Day Trip

We got up early on Wednesday..checked the weather and headed on over to Duluth.  We were gone just 12 hours. It is a four hour drive one way.

The last time we were there for train shopping and a bit of antique shopping Far Guy took ill.  Since then he has wanted to return. Yesterday was the day.

Next to Curly’s Bar is the Train Shop.  It is a way cool place..I walked Chance down the street..it is in an old part of Duluth..I am not sure how safe that part of town is. But it was daylight and I had a dog!  He wouldn’t hurt a fly..but no one would know that!

The roads were good and the temperatures were in the 30’s.  EXCEPT near Lake Superior.  Those Duluthians are a tough bunch.  The wind coming off of the ice was bitterly cold.

There was plenty of room to sit a spell at Canal Park.  Not many tourists were around.  As I was walking back to the car I met a Grandma and her Grandson all bundled up with scarves covering their faces and necks..only their eyes were showing.. I said “Hello….chilly day in Duluth! “  She replied.. “This is a warm day!”

The lighthouse in Canal Park is one of my favorite places to visit. I was there last fall when it was a tad warmer.

The antique mall was great..we enjoyed several hours just walking around.  I found a few  many  lots of old photos to add to my collection..and Far Guy found some “stuff” for his train set.

It was a fun day..and a lovely break from our winter routine:)

ABC- 123 and Redemption

A long time ago back about 1978 or 1979 our daughters Trica and Jennifer had birds. Parakeets or Budgies. The girls chose names for their birds.  Pansy was green with a yellow head she belonged to Trica.    ABC-123 was Jennifers..he was blue with a white head. 

One Sunday afternoon the girls asked to have their birds out..sure.. Jennifer wanted to hold ABC-I23 with her blankie because the bird had sharp claws.  A short time later there was a problem with ABC-123  he looked strangely asleep and stiff..poor ABC-123 was dead..he must have had a heart attack.

Poor Jennifer..she was only 3 or 4 years old.  It was very traumatic for her.

Last weekend one of the places I wanted to visit was Hawk Ridge in Duluth.  Sunday morning just before leaving town we headed up there.  There is a beautiful view of the city from the ridge.

Hawk Ridge is right on the path that the birds follow on their migration south.  If the wind is right the birds fly right by the ridge. 

Volunteers are on hand with binoculars and very available to answer questions.  Volunteer Margie brought out this Sharp-shinned Hawk.  They have several banding stations in the immediate area..where birds are lured in and caught, banded, weighed and sexed.  They bring birds up to the Hawk Ridge so that people can see them up close..and as a fundraiser they can be adopted.  This Sharp-shinned Hawk could be adopted and then released by the adoptee for a donation of $25.

Jen spoke up immediately.. “I will do it!”

Visions of ABC-123 and a little girl with tears in her eyes flashed quickly through my head…she is older now..certainly this bird won’t die.

The volunteer showed her how to hold the bird and it’s number was recorded.  They will send Jen a note if the bird goes through the banding station again.

Then it was time.  Time to release the bird.  1..2..3 and Jen opened her hand.

And her Mother the photographer extraordinaire got the shot!  I did it..I really really did it!  The bird swooped down and quickly did an upward loop and was on it’s way south!

Jen was pleased..it was quite an experience for her..redemption is sweet! :)

Waterfalls and Night Shots

One of the things I wanted to learn to photograph was waterfalls. I wanted to shoot some soft flowing water.  A tripod is a must..or finding a stable place to set your camera. 

I had a tripod at home..and I forgot it there..unfortunately..so I bought a new one..but it was missing parts. Between the instructor and Jen they cobbled together a workable tripod for me for the first morning.  When we returned to Duluth I bought a new and improved tripod.

I set my camera on the rock wall to take the Gooseberry Falls photos..I was pleased with them.

There was a happening at Gooseberry.

How romantic..

I just stayed at the lower falls..the girls went up to the upper falls.  I visited with some very nice people and rested on the benches along the walkway and watched people and their dogs.

This is my best night shot of the city of Duluth.

I have to make myself a “cheat sheet”  that has my settings on it.  I like to do night photography at Christmas Time..perhaps I can get some really nice photos.  I used my new tripod for this shot. 

