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UP MPHBO is tied down in front of the lonely crew office in Phippsburg, Colorado with two engines and twenty cars and a crew on the way from the hotel to take it to Bond. Located 168 miles west of Denver at the west end of the Moffat Tunnel Sub, Phippsburg is the crew change point for trains on the Craig Branch which was one of the most significant coal-hauling arteries on the Rio Grande.
Only a few years ago, several coal trains a week passed through Phippsburg on their way to generating stations in Denver and beyond. However, the downturn of coal in the last decade has wiped out most of the coal traffic on the Craig Branch with the two remaining mines, Energy and Axial, expected to close in the next couple years. Today, besides the weekly MBOPH/MPHBO, the once-a-week LDZ11 to Craig, and the very occasional export coal train, not a whole lot happens in Phippsburg anymore.
An SD75I pulls an empty grain train (X-ETTSPI) with 2 CP units trailing behind. Don't think I've ever seen these lead something other than manifests, so this was a nice surprise.
The James R. Thompson Center (JRTC), originally the State of Illinois Center, is a postmodern-style civic building designed by architect Helmut Jahn. It's located at 100 W. Randolph Street in the Loop district of Chicago. Google purchased the building in 2022 and expects to move in around 2026 after about two years and roughly $280 million of renovations.
After 10 days of gloomy weather I expected more of the same on the first day of my weekend, Fri 4.24, however it turned out to be a spectacular day. As luck would have it I had chores to do and wouldn’t be able to get out for any pictures until Saturday. Looking at the weather forecasts it appeared I might be in luck as my weather app was showing another day of clear skies. As it turns out that is exactly what happened. After waking up and finishing up my final chores and did some checking and discovered the south freight out of Fairbanks was running very late. The train was re-crewed at Hurricane, MP 281.4, and had departed at 0830. It was currently 0915 and my goal was to catch the train at MP 206.4 as they emerged from the woods with Denali standing tall in the background. I live in South Anchorage, roughly at MP 105, so I needed to go north 101 miles before the freight traveled the 76 miles south to arrive at the same destination. By the time I left my house it was 0920. It was a calculated risk but I was fairly confident I could beat the train here. I also knew the train had to traverse a few slow orders so that was in my favor. Luck was on my side, but just barely, I arrived at my desired location at 1100 and the train rolled past at 1105. Pretty good timing I say. As this was the only train on the system, I headed for home. Of course that was the same direction the train was heading so I was able to capture a few more shots along the way. This shot shows Denali and Hunter with the train. Earlier I posted a shot with just Denali and the train. I think I like this shot a bit better. At 20’308 tall Denali stands tall and dominates the background.in either view.
Dollops of mist rise into the crisp morning air from the warmer, rippled and reflecting waters of Price Lake as sunlight strikes the warm autumn colors near the tops of the trees while leaving the trunks and undergrowth in cool shadows, a short hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
This is one of those shots, I expect, which resonates much more with me as the photographer than with most viewers. A couple of weeks ago we had made a one-night run to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a series of short hikes seeking colorful fall scenes, and this morning before sunrise we had made the quick jaunt from the Parkway around Price Lake hoping to catch a scene including Grandfather Mountain lit with alpenglow rising over the lake with some clouds above and autumn interest in the foreground. As it turned out, the alpenglow on Grandfather was very nice, but the skies stayed completely clear and my efforts with the foreground fell short as well, so I started paying closer attention to the reflections near the shore as the morning sun first started to strike the brilliant fall leaves higher in the trees in one area. No doubt reflections of trees in gently rippled lakes are common, and most always pleasing, but something about the light and shadow, the warm and cool, and how the mist rose in little clumps struck me here, and I thought it made for something of an interesting abstract.
One other note: If you look closely, you will see a few leaves floating through the scene like little boats, and one in particular near the center right of the image. Tempting as it was to clone them out, I enjoyed watching them gently make their way across the shallows in the soft breeze and decided that they added just a little something to the photograph as they did to my enjoyment in being there.
Thanks for viewing!
This bird is like a ghost showing up when least expected, however so small easy to not see it unless your actually looking for it. Anyway I had my trusty camera at the time and fired a few shots and noise from my camera drove her away, (as this is a female).
