Cracking the Bigfoot/Yeti Legend

Posted on October 20, 2013October 20, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Can it be true? Has science finally solved the legend of the Yeti?

A British scientist has told ABC news that he tested the DNA of hairs found in the Himalayas and it is a match to a prehistoric polar bear.

Bryan Sykes compared DNA from hair samples taken from two Himalayan animals — identified by local people as Yetis — to a database of animal genomes. He found they shared a genetic fingerprint with a polar bear jawbone found in the Norwegian Arctic that is at least 40,000 years old.

Sykes said Thursday that the tests showed the creatures were not related to modern Himalayan bears but were direct descendants of the prehistoric animal.

He said, “it may be a new species, it may be a hybrid” between polar bears and brown bears.

“The next thing is go there and find one.”

I guess the folks at “Finding Bigfoot” can relax and keep filming. The search will go on.

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In other news those sneaky felines are at it again.

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — A cat has been busted for smuggling pot into a prison in Moldova.

Guards became suspicious about the feline, which routinely entered and left the prison through a hole in a fence, when they noticed its odd collar. On closer inspection, they found two packets of marijuana attached to it.

The Department of Penitentiary Institutions said Friday that someone in the village of Pruncul was using the cat as a courier to supply inmates with dope at the local prison.

Whoever the human was, this wasn’t a first regarding cat couriers at lockups.

In June, guards caught a cat carrying cellphones and chargers taped to its belly to inmates in Penal Colony No. 1 near the city of Syktyvkar in northern Russia.

Hmmm That puts a new spin on cat burglars.

Pardon me boy, Is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?

Posted on October 19, 2013October 19, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Words made famous in the Big Band era by Glen Miller, today trains have a pride of place in Chattanooga’s former Terminal Station.

You can even stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. And as long as you are in Chattanooga Tennessee, you need to cross the state border back into Georgia for a brief stop in Rock City. From the top of Lookout Mountain you have spectacular views of 7 states, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia . Walk the less- than -a-mile- long Enchanted Trail past ancient rock formations , a 90 ft. waterfall and the Swing-a-Long Bridge, a 180 foot-long suspension bridge that sways above the Chattanooga Valley

For Civil War history buffs, move on to Franklin, Tennessee where the focal point of the town Square is a monument to unnamed Civil War Soldiers. This is an area where the plantation system rose and fell so visit Carnton Plantation while you’re in the area.

Along the Tennessee and North Carolina border are the Great Smoky Mountains, 800 square miles of the southern Appalachians. Even the Grand Canyon is described as a distant second to the visual drama of the Smokies. This National Park is the most popular park in the country.

OK all you Elvis Fans, It’s one for the Money, Two for the show, 3 to get ready and 4 to go, go , go to Graceland Mansion, The King’s home from 1957 until he died 20 years later. While you’re in Memphis visit The Music Museums. Memphis is hailed as home to the blues, and birthplace of Rock and Roll. Celebrate not only Elvis but music greats like Muddy Waters, B.B. King and countless others.

The National Civil Rights Museum opened in 1991 in the Lorraine Building. Much of the exhibit features Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

In Nashville we can visit the Grand Ole Opry and the Belle Meads, the most well preserved of Tennessee’s plantations.

Also in Nashville is the official home of Andrew Jackson, 7th president of the United states. President Jackson lived in Nashville from 1788 until his death in 1845.

For the amusement park fans, Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee but don’t call it an amusement park. According to Dolly Parton it’s a “family adventure”.

Horse lovers all know the Tennessee Walking Horse. Visit Shelbyville, Tennessee at the end of August to join the 11 day celebration of Tennessee’s own special horse breed.

The last bit that I have time to cover is the Tennessee Whisky Trail. W.C. Fields advised people to “Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite…and furthermore always carry a small snake.” Tennessee sipping whiskey is a blend of corn, rye, barley, yeast and water. In 1866 Jack Daniels Distillery opened in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Tours start in the visitor’s center, furnished with antique moonshine-making equipment and artifacts. Go in late October to combine your visit with the Barbecue Festival.

