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Prairie Dog State Park: A Tale of Two Animals

October 2, 2012 by Pat Bean

Entrance to Prairie Dog State Park, Kansas — Photo by Mike Blair

“The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.” – Aristotle

Adventures with Pepper: Day 12   

Prairie Dog at Lake Arrowhead State Park in Texas. The Kansas prairie dogs were too quick for my camera. — Photo by Pat Bean

         Kansas’ Prairie Dog State Park was indeed a great place to spend the night, so I spent two.

Pepper and I had a peaceful camp site that offered a tree-framed view of Keith Sebelius Reservoir out Gypsy Lee’s rear window. While I saw several of the critters for which the park was named on the drive in, birds were the only wildlife I saw in the camping area.

These included an osprey that hung out in a tree overlooking the lake, killdeer near its shore, a lone great blue heron that sat on a rock in the water about a hundred feet from shore and turkey vultures frequently hovering overhead.

Black-tailed ferret, a cute little thing but deadly to prairie dogs, which make up about 90 percent of the ferret’s diet. — Wikipedia photo

But it was the sighting of the black-tailed prairie dogs roaming free in this high plains grass prairie that delighted me most.

That’s because I once participated in an endangered wildlife project that didn’t bode well for a pack of these prairie dogs that roamed the Utah-Colorado border.

The project involved transplanting endangered black-footed ferrets, thought to be extinct until a pack of about a dozen of them were discovered in 1981, into their midst. Prairie dogs are the black-footed ferrets favorite food, even though the two species are near the same size.

The discovered ferrets were captured and entered into a breeding program and some of the offspring began being transplanted back into the wild. Today there are slightly over 1,000 ferrets once again inhabiting North America.

If the number of prairie dogs I’ve seen in my travels are any indication, they are surviving quite nicely – thankfully.

Book Report: 54,312 words. The number is better than it sounds because I cut almost as much as I edited.

The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat:  I Can’t Afford It http://tinyurl.com/8vnkbw8 I’m pretty thrifty but it’s good to be reminded every now and then that it’s OK to say no to things we want but may not need.  

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Birds, Favorite Places, Lakes, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Three States and an Unanswerable Question

October 1, 2012 by Pat Bean

            Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge: Abraham Joshua Heshel

Adventures with Pepper: Day 1

Ring-billed gulls and a couple of coots at Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area. — Photo by Pat Bean

         I started my day in Wray, Colorado heading south on Highway 34, and soon crossed into Nebraska where I was greeted with a sign that welcomed me to “The Good Life.”

It was a ho-hum kind of drive. Except for a few passing empty cattle trucks and an occasional vehicle, I had the highway to myself. The kind of drive where my mind is free to ask itself important questions: like what’s the difference between a creek and a river?

That thought popped into my mind when I crossed over the Republican River, named for a branch of the Pawnees and not the political party, just in case you’re interested. The river was dry, unlike a full creek I had recently crossed over.

Monument to the Massacre Canyon Battle, where 69 Pawnee were killed by Sioux warriors. The site is just off Highway 34 between Swanson Lake and Trenton, Nebraska. I passed the historical marker denoting the turnoff and, belatedly, wish I had made a u-turn to go back and check it out. — Wikipedia photo

It was a question that stayed with me, so I later tried to find the answer.            Yahoo’s best answer was:  “A river is bigger, but the measurement is subjective. There is no standard, so it is really a matter of local opinion. The people who name it decide whether to call it a creek or river. As has been noted, a creek is usually a branch of a river, and doesn’t have branches of its own. But that is not a strict standard either.”

Too bad my question hadn’t been how much are two and two.

Plan A, meanwhile, was for me to stop at Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area in Nebraska for the night. It was a nice place, but the campground was far from the lake and isolated. So I decided to go with Plan B, which was to plop down to Highway 36 to Kansas and check out Prairie Dog State Park.

Thankfully, it was a great place to spend the night.

Book Report: Travels with Maggie is now up to 54,116 words. It should be more, but I had two days of no internet to double-check facts.

