Tracks of the StoneBear Odyssey ROF = Ring of Fire: May 2016

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Mesa Verde Cliff Palace overview

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Mesa Verde Cliff Palace overview

ITW 21 - 2

ITW = Into The West Journey

May 29, 2010

Mesa Verde, Colorado Cliff Palace overview

Good dancer friend Sue Ann told me that seeing this place was chilling to her. It's beyond that.

This is a Journey into the Abyss of Time and Life!

Think of getting into a time machine and arriving here. This is one of the most powerful places I've ever stood at. You tear up in your eyes when you walk upon this. You've just stood on plateau tops / cliff tops... visibility 40 - 50 miles... cool thin pure air, bright sun...

... just thankful for a wonderful , beautiful day.... and then you hike into Cliff Palace. ...and see Spruce Tree-house post.

When you get here... you can't help but to stop and hit a knee and say a prayer... for everything... for all the things you wanted to pray about. This is the place to offer them up. ... and ask for grace.

This is a special place. After seeing this... you promise to rededicate and make the world a better place. It is that powerful.

You never drink twice from the same stream. 

ITW 21 - 2

ITW = Into The West Journey

May 29, 2010

Mesa Verde, Colorado Cliff Palace overview

Good dancer friend Sue Ann told me that seeing this place was chilling to her. It's beyond that.

This is a Journey into the Abyss of Time and Life! Think of getting into a time machine and arriving here.

This is one of the most powerful places I've ever stood at. You tear up in your eyes when you walk upon this. You've just stood on plateau tops / cliff tops... visibility 40 - 50 miles... cool thin pure air, bright sun...

... just thankful for a wonderful , beautiful day.... and then you hike down into Cliff Palace and Spruce Treetop.

When you get here... you can't help but to stop and hit a knee and say a prayer... for everything... for all the things you wanted to pray about. This is the place to offer them up. ... and ask for grace.

This is a special place. After seeing this... you promise to rededicate and make the world a better place. It is that powerful.

You never drink twice from the same stream. 

Saturday, May 21, 2016

SAT AFT in The South BBQ & Blues

ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus

Bessemer, ALabama

Saturday May 21, 2016

BBQ & Blues

Downtown Bessemer, ALabama WWI soldier monument in Debardeleben park.

In the South,.... we don't waste Saturday afternoons.

The Blues didn't come from Boston, ... or Newark. The Blues come from The South. Clarksdale,, Memphis, Macon, Birmingham, ... No blues originated in Rochester, or Wooster.

Those great Chicago blues.... well,... the guys from the delta, from Clarksdale and Indianola... they took Hwy 49/ 61 from the delta up to Memphis and Chicago.

One of Bessemer's favorite Sons, Eddie Stovall, one of the original "The Platters" sang some favorites for his hometown crowd followed by some classic blues songs.

Even Barney Fife had to get up and dance.

A good day!

You never drink twice from the same stream. 

I don't do commercials or ads on this blog but occasionally we highlight and make note of exceptional artists, craftsmen, and unique people of character. No money or royalties are paid to this blog, or me. These photos and short clips of art, music, and craftsmanship are intended to be a gratis highlight of exceptional talent and a thank you to the artists.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

FreeBird T-Bird Skydiving Lost Prairie, Montana

ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey  MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus 

ITW 85 = Into The West Journey     

Monday July 26, 2010 

Lost Prairie Airfield, Marion, Montana  Skydive Lost Prairie  Osprey Sport Parachute Club

 FreeBird T-Bird  

Bucket
 list time for T-bird to cross off skydiving from the list. This wasn't 
planned at the start of this ITW journey but we criss-crossed the West 
and diverted to be at Lost Prairie Airport, Marion , Montana for one of 
the biggest jump meets in the US this week. 

Skydive
 Lost Prairie operates out of the Lost Prairie airfield, Osprey Sport 
Parachute Club, and jumpers from all over the US, and many countries,...
 make the pilgrimage here for the week to 10 days of skydiving. 

Yes
 they do offer skydiving lessons and you can become licensed?/ 
certified? Not sure of the correct term; I chose to be a pilot and stay 
IN the plane. 

We
 didn't have the time to go through the course to be certified but 
T-bird has staked out a "Tandem Jump" with a certified, licensed 
instructor as the best, safest, way to do a skydive parachute jump. 

Marion
 is about 30 miles west of Kalispell, Montana, Hwy 2west like you're 
heading up to Libby, Montana. A few miles west of Marion, turn north on 
Lost Prairie Rd. A few miles of dirt road and hang a right at the sign.

You
 can tell from the tents, campers,... mostly tents that these are the 
hard core jumpers; just like ski bums. I say that with affection and 
respect. 

These
 are people that would just about rather parachute jump ... than eat. 
 They cut costs on expenses so they can pursue what is their passion. I 
like that!  I understand priorities.  

T-bird
 is socked away for a few hours to do paperwork, tandem jumping 
instruction school with master jumper Clayton, go over the instructions 
until passed as competent, practice jump sequence rules, practice 
landing techniques, ... ect...

So,... I get to do one of my favorite things; walk around and airport and see what's there.  It;s not easy to do after 911. 

The
 jump plane today is a supper twin otter; a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 
twin otter, a really good plane for jumping with high wings and a large 
exit door.

getting closer to jump time, time to suit up.  Final check... it;s go time.    

Harness up.     

Getting
 the plane ready. Pilot Sue does preflight checklist. Sue already has 
her ATP - Airline Transport Pilots license. I think Sue has the pulse of
 a skydiver driver. 

This
 pod of jumpers is about 14 people and they're going up to 13,000' to 
jump and free-fall almost a minute. No static line for these guys. These
 are the last of the independents.  

T-Bird on deck. 

T-Bird on deck and ready for boarding sequence/ seat assignment. 

Taxi out. 

Sue has a full load  of jumpers and climbs out slow to gain airspeed; Sue is a very good pilot!   

They
 are out of the plane; skydivers are like ant size in the sky. I'm 
zoomed in to the max and can't find them. tiny specs in Big Sky country.

searching....   I don't even know what color pattern their chute is.

I'm zoomed out to the max looking for a tandem chute.  

Got it! 

Coming
 in ... see the wind flag? wind coming straight into the camera lens... 
then Clayton turns the chute into the wind to land; He's good! That 
extra bit of lift made a softer landing. 

A triumphal walk back across the field. 

I thin the adrenaline is still running high.  

Debrief with the team.      

Clayton,... you were a real gentleman and 1st class professional skydiving instructor. Thank you!

Bucket List: Skydiving, X check! 

A last look around.       

Goodbye Lost Prairie, Goodbye Osprey Sport Parachute Club; I'll never forget you.  Gee, this is almost as good as Casablanca. 

Goodbye Tin Man, goodbye Scarecrow, goodbye Lion, goodby Chocolate Moose.

T-Bird,... baby... you did this all on your own. I am so proud of you!

You never drink twice from the same stream. 