Monarch Pass

April 04, 2026

Our return from Utah took Melissa and I along the southern route through Colorado to avoid having to drive the steep passes of the central Rocky Mountains.  Melissa drove the 13 miles (21 km) of 6% grade on I-17 that drops into the Verde Valley and neither of us were excited about a repeat.  Things began as we took US Highway 50 out of Grand Junction, encountering rolling hills but nothing we could not handle.  Then we saw a sign that said Blue Mesa Summit (elevation 8,704 feet or 2,653 m) was just ahead.  The pass divides the watersheds of Little Cimarron River to the west and Blue Creek to the east.  This stretch is approximately 12 to 15 miles (19 to 24 km) long and has sections with grades of 6 to 10%.  Having ridden Verde Valley the previous week I was prepared for Blue Mesa and drove through without much concern.  I assumed we had made it through the lower Rockies, and I breathed a sigh of relief.  Little did I know looming 50 miles (80 km) ahead was Monarch Pass. 

When I went online, I found Monarch Pass (elevation 11,312 feet / 3,448 m) is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado, US.  The pass is located on the Continental Divide of the western US at the southern end of the Sawatch Range along the border between Gunnison and Chaffee counties, approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of the town of Salida.  The pass carries US Highway 50 over the Sawatch Range providing a route between Tomichi Creek in the upper basin of the Gunnison River on the west and the South Arkansas River on the east.  The pass can be traversed by all vehicles under most conditions and is generally open year-round.  However, 7% grades exist and the area is prone to heavy winter snowfall which often results in temporary closures during severe winter storms.  The highway does have some three-lane sections and runaway truck ramps are located about halfway down both the eastern and western sides of the pass.  Ten curves have a 35 mph (56 kph) advisory speed and one 30 mph (48 kph).  The West Descent has a 6% grade for 9 miles.  The East Descent has a 6% grade for 10 miles.

The climb up Monarch Pass begins at 8,184 feet (2494.5 m) and climbs over 3000 feet (914 m) to the summit with a steady 5-8% grade.  We were lucky enough to be traversing the eastern descent, so we got that extra mile (1.6 km) of steep grade.  Monarch Pass is rated as the #19 most feared road to drive in the US, especially during the winter due to heavy snowfall, strong winds, and several known avalanche areas.  The steep grades and sharp curves combine with a lack of shoulder or guard rails to make this route particularly hazardous.  As we neared the summit, we saw signs for “active snow removal” ahead.  The summit was covered in snow (thankfully not on the road) and a dense fog set in.  I did not know if that might be better as I could not see the drive awaiting us.  The fog lifted as we descended and Melissa looked out the side window into the 300 foot (91 m) drop to the trees below.  She kept her eyes directly ahead for the rest of the descent.  We crept down the mountain, only periodically applying the brakes.  A harrowing 25 minutes later we were down.

THOUGHTS: After Monarch Pass Melissa told me we are never going to take US Highway 50 again.  The problem is, unless you avoid Colorado entirely you will need to take some risk to cross the Continental Divide.  I had taken all these passes without incident when driving a car.  It was vastly different in a motor home towing our Jeep.  When we tried to find the number of annual fatalities on the road the site said, “it varied”, but they did occur “periodically”.  Spending six weeks driving 5000 miles (2495 km) across much of the southern US (Arizona to Florida) gave me a new perspective on the drivers that supply the US with 72% of domestic tonnage (11 to 13 billion tons/10 to 12 m tonnes) annually, valued at more than US$13 trillion.  These trucks do not stop on a dime, so give them a break.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Moab

March 25, 2026

I moved to Salt Lake City in 1979 to attend graduate school.  I grew up in Kansas (various), and was used to living in towns surrounded by agricultural fields or the remnants of the big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) that dominated the tall grass prairie.  What I found in Salt Lake was the Uinta Mountains on one side and a salt desert on the other.  While I quickly adapted to the mountains (skiing) I did not like the desert, finding it hot, salty, and barren.  After a few years I was drawn to the archeological sites of the four corners region and southeastern Utah (Anasazi cliff dwellings).  I later worked for the Division of State History mapping and encoding sites and participated in several archeological surveys in the area.  The more I worked in the area the more I was drawn to it.  By the time I left for California I found it was the desert I missed the most.  The largest city in the area at that time was the declining town of Moab with 4000 people.   

