Friday Photo: Monkey Business

I took this photo in 2003 on an outing to the Denver Zoo.  This is a Red Capped Mangabey Monkey.  These medium-sized African monkeys are named "mangabey," after the port city of Mangabe in Madagascar, from which they were first shipped to Europe.  He was a great subject and stood still and seemed to be intrigued with what I was doing.

I really would like to make a return trip to the Zoo with Christie to get some new shots, I know we would have a blast with our cameras and the animals!!

- Ian

You can see more of the photos of this Red Capped Mangabey and the other zoo life here

Friday Photo: Punalu'u Black Sands Hawaii

This is a photo of me taken on the Big Island of Hawaii on Punalu'u black sand beach.  I don't recall how old I was but it must have been near the time when we visited on vacation or shortly near the time we moved to Hawaii based on how white I look.  I remember the sand being so warm and I loved to dig my toes deep into it.  Punalu'u means "diving spring" because of the abundance of fresh water springs just off shore.  The ancient Hawaiians would take a stoppered gourd and dive to the spring to fill it with fresh water to drink.  This video from YouTube explains some of the history.  This beach is not only famous for it's black sand but it's a haven for Green Sea Turtles that come up onto the shore to lay their eggs.  There is a lot of culture and history in this area and I wish I had only known more when I lived there. It's been 15 years since we moved back to Colorado from Hawaii and it still is often in my dreams.

Hawaii, I miss it.

-Ian

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Friday Photo: Stanley Hotel at Night

This week I wanted to share some holiday cheer and give us some Christmas in August to help cool us down a little.  I took this picture in December of 2007 when we stayed at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado near Christmas time.  It really is such a magical place in more ways than one.  The hotel was built in 1909 by the famed creator of the Stanley Steamer automobile for about $500,000 in cash, that's nearly 12 million by today's standards!!  Steven King's "The Shining" was written in room 217 and the hotel in the book was modeled after The Stanley Hotel but the famous movie made in 1980 with Jack Nicholson was not filmed at the Stanley.  Steven King re-shot The Shining at the Stanley Hotel and aired it in 1997 as a mini-series as he intended it to be.

I say it is a magical place in more ways than one because being there gives you a sense of what it was like in the early 1900's with all the ornate decorations and the preservation of the of all the main features.  The majestic views as you walk out the front door over looking the Estes Park valley are breathtaking!!  There are even reported hauntings in the hotel.

"The ghosts in the Stanley Hotel aren't evil as in the book. Room 418 seems to have the most ghostly activity reported. In fact, the entire fourth floor of the Stanley Hotel (formerly the servants quarters) is quite active. Often, the sound of children playing in the halls of the Stanley can be heard, even when no children are present."

We actually stayed just a couple of rooms down from 418!!  The night I took these photos it was very cold.  The wind was blowing as it sometimes does in the mountain towns but it made for some really interesting shots and with it being so cold no one was outside so I could get as many shots as I wanted of the front of the hotel without any passer-by's, that just meant I was an ice cube by the time I was done.  We have made it a tradition in Christie's family to rent a room in the Stanley near Christmas time because they have the place decorated with lights and have a very large Christmas tree in the lobby.  I can't wait for this coming December to stay there again..... maybe this time I will run into a ghost!

You can see more photos in the gallery!

- Ian

Friday Photo: San Francisco de Asis Church

It's much be church month because last week Christie posted up a church for Friday Photo from her travels in Greece.  This week I thought I would share my picture of  San Francisco de Asis Church (AKA, St. Francis of Assisi) in Rancho de Taos, New Mexico.  It was built in 1815 by Spanish missionaries and is one of the most photographed churches in that region.

I was fortunate enough to actually spend my summers as a kid near this beautiful land mark as my grandmother, aunts and cousins live not more than 5 minutes from there.  I took this photo in July 2005 during sunset.  I had actually gotten in the car and taken off for 2 hours just to find things to take pictures of and got some excellent shots!!  It really isn't hard to do in Taos because it is really so beautiful. I don't know what it is about that place but it is so rejuvenating and there is an energy that just flows through it.  Needless to say the family was not happy with me as they didn't know where I was (forgot to tell anyone)... that is until I showed them what I had on my digital camera.  :)

You can see more of Taos and my trip down to New Mexico by clicking here

- Ian

Friday Photo: Guanella Pass 4x4 Snow Run

Happy May Day!!!  For this Photo Friday I chose to do 3 shots.  This was on a 4-wheeling trip with my friend Mike 'Treeroot' Davidson up to Guanella pass Feb 2007.  He belongs to a local Toyota LandCruiser club that often makes trips all year long into the deep Rocky Mountains.  A BIG Thanks to him and allowing me to tag along....I really enjoy getting out to the mountains with him...get away from the city for a while and we always have a blast!!

This day the wind was whipping and the snow was DEEP!!  It did end up clearing and we had an awesome time playing in the fluffy Colorado snow.

Rough Road????  I think yes.


The snow was DEEP!!!

You can view more photos from that day by visiting my gallery

-Ian

More Knives to Share

I thought I would post more knives from my collection.  I started looking into fixed blades mainly because I don't have any and it would be nice to have when we go on hikes or camping.  I started looking at reviews and I belong to www.bladeforums.com and found some great write-ups on RAT Cutlery knives.  They are the perfect blend of function and form.  they really can take some abuse and after watching these destruction tests on YouTube where the user hacks at cinderblocks, 2x4's, metal plating and only when jumping on the handle twice with all 250lbs of body weight does the blade snap.  Not to mention the warranty from this company is outstanding.  Basically if you break it, they will replace it for free!!