Gotta love guide books and brochures.:) Makes it sound like I’ve been there but no, sadly Tennessee is still on my bucket list. So the Visited and Unvisited now stand at 16/26

Mayor Stubbs

Posted on October 18, 2013October 18, 2013 by Dusty Roads

A sad moment indeed. It sounds like Mayor Stubbs is going to retire.

Hi Guys

I am still recovering slowly but he has been able to make my way out to the front of the shop and although not quiet my old self I am feeling a bit better today. I am still very stiff and hold close to LORI as i’m still a little jumpy around other animals and loud noises.
As you have read i don’t think i will return to public life in the same manor as before. I had a great run and a very exciting life as Mayor but its time for Talkeetna to find a new mayor. I only hope i have served them with as much love and respect as you all have shown for me.

I love you all —- meeow!

Stubbs Mayor Cat

Posted on October 18, 2013October 18, 2013 by Dusty Roads

This is the latest on Mayor Stubbs. It’s from the Wall Street Journal.

Stubbs Mayor Cat

Wall Street journal article…. Latest video of our stubbs

http://on.wsj.com/1epDxCJ

South Dakota

Posted on October 18, 2013October 18, 2013 by Dusty Roads

To the Lakota Sioux it was the malo shika, “the bad lands”. To the French-Canadian fur trappers it was Les Mauvaises a traverser, ” bad lands to travel across”. In the book 1000 Places To See Before You Die, it’s “Nature’s High Drama”. Whatever you chose to call Badlands National Park in South Dakota it all comes back to spectacular.

Yes, I’ve been to South Dakota and I’m ashamed to say that when my sister suggested a vacation there my first response was “What’s in South Dakota”. Her answer was “Mount Rushmore”.

Although that’s true and Mount Rushmore is certainly awe inspiring, there was so much more to our South Dakota vacation and we only explored the area from Rapid City to Pine Ridge. That’s just the southwestern corner of the state.

This rates as one of the best vacations I’ve taken. We flew into Rapid City in the afternoon. After checking in and getting dinner it was still light out so I wanted to begin exploring right away. Yes we were tired but why waste good light? We turned our rental to interstate 90 and headed east about 80 miles to a turn off for Badlands National Park. What a way to start the vacation! In the golden light of the late afternoon we got our first look at the canyons and rock formations of the Bad Lands. It took my breath away. The amazing vistas are exceeded only by places like the Grand Canyon. And we saw animals!

Rabbits and Mule Deer and a glimpse of some pronghorn.

Over the rest of the week we explored Custer State Park where the buffalo, pronghorn, and prairie dogs are an everyday wonder. (Where the deer and the antelope roam.) The wild “begging” burros of the park had no shame in their quest for handouts!

After a critter jam of buffalo we entered Wind Cave National Park following a ranger to a depth of 200 ft. below the surface.

We drove the winding Iron Mountain Road from Custer State Park to Mount Rushmore, twisting and turning on the horse shoe turns and “pig tails”, not a road for the faint of heart.

We rode the 1880 train round trip from Hill City to Keystone and watched a family of Mountain sheep cross the road as we headed to the station. On the train ride we learned about the history of the black hills and saw “summer cows”…”Some are white, some are brown”….

I’m still following the Wild Horse Sanctuary.

What a day that was! But it didn’t end with wild horses, it ended with Mammoths at a dig in Hot Springs.

We went to the Pine Ridge Reservation but got lost on “the longest dirt road in the world” (our name for it) and never found the PowWow.

And there was more but I’m running out of room. We never got to Deadwood, or Sturgis , and only saw Crazy Horse from the road. The Corn Palace is farther to the east in Mitchell, but we did go to Wall Drug Store where we had dinner and bought some mementos. And South Dakota is where I “met” Scout..my little prairie dog with the flower. Totally unexpected and so sweet looking. Glad I caught this moment in time.