When I went online, I found Moab is the largest city and county seat of Grand County and is known for its dramatic scenery.  The population has risen from 4800 in 2010 to 5400 at the 2020 census.  Moab attracts lover 3 million tourist annually, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches (4 miles/6.5 km) and Canyonlands (22 miles/35.5 km) National Parks.  The town is also a popular base for mountain bikers who ride the extensive network of trails, including the Slickrock Trail.  Off roaders also come to for guided Jeep tours and the annual Moab Jeep Safari.  Moab has experienced a surge of second-home owners as the mild winters, and enjoyable summers attract people to the area.  This mirrors other resort towns in the American West and controversy has risen over the new residents and their houses, many of which are unoccupied most of the year.  Moab citizens are concerned the town is changing like the towns of Vail and Aspen in Colorado.  This means skyrocketing property values, a rising cost of living, and corresponding effects on local low- and middle-income workers.

I was anxious to revisit the quaint town of Moab and enjoy the solitude of the surrounding desert.  Melissa had been talking about visiting the area I loved ever since she heard stories of the many weekend trips taken by me and my son Alex.  Often, we would not see another human from the time we left the main road until we returned.  The desolation and isolation that had initially turned me off became the basis for my attraction.  What we found now was dramatically different.  Construction started several miles outside of town, with light industrial sites, gas stores, and fast-food chains.  These were interspersed with motels, residences, and RV parks.  The street was lined with businesses offering scenic tours by jeep and mountain bike.  If you did not want a tour, you could rent either to go on your own.  There were offers for ziplines along the canyon rim and plane rides.  What struck me most was the change from quiet isolation to the hundreds of people walking or biking along the main throughfare.  While the residents may be only 1500 more than I remembered, tourists overwhelmed the city.  Moab embraced the niche market of adventure tourism. 

THOUGHTS: Melissa and I camped our RV about 15 miles (24 km) north of Moab in the new (2021) Utahraptor (yes, found there) State Park.  This was centrally located to spend time at two sites I fondly remember, Dead Horse Overlook and Arches National Park.  We found Arches often has long wait lines to enter (exceeding 60 minutes from spring through fall) and the park temporarily restricts access if parking lots fill up.  We opted to go straight to Dead Horse.  Here again we found 100’s of people.  Most were hiking or mountain biking the roads and trails that wind through the park.  My recollection was seeing one or two other cars at the overlook.  While you can go home again, it may not be recognizable.  Still, the trip was worth it and the scenery spectacular!  It was worth the crowds.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Play Ball

March 21, 2026

I knew the Lake Pleasant campground where we chose to stay was several miles north of the Surprise baseball stadium.  When we approached the campground, we saw signs saying the road was closed ahead.  Since we did not know another route to the site, we kept driving and hoped for the best.  It turned out we got within a mile (1.6 km) of the entrance when we were routed to the south.  I asked one of the construction workers as we slowly passed how to get there and was told to take the road to 303 West, then Grand North to 74 East and come back in from the other side.  While this sounded simple enough, I did not realize this meant taking an 80-mile (128.7 km) detour.  By the time we arrived I was more than a little upset that the camp had failed to mention this small detail.  I also wondered what this would mean for driving to Surprise for the three games we had purchased.  When I googled the location of the stadium from our campsite, I found that while it was farther than I expected, it was only about 5 miles (8 km) more than without the detour (down to Surprise then up to the campground).  The next day we made allowances for the distance and arrived in time to be seated along the first base line before the start of the game.  After the traditional “first pitch” by some unknown local celebrity we heard the umpire cry, “Play Ball”. 

