Sledding in Lyndale Farmstead Park

Location Coordinates:
44°55'49"N,
93°17'35"W
Lyndale Farmstead Park
Minneapolis, MN

A white Christmas was something I never experienced growing up in southern California. We were sometimes treated to wet Christmases, or maybe a windy Christmas, but never a white Christmas. Snow was an exotic substance that you saw glistening on the mountains as you stood in the valley below. Occasionally our family would pack up the car and drive up to places like Wrightwood, Lake Arrowhead, or Big Bear to play in the snow. We pulled on three or four pairs of socks and doubled up on sweaters under an overcoat, grabbed our little round sleds, packed a lunch with a thermos of hot chocolate, and headed up for adventure. My dad battled bumper to bumper traffic as all the "flatlanders" from the LA basin trekked up the mountain roads to throw snowballs at each other and skim down the icy hills on various forms of sliding contraptions. Looking back, it really was a lot of work to pull off a little winter entertainment.

Now I'm a Minnesotan, and snow is no longer exotic. It arrives in November and doesn't depart until March or April. But I still have an appreciation for its beauty and all the fun winter activities it enables. And having a fun snow adventure is a whole lot easier now than needing to drive to a distant mountain locale with lots of other people. Now I simply throw on my coat and snow pants and head out for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or ice fishing. Or, I can simply walk across the street to an ideal sledding hill. Area residents flock to Lyndale Farmstead Park as soon as the first flakes fly to glide down a perfect bowl-shaped slope. No traffic, no long lines for a ski lift, just the simple good times of a toboggan and a hill. It is a little bit of Currier & Ives viewed right out of my kitchen window.

The year 2010 will be ending in just a few hours, and I'm very excited about my plans for photographic activities in 2011. It is going to be a great year. Stay tuned!

Lake Harriet Ice Over

Location Coordinates:
44°55'17"N, 93°18'19"W
Lake Harriet
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Earlier this year I wrote about the annual event known as Ice Out, which is the date our lakes become ice free in the spring. Each of Minnesota's thousands of lakes has its own Ice Out date depending upon the characteristics of the lake in question. It stands to reason, then, that each lake also has an Ice Over date in the winter - the date the surface of the lake obtains a solid frozen covering from shore to shore. This year I wasn't able to pinpoint the exact Ice Over date for my local lake, but it was achieved sometime between December 2nd and December 7th.

 

After a much warmer than average early November, our first major snowfall occurred on November 13th. I missed this event; I was basking in the warm 75+ degree temperatures of late fall in southern California on that day. When I returned to Minnesota a week later on the 20th, I was thrust abruptly into winter with a fifty-degree temperature drop coupled with freezing rain which glazed the roads and turned the remnants of the first snow into something akin to concrete. My favorite season had definitely vanished while I was out of town, and winter was robustly announcing its arrival in the upper Midwest.

The first ice I noticed on Lake Harriet was the day after Thanksgiving as my daughter and I walked around the lakeshore working off those extra holiday calories. A rugged ice shelf of about twenty yards had extended from shore towards the center of the lake. Where solid ice met water, jagged ice chunks bobbed about, which gave off a sound similar to a giant punchbowl filled with ice being rocked back and forth. But a late-November warm up quickly dissipated much of this initial icing. 




December roared in with another sharp blast of cold, and by the time I walked around the lake on December 2nd a much smoother, clear sheet of ice was setting up across the lake's surface. As in the spring when the ice broke, I became captivated by the sounds coming from this new ice. As newly formed ice sections moved and grinded into each other the lake sounded as if it was groaning. It was eerie hearing these strange noises emanating from such a familiar place, but at the same time it was completely fascinating.



What a difference five days can make in the life of a lake. By the time I next ventured to the lakeshore on December 7th it had completely frozen over. Granted, the ice crust was dangerously thin, but all the same it is amazing that such a large body of water can freeze over in a relatively short period. So now the pretty lake, so active with sailboats in the warmer months, has transitioned to a solid field of white upon which cross-country skiers will glide and winter festival-goers will tread. And so it goes - one season to the next . .

