tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1904669098615333692024-03-05T07:59:46.074-08:00Ron & Anita's Alaska SojournRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-82751668496533594482009-07-10T11:10:00.000-07:002009-07-17T12:30:58.272-07:00July 6 - Salt Lake City to Chattanooga<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We got going in the morning, loaded the car for the short trip to the airport, and promptly took the wrong turn onto highway 15 north. Once we got headed in the right direction, we got the car checked in and found a looooooooooonnnnnnnggg line at the Delta check-in counter. Fortunately the line outside at the Red Cap station was very short, so we used that option and minutes later were waiting in another looooooonnnnnnngggg line for the security line. We discussed numerous issues of world-wide significance while we waited, and once they'd scanned our possessions we made our way to the gate. We loaded onto a Boeing 757 in good order, endured a three-hour flight to Atlanta, made our way to the gate where we were scheduled to catch our ride to Chattanooga, and settled in to wait for that plane to leave.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Since we were near the end of the concourse, I went down and took a few shots of airplanes on the taxiways and runways. Here's a Delta Airlines departure.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMbf4lf7KNoZ9Kv2B5nHE4f8EYH3AixD7WHjEK1hAKyyh0ZlrpS86hjkbwC8wwboiIM3zrBblyW_j55EKG9YEspnR6hhlUdMH32n0gisIDVDOFH3UMwjEaTsoD5X3wPwsntElkGmrEadW/s1600-h/2009-07-06_003_Delta_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMbf4lf7KNoZ9Kv2B5nHE4f8EYH3AixD7WHjEK1hAKyyh0ZlrpS86hjkbwC8wwboiIM3zrBblyW_j55EKG9YEspnR6hhlUdMH32n0gisIDVDOFH3UMwjEaTsoD5X3wPwsntElkGmrEadW/s400/2009-07-06_003_Delta_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356898213579002290" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This World Airlines Lockheed was being towed along.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_Q8jaxPMlh3859BVUferGzz0p8zRtE9bRgw5B3eOQdB1NynMeREzkgIXH4gM-1ISXhppghkpi1XJlOA41ouve_PZx4FAIH5Hn5_-idqyVVA4bvFahIlwZEC6IXbd_1UWLCmlkj2vmFYu/s1600-h/2009-07-06_004_World_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_Q8jaxPMlh3859BVUferGzz0p8zRtE9bRgw5B3eOQdB1NynMeREzkgIXH4gM-1ISXhppghkpi1XJlOA41ouve_PZx4FAIH5Hn5_-idqyVVA4bvFahIlwZEC6IXbd_1UWLCmlkj2vmFYu/s400/2009-07-06_004_World_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356898210547668242" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A United Airlines departure.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl5tCRQIyL1RyI1dbtO1FefYMzsJ4VJ41Yu-ykNcBfx8WJdLMe1AVd02aAsVXtBSpXLb604qD4nsjU2mEzhuKKjGMb0NmyBut3CDV9BT4Th0zChTzI701bHrGNa8uMDkOOfqMdE95mNmP/s1600-h/2009-07-06_007_United_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl5tCRQIyL1RyI1dbtO1FefYMzsJ4VJ41Yu-ykNcBfx8WJdLMe1AVd02aAsVXtBSpXLb604qD4nsjU2mEzhuKKjGMb0NmyBut3CDV9BT4Th0zChTzI701bHrGNa8uMDkOOfqMdE95mNmP/s400/2009-07-06_007_United_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356898208608703394" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Continental Airlines pulling his gear up on departure.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRWfjXgzqAxqFj0q6uq8XZuLULW0qc-AsUXnI3-fqNXqaPC7naXKrqflYK2P2a7V9YsPgmUDSTDCa7vYORaB6eFBzq2S-CGRzeRBPRQD-wUhFm8nE4WCBxq4T4hWquBHZt-Y8nHMLv2cK/s1600-h/2009-07-06_014_Continental_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRWfjXgzqAxqFj0q6uq8XZuLULW0qc-AsUXnI3-fqNXqaPC7naXKrqflYK2P2a7V9YsPgmUDSTDCa7vYORaB6eFBzq2S-CGRzeRBPRQD-wUhFm8nE4WCBxq4T4hWquBHZt-Y8nHMLv2cK/s400/2009-07-06_014_Continental_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356898203045860898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This Airtran unit almost has his gear fully retracted as he heads "Up, Up, and Away!"<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ZlUl_skkZez5AFoveZ5r2Dg4ufyjQ2xUbOTBH_rquHzGITANe__-v0Nc6JaQTRN5rqNsjgRsc6uHWhW2SXooaVVPtgMpsHpOQNReouIpWgE9ppPy_IAYINSC6tff5TBBou-Vf8_IIvZ/s1600-h/2009-07-06_021_AirTran_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ZlUl_skkZez5AFoveZ5r2Dg4ufyjQ2xUbOTBH_rquHzGITANe__-v0Nc6JaQTRN5rqNsjgRsc6uHWhW2SXooaVVPtgMpsHpOQNReouIpWgE9ppPy_IAYINSC6tff5TBBou-Vf8_IIvZ/s400/2009-07-06_021_AirTran_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356898197046461554" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shortly after I took these pix, a localized storm rolled across the airport and effectively closed it for nearly an hour. Our plane was supposed to leave at 5:30, didn't, and was finally cancelled around 7:00 PM. We were given "seat requests" and directed to another gate where there was a scheduled departure for Chattanooga at 8:20. And although the person at the desk acted like we all were unlikely to get onto the plane, in fact we were all accomodated. So we made it home, later than we wanted but with luggage intact. Thanks to neighbors Marc and Mary for so graciously picking us up and delivering us home. It's good to sleep in our own bed again.</span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-50780167083492088762009-07-10T10:57:00.001-07:002009-07-10T11:09:38.116-07:00July 5 - Little America<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We checked in at the Little America Inn which Anita had booked through Orbitz.com, and they put us in the most elegant room that either of us had ever enjoyed. Cost less than $70.00 with taxes - what a deal!</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQXwwCd_NjAijy7A9n9N9KWR09HHulcPBdfO4JnmI2qrVVppjHxNtORXAvbGLOzs9RfH3nuCTF7Eu2xEqjVAwTYOGiOynoLNwNu9oP7Upr3MbyaEZ7YyD4vTCXy84XbEYW1ESUDoiCr1Q/s1600-h/PICT0126.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQXwwCd_NjAijy7A9n9N9KWR09HHulcPBdfO4JnmI2qrVVppjHxNtORXAvbGLOzs9RfH3nuCTF7Eu2xEqjVAwTYOGiOynoLNwNu9oP7Upr3MbyaEZ7YyD4vTCXy84XbEYW1ESUDoiCr1Q/s400/PICT0126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356893477595769826" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVybwRWVI53c-XaD7x_B0wjQwAGmxRSGF22yH0pnNWf_cvp2-fU1WetoXFpRAFxn2eYKUa5fyWbTrekCJVm_MN0d0terhgtoX1vktvn-TDMrKp8zR160fm-eoXDKUvchG72mQvnB11Wn5x/s1600-h/PICT0125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVybwRWVI53c-XaD7x_B0wjQwAGmxRSGF22yH0pnNWf_cvp2-fU1WetoXFpRAFxn2eYKUa5fyWbTrekCJVm_MN0d0terhgtoX1vktvn-TDMrKp8zR160fm-eoXDKUvchG72mQvnB11Wn5x/s400/PICT0125.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356893472391652770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our room had a small balcony with a breathtaking view of the mountains to the south-west of the city.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfsZwDOdl2EVecFZuo0U-4yrLhuL6VJvNo-9ORgNIyryTetC3cVl4xINJhaVVYS-z86C9KloKOGRntpEz9VgFDNMWDVx_RX67DRHEqQj0I4YGMm1yfc3k0Y_hsdJ7_mhbgZOzr3q6uxsf/s1600-h/PICT0127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfsZwDOdl2EVecFZuo0U-4yrLhuL6VJvNo-9ORgNIyryTetC3cVl4xINJhaVVYS-z86C9KloKOGRntpEz9VgFDNMWDVx_RX67DRHEqQj0I4YGMm1yfc3k0Y_hsdJ7_mhbgZOzr3q6uxsf/s400/PICT0127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356893469608407234" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When we got back from dinner, we found the moon rising over the Wasatch mountains.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kj-UDzkNVyww8YII4Dg33v-34UNqTcFsCMURdo9PB9O6vFiU8HxwJpDwJfj_3C_e08om9cu1Saps2Dad7P5vyZLLGrictYlZ6phfBK2JvfSvps6wbbx7l7OZQ7t2nJaUaiiLVOw41HvQ/s1600-h/PICT0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kj-UDzkNVyww8YII4Dg33v-34UNqTcFsCMURdo9PB9O6vFiU8HxwJpDwJfj_3C_e08om9cu1Saps2Dad7P5vyZLLGrictYlZ6phfBK2JvfSvps6wbbx7l7OZQ7t2nJaUaiiLVOw41HvQ/s400/PICT0132.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356893461394666242" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A short time later, the light rail train rumbled by the hotel.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRVTN98xfaowVhHeu0vlZ4MC7pHez1sGGajbhmP2I3O5st6Om5TcaOBxY2Iupur6Ei2UEgVMnChy09ukKHIkNIv8c-cjKt_93BXGnSXNL_nifW5RVaol4AKwHp7mgEUSCE-Y4P8xwiMrP/s1600-h/PICT0138R_mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRVTN98xfaowVhHeu0vlZ4MC7pHez1sGGajbhmP2I3O5st6Om5TcaOBxY2Iupur6Ei2UEgVMnChy09ukKHIkNIv8c-cjKt_93BXGnSXNL_nifW5RVaol4AKwHp7mgEUSCE-Y4P8xwiMrP/s400/PICT0138R_mod.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356893458382476178" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Early to bed tonight; we leave for Tennessee tomorrow (via Atlanta-Hartford airport, of course).</span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-33260264108607030012009-07-10T10:36:00.001-07:002009-07-10T10:46:18.131-07:00July 5 - Ely, Nevada to Salt Lake City, Utah<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Once our excursion was done, we gassed the car and headed north. Whenever you drive in this part of the country, it's a good idea to make sure you don't run out of fuel 'cuz theres not a gas station on every corner. Most of the scenery is like that in the photo below. </span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBLth1aLAiZAwbcGnZCDs83k9KlynMV5NBnWI6W1kpx4ZLT0MPaXqN3HvmwvdSroNqOO9StHNH2-Hp9LGh5tfoykdI0v7ejK-GWUNS8c5Y_U_ds9ukNOnPW35PlrVz4YmAohYnOWetMUv/s1600-h/2009-07-05_113_HighNevadaDesert_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBLth1aLAiZAwbcGnZCDs83k9KlynMV5NBnWI6W1kpx4ZLT0MPaXqN3HvmwvdSroNqOO9StHNH2-Hp9LGh5tfoykdI0v7ejK-GWUNS8c5Y_U_ds9ukNOnPW35PlrVz4YmAohYnOWetMUv/s400/2009-07-05_113_HighNevadaDesert_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356886961245253378" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you look far in the distance, way down at the end of this very straight road at the base of those hills, you will see a town. It's West Wendover, Nevada, and it's twenty miles ahead of us.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrCu7GcIXqL3cVS8iBxhZRf0miTjyBIjWr9qBXUTLYhPEQzx6bpruQ8OWOzC0mCNYAKpalnHymiqmhvHXKQ9vSRI9ZU_1sx-lMpe9Hp73zzZAevs2yVrODjY8F19ENhuuOfEbhu0D763c/s1600-h/2009-07-05_118_WestWendoverNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrCu7GcIXqL3cVS8iBxhZRf0miTjyBIjWr9qBXUTLYhPEQzx6bpruQ8OWOzC0mCNYAKpalnHymiqmhvHXKQ9vSRI9ZU_1sx-lMpe9Hp73zzZAevs2yVrODjY8F19ENhuuOfEbhu0D763c/s400/2009-07-05_118_WestWendoverNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356886958111881762" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We turned right onto Interstate 80 at West Wendover and drove on into Salt Lake City, passing the Bonneville Salt Flats and skirting the south side of the Great Salt Lake. </span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-61627205156450963402009-07-10T10:22:00.000-07:002009-07-10T10:34:00.789-07:00July 5 - Afternoon Excursion<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our excursion to McGill (actually, toward McGill) consisted of SD-9 #204 with two coaches, an open car, and the bright yellow caboose. McGill is north of East Ely, and in this view we see the tracks through the broad Steptoe Valley and low mountain range to the east.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6yehMALNUgFMT8DX5G2JET_2lQ_1zErL779PHxZ7-r7Rrzbf7RiSAD8ZYQUPyEYaYgB6XGzVTCAm4-LsSzzQlmpgRjyVt-NGuxhIivEXUtmSwDi4us1s0qNWJT_irq3KvgdViVZxRfJz/s1600-h/2009-07-05_053_EastMTtns_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6yehMALNUgFMT8DX5G2JET_2lQ_1zErL779PHxZ7-r7Rrzbf7RiSAD8ZYQUPyEYaYgB6XGzVTCAm4-LsSzzQlmpgRjyVt-NGuxhIivEXUtmSwDi4us1s0qNWJT_irq3KvgdViVZxRfJz/s400/2009-07-05_053_EastMTtns_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356883671626932322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">One of several advertising posters in our car.