We’re in an undisclosed location somewhere in Arizona tonight. When we pulled the RV into the campsite and got all set up, these little guys showed up – the whole family. They’re Arizona Quail, I suppose – anyhow, they’re cute! Click on the image to enlarge.
On the way to the range today, we heard the train coming down the track, so we decided to stop for the photo op. Damsel took some stills and I made a movie.
I have always been fascinated by trains, especially old steamers, but I like ’em all. In the summer of 2005, Damsel and I rode the Alaskan RR from Anchorage through Denali and on to Fairbanks. Seeing any trains always brings out a little wanderlust in me.
Pardon the crappy bandwidth compression. One of these days I’m going to upgrade the website for streaming video. I kept telling myself that I would do it when I get the time – well now that I’m retired, I no longer have much of an excuse. I’ll get on it real soon now, just as soon as I do a few chores and we make an out of towner or two . . .
On our way into Yosemite a couple of weeks ago, we spotted some deer crossing the little country road we took to the lodge where we stayed the night. One deer bounded right through a barbed-wire fence and across a field. This is a two-frame movie that I captured as two photos combined into a Flash© animation.
This is a slideshow recapping our great time at the GBR-IV in Reno. We met so many nice folks and made new friends. It was truly a great experience for us, and we have already been in touch with some of our new buddies. Thanks to Mr. C and Kee Wee for throwing one of the best events we’ve been fortunate enough to attend.
Major Chuck Ziegenfuss did a presentation for Project Valor-IT, so we included a tribute to that in the slideshow. If you want to learn more please visit About Project Valour-IT on-line.
Blogs and others represented at GBR-IV:
Thanks also to the event sponsors: Para USA, Hi-Point Firearms, GLOCK, Dillon Precision, Lucky Gunner Ammo, The Silver Legacy, Brownell’s, Natchez Shooters Supply, Midway USA, Remington, Crimson Trace, Bison Armory, Cheaper than Dirt, National Rifle Association and the National Sports Shooting Foundation (thanks Bill!)
If I missed anyone, please tell me, so I can make it right.
Photo credits (most of ’em) – Damsel.
OK – Just one more panoramic image from our vacation. I took this the first night away from home on our way to the Gun Bloggers Rendezvous – this is the Merced River (South Fork) that ran immediately behind our hotel room at the Yosemite View Lodge, just outside the National Park boundary.
Other than a five foot high fence obstructing the view (refer to the right end of the panorama), this was what we had for ambiance that evening. We sat on the back patio and waited for the stars to come out and after that, the moonrise over the canyon wall.
Click on the panorama thumbnail to see full size.
After our great time with the Gun Bloggers, we headed toward home via the Owens Valley. At one point, we stopped at Manzanar (more on that later) where I snapped several images of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. I stitched them together to make this panoramic image.
Mount Whitney, the highest point in the CONUS is visible in this image. I can’t pick it out – can you? Click the thumbnail image below to enlarge.
At the Gun Bloggers Rendezvous this weekend, I was thrilled to meet Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, a battle wounded survivor and founder of Valour-IT. Chuck put on a good show when he related the tale of his injuries and recovery and how they led to Soldiers Angels adoption of the voice-activated computer project for badly wounded servicemen and women.
At one point while we were sitting at the table in the hospitality room, Chuck pulled out this beautiful gold coin with the Soldiers Angels insignia on it. He presented it to me and said to keep it.
Oh, I will, Chuck, I will . . .
Image right: Chuck Ziegenfuss; image below: the SA Coin – Click to enlarge.
