Riding the Rails: October 2008

[masthead image: Riding the Rails]

Looking at the image above, you can imagine that to the left, just out of the shot, are the train robbers on horseback running to overtake the engine. Or maybe to the right, just out of the shot, is the depot in some wild west movie town, perhaps depicted by Old Tucson. Or a hundred other possibilities.

This is some of the equipment in the Heritage Fleet of the Union Pacific Railroad, a specially maintained collection of equipment that is run to celebrate and educate about the history and magnificent role that railroads, and especially the Union Pacific, have played in the development of the American way of life.

This particular train is powered by a steam engine, UP # 3985, popularly known as the "Challenger". This is the largest steam locomotive operating anywhere in the world today, and it consistently draws crowds of fans (railfans, sometimes referred to as "foamers") who chase it along its route where ever it goes. I had the opportunity to ride the rails on this wondrous beauty as it came through the upper plains on an excursion this fall, thanks to a great friend who made arrangements for me to accompany him on an invited ride (I still owe you one, buddy!).

This picture was taken south of Onawa, Iowa, near Blencoe, a tiny town on the broad Missouri River bottom. I don't have a panoramic lens, but I love the way this picture shows the train stretching out across the expanse and how the soybean fields resemble native prairie, as it might have looked in the early part of the last century when the Challenger was originally in revenue service.

For more, check out my slideshow of pics from this little fan trip.

The Beans They Are A Turning: September 2008

[masthead image: The Beans They Are A Turning]

A question I have difficulty answering is "What is your favorite season?" Normally, I reel off the name of the season I am in. I love winter for the snow and the increased chance to observe wildlife, birds especially, near my home. I love summer because I can get things done outside and it is normally a relaxed time of year. Springtime is great because everything seems new again, after the last cold days of winter when things are beginning to thaw out.

But maybe my real favorite is Autumn. The fall of the year. This is when all the year's work pays off for farmers and they take in their harvest. This is apple picking time. This is when the school year starts up again. Football is played. Leaves change color. I was born in the early Autumn.

And so maybe it is natural that I spend free time wandering the countryside near my home, admiring the fields as they begin their change from green to golden, then slowly to brown on their way to bare as the crops are harvested. This picture is of a field of soybeans about three miles from my home, the sun shining on them on a perfect fall day - not too hot, not too cool. The plants are just beginning to shade toward the golden side. It won't be long now before the oilseeds are taken from the pods and the money is in the bank and the farmer will begin his long wait for spring planting again.

Bad Lands Good View

[Masthead Image: Badlands]

The Badlands were named for their imposing appearance, and some believe that they also retain that name for the "bad guys" who used to come here to hide out from nineteenth century lawmen. I relived some childhood memories on a recent trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. My parents are frequent visitors to the area and they invited me to join them on their last trip. This picture was taken in Badlands National Park, using my Kodak Z760 digital camera (as usual, no special technique here - just "Auto").

I hadn't been to the Black Hills since I was a teenager and I really couldn't believe how things had changed. Some things, though, never change. Wall Drug still has nickel coffee and free ice water. Jackalopes still roam the plains. Wild Bill Hickok is still the reigning king of Deadwood.

I recommend South Dakota in general and the Black Hills area in particular to anyone looking for a very accessible vacation. You can focus on one area or attraction for a long weekend, or spend a week or longer and really become familiar with some of the natural features and more tourist oriented attractions.

Depending on your personality and preference, there are some times you may want to keep in mind. The large Sturgis, SD motorcycle rally happens in late summer and is a spectacle to behold in and of itself, but it makes hotel accommodations very scarce. Similarly, there are regional celebrations, rodeos, and other groups with national get-togethers scheduled for the Black Hills every year. Do your due diligence and phone ahead or use the internet to discover the best and worst times to go.

Modern Art May 2008

[masthead image: Modern Art]

Just in case anyone noticed, there wasn't an April Image. Was that my April Fool's Joke or did I just forget? The world will probably never know.

So what's up with the couch? Well, I helped a friend move his couch and love seat out of the house tonight in preparation for the new furniture. That got me thinking - I have owned the same, oh, so beautiful couch for over ten years. While it isn't modern art, it certainly isn't what you would purchase from your favorite furniture store. I bought it used, and I can tell you it is definitely a turnoff for some of my more decorating-sensitive friends. But it is so, so comfortable.

It has moved with me three times (two apartments and my current home). Despite several moves, job changes, even a couple of promotions (yeah, that's right potential employers, you only get the quality you pay for!), this couch has stayed with me. Tonight, I got home late, descended the three steps into my den, and collapsed onto the couch just as I have a thousand times before. I have friends who will turn down an offer to sleep in my guest bedroom, instead opting for this couch. I could certainly afford to replace the couch, and yet I keep it. It is nice to know that no matter what changes, some things remain the same.

