Irises (April) - 3

Irises (Lake Lagunitas) - Marin County  2024

Irises (Lake Lagunitas) - Marin County  2024

Photos taken on April 28th and April 13th, using the Olympus E-M1II.

Irises in Grass (April) - 2

Irises in Grass (Lake Lagunitas) - Marin County  2024

Photo taken with an Olympus E-M1II / 14-150mm lens combo.

Irises - (April) - 1

Iris (Lake Lagunitas) - Marin County  2024

Iris (Lake Lagunitas) - Marin County  2024

Wild irises seen on the hike around Lake Lagunitas in April. I used a Nikon Z7 II for these photos.

Nevada Sightems

Grass, Mountains - Nevada  2024

Enjoy Beef - Nevada  2024

Photos taken on the last leg of my trip, driving towards my low end motel in Fernley. The next day: highway 80 back to Fairfax, no photos taken.

View from Motel Door (Fernley) - Nevada  2024

Idaho to Nevada Sightems

Barber Shop (Marsing) - Idaho  2024

Welcome to Nevada (McDermitt) - Nevada  2024

Leaving Boise I was surprised at the amount of the early morning rush hour commuter traffic. My route then took me past some small towns, next crossing through a portion of Oregon to arrive back in Nevada.

Monday Cow Blogging

Cow (Boise) - Idaho  2024

Curious cow seen directly in back of my Boise motel.

Now Leasing (Boise)

Now Leasing (Boise) - Idaho  2024

Apartment buildings opposite my motel's parking lot. I had thought, when planning the trip, that I'd be able to do some sightseeing around Boise. But no, by the time I got to the motel I was ready for just some smallish walks around the area.

BNSF (Idaho)

BNSF - Idaho  2024

So, I don't remember exactly where this photo was taken. I was driving towards Boise, so perhaps this was on that city's edge. I saw this locomotive off to my left, with a wide shoulder area off to my right. I pulled the Toyota off the highway and, luckily, the Nikon was sitting on the passenger seat, available for my last railroad photo of the trip.

Oregon Views

Lupin - Oregon  2024

Agriculture - Oregon  2024

Photos taken on my drive from Colfax, Washington to Boise, Idaho. I hadn't realized that the route would take me through part of Oregon on a major interstate. Nice views provided by a well-placed scenic viewpoint. 

Oregon Thanks You - Oregon  2024

Wheatland Hills - 2

Hills, Clouds - Washington  2024

Hills, Clouds - Washington  2024

Both photos taken with a Nikon Z7II / 24-200mm lens combo.

Wheatland Hills - 1

Oversize Load - Washington  2024

Hills - Washington  2024

"The Palouse is a distinct geographic region of the northwestern United States . . . It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes. Situated about 160 miles north of the Oregon Trail, the region experienced rapid growth in the late 19th century."

-Wikipedia

Railroad Buildings

Railroad Building #1 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Railroad Building #2 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

These extremely photogenic ramshackle buildings were located around the corner from my motel!

Top photo taken with an Olympus E-M1II / 25mm lens combo. The bottom one was taken with a Canon G5XII. 

Alas, the Canon vanished during one of my recent Los Angeles trips, and, to make matters worse, Canon no longer manufactures that camera. What's interesting is that it's commanding a premium price when listed as used on eBay, far above what I had originally paid when new.

Monday Spotted Sandpiper Blogging

Spotted Sandpiper (Colfax) - Washington  2024

"The dapper Spotted Sandpiper makes a great ambassador for the notoriously difficult-to-identify shorebirds. They occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome."

Photo taken from my motel window.

Palouse River Trail

Palouse River - Washington  2024

Hiking Path - Washington  2024

Nice hike, down an old railroad line, wheat fields in the distance. 

WAMX 4043

WAMX 4043 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Photo taken through my motel window. As I've noted before, the motel employees told me that there were no railroad operations currently going on. However, that engine certainly looked functional to me! Plus, those things have got to be expensive.

(Clipped from the Web)

Colfax Sightems - 2

Photo Studio (Colfax) - Washington  2024

We Deliver (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Earlier shots of photo studios: Photo Studios

Colfax Sightems - 1

Building #1 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Building #2 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Photos were taken early Sunday morning, with me being the only pedestrian in view.

Railroad Stuff

Colfax Station (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Train Tracks (Colfax) - Washington  2024

I was pleased to find that my motel was quite close to some railroad tracks and assorted railroad buildings. (Best Western motel sign visible at the right of the lower photo.)

Alas . . . there hasn't been any actual trains in the town for a number of years apparently. 

Through Idaho to Colfax

Colfax Says (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Gas Station - Idaho  2024

At one point I was going to stay for a couple of nights in Spokane, but decided to push on a little farther to Colfax - more rural and quiet.

Monday Heron Blogging

Heron (Kootenai NWR) - Idaho  2024

Standing in the grassy field next to the parking lot. That was it as far as wildlife went.

I was able to take a much more detailed photo of the heron that was down by the pool two years ago.

Kootenai NWR - 2

Field (Kootenai NWR) - Idaho  2024

Lilacs (Kootenai NWR) - Idaho  2024

Alas, no wildlife on view. Nice distant views of mountains and rain, however. Very pretty lilacs as well. 

Kootenai NWR - 1

Road outside of Bonners Ferry - Idaho  2024

Kootenai NWR Parking Lot - Idaho  2024

An unplanned stop. Nobody besides myself in the parking lot. Reminded me of my visit to the Modoc NWR.

Bonners Ferry Sightems

Flag, Clouds (Bonners Ferry) - Idaho  2024

Rex Theater (Bonners Ferry) - Idaho  2024

I took a quick loop through town before heading over to the Kootenai wildlife area.

Bonners Ferry, Idaho

Kootenai River (Bonners Ferry) - Idaho  2024

I parked the car near the river, and decide to walk around a bit. After a while I noticed a sign pointing towards a wildlife refuge and thought I should go check it out.

Rex Theater (Bonners Ferry) - Idaho  2024

Heartleaf Arnica

Heartleaf Arnica - Idaho  2024

Heartleaf Arnica - Idaho  2024

Leaving Montana and entering Idaho, walking around a highway rest stop. An iPhone software identification.

Europeans and Native Americans independently discovered the medicinal qualities of Arnica species. For centuries, the European species Arnica montana has been used to treat acne, bleeding, and pain. More than 100 arnica-based teas and preparations are still marketed in Germany, though physicians caution against over-consumption or taking it internally, as the plant can be toxic. Native Americans used the root of Heartleaf and other arnica species to treat sort throats, aching teeth, cuts, and bruises. Mixed with ocher and bird feathers, arnica was also used as a sort of love potion. No word from the medical community on the efficacy of the latter.

Troy, Montana

Welcome Sign (Troy) - Montana  2024

Booze 'N Bait (Troy) - Montana  2024

Back on the road, driving from Kalispell, Montana to Colfax, Washington. I had wanted to stop at some random locations for photos, but this goal tended to elude me while I was driving fairly long distances.

So . . . Troy, Montana (above). Two photos taken out the Toyota's windows as I passed through.

Monday Geese Blogging

Geese - Montana  2024

Geese, Thompson Lake - Montana  2024

More geese, but very picturesque, what with the reflections 'n stuff.