I'm still here . . .

OK - so it has been a whole month since I've published a new blog entry. November turned out to be a hectic month with a family emergency, unplanned travel, and then the Thanksgiving holiday. December looks to be a bit less crazy so I hope to get a few Holiday season postings out here soon.

After a very warm start in early November, the weather has turned the other way and is now well below seasonal averages here in Minneapolis. There is snow on the ground with the prospect of more to come, which sets the stage for interesting winter weather photography. I'll get out there soon and see what I can find.

Head of the Charles



Rowers in front of the Newell Boat House

 Location coordinates:
42°22'11"N,
71°07'23"W
Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts

A little more than ten years ago I began what could be described as an obsession with the city of Boston. My first trip to The Hub (one of Boston's nicknames) was a three-hour stopover during a southern New England excursion Chrys and I made in 1987. My second visit was a fairly stressful business junket there in 1996. But these brief early trips planted the seed, and from late 1999 on we have traveled to Boston several times each year, and even lived there in 2008/2009 prior to our move to Minnesota. I've now spent so much time in Boston that I will always consider the city my second home. While living there during the fall of 2008 we were looking for things to do during a visit by our daughter Rachel. Chrys noted the Head of the Charles Rowing Regatta was scheduled that weekend and was to be held on the Charles River near the Harvard campus. As that was close to home, and thinking that activity would represent a perfect New England experience, we decided to check it out. We ended up having such a great time that we now have made the regatta an annual tradition, even though we have never participated in organized rowing ourselves. This past weekend marked our third Head of the Charles Regatta.

Rowing teams from all over the world participate in the event on the Charles River, which delineates Cambridge on the north bank and Boston on the south bank. Individual and team participants come from high school and collegiate crew teams as well as private rowing clubs. Competitors range in age from youth to athletes in their 80s. The bulk of the action takes place in and around the John W. Weeks bridge, a footbridge which links Harvard's main campus in Cambridge with the Harvard Business School and athletic facilities which lie on the Boston side of the river. It is a festive atmosphere with booths selling crew-themed apparel and food along the river banks where spectators cheer on their favorites. The setting can't be beat: rowers skimming over the river against a backdrop of Cambridge's colonial-era architecture, fall-colored trees, tasty "fair food", and crisp autumn air.

The sights off the water are often as interesting as those on the water. Groups of dapper English rowers decked out in their very British navy rowing blazers mix with American college groups in their team sweatshirts. Well-dressed Ivy League alumni cheer their school teams alongside average Joe spectators like me with no particular team affiliation. This year one of the more interesting non-rowing sights was the imaginative way one particular bicyclist found to secure his or her bike high above the crowds. I wonder how he or she was able to hold that bike aloft while securing it to the tree??



Competing rowers against the Boston skyline

 The Head of the Charles Regatta is just one of the events that keep me traveling back to Boston on a regular basis. I'm always happy when I'm there, and I'll likely write about many more of my favorite Boston "latitudes" in posts to come.

The Brief and Brilliant Season

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Location coordinates:
Multiple in Minnesota,
Connecticut, and
Massachusetts

Autumn. What a great time of year. Hot weather has melted away into cool, crisp mornings. The angle of the sun shifts, casting a softer, warmer glow over the landscape. A walk around the neighborhood can find you caught up in a blizzard of leaves coming down in a fresh breeze. Apple orchards fill with families seeking hay rides followed by cups of hot cider and warm apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. Gourds and pumpkins, football teams and baseball playoffs, sweatshirts and sweaters. It is the calm and beautiful season before the rush and thrill of the Holidays.

 

Maple leaves, Norfolk, Connecticut

In the south, an autumn enthusiast waits, and waits, and waits for the first signs of the season in the trees. It finally arrives in mid to late October with a sudden flash of dazzling color which all too quickly dissolves to the browns and grays of winter. In the north, the season sometimes stretches longer, with yellows and oranges showing up as early as late August. North or south, fall is like anticipating a fireworks show as you wonder what nature has in store each year.

