Cellpic Sunday – 8 November 2020

Olympia, Washington.

On our trip to the western states, we had great weather almost every day. Truthfully with Washington state’s reputation for dreary, rainy weather, we only saw a couple of wet days. It was on a wet Wednesday morning we spent some time in the state’s capital city. We chose to drive by the state capitol buildings to see the grounds. I was struck by the fountains in front of the state’s legislative building.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Focus on the Subject

This week, Patti Moed challenges us to show some techniques for ensuring the viewer finds and focuses their eyes on the subject in your photos. She writes, “In this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #121: Focus on the Subject, we invite you show us an image that uses leading lines, patterns, color, contrast, selective focus, freezing the action, doorways or arches, or the eyes of humans or animals to draw our attention to the subject.” You can read her entire challenge post here.

Lindsay Montana – 20 Miles of Train Cars

Lindsay, Montana.

On our way to a family event in early summer, we headed to Glasgow, Montana. On the way, we passed through Glendive, Montana where we transitioned from I-94 to highway 200S. Soon after leaving Glendive, we noticed some grain cars on the tracks that paralleled the road. As we traveled along, we found the cars didn’t disappear after the usual mile or so that represents the typical length of freight trains in the upper Midwest. There were breaks in the line of cars all along the way, leaving enough space for a county road to cross the tracks.

Cellpic Sunday – 1 November 2020

Quincy, Washington.

Last week I shared an image from the scenic viewpoint at Mile Marker 139 on I-90 near Quincy. I hinted there is another attraction at the site. This is it, the Wild Horse Monument. If you like to hike, you’ll also find a trailhead here. It’s a short but relatively steep hike to the top where you can get an up-close look at those metal ponies.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – What a Treat!

This week Tina challenges us to share images that reflect the “Treat” part of that Halloween phrase, “Trick or Treat!” Her share of tips from a wildlife photographer is a treat in itself and advice that I could have used on my own recent trip through several national parks. You can read her entire challenge post here.

The Great Northwest – Traveling During a Pandemic

The Dakotas and points west.

Starting mid-September through mid-October, we spent 29 days traveling the country. Some probably consider us crazy to choose to travel during a 100-year pandemic. Trust me, neither of us wants to be sick, and at our tender years, we are more likely to have severe complications should we happen to contract Covid-19. So we were careful. For this post, I will share some of our thoughts on staying safe while traveling in these trying times.

Cellpic Sunday – 25 October 2020

Quincy, Washington.

Near mile marker 139 on I-90 is a rest area and scenic view. Of course, I had to check it out on our #RoadTrip2020. That bridge in the distance carries traffic on I-90 over the Columbia River. The river is wide here as a nearby dam downstream has created Wanapum Lake.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – My Hideaway

Fargo, North Dakota.

This week, Ann-Christine asks us to share our hideaways. She writes in part, “This week, I thought we should go inside for communication – A Hideaway, is a place to which a person can retreat for safety, privacy, relaxation, to seek seclusion or refuge. Where or What is Your hideaway?” You can read her entire challenge post here.

Please indulge me in a selfie or two for my challenge-response. My personal hideaway is often in front of a screen somewhere. I am a child of the 1950s and ’60s. I grew up in front of a TV screen, and when personal computers came around in the late 1970s, I had a new screen to sit in front of (some would say “hide behind,” and I suppose there is some truth to that.) In any case, the computer screen has served me well as I spent over half my career “hiding behind” screens in computer network data centers and in helping teachers use their screens to enhance their students’ learning.

Wolf Point Bridge – Born out of Tragedy

Wolf Point, Montana.

On a July trip to Montana, we traveled through the town of Wolf Point. At the Missouri River crossing between Roosevelt and McCone counties, we passed by a small park that led to the original Wolf Point Bridge. On our return home, we stopped to check out the bridge. A placard posted at the site of the park described some of the basic details of the bridge which I will share with you in a moment. A search on the Internet, however, told a more somber story of how this bridge came to be.

Cellpic Sunday – 18 October 2020

Big Lake, Minnesota.

Less than a week after the first day of autumn found us in Big Lake Minnesota at Lions Park for a Celebration of Life. As we awaited the start of the event, I happened to notice a row of evergreen trees, each with vines and small trees growing within the area at the base of each large evergreen.