Nesting Sandhill Crane by junge1
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Description
For my Alaska cruise I decided to drive to Seattle (cruise was from Seattle through the Inner Passage to Skagway and back) rather than fly. I didn't waste any time driving through Nevada, blew the dust out and made it to Fallon, Nevada where I took the previous picture.
Farmers is an insurance company that prides itself on quality service. 45 years ago, when I was under 25 years of age and in the service they wouldn't give me the time of day, never mind automobile insurance. Now I don't need them, but I thought the old car in front of their office looked nice. The picture was taken in Fallon, Nevada.
Once I made it past Reno into Northern California I took my time and stopped occasionally to take pictures. I saw a big cloud of white dust blowing off the Southern end of Goose Lake which straddles California and Oregon. As soon as I stopped to take a picture of the dust cloud I saw some sort of fruit tree in bloom, and then, when I looked over my shoulder I saw what I thought was a decoy, until it moved. It was a nesting Sandhill Crane, right by the roadside.
Once I got to Washington I met Tara (auntietk). We had some really good seafood and on Saturday we drove across the Cascades to Eastern Washington. It was a nice drive and we stopped often and took pictures. Most of the time we took similar pictures, but I also had a chance to watch her in action, taken pictures of stuff I would never dream of taking. It was educational.
On the return trip across the Cascades we stopped several times and I marveled at all the snow. Tara explained to me that there had been avalanches, debris of trees and rocks could still be seen. Where the road looped up the mountain the avalanches crossed several loops of road at a time. About 15 minutes before we made it to the summit of Washington Pass an avalanche had come down and blocked the highway. Nobody got hurt, but it was estimated that it would take 8 hours to clear the highway.
I had never seen an avalanche come down and block a highway, especially in May. When I left Arizona we had a string of 13 days of 100F plus and it was 107F the day I left.
Since I wanted to make it back because my boat sailed the next day at noon we made a detour to the south and crossed Stevens Pass. In the process we went through Leavenworth. The name of that town should be changed to something German, because this town looke about as German as it could. Tara told me that she had originally planned to go to that place. Either way, it ws a really nice drive, the weather was perfect (why couldn't it have been like this when I was stationed there in the 60s? Maybe it is Global Warming)?
Tara posted some wonderful pictures from this trip and I will post some of other places I saw on my way up to Washingtom.
This picture was taken on 19 May 2009.
Thanks for viewing and commenting and any favs, and thanks for the welcome back,
Sig...
Comments (39)
Faemike55
Outstanding photo and nice completion to the story that Tara told us and showed us with her pictures. thank you very much for sharing this with us!
NoelCan
Great shot..
pops
Great photo and story
Digitaleagle
Sounds like you had a great trip thanks for sharing, excellent shot to go with it!!!!
M2A
Pretty "swimmer" :D
lyron
Wonderful capture!!!
PSDuck
Hey, the wife and I did the 'Passage in September! From Vancouver BC to Skagway. Small world, eh? Farmers...erghk! We are currently suing them for flagrant breach of contract. On the positive side: fine photo!
Minda
beautiful photo nice story sig superb capture...
Hendesse
Excellent shot, I can feel the wind.
jeroni
Fantastic image. I like very much the colors
emmecielle
Fantastic capture, Sig... and interesting story! :)
casmindo
Someday my friend we need to share some lens time! Great shot one must always be ready! Cas
virginiese
excellent shot ! Nice to see you back on Rendo :-)
densa
wonderful shot it sounds like you had a great adventure
flavia49
It sound that you had a great fun!!! Great picture!
gypsyflame
Beautiful capture and loved the reading!
annie5
Fantastic picture Sig..well captured! Thanks for the info :)
MrsRatbag
What a wonderful capture of something most of us never get to see!
flora-crassella
eine sehr hübsche Szene!!!!
durleybeachbum
So interesting to hear about your itinery, and a great pic as well!
renecyberdoc
leavenworth is that the military prison over there??: interesting to read the stoty of your journey,was real fun i guess.
sandra46
wonderful!
dbrv6
Nice capture and better tales of your adventure.
thevolunteer
Nice capture. I didn't know they made their nests in the middle of the water like this. Hope you had lots of fun taking pictures. Aloha
elfin14doaks
IT sounds like you and Tara had quite an adventure. I have seen some of the photos already. This is a great capture.
jocko500
going places I see. wonderful shot here
orig_buggy
excellent capture ...they are sooo elusive!!
danapommet
Rare capture Sig and very well done. Awesome photo and great story. Dana
auntietk
What a wonderful shot! It's so interesting to see such a thing. I love seeing this beautiful bird in its natural surroundings, with the grasses and reeds and whatnot. Such a peaceful scene!
bmac62
Good rundown on your travels. It is a great thing to meet with others from Renderosity and share ways of doing things. Everybody has good ideas...makes you say to yourself, "Why didn't I think of that?" Bill from the first Leavenworth :-)