Some of you already know about "Duck Pizza." For you newbees, here's the inside scoop. Please turn up your speakers to enjoy the magnificently stirring music of Sir Edward Elgar.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Crater Lake
One last stop on our way home was to visit Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.
At almost 7,000 feet above sea level I thought I'd need oxygen to stay conscious enough to see the incredible blueness of this landlocked lake. Formed when the volcano cone weakened and collapsed, it is almost 2,000 feet deep at its deepest point and has no inlets nor outlets.
One can see from the trees around it that the winters must be brutal.
A smaller volcano cone created an island in the middle of the lake.
This photo shows how deep the snow gets here.
More knarly trees.
They call this remnant of another volcano cone "The Ghost Ship"
These "pinnicles" in a deep ravine south of the lake are the remains of lava the flowed out of the crater.
At almost 7,000 feet above sea level I thought I'd need oxygen to stay conscious enough to see the incredible blueness of this landlocked lake. Formed when the volcano cone weakened and collapsed, it is almost 2,000 feet deep at its deepest point and has no inlets nor outlets.
One can see from the trees around it that the winters must be brutal.
A smaller volcano cone created an island in the middle of the lake.
This photo shows how deep the snow gets here.
More knarly trees.
They call this remnant of another volcano cone "The Ghost Ship"
These "pinnicles" in a deep ravine south of the lake are the remains of lava the flowed out of the crater.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Pike Place Market
After exploring Banff and Jasper we had to make a big decision; whether to extend our trip by another 2,400 miles to see the northern part of British Columbia, or to head for home. Since we were averaging only about 200 miles per day, extending the trip would add another two weeks and bring us even closer to the Canadian winter. We'd already had several days of rain and decided to chart a course for home (see below).
We decided to stop in Seattle, WA to see the famous Pike Place Market. Notice the sign reads "Sanitary Public Market" but...
isn't that a pig standing over the door?
It was more a tourist attraction than a farmer's market.
They did have some great fish though and a ritual of throwing the fish around between various employees to have it wrapped and paid for. Kinda silly.
Lots of produce.
While it was supposedly the location of the first Starbuck's store, we had to try the artistic lattes at Cafe d'art - almost too pretty to drink.
We decided to stop in Seattle, WA to see the famous Pike Place Market. Notice the sign reads "Sanitary Public Market" but...
isn't that a pig standing over the door?
It was more a tourist attraction than a farmer's market.
They did have some great fish though and a ritual of throwing the fish around between various employees to have it wrapped and paid for. Kinda silly.
Lots of produce.
While it was supposedly the location of the first Starbuck's store, we had to try the artistic lattes at Cafe d'art - almost too pretty to drink.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Columbia Icefield
The Columbia Icefield is located in Jasper National Park. The Athabasca glacier is one of the largest remaining, and has been a tourist attraction for decades.
The "toe" of the glacier has retreated about 300 yards since 1860.
It is 1,000 feet thick in the middle.
The dirty brown look is crondulites (or somthing like that) - the little particles that snowflakes form around. When the snow melts, the particles remain.
The "Ice Experience" buses drive right out onto a designated area of the glacier where people can get out and walk around.
The blue cones indicate the "safe" boundary beyond which you might fall into a crevass.
These buses were specially built for Brewster - the Gray Line tour company of Canada.
I'd like to get some tires like this for the rig, except they cost $5,000 each!
Early August, and it's winter here already.
The "toe" of the glacier has retreated about 300 yards since 1860.
It is 1,000 feet thick in the middle.
The dirty brown look is crondulites (or somthing like that) - the little particles that snowflakes form around. When the snow melts, the particles remain.
The "Ice Experience" buses drive right out onto a designated area of the glacier where people can get out and walk around.
The blue cones indicate the "safe" boundary beyond which you might fall into a crevass.
These buses were specially built for Brewster - the Gray Line tour company of Canada.
Yes... it's cold and wet, and time to get back on the bus.
I'd like to get some tires like this for the rig, except they cost $5,000 each!
Early August, and it's winter here already.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Banff National Park
Here's an area map of Banff and Jasper National Parks. They reminded me a lot of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons with glaciers instead of bubbling pools.
Many of the glaciers have melted significantly over the last 150 years. HELLO! - they're remnants of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Do we expect them to last forever?
The melt water is very cloudy. How can the fish see where they're going?
Takawakalaka (or something like that) Falls.
My girl.
Yes, they have big mountains here too.
And beautiful lakes.
And some kind of goaty looking animals.
Eva got some good shots of these... Elks?
Before they turned their backs on her.
The two lovers at Lake Louise.
Were not exactly alone.
Many of the glaciers have melted significantly over the last 150 years. HELLO! - they're remnants of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Do we expect them to last forever?
The melt water is very cloudy. How can the fish see where they're going?
Takawakalaka (or something like that) Falls.
My girl.
Yes, they have big mountains here too.
And beautiful lakes.
And some kind of goaty looking animals.
Eva got some good shots of these... Elks?
Before they turned their backs on her.
The two lovers at Lake Louise.
Were not exactly alone.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Onward to Banff
It may sound strange, but after a few days of exploring Vancouver Island, we were getting antsy to move on. So we plotted a course to Banff, taking the BC Ferry from the Island to the Canadian mainland and the city of Vancouver. Then up the "Sea to Sky Highway" and across British Columbia.
These are some BIG ferry boats with two vehicle decks, several restaurants, a video arcade and probably some other stuff we didn't find. The crossing takes 90 minutes.
Glaciers everywhere - they haven't heard about global warming.
The melt water from the glaciers makes all the rivers and lakes a beautiful green.
Saw this old troll hanging around a bridge.
There were some big forest fires in BC which made everything a little smokey.
Here comes Eva (that little yellow speck) biking every day.
Here's where the rich people stay.
Here's where we stay. Hmmm, I think we're having more fun.
I forgot to bring fishin' gear so had to do a little "air fishin'."
These are some BIG ferry boats with two vehicle decks, several restaurants, a video arcade and probably some other stuff we didn't find. The crossing takes 90 minutes.
Glaciers everywhere - they haven't heard about global warming.
The melt water from the glaciers makes all the rivers and lakes a beautiful green.
Saw this old troll hanging around a bridge.
There were some big forest fires in BC which made everything a little smokey.
Here comes Eva (that little yellow speck) biking every day.
Here's where the rich people stay.
Here's where we stay. Hmmm, I think we're having more fun.
I forgot to bring fishin' gear so had to do a little "air fishin'."
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