When I went online, I found in the US, “play ball” generally means “play baseball,” though the usage is often heard in connection with football, basketball, and other sports.  The phrase, or various versions, were in use hundreds of years before baseball was invented.  According to the Oxford Dictionary, the expression simply referred to a game played with a ball.  Concerning baseball, the Dickson Baseball Dictionary (3rd ed.) defines “play ball!” as “the command issued by the plate umpire to start a game or to resume action but it is sometimes abbreviated to a simple order of ‘play!’”  Dickson quotes from the Boston Globe (May 13, 1886) the first use in newsprint: “McKeever held a long discussion with Pitcher Harmon about signs.  The crowd got impatient; one man yelled ‘Get a telephone!’ while the umpire ordered them to ‘play ball.’”  The phrase caught on and showed up a few years later in in James Maitland’s, The American Slang Dictionary (1891): “Play ball (Am.), go on with what you are about.”   Dickson says, “play ball” has a special meaning to baseball fans and is the “emblematic phrase for the start of any baseball game.”

We were able to see the Royals play three games in Surprise.  Tuesday night they played the Dodgers in a packed house.  The temperature at “Play Ball” was 99F (37C).  We left with a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning and heard they ended up losing 12-4.  The next night it was 102F (39C) at the start.  The Royals share the field with the Texas Rangers and were considered the away team on that night.  They lost 10-2.  On Thursday they played the Angels and the temperature at the start was 106F (41C).  While the desert has a “dry heat”, it was still hot every night.  The worst part was the World Baseball Classic wrapped up last weekend and most of the players we came to see were not suited up.  The Royals had 14 players in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with 10 of them on the 40-man US roster, causing some to name this the “Royal Baseball Classic”.  The final saw Venezuela beat the US 3-2 with a 9th inning double.  I guess that made us 0-4 for the weekend.  Check my bucket list.

THOUGHTS: While the emblematic phrase may be “play ball”, the official umpires rule book states the game is to be started when the umpire points to the pitcher and says, “play”.  Despite this rule, most fans (like me) still hold out for and can even hear the traditional shout.  I have found in most things our traditions tend to overrule our rules, at least in our minds.  What one believes can be more important than the facts.  However, there are times when we should try and go with the facts.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Burros

March 19, 2026

Several days ago, we camped in the Homolovi State Park in Winslow, Arizona.  I was excited to camp in the park as it contains the remains of two pueblos along with a petroglyph panel.  Homolovi now serves as a center of research for the late migration period of the Hopi from the 1200’s to the late 1300’s.  The park is over 4000 acres (1618.74 ha) and includes a visitor center and museum, various trails and the campground where we spent the night.  We arrived early as I wanted to explore the ruins and walk the trails.  As we entered the gated park, we saw a sign indicating it was an open range (animals roam free inside the fenced area).  We explored the partially excavated Homolovi II site and then took the kids for a walk around the parking lot.  The docent at the museum had shown me where the petroglyph (pecked rather than drawn) panel was located and that became our second stop.  On the way to the ruin, we noticed several animals grazing off in the brush.  On our return the animals had moved closer to the road, and we saw they were wild burros. 

When I went online, I found Wild burros (Equus asinus) in Arizona are primarily found in the western desert mountains, most famously in the historic mining town of Oatman, where they roam freely and interact with visitors.  The burros are descendants of 19th-century mining pack animals.  The protected animals can also be found near Lake Pleasant, near Peoria, Arizona.  While the burros are a popular attraction, they are wild.  They can bite or kick and feeding them is discouraged to protect their health and safety. The burros are often found in various Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas in western Arizona and are particularly active during early morning and late afternoon.  There are over 10,000 estimated wild burros in Arizona, which is far above the sustainable level for the environment (less than 1,500), leading to BLM efforts to manage the population and reduce their impact on the desert.  The burros are protected under the federal Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (Public Law 92-195) of 1971, which means it is illegal to harass or harm them.  BLM suggests the best way to see the animals is from a distance, without pulling off the road.

While the burros we saw at Homolovi were from a distance, we found them close when we arrived at our Lake Pleasant campground.  There was a group of three who were feeding among the campers across from where we were assigned.  I had been wary of camping at several of the “Horse Motel” campgrounds set up to accommodate equestrian travelers along our route as I was unsure how the kids would react to the large animals.  Now I had no choice as we were invading their protected land.  We kept the kids inside while we set up camp and placed the night shade over the front windshield of the RV.  I checked outside before taking the kids for a walk to burn off energy before feeding them.  We all settled in together inside the RV as it was too hot to be outside.  Later that evening I put on their lease to take them out for a final trip.  I always go out before them to make sure I have control of the lease.  When I opened the door, Zena nearly knocked me down as she tore through the opening with her VERY loud protective bark.  One of the burros was standing about 15 feet (3 m) from our front door.  I do not know who was more surprised, the burro, the dogs, or me.   

