An Otter World

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I Just Love Smoking Mountains
2007-06-13 08:23:00
Here's a shot of the Augustine Island Volcano:
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Portage Pass and Whittier
2007-06-13 07:54:00
On Monday, we had some beautiful weather to fly Portage Pass and over Whittier (known as the strangest town in Alaska).Approaching the end of Turnagain Arm:Portage Glacier on the right:Portage Pass on the left:In the pass:Whittier coming into view with a cruise ship alongside the pier:Whittier, most of the town lives in the single building near center that looks like a hotel.What an interesting place that must be in the winter. A couple of local facts: Whittier was established because the harbor was ice-free year round and because (fact #2) the weather is always "shittier in Whittier." Since it's almost always cloudy it meant that during WWII, the Japanese (and perhaps future enemies) would have had a hard time bombing the port. It's now accessible by car from Anchorage as well and serves as a ferry terminal as well as a cruise ship terminal.
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Back in AK
2007-06-05 15:27:00
After setting what might be a ground speed record(at least my own personal record) in a Twin Otter of 234 kts :We landed at Anchorage.Nearly 19 hours of sunshine today. It was a beautiful afternoon. Even at 8:00 it felt like early afternoon. Last time I was here I hardly saw the sun at all; I hope today is a precursor for things to come.
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Gratuitous Mt. Rainer Pictures
2007-06-04 14:08:00
No trip through Seattle is complete without some photos of the glorious Mt. Rainier
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Dam It All
2007-06-04 14:02:00
With over 400 dams, the Columbia River Basin is the most dammed river system in the world. Here's a shot of one of them, the Umatilla Rapids Dam near Umatilla, Or.

A Place of Evel
2007-06-04 14:01:00
Somewhere near here is where Evel Knievel was supposed to jump the Snake River. This shot is of Twin Falls, ID which is perched at the rim of the canyon. The Perrine Memorial Bridge is at the center.
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God's Game of Reversi
2007-06-04 14:00:00
These things always remind me of giant game Othello:
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Fire on the mountain....
2007-06-03 16:47:00
Near the Utah border we passed a wildfire. Take away the hills and its just like Florida right?Another shot.Flames!On to Salt Lake City. One more stop in Seattle then North to Alaska.
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....and Lightning in the air, near Colorado Springs
2007-06-03 16:33:00
Enroute from Little Rock to Colorado Springs we were rerouted slightly to avoid Mr. Thunderstorm.It was close, but luckily we were able to get fuel before they put a lightning hold on operations. Below is a picture of one of the culprits.A full tank and off we go over the Rockies. So nice to see snow in June. On the way up we picked up just a bit of icing in some of the clouds. No worries.
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Chasing the sun and leaving a storm in my wake.
2007-06-02 03:59:00
Finally after all too much time on the Cape and not nearly enough time at home the winds have carried me onward and upward once again. I departed this afternoon as the leading edge of Barry started caressing the Bay area with that lovely liquid lawns long for. This trip takes me yet again to the great Norther north wester west we call Alaska. Should be some great photos to share and the project will take me to some out-of-the-way places. First leg of the journey was to depart as the winds started blowing and the rain started down as we took wing for Little Rock. No photos just yet, but thanks to Barry we made good time. Aiming for Salt Lake tomorrow, hopefully the skies are a bit clearer. Stay tuned.
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Tampa From My Perspective
2007-03-01 18:39:00
I love Zillow. I noticed today that they finally added the "Bird's-eye view" option for the Tampa area. It's pretty cool. The data is at least several months old, but its better than nothing. Of course there are other ways to get similar views, Google Earth and Microsoft's Virtualbut this doesn't require any download of software. Check it out.Back from the Cape and postings may or may not resume. We'll see how it goes, I have to finish building a shed and some landscaping. At least the days are getting longer.
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Closed for the Season
2007-01-26 16:57:05
Back up to the Cape, and there just isn't all that much to post about when I'm up here.
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Very Cool Twin Otter Landing.
2006-12-09 04:25:02
This is what these planes were built for.
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What'a a Little Fishy and Goes Clippety Clop Clippety Clop?
2006-12-09 04:25:02
Our morning visit to Downtown Boston. That's what. After the ferry ride we waited around until the New England Aquarium opened and made that our first stop. It's not a big aquarium, but it has a nice setup and a beautiful location right on the waterfront.First up were the jellies.They look so pretty when you're not in the water with them.It's Jelly Time!The main area has several types of penguins.Bad hair day?Outside they have some seals.I think this gal just woke up.The main feature is a 5 story tank with a ramp that spirals up around it all the way to the top.A few of the inhabitants:EelPeekaboo!After the aquarium we took a carriage ride, another first. Here's Chico, the horse, who was kind enough to show us around: ChicoIt was a nice, although short, time in Boston. We will definitely visit again. I recommend you add it to the list of places to visit.Cheers!
