Touring the Upper Dells - Day #4

The Upper Dells has some very interesting rock formations.

 Taken with my Windows 7.5 phone -

 

Light rays filtering thru the dense forest above us.

Coolpix S6300

 

 

As it was an extremely hot day, walking through this cool moist area provided relief from the heat. Not a good place to be for those suffering from claustrophobia as the rock formations close in tightly around you. A really cool place to visit - and yes the pun is intended.

 

 

 

Conditions were perfect for the ferns. This photo is a good example of how extreme the rock layering is.

Menomonie Wisconsin - Stout - University of Wisconsin - Day #3

The stone barn is representative of the corn growing areas in  the Menomonie area. Haze blanketing the area is caused by the forest fires in Northern Saskatchewan.

 

 

This beautiful building use to be the private residence of Louis Smith Tainter. It now houses the alumni association.

                               Elaborate Faces adorn portions of the house.

 

Beautiful floral beds accent the grounds.

 

Wisps of flowers frame this doorway.

 

A dancing water lightshow was one of the many highlights of the Tommy Bartlett Show ( A variety show, featuring water skiing), in the city of Wisconsin Dells. This one taken with my windows 7.5 phone.

 

These two floral photos were taken at a  dairy farm specializing in cheese. Sadly the motor gave out on my cooler, the cheese melted  - no Wisconsin Cheese for me. Cheese in Wisconsin is so much cheaper than we in Canada have to pay. Taken with my Windows 7.5 phone

 

Menomonie Wisconsin Day #2

Crystal Caverns near Menomonie Wisconsin. One of USA's largest underground caves. Hard to take any pictures here do to the poor lighting.

 

 

Who can resist flowers!

The Phoenix - Eau Claire Wisconsin

While stopping in Eau Claire, I came upon this light, while walking along the river path. The history of its existence, I found to be not only interesting but also inspirational and thus felt it earned a place in my blog.

 

A company call Phoenix Manufacturing occupied this site. Although it sustained Eau Claire's economy thru difficult time, it left a wake of disaster in its wake. The rivers became dumping grounds. An 1891 publication boasted that "Few cities have as a convenience a way of dumping sewage". Children made balls and water wings by inflating pig bladders they found near the slaughter house. By the end of the 20th century, concerns about sanitation, flooding and public access played a part in the reclaiming the rivers and their banks. The City reclaimed this site and removed - and this is what I find unreal- 34 tons of tires, 16 tons of steel debris, 60 cubic yards of treated timbers. Contractors excavated and processed 7600 cubic yards of contaminated soil. This are is now developed into a beautiful park and THUS as the Phoenix is associated with rebirth, It became the symbol displayed on this light.(It also represents the Company that had occupied the land)

 

Sunrise Fargo ND - Day #1 of Summer tour

First Real travelling day on my Summer Road trip. I took this at Fargo North Dakota at 5AM - the smoke from forest fires in Washington created this haziness and the incredible picture of the sun.

 

Telus Field - Edmonton

Once again taken with my phone. I never thought I would say this, but my next phone is going to have much better photography attributes. There was storm in the south and the contrast between the sky and baseball field was amazing. An photo opportunity not to be missed.

 

July 1 Fireworks

I am not sure why or how I got this weird looking picture of the fireworks. I was using a very slow shutter speed, with a timer. Kinda kewl though.