rDay Two-Hundred-Twenty-One: Owsley Canyon

Reprieve from the rainy weather of most of the past week today, so we go hiking this morning up Owsley Canyon.  Took the loop around the northeast trail, then struck off straight up the hill to the north to gain a viewpoint.  Not only was the climb exceedingly steep and somewhat slippery from recent rains, but as we approached the summit, the strong wind made it even more difficult (for a couple of senior citizens — of course, Charlie scrambled right up)  to maintain balance.  (Although two or three of the photos will be keepers, more are included here to hopefully give a sense of the terrain, views and glowing fall colors.)

Quad-Cities, 1971

After brother Dennis graduated from journalism school at the University of Iowa, he went to work for the Quad Cities’ — Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa; Moline and Rock Island in Illinois; all converging on the Mississippi River — leading newspaper as a reporter.  En route to the east coast on business trips, I stopped over for weekend visits to see his family, including baby Gabrielle.  On one rainy May day, he drove me around the area in his VW bug.  While there is nothing of  particular photographic noteworthiness here, we do present evidence that the dismal quality of life in that part of the country was not just a rural phenomenon.

rDay Two-Hundred-Eighteen

Morning walk to 103, dodging rain showers and checking to see if any leaves are still on the trees …