The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat: The Great White http://tinyurl.com/9f7rc4r Beautiful photos of an emblem of this country’s heritage. While America is far from perfect, I wake up every day feeling blessed to live in a country where this wondering, wandering old broad feels safe to explore its beauty with only my canine traveling companion, Pepper, as my security blanket.

I feel honored.

  Thank you http://transplantedtatar.wordpress.com for giving me the One Lovely Blog Award, As for seven random things about myself:  I’m an innovative cook; I love to ride rollercoasters; I have 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; I have a son-in-law who tells everyone I’m homeless instead of a full-time RV-er; School classmates called me cootie-brain, which hurt so much I couldn’t say the words for 40 years; I’m a cockeyed optimist but with enough cynicism in my brain that everything balances out; and I’m extremely grateful that I still have a huge zest for life.

I’ll use my Bean’s Pat to play things back.

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Favorite Places, Lakes, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Weekly Travel Theme: Foilage

September 30, 2012 by Pat Bean

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, California. I snapped this picture in the fall of 2011. — Photo by Pat Bean

Posted in Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Weekly Travel Theme | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments »

Weekly Photo Challenge: Color

September 30, 2012 by Pat Bean

“Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world.  Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try  adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture  begins to lighten up.” — Allen Klein

Downtown Dallas

Ceiling of the chapel in Thanksgiving Square in downtown Dallas. — Photo by Pat Bean

 

 

Posted in Art, Favorite Places, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments »

Will I Find a Clean, Nice, Safe Place to Spend the Night?

September 28, 2012 by Pat Bean

“Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time.” – Leo F. Buscaqlia

Adventures with Pepper: The End of Day Ten  

Pepper was a little confused when this quaint burro didn’t want to play. It was one of several pieces of garden art that added charm to Wray, Colorado’s, Hitchin’ Post RV Park. — Photo by Pat Bean

When I left Loveland, Colorado, this morning I was facing what looked like a 160-mile drive ahead of me before I would likely come across an RV park — and the ratings for it  in my Trailer Life Directory left something to be desired.

Perhaps that was simply because it was small. At least that’s what I hoped.

My love of driving little-traveled back roads means it’s not usual for me to find myself in this kind of situation. And when it does, the questions start running through my head.

Would I find a safe place to stay the night? Would the people I meet be trustworthy? Would I take a wrong turn? Would my RV suffer a flat tire or engine trouble?  Would the showers be clean?

All these woulds are what made one couple I met decide, after just one day on the road in a  brand new 40-foot RV, that the traveling lifestyle wasn’t for them. Instead they chose a wooded RV park an hour away from their home, bought one of its spaces, parked their RV and used it as a getaway cottage.

Even if they weren’t rat-a-tat-tatting on the post, I found these woodpeckers charming. — Photo by Pat Bean

A creative way to go, I thought, when the female half of the couple told me about their decision as we shared the park’s Laundromat at her home away from home.

But it’s not my way. Not knowing what lies ahead is part of the adventure.

I’ve learned two things over the years that ease my mind about facing the unknown.

The first, which I learned after suffering worn disk brake pads that left Gypsy Lee crying ouch every time I touched the brake pedal, was that I trusted myself to solve whatever problem fate threw at me.  In this case it meant sitting at Wiser State Park near Poteau, Oklahoma, for several days, while new brake pads for my RV were shipped in to a Poteau tire shop, as none were to be found in the small town.

And who doesn’t get a smile on their face when a deer emerges from the woods. While certainly not great art, the small wildlife statues did make me feel good about the place I had chosen to spend the night. — Photo by Pat Bean

The second is a Plan B. Once it was a night spent in a Wal-Mart parking lot to escape driving in a storm, and several times it’s been to keep driving until I do find a place that looks safe.

That would have meant quite a bit farther this day if the Wray, Colorado, place didn’t work out, I had noted when planning the day’s driving route.

Thankfully I didn’t have to do that. Wray’s Hitchin’ Post RV Park, despite its faded entrance sign, turned out to be a clean little gem run by a little old lady who used a walker to move about.

