Bluff Spring Journal
June 1-2008
I was up and out early this morning to catch the sunrise at a nearby bluff. I was running a little late so I had to jog a few hundred yards with my backpack. Geez, I need to get in shape. This may be the summer to shed a few pounds and get back to some semblance of an aerobic fitness.
After catching my breath I did get this sunrise and as an extra bonus found a few Wild Crocus flowers just sitting there waiting to have their picture taken.
Wild Crocus
The photos were worth the hike. I'll let you know how the fitness program goes.
June 2nd, 2008
Miles to date 10, 4 above goal
Lbs lost 0
Ok, I've decided to get my tired old body into shape this summer. Nothing like putting it out there to make you accountable. My plan is to walk, run or crawl at least three miles each day. I figure that come the end of summer I'll have lost about 12 pounds and will get some of my aerobic fitness back. So.. after each date I'm going to include my stats. You can look below today's date for an example on how I'm doing. Also, if you have any good fitness or weight loss tips feel free to send them my way.
June 7th
Miles to date 23. 4 above goal
Lbs lost 0
Yesterday was a psychotic day. For awhile it would cloud up and rain and then the sun would come out, heat up the air and you guessed it, more rain. I was happy to see this morning that there were a few clouds in the sky. I was hoping for a good sunrise photograph and eagerly hiked about 25 minutes back into the back arms of a local lake. The sun was right on time at 5:53 am and I got a few good shots. On the way back out I noticed a purple flower growing next to the trail and stopped to wonder if I could get a good picture. The wind was moving the flower around quite a bit so I decided that it just wasn't a photo I'd get today. As I was turning around to head back down the path I happened to look up the hill and saw a patch of brown that didn't fit with the leaves and trees. I slowly pulled my pack off hoping that I wouldn't spook the little guy that was peering out between the leaves at me. Sure enough he did just exactly what his mommy had told him, and that was to stay perfectly still when faced with the unknown. I pulled out my camera and slowly fired off a couple of shots knowing that he could bolt at any second. I didn't want to scare him so I also stood still and got to share this special moment. Pretty soon he must have gathered that I wasn't going to be a threat to him so he started looking around at the trees and then pretty soon he'd look back at me. It was a good day to be in the woods.
I slowly put my camera away and continued up the path leaving this little guy to bound away and tell his folks about how he had stared down the big old guy with the strange clicking black box.
June 12th
Miles to date 38. 1 above goal
Lbs lost 1--Yeah!!! Geez I thought it would happen faster.
Well my beautiful bride has joined me on my quest to get back to my original birth weight. We're walking together each night and it has turned into a time that we are starting to cherish. It's just a really good opportunity to talk about all the things we've done each day, console each other on the challenges and just generally enjoy each other's company. We've had to scale back a little on our discussions though. We've decided that we will only solve one world problem per night.
I had one of those destiny moments this week. As you can see above I had taken a sunrise picture to give to one of my teachers that I was training. She was married last Saturday, June 7th and I usually give my friends who are tying the knot, a picture of the sunrise on their wedding day. I was glad to do this small thing for Laura who has been a positive force in one of our more challenging schools. The only bad thing about this story is that Laura is leaving our school system to go teach in a local private school. We'll miss her but wish her the best in her new arena of challenge. Now here is where the destiny comes in. I was at my office building (a really old converted school) and happened to run into a daughter, Andrea, of one of the staff members in my building. She is also a teacher and was doing some volunteer work for her mom. She saw me and commented that one of her close friends was going to be taking the teaching position being vacated by Laura. I was glad to hear she was close friends with Andrea because I think a lot of both her and her mom. Then she said that she had been the maid of honor at her friends wedding 'last Saturday'. Of course I knew that I had taken several different shots of the sunrise so I offered to also give Andrea's friend a picture of the sunrise on her wedding day. Having done this for a while it has become a normal thing for me to do and I am still amazed how people respond to these photographs. They truly are touch by these photos. I'm glad to be able to do this and it does mean a little bit more than another toaster.
June 13th, 2008
Miles to date 41. 1 above goal
Lbs lost 1--
We got an early walk in this morning before the skies opened up and the deluge began. The rain came down in a hurry with some places close to us reporting 5 inches! Creeks and streams are overflowing with many roads being closed. I'm taking names for the Ark I'm building.