I've picked up a few models.  The RC-4, RC-5 and RC-6.  I can't wait to try them out this year camping!!



[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="RAT RC-5 with Sheath"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="RAT RC-5 logos"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="RAT RC-5 and RC-6 side by side"][/caption]

If you want to see more photos of the RAT Cutlery knives I have you can visit my gallery

I have also picked up a couple of Spyderco knives to share.

This is a picture of 2 Spyderco Ladybugs.  They are ment to be on a key chain so they are rather small but the bright colors are perfect for finding them easily

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Orange and Yellow Ladybugs"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Orange Ladybug"][/caption]

This is a Yellow Ladybug with H1 steel.  H1 is a new steel out of Japan that is perfect for wet and salty enviroments as it does NOT RUST!!!!  Spyderco makes many H1 bladed folders now and has been put to the test by scuba divers, Alaska Fishermen and anyone near or around water.  This size would be perfect for a tackle box.  Maybe a fathersday gift???  I know the knives my dad has in his tackle box tend to get rusty.  He might just see one of these in his future.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="H1 salt LadybugKiwi gentilemens folder in Black Pearl"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Black Pearl Kiwi"][/caption]

This is a Spyderco Cricket.  Another small knife, great for discrete carry and women love this size folder.  This happens to be a Cabon Fiber version that only sold in Japan.  I have seen quite a few Serrated Edged versions of this knife but never seen a Plain Edge so this will be going in my display case

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Carbon Fiber Cricket PE"][/caption]

you can see the other

Spyderco knives here

I'd like to get your opinions on these so post a comment below!!!

-Ian

Friday Photo: Twin 50's!

This was taken in northern Colorado in the Pawnee national grasslands. This is a pair single round bolt action 50-caliber rifles that are owned by one of my friends. We spend the day and find a safe spot and scout the area before we begin target practice. We typically set up a target 1/4 to 1/2 mile away but this rifle is capable of 1 mile+.

For those less rifle savvy, the large block on the front of the muzzle is a muzzle break. This causes the hot gasses to exit back and away helping with recoil.

Firing this rifle is really fun and does sound like a tank going off but it really doesn't kick like you think it would. Just don't stand directly behind or too close to either side of the weapon. As it goes off, the muzzle break kicks up dust and the blast does create a little bit of a concussion wave around it.

Check out the rest of the pictures here.

- Ian

Spyderco Knives

I wanted to have the chance to introduce folks to one of my hobbies.  I've always had a knife for as long as I could remember it must have been something I found interest in when I was a boy scout and I have always lived by the boy scout motto "Always be prepared".  I've had hundreds of knives over the years, folders, fixed blades many different makes, models and brands.  I don't remember when I first stumbled upon Spyderco but I fell in love instantly!!



Spyderco HQ:   820 Spyderco Way Golden, CO

For me it was the patented hole in the blade that assists you in opening the knife I really loved!  Most of their knives also have a clip so that you can hang it off the inside of your pocket so you don't have to hunt in your pocket among keys and everything else to use your knife.  My first Spyderco was a Native, it was the perfect size and shape for me and then I discovered that this knife company is based here in Golden, Colorado!!  Sal Glesser the founder of Spyderco is a down to earth man and has not let the success of his company let him forget his roots and those that made his company grow, the consumer.

Since my first Spyderco Native my collection has grown to over 150 and it continues to get bigger, I thought I would share a few of them:



My spyderco dump!



This is called the "Q".  Spyderco attempted to make a super lightweight folder with using laser cut blades, a wire clip and skeleton handle.  They also attempted to make different blade designs for marketing.  They have become quite collectible.



These are called "Bugs", they were meant as fun little working replicas.




This is called the Poliwog.  One thing about Spyderco designs is they focus on ergonomics and function....many times Spyderco's have been called ugly but I think they are quite beautiful.  This one happens to be designed by Eric Glesser, the founders son.



This is the Spyderco Kopa.  It has Dark and light pearl and Abalone inlays.



Spyderco Kiwi.  This is one of the few Spyderco knives that doesn't have a clip.  This Kiwi has a bloody Jasper inlay done by Santa Fe Stoneworks

You can see the rest of my spyderco collection here

And for those that have been wondering, yes, I cut myself all the time.  It seems like tradition that every new knife I purchase, I get cut at least once.  It's a good reminder to respect these tools!

- Ian

Friday Photo: Savery Savory Mushroom Tower

Today's Friday Photo is of the water tower that supported the mushroom farm which used to be near 112th and Sheridan in Westminster, CO in the 1930's and 40's.

I took these photos in June 2006 - They had pulled the rusted and nearly erased water tower down to restore it as a historical mark for the area.  This always makes me very happy to see this happen... I think even with the forward movement of development in the area that the history should still be preserved in some way.

Shortly after they brought the water tower down they had someone working on replacing all the metal work and then they began painting it.

The idea behind the water tower was to have it look like a can of mushrooms you would buy at a local market.  Take a look at the rest of the photos to see how they restored it.  I still have to go back at some point and get a picture of it after they put it back on the top of the tower... but for the sake of reference, here's a painting of how it turned out:

-Ian