Mayor Stubbs

Posted on June 11, 2014June 11, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I haven’t heard too much about Mayor Stubbs since he recovered from the attach on his life by an assassin dog. So when I ran across this recent article I thought I’d share. He does look like he’s getting old. 🙁

Talkeetna’s feline mayor contemplates retirement

Stubbs the cat has faithfully served his constituents for 17 years, and his owner says it might be time for him to leave Alaska’s political arena.

By: Laura Moss

Tue, Jun 10, 2014 at 12:12 PM

A visitor cuddles Mayor Stubbs at Nagley’s General Store. (Photo: Cody Wellons)

I recently snuggled with the mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska.

He was friendly and quite diplomatic, making sure to give everyone who’d traveled to see him an equal amount of attention.

In return, we all gave Stubbs, a 17-year-old cat, a few scratches behind the ears. We could be some of the last Talkeetna tourists to do so.

The mayoral Manx has served Talkeetna, which is home to fewer than 900 people, since July 18, 1997 when he was still just a kitten.

It’s rumored that Stubbs was elected mayor following a write-in campaign by voters who opposed the human candidates. However, Talkeetna has no actual mayor and no election — the town is run by a community council.

Nagley's General Store in Talkeetna, Alaska

Stubbs conducts his unofficial mayoral business from Nagley’s General Store, where he can often be found sleeping in a basket or sipping his favorite cocktail: water with a catnip garnish.

On the day we met, Stubbs was doing the rounds in and around the store, greeting his constituents, as well as tourists who were in town for Memorial Day weekend.

Eventually, he curled up beneath a picnic table for a nap.

Having recently turned 85 in cat years, Stubbs may soon retire from life in the political spotlight.

His owner, Lauri Stec, says she may move Stubbs into her house to take a break from the deluge of visitors who flock to the store each summer to see him.

She says Stubbs will likely hate being stuck at the house, but she’s concerned about his health — and his penchant for trouble.

“He’s definitely used up 100 lives,” she recently told the Alaska Dispatch.

In August, Stubbs was mauled by a dog, an attack that left him with a punctured lung, crushed sternum, bruised hips and a deep gash.

He was rushed to a veterinary clinic in Wasilla, Alaska, and eventually made a full recovery.

In addition to surviving the assassination attempt, Stubbs has also lived through being shot with a BB gun and falling into a cold fryer at the café attached to Nagley’s General Store.

If Stubbs leaves the store this summer, his fans — who hail from regions far outside his constituency, from the likes of Turkey, Australia and China — will still be able to keep up with his adventures on Facebook.

Parrot Mountain

Posted on June 9, 2014June 9, 2014 by Dusty Roads

It’s my last full day in Tennessee. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll be flying the friendly skies back to Providence RI. So what to do? Dollywood was still on my list and I was still dragging my feet. Admission is $60.00 for the day and I’m only luke-warm about it.

I’d heard about a place called Parrot Mountain but no one seemed to have much information. I couldn’t find any brochures but the web site looked interesting. Yes I think I’ll explore that. If I hate it or it’s a rip-off I’ll be right down the street from Dollywood.

Since I was headed to Parrot Mountain I decided to drive instead of taking the trolley. I’m glad I did. I spotted the big billboard sign on the side of a mountain so I headed for the sign. I passed Dollywood and the signs kept pointing ahead. Finally I started up a very steep driveway. At the top was a big sign telling me I had arrived at Parrot Mountain.

If first appearances count for anything I was already happy. The entrance was so pretty and quaint. Birds sat perched along the retaining wall.

The entrance was like a little cottage. A large stairway replicated Thomas Kincade’s Stairway to Paradise.

The entrance fee was only $16.95. The very first pace I entered was the Bird garden. There were perches everywhere and each had a bird or two. Each perch was labeled so you knew which birds were safe to feed or touch ad which should just be admired. There were seed dispensers located through out. I could spend all day right here.

Even the squirrels agree!

A bit more expensive is the opportunity to have a picture taken with the birds. Handlers bring over the most docile birds and pile them on for your photo op.

There’s also a meditation garden with caged birds and religious stations of the cross. Religious or not is peaceful and beautiful along that path.

I entered the lory aviary with a cup of nectar and before I could say come and get it I was loaded with those colorful little birds. They landed on my arms, my hands ,even my head. There wasn’t anyone to take a picture which was too bad. It was such fun.

No matter which path you followed there were birds, butterflies, flowers and colors.

A truly wonderful experience!

Cades Cove, Worth a Return trip?

Posted on June 8, 2014June 8, 2014 by Dusty Roads

After my disappointing experience on the train I wanted to cheer myself back up. The rain had finally passed and the sun had come out. The lovely clouds that form in the valleys had dissipated by the time I retrieved my car and started back to Gatlinburg so I made the return trip through Newfound Gap without lingering. As a result I was nearing the fork to Cades Cove while the sun was just dipping down toward the horizon. Do I take a drive through or not??? I decided that yes, I wanted one more visit.

It was later than my last trip so the shadows were longer in the fields and down right dark in the wooded areas. No bear this time but the deer were very active,

At first I thought this one was a fawn with spots but it was really just the way its winter coat was shedding.

This one is more like I’m used to seeing deer…in the woods, not the open meadows. I think it’s one of my favorite pictures.

This one was taken in the woods right next to the car! It was so dark the picture almost didn’t come out. As it is there’s not much color to be seen.

The males don’t seem as skittish as our local bucks. They are right out by the road.

Glad I stopped.

Photo of the Week ~ 22

Posted on June 4, 2014June 4, 2014 by Dusty Roads

This week was very close. I have to admit I was torn too. The winner is Majestic Elk with 31 points but Thumbelina was right behind with 26 points. I’m glad it wasn’t a tie. The Elk photo represents a lot of work searching 3 states for the elusive animals but how many times do you see a 6 inch 4 lb goat. A miniature bundle of cuteness.

Cataloochee

Posted on June 3, 2014June 3, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Well here I am. Sitting in the car waiting for sunset and ELK. I’ve finally reached the Cataloochee. As sunset approached I decided to drive back through the valley. Near the little bridge the park service had erected rest rooms. I decided it might be wise to take advantage of them. When I returned to my car I spotted one of the rangers. At first he wagged a finger at me and said “Still too early” but then he must have felt bad for me because he had a change of heart.

He told me there were 2 elk out by the “Old Palmer Place”. He sent me back out through the gates where I found another dirt road to my left. About a mile down the road there was a farm house and right there I saw my first Elk in the wild.