Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

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Desert Cacti and Mountains

The Cap’n and I happened to have an appointment in Surprise, AZ today. As usual on any trip in the truck (or any other vehicle – think RV), I brought my camera to document the trip. On the way home, I took the photo above of the desert with the mountains in the background. It’s nice to live in a place where you can see the naked desert just a few miles from home. Anyhow, this view is looking northeastward toward Castle Hot Springs, AZ, from the Morristown Overpass on US 60 near mile marker 120. Click on the image to enlarge.

02 Jun 2026 by Arizona Environment Notions Panorama Photography 0

Tourist Traps

Grand Canyon

Throughout the entire National Park there have been an average of two to three visitors falling into the canyon each year (excluding suicide attempts). With the annual number of visitors to the park exceeding five million annually, this is not surprising given the idiocy of some people stepping across barriers to get selfies at the canyon edge. Add that to the carelessness of folks stepping on areas of slippery or crumbling surfaces and those who feign falling in and actually do. Still, the casual visitors observing the parks recommendations about safety have little to worry about.

Horseshoe Bend

Before the recent addition of additional safety rails and observing platforms, the number of falls into the 1000 foot deep canyon at the bend were on the order of less than one fatality per year. Now, the numbers have dropped such that between 2010 and 2022 there have been only four fatal falls and those due to not observing the safety rails and rules. Horseshoe Bend gets far fewer visitors than Grand Canyon although that number has risen to about two million visitors per year.

The conclusion here is that no persons observing the rules and safety rails/barriers should have any worries about falling in. Those sane folks will no doubt observe other, less sane folks, doing exactly what gets them into harms way.

Damsel and I haven’t been to either of the locations above recently, but may do so in the coming months or years, depending on circumstances. Our lives have become a bit more complicated recently, but more on that later.

Images: top courtesy of USNPS Yavapai Point Webcam and bottom from SuperGrok AI

01 Jun 2026 by Arizona Environment Notions Travel Wanderlust 0

Memorial Day 2026

Judging from the graphic above, it seems as if our Nation has been in conflicts almost constantly since its establishment. I cannot begin to estimate the number of casualties and deaths resulting from those battles.

We thank the LORD for our freedom and security, none of which would be possible without the terrible losses suffered by those brave and gallant souls.

On this Memorial Day, as we commemorate those lost in the many battles over the years, may we contemplate their ultimate sacrifices and pray to the LORD for the safe keeping of their souls.

AI generated graphic by ChatGPT. Click to enlarge.

25 May 2026 by Comrades in Arms Holidays Military Notions Patriotism

BELTANE

We enjoyed a feast today based upon the traditional Celtic/Scot/Irish celebration of Beltane, the beginning of summer. Our bill of faire was the classic Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner served with lower-carb veggies (we’re still on the modified Keto Diet). It was all wonderful.

Now that spring will soon give way to summer temperatures, we’re preparing ourselves for the days to come. We’re going through some medical therapies over the next months and hope that the temperatures won’t affect the treatments and the side effects. Wish us luck, good health and throw in a prayer or two. Thanks.

02 May 2026 by Ancestors Food & Dining Holidays Notions

Potpourri Post

Last week I posted about a cactus flower and this week (am I doing weekly posts now?) I am going to ramble on about a few things going on. First of all, There is plenty going on in our lives these days, some quite boring things and some a little more attention getting. Let me elaborate a bit:

  • We continue to live in a peaceful, tranquil place which does little to generate exciting headlines.
  • There are some background issues (mainly healthwise) that take up a little bit of time to accommodate what with professional visits and other things to do with growing older.
  • Life goes on with the usual business of running a household (max kudos to Damsel) with our flock of dependents (2 dogs and numerous cottontails, squirrels, birds, etc.)
  • The yard and garden are looking good this spring, but there is always some little chore that pops up. If it’s a big chore, we have our Landscape crew deal with it.
  • There are the hobbies and other time-consuming activities to relieve some of the boredom and/or excitement that comes along.
  • Food and Dining are a major item in our lives; we’re both on special needs diets and almost exclusively prepare all of our meals at home.

First, here is a photo I took this morning of a squirrel and a peanut. Note that the animals we consider as “dependent” don’t really depend as it were; we just like to treat them now and then.

