Book Reading List - 2021

• Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu - Author: Laurence Bergreen
• Galileo - Author: James Reston Jr
• The Day the World Ended at Little Big Horn: A Lakota History - Author: Joseph M. Marshall III
• Conquistadors - Author: Michael Wood
• The Oregon Trail - Author: Francis Parkman
• Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures - Author: Merlin Sheldrake
• At Home - Author: Bill Bryson
• Facing the Mountain - Author: Daniel James Brown
• The Last Englishman - Author: Keith Foskett
• I Am a Man: Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice - Author: Armando Duran
• Natural Rivals - Author: John Clayton
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley - Author: Malcolm X, Alex Haley
• How to Avoid a Climate Disaster - Author: Bill Gates
• Wonderlandscape - Author: John Clayton
• Leave Only Footprints - Author: Conor Knighton
• Clanlands: Whiskey, Warfare and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other - Author: Graham McTavish, Sam Heughan
• How I Built This - Author: Guy Raz
• A Promised Land - Author: Barack Obama
• Greenlights - Author: Matthew McConaughey

Birds - Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

It's truly amazing how Anna's hummingbirds are able to survive the cold winters here in the PNW. This guy stayed busy guarding our two feeders from at least two other Anna's. I'm thinking we may need to put up a few more feeders 🤔

Road Trip - Fort Rock, OR

Fort Rock State Monument, Oregon

Visited Fort Rock State Monument on a recent road trip through central Oregon (scroll down for 3D photos). Fort Rock is an amazing volcanic formation that can be seen from miles away. It was created during the last ice age when lava erupted from a vent in the earth's crust. As the eruption continued, layers of tuff accumulated around the vent eventually building a circular feature or tuff ring that stands about 200 feet high and 4,460 feet in diameter. Fort Rock got Its name from its tall, straight sides that resemble a fort. According to Wikipedia, William Sullivan, an early settler in the area, named Fort Rock in 1873 while searching for lost cattle.

Fort Rock State Monument, Oregon

Over ten thousand years ago Fort Rock was surrounded by a lake with wetlands and wildlife which provided the foundation of life for prehistoric humans. Numerous well-preserved sagebrush sandals, ranging from 9,000 to 13,000 years old have been discovered in the area making it the earliest evidence of humans in North America.
Sources: Wikipedia & Fort Rock State Monument visitor information

3D Photo of Fort Rock State Monument, Oregon

Aerial 3D Photo of Fort Rock State Monument, Oregon

Road Trip - Fort Rock Valley Homestead

I love ghost towns and on the way to see Fort Rock State Monument, I ran across a gem in the high desert of Central Oregon (scroll down for 3D photos). Fort Rock Valley Homestead is composed of a museum and numerous restored historic buildings from the area that were salvaged and relocated to Fort Rock, creating a sort of ghost town in the middle of nowhere. 

The restored town was opened in 1988 by the Fort Rock Valley Historical Society, and grew over the years as more buildings were saved from demolition or donated. The historic town is made up of three houses, a doctor's office, a mercantile, three cabins, and a school.

The town originated as a result of the Homestead Act of 1862 that fueled a land rush which allowed heads of households, widows, and all single people over 21 years old to purchase 160 acres at $1.25 per acre, or by paying a $15 filing fee after 5 years of residence and cultivation. Motivated by dreams of a "Garden of Eden" or simply the desire to own land, thousands headed west.

While the land was essentially free, getting
to the land, building a home, and plowing the land required money. The harsh environment also defeated many. More than 1.3 million claims were filed in the United States before 1900, but less than half proved successful.
Source: Fort Rock Valley Homestead visitor information

Road Trip - Mono Lake, CA

If you're ever looking for a place that's other worldly, look no further than Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve (scroll down for 3D photos). Mono Lake is an ancient lake located just south of the town of Lee Vining, California on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

The lake is an oasis in the desert that supports a huge variety of wildlife. Nearly two million birds, including 100 different species, use Mono Lake as a feeding stop-over on their north-south migrations. In the spring and summer up to 60,000 gulls, 80 percent of the state's population, return to Mono Lake each year to nest and raise their young. Unfortunately, their populations have declined drastically with the loss of wetland habitat due to humans diverting water to Southern California.

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

The main attraction of the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve is the tufa formations formed over thousands of years by springs flowing up through the lake bottom and calcium in the water bonding with carbonates in the lake. Unfortunately, the tufa formations have also been drastically affected by the diversion of water from the lake to Southern California.

