Harbor Mountain, June 2015
On Saturday I went up to Harbor Mountain. The road was re-opened just the day before. I could write 12,000 words but I would rather post 12 pictures. Continue reading Harbor Mountain, June 2015
A Tale of Two Watches
Twice now I have lost watches at airport security. This is the strange Tale of Two Watches. I arrived in Tbilisi grumpy. I have always worn cheap watches, Timex. And I’ve always wanted a good watch. On the cruise I splurged on a solar powered Citizen with a stopwatch built in. I agonized over buying it and finally, when they cut the price at the end of the cruise I plunked down more than 300 duty free dollars. The watch made me happy. It kept good time, didn’t need new batteries, had a big face and glowed in the dark. … Continue reading A Tale of Two Watches
Iron Butterfly, June in the Republic of Georgia
I’ve been home in Sitka two weeks now, writing reports, enjoying the Sitka Summer Music Festival and thinking of my recent trip to Tbilisi, Georgia. It was a shorter trip than usual, which was a good thing because if I … Continue reading Iron Butterfly, June in the Republic of Georgia
Updating Art to add a Bicycle.
My friends at Radio Atinati in Zugdidi, Georgia have their station across the street from an old Soviet mural made of iron. It shows the progress of transportation from winged Mercury to Space flight, with cars, trains, horse carriages, carrier … Continue reading Updating Art to add a Bicycle.
A Train Trip through Bavaria.
This trip I decided to spend two jet lag nights in Munich, or rather Freisling, a small town near the airport. This time I decided to take the train from Freisling to Fussen and the onward bus to Hohenschwangu and … Continue reading A Train Trip through Bavaria.
Neuschwanstein
This is the second part of a letter. For the first part see the post posted just after this one. The train pulled into Fussen and everyone ran for the 78 Bus to Hohenschwangu to visit Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss … Continue reading Neuschwanstein
Earth Day Sitka, 2015
Wednesday was Earth Day but much of the celebration is happening in Sitka this weekend. Today (after school) we had the 14th annual Parade of Species. Kids dress up as their favorite animal or plant to crawl, slither, run or … Continue reading Earth Day Sitka, 2015
The Dragon Ate the Moon
The first time ever I saw the aurora we were with our friends Dave and Carol Lam at Suzi’s dad’s cabin on the St. Croix River in Minnesota. We were far from the city lights. We were watching a … Continue reading The Dragon Ate the Moon
Eagle Release
When Bald Eagles encounter problems, often caused by interaction with humans, the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center patches them up, helps them regain strength in flight barns, and releases them The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, in its first release of 2015, … Continue reading Eagle Release
Rain Forest to Rain Forest
Three weeks ago I was in the Amazon tropical rain forest. Now I am home in my own Tongass temperate rain forest.. Both are green, both have lots of water, both have abundant life, both are essential lungs for our … Continue reading Rain Forest to Rain Forest
The Great Spring Sitka Sound Bio-mass Festival.
March brings life to Sitka Sound. When the herring come in everyone follows, by air, in the sea and under the sea. The eagles, gulls, whales, sea lions and fishermen all congregate to celebrate the great spring biomass festival and … Continue reading The Great Spring Sitka Sound Bio-mass Festival.
Coda, Prinsendam Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage
March 16, 2015, Sitka, Alaska How could this be my 75th post for a 68 day cruise? OK, one post was anticipation and this one is a coda, written after we got home but still… I averaged more than one … Continue reading Coda, Prinsendam Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage
Closing Campfire and After Party
March 13, 2015 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida The cruise is over and we are back in Fort Lauderdale. I will probably have one more post after this one to sum things up. I guess I have been working on USAID projects … Continue reading Closing Campfire and After Party
Tropical Mall of America
March 9, 2015 St Thomas, US Virgin Islands Prinsendam did not dock at the main port in Charlotte Amalie, West India Dock, but at, Crown Bay, a few miles out of town. It used to serve the US Navy. According … Continue reading Tropical Mall of America
Swimming a National Park Service Trail
March 9, 2015 St John, US Virgin Islands Today we swam a national park service trail. I have hiked and canoed national park trails before but never swam one with my face down in the water. It is the Trunk … Continue reading Swimming a National Park Service Trail
On the Bridge of MS Prinsendam
March 9, 2015 St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Not every Holland America officer likes serving on Prinsendam; at least that’s what our American Express representative tells me. It has an old fashioned bridge, different from the other ships. The newer … Continue reading On the Bridge of MS Prinsendam
Water, Sky,Light and Perspective, Getting Abstract in Barbados.
March 8, 2015 Sailing the Caribbean We are on our way to our final stop, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Yesterday afternoon, after taking the course/tour in photo composition we went to the beach and I was playing with my … Continue reading Water, Sky,Light and Perspective, Getting Abstract in Barbados.
I Take Photography Lessons, Here are the Results.
March 7, 2014 Bridgetown, Barbados. Ronnie Carrington is a photographer, videographer, film producer and poet in Barbados. He runs photo tours of the island, teaching how to make better photographs. On the tour bus he lectured on picture composition and … Continue reading I Take Photography Lessons, Here are the Results.
The Devil Owns Salvation
March 5, 2015 Devil’s Island, French Guiana In the 1750s they called them the Isles of Salvation. French Colonists found the mainland of South America disease ridden and many died. These islands, several miles off shore did not seem to … Continue reading The Devil Owns Salvation
Crossing the Amazon Bar
March 4, 2014 At Sea Early yesterday evening we crossed the equator and early this morning we crossed the bar and are in the Atlantic, the Amazon behind us. We can do our laundry, get clean towels and take long … Continue reading Crossing the Amazon Bar
What Exactly Do You Mean by Remote?
March 3, 2014 Cruising the Amazon “If I mailed a postcard from here who knows how long it would take to get home?” That’s what one of my fellow passengers said when we sailed into Santarem last week. “This is … Continue reading What Exactly Do You Mean by Remote?
“Wildlife, Science, History, Adventure.” and Joy
March 3, 2015, 7 AM Cruising past Santarem This is our last day on the Amazon. We reach the bar at the entrance of the river at 1:30 tomorrow morning. We are traveling fast, faster than twenty knots. We need … Continue reading “Wildlife, Science, History, Adventure.” and Joy
Boi Bomba!
March 2, 2015 Parintins, Brazil Parintins is a river town between Santarem and Manaus. If it mentioned in the guidebooks at all it’s contained in a little box off to the side as a side trip to take in June … Continue reading Boi Bomba!
In the Shadow of the City
March 1, 2014 Manaus, Brazil Manaus is the starting point for treks into the Amazon rainforest. It sits were Rio Negro flows into Rio Amazon. The Amazon is swift, muddy, coffee colored, and cooler than the Negro. Rio Negro is … Continue reading In the Shadow of the City