A short race

On your mark...

 The train tracks are parallel to this road (Sutton) until the road makes a sharp turn about 100 yards ahead of this SUV.

So the train continued straight on its way, while the car went to the right to the stoplight on the hill that has been called "where your car rolls back at the light." Those are people who haven't got a good handle on a clutch, though most of them don't even have a clutch, as almost everyone drives automatics these days.

Anyway, that's the depot over in the shade on the far left.  The train (as usual) is coming with 2 engines in front, and one behind. It has already gone over the pass through the mountains to the east from Old Fort, and is heading downhill to Asheville.  I've heard there are 13 tunnels on the track through the pass...many switchbacks, which is probabaly why they have the engine in the rear.

Who one the race? The plane up above, of course!

Follow-up goose

Walked around the lake again Friday...sunshine and 60s weather makes for good exercise for me...and the pollen isn't bad yet!

So as I crossed the dam on the path, there was Mr. Canada Goose again...but down near the water.

And as I have so many buttons to push before my phone camera takes a shot, he actually got into the water before I could take his picture.  It only would have been better if he looked a bit more energized.

Possibly injured goose on dam on Thurs. Mar 28.

 It's mating season, and Canada Geese mate for life, so it's sad to see one by himself...but perhaps he isn't mature enough for mating.  It's possible.

The geese and ducks

At noon, very few geese are around...and this poor guy seemed to have an injured wing...at least one feather was sticking out a bit to the wrong direction.

And then dog-walkers came by, and the goose just waddled down the grass of the dam, not getting in the water, not flying.

Some mallards playing in the shallow waters.

Along with white geese (ducks?) and a few mallards, this little black coot? wanted to join the group.

Black Mountain blossoms

Ornamental Cherry trees.

Didn't find a single bee.  Beautiful sunny day. A row of cherry trees along the parking lot next to the railroad tracks.

Old and new

A photographer used to have studio/sales venue in the old ice house.  It's right downtown as people come off the interstate.

 There's a sign asking for a restaurant to locate on an upper level.

 But it was purchased by an out of town coportation which plans big things in the property...new stores and condos.  The zoning people had to hear lots of citizens' complaints, but eventually they approved pretty much what the design originally offered.

Observing

Minor permaculture...at Lake Tomahawk.

Here's the permacuture project this spring..

There's a sign asking for donations...and some old Christmas trees were tossed on the pile.  This is making new earth, gradually, but organically.

The Veranda

This is one of my favorite "downtown" Black Mountain lunch restaurants.  (It does have a bit of a Veranda which may be indulged in warmer weather...perched out back looking over parking lots to mountains.)

There's a daily special. They have wonderful soups and sandwiches.  My lunch (with tip and no drink) is usually $13.  So it's a treat for me to go with a friend and enjoy it.  I've sworn off fast food places so I can maybe eat healthier...and it's day 5 so far.  Feeling good! Mainly fixing my own meals!

Balance and a full moon

Not very clear...through a double pane window and a typical mountain night's humidity.  Full moon with Vernal Equinox.

I love daily posts of Astronomy Picture of the Day on FaceBook.
Here's a doozie.
APOD: Equinox on Planet Earth (2019 Mar 20)

Image Credit: NASA, Meteosat, Robert Simmon

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190320.html

 

This is link to the video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUW51lvIFjg

Explanation:  Welcome to an equinox on planet Earth. Today is the first day of spring in our fair planet's northern hemisphere, fall in the southern hemisphere, with day and night nearly equal around the globe. At an equinox Earth's terminator, the dividing line between day and night, connects the planet's north and south poles as seen at the start of this remarkable time-lapse video compressing an entire year into twelve seconds. To make it, the Meteosat satellite recorded these infrared images every day at the same local time from a geosynchronous orbit. The video actually starts at the September 2010 equinox with the terminator aligned vertically. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the terminator tilts to provide less daily sunlight to the northern hemisphere, reaching the solstice and northern hemisphere winter at the maximum tilt. As the year continues, the terminator tilts back again and March 2011 equinox arrives halfway through the video. Then the terminator swings past vertical the other way, reaching the the June 2011 solstice and the beginning of northern summer. The video ends as the September equinox returns.

https://www.nasa.gov/

http://www.eumetsat.int/website/home/Satellites/CurrentSatellites/Meteosat/index.html

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/people/RSimmon.html

Starship Asterisk* • APOD Discussion Page

http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=190320

#APOD

Blossoms on a grey day

The shape of this tree is not like a Bradford Pear (See this post.)

What are these pretty white blossoms?  I'm guessing a fruit, but they might just be another decorative tree. The grey sky was still a difficult backdrop.  Since they are so early I'm thinking Bradford Pear.  But the shape was more like an apple tree...perhaps it was pruned that way.

Happy Vernal Equinox!

Welcome to Black Mountain NC

If you're traveling west on I-40, and take the first exit to Black Mountain, just as you come over the Old Fort pass which winds and curves all up the side of the ridge...and then you're finally going downhill again...just past the Ridgecrest exit I mean.  Sorry, I can't think of the number of the exit.  But it suddenly asks you to slow to 20, when you've just returned to 70 mph.

And as you do so, wondering if there's a speed trap because it's pretty bare along there, suddenly you pass the first businesses...and Ole' Guacamole's Restaurant is on your right.

And just as you pass it, there's this welcoming sign that my friend, Mary Soyenova designed and made.  She made a few more at entrances to the town. And don't miss the grey eagle at the Information Center!

Rooftops in rain

 

The brick elevator tower of the BM Center for the Arts.  Then there's Thai Basil's various buildings and fence.  And finally the unused smokestack from the Clay Studio.

Slow down and last of clouds

As we were driving back to Black Mountain on Friday there was a backup, which seemed caused by a semi with maybe a blown front tire, since it was parked half on the pavement on the left side lane.  Lots of repair vehicles, and nobody injured apparently, but we all had to get into one lane to pass.  It didn't take too long.  And we had the lovely mountains of home to look at.  As well as whispy clouds as the last of the rain disappeared. It was fun being behind the SUV with Bison1 as it's license plate.

Close to the ground

A Lenten Rose, a.k.a. Hellebore

Rocks and roots and moss

Ornamental Pear blossoms