A missed opportunity or a bullet dodged?

Yesterday I missed my flight to Melbourne because I managed to get stuck in a queue at the Gold Coast airport behind quite possibly the stupidest individual ever to inhabit this rock we call a planet. I would have put this up as a "tosspot of the week" post, but frankly, calling this guy a tosspot would be a gross insult to any tosspot who may one day read this post. The practical upshot of all of this is that my Alpine Classic came to a premature end this year. However, looking back on what has happened since, it's entirely possible that, rather than a missed opportunity, this may in fact be a bullet dodged.
30km into a ride this morning, I realised that last weekend's pedal problems were, in fact, the result of a crank arm that is now completely screwed. I was on the way to Canungra in preparation for the climb to O'Reillys when it happened, but on this occasion, I was able to limp home the remaining 30km without any problems, a situation that would have been a lot more problematic had it occurred half way between Wangaratta and Bright for example. The Blue Flame is likely to be off the road for at least a week, which means The Black Magic will be brought out again for the remaining two days of the weekend. I suppose the consolation here is that I'm getting all of my back luck out of the way in one hit, and in doing so, making around 50% of it redundant.
I'm not changing my views on the idiot, however.

I love this.

I drive all the time. Plants can't come to me, so I go to them. That means that within the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia I know every inch of road, every clean bathroom and every decent (and not-so-decent) place to get a bite to eat.
And I get to see the quirky, off-the-beaten-path places that make the South great. One of my favorites is this building on the way to Bishopville, South Carolina. I'm guessing it was some sort of speakeasy- I don't think people go there anymore because I've never seen a car nearby and it's nothing but cotton fields for miles.Every time I drive by, I think, What drove someone to ban people under the age of 35? Was he sick of hearing the trivial banter of those between the ages of 21 and 34?
Do they card?
I can't imagine the crowd that used to hang out at the "35 and Over" club. I don't think anyone would dare enter without a previous invitation. Cinder block, barred windows, gated door. No thank you.
Still, I've driven past it at least once a month for six years and it makes me smile every time. I'd love to know the back-story.

Copper Fall State Park

Packed up the room yesterday morning. Took my time (still a bit sore). The first stop was Copper Falls State Park.
Spent about 2 hours at the park. Walked/hiked the Doughboys' Nature Trail. The trail makes a 1.7 mile loop in the park. The trail started off easy enough. A little over half way, there's a long stairway down to the river. Over course, on over the river, had to climb back up the stairs. That was the roughest part of the hike.
The scenery was great. Brownstone Falls (today's photo) is actually more impressive that Copper Falls. More photos will be posted on my web site (when I get into updating the site). I think I was at this park many years ago during a family vacation. Just the falls seem to be smaller that I remember (of course, I was much smaller then, too!)
the nature trail brings you to views of Copper Falls, Brownstone Falls, the Cascades, and Devil Gates. Copper Falls in on the main branch of Bad River. Brownstone Falls in on Tyler Forks Branch of the Bar River.
Copper Falls State Park was an effort by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). The park is located near the town of Mellen, WI and a 23 mile drive from Ashland.
Today's plans include a ride along the lakefront on the bike path and playing tourist here in Ashland.

Ice Ribbons

Tettegouche State Park, MN. The ice that is decorating the shore near Silver Bay, MN right now really provides for a lot of interesting photographic compositions. While most of the time my tendency is to go for the wide landscape images, I also greatly enjoy zooming in with my 100-400mm telephoto and composing detail shots within those landscapes. This is one such image that I really like. The lighting coming from behind the ice combined with the shapes and textures made for a scene that I couldn't resist photographing.

Must be shred

Seen on a bin at a library. A local University library.
How proud this makes me of my diploma.

Welcome visitor

This is not so much a pond these days, as a grassy mud hole. (This is actually more water than it held a month ago.)

But not everybody thinks this is a bad thing. Look who popped in - a Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata).¹

If the previous picture is the heads-down position, this must be half-mast. And the following is...

Up periscope! Almost looks like a different bird.

I love the way the stripes continue from the head all the way down the back.

He tends to sink in the mud a bit, so you're not always aware...

of the big feet.
He was quite content to have us stare from an open position across the pond. He wasn't shy or wary at all. We didn't try getting any closer though - we're hoping he'll stick around a while.
-----
¹ I didn't realize until I went to look up the latin name just now, that this bird's name had been changed. The species formerly called the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) has been split, and the one here in the Americas got a new name.

My Favorite Authors

I've been seeing on various blogs different 'favorite authors' lists. I thought I'd post my own. This is not exhaustive, and as soon as I'm finished, I'm sure I'll think of someone else to add.
So here goes:
Mark TwainAnthony TrollopeKathleen NorrisElizabeth GoudgePat ConroySusan HowatchRosamunde PilcherBarbara MichaelsJan KaronSusan VreelandC.S. LewisAnne Morrow LindberghDiana GabaldonAlexander McCall SmithBill BrysonJean Craighead GeorgeD.E. StevensonL.M. MontgomeryMadeleine L'EngleBeverley NicholsGladys TaborJane AustenMrs. Radcliffe (Anne)The Bronte SistersDaphne Du MaurierAugusta Jane EvansThomas Hardy
And my favorite 'beach trash' authors:Janet EvanovichJude Deveraux