tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29412084408491046152024-03-12T18:46:22.224-07:00The Third Half Of LifeThoughts by a retired forester who is no longer lost in the forestSteve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-74513982860630710882016-11-23T17:37:00.000-08:002016-11-23T17:37:53.406-08:00Simple Gifts and Giving Thanks<span style="font-size: large;">This past August, I met a young man who truly understood that gratitude is an attitude. I was volunteering at a camp for at risk kids, many of whom face poverty on a daily basis. On the third evening of camp, every camper receives a new pair of athletic shoes which are donated by a major shoe distributor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following morning, this young man arrived for class with a grin that extended from ear to ear. As he showed me his new shoes, he excitedly said that his mom was going to be so happy that he got a new pair of shoes. I think that he was too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.</span><br />
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-47240612098384023722016-10-28T07:07:00.000-07:002016-10-28T07:07:02.175-07:00Summer Is Gone But Not Forgotten<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Everything has to come to an end, sometime"</i> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">L. Frank Baum</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The transition from summer to fall is typically gradual on the north coast of Oregon. It also offers some of the year's nicest weather. This fall however the transition has been abrupt. It began to rain early in October and to date, my rain gauge has measured over 13 inches!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Several of the storms delivered high winds so my once beautiful garden has been laid flat and torn to shreds. As I was cleaning out the garden plot the other day I was amazed how a hand full of seeds can grow into such an abundant crop of flowers and vegetables in less than four month. In June, I sowed eleven corn seeds and by early September, I harvested two dozen ears of sweet corn. I also planted one tomato plant and before the deer discovered it, we feasted on seven small but very tasty tomatoes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The garden also produced hundreds of flowers in a near endless array of textures and colors. I grow the flowers because they add beauty to our year, and they feed the bees and the soul bees.</span></div>
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-84847814190564894212016-09-05T06:57:00.000-07:002016-09-05T06:57:11.114-07:00Labor Day Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Labor Day weekend has always been like a bridge to me. It no longer feels like summer but fall is still a few weeks off.</span></div>
Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-59096212408063044832016-09-03T17:47:00.000-07:002016-09-03T17:47:19.876-07:00The Garden Experience 2016<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A tomato in the hand is worth two on the vine</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be a gardener, one must be a bit of an optimist. If it were not for the dream of a bountiful harvest, few would bother to plant and tend a garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">This year is no exception; I began preparing the garden soil in late April with a liberal application of compost. The third week of May arrived and the signs in the sky told me that it was time to begin planting.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Last year my humble garden produced a bumper crop of bell peppers which were enjoyed by us and several of our neighbors. I threw caution to the wind and increased the number of peppers starts planted this spring with high hopes of repeating last year's success. Disaster soon arrived; one afternoon the clouds opened and pelted the garden with hail stones the size of peas. In less than five minutes, the pepper's tender foliage was tattered and torn. My first instinct was to abandon the crop but it was still early in the season. I was still filled with optimism.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">About two weeks later, I noticed that the plants were shedding all newly developed blossoms which ultimately develop into peppers. All of the signs and symptoms were there; my pepper plants were infected with the dreaded disease known as bacterial leaf spot. I quickly accepted defeat and with little sadness, I removed all traces of the peppers from the garden.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">I turned my sights to the lone tomato plant that was growing in a five gallon bucket next to our house. My home town of Astoria is noted for many things, but a climate suitable for large scale </span><span style="font-size: medium;">tomato </span><span style="font-size: medium;">production is not one of them. In the past thirty plus years, I have only attempted tomatoes maybe five times and never had more than one tomato ripen before the fall's first frost. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This will be remembered as the year of the tomato because thus far, I have harvested three tomatoes. With a little luck, we might get at least two more.</span><br />
