Last years Next bike

Walking my faithful friend Allie most every day for the past 11 years through Bates College, I  often notice gradual changes in the scenery.  I also take note of some things that don’t.   There are more skateboards on the college campus these days, and the bicycles that are around, are nothing to write home about.  Basic modes of transportation sleep on a variety of bike racks scattered here and there throughout the campus. Last year I began to notice this bicycle that never moved all summer.  I surmised it was left by a graduating senior, or perhaps one on a semester abroad.  As winter approached, I would periodically whip out my smart phone and take a photo.  It’s been over a year now and I have a feeling the owner no long longs for their Next ride.

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Manipulated and file eagles

I was shooting families frolicking in Tripp Lake earlier this week.  We needed a feature photo as none of the stories the reporters were working on had potential for good art.  I spotted an eagle being chased off by smaller birds and pointed it out.  Two women with their children began talking about eagles, and how this one is always around.  He flew over and I took a photo.  I only had my zoom, so, without the 400 with the extension, it wouldn’t be good enough to publish.  When I was going through the photos, trying to figure out which cute kid photo was the best, I came across the eagle photo again.  I cropped it hard vertical, just as it would fit in our Facebook banner, but it still wasn’t good enough.  I then opened up the Levels in Photoshop and cranked the shadows and highlights to their maximum and created something really cool.  But it could never run in the newspaper, too much manipulation.  But it was a cool image and I wanted to share.  So I was going to post it to my facebook page, but I should have left hours earlier, so I logged off and went home to walk the dog and play Cinderella.  The day would have a happy ending as I ended up with my bride on the porch, IPA in hand.

When I came across the altered eagle image later in the week, today, I again pondered tossing it out on the web.  I played around with the levels again, and still wasn’t overly impressed, but something tugged at me. I set aside the eagle idea and got to work on processing other assignments I didn’t get to earlier in the week.  While looking for a file photo for another story,  I again came across eagle photos I had shot in the past, and said, “it’s not throwback Thursday, but let’s make it Eagle Saturday.”  What? I might by flying off the handle here.  It might be a soar spot for you, or you might think I have flown the coup, but I am on a wing and a prayer that people might flock to my blog if I post more often.  Perhaps I am just a little flighty and my head is in the clouds, but I’m gonna leave the nest and flap my wings with this blog thing.

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
State game warden Dave Chabot is all smiles as he waits for wildlife rehabilitator Sheri Gee to come transport this mature bald eagle to the Avian Haven in Freedom. The bird was caught in a trap that was legally set in a field off Church Street in Leeds Tuesday afternoon. Bob Scott from Leeds was watching eagles feed on the deer carcas from his home next to the field when he noticed this one was stuck on something. He called Chabot who responded and discovered that the trap had done just what it was designed to do, trap animals of prey. The trap was set for coyote and fox, but it is not uncommon for birds to also fall victim of the device that is designed to clamp around the paws or toe of an animal of prey. As is usually the case, the bird was only caught on the talons and appeared to be unharmed.

Wildlife Rehabilitator Sherri Gee releases this adult male bald eagle back into the wild Saturday afternoon in a field near where it was accidentally trapped on Tuesday in Leeds, Maine. A neighbor to the field spotted the eagle in distress and called a game warden. After it was freed from the trap, it was taken to Avian Haven in Freedom, Maine where it was checked over and given a clean bill of health. In the background is Charlie Todd from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife who transported the bird from Avian Haven.

A pair of bald eagles wait out a driving, freezing rain on a branch overhanging the Androscoggin River next to Gulf Island Dam in Lewiston.

Someone driving on River Road in Auburn noticed a pair of eagles fighting in the air. They locked talons and cartwheeled to the ground. They stopped and found the pair, locked in a death grip in the middle of a stream. They called police, who called a wildlife expert. They arrived just after I did and took a towel and threw it over them. Just before the towel landed, they broke apart and flew/hopped away. They stared each other down and dried their wings for another 15 minutes before flying off in different directions. It was surmised that the older male was defending his territory from a young intruder.

A bald eagle soars over the Androscoggin River between Lewiston and Auburn as Tuesday afternoon’s strong wind unfurls the American Flag in Bonney Park in Auburn.

Russ and Isaiah’s Excellent Adventure to North Carolina

A wet and soggy start at 4:30 am.  Thanks to my son Kevin for pulling an all nighter and dropping us off at the airport. Breezed through security and were bored waiting to board.   Not sure if Captain Kirk was having trouble with his tribbles or the fact that Spock is gone, but the Priceline negotiator sent us to Detroit for our connection to North Carolina.  Go figure, but the price was good and the flights went off without a hitch and we are sitting in our hotel room before 2:00.  Heading over to the track in a bit to register and meet up with the other standout Maine athlete, Kate Hall.

