Sunset walk

 

Thistle While You Work

Prickly, take care on the curves of the bicycle path at Elm Creek Park Reserve. Otherwise you're in a world of hurt.

Yesterday, Alleen Brown wrote an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Life section. The article is called "A Day in the Life: Who is Minnesota?".

Thanks to Alleen for this article and bringing attention to fellow bloggers.
Dusty Lens • St. Paul Real Estate Blog • Debbie Does Duluth • Homes MSP Real Estate Blog.com • Mitchster • Painted Fish Studio • Cheleblog • Pearl, Why You Little… • Anti-Supermom • Strong Towns Blog • Voix de Michèle • What Would Dad Say • Simplicity in the Suburbs • Weapons of Mass Distraction • AncienTrails • Norwegianity • A Heathen’s Day • Twin Cities Naturalist • Sweven Volant • Is That All You’ve Got? • Day in the Life of an Idiot • MN Progressive Project • Café Cyan by Cafe Cyan • One Year of Beauty • Minneapolis Metblogs • You Are dumb • The Deets • Stray Hawkeye • I Was Told There Would Be Bacon • Powderhorn365 • Hockey Wilderness

Logarithm

An important feature of logarithms is that they reduce multiplication to addition, by the formula: log(xy) = log x + log y ...

I prefer the simple rhythm of this log in the woods.

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Daylight Savings Time ends!

Remember to set your clocks, we are now back on Standard Time. Don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as well.

Today, we end this silliness of Daylight Savings Time and I wish we would simply let time alone without interfering. As I see it, the only real objective to switching time each spring and fall is to exercise our digital clock time changing skills. Though the home computer may be automatic, we must contend with the various VCR's, (for those of us still using the electronics of the 1980's), clock radios, wrist watches, pocket watches, thermostats, microwaves, stoves, coffee makers, water softeners and countless other electronic gadgets that keep time.

Heck, I just checked my water softener and I am still on Standard Time from last year. Inevitably, the clock in our vehicles will no doubt remain unchanged until sometime in January.

But we're all in this together. Today we all run around trying frantically to change the blasted time in the multitude of digital clocks in our homes. And quite possibly consulting the owner's manuals to try and figure out just how to change the blasted time on the affected appliance. I suggest the coffee maker first. We're going to need plenty of caffeine to figure all this out.

Good luck, we'll need it! Maybe next year we will put an end this time changing nonsense.

Eyeburn

Autumn can be glorious in perfect weather, or miserable with mist and rain. This day, we enjoyed a picture perfect day; the sun shone so bright, the colors saturated themselves and burned our eyes.

The Long & Winding Road

There's nothing like the feel of the wind rushing through your hair. Or the heat of the sun bleaching the gray into a silvery fox color. That's why I bought a bike. No, not a Harley Davidson, though I wish I had one. I'm talking about my bicycle. Zipping up and down the hills of Elm Creek approaching the hairpin curves in the woods. I hit the brakes hard and skidded to a stop. Twice I did this to capture the curving path through the woods.

Open Spaces

Autumn falls into the wide open spaces of Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Broke Back Boat

Deep in the Elm Creek Park Reserve near a small lake lies an old boat. It was last registered in 1984. I'm not sure what happened to it since, but it is apparant it is no longer seaworthy.

Snap E Tom

This big snapping turtle was walking along side of the paved bicycle trail.
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(By the way, does anyone remember Snap E Tom Tomato and Chile Cocktail?)

Reflection Red

Park trail bridge reflection across Elm Creek
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Our fellow City Daily Photo blogger 'A.', photographer and webmaster, is missing in Tehran!

He has done a remarkable job covering the protests in the streets of his city. His blog, Teheran 24, has been daily updated until it was blocked in Iran last wednesday. From then on he has used his page on Facebook to spread the word. His last message dates from saturday, 10h20 am...
Family and friends think the police took him and they have no news until now: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-278349

Seize the Carp

Carp swimming in the shallows. Often I have enjoyed fishing from shore with nary a bite. But leave the fishing gear at home and fish are plentiful. Even if they are just carp.

Boardwalk

On the north loop of the Elm Creek Park Reserve bicycle trail.
A study in lines , curvature, and vanishing point.

Two Things Challenge - Open / Road

Open Road on the bike path through Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Boardwalk Reflection

The Boardwalk at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Finally; we finally have better weather. The sky is blue again rather than that dull gray cloud cover we’ve grown to dislike. What glorious weather we are having, perfect for a bicycle ride.

I spent Monday morning wandering around Elm Creek Park Reserve on the hiking trails in search of a good photo opportunity. I witnessed a number of palliated woodpeckers, but they are more shy than a 10 point buck on opening day. Despite the wary wildlife, I had the hiking trails to myself, which was nice.

