7A1NsklXwGA8ldDZv_bJpdIkjk1lkqzYyEHenVWPhgaCStoTHZ_JdwOSuJ_bCyUN836vwNFtNoByyjdmpiCdUROcj4izufUN7Uayx9W52pntUCv-ApjgNLMbIjkOI/s1600/Old+Fresno+Water+Tower%252C+1894%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V9gYIHxrDavehJ7A1NsklXwGA8ldDZv_bJpdIkjk1lkqzYyEHenVWPhgaCStoTHZ_JdwOSuJ_bCyUN836vwNFtNoByyjdmpiCdUROcj4izufUN7Uayx9W52pntUCv-ApjgNLMbIjkOI/s640/Old+Fresno+Water+Tower%252C+1894%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-3.jpg" width="430" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The water tower was built in 1894, replacing two wooden tanks. It stands 100 feet tall and holds 250,000 gallons. The second and third floors were designated for the Fresno city library. I'm no civil engineer, but I am a librarian, and two floors of books with 250,000 gallons of water just waiting to cascade onto them doesn't sound like a good idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaWbCzbr9icaF97RmMSILouK7ih4Hz2BXXunTpvGZcQw7Jt4POYmMddtO8GHc7ZRJPwhO7XGBra5SAysVUqnLHGw5aSRKDSJUmz9GxRY21ROLJndthlYr9wsnOispEBib3xWbmsuh78I/s1600/Old+Fresno+Water+Tower%252C+1894%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaWbCzbr9icaF97RmMSILouK7ih4Hz2BXXunTpvGZcQw7Jt4POYmMddtO8GHc7ZRJPwhO7XGBra5SAysVUqnLHGw5aSRKDSJUmz9GxRY21ROLJndthlYr9wsnOispEBib3xWbmsuh78I/s640/Old+Fresno+Water+Tower%252C+1894%252C+National+Register%252C+Fresno-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Across the street from the water tower is this fire call box. I remember versions of these from when I was a kid, and was surprised to read on Wikipedia that they're still in use - apparently not this one, though.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Above the Gamewell name you can see the fist holding lightning bolts, the company's trademark. Amazingly enough, the company is still in business. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A little history of the Gamewell boxes f</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">rom <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_alarm_call_box" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first practical fire alarm system utilizing the telegraph system was developed by Dr. William Channing and Moses G. Farmer in Boston, Massachusetts in 1852. In 1855, John Gamewell of South Carolina purchased regional rights to market the fire alarm telegraph, obtaining the patents and full rights to the system in 1859. John F. Kennard bought the patents from the government after they were seized after the Civil War, returned them to Gamewell, and formed a partnership, Kennard and Co., in 1867 to manufacture the alarm systems. The Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Co. was formed in 1879. Gamewell systems were installed in 250 cities by 1886 and 500 cities in 1890. By 1910, Gamewell had gained a 95% market share.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQATHhpIQjPH8DvRmSSCFMeycNgOLzd0OdShWBQGX7P7UZvcGSS0QkoC8BJ4iYvnPYT4r6g4OhXbvSWWtNI4OS_RTAkmZYLefJHVSWOv0gcLCEBypmnHwzXboxL9d96xHSuEGljV56O8/s1600/Gamewell+fire+alarm+box%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQATHhpIQjPH8DvRmSSCFMeycNgOLzd0OdShWBQGX7P7UZvcGSS0QkoC8BJ4iYvnPYT4r6g4OhXbvSWWtNI4OS_RTAkmZYLefJHVSWOv0gcLCEBypmnHwzXboxL9d96xHSuEGljV56O8/s640/Gamewell+fire+alarm+box%252C+Fresno-1.jpg" width="456" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were many more buildings on the tour, but to HH and me these were the most interesting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Getting to Fresno takes a couple of hours of driving through some of the most intensively farmed land I've ever seen. There are </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">oranges, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">almonds, olives, and grapes to the horizon in all directions. It's easy to see how devastating the ongoing drought - there's a 26-inch rain deficit so far - could be to the area's economy and the country's food supply. Keep your fingers crossed for the strong El Niño that's predicted for this winter. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How will we know it's us, without our past? - John Steinbeck, <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i></span>cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-71141713060087003652015-07-13T18:18:00.002-07:002015-07-17T11:16:21.718-07:00Listening to the ancients<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While a GPS can talk you to an unknown destination, there's nothing like a good map to give you ideas about where to go in the first place. I like unfolding one onto the table or opening the atlas and scanning the route ahead, looking for red-lettered names of attractions of one kind or another. I compare it to browsing the shelves at the library or paging through a newspaper as opposed to hoping a title online will leap off the page and shout, <i>Read me!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it was with the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near - kind of - Bishop, California. Just about a year ago I went to <a href="http://cruisingat60.blogspot.com/2014/08/cedar-breaks_1.html" target="_blank">Cedar Breaks National Monument</a> in Utah and saw some bristlecones there. They're the oldest living thing on the planet, as much as 5,000 or so years old, and while I don't know the statistics, I can't imagine they're thick on the ground anywhere. So when I saw the forest's red letters on the map and we were going in that direction anyway, we decided to make the drive about 20 miles off the highway on a road designed to induce carsickness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As gross physical specimens, bristlecone pines aren't strong in the beauty department. One of their methods of adaptation to harsh growing conditions is allowing parts of themselves to die off in order to conserve energy for the plant as a whole. The result is a motley collection of dead and living wood. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyiXsPhHt_damh5nvyfSTZg0WLYAo2Ddo0CPMgSwSOxpE5JZ0i3EKX-yY_QUfxJ_KsXIPey6mYPNzS_tzrwG1rHDOv2mzgjVCY_jlum3P4syR2S4Tx7qUpLunkKw7v9jzSxZGcGyb6Dw/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyiXsPhHt_damh5nvyfSTZg0WLYAo2Ddo0CPMgSwSOxpE5JZ0i3EKX-yY_QUfxJ_KsXIPey6mYPNzS_tzrwG1rHDOv2mzgjVCY_jlum3P4syR2S4Tx7qUpLunkKw7v9jzSxZGcGyb6Dw/s640/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-1.jpg" width="456" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the living parts can't be described as robust.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKtnGO2TPNvCaXWm1YieC9kMHdnAfeNSDzSqj4lTQT5x5tpbIxMgLk0p4Pbr4IOAlZxuGEdWUCQRiTSu02diQsm-bFvF6yMbpMPeqYHjsrzbGRTBz-Ci9jxujLPAJS-uleaRbxHt_Nw8/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKtnGO2TPNvCaXWm1YieC9kMHdnAfeNSDzSqj4lTQT5x5tpbIxMgLk0p4Pbr4IOAlZxuGEdWUCQRiTSu02diQsm-bFvF6yMbpMPeqYHjsrzbGRTBz-Ci9jxujLPAJS-uleaRbxHt_Nw8/s640/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-49.jpg" width="458" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where their beauty comes into focus is in the details.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpq7xu8MsqLmLil4d93OPk5ORg_ytOKK6WyFOhqkRl9yWpX7o6g75jGAgDGZJCE0mHHJaNNgPEIR13q2oMGR0k12pQsW8cFrMMD6Ft_ojGO6YaInAXwx7sjATj2Czn_rqd1xfwYPDID4/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpq7xu8MsqLmLil4d93OPk5ORg_ytOKK6WyFOhqkRl9yWpX7o6g75jGAgDGZJCE0mHHJaNNgPEIR13q2oMGR0k12pQsW8cFrMMD6Ft_ojGO6YaInAXwx7sjATj2Czn_rqd1xfwYPDID4/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-5.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every year the trees add growth just under the bark. When it's dry the rings are narrow, while adequate rain is indicated by wider rings. Even so, their slow growth means that some trees have one hundred years of growth compacted into a one inch space of rings.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbmyrtAxxBHzthY0Hi95M1f7wOI9cq5D2WG_HzdYtngt31J735ac4NDoSFhTI13gj53RjR9SyNjfvYKf8JyDyCbtgKN4md4uwd4DUcvrpJncYFk1WWxIFkQS7xaCyVJVhVsn2ygY9VTk/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbmyrtAxxBHzthY0Hi95M1f7wOI9cq5D2WG_HzdYtngt31J735ac4NDoSFhTI13gj53RjR9SyNjfvYKf8JyDyCbtgKN4md4uwd4DUcvrpJncYFk1WWxIFkQS7xaCyVJVhVsn2ygY9VTk/s640/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-31.jpg" width="584" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The key to their longevity is cold, high-elevation growing conditions. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The trees at Cedar Breaks thrive at 11,500 feet; these trees are at about 8,000 feet. Under those conditions, i</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">nsects aren't much of a pest and the slow growth means they produce tiny amounts of resinous, hard wood. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remember a ranger from Cedar Breaks saying that a three-foot sapling is probably 200 years old. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More water and warmer temperatures could result in taller, larger pines, but they wouldn't be as hardy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M8GWy6v1452DlOCUvOsXqkW8yd7nky_MUDqYZfBhHp6plhk1vJLFFHgH21_tpbHRvul3jVwfi2Rll5YW3Pbu3Il8qO3nZKMVg0n6_LYqA_tFAgyXpKvwKao44p66UJhAE0Rezk-qKKk/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M8GWy6v1452DlOCUvOsXqkW8yd7nky_MUDqYZfBhHp6plhk1vJLFFHgH21_tpbHRvul3jVwfi2Rll5YW3Pbu3Il8qO3nZKMVg0n6_LYqA_tFAgyXpKvwKao44p66UJhAE0Rezk-qKKk/s640/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-48.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The oldest trees are in the mountains of eastern California, but there are widely scattered groves throughout the high mountain areas of Nevada and Utah. This wood is what's left of a 3,200 year old tree that died in about 1676. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQg5kl_r-tbAJs8_aDQ9WtYTTXGNnrx7l-YGjWrBN6HkX50DMwE4kgK67OJel5pFMq6wfCVM8HVu-tt9YCPz8RlpRdSmGxfUUS9zxIT3BbHDKsYrjh-WVc9DEIxu2d8LN1-l7WQv28Go/s1600/3200-y-o+tree+died+abt+1676-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQg5kl_r-tbAJs8_aDQ9WtYTTXGNnrx7l-YGjWrBN6HkX50DMwE4kgK67OJel5pFMq6wfCVM8HVu-tt9YCPz8RlpRdSmGxfUUS9zxIT3BbHDKsYrjh-WVc9DEIxu2d8LN1-l7WQv28Go/s640/3200-y-o+tree+died+abt+1676-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrlfnw66xAmy_BOeIVo_-uxxvGJ6s65EehLKWlPpC6HF5ZrfkHhoC7d11boj8CWJ-YxvFyBPeFphjCC09gig7GlfoNlcMctQks9LAD9-3zedh82neRX8tQOsxWpXZLw1OepYVjYYh6C0/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Bristlecone needles are in a distinctive five-needle cluster.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrlfnw66xAmy_BOeIVo_-uxxvGJ6s65EehLKWlPpC6HF5ZrfkHhoC7d11boj8CWJ-YxvFyBPeFphjCC09gig7GlfoNlcMctQks9LAD9-3zedh82neRX8tQOsxWpXZLw1OepYVjYYh6C0/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrlfnw66xAmy_BOeIVo_-uxxvGJ6s65EehLKWlPpC6HF5ZrfkHhoC7d11boj8CWJ-YxvFyBPeFphjCC09gig7GlfoNlcMctQks9LAD9-3zedh82neRX8tQOsxWpXZLw1OepYVjYYh6C0/s640/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I walked a short trail to the area with the oldest trees. In 1953, the man who discovered them was taking core samples nearby when he wandered to this spot. He took a sample from one of them and went back to camp for the night, where he started counting rings. He counted back to beyond 2046 BC, making the tree he had just found more than 4,000 years old. There is one in the White Mountains of California, the Methuselah tree, that is over 5,000 years old. Its location is kept secret.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is one last living sculpture from the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeq-bChGrMw-F2MUJZLgeSl4chJifct-DPIs0ZatS4NNsTn62U-o3q_I4SAflpWqR7UOqUXz2EwLGfWydSXm8BIEovY5EZ97-nf7pYCbKQfuhtoEkf5Cp61DpzFZD-pK7azssWLcchHs/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeq-bChGrMw-F2MUJZLgeSl4chJifct-DPIs0ZatS4NNsTn62U-o3q_I4SAflpWqR7UOqUXz2EwLGfWydSXm8BIEovY5EZ97-nf7pYCbKQfuhtoEkf5Cp61DpzFZD-pK7azssWLcchHs/s640/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I started on the trail it was overcast and spitting rain, but on my way back the sun broke through.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx9JFxRBIT5fQfprKrDQaGae65ioBEryARysx5FKxVFQvluqD_EZ-6h3AbGo7E9Kr91jKr-XuAjNXLy7K8e-u-94-5oWcUBo-FKddAy3pAFfZFhJQTIYKWUpMs-5T5KQwXokJZVSpf48/s1600/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx9JFxRBIT5fQfprKrDQaGae65ioBEryARysx5FKxVFQvluqD_EZ-6h3AbGo7E9Kr91jKr-XuAjNXLy7K8e-u-94-5oWcUBo-FKddAy3pAFfZFhJQTIYKWUpMs-5T5KQwXokJZVSpf48/s640/Ancient+Bristlecone+Pine+Forest%252C+California-53.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And this is why they're called bristlecones.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqLleIPJwjLtmyTgkemlXtlWxIiV3wK8ixxlmuJ41BeL2m-JWdhirkof6nzqzcsV3dc_KJRwMTI-7P3OXgmxXiwL6RDrWSF117ykDtBnAJwBhRpaqmuADPwbmcTPJ1m9JaH3mA8tprdY/s1600/This+is+why+they%2527re+called+bristlecones-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqLleIPJwjLtmyTgkemlXtlWxIiV3wK8ixxlmuJ41BeL2m-JWdhirkof6nzqzcsV3dc_KJRwMTI-7P3OXgmxXiwL6RDrWSF117ykDtBnAJwBhRpaqmuADPwbmcTPJ1m9JaH3mA8tprdY/s640/This+is+why+they%2527re+called+bristlecones-1.jpg" width="558" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can only imagine the extent of the excitement and wonder at the discovery in 1953, but am sure I felt some part of it while I was on that trail and laid my hand against the ancient tree next to me. I closed my eyes, breathed, and listened, thinking of the ages it had lived through and the storms it had weathered. It was an uncommon, unexpected physical connection with time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. - Marcus Aurelius, <i>Meditations</i></span></div>
cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-87605497625074210342015-07-06T06:30:00.000-07:002015-07-17T11:16:41.638-07:00The desert is calling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I met my <a href="http://cruisingat60.blogspot.com/2014/06/drifting-grace.html" target="_blank">Drifting Grace</a> friend, Cheryl, l</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ast summer, she told me about hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon some years earlier and wondering, with despair, what she'd gotten herself into. Getting into the Canyon is one thing; getting out is another. (I know this long distance, never having had the nerve to go into the Canyon myself, doubting my ability to haul my carcass out.) But with her hike leader's encouragement and instruction, she not only made it out just fine, but had a great experience from then on. After all that time, she remembered this leader with respect and fondness, and wished she could let her know just what she'd done for her; as Cheryl put it, "She changed my life." Then Cheryl told me who her leader was - Denise Traver - and I said, I know Denise!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Denise's husband, Brad, is the superintendent at <a href="http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm" target="_blank">Petrified Forest (PEFO)</a> and I met Denise when I volunteered there the first time, two years ago. I had no idea who this nice, nice woman was, other than the super's wife, and only learned of her legendaryness much later, when Cheryl told me that Denise's story (including the fact that she created and led the first all-woman hike into the Canyon) is in the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Canyon-Women-Shaped-Landscape/dp/0938216783" target="_blank">Grand Canyon Women</a></i>. I loved it that I could put my two friends in touch with each other again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm on the email list for Denise's website <a href="http://www.hitthetrail.com/">Hit The Trail</a>, which is devoted to Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona, and the Southwest. Denise was a backcountry ranger at Grand Canyon for years. If ever there was a woman who will always have the Colorado River running through her veins, it's Denise.<br /><br />This is a long work-around to say that I got an email from Denise's website a couple of days ago with the news that the fledgling <a href="http://www.hitthetrail.com/outdoor-adventure-program-takes-root-at-petrified-forest/">Petrified Forest Field Institute</a> (PFFI) will begin outdoor programs in August. I was overjoyed to see this, to say the least. PEFO is the gem that people drive right by on the way to the Grand Canyon, the one people adopt a quizzical look about when I say, <i>Don't leave Arizona without going to Petrified Forest!</i>, the one about which others say, <i>Oh, yeaaahh.... I went there when I was a kid, I think</i>. It's world-class but people don't know it, and this is why I was overjoyed - but not at all surprised. More than one person has told me that Brad has done more to open the park to visitors than any superintendent before him; he lives in the park; he hikes the park; he loves the park. This is not just a job to him. So while the news of the Institute is very, very good, I would expect nothing other than this kind of bridge-building vision from him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The photos here aren't indicative of the classes being offered, just a reflection of my love of the place.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKgb7KchktY6qOzK9FQgEzMl5ufu6HbBa72nZTIvAeg8GuLsqDVyfOFyOLVUUaR3oHt_jRWARC7DUAokB3Anclh62x0-2vgU7XKV2DTBVdnlUawjai8jYQEx3z2cJ5rtphDUpmjhyphenhyphenQao/s1600/P1110806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKgb7KchktY6qOzK9FQgEzMl5ufu6HbBa72nZTIvAeg8GuLsqDVyfOFyOLVUUaR3oHt_jRWARC7DUAokB3Anclh62x0-2vgU7XKV2DTBVdnlUawjai8jYQEx3z2cJ5rtphDUpmjhyphenhyphenQao/s640/P1110806.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dig with the park's paleontologist, Bill Parker, one of the world's foremost authorities on the Triassic Era. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8dOxQD19Co_zgGF2Jj-7jlfzswT-o4bYf2CQuiK_JDtSZzo9I49aVum327QmZi9Xc54i0TpNx4c4OlLBEaMO7bg9B-_h4ErbIExV7khSOxy7b7BTE0AYQqeCvD14-8aJjzfcan_p1zE/s1600/P1120038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8dOxQD19Co_zgGF2Jj-7jlfzswT-o4bYf2CQuiK_JDtSZzo9I49aVum327QmZi9Xc54i0TpNx4c4OlLBEaMO7bg9B-_h4ErbIExV7khSOxy7b7BTE0AYQqeCvD14-8aJjzfcan_p1zE/s640/P1120038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hKcD9YflWQOSpqsUJgQStz6MYyEW32ltBLOTuz2drIwiQsJNMQseHnqidy9ppdWnzv8G1rusSJdatrvHrs87nO4T-q4R-_pLot7q2K9bAqih5qPobXCOSw2xo4Y6Vs3Q9YPe9QzCiFo/s1600/P1110819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hKcD9YflWQOSpqsUJgQStz6MYyEW32ltBLOTuz2drIwiQsJNMQseHnqidy9ppdWnzv8G1rusSJdatrvHrs87nO4T-q4R-_pLot7q2K9bAqih5qPobXCOSw2xo4Y6Vs3Q9YPe9QzCiFo/s640/P1110819.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take classes with prominent photographers who have spent decades photographing America's southwest deserts. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW15uGFSKmWD31uhl3KcK2cXKbYyvH4IhYpOd3VXyXMLZaNwtpY8e60_wRQkDPaNudJN2gxjwCnRkK_6woeltCE37Dk5kL9OCLZzpQgkMXjw1ANqGlc50V9-m5KS8w9fSIe40bItCHXA/s1600/P1120225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW15uGFSKmWD31uhl3KcK2cXKbYyvH4IhYpOd3VXyXMLZaNwtpY8e60_wRQkDPaNudJN2gxjwCnRkK_6woeltCE37Dk5kL9OCLZzpQgkMXjw1ANqGlc50V9-m5KS8w9fSIe40bItCHXA/s640/P1120225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHthDsR3lz7_2pDlpJVLz70qhza0OTsUea62GsU6IIKZwspwGYliBPniV9TAnvb5FiBFpSeKEZJKsIalAsBcgIxjnK5l09amtDKWfIZJneS9fW6q-A_EHyDw9t_kTyyCAB7kYQU5Uk_0/s1600/P1110934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHthDsR3lz7_2pDlpJVLz70qhza0OTsUea62GsU6IIKZwspwGYliBPniV9TAnvb5FiBFpSeKEZJKsIalAsBcgIxjnK5l09amtDKWfIZJneS9fW6q-A_EHyDw9t_kTyyCAB7kYQU5Uk_0/s640/P1110934.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hike widely different areas of the park with guides who specialize in its geology and natural and cultural history. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdUjrx75zm1NjNnLKiE09UXEp6J3SWYm7P67vXiw0dx4gyK_B1edlE88ioHm850x0T-gqujPUpuU8u_QjlM3IIIRML062xDdNmIu_rFtdsUB6M2zhVu0Evzd9ps9fTqppTvm9kvFcfbM/s1600/P1110803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdUjrx75zm1NjNnLKiE09UXEp6J3SWYm7P67vXiw0dx4gyK_B1edlE88ioHm850x0T-gqujPUpuU8u_QjlM3IIIRML062xDdNmIu_rFtdsUB6M2zhVu0Evzd9ps9fTqppTvm9kvFcfbM/s640/P1110803.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPrDJg4sf_PMSuxDxRQ7R4U9AMV2vJfJvEgVX3O4V9GFCO4ee3C2Ygq3SdmsQ0PqKtHucR7cB-8Fl7iYmCC1UoMUxXym7iWc5ubT0IEHTQmwoQXU8yhA06aMqitK7nO6SX6cwsWYy_7k/s1600/P1120244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPrDJg4sf_PMSuxDxRQ7R4U9AMV2vJfJvEgVX3O4V9GFCO4ee3C2Ygq3SdmsQ0PqKtHucR7cB-8Fl7iYmCC1UoMUxXym7iWc5ubT0IEHTQmwoQXU8yhA06aMqitK7nO6SX6cwsWYy_7k/s640/P1120244.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Explore </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">expansion lands </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">with the park's archeologist, Bill Reitze, to document previously unrecorded petroglyph galleries, some with hundreds of rock art panels. Learn archeological techniques while also learning how information from the petroglyphs is used to understand and interpret the lifestyles of the area's prehistoric peoples.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazvS_dysLtaZgISVVEU4L4B8FV1fb8wbim3Vf_FnLx1Qll28UvEswLERxL5nA-68__JXnETmL-yx0Al_kV0uVGReX-hadiDqzhRHMOm0HIF9coc6EZ-GJgSePVngpQWCpRfCYKmInIaY/s1600/PEFO+petroglyphs-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazvS_dysLtaZgISVVEU4L4B8FV1fb8wbim3Vf_FnLx1Qll28UvEswLERxL5nA-68__JXnETmL-yx0Al_kV0uVGReX-hadiDqzhRHMOm0HIF9coc6EZ-GJgSePVngpQWCpRfCYKmInIaY/s640/PEFO+petroglyphs-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHRk6LzRBGWOgyRQnMP613a3Tse1Kj2cqlgU_zQqz_qkfW8-3YSfRpn4qc6Jc4hxBGrErD533RMtZhmjoumnbosgzVjvN1X0PyzjNx0rWR_aXOwe3cD4qM94tbD6Kw9Ggabwi9KsfKB0/s1600/PEFO+petroglyphs-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHRk6LzRBGWOgyRQnMP613a3Tse1Kj2cqlgU_zQqz_qkfW8-3YSfRpn4qc6Jc4hxBGrErD533RMtZhmjoumnbosgzVjvN1X0PyzjNx0rWR_aXOwe3cD4qM94tbD6Kw9Ggabwi9KsfKB0/s640/PEFO+petroglyphs-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I want one of each, at least. If you go, you might have your own life-changing experience because Denise is leading tours along PEFO's 28-mile length.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The other night HH and I watched an episode of Ken Burns' series on the National Parks, one featuring Petrified Forest. Anyone who has read much of anything here knows how I love that place. The place, and the people there, were a safe and welcoming harbor for me when I desperately needed one. I didn't know how much I missed it until I saw its spectacular scenery again on television. To paraphrase John Muir, <i>The Painted Desert is calling, and I must go</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Soon, I hope. Soon.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiUWy9Hv9KaRQ0EVEHG8l7Ep8pnIU2Gx5pw4n1wiZDV8PdArCm0TnUQLWPBu9KTOFjtItMByc9C7BHCxicTcr9g9iqReawmeOwtUm7GA-pEZwteP7Id7LwNvhyphenhyphenjn1h5_BzFdvPffONyI/s1600/P1120212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiUWy9Hv9KaRQ0EVEHG8l7Ep8pnIU2Gx5pw4n1wiZDV8PdArCm0TnUQLWPBu9KTOFjtItMByc9C7BHCxicTcr9g9iqReawmeOwtUm7GA-pEZwteP7Id7LwNvhyphenhyphenjn1h5_BzFdvPffONyI/s640/P1120212.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaQKd5hRjVCcdBm-pA2uJdG258l9DogrrkuTp65KiCE_DuYItu9JM4qLOL30d6OYy6Qih_MpGGVr7GmxjyUxlQTMX3S0RyG1ibysA-S5R1e60ucLzPzQ7RJyYPYu6zHSsV0tSvP4uK58/s1600/Storm+over+Painted+Desert-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaQKd5hRjVCcdBm-pA2uJdG258l9DogrrkuTp65KiCE_DuYItu9JM4qLOL30d6OYy6Qih_MpGGVr7GmxjyUxlQTMX3S0RyG1ibysA-S5R1e60ucLzPzQ7RJyYPYu6zHSsV0tSvP4uK58/s640/Storm+over+Painted+Desert-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does it call you, too?</span></div>
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cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-65440152026314357282015-07-04T14:09:00.002-07:002015-07-17T11:18:43.832-07:00Bodie in living color<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend my HH and I went to Bodie, the old mining town that's now a California state park on the National Register of Historic Places. To get there from where we're plugged in, we have to go through Yosemite, meaning we have to go through an entrance gate because we live outside the park. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We got an early start last week so had no problem on the way over, and were pleasantly surprised to also not find a line a mile long when we returned, re-entering the park at the Tioga Pass entrance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This weekend we decided to stay far, far away from the park. As the saying goes, we may be crazy but we're not stupid. For a couple of weeks there have been emails at work about heavy crowds expected for the July 4th weekend: come early, expect delays, lots of people, nowhere to park, assume misery. We took their advice and went to see some things in Fresno instead, in the complete opposite direction, but because I haven't loaded photos from that trip yet I'm exhuming a second round from Bodie.</span></span><br />
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I converted the photos I showed last time to black and white because the monochrome lent an age-old feel to the buildings and landscape; it gave me the atmosphere of unchanged time that was important to my interpretation of the place. I left several in color though because conversion removed, rather than added, character. Herewith I present them, but first, a black and white of Mono Lake, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfstYRIBxv3ZBz5oPLSoHNInv_3PEzcUjvAjwG9oQLpQKgxClPkMRXskTvBWbFNj3IHLu8wdl2on6IfNgYmLry7145eUJrSBUZYq-MOYDKsPE5mdomrUBfA-QiWPA4-sTVmSvvuyN9uM/s1600/P1080568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfstYRIBxv3ZBz5oPLSoHNInv_3PEzcUjvAjwG9oQLpQKgxClPkMRXskTvBWbFNj3IHLu8wdl2on6IfNgYmLry7145eUJrSBUZYq-MOYDKsPE5mdomrUBfA-QiWPA4-sTVmSvvuyN9uM/s640/P1080568.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and a shepherd, his dog, and his flock. I have never seen this before in my life. This was on the road over Tioga Pass. We noticed green, green fields that looked cropped or mowed to the ground, and soon saw the reason. I'm sure the shepherd thought I was off my rocker - he saw me aim the camera and waved - but I thought, This is a scene that I would expect out of Basque country. It seemed as exotic to me as it was mundane to him.</span></span><br />
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HH was looking over my shoulder as I was writing this and saw this photo. He said he saw a sign somewhere that said these actually <i>are</i> Basque sheepherders. I went on a hunt just now to find documentation for that, and found that Peruvian sheepherders are also used. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also found out that in 1869 John Muir was hired to shepherd a flock from Yosemite Valley to Tuolomne Meadows for $30 a month, which "<a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/muir.htm" target="_blank">s</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">uited him fine</a>." After one season of seeing the devastation the grazing sheep left behind, he became a fierce critic of what he called "hoofed locusts." Grazing is no longer allowed in the park; this area is on National Forest land.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCvJpldXs7Z30xmwQaJAl5hhHAyVJg3f0q1WYZIQ2sTYboV1J17DZYm-gpSDDBf7dhoeQAjaNK6mTsATSBf8GDbROTAOm24qgjjXtDGr_MrJkrq2fn96aa7zulPlkl21qMREn-ekJbtE/s1600/P1080574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCvJpldXs7Z30xmwQaJAl5hhHAyVJg3f0q1WYZIQ2sTYboV1J17DZYm-gpSDDBf7dhoeQAjaNK6mTsATSBf8GDbROTAOm24qgjjXtDGr_MrJkrq2fn96aa7zulPlkl21qMREn-ekJbtE/s640/P1080574.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, on to Bodie in living color. </span></span><br />
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I wonder how much credit can be given the doors for holding up this wall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgPSs0-FDA6JuGV8oIXdMnfgQ50y9kIzolxNx-cVAqe0nLhGODDORwFOmKlpav8iTGY4hkrNvVBpPkHDHQdAlGUNhIZSzGufoBWyiKF-dN0fVHlIQEfIZu-fKxt2RjBrj2vcHQIN5CrM/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgPSs0-FDA6JuGV8oIXdMnfgQ50y9kIzolxNx-cVAqe0nLhGODDORwFOmKlpav8iTGY4hkrNvVBpPkHDHQdAlGUNhIZSzGufoBWyiKF-dN0fVHlIQEfIZu-fKxt2RjBrj2vcHQIN5CrM/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-6.jpg" width="514" /></a></span></span></div>
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Siding made entirely out of metal strips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDYUwH4eHVm65N5hjN2dm0m0G_PpfglSxqSfu0K-rJCW4lw0zCkvF6ir5krsmrisCtczpKjTp41H-PJ9HsHiJ4sMYOY9GAxuTJBtqzwuy6ojxkkhR1koMREM2BUg8xurY_2-Yn5twkwY/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDYUwH4eHVm65N5hjN2dm0m0G_PpfglSxqSfu0K-rJCW4lw0zCkvF6ir5krsmrisCtczpKjTp41H-PJ9HsHiJ4sMYOY9GAxuTJBtqzwuy6ojxkkhR1koMREM2BUg8xurY_2-Yn5twkwY/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Two views of the same thing. I couldn't decide which to show.
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OQX0V9VGNz5nx7lY2px7a1G6qBZhBeoK7xyvLC2W7sLyhZE7sOUEZX-3jnIlK3lzSxYQQdvY8xo7qlSBtR5NFMUjNptTQhRdfHYI7ec92lgAiISrOpof4XylNyJMztAQATHpe2n0oEk/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OQX0V9VGNz5nx7lY2px7a1G6qBZhBeoK7xyvLC2W7sLyhZE7sOUEZX-3jnIlK3lzSxYQQdvY8xo7qlSBtR5NFMUjNptTQhRdfHYI7ec92lgAiISrOpof4XylNyJMztAQATHpe2n0oEk/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-29.jpg" width="438" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxzL_f5qvUwfkZ3ubN3pnx0kbENcxvyIsUg49co7kBtFI9JkV-58p1qu2Y01MFhYZWMOuxGAXOAocq0tNZRrEHJJOAqFr_WpxUpmsqd3qQBRzo0FYQNrV5BhFWT_Pq_4xxj6PpFVo0Yg/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxzL_f5qvUwfkZ3ubN3pnx0kbENcxvyIsUg49co7kBtFI9JkV-58p1qu2Y01MFhYZWMOuxGAXOAocq0tNZRrEHJJOAqFr_WpxUpmsqd3qQBRzo0FYQNrV5BhFWT_Pq_4xxj6PpFVo0Yg/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love old hardware and commonly find unusual assemblies in cemeteries. When I saw this latch, mounted in the middle of a door, I thought it was new, but look at the worn edge of the wood above it. This is an old 'un. ...although it's not obvious how it works: there's no room to move in either direction.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZNouJDJKo96mnAoGLsOXA9Gl1vJUvx2-qpwo1EWdo2SW3pchcuINC4hh6HejIgIoM47zX8u4HyfKaxK6KocQcIaXsNcymRGyxM7YSR2xMIqPjS-F2VFd2-sxENoPYD5jf8883xqf3Xg/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZNouJDJKo96mnAoGLsOXA9Gl1vJUvx2-qpwo1EWdo2SW3pchcuINC4hh6HejIgIoM47zX8u4HyfKaxK6KocQcIaXsNcymRGyxM7YSR2xMIqPjS-F2VFd2-sxENoPYD5jf8883xqf3Xg/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-35.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A wood-burl door knob that's on the same door as the latch above.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5mB4wKBtm33Z9u2DXIzTlsbs-VqyDOmT3N6E9vavmDWSr6KdFSGbOo2-vFpnYckuekUt0ypNDcCnhk1ATcJBxl5Q_dRZDtOCH5AtDpW0WHeijbWWykjpASU8L5TrXOOF2z0rThD7bGk/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5mB4wKBtm33Z9u2DXIzTlsbs-VqyDOmT3N6E9vavmDWSr6KdFSGbOo2-vFpnYckuekUt0ypNDcCnhk1ATcJBxl5Q_dRZDtOCH5AtDpW0WHeijbWWykjpASU8L5TrXOOF2z0rThD7bGk/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-34.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What a </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">treat it was to find this siding, apparently made from embossed ceiling panels, hidden in an alcove at the back of a house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgUVaSy2xQRR3oNTna2CLkUlcElBjSuksSFRWvOWveXtPWTQiGfmn07KszHIbR76hKv3l-b51_rcOc09f6-mm4_WNC-skIsKfjzGZnoMJ0NqCQ43mu4EIgWhWdJ3NbV8UF5V704XVOOw/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgUVaSy2xQRR3oNTna2CLkUlcElBjSuksSFRWvOWveXtPWTQiGfmn07KszHIbR76hKv3l-b51_rcOc09f6-mm4_WNC-skIsKfjzGZnoMJ0NqCQ43mu4EIgWhWdJ3NbV8UF5V704XVOOw/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-42.jpg" width="438" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a Hollywood product. What better endorsement is there?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio51YCfoNxs9ggqE7Qeylj4V6bdnxtDGVaSjxG6fWi1533J2eUiLRPxctroO5XgG7fRQvg4Yurxi_AQR3GP0ncHcKfkEVlkZfhnImsC0uhgLmiGq0iPBy6qtg_MV1VKlWdgmDJiAXYuxc/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio51YCfoNxs9ggqE7Qeylj4V6bdnxtDGVaSjxG6fWi1533J2eUiLRPxctroO5XgG7fRQvg4Yurxi_AQR3GP0ncHcKfkEVlkZfhnImsC0uhgLmiGq0iPBy6qtg_MV1VKlWdgmDJiAXYuxc/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-54.jpg" width="442" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This rusty roof glowed like copper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lEMTxHyXVR_AsOqSCJmb3nFv9jR5swkaFhkDYNdFPpDemtlV5Xf1Pu2dW7e6FSgH2HweQLu8C_raTQfjmOWtXmnzG5VxI2fQiG6NkJmXfu4uGG4_3l2e3HLjeTcdSh0hvXnjtyTHlGo/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lEMTxHyXVR_AsOqSCJmb3nFv9jR5swkaFhkDYNdFPpDemtlV5Xf1Pu2dW7e6FSgH2HweQLu8C_raTQfjmOWtXmnzG5VxI2fQiG6NkJmXfu4uGG4_3l2e3HLjeTcdSh0hvXnjtyTHlGo/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-60.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All that remains of the bank. The rest of the building may have crumbled, but no one is getting through the door.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ122s54OrxIGWu6v8BjBwfhIvhTF2kyqxrGoV7XSZ4mXS7EIGsSKLiJVLbCgNQz7qzez479Yc_Chw4cJIVTAa-_RjaBkX4YblQpuXH6GFc7uyXgmboLzAXq1U4MSUj6uFV22JUDJzeQ/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ122s54OrxIGWu6v8BjBwfhIvhTF2kyqxrGoV7XSZ4mXS7EIGsSKLiJVLbCgNQz7qzez479Yc_Chw4cJIVTAa-_RjaBkX4YblQpuXH6GFc7uyXgmboLzAXq1U4MSUj6uFV22JUDJzeQ/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-67.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bank's safe, made by Hall's Safe and Lock Company. This is seen through the bars at the bottom of the door above.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB17R_QOw6DRUPjMPkY5nLhwBR2h3Ln8I0cn9MNB5hZpw8do-LXGsl8rxVKZ1NbbGvHxPMB4dNuN99qHraXos6N8Euqe9iYNFrX-pEpsVZZMrGI-mXfJrokPiuBojTmUmlK8NLAvl_-1s/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB17R_QOw6DRUPjMPkY5nLhwBR2h3Ln8I0cn9MNB5hZpw8do-LXGsl8rxVKZ1NbbGvHxPMB4dNuN99qHraXos6N8Euqe9iYNFrX-pEpsVZZMrGI-mXfJrokPiuBojTmUmlK8NLAvl_-1s/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-72.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Up the hill from the town is the last of nine stamp mills that pulverized ore into sand. This water tank is next to the mill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2DgrJQrVMoTqlShV0awQvqeBmT3HsGzMLeMvi21HVQY5aVc5ku8uBhtyc5xTnsMSyycT8JhYEWVpceHhZdCjy-cj5EdwfD2vEH2QiE7958R7Ux-1fiq_dJwT_BY4KmwX41MtPOZ_1cg/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2DgrJQrVMoTqlShV0awQvqeBmT3HsGzMLeMvi21HVQY5aVc5ku8uBhtyc5xTnsMSyycT8JhYEWVpceHhZdCjy-cj5EdwfD2vEH2QiE7958R7Ux-1fiq_dJwT_BY4KmwX41MtPOZ_1cg/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-90.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Down the hill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the crushers with five bosses waiting for power and ore to work again. The 350-pound bosses dropped 90 times a minute, twenty hours a day. I feel insanity coming on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVkTD4IxChDT3MV21taKoxzhqVb2v601mFGs2wKcT1NPNJXzSZFTRsTi9ycf82k9Sx7LASX-7DXf7jR3IKODA3xLk2XtY9vT2XeLQGH2qLKqiEcBT4XmbxYTc42Zu32OlTrGRKjiMn88/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVkTD4IxChDT3MV21taKoxzhqVb2v601mFGs2wKcT1NPNJXzSZFTRsTi9ycf82k9Sx7LASX-7DXf7jR3IKODA3xLk2XtY9vT2XeLQGH2qLKqiEcBT4XmbxYTc42Zu32OlTrGRKjiMn88/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-92.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A watercolor scene through a mill window.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HedLjCkF151mvGUw4QiKoB7sLWFIaduUmAhdakLbfvJmuj1XW5XaHa3rWIZ8O4g8q9ZFhtLWkxiXLFabp_5HOq_tzk4ZCGtmLGkKELLUXVvdk8DDMlTGDjaRhBq3TGE8hKxZ273l_XQ/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HedLjCkF151mvGUw4QiKoB7sLWFIaduUmAhdakLbfvJmuj1XW5XaHa3rWIZ8O4g8q9ZFhtLWkxiXLFabp_5HOq_tzk4ZCGtmLGkKELLUXVvdk8DDMlTGDjaRhBq3TGE8hKxZ273l_XQ/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-93.jpg" width="594" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Valiant flag irises bloom before...what? What building was this? There's not enough left to say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiul2v7owLwd4SVIguevOE1iuIViKUbT_oB73jjR22BpWCPqeEADbEQhVLl5NpZ_iFUjlDZ_hHrq09EpoyPHc8Ml6oNKnh10GN6gdUf7IiSZAhs5hfq_CWbcGZkzb9gZVJgFEarFxjzE4/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiul2v7owLwd4SVIguevOE1iuIViKUbT_oB73jjR22BpWCPqeEADbEQhVLl5NpZ_iFUjlDZ_hHrq09EpoyPHc8Ml6oNKnh10GN6gdUf7IiSZAhs5hfq_CWbcGZkzb9gZVJgFEarFxjzE4/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-94.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been trolling the internet, looking at other people's photos of Bodie, and have discovered a couple of things: lots of folks take show-stopping photos of the place, and I saw just a fraction of what there was to see. We really do need to go back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Wisdom begins in wonder. - Socrates</span></span></div>
cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-13825769903463216572015-06-28T14:46:00.000-07:002015-06-29T08:21:14.913-07:00Goodbye, God, I'm going to Bodie<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There has been a lull in the activity at my house. HH was gone for over a week, and the two weekends I had by myself were filled with hanging out in the house in sweats, studying Spanish, reading, getting in early-morning walks, and binge-watching Friends on Netflix. There's not much blog fodder in any of that, but golly, I love streaming.<br /><br />He's back and yesterday we went over the mountains <i>again</i>, this time to Bodie, the site of a gold mining town that was known as the "most lawless, wildest, and toughest mining camp in the West." Bodie is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a California Historic Landmark, and was made a California state park in 1962. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Founded in 1859 by W.S. Bodey and E.S. "Black" Taylor, it became one of the richest gold and silver strikes ever. The mill was established in 1861 and the town began to grow, starting with about 20 miners. Over 25 years, one source says it yielded almost $15 million in ore, another says $34 million. <br /><br />According to Wikipedia, "the district's name was changed from "Bodey," "Body," and a few other phonetic variations, to "Bodie," after a painter in the nearby boomtown of Aurora, lettered a sign "Bodie Stables." The website DesertUSA disagrees, saying that the change in spelling of the town's name has often been attributed to an illiterate sign painter, but it was really a deliberate change by the citizenry to ensure proper pronunciation. <br /><br />By 1879, Bodie had a population of 5000 -10000 people (every source has a different number) and around 2,000 buildings. Toward the end of the 1870s, some of the single, get-rich-quick miners had moved on to new horizons and families moved in, along with robbers, more miners, store owners, gunfighters, prostitutes, and people from every country in the world. At one time there were reported to be 65 saloons in town. Among the saloons were numerous houses of ill repute, gambling halls, and opium dens – an entertainment outlet for everyone. There’s a story about a little girl whose family was moving from San Francisco to Bodie; depending on who tells it, she wrote in her diary either “Good, by God, I’m going to Bodie.” -or- “Goodbye God, I’m going to Bodie."<br /><br />California coined the term "arrested decay," which means the structures that were in place in 1962 when Bodie became a state park will be maintained as they appeared in that year, but only to the extent that they will not be allowed to fall over or otherwise deteriorate in a major way. By putting new roofs on the buildings, rebuilding foundations, and resealing glass that is in window frames, the State is able to keep buildings from naturally decaying. Nothing, though, can stop the wildfire and lightning strikes and time that have destroyed all but a hundred or so buildings, nor can anything now protect the land from the cyanide and mercury used indiscriminately in gold processing.<br /><br />Except for the stamp mill, farther down the page, and the area of the poisoned land, visitors are free to wander the town. There might be a building or two that's open to walk into, but generally, to see inside, you have to climb on a rock or a log to peer through the grimy windows. It has the effect of a visual eavesdropping on the lives of Bodie's former inhabitants.<br /><br />I took a ton of photos and got them all processed. Some I left in color, when conversion to black and white just didn't look right, but the following have the look of the past that I hoped to convey. Some have no commentary from me; I think the buildings can tell their stories just fine, on their own.<br /><br />Electricity was introduced in 1892 when the Standard Company built its own hydroelectric plant thirteen miles away. This pioneering installation marked one of the country's first transmissions of electricity over a long distance.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L7tejb1s85dkmwTQGIMQTb4ZfEpL2s3W29CavEqpaDoHtnLh2iUtzbJtkCdfwoHP9Q6QTFy0YClintNBV1OgsRdFmkaGtoUsPhM_3Pz5giITOcGScaY530_CO6fDPPrmyBjQYhxP5fE/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L7tejb1s85dkmwTQGIMQTb4ZfEpL2s3W29CavEqpaDoHtnLh2iUtzbJtkCdfwoHP9Q6QTFy0YClintNBV1OgsRdFmkaGtoUsPhM_3Pz5giITOcGScaY530_CO6fDPPrmyBjQYhxP5fE/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-8.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH2yE_D4b39z68frFwZ6huuSA_jLsuhgz5hndjM3kVqFI2rdg1AXLK8_Y30rPVjyUeItjRy0kOPb405tu7SlDtaM8rNeaUSeBDeHWhAphHx6O8vULq8ePYw-pbVNWDA7uFphtR5EPwfE/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH2yE_D4b39z68frFwZ6huuSA_jLsuhgz5hndjM3kVqFI2rdg1AXLK8_Y30rPVjyUeItjRy0kOPb405tu7SlDtaM8rNeaUSeBDeHWhAphHx6O8vULq8ePYw-pbVNWDA7uFphtR5EPwfE/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-9.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Methodist church:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPe946TKKMd_An6R4mrOmDXeSpezUuyaUdiWTMIjdi6U44Ct8JL8i8mI-DrXx45MX1Um_V38dtbH677rfobQL3P6k0dYeQOp-dtchF8QHFAUzKOSlxtqioE-Ta4nWpimc1uzC3yLZ1Bg/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-14.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPe946TKKMd_An6R4mrOmDXeSpezUuyaUdiWTMIjdi6U44Ct8JL8i8mI-DrXx45MX1Um_V38dtbH677rfobQL3P6k0dYeQOp-dtchF8QHFAUzKOSlxtqioE-Ta4nWpimc1uzC3yLZ1Bg/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-14.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The sky wasn't this dark and forbidding; I did this because I liked the effect.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWUhCR_n3UNGuIOA34jJGbj5dKAGhzaTd4K0o8KxfBz9YbfcPvYIHIIqQNGqFMIFQv2-HjEe38cnE4bF-576S6kj4PL8kSCfIvpJuxXl4YD26PNp5sr4d9iytV_Mp6D_bWdij8Lk0ddU/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-20.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWUhCR_n3UNGuIOA34jJGbj5dKAGhzaTd4K0o8KxfBz9YbfcPvYIHIIqQNGqFMIFQv2-HjEe38cnE4bF-576S6kj4PL8kSCfIvpJuxXl4YD26PNp5sr4d9iytV_Mp6D_bWdij8Lk0ddU/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-20.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The windows in all of the buildings have probably not been cleaned in decades. My initial thought was, great, there goes my photos, but the results were perfect: the mists of time, and all that.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWPY0OsP3mvplH5bMKPHiSWtRRhzMOOub3IczrWR51SGRtgR5OHq9vAfwx8PvR3UmodxQzlV_ryWMKowI-82XQOoWfhY9VhOKKI6VpjgucPg1boVJpA4jwuJiltJ5BU2az1KctB8C5ig/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-16.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWPY0OsP3mvplH5bMKPHiSWtRRhzMOOub3IczrWR51SGRtgR5OHq9vAfwx8PvR3UmodxQzlV_ryWMKowI-82XQOoWfhY9VhOKKI6VpjgucPg1boVJpA4jwuJiltJ5BU2az1KctB8C5ig/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-16.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Everything in every building is as it was left. For whatever reason, when people left Bodie they took themselves and nothing else. HH thinks it might be because the furnishings belonged to the company, not to the inhabitants, but we don't know. I for one am astonished that it wasn't cleaned out by thieves decades ago.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjytUcgbg0GLLdGm6rFcYTwBjBzjRh_RCOrwy85vj3SICnt7EWJL1GBOZ0PMLpd2JOOZxLXxwj8yzTjCdXdxKILQYTaMgwE4gOulZpz6LL6mH03JbGr3dN1RqhoYFZAIXclR4S-AnwLI/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-23.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjytUcgbg0GLLdGm6rFcYTwBjBzjRh_RCOrwy85vj3SICnt7EWJL1GBOZ0PMLpd2JOOZxLXxwj8yzTjCdXdxKILQYTaMgwE4gOulZpz6LL6mH03JbGr3dN1RqhoYFZAIXclR4S-AnwLI/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-23.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKKyWdjTQF2qRvTRbXbwiF3DJYt4xiF-YX_FCT256427mhR93Atsws-KueCDLTlXBBSEnv-4qmRY-NxNXZr6wFBlSiG6CqkNfIy6xte5UOMIcRg203dAa0TAh4PApsfJA9o_YCu8k2dg/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-24.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKKyWdjTQF2qRvTRbXbwiF3DJYt4xiF-YX_FCT256427mhR93Atsws-KueCDLTlXBBSEnv-4qmRY-NxNXZr6wFBlSiG6CqkNfIy6xte5UOMIcRg203dAa0TAh4PApsfJA9o_YCu8k2dg/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-24.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyI0qkKD5iL6KHoynSqPApaCpvXVQx4Px7sBS6hFEnOy0zqyfKNwBaaLuNs5MwfIG11zuj5R_9cjlT-YkdhTl4OOcvXCVCD-mwu5fzczDTx7mMcQzTt6FuJmoqjwpkVnhykgXEsLT5Mk/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-37.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyI0qkKD5iL6KHoynSqPApaCpvXVQx4Px7sBS6hFEnOy0zqyfKNwBaaLuNs5MwfIG11zuj5R_9cjlT-YkdhTl4OOcvXCVCD-mwu5fzczDTx7mMcQzTt6FuJmoqjwpkVnhykgXEsLT5Mk/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-37.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyEXSj26RBFx_h8e41aBTHnV9Y5hoDDY1pNyw8osTceFHvgfzW1ELw9hX7B6vxTzKj-P_uqwByD808ezrtpknwLtlOJF1QE2wHOT-jLqJgWR3tS03WdMCMZU5Nz9fZ54rLey3fVBLlcU/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-79.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyEXSj26RBFx_h8e41aBTHnV9Y5hoDDY1pNyw8osTceFHvgfzW1ELw9hX7B6vxTzKj-P_uqwByD808ezrtpknwLtlOJF1QE2wHOT-jLqJgWR3tS03WdMCMZU5Nz9fZ54rLey3fVBLlcU/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-79.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXxkvBYdPmXqSVM0of2VBMFhRwdnBna_XjejzFyLbvhg-e5Zf8WWwBaMdTgPgeaNCenEX3T_Um7AfH8jXdwsQlc0apHFU0is3lALr85MwbagGwFF-yLM-0C2rMgqFzYfs6EY2p0Jz5hY/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-47.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXxkvBYdPmXqSVM0of2VBMFhRwdnBna_XjejzFyLbvhg-e5Zf8WWwBaMdTgPgeaNCenEX3T_Um7AfH8jXdwsQlc0apHFU0is3lALr85MwbagGwFF-yLM-0C2rMgqFzYfs6EY2p0Jz5hY/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-47.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbDYU18reGupBmMlDqVA2v7ADJ3MKReSjqa80z0NxsLh2CKcGh-MYfGaqwwsIPHOQQfbDCSfmM3RGt30ZVrw-tY7u4EnDMi2jJmzVqzgzmi0-a5QyXYNPzkbAqGghI2-U2cSPcJHA5hU/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-45.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbDYU18reGupBmMlDqVA2v7ADJ3MKReSjqa80z0NxsLh2CKcGh-MYfGaqwwsIPHOQQfbDCSfmM3RGt30ZVrw-tY7u4EnDMi2jJmzVqzgzmi0-a5QyXYNPzkbAqGghI2-U2cSPcJHA5hU/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-45.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I once paid almost $1000 for a dresser like this one, and now wonder who that woman was. I did it because it was similar to one that my grandmother had; why was that so important?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNSnckUrl0vaLjA5s0sjdGPpJmi1NHFZmrVZcmOEmaQadQ_gjfolgrHX94s_aAh46ExSNs4Znr_x_J92Nfrj6uvxC41XMEEa_ndBRzhkGmFvMjQB10Wwhk6LM9IV0SwTtTCP71iqMvk4/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-55.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNSnckUrl0vaLjA5s0sjdGPpJmi1NHFZmrVZcmOEmaQadQ_gjfolgrHX94s_aAh46ExSNs4Znr_x_J92Nfrj6uvxC41XMEEa_ndBRzhkGmFvMjQB10Wwhk6LM9IV0SwTtTCP71iqMvk4/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-55.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFhiFH7XEMtf94KySoeNRvN4Xe81BbgaSEBoA_LOT78Y2Dtl4Ec_LrMHQxvue-N6c9EbYkUinvDASkhQ5kvJh-_zFfG1jXzmruEIKQax1kaHC9P7ZOkwDbv_78xg2mO19ISkiG4Ps4L4/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-80.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFhiFH7XEMtf94KySoeNRvN4Xe81BbgaSEBoA_LOT78Y2Dtl4Ec_LrMHQxvue-N6c9EbYkUinvDASkhQ5kvJh-_zFfG1jXzmruEIKQax1kaHC9P7ZOkwDbv_78xg2mO19ISkiG4Ps4L4/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-80.jpg" /></a><br /><br />That's a bone. Don't ask me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiqf4qeH0NJrub1qhZ5_Jw9aniwlEq2dYbin9ODW9dUkLJgkKKtBMUeslaGbOAXeZULkbkiQMUEJxxJGoINEUdwfu-6rTQs42dZIK9Sle8vFfpbPsPEipzfseyXyuSoFughCRJXSQ2Bk/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-97.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiqf4qeH0NJrub1qhZ5_Jw9aniwlEq2dYbin9ODW9dUkLJgkKKtBMUeslaGbOAXeZULkbkiQMUEJxxJGoINEUdwfu-6rTQs42dZIK9Sle8vFfpbPsPEipzfseyXyuSoFughCRJXSQ2Bk/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-97.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttw4SRtrWpLLNOkLP-sWav-es4u-qbvxTXunjg-oaVz3jpiIbNhCwBCf5dkbOzx_I0ykamreritypF1kvmGS4NP0oPtQRREsiN8O2-tHrXjVGGpG3iUg1gIaEAEzqFlQ07c1fiMAHTZk/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-57.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttw4SRtrWpLLNOkLP-sWav-es4u-qbvxTXunjg-oaVz3jpiIbNhCwBCf5dkbOzx_I0ykamreritypF1kvmGS4NP0oPtQRREsiN8O2-tHrXjVGGpG3iUg1gIaEAEzqFlQ07c1fiMAHTZk/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-57.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BgKmCZGpg04nYzahMrpB-DY-zuydTSc5zoPzBRf4LtQoffIr2X25NMMSKFNGQwOF3qGnJgbUgPh63AslX9UZ0UdEkQOIdkPzuR0ufUVsyliUHouPmIk921EJH171kc27YHKo85poyXY/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-58.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BgKmCZGpg04nYzahMrpB-DY-zuydTSc5zoPzBRf4LtQoffIr2X25NMMSKFNGQwOF3qGnJgbUgPh63AslX9UZ0UdEkQOIdkPzuR0ufUVsyliUHouPmIk921EJH171kc27YHKo85poyXY/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-58.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of four or five fire stations but the only one left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFViW69nL8qVQy4v5W8pz78WiuZ3XDe4kK5i47QLGPdtr44USD-PjcoppgNgEsd8KQ0Dwk99GAs2zVulTMzeX-S-iq-8Uys5f3OG7cmRKW2zCUDeOR_eQ9mJ4Lv9_xnc8UklYdf3hlLDE/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-65.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFViW69nL8qVQy4v5W8pz78WiuZ3XDe4kK5i47QLGPdtr44USD-PjcoppgNgEsd8KQ0Dwk99GAs2zVulTMzeX-S-iq-8Uys5f3OG7cmRKW2zCUDeOR_eQ9mJ4Lv9_xnc8UklYdf3hlLDE/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-65.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I think this was the jail.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQJ_kFPkpZr1NX27QmK-FyMGZmHmkKIQMsQcJ0Z2COVBK7jg4CJBL1DPltLU0fId8dU0cIL1LoYJ6ky6XdT5QkxplujDZj0JH3ockz56SgNoWmIMOO_GIDufqwp5fSPjlplrsqgnXF4s/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-73.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQJ_kFPkpZr1NX27QmK-FyMGZmHmkKIQMsQcJ0Z2COVBK7jg4CJBL1DPltLU0fId8dU0cIL1LoYJ6ky6XdT5QkxplujDZj0JH3ockz56SgNoWmIMOO_GIDufqwp5fSPjlplrsqgnXF4s/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-73.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The general store.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDqNA-K3EwX5hQiLO3FF7ffR_69TDuu1-aYCDBNZkDkxug3EOugYnvCX6wbDTGIuwY3LsEFZwhdbgvwvxJ6-petfC1n7G4xMJOu_rol39In3hxMjZW0hKLZNh5Bcj5vU3qqzFqEv003k/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-77.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDqNA-K3EwX5hQiLO3FF7ffR_69TDuu1-aYCDBNZkDkxug3EOugYnvCX6wbDTGIuwY3LsEFZwhdbgvwvxJ6-petfC1n7G4xMJOu_rol39In3hxMjZW0hKLZNh5Bcj5vU3qqzFqEv003k/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-77.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc6NKPfEBfsyFtcYz7HSEHMq11rXzbOfpw8uAXPkSiyC25I6xdQPBMN7ZEOAEi_Ieg8_78QUjCGbHCYBGFXpQomaGIvMuDBsmllQvQIjmri50fmVlAsXfo_OQ4g5T4eh-vRe3uUJaK50/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-82.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc6NKPfEBfsyFtcYz7HSEHMq11rXzbOfpw8uAXPkSiyC25I6xdQPBMN7ZEOAEi_Ieg8_78QUjCGbHCYBGFXpQomaGIvMuDBsmllQvQIjmri50fmVlAsXfo_OQ4g5T4eh-vRe3uUJaK50/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-82.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We toured a stamp mill, the last one of nine remaining. It was the processing facility that pulverized ore to particles as fine as sand. Inside this building were, among other machinery, 350-pound cylinders, called bosses, attached to the end of a long rod. The rods were lifted by cables powered by an engine, and dropped about twenty feet onto double-fist-sized rock, ninety times a minute, twenty hours a day. The noise must have been the stuff nightmares are made of. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbcSaJNWUVZZQMJXewVwH6EHOVZ5_wyzPXlswrweu2-Ct-UujuEUlA4cD0-mzl7wEw8z5fQWSEndrs8AZ3e9FGJ1d8x2dv6jGhoFeFFqBG1T5i7ebgsE2U-7tmAkRooTmmwixQCD3Exo/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-88.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbcSaJNWUVZZQMJXewVwH6EHOVZ5_wyzPXlswrweu2-Ct-UujuEUlA4cD0-mzl7wEw8z5fQWSEndrs8AZ3e9FGJ1d8x2dv6jGhoFeFFqBG1T5i7ebgsE2U-7tmAkRooTmmwixQCD3Exo/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-88.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EFnquFOJnEaWgEwppa-vA2POKNiVTPW_YW26kurVq9sdh-eCru0WIro-MvurbIrffrKrUsA4tXK2_Po0sQDXfoIYzdyV1k_hsXdHYC8kwDYZL_pXtBJ8fQ5JGgkm-XXJZTWzTBtg0eM/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-39.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EFnquFOJnEaWgEwppa-vA2POKNiVTPW_YW26kurVq9sdh-eCru0WIro-MvurbIrffrKrUsA4tXK2_Po0sQDXfoIYzdyV1k_hsXdHYC8kwDYZL_pXtBJ8fQ5JGgkm-XXJZTWzTBtg0eM/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-39.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This didn't strike me as eerie until I uploaded it to the computer. Once I saw it on the bigger screen, I would not have been surprised to see a face in the shadows, just beyond the curtains, looking forward through time at me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6PJkCNQEDopGBHIkP47CUoDx-Cf6k4fyAFreFPFJMRcXxpAuZje0gg4W2EvRXipuqSiQT7os7LqgiWb6luzNU-NT35bnunGV-B6CsRSPyKlDIpUCvdPFPUx4QkhoD7IC2WDV624qOTE/s1600/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-52.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6PJkCNQEDopGBHIkP47CUoDx-Cf6k4fyAFreFPFJMRcXxpAuZje0gg4W2EvRXipuqSiQT7os7LqgiWb6luzNU-NT35bnunGV-B6CsRSPyKlDIpUCvdPFPUx4QkhoD7IC2WDV624qOTE/s640/Bodie+Ghost+Town%252C+CA-52.jpg" width="471" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Two people I talked to asked if I'd been to Bodie before. When I told them no, they both said it's a place that calls you back, and you will return. I understand what they meant. It's a fascinating place, and every glimpse through a window is just one of many stories. It's not a museum or a curated presentation of what we think life was like; it's time and lives frozen in place. Yes, I'll be back.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">=======</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></span></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...a sea of sin, lashed by the tempests of lust and passion. - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reverend F.M. Warrington's take on Bodie, 1881</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sources: <a href="http://www.bodie.com/#ixzz3eO3tCLeF">Bodie</a> dot com website<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodie,_California">Wikipedia</a><br /><a href="http://www.desertusa.com/bodie/bodie.html#anchor421774">DesertUSA</a><br />California State Parks brochure</span></span></div>
cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-29203651349850607692015-06-20T11:02:00.000-07:002015-07-17T11:21:33.294-07:00A Cold War relic<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems like ages ago when HH and I went to the Titan Missile Museum south of Tucson. We were there at the beginning of October, when we first went to Tumacácori, so it's been about nine months. I coulda birthed a baby in that time. What a nightmare to even think about.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrOfjoRi1TlHAvYFR9sO8R9sroPKm49PIJKMi5yTHuBUwAjJ8NAqTjuKwI4Mf29mLWWzjCoffdi2bpXCN-QbsZK8zryclJf8_IFkZDqQeOOiPa8eI7XIoIGSeW9trBHxsDdz657nj_3I/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrOfjoRi1TlHAvYFR9sO8R9sroPKm49PIJKMi5yTHuBUwAjJ8NAqTjuKwI4Mf29mLWWzjCoffdi2bpXCN-QbsZK8zryclJf8_IFkZDqQeOOiPa8eI7XIoIGSeW9trBHxsDdz657nj_3I/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-6.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Across from the museum entrance is this framework for a Christmas tree, complete with the Bethlehem star up top. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2IsKcnwWe3xZ2jLCjHqyDhLEQFuHZGILu-HwfUlCta4s12bvU6bW2gFeq5KnWCqj_rU0S4uEG_IjZ6my1o0iY4I2UwVFJsT8jhzp0xhdMU8PjCNGnTYQquqbHNdX0BoKc9RXrHqtriQ/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2IsKcnwWe3xZ2jLCjHqyDhLEQFuHZGILu-HwfUlCta4s12bvU6bW2gFeq5KnWCqj_rU0S4uEG_IjZ6my1o0iY4I2UwVFJsT8jhzp0xhdMU8PjCNGnTYQquqbHNdX0BoKc9RXrHqtriQ/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-1.jpg" width="630" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sign on the fence reveals that this thing is an antenna, and says there's a danger from high frequency radiation so I stayed across the parking lot. I'm sure they're joking.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qFnIke7ZOqijvfwLfOa3CpJam1NhrN3PuNAFQntcCXHDYQW0zFhNL_R9_f3Hb7d1_d_1p-5Ir4rWZzkyIwiEOSxkqmgUoUJJYgx2_gVnJx-wvCabaGBktMZwc-2YRvefmxRueX6gnaM/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qFnIke7ZOqijvfwLfOa3CpJam1NhrN3PuNAFQntcCXHDYQW0zFhNL_R9_f3Hb7d1_d_1p-5Ir4rWZzkyIwiEOSxkqmgUoUJJYgx2_gVnJx-wvCabaGBktMZwc-2YRvefmxRueX6gnaM/s400/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A gigantic rock near the entrance is a five ton chunk of azurite and malachite from Morenci, Arizona that was donated by a local couple. Not to be a cynic or anything, but what does this have to do with Cold War missiles except as a tax deduction for the donors? There must be a connection I don't know about.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuuF7mQbVVVSQrTG9Sh0FSC2F2DCa8fk4Y1kdH81n91tAfFxjda0yqV6meaJp7flbdwzxpXVr14McTn1Jg2CZ_koMpZj4vooletu3bt_T4wVKMZOCYqTBsKjncqCmUBNb_aUQcPjEGCM/s1600/Azuirite+%2526+malachite%252C+10217+lbs%252C+Morenci+Mine-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuuF7mQbVVVSQrTG9Sh0FSC2F2DCa8fk4Y1kdH81n91tAfFxjda0yqV6meaJp7flbdwzxpXVr14McTn1Jg2CZ_koMpZj4vooletu3bt_T4wVKMZOCYqTBsKjncqCmUBNb_aUQcPjEGCM/s640/Azuirite+%2526+malachite%252C+10217+lbs%252C+Morenci+Mine-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A sign at the museum tells how the one lone missile remaining in the silo survived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In September 1981, the Reagan administration decided to deactivate the TitanII ICBMs. Over the next few years the missiles were removed from the silos and placed in storage for use in launching satellites. In order to assure the Soviet Union that the silos were being deactivated according the the SALT treaty each silo was first stripped of useful equipment and then the top 25 feet of the silo was blown apart using 2,800 pounds of explosives. After being left exposed for several months so that Soviet satellites could verify the destruction the remains were filled in and covered to look as much like the surrounding area as possible. Only one silo escaped destruction to become the Titan Missile Museum.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Entrance to the silo is by guided tour only. The tour we took led us about 35 feet underground, beginning in a literal hole in the ground called the Access Portal. Signs at the top of the stairs warned about rattlesnakes so I was sure to not be first down the steps. From there we passed through the Blast Lock Area with a concrete and steel door that weighs three tons, then walked down a corridor...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH_4xpiQlSAlvZkUwMRLjKVklVy29Grr5NEdjJ6iUuxJRuIHXdK8dgW6zO-Yqz1cRIrl8OovycGZl0MnwgWUCbLiMBtGM3dk2DbFWI2Nf0sWhoc42Rm58dEhOK51hvEkVG7j96oJlnhc/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH_4xpiQlSAlvZkUwMRLjKVklVy29Grr5NEdjJ6iUuxJRuIHXdK8dgW6zO-Yqz1cRIrl8OovycGZl0MnwgWUCbLiMBtGM3dk2DbFWI2Nf0sWhoc42Rm58dEhOK51hvEkVG7j96oJlnhc/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-11.jpg" width="510" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...to the Launch Control Center. The tour guide asked for a volunteer to sit at the command panel. He chose a boy who turned out not to speak English, so this man, below, elbowed his way forward and took over, but he didn't get to do anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It looks like a lot of empty space, doesn't it, less complicated than the cockpit of an airplane? The simplicity belies the strict regimen that was adhered to by the staff that monitored it in in 24-hour shifts. The website <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2025" target="_blank">Roadside America</a> says this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The scariest part of the Titan Missile Museum is not the missile itself, but the antiquated equipment on which our national security once rested. It looks marginally better than the creaky instrument arrays in old science fiction movies[,] </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...with analog dials, toggle switches, and a punch tape reader to feed the coordinates into the guidance system. All low-tech but high-power.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_Missile_Museum" target="_blank">Wikipedia's article on the museum</a> says the closest the missile came to being launched was when Kennedy was shot. Suspecting the Russians, whoever was in charge of such decisions ordered that the keys used to launch the missile be placed on the tables at the launch consoles in preparation. Just in case. The keys were not placed in their switches.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_CU79Jg7ce4lqJPypFSqjsAewERabIIQxkGy_ERdDQRr3REw_fO-xIkQUG5hyphenhyphenCl3Y5GT9DDVx2zOONkwvm1IND6ukTu7_bI5tEwQ9bZZUIjnxA0D61dRFcM0IgQzSW7iR1BGVGnHgh4/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_CU79Jg7ce4lqJPypFSqjsAewERabIIQxkGy_ERdDQRr3REw_fO-xIkQUG5hyphenhyphenCl3Y5GT9DDVx2zOONkwvm1IND6ukTu7_bI5tEwQ9bZZUIjnxA0D61dRFcM0IgQzSW7iR1BGVGnHgh4/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of the area is a mandatory No Lone Zone, both for safety and security. There were many fail-safe measures in place.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9Wnx-7_i-mgSRLzqKMMlyyQbFdHqihKifzpAnZxOUm5a3kr4QgD3sGw3RikrrZtmgSshUby5ZpDI6lLxg5FmlnrDRAQdwRKkbyN790_x_8DqKrZDjnfvyPWKrZTlFEu4n0LDWag2xOs/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9Wnx-7_i-mgSRLzqKMMlyyQbFdHqihKifzpAnZxOUm5a3kr4QgD3sGw3RikrrZtmgSshUby5ZpDI6lLxg5FmlnrDRAQdwRKkbyN790_x_8DqKrZDjnfvyPWKrZTlFEu4n0LDWag2xOs/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-9.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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All of the normally stationary parts of the launch area are mounted on springs, and the walls aren't attached to the floors, allowing them to move independently, thereby protecting the complex from attack. In other words, if it was struck first, it should still be able to retaliate. I'm not sure about the science of that. Wouldn't it have been vaporized?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi5DXkOOo80nRFzNYv7Io23ZdMbLlNg6PwcIydAj66qOnF_4mRHL9ogOmg939Y9TMnReI4haPKuOLsvXIVVruX_aRk5Ds4zoHeKMeTbfRaMyLpfaQ_kg0qnP4n0gEb0N8-ce7KEXDxMU/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-10.jpg" width="484" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roadside America calls the paint color Asylum Green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vv9-V57OOkz_26OwI4Xf-3tnqjzPfDbYqd1StvuH9NBeQRGEEh_p-H-zpV4o9JKuBOMGHROr1qlM5JkihnDt1jBKnKlPFDZxHsTtWUn-xNYhAp1aiUGY2eaRuMZFS7U_PryR_w09vA8/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-12.jpg" width="556" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the interesting session in the Launch Control Center, we were taken over to the silo.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJivso_A4o67G4ue8DdDaCL0NzHYbyslmNYLE3blPSo3aqchib2Cc7fvxv5X6rsO4Xruh4AM5rzixbAQcNxDkNN6os6m52sFBDSC1w6SFbZ_oQg3Aa0T8Zmr1sS5W3KmVPjzfk9aXTMzY/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJivso_A4o67G4ue8DdDaCL0NzHYbyslmNYLE3blPSo3aqchib2Cc7fvxv5X6rsO4Xruh4AM5rzixbAQcNxDkNN6os6m52sFBDSC1w6SFbZ_oQg3Aa0T8Zmr1sS5W3KmVPjzfk9aXTMzY/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-14.jpg" width="402" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The advantage Titan II had over earlier missiles came from its fuel. Earlier missiles relied on liquid oxygen as part of their propellant, which boils away rapidly at normal temperatures, so it couldn't be stored aboard the missile. It had to be loaded just prior to launch, which took time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Titan II used two chemicals that were stable at around 60 degrees, so the missile could be stored in the silo, ready to go at any time, and could launch in less than a minute.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl0UpdGouwquLTvEGz4EOXub501mrDCW3j6ti2Ti1yrnan96AnMY0z8f6KQsH_YhLOLpCBxU7sHmvt1SINQhEHSx9IxOCVJApVJqzspA2QXaCHO6xmfC_axeYSRe9qIx6dZiSJ5BWLSQ/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl0UpdGouwquLTvEGz4EOXub501mrDCW3j6ti2Ti1yrnan96AnMY0z8f6KQsH_YhLOLpCBxU7sHmvt1SINQhEHSx9IxOCVJApVJqzspA2QXaCHO6xmfC_axeYSRe9qIx6dZiSJ5BWLSQ/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-17.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each of the 54 Titan II missiles - 18 each at Little Rock, Wichita, and Tucson - had a 9-megaton warhead that could be delivered to targets more than 6,000 miles away, and was capable of taking out a 900-square-mile area. Its top speed was about 16,000 miles an hour. This is the only remaining missile silo; all the others were demolished.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-6P-M4dmeOsEaN-BGNtprUxfCAMUNk9xaPb1sUv6QDxmnX-Su_z2y2Cfok6cgIV_AeJ-BiBZ7AvYfURERtB0dRrhss2i6XBPXraalywll_oSg2W2Hs-G3DRMQ2mRQbALn8ER_s2sqRw/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-6P-M4dmeOsEaN-BGNtprUxfCAMUNk9xaPb1sUv6QDxmnX-Su_z2y2Cfok6cgIV_AeJ-BiBZ7AvYfURERtB0dRrhss2i6XBPXraalywll_oSg2W2Hs-G3DRMQ2mRQbALn8ER_s2sqRw/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-18.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the underground guided tour, we were allowed to roam around aboveground by ourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The security at ground level included these motion-sensing devices, installed at four corners of the grounds. They were called AN/TPS-39, shortened to "tipsies" (from the TPS part of the name) by the crew of the complex. Over the 25 years the program was active, there was never a serious security issue.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0DoapZ4ftcWQX5U9gyvo7qmRKGkSyBTfzQn9y2p5rN-eZG2uUpwYr-wJa2vAHCREK9O7JAorMhwqE5mj0Nj3EJFVzvidUfuOcWwIj8viyLQkYfT6P_JDU6raGtXy4KKjUlrN9fQwMhw/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0DoapZ4ftcWQX5U9gyvo7qmRKGkSyBTfzQn9y2p5rN-eZG2uUpwYr-wJa2vAHCREK9O7JAorMhwqE5mj0Nj3EJFVzvidUfuOcWwIj8viyLQkYfT6P_JDU6raGtXy4KKjUlrN9fQwMhw/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-28.jpg" width="496" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking down at the top of the missile.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uZ7WMYIK9C6YT4GZfz7yA3RNSTM1Ic7jZQGi2MtUXt0Y3NtyaoEsQEN7H75Q6zMwsLrWUeqZAw_2U5071qzkr0gWLjT2ICql9imfpAzxceeaDoZmaMs7LDz2d6OCAn23kk4IZ7fJgOg/s1600/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uZ7WMYIK9C6YT4GZfz7yA3RNSTM1Ic7jZQGi2MtUXt0Y3NtyaoEsQEN7H75Q6zMwsLrWUeqZAw_2U5071qzkr0gWLjT2ICql9imfpAzxceeaDoZmaMs7LDz2d6OCAn23kk4IZ7fJgOg/s640/Titan+Missile+Silo%252C+AZ-29.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I expected the museum to be a National Park Service Historic Site but it's not; it's run by a nonprofit foundation. Many of the volunteers are retired engineers and scientists. The two guides we had, one at the introductory film and the other underground, were knowledgable beyond the canned presentation. In addition, the museum's director is a former Titan II Missile Combat Crew Commander, and gives her own separate tour, from the perspective of a commander.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't know why you use a fancy French word like detente when there's a good English phrase for it - cold war. - Golda Meir</span>cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-63170582174039491142015-06-17T08:37:00.001-07:002015-07-17T11:20:06.230-07:00Mama got a new set of wheels<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we were still at Death Valley I started to get the itch for a 4-wheel-drive vehicle because so much of the park is inaccessible without the traction of the two extra wheels. We of course had a truck; it was HH's dowry when we started cohabitating, but it was only two-wheel-drive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems the vehicle of choice in those parts is the Subaru. They're small, 4WD, have high clearance for the rough backcountry roads, and one of the models is long enough to allow full-length sleeping in the back. I started getting Subaru envy and even looked at them at a dealer in Las Vegas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If this was going to be my solution, it created the problem of transporting it when we're on the move. Two drivers? Tow it behind the trailer? Towing flat requires a standard transmission, and it turns out that the Subaru model that's long enough to sleep in is no longer made that way. The other alternative, maneuvering a 65-foot rig through traffic, wouldn't be fun under any circumstances, so I was back where I started.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then HH had the idea of getting another truck and that's what I did. I found a sweet Dodge Ram in Fresno that had just about everything I wanted and we went over to get it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here she is:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2peD52Fup3VpiBDWCDaU-CeXVKF-8WQ6WUQaTxoOlwvMaTLgyON_cWNpxv04Ho_nGqDoSRycshuAPNQRWjK8YNfTr91fez1eBcrA_REcNFA2XnRX7sEUmLR9xBnef_H1RgtE8FiTOsms/s1600/Mama+got+a+new+set+of+wheels-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2peD52Fup3VpiBDWCDaU-CeXVKF-8WQ6WUQaTxoOlwvMaTLgyON_cWNpxv04Ho_nGqDoSRycshuAPNQRWjK8YNfTr91fez1eBcrA_REcNFA2XnRX7sEUmLR9xBnef_H1RgtE8FiTOsms/s640/Mama+got+a+new+set+of+wheels-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a 2012 diesel model and had just 19,000 miles on it. One thing we really wanted was a short bed on the back. When we were at Big Bend a while ago we talked to a man who was driving a short bed pickup with a 5th-wheel hitch in the back, which I had no idea could be done. Someone came up with a brilliant hitch that slides when you make a turn, giving an extra sixteen inches so the corner of the trailer doesn't crash into the cab of the truck. When a fellow volunteer told me about the damage he got when he forgot to manually release his hitch, it convinced us to spend a little more to get the version that automatically slides and returns to its normal position. It's a miracle to behold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also got the model that mounts under the bed of the truck. This allows us to knock out four pins and remove the hitch, leaving a completely flat truck bed, perfect for camping. Amazing. HH, clever man that he is, also bought a hoist that that hooks onto the hitch and swings it out and to the ground. We were going to remove it when we got here, to save a couple of hundred pounds extra weight, but because it's now fire season it's better to leave it installed so we can make a quick getaway if needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After that was done, we installed a rollup tonneau cover that cuts down wind resistance when we're not towing and is fastened open with straps when we are. Finally, after two disastrous online purchases of running boards that didn't fit, we had the right ones installed in Fresno a couple of weeks ago. That's all just on the outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In general, I'm not interested in mechanics. If something does what it's supposed to do, that's all I need to know. I don't care about how or why, just that it does. But this truck has the best transmission of any vehicle I've ever had. I can't explain it but it tows like a dream and when we're not towing I can use a manual override to the automatic transmission that's particularly effective, to keep from having to use the brakes on the many downhills around here. It's a heck of a truck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And how does it do on backcountry roads? I wouldn't know. I never had a chance to take it into the wild beyond before we left Death Valley. Next winter for sure when we go back.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You might be a redneck if...you have spent more on your pickup truck than on your education. - Jeff Foxworthy</span></div>
