EXPLORATION

[paige]

...Keyhole Canyon...left a lasting memory...it was said that the Indians would drive the wildhorses thru the "keyhole" and round them up...

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZqbXSTL9CRY/S7qJF4yv5rI/AAAAAAAAATI/vwq5eQa9v8M/s1600/KEYHOLE.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.backcountryrambler.com/2010/03/keyhole-canyon.html&usg=__eTI2KCibdX1FHsim4vjK2mkPLyA=&h=604&w=1600&sz=188&hl=en&start=1&zoom=0&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=xRUbRm8oUhjiYM:&tbnh=57&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkeyhole%2Bcanyon%2Bnevada%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1

As a kid I visited this place...Summercamp a summer time babysitter for youngsters..My Mother always worked never was she home but on the weekends...we went as far as we could go surrounding Las Vegas everyday to make it there and back within the 8 hour work shift that our parents had to come and pick us up at the end of the day...

Caught chuckawalla's and rattlesnakes believe it or not...gave them to the desert research institute...which I regret now as I do not believe anything wild should be kept in a cage or aquarium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuckwalla

Chuckawallas...they were big. They would bask in the sun along the canyon walls...run between the crevices blow their stomachs up to wedge between...

The Indians popped them with a cactus needle deflated the stomachs pulled them out and had them for supper...

I don't think they are even in the Lake Mead area any more...sob they were beautiful creatures...even though I got bit a few times.. ouch!!!!

[Crow3]

[Crow3]

Watch for my personal Eagle...call to him and tell him that I sent you.

A Noble bird he..he carries the soul of the Mountains as he flies.

I once used him as a personal emissary to a friend named BLKHOC
a soldier of Fortune and poet in Florida and Oklahoma. BLKHOC was an OKLAHOMA INDIAN.... Helicopter Pilot and once a Lawman.

[Crow3]

I am told that this fall will be extraodinary in the SMOKY MOUNTAINS... The leaf colours magnificent.

Drive from Cherokee to Gatlinberg..then east to the Interstate then south to Maggie Valley... Then west over the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Cherokee. Or do it in reverse.

Lots of places to overnight along the way..and lots of sideroads to explore. Take your time, and maybe three or four days.

[Crow3]

http://images.Holtz.jpg

[Crow3]

http://images

[Crow3]

The Island of SKYE is worth a look as you do virtual explorations. GOOGLE it, of course.

Located off the western coast..it was there that Bonnie Prince Charles made his escape after the battle of Culloden. The last uprising.

After that, the UK was born.

England is the Merchant of the UK..Scotland is its soul.

[Crow3]

Look at the bottom of the page of that link and find songs about that era in Scotland. Also you can click the "MIDI" button and hear the music.

http://www.contemplator.com/history/jacobite.html

[Crow3]

http://www.contemplator.com/history/jacobite.html

This link is very good for those that want to explore the history of the "GOOD KING WILLIAM"...(BAH!!).. and the trouble he caused in Scotland.

[Crow3]

William of Orange became King when the sitting Monarch was ran out of Country by the Parliament. Mary, the sister of the sitting King was named Co-Ruler. Thus William and Mary.

The move was not popular amongst the highlanders in Scotland.

The battle of Killiecrankie was fought between the highhlanders and the
Williams supporters..both English and Scots.

The Highlanders were led by John Graham..viscount Dundee AKA Bonnie Dundee and AKA known by his enemies as Bloody Claverse. His forces were known as Jacobites..because they wanted the Old king back..King James.
(Jacoby is latin for James.)

Graham and his Army were out-numbered but they won the battle...however, He was hit by a bullit and soon died at Blair Castle..near which his tomb lies in a nearby chapel.

[Crow3]

Here is Glen Coe.... Where Clan MacDonald was massacred by order of King William. Hiking trails are visible on the left side of the gorge.

[Crow3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Glencoepanorama.jpgiki/File:Glencoepanorama.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Glencoepanorama.jpgiki/File:Glencoepanorama.jpg" />


Well ANYHOW, Glen Coe is worth going to GOOGLE and looking up!! LOL!! The Image did not take here.

When William of Orange became Co-Ruler of Britian, he ordered the massacre of Clan Donald in Glen Coe.

The Ghosts of MacDonald can still be heard lamenting here, when the wind blows doon the Glen.

There is said to be a curse on Clan Campbell because they carried out the order of "King" William.

A nearby Pub still excludes those of Campbell!!

[Crow3]

[Crow3]

On the west of the LOCH is the toon of LUSS...and one of the worlds most expensive Golf Clubs.

The land was bought from Clan "Calhoun".. after the last Chieftain passed. The Golf Club is about ten to twelve years old.

To the south and east is Clans Graham and Buchannan. Clan Graham had a donnybrook with Rob Roy MacGregor, some may remember the movie.

Seamus (James) Graham still lives there. He is the Duke of Montrose.

Further north on the west side the Stronghold of Clan Campbell.

Clan MacArthur (remember General Douglas?) is a part of Clan Campbell.

[Crow3]

LOCH LOMOND figures strongly in the annals of Clan Graham as well as Buchanan and Campbell.

[Crow3]

I could not find my personal photo, so I just posted a web site below.

Perthshire is in the highlands of Scotland. Perth is the big toon, and Pitlochery is is next in size, with its salmon dam, a tourist attraction.

The pass of Killiecrankie is nearby as is Blair Castle. John Graham, also known as Bonnie Dundee, Generaled and won the battle at Killiecrankie, but was killed in the fight. He is entombed at Blair Castle.

[Crow3]

HTTP://travel.viamichelin.com/web/Destination/Great_Britain-Scotland-Pitlochry/Tourist_Site-Queen_s_View-Atholl_Road

[Crow3]

Last week, I explored the Smoky Mountains. At least, insofar as they can be explored from my vehicle. I DID CLIMB UP A PATH TO A SPECTACULAR WATERFALL. No Victoria nor Niagra, but impressive nevertheless.

This fall promises to be really spectacular in the mountains. The vegetation has really bloomed this year. The late spring turned loose a pent up desire for the brief life that the leaves and vines had stored up, and as soon as the warmth came, up they popped.

Speaking of Victoria and spectacular, there is a place on the edge of a hill in Scotland called the "Queens View". Queen Victorias favorite picnic spot. I snapped a photo there once upon a time. I will try to find it in my files, and post it for you.

[Crow3]

Military intelligence? Healthy Hamburger? Hand cut steak? Safe Motorcycle?

[Crow3]

As an exercise, how many OXYMORONS can you think of in two minutes??

Post them here.

[Crow3]

Yeah, I have done both, and even before I turned 200.

[Crow3]

It is futile to explore the house in search of ones glasses when they are already on ones face. Or for the false teeth when they are already in ones mouth.

[Crow3]

I will post first. Adequate exploration will reveal much.

For instance, that most BLONDES are NOT.

That politician and honest is not to be both in the same sentence. Honest politician is an oxymoron.