Hunters

Blessing of the Hounds, Strathalbyn

After foraging through the woods in Weldon Spring, this group pops out on a country road. These hunters have a pack of about a dozen Basset Hounds and are part of Three Creek Bassets, a nationally known pack of scent hounds. Today they are trying to pick up the scent of a rabbit, track it and stay on the trail as long a possible. Apparently, they only found a coyote who would move too fast to keep the Bassets attention.

Be sure to click on the photo for a larger image and more information. Give it a bout 20 seconds to load.

Sunset over Strathalbyn

Blessing of the Hounds, Strathalbyn

Another beautiful fall sunset in the Midwest. This well and the stables beyond are part of an old club in St. Charles County.

The property is along the Missouri River and served as a family farm in this rural section of Weldon Spring before World War II and before the bridge across the Missouri River was completed. In 1960, the property was purchased primarily to protect the area from development.

The name Strathalbyn was given to the property by one of the prior owners of the land, reminiscent of their ancestral homes in Wales. The words are Welsh and mean “stream and field” appropriately named since its fields meander down to the Missouri River.

The basis of the clubhouse is an old log cabin from the 1820’s which still exists inside the building.

Elsah Church

Elsah, Il

Tucked away in the bluffs along the Mississippi River is the little village of Elsah, IL. The entire village of Elsah is on the National Registry of Historic Places. This village, with a population of around one hundred people, is often referred to as the “village where time stood still.” Visitors to Elsah can escape back to the Americana of the early 1800s with quiet streets and 19th century stone homes. This “picture perfect” village nestled in the valley is a perfect place for photographers – amateur and professional – anxious to capture a glimpse of the past.

This church is in the back of the little valley where the village is located. Almost every building is picture perfect. be sure to take come time to explore.

Clark Bridge

Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary

View of the top of the Clark Bridge spanning the Mississippi River at Alton.

The Clark Bridge was named after William Clark who, with Meriwether Lewis in 1804, commanded the two year 4,000 mile exploration of the Louisiana Purchase territory up the Missouri River into the Pacific Northwest. The Lewis and Clark Expedition set off just a few miles south of the bridge near Hartford, Illinois.

This is a view from Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary which runs just south of the Mississippi River.

Flyby

Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Canadian Geese doing a flyby at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. On this day the place was full of geese, pelicans, egrets and more! Around St. Louis these geese are pretty common. In fact they may be considered a nuisance. However, these birds are always amazing to watch fly by.

 

A Pair of Pelicans

Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary

A pair of White Pelicans at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.  Riverlands is just south of Alton, IL and has over 8.5 miles of trail featuring viewing platforms and bird blinds. The trails bring you through prairies, marshes, and bottomland forest habitats, and provide great viewing opportunities for the great variety of birds and other wildlife.

While I was here I watched flocks of these birds fly in and out of the area along with geese and ducks.

This is just off of the the Great River Road (see previous post) and an amazing place.

Mississippi River in the Heartland

Riverview Park, Alton, IL

Flowing through America’s heartland, the Mississippi River provides a pathway for commerce and travel. As barges, trains and highway traffic move up and down the river, a power plant in the background provides electricity for the area.

The highway is one of the most scenic drives in the United States and is known as The Great River Road and stretches from Alton Illinois on past Pere Marquette Park. The drive provides a stunning vista of the Mississippi River and bluffs towering above the highway.

The highway will you take to places where you could spend the whole day: Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Historic Alton, Elsa, Grafton and Pere Marquette Park & Lodge. If you live in Missouri, there are ferries to take you home. Be sure to bring your camera!

Watch this blog for a series of photos from this area. Click the photo to see a larger version in my smugmug account.

Returning from the hunt

Bridlespur Hunt

After scouring woods, creeks and valleys, hunters return empty handed.  This is in Lincoln County, Missouri with low rolling hills that turn into rugged terrain towards the Mississippi River. An easy area for these hunters to trail fox and the Basseters chase rabbits. However the enjoyment of being outdoors, camaraderie of friends and the after hunt meals make this a special day.

Happy Fall!

Chesterfield Valley

Hidden along the ridges of Chesterfield Valley you will find these scenic farms. On many Sundays in the Fall and Winter I will go hunting with a pack of Basset Hounds. Traveling through the back woods of farms and parks, following the pack, you will come upon scenes like this and this is probably the best way to experience Missouri’s fall color. Hope you enjoy my favorite season!

Click on the photo to see full screen (it might take about 20 seconds).

Laser Projection

https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Missouri-Botanical-Garden/i-zH6C94B/A

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Party Lights features interactive lighting, projection mapping, and laser show installations.

At dark, the light show begins. Visitors take a self-guided journey through over a mile of free-flowing paths with electrifying multimedia created in collaboration with world-renowned projection and lighting experts AVI Systems and Theatrical Concepts Inc.

This is a laser projection on Henry Shaw’s home on the grounds. This is actually a live presentation featuring high definition music and narration. The interactive sights and sounds are something to see.

Be sure to click on the photo for a larger image and more scenes from the gardens.