A Rainbow for the New Zimbabwe

Best Wishes and Hope for a brighter future:

From our 1998 Trip to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Reliving Childhood Memories

Holidays, like Thanksgiving, often cause us to reminisce.  But often Childhood memories cannot be  revisited without disappointment.  So I report to you here, to kick off the Holiday Season. a childhood revisit that DID NOT disappoint:  The Black Hills 1880 Train.

Of course the train that I had experienced in 1969 has been retired, but had a long and productive life in film and television, as well as taking my family on a fun ride that August afternoon in 1969.  That engine wasn't actually from 1880, but the founder of the line said upon his first ride, that it felt like the 1880's.

Still steam powered (above recharging the boiler between runs). but now by oil instead of coal.

A few times a day, they also check the oils levels for the gears.

Whenever I have the chance to ride a steam train I do.  My Father loved trains.  He started his career at the Post Office on mail trains in the 1950's.  And yes, there were still Steam Engines on line then.  

I always think of him when I ride a train......

I hope you and yours had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted as Week #41 of the 52 Rolls Project.....

Wrapping Up Thanksgiving......

My Thanksgiving actually started with baking the pumpkin pie on Wednesday night:

First time I ever made a pumpkin pie.  not easy finding a recipe that uses fresh pumpkin (except online of course).

And yesterday's Turkey all brown and yummy.....Now carved and safely in the Fridge.  Finally used my convection oven setting to roast with great success......

More Holiday thoughts later today......Hope you are taking it easy and not shopping til you drop.  I finished my Christmas shopping last week.......

Farewell to Gordon Stockade

This wraps up Weeks 39-41 of the 52 Rolls Project.

The New Cabins

Views of the stockade interior and 'new' cabins:

 Through the door and through the window:

Inside the Historic Cabins

Today we'll take a look inside:

Above full frame and below cropped.  

I think the cropped version will make the best print.

A Tour of Gordan Stockade, Black Hills, SD

We came upon a reconstructed miner's fort called the Gordon Stockade.  Originally constructed by a renegade group of miners in the winter of 1874-75, it's been rebuilt many times, beginning in 1925.

The 'Historic Cabins' date from the 1925 reconstruction, as the U.S. Army had destroyed the original encampment:

Veteran's Day 2017

Returning to Heart Mountain to remember a childhood Hero of mine:

I remember Senator Inouye from the Watergate Hearings in the 70's.  When I moved to California I met for the first time Internment Camp Survivors and their descendants.  As it turns out my Husband's Family knew Japanese-Americans who had been at held at Heart Mountain.  

So I post this in honor of all of them today.

And the Memorial to all of the Veterans that left this Camp to serve in WWII

This is my 3rd visit to one of these camps.  See posts from Manzanar, and Amache.

Gitty-Up Bison: Finale

The Bison had there own ideas, and after being run up the hill (we later found out that this was part of the 'show'), they refused to turn. 

So the 'Modern Cavalry' was called in along with horseback reinforcements, after the Bison charged the lone Cowboy at the top of the Hill.

Eventually the Bison were convinced to move on by the Pick-ups.  

Keep in mind, they could turn over a pickup if they wanted to.

Heading Into the Coral:

Forgot to mention that I was testing my "new old" Minolta MD 100-500 zoom lens. 

Not having much practice, many images were out of focus.  

But on a roll of 36, you always get something to turn out.

It's a really BIG lens:

Gitty-Up Bison: Part I

We arrived just after Sunrise, and then we waited until ~10:30 for the Round-up to begin.  So I enjoyed the Fall Colors:

The Cowboys and Cowgirls also had to wait:

Some on traditional horse back, and others on a variety of modern vehicles.

Then the Bison appear:

But Bison being Bison, it wasn't quite all said and done.

Find out tomorrow what happened.

Needles Highway, Black Hills SD

Rock formations that give the Needles Highway its name:

Note the climber's at the top of the rocks (above).

And two views of the same scene;which do you prefer?

 

From the Black Hills.....

The Fall trip with our Photo Club was to South Dakota, for the Annual Bison Round-up.  We'll get to that later......Let's get started with some silhouettes and skyscapes from the Needles Highway.

A Skyscape:

 

And another silhouette:

First the Needles Eye:

Dia de Los Muertos: Part I

We started our Celebration Thursday Night at our favorite Mexican Restaurant:

Also the Restaurant's 4th Anniversary.

 

Excellent Classic Rock Cover Band.

 

And of course, Special Beer!

Today we are heading out to the Botanical Gardens 

to continue the Celebration