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-64646832800733135202016-08-09T07:44:00.000-07:002016-08-09T07:44:29.356-07:00A Wet Day At The Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCWukC2HvyuA_7AdM1bEx0NjRd6QpaYM-lkhZBkMgdYlKS6gmogQZavHCQlvoEgkqN_FGuXN9OeKUTrvXEjovGuABI2Pk0jkVIT3IZHkvYhG06wre_G5LIolHE_2ovGPfSt8fh0El2nB-/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCWukC2HvyuA_7AdM1bEx0NjRd6QpaYM-lkhZBkMgdYlKS6gmogQZavHCQlvoEgkqN_FGuXN9OeKUTrvXEjovGuABI2Pk0jkVIT3IZHkvYhG06wre_G5LIolHE_2ovGPfSt8fh0El2nB-/s640/beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My original plan for yesterday was to finish painting the front porch. Upon heading outside just before sunrise, I discovered we had received significant precipitation overnight. Rain during July and August is not the norm for our area so it was very obvious that painting was out of the question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just for the fun of it, I took a drive out to the beach to see how many hardy tourists were venturing out on this damp day. As I reach the top of the sand dunes, I was stunned the find the entire beach deserted! The only sign of life were a large group of brown pelicans foraging in the surf. Apparently the pelicans are not deterred by the rain!</span></div>
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-73484748794865680602016-07-24T08:12:00.002-07:002016-07-24T08:12:44.221-07:00Three Concrete Posts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzs3CU93vZw-zS4RR8UBy8FOJN4XWbeDjmu3sc-SnaFhDJJlyIdbSUXEENhuzlNTe5m_S1-qF7vYfiPnQ5wjHSVr1ei9V5UrZ5gMMmMnvgMrbk1sSMzO9s5mdOUloyBHV-cm762VICJXI/s1600/path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzs3CU93vZw-zS4RR8UBy8FOJN4XWbeDjmu3sc-SnaFhDJJlyIdbSUXEENhuzlNTe5m_S1-qF7vYfiPnQ5wjHSVr1ei9V5UrZ5gMMmMnvgMrbk1sSMzO9s5mdOUloyBHV-cm762VICJXI/s640/path.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"<i>Now this is not the end. It is not even the begining of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the begining." </i> Winston Churchill</span></div>
Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-47769176030544922592016-06-20T06:49:00.000-07:002016-06-20T06:49:06.813-07:00Clam Tides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiJbwV00q2wWdjoUzVXzg4cJeVxCN-LoVf9eozfP0p66t7X4FVICXKH0B6G12HmoKtIfjz0V2lF74WedgRKe-0x3WoJi-8BVcnAGs5WUafOcjNREVXj_oNXXUOPItximkTb2JprARNR_G/s1600/tides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiJbwV00q2wWdjoUzVXzg4cJeVxCN-LoVf9eozfP0p66t7X4FVICXKH0B6G12HmoKtIfjz0V2lF74WedgRKe-0x3WoJi-8BVcnAGs5WUafOcjNREVXj_oNXXUOPItximkTb2JprARNR_G/s640/tides.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Early morning clam diggers</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a cool clear morning when I arrived at the beach for an early morning hike through the dunes. I was surprised to find more than a dozen cars in the parking lot. Even in the middle of the summer, the lot would be deserted at 6 AM. As I crested the dunes, I realized that today's the low tide offered near perfect conditions for clam digging. I was astonished to see just how far the water had receded. I have never seen this area of the beach high and dry!</span></div>
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-85380968248576023472016-06-05T10:15:00.003-07:002016-06-05T10:15:52.165-07:00Sunrise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzKT7OdfPChvJtYvPB3ERpaHBqKiWNjtUAw6jd9w9EtpD2tAzAEXcFhA3iveDrlerh_nAQbi1PX-xNyrVgHW7XLkwM0LQVzRjIawaJkhaozAGpZkcL2rLYdAdzVRrZOGGSacSJzDIPlJ2/s1600/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzKT7OdfPChvJtYvPB3ERpaHBqKiWNjtUAw6jd9w9EtpD2tAzAEXcFhA3iveDrlerh_nAQbi1PX-xNyrVgHW7XLkwM0LQVzRjIawaJkhaozAGpZkcL2rLYdAdzVRrZOGGSacSJzDIPlJ2/s640/sunrise.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I awoke this morning at four-thirty and decided to try and catch the sun rising over the river. Upon my arrival at the park, I was greeted by a swarm of mosquitoes whose appetite could only be described as voracious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been over a month since my last visit to the park, so I was determined to "out last" the blood suckers and enjoy the sunrise! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Besides numerous mosquito bites, I came home with a few images.</span></div>