THOUGHTS: While wild burros are predated by mountain lions, this is not enough to keep their population in check.  The Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act charged BLM with managing wild burros in a thriving natural ecological balance with other plants and animals to maintain healthy ecosystems.  Wild burros removed from management areas due to overpopulation, emergency situations, or through nuisance are available for adoption through the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program.  Protecting an invasive species is always a fine line.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Verde Valley

March 18, 2026

After battling the winds across the Panhandle region, we were home free as we climbed into the Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest that surrounds Flagstaff, Arizona.   The Coconino National Forest is located within the world’s largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest (yes, where the name Ponderosa Ranch comes from on the long-running TV series Bonanza).  These dominant, tall trees are famous for their orange-brown, puzzle-like bark that smells like butterscotch or vanilla.  We also passed three National Monuments along the route that were extant cliff dwellings of the prehistoric Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi).  Like so many other first-time travelers to Arizona, we were surprised to find the dense forest of the Kaibab Plateau rather than the stark desert we associated with the state.  As we traveled south out of Flagstaff the forests diminished and the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) took over as we began to drop in elevation.  The saguaro is the largest cactus in the US and acts as a vital, long-lived (up to 200 years) keystone species in the Sonoran Desert.  While I had anticipated the saguaro, I was not prepared for the Verde Valley descent.    

When I went online, I found the steep grade on Interstate 17 descending from Flagstaff toward Phoenix is often referred to as the Verde Valley grade or simply the I-17 mountain corridor.  This stretch includes a sustained 6% grade for roughly 13 miles (21 km) between Flagstaff and Camp Verde, Arizona that requires runaway truck ramps.  The stretch also includes another steep section for southbound traffic near Black Canyon City.  The route is known for high speeds, steep inclines, and sharp curves and is often cited as one of the most treacherous connections in Arizona.  While Flagstaff sits at 7000 feet (2133 m), Phoenix rests in the Verde Valley at an elevation of 1,086 feet (2133,6 m).  Although only 145 miles (233 km) apart, the great difference in elevation result in drastic climate changes.  Flagstaff is typically 20F to 25F degrees (36 C to 45C) cooler than Phoenix on any given day all year round.  This was a descent we were unprepared for.

Our first indication of the Verde Valley downgrade was a sign saying, “6% grade ahead.  Trucks and vehicles towing trailers use lower gears.”  We were driving the RV and pulling our Jeep behind.  We qualified for the warning.  My first thought was I was glad I was not driving.  Then, I wondered if I should offer to drive.  Neither of us had driven anything close to these conditions, so I was not sure I could do anything better than Melissa.  Instead of pulling over, Melissa asked for suggestions on how to drive.  She slowed down and I clicked on the emergency flashers as we began our descent.  The first thing we tried was shifting into 2nd gear.  That did not last long as the engine RPM climbed close to the red line.  I had just read an article online about the best way to slow your RV when on a steep grade and it suggested to make hard brakes followed by taking your foot off the brake.  Melissa shifted into Drive and periodically punched the brake to slow down.  There were also reprieves on the descent where it would level off or even ascend for short distances.  Melissa did a great job, and we got down without incident.

THOUGHTS: Toward the end of the Verde Valley descent, we passed a truck parked along the side of the road with its brakes smoking.  I was glad the driver was able to stop (and that we had avoided a similar situation).  I was also proud of the way Melissa had handled driving.  It was tense for me, and no doubt more so for Melissa.  I knew we had to retrace this route on our way to Utah, but this time we will be going up, a whole new set of problems.  This last month has been an amazing immersion into the diversity of the US.  We traveled from the Ozarks to the Florida Atlantic coast, then to the high plateau and desert of Arizona.  The people have been just as diverse.  Rather than a detriment, diversity is what defines our nation.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Panhandle