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They Didn't Know Our Names
2006-12-06 04:23:01
Not that they should. We had a nice dinner at the original Cheers, the Bull and Finch. They used the exterior for the show, but the inside on the show was all made up. The Bull and Finch was quite a bit smaller, but still a nice neighborhood type bar.Where everybody knows your name.NORM! No, not really.USS ConstitutionWe had a view of the USS Constitution from our hotel, but time ran short so we didn't get to tour it.Bunker Hill MemorialWe spent the last morning in town taking the harbor shuttle from the Charlestown Navy Yard to Long Wharf to visit the New England Aquarium and downtown.Downtown BostonThe ferry ride was really nice, if not just a little too short. It was chilly that morning, but we were out on the bow snapping away. The shuttle ferry ties up right next to the New England Aquarium. This must be the place.....to be continued...stay tuned for something fishy....
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The First Snow!
2006-12-06 04:23:01
I know it's been snowing elsewhere, but this morning marked the first snow on the cape and my first snow of the year. One of the best things about being up here this time of year is getting a taste of real winter and being able to come back South before I see too much of it :-). It's a wet slushy snow, but it's snow. Yippee!Snow 's comingGratuitous mooningSnow!More snow
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Planes, (No)Trains, and (Broken down rental-car-type) Autom
2006-12-02 16:20:14
Well, my dearest made it safely here and home again. We spent Thanksgiving and the day on either side in Boston. Wonderful Italian food in the North End. Dinner at the original Cheers. Thanksgiving dinner at a chain. A visit to the New England Aquarium and a carriage ride through downtown. It was a whirlwind tour, and I will present photos of all, but this post is just a summary of my fiance's first trip of this sort solo(at least for the hard part).The saga begins at 5am. She departed home for the 6:45 flight to Providence. Enter, rolling roadblock on 275. After creeping along for over 1/2 an hour they're able to get off at the next exit. Safely, but behind schedule they get to the airport. After encountering a surly counter agent, and a full security screening queue, she's the last person to board the aircraft. So much for the "A" boarding card she printed the day before.Look at me I'm flying!Luckily circumstances cooperated and I was able to pick her up. It's ab...
More About: Rental , Auto , Rain , Train , Trains

Happy Thanksgiving!
2006-12-02 16:20:14
From Boston. My fiance made it up to the Cape and we're spending the holiday in Beantown. A first for both of us. Photos will be forthcoming. Happy Thanks giving , I'm sure we all can find much to be thankful for.
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America just might have a concience after all
2006-12-02 16:20:14
Not my usual post, but I felt I must comment after I read about the retraction of OJ's book and interview. Like many, I have over the past several years, have begun to wonder just how low the public would stoop for a cheap thrill. At least this event shows the bar was set somewhere, for the time being at least. Whether he did it or didn't do it, this was nothing more than an attempt at profiteering from a tragedy that struck two families. We as a society have become just too wrapped up in the voyeurism to really see ourselves. Like staring at the sun blots out what is right in front of you, this over stimulation of our moral indignation has blurred our own immorality. I hope that this just might be a step in reversing the course.
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Somehow, No Matter How You Say It, This Just Seems Wrong.
2006-12-02 16:20:14
It's not unusual for people to take a successful advertising campaign and with a little creative license mold it into something for their own use. Got Milk? Quite catchy, right? No surprise that it was borrowed for so many other advertisements, but this. This just isn't right.
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It Must Be Fall
2006-12-02 16:20:14
Back in travel status, I had to attend some training in New York, which kept me quite busy this week, hence the absence of postings. I drove up I-95 from New York to the Cape. It's definitely Fall . I think I missed the best part by a bit, but there are still some brilliant colors to be seen. I didn't have any time to sight-see, but I grabbed a couple of shots from the side of the road. I think I will get over to Mystic Seaport sometime this month. I'd like to get out to the Vineyard or Nantucket too. Posts forthcoming as they happen. My fiance is supposed to be flying up to join me for Turkey Day, but she hates flying(and here I am a pilot, just the luck huh?) Anyway, I'm pretty excited, this will be the first time she's visiting me on the road, it should be great, finally I might see a lot of the things around here I've been saving until we could share them.Mystic SeaportTall ShipColorsColorful Cape Cod
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Here I Go Again
2006-12-02 16:20:14
Back on the road, this time to the Northeast. Gonna be spending several weeks in Cape Cod, I'll be posting more regularly after I get settled in. Stay tuned.
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Make sure to double check your ballot
2006-12-02 16:20:14
As this Miami Herald article indicates, there have been some problems with the voting machines. Just make sure to review your ballot before submitting so your are actually voting for the person you intended to. To do that you first must vote, which I urge you to do, early, on the 7th, absentee, whatever works, but please do your part.
