The orange butterfly was more than the Black Phoebe could handle — It was a joy to spend the entire month of June at my son Nick’s house in Santa Cruz, California, “Chicken Valley.” While he rode the 2,700-mile Tour Divide mountain bike race through the length of the Rocky Mountains, I looked after his house, cats, and chickens. The chores were…

Sometimes, cameras create images we cannot see when we capture them — “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” — Mahatma Gandhi For those who enjoy spending time outdoors as much as or more than time indoors, two benefits of traveling to new places are opportunities to explore new landscapes…

The race leader, Sofiane Sehili of France, has finished the 2,618.1-mile course in less than 15 days — “the most brutal so far” — The son’s author, Nick Runtsch, reporting in Strava after day 11 of his race experience According to the Tour Divide (TD) 2022 Live Tracker by Track Leaders, Parisian Sofiane Sehili has finished the race. It took him 14 days, 16 hours, and 36 minutes…

Monthly Challenge — Baby Wild Animals — “The look of love is in your eyes.” — Hal David The look in the eyes of the Western Gull mother and her chick is the look of love. Can that be denied? For each of the past ten years, except for the first two years of the Covid-19 Pandemic…

Spring Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Nature Art” — A bird embellished this rock art. While some people do not consider photography an art form, I do, at least in some cases. Every subject, moment in time, angle, light quality, weather condition, and composition can be unique. The perspective and purpose of the person behind the viewfinder vary, too. Some would say that a photographer…

Monthly Challenge — Baby Wild Animals — “After two weeks at the Chicken Ranch, I understood what the fuss was about.” — The author, after seeing two adult Black Oystercatchers with their chick Several months ago, I barely hesitated when my son, Nick, asked whether I would take care of his house, cats, and chickens for a…

These publications are sending good vibrations your way — “a distinctive usually emotional atmosphere capable of being sensed…” — Definition 4a of vibration in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary The Beach Boys have made good vibrations since 1961. They amplified those vibrations in 1966 with the hit song, “Good Vibrations.” But many publications and writers produce good vibrations, too. The six…

Sometimes, a story’s title rivals the story itself — “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” — Mark Twain For some 150 years, tall tales by Mark Twain (1835–1910) have entertained millions of readers. He published The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in 1876, and its sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1884. Some consider…

Nick Runtsch’s Spot GPS tracker works again. He and Jeremiah Reiner are riding together, up the mountains and into the night — Tour Divide (TD) 2022 is now on its seventh day. Its 186 riders started in a staggered field 6 days and 12.5 hours ago. They are competing in a 2,745-mile mountain bike race through the Rocky Mountains. The race leader, Sofiane Sehile of France, still leads the pack with 1,329.6…