March 17, 2026

Melissa and I have been traveling for the last several days on our way to fulfill one of my “bucket lists”, Royals Spring baseball in Surprise Arizona.  We got back from Florida and took a week to recover and prepare the yard for spring.  Then it was off on our four-day drive to Surprise.  While the speed limit on the Interstate is 75 mph (120.7 kph) we have decided to keep our rig under 70.  This helps somewhat with gas mileage and helps us feel safer driving.  The first day began without incident, but trouble began when the winds picked up as we motored into western Oklahoma.  WE checked our weather app and there were sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph (32 to 40 kph) and gusts up to 40 mph (64 kph).  The more the rig was being buffeted the slower I began to drive.  Finally, the “stability assist failure” light came on.  Melissa goggled the error and it said we should take the vehicle to our mechanic as soon as possible.  Since they were now 250 miles (402 km) away, that was not going to happen.  We did call however, and he confirmed it was just the wind gusts that set off the alarm and it would reset once we shut the rig down for several seconds.  When we stopped for the night, we saw that our trip through the Texas panhandle would be even windier.

When I went online, I found The Texas Panhandle is exceptionally windy (especially in late winter and spring) due to a combination of intense surface low-pressure systems forming in the lee of the Rocky Mountains and strong jet stream winds mixing down to the surface.  The region’s high elevation, flat terrain, and rapid temperature changes fuel high-speed winds.  As westerly winds flow over the Rocky Mountains, it can create a low-pressure area on the High Plains.  When there is a sharp difference between high and low pressure it produces high wind speeds.  The “Windy Season” (Feb-May) is prime time for wind as the jet stream dips into Texas, bringing fast-moving, high-altitude air down to the surface.  These conditions are exasperated by the cold fronts moving through the area. creating freezing in the Panhandle against the warm air further south.  Finally, the flat, open landscape of the high plains offers little friction to slow down surface winds.  Intense surface low-pressure systems or thunderstorms can produce gusts exceeding 60 mph (95.5 kph).  Amarillo is centrally located in the panhandle and is considered one of the windiest cities in the US, according to a Facebook post from the City of Amarillo.

We slowed the rig to around 60 mph (95.5 kph) for the rest of the trip through the Texas panhandle.  While it did not seem to get much better in New Mexico (similar topography, etc.) we powered through the next day.  We also found the winds tended to increase in the afternoon, so we drove most of our hours in the morning.  We were happy to be leaving the Panhandle as we began to climb toward the southern reaches of the Rockies and the US Continental divide (7,245 to 7,295 feet / 2,208 to 2,223 meters).  This spot is noted as a high elevation point on historic Route 66 and separates watersheds flowing toward the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.  Little did I imagine the thrill that awaited us as we dropped down from the mountains around Flagstaff to the lower desert around Phoenix.  That is another story.

THOUGHTS: The winds we met driving through the Panhandle caused both Melissa and I to question our desire to drive around the country in our RV.  We also struggled to get the Jeep tow vehicle in gear following three days attached to the rig.  If it was going to be like this, were we prepared?  Then I remembered the learning curve I have had with my garden and Melissa has had with her succulents.  You take on new challenges when you take on new activities, but powering through and learning from your experience opens new possibilities.  Doing the same thing may keep you safe, but where is the fun in that?  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

JL

February 26, 2026

A lot has happened since we set out on our first long distance RV trip last week.  We spent the first night in a Love’s gas station parking lot, which was like camping in a parking lot (because it was).  The next two nights we spent in a state park and private RV campground.  Both were nice but closer quarters than we were used to (with our vast experience, haha).  The drama started immediately.  I set up the jeep as a toad (pulled) vehicle and installed the Blue Rhino barking system.  For some reason I could not get the brake to secure.  Since the dealer was on our way out of town, we decided to stop and ask what we were doing wrong.  It turned out the “problem” was I had set the seat too close to the auto brake.  The tech moved the seat back 1/4 inch (0.3 cm) and it worked fine.   The next difficulty came as I tried to back the toad (jeep) and found when the transmission is disengaged the wheels lock in reverse.  The final drama came on the third day of driving as the brake system kept turning off.  I reset the jeep to ACC twice before giving up.  When we arrived at our campsite, I found the battery on our jeep JL was completely dead.

