Washington, Back To The 80's

 

 

 

The Columbia River separates me from my destination but it is easily crossed from downtown Portland, Oregon. I am on Interstate 5 headed north.

 

 

It takes about one hour before I exit Highway 504E.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory is now just 52 miles away along a promising scenic route.

 

 

 

 

 

Today, the weather is nice with clear skies and temperatures in the 60's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isolated yellows standout against bright evergreens.

A gentle reminder of the approaching winter as the sweet smell of fresh pine permeates the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further along touches of reds and orange add to the reminder.

 

 

 

 

 

Ascending Highway 504 glimpses of my destination can be seen in the distance. In some ways I am not in a hurry to get there, the journey is becoming almost as fascinating as the destination.

 

The Toutle River changes sides along Highway 504 like a major league switch hitter.

In the shadow of the afternoon sun, at the right spots it delivers nicely to the landscape.

 

 

 

At one point in the 1980's this river was in some areas buried up to 600 feet deep in debris. Today it's waters flow clear and free, a relaxing sound.

 

 

 

A Nice Slightly Used Ford Granada

 

 

At Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center my destination draws closer and a reminder of it's history is on display. A reporter's car from a local television station, KOMO 4 News still shows evidence of what happened on that fateful day over 30 years ago.

 

 

A quick glimpse from the Visitor Center's lookout points but it is too early in the day to spot local elk that feed in the valley below.

The fresh air and clear skies makes returning to the car a bit disappointing. These are the days made for a convertible.

 

 

 

At another of many stops this time I am at the edge of the blast zone.

It is almost unimaginable to revisit the destruction that was here.

A new bridge easily masses what was although nature still has some of it’s foot prints left behind.

 

 

 

 

  Fields Of Destruction

 

 

 

Today, however through careful forest management, good portions of the area are seeing signs of a vital rebirth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My exit approaches and I make a stop at Coldwater Lake.

 

 

 

I am now less than 10 miles from taking a step back in history. A history that formed this lake.

 

 

 

 

 

Parking my car at Loowit Viewpoint, I have an informative conversation with a local volunteer doing some maintenance work around the parking lot. I receive a nice history lesson of the area and have my curious questions answered.

 

 

 

A short walk along Boundary Trail and I will arrive at my destination.

 

 

 

 

Some life has recovered nicely along the Boundary Trail even as I still witness a historical dying field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Destroyed Ridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have arrived at the Johnston Ridge Observatory across the valley from Mount St. Helens.

“Vancouver!, Vancouver! This is it!”

 

 

 

 

 

This observatory is named in honor of David A. Johnston a geologist and the first to report Mount St. Helen's eruption before being swept away by the lateral blast it created on a Sunday morning, May 18^th, 1980.

 

Technorati Tags: Washington,Columbia River,Portland,Oregon,Interstate 5,Vancouver,Ford Granada,Komo 4 News,Mount St. Helens,David A. Johnston,Johnston Ridge Observatory,Geologist,Highway 504,Toutle River,Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center,The Blast Zone,Coldwater Lake,Loowit View Point,Boundary Trail,Sunday Morning,May 18th,1980.

Florida, Thirteen Alligators

 

 

Following an airboat tour at Everglades Holiday Park in South Florida, I stroll over to the “Free Alligator” show.

By no means a high tech operation, however it does give me an opportunity to learn more about the “Official Reptile” of the “Sunshine State.”

 

 

 

 

 

It also raises the question, “Are you smarter than a 5 year old alligator?”

 

 

 

The alligators on display are “nuisance alligators” that have been bought from alligator trappers.

These “lucky” alligators have been spared the fate of becoming an expensive pair of shoes, purse or a belt.

 

 

 

 

Nuisance alligators are ones that have wandered into neighborhoods or have been fed by humans. They have to be rehabilitated to become “wild” again before they have a chance of being returned to their natural habit.

So you want to catch a gator?

Then you better grab him by the tail and quickly throw a cloth over his eyes, jump on his back then tape or tie his mouth shut. A skill that local Indians used before the modern tools of the alligator trappers were invented.

I know, “you can do it!”

Can you tell the difference between a croc and a gator? If you get too close to either one of them it won't really matter but an alligator has a rounded snout.