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Gratuitous Dirty Photos
2006-12-02 16:20:14
Just before my last trip we took our pup to get his coat buzzed since it was so hot. Well shortly afterwards, we took him to Al Lopez dog park. It had rained pretty heavily the night before and after a bit of playing with the two other pooches there, Gideon discovered a mud puddle. In the time that we've had him he's never really gotten dirty before, so, he was in heaven.Given the photo below, you might even say he was in Hog's Heaven:It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it.
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Just Say NO to Electrified Fences in Tampa
2006-12-02 16:20:14
I heard at the OSHNA membership meeting that there was a proposal before City Council tonight regarding an amendment to allow electrified fences to be installed. I urge anyone in Tampa to contact their City Council person and express their opposition to this proposal. Seminole Heights residents, as well as those in other neighborhoods, have worked very hard to remove blighting structures such as barbed-wire fences, and this would be a enormous step backwards to neighborhood redevelopment and reduce quality of life where these fences would be installed. Not only would the proposal allow fences up to 10' tall, they require a perimeter fence around the electrified fence, so we get twice the eyesore. Despite mitigation efforts, they would also remain a safety hazard.You may contact City Council either through the below website:Tampa City Councilor phone them at:(813) 274-8131or fax to:(813) 274-7076
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1, 2 Freddy's Coming For You
2006-12-02 16:20:14
9, 10 Fred dy wants your PINMaybe its because of the Halloween season or perhaps it's because this was the one movie to truly give me nightmares when I was a teenager, but, when I drove up to the ATM at the GTE FCU on Florida near Busch, I would have sworn this was Freddy Kreuger staring back at me.....
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Went to Baja, saw turtles, and all I got was a lousy t-shirt
2006-12-02 16:20:14
Well its a pretty cool t-shirt actually, and I got some great photos of a beautiful place. I hope I get to come back next year. I did only manage one picture of a turtle however, unfortunately while I often get the best view from up front, things whizz by below us too quickly to get pictures of the critters we're looking for. Oh well, we saw a lot of turtles. And, I saw my first Blue Whale. Now that was impressive! It was positively huge.Here's my lowly one sea turtle photo, if you look closely, close one eye, hold your head slightly to the left, and do some shrooms you can see it's a turtle.
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Back In Time Again
2006-12-02 16:20:14
I was sifting through some older photos on the hard drive and came across some that my fiance took after Frances hit when we were living in Vero Beach. We evacuated to Tampa for both Frances and Jeanne. We were renting in Vero while I was in flight school and the first storm occurred right about the time I was to solo. Here's what we saw when following the storm from Tampa.Meanwhile the rention pond at the house in Riverview where we were staying was almost surfable:That 3 hour drive to Vero after Labor Day took us about 5 hours with traffic and detours. We had no idea what to expect.Along the way, scenes such as these were commonplace:Turning down our street after this long drive we were met with this:All in all our house fared very well, with no damage to the integrity of the structure, so no belongings were lost. Unlike many of our neighbors we dodged a bullet. Virtually our entire neighborhood and most of that part of Florida would have blue roofs for the next year.I've...
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Obnoxious Americans
2006-12-02 16:20:14
I hate to make hasty judgements on a limited number of experiences, but I felt I had to say something about the kind of people that are representing us when they travel abroad. This was my first trip to a non-English speaking country. I had taken 2 years of high school Spanish back in the late 80's and had not used it really since. Combine that with the fact that what I did learn was taught in a very very small rural high school, and, needless to say, my Spanish was a bit less than usable for most of my trip. With the patience of the locals and a little effort on my part, I was able to communicate most of the time. I have a new-found desire to reawaken those synapses and learn even more. Loreto is a tourist destination, however it is not like Cabo or Cancun where one can speak exclusively English during their visit. That is, in my opinion, part of the attraction. On with my observations. Most of the "Gringos" I encountered were from southern California or elsewhere. Too man...
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Back Home for Now
2006-12-02 16:20:14
Well, we brought the plane cross country on Thursday and Friday. No opportunity to take any pictures because of the haze that stretched from Arizona to New Orleans. Plus, we wasted no time during the fuel stops for anything but the basics. We flew across the gulf from the Delta to Tampa, and seeing those lights of St. Pete were a sight for sore eyes. It was good to be home. Our house is getting the exterior painted as I type. Complete change of colors and we're pretty excited to see how it turns out. Cranberry red, white and baby blue to earth tones. My next trip is to Cape Cod in November. Not a whole lot to see up there, particularly since I'm gonna miss most of the fall colors. Maybe I can get some good shots of Tampa, or Halloween or something. Stay Tuned!
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