Bird Island?

What are these birds squawking at?
I visited Alcatraz Island yesterday and discovered it has turned into a bird island. It must be breeding season because there were seagulls and seagull chicks everywhere. Perhaps this was how the Birdman of Alcatraz started.

Here is the answer to the question...
The juvenile seagulls were hungry and screaming at momma or papa for food.
I read that for seagulls, both parents feed their offsprings.

This is a younger seagull than the previous bunch.
You can still see the spots from the baby chick stage.

Many think seagulls are a nuisance, but have you ever seen cute seagull chicks?

The Brandt Cormorants own this part of Alcatraz Island.
You can see the San Francisco skyline in the distance.

- Karen

Wordless Wednesday - Mailboxes To Go

Visit other Wordless Wednesday posts here.

- Karen

Garden Sculptures

Not far from Elkhorn Slough is this garden art gallery.
I don't know if I would want these sculptures in my garden, but they are certainly intriguing.

I would not mind having this in my garden as the squirrels and other critters would love to climb it and I can tell everyone Paris is in my backyard.

Two stowaways commandeering a boat or are they enjoying the view of their fish meal below?

Hmmm, I am still trying to figure out what this one means.
I must not have any imagination.

- Karen

Protected Species

A few weeks ago, I traveled through Elkhorn Slough in a large pontoon boat that can probably hold up to 30 people.
Workers from the National Marine Sanctuary kept a close eye on visitors to ensure the wildlife are not disturbed.

We spotted Brandt's Cormorants that have occupied a wooden pier.

A raft of sea lions invaded a man-made island. Their overcrowded quarter appears to be quite uncomfortable.

Whereas these sea lions with plenty of elbow room live harmoniously with the pelicans.

A group of sea otters have not a care in the world, just a simple life to lie in the water and enjoy their seafood meals.

- Karen

Wordless Wednesday - Afternoon Nap

Visit other Wordless Wednesday participants here.

- Karen

Downtown Jackson, Wyoming

This is the main thoroughfare of downtown Jackson, Wyoming.
It isn't very large, but it is big on tourist shops, eateries, and traffic.

The sidewalks made of wooden planks give it a rustic look.
On this cold and rainy May, the place only had a handful of visitors, but I bet the benches are packed during the warm summer months.

I didn't notice this until I got home.
Most saloons are for those 21 years of age or older, but a "family saloon" is news to me.

The town has many galleries selling sculptures like this one by Gary Lee Price called "Ever the Twain Shall Meet".

Or, this one by Vic Payne called "Memories".

This statue is in the middle of the town square park also known as the George Washington Memorial Park.
I believe this statue is dedicated to John Colter, one of the early explorers to this area of the west in the early 1800's.
If I am not mistaken, the names inscribed in the plaques below are a memorial to veterans from the area.

This sculpture needs no introduction.
It is stationed outside an antique store and he looks a little overused.

They take their guns seriously here.
This pair are door handles to an art gallery.

No, there aren't real gunfights here anymore, just wild west shows for summer tourists.

Heed the warning about following traffic rules.

- Karen

Cowboy Bar

In downtown Jackson, Wyoming is the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
It was originally a doctor's office, then a bank, a cafe, and finally a bar.
It was the first bar in Wyoming to receive a liquor license after Prohibition in the 1930's.

The knobbled pine gives the exterior an distinctive look.

During my research for this post, I could not find why one of its many owners had come to name it The Million Dollar Bar, but perhaps it could have been all the silver coins that are embedded on top of the bar.

My favorite part of the bar is the saddle stools.
I could not wait to get on one.

They had normal chairs and tables too.

The interior has low-lighting and decorated with many cowboy memorabilias.

What is a bar without pool tables?

Along with cowboy and wilderness etchings on its exterior wall is this plaque by the local preservation board in recognition for maintaining and preserving this building for 50 years or more.

- Karen

Wordless Wednesday - Elk Antler Arch

Visit other Wordless Wednesday participants here.

- Karen

Mormon Row

One of my main reasons for visiting the Grand Teton Nation Park area, was to visit "Mormon Row".
Besides its history, it is a popular place for photographers.
In the late 1800's, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints sent out members of their congregation to establish new communities. Here, 33 homesteads were established and today only 6 homesteads remain in this ghost town.
In 1997, this area was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Click on the picture to enlarge the photo if you wish to read the sign at the entrance.

Despite the rainy and overcast weather, I half expected to see some photographers here. But as we arrived, we were the only car there after driving through soggy and muddy puddles. A gate blocked the entrance to the town, so I had to trudge into town through the soggy and muddy puddles just like the old days. I had to admit it was a little spooky roaming the lonely area by myself since my husband decided to stay in the car.

The pink house belonged to the Moulton family with a guest house to the left of it and an outhouse in the background.

The Moulton Barn is said to be one of the most photographed barns in America.
I was hoping to capture it with the mountains in the background like the photograph you see below I found on the internet, but it was not my luck on this dreary day.
I read it is best to visit here during late summer, early fall so I hope to come back here some day.
As I was about to leave, a number of visitors started to arrive. Because of the extremely small parking area, we had to make room for others.

This is a beautiful picture of the Moulton Barn I found on the internet.
I wish I could give credit to the photographer, but no name was given, but the photo could be found here.

If you are interested in additional history of this place you can read the following articles I found on the internet.

Mormon Row History
Mormon Row reunion
Preserving America's Barn

- Karen

The Hidden Grand Tetons

Just south of Yellowstone National Park is the Grand Teton National Park.
I did not mention it before on my previous Yellowstone trip reports, but we brought our dog on this vacation and you can see him underneath the sign right outside the park.

One has to be quick in these parks because you will never know what might cross in front of your path.
I was taken by surprise on this one and the picture came out a little blurry.

We had access to a secluded part of Jackson Lake at our camp site.
Unfortunately, the day was overcast with very low hanging clouds; otherwise, one could see the peaks of the Teton Mountain range.

We even had our own "private" beach covered not with sand, but with pebbles.
Because we arrived on the first day the camp site was opened for the season, the beach was deserted.

Within the park is the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
Built in 1925, this unique log church still holds services regularly during the summer months.

I have never seen an outdoor pew until now.
My assumption is during the warmer months, services are held outdoors.

To get a different perspective of how Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons look like during the summer, go to betchai's blog The Joys of Simple Life where she just visited.

- Karen

Wordless Wednesday - Sea Otter Safari

Visit other Wordless Wednesday participants here.

- Karen