When I went online, I found a Jeep JL battery dies in toad mode because the vehicle’s computer systems, especially the LED taillight system, remain active and wake up periodically.  This causes a significant parasitic draw.  The battery drawdown is compounded as the ignition needs to be left in accessory mode to power the supplemental braking systems.  There are four systems that contribute to the drawdown.  First is communication with the LED Taillights as the computer constantly checks for connected lights.  LED lights have a low resistance which keeps the computer awake and drains the battery.  Leaving the ignition in Accessory (ACC) or Run mode keeps electronic components powered by using the battery.  Supplemental braking systems (like ours) can draw power from the Jeep battery if not properly set up or if they lack a dedicated charging line (ours does not).  Finally, JL’s auxiliary battery system can also cause issues.  These drained our battery.

When we disconnected the dead toad at the camp site Melissa and I were both trying to figure out how to get our Jeep JL started the following morning.  We had AAA road assistance, so we thought of calling for a jump.  We also have Good Sam assistance so we could call them as well.  The problem would be waiting for the drivers to arrive to jump the vehicle.  Then we thought we could ask the campground hosts for a jump.  I always carry cables for situations just like this (from experience).  We went to bed dreading the hassle that awaited us in the morning.  During the night, I had an epiphany.  While the toad may have been drained, the RV was not.  I unhooked the toad, turned the RV around, and applied the jump.  The jeep fired up and we were ready to go.  However, we were still 200 miles (322 km) from our destination.  Melissa decided to drive the Jeep to our next destination to maintain the charge and avoid the drawdown. 

THOUGHTS: Now that we knew what was causing the problem with our JL, we needed to figure out how to fix it.  We could install a 12-volt charge line from the RV to keep the battery charged, install a wiring harness that disconnects the Jeep’s lights from the computer, or install a battery disconnect switch.  I asked our RV mechanic if I could do any of these and he said, “probably not” (he knows me too well).  You could also just make sure the ignition is off (not in ACC) after setting the transfer case to neutral, but this will not allow the brake system to operate.  We decided to Jerry-rig the system by running the engine every time we stopped.  “Jerry-rigging” refers to a makeshift, temporary repair, and originates from 18th-century nautical terminology where a “jury mast” was a temporary mast.  Bailing wire and duct tape do wonders, but you ultimately need to get things fixed right.  That is also true for relationships.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Astoria

February 16, 2026

Scrolling the NY Times Headlines feed, I came across a bird who has captured the attention of New Yorkers.  The bird arrived in Manhattan’s Battery Park and eventually settled in the area near the Sea Glass Carousel, just north of the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Three human women have become her self-appointed caretakers and visit her daily.  New Yorker’s regularly fall in love with celebrity wildlife, including unusual ducks, a pair of coyotes, and Flaco the escaped owl in Central Park.  Sunny Corrao, the deputy director of the city parks department’s wildlife unit, said, “She’s the only known turkey in Manhattan, “but this is not unusual.”  A turkey was known to hang out in Inwood Hill Park in Upper Manhattan in the past and there are large flocks in the Bronx and on Staten Island.  Smaller groups come and go to Queens and Brooklyn.  Astoria got her name because she was first spotted in Astoria, Queens, before making her way to Roosevelt Island and, finally, Manhattan.

When I went online, I found Astoria is a descendant of the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) first domesticated in Pre-Columbian Mexico.  The Classical Nahuatl word for the turkey (huehxōlō-tl) and the Spanish guajolote are still used in modern Mexico.  Mayan aristocrats and priests had a special connection to turkeys, with ideograms of the birds appearing in Mayan manuscripts.  Spanish chroniclers Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Father Bernardino de Sahagún describe the multitude of food (both raw fruits and vegetables and prepared dishes) offered in the vast markets (tianguis) of Tenochtitlán, noting there were tamales made of turkeys, iguanas, chocolate, vegetables, and fruits.  Turkeys were first exported to Europe via Spain around 1519 and gained immediate popularity among the aristocratic classes.  English settlers brought turkeys to North America during the 17th century.  There were an estimated 10 million turkeys in the US during the 17th century, but by the 1930’s only 30,000 remained.  In the 1960’s and 1970’s, biologists started trapping wild turkeys and re-introducing them into other states. 