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-80546238048907187462016-04-24T18:02:00.000-07:002016-04-24T18:02:20.804-07:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndgwAmyH3BSJTocMpyOyx5GkYqOeZknz5iuYlBne2Unm2e_beMdY0SX0jstJgQICcpj11PJUGMQUGKJ6Ap0zEfgjKpnshdAS3t_o6VxDL5n7fYBUW4MN6bupGWLz2m6pTOErBCi3IcIDf/s1600/bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndgwAmyH3BSJTocMpyOyx5GkYqOeZknz5iuYlBne2Unm2e_beMdY0SX0jstJgQICcpj11PJUGMQUGKJ6Ap0zEfgjKpnshdAS3t_o6VxDL5n7fYBUW4MN6bupGWLz2m6pTOErBCi3IcIDf/s640/bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />"Is the spring coming, he said? What is like? It is like the sun shinning on the rain and the sun falling on the sunshine ...." Frances Hodgson Burnett<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Spring is a time of transitions, especially for the weather. I left for the beach this morning as the sun was shining, By the time I arrived, twenty minutes later, the clouds had thickened and quickly began dumping rain. I soon realized that today's adventure in photography was going to be about the falling rain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today's image is of the Astoria-Megler Bridge as seen from the front front seat of my truck during an intense downpour. Spring, you have to love it!</span></div>
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<br /><br />Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-55847044076676178182016-03-27T09:50:00.002-07:002016-04-07T12:06:35.499-07:00Leftovers Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ei66Wc-ClMC6381w-3Lql2Q5kzKrRUaVbACiKh_dFcSqRSJfkDofvj-NfDzTgy8UTEgQwDQC_FuJupOaC2IfY0X6Mg5TEni1g4zRZHtA8y4af4ugRPHFyPlELT0sZE7p9-WCJ-5-CNEt/s1600/pipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ei66Wc-ClMC6381w-3Lql2Q5kzKrRUaVbACiKh_dFcSqRSJfkDofvj-NfDzTgy8UTEgQwDQC_FuJupOaC2IfY0X6Mg5TEni1g4zRZHtA8y4af4ugRPHFyPlELT0sZE7p9-WCJ-5-CNEt/s640/pipe.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite places to hike is through the sand dunes along the beach. Many unimproved trails pass near this cross and over the years, I have photographed it countless times. All of my previous images were made from a distance and from approximately the same perspective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past July, I decided to return on different days and find an "altered perspective". This image was selected from over 100 made during a three month period. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This exercise reminded me that your first camera position may not make the strongest image. I also discovered that when you think that you have "the best camera position", take two steps forward and then make your image. This rule applies unless you are photographing near the edge of a cliff.</span><br />
<br />Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-84185323826002577322016-02-11T08:10:00.000-08:002016-02-11T08:10:24.612-08:00<h2>
Leftovers</h2>
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Parsley Going To Seed</h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love leftovers, especially if they involve pizza! I was cleaning out my Lightroom catalog recently and found a couple of images made in 2015 but were never posted. So for the next post or two, leftovers are on the menu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gardening has been an interest of mine since childhood. Until this past summer, I had never grown herbs so at the urging of my lovely wife, I gave it a try. During a visit to the garden center, I purchased three large clay pots chive, parsley, and basil starts. Apparently, the three herbs chosen are easy to grow and are abundant producers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As it turned out, the parsley also served as a handy photographic subject one September afternoon. Who would have guessed!</span><br />
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<br />Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-4915628636092734692016-01-14T07:35:00.000-08:002016-01-14T07:35:54.715-08:00<h2>