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cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-28363876284045517802015-06-13T14:00:00.000-07:002015-06-14T09:10:24.574-07:00Yosemite wildflowers, weeds, and naturalized invaders<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the stellar floral performance at Death Valley I had high hopes for Yosemite as well. There were already blooms in motion when we got here in early April, some I'd seen elsewhere and some new. Early on, I went out to the Hite Cove Trail, known as being one of the best for wildflowers, and stayed on it that day until the crowds got too thick and the display thinned. Later I was told it was a poor year for Yosemite flowers, that in good years entire hillsides are covered in California poppies, which surprised me because it seemed like there was a lot to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, in no particular order of bloom, here are some of my favorites. It's been pointed out to me that if I can't identify what I call wildflowers, which to me means anything in bloom in fields and along the road, it could be that they're considered weeds or have naturalized from people's gardens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This must be a weed, just like the one following it, because it's not in my book.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eCtvLSP84mpotgleA03ConwWyUoM5yXeEg9Za06y1bAluQkxsatBli1r5tNccmnTho-OSccIqWQ7xNDFSz6ga2QPFoX4QPSJMbibspewtWARQnQnFLZWDPjfexFa6BByvlxXWeAAXHY/s1600/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eCtvLSP84mpotgleA03ConwWyUoM5yXeEg9Za06y1bAluQkxsatBli1r5tNccmnTho-OSccIqWQ7xNDFSz6ga2QPFoX4QPSJMbibspewtWARQnQnFLZWDPjfexFa6BByvlxXWeAAXHY/s640/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-87.jpg" width="618" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This pretty thing blooms near the one above. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLvluTPnAuDfQV3RWWuN9ZGfayKOKvdufwwBxjNxU7yyLS40fJe0qfhTqMhg3K5AtbdKEPh9LJSQyTgrgoZjGAWWtB0S_x-iLdosxr_I_j7ZoLZoPGGMMM3zoVQ3xp7Ust_QgvxjuZUI/s1600/Bachelor+button+wildflowers%252C+Yosemite-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLvluTPnAuDfQV3RWWuN9ZGfayKOKvdufwwBxjNxU7yyLS40fJe0qfhTqMhg3K5AtbdKEPh9LJSQyTgrgoZjGAWWtB0S_x-iLdosxr_I_j7ZoLZoPGGMMM3zoVQ3xp7Ust_QgvxjuZUI/s640/Bachelor+button+wildflowers%252C+Yosemite-1.jpg" width="626" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2z2LS2KV7DSL2P0N0SQuNvy5orUfXeI6XHS8VkosVsBcZoDgFF20kPl-A0jIBAiz7gjGt8NMvgcFxNpVxeE7mSNj4R6KdlSebn-N67uWBHy7XSwYIzpJKSChHe9P45DJBb9Q_02A1Wg/s1600/Bachelor+button+wildflowers%252C+Yosemite-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2z2LS2KV7DSL2P0N0SQuNvy5orUfXeI6XHS8VkosVsBcZoDgFF20kPl-A0jIBAiz7gjGt8NMvgcFxNpVxeE7mSNj4R6KdlSebn-N67uWBHy7XSwYIzpJKSChHe9P45DJBb9Q_02A1Wg/s640/Bachelor+button+wildflowers%252C+Yosemite-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most likely a Bruneau Marispoa lily, <i>Calochortus bruneaunis</i>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttjDuj_PpLRStB4Nmc27ClTdZfjWM9tjjvFP01X92Z1pKcX6-amySa-l3NKUoLjSVTMNUX4wYf8CbCyfDUzEf2WrXESlyXZwJ4m8yXarciIQlHV4Mo6iRl7m3CgWTw7mbXufEkkhdkZE/s1600/Butterlfy+or+Square+mariposa+lily%252C+Calochortus+venustus-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttjDuj_PpLRStB4Nmc27ClTdZfjWM9tjjvFP01X92Z1pKcX6-amySa-l3NKUoLjSVTMNUX4wYf8CbCyfDUzEf2WrXESlyXZwJ4m8yXarciIQlHV4Mo6iRl7m3CgWTw7mbXufEkkhdkZE/s640/Butterlfy+or+Square+mariposa+lily%252C+Calochortus+venustus-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Harvest brodiaea, <i>Brodiaea elegans</i>. Sierra Indians relied on all the brodiaea for food. The bulbs were dug early in the spring and steamed, roasted, or eaten raw. The flavor is sweet and nutty, not unlike water chestnuts. Or so it's been written.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQftbl3zM_NsF3_6Mw3FmMLjxMSAzkfSQVTboQAbrLohIkW1mtfES-FxBF05yUpuDxBHRMc6ZIOeq9EV179gei4VJRXA5HtTvfMFXoyphn4s_M5dStlT0HTVVCEsHqFKEseyXTwMCDrY/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQftbl3zM_NsF3_6Mw3FmMLjxMSAzkfSQVTboQAbrLohIkW1mtfES-FxBF05yUpuDxBHRMc6ZIOeq9EV179gei4VJRXA5HtTvfMFXoyphn4s_M5dStlT0HTVVCEsHqFKEseyXTwMCDrY/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-13.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were a lot of these golden dragonflies on the Hite Cove Trail when I went in early April. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ghYdgpFkD51094TSLe5XANNF9cVsJ93uRTQ8kUe9vzzaUnbIa37OCFAb2orNIaXyoqOIJOHwWFmUkf2mKQytL68on0pNTRcmEHI7iCjfp4daUe8aXHhZbJr6_I7mJq0bYfZRBgQYK-Y/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ghYdgpFkD51094TSLe5XANNF9cVsJ93uRTQ8kUe9vzzaUnbIa37OCFAb2orNIaXyoqOIJOHwWFmUkf2mKQytL68on0pNTRcmEHI7iCjfp4daUe8aXHhZbJr6_I7mJq0bYfZRBgQYK-Y/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-23.jpg" width="630" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also several moths foraging -</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajVeSgCP3OPrHCMwq0ZMhwhSQZJGylbxac9HhP9OMpjsBu0YQGqTFypQBvfYj8mUIiMm1Og_yNC8B332rbwFM7KmdWLn2SwLa7-QgmTkxtYreFmUReFA1H6NnOiS7BMIXbdBCwfarL6A/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajVeSgCP3OPrHCMwq0ZMhwhSQZJGylbxac9HhP9OMpjsBu0YQGqTFypQBvfYj8mUIiMm1Og_yNC8B332rbwFM7KmdWLn2SwLa7-QgmTkxtYreFmUReFA1H6NnOiS7BMIXbdBCwfarL6A/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-88.jpg" width="588" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UljWQaYPfjFQqiVLwC3EukoK7bErNFUDf4p7Y0xmu3CVxEb-A0xmIvEnS3NEKKlLzmE5wpPkioyhLemfH4-2bzVZgNPRN49eLPUWyiI8YwuYW6l_HEf9woJ4dlO80QSRmNBj-mPNsRk/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UljWQaYPfjFQqiVLwC3EukoK7bErNFUDf4p7Y0xmu3CVxEb-A0xmIvEnS3NEKKlLzmE5wpPkioyhLemfH4-2bzVZgNPRN49eLPUWyiI8YwuYW6l_HEf9woJ4dlO80QSRmNBj-mPNsRk/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-84.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of my favorites, the delightful fairy lantern or white globe lily, <i>Calochortus albus</i>. Inside the flower, at the base of the three petals, are tiny nectar glands that attract pollinators. Above the nectar glands are silky hairs that gently brush pollen off a visiting insect, pollinating the plant. There are fourteen species of this plant in the Sierra.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGS3ifmQ9xoin9ZVi6Fe5skiERDQOYMfbRffXG6ZNrlZ6dokbP9mfoLbuTIvuHzL3VS3DDnwpQ4c5OaYE5iyrFRtPyJku3EGSjVNjvTy_6Yacbnpw3hSRvn-o0nqCrqo36fwGOFl3HCM/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGS3ifmQ9xoin9ZVi6Fe5skiERDQOYMfbRffXG6ZNrlZ6dokbP9mfoLbuTIvuHzL3VS3DDnwpQ4c5OaYE5iyrFRtPyJku3EGSjVNjvTy_6Yacbnpw3hSRvn-o0nqCrqo36fwGOFl3HCM/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-41.jpg" width="628" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA85dhnkC53ltzD7IBK9SiC5lDDrs4hrsZtmcvTy26DKdQJoAGb8nLgDQQvWqXyN7rZQUKIIdZhl2rsflqbX30-bftsNp4yZk4dTbXvSPqWDPAg3h_cLIvIU-xBHl2UgFsH0MCAph-TU/s640/Fairy+lanterns-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This, surprisingly, is the beginning of the seed pod for the fairy lantern. How it goes from the tender, fragile globe above to this succulent-like lobed structure would be an interesting progression to watch.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xGKLqHrYR1C6oImJV6E6pmlcE49AfgXQ_3EeEpufS8GigA-Zk2bb_pnbdHdPYiqmccJUvfuDcJUqCjb5rvxhO_FguvMeRuT971HX9xmEN0bqphRoFS1j9Bgn8g8PufUOEHFF4nrD0mY/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xGKLqHrYR1C6oImJV6E6pmlcE49AfgXQ_3EeEpufS8GigA-Zk2bb_pnbdHdPYiqmccJUvfuDcJUqCjb5rvxhO_FguvMeRuT971HX9xmEN0bqphRoFS1j9Bgn8g8PufUOEHFF4nrD0mY/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-43.jpg" width="402" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A mystery from last year's bloom.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jClxJ_nQWBKCsuY-I3d93wsVT26-1WyS7RmLLBdRhTmp0XeTtpSml_Dt3hyphenhyphen1FS3VkplkGGvT-SO35PfF_K69YFZ0b_NsvX7qiFEuo8RUPECciooPxF9LfDucrW7AXMspNq6Gc644Bs4/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jClxJ_nQWBKCsuY-I3d93wsVT26-1WyS7RmLLBdRhTmp0XeTtpSml_Dt3hyphenhyphen1FS3VkplkGGvT-SO35PfF_K69YFZ0b_NsvX7qiFEuo8RUPECciooPxF9LfDucrW7AXMspNq6Gc644Bs4/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-44.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is Mustang clover, <i>Linanthus montanus</i>. It's not in the clover family, but you can see the similarity to clover in the dense head from which the flowers form.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIvnSd2FskTSaEmdNlUFZs4D5DVJRDaxzKZmYTb-uZjoS3ssGKBM4mXQhUvysai7tYvuTrcQn11a2Kv6bquwkw79lt2SBRteLkk1VQFeoqjdnbB9K1KYWpEp6-PXhDosYfnejEgINrxQ/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIvnSd2FskTSaEmdNlUFZs4D5DVJRDaxzKZmYTb-uZjoS3ssGKBM4mXQhUvysai7tYvuTrcQn11a2Kv6bquwkw79lt2SBRteLkk1VQFeoqjdnbB9K1KYWpEp6-PXhDosYfnejEgINrxQ/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-77.jpg" width="310" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dried remnants of some flower from last year, like a candelabra.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnmeb5N7d9zNfsv3soYFoiMsApNe28ElSN8znwDlMV9hRjtEm8qZhTxuPPORv-H5FxQQ_GzU3CqOlnt3pxZwArBRjMxDYU03crg8YZ4QNNGCeMVeo0W_B849oerAfrlZjOGRM8FlENHw/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnmeb5N7d9zNfsv3soYFoiMsApNe28ElSN8znwDlMV9hRjtEm8qZhTxuPPORv-H5FxQQ_GzU3CqOlnt3pxZwArBRjMxDYU03crg8YZ4QNNGCeMVeo0W_B849oerAfrlZjOGRM8FlENHw/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-78.jpg" width="390" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't know this one. It's not a good photo but all there is of this little butterfly-looking flower.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkko96WYWAJNZeNQvcomhhxmrW5SgbKtGQu5ofEb5Ui2sSRmk8CFdITpzuFvaxXSJZgTJxeGSgDWQHzzlNXcrFKtroCeaV46L4C4MWdmWCrVYpngIPhsauL6F8tO5SJpptGxq5gvYZaqQ/s1600/P1070747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkko96WYWAJNZeNQvcomhhxmrW5SgbKtGQu5ofEb5Ui2sSRmk8CFdITpzuFvaxXSJZgTJxeGSgDWQHzzlNXcrFKtroCeaV46L4C4MWdmWCrVYpngIPhsauL6F8tO5SJpptGxq5gvYZaqQ/s640/P1070747.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blazing star, <i>Mentzelia lindleyi crocea. </i>I've seen large patches of it on hillsides along my commute - what a traffic stopper!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKV3-70SkyCcXc7oGJlmoVxK6wCiIDqAqI1Y2WTcz_PPnjBHbjOP8EFrVY7i4LDwok_lqYup1c8nV5cmjEkrNPVLfLBZU1k3QffPai0JcsRtjjb_phvjYlusPTasL1VtYWl0cKEL3j_jg/s1600/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKV3-70SkyCcXc7oGJlmoVxK6wCiIDqAqI1Y2WTcz_PPnjBHbjOP8EFrVY7i4LDwok_lqYup1c8nV5cmjEkrNPVLfLBZU1k3QffPai0JcsRtjjb_phvjYlusPTasL1VtYWl0cKEL3j_jg/s640/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-62.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqR-EExJ6epriXM0ZS7z_vNrohGSA7qP4Iwlz9GHQ5tcfFPy35EQ7BQFKtvct8PWeT0yNqgXSfCHUaKQ3Z8ISFqCEn0_k4L-rZpLvdJqMBcKNTj1najWFhoaLZLhaasZ49Jh0V3HEFS4/s1600/P1070783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqR-EExJ6epriXM0ZS7z_vNrohGSA7qP4Iwlz9GHQ5tcfFPy35EQ7BQFKtvct8PWeT0yNqgXSfCHUaKQ3Z8ISFqCEn0_k4L-rZpLvdJqMBcKNTj1najWFhoaLZLhaasZ49Jh0V3HEFS4/s640/P1070783.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdPIWQB5bzmqG7jHggsIedjWbsjohbMb9TYFaLtkcO6b-3JxQ2cdxAmKFi-zC4V09JcSYHwWH7hjtwlcbKBwACUce0mWVgYnyG7MFM3dYpLRzOPHlaD8BkKu44BGu9bA1QULnkE4yHEM/s1600/P1070785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdPIWQB5bzmqG7jHggsIedjWbsjohbMb9TYFaLtkcO6b-3JxQ2cdxAmKFi-zC4V09JcSYHwWH7hjtwlcbKBwACUce0mWVgYnyG7MFM3dYpLRzOPHlaD8BkKu44BGu9bA1QULnkE4yHEM/s640/P1070785.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Simple dried grasses have elegant forms, like a classic ballerina pose.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugel6ZO38sUXn-sr9wU7Wyb5n18cxk2_h7h0TlifErbwNF78j7WLeju0zanh2ZmKeewHKp1V0QIeBJcquQJA49VTlnREtN2XB_4b-iMLlz1XeX7wiLCOWPg1mKvYUnc6nprZH1_I-YZU/s1600/P1070953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugel6ZO38sUXn-sr9wU7Wyb5n18cxk2_h7h0TlifErbwNF78j7WLeju0zanh2ZmKeewHKp1V0QIeBJcquQJA49VTlnREtN2XB_4b-iMLlz1XeX7wiLCOWPg1mKvYUnc6nprZH1_I-YZU/s640/P1070953.jpg" width="294" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6txHExYBnUkSImXmE3RgDRMrou4hgaObRgtu-pEy0Jv3htzu0pta6F5K0Nogbsfv9Y5oNj_Idbj43jyc5BVkBzRpaTKEJkDJw7HLMPjHTi-PS14UO-lu2JxkOuD5uJtk1xysGUyeKINo/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6txHExYBnUkSImXmE3RgDRMrou4hgaObRgtu-pEy0Jv3htzu0pta6F5K0Nogbsfv9Y5oNj_Idbj43jyc5BVkBzRpaTKEJkDJw7HLMPjHTi-PS14UO-lu2JxkOuD5uJtk1xysGUyeKINo/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-81.jpg" width="618" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD-Ht1p9kEM2TAJgUcoCRJEVP7LBKS497yvetJjnqWjvZe5izrbhQulgBqecwKhyphenhyphensaUPzgFJpm68dcwrPhUO_qdcjH5dYF1MBUkOJxZ35dt77vXEXZgHKAUuSeQfDlJMS5F5tckQQ_4Y/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD-Ht1p9kEM2TAJgUcoCRJEVP7LBKS497yvetJjnqWjvZe5izrbhQulgBqecwKhyphenhyphensaUPzgFJpm68dcwrPhUO_qdcjH5dYF1MBUkOJxZ35dt77vXEXZgHKAUuSeQfDlJMS5F5tckQQ_4Y/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-72.jpg" width="332" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jFiLgjkvAPGEC11yDJYgTsH7Lhq6UOeQdW9NaedM4GR9AmMZwPEPcVR6R7OSRciahjQcTK1x3cjs7z2fvxzQDl3QJPkAHJKLz7wLvMStugcnhqugE6uju6PeqFxktEo6vCg-siCbhKQ/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jFiLgjkvAPGEC11yDJYgTsH7Lhq6UOeQdW9NaedM4GR9AmMZwPEPcVR6R7OSRciahjQcTK1x3cjs7z2fvxzQDl3QJPkAHJKLz7wLvMStugcnhqugE6uju6PeqFxktEo6vCg-siCbhKQ/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-27.jpg" width="548" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is an annual poppy, <i>Eschscholzia caespitosa</i>. It's similar to the California poppy, <i>E. Californica</i>, the state flower, which is larger, more robust, and has a prominent red ridge at the base of the petals. All California poppies close at night and on cloudy days, presumably to prevent the pollen from getting wet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS756Oo9dxFzo4huV7Jpg4EDLc0IeN2_HPmfi7uFpU2CnzleMWcrLuk6wKeuAEj5cle6jSrxrQ40ALj94oDmQsjMTd3brNWWyne58CKebwkn6vDPJ5PzMa9zgXhy2VAIwpLEeKzjJcxd0/s1600/P1070958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS756Oo9dxFzo4huV7Jpg4EDLc0IeN2_HPmfi7uFpU2CnzleMWcrLuk6wKeuAEj5cle6jSrxrQ40ALj94oDmQsjMTd3brNWWyne58CKebwkn6vDPJ5PzMa9zgXhy2VAIwpLEeKzjJcxd0/s640/P1070958.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">This Western Blue Flag, </span><i style="text-align: center;">Iris missouriensis</i><span style="text-align: center;">, was along the highway I sometimes walk to work, just one lone flower, always in shade, and I took a million photos in hope of getting one usable one. Later, more bloomed in the same area but they were still always in deep shade, so this took some processing time to lighten it and give it contrast.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When an insect lands on a sepal, it crawls into the center of the plant toward the nectar, brushing against the style and thus rubbing another plant's pollen onto it as it picks up a new load. Some Native Americans used the leaves, woven into mats and lined with cattail "down" for baby diapers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0nyYTfj6foV9lWTvHxGQZJ33SWLp3Z_0SLd1l7ur-5_NTlfv5hg1XVEnFwwyv5NBwngUBB6w2Pp0-pJOvpj4rqF7n4kYrj13h-U0IhRNd4pYEbP1hAFVdfd13csuyvqv_Y8Ydv_eYv8/s1600/P1080199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0nyYTfj6foV9lWTvHxGQZJ33SWLp3Z_0SLd1l7ur-5_NTlfv5hg1XVEnFwwyv5NBwngUBB6w2Pp0-pJOvpj4rqF7n4kYrj13h-U0IhRNd4pYEbP1hAFVdfd13csuyvqv_Y8Ydv_eYv8/s640/P1080199.jpg" width="612" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pine violet, <i>Viola lobata</i>. These are sparse, at least where I've seen them. The description in my book says the lowest petal extends into a spur that holds the nectary gland, with the veins acting as nectar guides in the same way as the veins do on <a href="http://cruisingat60.blogspot.com/2015/05/channeling-georgia.html" target="_blank">iris blossoms</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq-tMf1p5LuokKl5ASQUl45wJXF3trufDGywj59f-p_xlDS0XuPzNIX6DFHOXrlsMU9fFkqUsfjvuUUUIHH_RTPfEnISi-GgGHT7DNaS8I3Z5eW9YxCUvwNJUhMUZU13T04cy06nsj_E/s1600/Pine+violet%252C+yellow+wood+violet%252C+Viola+lobata+sbsp.+lobata-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq-tMf1p5LuokKl5ASQUl45wJXF3trufDGywj59f-p_xlDS0XuPzNIX6DFHOXrlsMU9fFkqUsfjvuUUUIHH_RTPfEnISi-GgGHT7DNaS8I3Z5eW9YxCUvwNJUhMUZU13T04cy06nsj_E/s640/Pine+violet%252C+yellow+wood+violet%252C+Viola+lobata+sbsp.+lobata-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of my favorite photos is this one of a backlit succulent about the size of a silver dollar.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2kOYe8SARHHRzGTu-2Z8cCtdsvvWb23d4QPeT4NAplOSeQ89U4fM_Wj6MCm2DZIeeNWlvaACXI9mZLJFMFiz8CEWRry7JIPUQlq09lpeX42pMfU83htBwLPs0J-FsBxiHVeI2OgTGZw/s1600/Wildflowers+and+landscape%252C+Vernal+Falls+hike-100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2kOYe8SARHHRzGTu-2Z8cCtdsvvWb23d4QPeT4NAplOSeQ89U4fM_Wj6MCm2DZIeeNWlvaACXI9mZLJFMFiz8CEWRry7JIPUQlq09lpeX42pMfU83htBwLPs0J-FsBxiHVeI2OgTGZw/s640/Wildflowers+and+landscape%252C+Vernal+Falls+hike-100.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are many flowers I have difficulty identifying. They look similar to what's in my book but sometimes not a perfect match. This is one of them. It may be a Smooth Woodland Star, <i>Lithophragma glabrum</i>. I just give up after a while.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6xhdnfhYDjET8bAdyRKe4_If6vrehry4he9QoKh1VLSU9L2BjhXby_5Q769R_qE7IOPPe64kM2hjsPeTp7J6u_eFvtRuiIWDnQ_dBO15_h58FTJzCUE4GmN4OaQcNJqfiZV8mWNFdsc/s1600/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6xhdnfhYDjET8bAdyRKe4_If6vrehry4he9QoKh1VLSU9L2BjhXby_5Q769R_qE7IOPPe64kM2hjsPeTp7J6u_eFvtRuiIWDnQ_dBO15_h58FTJzCUE4GmN4OaQcNJqfiZV8mWNFdsc/s640/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-37.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Baby Blue Eyes, <i>Nemophilia menziesii</i>. The explorer John C. Fremont wrote that "the blue fields of nemophilia and the golden poppy represent fairly the skies and gold of California."</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_wFtq1iIBV3mIb5AgWWlZo9VOOR9N2Or6PUOV-dQFJ9UXCmudLF6m_9BEb-UpbgSZ_gvWtN7klg0JhJiJXLfCtIIf9BWzg96JgcWEa__bj_3gx-uEAdeQGPY9HEGPRmshbb9rm5iom0/s1600/P1070741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_wFtq1iIBV3mIb5AgWWlZo9VOOR9N2Or6PUOV-dQFJ9UXCmudLF6m_9BEb-UpbgSZ_gvWtN7klg0JhJiJXLfCtIIf9BWzg96JgcWEa__bj_3gx-uEAdeQGPY9HEGPRmshbb9rm5iom0/s640/P1070741.jpg" width="596" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first glance this looks much like Baby Blue Eyes but, nope.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dTsl2FBZ8Qh6y6fFMP3nhYtSNQIq8jUerXeG20Gt88PcV5c2Tkzb5c-_kuI2mL4-yUNwlJNElcjQrgIJBX2j_9jPNxhZe3WAITZ_5jenmqXpvCS86CtsOVXOaH5EQldSXhYrwUetkb4/s1600/P1070965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="631" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dTsl2FBZ8Qh6y6fFMP3nhYtSNQIq8jUerXeG20Gt88PcV5c2Tkzb5c-_kuI2mL4-yUNwlJNElcjQrgIJBX2j_9jPNxhZe3WAITZ_5jenmqXpvCS86CtsOVXOaH5EQldSXhYrwUetkb4/s640/P1070965.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Possibly Mountain Jewelflower, <i>Streptanthus tortuosus. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSERv_oqx7DeIS4DUPE5oWKn1R4tQvnnq0IDC-U3sOzAAYEACXQgoo3qOc8H8eg3kDTgWs7f_yUHc3MByBjHDmBMfKOsNZDxlwjNTa8iTEUDIeo8wbc3kGIm0yUaGehpjbz71t6kNELaY/s1600/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSERv_oqx7DeIS4DUPE5oWKn1R4tQvnnq0IDC-U3sOzAAYEACXQgoo3qOc8H8eg3kDTgWs7f_yUHc3MByBjHDmBMfKOsNZDxlwjNTa8iTEUDIeo8wbc3kGIm0yUaGehpjbz71t6kNELaY/s640/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-45.jpg" width="362" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is Twining brodiaea, <i>Brodiaea volubilis</i>, an amazing plant that twines around other plants to four or five feet. It will continue to twine, grow, and bloom even if severed at the base.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe2ThS8ywhI_4oC4Qna-FuectO0exTM12jQ_RyH_1Ed62aF6Jd6MA2BuT23Cb8Q75_MtLsT8W19hUwWAcbUK_4ttq2wdEPNacHGjnibcAsIlWiiShjF7_tTZSRsniJwaRPfp1G4Cfxqo/s1600/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe2ThS8ywhI_4oC4Qna-FuectO0exTM12jQ_RyH_1Ed62aF6Jd6MA2BuT23Cb8Q75_MtLsT8W19hUwWAcbUK_4ttq2wdEPNacHGjnibcAsIlWiiShjF7_tTZSRsniJwaRPfp1G4Cfxqo/s640/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-74.jpg" width="548" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This unusual plant is Miner's Lettuce, <i>Claytonia perfoliata</i>, and is named for John Clayton, and early American botanist who collected plant specimens in Virginia. Which doesn't explain why this California plant is named for him. Its leaves are edible and are eaten as a salad. Good to know!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS-MXOecHnXVSRe3LfEnzjG9A5EcxA5cM51PidJAYAlu_iG3qpP7Ezo4Ok9Mk-dnsMNQENpkLT9qFhTWTHzYeOhf72cKy2OzpWvTYk_U6Nokpb0gHqP1LNEcDXpxuc_POjONi8nvnreI/s1600/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS-MXOecHnXVSRe3LfEnzjG9A5EcxA5cM51PidJAYAlu_iG3qpP7Ezo4Ok9Mk-dnsMNQENpkLT9qFhTWTHzYeOhf72cKy2OzpWvTYk_U6Nokpb0gHqP1LNEcDXpxuc_POjONi8nvnreI/s640/Wildflowers%252C+Foresta+Road-86.jpg" width="610" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not sure about this one, either, but the color! Just eat it with a spoon.