Book Report: Travels with Maggie up to 53,606 words.

The Wondering Wandrer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat: Catch of the Day: http://tinyurl.com/dy2alca There’s more to getting up early to go fishing than catching fish.

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Dogs, Journeys, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments »

It Could Have Been Texas

September 27, 2012 by Pat Bean

            “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” — Confucius

While there wasn’t much photographic about the RV park where I spent the night after leaving Rocky Mountain National Park, the night sky took my breath away. — Photo by Pat Bean

Adventures with Pepper: Day 10

After my fantastic day spent in Rocky Mountain National Park, the rest of the day and the next seemed way too ordinary.

And even in the dullest of places, there’s beauty if you look hard enough. — Photo by Pat Bean

I spent the night in a large commercial RV Park in Loveland, Colorado. It was a big let down after my two nights at the very scenic Elk Creek Campground, where I had a fantastic view of the Rocky Mountains.

The next day, as I drove east with no mountains in sight, the landscape reminded me of Texas, right down to the pumping oil rig in the middle of an agriculture field.

At one point, a tumble weed even blew across the road.

Book Report: Got up early and got an hour’s writing done. No way was I going to report no progress two days in a row. Travels with Maggie is now at 53,196 words.

The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat: Sunrise at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge http://tinyurl.com/dxureb6 One of my very favorite places, and I love this blogger’s photos of the place.

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Favorite Places, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Rocky Mountain National Park: Trail Ridge Road

September 26, 2012 by Pat Bean

            “I have found a dream of beauty at which one might look all one’s life and sigh.” – Isabelle L Bird.

Isabelle was a 19th century traveler who explored the Rocky Mountains on horseback in 1873 and wrote about her adventures in “A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains.”  Her travels make mine and Pepper’s seem whimpy in comparison.

Way up high in sight of glaciers. — Photo by Pat Bean

Adventures with Pepper: Day Nine

I never tire of looking at aspen trees in the fall. — Photo by Pat Bean

I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect day to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. Pepper and I took Highway 34 through the majestic mountains. More commonly known as Trail Ridge Road, Gypsy Lee took its steep, winding route up to over 12,000 feet with ease and grace. She was the hero of the day.

While I didn’t linger long at any stop, I stopped often. It was not my first visit to the park, and this day was just another part of my journey elsewhere.

The day was one of those that make my favorite travel quote so meaningful.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters.” — Ursula k. leGuin

Book Report: I was halted in place by stormy weather yesterday.

Of course the elk was a traffic-stopping sight. I took this photo through the front windshield of my RV, Gypsy Lee. — Photo by Pat Bean

It was the perfect day to do a lot of writing. But I didn’t. Of course I have regrets. Travels with Maggie still stuck at 52,186 words.

But in my own defense, it’s the first time since I started reporting my progress that I hadn’t made any forward movement. And I’ll certainly be too proud to admit that it didn’t go anywhere tomorrow. At least I think I will be.

The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat:  Snow in the Wetlands http://tinyurl.com/99wvgaq All about snowy egrets. This bloggers words and photo brought to mind a poem by Emily Dickinson:

 Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune–without the words,
And never stops at all…

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Elk Creek Campground

September 25, 2012 by Pat Bean

            “Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a landmine. The landmine is me .After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces together.” – Ray Bradbury

The scattered rain showers that slowed my journey for a day turned the sky overhead into an ever-changing kaleidoscope. — Photo by Pat Bean

Adventures with Pepper: Day Eight

Robins, as well as magpies, white-crowned sparrow and dark-eyed juncos were plentiful around the campground. — Photo by Pat Bean

While I was eager for the next step of my journey, crossing Rocky Mountain National Park, I let a little rain delay me. My RV, Gypsy Lee, doesn’t like slick roads.

So instead, I spent the day catching up on laundry, giving my RV a good Pine Sol cleaning and simply enjoying the sights around the campground. .

It rained off and on until late afternoon, but then, as the weatherman had promised, the sun came out and bode well for my next day’s travels.

