Random Thoughts

End Of An Era

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Hanging On. Feather stuck on the side of one of the locks. Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Well, the era actually ended long ago, but I recently made it official. I’ll explain.

Some of you know that many years ago I was a musician, playing the trombone. I started college as a music major before realizing that I wanted to earn a decent living, didn’t want to teach and wasn’t really good enough to make a career of performing. I even played in a Chicago/Earth Wind & Fire/Tower of Power type band for a while. One of our members went on to become a famous drummer, the rest of us got jobs. So I was good enough to have fun with it but that was about it.

Over the years, I lost touch with the playing side of music, and like many things – old cameras, golf clubs or cassette tapes, my trombones took up space in my attic or in my garage. Conveniently out of sight, and mostly out of mind.

A year or so ago I was thinking about the likelihood of ever playing the horns again, realized that was probably never going to happen, and started to think about what I could do with my old horns – I had three of them. Not knowing what kind of value they had, I figured that they were 50-ish year old instruments, probably worth little and thought about donating them to a local charity. The Charlotte Symphony, for example, has a program for providing instruments to needy kids to study music.

I started checking around and was amazed to discover that there is a healthy market for used, professional quality musical instruments. And unlike old cameras, golf clubs or cassette tapes, they are worth some real money. Not Stradivarius money, but pay-attention-to-me money.

I made inquiries through local colleges and got the name of a guy in Detroit, the bass trombonist for the Detroit Symphony who has a side gig of buying and selling used trombones. I contacted him, we worked out a plan, I had the horns reconditioned at a local music store and delivered them to him in Detroit on our recent trip. He had buyers for them before we got home! Done and done. Turns out they were a pretty good investment – who knew?!?  I don’t think I’ll be buying a new camera with the money (sorry, Jeff!) but I’ll see if I can find something suitable to do with my windfall.

A few days ago Kathy asked me if I was now a former trombonist. I told her that I was more like a reformed trombonist. Not much difference probably, but I understand the distinction!

Travel

You’ve Got Mail!

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Rural mailboxes near Lac La Belle on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan

During our time in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, we took a day to explore the countryside and essentially circumnavigate the peninsula.

Rural mailboxes near Lac La Belle on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan

We came across this line of mail boxes near Lac La Belle. It is certainly the most mail boxes I’ve seen in one place! We didn’t count them – feel free if you must! – but we estimated there to be about 20 in each section and 6 sections. I wonder how long it takes the letter carrier to stuff all those boxes?

Rural mailboxes near Lac La Belle on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan
Travel

Falling For Falling Water

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Upper Tahquamenon Falls, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan

I started the most recent installment of my photographic journey chasing waterfalls in western North Carolina, and still enjoy checking out new-to-me waterfalls during our travels. We recently stopped by Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the U.P. of Michigan to see and photograph the Upper Falls.

Tahquamenon Falls is sometimes referred to as the “root beer falls” due to the amber color of the waters caused by tannins in the cedar swamps from which the river drains. The water really does take on the cast of root beer barrel candies!

Travel

Don’t Adjust Your Set….

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Piles of Taconite, a form of iron ore pellets used in the production of steel. Seen at the Algoma Steel Company plant located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada

Kathy & I are currently on a journey through cool, comfortable Michigan. We’ve visited a number of places so I’ll likely be posting images completely out of order as I get to them!

We recently visited Sault Sainte Marie, MI and did a boat cruise (never pass up a boat cruise!) on the Soo Locks. These piles of Taconite are used in the production of steel and were waiting alongside the Algona Steel Company on the St. Marys River. The black piles made me think of the opposite of something like White Sands, NM.

Travel

Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs

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Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

We thought we had a pretty good idea what to expect. But when we rounded a curve and caught our first glimpse of the formations of Mammoth Hot Springs, our first thoughts were “is that snow???”

Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

The first impression of Mammoth Hot Springs is that it can’t be real. It is so different from anything we’ve ever seen that it just doesn’t register. And when one gets closer it looks even stranger, as the patterns, colors and textures of the various deposits defy the logic of our memories.

Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

After spending a little time studying the springs, it becomes a little more clear what is happening and why. Eventually it begins to make a little sense, although looking at these photos a month later I still have a hard time comprehending what I saw. It was quite an experience and one I’ll remember for a long time.

Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Minerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Minerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Minerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Dryad Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Palette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Palette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Palette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Palette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Minerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Minerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Dryad Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Grassy Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Palette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
View of the Mammoth Hotel and visitor complex from the Main Terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Travel

Hard To Believe

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Bison in Snow. Yellowstone National Park near Biscuit Geyser Basin

Yesterday afternoon the thermometer on our patio (in the shade!) read 100 degrees. The month before we were taking a photography tour in Yellowstone. In the snow at 30 degrees!

Still processing photos and a bit behind, but couldn’t resist commenting on the temperature differential.

Stay cool, wherever you are! 😉

Pine trees in Snow. Kepler Cascades overlook, Yellowstone National Park near Old Faithful Inn
Photography

Look Both Ways

Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park

I’m kind of used to people looking at me funny when I am stooped over my tripod composing a scene instead of taking the ubiquitous ‘selfie’ with my phone. I was reminded of that while visiting the Mormon Row Historic area of Grand Teton National Park. While everyone else’s lenses were pointed at the Moulton Barns, I was facing the other way looking for compositions on the other side of the road.

Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park

Kathy is often reminding me to “turn around.” But this time I remembered it on my own!

Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Travel

A Very Nice View

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Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park

The Chapel of the Transfiguration is a small log chapel in Grand Teton National Park, in the community of Moose. The chapel was sited and built to frame a view of the Cathedral Group of peaks in a large window behind the altar. The chapel, which was built in 1925, is owned and operated by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson. The church is open daily, and still hosts services on Sunday. On the day of our visit, an organist was playing in the chapel.

Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park

The chapel was built to serve guests and employees of the dude ranches that stretched north of Jackson along the base of the Teton Range. The land was donated by Maud Noble, owner of nearby Menor’s Ferry, predating the establishment of Grand Teton National Park in 1929 and its expansion into the Moose area in 1950. The chapel played a primary role in the movie Spencer’s Mountain, which was filmed in Jackson Hole in 1963, and featured Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara.

Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park

The chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1980.

Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park

Photographs and stuff!