Reflecting On 2015</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Looking back on 2015, I would have to say that it has been a very good year for both my lovely wife and me. We remained healthy and celebrated our 29th year of marriage in December.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />It was also with great joy that the remodel of our rental apartment was completed in April. There were days I wondered if the project would ever end; the last 5% of the job took forever. The owners of the local building supply store had tears in their eyes when I announced that the job was finished. If you have never remodeled a house, you are missing out on one of life’s great experiences. The rule of thumb to remember is that it always takes twice as long as you planned and will cost a whole lot more than you budgeted.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />I enjoyed my many hours volunteering as a docent at our local maritime museum this past year. When doing tours for school kids, we now divide them into groups of seven to ten students. It is so much fun to be able to interact with them one on one; their insights and enthusiasm never fail to amaze me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Astoria continues to be visited by ocean going cruise ships in the spring and fall. As a member of the local cruise host organization, I spent many hours greeting visitors from all over the world. Could there be a better job than standing on a street corner and telling people where to go?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am looking forward to many new adventures in the New Year.</span><br />
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-1755124516324313212016-01-08T13:09:00.000-08:002016-01-08T13:09:09.325-08:00<h2>
My Favorite "Go To" Place</h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">South Jetty Fort Stevens State Park</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today we received a welcomed break from the wet and wild weather that has been a near constant companion this winter. Despite the sunny skies, there was a brisk wind blowing from the east and the temperature hovered just above forty degrees. Monte, I know that you are chuckling, but for us that’s a bit on the cool side!<br />I spent time with the camera watching the waves crash into the South Jetty, my “go to” place, I never leave there uninspired!</span></div>
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-62787168339656924752015-12-12T09:34:00.000-08:002015-12-12T09:34:13.291-08:00The Clouds Parted Briefly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The trees reflected in the flood waters</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past week we have received over six inches of precipitation from the near endless parade of storms that lashed the Oregon and Washington coast. Wednesday afternoon we received a brief respite from the rains and the sun showed its face for a few hours. I took the opportunity to get out with the camera; many of my normal walking trails were soggy but I was still able to get some exercise and enjoy the beauty.</span></div>
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Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-50056716217016251672015-11-13T18:16:00.001-08:002015-11-13T18:16:24.634-08:00A Storm Is Brewing<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zZbAVS0hVr8/VkaZb3JwvkI/AAAAAAAABfo/p_p1alknFow/s1600-h/jetty-storm5.jpg"><img title="jetty-storm" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="jetty-storm" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uELRIZKW3-k/VkaZcuEUqRI/AAAAAAAABfs/_ywdhQlHpRs/jetty-storm_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="427" /></a></p> <div align="center"> <pre><font size="1" face="Arial">Waves breaking over the South Jetty</font></pre><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><br /> <pre><font size="2" face="Arial">Today the national weather service’s forecast included the following warning:</font></pre><br /></div><br /><br /><pre><font size="2">...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST<br />TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH OREGON COAST...<br /><br />A HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST<br />TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH OREGON COAST.<br /><br />* WAVES: WEST TO NORTHWEST SWELL OF AROUND 20 TO 21 FEET WITH<br /> PERIODS AROUND 17 TO 18 SECONDS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE<br /> WATERS THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING.<br /><br />* TIMING: WAVE HEIGHTS PEAKING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.<br /><br />* IMPACTS: AVOID WALKING ON JETTIES...ROCKS...COASTAL CLIFFS AND<br /> ALONG THE WATERS EDGE AS WAVES MAY RISE UNEXPECTEDLY AND SWEEP<br /> YOU INTO TURBULENT AND FRIGID WATERS.