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0rYVx3qKMGf2MCKN7UpXi_9sfNXzAC_koYHoLyYAXghyg6Pb25xt2DwlOpVkAYzP2X9AXOh1qfZ66l3IYk7Ut7lF4dnZYEVljiy4GZdvebNSbuhBMd1Ba0zxymSKZM4lCsqWiAF9yuZj/s1600-h/2009-07-05_062_Brothel_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0rYVx3qKMGf2MCKN7UpXi_9sfNXzAC_koYHoLyYAXghyg6Pb25xt2DwlOpVkAYzP2X9AXOh1qfZ66l3IYk7Ut7lF4dnZYEVljiy4GZdvebNSbuhBMd1Ba0zxymSKZM4lCsqWiAF9yuZj/s400/2009-07-05_062_Brothel_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356883667736881026" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We reached a siding in the middle of nowhere, and the 204 ran around the train to take us back to East Ely.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HyZGpg3qgE1XU-hH1Ph0yojebNpRl_q78sZdIqrI2lJmKudn2qGozW_unLWdAwQswuLrysqf-554Gm_MssEXKyHr2HO7G4qDuhFuqDWpAxQDS536iusCXdhIUmJtK2My_o2X55KRWaBj/s1600-h/2009-07-05_064_RunAroundSiding_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HyZGpg3qgE1XU-hH1Ph0yojebNpRl_q78sZdIqrI2lJmKudn2qGozW_unLWdAwQswuLrysqf-554Gm_MssEXKyHr2HO7G4qDuhFuqDWpAxQDS536iusCXdhIUmJtK2My_o2X55KRWaBj/s400/2009-07-05_064_RunAroundSiding_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356883663267433746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The hogger exchanges greetings with passengers on the open car.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5FPXxjNOdCgspcENGcODEAD6okpUcIaGgoa1rkGqz1CI43A2gxuU290kZV1YjhKolUPXYI5EBWCFMBfUDucM8QXO40YGekbTF1abEWUwnGSJB5LNokNAx0PBLeJQjo_-1TsDwTgpQw7s/s1600-h/2009-07-05_067_RunAroundHogger_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5FPXxjNOdCgspcENGcODEAD6okpUcIaGgoa1rkGqz1CI43A2gxuU290kZV1YjhKolUPXYI5EBWCFMBfUDucM8QXO40YGekbTF1abEWUwnGSJB5LNokNAx0PBLeJQjo_-1TsDwTgpQw7s/s400/2009-07-05_067_RunAroundHogger_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356883659226854770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Met some interesting folks on the train. One guy grew up in Edina. MN and has lived in Las Vegas since 1961! He related an interesting story about the house he grew up in, very near the Northern Pacific railroad.</span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-55633188716703468972009-07-10T10:06:00.000-07:002009-07-10T10:22:09.775-07:00July 5 - Trip to Ruth<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Large copper mines once existed near the town of Ruth, or "New Ruth" as the town is now called. The big yellow hill behind this marker is waste rock left after the mineral-bearing ore is stripped from the open-pit mines.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The marker reads as follows: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Copper Country </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The famed open-pit copper mines of eastern Nevada, including the Liberty Pit, largest in the state, are located two miles south of this point. Through the first half of the 20th century, this area produced nearly a billion dollars in copper, gold and silver.The huge mounds seen from here are waste rock which was removed to uncover the ore.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Two miles east of here, near Lane City, was the Elijah, the first mine discovered in the Robinson Mining District. Lane City, originally called Mineral City, was settled in 1869 and had a population of 400. At Mineral City was the Ragsdale Station, one hotel and a stage station.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25CLwyOaCP0hmfMMgzheO0JQF3FkOdNJzlcuFX7PELoCC3iVcUuw_PyqoW20flKVVsLuaivAfFSWuCtVEDFZjqqxTcPrsQhsobZGLZIGkIfzyofFYRKqk-rOVBk9zQZbSnD3rKDSOj92z/s1600-h/2009-07-05_031_RuthNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25CLwyOaCP0hmfMMgzheO0JQF3FkOdNJzlcuFX7PELoCC3iVcUuw_PyqoW20flKVVsLuaivAfFSWuCtVEDFZjqqxTcPrsQhsobZGLZIGkIfzyofFYRKqk-rOVBk9zQZbSnD3rKDSOj92z/s400/2009-07-05_031_RuthNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356879473782593746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This old grader was parked in a small park. Needs restoration, eh?<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN-x0n5GZ3zDGKymnBEHLb7WnTRPgYhNyLzf_pVkwIi9EGWCl6GSCPLlH63YhtcJzlFqUatJUAj9lVRy_3qJvsrClXeZX4qxN8e_eKSgBQ5puD6VOStlkgKKqK16zfmQ8bsgLUZUzrqSv/s1600-h/2009-07-05_033_GraderRuthNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN-x0n5GZ3zDGKymnBEHLb7WnTRPgYhNyLzf_pVkwIi9EGWCl6GSCPLlH63YhtcJzlFqUatJUAj9lVRy_3qJvsrClXeZX4qxN8e_eKSgBQ5puD6VOStlkgKKqK16zfmQ8bsgLUZUzrqSv/s400/2009-07-05_033_GraderRuthNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356879468021434162" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A view of part of the open-pit mine.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2r6hFA-wJPKhyphenhyphenorkanZQh2p_pNEn5llhEe1nbGdZTNd9akBdzNm-HlTP49fgzQBc_2c_RPh8bIVH9b69VQG7951K1sUMdMOcZRc1AC-Iw3kiGWg7pzMnCvcxEt4hatbmvi3C-dR1Gaqq/s1600-h/2009-07-05_039_Pit-RuthNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2r6hFA-wJPKhyphenhyphenorkanZQh2p_pNEn5llhEe1nbGdZTNd9akBdzNm-HlTP49fgzQBc_2c_RPh8bIVH9b69VQG7951K1sUMdMOcZRc1AC-Iw3kiGWg7pzMnCvcxEt4hatbmvi3C-dR1Gaqq/s400/2009-07-05_039_Pit-RuthNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356879458410404354" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had to leave here and rush back to East Ely in order to make our 1:00 PM excursion.</span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-88280205713271627302009-07-10T09:55:00.000-07:002009-07-10T10:06:20.701-07:00July 5 - Trip to McGill<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There used to be a copper smelting operation in McGill, which employed most of the people in the area. We drove up here to see what remained of the operation and found this small yard.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFkoI0qIpBmnureQVSvJaHBtvRmBoRWMKWA1qzej4dCUz84WZ-IVrRDEw5QzQKCDAHRjr3JaGCcMvKU-NF16EDJkpG_WX53bonMDFjPy9uarVx07z0-_h5X6JOgTpwH08-_9I7OQ6R8FC/s1600-h/2009-07-05_026_McGillYard_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFkoI0qIpBmnureQVSvJaHBtvRmBoRWMKWA1qzej4dCUz84WZ-IVrRDEw5QzQKCDAHRjr3JaGCcMvKU-NF16EDJkpG_WX53bonMDFjPy9uarVx07z0-_h5X6JOgTpwH08-_9I7OQ6R8FC/s400/2009-07-05_026_McGillYard_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356876667355822994" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I turned to my left and shot a picture of this old depot building. Don't know what it is now being used for, but it's in quite good condition.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqXi8AstnbPqBeZCESpgYA3H8IigEgEUM5N50kEzxSHqF7SW4zv4IXFlFvnDp0pKombAUCI2keZCoCYXHNdPzQpynwaihk5ETEA21pJNJuHgtiRX5CizQ-UCm4BZIqsITCM5uarTSM1x6/s1600-h/2009-07-05_027R_McGill_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqXi8AstnbPqBeZCESpgYA3H8IigEgEUM5N50kEzxSHqF7SW4zv4IXFlFvnDp0pKombAUCI2keZCoCYXHNdPzQpynwaihk5ETEA21pJNJuHgtiRX5CizQ-UCm4BZIqsITCM5uarTSM1x6/s400/2009-07-05_027R_McGill_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356877909757722850" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another turn to my left revealed this railroad-looking building. Might have been a freight house or some such?<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgU2qMP2IAwRn0gzbFLeR7lvqZXCSx68BK46_t1f45rwik65QMM-4rvcYXD28t6KAgWihpJe3msPB2FSQ7q3TIHUrMyaupOMD1GR2MAyVUkUV3NmbudXOve4TUWoUHkTzPhIrgbu5PHAa/s1600-h/2009-07-05_028_McGill_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgU2qMP2IAwRn0gzbFLeR7lvqZXCSx68BK46_t1f45rwik65QMM-4rvcYXD28t6KAgWihpJe3msPB2FSQ7q3TIHUrMyaupOMD1GR2MAyVUkUV3NmbudXOve4TUWoUHkTzPhIrgbu5PHAa/s400/2009-07-05_028_McGill_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356876662672587634" /></a><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-46118509821385331382009-07-10T09:33:00.001-07:002009-07-10T09:54:52.482-07:00July 5 - Nevada Northern<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I walked down to the depot in the morning and found this ex-Southern Pacific SD-9 running in the Nevada Northern yard.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEtWd1kI1hBKQEpU9fkCGdNM_2OF8qg2ITq2j7O6ZKoHNFgHOZUP0S7cWN4HliBSdHX56sRFEG3KXbX0sn7R4PydDXbckowjv3fapSBiqBeQZ9dYpRINph71vgSleDmVrECKbt5gQn92j/s1600-h/2009-07-05_002_NN204-SD9_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEtWd1kI1hBKQEpU9fkCGdNM_2OF8qg2ITq2j7O6ZKoHNFgHOZUP0S7cWN4HliBSdHX56sRFEG3KXbX0sn7R4PydDXbckowjv3fapSBiqBeQZ9dYpRINph71vgSleDmVrECKbt5gQn92j/s400/2009-07-05_002_NN204-SD9_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356875088234933602" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The engineer walks down to the crew meeting in front of the steam engine.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8PuPxRqdG7pGEkWeq-Z0mqIStCuJjMoazvSNtLsWWUNUX1W2zf2h4gUrDzTnrP-K9L1VGdtXZUS1VI-n7niptycKVWDYnX7c9ZSHMhSsZAzb9_4x_pHdJL0Txz8U47_a_jDTUmdZtLZA/s1600-h/2009-07-05_009_NN204-SD9_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8PuPxRqdG7pGEkWeq-Z0mqIStCuJjMoazvSNtLsWWUNUX1W2zf2h4gUrDzTnrP-K9L1VGdtXZUS1VI-n7niptycKVWDYnX7c9ZSHMhSsZAzb9_4x_pHdJL0Txz8U47_a_jDTUmdZtLZA/s400/2009-07-05_009_NN204-SD9_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356875086772738482" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">NCCCo #93 left with her morning trip to Ruth and I caught her coming back to town.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw52uQqU6rIYjyvIp8gVmvDdpagnSE1cCC7gOUZmnaZnePv2ZRSOL9rK2iVDSlFhjV2wxV69H9I-CupUunbj0WjXu1ZMR_Ij0qPfoUZMS5qZOD0GjjCsgUHz7-wkQL7Cq4tOgOG5vL8O-g/s1600-h/2009-07-05_015_NCCCo93-1909Alco_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw52uQqU6rIYjyvIp8gVmvDdpagnSE1cCC7gOUZmnaZnePv2ZRSOL9rK2iVDSlFhjV2wxV69H9I-CupUunbj0WjXu1ZMR_Ij0qPfoUZMS5qZOD0GjjCsgUHz7-wkQL7Cq4tOgOG5vL8O-g/s400/2009-07-05_015_NCCCo93-1909Alco_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356875080767826002" /></a><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-70899721457775882532009-07-10T06:40:00.000-07:002009-07-10T07:37:04.030-07:00July 4 - Afternoon Excursion<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After the parade we relaxed back at the Steptoe Valley Inn for a while. Before long, I heard the train returning from the afternoon excursion to the mines at Ruth, so I headed back to the yard for a couple more pix. Here's the train drifting downgrade to the switch.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMt7w3MjCwAYYr_28I6oqGulry3U-K8dQFnf3NNBDyjDuVWFLgQ0tkPNVXCx2bGR-BqeXR0qbBwLdK3so6aHHfRdXhaxrrgS7ld5RZ5SwMiLU3zReVIUnznNNlYqheGl0SaIwMMsnSAlc/s1600-h/2009-07-04_003_NCCCo93-onMain_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMt7w3MjCwAYYr_28I6oqGulry3U-K8dQFnf3NNBDyjDuVWFLgQ0tkPNVXCx2bGR-BqeXR0qbBwLdK3so6aHHfRdXhaxrrgS7ld5RZ5SwMiLU3zReVIUnznNNlYqheGl0SaIwMMsnSAlc/s400/2009-07-04_003_NCCCo93-onMain_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827497808445858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As the train pushes back into the station, the cannoneer recharges his weapon. The flatcar with the "cake" and the cannon signify and celebrate the 100th birthday (January 17, 2009) of Alco steam locomotive #93. Read more about the restoration and rededication of the locomotive at <a href="http://nevadanorthernrailway.net/">the Museum Web Site</a>.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVorFyX4lZvk-kQnHsQNh6ENjwXMslJfz1ckkrGxiRcT9Je5HHw1VwW7lom39haUGROihTKHvBd1wLU4HzKIwTeMzsy_f606SeeoSr_Ytpt9J-3LOskoWLaHMERRR2H_2cX3mVU_RQqpVm/s1600-h/2009-07-04_009_Cannon_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVorFyX4lZvk-kQnHsQNh6ENjwXMslJfz1ckkrGxiRcT9Je5HHw1VwW7lom39haUGROihTKHvBd1wLU4HzKIwTeMzsy_f606SeeoSr_Ytpt9J-3LOskoWLaHMERRR2H_2cX3mVU_RQqpVm/s400/2009-07-04_009_Cannon_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827495946108802" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The conductor keeps an eagle eye on the track from the steps of the wide-vision caboose.