Here are some great webcams from around Lake Superior.
It appears as though Mother Superior is beginning to lose some of her ice. It is too cold for surfing and paddle boarding but that won't stop me from planning some trips for this upcoming summer.
The Grand Marais, MN Camera is showing some chilly ice waves today:
Duluth webcam is showing alot of ice still collecting in the bays:
This is a great interview with the owner of Captain Fin Company. He is a very creative individual. He worked with the company Futures to start getting his fins made with graphics.
I recently found some really interesting DIY sleeper builds for cargo vans. In Arizona, I saw quite a few people living in their cargo vans. With easy access to BLM land, and many innovative off grid practices, the Southwest is the ultimate climate for living in a small RV or van during the winter.
The follow pictures of cargo van sleepers can be used for full or part time recreational vehicle enthusiasts, or for full or part time expediters.
Here are a few pictures to give you some ideas when constructing your own sleeping quarters:
I really like the way this builder constructed this sleeper in his E350 Unicell Ford. This vehicle design allows for more headroom and a much more spacious interior living and cargo space.
Took a four wheeler trip from Parker out to the Desert Bar. It is also known as the Nellie E Bar and is open on the weekends.
The name "Nellie E" originates from the old mining claim.
They used to mine copper and then take it to the smelter and get gold.
Dad and I with a picture of the trail we took out to Desert Bar in the background.
We journeyed out there on a well traveled but challenging off road trail. It was interesting to see all of the vehicles taking this route, as it was tough going due to all the large rocks and challenging ascents. Here are some more pictures from the trip out to Desert Bar.
Colorado River viewed from off road trail to Desert Bar
The Desert Bar
This is a picture taken while standing on the third story of the bar. It is only a little after noon and already very busy.
Cage over Mineshaft
The area is filled with old mines and even some that are still operating.
Under my thumb The girl who once had me down Under my thumb The girl who once pushed me around It's down to me The difference in the clothes she wears Down to me, the change has come, She's under my thumb Ain't it the truth babe? Under my thumb The squirmin' dog who's just had her day Under my thumb A girl who has just changed her ways It's down to me, yes it is The way she does just what she's told Down to me, the change has come She's under my thumb Ah, ah, say it's alright Under my thumb A siamese cat of a girl Under my thumb She's the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world It's down to me The way she talks when she's spoken to Down to me, the change has come, She's under my thumb Ah, take it easy babe Yeah It's down to me, oh yeah The way she talks when she's spoken to Down to me, the change has come, She's under my thumb Yeah, it feels alright Under my thumb Her eyes are just kept to herself Under my thumb, well I I can still look at someone else It's down to me, oh that's what I said The way she talks when she's spoken to Down to me, the change has come, She's under my thumb Say, it's alright. Say it's all... Say it's all... Take it easy babe Take it easy babe Feels alright Take it, take it easy babe.
"Prodigal Son"
Well a poor boy took his father's bread and started down the road
Started down the road
Took all he had and started down the road
Going out in this world, where God only knows
And that'll be the way to get along
Well poor boy spent all he had, famine come in the land
Famine come in the land
Spent all he had and famine come in the land
Said, "I believe I'll go and hire me to some man"
And that'll be the way I'll get along
Well, man said, "I'll give you a job for to feed my swine
For to feed my swine
I'll give you a job for to feed my swine"
Boy stood there and hung his head and cried
Cause that is no way to get along
Said, "I believe I'll ride, believe I'll go back home
Believe I'll go back home
Believe I'll ride, believe I'll go back home
Or down the road as far as I can go"
And that'll be the way to get along
Well, father said, "See my son coming home to me
Coming home to me"
Father ran and fell down on his knees
Said, "Sing and praise, Lord have mercy on me"
Mercy
Oh poor boy stood there, hung his head and cried
Hung his head and cried
Poor boy stood and hung his head and cried
Said, "Father will you look on me as a child?"
Yeah
Well father said, "Eldest son, kill the fatted calf,
Call the family round
Kill that calf and call the family round
My son was lost but now he is found
Cause that's the way for us to get along"
Hey
This is a video of the amazing artwork of Eric Budd. He was my 9th grade teacher and I learned alot from him. I am happy to see he is creating art, as I have lived by many of his words of wisdom. When I was in his class, I was a disrespectful student but he took my suggestion to bring in a mortician for career day, which was one of the highlights, as we were allowed to ask questions and the mortician gave us answers and didn't seem to be bullshitting. I remember Mr. Budd getting after me for reading truck driving magazines in class, and I told him I didn't have to pay attention because I was going to be a trucker. He told me it would probably be too confining of a profession...and he was right.
Anyway, check out the video of his brilliant artistic creations.
This is a photo of the road being closed due to a piece of the rock cliff falling in the road. It is too big to move, so they closed down this section of the road. Check out the article in the Parker Pioneer.
Along Arizona's rivers is where 80% of the state's plant and wildlife species can be found. These riparian corridors support an incredible diversity of species.
Flew into Las Vegas but luckily left right after our flight arrived. Las Vegas is a fun place but the strip is overwhelming and the sidewalks need traffic control. I am surprised more people aren't hit by cars or buses on this busy stretch of street. This article from the LA times talks about the dangers of walking in Sin City. The Las Vegas Police Dept. used an undercover leprechaun to see if people would stop. And most of the drivers didn't stop. But it is still a safer place to walk when compared to Detroit, according to the article.
I have been a fan of this song for a long time. The song is old and so am I.
A few of my favorite lines,
"She's cooking salad for breakfast/
She's got tofu the size of Texas"-Beck
Classic Song from Beck:
"She's a melted avocado on the shelf"
Here are the lyrics:
"Nitemare Hippy Girl"
She took me off my guard with disappointment
I got sucked inside of her apartment
She's got dried-up flowers, flaky skin
A beaded necklace and a bottle of gin
She's a nightmare Hippy girl
With her skinny fingers fondling' my world
She's a whimsical, tragically beauty
Self-conscious and a little bit moody
It's a new age letdown in my face
She's so spaced out and there ain't no space
She's got marijuana on the bathroom tile
I'm caught in a vortex
She's changing' my style
She's a nightmare Hippy girl
With her skinny fingers fondling' my world
She's a whimsical, tragically beauty
Uptight and a little bit snooty
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
She's a magical, sparkling' tease
She's a rainbow choking' the breeze
Yo, she's busting' out onto the scene
With nightmare bogus poetry
She's a melted avocado on the shelf
She's the science of herself
She's spazzing out on a cosmic level
And she's meditating with the devil
She's cooking salad for breakfast
She's got tofu the size of Texas
She's a witness to her own glory
She's a never-ending story
She's a frolicking depression
She's a self-inflicted obsession
She's got a thousand lonely husbands
She's playing' footsie in another dimension
She's a goddess milking her time
For all that it's worth