</font></pre><br /><br /><pre><font size="2" face="Arial">I am always looking for an opportunity to experience a good storm at the beach and this afternoon’s show didn’t fail to impress. When I arrived, the rain was driven by a thirty MPH wind. It was difficult to hold the camera steady while attempting to brace myself from the buffeting of the wind. Fortunately, it was a pretty mild afternoon temperature wise so I was able to capture over fifty images before becoming soaked to the bone.</font></pre><br /><br /><pre><font size="2" face="Arial"></font><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pMUnH4JlxFQ/VkaZdA5qtgI/AAAAAAAABf0/XWLnXBIBrJc/s1600-h/jetty-storm-25.jpg"><img title="jetty-storm-2" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="jetty-storm-2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5RsY2_W9BWQ/VkaZdpx3E_I/AAAAAAAABgA/GD9d7ENF5F4/jetty-storm-2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="427" /></a></pre><br /><br /><p align="center"><font size="1">A wave just before they crashed into the South Jetty</font> </p><br /><br /><p align="left"><font size="2">The beauty and power of the ocean is best experienced during a storm!</font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-4198790890055773742015-11-07T08:13:00.001-08:002015-11-07T08:13:00.389-08:00Sun Rise Behind The Jetty<blockquote></blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3JWMnf535u4/Vj4jCA8QpfI/AAAAAAAABfQ/1C2Oz9J2jTI/s1600-h/behind-jetty%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="behind-jetty" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="behind-jetty" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1V1fdSpgnMk/Vj4jCiZ-zPI/AAAAAAAABfU/WwK0Pcjx1MI/behind-jetty_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="484" /></a></p> <p align="center">Behind the South Jetty looking south to the viewing platform</p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Technically, it was about about a half hour after sun rise but the sun was low in the sky.  It was a very quiet time an the beach, I had the entire area to myself.  The only sound you could hear were the waves crashing against the jetty.</font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-62027606261356117732015-10-31T14:46:00.001-07:002015-10-31T14:46:38.165-07:00The Halloween Dilemma<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2pbTqFwpguE/VjU2tvZNpzI/AAAAAAAABe4/RCyihfPBoJI/s1600-h/12063334_10153416646769272_523123678.png"><img title="12063334_10153416646769272_5231236784827284633_n" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="12063334_10153416646769272_5231236784827284633_n" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WO_55D4-1O0/VjU2vLAujSI/AAAAAAAABfA/2d9PdBYu3ak/12063334_10153416646769272_523123678%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="481" height="697" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Planning for the Halloween trick-or-treaters is always a dilemma. Who wants to be known as the only house in the neighborhood that ran out of candy.  Surely not me!  On the other hand, we have averaged less than twelve kids over the past ten years.</font></p> <p><font size="3">When I purchased candy this morning, I picked up a bag that will serve fifty.  It’s always best to be prepared, you never know!  </font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-37663325977394277202015-10-27T18:05:00.001-07:002015-10-27T18:05:21.311-07:00King Tides Along The Oregon Coast<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tly-fK0u5bE/VjAfTU60aCI/AAAAAAAABeg/rdejo3ozxO4/s1600-h/king-tide%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="king-tide" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="king-tide" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iXKKBJm1k78/VjAfT0VJIfI/AAAAAAAABek/vaL-wiAyU9s/king-tide_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="426" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">Water flooding the dunes behind the South Jetty</font></p> <p><font size="3">Today was the first day this month of what is known as the king tides.  Wikipedia defines the king tides as follows:  “a colloquial term for an especially high tide …… "King tide" is not a scientific term ….. Use of the term "king tide" originated in Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific nations to refer to an especially high tide that occurs only a few times per year. The term has now come to be used in British Columbia and the United States as well.”</font></p> <p><font size="3">The skies were overcast the majority of the day but I wanted to witness the flooding caused by the high tide.  On a typical day, you could walk across the area shown in the picture and keep your feet warm and dry.  This afternoon, the amount of area inundated by the high water was staggering.