Jen wanted to go up to the Enger Tower for a look at the city.  Enger Tower is an eighty foot observation tower made from blue  stone.  It is beautiful at night. I was standing under a tree and got the leaves in this shot!

My main photography goals were met during the photography workshop.  It is all about experimentation..and getting comfortable with your camera.  I have a long ways to go..but at least I am on my way:)

 

Update:

Far Guy is still sick..I spoke with his Doctor who prescribed another medication for him yesterday.  He is struggling to recover from this illness whatever he has..earache that feels like he has an ice pick in his ear/body aches/temperature/cough and stuffy head.  He spent only about three hours upright yesterday..I kept bugging him to drink more fluids and take deep breaths.  I cooked him some chicken for supper.  So far knock on wood I am free of symptoms…perhaps this is the same thing I had back in May…maybe I am immune. This is the sickest I have seen Far Guy in a very long time..if he gets any worse I will have to take him to the hospital.  This is day twelve..he rallied for the weekend and we thought he was on the road to recovery..but I guess not:(

Duluth, MN

Last Monday it was a snowy, cold day as we made our way over to Duluth. It is just under a four hour trip from our house. Far Guy had a great time in the Hobby Shop..it was filled to the brim with railroad items..and antiques too..it was very interesting. He did make a few purchases, some stuff for his trains. I will have to tell you more about his trains ..someday! 

While Chance and I waited outside we had a photo op. This area has a whole bunch of bars..they were doing a brisk business..everyone seemed friendly enough..just a little drunk..it was barely noon.   I love to photograph Chance with Black and White things! 

This is the Lighthouse at Canal Park. Since it was fairly cold and snowing there were no crowds of people, there was one other dog, a Weimaraner with a huge florescent orange plastic bat...we could tell he was a city dog..his owner had a huge fuzzy red haired hat. 

We waited for a ship to come into the canal. Chance hopped up onto the raised flowerbed himself..it made his view more interesting. He just sat there and watched people and the birds. NO, it was not my ship either..this one was the Arthur M Anderson..

Chance was just fine until the ship blasted it's horn, he was off his perch in a flash and hiding under the bench.. he wanted to go back to the car..NOW.. to heck with the noisy ship. The friendly greeting of the ships horn a long and two shorts didn't mean a hill of beans to Chance.  He didn't think it was at all neighborly or polite. 

The Aerial Lift Bridge at Canal Park is very interesting to watch. I had forgotten that you can hear the car tires whirring over the bridge's roadway. There was other whirring too, there was a crew weedwacking all the foliage from the day lilies..they were getting their Fall haircut. Irritating noises.  Many cars were going to and from the Island of Park Point.. ( This is where I would live, if I lived in Duluth..it is like being on the Ocean) A long time ago, Far Guy thought he might apply for a job in Duluth..we took the girls and looked over the area..we took them swimming off of Park Point..I was sold, but he decided against applying for a job there. Anyway, back to the bridge..it is on the National Registry of Historic Places and if you don't see anything else in Duluth, you should see this! It lifts to allow ships into the harbor..I have always wondered about the lives of the bridge keepers, they must appreciate going to work everyday to such a beautiful view.

View of Lake Superior.  Yes, I know, the sky and water look the same. 

We found our way to Hawk Ridge, with the snow and murky skies not many birds were seen migrating. On a clear day this place must be magnificent..hopefully I will come back again someday. I would love to see some Eagles or Falcons..oh and Hawks! On a clear day thousands of birds can be seen migrating between this ridge and Lake Superior in September and October. The people there were very friendly and bored..

We wound our way back down the hill..looking for The Seven Bridges Road..we never found it..but we did find Lake Superior again. Chance loves water and he found the rocks quite to his liking. It must have seemed like an adventure to him. Far Guy hiked down the steep embankment..I stayed up on top..the crazy dog kept running up and down the hill between us. He got some exercise..it was a long day in the car for him. On the way back home we stopped at a deserted park and played ball for awhile. It was dark when we got home..and it was snowing:)
October: Wet, cold dreary days= 9 Sunny crisp days =2 Snowy cold days = 3 ( Snowy Day 4 in progress)