Northcliffe Cactus

I have a fascination with cactus blooms.  I've posted pictures many times of my cactus grove on 11th Avenue.  Taking some cuts from those cactus, I planted the "shoots" up at Northcliffe at the big boulder.  It's taken a few years, but now they bloom nicely.  I just can't believe something from an arid desert environment and covered in spiky needles can produce such beautiful flowers...

Mt. Rainier

It's unusual to get a good view of Mt. Rainier in Washington.  Usually clouds and rain obscure the mountain.  We got lucky twice...  flying into Seattle, I flew over a perfectly visible Mt. Rainier.  Even more lucky was a beautiful Seattle day and this view from SeaTac, an iPhone shot by Lacey:

Swell in the Swell

We just held the latest (52nd?) edition of our Cinco de Mayo celebration in the San Rafael desert.  For the most part, the weather was great, but there was a lot of dust.  However, a nice shower on Saturday night tamped down the dust and left us with a fine and mellow evening.

One goal this year was to spend some time on Saturday trying to locate the head of the Black Box.  The San Rafael river spends most of its time near the surface, but at certain points in its wanderings, the river creates deep and narrow canyons, the Black Box and the Little Black Box.  After hiking down some dubious roads to overlooks, we found one that gave us sight of the beginnings of the Black Box.  Here is the river curving towards the Black Box:

And then the river begins to carve into the canyon.  One can see the beginnings of the canyon walls.

There was a wide wash at the bottom of the cliff leading into this area.  But from Mexican Mountain road, we have yet found a good entrance into this wash.  I estimate about a mile hike from the road to the river and the beginning of the Black Box if we can find an entrance without a steep dropoff.  Next year...  We headed back to camp as a storm came up.

On the way back, we found yet more evidence of an ancient alien presence:

The aftermath of Saturday's brief storm left us with a fine sunset around the old campfire:

On Sunday we held services for our old friend Tom Zeidler.  He died a couple years ago, rather suddenly, and we lost our favorite bartender, amateur anthropologist, literary critic, and friend.  Tom was also a fixture of the early Cinco years.  His family contributed some of his ashes for us to release into the river...

Finally, a better shot of Saturday's sunset from Rod Daynes.  More of his photos can be seen at his website:  Swell Photographs.

Trump Joke

This joke is inspired by a T-shirt I bought at the Discovery Place Museum in Charlotte, NC.

How can Trump be so against science?  He's like an atom, he makes up everything!

Beer, Baseball, and....Trees?

Inspired by my Poe-Tree post, the literary icon, Phil Rupp, provided this version honoring the opening of baseball season:

I think that I shall never hear

 

A poem lovely as a beer.

 

The brew the Camelot served on tap

 

With golden base and snowy cap.

 

The stuff I'd drink throughout the day

 

Until my memory went away.

 

Poems are made by fools, I fear

 

But more than Coors now grew good beer.

And thanks to Phil for the Camelot reference...  ah, the memories...

Poe-Tree

BY JOYCE KILMER

I think that I shall never see 

A poem lovely as a tree. 

(from a walk in Irvine)

Surf/Instro in Salt Lake

Over the weekend I was invited to a house party which featured a couple sets by Los Rifamos, a rare instro group in this city.  The band has actually been around a few years, with only occasional appearances (and my lack of awareness...  gotta get out more).  I discovered the group from their application to the Utah Arts Festival, a pleasant surprise after listening to about 8 million mediocre rock bands.

Los Rifamos play an instro style more laid back than the current near-punk intensity of today's surf music.  Well, with a lead guitarist using a Burns guitar, one can expect a sound closer to the Shadows and the Atlantics than Slacktone or the Surf Coasters.  (The group did do an opening set of garage band vocals of the louder, faster variety).  Here's to Hank Marvin!

Most tunes were originals, had a great deal of melodic content, and were quite enjoyable.  My only complaint might be the need to mix in a few more uptempo tunes in a live environment for today's instant gratification generation.

Here is a link to an iPhone movie I did of one song from their performance.

I enjoyed talking to the band members, sharing knowledge of musicans, music, and gear we had in common.  And the homebrew English ale was excellent!  Thanks to Grant and his friends for the great party.