06-01-2015 

We're almost ready to head out on our summer trip.

This year the plan is to go to the Canadian Rockies.

Rather than send out bulk mail emails of a few pictures every week or so, we're going to try using a blog format. This is it. We will still only post when we have worthwhile photos (and wifi). But we think that will mean every few days instead of every week or so. And we think we may also include more of a narrative - where we are etc. - nothing too fancy. And we will still probably send out some emails, but probably simply linking to this blog. 

Please let us know what you think. And please zap us a note if doesn't seem to be working. Thanks, 

Dennis and Mike


06-08-15

Mike says the most important part of this trip is to get more pictures of him with Smokey.

June 11, 2015

 

So, we left Austin on the afternoon of June 9 and drove to South Llano River State Park in Junction. We love it there. 

 

And we saw many great birds and animals. We didn’t get pictures of everything (like the painted buntings would not sit still) but here are some.

Summer Tanager

A young buck

Hummingbird

White Winged Dove

A mother Lark Sparrow feeding her young

Jack Rabbit

And then we were on the road again. This is the view of the west Texas highway near Bakersfield, TX.

That night we stayed at Balmorhea State Park.  Balmorhea is an oasis. In the 1930s, CCC workers built the park and a motel and a large swimming pool at the spring. Then they channeled canals out into the basin for agricultural irrigation.

View of the pool

Storm approaching from the south in the late afternoon

White Tailed Rabbit

We plan to stay at Balmorhea a second night (to swim more) and then head on towards Carlsbad Caverns tomorrow.