Along Route 23, western Massachusetts

During the autumn of 2008 I lived in Boston, where my favorite season seems longer than any other place I've lived. It started in August and little by little became more colorful each day well into November. On a cloudy October day I took a drive through western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut and found storybook images. There really is nothing like New England in the fall.

White birch, Finlayson, Minnesota

In Minnesota it seems just about anything goes. In 2009 color didn't peak until the week before Halloween - after we had already endured three snow events. But last year's early snow seemed to only enhance the brightness of the yellows and reds. This year has been warmer and dryer with not a trace of snow so far. And even though this autumn has been as pretty as a picture from a coffee table photo book, I believe last year was better.

St. Croix River near Stillwater, Minnesota

All too soon the comforts of autumn will fade. The trees will become barren, temperatures will continue to drop, outdoor furniture will be stored, and daylight will dwindle. But not to worry. Next up - Thanksgiving and the Holidays. Yep, this is by far the best time of the year.

The Great Inland Port

Location coordinates:
46°46'48"N,
 92°05'28W
Canal Park

Duluth, Minnesota

 
Feeling the need for a "big lake fix" along the shore of Lake Superior, I drove north the other day with the goal of not only taking in my favorite lake, but also enjoying some fall leaf-peeping. Seasonal color north of the Twin Cities is typically at its best in late September and early October. The reds, oranges and yellows were at or near peak on this particular day, which made the drive up Interstate 35 especially pleasing. The scenery was brilliant as I dropped down into Duluth, where I-35 transitions to scenic Highway 61 which follows the Lake Superior shoreline on up to the Canadian border. In previous journeys north my impression of Duluth was that it was simply a hurdle to get through on my way to more interesting places further north. Turns out I was wrong. This trip I decided to park and have a look around, and I'm very glad I did.

 

After scouring the car to find enough change to feed the parking meter, I found my way to a pedestrian boardwalk and bike path that followed the lakeshore. I had a choice to make: walk west toward downtown or east toward the canal and Aerial Lift Bridge and Canal Park. I decided to first investigate downtown. Duluth is located at the westernmost point of Lake Superior, and there is a steep shift in elevation from the lake to the inland area. Geographically speaking, it reminded me of a stadium with rows and aisles (street grids) rising up and away from a playing field (downtown and the lakefront). Many of the residential neighborhoods are blessed with impressive views of the lake as they ascend from the downtown core. Perhaps these grand views are of some consolation to residents who must endure the biting winter chill of one of America's most vigorous climates!



Duluth North Pierhead Lighthouse

 After admiring the interesting architecture downtown, I returned to the lakefront boardwalk and walked east toward Canal Park, named for the canal that allows ships to pass from the lake into the port. Once an industrial and warehouse district, this region has now been converted into a vibrant tourist and entertainment destination with pleasant lakefront hotels and numerous restaurants. My stroll eventually led me down a breakwater to the North Pierhead Lighthouse, where I was rewarded with a front row seat to observe a huge freighter as it passed through the canal on its way out into Lake Superior.

All in all, I was quite pleasantly surprised by what I found in Duluth, and my three hour diversion served to favorably alter my impression of the city. Knowing now what Duluth has to offer I'll be less inclined to simply blow through town on my way up the north shore of Superior.

Butterflies and Fountains

Location coordinates:
44°55'39"N, 93°17'45"W
Lyndale Park
Minneapolis, Minnesota

I live in a wondrous place. I can look out the window of my upstairs home office and see Lyndale Farmstead Park across the street to the north. There is the beautiful and historic Lakewood Cemetery across the street to the west. And just a block to the south lies yet another park, Lyndale Park, that features a rose garden, a perennial garden, a peace garden, and a bird sanctuary. Walking or biking through Lyndale Park brings you to the eastern shore of Lake Harriet, of which I've made several earlier blog entries. This collection of wonderment literally steps from my front door is my home base, and it provides a terrific venue for a new photographer to practice.