Having said this, I will use my silent shutter camera next time so maybe I can get some better shots, because this shot is not so good as flower covering the head. So any of you bird lovers stay turned as I hope to get some better Pics. when this little girl shows up again!
Thanks for viewing, faves and comments!
The St. Louis area can sometimes come up with some interesting and unexpected sights.
GP40WH-2 #9969 (ex-MARC #69) idles away the hours on the Granite City Cut-Off in Madison, IL. After a few days parked here off Race street by itself, UP's YMA-51 came in this morning and added CSX baggage car "Taos."
The Taos looks to have been built as ATSF Baggage Car #3680; later becoming Amtrak #1167, then #1256; then Mid-America Car Rail Leasing (MRLX) #800863, a number still stenciled on the "B", i.e. rear, end of the car. It is also numbered CSXT 994367.
Looks like the geep is probably here to collect some newly-rehabbed leasers from Mid-America. Wonder what's going to be added tomorrow.
Lovely robin 1 shot did not know i had this till i down loaded images and was not expecting the capture..
Thought I might have caught this clean pair in the Otira valley for a few shots, but here he is already at Jacksons.
29 November 2019, Train 841, DXC 5241-5379 crossing the Taramakau River at Jacksons, Midland-NZ
Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.
At Manly beach. A king tide. Surfers were expected. They slept in. Later the beach closed for bad weather. Oh well. Definitely need a long lens or extension to get closer up. That's the North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club in the background.
(hungry man in tenderloin, sf, 10/12/06)
hungry john quinn hunched over a trash can in the tenderloin. as i pass, he stands vacantly staring nowhere in particular. he wears a black leather jacket and hospital bottoms. there's darkness about his eyes; the whites aren't white, rather slight shades off his skin. but when the light catches, so do they.
i circle and return from another direction. he's grim and i expect dismissal. i ask if i can take his picture. he smiles and says "why sure you can." he has only a single tooth. he lives in a nearby "poorly ventilated" low income hotel. he just got out of the hospital and has been trying to get money for food. he had a heart attack. says he's had to quit smoking.
i ask about his blue eyes. if anyone else in his family has had them. says no, "just me and my mule"
there's an animation in him that he seems to save. and an intelligence that surprises. we talk of the time he met martin luther king in the airport leaving for india. we talk of his graduation from berkeley, his acceptance to law school, and the drug use which would take him elsewhere.
he talks of south africa's "honorary whites", india's untouchables, and sartre's essence of a man.
and he describes an exchange between south africa's botha and nelson mandela, when the latter was in prison. botha insists that mandela renounce violence as an alternative if he wishes release.
mandela refuses, responding that there is no alternative to life; and that he will do whatever is necessary to live.
("news" about shows etc.)
It has often been said about the weather in Iceland: just wait 5 minutes and it will change.
A small sailboat in Eyjafjörður, N-Iceland
Here's a shot of Devils Tower as the nearly full moon is rising above it, just a bit after sunset. This is from an incredible road trip to South Dakota to visit the Black Hills and Badlands National Park--and on the way there how could I not stop and visit the famous Devils Tower in Wyoming? I had pretty lofty expectations about how interesting and awe-inspiring I expected this place to be and it lived up to all of them. Well worth the detour.
I had a stroll over Mam Tor and onto the Great Ridge for a nice winter walk. It was full on winter conditions and not much visibility to be fair. I wasn’t expecting much in respect of nice light or great photography opportunities.
But as I always carry my camera I took a few shots anyway.
virtualnightmare.blogspot.com.es/2017/10/mint-mosquitos-w...
!MiNT! - *Riley Mini* at
Designer Circle Event!
:: Mosquito's Way :: - *Layla*
Rezology - *Butterfly 191*
Again and way earlier than expected and in a place I have not seem them before is a lovely collection of pale, fully open Lady Orchids. A real Kentish speciality thriving on the poor calcareous soils of the Downs in both shaded ancient woodland and meadow. Kent's Lady Orchids - Orchis purpurea.
Another longish RP I thought I'd share, just for the watchability of the scene I felt!
It starts off with Kamy teasing Serafina (Fin) that *she* got a key /and/ a book from the Ranger cabin.. and Fin has neither of these things. Fin quickly turns the tables on her, and her aggression and jealousy amuses Kamy so much that she does the same... with Fin's boyfriend.
