"Closed!"
"Closed!"
"No, sorry, that's not open."
"Restrooms and gift shop only."
"Not until sometime after Labor Day."
"Covid."
"Ma'am? Ma'am! You can't go in there."
"Yes, we're a federal building, masks required."
And so it goes again. We had two days of masking but still being completely open, and now we're back to masking and almost no access at all. If you're wondering why people can come into the small gift shop but not the very large exhibit hall, I'll simply point out that one is free and one is a moneymaker and leave you to it.
Re-assuming the role of Disappointer is discouraging, and it makes our workdays almost interminably long. We considered pulling up stakes, not because we weren't willing to keep working, but because we questioned our necessity. With staffing low to begin with, however, they would like us to stay, and we don't want to leave just yet despite our recent overall funk. If we look at the big picture, we only have eight workdays left each, and to complain very much about that would surely make us brats of the highest order. Besides, it can only be so bad when you have full internet access, great cell service, a climate-controlled environment, and no other work to try to get done like many of the paid employees do. And sometimes things like this show up to make us laugh with delight:
Bubble Cat Backpack!
We were restricted this past week in another way, as well.
The wildfire smoke from Canada continued to cast a pall over the south bay area. Those treed hillsides in the distance of the above photo are normally clear, and there is actually a higher one that's not even visible in that pic. The air quality alerts came in every twelve hours, and while neither of us is in one of the sensitive groups, it was still enough to put a kibosh on the bigger plans we had for our days off. We did our "regular" activities like our walking, light running, and bicycling, but we didn't go anywhere new or far for them.
We did meet up with some more friends, though. These folks, Larry and Debra, were the last people who were in Essie before the pandemic tilted Earth on its axis. We met them in Death Valley while we were all out taking early morning photos, and as happens more frequently in the full-time RV world than you'd think, they were coincidentally traveling through this area during our stay.
We met them at Black Cat Coffeehouse, and spent a few hours happily chatting about traveling and life and all the things we have in common, which are numerous. There was something soothing, hopeful, about seeing them again after the last year's tumult. We are certain to meet up with them again on down the road as we all wend our ways toward warmer climes for the winter.
For my birding day, I combined it with a trip to the wash-o-rama which is a visible block from the Lakeshore Trail and the Ashland Oredock, where someone in the local birding group had thought he'd seen a family of Semi-palmated Sandpipers. While the linens got suds, I made a beeline for the dock.
Some rain was threatening along with the hazy smoke, but as I reached the end of the oredock, I saw the little sandpiper family picking its way toward me along the concrete ruins. Check another box on my Wisconsin bird list!
After I switched the laundry to the dryer, I went back out to the trail to walk the other way. I saw a lot of birds, and on the way back in the rain, I counted in my head and figured that I see at least 20 kinds every time I go out, maybe more since I can easily forget to add in some sparrows and robins.
Around home, the Baltimore Oriole found his grape jelly, and I discovered one of my female Goldfinches is banded. I don't think I'll ever be able to discern all her numbers, but I did make out a 68. Or an 89.
My new recipe this week was another Instant Pot bread, but this time I wanted to to try a more Paleo-ish one and see how it came out. I also wanted to use some of our blueberries, so I picked a recipe with the very clunky name of Low-Carb Blueberry English Muffin Bread Loaf.
As with many low-carb "breads" it was on the eggy side, but it was still good. It reminded me very much of the blueberry pancakes I make on which TBG spreads peanut butter. It was nothing like an English muffin, but that was probably due to the cooking method. The upshot is that it was perfectly good, and now I know I can probably make other quick breads in the IP with success.
Well, Faithful Readers, it was a slow news week. We're hoping for a few new adventures this week, but while the smoke is clearing out, it's doing so because rain is pushing it away. In the meantime, here's a cute bunny having a snack.
Sigh. Stupid pandemic. Stupid smoke.
But I love your kitty in the backpack (hmmm…I wonder how Magnolia would do?). And all of your birds and the adorable bunny. And so glad you have some moments of ‘normal’ when you meet up with friends. Wow, is your summer in Wisconsin really almost at an end?! Here’s hoping you have smoke free, rain free days ahead.
