These three Union Pacific diesel-electric locomotives were captured in intermodal service in the Mojave Desert of California. Each locomotive weighs 426,000 pounds and carries 5000 gallons of diesel fuel. The electric generator is powered by a 16 cylinder diesel engine. Each of the 6 axles is driven by individual traction motors creating a total of 4400 horsepower. These three locomotives “lashed” together generate 13,200 horsepower. Now that’s “Powerful”!
Parked here on Lake Seminole at Eastbank Corps of Engineers Campground we are just across from the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam. This lake was created by damming the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers which created the Apalachicola river.
Sitting outside last night I noticed that there was plenty of light across the lake at the dam so I thought here’s my opportunity for a “Nightime” image.
In thinking out this post, I felt I had two options: Spread it out over two weeks as the challenge is designed or think a little outside the box and post two weeks challenges in one week. Being an imaginative kind of guy, I opted to combine. A couple of nights ago, we were camped in West Point, Georgia at R Shaefer Heard Campground and the weather was cooperative for us to grill, so we had grilled pork chops, twice baked potatoes and creamed onions. “Mealtime” was certainly “Mouthwatering”.
As we were heading out on Pinnacle Valley road to the campground we’re staying at this week, we came across this statue of a bird dog at someone’s house. When I spotted the dog I said my gosh, this dog’s name must be “Rusty” based on its “Rusty” condition. It’s a rather unique sculpture of a Labrador Retriever with a bird at his feet and not a drop of paint on it. Very appropriate for theme 40.
The last time we were in Savannah I was unsuccessful in capturing a useable image of the infamous Bonaventure Cemetery “Gate”. Better luck this trip and a couple of weeks ago while we were in Savannah for a few days I was successful. This cemetery is well-known as the final resting place of many of Savannah’s rich and famous including songwriter Johnny Mercer. Those familiar with the book “Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil” will also find the grave of Danny Hansford here.
We camped for three days “On The River” at Suwannee River State Park in Live Oak, FL. This park is just another example of why Florida State Parks are rated the best in the United States. The Suwannee River runs through the park. In nearby White Springs is the Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park, a park dedicated to memorializing the works of this great composer. You can the famous river, camp or hike the many nature trails at both parks.
Stephen Foster wrote the song in 1851 without ever being in Florida or seeing the river. The song became the Florida state song in 1935 and in 2008 the lyrics were modified to make them politically correct.
Sitting at the picnic table on our campsite here at Three Rivers State Park I was looking down at the lake and noticed this little tree standing all alone at the bank of the lake. There were some benches and tables down there at the shore so I decided to take a walk down and see if I could get the right composition to use this tree for the “Single Tree” theme. I had taken a couple of shots when the egret arrived and I decided to include it in the background.
In the beginning of October we were in Carrabelle, in the big Bend area of our state on Road Trip #4. While sightseeing in Carrabelle, we came across this Veteran’s Memorial Park. Each branch of the military service is represented by a miniature statue of a member in full uniform and holding the service flag. I was impressed by the display of “Patriotism” shown by this small town.
Continuing with my attempt to post images from our travels this year, I decided that I would meet the challenge for “Industrial” with these photos from the “20 Mule Team Borax” plant located in the outskirts of the town of Boron in the Mojave Desert of California.
This particular open-pit mine is 900 feet deep and 1.75 miles by 2 miles. The borate is hauled from the bottom of the mine in huge trucks costing over $1 million dollars each that can carry up to 240 tons of material.
This operation mines about three million tons of ore to produce one million tons of refined products each year. This refined product can be found in fiberglass, wood preservatives and ceramics; heat-resistant glass used in the space shuttle tiles, flat screen TV’s and laptop computers; motor oil, fertilizers and many more applications including the world famous laundry and household cleaning product 20 Mule Team Borax.
(Remember a click on the image will enlarge it.)
The Processing Plant
The Mine
A replica of the 20 mule team wagon train used to haul the minerals from the Death Valley, CA mine to the nearest railroad in Mojave, CA. This method of transportation was only used for 5 years.
The modern method of hauling the minerals to the processing plant.
In August of 2014, I said that this theme would be an easy one. Just walk around on old Main Street and I’d be sure to find a neon sign of a “Four Letter Word”. That didn’t happen. But now I can say
I
because after 52 hard weeks meeting each and every challenge and coming up with a response to each of the themes, I am finally able to complete this year’s 52 Week Challenge with a “Four Letter Word”:
I’m DONE!
Livin' The Dream 