A few days ago I ventured out during the hour just prior to sunset to capture the warm end-of-day lighting. My goal was to photograph a bench that sets off by itself. I love photographing benches, and this particular bench has caught my eye many times during the year, as it seems to provide a serene setting in which to gaze off toward two large maple trees currently dawning their vivid red colors of the season. When I arrived at the bench, however, the lighting angle simply wasn't complimentary enough to the scene to produce the type of shot I desired. So I wandered off in another direction looking for anything else of interest. As luck would have it, a perky little monarch butterfly was kind enough to pose for a few shots.



Phelps Fountain

 Given the fact it was near to sundown, the mosquitoes were on the prowl. Although I had prepared by dousing myself in insect repellent, I observed a small squadron of the pests making their way my direction and I didn't want to take any chances. I left Madame Butterfly behind and walked toward the rose and perennial gardens. The next thing to catch my eye was the Phelps Fountain, one of two historic fountains located in the gardens. It occurred to me that very soon these fountains will literally be enclosed in a plywood housing to protect them from the cold winter weather. This fact made me appreciate the water patterns shimmering in the setting sun all the more.



Phelps Fountain

 While taking in the charm of the fountain I felt that always-annoying piercing itch of a mosquito who had managed to penetrate the defense barrier of the bug repellent. I decided it was best to pack up the tripod and head for home. As I did I looked around and considered the fact that within the next few weeks the gardens will end their season and the Minneapolis Parks staff would be packing the rose bushes in a thick layer of leaves as protection from snow and ice. The parks will take on a whole different look, and I'll be there to capture it all.

Good Grief, Charlie Brown

Schroeder and Lucy

Location coordinates:
44°56'44"N,
93°05'47"W
Landmark Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota

When I was growing up one of my favorite things about the fall and holiday seasons were the Peanuts specials on TV. As September moved into October I began my ritual monitoring of the TV Guide for the network airing of these shows. First up was It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Halloween just wouldn't have been Halloween without cheering on Linus in his quest to see The Great Pumpkin and Charlie Brown's woeful expression of "I got a rock" compared to his friend's candy each time they went trick-or-treating. Then came A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving where we all laughed at Charlie Brown's lack of culinary skill as he offered up buttered toast as a Thanksgiving dinner. Rounding out the holiday season was A Charlie Brown Christmas, causing us to wonder along with the rest of the Peanuts gang just why Charlie Brown chose that dead, scrawny little Christmas tree.

Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was born in Minneapolis and grew up in St. Paul. Schulz left Minnesota for California in his mid-thirties, but his influence is still seen around the Twin Cities even today. And Minnesota certainly influenced Charles Schulz. As I watched those shows as a child I had no idea that I would eventually live in the birthplace of the Peanuts gang. In fact, the location setting for Charlie Brown's hometown was based on the Linden Hills neighborhood in southwest Minneapolis, which adjoins my own neighborhood of East Harriet Farmstead.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy

Wandering around downtown St. Paul the other day I came across these bronze statues of several of the Peanuts gang hanging out in the area around Landmark Center and Rice Park. You can't help but feel transported back to those happy childhood memories as you come across these figures in the heart of the city. So, does achieving middle age, coupled with the fact my children are now grown adults, mean that I've put the Charlie Brown shows behind me? Not a chance. And I'll bet I'm not the only middle-aged guy wanting to step back and spend a few minutes reliving those simple holiday memories. I could go out and buy the DVD sets, but it might be more fun to simply keep an eye on the TV listings - just like the good ole' days.

The Elf House

Location Coordinates:
44°54'57"N, 93°18'36"W
Lake Harriet, south shore
Minneapolis, Minnesota

I've been biking around the shores of Lake Harriet for over a year now, so from a purely logical point of view I should be completely familiar with all the characteristics of this popular southwest Minneapolis destination. But, proving the opposite of the old adage "you can't see the forest for the trees", I may have been caught up in the larger picture and not observed some of the finer details of the Lake Harriet shoreline. Apparently, I've been biking nearly daily just a few feet away from a local phenomenon and never even noticed. The only reason I stumbled upon it a while back was my casual wondering as to why a bunch of children and one or two adults were crouched down near the base of an ordinary looking tree. I wasn't even curious enough then to check it out. It was several days later when, remembering the strange congregation, I interrupted my ride to stop and have a look at the tree. That is when I discovered the Elf House.