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpKQUh8EVz68vtAyHdvZCU_BPcXs6Ad3Z1dpr2m3LCh1yF2mcc80sbBp9l9cTn1PN5LpzDUcefqiKmqRbxaD_5Y9RBwJVNHlurpV7yQ9X6D0nbANsH7Amqji9kkGcwFjNawj18QUTR_rQ/s1600-h/2009-07-04_011_Caboose6_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpKQUh8EVz68vtAyHdvZCU_BPcXs6Ad3Z1dpr2m3LCh1yF2mcc80sbBp9l9cTn1PN5LpzDUcefqiKmqRbxaD_5Y9RBwJVNHlurpV7yQ9X6D0nbANsH7Amqji9kkGcwFjNawj18QUTR_rQ/s400/2009-07-04_011_Caboose6_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827485751937826" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Four 36-foot wood-sheathed boxcars are parked next to the restored freight depot.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3geXTFcuOreZbuv3c7ForV9ZY9zRjRRrJClvuk6jStkHt859G9kbN41d7t-0PTS4Gr40IvfVoVER5hZzsI3xj_fH3A2y-3_xiAm2cbTs6bxzRLFidRKVuX5tUFC-wsURX7ctdIP7X0G0q/s1600-h/2009-07-04_063_WoodenBoxCars_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3geXTFcuOreZbuv3c7ForV9ZY9zRjRRrJClvuk6jStkHt859G9kbN41d7t-0PTS4Gr40IvfVoVER5hZzsI3xj_fH3A2y-3_xiAm2cbTs6bxzRLFidRKVuX5tUFC-wsURX7ctdIP7X0G0q/s400/2009-07-04_063_WoodenBoxCars_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827485532648770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By the time our excursion was ready to board the train, it had started to rain.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLFCbFNavPJMCr4b9Mr_MfhcDPJW7yqQDQ4yadtUOKpsrHHYKu9MULWyqqYobStEITxXf31c6_2kr62aCzLgzvW45DSA5PAYlQM5K0nWxrWSf0koezex_abrZkceEdyJhrDJGH2FPx6T7/s1600-h/2009-07-04_073_Passenger07Ely_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLFCbFNavPJMCr4b9Mr_MfhcDPJW7yqQDQ4yadtUOKpsrHHYKu9MULWyqqYobStEITxXf31c6_2kr62aCzLgzvW45DSA5PAYlQM5K0nWxrWSf0koezex_abrZkceEdyJhrDJGH2FPx6T7/s400/2009-07-04_073_Passenger07Ely_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827482008520002" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I made a bunch of pictures on our excursion to Ruth, but because of the roughness of the ride and the fading daylight, they didn't come out well. After the trip to Ruth, our train was pushed down the mainline to the golf course, where we enjoyed a fireworks display before returning to the depot. We learned later that it had rained hard, with some hail, at Ely while we rode to Ruth.</span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-79701246453882018082009-07-08T09:52:00.000-07:002009-07-08T10:04:30.964-07:00July 4 - Ely Parade<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We found ourselves a place on the shady side of the street, across from the JailhouseMotel Casino. Not quite as grand as some on Las Vegas, but with all the basic features ;-)</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MOopaXu9yqxqQhgFHSHBiwl03Y9Nk9_1nteM95JDxh-WKnXKLOPKpTXjouN2STVuHrmmdpbV6hF76ZYLjhbOl-ZxvPgvGMRN5pY2FXKPvHS4tUOL_7l0bTicY9xFvYMwGfezAZW5LYC6/s1600-h/2009-07-04_054_JailhouseCasino_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MOopaXu9yqxqQhgFHSHBiwl03Y9Nk9_1nteM95JDxh-WKnXKLOPKpTXjouN2STVuHrmmdpbV6hF76ZYLjhbOl-ZxvPgvGMRN5pY2FXKPvHS4tUOL_7l0bTicY9xFvYMwGfezAZW5LYC6/s400/2009-07-04_054_JailhouseCasino_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356133801182915410" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lots of people brought pets to the parade. This guy is known as "Little Bear."<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZJsd5LehC70wF7G9jHnK2fZ-Gk6T14PmMDL0TuZTcr-UUE_xhlETT-F6dgQOw0THI8QuNoztMPN_VcuWGOQrsR6BALGrP8Pdk7e6mlNVo7_bsY4Nj6a5iRoL03my5QlH4JavohsZJtS-/s1600-h/2009-07-04_053_LittleBear_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZJsd5LehC70wF7G9jHnK2fZ-Gk6T14PmMDL0TuZTcr-UUE_xhlETT-F6dgQOw0THI8QuNoztMPN_VcuWGOQrsR6BALGrP8Pdk7e6mlNVo7_bsY4Nj6a5iRoL03my5QlH4JavohsZJtS-/s400/2009-07-04_053_LittleBear_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356133802646241858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A float in honor of the unknown Soldier, guarded by a proud Marine. Semper Fi!<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfbEUnfafshUsi-n0EG0uappfs0evR90Rae_OhG635VZee2iy3_cxfuwHIQ0Glad-Fw2xTnW9E30hVm-XB2j5RDDCWK4QmTflp0cnMalAzu-Z6YmhgRtLVOiDjGUO5g6b4BucrsXqOlS7/s1600-h/2009-07-04_070_Rememberance_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfbEUnfafshUsi-n0EG0uappfs0evR90Rae_OhG635VZee2iy3_cxfuwHIQ0Glad-Fw2xTnW9E30hVm-XB2j5RDDCWK4QmTflp0cnMalAzu-Z6YmhgRtLVOiDjGUO5g6b4BucrsXqOlS7/s400/2009-07-04_070_Rememberance_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356133796451061938" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Many fire and rescue vehicles in the parade. This antique hauls a load of future firefighters.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqKMN-ix94uzlW_T9CHNiW4ojK_0ELE4MOPDh6SOmdDs9NcnJefqcGl5Q5B7ziPx_tpPOAYRLHFXW2tVDsvP-9Lv-uciRm0EstPepYn0TvQxb0SBr0ardAvbSZRf-8dNKfhpxF4pCMWQX/s1600-h/2009-07-04_078_FireTruck_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqKMN-ix94uzlW_T9CHNiW4ojK_0ELE4MOPDh6SOmdDs9NcnJefqcGl5Q5B7ziPx_tpPOAYRLHFXW2tVDsvP-9Lv-uciRm0EstPepYn0TvQxb0SBr0ardAvbSZRf-8dNKfhpxF4pCMWQX/s400/2009-07-04_078_FireTruck_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356133794213770130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pretty little horsewoman proudly proclaims, "My Mom's in the Navy!"<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMcgni9bA1pvGHcVkrGmwMwzrrGU9kxlqNAPu2kTH4lnxjay_ww_s0juwrqrLzgTryWsttPykLVkintSBjIx8ClOe3GiPndHLOhr29rBe_FSmBiOCkgeQsh-FhvzcqXLrNkZRG1jZx-VR/s1600-h/2009-07-04_087_MomsInTheNavy_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMcgni9bA1pvGHcVkrGmwMwzrrGU9kxlqNAPu2kTH4lnxjay_ww_s0juwrqrLzgTryWsttPykLVkintSBjIx8ClOe3GiPndHLOhr29rBe_FSmBiOCkgeQsh-FhvzcqXLrNkZRG1jZx-VR/s400/2009-07-04_087_MomsInTheNavy_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356133789619183602" /></a><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-91763216371875179122009-07-08T09:15:00.001-07:002009-07-08T09:52:41.202-07:00July 4 - Ely Parade Preparation<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Fourth of July is a big day for celebratory patriotic parades across this great country, and Ely, Nevada is no exception. Since our train ride wouldn't start until much later, we took the opportunity to check out parade preparations and make some pix of some very nice old cars. Here's a 1946 Chevrolet pickup truck.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcT-k97D9T66gyuctSZXRK0SClBBgZ9oXicHwMR-jx3A7xHRSTSCKXgFZdOxt9z5xN287eXKVHbA6S07U2fPCKKPKCIRPsM0CzqC07iko_HsfurLkouSCLGRmc8QeCjieAU4PSb7QAsMC/s1600-h/2009-07-04_011_1946Chevrolet_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcT-k97D9T66gyuctSZXRK0SClBBgZ9oXicHwMR-jx3A7xHRSTSCKXgFZdOxt9z5xN287eXKVHbA6S07U2fPCKKPKCIRPsM0CzqC07iko_HsfurLkouSCLGRmc8QeCjieAU4PSb7QAsMC/s400/2009-07-04_011_1946Chevrolet_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356124055255877346" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A luxurious ride in 1951 was this Oldsmobile 88 2-door hardtop coupe.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI02uxElWB8hRpFKr_GDuIwGBGkcFH9n8dCFC9lk0gPoaU0gH4NOLmZzI_fdF26cgSvgDGGfVkJRktvxrfefJPkNQQOMvtU5KrzW87N1lmMBcQ6BS11RqBLw68k8gn5CeSyQ-vdQhY3Zxj/s1600-h/2009-07-04_014_1951Oldsmobile_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI02uxElWB8hRpFKr_GDuIwGBGkcFH9n8dCFC9lk0gPoaU0gH4NOLmZzI_fdF26cgSvgDGGfVkJRktvxrfefJPkNQQOMvtU5KrzW87N1lmMBcQ6BS11RqBLw68k8gn5CeSyQ-vdQhY3Zxj/s400/2009-07-04_014_1951Oldsmobile_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356124054053981186" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">How about this 1955 Pontiac convertible?<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnqEgdt68tEZNLpz1t9VlcQfDL8GQIe3CgFTaxIRg_q8A9mN7_ysiph4pI0ONKQu2CGHlK_W_Z_NdppFC_YV6U5p5hyphenhyphenDJPnADJFKbwZDYU5z8AwkiWwx8XJ7MlePnJ_02bKD58N5eOABf/s1600-h/2009-07-04_036_1955Pontiac_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnqEgdt68tEZNLpz1t9VlcQfDL8GQIe3CgFTaxIRg_q8A9mN7_ysiph4pI0ONKQu2CGHlK_W_Z_NdppFC_YV6U5p5hyphenhyphenDJPnADJFKbwZDYU5z8AwkiWwx8XJ7MlePnJ_02bKD58N5eOABf/s400/2009-07-04_036_1955Pontiac_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356124045501264882" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">These two sweeties are the grandchildren of some folks who are staying at the same B&B as Anita and I. They'll be participating in the parade today.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5gJ1TDs870vAaSc3TNkFwodH1U8BxRkuzFJ5tRTJ6D1nIYQu2HJwOPVRUptP6ETqKCSFh3McSqAYqLtagyDcFYwddza7xwum1jrliFoXp2YXY1w9VHUngOck1zO3l2osVVE_HT6a8WpS/s1600-h/2009-07-04_039_1955LittlGirls_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5gJ1TDs870vAaSc3TNkFwodH1U8BxRkuzFJ5tRTJ6D1nIYQu2HJwOPVRUptP6ETqKCSFh3McSqAYqLtagyDcFYwddza7xwum1jrliFoXp2YXY1w9VHUngOck1zO3l2osVVE_HT6a8WpS/s400/2009-07-04_039_1955LittlGirls_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356124045320682466" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Remember the movie, "American Grafitti"? How do you like this 1958 Chevrolet Bel Aire Coupe?<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx36ckTh4QxNPAbV3nsGO-LPj3CSSkT2eGivIp3FW5AVOr8Ynleqf0H1FiIlrHC2Lr5OaEs8ZffBICCMkR8a8wou0kPOWLsoKa7MFvcw8Z0T_zD7sMS9dGDKSSnvVfRu210DCzkN3fQdfk/s1600-h/2009-07-04_049_1958Chevrolet_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx36ckTh4QxNPAbV3nsGO-LPj3CSSkT2eGivIp3FW5AVOr8Ynleqf0H1FiIlrHC2Lr5OaEs8ZffBICCMkR8a8wou0kPOWLsoKa7MFvcw8Z0T_zD7sMS9dGDKSSnvVfRu210DCzkN3fQdfk/s400/2009-07-04_049_1958Chevrolet_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356124037912368722" /></a><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-42242950783975491492009-07-07T19:49:00.000-07:002009-07-07T20:39:01.150-07:00July 3/4 - Steptoe Valley Inn and BBQ<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our landlord at the </span></span><a href="http://www.steptoevalleyinn.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Steptoe Valley Inn</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has a BBQ next door. He had his smoker custom built by </span></span><a href="http://www.buzzardbbq.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buzzard BBQ</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> up in Seattle and it holds a ton of very tasty vittles.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T3nfVONdJXmhVfF8h52Lh9UevFiwhYtEWRM6Nsk0lE7chTQpa3oFW08zfc1ZMURLjuVgfrtrlR5eh_T5y_7TRsaD_JiY0A0vWotviOzXdypoDuISCScofndaJ1kOHImnZ0AWxuaBCVFJ/s1600-h/2009-07-03_093R_BuzzardBBQ_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T3nfVONdJXmhVfF8h52Lh9UevFiwhYtEWRM6Nsk0lE7chTQpa3oFW08zfc1ZMURLjuVgfrtrlR5eh_T5y_7TRsaD_JiY0A0vWotviOzXdypoDuISCScofndaJ1kOHImnZ0AWxuaBCVFJ/s400/2009-07-03_093R_BuzzardBBQ_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355922927008389362" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buzzard BBQ has a very catchy logo.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaEiaKvVBiJskf7lk11lJRVeU34OE_dYCH2JbSCCUBrI-RjrZXMPajFrzjgTYDT_nqqW9L2Qadsi19ykmzegewLH54U2b68-3KWAINiBVfDAk080G2A6QrE9EHab2rY6cS5JCiJlW9MN2/s1600-h/2009-07-03_094R_BuzzardLogo_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaEiaKvVBiJskf7lk11lJRVeU34OE_dYCH2JbSCCUBrI-RjrZXMPajFrzjgTYDT_nqqW9L2Qadsi19ykmzegewLH54U2b68-3KWAINiBVfDAk080G2A6QrE9EHab2rY6cS5JCiJlW9MN2/s400/2009-07-03_094R_BuzzardLogo_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355922921066468258" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">July fourth is one of their busiest days. "Old Smokey" is loaded and fired up.