The first few posts are a touch edited to protect the not-so-innocent (other rp'ers ;) ).
Thanks to Phoebe for patiently teaching me how to split-screen!
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Kamy was beyond the flirtations and deviant looks at this point, at least alone when the girls could just be girls. She leaned in then and kissed her full on the lips, far more sensual then anyone would expect from the outrider, letting it pull but linger before popping happily back. "I got a fucking key to the cabin..." she snickered with the very intention of making her jealous and started off then, wiggling her hips as she silently began them on a walk through the park.
Fin kissed back, but while it started off with a sensual little lapping growl, it quickly *did* turn jealous, and she sought to *bite* her lip. Hard. Before she slipped away. Her eyes glittered and quite literally turned greener. ".. Oh yeah? How nice for you," she shoots back and falls into step to follow her through the trees, pushing limbs gently out of the way.
Kamy sunk an arm into hers so they might walk like school girls, licking where her lip had bruised from that chomp and pulling her to the bridge. Most tended to use this one sparingly, a careful step here and there. Kamy walks upon it full force, naturally taking to its bouncing sways and creaking protests without hesitation.
Fin delights in their raping of the bridge. So what if they pingponged off and flew into the river? She was filled with this dangerous rush of adrenaline and unconcern, driving her steps onto the planks all punk rock style. Hipbumps and rowdy hollers. ".. Yeah.. well.. ain't that somethin'. I don't know, man," her tune changing some. ".. I just wish they were all -around- more. I got shit to ask! You know? Th'fuck am I supposed to do?" She hopped to the other side and stretched her arms high above her head, then cracking neck to either shoulder. ".. Build a doghouse next to the cabin and be all, 'Bark Bark lemme in'?"
Kamy laughed when Fina bounced upon the bridge recklessly. She had just been walking like normal but it didn't mean she didn't appreciate the recklessness of it. She laughed when her foot nearly lost it but the book she held was clutched tight, quick to run free from its swaying surface. Would probably collapse on the next person who crossed it carefully. She reached out and took Fina by the belt, dragging her back to hook a knee between her thighs. "talk to one of the others then," she ran a nose along her jaw line, oblivious to anyone else's approach.
Serafina spun back towards Kamy by her own momentum and the Dreg's own tug of Fin's belt. Bare, dark skin *smacked* against her suspenders and covered-for-damn-good-reason skin. While that nose ran along her jawline, it drew out a loose growl, like something had just broken and was crashing down over their heads. ".. Fuck /talking/," she hissed, and yes, her legs parted, but they did so to square off, and grab Kamy by the shoulders to shove her down. Hard. Harder than she'd pulled on the woman before. Her hand would try to pin her throat, her hips, Kamy's pelvis, while her free would skate over her clothing, into bindings and straps, sensually fast. ".. I'm /taking/ ..that key."
Dylon sent his boots into the dirt to stop on the sudden appearance of the girls, it was still a chocolatey-clustery-headfuck for the guy to process. Shit, every time he thought he got a handle on the situation there it was, the diagram. The scissoring of fingers that explained how the two girls ended up, that enough was a struggle, what did you do? What the fuck were you meant to do?! Jack off? Raise that questioning brow to your girlfriend? The answer like all things in life were sometimes obvious, maybe it was Kamy's nose into Fin's face. That image alone made him think of their bed, they were going to need a bigger boat. Chin up and spark up. When he was about to raise his head to speak he stopped, why ruin the moment with a hello. Instead, the man just stood there enjoying the remains of that cigarette held between his fingers.
Kamy squealed when she went down, a very unusual noise for a Dreg to make but she was unraveling fast in the private company of Finn, her dark predatory facade that kept her fat and alive in the outpost abandoned for something far more girly. She couldn't stop laughing when Fina pinned her, hips lifting the girl off the ground with a thrust of her core, enjoying the site of those freckled swells bouncing. Kamy sighed when the girl's hands easily parted the handmade top from her chest, knuckled persed beneath leather and feathers. She nodded at the assessment. "yes good idea...I am tired of sharing you with him anyway" she stated rather boldly, unusual since she'd always liked Dylon from afar. She unbuckled Fina's pants and shimmied them down. "MY fucking key bitch...ug why don't you ever wear skirts..."
