A step back in time

Went for a drive today

Sky Watch Friday - Salton Sea Sunrise

The Salton Sea is located in southeastern California at 227 feet below sea level. This unique saline land-locked body of water is a critical part of the Pacific Flyway attracting hundreds of species of birds to its wetland habitat.

I camped along the Sea back in winter of 1996 while on a major road trip which you can read more about in next week’s My World Tuesday.

For more views of the skies around the world check out SkyWatch, and feel free to share.

Survived Mexico

Border crossing into Algodones Mexico

Arrived in Algodones early and walked about. Everything is so colorful and ornate.

Courtyard to hang out in

Dentist removed stitches and ground the lower dentures which brought immediate relief. Done in 30 minutes and now I shouldn’t have to go back for at least 5-6 months for possible realignment.

One of many carved benches in the courtyard

Went to lunch and tried to chew a chili rellenos. Not. Back to beans and rice.

Outside dinning

Got in line to cross the border and it took longer to leave Mexico than to visit the dentist.

The line to leave was over two blocks long

It will be a while before I’m chewing a good steak. So tonight I’m going to try spaghetti.

Once more to Mexico

Today the stitches come out and hopefully the pain goes away. I’d really like to start eating solid food again.

My World Tuesday - The gypsy life of a seasonal park ranger

Spring Creek Fish Hatchery along Columbia River & Mt. Hood

After working for the Forest Service at Mt St Helens for five seasons I took a temporary position with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service along the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. I was hired to research and write for publication the history of fish hatcheries along the Columbia River. Bottom line, population of salmon declined as population of people increased. And thus fish hatcheries, since 1876 on the Columbia River.

Salmon in fish ladder

The salmon life cycle is amazing. Young salmon swim from their birth waters to the sea where they become adults. After 3-4 years they return along the same route fasting all the way, to reproduce and then die. Their carcasses provide a fish buffet for wandering wildlife.

Salmon spawning

Major flooding tore boards from the dam at Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and many salmon continued upstream another half mile where a waterfall caused a natural obstruction. Their mating rituals are a water-dance like none other.

Little White Salmon River

Maybe someday we can allow salmon to spawn naturally in free flowing clean waters and get rid of fish hatcheries. Of course we’d also have to get rid of damns, or at least build more fish ladders.

Next week of My World join my journey to the Southwest.

Look at My World blog from last week to read about my first park ranger position at Mount Saint Helens.

Check out My World Tuesday for photo stories from around the world.

Hail - Stormy Sunday

Two hours later, temperature down to 40F, and it's hailing. That's the desert for you.

Stormy Sunday

Sunrise this morning

I’ve enjoyed such fantastic T-shirt weather this fall. Yet today, the temperature has dropped almost 10° in the last three hours, wind blows, clouds continue to roll over with thunder booming in the distance. No rain, yet. The sun persistently tries to break through.Carson is hiding on the bed as is his custom when the thunder roars.

2:30pm this afternoon

The birds are almost running each other over in a feeding frenzy. Maybe they know what’s coming.

Gambel's Quail