 

 

 

Australian Fresh Water Crocodile

 

 

 

Although I am told that an alligator brain is about the size of a pea, the next demonstration convinces me that size may not matter when it comes to being smart.

Again using ancient Indian techniques the alligator's mouth is held close with a human chin. The trick is to keep the mouth close.

 

 

 

I think I will pass on trying to be an alligator magician. The power of the alligator's jaw is in the open to close motion where it can exert thousands of pounds per square inch of force. Something you might just lose your head over.

 

 

 

 

“I promise to keep things open, just for you”

 

 

Technorati Tags: Florida,South Florida,Alligators,Everglades,Everglades Holiday Park,Nuisance Alligators,Official Reptile,Sunshine State

Florida, The Everglades

 

 

 

Living in South Florida, I have easy access to one of the most fascinating ecosystem in the United States.

 

A short drive from my home and about an hour drive from Miami International (MIA) or Ft. Lauderdale Airport (FLL), Everglades Holiday Park offers a quick affordable way to explore a bit of natural Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving at Everglades Holiday Park you may be greeted by one of the proud residents who will have no problem ignoring you.

I have a sense they think they own the place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Park seems to be a “mom and pop” run operation and is often not very busy. This usually gives you an opportunity to stroll the grounds, relax or have some real alligator tidbits before you board your tour.

 

Your approximately one hour tour begins when you board an aluminum framed airboat powered by two Cadillac V-8 engines.

A bit noisy, so bring ear plugs if you are noise sensitive or request a front seat. However, I think this is a part of the fun on an airboat ride.

 

 

 

 

This afternoon the weather is typical for a Florida summer afternoon, hot and humid with thunderstorm clouds in the distance.

A few minutes from the dock and we are in the natural part of the Everglades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everglades Sawgrass

 

The waters are calm and at some spots seem impassable blocked by tall sawgrass. With a vibrating thunder the V8’s comes to life and our impassable path gently disappears beneath us.

Hold onto to your hats, you are gliding and sliding across the Everglades at 40-50 miles per hour!

 

 

Did you know you can tell the depth of the water here by what grows on top of it?

With a stem growth limit of 6 to 8 feet, it is reasonable to assume this is the depth of the Everglades in areas where it is covered by lily pads.

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving the natural area of the Everglades we enter one of the many drenched canals created by the Army Corp of Engineers in a foolish attempt to drain what was at one time believed to be a lake.

Water depths in the canals can reach up to 80 feet.

 

 

 

 

“Son that’s no rooster, you here me, boy. Pay attention, that’s one of them there Everglades Chicken.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mention the Everglades and for most alligators are the first animal that comes to mind. However, the Everglades is also scattered with other wildlife including a wide diversity of birds.

A place few would not be dying to visit is what is known as “Buzzard Island”. From an alive and safe distance we observe the local residents in action.

 

 

Officer Barney Buzzard, somewhat camouflaged stands guard in a tree watching for “Gators”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the water’s edge Billy Buzzard feeling confident in Barney Fife’s assessment of the situation, takes an afternoon drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far no alligators are spotted although the Everglades reportedly have over one million of them. Our tour guide has a good feeling we will see one before the tour is over but this is not Disneyland.

 

 

At first difficult to spot, we are not disappointed as we quietly approach a 6 foot alligator hidden in marsh along the shoreline.

“I see you, but you can’t see me.”

 

 

 

 

Peek A Boo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everglades 6 Foot Alligator

 

 

 

We are told this is a “momma gator” and she spends most of her time here.

I pity the fool that comes by at dinner time unaware of her presence.

 

 

 

 

Everglades Holiday Park is located at the intersection of Griffin Road and US27 both of which have convenient exits from Interstate 75 (Griffin Rd I-75S/US-27) and the Florida Turnpike (US27) .

The park charges about $24 per adult with a 10% AAA or online coupon discount. Motorcycle riders get a 2 for 1 discount.

 

 

A free brief “Alligator Show” is offered after your airboat tour where you can even pet one of them for a $5 donation.

Want to spend more than a few hours in the Everglades?

Everglades Holiday Park also offers tent and RV overnight camping and fishing boat rentals are available.