Fin squeezed her thighs so her pants could only unzip *enough*, the belt having gone unbuckled by Kamy's swift fingers. ".. I do," she snarked. "just for the men.. for you.. I make it hard." But green-eyedness wins over her again, the jealousy of Kamy having that key, and a book. Since talking hadn't gotten her far, she'd scythe through with force. ".. MINE!" she hurls at her, real anger dominating her voice, or perhaps, she's simply trying to /dominate/ her. ".. Hi Dylon.. " she singsongs between her next *firmly* growled statement. ".. MY. Fucking. ...Key." She'd try to grab Kamy's wrists, probably a battle of sorts while they scurried at her own pants. Her aim to drive them over the woman's head so she could use her free to keep searching.
Dylon sent those arms of his to fold across that chest of his, as that weight of his frame shifted from one foot to another. Just like that, something got that back of his up, a instinctual reaction to double taking on hearing Kamy's words, were they about him? and what was this fucking key?!. That figure of his turned side on then, yanking the cigarette from his lips harshly as his eyes bored down upon the air while that smoke wielding hand rested up against his chest. Maybe it was the twitch of his left cheek and the billow of smoke that was the sign of a vented thought. When that hello came from Fin that head jerked in a greeting nod before stilling.
The book was off to the side, Kamy's hand had carefully set it aside even in the collapse, perhaps indicating she had more control then she'd let on. It was her error to think Fina was only playing however, the surprise obvious when the girl snatched her wrists and pinned them to the earth. She'd lost her chance to truly resist, arms flexing with the push but only coming an inch off the grass. She snarled when the girl started searching her for real, pleased at least that Fina would have a hard time finding it considering the position. Hips popped her up again. "FINA...she gave it to me!" she looked over in surprise at Dylon, laughing despite herself. "Hey clit kicker! Mind holding her down for me?" spoken as if she hadn't even made mention of him before.
Fin let out a victorious "... HA!" when she pinned her wrists overhead. Serious, she was, was Kamy's own fault for digging at her jealousy. ".. I -know- she gave them to you that's th'fucking point," she growled, a touch smoother. As her hand roamed the woman, sliding over hip, scooping a buttock (and here, she'd grin at her, tongue held at her tooth) up, exploring behind her thigh, then her arm bands, she offered a similar suggestion. ".. Mmhm! Yes, Dylon. Why don't you help hold her down for me. And stop laughing, you're gonna make this harder," she grumbled.
It wasn't often Dylon got to break up two girl's who were getting hot and heavy over a game of hide and go fucking seek. Though as he stood there towering over both of them that look of his went to the bridge, blinking at it swayed in the light breeze. "What are you two up to?" he said with a rather strained and exhausted tone. A grimace of pain fell upon his face for a moment, sending a hand against that jacket to palm lightly the spot under his ribs. "And then part of me is just too damned scared to ask.." A breath of air was pulled in through nostrils, causing them to flare before looking back down to the pair.
Kamy was sulking HARD that her key was stolen, tempted to bash Fina upside the head and take it back which was likely the sensible thing to do. But that would just be petty, no way she was giving her the gratification of fighting for it back. Of course she'd forgotten all about taking her wrist phone. She looked around for something to take while the girl was doubled over. She looked up at Dylon as he held her, watching him with a devious sneer. She broke from his grasp with a yank, leaping up and jumping on him with intensive vertical. His weight might hold her but she'd hit him hard, knees grasping his ribs with a crushing squeeze, her lips just smashed upon his. She'd grip the back of his head, sure he'd resist at first, but an insistant roll of her head and a thrust of her tongue within his stubbled lips was downright lewdly performed. Eyes hung to the corners of her gaze,watching for Fina's reaction.
Fin gave him a wriggling eyebrow, like wasn't she just the cockiest bully, mowing down the smartass nerd as she left school with her lunch money and favorite paperback clutched to her chest. Fin was just sitting up to secure her prizes when she *gawped* at Kamy climbing on top of -her boyfriend-. She watched that slide of her tongue to his, their mouths open and grasping as if she was being treated to a close-up of a cinematic still. She gawped and then glowered, pissed off like a firecracker. ".. HEY," she bared her teeth jealously and clamored to her feet, standing next to them and hovering as she tried to think fast. "... Fine, *Elephant Ass*. You fight mean and fair. Who th'fuck am *I* supposed to kiss to piss YOU off huh?" She narrowed eyes at them both and stalked to the cliff edge, dangling the key over the river. ".. Oo, a gust of wind!" she fake-cried.