Local legend claims that if a child leaves a note for the resident elf, he or she will receive a personal written response by said elf. Unless, of course, it is during the colder months when the elf evidently flees south to his "east castle" in Florida.

Mr. Elf appeared to be out on the occasion of my visit. Perhaps he was having a swim in the lake. Or, noting the autumn-colored leaf placed on his door, he was working with his travel agent in arranging passage for the annual trip to his Florida winter residence. But I did notice several notes waiting for him along with a strand of blue beads, possibly a gift left by a thoughtful child wishing him well until next spring's warmer weather. One can only speculate what wisdom Mr. Elf imparts in his responses to his inquiring visitors, but I've read the diminutive gentleman has a pleasing sense of humor. Having not prepared a note or gift to leave behind (as well as understanding my age was well above his target demographic), I thought it best to continue on my daily ride.

 So even though I didn't have the good fortune to meet Mr. Elf personally, his mere presence reminds me how you can look at something every single day and not ever see it. So I'll try to slow down and keep a look out for some of those less obvious elements of our everyday world. Because it is often those little things that end up being surprisingly captivating.

Pronto Pups and Cheese Curds

Location coordinates:
44°58'42"N, 93°10'25"W
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
Falcon Heights, Minnesota

As summer draws to a close here in Minnesota there seems to be two things you can count on to mark the beginning of the summer to fall transition. First, any drop of temperature below 80 degrees seems to put many into a disheartened state of mind as they ponder the certainty of cold weather to come. Eager TV meteorologists tend to forecast daily highs much warmer than what is actually realized in what appears to be an attempt to mollify viewers into a false sense of an extended summer. This is something I personally find annoying, as I can't wait for summer's heat to be replaced by cool, crisp autumn days. The second end of summer indicator is what is referred to locally as "The Great Minnesota Get-Together", the Minnesota State Fair. The fairgrounds, located equidistant between the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, is home to one of the highest attended state fairs in the United States. I skipped the Fair last year but decided it was something I had to experience this year.

The day was overcast, windy, and only in the upper 50s which, for me, was perfect fair weather. I chose to ride an express bus to the fairgrounds from one of dozens of locations around the metro area offering round trip rides. As we approached the Fair I immediately discovered why using the bus service is highly advised. The volume of vehicular traffic was staggering. I was exceedingly happy to be dropped off at the gate following the hassle-free bus ride.

My first stop was the Miracle of Birth exhibit. The interior of the exhibit was crammed with all shapes and sizes of humanity, which made actually viewing the cute little baby calves or piglets almost impossible. I located a set of bleachers and climbed up to the top to get an elevated view above the hordes. Once there I was able to get a shot of a single little piglet being warmed by a heat lamp. I next wandered into the Cattle Barn and "Moo Booth" where I quickly realized that viewing the back ends of lazing farm animals was not overly entertaining.

Then it was on to the main midway where I was dazzled by all the colors and rides, the majority of which seemed to have as a singular goal the expulsion of the rider's lunch. Which brings me to what obviously is the primary reason for visiting the fair: the unbelievable assortment of food. Pronto Pups (like a corn dog only with a pancake-like covering versus a cornmeal covering), roasted corn, cheese curds, buckets (literally!) of chocolate chip cookies, sugary mini-donuts, honey ice cream, foot long dogs, fried candy bars, Spam burgers, and on and on and on. Much of the food was offered "on-a-stick", which made it easy to eat on the run as you made your way toward the next food booth. I sampled a few things, none of which I determined I couldn't live without. My biggest sampling surprise was at the booth hosted by the Minnesota Farm Winery Association, where I found an especially tasty dry red wine from the St. Croix Vineyards. Minnesota wine! Who knew?

