Marion Fly-In 2014 Part 2

Watching small planes land and take-off never gets old at the Marion Fly-in in Marion, Iowa.

To get the full look at the Marion airport you can ride the hayrack around the grounds.

Nothing like a hayrack ride and a thumb to calm the nerves.

Always a crowd pleaser - a local hospital patient copter.

One of the hospital copter's healthcare professionals explains the medical features of the mobile unit.

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Marion Fly-In 2014 Part 1

One of the opening activities for Freedom Festival is the Marion Fly-In in Marion, Iowa. Today the cloud ceiling was low and therefore no fly-ins participated. However several local small planes gave $10 a person rides throughout the morning.

A skeptical boy hangs on to his mother as they approach a small plane for a ride. 

Air traffic is brisk during mid morning but the crews did a good job in getting people on and off the planes.

A trio of guys get their photo taken after completing a successful flight.

Vehicle traffic was routed slightly differently than in years' past. A volunteer directs traffic away from the old entrance. Note the relative height of the corn in the background. Its been a wet spring.

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Bull Snake Bite at Lake Macbride

Earlier this summer a bit of nature vs. man drama unfolded at a local lake. In eastern Iowa we have two side-by-side man made lakes; Lake Macbride and the Coralville Reservoir. At the Macbride dam several people spotted a bull snake which had made its way up the rock face to wait for food from flowing spillway water. These people went to investigate and to take a few photos, I did too.

One of their friends tried picking up the snake with a small stick. He succeeded in grabbing the long serpent by the end of its tail. 

However, snakes do what they do. Our purple shirt friend received a bite from the bull snake and bled. After releasing the snake (unharmed) he showed the effects of the bite. We offered medical attention but he declined saying that he often receives snake bites. He assured us that a bull snake is not poisonous and that he would be okay. The snake made its way down the slope and entered the waters of the Coralville Reservoir. Our purple shirt friend went back to his family's BBQ at the picnic area to show off the bite.

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A Grandmother's Joy in a Water Fountain

On the tenth day of Summer 2013, this grandmother took her 1-1/2 year old grandson to play in Iowa City's pedestrian mall water fountain. Jets of water spray patterns at different intervals allowing the two to enjoy several minutes of watery fun. Grandma Lonnie told me that she looks forward to spending time with her first and so far, only grandchild.

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Cattle Feed on Last Day of Spring Grass

In the Amana, Iowa countryside it is common to see herds of cattle munching on grass fields. Rainfall this spring delivered lots of moisture for consistent grass growth. Some fields are rotated for the cattle to graze during a particular period, then are herded to a different pasture, allowing for regeneration of food sources.

Meanwhile just a quarter mile from the above scene, a mother cow calls for her calf, who comes a running. Its a busy time as Summer begins.

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Goodbye Summer 2012 - Too Hot and Dry

Summer 2012 produced severe drought for the American Midwest. Here in Iowa, despite rains that finally arrived in August, drought conditions have not yet abated, and have some eight inches of rain needed to recharge subsoil moisture. But the trend during the past 30 days or so was for cooler temps and bouts of occasional rain. Stark brown lawns in July slowly turned green again by late August. As most weather patterns move in cycles it is possible that our portion of the state will get needed moisture during the Fall - which begins today.

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A Prop Out of Water

This summer's temperatures and lack of substantial rain has been brutal on these latitudes. So to find an outboard motor prop resting idly when it could be twirling through a spring-fed lake is almost unthinkable. However in the owner's defense this prop looks quite used. I must have caught it during a forced time out. Still if it were up to me, that prop, engine and boat would have been skimming the waves enjoying a summer day.

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Union Pacific's Steamy Summer Rails

It is summer - no doubt about that. Last evening a powerful thunderstorm flared up over 42N land, dumping much needed rain and producing winds at up to 65 mph. Today, like yesterday, is again hot and very humid. How hot is it you ask? Hot enough for the air above the steel rails of the Union Pacific railroad at Lisbon, Iowa to produce mirages of wavy lines. Look for yourself. The only photo manipulation to this image is color correction and cropping.

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Summer 2011 Gone

Along this latitude, 42N, summer has been near perfect. Some rain, a few storms, some cold and a lot of heat. Its all you can ask for in the Hawkeye state. Now on to the equinox tomorrow. Know that.

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