The "Flaming" Geyser

It being a super nice day we decided to check out a local state park, so off to Flaming Geyser State Park. What a treat it was to stare in awe at the towering nine inch flame flickering up from the ground. 89% pure methaine the sign said, the sign is of course larger than the flame. The sign also said that there is a second geyser, the Bubbling Geyser, which is less impressive. That seems hard to believe, however we could not check it out from ourselves as the trail to the Bubbling Geyser had been washed out. To the defense of the Flaming Geyser, it apparently was much more impressive prior to the 1960's, it regularly had a flame of 6 feet or higher and was featured in Ripley's Believe it or Not. I have tried in vain to find an old photo of the Flaming Geyser in it's heyday, oh well, I'm sure you can use your imagination if you want too. Anyway here are a couple photos from the Flaming Geyser State Park.

Enjoy

Dan

The Rattlesnake

Living out here in North Bend, is wonderful, we are surrounded by iconic mountains, rushing rivers and beautiful green forests. But it seems that each year around June 1st we are reminded of dangers of the great outdoors. In the four years we have lived here, there have been drownings and mountain tragedies. The dangers that are inherent to visiting the great outdoors, should make one scared to venture out, content to look at all our beauty through a nice double pane window. But the beauty draws us out, and with risks weighed against the reward, we venture out from the indoors to nature and chance and natural selection (or divine will, if you rather).

Today we have received news that a young person has died on the Rattlesnake Ledge, a victim of a slip and 400 foot fall. This news polarizes two camps of thought, one says, why eating another bag of chips, that this is another good reason not to leave home. The other camp, will continue to allow nature to seduce them, but with a bit more vigor and they have been reminded that the end is always near. Which camp are you?

Here's a photo of the Ledge from Rattlesnake Lake.

The Transcontinental PNW Style

Today marks a couple of important dates in Pacific Northwest railroad history. First on this date in 1888, the Stampede Pass Tunnel was opened to traffic. The Northern Pacific had already been running trains over Stampede Pass via a switchback line that utilized a couple 2-8-0's. The tunnel's completion really truly opened the Puget Sound to the economic predominance that it has enjoyed ever since, first in Tacoma and then later in Seattle.

The second event of great importance, is the beginning of transcontinental service on the Milwaukee Road (Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul RR) in 1911. The Milwaukee Road was the last of the northern transcontinentals, unfortunately the Milwaukee Road's management would make GM's look good, if not great. The Milwaukee and its' Monroe Branch did eventually bring my grandmother's family to Carnation (my great-grandfather was a station agent). But the Milwaukee was a sorrowful line, that ceased to be in the early 1980's. Which has been previously discussed as a good thing, since we live so close to the Monroe Branch. The Northern Pacific's Stampede Pass line is still open and carries freight to this day.

So in honor of the two Northwest transcontinentals, here are pictures from both lines. I don't have any photo's of the Milwaukee as a functioning railroad, so the trail is the old Milwaukee roadbed.

Enjoy

Dan

Stampede Pass heading toward Lester

Happy Memorial Day

I started this post without an idea, that's not unusual however...Then I thought I would show photos of the Flag flying. The I realized most the photo's of the Flag flying are in cemeteries, and I thought well it is Memorial Day after all. Then I decided on this photo, it's hardly a dusty moment at all, I took it today, the Flag a sunset.

Enjoy

Dan

Memorial Day Weekend

Since the weather for Memorial Day weekend in Seattle is usually not so good, and the traffic is usually even worse, it has not been a big go do stuff holiday for me or my family. In fact other than a couple trips to California, I've really never done much special on Memorial Day weekend. So in honor of that, tonight's photos are of cows. The cows in the black and white photo are Californian and the other photo is of Ellensburg cows.

Dan

Just Like Jellystone Park

Here are three photos from Yellowstone Park circa 1951. Looks like the bears are mesmerized by all the chrome and American steel.

May 18th, 1980

May 18th, is a lot cooler day than May 17th, ice cream first made it to Seattle in 1872 and of course Mt. St. Helens blew up. Even though we all scream for ice cream, Mt. St. Helens is better story. As a native of the state and being old, I remember the eruption very well. It was a very sunny and warm Sunday, we were to go to my grandparents house for dinner that day. Between 8:30 and 9:00 AM, I heard two very loud thumps, I remember my 9 year old mind, thinking that the sound was like somebody throwing a couch on our roof. I told my mom after she woke up, but she thought I was crazy. Later in the day we found out that others had heard the same thing. Turns out it was the sound waves of the initial explosion as the eruption began. Just before we left for my grandparents, I turned on the TV to watch the Mariners take on the Chicago White Sox from old Comisky Park. And there in a split screen, apparently the M's were too important to break away from, was Mt. St. Helens, really erupting. I called my family to check it out and quickly my dad decided it was too dangerous to drive to Sumner, so dinner was off. Then the power went out, a mild panic hit the neighborhood, was it due to the eruption!? Of course not, but we looted anyway. So tonight a couple photos I took at Johnston Ridge back in the spring of 2006, the day before Cicely found out she was pregnant.

Enjoy

Dan

Why May 17th

Since it is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia Day, I give you this picture...