I think Maggie would love it, order one today! 😀 So many pretty birds all the time. I will miss them and their green habitat when we move on. A few warblers have already begun moving back through — my guess is possibly pushed back by the Canadian fires, but it could also be the sign of an early, harsh winter here. That would make the Ice Caves, though! It looks like things might be looking up, weather/smokewise, though, so keep a good thought!
I tried making some Paleo blueberry muffins … not so good 😏 I hope this weekends rain knocks down all the smoke and forest fires. I think the smoke and this pandemic is wearing on all of us. We’ve been in a funk of a mood ourselves. Talk later!
Sorry your muffins didn’t come out so good. I’ve been Paleo (really more like PaKeto) for years now, and the recipes can sometimes be…interesting to say the least. We WILL talk again soon — much to say in person that texts cannot do justice.
Let me know if you’d like a little girl time. I can come up on a day TBG is working. 😀
It’s disappointing that your summer gig is ending on a down note, but the good news is that the end is near! Wait, that didn’t come out right. You know what I mean. You just have a few more weeks of boring covid-restricted work days before it’s time to move on to new things. At least you have the comfort of seeing friends. Here’s hoping the smoke clears and you can enjoy a bit more of the outdoor environs of Ashland before it’s time to go.
It ain’t over till it’s over, but you’re right, it’s kind of a bummer to think all the good stuff is behind us already. I just loaded a new book on my Kindle and have a good, long list of busywork that I can do while I’m “working” at the VC. I’ve even considered taking my big jigsaw puzzle over there 😀
Blech. Sorry. It sucks. All of it. You are more than entitled to be worn down by this point. But, it really is just a matter of time til you’re back on the road again, and it’s really, really great that you have friends to hang out with up there. As for the gift shop being open, we saw that a LOT on NPS properties on our recent trip and it really irritated us. There’s no reason for a gift shop to be open when other educational areas are not. It’s honestly insulting and speaks poorly of our national priorities. NPS needs to do better with that.
It has sucked a bit — some days a lot more than a bit, that’s for sure. We take long walks and have long talks, and that always helps re-set our thinking. Usually. Ha!
The whole closed/open thing is frustrating and annoying. I agree that the NPS (all the federal agencies) need to do a lot better with it.
blueberry pancakes with peanut butter? Mmmmmmm I love new recipes 😉
It may explain his transient tummy troubles 😀
Nice header!
I don’t think you guys are not meant to be “Disappointers!” However you are making the best of your time other than twiddling your thumbs, taking good bird photos, mastering your bread making in your IP and meeting friends. Hoping the rain materialize and the air you breath will be cleaner.
Essie will soon be pointed south 🙂
Thanks, that one was taken last month at sunrise.
We are definitely not meant to be Disappointers, no one should have such a dismal role, but we do what we can do and still try to help visitors get the most out of what we can offer. Mostly, folks have been nice to us even if they are upset by the circumstances.
Keep your fingers crossed for better weather and a few more adventures before we leave here! Oh, and Ingrid and I think you should be planning a nice party for us at your house this winter 😀
So I heard! Of course will be happy to party with all our friends that we sorely missed! I already know the hike we will take when you get here 🙂
Well that really is a shame about the new restrictions. The VC at Pictured Rocks was not open when we were up there but, they had volunteers and rangers outside. I really miss visiting the VC’s. You are definitely seeing more birds than us. I got inspired so, I got the hummingbird feeder back out and what do you know….I’ve got customers!
It really is 😦 We have a seasonal ranger who is outside a lot with her “pelts cart” and folks seem to like that a lot. I send folks out to the trails here all the time, and they seem to really like that, too. At least we have those things to console them with.
I knew you’d see the hummies! They are really juicing up these days getting ready for their long migration, which I think is going to be early this year. Good thing we’re all mobile and don’t have to RV in 12 feet of snow!
Sp sorry to hear they closed the VC exhibit hall. It would seem that as long as people are wearing masks it should be business as usual. Funny that the gift shopis okay!! Sure does make it rather slow and boring for you. Your probably on the road again by now. Safe travels. Love that pretty Baltimore Oriole.
It’s been a bit trying, but I loaded up my satchel with my laptop, Kindle, phone, and a list of online projects that I can do while I’m basically just sitting there in between stocking brochures. At least I can feel productive in some fashion! We’re not on the road yet and are hoping to last here through Labor Day as originally planned. Things change quickly these days, though! That Baltimore Oriole — and all the birds — have been one of the things keeping me sane this summer.