Lost balance, Dylon was too busy distracted on looking to Fin when Kamy's body launched at him. By the time that back of his hit the dirt she was already upon his ribs, her squeeze, sending that bandage around his side to tighten, ripping open the stitches to the wound that caused him to growl. Well he would of growled, if it wasn't for Kamy's tongue shoved between his lips. A arm came up to his side to try and elbow the Dreg's face out of his to at least giving him some breathing room. "..." A breath of air, a blink or two and he was trying to focus, seeing Fin then holding that key out, leaving him to perk a brow as he tried to process what the hell was going on.
Kamy's eyes lit up at the insult, not sure if the girl was just being clever or if she actually knew that elephant was one of the translations to her name. She came off gasping when he elbowed her chin off his mouth, the wet POP of their lips disconnecting leaving her just as breathless. She sat atop Dylon and glared back at her. "You could kiss people! You could kiss a lot of people!" she defended, not realizing in that moment what a whore she sounded like. In truth there weren't many she'd be jealous over, maintaining the share and share alike concept. She watched the key dangle with an unfair unf. "go ahead and drop it! I fish those waters freckle pussy!" she upped the stakes, the crack of her bum sticking out good as she sliiiid back down Dylon's waist. She'd rip those pants open with impressive skill, born from skinning animals but it worked here too. She shoved a hand down his pants, far more gentle then the kiss in grasping his shaft and trying to forcefully coax it hard and free. "I got a much bigger key anyway..."
Fin STOMPED so hard dirt kicked and coughed and she left a deep imprint. ".. GodDAMN it Kamy!" she hollered at her. "... Fine. Last thing I'm going to do is give you the satisfaction of turning me into a whining mall rat not getting her fucking ice cream cone at the food court." She'd heard about those places, course - most of them were abandoned buildings these days. She'd whirled to find her mid-pants rip... and growled. "If he gets a hardon I'm fucking you in the ass with Marsqueeze's cigar." She pauses, and crouches down to them both. She's -livid-, a boiling anger baking from her skin, breasts heaving with a racing pulse. ".. Just.. lay there, Dylon," she remarks lowly, a sneer touching her lip. Fingers snake into the back of Kamy's waistband, pull it away, and *drop* the key down her ass crack. She keeps the chesspiece though, and moves aside.
The week has just taken a turn for the strange, it was starting to feel like Dylon had dropped acid, again. In twenty four hours he had gone through the motions of violence and all the way to jealousy of seeing Kamy upon his girlfriend, his Fin. Now he was sat there, hand clutched to his side while looking to Fin, by the time it registered on what Kamy was doing her hand was around around his shaft, gripping up his length. That hard on was going to prove more than difficult, blood was already seeping through the side of his jacket, that was something no man had managed to quite maintain, shit, it was like telling your body to multi-task without having control. "Get...your..fuckin...hand...off...my...cock" Words hissed through gritted teeth. As he found himself sandwiched between the girl's power play, but what a sandwich!.
Kamy didn't feel bad for the man at all, hardly even letting him factor in. He had kicked her in the cunt after all. She felt the key slip between her butt cheeks and smiled victoriously. Hands came off his meat and she stuck them in the air in victory. She watched Fina and just found the anger pouring from the woman absolutely sexy. She reached out and tried to snatch the girl's belt as Dylon had done. This whole thing was so ridiculous and it certainly didn't escape Kamy. She'd try to pull at the back of the girl's knees while yanking her down back on top of Kamy. The arms of a wrestler would try to wrangle the angry girl in for another kiss, falling over Dylon and churning her ass upon him like a bar stool. "I win...give me my prize..."
Fin had moved off, too far away to be grabbed, and when Kamy's hand reaches for her, Fin strikes her palm with a boot, hard enough to shove her back, not hard enough to hurt. ".. I *did*. Was going to give it back anyway, asshole. With my record the rangers would be all scowly tellin' me I don't play nice. Then I'd -never- get one. What's in there, a hot-- JESUS DYLON!" she just *spins* off exasperated. ".. Just gonna FUCK her right there in'frunna me??" She's rooted in place, and pulling her bandanna away from her neck side to side.