The three self-appointed caretakers of Astoria coordinate their schedules in group chats and text messages, sharing photos and updates on Astoria’s location and condition.  Keiko Komiya visits the turkey in the morning, and Stella Hamilton and Anke Frohlich are generally there in the afternoon, and for bedtime.  Astoria spends her days strutting around on the ground, then every evening (at 20 minutes after sunset) she flies up into a tree to spend the night.   Hamilton is a retired nurse and birder who was previously a big fan of Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl set free from Central Park Zoo.  Komiya is an English student and avid birder whose first New York City celebrity bird was the mandarin duck she photographed daily in 2018.  Frohlich started photographing birds during the covid-19 pandemic and runs an alternative healing practice in Greenwich Village which allows her to give the birds priority.  The women do not worry about Astoria, but everything and everyone else.  Young kids chase her, dogs scare her, and people press on her for selfies.  Astoria also crosses State Street to bask in the warmth emanating from the Starbucks on the corner and the friends fear she will be hit by a vehicle.  Their fears are not unfounded.

THOUGHTS: While Astoria has grown a devoted fan club, she is not the only wild Turkey residing in New York.  “New York City is actually great habitat for a wild turkey,” Jessica Wilson, the executive director of NYC Bird Alliance, said. She noted that the birds are native to the area, have plenty to eat here and do not necessarily need turkey friends.  “They often join flocks, but they also are fine on their own — and in general, we try not to interfere with their social life.”  Perhaps we should treat people with the same respect.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

DET

February 14, 2026

I found it appropriate that in the middle of the Great Backyard Bird Count 2026 (February 13 to 16, 2026) that my Sunday paper (delivered on Saturday) would have a USA Today article on an annual lottery for the bald eagle tour in Monroe, Michigan.  There were approximately 1,200 entries for this year’s 30 lottery winners and their guests.  “It’s the largest number since the event began in 2008.  It shattered our previous record,” said Maddie Drury, park ranger with the US Fish & Wildlife Service who sponsors the tour.  Winners were driven out to the wooded area on the south end of the power plant, where Plum Creek and the power plant’s warm water discharge meets Lake Erie.  In winter the warm water draws fish, and the fish draw predators.  Amanda Schaub, communications strategist for the plant said, “Consistent with our Michigan Public Service Commission approved plan, the plant is scheduled to retire in 2032.”  DET Energy is committed to working closely with the community as they plan for the site’s future.

When I went online, I found several endangered or rare species have a home at the Detroit Edison (DTE) power plant facility.  Since the mid-1990’s, DTE Energy has supported peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) reintroduction and breeding programs in southeastern Michigan and near their power plants.  Employees assist with banding, tracking and rescuing at-risk chicks. Peregrines have been recorded nesting on the Monroe Power Plant grounds since 1994.  Over 100 adult and juvenile bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have been counted near the shoreline at the Monroe Power Plant and nest regularly at the Fermi 2 Power Plant.  Apprentice linemen install utility poles in various bird projects, such as eagle habitat at the Lake Erie Metropark and Humbug Island within the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, as well as a great blue heron rookery at Lyon Oaks County Park.  These projects foster the bird population while giving apprentice linemen experience in installing tall poles without energized lines or power transmission equipment.

The DET Monroe Power Plant is home to other endangered species.  The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is listed as a threatened species in Michigan.  The plant naturally cleans the water in which it lives, which is important for the native fish and wildlife.  In partnership with the Lotus Garden Club of Monroe, DTE Energy opens the Monroe Power Plant property for guided tours of the flowerbeds.  Lake Sturgeon (Huso fulvescens) are the longest-living fish species in Michigan, with a lifespan of up to 100 years.  They can be over eight feet (2.5 m) in length and weigh 800 pounds (363 kg).  Sturgeons are listed as threatened or endangered by 19 of the 20 states within their original range in the US.  DTE deposited 765 tons (694 mt) of coal cinders (a byproduct of coal combustion), cobble and broken limestone in the Detroit River off Belle Isle to create spawning beds.  Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) once numbered in the thousands along the Detroit River but now only 250 breeding pairs can be found there.  DTE Energy partnered with others to create an artificial nesting island and nesting habitat.

