Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Travel

The Alaskan Interior by Rail

Last summer, I took this shot of the Nenana River somewhere along the route from Talkeetna to Denali National Park. We boarded the train in the morning at Anchorage and rode up top of an observation car where this and other scenery was beautiful. Later, when we pulled into the McKinley Village, we checked into our hotel cabin on the banks of the Nenana where we could hear the murmur of the river all night long – well punctuated with a few loud bangs and booms since it was on the 4th of July!

The next day, we rode the train up to Fairbanks and had an overnight visit there. Alaska is interesting and certainly beautiful.

Update by Cap’n Bob: Since FIX4RSO is also a train enthusiast, I thought I would post some pix I took of the train we rode to Fairbanks — if it looks like it was pouring rain that’s because it was pouring rain:





25 Apr 2006 by Photography Travel

West Beaches

There are miles and miles of scenic beaches in western Los Angeles County. During our recent excursion to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, we took the time to return via the shoreline. I snapped these pictures as we passed beautiful beaches and homes.

This is a shot of Zuma Beach with Point Dume in the distance.

These beach front homes are just west of Malibu – I wonder how much these guys have to pay per year for tsunami insurance? Can one even get tsunami insurance?

06 Apr 2006 by California Culture Photography Travel

Avalon Bay – Then and Now

What a difference 117 years made to this serene little cove on Santa Catalina Island. This is a shot taken circa 1889 from a hill west of the bay looking toward the old Hotel Metropole. Photo credit COLA Public Library Website

And this is a shot of the bay we took last September from about the same place:

This next shot was taken from the bay looking toward the location of the old Hotel Metropole seen in the top picture (the old Metropole burned down years ago). The new Hotel Metropole hotel is located amongst the clutter just behind the tall palm trees in the center of the photo.

08 Mar 2006 by California Photography Travel

Damsel Sends You Catalina Island

This is a nice wide shot of the entire island of Catalina. The island is about 22 miles from end to end, and that entire span is visible in this view. This shot was made from a vantage point on the Palos Verdes Peninsula at elevation 800 feet above sea level. It was so clear that day, we could see Santa Barbara Island at a distance of 40 or so miles to the west. The view of Catalina was so clear that we could discern the famous Casino at the far east (left) end of the island with the naked eye from the mainland. You can see it as a white speck in the inset from another photo taken without a telephoto lens.

23 Feb 2006 by California Photography Travel

Roundabouts

Retired Geezer at Blog Idaho put out this article on a traffic circle being proposed for Nampa County; the Geezer says:

Blog Idaho: Roundabouts: Good or Bad?

A Roundabout is a traffic circle that replaces an intersection. They are popular in Europe, which should be enough to make me question their value.

I don’t remember hearing anything positive about them from friends who had them installed in their neighborhoods. I think their complaint was that when trucks got in the middle, they had trouble getting out safely. Here in I-Dee-Ho, we have trucks pulling 2 and 3 trailers.
Not to mention ungainly farm equipment.

How about all you Big-City-Folks telling us what you think.

Don’t do it! you might wind up with a circle-jerk like this one in Long Beach, California:

Long Beach Traffic Circle – Google Maps

Damsel and I just HATE to drive through that mess, and avoid it if we can. We hated driving in Washington, D.C. for the same reason.

23 Feb 2006 by California Curmudgeon Rants Travel

Damsel Sends You a Chime Tower

This beautiful Moroccan-style chime tower houses the Deagan Tubular Bell Carillon situated above the City of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. The Cap’n and I hiked up to the top of Chimes Tower Road to get photos of the chime tower and of Avalon Harbor. The chimes sound periodically, as well as can be played manually or with piano rolls on special occasions.

About the CHIMES TOWER:

Built in 1925, the Chimes Tower was presented as a gift to the town of Avalon by Mrs. Ada Wrigley. Located up and across from the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel, the chimes have been tolling on the quarter of the hour between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM since 1925. On holidays and special occasions the chimes are played manually and can be heard throughout Avalon.

About John C. DEAGAN:

Deagan was founder, and for many years president, of the Deagan Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of percussion instruments. He was an orchestra leader at Niblo’s Garden and at Tony Pastor’s in New York and was director of the orchestra at the Opera House in St. Louis. He became director of the Catalina Island Band in 1893 and while there was interested in perfecting percussion instruments. Deagan died at the Surf and Sand Club at Hermosa Beach, Calif., April 28, 1934 and was buried in the family vault in Chicago.

09 Feb 2006 by California Photography Travel

Damsel Sends You Wilson Arch

I thought I would share this picture of Wilson Arch I took during our vacation to Utah last Autumn. The arch sits right along US 191 just south of La Sal Junction on the road from Moab to Monument Valley. This beautiful natural sandstone formation isn’t in one of the National parks or monuments that are also in this part of Utah, but it’s just right there alongside the highway, not far from the famous Hole-in-the-Wall!

03 Feb 2006 by Environment Photography Travel

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