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oTNl8wvlB_WjsuSj2JdyaDZgMhwKRIXx_GbpGNM1B-psNpFnKnswSHSwxR79R3kP0OWJYSDAAYUBt0X6oMU8KrN6eYTR3nenenMUOPDXLhP6JFcwD0tFfo3M-3PIRFpSIGEubB2uKtZm/s1600-h/2009-07-04_001_BuzzardBBQ_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oTNl8wvlB_WjsuSj2JdyaDZgMhwKRIXx_GbpGNM1B-psNpFnKnswSHSwxR79R3kP0OWJYSDAAYUBt0X6oMU8KrN6eYTR3nenenMUOPDXLhP6JFcwD0tFfo3M-3PIRFpSIGEubB2uKtZm/s400/2009-07-04_001_BuzzardBBQ_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355922916873045938" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The locomotive design is well adapted to his BBQ business. The pork butts go in the upper cab area, and the beef is in the smokebox. Wood and a gas burner go in the lower cab area, just like the fuel in a steam lokie. And the tie-in to the nearby Railway Museum no doubt helps, too.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUtTdqobaNc8TJ-6Rji6dtKyCNEHfOs_qz0hhKLx2houYR4VyB-SSVX30Pn73XAgfD2xzbqrMx2bz9u1fb8uNcekXFRJr_htXr3B1xEMov82pUoakV7iEUsVoGSi1_ProFA1g6BAgOEkf/s1600-h/2009-07-04_002_BuzzardBBQ_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUtTdqobaNc8TJ-6Rji6dtKyCNEHfOs_qz0hhKLx2houYR4VyB-SSVX30Pn73XAgfD2xzbqrMx2bz9u1fb8uNcekXFRJr_htXr3B1xEMov82pUoakV7iEUsVoGSi1_ProFA1g6BAgOEkf/s400/2009-07-04_002_BuzzardBBQ_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355922912357219058" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Out in the yard, #93 is backing down to the coal chute.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tULVhu3ZGUr1YcSbPtFhNymsmX9V0VZBrLHRzV1pxh5qmJK8xpzt3QVdMarqYPxPFDmOfsQPnEAWkGD1ocGrLHF2TquaNtnOZJ6gzhFZuMI4gfWP1MnvWt9EgYti52cAdBHRx5OijmPW/s1600-h/2009-07-04_005_93-CoalTower_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tULVhu3ZGUr1YcSbPtFhNymsmX9V0VZBrLHRzV1pxh5qmJK8xpzt3QVdMarqYPxPFDmOfsQPnEAWkGD1ocGrLHF2TquaNtnOZJ6gzhFZuMI4gfWP1MnvWt9EgYti52cAdBHRx5OijmPW/s400/2009-07-04_005_93-CoalTower_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355927000343048370" /></a>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-36149326538431614882009-07-07T18:48:00.000-07:002009-07-07T19:26:23.113-07:00July 3 - Ely, Nevada<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We got to Ely mid-afternoon, and checked into <a href="http://www.steptoevalleyinn.com/">our B&B</a> which was only a block from the East Ely depot of the </span></span><a href="http://nevadanorthernrailway.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nevada Northern Railway</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2Cg-LzISPJdNPKbBzmRCdiIqd1yoDVzUm2EWuNwv-jWLUJJutPfqJUMhGWDTMuEi1AWbrWVlgy95uCjV5hPt0yKwdUkBZZkVvL9mBu8mo8hIShEBP_L571EPy0OG7THNmnNZ5J4BoaOY/s1600-h/2009-07-03_054R_EastElyDepot_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2Cg-LzISPJdNPKbBzmRCdiIqd1yoDVzUm2EWuNwv-jWLUJJutPfqJUMhGWDTMuEi1AWbrWVlgy95uCjV5hPt0yKwdUkBZZkVvL9mBu8mo8hIShEBP_L571EPy0OG7THNmnNZ5J4BoaOY/s400/2009-07-03_054R_EastElyDepot_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355902000166860114" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I hustled down to the depot to find that the local high school was holding a reunion for all the folks who graduated in a year ending in nine. I met folks from the classes of 1949, 1959, and more. Hearing the rumble of an old Alco, I walked back of the depot to find this RS-3 shunting cars in and out of the shop across the tracks.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8mFe-i4XmAvdF7CsIqSvZzJAndQM5IsDaycz97LrPtFsIDnEoDz_wqftDY2Cm5kzSA9mngmF4PqWaBggk1Oc7eUZz2QTNc4wShPzrbRuKHpxT2L_AzABS9NfXLXpbWsnbrataAVNp4AB/s1600-h/2009-07-03_059R_NN109-ElyNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8mFe-i4XmAvdF7CsIqSvZzJAndQM5IsDaycz97LrPtFsIDnEoDz_wqftDY2Cm5kzSA9mngmF4PqWaBggk1Oc7eUZz2QTNc4wShPzrbRuKHpxT2L_AzABS9NfXLXpbWsnbrataAVNp4AB/s400/2009-07-03_059R_NN109-ElyNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355901542943289714" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pretty soon Alco steamer #93 pulled up to the station with her train (two coaches, an open car, a wide-vision caboose, and a short flatcar holding a replica of a birthday cake and a two-inch cannon! #93 is a hundred years old this year (as of January 17, I've been informed).<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpW-MoHuC6wQvLTgNgFAIQM7mMtMJinXvUpKzk3uCZ-FtKoVC1VFrof-rT4X2xe9Dg1YWYeWyEGQ0kpwv8-94mfHMU9hhiwqvAMGdEddLmfhqUebdD6kTPDZX037Dy1tlms6P54omG3o_/s1600-h/2009-07-03_098_ElyNevada_1024x600lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpW-MoHuC6wQvLTgNgFAIQM7mMtMJinXvUpKzk3uCZ-FtKoVC1VFrof-rT4X2xe9Dg1YWYeWyEGQ0kpwv8-94mfHMU9hhiwqvAMGdEddLmfhqUebdD6kTPDZX037Dy1tlms6P54omG3o_/s400/2009-07-03_098_ElyNevada_1024x600lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355901537477241970" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The train crew held a meeting before loading the train for this evenings excursion.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM9ghwQ0Bpaswau_GhMJmdKS-FuY2dQ_F3LAboURJXYmqySsgG_RJUgldvchNmV1YXBsXfDHMLYvVFL_ctWywiFsfWnhwNVFUdRK7PXE_gnitzpl95NN6WFAx0-Yj2lOuGaE1vJGgJk3l/s1600-h/2009-07-03_100_NCCCo93-ElyNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM9ghwQ0Bpaswau_GhMJmdKS-FuY2dQ_F3LAboURJXYmqySsgG_RJUgldvchNmV1YXBsXfDHMLYvVFL_ctWywiFsfWnhwNVFUdRK7PXE_gnitzpl95NN6WFAx0-Yj2lOuGaE1vJGgJk3l/s400/2009-07-03_100_NCCCo93-ElyNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355904561243503122" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The passengers are loaded onto the train, the conductor has given the high sign, and the engineer clears the cylinders before shoving the train back out onto the mainline.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjDiO3JS9afIRcSpJ8t_NHatTmMmPhwkdtzaCy5EMleu97RpXxvtuahH5meMmR5LmIJeJgGHZJr_DS84TmrtOCreOHAvKVkNFXKR115lyfpGI-q18y3Mvdc55C4NkR_JhEUXq60PMrd_B/s1600-h/2009-07-03_119_NCCCo93-ElyNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjDiO3JS9afIRcSpJ8t_NHatTmMmPhwkdtzaCy5EMleu97RpXxvtuahH5meMmR5LmIJeJgGHZJr_DS84TmrtOCreOHAvKVkNFXKR115lyfpGI-q18y3Mvdc55C4NkR_JhEUXq60PMrd_B/s400/2009-07-03_119_NCCCo93-ElyNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355901528187413314" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Nevada Northern Railway is run by a dedicated group of volunteers. We're looking forward to our excursion tomorrow.</span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-54670815672306125472009-07-07T17:27:00.001-07:002009-07-07T18:47:06.964-07:00July 3 - Las Vegas to Ely, Nevada<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We slept in a bit, and were ready to go by 11:00 AM. We met Jeff at a gas station along the way to say goodby, then drove north-east on I-15 to the intersection with highway 93 where we would turn north toward Ely. We passed a train on I-15 and caught him here at the junction.</span></span></div></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIugVhKS40PAmuTp7GNUeW8h5E8eY3d1G6u9nyBzSdXvoo7uxAlbnPalNlHHL99qiUlEPFIeSyOI-1ECqAxNVdPSxW30R59t465gOOZ0lScMap38mJ_qqv-Vs9NA5ZhFE8zbIwhV0Q2ff/s1600-h/2009-07-03_006_UP5490-NV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIugVhKS40PAmuTp7GNUeW8h5E8eY3d1G6u9nyBzSdXvoo7uxAlbnPalNlHHL99qiUlEPFIeSyOI-1ECqAxNVdPSxW30R59t465gOOZ0lScMap38mJ_qqv-Vs9NA5ZhFE8zbIwhV0Q2ff/s400/2009-07-03_006_UP5490-NV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355879938903000786" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The train had several of the ARMN reefers in the consist.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_uDM0OvNbxHOy_AlfH7KFfmSmE8GwWf4uMtGa4Sk5GnL2wzn8U0QIqzbfLXsZ8ujy_Dxcm8Db56BSSdQCcd6zt-MfCcHGQVX5z5Te8LWErn6-1FBsPtfm5d7JPUu-iP5uTNscTY7XOXY/s1600-h/2009-07-03_016_ARMN902136_NV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_uDM0OvNbxHOy_AlfH7KFfmSmE8GwWf4uMtGa4Sk5GnL2wzn8U0QIqzbfLXsZ8ujy_Dxcm8Db56BSSdQCcd6zt-MfCcHGQVX5z5Te8LWErn6-1FBsPtfm5d7JPUu-iP5uTNscTY7XOXY/s400/2009-07-03_016_ARMN902136_NV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355879936907451394" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A GE pulling and an EMD pushing. It's quite a climb out of the basin that Las Vegas lives in.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcGZzB9VgLa8sPbdSchx9kHmW77OWuAG-ai1l5WuJ3vL4hU5tTOaUMO0zYQCz_2NNrIumDvaAzaWR6dXGlbxx0iMQR0dFsCQ2FB3KLFVgA1yUrCidUbYRR4YwQzT-N7BIRrUTsESJ9e0v/s1600-h/2009-07-03_021R_UP8623-NV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcGZzB9VgLa8sPbdSchx9kHmW77OWuAG-ai1l5WuJ3vL4hU5tTOaUMO0zYQCz_2NNrIumDvaAzaWR6dXGlbxx0iMQR0dFsCQ2FB3KLFVgA1yUrCidUbYRR4YwQzT-N7BIRrUTsESJ9e0v/s400/2009-07-03_021R_UP8623-NV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355879933694901586" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When we got to Caliente, we found a string of lokies playing with a short work train. This SD70ACe was the cleanest of the six units.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr5hceZ7L56I7pVgsXi4ezOMCgacmSlUBMQ3dgUhVhqh3ywA1u0KsSeqLjjep7292FdWeO4_kBieNgKZyqE662wnKLDW46rwi7PuLxQ7XaEPP5SYcQVnqtJUpLd2SLkPzSlu7pnkoI9VN/s1600-h/2009-07-03_038_UP8588-CalienteNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr5hceZ7L56I7pVgsXi4ezOMCgacmSlUBMQ3dgUhVhqh3ywA1u0KsSeqLjjep7292FdWeO4_kBieNgKZyqE662wnKLDW46rwi7PuLxQ7XaEPP5SYcQVnqtJUpLd2SLkPzSlu7pnkoI9VN/s400/2009-07-03_038_UP8588-CalienteNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355879931347316514" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is a very nice depot here, now used by the city as a museum. My 1948 railroad atlas tells me this is the Union Pacific line from Barstow, California through Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, Utah.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn5VgD1Cozuwtggm7o7jora0mtKuPl9VgM98owH1LW6Me5FMEKfG6vv6T1ridA8ZkSBusPM9XUusWZX1S5lHMIQ-PO_u7WfEHdcN1R3Rk9uFHTJZ2UaLwGvNYpZC-ydeH_nIaZf72zI3U/s1600-h/2009-07-03_048R_PassDepot-CalienteNV_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn5VgD1Cozuwtggm7o7jora0mtKuPl9VgM98owH1LW6Me5FMEKfG6vv6T1ridA8ZkSBusPM9XUusWZX1S5lHMIQ-PO_u7WfEHdcN1R3Rk9uFHTJZ2UaLwGvNYpZC-ydeH_nIaZf72zI3U/s400/2009-07-03_048R_PassDepot-CalienteNV_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355879927472515778" /></a><br /></div><div>We took the long way to Ely, and enjoyed the beauty of the western desert scenery.</div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-48634921439471765982009-07-07T16:08:00.001-07:002009-07-07T16:29:57.641-07:00July 2 - Las Vegas<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We spent the day with Jeff again, and when Amy got off work we met at the Bellagio to enjoy one of their famous Buffet dinners. It took a long wait but we all felt it was time well spent. This shot was made while we stood in line with many other folks.</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_BnGXjb0EaxWPKKrqwJYC2zWwT9w73AjWHGrkNvgtT_dJ0Xwe_05pgQ9dt6x6y-C-ZoAibVKTErm4y7v3T7r6VTHFelQ-nBtMvSM_WIPOw6H3rOPQPbn6OedRKQHStzKslKFxGiyAHmg/s1600-h/2009-07-02_884_Ron-Jeff-Amy-Anita_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_BnGXjb0EaxWPKKrqwJYC2zWwT9w73AjWHGrkNvgtT_dJ0Xwe_05pgQ9dt6x6y-C-ZoAibVKTErm4y7v3T7r6VTHFelQ-nBtMvSM_WIPOw6H3rOPQPbn6OedRKQHStzKslKFxGiyAHmg/s400/2009-07-02_884_Ron-Jeff-Amy-Anita_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355860907497594066" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I made a couple of shots from the roof of the parking garage before we got in line. Here's the Eiffel tower from across the street.