Description

I own no land, instead I have wheelestate. I’ve been a full time RVer since 1997. Working summers as a Park Ranger takes me to many beautiful places and playing during the winter takes me to many more. This blog is simply the story of my life's adventures.

Moved

Thank you for stopping by. Just to let you know, I'm still blogging but have moved to Geogypsytraveler. Hope you'll follow my adventures. Just click here.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Secondhand Me

Hand inlaid tray by Couroc of Monterey CaliforniaGoing to town is dangerous for me. I tend to check out the thrift and antique shops and always seem to find something to buy...(read more here).

Friday, June 12, 2009

Welcome to Grand Canyon - Where the Buffalo Roam?


No, buffalo are not native to Grand Canyon.

However, in 1906 Jim Owens and Charles Jones tried to breed buffalo bulls with cattle to produce “cattalo.” It was not a successful enterprise and buffalo still roam in House Rock Valley northeast of the park. When it gets warm in the valley the buffalo cross the invisible border up into the park onto the cooler Kaibab Plateau.

I’d never seen them before but hear the visitors talking about them and asking questions. Fellow blogger FabGrandma sees them regularly when she works at the park’s entrance gate.

In fact when I left for town yesterday, about one mile before the gate I encountered a “buffalo jam” where traffic was stopped off and on the roadway.

So what’s going on here?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sky Watch Friday - Morning Light at Grand Canyon


View from Bright Angel Point Trailhead
I’m not much of a really early morning person and when I have the early schedule I dread it. Until I get to the rim of the Grand Canyon and see the sun chase the shadows slowly down the canyon walls. Then I totally forget what time it is.

For more glimpses of skies from around the world or to share your own go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Rock Fall at Grand Canyon


Taken from Plateau Point
The reason the Grand Canyon is so much wider than the 300-400 foot Colorado River is one of the best erosion stories on earth.
Middle Permian Paleogeography of North America about 275 million years ago – Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau by Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney
Over 1,500 million years about one mile of limestone, sandstone and shale sediments were deposited in northern Arizona by oceans, swamps, deltas, beaches and sand dunes.

Ripple marks on limestone
Possibly another mile of deposits on top of that eroded away yet can be seen at Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Bryce and Zion National Parks.

Kaibab Plateau
Then about 65 million years ago the area now known as the Colorado Plateau uplifted 6,000-8,000 feet, almost like a cake rising, and left the deposited layers intact.

Taken from Desert View South Rim
Rocky Mountain snow melt forms the headwaters of the Colorado River which are joined by the Green River from Wyoming, San Juan River from Colorado, Little Colorado River and many tributaries to create a fast flowing river full of sediments and boulders capable of carving through the mile of deposits over the last 5-6 million years.

Erosion from the walls of the canyon continues. Because the North Rim is 1,200 feet higher than the South Rim and gets more precipitation, 25 versus 15 inches, water flowing over the rim causes headwater erosion which slowly moves the North Rim further away from the Colorado River.

Fresh rock fall discovered the first week in June
The expansion of freezing water and tree roots also contribute to erosion. Rocks fall regularly but rarely does anyone see it happen. One of my fellow Rangers noticed this fresh rock fall one morning. Damn, we missed it again.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Remember Whensday - Boating on the Illinois River

Sally from The (Mis) Adventures of Karl and Sally has just started a new meme where the past is remembered through sharing old family photographs. I love the idea and hope you will too. So join the fun by clicking here.

Tugboat pushing a barge 1969
When I was a kid my family boated and camped on the Illinois River. Whenever a tugboat came by we had to get out of the water because of the undertow. Notice how the water is pulled off the beach and the boat sits almost high and dry.


Thanks for starting this meme Sally.

Just Outside My Windows


Shaky Sunrise
This was not taken this morning because I slept in on my lazy day off, the first of three days.

Pigmy Nuthatch
I’ve been surfing all day and taking pictures through my windows.

Broad-Tailed & Black-Chinned Hummingbirds
I was filling this 64 ounce feeder every day last week. Then I got busy and it was empty for a couple of days.

Female Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
Finally got around to filling it today. The only time I went outside because it was a grey day with just a little rain.

Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds - note one in flight
The chip and squeak of multiple wing hums constantly get my attention.

Kaibab Squirrel
I can’t get enough of these squirrels. Looks like it's been sticking its nose in something.

Hide & Seek
Wonder if it thought I couldn’t see it.

Steller’s Jay & Band-Tailed Pigeon
These two chased each other into the tree.

Band-Tailed Pigeon
Later more pigeons flew in but the pics were blurry.

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel
These squirrels are everywhere, but usually moving so fast I can’t get a shot.

I love when the wildlife comes to me.

Hey, this is my 200th post since mid-October!

Monday, June 8, 2009

My World Tuesday - More Grand Canyon Blooms


I was out on the Walhalla Plateau today where the lightning started Roosevelt Fire burned 5,000 acres in 2007.

Bark after fire
Ponderosa Pines are fire resistant trees. Often when the lower trunk looks charred and dead, the crown is alive and green.

Wild Onion
Nature's remarkable recovery from fire provides a brilliant display of wildflowers.

Larkspur

Lupine
The colors will change throughout the summer.

Sandwort
And I found more New Mexico Locust in bloom. So, because there weren’t any visitors around I ate a flower.

New Mexico Locust
Tastes like peas. Well it is from the legume, or pea, family.
To see more of life around the world go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Full Moon over the Canyon

Blooms at Grand Canyon


New Mexico Locust Robinia neomexicana, from the Legume Family is blooming on the North Rim. The flowers smell very sweet, but don’t get too close as this shrub or small tree is covered with spines.

The Native Americans that lived here 1,000 years ago ate the raw flowers; however the seeds, bark and root are toxic to humans.
If I hadn't been with visitors on a Nature Walk today I would have sampled the flowers. Let you know later how they taste.

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