Mark Long’s Blog

Peru Eclipse

Originally uploaded by mark.long

Tonight I am packing my bags to go see the 7-11-2010 total Solar Eclipse at Hoa Atoll in the Tahitian Islands. I’ll be leaving Thursday morning, scuba diving on Friday and taking an Island hopper Saturday night to the atoll ready for the eclipse on Sunday Morning.

It was 19 years ago that Dave Shipley and I drove 2600 miles in a beat up $50 VW bug without license plates to see the 7-11-1991 eclipse in Mexico. You might want to Google that date and UFO Mexico City sightings for some great UFO videos.

While getting things ready I came across my journal of the Mexico Eclipse Trip. I think I’ll bring that with me and record this my third eclipse trip.

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dive photos 6-2-2010 053

Originally uploaded by mark.long

Living in Utah doesn’t offer you many opportuniities to go scuba diving. I have only been diving a few times but it is growing into one of my favorite adventure activities.

This green sea turtle’s shell is about 3 feet across by 4 feet long so when he stretches out he is about 6 feet across. Once he gets moving he can really glide.

This vacation has been in sharp contrast to going to Egypt. We have spent a lot of time just kicking back. YTonight we are going to a Hawaiian Lua. Tommorow I’ll go scuba diving again and Kathy and Sonia will be on the boat to go snorekling.

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robin nest

Originally uploaded by mark.long

Sonia came in from the back yard earlier in the week to tell me that she found a nest in the back yard with three little blue eggs in it. This is the second year that robins have built a nest in our yard. We are happy to have them here to build their home and stay for a few weeks. I thought that they would have used the same nest they used last year in a near by tree but they chose to build a new nest.

The night before last there was a very strong wind blowing most of the night and I was worried that it would blow the nest onto the ground and break the eggs so I went to check on it today. I got a little to close and mother robin flew away. Inside the nest are three of the smallest baby robins you have ever seen.

Oh how lovely spring is.

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Honda on the beach in Peru

Originally uploaded by mark.long

I once thought that riding bikes in South America would be a lot of fun. Now, not so much. I rode a Honda XRL 650 down to Nazca from Lima. Before getting out of town my Spot satellite locator was stolen. I know where the thief is but short of going into that part of town without the state militia is flaunting danger. My frustration with sharing the road with others was none stop. That should read “My frustration with sharing MY LANE was non stop.” Anyways I can scratch off solo road trip in South America - been there done that - wouldn’t recommend it to others.

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Bald Eagle

Originally uploaded by mark.long

You won’t find eagles in a flock. You may find them with their life long mate but generally you are going to see them solo. I revere eagles so much because they are simply stunning in flight up close. They will take your breath away.

I had an amazing day at work today. We made some great technical improvements, a conference call with a surprising new business offer and a terrific lunch with unlimited new business potential. On my way home after working out with my trainer I felt like I was flying with the eagles. But again they tend to fly alone.

In the past couple of years I have had three close encounters with eagles. The first occurred Memorial Day weekend 2008 ATV riding down by in the Piute Trail system of Southern Utah. Sonia and I were riding up a narrow switchback up the mountain using an old mining trail. Just where the trail was literally cut right into the side of the mountain half way up a rabbit jumped out in front of us. There really wasn’t a place for him to jump off the trail without free falling so it ran out in front of us for the longest time. All of my attention was focused on this rabbit. It’s not usual that you can chase one for more than a few feet. All of a sudden out of no where down swept a golden eagle. Right in front of us it flared it’s huge wings like a fighter jets air brake and then down it pounced on the helpless rabbit. What a sight to behold. I shouted out several times over “oh my heck, Oh my heck, Oh my heck” A second later with a couple of flaps up he went with fresh rabbit in his talons and off he flew. We walked up to where all this happened and there were tufts of fur on the ground. I picked some up and pondered for a moment the circle of life.

The next time was when I was on my motorcycle trek to Innuvik up above the arctic circle. On my way back I was riding on the “top of the world” road in Alaska which is high on top of the mountains near the Yukon river. I went around a bend and all of a sudden a look over and there is an eagle flying right along side of me in the next lane. It became one of those surreal experiences where time slows down. It was sort of like when a car passes you on the freeway and you make eye contact with the driver and you can remember every detail of the person. After that ever so brief eye to eye contact up he went. I’ll never forget my opportunity to fly with the eagles.

