Personal Photo Challenge........Birds

With more travels last week in California and 

the Pacific Northwest, and a busy time 

snapping photos of friends and scenery, I almost 

missed posting for Donna's July Photo Challenge.

Shame on me when I have so many photos of beautiful 

birds viewed around the world........and I love all birds. 

Here's looking at you!

How can I resist when this handsome owl truly did appear 

to be staring straight at me.

Taken at the World Owl Center at 

Muncaster Castle, Cumbria, England - May 2011.

Camera - the old faithful Olympus SP-590UZ using the 

pre-set scene 'Bird Watching'. Added a little 

sharpness with PicMonkey.

My favorite bird in sub-Saharan Africa is the 

Lilac-breasted Roller. This particular one was viewed on 

a dead tree branch in the cold harsh sunlight of an early, 

almost winter, morning on a game drive at Mala Mala, 

South Africa in June 2012. 

Used the Canon 7D set on P (still need to work with the DSLR!) and a little tweaking with PicMonkey.

Below - the amazing colors of this bird in flight - a 

difficult shot to capture but you get the idea of the 

beauty of the underside. 

Taken at Abu Camp, Botswana, June 2012.

Linking to Donna at Cottage Days & Journeys monthly 

A Personal Photo Challenge. 

Hope you'll visit and perhaps join in.

Petropavlovsk, Russia............Part I

June 2, 2013
9 PM arrival at Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka

Click photos to enlarge

Evening sun was low and cast a pleasing glow over what appeared at first to be a somewhat dreary city. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the administrative, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka, pop. 180,000 (2010 census). Across Avacha Bay from the city is Russia's largest submarine base, established in Soviet times and still used by the Russian Navy. This city is 4,202 miles from Moscow and 1,380 miles from Vladivostok.....so quite remote.

It wasn't long before we realized that the city's distant landscape was astounding! Surrounded totally by volcanoes, still snow-covered, the horizon cannot be seen clearly from any point in town.

People were walking the small beach in the last hours of daylight (but the nights were not really dark at this time of year)...............and a few pleasure boats passed by. 

In the distance as we sailed in to port we noted the always present, in all towns, statue of Lenin - in the left hand corner above................

........and were told later by our guide that the children call him 'Batman'.

This was the arrival area of the port where we tied up. Nothing fancy, very quiet and sedate, and just a few port authority employees to welcome us. They then come aboard to do the usual immigration clearance to enable us to leave the ship the following morning.

Morning of June 2, 2013

Socked in with early morning fog, a loud rumbling brought our transportation for the morning tour to the Sled Dog Kennel. 

No energetic fancy dancing children here, just a delightful, gentle welcome by the accordion, and the beautiful Russian woman offering the traditional bread and salt welcome, read more HERE.

The fog cleared and it wasn't long until the sun was shining on the snowy forests of white birch trees. We climbed higher to reach our unusual 'restaurant' at the Siberian K9 Kennel and Lodge where lunch and entertainment was awaiting us...........

Entrance to the kennel......and of course the distant 

scenery was stunning.

More coming...........dogs, good food, dancing and drinking!

Oops! Posted Part II prior to Part I - scroll back to see that one please.

Visiting the City of Roses..................and Marilyn!

Over the years my list of 'blog friend meetings' has grown. No matter in which country - yes I've met some lovely bloggers overseas on my travels - every gal, often with the patient hubby tagging along which is always great as Bob is usually with me, has meant a delightful day spent in the company of some very special friends.

Marilyn, Mary and Jim - Portland friends forever.

After about five years as online friends I had such an enjoyable time with Marilyn of the lovely blog Delights of the Heart, and her charming husband Jim, they made us more than welcome on this quick visit back to Portland, one of our favorites....the City of Roses.

We drove 9 plus hours from Northern California to Portland......and on arrival Marilyn insisted we pop over to her lovely home for her freshly baked apricot pie and Oolong tea.......even though it was quite late. Marilyn is to me the diva of tea.....knowing so much more than I will ever comprehend about the growing and preparing of delicious teas from around the world. Yes, yes, know I'm the English gal here, but I grew up loving coffee and didn't really start enjoying a good afternoon cuppa at 4 pm until after I emigrated to the USA.

Because Jim is an accomplished Master Gardener who specializes in heirloom roses, Marilyn's garden is gorgeous. The flowers and shrubs were at their peak and, with perfect weather of bright sunshine and blue skies, and perfect temperatures, I was able to ooh and aah constantly when we returned the next morning to start a wonderful day exploring the city.

First stop was at the breathtaking Multnomah Falls.......a full day followed perfumed with roses and other fun surprises.

OK, now in Seattle and off to the airport for an early morning flight back east. More next time on Portland's special places........then on to meet Washington State friends.

This has been a whirlwind trip and so much fun.