Winter not yet gone?

Small Waterfall near Yuba River

As ye followers of this blog know, I am back home for a few days whilst Sraddha enjoys the warm moist sometimes sunny climes of the gulf coast. Well here in Ananda village it is c.c.c.ccccccold!!  yes. Winter is still here.

I am always in awe of Mother Nature, aka Divine Mother, when the weather shifts.  Earlier last week it was mild enough.  Still wear a coat but not too bad.  some sun, etc.  I was hearing the drums of a storm coming in when I received photos from freinds in Seattle and Portland showing me snow on the Oregon coast and in south Puget Sound, but didn't put it together here since it had been such a mild winter.  Woah!!

Misty Yuba Friday morning

Think it dumped at least 4-5 inches of rain then Sunday we got about 5 inches of snow.  Yes it is technically not spring as that is 3 days away but really?  Talked with Sraddha and it is mid 70's and mild in texas at moment.  I am keeping fire burning here to stay warm and hibernating.  DSL working so have internet.

Here are some photos from under the bridge

Yuba River Friday evening.  Heavy Rain (iphone)

 So Saturday morning I drove back down to Yuba River Canyon to see how the river flow was comparing to previous night.  It was down a bit.

Yuba River Saturday Morning.  Sun coming out for a while

Some friends here at village were moving into their newly built home and were concerned the storm would interfere.  The rain gods blessed them with dry weather and about 15 of fellow village residents  spent 3 hours moving them from their temp home to their permanent home.

The next morning, Sunday I awoke to this.  Good day to remain home and get to know new iPad.

Out our back yard this morning

it snowed a bit more as expected then sun came out then more snow.  Since it is springtime (well almost) and the snow doesn't last, I decided it wasn't worth shoveling out the walkway and driveway.  If snow still persists Monday, I can always walk to work! the exercise would do me good!

The new iPad unveiled!! (warning movie)

It's here.  I have it.  the new ipad.  Black was the choice.
Arrived Friday during the day and when I returned from clinic conference in Redding, it was waiting for me.  Actually 2 of them because I couldn't decide which one to get.  Black or White so ordered both figuring I could return one easily and it was hard to pre-order the first day.  So....Friday morning, a friend texted me to say she wanted the other one so we gathered together in my office at  6 PM for the unvieling.  She shot this 15 second video of me with her iPad.

It is as cool as you are hearing.  the screen is amazing.  Now I just have to figure out which case to buy.  I have the Apple magnetic cover which is pretty neat but want something else a little more protective.

The new ipad arrives tomorrow

Black or White?  can't decide.  Ordered both.  will ship one back.  which one to keep?  And I have to drive to Redding in the morning for a conference so won't be home til after dinner...  help me.  comment below on which one I should keep

Boquillas Canyon bike and hike

At the very southeast corner where the Rio Grande River exits Big Bend National Park, lies Boquillas Canyon.  As with the southwest corner of Santa Elena Canyon, these cliffs rise high to 1400 feet and the Sierra del Carmen mountains rise up on the Mexico side of the river to about 7000+ feet.

The weather was mild so we decided to bike the 6 miles over to the canyon trail then hike the 1.5 miles up the canyon.

We started late in the day and were the last ones on the trail, meeting many hikers on their way out.    We noticed several donation jars for the singers across the river (in Mexico) but they had the day off, so we had the canyon all alone. talk about quiet. I shot this pic with the iphone camera

Sraddha in Boquillas Canyon Bliss

En route we had noticed this little exhibit about a past pre WW1 tramway that ran 7 miles from Mexico, across the river up north to a spot where the ore from the Mexican mines were then loaded into trucks and carts and then transported by truck or cart another 60 miles to the Southern Pacific railhead.

7 mile long Aerial Tramway over the Rio Grande? Woah!

I sat in one of the ore cars used in the tramway to give you a perspective of the size.  Ore probably weighed more.

Me sitting in Ore Car

Not many birds though. We then faced the 6 mile bike ride back to campground over several little hills but we made it before dusk. Really fun day.

Some Little Birds of Big Bend

Catching up on a few photos today while it rains and storms on the gulf coast.  The weather reminds me a lot of Seattle actually or home.  Cold in the high 50's, windy, drizzly.  We did take the RV out for exercise, to wash off salt spray, refill propane tank, and drain the wastewater tanks.  Sraddha did the whole thing while I sat in the co-pilot seat so she could get familiar with everything in case she needs to do it herself.  She did great.

While reviewing photos last night i uncovered a whole unedited album from our next to last day in Big Bend Park.  150 photos which I narrowed down to 6 or 7 and then worked them over.  We had driven down to our favorite riverside spot along the Rio Grande river, the hot springs, for a little meditation and soak. We then hiked about 1/2 mile to the springs.

Along the way and return, we saw several birds. The day was overcast and light was bland, however, with a little effort I was able to get some of the pictures to look ok.  Not great but ok. All photos shot with 300mm telephoto (200 and 1.4 extender). Notice that the markings of all these birds really blend in with their surroundings so their enemies have a harder time seeing them.

As we walked back to parking lot we heard this warbler deep in the reeds and finally spotted him peeking out from the reeds 

Orange Crowned Warbler 

Above the hot springs this Phoebe would sit on a bare branch looking for insects, then quickly dart out to grab it and zoom back to his perch

Say's Phoebe looking for insects

 While lounging in the hot springs,  I spotted this Sandpiper cruising the shallow river bank seeking out little morsels like snails, insects, tadpoles, etc.  He was quick but I managed to get this photo

Spotted Sandpiper catching a morsel in the river

 We could hear this little Canyon Wren with its distinctive call.  Took me a while to find him and then he darts up and down the cliffside rocks.

Elusive Canyon Wren up on cliffs

On the way home Sraddha spotted a coyote, so we stopped by the side of the road whereupon we also spotted this hawk perched on a dead mesquite branch about 5 feet off the ground but 50 yards away from the road

Cooper's Hawk looking for somebody to make a mistake so he can have lunch

 As we watched, the coyote moved through the bushes towards the road and then crossed behind us.  I got this photo from the car as he passed maybe 20 feet from car.  We could hear the coyotes all night from the campground but this was first one we saw.

Coyote lurking around in middle of the morning

I fly back home tomorrow for 2 weeks to do some work in the office while Sraddha remains in one of her favorite birding spots.  Spring migration is just beginning and she hopes to see lots of birds. I hope to post a couple more times