8/2011 an additional memory on Glenwood Springs

I don't have any photos to document it, which is probably why I forgot to mention it, but on the train rides to and from Glenwood Springs, we actually saw wildlife. We spotted a bald eagle soaring and then landing on a tree. That actually happened twice--once on the way out and once on the way back. Don't know if it was the same bald eagle or not. We saw an elk. The train had come to a stop at some point, probably waiting for another train to pass, and an elk walked within 50 yards of the train. It was as if on cue. We also spotted a black bear, looked like a teenager--not a small cub, but not full grown, frolicking (literally) in some tall grass very near the track.

8/21/01 Great Lakes

Have I ever flown over the Great Lakes before? I'm sure I have, but I sure don't remember it. I must've not been paying attention. This is an impressive view. And guess what. They are really big! Hahahaha

This occurred about 5 minutes after the windmills. I'm narrowing down the location of the farming windmills and now I know what "the big body of water" was in the last post.

8/21/2011 windmills

I'm not sure what part of the country we are flying over....we are about 90 minutes away from landing in Boston, and about 5 minutes after I took this picture we were over a really big body of water. As I looked out over this farmland I could see that every patch of land (presumably each field) had a giant windmill on it. It literally looks like windmill farms. A) I'm amazed at how big those things must be for me to be able to distinguish the three blades from this high up, and B) I'm fascinated with the terrain and the big body of water and wish I knew where I was located.

8/21/2011 Window Seat

I can't believe how quickly my time in Reno has passed. Thank you Jacque and Dan for a wonderful working vacation and for 6 fun-filled days and nights. Nothing beats great friends combined with amazing food, good "spirits," and fun activities.

It takes sooooo long to fly west to east. Today is going to be a long day. I got up at 4:45am PST to leave by 6 to be at the airport by 6:15 for a 7:25 flight. I'm on my way to Phoenix where I'll change planes for a 6-hour non-stop to Boston. Hopefully I'll catch the 6:35pm Concord bus to Portland and then drive two hours to Farmington and arrive home by 10pm EST.

8/21/2011 Burning Man

Now this is one heck of an event. There was even an art display in the airport about it...photos of the craziness from the last 24 years. On one if my trips out here, Jacque and Dan took me to their hunting "cabin" for Memorial Day weekend and in our sightseeing along the way we were in the area of Burning Man and they told me about it. "Unique" is the best word I can use to describe it.
It starts next weekend and culminates on Labor Day. I just missed getting to be here for it, though I gotta tell you, I'm not sure I'd really care that much about going.