mamabear

During our 2 week journey on the inside passage we visited and learned about 3 native cultures. These cultures have much in common but are also different. They all share a love of the ocean and a reverence for the land and the animals. The First Nation people in this area had the resources and time to develop a rich artistic tradition which is coming back again. New artisans are now carving wooden masks that are used in traditional dances. Poles are being carved again to memorialize a great person or tell the history of the people living in a long house. Poles are also used to tell cultural stories which are being passed on to a new generation. These poles have never been worshiped in a religious way by these cultures. They see them as ... read more

Our much anticipated Puffin adventure started on May 19. We made a stop at Crane Creek State Park which is just outside of Toledo, Ohio, to look for migrating warblers, and were not disappointed. If you are the least bit interested in watching birds this is such a good place to go. There are boardwalks through wooded areas and around marshes, but the best part is the great number of experienced birders who point out and identify all the birds. This was a road trip without our camper and without Dave - we missed both by the end of our trip. We also decided to set some standards for motel/hotel rooms. 1. the toilet should be bolted to the floor 2. the reception area should not be shielded by bullet proof glass 3. electrical wiring should ... read more

We are loving Arizona's blue skies and warm temperatures. The polar vortexes that swept across Texas regularly were getting a bit old and to know we were only a state away made it seem colder than it was. We started our Arizona camping at Patagonia State Park where we saw the Elegant Trogan last year. ( New blog readers can find that entry under 'Patagonia State Park and Lost Dutchman, published March 17, 2013) While staying at Patagonia we took another B&B vacation to Madera Canyon in Green Valley. This area is rated the third best birding destination in the U.S. We drove up and into the Santa Rita Mountains which is where Madera Canyon is located. The change is dramatic since the drive begins on the desert floor and ends in the mountain top. The ... read more

It has been a while since the last posting . It seems there has been one polar vortex after another reaching down into the South. I know it is not as bad as some states, but it has kept us inside and cautious about our water line which needs to be unhooked in weather below freezing. The evening weather reports here can make us laugh as Texans deal with a bit of snow and sleet. One lady made the news when she couldn't find the ice scrapper for her car windows. Actually, black ice is the real problem here and can shut everything down until the afternoon when above freezing temps usually arrive. Since last we 'talked' we have been to some new parks and tried some new foods. We stayed one week at Sam Houston ... read more

Christmas week still finds us in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL. We have had some of the nicest weather ever during this month. Most days are sunny and warm enough for us - high 60's and low 70's. The park has a great Backcountry Bike Trail that has a complex of 6 trails totaling 11 paved miles. We can bike it, in combination with the bike trail on the main road, to get to restaurants and shopping and the beach. We've put on a lot of miles going to Wal-Mart, Publix and the Pancake House. While we travel Ron is always on the lookout for nurseries that sell trees to make into bonsai . He found a nice Japanese Cedar called a 'Black Dragon' that he has shaped and wired into our Christmas tree. ... read more