I'm not sure I'll be a fairgoer every year, but I'm quite glad I had the opportunity this year to attend "The Great Minnesota Get-Together".

California Sunsets

Location Coordinates:
33°12'11"N, 117°23'31"W
Oceanside, California

 
As a native of southern California, there are two things I have greatly missed since I left the state some thirty years ago: first-rate Mexican food, and beach sunsets. Of course, I can find both of these things in other places. But somehow they simply are not quite the same (for me, anyway) as they are in California. Each time I fly out to visit family I make sure the days include at least one Mexican restaurant. And I always manage to get to the beach during my stay as well.

I made the California trip again last week. However, the occasion was somber: attendance at a family member's funeral. It was an emotional and difficult week. Adding to an already unpleasant atmosphere was a summer heat wave which sent temperatures in the inland valleys and deserts, where we were, into the 100s. By the end of the week I needed to escape both the heavy emotions and blistering temperatures. I decided a beach run was a perfect pick-me-up destination. My mother and oldest daughter, Sarah, decided to join me. I pointed the car south, not knowing exactly which beach to head toward. As we meandered along less-traveled state highways we decided to head in the direction of the La Jolla area north of San Diego, where we anticipated we could enjoy a nice seafood dinner overlooking the ocean. But after driving only a few minutes I could tell I was not really in the frame of mind to go all the way to San Diego and back.

We eventually found our way to Oceanside, about forty miles north of San Diego. The change in temperature ( a drop of about twenty-five degrees) and the salty ocean air worked wonders for improving our moods. We found a seafood restaurant overlooking the harbor, and followed dinner with a sunset stroll on the beach. My sandals came off immediately and my inner beach kid pulled me straight toward the water. When the first wave hit my exposed legs I felt as though the wind had been knocked out of me. The icy water was quite literally painful! But, just the same as when I was a kid, my skin numbed to the coldness, and I stood in knee-high water shooting photographs as the sun sank into the Pacific.

One of my favorite Jimmy Buffett songs is Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which could have been our theme song for this beach excursion. Simply changing our latitude let us briefly break away from the intense emotions and oppressive heat we left behind. It was a natural therapy far more effective than anything a pharmaceutical company could develop.

Summer at the Arboretum

Location coordinates:
44°86'19"N, 93°61'51"W
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Chaska, Minnesota

 As a budding photographer I am always on the lookout for enjoyable places to go and practice my craft. A Twin Cities favorite spot for photographers of all levels is the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, located in Chaska, about 22 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis. Spread over one thousand acres, the Arboretum features an incredible array of northern climate plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and hedges set in manicured gardens or in fields depicting a more natural setting. Throughout the Arboretum are miles of walking paths, along which you will find dozens of benches to sit and admire the view. This is a four-season destination, and it has been quite interesting following the changes of scenery over the past year. I've marveled at the brilliant colors of the stands of maple trees in the fall, trekked across the winter landscape in snowshoes, attempted to calculate the precise peak of spring blossoms on the cherry and flowering crabapple trees (I missed it by a week!), and dodged the wedding parties seeking that perfect photographic backdrop in the summer.

During my most recent visit I focused on the blooming gardens nearest the visitors center, hoping to catch a few good shots in the late afternoon light. On this particular day the bridal parties had been replaced by impatient members of the high school Class of 2011, doing their best to look excited and self-assured while posing for their senior portraits. Most seemed quite embarrassed by the attention given them by curious onlookers as their photographers placed them in what likely felt as very unnatural poses. As annoyed as they were, I'll bet they will find the effort was worthwhile when the final product is gracing their parent's fireplace mantle.
 

Getting away from the crowd is the best tactic to use while visiting the Arboretum. Wandering from the heavily-used Three Mile Drive and following a smaller trail, or no trail at all, can land you in a secluded spot all to yourself. Once there you can appreciate the sights and sounds of nature, watch the birds, or, perhaps, run away from the snakes. (This actually happened to me once. I freely admit I hate snakes. There is just something about their movement that is truly creepy.)