Book Report: Just a half hour this morning because I wanted to get on the road. Travels with Maggie is now up to 52,186 words.

The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat: A Red-tailed Hawk Survives a Tornado http://tinyurl.com/924×859 I love happy ending stories. Don’t you?

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Birds, Dogs, Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments »

Johnny B. Goods and Rabbit Ears Pass

September 24, 2012 by Pat Bean

 

Up high on Highway 40 near Rabbit Ears Pass. — Photo by Pat Bean

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” – Emily Bronte

Adventures with Pepper: Day Seven  

The rock formation that gives Rabbit Ears Pass its name. — Photo by Pat Bean

          After my daily morning walk with my canine traveling companion, Pepper, I took a second walk to bird watch with the park’s nature and wildlife interpreter, Holly. It was a pleasant walk but the birds in this high, quickly cooling elevation had mostly already flown south for the winter.

Magpies, starlings, black-capped chickadees, Cassin’s finches and yellow-rumped warblers were the only birds still hanging around this morning.

So bidding farewell to Yampa River State Park, Pepper and I continued our journey east on Highway 40, stopping when we came to the town of Steamboat Springs. The ciy has no steamboats, but it does have some natural hot springs. I had visited this ski town in the early 1980s when it was a minor dot on the landscape.

This day its bustling crowds, even though snow hadn’t fallen yet, reminded me of in tourist places like Park City, Utah, and Jackson, Wyoming. It was a much bigger dot now.

I found a parking spot, and telling Pepper to guard the castle, I went in search of breakfast.

I found it at Johnny B. Goods bar and diner, where I took a seat at the bar rather than wait for a table. Johnny, himself, waited on me. I had the special Johnny B. Goods breakfast, which was excellent, and enjoyed the lively chatter going on in the place. Eating alone, with my Kindle in hand, always gives me a great opportunity to eavesdrop, which I love to do.

Highway 34 passes three lakes on the way up to Rocky Mountain Park, Lake Granby, Grand Lake and Green Mountain Reservoir, which is shown above. — Photo by Pat Bean

I didn’t learn anything worthy of a story this day, just that everyone around me seemed to be having a grand old-time. So, carrying half of my breakfast in a to-go box, I made my way back to Gypsy Lee and Pepper to continue the day’s journey.

The drive took me up and over 9,426-foot Rabbit Ears Pass, and through a landscape already touched by the Midas finger of autumn.

After the pass, we passed through Hot Sulphur Springs, which used to be so rowdy on the last day of the month, which was pay-day, that the town celebrated Halloween a day early. While the town is not quite so rowdy these days, the early Halloween tradition is still observed.

At Granby, we turned north onto Highway 34, and followed it to Elk Creek Village just outside the southwest entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

What a great day!

            Book Report: Grumble, grumble growl. I spent a half hour working on Travels with Maggie this morning, then a second half hour recovering what the computer ate when I hit a couple of wrong buttons. I’m not exactly sure what I did, but the control Z recovery didn’t work. 51,902 words.

The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.

Bean’s Pat: 12 Things My Grandmother Told Me http://tinyurl.com/bmymnuo These are almost as good as some of my grandmother’s saying’s to me, like “You’re going to hell in a hand basket,” when I got into mischief; or “The devil’s beating his wife,” if it was raining while the sun was shining. Did your grandmother tell you these kind of things?

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Birds, Favorite Places, Lakes, Nature, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary

September 23, 2012 by Pat Bean

“Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, are of the fullness of your presence rather than the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement.” — Alice Koller

One Brown Pelican

A lone brown pelican photographed in Aransas Bay during a trip out to see whooping cranes on Matagorda Island. It was a cool day and I had the choice of standing alone on deck or enjoying the camaraderie of other mothers inside the boat’s cabin. I did both. — Photograph by Pat Bean

I daily count my blessings, and one of them is that I enjoy my own company. That’s not to say I don’t like people. I do, and I need them.

Just not all the time.

 

 

Posted in Birds, Favorite Places, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments »

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