</font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-24864820021521317322015-10-24T18:32:00.001-07:002015-10-24T18:32:50.461-07:00A Hazy Day<p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zb2n9h7uyoQ/ViwxPb7WPdI/AAAAAAAABeI/ZyiXxxRiEyQ/s1600-h/dunes-2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="dunes-2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="dunes-2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eQyC6DErBRQ/ViwxQEgIBDI/AAAAAAAABeM/UzAG92tTjtk/dunes-2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="419" /></a></p> <p align="center">Standing in the dunes at Fort Stevens State Park looking north</p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The morning began with a light breeze with the skies totally overcast.  My plan for the day was to complete the last outside painting project of the season, but the weather forecast called for rain.  Surprisingly, by early afternoon the clouds parted so I decided to head for the beach with the camera.  Maybe the painting will be completed later this week, maybe not.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The skies at the beach were hazy; not exactly the most interesting light for photography.  As I hiked through the dunes, I made a number of images and decided to share this one.  Enjoy!</font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-60336058296168982272015-10-21T09:33:00.001-07:002015-10-21T09:33:34.373-07:00Sunset At The Beach<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OXW5oIB7_is/Vie-U8o7MlI/AAAAAAAABdg/a3CRoW0hfN8/s1600-h/sunset-1-2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="sunset-1-2" style="display: inline" alt="sunset-1-2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yx2mpnfHibY/Vie-VgDx-gI/AAAAAAAABdk/zdgXv86DYxY/sunset-1-2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="434" /></a></p> <p align="center">Sunset from the South Jetty</p> <p align="left"><font size="4">I love to watch the sun as it dips into the Pacific Ocean but in the summer months, the sun doesn’t set before 9 PM.  Being more of an early morning person, that’s pretty late for me to be out and about.  As fall progresses, the golden hour happens much earlier in the evening.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="4">A recent post by </font><a href="http://www.montestevens.com/2015/09/22/just-what-i-needed-2/"><font size="4">Monte</font></a><font size="4"> inspired me to grab the camera and make a trip to the beach to watch the setting sun.  It was certainly worth the effort.  Thanks Monte!!</font></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6ThdkcWXOCg/Vie-WDdTEpI/AAAAAAAABdw/flWzRA8cvQI/s1600-h/sunset-1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="sunset-1" style="display: inline" alt="sunset-1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X5bfqLAs9vE/Vie-XFoNsWI/AAAAAAAABd4/wAuxkeAwycY/sunset-1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" height="461" /></a></p> <p align="center">Looking south to Seaside from the South Jetty as the setting sun paints the jetty and the beach</p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-84637803943439672062015-10-15T16:43:00.001-07:002015-10-15T16:43:25.143-07:00Sunrise At The Beach<p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tcChqZLvYcU/ViA6GMmCoVI/AAAAAAAABdE/S0KcFrbp8iY/s1600-h/October-Sunrise%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="October-Sunrise" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="October-Sunrise" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uDQyUZAz7zg/ViA6G0K7dNI/AAAAAAAABdI/yynOkdW72Hc/October-Sunrise_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="459" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font face="Microsoft Sans Serif">Looking southeast from the South Jetty</font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Microsoft Sans Serif">I have always been a morning person; my daily routine is to rise at 4 AM, exercise, eat breakfast, then visit the coffee shop.  Now that the days are shorter, sunrise is well after seven AM in Astoria.  This leaves lots of time to hang before it’s light enough for outside actives.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Microsoft Sans Serif">Today, I decided to take a drive to the beach and see if I could catch the sunrise.  If you are lucky enough to find a location which includes a view of the eastern sky, the results can be interesting.</font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-60213816497116023212015-10-10T16:42:00.001-07:002015-10-10T16:42:44.626-07:00An Early October Storm<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-57dYTI1qNjA/VhmicFP0MdI/AAAAAAAABco/ao0oIdQfkOc/s1600-h/October-storm%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="October-storm" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="October-storm" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Y39KvSxoNI/VhmicrizyII/AAAAAAAABcs/Bs5Q_tGSMfs/October-storm_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="642" height="430" /></a></p> <p align="center">The Pacific Ocean breaking against the jetty</p> <p align="left"> </p> <h5><font color="#000000"><font style="font-weight: normal"><font color="#333333">Every morning I read the weather forecast issued for our area by the National Weather Service.  Today’s forecast included the following special weather statement:</font> </font></font></h5> <pre>NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR<br />1208 PM PDT SAT OCT 10 2015<br /><br />...HAZARDOUS BEACH CONDITIONS ALONG THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH<br />AND CENTRAL OREGON COASTS TODAY...<br />...WINDY CONDITIONS ON THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL<br />OREGON COASTS TODAY...<br /><br />A LARGE SOUTHWEST SWELL CONTINUES TO BUILD ALONG THE COAST THIS<br />MORNING...AND IS EXPECTED TO PEAK AROUND 15 FEET ON TODAY. THIS<br />BRINGS THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE WAVES TO BREAK OVER AREA JETTIES<br />WITH A SIGNIFICANT SURF TO IMPACT SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FACING<br />BEACHES. THESE WAVES MAY RESULT IN BEACH EROSION FOR AREAS THAT DO<br />NOT COMMONLY SEE IMPACT FROM INCOMING WAVES. VISITORS TO THE COAST<br />SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AT AREA BEACHES AND REMAIN OFF JETTIES AND<br />OUT OF THE SURF ZONE...AS BREAKING WAVES CAN SWEEP PEOPLE INTO THE<br />WATER.</pre><br /><br /><pre><font size="2" face="Arial">The high tide was predicted for just afternoon so I took a drive to the beach to see how the waves were developing. When I arrived, the gusting winds made it difficult to keep my hat on, but the rain had subsided. I climbed to the top of the South Jetty viewing platform and enjoyed the sights with several other hardy “storm watchers”. The ocean waters were definitely angry but the waves were not exactly what I had expected. On the other hand, I was very thankful to not be sailing in a small boat today!</font></pre> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-48682203733443384932015-09-23T10:09:00.001-07:002015-09-23T10:09:32.183-07:00The Great Philosopher<p> </p> <p><font size="4">Today the world lost a great American philosopher, Yogi Berra.  He is probably better remembered for his sayings than his accomplishments in baseball.  </font></p> <p><font size="4">Whenever he spoke, his words were sure to be memorable.  Two of my favorite “Yogi Berraisms” are as follows:</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six”</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">“You can observe a lot by watching”</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">Yogi Berra 1925 - 2015</font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-20072861182461140692015-09-22T17:52:00.001-07:002015-09-22T17:52:04.123-07:00The Last Day of Summer<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sxr2HFuW7pg/VgH3r7mIXkI/AAAAAAAABcM/4447ZHl6j0o/s1600-h/beards-hollow%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="beards-hollow" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="beards-hollow" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DMAZ4wJubYI/VgH3slqx7iI/AAAAAAAABcQ/O-FdHxQ6FQo/beards-hollow_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="593" height="484" /></a></p> <p align="center">Sunrise Over Beards Hollow</p> <p align="left"><font size="2">I awoke this morning and realized that today was the last day of summer so it seemed fitting that an adventure was in order.  I loaded the camera and my mountain bike before dawn and headed for Washington’s Cape Disappointment State Park. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">I began the day with a hike to the top of <a href="http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/mckenzie_head.html">McKenzie Head</a>.  Although the summit is only a half mile from the parking lot, the trail is rather steep.  Nothing gets the blood pumping like a non-stop hike up a steep slope.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Next, I spent time hiking around the Beards Hollow wet land and made numerous photos in the early morning light.  The nice thing about late September is that the tourists are long gone and you have the park pretty much to yourself.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">To end the morning, I took and eight mile bike ride along the Discovery Trail.  The trail runs along the beach and approximates the route that Captain Clark took while exploring the area in November 1805.