Dylon tried to clutch for his jeans the moment Kamy's hand released from his prick. "What the fuck yo..." Those words died upon the Dreg's ass slapping over over his lap to grind over. "STOP..." Sending a heavy handed palming slap towards the girl's ass cheeks to grind her right off his lap. Once again he would try to shift himself back, a hand sliding over his jacket that came up with a smear of blood. "...She should be so fuckin lucky..." he said with a hiss as he wiped that hand of his upon the grass. "Whose dream am I in?" Either way, no alarm clock was getting him out of this one.
Kamy rolled her eyes at Fina's tantrum, climbing off Dylon with a jump and fishing the key from her ass, one eye going crooked as she had to fish deep to get it. She produced it just in time to get struck on the ass, a small leap in Fina's direction. "oh calm down...it worked did it not?" she inched the key back into her pocket and sauntered to where Fina was. "you should have seen your face..." she laughed and pranced from foot to foot, clearly teasing Fina for being so worked up with little fake boxing stances. "you think I want to fuck your boyfriend? hmm?" she asked her, waiting for that ridiculous notion to sink into the red head. She was already fucking the sister and the brother, was she going to hit the boyfriend too? "now you don't love Ka-ma-ma anymore?" she asked with a faux pout. "maybe I take you to the cabin and show you. hmm? Did you think to ask?" she had flaunted the key after all for a reason.
Fin snapped shut a plastic lighter and tossed it in the creek. She sucked a full drag of the rolled cigarette's herbal shit and cut her eyes hard to them both, him laying there even as Kamy bounds off to join her. ".. Oh god. Oh no," she mimics in a half-hearted monotone that didn't try at *all*, ".. Please stop. Please don't fuck me. Oh god. Get off. Stop." She pauses, to flick the lit cigarette towards Dylon's lap, while his pants are still undone. ".. And your cock is still out, holmes." To Kamy she shrugs. The anger's dimmed leaving her in dry unconcern. ".. Yes I still love you. And no.. I didn't ask .. thought of it yes, but they're as hard to run into like a priest in a whorehouse. Actually, no. Not that hard!" she sings faux-brightly back.
Breathed long and slow as Dylon was finally free from the pressures of Kamy's body, this would be the moment to gather yourself, instead he listened to the girl's exchange of quips at each other before that rogue cigarette of Fin's landed right into lap, hitting the open fly of his jeans to send a shower of sparks over his crotch. Never had a man stood up so fast with the self harming need of slapping his cock and balls. Ridding himself of the burning glows "....ARGH FUCK SA..." Harshly was that belt closed up, shaking out his legs as he yanked open the buttons of his jacket, shedding himself of the material to then look down his side.
Kamy choked back a laugh when she flicked the cig at Dylon's crotch, a lazy smile as she just inhaled upon the aggressive pheromones coming off the feisty girl. "Fuck you should have been a Dreg Fina...the damage we would cause..." like they weren't already causing problems for the city. She knew the girl was pissed at her but just enjoyed it all the more. She hooked thumbs from her belt and swayed beside her, annoying little hip checks popped into the girl to provoke her further. "we will go when the rangers are not around...it does not seem like such a big deal..." she lied a bit.
Fin spared him a glance. Was that smell the whistling burn of ... hair? Her narrow shoulders jump with a smirk, and she gathers her hair to the other side of her neck, rounding her long spine in a wide hipcheck in return. Thwunk. She held power in her hips and back, moreso than arms and legs, even as bony as they sometimes felt to be. ".. Don't think it would be .. " she agreed, and made the breathy noise that showed she had more to say on the subject.. but stopped herself. Instead, she glanced to Kamy, then back at Dylon. She wasn't even sure if Kamy had successfully "brought the cock home to roost", and wasn't even sure it mattered at this point. ".. So. I'm going to .. buy some birth control. For -everyone-," she adds.
Dylon kept that hand locked to his side as he looked at the pair of girls. "You know what you two are.....a big bag of fuckin troubles...." Shaking his head at them slowly. "...Fuckin hell...." A chuckle, it was rolling over his shoulders as he doubled over a bit. "Somehow Kamy....I get the impression I'm goin to have to get used to you..." That jaw of his clenched then, a throaty grunt before allowing himself to straighten up. "...wait wait....you're not on birth control now?"