We did have a little excitement this morning. I was sitting in my office and in quick succession heard the sound of arcing electricity and then thunder. Man was it loud. I thought for sure that the building had been hit. People came scurrying out of different offices all asking, 'what the heck was that'? I stepped outside to be greeting by the following sight.
This huge tree had exploded from being directly hit by lightning. It was quite a scene. I couldn't believe the destruction that was laid to this tree. Of course lightning is very powerful and said to be 50,000 F hotter than the surface of the sun. My lovely wife's comment was, 'so how do feel now about trying to get pictures of lightning'? I do occasionally grab my camera and head out into storms. I now have a stronger respect for this immensely powerful natural phenomenon. Will I stop trying to get lightning pictures? Call me crazy but probably not, I'll just be a little more careful next time..
June 14, 2008
It's amazing how much we depend on having water available when we want it. That was not the case in the cabin last night and this morning. We had a lot of lightning last night and my guess is that a pump in the Mt. Sherman water system got hit. We don't know for sure. All we know is that it takes about 1.5 gallons of water to flush a toilet and luckily Bob's Supermarket had several gallons of water that we gladly purchased. Hopefully they'll have it fixed soon.
Around 9:30 we headed out to Mt. View, Ar. for the Fowler Family Reunion. Each year family members meet at Mt. View and spend the weekend telling tall stories and being amazed at how the kids have grown. We all have lunch together on Saturday at Jack's Resort. And I'm glad to say that we again successfully kept mom from paying for everyone's lunch. As we were ordering I motioned to my younger brother that we would split the bill. He nodded knowingly and when I was making a run to the salad bar I got the bill from the waitress. The young waitress commented, 'Don't let her get mad at me!' I assured her that mom would be ok, irritated but o.k. I quickly took care of the bill and then waited for the inevitable. Mom obliged and tried to talk me out of paying. She commented that Dad would not be happy with her. What she forgets is that Dad would be mad at his boys if we didn't take care of the family.
Sunday, June 15th
Yeah! The water is now working and the cabin smells a whole lot better.
Sunrise on Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads. My lovely bride was up early and treated her father and I to a royal breakfast of biscuits, gravy and eggs to order. The day started off good and just got better with phone calls and cards from my two sons. They are great guys and I hope they know that their Dad is proud to have them as sons. My own father has been gone now for over 20 years. Cancer finally won the battle for his body but not the battle for his spirit. He still lives on today in his kids. His kind heart and gentle spirit has been passed on to all of us. I couldn't ask for a better family. I can only hope that I pass on the same kindness and love that characterized his life.
June 21, 2008
Miles to date 60. 1 above goal
Lbs lost 3--
Out early this Saturday morning to catch the sun coming up at 5:53 am. I dropped by my favorite coffee spigot and was tempted by the scrumptious still warm donuts they were offering. Luckily they were behind reinforced glass or I would have had my way with one, or two, or three. But, I'm still trying to get back to some semblance of fitness and resisted the temptation. Gotta look good in that Speedo on the vacation we have planned. (That probably wasn't a visual you needed!) Actually I just want to be able to lug around my camera pack without the added weight of an oxygen bottle.
Today I'm catching the sunrise for two blushing brides and their betrothed. I've got to get these two shots (which will choosen from around 150 images) get them printed, matted and gift bagged for the first wedding at 1 pm. It'll be close but I should be ok if everything goes to plan.
After getting all the images I needed I also got to just hang out in the cool calm air with the birds welcoming the sunrise and a new day. With the wind so calm I also got a few reflection shots before the time and my coffee both ran out on me.
Whew! Got the first picture ready in time and delivered to the church. The wedding reminded me of some 20 years ago when a special girl stood beside me for a few I do's and still stands beside me today not ever having gone back on her promises. I hope Alysia and her new husband as much happiness as we have had.
6:30 pm and off to another wedding. I'm taking candids at the reception so I went early to take a few test shots so as not to miss some of the one time events that can't be redone. The room was beautifully decorated and I actually get a few moments to take some artistic shots before all the folks get there.
Manden, her new hubby and a great group of friends had a special time at the reception. It was good to see the bride and groom enjoy the festivities along with their friends. A great way to start off a marriage!