</span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU1Q_W7pQt-ki-1i1QS1ZBZ1UZLQbuKpR5tzGDEq6ULZ3bXBANnU44DvmdE9nE2vyXhtgYO4ID6K-h2tem9GGjXhYvqJzd9vB4OmOC7hpbzfz3Q1TIV-Knr4_RlTyLibeZe6HFIOlFQaR/s1600-h/2008-07-02_053_ParisCasino_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU1Q_W7pQt-ki-1i1QS1ZBZ1UZLQbuKpR5tzGDEq6ULZ3bXBANnU44DvmdE9nE2vyXhtgYO4ID6K-h2tem9GGjXhYvqJzd9vB4OmOC7hpbzfz3Q1TIV-Knr4_RlTyLibeZe6HFIOlFQaR/s400/2008-07-02_053_ParisCasino_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355859384423546626" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And Caesar's Palace...</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5JPDxjoQC1Zij1FpASpxu3DDkmk29teWtmP4KbY4XJEhTetzWKL3DnByzfxgZBVRIlI7cuxEOIVWhhEHNkX4aFWzV8m7XNbQnwC45thCNKiEwmSOGkGFQmIVyV3zKNlPRCnkMcPGDD5t/s1600-h/2008-07-02_058_CaesarsPalace_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5JPDxjoQC1Zij1FpASpxu3DDkmk29teWtmP4KbY4XJEhTetzWKL3DnByzfxgZBVRIlI7cuxEOIVWhhEHNkX4aFWzV8m7XNbQnwC45thCNKiEwmSOGkGFQmIVyV3zKNlPRCnkMcPGDD5t/s400/2008-07-02_058_CaesarsPalace_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355859377967101986" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And more of the Las Vegas construction, behind the Jockey Club.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-b6kmnNT1DU04C6dL6tZTlEFrGke4rqM5271n5ryHd2KrRrLvEQjvI3MHC9TO461Xhd03jqYhAVc9ztXoGdXvAKscGKxnU2mEFa_zAMxGU1wtmhf1SyWGO-xi84Onu5nLqXCqt5-AI5H/s1600-h/2008-07-02_061_Construction_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-b6kmnNT1DU04C6dL6tZTlEFrGke4rqM5271n5ryHd2KrRrLvEQjvI3MHC9TO461Xhd03jqYhAVc9ztXoGdXvAKscGKxnU2mEFa_zAMxGU1wtmhf1SyWGO-xi84Onu5nLqXCqt5-AI5H/s400/2008-07-02_061_Construction_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355859372957577218" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After Dinner we wandered around the Bellagio. Here's a shot of the glass artwork on one ceiling.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKZ-DOkuj2p1sFfxxVD8cUOPNgQpPskWkpQxNFgKbelzEdxs0hBJrc64pQoCXTa2SCg2D1kfxDjDstw9rCUTzmbnQ4zEc56IVafPu2IUfY28dfz3Ys1EIZ8Kg57l3n7WwZ5sdDt5OUFMh/s1600-h/2009-07-02_880_Bellagio_1000lr.jpg"></a></span></span><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKZ-DOkuj2p1sFfxxVD8cUOPNgQpPskWkpQxNFgKbelzEdxs0hBJrc64pQoCXTa2SCg2D1kfxDjDstw9rCUTzmbnQ4zEc56IVafPu2IUfY28dfz3Ys1EIZ8Kg57l3n7WwZ5sdDt5OUFMh/s1600-h/2009-07-02_880_Bellagio_1000lr.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKZ-DOkuj2p1sFfxxVD8cUOPNgQpPskWkpQxNFgKbelzEdxs0hBJrc64pQoCXTa2SCg2D1kfxDjDstw9rCUTzmbnQ4zEc56IVafPu2IUfY28dfz3Ys1EIZ8Kg57l3n7WwZ5sdDt5OUFMh/s400/2009-07-02_880_Bellagio_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355862043131433650" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Later we watched the water show in front of the Casino.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoK3qS2U3abydgQYr0XEiU4FqXmTti6Z-Y6G-90YnqXiQKTLEPzyQCstNHyVj9TCIwk8V6IiuhgZUV6grsJLuf1y95rhCCH67lg_Dob8VXNS28kAoxM3dfSh8hE0QnJOLdbf9ClB-AinxF/s1600-h/2009-07-02_889_BellagioWaterShow_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoK3qS2U3abydgQYr0XEiU4FqXmTti6Z-Y6G-90YnqXiQKTLEPzyQCstNHyVj9TCIwk8V6IiuhgZUV6grsJLuf1y95rhCCH67lg_Dob8VXNS28kAoxM3dfSh8hE0QnJOLdbf9ClB-AinxF/s400/2009-07-02_889_BellagioWaterShow_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355862820809030994" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They have quite a crowd, and run the show every fifteen minutes.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNGssN9pYl1tj8jUjEsRc34x-2ZpANebrspOcRgE48SjbliQzQPeEml2Jwf0gNVRSGuqlscmIvQV6x0TUZteC0_aeok_9gh87rvtw6Gd5jYh75r0LlYRHHBRn400thvx-EZ5D18DYs-Ay/s1600-h/2009-07-02_892_BellagioWaterShow_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNGssN9pYl1tj8jUjEsRc34x-2ZpANebrspOcRgE48SjbliQzQPeEml2Jwf0gNVRSGuqlscmIvQV6x0TUZteC0_aeok_9gh87rvtw6Gd5jYh75r0LlYRHHBRn400thvx-EZ5D18DYs-Ay/s400/2009-07-02_892_BellagioWaterShow_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355862818558376994" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our last night in Las Vegas, so we make an early evening of it.</span></span></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-15787531842722616692009-07-07T13:55:00.000-07:002009-07-07T14:08:02.903-07:00July 1 - Las Vegas<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We got up rather late and hooked up with Jeff for a tour of some of the casinos. First, though, I convinced Anita and Jeff that we should ride the monorail that connects some of the larger casinos. We got ourselves day passes and climbed aboard.</span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ6XJg3RQa98HMlB9PMneAeqXpdZ-DB4V7bO69JTRRa_Yjny4Kf376EXumNpeRl22kNk7hCKdFFgVZmmJ0J3jkfDdFOrbuEqrIUmtzhfQcAFHb7d08RLovNacDjkJprXLq4-wIkMsntDk/s1600-h/2009-07-01_006_LasVegasMonoRail_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ6XJg3RQa98HMlB9PMneAeqXpdZ-DB4V7bO69JTRRa_Yjny4Kf376EXumNpeRl22kNk7hCKdFFgVZmmJ0J3jkfDdFOrbuEqrIUmtzhfQcAFHb7d08RLovNacDjkJprXLq4-wIkMsntDk/s400/2009-07-01_006_LasVegasMonoRail_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355826681139928770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was amazed at the amount of construction taking place all around the city. When we came in yesterday, we got hung up in traffic due to road widening projects on interstate 15, and there are a significant number of high-rise buildings under construction. Roadwork on the street past the Wyndham makes getting in and out a bit of a hassle; the sidewalks are tiny except for the ones on "The Strip."</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruzK3N8nonDmkOKxRrSPnRXghTrm8nb1hJi_yiq7GF4R5g87ZpBZMguuLfsykemU1hrFhA9VIA3NRUQ2qoX2YoHXnijrlkjqraA22iEzxUyucrg5QJ7APsUBJ4ongFPvBE1H17csthA4T/s1600-h/2009-07-01_026_Construction_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruzK3N8nonDmkOKxRrSPnRXghTrm8nb1hJi_yiq7GF4R5g87ZpBZMguuLfsykemU1hrFhA9VIA3NRUQ2qoX2YoHXnijrlkjqraA22iEzxUyucrg5QJ7APsUBJ4ongFPvBE1H17csthA4T/s400/2009-07-01_026_Construction_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355826675198050898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dollar day at the Sahara: Beers for a buck, hot dogs for a buck, blackjack for a buck a bet.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDfJXYbwggFJ8EGlNyJpFcZiPEh_hru0gklLqNQzyrMP9HpxtNTwVJcZobL52wdPwsfnBWOact1cPsAf75PnOYHHH3anvneIOe1F8B8r5opr0ST5eHQutknfcgFgxDVlomM5p25KPi80i/s1600-h/2009-07-01_040_Blackjack_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDfJXYbwggFJ8EGlNyJpFcZiPEh_hru0gklLqNQzyrMP9HpxtNTwVJcZobL52wdPwsfnBWOact1cPsAf75PnOYHHH3anvneIOe1F8B8r5opr0ST5eHQutknfcgFgxDVlomM5p25KPi80i/s400/2009-07-01_040_Blackjack_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355826671304419106" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Waterfall in the golf course behind one of the casinos.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKnkDPJJnYcH60i8LrZfZQkHDMwgvxSUNBFXBGtObSaFxrt-wylX8Wm1cSebzJ9OAgC20V6RKR0bMPhPWb1MLjAyM07VLRFerMlQMiHqtL3FXyzCX3OH8WPyPwMfvk2JEaSasAA-5P3Q1/s1600-h/2009-07-01_048_GolfCourse_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKnkDPJJnYcH60i8LrZfZQkHDMwgvxSUNBFXBGtObSaFxrt-wylX8Wm1cSebzJ9OAgC20V6RKR0bMPhPWb1MLjAyM07VLRFerMlQMiHqtL3FXyzCX3OH8WPyPwMfvk2JEaSasAA-5P3Q1/s400/2009-07-01_048_GolfCourse_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355826666725601666" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We could look out the back window of our condo (on the twelvth floor) and see airplanes coming and going at the airport. They have a very busy place here.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiHsGhx1sqrRfYDXoXPoFpr52Wf-vnq2Q6ROG5Zja5sA_OkMfUU-GBRwZsNZxDJ_GW8Gkt4gd0f1zuUCUjUGrBmblVxawQSptPUyQaFpbIa_SlN0nnTzkk45beC777Jczpj_CnS9nySPB/s1600-h/2009-07-01_044_SouthwestAirlines_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiHsGhx1sqrRfYDXoXPoFpr52Wf-vnq2Q6ROG5Zja5sA_OkMfUU-GBRwZsNZxDJ_GW8Gkt4gd0f1zuUCUjUGrBmblVxawQSptPUyQaFpbIa_SlN0nnTzkk45beC777Jczpj_CnS9nySPB/s400/2009-07-01_044_SouthwestAirlines_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355826662485851730" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That evening we went out to eat at a classy restaurant near the "Old Strip," and had a really grand time. Afterward we strolled around that part of the city and enjoyed "people watching" (or what some unkindly call the freak show).<br /></span></span><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-2242032606526338522009-07-07T11:39:00.000-07:002009-07-07T11:48:19.018-07:00June 30 - Salt Lake City to Las Vegas<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Since we already had our rental car (2009 Hyundai Sonata, quite nicely appointed with XM radio so Anita could annoy me no matter how far we got from civilization), we were able to depart Salt Lake City without any hassle at all. We got onto Interstate 15 south a mere half-dozen blocks from the hotel and, as they say, "boogied."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not too far south of the city, we spotted this local freight heading for the yard in SLC. I had to make a picture in spite of heavy traffic and narrow road shoulders.</span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucUH4mLDxE5h4aAaqx3paNhGQvrjhSPqX3jSzfPSGnnxKzJOv5QfbhkH0nRLWkCRq76BtOjX2sULgWNpITfRA-07okpepq_7-fhemOqZky_xScQ-7F9zxrYAprm3_O44XBDOPaB4tfftV/s1600-h/2009-06-30_034_UP835_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucUH4mLDxE5h4aAaqx3paNhGQvrjhSPqX3jSzfPSGnnxKzJOv5QfbhkH0nRLWkCRq76BtOjX2sULgWNpITfRA-07okpepq_7-fhemOqZky_xScQ-7F9zxrYAprm3_O44XBDOPaB4tfftV/s400/2009-06-30_034_UP835_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355790415346219090" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A bit further on was a long string of refrigerated cars, stored on a siding and waiting for an upturn in business. Lots of them, which I didn't stop to photograph. Should have, though.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Further south the mountains became more distinctive, making this a very nice drive. Hot, though. I'd hate to be stranded in this desolate countryside.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYNBRtIW2qfhLQ3JlxOWJZW1CLufpoSkXVxeKIYAOJlAmG8ca6P1j0nb-bDsSNTBn8g_3N30fB3-ByYAigfBVBs-v68kJfaM8zw-IIt_DRCZuqT2oaDVw8gnSiekpquFKAH5LL5GP7RTa/s1600-h/2009-06-30_039_Utah-US15_1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYNBRtIW2qfhLQ3JlxOWJZW1CLufpoSkXVxeKIYAOJlAmG8ca6P1j0nb-bDsSNTBn8g_3N30fB3-ByYAigfBVBs-v68kJfaM8zw-IIt_DRCZuqT2oaDVw8gnSiekpquFKAH5LL5GP7RTa/s400/2009-06-30_039_Utah-US15_1000.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355790410080344130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marty Robbins sings, "The red hills of Utah are calling me." I think these may be the hills he sang about.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOlfQWmTTSHXDmpzQU-F9i1u7ENYuK-GOh6CwnfGdKYym1lEzbxWeER-k-sXbWg_PAPe8iBt0sYjmokxGEKtgWtt4TLZWOUNRJn5edDmXkGnkU4C3iP2NjPFu11a2vl1VDzfQ8h0QxBY3/s1600-h/2009-06-30_045_RedHills-ofUtah_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOlfQWmTTSHXDmpzQU-F9i1u7ENYuK-GOh6CwnfGdKYym1lEzbxWeER-k-sXbWg_PAPe8iBt0sYjmokxGEKtgWtt4TLZWOUNRJn5edDmXkGnkU4C3iP2NjPFu11a2vl1VDzfQ8h0QxBY3/s400/2009-06-30_045_RedHills-ofUtah_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355790407063046498" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Interstate 15 crosses the corner of Arizona as it takes us to Las Vegas. Very pretty in its own way.