I'm never disappointed when I go to the Arboretum. No matter what the weather, season, or time of day, you can always find something beautiful to appreciate. Lucky for me I live close and am able to visit often.

Extraordinary Weeds

Location Coordinates:

44°48'52"N, 93°32'13"W

Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail

Eden Prairie, Minnesota

     After a long stretch of recent travel, I was anxious to get back on the bike and out on my hometown area trails. Last weekend, Chrys and I ventured out to a trail we had not yet ridden around the area of Lake Riley in the suburban Minneapolis communities of Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. We found the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail running alongside Lake Riley's eastern shore and started in a southwesterly direction. Spending so much time on the crowded urban trails within the city, it was a very nice change to be almost alone on this path, riding through deciduous forest along a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River and the town of Shakopee.

     Perspective truly is everything. In a well-manicured lawn, a clump of thistle would likely be viewed as unwanted weeds. But in Scotland, thistle is a national icon, and is really quite pretty in an open, natural setting. As we leisurely pedaled our way along the regional trail we came across a large clump of thistle. Chrys has an appreciation for thistle (it appears as a decorative feature on her best Scottish dishes), so we made note of the location so I could return with the camera. When I returned Tuesday evening I found the thistle humming with industrious bees, doing their jobs moving pollen from one place to the next. A few passing bicyclists did double-takes as they observed me snapping photo after photo of what appeared to be a big clump of weeds. And while the photos didn't end up being as "frame-worthy" as I had hoped, they do illustrate how a change of perspective in how you look at something can make a big difference. Unwanted clump of weeds, or charming bunch of flowers? Everyone can decide for themselves.

A Canadian Eden

Location Coordinates:
48°33'55"N, 123°28'10"W
Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay,
British Columbia, Canada

My goal with the creation of The Right Latitude blog is less about sharing sights and thoughts on traditional tourist attractions and more about the everyday aspects of any spot that make it interesting. As such, including an entry about the world-renowned Butchart Gardens in British Columbia would seem inconsistent with my objective. But the sheer beauty of this place compels me to at least include a few shots of this amazing property, which is located about 14 miles (21 km) north of Victoria, BC.

Warmer-than-normal weather and traveling at the peak of summer vacation season, with the associated hordes of tourists, were the only downsides about spending a few hours wandering through these exquisitely maintained gardens. The moderate climate of southern Vancouver Island allows for a huge variety of floral and plant life to thrive, and the design of the various sections of The Gardens provides for an almost overwhelming array of color and beauty.

Sunken Garden

The most recognizable scenes are those in the Sunken Garden. It is nearly inconceivable that this spot was once a quarry providing limestone for the Butchart family's cement business. It was the ingenuity and determination of Jennie Butchart that transformed an ugly, barren quarry into this beautiful retreat.

Rose Garden

The countless varieties and colors of the Rose Garden make it impossible to determine which is your favorite.

And even with throngs of tourists milling along the pathways of the Japanese Garden you can still find a shady, peaceful spot to be calmed by the sounds of water falling in fountains surrounded by lush green.

Japanese Garden

These are just a few of the dozens of photos I shot, the best of which I'm reserving for publication on my web site (which should be operational by this fall). If you ever have the chance to visit Butchart Gardens, go ahead and brave the crowds. It is worth it.

Water takeoffs and landings

Location coordinates:
48°25'22"N, 123°23'15"W
Inner Harbour
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada


I'm sure you've seen movies set in exotic locales like a south pacific island, Alaska, or the wilds of the Yukon. At some point in these movies you will likely have a scene with someone arriving in a small plane with two pontoons (or skis) in place of landing gears. These are floatplanes (also known as seaplanes), and with my passion for flying and aircraft I've been curious about what it would be like to take off and land on the water. I was able to satisfy that curiosity as part of my recent visit to Victoria, British Columbia.

