The Great Outdoors

Earth's beauty is all around and sometimes appears when least expected. It was cloudy and rainy all day yesterday. While out to a Trivia Night with friends a bright sun came out while it was sprinkling. It was between trivia rounds so I rushed outside and saw a beautiful double rainbow nearby. My iphone just didn't do it justice but here's a shot anyway. They were brighter and more colorful in person. Really beautiful.

This illustration shows how the two rainbows are formed by sunlight reflecting and refracting in different ways inside the raindrops.

Notice that it's brighter under the rainbow then outside it. This is because the raindrops scatter the light. The angles of light that gets scattered outside the bow directs it away from your eyes. Light scattered inside the bow is directed more toward your eyes and the scattering blends the colors so it just looks brighter and not colored.

I took this next picture years ago while returning from a kayak run. You can see my shadow holding a camera as well as my truck and kayak. I think it's my only shot of a complete rainbow. They're usually too wide to get in one frame. Conditions were right for this one.

Cool

That's some rich color. Are you expecting rain? "Red sky in morning, sailor take warning..."

This here is a multiflora rose. It's a very pretty and sweet smelling invasive bush. It's also one of the most evil, blood thirsty, vile, pernicious sons of Satan to ever sprout root. I have probably lost more blood to these bushes than any other single cause. Wikipedia says they have "recurved prickles". That means the thorns point back toward the main stem. The harder you try to pull away the deeper they dig in. And they're sharp, very sharp. And strong enough to dig deep where the good bloodstreams are. I'd best not say more about them.

*sees grass* *whimpers*

Anyways, it was our second (edit: 3rd) run of the year. A good day was had by all three of us. I had a bald eagle fly about forty feet directly overhead. That was cool. A tiger swallowtail butterfly wouldn't leave us alone when we pulled out, apparently we were standing in its mud. I got my phone withing inches without alarming it.

Our pull-out point this trip. I wanted to think up a witty name when I bought the boat. However, it became just the Minnow because our trips always seemed about three hours long.

I got so worked up thinking about multiflora roses I dug up some information for you. It will help explain my life-long battle with this honored yet still despicable adversary. This picture and excerpts are from: https://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080501.html

Look at those thorns! Just look at them! If I only had a nickel for every time I've been pierced...

"Unfortunately, this arch harbors a hidden menace, one that is the bane of humans and wildlife alike: A hard, viciously decurved thorn (above) that can slice an arm, lacerate an ankle, or--in the case of cattle--shred an udder or scrotum so savagely the cow or bull dies from shock or infection. The curve of a Multiflora Rose thorn is toward the base of the cane, so a person brushing against the shrub is instantly impaled; moving forward merely drives the thorn deeper into one's skin or lengthens the scratch. During a less severe encounter--one in which a body merely bumps the cane--the thorn tip often breaks off in the skin, festering a day or two later."

"Not that having heavy thorns on its canes isn't enough, the leaves of Multiflora Rose are also armored--each with several tiny eighth-inch-long hooks. These aren't so stout, but they can still grab clothing or skin and pull the cane close enough so bigger thorns can dig in."

I tell ya, the things are nasty.

What kind of boats have you been on?

While I'm on the subject of invasive pests... (I haven't forgotten I still owe a tent review. Someday soon, maybe.)
Excuse these poor pictures. The first is what was once a very beautiful and stately White Ash tree. It was killed by the Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle that burrows under the bark and cuts off the tree's sap system. I had hoped the owners protected it. Chemicals can be fed to the tree to make them unpalatable to the beetle. Alas, apparently not, or with no success.
The second picture used to be an almost pure stand of White Ash several acres in size. Most are dead. Our roads are lined with dead and dying White Ash. At least it makes good firewood.
There is hope, though. Some trees seem to have weathered the onslaught and some seeds have sprouted. If there aren't too many more beetles around we may someday get our Ash trees back.

What's outdoor?

Well , now one has to be careful about touching grass too