Two Harbors Tugboat Morning!

Year 6

Today was a perfect morning. When I left the house right at sunrise the sun was just popping over Lake Superior’s horizon … the temperature was in the high 30’s with a light wind out of the Northwest. In my book, the birds should be migrating south under what appeared to be fantastic conditions. My eventual goal was Castle Danger on the North Shore, but first I wanted to check some of the points that jut out into Lake Superior. My two stops were Stony Point and Two Harbors. The birds were present in numbers. In fact I even saw a Scarlet Tanager in a Mountain Ash tree. Unfortunately this bird was camera shy, but I immensely enjoyed the sighting.

Upon arriving in Two Harbors I quickly started whistling a different tune. Who cares about birds when there are boats?! Even at age 63, I am still a young boy at heart who likes tugboats. The MadisonR (formerly the NelsJ) was leaving port for another day at work out on Lake Superior. Whereas in other parts of the world, harbor areas tend to be ugly, not in northern Minnesota! (see the comments … Tugboat Hunter has helped out this slightly confused birder! … this is in fact the NelsJ owned by HeritageMarine)

Tugboat MadisonR / NelsJ Steaming Out of Two Harbors, Minnesota

Tugboat … the Movie (YouTube link)

Oh yes … I did see a lot of birds. At one point in a Two Harbors park over 50+ Yellow-Rumped Warblers were feeding all around me. I was a non-entity. The birds were hungry.

Birds … Smart | Humans … Not!

Year 6

This Bald Eagle was migrating south with a north wind providing a push. I was bicycling up Scenic 61 right next to Lake Superior into an 18 mph wind in 41F (windchill 32F).  Who do you think was more intelligent this morning?! Thankfully I did get to turn around at Talmedge River and ride the wind home. (day #2 of Sclera Contacts Lenses went well)

The Beauty of Seeing Nothing!

Year 6

There are times in life when the beauty of seeing nothing overwhelms one’s emotions. Such was the case today ..

Many of you know about the significant problems I have been experiencing with my vision over the past year, which has led to effective temporary blindness on occasion particularly in my left eye. For instance on the second day of our bike tour this past August in the Norwegian Arctic, I slowly biked off the road (not on purpose), took a fall, and fractured some ribs. A few days ago while trail running on a “very wide path” near my home, due to poor vision I ran into a tree … not fun and quite painful. The collision left me with cuts on my head, and knocked me over.

Thus … you now have some background. I have been working with the eye doctors and the good news there is no underlying disease. Instead, I have an extreme case of dry eye which causes me to involuntarily close my eyes … sometimes for extended periods of time. Today, I had my first good news in this battle when it appears an effective treatment was discovered. There are contact lenses (Sclera lenses) which are uniquely manufactured for each patient, and each eye. The lenses are wider than one’s cornea and contain a fluid reservoir to lubricate the eye. Today was my first four hour test, and the new lenses gave me positive quality vision which I have not had in a long time … almost perfect vision. The hope is my eyes will accept these lenses (bigger than normal contacts). Over the weeks to come I will slowly increase the duration I wear the Sclera lenses, and continue to the visit the doctor for frequent check-ups.

Given how scary it is to believe one may be becoming vision impaired to the point of often having effective blindness when outdoors, this is great step which holds out very positive hope. Birding, bicycling, and driving a car have been a challenge for most of this year. Many of you may also know I love a glass of Chardonnay. I had cut way back on my alcohol consumption as it can lead to dehydration … a further agitator of dry eyes, but tonight I am having my wine! There is hope in the Hoeg household. We are not declaring the battle won, but it looks real positive.

Now … Why The Beauty of Seeing Nothing? I had two eye appointment today. During the first visit with my doctor she inserted the lenses in my eyes. Four hours later I returned to have her check up on my progress. In between the two appointments, I went birding. Normally I would never arrive at Sax-Zim Bog at 10:30 am. I like to visit before the crack of dawn. However, today that was not possible. I arrived mid morning with a south wind (also bad for birding during the Fall migration). I saw nothing, but I saw it well!

When I finally returned home I discovered the birds were in my yard. The south wind had calmed, and between juncos, robins and blue jays, there were over a hundred birds in my yard. Better yet, the Mountain Ash tree I planted a few years ago is now bearing fruit. The robins denuded the tree within 30 minutes! I sipped my wine and enjoyed the colors.

Amity … Rich’s yard Mountain Ash Tree Berries