Somewhere in Texas…
There are 150 wind farms in Texas according to Wikipedia, with a total capacity of 30,000 Megawatts. The largest wind farm in Texas is the Roscoe Wind Farm near Abilene. This company owns 627 wind turbines.
Photos
Beauty and function
Seattle’s Puget Sound is home to 13 working lighthouses
The Alki Point lighthouse is an operational fully automated facility operated by the US Coast Guard. It is the southernmost of the 13 lighthouses on the Sound. This is a beautiful structure when seen from any angle, and is often open for free tours. Sorry, you can’t take your dog to this one. We got this shot on a cruise from Seattle to Tillicum Island.
White Ibis teenager
You can tell this White Ibis is a “teenager” by the coloration of its feathers. When fully mature, it will have all white plumage. The brown mottled plumage on its neck shows it is immature. The pink color of the legs and beak will also turn bright red when full grown. We didn’t see Mom or Dad, so who knows what teenaged mischief this one was up to. We captured this shot on a trip to Naples, Florida.
Pay attention…for real
Yellowstone, beauty with some danger
They mean it!
The geysers cover the walkways with steam
Bison in Hayden Valley
Yellowstone National Park is 3500 square miles of Earth’s magnificence, mostly in Wyoming but there are parts in Montana and Idaho. We would recommend a trip to Yellowstone. Keep in mind that during “peak tourist” season there are thousands of people in the park. You’ll still be able to enjoy the park, the geothermal features, the scenery and the wildlife.
George in profile
Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota
As you drive past the entrance to Mt. Rushmore and head south, you’ll soon see a striking view of George Washington in profile. There is a decent sized strip lot for parking and viewing. Some stats: George’s face is 60 feet tall, his nose is 20 feet long and his mouth is 18 feet across. Oh, and don’t forget his eyes. They are 11 feet wide each.
Spring ready to be sprung
We’ve been having some warmer days, and that coupled with the calendar has resulted in some of the bulb sprouts making their appearance in our flower and herb garden.
Won’t be long until the blooms will be out in all their beauty. It’s about time to be over this winter thing and move on to a better year.
Pricey but worth it
Our site was about a 3 minute walk from the bus stop
Did you know that Orlando’s Disney World has a great RV and tent campground? Called Fort Wilderness, it offers a first class facility for an RV Disney experience. The RV sites are full hookup, paved and most have room for an RV and a tent. Rules allow up to ten people per site, so a great family vacation is possible. The campground is quite large, but shuttle busses run to the bus station that goes to all the Disney Parks, or to Bay Lake where you can catch a boat ride to one of the theme parks.
This boat runs the same times as the buses, and goes from Ft. Wilderness to the Magic Kingdom about every 15 minutes
Keep in mind that the sites at Fort Wilderness are pricey, to say the least. Most are well north of $120 per night. However it is a great way to “do Disney”. Walk to the shuttle, go to the bus station or Bay Lake for a ride to one of the parks. A while ago we had a nice family get together at Disney World. Sher and I stayed at the RV park, and our kids and their families were in the other hotels. Sher and I really enjoyed our vacation there. We loved taking the boat rides and sharing time with family.
High flying and loud
This is the time of year when the Sandhill Cranes head back north. Usually you hear them first, then have to search the skies for the typical “V” shaped formations. While the normal flying altitude is around 5,000 feet, they have been known to fly as high as 12,000 feet.
Took this picture this afternoon in our backyard. You have to look closely!
Click below for the sounds of one Sandhill Crane. Imagine how loud it is with all of the cranes squawking as they fly.
About the ugly and sometimes scary
Does a kettle of vultures circling in the sky give you pause?
Took this picture a few years back one early morning
Turkey vultures often get a bad rap. Yes, they are pretty ugly. They do perform a vital role in the ecosystem by cleaning up the carrion. It is for some kind of scary seeing a lot of them circling overhead. Here’s some other information:
- Yes, a group of turkey vultures circling is called a kettle of vultures
- They spread their wings to warm up or dry off, usually in the morning
- They can soar for hours at a time, rarely flapping wings
- They clean up the carcasses of dead animals, keeping diseases down
- Wing spans reach up to six feet
- They stick their heads in carcasses so no head feathers to keep clean
- Buzzard is not the correct name for turkey vultures
- They DO NOT kill dogs, cats, or children
Want more information? Here is the Wikipedia link for turkey vultures.
Remember the Alamo… and other stuff
We’ve been to San Antonio a couple of times. Once was over New Years and was it cold! However, San Antonio is a wonderful spot to visit. The River Walk gives you a chance to stroll along the river and have a great meal. You can also take a fun boat tour of the river. There’s lots to enjoy along the River Walk.
View of the River Walk from a pedestrian bridge
It was a nice warm day to explore downtown
The Alamo, a special place
The Alamo is just one of the many historic sites to explore and enjoy. Be advised the Alamo is one of the most important and revered places in Texas. No pictures are allowed in the edifice. And men, be sure to remove your hat upon entering.
Roadtirement 