Golden Rays on the Wapsi

Many of the 42N area rivers are chocolate brown colored waterways due to their course through richly organic soils and minimal rocky substrates. Late afternoon sunshine adds a golden hue to the Wapsipinicon River as it swirls around a bend. Know that.

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Did NASA's UARS Satellite Crash Along 42N?

Between Friday night and Saturday, did the failing UARS satellite impact terraferma? Somewhere between 57 degrees north and south of the equator, the 6-ton defunct satellite was expected to fall from orbit. Some heavier satellite parts were expected to survive the heated plunge.

While the world waits for visual, radar and other reports of the plunge, this cratered depression was found today near the 42N town of Toronto, Iowa. It has all the elements of a fallen satellite impact; charred pieces of organic material, roughly circular shaped depression, ejecta lines and various deposits of melted metal. Seems to add up to a UARS impact.

Then again, take a closer look. Turns out this is a campfire pit with burnt wood and a melted aluminum can. No UARS here but it got you to look. Know that.

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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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Black and Yellow

Bees are buzzing. Last week this bee hunted pollen in the flowers around Amana, Iowa. This week sweat bees hunted me. Not even OFF or Absorbine Jr. helped. Still, with all the talk of bees disappearing it was a good site to see - for a while. Know that.

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I Only Have Green Eyes for You

Just a few days remain before Fall begins. Along the 42N latitude last week the Midwest experienced a sudden dive to cold and frost. This week brought back warm temperatures and with it, all sorts of flying creatures. Today I spotted this green-eyed white butterfly searching for food in late season blooming flowers. Among the other flying creatures spotted were sweat bees, biting flies and a turkey vulture. Know that.

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Rock Island Line is a Mighty Good Road

Epworth, Iowa is the site of a small park that offers something from the last century - a train caboose. This one is from the Rock Island railroad which probably passed through this small community in northeast Iowa. In the 1930s a song about the rail line was composed and sung by inmates from the Arkansas State Prison. In the 1950s a re-worked version of the song became a hit for several musicians on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Still, the line is the road to ride. Know that.

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Cycles of Time

End of summer. End of day. Crops mature. A weather worn farm building near Hennen Lake and Blairstown, Iowa remains standing. Know that.

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