"Birth control?" Kamy asked a little confused. "oooh you mean to keep from birth, I get it." she nodded. "the Dreg men blow it on the girl usually, or some use the tubes not used for the sausages" she explained casually. She eyed Dylon with a soft sneer at his comment, reaching out to hang on Fina like he was going to take a picture of them. "why you not think we make a good pair?" she asked and shook a few dreads into the red head's face. "She is too much woman for one man to handle Dylon. You should be happy there is someone like me in her life" she explained.
Fin remains unimpressed by Dylon, and though Kamy didn't get off scoff-free either, she's neither angry nor pleased with them both. There's a strange resignation she feels - she wasn't even sure she'd be the jealous type - never thought she had that kind of .... possession in her. It's there, but it rears its furious head with no warning. For now, she's just left with a dull, faint soundtrack in her mind, some rhythm in her head that's sweeping distance between her and her friends. The dreads thwapping her in the face bring a funny wincing smirk, and she moves between them, arm around either one of their backs. As close as they are, her mind is to those elsewhere thoughts and music. ".. Mm, no, not now," she murmurs. "This afternoon?" She laughs some to Kamy's remark, and bites each of their shoulders.
(Charadrius cucullatus)
Two Tree Point - Bruny Island -Tasmania
Austrália
This was the first species I saw and photographed in Tasmania. I expected to find it, but I was pretty sure it’d be harder to spot.
Our trip from Brisbane to Hobart wasn’t exactly smooth. A few weeks after buying the tickets, I got the lovely message: “Your upcoming flight with Rex has been cancelled as a result of Rex’s Voluntary Administration.”
But hey, at least they offered a free ticket with Virgin Australia. So generous, right?
But, after VA totally "forgot" about me for more than 2 months, I finally managed to get a ticket. The catch? Instead of landing in Hobart around noon, as planned, our new arrival time was 5:10 PM.
Problem: the last ferry to Bruny Island leaves at 7 PM. In theory, we could make it, but only if there were no delays and everything—waiting for luggage, picking up the car—went perfectly smooth.
We thought about changing our Bruny Island dates, but accommodation prices had tripled since I’d booked. So, we decided to take our chances.
Oh, and by the way, when we were at O'Reilly's, someone casually mentioned that 40 minutes was enough to get from the airport to the ferry. Spoiler: it's not.
The flight landed on time, but the luggage took forever. So, I went to pick up the rental car while Nita waited for the bags. Conveniently, when we walked past the rental desk earlier, it was empty. Now? Both employees were busy with customers who seemed in no rush to finish their endless questions and conversations.
With the clock reminding me of my ever-shrinking buffer, I started to stress out. Finally, one employee became available—but, of course, she had to make an urgent phone call. That’s when I stepped in and explained my situation. Thankfully, she was kind enough to prioritize my reservation.
Once we got the car, Google Maps told me the ETA to the ferry was 6:43 PM. Okay, doable—assuming nothing went wrong. Sticking to the speed limit (thanks to cruise control), I resisted the temptation to put the pedal to the metal.
Crossing the Hobart Bridge was... an experience. I was in the center lane, with traffic coming toward me on the other side, separated by absolutely nothing. All I could think about was how one distracted driver in the two lanes on my left could send me flying into oncoming traffic. But hey, all went well.
Honestly, Aussie drivers seem incredibly careful and disciplined—they don’t stray an inch from their lanes. I can only imagine the nightmare it must be for them to drive where I am used to drive!
We got to the ferry exactly at 6:43 PM, as predicted. My wife, who has an intense fear of being stopped at Australian airports for carrying food (fruit is a big no-no), decided this was a great time for me to grab something to eat and drink at the café near the dock. Problem: it closes at 4 PM.
Alright, no worries—we'll just grab something on the island.
When we disembarked, there was a sign that should’ve made us pause: "Next service station: Adventure Bay (40 km)". No big deal, though—that’s exactly where we were headed, and we had plenty of fuel.