When we arrived in Victoria I was pleased to find an airline operating scenic flights using a large fleet of floatplanes - specifically, de Havilland Otters. Excitement outweighed frugality regarding the flight's cost, so my wife and I bought tickets on Harbour Air for a forty-five minute aerial tour of the region around Victoria and the nearby Gulf Islands.

It was unseasonably warm on our tour day as we arrived at the Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome. We obtained our bright pink boarding cards and had a seat in the sparse waiting area to await our departure. Fifteen minutes later an energetic girl called for those on the 11 AM flight. I was a bit concerned as I observed about thirteen people moving toward a plane I assumed was fitted for no more than six or eight passengers. As I crawled into the plane I could see that, technically, the cabin could seat about fifteen - providing those fifteen were the stature of a five-year-old child. We claimed our two diminutive seats, and with my knees rammed into the row in front and legs spilling into the "aisle", I buckled up and let anticipation rush over me. It was quite cramped and stuffy inside the tiny cabin, but worries about comfort quickly faded away as we got underway.

We enjoyed a mini-cruise of the harbour while taxiing to the main channel for takeoff. I expected to be vigorously bounced by the waves on our acceleration run, but even though water was flying wildly to the sides the ride was relatively smooth. Soon we were airborne and banking left to follow the gorgeous Vancouver Island shoreline. The views were amazing! At one point our pilot took us down to a mere 500 feet where we seemed to skim the tops of the trees on one of the Gulf Islands. What a thrill! Beyond the excitement of the flight itself, we were able to see so much more of the diverse beauty of the area than we ever could have from the ground. The adventure ended much too soon, and after about thirty-five minutes in the air we splashed down for a smooth landing back in Victoria Harbour. 

The flight exceeded all my expectations (except for cabin space), and it was the highlight of my visit to Victoria. And, I get to check "ride in a seaplane" off the life goals list.

Storm on the Plains

Location coordinates:

41° 09' 57"N, 101° 00' 04"W

Hershey, Nebraska

 OK, so it has been a long time between blog posts. I've been busy traveling, and I'm in a bit of a lull right now before another trip at the end of the month, so I thought I'd get in a post or two before I'm off again.

A few weeks ago I was in western Nebraska for a family event. Nebraska has had their fair share of rain and storms this spring and summer. This particular storm passed just to the north of Hershey, NE, which is west of North Platte along Interstate 80. It had been another hot day, with temperatures near or at 100 degrees. The storm blew up close to sundown, so the cloud formations were really stunning with the setting sun. When we noticed the darkening sky out of the living room window we all went out to watch the unfolding drama. It was fascinating to watch the clouds churn and boil, and the lightning put on a very nice show. It never did rain where we were, but shortly after sundown the wind came up (which I am assuming was associated with this storm as it passed), and the temperature dropped significantly. The strong wind was welcomed by me for more than just its cooling impact; it blew away the mosquitoes, which had viciously attacked me as I was trying to focus on taking the photos. (I am your typical mosquito's very favorite dish, apparently. I attract the little villains more than anyone I know. I step outside near sunset and they nearly knock me to the ground!)

I love to watch weather, if I'm out of harm's way. I've lived in the central U.S. most of my adult life, in Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and now Minnesota. I believe the beauty of a summer thunderstorm is best observed in Nebraska because the terrain is flat with few trees to obscure the view. As long as the storms don't become destructive, they are one of the best things about the Midwest summer.

A Slight Pause . .

I'll be slowing down a bit on my blog posts over the next couple of weeks as I have some travel and other business matters that I'll be working on during June. As I'm working these other projects I'll be keeping an eye out for new "right latitudes", and I'll be bringing new posts again soon. In the meantime I'll share a photo I took on my recent trip to Washington of pretty Snoqualmie Falls. The falls are located about 30 miles east of Seattle and make for a very nice afternoon journey. Located at the crest of the falls is the Salish Lodge and Spa (http://www.salishlodge.com/), a great looking place I'm interested in experiencing sometime.

Snoqualmie Falls, Washington

Location coordinates:

47°32'31"N, 121°50'13"W