June 24th, 2008
Home from work, mow the lawn, do the laundry, charge the camera batteries, repack my camera stuff in a 'real' camera backpack (details later) and pack the dogs to go to Grandpa and Grandma's house. Geez, I love vacations. Oh, forgot to mention packing my own bag. The preceeding list takes me some time but packing my own bag goes really quick. My method is to mentally dress myself from top to bottom and multiply times the days I'll be gone. Takes about 10 minutes of throwning things on the bed and then into my pack. Now my camera pack is a different story. My lovely bride bought me a 'real' camera pack a year or so ago and I have only used it twice. It has all the compartments you need for all the camera $%#@! I tote around. It's all padded and secured and I'll need it this next week as we travel. I usually pack my camera stuff in my Osprey backpack when I'm hiking. It's a superbly designed system that makes carrying 45 to 50 pounds a lot easier than you'd expect. Tamarc (my camera bag manufacturer) needs to get in touch with Osprey because their packs are clueless about comfort for the person carrying them. Great for cameras, lousy for backs.
Ok, the dogs have been safely delivered to 'heaven'. We affectionately call Anita's parent's house 'dog heaven'. Mainly because there is no sin in heaven and the dogs can do no wrong there. They mostly get to do whatever they want to do and never do anything 'wrong'. I guess a little spoiling now and then is ok. We're leaving them with the grandparents while we're gone for the next week on our trip. Now that the packing is done all we have to do is worry about what we forgot.
June 25th, 2008
4:50 am and we're up packing the car to head to the airport to catch a 6:35 plane to Denver and then on to Lake Tahoe. I'm sure I'll get a nap on the way and getting up at 5 am is pretty normal for us. We can't seem to sleep late at all anymore. Maybe we can 'relearn' that skill while we're away and don't have to get up for anything unless we want.
The trip was uneventful, just how I like plane trips. We flew into Reno and rented a car for the drive to Lake Tahoe. We both had to laugh when we got to the rental car. We had reserved a midsize which usually means a Pontiac Grand-am or something similar. But this was a full sized boat of a car that you usually see going down the road with just a couple of hands and a bit of gray hair showing above the steering wheel. We were a little afraid to get in fearing it would take us to the nearest bingo parlor! Care to see my surgery scars and hear about my medical records for the last ten years?
The drive to Tahoe was supposed to be beautiful but we couldn't see a whole lot. The fires in California have filled the air with a haze that has reduced visability to a mile or so. Of course I'm thinking 'great sunset and sunrise pictures!'
After checking in to our home for the next week we drove up to Emerald Bay. This is probably one of the most photographed places in this area. You can see why when you see first hand the deeply blue color of the water and the majesty of the mountains surrounding the bay.
June 26, 2008
Up at 4:45 am and out the door with my camera gear. I tried to be real quiet so as not to awaken my 'sleeping beauty'. But I guess I was too loud and as kind as you could imagine she told me not to worry about turning on lights because she had already been awake. After telling her I was sorry for waking her up early on her first day of vacation and giving her my usual good bye kiss I was out to catch the sunrise. The short drive got me to the bay in plenty of time to find a good place to wait for the sun. The temperature was around 47 and the cool air along with the smell of pine trees was a welcome relief from the heat we had been having back home.
With only the sound of an occasional Stellar Jay, I watched the sun rise from behind the mountains across the lake. I mostly saw it through my camera lense as I caputred around 200 images in a matter of a few minutes. After the sunrise I hurried back to our home away from home to greet the morning with my lovely wife. After some steaming hot coffee for her and what she calls 'luke warm' coffee for me we packed up a few essentials and head out to do some biking. A nice lady at the bike rental shop told us about Camp Richardson, across the lake, and how to get there by water taxi. So.. we headed out to the marina and caught a ride across the lake. It was a little chilly with the cool air off the lake along with the 60 degree air temperature but I was not complaining.
June ??--Nice not to know what day it is or was during vacation.
We visited a great park today, Kiva Beach. Anita made friends with the geese and a duck named Fred while I tried to get a good reflection picture.
This is Mount Tallac in the background (9735 ft). The Tallac 'Snow Cross' is visable on the Mountain. This shot was taken where Taylor Creek flows into a backwater pool before emptying into Lake Tahoe.
Mt. Tallac
At the visitor's center there is a 'Rainbow Trail' that has been constructed so visitors can see Taylor Creek without upsetting the much of the natural habitat. You actually go underground and walk through a stream profile chamber where you can see the stream and the fish that inhabit this cold and clear creek. Below is a photo of one of the backwaters that forms the surrounding marsh..