Really glad we are here early to get acclimated with the heat and humidity…..Gonna hit 90 today.

Thank you again for everyone in the community that pitched in and donated to our GoFundMe page so we could come.

Just got to the stadium and it is pretty impressive.

Immediately met up with fellow Maineah Kate Hall, warming up for her race tomorrow.

Two elite runners with their elite coaches….ok, well, two elite runners and one elite coach….and a coach like, father like, and big time fan.
Saturday was a relaxing day for us, getting adjusted to the climate.  Sunny one minute, pouring rain the next.  The rain was a relief after the incredibly high humidity and the temperature in the mid 90’s.  Just as Kate Hall was about to run her 100m, the skies opened up.  It was a good showing for the dynamo from Casco, winning a broAfter an early dinner, we hit the hay and I got hit in the head with a pillow a few minutes later.  I warned Isaiah that I snored, bad, he knows from the walls shaking in his room that abuts me and Ann’s, but he falls asleep with his TV on, so it has never been a problem.  But I armed him with a couple extra pillows for ammo to toss at me if I was sawing wood a little loud.  Once again the Priceline negotiator misled me.  The photos of the hotel room had a partition between the bedroom and the living area with the sofa couch.  Was hoping that was enough of a buffer, but not.  I woke and tossed it back for future use, but fortunately he fell asleep and there were no more incidents.  
Up early-ish and prepped the uniform.  We shopped last night for some funk orange sox to match his spikes.  “Gotta make a statement and stand out.”  After watching every other runner Saturday wearing spandex, there was no way I was going to be the only one to be wearing his baggy running shorts from his LHS uniform.  After chasing the pink line through Greensboro, listening to monotone Mary sending us here and there via Hertz GPS. We finally found a Dick’s Sporting Goods and found something that would work.  However, there was no thought of trading in his Lewiston jersey for something fancy.  Lewiston PRIDE.  He will wear it forever.  Probably never wear a Lewiston jersey in another race again, but the grit and determination, work ethic and drive are something that will be with Isaiah forever.  From the Montello track, basketball at the Armory, and Fly football at the LAP football field, basketball everywhere and running here, there and everywhere laid the foundation.  He is proud of his roots and his community, one who came together to send him here. He will never forget that.

Sunday morning we got to the Stadium early.  No rain predicted today, but it would be a scorcher.  We found some shade in the shadow of a light stancion and watched some races.  It was an impressive sight.  I began to feel insecure.  Did we do everything we could to prepare I.  Most had coaches and personal trainers with them.  Ridged training routines, strict diets, top notch everything.  Thought about that for a few seconds and set it aside.  Heart, soul and determination  is far more important than all that fancy stuff.  I knew he would do well, and it will be just the beginning.   It was time for him to go warm up and I gave him some sage advice.  Some top notch coaching if I say so myself.  “Good luck, kick ass.”  I was not sure who was more nervous, but I was his usual calm and cool, confident.  When the gun went off and I took off in the lead, I had a good feeling.  He led all the way until the back stretch.  I looked at the time and it was where we wanted to be, so I thought this was good as he would be pushed and might run a faster race.  Sure enough he dug deep and pulled ahead in the final yards to win his heat.  The time stood until the final heat where two runners beat his time.  We all wondered how he wold have done if he was in the final heat with those top runners.  But a bronze medal, personal best and new state of Maine record is mighty fine.  With the training he will be getting at Penn State, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be breaking records and wowing us all in the future.  Everyone who has had the good fortune of having Isaiah in their lives will be sad to see him leave our “village, ” but we will all be cheering him on and thanking him for touching our hearts.  

No sooner than Isaiah stepped down from the podium, another Maine athlete, Kate Hall, made history.  Breaking a record that stood for nearly four decades, she broke the national record in the final jump in the long jump competition.  One of the first to congratulate her was, of course, Isaiah.  I was so proud to hear everyone talking about the athletes from Maine that stole the show.  Wicked proud of both of them and good luck in the future.

Casco’s Kate Hall flies though the air during Sunday’s long jump at the New Balance Nationals Track & Field competiton in Greensboro, N.C. After a 3rd place finish in the 100 meter race on Saturday, she set a new national record that has stood for nearly 4 decades and is in the top 10 jumps in the world this year.