The drive was lovely, but not a single café or supermarket was open along the way. We stopped briefly to admire the stunning view at The Neck, then continued on. Once we reached Adventure Bay, we quickly found our accommodation. Feeling optimistic, we decided to head to the service station to grab some food.
But… surprise! No supermarket, no gas station, no café was open. The café/restaurant looked like it might be, but as soon as I tried to open the door, they switched off the lights.
The result? We were going to bed hungry. All we had were two yogurts from the fridge in our accommodation and, thankfully, some coffee. Not exactly the feast we were hoping for!
It was 8 PM, I was starving, and there was still some daylight left. Way too early to head to bed. So, I grabbed my camera and went down to the beach right in front of us. And… to my absolute delight, there it was—a Hooded Plover! The light was fading fast, but who cares? Who knows when I’d spot another one of these again?
Not long after, I saw a second one as well a pair of Pacific Gulls and a Pied Oystercatcher (all lifers for me). Suddenly, hunger? Gone. Completely cured.
Now, full disclosure: I ended up deleting all those photos. But at the time, it felt like an elixir for my empty stomach.
This shot? I took it the next day. Turns out, I’d see these birds every single day. They were super tame and gave us plenty of chances for some great photos.
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All my photos are now organized into sets by the country where they were taken, by taxonomic order, by family, by species (often with just one photo for the rarer ones), and by the date they were taken.
So, you may find:
- All the photos for this trip Austrália (2024) (309)
- All the photos for this order CHARADRIIFORMES (1170)
- All the photos for this family Charadriidae (Caradriídeos) (182)
- All the photos for this species Charadrius cucullatus (5)
- All the photos taken this day 2024/11/21 (23)
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as my 365 project keeps on going, i'll start posting some random pictures i made in the last days. meanwhile, i'll also keep on posting some random pictures of my irish road trip.
it will take a few days to make some order in my photostream
256/365
I enjoyed photographing this wedding so much. He was funny, she was relaxed, they looked amazing, we were at a castle and we had clouds. What is not to love?
You can expect more wedding pics to be shared here over the next few days!
SSC - Shallow Depth of Field in B&W
Walking around Halstead I was desperately trying to think of a subject for this weeks challenge when quite by chance I spotted a couple of dried Physalis (I know them as Cape Gooseberries) lying beside the road. This is not something I would expect to find in the English countryside! I picked this one up and thought it might just make a center piece for the challenge, as I walked on I saw this bit of conker husk, added to the collection, I added a few autumn leaves and I had the makings of this image. A fortuitous find.
A colour version is in the first comment box.
A few days after dental surgery, Bella developed a urinary tract infection. She seemed fine after her last dose of antibiotics but then showed signs of bleeding again. Her prescription was refilled and I expect a full recovery for her.
Leaves a lot to ignore.
Dance of the Clairvoyants, P.J.
These lyrics are a good reminder that when we only strive to seek things that are perfect we miss out on so much. Snowflakes are rarely the perfect beauties that we see as Christmas ornaments. But they have so much to offer in their "imperfect" beauty. This heavily rimed plate is quite stunning despite, and maybe even because of, its imperfections.
Maybe I'm mistaken expecting you to fight
Or maybe I'm just crazy
I don't know wrong from right
But while I am still living
I've just got this to say
It's always up to you if you want to be that
Want to see that
Want to see that way
- You're coming along!
THE MORNING IT IS STILL A BIT ON THE COOL SIDE FOR US. AROUND 14C. EXPECTED TO REACH 17C IN THE AFTERNOON.
PLAZA DE ESPAÑA, SEVILLA, SPAIN.
(BEST SEEN IN FULL SCREEN MODE)
Sheep, Westerhever, North Frisia.
Captured in the morning of the hottest day ever in Germany.
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Schaf bei Sonnenaufgang, Nähe Westerhever, Nordfriesland.
Aufgenommen am Morgen des heißesten Tages seit Beginn der Wetteraufzeichnung.
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Please darken your room and
turn the brightness of your display all the way up,
lay back, press L and
enjoy this picture in full screen size ;-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . looks muuuch better. PROMISE !
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Thanks for FAVing, 1000 thanks for looking at the picture, 1000000 thanks for commenting
Lakeshore Park, Newark, CA. This mating pair is expecting four chicks, or as it's better known in the colony, "the usual number." The male is the larger of the two.