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

Currently, efforts are being made to restore Mono Lake. On September 28, 1994, a victory was achieved when the California State Water Resources Control Board issued an order to protect Mono Lake and its tributary streams. Hopefully these efforts will reverse the damage of the past and help preserve Mono Lake.

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

Road Trip - Lee Vining, CA

Spent the second night of our road trip in Lee Vining, CA. I've driven through Lee Vining many times but never actually spent a night there. Lee Vining is known as the gateway to Yosemite. However, this time of year, there wasn't much going on.

None the less, Lee Vining is an interesting little town. Biggest surprise was the Mono Basin Historical Society Museum which has a great collection of old mining equipment

and the "Upside Down House" which was built in 1956 by Nellie Bly Bryan who was inspired by the children's tale, "Upside Down Land". The house was originally located along Hwy 395 south of the Mono Inn. 

After Nellie's death, the house fell into disrepair until it was moved to its current location in 2000.

Road Trip - Burney Falls, CA

Burney Falls

On the second day of our road trip to southern California, we paid a visit to the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. Established in 1922, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is the second oldest park in the California State Park system. The park is best known for the spectacular 129-foot tall Burney Falls.To the people known today as the Pit River Indians, Burney Falls, or 'uts' i mi' wa, is a sacred place. Some say that President Theodore Roosevelt called the falls "the eighth wonder of the world." The McArthur family believed so strongly that the falls should be protected that they purchased the land and water rights and then sold them to the state for preservation as a park.

Bike Ride - Frenchman's Bar

Frenchman's Bar Bike Ride - Sept 23, 2021

Video of one of my favorite local bike rides to Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park taken on September 23, 2021. The ride usually takes about 60 minutes round trip but the video has been sped up 5X and lasts about 12 minutes. The first half of the ride follows local roads which eventually connect to a paved trail that ends at Frenchman's Bar Regional Park. The park is located about 5 miles down river from Fort Vancouver on the Washington side of the Columbia River and was named after Frenchman Paul Hauray who, in 1915 purchased the land in hopes of making money in the salmon fishing industry.Video was shot using an iPhone mounted on the bike handlebars and edited with the Videoshop iPhone app.

Road Trip - Redwoods

Took our first long road trip since before the pandemic and visited an old friend, "Giant Tree" located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA where I did my Masters Thesis in the early 1980's.

"Giant Tree" is considered the 16th largest Coast Redwood and measures 354 ft tall, 26.9 ft diameter and 27,800 cubic feet. Although a sign next to the tree says it was recognized as the national Coast Redwood champion in November 1991, other trees have been discovered that surpass it. 

Earth Day - Cherry Trees

Just recently discovered these 100 awesome Shirofugen cherry trees in full bloom on the Clark College campus in Vancouver, WA. The trees were planted on April 11, 1990, in celebration of Arbor Day and Earth Day. John Kageyama, President of America Kotobuki Electronics, Inc., presented the cherry trees to the City of Vancouver to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Washington's statehood. 

Source: http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/sakura/history.php

Earth Day 2021 - Haiku

Be kind to the Earth •

Good planets are hard to find •

Earth Day every day

Earth Day 2021

Gnomes & Daffodils - Haiku

Gnomes and Daffodils •

Give hope for happier times •

Springtime is coming

COVID-19 Shot

Showing off COVID-19 shot

Can't believe I was able to get my first COVID-19 shot a few days ago. Guess there are some advantages to being an old fart 🤔 So far, no side effects except for a sore arm and better Internet access 😂. Thank you scientists, doctors, nurses & healthcare workers for all you do!

Winter Weather Woes

According to the weather reports, we recently received 10-15 inches snow which is a lot for Vancouver, WA. Normally, we only get about 4-5 inches per year. I don’t mind snow in moderation but I really don’t like the ice storms that seem to always follow the snow. This time, we received a coating of about 1/2 to 1 inch ice on everything which makes walking & driving pretty risky. The good news is the ice doesn’t last too long & makes for some nice photo opportunities 📷 😎

Frosty's Mittens - Haiku

Frosty the snow man •

Was a very dapper dude •

With awesome mittens

Happy New Year 2021 - Haiku

Hoping this New Year •

Brings you love, peace, happiness •

And healthier times