Freedom is not Free

Thank you to the men and women who bravely serve our country.  I'm also thankful for those who have given their lives sacrificially for the freedom that we enjoy.

Smith Lake

Early Friday evening I rode my motorcycle to our place at the coast to do some much needed work. There was a steady rain the whole way through the coast range. By the time I got near the house there was only a slight drizzle which gave a nice serene mood to Smith Lake.

The white plant in the foreground is a weed, which explains why they're growing abundantly beside the road. It's one of the better looking weeds I've seen though.

Old Car & Truck Faces

When  I was growing up and my parents and I would take a trip, I use to identify cars and trucks as they were traveling towards us on the highway. They were amazed how I could do it at such a young age.  To me the grilles on the cars and trucks made faces and that's the way I would know what they were.  Some had a grin, some didn't. And some had teeth showing like this truck.  I stopped seeing these faces long ago so I don't think it did long term damage.

Flower Power Truck

Yesterday I rode about 60 miles north into Washington to work.  On my way home I crossed over the Columbia River and rode back through Oregon.  A little north of Portland I crossed over onto Sauvie Island which I haven't visited in many years.  Outside one of the farms I found this unique "Flower Truck."  It makes a nice springtime display!

Rainy Day Succulent

Yesterday it rained most of the day.  Rain has a way of making the colors in the plant-life pop.  While taking some shots of the obvious plants like the rhododendrons I noticed this small ground cover succulent.  It's Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum x Roseum).  The only reason I know that is I looked it up.  It's kind of fascinating the way just the tips are deep red.

Stopping by a Foggy Pond... to Ponder

Morning Solar Power

(Near San Jose, Mexico)