Fall colors

There probably won't be very many fall colors in the Wichita Moutains this year, the first real rain they have gotten in the last several months came on Saturday while we were there. They got almost three inches of rain by the time it was done but I don't know if it will help the colors any.

Everything on the refuge is either brown from no rain or black from the fires. It was a little sad but I guess that's how nature works sometimes.

Roughing it in Camp Doris of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Man-O-Man, it was really tough camping out for a whole week in the moutains. I wasn't sure I was going to make it! LOL

A friend of ours let us use his 40 foot motor-coach for the week and talk about luxury! There was real tile on the floors in the kitchen and bathrooms, two flat screen TV's, air conditioning that you could hang meat in and more little bells and whistles than you could ever use.

The motor-coach had two slides on one side that added an extra two feet to the interior width. There was plenty of room for us and all of our friends that came to visit and then some.

You couldn't have wanted for anything more except maybe a little reminder of Hawaii and I brought that with us. LOL

I learned that when traveling by motor-coach you just have to have the lighted yard art with you.

Parker is still there today and I think he will be home in just a couple of more days.

I was lucky to be able to post any photos from this trip. When I got up this morning and plugged my memory card into the computer that had over two hundred photos from last week I got an error message saying the card was corrupted and nothing could be read. After trying it on two other computers and four card readers and still getting the same message I was starting to get depressed, OK, maybe I was getting more mad than depressed. I was able to get on the Internet and find a free program that reconstructs the files and that allowed me to get the photos off the card.

If this ever happens to you I would recommend this program. The photo recovery part of it is free and it worked great! http://www.z-a-recovery.com/digital-image-recovery.htm

Humm Er...

You know your SUV is too wide when...

Found this Hummer in a parking lot full of narrow spaces. I always wondered how these wide bodied vehicles adapted to an urban lifestyle. LOL

Headed for the hills

Cheryl and I are headed to the mountains for a well deserved week of relaxation. We're heading out at 0-dark-thirty in the morning so this will be my last post for about 7-8 days. Hopefully I will come back with lots of photos to show.

Random Hawaii picture

There's gold in them hills!

These are a couple from my Arizona files. I've been meaning to get back out to this spot and find the mother load that goes with these gold laden quartz rocks but just haven't had the time.

Another view of the moutain that taunts me.

TAKING A BREAK

Time to make Tracks and Go Camping for awhile. Will be Hiking with Ron and hopefully T.J. and maybe others. Lots of visiting and relaxing with friends.

MY EXPO FAVORITES

In the Instructors category my pick was Steve Parker (in the Wildlife Expo blue shirt) ! Steve is a member of the Oklahoma Bow Hunters Council and has participated at this event since it's beginnings. Always ready to volunteer Steve helps with several Bow Shoots around the state.

Yes I am a little biased as Stevie Boy is my Son, and His Mom and I are very proud of Him!

TOMORROW"S MEMORIES TODAY was the slogan used by the Oklahoma Wildlfe Expo event. I felt this Photo captured the feel of that theme. This is my pick for Tomorrows Memories category.

This little boy was so proud of the Bird House that He and His Dad built together at the Expo!!

The Expo was a rousing success this year. A touch of Fall was in the air and the weather was perfect! Most important was all the fine memories created at this family oriented event! Thanks for coming along to the Expo with me!

Mexico City blind photographers share their world

This is amazing thing that the blind person can do!  Please see the link below.

http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-city-blind-photographer-share-world-155143525.html

GIRLS AT THE EXPO

Atl-Atl

This young Lady is trying Her hand at launching a long arrow or spear with this primative hunting tool.

 

Modern Compound Bow

Shooting the Compound in good form was a breeze for this girl!



Place your arrow here.

Even the youngest of the Children were given a chance to participate. All Bow and Arrows with an instructor were provided with no charge!



Gooseknocking

One of the most primative ways of harvesting your game was to sneak up on your prey and let'em have it with a well aimed stick! Now days we just go to the Market and buy a goose ready to go!

Bodie Town, CA

These are old photos, I hope you don't get bore to see duplicated posting!

Shore birds

Found these shore birds last Sunday while out beach walking. This picture is taken with the Sigma 120 400mm at 400mm handheld. The optical stablilzation on this lens is amazing!

A TEAR AND A POT

This little ' Tear Drop Camper '  might just be the ticket for your weekend adventures!

Check out this compact, but neat Galley!

The ' Dutch Oven Cooking'  demonstration drew a crowd!



A STEAMING POT OF GOODNESS

Walking around the Grounds of the Expo searching for a photo my nose brought me to this place. Couldn't help myself when I asked the old question in Okie talk, " Whatcha Fixing ? " . It Sure Smells Good!! ' Giving me a smile while looking up from putting the tomatoes in the mix, She proudly told me 'DUCK-DUCK-GOOSE JAMBALAYA'.  I was there 10 minutes till Twelve waiting for my bowl of this Wild Game Meal!  

EXPO FUN

Trying out a Kayak by yourself seemed to be a popular activity.

Father and Son made a good Team at this sport.

Maybe a chance to drive an ATV would interest you?

For the youngsters with alot of energy, sawing a log was their fun!



Santa Fe Red Hot Chili Peppers

These pictures are from 7 or 8 years ago when I bought my first DSLR camera Nikon D70 with kit lens 18-70mm  f/3.5.  I have learned a lot about digital photography from this camera, and enjoyed so much using it.  I don't think I'm going to stop learning about photography until I could not push the shutter button.  

WILD SATURDAY

Visited the Wildlife Expo at the Lazy E Arena and Ranch near Guthrie on Saturday. Many outdoor activities such as riding in a kayak, fly fishing, shooting a shotgun or bow and arrow, birdwatching, cooking in dutchovens are just a few of the many activities offered.

Falconry was the subject represented at this exhibit. Knowledgeable and practicing Falconers were on hand with their birds of prey to speak and answer questions about the sport.

Youthful Red Tail Hawk



 This guy has only been in training for two weeks and already captured His first rabbit!

Cooper's Hawk

Indoor and outdoor seminars were going on throughout the day. There were so many different activites available there was something of interest for everyone or any age. Will show a few over the next couple or so days.





Reprieve

About a week ago the weather over here on the West Coast of Canada went from full on Summer to Monsoon Season! So far in that time we have gotten just over 5 inches of rain! Sounds like another 2 to 4 inches is on it's way for tomorrow with wind thrown in to add insult to injury...

Today however dawned bright and fair, the calm between storms. Needless to say we (Stephanie and myself) took full advantage of the reprieve and took the dogs and camera to a local beach.

Took this picture handheld at 18mm with the camera set at f16 so I could get as much as possible in focus.

A QUIET WHEEL

The Rides on the Midway open at 10:00AM. . At 8:30 there was not a soul stirring! Not for sure if this was a good time for visiting what should be a teeming with people place!

Usually the Farris Wheel is full of screaming and laughing folks, young and old alike. Upbeat music blaring from speakers adding to the thrill.

ARRGH!!

 For the Pirates tuning in.

Feel like I need to put a warning sign on this pic!

I took an extra cholestrol tab after posting this!

A true parrot head

I was playing with the Nikon Capture NX2 software again today and decided to try the color/black and white conversion again.

This was taken at the St. Louis, MO zoo a few years ago.