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUq_3mqdR0TnjH3B8GLP6S0laXzyr-lh-zRB9-ygvKMn6A6EsQ4uvBwQNGePqca7PhxqKd0U40lm1cZzKMc-eeFvi64IyNs4zc_sl-nOvdr1qhe9_51fRkfLUd22fXSc9sBc-Cg3MvuBo/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUq_3mqdR0TnjH3B8GLP6S0laXzyr-lh-zRB9-ygvKMn6A6EsQ4uvBwQNGePqca7PhxqKd0U40lm1cZzKMc-eeFvi64IyNs4zc_sl-nOvdr1qhe9_51fRkfLUd22fXSc9sBc-Cg3MvuBo/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-4.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe a monkeyflower. Sure is pretty, whatever it is.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ_2IyJS-K1zOjNoSweSgoEdcIJUL71xpatD_h1abrGXy8XGmOLF79p5TJw6dXxvmAGqC5t2q1hfFcWrtpvTGjul3wU0EDP0nLFI3ETjBLXVtNwa98JrphwIHlyP-T7c-4K75lCnDifw/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ_2IyJS-K1zOjNoSweSgoEdcIJUL71xpatD_h1abrGXy8XGmOLF79p5TJw6dXxvmAGqC5t2q1hfFcWrtpvTGjul3wU0EDP0nLFI3ETjBLXVtNwa98JrphwIHlyP-T7c-4K75lCnDifw/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-12.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chinese houses, <i>Collinsia heterophylla</i>, are some of the most unusual flowers I've encountered. Can you see how the tiers might resemble a pagoda? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzM5zPweNWXWmU_wmmF36g6LCiL9p0tdGAMp3YTGxUgOaDGadNy0wjOoM906fUX2k_i5SkvBSpQU7CapLc6ruNk5qs_SO1bg6tS1dE2hIlazKjgVB7JKRiReVYIund5XnUUcCsteT8QBw/s1600/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzM5zPweNWXWmU_wmmF36g6LCiL9p0tdGAMp3YTGxUgOaDGadNy0wjOoM906fUX2k_i5SkvBSpQU7CapLc6ruNk5qs_SO1bg6tS1dE2hIlazKjgVB7JKRiReVYIund5XnUUcCsteT8QBw/s640/Hite+Cove+wildflowers-69.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMRVUB1wZKM4LVd3z1UjwA7AM1kUAJl1WnVjCbJRIeVVM9iyKLJMu87ipNJtuQzV5BJrFySVWqqrvUhJJmtpdiiOrAgOxXrLP1OocPVD35rVyzH7dQpxuteSw3XYzoZrhFkaZb7RVNL4/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMRVUB1wZKM4LVd3z1UjwA7AM1kUAJl1WnVjCbJRIeVVM9iyKLJMu87ipNJtuQzV5BJrFySVWqqrvUhJJmtpdiiOrAgOxXrLP1OocPVD35rVyzH7dQpxuteSw3XYzoZrhFkaZb7RVNL4/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-14.jpg" width="522" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is heartleaf or purple milkweed, <i>asclepias cordfolia</i>. What's interesting about this plant is that it doesn't turn its face to the sun; it droops at about 45 degrees. It could have been given a name that includes penta, because of its five sepals, five petals, and five concave hoods. Native Americans extracted material from this milkweed to make rope; the plant was also used as a contraceptive and a snakebite remedy. Larvae of the monarch butterfly feed on its leaves. I've seen fewer than a dozen monarchs here. I hope there are lots of larvae munching away.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V9D2yeV7hTSu3nQfZSGOZKflLqUjaBr7-i0_hJCnjxwGHXrFMX5NsuuE5HWlkZH6fz685rEzhELyz1JPwFTEz86WmrhWOT89wgHu35uqP7BBIt5Ii4qJzNjbMHsVIGjzXIyaQD069tI/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V9D2yeV7hTSu3nQfZSGOZKflLqUjaBr7-i0_hJCnjxwGHXrFMX5NsuuE5HWlkZH6fz685rEzhELyz1JPwFTEz86WmrhWOT89wgHu35uqP7BBIt5Ii4qJzNjbMHsVIGjzXIyaQD069tI/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-24.jpg" width="515" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlc0edQjSB72EFgFP02XRUXMduvrFPFsAl9Y6KwBpFvXSRnOIbPfySvg6XtIPjnLwAg1D0uI6IRncOCz3mJIfv0XGjkVer8TZjWzgXowG6VROWBdLvTkp3XLFH22E-2B7TEqPuVUZVLs/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlc0edQjSB72EFgFP02XRUXMduvrFPFsAl9Y6KwBpFvXSRnOIbPfySvg6XtIPjnLwAg1D0uI6IRncOCz3mJIfv0XGjkVer8TZjWzgXowG6VROWBdLvTkp3XLFH22E-2B7TEqPuVUZVLs/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-23.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Farewell-to-spring, <i>Clarkia williamsonii</i>, is so named due to its late spring flowering. We have seen acres of hillsides in a wash of pink from these flowers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTjZ6KMPYASEZ4rsnDfrz5UkYePPWxbUefjdcj3f-tITpjBnZrF3Gm0FiMSi0QXcoB1tz0mJ4y2E4Lq9x7Hyryg645b9mJ3yULW1956_BikyGuYtrmeTuV2OmxJVLGsqLZ85fVeLN6Ws/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTjZ6KMPYASEZ4rsnDfrz5UkYePPWxbUefjdcj3f-tITpjBnZrF3Gm0FiMSi0QXcoB1tz0mJ4y2E4Lq9x7Hyryg645b9mJ3yULW1956_BikyGuYtrmeTuV2OmxJVLGsqLZ85fVeLN6Ws/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-27.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One day, it seemed, these flowers popped up out of nowhere. They occur in large stands, not as individual flowers, and remind me of something out of Dr. Seuss. They're a variety of Argemone, a prickly poppy, but I can't tell which one. Most of the prickly poppies I've seen described say they're 2-3 feet tall. All of these are 5-6 feet.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARZIzE3eRiGnkTFVzpNQP-rGsejZ0E9SRQscEbB2ox7lByoNHPDXYWNwONjO4G_RBTEW9e8PT1ZsXBWoBr3g8_3p3MidU_EhjM-0bAaqEHQE7_8lJDiBFw8lAFGco51TEnpsTSY1wmdI/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARZIzE3eRiGnkTFVzpNQP-rGsejZ0E9SRQscEbB2ox7lByoNHPDXYWNwONjO4G_RBTEW9e8PT1ZsXBWoBr3g8_3p3MidU_EhjM-0bAaqEHQE7_8lJDiBFw8lAFGco51TEnpsTSY1wmdI/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-39.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb2a_Vc7v59oCvRgEK1tojo44Msp6Km8kMkqMhL74oUkjeji7QDwoMPheKx1PjEWSB4F6zZmrIUdejh8kyq2YBMAze4lPn0qNb__80Uc9IO69FjU1rZ79BJZZ3wR3dVHwbWo9Z0938Ww/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb2a_Vc7v59oCvRgEK1tojo44Msp6Km8kMkqMhL74oUkjeji7QDwoMPheKx1PjEWSB4F6zZmrIUdejh8kyq2YBMAze4lPn0qNb__80Uc9IO69FjU1rZ79BJZZ3wR3dVHwbWo9Z0938Ww/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-37.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdGEcLnYTjX25W0lKPlZoSOhLoComufWx-0LLGYTgJh-2mKvqSVy0J4BDu7t_l3JsNCcKx0rf0iMP5_rU6DDEyqwxwgAvmD-Q9jLP_7Tnly0NlwFNhL9BH5ksJvttDQOLd1o_M7J7tcQ/s1600/Yosemite+wildflowers-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdGEcLnYTjX25W0lKPlZoSOhLoComufWx-0LLGYTgJh-2mKvqSVy0J4BDu7t_l3JsNCcKx0rf0iMP5_rU6DDEyqwxwgAvmD-Q9jLP_7Tnly0NlwFNhL9BH5ksJvttDQOLd1o_M7J7tcQ/s640/Yosemite+wildflowers-36.jpg" width="618" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Live-forever, <i>Dudleya cymosa</i>, is a succulent perennial that I saw coming out of almost bare rock along a road I walk between home and work. They were in poor show this year and this is the best I could do. I'd heard of this plant and so was glad to see one. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjucVNJ882AxgNM7gswleCqzTr3KZ7KyMO-NmSlKlzIAQI395dye4-4iUf2EfcwrcFXMkX8usIaikkant-R1S1mcFo0Z4uO7Fjso8NhSBZ4bHywD4Rh8bBw26D_FxuOs5yMherOuRC1Dc/s1600/P1070759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjucVNJ882AxgNM7gswleCqzTr3KZ7KyMO-NmSlKlzIAQI395dye4-4iUf2EfcwrcFXMkX8usIaikkant-R1S1mcFo0Z4uO7Fjso8NhSBZ4bHywD4Rh8bBw26D_FxuOs5yMherOuRC1Dc/s640/P1070759.jpg" width="574" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fiddleneck, <i>Amsinckia intermedia</i>. I think. Or caterpillar plant.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WVA4sCR_eo7-PN2VH3F6by8bglh2HF3c8P8GWsR2nS2tlkvoha-tTIwH5k79tZNIVyE6jmgiFNVwzRg1dP3dK5r-_Ud46wKfBt8OfV7XlKk9UJ4Bo45trT68ssA5t7mywz1VxMStcwI/s1600/P1070765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WVA4sCR_eo7-PN2VH3F6by8bglh2HF3c8P8GWsR2nS2tlkvoha-tTIwH5k79tZNIVyE6jmgiFNVwzRg1dP3dK5r-_Ud46wKfBt8OfV7XlKk9UJ4Bo45trT68ssA5t7mywz1VxMStcwI/s640/P1070765.jpg" width="550" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are more in my arsenal. Be warned.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows. - Doug Larson</span></div>
cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-3940030386427396332015-06-06T18:18:00.002-07:002015-06-06T18:18:26.573-07:00East of the Sierra again<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday we had huge, gigantic plans to go over Tioga Pass and see half a dozen things before coming back. We always do this and we never manage to get it all done. I think we saw about half of the list and it was still worth the drive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Outside the fee station on the east side of the park is this lovely view. There were no cars lined up to get into or out of the park, and only one other car at the pullout, a far cry from a couple of weeks ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgoXIL5-pnblBTIMh44pSRM5e1-a_75SWBv_VMyxcKii04T99bUOIgPmSncr68O-0s86KH4q6lYZ4u8W3flg1sdF68ZV38Ci3WInDp4iJKCl8jVgWi0d8fuxTKfA14ZMK3TmyLiYKVCE/s640/HWY+120+outside+YOSE%252C+looking+E-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">There's still a good distance to drive after leaving the park on the way to Highway 395 that runs north and south. It's the same road that Manzanar is on, south of here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clouds were gathering over the Sierra. I love how the sky looks when they gather over the mountains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRd1b4JC7y7XHYJtl9zQ-9KsD11X2wVNoBNxfAA5dmTL3zvaOHIqJAsVbtiGnj9O_wn6ggLMF0wm4tlGXyJT4PNwa_SrRjuySk1ABC4JW48M-YhE2ePynxrgfahzkf0cplqTB7NfQb9E/s640/Hwy+395+Looking+W%252C+just+S+of+Hwy+120-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I heard a Ranger at Yosemite say there is no such thing as the Sierras, or the Sierra Nevadas. It's just the Sierra. The name comes from the Spanish, meaning snowy mountain range. From <a href="http://www.highsierratopix.com/" target="_blank">this website</a> comes a lively discussion on the irritation Sierra-philes feel with the pluralization of any part of the name. It also summarizes the history of the name</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The great mountain range that dominates Tulare County has a Spanish name. The title dates back to April 1776, when a Spanish soldier named Pedro Font pushed inland from newly discovered San Francisco Bay and saw a range of high mountains far to the east.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Describing what he saw, he mapped the feature as una gran sierra nevada - literally "a big snowy mountain range." The name stuck. We still use it more than two centuries later.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Notice that Font, on that first day of European awareness of California's biggest mountains, got something very basic right. He grasped on that long ago day that California's Sierra Nevada was a single, continuous entity. This is why he called it the Sierra Nevada. If he had thought of it a complex of mountain ranges, he could have used the plural form: las sierras nevadas. But he didn't.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Spanish language h</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">abit of calling a mountain ridge a sierra dates back a very long time. The word originally meant "serrated," and thus also came to mean "saw blade."</span> </blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymYtc7y_-Z0H2y1k6RanmXbcS__oUKD-FmDq21lZgQVr7VRQvU0rVZmzuYurMeV4CN8B0NqjxQX88geBJEUFCMbzpAUVOhxM3K6IZ1vBzLX45Ra99TpyLPNnO7RgkoHiSUsbxYoaJiwc/s1600/Hwy+395+Looking+W%252C+just+S+of+Hwy+120-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymYtc7y_-Z0H2y1k6RanmXbcS__oUKD-FmDq21lZgQVr7VRQvU0rVZmzuYurMeV4CN8B0NqjxQX88geBJEUFCMbzpAUVOhxM3K6IZ1vBzLX45Ra99TpyLPNnO7RgkoHiSUsbxYoaJiwc/s640/Hwy+395+Looking+W%252C+just+S+of+Hwy+120-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One reason our eyes are always bigger than our accomplishments is we have never met a side road we didn't like. The plan was to drive directly to Devils Postpile National Monument but when I saw the June Lake Loop road approaching and asked HH, "OK?" and he said "Of course!" our itinerary was doomed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The loop road not only goes by June Lake, but also Grant, Silver, and Gull Lakes. It's a resort community tucked away from the highway and the busyness of Yosemite, and altogether as pretty. There are many campgrounds along the loop, most of them on one of the lakes or another, and fishing must be good because anglers were out all over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After driving the loop we continued south on 395 to the turnoff for Mammoth Lakes, Devils Postpile, and Rainbow Falls. Just before the entrance station to the Postpile and Falls is a turnoff to the viewpoint for the Minarets, peaks off in the distance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I like old interpretive signs. At least I think it's an old one; the newer ones are slick and colorful. This etched metal sign is classic.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1rUzljpQsFVkzv5gtltU-g70681P2z6Vi0A5Q_V3BIOjfmu7sRJfcrEuHs3rMEjtJjWJU07hGYkhpI049tszKAjOvSRFESFR04f1SBMvtBmkWZg3UmRBM7zw1XXTu5gVmvsA5aolgo4/s1600/Minaret+View+sign-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1rUzljpQsFVkzv5gtltU-g70681P2z6Vi0A5Q_V3BIOjfmu7sRJfcrEuHs3rMEjtJjWJU07hGYkhpI049tszKAjOvSRFESFR04f1SBMvtBmkWZg3UmRBM7zw1XXTu5gVmvsA5aolgo4/s640/Minaret+View+sign-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a far-off view of the Minarets, to the right of center. </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IK1niQWUebdqBPMFqRp93zKc9IMYVrMJGcu5_QfKxaXgy0hgugB09q92VksiZTZK2DM-oXOd3pTBVTkzqUp_npNRX610PZcK4n0LIcO3VvnCXjpVvsL7lvXZDGZWxLkNtwhqx3eHT0o/s1600/Minaret+View-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IK1niQWUebdqBPMFqRp93zKc9IMYVrMJGcu5_QfKxaXgy0hgugB09q92VksiZTZK2DM-oXOd3pTBVTkzqUp_npNRX610PZcK4n0LIcO3VvnCXjpVvsL7lvXZDGZWxLkNtwhqx3eHT0o/s640/Minaret+View-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here is a closer view. Because sierra means serrated or sawtooth, the term could also be used for that small part of the range if someone hadn't made the fanciful connection to Arabic architecture. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar%C3%AAte" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>, the minarets collectively form an arête, an </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">almost knife-like ridge of rock which is typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. They're a prominent feature of Ansel Adams Wilderness, formerly called Minaret Wilderness. Oh, the stuff I learn when I write this blog.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5R5jDtSY_ZjaVnNPO-SNbXLpv3fjklTUtUp6FxCWofBzVKADUHFYia1ow9i9r9tYfdeNuavrPPQcdlFCzHolbYP_Rg0bY3tM0ccBdjvsZVBilG5S0btizQWi6JHLuVGC1CCQV0quJ3k/s1600/Minaret+View-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5R5jDtSY_ZjaVnNPO-SNbXLpv3fjklTUtUp6FxCWofBzVKADUHFYia1ow9i9r9tYfdeNuavrPPQcdlFCzHolbYP_Rg0bY3tM0ccBdjvsZVBilG5S0btizQWi6JHLuVGC1CCQV0quJ3k/s640/Minaret+View-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the opposite direction is Mammoth Mountain, a ski area when they get snow. You can see the lift line on the far left slope and between the two peaks on the left. More <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Mountain" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mammoth Mountain was formed in a series of eruptions that ended 57,000 years ago. However, Mammoth still produces hazardous volcanic gases that kill trees and caused ski patroller fatalities in 2006.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgAOz19PcZLtNMj-b71IyS_ksdxlAp1kN3q34KaKcYHfvdkH60bTb8B5xmSYiDTUg1xNtODvA95Qqu1TKUhEMtQAbBFMGs2BbcsSUOFmQcevLvMkTIlmgdo4GtGMbxoJgzHdymZT43_I/s1600/Mammoth+Mtn-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgAOz19PcZLtNMj-b71IyS_ksdxlAp1kN3q34KaKcYHfvdkH60bTb8B5xmSYiDTUg1xNtODvA95Qqu1TKUhEMtQAbBFMGs2BbcsSUOFmQcevLvMkTIlmgdo4GtGMbxoJgzHdymZT43_I/s640/Mammoth+Mtn-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's something else I love about the old interpretive displays. At the top of the pole is a metal pipe that's parallel to the ground. Pivot the pointer to the sight you want to see, look through the pipe, and there it is. Old school, low tech, and eminently useful.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkaOXrq5yFrHJE-8lcdlEe2TeKo0GTTntkpi8sRov9MeBBTyf-56oopIo2jXs8KurSg_UzAeexooZlYMTffkd3mRFMbahPUIWL_cr6bXzUUKUiCF1SubWbtBXXkm6ZDfw-m99vCCV5ow/s1600/Pipe+viewer+at+Minaret+View-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkaOXrq5yFrHJE-8lcdlEe2TeKo0GTTntkpi8sRov9MeBBTyf-56oopIo2jXs8KurSg_UzAeexooZlYMTffkd3mRFMbahPUIWL_cr6bXzUUKUiCF1SubWbtBXXkm6ZDfw-m99vCCV5ow/s640/Pipe+viewer+at+Minaret+View-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After I got to use my new Golden Age Pass at the fee station, thanks to being eligible for Social Security, we drove to the parking area for the Devils Postpile. It's a different kind of geologic feature that I haven't seen outside of this part of California, volcanic in origin, unbelievably hot conditions that slowly cooled, creating geometric columns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1910 mining interests wanted to blast this area in order to dam the San Joaquin River. Thanks to a few good men, President Taft named Devils Postpile a National Monument in 1911, quick work when you think about the glacial pace of most government work. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3KhxqCa-_gaTOU_-fwtvD6DgUgJy2J7azjXIO5pbB0qqEVeZuHUEN8_5LyGNZNkZUe3CwdEoCxZOh8BAilu6tBFXi6Qyz7xQ7E0-rlSvsIDQMFtZLB2L37jTKqc5y7yDj7VrXmQaeBQ/s1600/Devils+Postpile-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3KhxqCa-_gaTOU_-fwtvD6DgUgJy2J7azjXIO5pbB0qqEVeZuHUEN8_5LyGNZNkZUe3CwdEoCxZOh8BAilu6tBFXi6Qyz7xQ7E0-rlSvsIDQMFtZLB2L37jTKqc5y7yDj7VrXmQaeBQ/s640/Devils+Postpile-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Isn't that amazing? There are areas of tortured rock in Death Valley that go against everything you think you know about rock not being bendable, and here's another graphic example.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRv2mtIEm8zIbzjX2JqPI6Sf3Lfhr1sRWazbR_kjwymESl-bZcXkEGGKLLMPoh3CopmgpCG0ZGafoNnArmkvlSqawktGlvfQzf7Fe6ImlnVREASP2rA9vgji2EQ_eeVt_5JSRZEv6QyV4/s640/Devils+Postpile-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we drove over Sonora Pass a couple of weeks ago I made a quick turn into a parking lot labeled with the sign Columns of the Giant - too good a name to pass up. It's another example of the same ancient rock formations as the Postpile, but here there are no prohibitions against climbing:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ydqPOfoPrwXy3TvHO64nyYRjKIC5J9LSq7EKPl0WQkQ182yjxvJSWXFqFLzL7BYRmANuPp9rOZUC_ltTTMTxP5ydQ1pajYxJnXCVM5WicEtc-k-Rl2JiO5cGLdx3b2GAWvxTT9uDr4/s640/Tioga+Road+day+trip-45.jpg" width="540" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Almost back to the parking area was a pretty framed scene of river, greenery, mountain, and clouds. There were people fishing along the river, a nice place and way to spend the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUu5upfdwbNv_9YzsuDSAnzAwDwHMGPVUm5bh3z0nawPRDYawwoUoSTclncDQ2_Bx16YPxs2N3yXl1LKHrw5ARd7DDHcjHoOcXG6Hk7VOFoIAxyiuJDuA490kCbI9OyChcQTTHzZTQ7A/s640/San+Joachin+River%252C+Mts%252C+and+clouds%252C+Devils+Postpile+trail-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After returning from the short walk to the Devils Postpile we drove a little farther down the road to the trailhead for Rainbow Falls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Rainbow Fire blew its way through the area in 1992, ultimately burning 8,000 acres of dense forest. It seems renewal has been slow, but a nearby sign says sun-loving ferns, herbs, and berries are providing food for a variety of animals, who themselves are food for animals up the food chain. The sign also said that prior to settlers moving in, fires occurred every eight to thirty years, but due to grazing, fire suppression, and the decline of the Native American population (which regularly burned off the land) fuel in this area had accumulated for 117 years, contributing to the severity of the blaze.