I used the Canon SL3 camera for the above photo. Part of the hobby thing mentioned above. Our main cameras (my 2 and Damsel’s Canon T6i) continue to provide us with entertainment and some good photos now and then. Click on the image to enlarge.

I recently upgraded my everyday carry from the one I have carried for years to a new, easier to rack semi-auto S&W M&P Shield 9mm EZ. The old muscles and ability to operate the old Glock were getting to be incompatible.

Tomorrow, we will be taking the dogs for their annual exams and immunization updates. We will renew the County licenses afterwards.

This week, I need to make time to get a haircut. Due to other commitments, I have fallen out of sync with my regular trim schedule.

On Tuesday, I have consecutive visits with the General Practitioner Doctor and the Ophthalmologist, neither of which is other than a regular visit for checkup. I also need to reschedule a checkup with the Nephrologist which I had to cancel due to a conflict.

So, we’re still here doing things that you might expect for “generians” (septi- and octo-) to encounter in our lives. We will continue in this regard as long as it takes.

12 Apr 2026 by Comrades in Arms Critters Entertainment Firearms Food & Dining Home & Garden Notions Photography Retirement Second Amendment Technobabble

Camera Comparison

On a whim and a notion or two, I added this Canon EOS R-10 Mirrorless Camera to my small collection of cameras, lenses and and accessories. I wanted to try it out and see if I might be able to get better pictures and performance above my Canon EOS SL3 DSLR, with which I am still very much pleased.

It’s purely a hobby thing for me, with a side interest in support of blogging and posting on social media. We also post photos taken during our vacations and other travels. We have a full complement of lenses for the DSLRs, and now, an adapter to fit the older lenses to the new camera, so there is still a lot of experimentation and futzing around to be done, so the jury is still out on making any judgement of one camera to the other.

The one most noticeable aspect is the weight of the new camera and lenses are considerably lighter than the DSLR and it’s assortment of lenses. Comparing similar capabilities, we have this:

  • Canon SL3 equipped with an EF 55-250mm – 2lb 5oz
  • Canon R-10 equipped with an RF 55-210mm – 1lb 12oz

Since birds are the most prevalent photogenic life form in the area, we will use a couple of those photos (both are candid snapshots) to show off each camera’s stuff. Click on either photo to view enlarged.

First, this is a photo of a Curve Billed Thrasher atop the big Saguaro by the garage:

I took the above photo with the SL3 during my morning walk. The bird is sort of back/side lit by the sun, but there is still enough ambient reflected light available to render the feathers, beak and eyes without any real difficulty. The cactus spines are sharp (both photographically and otherwise) and the blue sky serves as a nice backdrop to the bird.

And then there is this one I took with the R-10 this morning of a Cactus Wren perched on the tip of one of the Ocotillos out back:

I am very satisfied with this photo. It was good fortune that the bird perched on the top of one of the canes on the ocotillo. It was further good fortune that as I encountered this shot, the bird wasn’t too far away from where I was shooting. The wren is in very good focus and the background bokeh serves as a very pleasant backdrop nicely framing the main subject.

To be honest, the R-10 may have some weight and operational advantages over the SL3, but both cameras exhibit one very important set of characteristics when it comes to amateur photography: luck, providence, good fortune and subject matter. A little bit of good judgement is also rewarded.

Bottom line: I’m not going to stop using either camera as I pursue some more interesting photo topics – astro, action, macro, panoramic, and a host of others.

21 Mar 2026 by Blogosphere Cyberspace Entertainment Notions Photography Wanderlust

La Bella Luna

I post this photo of “The Good Moon” that I took earlier this evening as I was out with Damsel looking at all the several planets visible after sunset. This included Venus (seen for the first time this year), Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. It was indeed a spectacle.

However, the moon led the show tonight, with Tycho crater along with the Lunar “Seas” in the image I captured while trying to “fine tune” the camera settings on my Canon SL3 to render the image above. (Click to enlarge.)

My camera settings were 1/250sec shutter, ISO 400, aperture f-13, Focal Length 250mm. I am still experimenting with the SL3 and lenses, but as of next week I will have a new mirrorless Canon R-10 to continue experimenting with my camera settings.

27 Feb 2026 by Arizona Astronomy Notions Photography

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