Sea Palms at Shore Acres State Park

During our recent trip out west we visited Shore Acres State Park, one of the best places along the Oregon coast to watch the ocean waves. As I was photographing the surf breaking over the near-shore rocks I noticed these little ocean shrubs that looked like miniature palm trees. I think they add a bit of whimsy to this photo.

Bishop Peak

On Edge, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Today my friend and I climbed Bishop Peak, a rugged volcanic mountain that dominates much of the view from San Luis Obispo. The peak rises more than 1,300 feet above the surrounding town and offers impressive views of the region.
Here's a picture taken from a precipice near the summit. The mountain in the distance is Cerro San Luis, and you can see SLO at its base.
Wildlife was abundant on the peak - at least six vultures were resting on summit boulders, and of course lizards were everywhere. There were also plenty of places that mountain lions could call home...

Caithness wind farm

Causeymire wind farm is one of a proliferation of wind farms in Caithness. Flat, exposed, empty land, 'enjoying' high wind speeds. Also home to one of the largest areas of blanket bog in the world, and on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status. Previously home to neolithic people who left stone rows and chambered cairns.
Hill O Many Stanes
Caithness Archaeological Trust

Our short visit didn't give time for neolithic exploration, just windfarms. On our journey north it was dark by the time we reached the wind farm. The giant leg of a turbine looming out of the gloom just beside the road startled us as we drove by. I thought we had encountered a Tripod.
More skies from around the world, possible with wind farms, are at Skywatch Friday.

Red Hook Boondoggle...

BOONDOGGLE...term for a scheme that wastes time and money.





Take a close look at the "town" of Red Hook. From this photo, can you guess where the center of town would be... Where the action is???









Did you guess the set of brightly colored buildings looking all European and interesting???









You would be wrong... Built several years ago, and occupied by two banks... that's it. probably 30 store fronts, plenty of two and three story spaces for offices and storage...









Beautiful tiles, landscaped and in perfect condition...





And why shouldn't it be... No one is allowed on thepremises.





I would guess that the developers were hoping to attract the high end storefronts that you can find in Charlotte Amalie. Red Hook does not attract the cruise ship crowd...









Duffy's Love Shack... maybe seating for 25, but a GREAT burger, and a fun cocktail list. Perfect service every time (the staff hustles to get your food and drink), reasonable prices and entertainment...





Just a little building thrown up on the edge of a parking lot. Nothing fancy...





But, Duffy's is the center of town!

Lewis & Clark Crusher

Saturday was the last race of the Psycowpath Series for the year. The race was held at Lewis & Clark Monument trails, Council Bluffs. This is a tough course. Many riders succumbed so "Never Rest" hill near the end of the race lap.

My photos of the race are posted on my race & event web site:

http://win-photo.photoreflect.com

THE CAT IN THE TREE AND BILLIE THE BEAK

Much as we enjoyed our trip to Gunby Hall on Thursday it was something of a mistake to have done it. My fault, not Gunby's. My foot just wasn't up to it and I have spent much of the time since then with my foot on a stool to reduce the swelling.





I sneaked out earlier today (before the ogre, who is your father and guardian of my foot, was about) and took a couple of quick photos to brighten up a dull post.

The weather has been amazing, very hot (for England) sunny, beautiful - all of this has left the grass looking dry and parched, but that will soon recover, while the leaves are beginning to take on their autumnal colours and texture. The trees and hedgerows are dripping in red berries and hips and lots of plants in the garden are having a brief second-flowering.





Even my short walk through the vegetable garden to the woodland gate was crunchy - when the hens came running they made a huge amount of noise as they scattered the dry leaves around them. Nothing can move quietly through there at the moment.





While I was talking to the hens, as they devoured the chard and spinach leaves, I looked up to find

little Miss Sparky in the fork of a tree watching them, Billie in particular. There is no love lost there. I think Sparky regards her as a special challenge - but I think Billie the Beak is well able to defend herself. Toby is terrified of her again, after she made a very painful stab at him the other day!!

For anyone who doesn't know Billie, I should explain that she is an ex-battery farm hen and she has a twisted beak. She can't really eat in quite the same way as the others, but she manages pretty well - and she can certainly give a nasty stab with it.





I 'borrowed' this image of her from Vintage Photographer's Blogspot, as I can never quite capture that beak of hers, but I think this photo shows it very well.





So, while your father has been busy about the place - rubbing down the wooden window frames at the back of the house and applying several coats of oil - I have been confined to quarters much of the time. I haven't wasted my time entirely as I have been doing some more sewing - making origami-style gift bags out of fabric (I enjoyed the challenge) and small gifts for later in the year. I would much rather have been out and about doing all the jobs which I really should be doing in the garden.





While I have been typing this I have been quietly surrounded by critters - two dogs and two cats. It is amazing how quickly the cats have learned what time the dogs get fed and have adopted that time as their afternoon feed time too. I must say I am quite pleased really, it saves time and helps to make sure that Pip doesn't have too much opportunity to steal the cat food as she is too busy eating her own! It takes her ages to eat her meal, whereas before it used to disappear in seconds.





No Skype call today - is that because you have the week off? I really would like to know whether you are pleased with the new clothes.





Lots of love,





Mum

xxx