Actually, I was thinking about blogging about a family tree of mutt dogs, but I was busy. In general I'm very sorry and specifically I very sorry that International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is just about the most interesting thing that has happened on May 17th. May 17th is the lamest day ever. And I know busy isn't a good excuse to neglect America's Finest Blog, but I had a great weekend with the family and that is much better than this tired old blog. So enjoy the photo and remember the motto of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, "Avoid Idaho."

Dan

Cuz They're Good

To be fair to the real Red Sox fans that travel west to see their beloved team, they are group of knowledgeable and savvy baseball fans. They tend to cause a ruckus, high school football-like, atmosphere in the stands that is very fun, especially if they go to the airport sad because the M's won. However there is a second group of Red Sox fans, the so-called Red Sox Nation a group of local people, mostly from Maple Valley, that like the Red Sox for no reason other than the Red Sox are good. And having been to several Red Sox games over the years, I've asked many a Maple Valley Red Sox fan why they like Sox and the response is usually along the lines of, "cuz they're good." Happily more times than not over the years, I have been able get the last laugh, as the M's have come out victorious. Anyway, Cicely, Quin and I went to the game tonight, we had a blast, because Quin had a blast. But the Maple Valley Red Sox fans descended upon Safeco Field like a plague, in there Red Sox gear and with Bud Light in hand. Even though we left before the game ended, it's nice to know for a lot Maple Valley residents it was a long sad ride home. So here are photos of tonight's star, Ichiro; 2 home runs and a nice running catch in the 9th.

Enjoy

Dan

The Great Goldendale Fire

Today marks the 121st anniversary of the Great Goldendale fire. On May 13, 1888, seven blocks of Goldendale burned, most the town, also burned in the fire; the town's fire cart. Luckily it was Sunday and most the town folk went to a picnic out of town. Apparently, they did make it back to town in time to see it burn down and free a guy in the town jail. So in honor of those picnickers, tonight it is a photo of Goldendale, or at least the Newell House. Newell House was built by a guy named Newell, surprise, who was the horse king of the Pacific Northwest. Newell House was built in 1891, the Newell's only lived there briefly before the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Toppenish drew them away. Check out the Internet for more on Newell and his house.

Enjoy

Dan

The Transcontinental

Well today marks the 140th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental road at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869. This linking of the continent took place 4 years to the day that Union troops captured Jefferson Davis. This country can do amazing things when it wantts too. Anyway, I don't have photo's of Promontory, I've driven past it, but never stopped. I guess it's on the list of things to do. So without photo's of Promontory, I give you the next best thing, a Union Pacific stream locomotive. This particular locomotive a 2-8-0 is on a siding in Snoqualmie, Washington.
Enjoy
Dan

Mother's Day

There are three types of mothers in the world, great mothers, lousy mothers and Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. For those of us lucky enough to have the first type, this weekend is for them. A way to go out of the way to say thanks. Since my own mother has pasted on, I will look to Quin's mom to lavish gifts and thanks upon, for Cicely is a mother that belongs in the first group. So today's photographs are of mothers in celebration of the weekend.

Enjoy

Dan

Water

Water can be fun to photograph, especially on a still day. Water is also much more fun to photograph when it is not falling from the sky. And I call this America's Finest Blog...Yikes

Oh well enjoy the photos

Dan

Happy Birthday Jerrie

Well it is my sister's birthday today, so happy birthday Jerrie! In the past I would have made fun of her advanced age, but unfortunately somewhere along the line I got old too. It's just not that funny, once you are old too. The good news is we are both still alive and aging quite nicely. For tonight's picture, I give you a photo of my sister back from the Fife days. This is a nice example of pre-photoshop picture editing.

Enjoy

Dan

What to Blog

You see it is baseball season and the M's are good thus far. In fact the are a lot of fun to watch. So that means the routine I have basically set for my self over the last year or so, seems to be wandering out the door. Oh well, problem is I'm not doing enough interesting stuff to keep up with my own schedule and this blog. Hence you get lovely, posts like this, trying to justify the why America's Finest Blog is quickly becoming America's Lamest Blog.

So what to blog for tonight?

Ever mind, lame justification will do, as for photo's I give you a couple class photos from the roaring twenties. Both are my Grandfather's; first is from Newcastle circa 1921 and the second is from Bremerton circa 1925. Check out the tough kids in the Bremerton photo.

Enjoy

Yippee

The week has come to an end, the swine flu, sorry pig factory farmers, h1n1 has yet to strike me down, knock on wood. It amazes me that people don't take the warnings of everyone on the planet and still come to work sick. Anyway, more good news, so far the survivors of the h1n1 aren't turning into brain munching zombies. On the non h1n1 front, The Artist, a good friend of the blog, has an art opening tonight in Ellensburg, so if you can, swing by and check it out. It's at the Downtown D&M Coffee, you can't miss it, it's downtown. And remember please support your local artist, otherwise your grass will die. In not so good news, the "Making Work Pay," tax rebate, was apparently code for a middle class tax hike. Read about it here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090430/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_tax_credit_pickle

My guess though, is that later on this year, an one time additional tax credit will be granted to those of us rich folks making more than $10,000 or $13,000 if your are married. Next year is an election cycle, I just can't see the democrats going home to run for re-election and having to explain why they stole $600 from a family living large on $25,000 a year. So all things considered I thought that America's Finest Blog's dusty moment for today show be the old-timey car makes that are or have been towed into oblivion. Sorry Saturn fans no pictures of one of those.

Enjoy and cover your mouth

Dan