Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sequoia National Park, Mariposa Grove, Sierra Nevada, California
Giant Sequoias are among the oldest living things on Earth – the oldest known tree is 3,500 years old. Sequoias grow to an average height of 164–279 feet, or 50–85 metres, and 20–26 feet or 6–8 metres wide. Record trees have been measured to be 311 feet high (94.8 m). Visiting the Redwood and Sequoia forests in northern California needs to be on your bucket list..certainly, going back is on mine!
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A colony of cormorants lives on SS Palo Alto, a beached concrete ship at Seacliff State Beach, CA
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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
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Mohave Desert sunset near Edwards Air Force Base, CA. 5,000 wind turbines all spinning miles into the horizon is a thrilling sight to see, even if you don’t appreciate their great contributions. I suppose I’m pretty naive in assuming that everyone everywhere holds the sake of the planet in highest regard, even at the risk of paying higher taxes and energy bills…which are inevitable anyway no matter what resources we consume, and if we depend on others to create electrical energy for us.
Proposition 7, a Renewable Energy Generation Initiative Statute proposes all Government owned and private Utility companies in the State of California to generate 20% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010, 40% by 2020, and 50% by 2025, with possible penalties for not complying. I was kind of surprised that there is a controversy at all until hearing arguments from both sides. Now I’m confused! Who do I believe? A contraversial statute with good arguements from both sides. For details visit voterguide.sos.ca.gov/audio/proposition7.htm
To give an idea of scale of each Wind Turbine at the Tehachapi Pass, California, apparently six people can fit inside to fix and maintain the turbines.
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Burnt Cafe, Yucca, AZ
New Mexico sunset, Hwy 40 going West.
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Survivor: sand crab with a transparent shell and two legs missing. Nag’s Head beach, Outer Banks, NC. This little crab measuring about 2 inches across had two legs missing but was still managing across the hills and valleys of footsteps in the sand. My guess is that a bird must have snatched it up then dropped it, retaining two of the legs for lunch. Shortly after this encounter it finally started digging a hole, offering much more protection than a footprint..
Kudzu, an invasive vine species covers trees in Southern USA, here in Tennessee, creating miles of sculptural shapes.
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Courtland, Tennessee, just west of Memphis
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Hot Plate Lunches, Memphis, TN
Stormy first day of school, Little Rock, Arkansas
The Booker T Theater, Rocky Mount, NC opened “The Savoy” in 1929. (2015 Post-note: after laying unused and in disrepair for many years, it has been restored and reopened as a multi-purpose entertainment facility on April 28, 2011)