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedCuvhgDV46PrpRMcGuOhUqRMr6foiZUieTMrokJBVHdIxHzSKNoSgTVP4TictoKxQdL6NUia6vyYpmmAExCTc3ZiJWCAgvKwMxgZO9u0HHB8v0I5n22jK9j8GLMMMFFIekp9tdjM9BQ/s1600/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedCuvhgDV46PrpRMcGuOhUqRMr6foiZUieTMrokJBVHdIxHzSKNoSgTVP4TictoKxQdL6NUia6vyYpmmAExCTc3ZiJWCAgvKwMxgZO9u0HHB8v0I5n22jK9j8GLMMMFFIekp9tdjM9BQ/s640/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found the stark landscape photogenic...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl7lSUCVeAyxO3YZwFqY7Y0MdZjzN_L84GgcjqBTj8tagmmtiaf_3Bqdr8jI8eKFo1dffhr9GNmvcvWvR3hGbPVudOcpCGF6IIaWgh1Qp0uebGWh9lmuI-9l1Jd3ARd_XpTHFcaBorlY/s1600/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl7lSUCVeAyxO3YZwFqY7Y0MdZjzN_L84GgcjqBTj8tagmmtiaf_3Bqdr8jI8eKFo1dffhr9GNmvcvWvR3hGbPVudOcpCGF6IIaWgh1Qp0uebGWh9lmuI-9l1Jd3ARd_XpTHFcaBorlY/s640/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...and had fun with forced perspective. You've seen photos of people holding up the Tower of Pisa? This highly sculpted tree trunk held a mountain top in its pincer grasp.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQtwvai4aiUZj3By78Wt8XaFuZdyAIn85Nm6y0uh2DBwDKRwEfsJjqPWxlBWg276fJ5RIYfVpCBFbriDpIHwOnWDq_VdLW6WvblKBs78vr5J1zCaDvz5L_1l_YvRGzJ7IRyz-CB54osE/s1600/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQtwvai4aiUZj3By78Wt8XaFuZdyAIn85Nm6y0uh2DBwDKRwEfsJjqPWxlBWg276fJ5RIYfVpCBFbriDpIHwOnWDq_VdLW6WvblKBs78vr5J1zCaDvz5L_1l_YvRGzJ7IRyz-CB54osE/s640/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-6.jpg" width="578" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was an interesting fire-made totem and I told myself I'd stop on my way back from the falls to get more photos, but I was getting rained on by then and didn't linger.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuGukNWasLas7NuWAGG60L3tfmSLAIWc0L6r21S8fB3Uj7k_yiNaUgFC2xGxRTSEVHGCGrTBpLchZ6JJ1qh6ouGGl2EAXyaLxUvWNxafYfVyBZIAqMKeC8MhjiPoFL0b8w3rmL_eq8JY/s1600/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuGukNWasLas7NuWAGG60L3tfmSLAIWc0L6r21S8fB3Uj7k_yiNaUgFC2xGxRTSEVHGCGrTBpLchZ6JJ1qh6ouGGl2EAXyaLxUvWNxafYfVyBZIAqMKeC8MhjiPoFL0b8w3rmL_eq8JY/s640/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-5.jpg" width="354" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here was the goal at the end of a mile-and-a-quarter walk. The 101-foot Rainbow Falls is so called because at midday a rainbow arcs across the mist just above the river. It wasn't a day for sunshine and rainbows but the falls were beautiful nonetheless.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRai6ArF4SFpMbTsPjx1Lqnmu26jIZM3jbDz2uGxbTn56_gUT9CAliejhwcX15dFwZ2BEL6_PIIpOWs5cmDD140gelODXPgT9nRzC6YgwRWIkhlzcR_TVKlRhxnx2DpdvBsP5Xig7tIk/s1600/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRai6ArF4SFpMbTsPjx1Lqnmu26jIZM3jbDz2uGxbTn56_gUT9CAliejhwcX15dFwZ2BEL6_PIIpOWs5cmDD140gelODXPgT9nRzC6YgwRWIkhlzcR_TVKlRhxnx2DpdvBsP5Xig7tIk/s640/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-10.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The tiny side falls are especially pretty.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpa6F4dxifWZJC_V-j8c3hTTgWaJTWmUOuDpYHxIgfYNAgOXFP_FRtbMw4mI104pzoaA-l_W2q3KjiollFl1azKObPR_a5DROZIp69ZPhgmbi3KRfnwqicKTNpNpyL6sB0tTjHkBbZNGI/s1600/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpa6F4dxifWZJC_V-j8c3hTTgWaJTWmUOuDpYHxIgfYNAgOXFP_FRtbMw4mI104pzoaA-l_W2q3KjiollFl1azKObPR_a5DROZIp69ZPhgmbi3KRfnwqicKTNpNpyL6sB0tTjHkBbZNGI/s640/Rainbow+Fall+Trail-12.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The walk back to the trailhead was uphill. What is it with this country? Even though it was just over a mile, the elevation is in the neighborhood of 8,000 feet and I felt every step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We continued to Mammoth Lakes for lunch, then decided to go home. Bishop, and the Bristlecone Pine Forest, were another 45 minutes south and the day was getting late. There's so much to see on that side of the Sierra so we know there are more trips we need to make across the mountains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The clouds continued to move in and we drove into rain, and then snow, as we approached Tioga Pass.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOnbBlMhLAWD4oouUtpXfDII8dR6iKk43gOOSc3_wvDS_yHSdoS-wi1_ruK1V_QXcBQ193_qiaq-mr7OG-ryU6mNO2fXW5nQmXDGZ1Q4b4Q4ySkRfWoLK823grzitzYU-0mUFc6K0Iik/s1600/Snow+at+Tioga+Pass+in+June-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOnbBlMhLAWD4oouUtpXfDII8dR6iKk43gOOSc3_wvDS_yHSdoS-wi1_ruK1V_QXcBQ193_qiaq-mr7OG-ryU6mNO2fXW5nQmXDGZ1Q4b4Q4ySkRfWoLK823grzitzYU-0mUFc6K0Iik/s640/Snow+at+Tioga+Pass+in+June-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ranger at the entrance station welcomed us with a Merry Christmas, also saying that there was no snow all winter and <i>this</i> is June in the Sierra.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_QS5djd1iS_O0O1JS7jJhyphenhyphenlm3em0ou7kI0danFUbPpIMSxiw3vOexZyxBrM9_DHytvU4OKydjfqlbGSrm0eoaP1HQCS4GUdqdHFDYWTGlEJq29E_Dj_k0xuqXDa65_KRrg71wQxGQeE/s640/Snow+at+Tioga+Pass+in+June-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Note the temperature: 34 degrees at 10,000 feet. By the time we got home, the temperature was back to about 75 and the house air conditioner was going full blast.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSP2SqtaMENa9r1XTU8xFdtIKAu9U-dR2r5aTBUqQ20ldby3qZeThfCQHaEJF-SWLcrDOVnUosYW11tqHDUIcprYyOVGNXa4_MWuhKlG98nFA0FITHLrPq2dp6GmW-id4ulrczIuuj1Q/s1600/6b43a5992066ae63fcfb4ef169d7ec9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSP2SqtaMENa9r1XTU8xFdtIKAu9U-dR2r5aTBUqQ20ldby3qZeThfCQHaEJF-SWLcrDOVnUosYW11tqHDUIcprYyOVGNXa4_MWuhKlG98nFA0FITHLrPq2dp6GmW-id4ulrczIuuj1Q/s400/6b43a5992066ae63fcfb4ef169d7ec9c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-82017062870702652422015-05-31T18:45:00.000-07:002016-06-10T19:34:41.379-07:00Tioga Pass and beyond<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were in the mood for a road trip a week ago and decided to tackle Tioga Road and, consequently, Tioga Pass, last weekend. The idea was to go over to Mono Lake, turn around and come back, but it didn't work out that way, and aren't we lucky that it didn't.<br /><br />First stop was Olmsted Point, named for Frederick Law Olmsted and his son, Frederick, Jr., when Tioga Road opened to car traffic in 1961. I'm kind of fascinated with Olmsted and when I saw the point on the map, I knew I had to see it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It can be said that Olmsted was a late bloomer, or to paraphrase Edison, he tried several ways to make a living that weren't going to work for him - among others, as a seaman, merchant, and farmer. He was more successful as a journalist: he traveled in England to visit and write about public gardens, and to the American South in the pre-Civil War years writing about his conclusions on economic and social conditions resulting from the institution of slavery.<br /><br />He also served as Executive Secretary of the Sanitary Commission, a precursor to the Red Cross, during the Civil War, helped to organize three African American regiments in New York, and raised one million dollars for the Sanitary Commission. He was a cofounder of the magazine, The Nation. <br /><br />Along with his journalistic and Sanitary Commission work, he sidled into the competition to design New York's Central Park with architect Calvert Vaux. As Wikipedia subtly understates it, until then "Olmsted had never actually designed and executed a landscape design." They won, and between the two of them, the term and the profession of "landscape architect" was born.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Olmsted and his son, the Jr. mentioned above, who continued the tradition, ultimately designed hundreds of public parks and academic campuses from sea to shining sea. Olmsted's vision was founded on the principle of open access, of egalitarian design, of public spaces belonging, shockingly enough, to the public. In 1863 he came west to become manager of a mining estate in the Sierra Nevada, and that was his introduction to Yosemite. He ultimately was chair of the first commission to manage Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and wrote a report recommending a policy for the care and protection of the park's scenery and wildlife. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An excellent biography of Olmsted is </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genius of place: the life of Frederick Law Olmsted</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">by Justin Martin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that was a long wind up to the few photos I have from Olmsted Point. Here they are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's nothing spectacular about this except the mystery of bare scrapes of rock that somehow support life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a9nU0zCZ9F8PMyl0R3sujGvaYJjn6LzQR8rhoeqQYYZFlDArgpJQ3R3XQkKDpeQzhqHI8aTpu-JPul6TEGl9Rfzo99VIF65BSnKRlowqXQ-_1y8ma3-9GgAJ0ievDN6ixEyMFuvo14k/s1600/Olmsted+Point%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-13.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a9nU0zCZ9F8PMyl0R3sujGvaYJjn6LzQR8rhoeqQYYZFlDArgpJQ3R3XQkKDpeQzhqHI8aTpu-JPul6TEGl9Rfzo99VIF65BSnKRlowqXQ-_1y8ma3-9GgAJ0ievDN6ixEyMFuvo14k/s640/Olmsted+Point%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-13.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Abundant glaciated rocks, identifiable by their rounded edges - as opposed to sharp-edged rock-fall rocks - look like a giant has scattered birdseed. Tenaya Lake is just visible at the base of the mountains.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUOnGtHpdN8p-iAADZJfWLZ4MCE8NVi_nBr_78ZVqVjrxwLEehaA_KSaviG9UZaWLk_SHfWHs5Yho6PUq4CTLy-eE7DPEwQnfmIcSGSbMSR02EHKhSnGanruvSFeQz0PPOmtWKd2uAUY/s1600/Olmsted+Point%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-17.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUOnGtHpdN8p-iAADZJfWLZ4MCE8NVi_nBr_78ZVqVjrxwLEehaA_KSaviG9UZaWLk_SHfWHs5Yho6PUq4CTLy-eE7DPEwQnfmIcSGSbMSR02EHKhSnGanruvSFeQz0PPOmtWKd2uAUY/s640/Olmsted+Point%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-17.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMUOfwO3kX_Eu9lnbz58XVDMW9GgwXdACLso2TxFP4ZnskHnWopdmOCJR15b8h9RpU6Ij7-VjXR498vtC4uJL8qGTGgWXcRz_Z511CXwBZBNsG5srjW1fQcIZLVONzSXIpqoMDsoMJ-k/s1600/Donnell+Vista%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-11.jpg"></a><br /><br />A closer look at the lake and the thousands of acres of trees that were just the beginning of what we saw. We saw limitless swaths of conifers that day, more than I'd ever seen in my life. Thankfully most of it is protected in designated Wilderness, Forest Service, and state land.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FLu9OFZN4RidsCteuQevu_4oqntU6OMXTsiy2u6I-cEo84or7V-IWgFvnli_7tPqreWOfXkr1_zCfrKTl9UJ9WYFbaumu4IVGIb8Y5HFsbA52YRs7cMGHPxvyg_U-mp14_t7MbhL-Yk/s1600/Tioga+Road+day+trip-22.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FLu9OFZN4RidsCteuQevu_4oqntU6OMXTsiy2u6I-cEo84or7V-IWgFvnli_7tPqreWOfXkr1_zCfrKTl9UJ9WYFbaumu4IVGIb8Y5HFsbA52YRs7cMGHPxvyg_U-mp14_t7MbhL-Yk/s640/Tioga+Road+day+trip-22.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Tenaya Lake comes nearly to the edge of the road. It's at an elevation of about 8100 feet and while popular for winter sports, it may be too cold for all but the hardiest swimmers. The same glacier that carved it out also created Half Dome in Yosemite Valley.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXZy9NJAeKNS1iScOj3pjq5WFB8kl1Uat3ax2GanFJr4fhOPNugr9cS0vIFaED9txwny_aJJ2wXSLlRvEeFM36qmm4qfOuFMAYYg9cEVLfedLWnE0yAqpnka08W0rXWTBn5-Ro2dLr2s/s1600/Tenaya+Lake%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXZy9NJAeKNS1iScOj3pjq5WFB8kl1Uat3ax2GanFJr4fhOPNugr9cS0vIFaED9txwny_aJJ2wXSLlRvEeFM36qmm4qfOuFMAYYg9cEVLfedLWnE0yAqpnka08W0rXWTBn5-Ro2dLr2s/s640/Tenaya+Lake%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />As we passed the entrance station at the east end of the park we made the decision to go the long way around to get back home. There were probably 500 cars in another single, glacial line, just like the entrance station near us at this end. I have a suggestion, Park Service: when there are few cars leaving, establish a stop line in the outgoing lane back from the station and allow one car at a time, holders of park passes only, to enter in that lane. When someone shows up to leave, let them out and then bring another car over to enter. Get a volunteer to be the traffic director and it will cost nothing. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It makes sense to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We drove through the town of Lee Vining and stopped at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center. The most interesting thing there to me were nests built under the eaves at the front of the building. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I watched the birds swooping into and away from the nests for a long time and went back into the building to ask about them. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They're cliff swallows and the nests are built one mudball at a time. It's a labor intensive process, building the thousand-pellet nests, so much so that a pair of birds can work at it only about three hours a day. The rest of the time is spent resting and feeding. Nevertheless, a nest is completed in a week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to the handout I got at the visitor center, observers have seen the birds scoop up mouthfuls of mud and hover over the puddle, seeming to test the weight, and then fly off with it to the nest, which </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">can be used for several years. They're sometimes abandoned if pests such as mites invade the colony but once the invaders' numbers have decreased the birds will again populate the nests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What looks like beige beaks peeking out is actually coloring on the forehead; the beak extends from the bottom of the triangle.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_9lP93weBemqfHrlHAt695xww7ffFCB4tSDsqmaM1RWUsDOr9YPbXGgXb__17p0ZlqcdKVjKCgjnmgbqnG1jGAF7fdenXz_FtxrCxr7sFMOu50rpvevPyBAA4uL_rZ7fqzFRV0vE-vM/s1600/Tioga+Road+day+trip-26.jpg"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_9lP93weBemqfHrlHAt695xww7ffFCB4tSDsqmaM1RWUsDOr9YPbXGgXb__17p0ZlqcdKVjKCgjnmgbqnG1jGAF7fdenXz_FtxrCxr7sFMOu50rpvevPyBAA4uL_rZ7fqzFRV0vE-vM/s640/Tioga+Road+day+trip-26.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Shortly after the center was built nets were installed to prevent the birds from moving in. I think common sense prevailed in the end because the birds continue to make their condo-like homes under the sheltering overhang.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUAstKSh_anA3rGRVgUkMC4pejLYf78C86Y0jz-09sXeS15o5pkmndgJAYy7GMWLYRcVgbVNjH9LjFPBdSU2T6Qv7A_S31w4k820HIpW2PRyOodkbD3jGpHTTFwiFiB1gzHlOqqEzibU/s1600/Tioga+Road+day+trip-31.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUAstKSh_anA3rGRVgUkMC4pejLYf78C86Y0jz-09sXeS15o5pkmndgJAYy7GMWLYRcVgbVNjH9LjFPBdSU2T6Qv7A_S31w4k820HIpW2PRyOodkbD3jGpHTTFwiFiB1gzHlOqqEzibU/s640/Tioga+Road+day+trip-31.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Just past the visitor center is Mono Lake, these days a relatively nondescript body of water, to me at least. Many years ago Voldemort and I took a long motorcycle trip from Washington state down through much of California, including over Tioga Pass in Yosemite and past this lake, which was gorgeous to me at the time, to say the least. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hate to think that because of all the places I've traveled, because of all the majesty and breathtaking sights I've seen, that I'm getting used to beautiful places. That I'm becoming immune. That I'm becoming jaded. I would hate that so very much, but this lake did nothing for me this time around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is a section of Mono Lake with some of its tufa formations exposed. I've seen some spectacular photos of the formations but the spectacularity wasn't on exhibit when HH and I went by. Check out the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufa" target="_blank">wikipedia article</a> on tufa to see what I mean.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSXauQbKN0J4ITiGqUnCFUxTUoo0UbF2WCoEFlurbqGAi7kjY25Imk5ldceFie3jIuFVakF33Dw7yzFMJEmTylrqH2ZSE-qfnuKOSpEIpeLg7YVw8WFJh484kqcRUYw9ipU5Wx0j9ZoQ/s1600/Tioga+Road+day+trip-33-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSXauQbKN0J4ITiGqUnCFUxTUoo0UbF2WCoEFlurbqGAi7kjY25Imk5ldceFie3jIuFVakF33Dw7yzFMJEmTylrqH2ZSE-qfnuKOSpEIpeLg7YVw8WFJh484kqcRUYw9ipU5Wx0j9ZoQ/s640/Tioga+Road+day+trip-33-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />The road over Sonora Pass tops out at just over 9600 feet, less than Tioga Pass but much more challenging to drive and, in my opinion, more beautiful. It runs east-west north of Yosemite, through Stanislaus National Forest. There are endless S curves, switchbacks, hairpin turns, a grade of 26% in one place, and not a lot less in others. This is not a road for those tending to motion sickness, and I was very glad I was driving. As we approached the road we saw signs warning about travel trailers and other rigs over a certain length, and as I continued the drive I could easily see the folly of heaving a 6-ton trailer around those turns. I couldn't have done some of them and stayed in my lane.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is a breathtaking drive. We stopped just a couple of times, one of them being at Donnell Vista, an overlook showcasing a reservoir snugged deep in the canyon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The puddles in the rock below made me think of the acorn grinding rock I saw on the Merced River. I think it possible that was the use made of this rock as well, or it could be a remnant of glacial carving. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXF8p9Rwv3CU5ypjuwAjOVXwswyqbh8iTqKcbEIOO5o8OofgqwirTvmC9t_rrQQG9f75ByePGv7qnpR1ycX5urYsTq3T366iwOz2g0iVYKh3nhAl7-ZKLVzFMdCJQXCCxaZfsj6OA_yA/s1600/Donnell+Vista%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXF8p9Rwv3CU5ypjuwAjOVXwswyqbh8iTqKcbEIOO5o8OofgqwirTvmC9t_rrQQG9f75ByePGv7qnpR1ycX5urYsTq3T366iwOz2g0iVYKh3nhAl7-ZKLVzFMdCJQXCCxaZfsj6OA_yA/s640/Donnell+Vista%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The clouds were moving in. As I turned to go back to the truck the peak of a nearby mesa was being obscured by what looked like low clouds but were probably at 8000 feet. This was another good image for black and white.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMUOfwO3kX_Eu9lnbz58XVDMW9GgwXdACLso2TxFP4ZnskHnWopdmOCJR15b8h9RpU6Ij7-VjXR498vtC4uJL8qGTGgWXcRz_Z511CXwBZBNsG5srjW1fQcIZLVONzSXIpqoMDsoMJ-k/s1600/Donnell+Vista%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-11.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMUOfwO3kX_Eu9lnbz58XVDMW9GgwXdACLso2TxFP4ZnskHnWopdmOCJR15b8h9RpU6Ij7-VjXR498vtC4uJL8qGTGgWXcRz_Z511CXwBZBNsG5srjW1fQcIZLVONzSXIpqoMDsoMJ-k/s640/Donnell+Vista%252C+Tioga+Rd+day+trip-11.jpg" /></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was getting tired and still had many miles over winding roads to go, but it was a wonderful trip. While I was looking up facts about some of the places I mention here, I saw that we missed a lot of places where we should have stopped. There will be another road trip, maybe when the leaves are turning in the fall.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven. - Rabindranath Tagore</span></div>