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2l9iWRDoFmv5yIkw2zCKs4ugGxy5PwBiXQEuS6WiQon52NOspJpn0k-FgXdIfphyphenhyphenO6PbaW1NtYpgBiOs8_KivwfMKlKQRTO3PwcQ-97BW5H_DSYz_V5ZCNMo9p275iv_XoK6cftm02ak/s1600-h/2009-06-30_049_US15-Arizona_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2l9iWRDoFmv5yIkw2zCKs4ugGxy5PwBiXQEuS6WiQon52NOspJpn0k-FgXdIfphyphenhyphenO6PbaW1NtYpgBiOs8_KivwfMKlKQRTO3PwcQ-97BW5H_DSYz_V5ZCNMo9p275iv_XoK6cftm02ak/s400/2009-06-30_049_US15-Arizona_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355790405322011474" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After we got into town, we checked into the Wyndham Grand Desert, a timesharing venture that we bought into down in Destin, FL. Jeff met us there that afternoon, and we headed out for a short tour of the town while Amy finished her days work. Jeff then went home to feed the puppies and get Amy, and Anita made this pic when they returned. We went out to eat, had an excellent dinner at a historic Italian restaurant.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3reKQjNYynBGcyxiYXmd2fGAX86bz2NQx4A_AYxSjU9UCMg8_8hZnr-WCQn9RbVicJCBnjjEuKjrriKHWndbYNIiHlSArudCnPseVk4yZBoBRfihcsYlfbCAEK8wFDbo1ls5t6cgX8QY/s1600-h/2009-06-30_861_Ron-Amy-Jeff_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3reKQjNYynBGcyxiYXmd2fGAX86bz2NQx4A_AYxSjU9UCMg8_8hZnr-WCQn9RbVicJCBnjjEuKjrriKHWndbYNIiHlSArudCnPseVk4yZBoBRfihcsYlfbCAEK8wFDbo1ls5t6cgX8QY/s400/2009-06-30_861_Ron-Amy-Jeff_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355790402348969058" /></a><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-78690084161173531002009-07-05T10:33:00.001-07:002009-07-05T10:39:40.200-07:00June 29/30 - Salt Lake City, Utah<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The first thing we did when we got to SLC was to go get the car we needed to drive down to Las Vegas to visit our son, Jeff, and his wife Amy. The second thingwe did was to drive around a bit looking at the sights. Here's the Utah State Capital Building.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QxU_CU8SwL0VDxYwYtEVvleOpT3rDgKEanliVXnSlU1FiU2m357MjNn0R9yH5v7nlE-Ac6LY76L1om-YF9iyI5_lA8sWubQ0uH9M5rQ1ZQIcAUqs5YIFA_9KqT7HQraDDNxeJowhSHOM/s1600-h/2009-06-29_028_Utah-State-House_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QxU_CU8SwL0VDxYwYtEVvleOpT3rDgKEanliVXnSlU1FiU2m357MjNn0R9yH5v7nlE-Ac6LY76L1om-YF9iyI5_lA8sWubQ0uH9M5rQ1ZQIcAUqs5YIFA_9KqT7HQraDDNxeJowhSHOM/s400/2009-06-29_028_Utah-State-House_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355031060722554898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's the former Rio Grande and Western Railway Passenger Depot, from the west (track) side.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga55E0-2VmcAVrhNySNK6IpEWgypG1HTUcPvH0fu_sgXqvatGcH_JV2nmvL_Vyr-cvW3zI83Gp3Uu_IqbZcgu5tnjcOVpE4pnippdyWIUaRiBCHHTYaCi0QMJ9QW7G-xDJKgZvfR6IbnNL/s1600-h/2009-06-29_026_RioGrandeDepot-west_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga55E0-2VmcAVrhNySNK6IpEWgypG1HTUcPvH0fu_sgXqvatGcH_JV2nmvL_Vyr-cvW3zI83Gp3Uu_IqbZcgu5tnjcOVpE4pnippdyWIUaRiBCHHTYaCi0QMJ9QW7G-xDJKgZvfR6IbnNL/s400/2009-06-29_026_RioGrandeDepot-west_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355031056227644898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Before leaving the next morning, we drove by in order to get a nice sunny shot of the beautiful depot from the east side.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSShgx_EbovuIVd4XYLvMrMlGpeb66bZMpoBcxcu4q4LsxDXv3NIug0CrChQOEwR4YOunJO1WTd-FNdBr1j_CV6zfiSTccxI7M-8ly7H7byMxmFHKnJX9kCm83MNXZTi4VUmvqrjUNt2Nk/s1600-h/2009-06-29_031_RioGrandeDepot-east_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSShgx_EbovuIVd4XYLvMrMlGpeb66bZMpoBcxcu4q4LsxDXv3NIug0CrChQOEwR4YOunJO1WTd-FNdBr1j_CV6zfiSTccxI7M-8ly7H7byMxmFHKnJX9kCm83MNXZTi4VUmvqrjUNt2Nk/s400/2009-06-29_031_RioGrandeDepot-east_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355031045648559378" /></a><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-24774965558545174442009-07-05T10:16:00.001-07:002009-07-05T10:24:32.256-07:00June 29 - Jackson, WY to Salt Lake City, UT<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After a restful night at Jackson, we ere up and on the bus at 7:45, and departed at 8:00AM. We had our first stop at Afton, WY to view the Antler Arch across the main drag.</span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJogDg1M1fL87tvZAKKYrw3opHa6HWzae85VNZS62Hq7yjZxN6X-lYzdG4kjiSJqe4Ps_d0HDDd1rLrH_TDseh5Y4cPQfkDyoZzP7rk0yb6WHZncIs-wrMBTazfGKUJ6VqneIpNHMeugjm/s1600-h/2009-06-29_002_AftonWY_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJogDg1M1fL87tvZAKKYrw3opHa6HWzae85VNZS62Hq7yjZxN6X-lYzdG4kjiSJqe4Ps_d0HDDd1rLrH_TDseh5Y4cPQfkDyoZzP7rk0yb6WHZncIs-wrMBTazfGKUJ6VqneIpNHMeugjm/s400/2009-06-29_002_AftonWY_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355026653610421186" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From Afton we drove to south and west to Bear Lake (which is in Idaho and Utah), then up a winding road to a very scenic overlook.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXWsFSxUbRhEdbHLT_kgZjgFBbkm7QWHsnOMxADhW7L4aR7Nz4JiZpEAU7rnkLYPluj7wVxDtgJ2RwOGJ1gisv8Cyg2KZs6OD6l2DxLSSZ0gMwv8JbmVA51dMdvXjW_84fCiQ7HHbM1by/s1600-h/2009-06-29_011_BearLakeID-UT_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXWsFSxUbRhEdbHLT_kgZjgFBbkm7QWHsnOMxADhW7L4aR7Nz4JiZpEAU7rnkLYPluj7wVxDtgJ2RwOGJ1gisv8Cyg2KZs6OD6l2DxLSSZ0gMwv8JbmVA51dMdvXjW_84fCiQ7HHbM1by/s400/2009-06-29_011_BearLakeID-UT_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355026650042838962" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A guy drove into the rest stop with this very nice 1955 Chevy Bel Air. It has a 427 "Vette Motor" and he says it drives very well.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntFHRLypDomvXi1Xj9NRY3j2ipidKPnwKYMiFX9YpoafmhFT7IZjerSr4wnwDAxqJpIVC8OV2S7Kmv6FzA42kwTNZzKPSIcCfgDxJaX8AvTVYWxRDDAub1PemBvE0-BP-jnI72Zqo9S_2/s1600-h/2009-06-29_013_1955Chevy-427_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntFHRLypDomvXi1Xj9NRY3j2ipidKPnwKYMiFX9YpoafmhFT7IZjerSr4wnwDAxqJpIVC8OV2S7Kmv6FzA42kwTNZzKPSIcCfgDxJaX8AvTVYWxRDDAub1PemBvE0-BP-jnI72Zqo9S_2/s400/2009-06-29_013_1955Chevy-427_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355026643479249170" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lots of little blue flowers in the rocky soil.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QHrIOiwtl1HmaAfD8qhUMasMawBnwars8WxKn-nK_6XA-XN4i-aaFNilUPw0v12dq5KVQtPAGgXFl9naD8ElyrqYRE2w3xFh7G-5Tu-sOb2kvrBXKqTDq3eghw05MFsd7o5PeXqN6Jdv/s1600-h/2009-06-29_013_BlueFlowers_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QHrIOiwtl1HmaAfD8qhUMasMawBnwars8WxKn-nK_6XA-XN4i-aaFNilUPw0v12dq5KVQtPAGgXFl9naD8ElyrqYRE2w3xFh7G-5Tu-sOb2kvrBXKqTDq3eghw05MFsd7o5PeXqN6Jdv/s400/2009-06-29_013_BlueFlowers_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355026639555595314" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of many groves of Aspens.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAecO_D_SmBpPQAjcmtcVJoxKJ9lCzJCJn5jv9MUN40UgdIfQ6TR_1Kft0CfIdle_KAlx_3W1MEQCRr-Ya-DOrDYM68TC5Wnj3gBDeHj1-Gs6xsow1uAdngVI6ya307lAdueFsDdkuWzU/s1600-h/2009-06-29_019_Aspens_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAecO_D_SmBpPQAjcmtcVJoxKJ9lCzJCJn5jv9MUN40UgdIfQ6TR_1Kft0CfIdle_KAlx_3W1MEQCRr-Ya-DOrDYM68TC5Wnj3gBDeHj1-Gs6xsow1uAdngVI6ya307lAdueFsDdkuWzU/s400/2009-06-29_019_Aspens_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355026636295958994" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On south into Salt Lake City where we stayed at another Red Lion Hotel. This was the end of our motorcoach tour.</span></span></div></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-28643921138042865102009-07-05T09:38:00.000-07:002009-07-05T09:52:33.994-07:00June 28 - West Yellowstone, MT to Jackson, WY<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We slept in a bit for a change this morning. After breakfast at the hotel we boarded the busses (second seat back on the right side) and headed back into the park. We drove down Firehole Canyon, past Firehole Falls to Old Faithful Lodge where we had lunch, watched the eruption, and then celebrated with ice cream. Back on the bus we headed down to the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, then out of the park at the South Entrance.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I had to grab a pic of this buffalo cow with her calf. </span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvJhyphenhyphenDLr1LnYFiIAtxi4aQzglpKhUOL5rW4NzXCY9ukPjxOWH0kC2S0Huh_k4jk5Vgxhoc1cWA_V2gGCuidI46jDnuGYVZ6HhLhwMi1cZUmKmGQaSJ_YhZij89WfGRAv02Su6lvuidYwn/s1600-h/2009-06-28_246_Buffalo-and-calf_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvJhyphenhyphenDLr1LnYFiIAtxi4aQzglpKhUOL5rW4NzXCY9ukPjxOWH0kC2S0Huh_k4jk5Vgxhoc1cWA_V2gGCuidI46jDnuGYVZ6HhLhwMi1cZUmKmGQaSJ_YhZij89WfGRAv02Su6lvuidYwn/s400/2009-06-28_246_Buffalo-and-calf_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355016987225457346" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This bull Elk was grazing conveniently near one of our scheduled stops. About fifty people were trying to get closer and closer to him.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabl-IwDbMLKkn_RfrnSDkrSTR7ZVCzQZrdvgF3VJlLlq73nUL6u_dnvM6rrMTk4Sxv7kcMoOA8udyF-t6OboQrTU-YxsouuCVhHf6-s_iPj2oMdrrOV7izQtXmnvQmfRMmHA6vVCJSmgr/s1600-h/2009-06-28_332_YellowstoneBullElk_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabl-IwDbMLKkn_RfrnSDkrSTR7ZVCzQZrdvgF3VJlLlq73nUL6u_dnvM6rrMTk4Sxv7kcMoOA8udyF-t6OboQrTU-YxsouuCVhHf6-s_iPj2oMdrrOV7izQtXmnvQmfRMmHA6vVCJSmgr/s400/2009-06-28_332_YellowstoneBullElk_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355016979620473810" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">He finally looked up as if to say, "What's up with all these people?" Times like this call for a telephoto lens ;-)<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0liOrj6DGH2Falwq19NCERfOdNRRUidhMTZuiA9XIlozHL0HLuefymI8Mubcas5RfzVmyZXe2-ejaoGZMV_gIPDHYaqs49tRphRdbBdqCT6qs05n1KQMLPwuC7DnAhjpcTJUA0TLzu-pY/s1600-h/2009-06-28_333_YellowstoneBullElk_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0liOrj6DGH2Falwq19NCERfOdNRRUidhMTZuiA9XIlozHL0HLuefymI8Mubcas5RfzVmyZXe2-ejaoGZMV_gIPDHYaqs49tRphRdbBdqCT6qs05n1KQMLPwuC7DnAhjpcTJUA0TLzu-pY/s400/2009-06-28_333_YellowstoneBullElk_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355016974757972482" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Down the highway through the Grand Tetons, we stopped at a visitors center where we got pix of Jackson Lake, then continued south along the east side of the Snake River. At one point there was a traffic jam as people stopped for pictures of a pair of Bison crossing the road ahead of us.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8eRznOs25Eg9TZUBBQD09-EEwHDESoj7O0vBBneHbrfErDGK26ocPXF3w0pt8-vM1ieV_aWhmsQ8t51DOM54fiPhYT0nEQaziVNZqquiUcbBzn4WBhrAThFxbLvU5Xy5sgcT9BJThAWM/s1600-h/2009-06-28_381_GrandTetonsBison_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8eRznOs25Eg9TZUBBQD09-EEwHDESoj7O0vBBneHbrfErDGK26ocPXF3w0pt8-vM1ieV_aWhmsQ8t51DOM54fiPhYT0nEQaziVNZqquiUcbBzn4WBhrAThFxbLvU5Xy5sgcT9BJThAWM/s400/2009-06-28_381_GrandTetonsBison_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355016972316084546" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Once across the road, they continued grazing as though no one was watching. Tamer than some cows I've known.