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Borrego Springs, CA

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The wind, she’s been a blowin’

The latest cold front came blasting through early yesterday afternoon, and what a wind came with it.  The rain was pouring down horizontally across the RV pads, and anything not secured went flying.  The winds have just now finally abated a bit.  I struggled to open the door, and then had to hang onto it for dear life so it wouldn’t be ripped out of my hands.

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I was scheduled to work the afternoon in the VIS today, but I left early to take a drive around the refuge roads.  I made my way down to Frozen Point where there were plenty of whitecaps on Galveston Bay, and the birds were hugging the shoreline.

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                                           That wind was making their feathers stand on end! 

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Frozen Point got its name back in the day before this was a refuge. A horrible storm from the north blew in with very high winds and sleet and snow. The northerly winds sent the grazing cattle on the ranch south to seek relief. The temperatures plummeted, and some of the cattle actually stepped into the bay. As they huddled against the storm, many of them froze to death; hence the name.

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This great blue heron kept trying to stay ahead of me as I retraced the road back to the VIS.

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I also took a drive down to the boat launch where there were no boat trailers due to the gale force winds on the bay.  It was also low tide while I was there so this snowy egret was working the boat ramp inlet.

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I imagine with the colder temperatures and biting wind the birds needed extra energy.  Good thing the marsh is such an estuary for fish, shrimp, and crabs.  Too soon, it was time to head into work.  I had encountered only two other people as I drove the refuge roads.

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I thought I’d give you an idea of what the temporary VIS looks like.  (sorry to say it’s been temporary for three years now)  While just a small shed, it is jam packed with items to purchase in the nature store.  Only had 16 visitors on this chilly breezy day, but we did have about $111 in sales.  I guess that makes the volunteer time there worthwhile.  Most of the folks today were local, but three people did visit from Maryland.

When I got back to the rig, I took Emma out to play in my ‘front yard’.  As she was shaking her toy, somehow the tie out released her collar, and off she went at about 40 mph!  She runs like the wind, and in short order had covered about a half a mile in several grand circles around the area.  Luckily, she is afraid of the road, and returns for a drink of water after her runs and investigations.  Does she listen to me and come when I call her?  Absolutely not!  She’s the only dog I’ve ever had that is so recalcitrant. 

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                                                                                   THE END!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

30 comments:

  1. Sounds like you need Cesar Milan! :) I just love him, he would calmy submissive Emma to come back in a flash!

    I just managed to get Sammy to start walking off leash and stay near me, he used to do that. He's 6 now. I think perhaps age mellows them out a little? Who knows.

    Great photos of the birds, we had lots of wind up here in Alberta today too! Over 100km/hour winds.

    Cheers!

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  2. Nice pictures, I had rain all day Saturday, the wind wasn't too bad. Today is was colder than usual so I just stayed inside. That Visitor Center certainly is small, do you go crazy sitting in there?

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  3. A dog recalcitrant? lol... you sure Emma doesn't have a cat somewhere in her lineage?

    I almost got blown away today! and I'm huge.. the birds just keep flying along! amazing.

    I want your camera... I know I'm going to hell for coveting but I want it.

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  4. Lovely header picture you have there.

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  5. Nice bird pics Judy. Glad you had a good day and the visitor center wasn't too busy.

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  6. Love the pictures, but I think you might be out of room in the VIS, just saying.

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  7. Sounds like Emma and Sally are twins. She runs like crazy and only comes back when she wants to, also. Your cold front came through here today. 81 degrees yesterday, 45 outside now.

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  8. She's called the "Wild Child" for good reason. But i've never believed dogs should be tied anyway. That's why I don't have one to take on the road!

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  9. Judy these are just fantastic pictures. I really must meet up with you and go out on one of your picture taking ventures.

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  10. Love the bird photos. Good for Emma, she was having so much fun running around,they just don't get to do that often enough. She must have loved it! But I'm glad she came back safe.

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  11. Recalcitrant...that there is a $100 word...and I had a Siamese Cat named Dirty Harry who lived up to that very word..We had quite a wind here in La today too....Hope is warms up again soon...

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  12. I've never had a dog I really trust off leash, except my black lab who accompanied me on the Appalachian Trail. Lady is pretty OK but if a fox or bear came into view she would be off like a shot! I just keep her on the leash except for a little freedom each day at a grassy area off our trail - down a hill from the freeway, it is fenced on 2 sides and I can control her pretty well. God thing no foxes or bears are around though.

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  13. Love those ruffled feathers on the head. And your header picture is incredible once again. Emma must have had the time of her life. Our Skitz wouldn't go anywhere because she's scared of her own shadow. But Scooter would be gone chasing rabbits.

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  14. Someone is having a bad feather day! Great header picture and others too. Interesting info on how the frozen name came to be.

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  15. sounds like you had a blustery day!!..Emma knows you are her meal ticket!!..she comes back when she is good and ready!!

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  16. Your pictures are awesome as always.
    I am going to have to go back to the halter for Fred all of a sudden he is getting right out of the regular collars. Those short legs can cover some ground, but he does listen when called. sometimes :(

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  17. Again, your pictures just blow me away (har har). If we ever meet up, will you take me shooting with you? I have a lot to learn!

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  18. Glad to hear Emma came back safe and sound. The cold front you have is moving towards us, so we'll be getting a little cooler in the next day or two.

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  19. Great pics- We had wind as well. Hopefully it has moved through.

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  20. Stay warm and kep a hold of Emma ~ she sounds like a little rascal... so cute!!!
    Have fun & Travel safe
    Donna

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  21. Our black lab was never leased. Len whistle trained him as a pup. One toot and he sat. Two and he could take off. Lots of short toots and he came running from wherever he was. He would go with us when we rode our horses. Would never go more then 100 feet from us. When we crossed a road, he would heel next to Len's horse.
    Oops - we did need to keep him leased once in a while. We would ride in nearby woods and neighboring woman had a female in HEAT! Well, you can imagine..... So we kept leash with us just in case.

    Is this typical November weather there? Winds and all?

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  22. Yes, that was quite a wind storm we had here on the Texas coast! Here in Port A we didn't get much rain, though. Today is calm and gorgeous, although cool.
    Loved your bird photos.

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  23. Beautiful bird photos again. Hope the wind calms down there.

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  25. I should have said I love how you get out even when the weather isn't ideal.

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  26. Funny to see that even birds can have a bad hair day, LOL! As for Emma maybe it's time for a harness instead of a collar. What a little stinker, ha ha. Cheers! ~M

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  27. Hi Judy, Thanks for that tour! I'm cold now from all that wind! That's funny about Emma. Gingee takes off and runs too in circles. I hear that that means they're happy. But I would like it if she came when I called. I have learned that the word biscuit is quite effective in getting her attention. Love the picture in your head of the egret. Very nice. Take care and stay warm and cozy.

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  28. Revenge on all those 'skeeters! The up side of all that wind.

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