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cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-3694496840859095092015-05-29T11:32:00.001-07:002015-05-31T10:05:42.415-07:00B'ar!!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last summer at the North Rim, and it's hard to believe it will be a year next week that we went there, we kept springing leaks in our sewer hose. Yes. Gross. They're not expensive, but they're also not free, and it bugged me that we had to replace a couple one right after another. We sprung for a heavier-duty one and it too developed holes, so back it went. (We, meaning HH, rinsed it out before boxing it up.) It took us a while, but we eventually concluded that it was ravens looking for water that were the culprit. I don't know that we ever saw any pecking away, but we nonetheless pinned it on them. They are smart animals, no doubt about it. The question then was, what were we going to do to keep them from continuing their bad behavior? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reluctantly I adopted a Sanford and Son approach, the only thing we could think of: we encircled the hose with lengths of aluminum stove pipe and resorted to zip-tying them on because, as I said, ravens are smart. It was pretty embarrassing to have a junkyard ambiance but that's what it took, and it worked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Surprisingly, we had no problem with ravens at Death Valley despite less water there than at the North Rim, so f</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ast forward to Yosemite.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here, I had to sign a paper saying I'd abide by the rules pertaining to animals, specifically bears. The saying is, A fed bear is a dead bear, and the stories abound. HH's son David told me about bears somehow learning that VW Beetles, known to humans for being airtight, could be popped open like a paper bag by jumping on them. Cheryl Koehler, in her book Touring the Sierra Nevada, says a Ranger told her that bears learn to recognize vehicle models that are easy to break into, and if one found food in a red car, that color car would be a target for weeks. Smart like a raven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Signs at parking lots around the Valley say to leave just about everything out of sight, including baby wipe packages, coolers, and grocery bags, because bears have come to associate them with food found in vehicles. Hanging food from trees is no longer a solution in the backcountry; instead, a bulky and so far bear-proof canister must be used. The top is opened with a coin or something similar. And not just food has to be stored this way: toothpaste, deodorant, or scented anything has to be sealed away.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1yd-0iE0a4jL9ngEFe3D877hlTCnZ8h880sUDDgfFRUPoA7trxRjB3CoVujMbAyV9LbHUZvimQ6HHuqCepTdTfIWL3DZIhyuvacOisbKcyH_Cn2Wyx6emtLKPRaa7NFmte3I3P-1Ck4/s1600/1024px-Bear_resistant_food_storage_canister_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1yd-0iE0a4jL9ngEFe3D877hlTCnZ8h880sUDDgfFRUPoA7trxRjB3CoVujMbAyV9LbHUZvimQ6HHuqCepTdTfIWL3DZIhyuvacOisbKcyH_Cn2Wyx6emtLKPRaa7NFmte3I3P-1Ck4/s400/1024px-Bear_resistant_food_storage_canister_1.JPG" width="313" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">"Bear resistant food storage canister 1" <br />by Cullen328 Jim Heaphy - Own work. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I saw a small sign in the building I work in about bears' diets in the wild versus the dangers of food items left around residential areas:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGdxttpsNK6a_cujMcVSde0Dl1_CBmZ1SHp_-FsZpB4cIPsB1sca8gfMcpKZH9W_TNxPUr-IhWBS80jCm49VDFn5rlrgVdCfeyCpHtXp1z7d8iSBW27oGZNFC3Ta_vSONzPqVEs1YYC0/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGdxttpsNK6a_cujMcVSde0Dl1_CBmZ1SHp_-FsZpB4cIPsB1sca8gfMcpKZH9W_TNxPUr-IhWBS80jCm49VDFn5rlrgVdCfeyCpHtXp1z7d8iSBW27oGZNFC3Ta_vSONzPqVEs1YYC0/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dumpsters everywhere here have chutes that lock closed with clips. Throughout the park in parking lots, tent camping areas, some trailheads, and at the rear of our parking spot are heavy-duty steel food storage boxes with drop fronts that fasten closed with clips. They too have so far been bear-resistant. One of them holds our two small coolers. I had the large cat food bag in there too until I discovered that the boxes aren't insect-proof. Other items that need to go in, if we don't have room inside the house, even include canned goods because of odors from the packaging process that cling to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxPpO7MgHmHssbU6nDGFAwpByTMV3yCdsZF3dxDl7toxGtvC4A3AVuKNC5AorWoIr5H8GF7ZPJTF1v-YsFG8RFiAK_clcpykibx03Fef7IE-EaHgsHs1iNmYm_Z0P0xqFDcgiEe4_NaU/s640/Bear+in+the+yard-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn't use them at first but got religion after an episode one night. We used the propane grill for a couple of steaks and I didn't store it when I finished with it. That night I heard a small aluminum table the grill was sitting on go over but I was drifting off to sleep and didn't get up. The next morning I found the grill strewn around. A jug of vinegar I'd left on the picnic table that I was going to use to descale some plumbing fittings was punctured and drained, and a plastic jug of cat litter that was sitting under the house had two big puncture holes in its side (but not tipped over; I'm still trying to picture how that happened).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One morning last weekend HH called to me to come quickly; there was a bear out the back window, just wandering the yard. I grabbed the camera only to remember that I had removed the card to transfer pictures to the computer, and I scrambled to pop another one in just in time to see the animal, tagged and collared, slowly moving away after cruising by the bear boxes. Our own personal bear paid us another visit in hopes we continued to disregard the rules. Not anymore. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfEzM0Fe-1nQcZYpGMxPjcb-9rzJmpBosbcw6ePKaFT_bB57I5eOFPDzk-bKChWyY5nYWqoYzuvpt3jt9sDsx9_UKtWYhxPHrvW1shES1Q-yNPRUkL-SjTeTjBRQlkNwGV69LFRGKiaQ/s1600/Bear+in+the+yard-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfEzM0Fe-1nQcZYpGMxPjcb-9rzJmpBosbcw6ePKaFT_bB57I5eOFPDzk-bKChWyY5nYWqoYzuvpt3jt9sDsx9_UKtWYhxPHrvW1shES1Q-yNPRUkL-SjTeTjBRQlkNwGV69LFRGKiaQ/s640/Bear+in+the+yard-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later we noticed that the sewer hose was shredded. I wondered how desperate the bear could be if it needed to get into that nasty thing but then realized the kitchen sink also drains through it, carrying any small food particles that go out with the wash water. HH patched it up, pulled out the stove pipe from the storage compartment, and we now again look like Sanford and Son. I have no illusions that these flimsy sections of aluminum will deter this animal. They're not even zip tied on.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q1W-ozThwv_r1LVKcLA5zTVt1or1wGXBSFScQd7Wxj9-tE9qyvu9hFJ9hefks7wnH17Y-f53WELynmA35rpggKp2OxAkL9mvDMYIYXjULAqoF0gpJ2MDO6AP9XGjhtGb7bXT1OTirHE/s1600/Bear+in+the+yard-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q1W-ozThwv_r1LVKcLA5zTVt1or1wGXBSFScQd7Wxj9-tE9qyvu9hFJ9hefks7wnH17Y-f53WELynmA35rpggKp2OxAkL9mvDMYIYXjULAqoF0gpJ2MDO6AP9XGjhtGb7bXT1OTirHE/s640/Bear+in+the+yard-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIYWOLhiDOdo5lbZCso3megyL84OIJnuQnqdGyETe7mejVK1efwG5Uf5y1xpw0Bp9lntTwdhBVy-EVFF9miVVNqBGngPCplJZ12GDlKBh0iUbS3mxxVODtPyZuIAwR01qpnsXAqwPwUs/s1600/bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIYWOLhiDOdo5lbZCso3megyL84OIJnuQnqdGyETe7mejVK1efwG5Uf5y1xpw0Bp9lntTwdhBVy-EVFF9miVVNqBGngPCplJZ12GDlKBh0iUbS3mxxVODtPyZuIAwR01qpnsXAqwPwUs/s320/bear.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Credit: http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/96-outback-unpaved/<br />16226-desolation-car-camping.html</span></td></tr>
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<br />cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894423465957149941.post-25795215697060086882015-05-23T11:50:00.001-07:002015-05-31T10:07:37.278-07:00Channeling Georgia<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I lived in Washington the first time, we had a house on almost four acres. A lot of it was fenced pasture, some of it was down a ravine, but close to the house was a collection of raised beds for vegetables and an open flower garden area. At that time I was working at a junior high school so I had summers off and I traded working with books in the school library for working with new favorite things - plants in my garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was a city girl and had never had a garden like I made at that house. Maybe I'd plant a lilac here or there, but nothing ever on the scale of that property. I estimated that I spent more time outdoors the first summer we were there than I had all of my life until then. It was a full time job that I loved. The lengthening days filled me with an excitement to go to nurseries and into the garden. </span><br />
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A few weeks ago HH and I drove to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/superstitionirisgardens" target="_blank">Superstition Iris Farm</a>. When I lived in Washington there were lavender, tulip, rhododendron, peony, and dahlia gardens and farms that I enjoyed visiting so I jumped at the chance when I saw iris were in bloom. Add to that the fact that HH had never experienced such a thing, which in itself is an <i>event</i>, and it was a done deal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It really was gorgeous inside. I think we were there about mid-season, so some plants had already peaked and some were still in bud, but there was plenty to see and make me wistful that I still had a garden.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbsDAejleX67kKsZ4taZZ7hbddHMx-2rEieyYWTRDVNU3AmW7T93TzC4wsylMTruDAgRCMpDrZvmpffk7brEwVGqL3dLcxmPnGMgDe5E_OVSLgKbiHvO2bOumTi0feLRimZNOOfk7mrI/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbsDAejleX67kKsZ4taZZ7hbddHMx-2rEieyYWTRDVNU3AmW7T93TzC4wsylMTruDAgRCMpDrZvmpffk7brEwVGqL3dLcxmPnGMgDe5E_OVSLgKbiHvO2bOumTi0feLRimZNOOfk7mrI/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-1.jpg" width="634" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What color iris do you want? Yes, they have it whether it's a modern or heirloom variety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9BcKjXkHYff0ySbzdv68OyVN5EYlBAtFhtoE7BdTZFNm34evRZSLtRE4oxnbId2zjHKXkhtKV6lpMRuCt_N53JxTTj9Akl1oLPu8tQz3Hl8f6NsOod6mxiDhgkU1xg4eGge9hmRrDFQ/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These are all examples of bearded iris, so called because of the fuzzy strip at the base of the bloom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE_jnqHTDUabRcbduTKU6iVxfiFEA0fSagXwD4yxgcdT_b62x2CiwKwXJllc_35hXD9G4X3YiQfT3DPmOzoaOhyphenhyphenEeyzgW2er0GNWuFIi6l6H7QnwfIPg80xYcTQTFP-QtHpTMQg2fmEU/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE_jnqHTDUabRcbduTKU6iVxfiFEA0fSagXwD4yxgcdT_b62x2CiwKwXJllc_35hXD9G4X3YiQfT3DPmOzoaOhyphenhyphenEeyzgW2er0GNWuFIi6l6H7QnwfIPg80xYcTQTFP-QtHpTMQg2fmEU/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-28.jpg" width="584" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because I love flower close-ups, I've cropped my photos significantly. To my eye, angels, not the devil, are in the details. I share Georgia O'Keeffe's appreciation of an intimate view of a flower.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8xUD9z_4WBL-jaymHGn_KLmFL9DOq2PR3kDi45NF9pEK-Y9ZoFMmG6ibI7lVzkkulU-yvvVcrozER4mnGZGnrjhFKv8jFSZ8pOzghCqnPQdu02TKLkPZTfGwM_OV6iDBHLpzcXquPfU/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8xUD9z_4WBL-jaymHGn_KLmFL9DOq2PR3kDi45NF9pEK-Y9ZoFMmG6ibI7lVzkkulU-yvvVcrozER4mnGZGnrjhFKv8jFSZ8pOzghCqnPQdu02TKLkPZTfGwM_OV6iDBHLpzcXquPfU/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-3.jpg" width="506" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzKwrFfTO5ndhpndEs6ak84EqKVaYG0WLzNj7wcVgZ-0nQi-bFjhAmTXaq2qxI7KVM75__xS0xUX2gol94hs7x8OSAkNJfrH8IqWYFu6k1FCudc1nfb2YFyHP25e4iMhmfgouImyZD2o/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzKwrFfTO5ndhpndEs6ak84EqKVaYG0WLzNj7wcVgZ-0nQi-bFjhAmTXaq2qxI7KVM75__xS0xUX2gol94hs7x8OSAkNJfrH8IqWYFu6k1FCudc1nfb2YFyHP25e4iMhmfgouImyZD2o/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-4.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The spectrum of color is wide-ranging, from a deep purple that is almost black, to ivory, gold, or the frothiest pink.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgkSIOUhBRe3VS4XqasBLj9b5uHINhJN3SEkYCcAEW745mrFeNzLZlL9JfEXPd37gygmw33fuLrLOavIoITbzQZH3lkd7GcQx0yGXdfW9QuL7yEEuTXJXk43fzdSjhErvrkKHSfqgp1o/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgkSIOUhBRe3VS4XqasBLj9b5uHINhJN3SEkYCcAEW745mrFeNzLZlL9JfEXPd37gygmw33fuLrLOavIoITbzQZH3lkd7GcQx0yGXdfW9QuL7yEEuTXJXk43fzdSjhErvrkKHSfqgp1o/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-6.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The elegant petals of the bearded iris serve very practical purposes. The upright petals or standards act as colorful flags to attract pollinating insects.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1uja8RCTPTsRKsiJF4ZJRsvR5dIjNNot5sYH3_903GplzlKv-3_k5UYPu2kuqnvR68l7dLfI8rgJ-qwe005M5iGnNJggoMnwiXaTR0MizFn8Cy_83Cp8GVMwxhBerh66Pi7yN_28knw/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1uja8RCTPTsRKsiJF4ZJRsvR5dIjNNot5sYH3_903GplzlKv-3_k5UYPu2kuqnvR68l7dLfI8rgJ-qwe005M5iGnNJggoMnwiXaTR0MizFn8Cy_83Cp8GVMwxhBerh66Pi7yN_28knw/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-13.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUxHcNSkF4Og88-NC3haZ-k4_yTda3xJk7gO0JIxzSeT7v7u1ei4QaY0KWmX8ucvFbg2ovGTfGWQgTbE0YXjB0FdZ7LY7B1Bb8ldnEuT80L6MHCMJ0ax7fLxIiP5PMr7ZIni3RwXbs4I/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUxHcNSkF4Og88-NC3haZ-k4_yTda3xJk7gO0JIxzSeT7v7u1ei4QaY0KWmX8ucvFbg2ovGTfGWQgTbE0YXjB0FdZ7LY7B1Bb8ldnEuT80L6MHCMJ0ax7fLxIiP5PMr7ZIni3RwXbs4I/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-25.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The downward curving petals, or falls, function as a landing pad for pollinators.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6bHsI6qY_OV2HHfdme_EX4nRJlsA5vzIYemQC3IHrZuyLpzqBc34-NXSQVi-MCE358tgOXn-GPJFX5j9tX1k4sRVCl58yks9qNCg-8sb2XYYZFABmiXiRd0KDZxmZYNlhZzeonIjJ0g/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6bHsI6qY_OV2HHfdme_EX4nRJlsA5vzIYemQC3IHrZuyLpzqBc34-NXSQVi-MCE358tgOXn-GPJFX5j9tX1k4sRVCl58yks9qNCg-8sb2XYYZFABmiXiRd0KDZxmZYNlhZzeonIjJ0g/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-27.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blotches and veining work like a map that directs the insect to the nectar.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1R8wZR9ve7PRaWjaaiDkwyOa9M0uBvA3YRDdGUVp1-qYzKukDidWOO1keeLbAyGYnEFEsuHaDoOb_Cz99VqbEnSyqXWuv88IIXZQtqQYsKs5LDx2qJoWdd4zzesD0HFVgBtFiPflnx-Y/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1R8wZR9ve7PRaWjaaiDkwyOa9M0uBvA3YRDdGUVp1-qYzKukDidWOO1keeLbAyGYnEFEsuHaDoOb_Cz99VqbEnSyqXWuv88IIXZQtqQYsKs5LDx2qJoWdd4zzesD0HFVgBtFiPflnx-Y/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-29.jpg" width="454" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the distinctive, fuzzy beard attached to the falls helps the pollinators to hang on once there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in the day I was a quilter and read somewhere that if you couldn't decide if colors "went together," consult with nature. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Il2NUsih1tdCBFxA4tvGsWczN7QL-uUelrpdMW8ECfFBf3AxVwzXwp8PlZu_T7TM8jjLMVUnjpNRN0Ff8CmKqUXtO6Si3P0K2NPluK5JRUKdWFv0yGSo0_wEQQ9KVR5QTa-iT6ZR62s/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Il2NUsih1tdCBFxA4tvGsWczN7QL-uUelrpdMW8ECfFBf3AxVwzXwp8PlZu_T7TM8jjLMVUnjpNRN0Ff8CmKqUXtO6Si3P0K2NPluK5JRUKdWFv0yGSo0_wEQQ9KVR5QTa-iT6ZR62s/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-57.jpg" width="562" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Superstition Iris Farm has a catalog to order from,</span> but there's nothing like seeing the flowers in bloom firsthand.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m-yGiTIK426BqEm9Zj44hu8vkC8YUOnJ6IBjJInqJohsOZLuSFhIitUukBK3PxtDJdfwmtoV09u2zDDhAHXO_sDBtA7KFtffDiHCl3sPYjyBgV8yaz8rn8uJh2jyODtUCwGn3_2bFvw/s1600/Superstition+Iris+Farm-63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m-yGiTIK426BqEm9Zj44hu8vkC8YUOnJ6IBjJInqJohsOZLuSFhIitUukBK3PxtDJdfwmtoV09u2zDDhAHXO_sDBtA7KFtffDiHCl3sPYjyBgV8yaz8rn8uJh2jyODtUCwGn3_2bFvw/s640/Superstition+Iris+Farm-63.jpg" width="594" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With thanks to the <a href="http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/flowers/iris/" target="_blank">University of Minnesota Extension</a> for help in describing the function of the flower parts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thought of the day:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for a moment.<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> - </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Georgia O'Keeffe</span>cruisingat60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07419736544407878741noreply@blogger.com