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h874sWwZWx4sZYa0uLFNAcU6UiO8Q378wpaLvDmhF1sq0qbcgqKU0tRdoamCCfiO4_rr7l15i7Zo1ZbessfHv6tWrQTTgx-WAoRhXgX5GXdTc9qQnLR8bViT3BdWOuMqS5FPW6prvFiZ/s1600-h/2009-06-28_385_GrandTetonsBison_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h874sWwZWx4sZYa0uLFNAcU6UiO8Q378wpaLvDmhF1sq0qbcgqKU0tRdoamCCfiO4_rr7l15i7Zo1ZbessfHv6tWrQTTgx-WAoRhXgX5GXdTc9qQnLR8bViT3BdWOuMqS5FPW6prvFiZ/s400/2009-06-28_385_GrandTetonsBison_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355016967886464834" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We continued on south to Jackson where we stayed overnight. Anita and I, and some others from our bus, had dinner at the Cowboy Bar.</span></span></div></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-55448155717696928162009-07-05T09:22:00.000-07:002009-07-05T09:52:58.677-07:00June 27 - Butte to West Yellowstone, MT<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Coming east out of Butte, we turned south at Livingston where I talked with a guy from Los Angeles who retired here, and now has a business in custom made Cigars. On the road down to the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park, we spotted these rafters in the river.</span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-voe9Y3KR59-bv2FKbThbYFMCMPPnwnhF3mOFlPVARTvKZ3OQ5BqQW9AdJJoUOgbNf6LD0nrIr72OITMqHYLNJ9LzZvnGgpEM72SxrLUHxBsDRgw0cETJTkPwX-x32jmYS6boJarpVL7j/s1600-h/2009-06-27_031_Rafters_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-voe9Y3KR59-bv2FKbThbYFMCMPPnwnhF3mOFlPVARTvKZ3OQ5BqQW9AdJJoUOgbNf6LD0nrIr72OITMqHYLNJ9LzZvnGgpEM72SxrLUHxBsDRgw0cETJTkPwX-x32jmYS6boJarpVL7j/s400/2009-06-27_031_Rafters_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355013021525264322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We continued on south to Gardiner, where we had lunch, toured the gift shops (Met a young lady working in one of them who was from Tennessee), and finally entered Yellowstone National park at the north gate. I made this next picture in the restaurant where we ate.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSnLzl_bOVFHNRvoiERWYPpc_NBC9OM6EVRrLw6MLlyn-fhy2pCCVU6u7Mj94arIPx6qGfKVXMIXjLKVT0B5Qc8L7QaTFJ5WystennwhKKpSOqnH9ZOMa1gsxhTzOhVgRroJxPVzp5uPl/s1600-h/2009-06-27_041_WhattaRack_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSnLzl_bOVFHNRvoiERWYPpc_NBC9OM6EVRrLw6MLlyn-fhy2pCCVU6u7Mj94arIPx6qGfKVXMIXjLKVT0B5Qc8L7QaTFJ5WystennwhKKpSOqnH9ZOMa1gsxhTzOhVgRroJxPVzp5uPl/s400/2009-06-27_041_WhattaRack_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355013014972511058" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Just a few miles on we stopped at the park headquarters, Mammoth Hot Springs, where we photographed the Great Horned Owl in the following picture, an elk, some prairie dogs and a Magpie. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw8idGg8j3nk5zTPsSUORswiWF-HLquKX3uDdzVO8pMaCZngnM729RQUTRx9bfpGkIaQspiv3X42FuGalCX5cOjZDb_0zNxgMryDUkyw4kqD99mL28bDLcNboltKH9afR0W4ns-XdDRwy/s1600-h/2009-06-27_064_GreatHornedOwl_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw8idGg8j3nk5zTPsSUORswiWF-HLquKX3uDdzVO8pMaCZngnM729RQUTRx9bfpGkIaQspiv3X42FuGalCX5cOjZDb_0zNxgMryDUkyw4kqD99mL28bDLcNboltKH9afR0W4ns-XdDRwy/s400/2009-06-27_064_GreatHornedOwl_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355013013911031746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We drove on to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where we found this marvelous waterfall.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuqaj3Qlk1aVxhRm-bncnZY1KhvMoXyTBE2FkHuPnlgSqeJG4LwCRRi4Mm7DcHDhXzAwxRhuT4aa03e2vvuC-QOHNM10iri9O0ZZocpuhiZr3JBuU4Hove3YA1Y8YP0IaQxAde-eUAMnN/s1600-h/2009-06-27_115_UpperFalls-GCoftheYellowston_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuqaj3Qlk1aVxhRm-bncnZY1KhvMoXyTBE2FkHuPnlgSqeJG4LwCRRi4Mm7DcHDhXzAwxRhuT4aa03e2vvuC-QOHNM10iri9O0ZZocpuhiZr3JBuU4Hove3YA1Y8YP0IaQxAde-eUAMnN/s400/2009-06-27_115_UpperFalls-GCoftheYellowston_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355013008292817778" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A couple miles further on, we spotted this Buffalo (aka Bison) grazing peacefully in a meadow.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkCplwWHobLD6Xgqz17y-FJFSd7hsNBNgFpAarC_2EZlhMPwbH2a4de83NUfHH87VntbNT3eDpe62LlvDNyXZQCdlVs0NkDzNFw0BhE_cQoN8wu3UuWojiTzdolx0naiKgs5VSUL8YTM9/s1600-h/2009-06-27_130_Buffalo_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkCplwWHobLD6Xgqz17y-FJFSd7hsNBNgFpAarC_2EZlhMPwbH2a4de83NUfHH87VntbNT3eDpe62LlvDNyXZQCdlVs0NkDzNFw0BhE_cQoN8wu3UuWojiTzdolx0naiKgs5VSUL8YTM9/s400/2009-06-27_130_Buffalo_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355013005967249746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We spent the night at West Yellowstone, Montana. Anita and I made a point to visit the excellent museum which is housed in the former Union Pacific train depot there. They had an excellent collection of railroad china, and movies on the 1959 earthquake and the great fires of 1988.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After dinner at a nice restaurant, we strolled through the tourist district (stores full of jewelry and tee shirts) before getting to bed. Also met a young man working at the hotel who is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia and working here for the summer tourist season before heading to seminary.</span></span></div></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-17365583331811165162009-07-04T15:15:00.000-07:002009-07-04T15:23:43.865-07:00June 26 - Spokane, WA to Butte, MT<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We got up at six, showered and were ready to go by half-after. Anita went over to Perkins for a cherry muffin and a cinnamon roll. It was a clear, sunny day, but cool. Once On the bus, we headed east and then stopped at the city park at Couer d'ALene, Idaho, right on the lake.</span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqH3GTiG4fAqRIlwMpztYflFdRIwjvLfSarcvRBxcM99ala_tOZciT1l7_rX_INI0EIwSip5j4jZUkSYSRn40Zc9LwNOTCkQlN-6jTtyHimt5KdEODr5h3LqOegsf30q4GnFvmOsb0K6Q/s1600-h/2009-06-26_185_Lake+Coeur+d%27Alene_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqH3GTiG4fAqRIlwMpztYflFdRIwjvLfSarcvRBxcM99ala_tOZciT1l7_rX_INI0EIwSip5j4jZUkSYSRn40Zc9LwNOTCkQlN-6jTtyHimt5KdEODr5h3LqOegsf30q4GnFvmOsb0K6Q/s400/2009-06-26_185_Lake+Coeur+d%27Alene_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354732642228606642" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I grabbed this shot of Anita posing with a brass moose they had in the park. The moose had a mouse on his nose; I have no idea what that's all about.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdJUn9GDY43Ow9xMdBA2hOWcqPhiV4q9zoR55WHoyGczOGcbrj_k3fgSAKKNu9T4tm-MNvszYZEs1qc7Ypjv-Osbzk-o3TNNutbeWM_LeoZlM5y_qnHrjP1v2H-WBHCJXhEtabfT7AsQM/s1600-h/2009-06-26_186_Lake+Coeur+d%27Alene_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdJUn9GDY43Ow9xMdBA2hOWcqPhiV4q9zoR55WHoyGczOGcbrj_k3fgSAKKNu9T4tm-MNvszYZEs1qc7Ypjv-Osbzk-o3TNNutbeWM_LeoZlM5y_qnHrjP1v2H-WBHCJXhEtabfT7AsQM/s400/2009-06-26_186_Lake+Coeur+d%27Alene_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354732640520668978" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Climbing out of the valley, we were able to see the Lake for a long while.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We stopped at Wallace, Idaho, a town steeped in Silver mining history. Visited their local museum, and also the Northern Pacific RR depot which has been relocated a hundred feet or so, so that they could build I-90 through town. They had a lot of interesting architecture in town, and claim that a manhole cover in the middle of town is at "The Center of the Universe." Here's a shot of their old Northern Pacific railroad depot.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR4m3yihN0jDSNekeWf_Ssc_te32aFAVm7Vr4fOntng_cPc7q_HtncAfDGAfZyCJV79SUIEQ7AIS81myC3IFXSWxScHDI82JkjO3X-exZDRkkjGKPuvLmE0ZDLYHuBoJl6RXvyVQDi-zb/s1600-h/2009-06-26_192_WallaceID-NP-Depot_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR4m3yihN0jDSNekeWf_Ssc_te32aFAVm7Vr4fOntng_cPc7q_HtncAfDGAfZyCJV79SUIEQ7AIS81myC3IFXSWxScHDI82JkjO3X-exZDRkkjGKPuvLmE0ZDLYHuBoJl6RXvyVQDi-zb/s400/2009-06-26_192_WallaceID-NP-Depot_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354732637448634242" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We stopped for lunch at the Huckleberry Patch restaurant, another interesting little place with a well-stocked gift shop. We're beginning to see a pattern to these tour promoters.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the way to Butte, we drove through a town called Deer Lodge, where there is a ranch that can be visited, a prison museum, and a Milwaukee "Road Little Joe" electric locomotive. Of course we didn't have time to stop.</span></span></div></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-35394162287281393002009-07-04T14:37:00.000-07:002009-07-04T15:06:50.322-07:00June 25 - Penticton, BC to Spokane, Washington<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had very nice weather on Thursday morning. Onto the bus at 8:30; heading south through lots of orchards.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We stopped to cross the border into the USA at Osoyoos, but first were given the opportunity to visit the duty-free shop. We got back onto the busses, drove about 100 yards, and then had to get off the bus again with our carry-on belongings so the customs people could run them through the scanner. We then reloaded onto the bus and continued south.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had lunch at a little town in northern Washington, then continued on down along the Columbia River to Grand Coulee Dam where we stopped for an hour at the visitors center. </span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFMG8VExnvLlBn7-EKgFt8aJ9d3FRBaNEGZGthRds4g1IIU7q2trg1iim3pn88bTjr70in4PmEBiIBB174boos5UMEGl8GDko3AIIt2h-tKlUkiEqjDRaSC5KjuQKAUJnrPGm1ejgODP_/s1600-h/2009-06-25_150_GrandCouleeDam_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFMG8VExnvLlBn7-EKgFt8aJ9d3FRBaNEGZGthRds4g1IIU7q2trg1iim3pn88bTjr70in4PmEBiIBB174boos5UMEGl8GDko3AIIt2h-tKlUkiEqjDRaSC5KjuQKAUJnrPGm1ejgODP_/s400/2009-06-25_150_GrandCouleeDam_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354726201172959634" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />I grabbed a couple shots of our motorcoaches while the light was favorable. They are operated by the Oregon, California & Washington coach line, which is a sub-contractor to the Your Man Tour group that organized the entire cruise-motorcoach tour.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeauaCENvHqmRlR-5xmFPpNP95ZgtRo-cbaMXI2CR7DXH6vDASYl0LGWP0xTX678lop4Kj4AGgkzbkRYwoxBUnWpITW8OdILHG91iQAKvbZALyXR-Y45qc8sRZX62gJP1dbt-lgNeEpvsV/s1600-h/2009-06-25_167_OregCalif&Wash_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeauaCENvHqmRlR-5xmFPpNP95ZgtRo-cbaMXI2CR7DXH6vDASYl0LGWP0xTX678lop4Kj4AGgkzbkRYwoxBUnWpITW8OdILHG91iQAKvbZALyXR-Y45qc8sRZX62gJP1dbt-lgNeEpvsV/s400/2009-06-25_167_OregCalif&Wash_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354726208331992898" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Leaving the dam, we headed south along Brooks Reservoir to highway 2 and detoured slightly so we could stop at Dry Falls to view the big hole in the ground.