 

 http://evergladesholidaypark.proxy.voicestar.com/

 

Technorati Tags: Florida,The Everglades,MIA,FLL,Miami International Airport,Ft.Lauderdale Airport,US27,South Florida,AAA,Alligator Show,Interstate 75,Alligators,Everglades Chicken,Barney Fife,Disneyland,Florida Turnpike

Maryland, The National Aquarium

 

 

Located on the Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore, The National Aquarium is worth a visit and is a good place to spend a few hours on a lazy afternoon.

Today, I am fortunate because of a special admission price the aquarium is offering.

 

 

 

 

 

I Want You!

 

 

 

Celebrating it's 30^th Anniversary, The National Aquarium is offering a $5 admission after 5pm every Friday in October.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoting a local resident, “I am telling you, with normal admission prices of $25-30, this is a steal and that’s no fish story!”

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, the aquarium is located in what seems like a normal downtown office building. With a controlled entrance program, visitors tour the aquarium in a flowing stream of crowd management.

 

 

 

Nice Dental Work

 

 

 

One of the first exhibits gives a nice view of giant stingrays then close ups of the ocean's most feared family members.

 

 

 

 

 

Escalators then moves the crowd between floor to exhibits that expands from fresh water marine life to species from various parts of the vast ocean habitats.

 

 

The exhibits are well done and easily transport you to the beach fronts or depths of the Atlantic Shelf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Cow Fish

 

 

 

Although, you might want to spend a good deal of time at a particular exhibit a following crowd naturally forces you to move on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, it is nice to sit back and watch the kids enthusiasm as they look for “Little Nemo”or “Dory”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I become interested in the California Sheephead and wonder if I can learn a thing or two from it. The Sheephead spends the first 7-8 years of it's life as a female and then becomes a male.

 

 

Who better to understand the opposite sex.

This turns Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus upside down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The California Sheephead is so lucky, I am just yellow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another series of exhibit displays and I am experiencing life above and below a river in the Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Under The Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you find the Emerald Tree Boa?

 

Knowing it's there, thankfully behind inches of plexiglass, I can easily see how birds, lizards and rodents might not be so fortunate in the wild. For them I think it often turns out to be a crushing experience getting to know the Emerald Tree Boa, I bet the California Sheephead has better relationships.

 

 

Going through the Rain Forest exhibit, guess who's having a lazy afternoon just hanging around.

This guy gives molasses going up hill a run (well, not quite) for its money.

 

 

 

 

 

Two-Toed Sloth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rain Forest provides colorful species of birds many of whom I am sure are yet to be discovered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrible Poison Dart Frog

 

 

I think it would be a safe to assume that Kermit The Frog and Ms Piggy don't invite this member of Kermit's family over for Thanksgiving Dinner. Not only is he terrible to hang out with, he also has a poisonous personality that can be difficult to deal with.

 

 

Lion Fish

 

 

 

Leaving the main exhibit area, nature provides a gentle reminder that things that are beautiful can sometimes also be venomous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you want to see a bit of “The Outback” without going to Australia? As you leave the main exhibit area take a detour to the right and visit a part of the aquarium sponsored by the Australian Trade Commission.

 

 

I am not sure I am impressed by one of it's welcoming spokesman but he does seem to take a liking to my Canon Rebel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Headed Python

 

 

 

Although I never tasted it while visiting Australia a few years ago, I get a close up of the fish some Aussie's rave about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I might have a tough time getting this Barramundi on my plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting life as a male he might just get along well with the California Sheephead although for some reason the aquarium keeps them quite separated. Maybe even changing sexes over a lifetime still does not make it any easier to understand the opposite sex.

 

 

Fresh Water Alligator

 

 

 

Eastern Carpet Python

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier seeing the California Sheephead, I had some hope of a ground breaking relationship discovery. Leaving The National Aquarium, my disappointment is comforted by the fact that I only paid $5 for an enjoyable marine life education.

 

Technorati Tags: Maryland,Baltimore,Inner Harbor,National Aquarium,California Sheephead,Fresh Water Alligator,Little Nemo,Dory,Barramundi,Emerald Tree Boa,Eastern Carpet Python,Blackheaded Python,Lion Fish,Two Toed Sloth,Cow Fish,Atlantic Shelf,Gaint Stingrays,Men Are From Mars,Women Are From Venus,Kermit The Frog,Ms Piggy,Thanksgiving Dinner,Terrible Poison Dart Frog,The Outback,Autralia,Australian Trade Commission