But back at the nature Center’s Office; holy cow! It was loaded with moms and all sizes of children under 6. They have all sorts of programs for these little naturalists in training. And the staff had a workout from their hundreds of questions. Questions like, “what’s that? Can’t we go outside? Can’t we go inside? Why are the birds outside? I have to go potty.” What a hoot.

I have been taking my bicycle out daily for a morning spin. So far this week, I have logged on 48 miles. Not a lot of miles I know, but this is the first few rides of the year. And I am now suffering from “Bike Butt”. You would think they could build a better more comfortable bicycle seat. That’s all I have to say about that.

This morning, I rode a sixteen mile loop that took over 3 hours to complete. Why 3 hours you ask? Caribou coffee, of course! The perfect pit stop to sit back, relax and enjoy a large cold press coffee while the rest of the world works.

These mornings, I share the bike trail between Coon Rapids Dam and Elm Creek Park with the geriatrics, (they can ride circles around me). They’re all over the trails on their bikes. Some ride in groups, some by themselves. Some wear helmets, some with headphone radios circa 1982. I’m beginning to think there is a bikers club for this lycra wearing older group; Hells Geriatrics – Bikers Gang.

Me, I just wear my dark blue Twins cap that pleasantly accentuates my graying hair. (Don’t hate me ‘cause I’m beautiful).

I get the nod from this elderly crowd as we pass in opposite direction. I’m sensing I may be initiated into this elderly bicyclists club, willing or not. While at Caribou Coffee, a gray haired biker momma riding a fancy Giant Crossover bike smiled and exclaimed to me, “Oh, nice bike you have! What a great day to ride, a bit windy though. But still a pleasant day for a ride.” I let them get a long, long head start before leaving the safety of Caribou Coffee.

Since baseball has begun, ESPN has been fun to watch. Just the other afternoon, I was clicking between the Twins game and the Manchester United / FC Porto European Football match. Manchester United won 1-0 and faced Arsenel next. I am wondering when I will get the chance to view “my” team, Italia Calcio Internazionale. The only thing to improve on that was to watch the games with a beer.

Unfortunately, that was on a Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday nights, I’m taking a night class at Dunwoody Technical College. The class; PLC Programming. Interesting and fun. A bit of relearning binary and hexadecimal number systems. There is talk of moving up the second session for the summer rather than waiting for fall quarter. So, I may be tied up all summer with more studies.

I noticed on one ride to Coon Rapids Dam that the area is crowded with guys fishing the Mississippi, or the backwaters. Their ages vary from twenty-something to seventy-something. One group of a dozen seemed to know each other quite well and have fished that area regularly. There was more visiting and harassing each other and joking around than actual fishing. I may have to join them one of these days. Yet another thing to keep me busy.

Still no word about employment. However, I have plenty keeping me busy. PLC programming studies, cooking, hiking, laundry, photography, house cleaning, reading, baking bread, and being chased down by elderly women on bicycles.

One of the placement agencies, the rep I was working with left and relocated to North Carolina. Another agency laid –off a few of their reps. Seems the economy keeps getting worse each week.

Now to go grill up some burgers for tonight’s dinner. Some studying, then off early to bed. I have a full morning planned tomorrow. Think I’ll ride over to the dam around sunup and see about photo-shooting some ospreys and bald eagles. Maybe get in some fishing.

But I need to remember to get back earlier this time. There is a brutal rush hour on the bike trails. And some of them bikers can become quite cantankerous.

Oh, and I still have no clue what day it is.

The Rob Report

Golden Hues

An early morning stroll through the prairie fields in Elm Creek Park Reserve. The colors are muted in a sea of beige. Virtually colorless until the spring rains.

Two Things Challenge - Free / Range

Free Range Mallards

Hooded Merganser

A quick walk through Elm Creek Park Reserve revealed this shy Hooded Merganser pair. I tried sneaking up closer of a better photo. They would have none of that and slipped into the creek swimming upstream away from me. I am thinking I now need a 600mm lens to sneak up on them.

Spring Thaw

Springtime greets the park's trails

Oak Leaves thaw out in the springtime sun

Alone

Sometimes we feel alone in the wilderness.

Then we realize we always have a friend.

Silhouette Sunsets

Autumn approaches, the angle of the sun dips low.

The sky brightens, colors from paiter's palette flow.

Daylight falters, winter on the horizon looms.

Fade to darkenss, black and white consumes.

Change looms on the horizon.

With Polarizing filter

Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

The outcome is always the same.

With Polarizing filter
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 41 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Golden Fields

Autumn colors are taking over the landscape. This is a tiny view of Elm Creek Park Reserve .

Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV