Fishtival

 Here's a shot of our fish from the Fishtival

The event kicked off with fish sculptures designed and decorated by area artists who helped raise money for the Bellevue Arts Council. The sculptures had been placed on metal poles and displayed throughout the downtown area. Ours featured a metal fish designed with bottle caps that had been flattened by the train that runs through Bellevue.  A guy can only drink so much beer so we came up a few caps short.  Other fish had pictures and copper material.  Proceeds from the silent auction, will go to the Bellevue Arts Council.

 Saturday’s events include visual art vendors on the riverfront.  Susie and I worked with kids on  children’s art activities.  The kids designed and worked on recycled sculptures,  wine bottles painted with chalkboard paint then decorated with their own art work.


 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources offered boating excursions on the Mississippi River
A chef Jason offered demonstrations on preparing fish Saturday at the Great River Gallery.




And finely, a shot of Beau and Maddi our local mermaid down at the Happy Bean

ONE WEEK AFTER THE DELUGE

Hit the trout stream today and I was happy to see lots of trout of all sizes in the new holes gouged out by the torrential rains that pass through the area last week.  The stream has a totally new look the banks are cleared of weeds and debris, the stream is wider with gravel bars.  First cast I hooked in to a 12 inch brown and snapped the tip of my pole.  Regrouped with a second poll had lots of hits and caught a second brown.  Walking in the trout stream is a great way to beat the heat.

Now Listen Up!

Have you read the wonderful story of Misty of Chincoteague, a real wild pony?  Well neither has Smokey, but Susie will make sure that he, Misty and the colt all learn the true story of what really happened here on the island.

The Pony Round Up

 The weekend prior to Wednesday's Pony Swim, "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback will begin to round up the approximately 150 wild ponies that live on Assateague Island. About 50 ponies reside on the southern end of Assateague Island, and will be herded into a southern corral.

 About 100 ponies reside a little further north on the Assateague Island, and will be herded into a northen corral. On Monday, July 25th, at day break, the Saltwater Cowboys will move the ponies from the northern corral, down the beach and along the Atlantic Ocean, and join them with the ponies in the southern corral.

  The ponies can be viewed by the public in the southern corral, which is located on Assateague, just off the road that leads to the beach.

After hanging with the ponies we were able to go to the beach to swim and boogie board in the Atlantic.  There were 5 - 6 foot breakers.  A real treat for this flatlander.  not even a little kahuna.

Head East

 Smokey on tour.  Frank and Smokey in western Iowa.










Smokey hanging with Ali in downtown Pittsburgh Pa.

Smokey catchin ride with security on a segway in Little Italy, Baltimore.  

Today were off to Assateague Island getting ready for tomorrows pony swim.

The Pony Swim: July 27, 2011

On Wednesday, July 27th, 2011, the Saltwater Cowboys will swim the ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. The swim takes place at "slack tide". Slack tide is a period of about 30 minutes between tides, when there is no current. This is the easiest time for the ponies to make the swim. The time of slack tide varies each year. However, the swim generally takes place some time between 7am and 1pm. The specific time will be announced at the carnival grounds the week of the swim. The Chincoteague Ponies will swim across the Assateague Channel,  on the east side of Chincoteague Island.

GO EAST, YOUNG GNOME, GO EAST...AN ADVENTURE WITH SMOKEY!

 We picked up a  hitch hiker while visiting one of the local tribes men in Sioux City last week. 


Why he wanted to leave such a lovely place we'll never know.  His name is Smokey, for the small pipe which he carries in his right hand.

Tonight Smokey lights the way as we load up for and east coast adventure.

Two Cabins

A few shots of Beau and Adam evicting one of the local residence of Heroe's Hideout.  A five foot plus Bull snake.



Bullsnakes are important members of the food chain. They are also very useful to humans by controlling rodents and may save farmers hundreds of dollars in rodent damage. Because they are excellent mousers, some people will let a bullsnake live in a barn or under a porch.  Even though this one got temporarily evicted I'm sure he'll be back for another easy meal.




From what I understand Hero's family has had a cabin along the maquoketa river  since the 1930's.  We've spent the last two days down below a lime stone bluff in a small cabin rebuilding the porch,  removing artifacts and coon proofing it.

My time their has brought back many fond memories of our family land and cabin located in Backbone state park .  Iowa's first state park and arguably remains Iowa's best state park.  Our cabin was located along a southern slope of a valley which lead to the maquoketa river.






Many a day was spent running around the bluff land exploring, watching wildlife and hunting mushrooms and many evenings were spent boating, swimming and grilling out followed by family card games and cozy cabin.