This has been a predominant meme for me this week and month. I just got back in touch with a friend from college. I hadn't talked to him for years (I don't really want to date myself, but let's just say the last time I talked to him was before I bought this couch!). One of the main themes of our conversation is how much certain things have changed in the years gone by. Specifically, we went to a wonderful little college in Pella, Iowa, where the campus has undergone numerous capital improvements in the last decade. Despite the changes on campus, the feeling I got when I first visited the school, long before I would register as a student, still hits me when I go back for a visit. Something about the place, the people, and the general spirit of the school just stick with me.

Changes face me on several other fronts in my life right now - some with huge positive potential, some maybe not so much, but all represent steps in a progression. Progress is a wonderful thing. Well, wonderful so long as I get to keep my couch!

Hay - Turkeys! March 2008

[masthead image: Hay - Turkeys!]

I almost called this shot "Turkey in the Straw", a salute to the classic tune. Cruising down the highway one afternoon I spotted a flock of turkeys in a hay field. Normally no big deal in this part of the world, but this time I spotted the lone turk perched atop the bale. If ever there was a classic shot, well, I guess this was as close as I'd get that day.

Only a week before, I had just missed the opportunity to photograph two bald eagles circling overhead in this same spot. This day, I brought the trusty Taurus to a halt on the shoulder and immediately exited, camera in hand, and snapped this quick shot. Passing motorists wondered, I am certain, why I cared about a few turkeys.

Favored by Benjamin Franklin to be our national symbol, turkeys are one of my favorite birds. I guess this is because they appear somewhat clumsy and maybe even a bit goofy. Like me, someone is apt to point out!

I have friends who enjoy hunting turkeys every spring and who are very proud of their well-developed calling techniques. I know very little about turkey calls - I am not a hunter myself - but many of these fine folks are very involved in this activity and the use of proper calling technique can become a whole sport unto itself. Many of these same hunters also call for ducks, geese, and other birds as well as varmints and other predators.

I had stopped last weekend to take a picture of three turkeys in the middle of the road right in front of me, when suddenly and seemingly without reason, they all took flight. If you've never been fortunate enough to watch this, you really should make the effort. It is one of the least graceful take-off maneuvers you will ever see, so inelegant in fact that you'll probably remember it forever. It is almost indescribable, except to say it is noisy and you wonder if it will work.

When I looked around, I finally discovered why the trio flew away, as a very young deer had jumped from the woods into a ditch and scared the turkeys. As they began their awkward ascent, the deer also got spooked and went back into the woods, leaving me without a photo-op!

As far as this picture goes, nothing special in terms of camera settings, just good old "Auto" on a hazy day. The cropped version serving as my masthead at http://shannonehlers.com is a bit more clear, so be sure to check that out!

What's In A Name: February 2008

[Masthead Image: What's In A Name?]

Although I usually am taking pictures of wildlife or scenic landscapes for inclusion here, I never quite know where a meaningful photo op will pop up, so I keep my camera handy as often as I can remember. This particular case was a little unusual.

Does anyone remember, before emergency 911 service, when there were no street signs on rural roads? Today I was taking my usual weekend drive when I realized that the road I was on, Larpenteur Memorial Road, is a route that I've traveled hundreds of times, maybe thousands without paying any attention to the name on the street sign. It's not really an issue - I don't normally need street signs, global positioning systems, or maps to get where I'm going.

For some reason today was different, and I looked up at this sign while I waited at an intersection for an oncoming dump truck to pass. What struck me about it was that I didn't have any idea who Larpenteur was. Resolving to learn about Larpenteur, I quickly snapped a shot of the sign to keep on my camera as a note to follow up.

Later, a quick bit of research online reveals that Larpenteur Memorial Road was named for Charles Larpenteur, a French fur trader. Larpenteur was also something of a writer, as he kept a narrative of his experiences trading furs on the upper Missouri river (PDF here). The road named in his honor winds through the Loess Hills and forms part of the Loess Hills Scenic Byways system of tourist routes.

I may buy the book. I'll definitely travel Larpenteur Memorial Road again.

Snowy Valley: January 2008

[Masthead Image: Snowy Valley]

The second day of 2008, it was the last day of my winter break before returning to work. Although eight degrees Fahrenheit is not ideal weather for tanning, I'd soon enough be returning to the laboratory and my perpetual fluorescent tanning sessions. I thought I'd get out and enjoy some wintry cold, since later in the week we are looking forward to a brief warm-up and the inevitable melting, muddy mess that will accompany it. I always give myself the gift of one day entirely to myself during the holidays, and today was it.

This picture was taken with my trusty Kodak Z760, in "Auto" point-and-shoot mode, and I call it the Snowy Valley. I spent most of the morning and early afternoon just driving around and enjoying the scenery in our beloved Loess Hills, a regional geological phenomenon existing in only two places: where I live here in western Iowa along the Missouri River , and also in China.

There is ample information online about the Loess Hills, so rather than link to it, I will let you Google/Wiki/Sprocket it yourself. Sorry, I just threw that "Sprocket" thing in there. There's really no search engine or online encyclopedia called Sprocket. Happy New Year, and enjoy the image. I will try to put up a photo essay on my self-indulgent walkabout over on the main blog soon.