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPASlJ05A6A7L6uMQg_E2iPIDpmJKURFPDAAW2kh_2cJ0m4E693JKmSm7K3BZjB5NIY0uJSQjIPm0Nm01Xl_G7y4kdh9rexJ0EsAaasFA88c7UoPv9aXE8ldfsoKZvcdj8drh3vc1y0aR/s1600-h/2009-06-25_170_DryFalls_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPASlJ05A6A7L6uMQg_E2iPIDpmJKURFPDAAW2kh_2cJ0m4E693JKmSm7K3BZjB5NIY0uJSQjIPm0Nm01Xl_G7y4kdh9rexJ0EsAaasFA88c7UoPv9aXE8ldfsoKZvcdj8drh3vc1y0aR/s400/2009-06-25_170_DryFalls_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354726212061982322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />Not on a par with the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, but quite impressive nevertheless.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjDUwKbK16rO0D818i3vfhT8_cgMBTMviQ26-DYPE5SAIXijghtSeg2We2D_rQfRRw6lTs4x6FC6qkdTL7vWPYdbUJSYL65W3SgbdiCRaM0SmWgD0IzttHlRgLT6J0RkJgbeV4iUxexot/s1600-h/2009-06-25_182_DryFalls_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjDUwKbK16rO0D818i3vfhT8_cgMBTMviQ26-DYPE5SAIXijghtSeg2We2D_rQfRRw6lTs4x6FC6qkdTL7vWPYdbUJSYL65W3SgbdiCRaM0SmWgD0IzttHlRgLT6J0RkJgbeV4iUxexot/s400/2009-06-25_182_DryFalls_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354726215407741634" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Back onto the busses, we continued to Spokane where we had a short tour of the riverside area and then were delivered to the Red Lion River Inn.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were picked up there by Ed and Debbie Schofield who were kind enought to take us to Kinko's so we could send some excess, cold-weather clothes home, then to their house for dinner. We had a wonderful time with them, and after Debbie delivered us back to the hotel, we hit the hay in preparation for another long day.</span></span></div></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-41530683306035628602009-07-04T14:19:00.000-07:002009-07-04T14:31:42.108-07:00June 24 - Vancouver to Penticton, BC<div><div>Our Cruise came to an end on an overcast, rainy day. We got up early to put our luggage out, then went for breakfast on the Lido deck buffet. We disembarked and went through Canadian customs, then loaded onto Motorcoaches and headed out of the city through Stanley park. I made this shot of the Volendam through the window of the bus.</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRdlPa3Gid7qOlWQ0FLly4gNM1dwWXmuqw5JfW3Ifj7om6YComvfZR5n0AlQOIBWV2Pewy-XkIZMkA6laOwkbMcg0cuTNngL37kRIf4K3pgsmdkvEsS4lipuPnnXLGhWvttYpbdUPJKHa/s1600-h/2009-06-24_148_Volendam-at-berth_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRdlPa3Gid7qOlWQ0FLly4gNM1dwWXmuqw5JfW3Ifj7om6YComvfZR5n0AlQOIBWV2Pewy-XkIZMkA6laOwkbMcg0cuTNngL37kRIf4K3pgsmdkvEsS4lipuPnnXLGhWvttYpbdUPJKHa/s400/2009-06-24_148_Volendam-at-berth_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354718080099360802" /></a><br /><div><div>The drivers stopped in Stanley Park so we could photograph some totem poles.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjey4rywksHjSyJZcWfEp64WI4HN2-jYmMy-SlIN6bIYCRYTyRf3kpLFv5FwTZRxCmP3Mm4BQ9zwJev76kgQ2H8Z7IIlIPoPR5i2xLkG8yRv0dfRnLDoDAZHQR2gx4aQHJUxvpvIk7arXll/s1600-h/2009-06-24_149_TotemPoles-StanleyPark_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjey4rywksHjSyJZcWfEp64WI4HN2-jYmMy-SlIN6bIYCRYTyRf3kpLFv5FwTZRxCmP3Mm4BQ9zwJev76kgQ2H8Z7IIlIPoPR5i2xLkG8yRv0dfRnLDoDAZHQR2gx4aQHJUxvpvIk7arXll/s400/2009-06-24_149_TotemPoles-StanleyPark_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354718076138667474" /></a><br /></div><div>While we were there, they got a phone call that a missing bag had been located, so our bus headed back to the port building to pick it up. After a delay of about an hour, we finally got out onto highway 1 heading east.</div><div><br /></div><div>We stopped at Minter Gardens, near Chiliwack, for lunch and a stroll; by this time we had nearly driven out of the rain. We took highway 3 east as the weather continued to clear and stayed overnight at Penticton. Anita and I had dinner at a quaint little place called "Salty's" where we were charged $1.95 for bread, and they also charged extra for a refill on sodas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Probably won't eat there again ;-)<br /><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-43687751242798290242009-06-29T22:29:00.001-07:002009-06-29T22:35:16.425-07:00June 23 - Cruising to Vancouver<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tuesday was a dark, dreary day, with intermittant rain throughout. We did a lot of stuff onboard the Volendam, but I didn't make a single, solitary picture. We stayed inside the whole day.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There was a disembarkation meeting held, which at least one representative from each cabin was supposed to attend in order to ensure that we encountered no problems leaving the ship after docking in Vancouver on te 24th. Anita ably represented our cabin at this meeting while I caught up on some much needed reading.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We enjoyed a sit-down breakfast in the dining room, with two couples from Australia. They will be visiting the daughter of one couple, who is teaching school for a year in Calgary, Alberta.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had a sit-down lunch with three folks from Saskatchawan and a couple who, like us, are from eastern Tennessee. Had an interesting conversation about socialized health care.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We spent happy-hour with Tony and Sandy Vetter, new friends from Albany, Minnesota who've been our tablemates at dinner for the entire cruise. With the weather as foul as it was, we looked for whales as we sailed through the foggy fiords. Afterward, we had a special dinner as our waiters and stewards put on a special presentation.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OK, I lied. Anita had her camera at dinner and we made a few pix. Here's Tony Vetter and myself.</span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhBZV94FjCRnZV0Qfcy6gVJKgDLOykUVfLb3jpT36faD1SBsprUCcP7M-2lTtJrOkKP7byzbzb6d5ykHlnCvl5CPF9rFgin-GTtI6T01cxtsPEGqqAGFz9p70kKqXU_TdzJyvKFrmGAud/s1600-h/2009-06-23_710_Tony-Ron_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhBZV94FjCRnZV0Qfcy6gVJKgDLOykUVfLb3jpT36faD1SBsprUCcP7M-2lTtJrOkKP7byzbzb6d5ykHlnCvl5CPF9rFgin-GTtI6T01cxtsPEGqqAGFz9p70kKqXU_TdzJyvKFrmGAud/s400/2009-06-23_710_Tony-Ron_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352988919270288578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here are Anita and Sandy Vetter.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusqeb9YK4Erc7kB014uUfLeKYFrb6NNSLMCx8v-ZHIh9TaVjwM_ub2HENGDURZbg2gqO_84Q_N71rpooZ9eHqwHyri8-PckbxYvHjbBBS2Ymm2uMb9cqdDr40KelOSUkQ7vngH-38wDzr/s1600-h/2009-06-23_711_Anita-Sandy_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusqeb9YK4Erc7kB014uUfLeKYFrb6NNSLMCx8v-ZHIh9TaVjwM_ub2HENGDURZbg2gqO_84Q_N71rpooZ9eHqwHyri8-PckbxYvHjbBBS2Ymm2uMb9cqdDr40KelOSUkQ7vngH-38wDzr/s400/2009-06-23_711_Anita-Sandy_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352988916629178018" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And here's our talented and versatile waiter, Prima. He's a native of Indonesia and has been working on cruise ships for nearly ten years.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdWJp4LN8rZUdufRSk64LWpW8uFN0wH2xq3pGcB4QansZ7RofbPPIKVdwuje8JvMp17kuE0i1CN_2Z6Urw6UkE5VP7ps7s0hzk4rNJ1wCicmlOGp3V6CmMQ7PgyipnOgr2GzI3FntHQwZ/s1600-h/2009-06-23_712_Waiter-Prima_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdWJp4LN8rZUdufRSk64LWpW8uFN0wH2xq3pGcB4QansZ7RofbPPIKVdwuje8JvMp17kuE0i1CN_2Z6Urw6UkE5VP7ps7s0hzk4rNJ1wCicmlOGp3V6CmMQ7PgyipnOgr2GzI3FntHQwZ/s400/2009-06-23_712_Waiter-Prima_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352988911680291682" /></a><br /></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190466909861533369.post-76778601670246082812009-06-29T21:29:00.000-07:002009-06-29T22:29:08.473-07:00June 22 - Out of Ketchikan<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Each evening, when we returned to our cabin after dinner, we would find another of these "Towel Pets" that had been fashioned by our cabin stewards. One time it was an elephant, another time a whale, an octopus, a dog. This time we found this funny monkey. Guess which is which ;-)</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNwOd4droPhyphenhyphenhLvZ7GtaKR_CnepnRolg4grnYGjjGTAD3cvovczGrQskn-xGPpP8fxYwLRw92icFDGYlnKOYY9eepSd7aXlaDvhVn2SfXBlerZFr6AMqFwc87dbhoHHDbDxHz_CbPjw03/s1600-h/2009-06-23_691_TowelPet_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNwOd4droPhyphenhyphenhLvZ7GtaKR_CnepnRolg4grnYGjjGTAD3cvovczGrQskn-xGPpP8fxYwLRw92icFDGYlnKOYY9eepSd7aXlaDvhVn2SfXBlerZFr6AMqFwc87dbhoHHDbDxHz_CbPjw03/s400/2009-06-23_691_TowelPet_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352986241051527826" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Once when I was on deck with my netbook computer, waiter Val asked about it and we talked "geek" for a while. This evening, he made me a very nice Flaming Spanish Coffee drink. Cocktails and a show for $6.50 - what a deal.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaNb8zrz799zpqQOFVndseCrDpjrLky0nYN9qzny8m40PEdJdZyDBKs0o6OY_iN2R8rk2W6iSCfsRygoFcVr59zbFr2Kx6HteHQ1PY5sHmkpasj5grlSFeo62-Zkcs-ZXxi5PmTfxM8wM/s1600-h/2009-06-23_695_Val_Flaming-Spanish-Coffee_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaNb8zrz799zpqQOFVndseCrDpjrLky0nYN9qzny8m40PEdJdZyDBKs0o6OY_iN2R8rk2W6iSCfsRygoFcVr59zbFr2Kx6HteHQ1PY5sHmkpasj5grlSFeo62-Zkcs-ZXxi5PmTfxM8wM/s400/2009-06-23_695_Val_Flaming-Spanish-Coffee_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352986234106035826" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After the late stage show, the culinary crew displayed their talents by presenting a special arrangement of deserts, highlighted by decadent chocolate confections.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygFAhqfbwldxKHcP0s9PNXCMLe-8skjXASQ_Yfb5R7Eq1U8KcL2yBT_Ps6LUDQGWdJKR7HW5lla8Tj8Qmxojo8rgbnXdQzWcgQ7PNACk-W4GQw63lUqNQf1A6P8bMlXORiDDenGULcEn4/s1600-h/2009-06-23_701_ChocolateTreats_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygFAhqfbwldxKHcP0s9PNXCMLe-8skjXASQ_Yfb5R7Eq1U8KcL2yBT_Ps6LUDQGWdJKR7HW5lla8Tj8Qmxojo8rgbnXdQzWcgQ7PNACk-W4GQw63lUqNQf1A6P8bMlXORiDDenGULcEn4/s400/2009-06-23_701_ChocolateTreats_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352986236683656786" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is one of four ice sculptures created for our late-night desert.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIGDxLdmIf4EcdBJxFqiSk_SG8ZFJLJN7LbYrOdUUXJeQQ2Dd7iq24P2p_P2enm667dInWN5Sok07jZa8OoIk7cBa2ae_WUX8Isffdfcji1uYsdJlMlreP2K4n1H8H1pAwZUIUTcdgn4f/s1600-h/2009-06-23_702_IceSculpture_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIGDxLdmIf4EcdBJxFqiSk_SG8ZFJLJN7LbYrOdUUXJeQQ2Dd7iq24P2p_P2enm667dInWN5Sok07jZa8OoIk7cBa2ae_WUX8Isffdfcji1uYsdJlMlreP2K4n1H8H1pAwZUIUTcdgn4f/s400/2009-06-23_702_IceSculpture_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352986230679309954" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More of the tables full of delicious deserts.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapHqtsX1uoMQPqpci8YfmWYk3sS-fWGtW2T6-U48RCN7MSBZ6VkKJOm0YZa1OFm78rpSCXyGcR-NBYGt5FW4UxoDislTHy68kbMhO7KRsCxdv7uOnbmOQcLKXxL0muOmdDhkCn_qoEZ4N/s1600-h/2009-06-23_705_ChocolateTreats_1000lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapHqtsX1uoMQPqpci8YfmWYk3sS-fWGtW2T6-U48RCN7MSBZ6VkKJOm0YZa1OFm78rpSCXyGcR-NBYGt5FW4UxoDislTHy68kbMhO7KRsCxdv7uOnbmOQcLKXxL0muOmdDhkCn_qoEZ4N/s400/2009-06-23_705_ChocolateTreats_1000lr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352986225566495570" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04653978898003889325noreply@blogger.com0