THOUGHTS: Drury, who is based at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton, calls bald eagles the “most successful conservation story of the US”.  For decades the insecticide DDT was widely used to kill insects.  Fish ate treated vegetation, birds ate the fish, and affected bald eagles laid fewer viable eggs.  In 1963, the continental US had just 417 mating pairs of bald eagles.  DDT was banned in 1972, and the eagles have bounced back.  In 2007, the US had 9,700 bald eagle mating pairs, and the bald eagle was removed from the endangered list.  By 2020, there were 71,000 breeding pairs.  The lottery for the DET Monroe Power Plant eagle tour typically opens right after Thanksgiving.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

Installed

February 13, 2026

The weather is finally warming (and staying so) enough for me to feel comfortable enough to de-winterize the RV.  This is my first season for this, so it made me a little nervous as I am not the mechanically inclined sort.  I had researched the process several weeks ago and the videos all said how easy it was.  When I woke up this morning all I could think about was I needed to get this done.  I procrastinated for another half-hour in bed and then decided to start.  I let the kids out for their morning constitutional, got my coffee, and went back to my office to restudy how it is done.  I watched 4 different YouTube videos claiming to be my year-make-model RV and while they were the same steps, they all showed slightly different versions of where the valves and settings were.  I finally felt comfortable enough to make the attempt and checked on the weather.  I saw the outside temps were in the mid-50’sF (mid-10’sC) but were expected to be around 70F (21C) this afternoon.  When I walked outside it felt a little cool and I decided to wait for my attempt at de-winterization.  I blogged in November that we purchased a 50-inch 4K QLED Smart TV (streaming and Bluetooth ready) so I figured this might be a good time for me to get it installed. 

I had moved the TV from the garage into the RV several days ago and told Melissa the box made it look like it would not fit.  She assured me she had used the dimensions I had given her for the TV and measured them against the size of the overhead where it was going to be installed.  When I took the TV out of the box, sure enough it was more than able to fit in the overhead area.  I did notice the screws we were told to buy to hang the TV were the wrong size.  Also, when I held the TV up to the bracket the screw holes on the TV did not match up with the bracket holes.  They were off by 3 inches (7.5 cm).  I spent the next hour trying to figure out how to drill new holes in the bracket to make them line up.  Just as I was prepared to go to the hardware store and buy a metal bit for my drill (I only had masonry and wood bits) I realized I would need to remove the bracket to get enough leverage to punch through the metal.  That put me on a different line of thought.  If I had to remove the bracket anyway, why not just reposition it 3 inches lower on the wall?

While this sounded easy, the cabinet the bracket was screwed into was not low enough to give me the 3 inches I needed.  No problem.  I could cut out a wooden extension, screw it to the cabinet to give me the required length, and then screw the bracket into the wall and extension.  While this would leave screw holes in the wall, I figured I could cover them with putty, and they would be behind the TV bracket anyway.  I cut a 6 x 10-inch (15 x 25-cm) piece of leftover 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) plywood and checked it against the cabinet I was going to attach it to (“measure twice, saw once”).  Now I went to the hardware store and bought the screws along with antique white spray paint to (kind of) match the extension to the existing cabinets.  I applied two coats to each side of the plywood, letting it dry between coats, and then screwed the extension on the cabinet.  By this time Melissa had returned from her appointment, and she was able to help me get the bracket and larger TV installed.  Another simple job that I had taken all day to complete.  I still need to de-winterize the RV.

THOUGHTS: One of the better parts of being retired is I have a lot of time to work on projects like getting the TV installed.  It is a good thing too, because it always takes me twice as long as it should.  My younger brother and brother-in-law are both mechanically inclined and are constantly working on fix-it-up projects around the house and office.  Unfortunately, I take after my dad.  He grew up on a farm and was able to do minor repairs, but he left the real projects to the pros.  Most humans should take a similar approach toward life in general.  When we disregard the information from “the pros” and go with “it’s possible” we get into trouble.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.