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">The majority of the next two weeks are loaded with volunteer commitments so the next adventure will have to wait!</font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941208440849104615.post-17731135305848551632015-09-17T06:09:00.001-07:002015-09-17T06:09:58.245-07:00The Annual Ride In The Gorge<p><font size="2">Six day a week I spend one half hour pedaling a stationary bike for exercise.  During the month of September, my daily routine is disrupted by the gym’s annual closure for maintenance.  During this time, I will ride my mountain bike in the great outdoors, provided the weather is acceptable.  If you have ever been to coastal Oregon, you know that September frequently offers some of the year’s best weather.</font></p> <p><font size="2">One of my favorite destinations for biking and sightseeing is the Columbia River Gorge and the Historic Columbia River Highway.  The highway was built between 1913 and 1922 and was the first planned scenic highway in the United States.  Today, only traces of the original narrow and winding two-lane road remain.  One five mile stretch, which runs east between Hood River and Mosier is reserved for use by hikers and bicyclists. Biking this portion of the highway offers incredible views of the Columbia River Gorge and the river far below.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--p6DgImT3H4/Vfq7itzM_ZI/AAAAAAAABaw/4ZeLDJouXrY/s1600-h/twin-trail-24.jpg"><img title="twin-trail-2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="twin-trail-2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LoEHqaGoUE0/Vfq7jQQyjSI/AAAAAAAABa4/A3CuNQUo9v0/twin-trail-2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="628" height="484" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">The Columbia River looking north to Washington State</font></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XS2_LQVYmPs/Vfq7kfIEBjI/AAAAAAAABbA/MVN4VzrPSL8/s1600-h/twin-trail9.jpg"><img title="twin-trail" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="twin-trail" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RGKXbsBgzdk/Vfq7k8-lalI/AAAAAAAABbI/fyLMUzA7XQM/twin-trail_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">The landscape near Mosier is dominated by grass covered slopes and scattered Oak trees</font></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CvZEgMbjhHI/Vfq7l60tY4I/AAAAAAAABbQ/S7p4Wsik1Rw/s1600-h/twin-trail-48.jpg"><img title="twin-trail-4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="twin-trail-4" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eTEmeA58UBM/Vfq7muuO4nI/AAAAAAAABbY/GmfdHQUDjdw/twin-trail-4_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="618" height="484" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">A section of the original highway; even in the day, it must have been unnerving to meet another car head on</font></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="left"><font size="2"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COwWxK7fNcY/Vfq7nG_Y3cI/AAAAAAAABbg/CvYJsk9uS7c/s1600-h/twin-trail-54.jpg"><img title="twin-trail-5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="twin-trail-5" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZRhGNqxa7gI/Vfq7nsYoYyI/AAAAAAAABbo/pxYScJPlSic/twin-trail-5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="484" /></a></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">My “bike riding buddy” Dale waiting for me at the trail head</font></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font size="1"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="1"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sLQ_Z-3il5o/Vfq7oScxSHI/AAAAAAAABbw/09TJFRS0Dhw/s1600-h/twin-trail-64.jpg"><img title="twin-trail-6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="twin-trail-6" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bbwSiFfYpj4/Vfq7o44b5xI/AAAAAAAABb4/ghMcnMnYOq4/twin-trail-6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="484" /></a></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">This is me hoping we will find a place for lunch that has lots of cold lemonade</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Someone recently asked me why I would drive for nearly three hours just to take a ride on my bike.  My response was that the scenery alone is worth making the trip.  It’s also a chance to spend the day with a friend, get some exercise, and enjoy a beautiful day.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2"> </font></p> Steve Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04782753143511525884noreply@blogger.com5