Later in the summer on Kathy and my Alaskan Cruise we saw a pair of Bald Eagles fishing in a salmon stream. This time I had a camera with me and took the post picture.

Pleasant memories to close a memorial day with.

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P1000662

Originally uploaded by mark.long

Over lunch a few months ago my friends Scott and Cody went on and on about how much fun scuba diving is and that I should get scuba certified so I could go with them. Scott recommended Jay Taylor at Utah Scuba Schools and a few weeks later I was certified.

My first ocean dive was during a Jan. 2010 trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was a great experince. I was able to get in 4 dives that week. Unfortunately I did not have a underwater camera at the time.

I am very much looking forward to diving in Hawaii and Tahiti this summer and will be posting underwater pics then.

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EGYPT 147

Originally uploaded by mark.long

Going to explore the pyramids in Egypt has been a travel goal of Sonia and I for more than 20 years. After researching on the internet we determined that it was relatively safe for tourist travel. We decided to go on a preplanned group tour because of the differences in culture and language. We are glad we did it that way. We had a police escort every where we went outside of Cairo.

We left Utah on Friday at 10 AM and arrived in Cairo at 3:30 PM Saturday afternoon. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out at the swimming pool. All of the hotels we stayed at were 4 star and were spacious and had great restaurants.

The next day we went straight off to the Pyramids of Giza to see the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. Riding the camels was possibly the highlight of the trip. Having our tourist photos taken on them in front of the pyramid like other tourists for more than a hundred years gave us the memory of a life time. Latter we went to a papyrus museum an in the night we went on a dinner cruise down the Nile River.

On Monday we toured the old walled city of Cairo and the beautiful Mosque there and did some shopping before heading out to Alexandria. We spent two nights in Alexandria and visited many historical sites including the library.

The following two days we headed west along the Mediterranean coast and visited many historical WWII sites and museums. Visiting Rommel’s underground headquarters was very interesting. After spending a couple of days on the beach it was time to head back to Cairo stopping at the world’s oldest monastery where Mary and Jesus were too have appeared to monk’s in ancient times. Although in the vast minority there is still many Christians in Egpyt.

Our last day we spent in one of the largest modern malls in the world the “City Star” which has 13 floors and every luxury brand you can think of having there own store.At night we went to a laser light show at the pyramids which are just outside of Cairo. Viewing the pyramids at sunset was spectacular. Venus appeared right above the the central pyramid as the laser lights draw-ed the interior tunnels on the outside. It was another night to remember.

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After spending the night in Batopilas we went deeper down into the canyon to a more remote village. They call this Cathedral the last one because it is in such a remote location. It was built in the 1700’s during the silver mining boom in the area. It is currently undergoing renovation.

We brought a couple dozen balls with us and gave them to the children at the small school in the village. Going to school is not required by law there and many children were in the streets instead of in the class. They were very happy with the gift of balls.

Even though, or because of the remoteness of the area there was a large military presence. We passed several patrols each day.

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Deep in the most remote areas of Copper Canyon almost everyone drives a late model SUV. In other areas of Mexico you see a lot of old beat up cars and trucks. Not in Batoplias. Why? They are stolen from the US and are sold for a couple of thousand dollars to buyers in remote areas. When I snapped this photo our guide chastised me for taking the risk of anoying the residents. I don’t see how they can get away with it. Military patrols drive by these vehicles everyday.

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Back in 1895 a group of Mormon Pioneers that were not to keen on Utah becoming the newest state in the union travelled to North Central Mexico and settled in Neuvo Casa Grandes. As soon as you enter the city you quickly notice the signature Mormon Pioneer layout of the city. Streets wide enough to do a mid street u-turn with a 4 horse pulled wagon and the square grid patternhj of the streets and avenues.

Mitt Romney’s dad George was raised here. There are still Romney’s in town the most notable owning a computer store. Mormon’s don’t dominate the populationlike they once did. Mexican’s are the vast majority and there is a large Mendonite population that imigrated there during WWII. The Mormon area of town I think may be known as “Little Beverly Hills”. Very nive mansions complete with tennis courts and swimming pools.

Elder Gilbert and Elder Bravo

The Local Ward House

You might wonder if there are still polygamists living in Nuevo Casa Grandes. They are concentrated to the south of NCG in much larger houses. I was told that they can legally have 7 wives. Mexico’s second temple is only a few miles away in another heavily dominated Mormon Comnmunity. The industry is mostly peach orchards. There is also a Momon High School Academy that is very respected.

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