Biggest lightning bust of the fire season is in the forecast tomorrow .. (PIC HEAVY)

[DemoTex]

And I'm on off days in Bend. Bummer. But my new relief lookout, who I trained last week, needs a baptism of fire. My battalion commander gave me the option of working with him tomorrow, but we both agreed it would be better if I stayed on the sidelines in Bend (perhaps at the 10-Barrel sipping their Apocalypse IPA).

I've been remiss in posting here. I went back east last week to see my dieing dad. The trip wrecked me, physically. My upper back and neck, right arm and hand, are hell from the stress - especially that induced by Delta Airlines ("We Love To Fuck You - And It Shows" TM).

I had a surprise human-caused fire yesterday. It made my day go by very quickly. Photos of that fire and some beautiful storm clouds from Thursday follow.


Yesterday's fire (Saturday 8/6) was 3.3 miles from the lookout. It was human-caused, probably accidental. The fire put up a lot of smoke. It burned to about 1/3 acre in grass, slash, and timber litter. The area included some huge Ponderosa pines, widely spaced enough to stay safe until our two fire trucks and a hand crew arrived.


Thursday's storms put down meager lightning on the west side of the Deschutes National Forest. They dissipated quickly at sunset. There were no fires from these storms.


At sunset the storms were gone.


However, at the same time storms to the distant east put down over 1000 lightning strikes!


The huge storm about 75 miles east-southeast at sunset.

[MichiganVote]

1. I love your posts. Were it not for the beauty you see, I don't know how you'd hazard the

potential for destruction.

[DemoTex]

5. I'm safe, believe me.

I have a helicopter LZ on my butte, just in case.

[MichiganVote]

7. You're due for a reality show Demo. :)

[DemoTex]

9. Well, the "Bend Bulletin" newpaper is coming out this week to do a photo feature

That should be reality enough. Maybe.

[Lucian]

19. I'd watch it.

:)

[Buns_of_Fire]

28. Me, too. It would be awesome. It could even tie in with other shows.

Have Bear Grylls guesting on an episode to show everyone how many cute little furry woodland insects there are to eat in the vicinity, have Adam Richman on to see if he can eat an entire ponderosa pine in under an hour, have Snooki on to...

...okay, scratch Snooki. Bad idea.:scared: But beautiful pictures, as usual. Thank you.

[Botany]

2. I have always enjoyed your posts and pictures

I wish you well!

[gateley]

3. I'm climbing on board with MichiganVote and Botany - I LOVE your posts!

Thanks again - and wow! :hi:

[murielm99]

4. Beautiful, as always.

"Beautiful" is not a big enough word for the power of the pictures you share with us.

I am sorry about your dad.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. That last shot is amazing anvil.

Love the colors in the one above it, too.

(very sorry to hear about your dad, Tex)

[DemoTex]

22. It is a classic anvil-head

Flat as a fritter on top.

[era veteran]

8. Sorry about your father.

Great photographs, I always check them out. That is one part of the country I don't know at all.
Thanks

[spanone]

10. breathtaking...!

[handmade34]

11. enjoy the photos

I'm headed up to Linn County to work next week... hope to check out Willamette National forest some while I'm there... won't have your point of view though :-)

[elleng]

12. Great to see you; been thinking of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc34Uj8wlmE

[DemoTex]

16. OMG! My favorite jazz-ter: Brubeck!

Brubeck and Paul Desmond for sure. Drummer Gene Krupa, and bassman - who?

[elleng]

21. Eugene Wright.

You know this is THIS, right???!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yomi0-WL5Pg

:hi:

[DemoTex]

24. Oh, yes.

No different than Brahms' "Variations on a Theme By Haydn", IMO. I'd love to hear Brubeck do THAT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB_5-LfF5y0

[elleng]

25. Yea! Think I'll suggest that for daughter's wedding.

We've got a string trio. Think its available?

[stevedeshazer]

13. Wow!

Sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you had some quality time with him.

My brother has brain cancer. I'm trying to spend as much good time as I can with him.

Love the central Oregon pics. Righteous stuff.

Steve

[DemoTex]

18. Thanks Steve

I got you other email and I am saddened about your brother. My dad is very old and is ready to go. Your brother is another story - too young, too soon. Keep me posted, friend.

Mac

[Greybnk48]

14. I love your posts. My husband enjoys them as well. n/t

[jberryhill]

15. Thanks... Needs more Nick!

[DemoTex]

20. 10-4

Actually, I agree. I need to get the old boy in more photos. But here is the best ever, from the first day in the lookout my very first fire season (2009):

[Booster]

23. Sorry about your Dad, DemoTex. As usual, just beautiful

photos. And that Nick has soul. Nice pic of him too.

[nenagh]

17. The miracle of DU.. I've missed your posts...

Your photographs are beyond description... so beautiful, so terrifying..but the perspective is mind bending..

Sorry your Dad is so ill...

[Old and In the Way]

26. It must be like heaven on earth for you there....

or, maybe like hell on earth if you're dealing with some of those mega-firestorms. Either way, we appreciate these pics....and that schnauzer of yours!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. Your pictures never fail to enthrall me, my dear DemoTex!

They are wonderful...

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad...Safe passage to him...