Remember Whensday - The Clown Boat-In

Our boat the Six-Pak
I grew up boating with my parents and we spent many summer vacations at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. We stayed in various resorts along the lake and spent day light hours on the water swimming and skiing. One of the favored places to go for lunch was The Clown, a floating hamburger joint with boat slips. The waitresses wore bikinis and always had to refill the bowl of sliced dill pickles several times for us and friends. I loved the pickles but figured Dad liked the place for the bikinis. The immense carp churned up the water enmass as they were fed fish food from the handy gumball like dispensers.

Sally from The (Mis) Adventures of Karl and Sally has started a new meme where the past is remembered through sharing old family photographs and this is #5. I love the idea and hope you will too. So join the fun by clicking here.

My World Tuesday - Stitch in Time

Enlarge please
I’m really into taking panoramic photos. Even before digital I used to line up the horizon as best I could and slowly take 2-10 pictures in a row. Sometimes those would be taped together in a rather collage look as I’m not always lined up right. Some of these I’ve scanned and stitched together very successfully even able to manually adjust some of the images using whatever software I had. I believe the last was an ArcSoft that no longer exists for my Vista.

So now I use Windows Live Photo and sometimes it has a mind of its own. Sure wish I could afford really good image software. Maybe someday. Any suggestions for free or inexpensive software would be appreciated.

For more glimpses into life around the world got to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

The Big and Small at North Canyon - Kaibab National Forest

On my last days off I took a drive into the Kaibab National Forest and headed to Marble View. Unfortunately the last .25 mile becomes very narrow with low branches so I set up camp overlooking a finger of North Canyon.

The sky continued to boil and brew but the storm kept skirting around me towards the west.

It’s like the weather really couldn’t decide what to do. Yet even with all this cloud cover I sunburned my back.

Desert Paintbrush about 3 inches tall
This open patch of ground on the rim is much like tundra in that the plants grow very small. Probably not much depth of soil over this broken up limestone.

Hairy Golden Aster

Wrinkled Grasshopper (yes that's what it's called)
I had my nose down low to the ground searching for fossils and saw this creature blending in with the rocks.

Fossil hunting
Some fellow Rangers showed up unexpectedly and also assumed the fossil hunting position.

This strange bug I can’t identify showed up on one of their hats. (This bug’s for you Joan.)

taken at 6:18pm
As the sun began to set the wind increased. Can you tell which way it blows by the tree on the right? Another reason for the small plants.

taken at 7:09pm
Here you can also see smoke low on the horizon from a prescribed burn near Dry Park to the west. I’m sure the rising heat had some effect on the clouds, but that’s not smoke high in the sky. The burn was almost out by the next day from rain.

taken at 8:09pm
As the storm blew in over me the temperature dropped and a little rain fell.

The wind rocked the camper but I was snug.

House Rock Valley and Marble Canyon
In the morning I walked out to Marble View at the very end of the narrow road. I might try to drive out there next time to camp. Yet I liked the western sunset view where I was. And I had the place to myself.

Oh yea, I promise to show you the fossils collected tomorrow, or the next day.

4th of July Parade at Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon Lodge decked out for the occasion, and was signed as a dry zone. Check out the parade here...

Happy 4th of July!

NPS float?
We may not be able to set off fireworks here at Grand Canyon National Park, but we will have a parade this afternoon followed by a BBQ.

A drive in Kaibab National Forest

Highway 67 north leaving Grand Canyon National Park

The sky changed at every turn.

Forest Road 610 heading east
Left the park and entered the forest.

My how the dust flies.

Which way did I go?

The forest closes in as the road narrows.

Deer Vetch
Saw so many flowers.

Geranium (I think) and Roses
If anyone can identify the above white flower let me know. (Thanks)

Columbine

Ponderosa Pine
The forest reveals many kinds of unusual growth.

Unknown mushrooms
This snag provides a home for many ants. Enlarge to see the sawdust pile at the bottom.

A small pond appears where the limestone creates a sink. Many birds that I couldn’t get close enough to photo.

And I picked up a hitchhiker somewhere along the journey.

Hope you’ll come back tomorrow for more of this adventure and see which way I did go. I only drove about 12 miles, yet it took me almost two hours with all the stops for pics along the way.

Sky Watch Friday - Storm Brewing

Enlarge to see the small plane in front of the big cloud
On my way out of the park and into the forest to play for days off. I went with trepidation because of the 40 percent chance of rain. And, oh well it rained a little after dark. But I watched the storm build all afternoon. More about where I camped tomorrow and the treasures I found.

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