Category Archives: Road Trip

WPC – WEEK 442 – ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! One of my favorite ways to spend a day. Also one of my favorite themes! But did it inspire enough people to leave their house to make it a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out?

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, February 26, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 2 weeks (2)
2-Stehanie Kim – 2 weeks
3-Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
4-Willy McAlpine – 4 weeks
5-Sara Lockner – 6 weeks
6-Monica Jennings – 6 weeks
7-Suzie Brannen – 8 weeks (2)
8-Lowell Davis – 8 weeks
9-Michelle Haupt – 8 weeks
10-Alexis Stensland – 8 weeks (2)
11-Brandon Kahler – 9 weeks
12-Scott Degeneffe – 27 weeks (2)
13-Sabas Hernandez – 28 weeks
14-Mike Vest – 33 weeks
15-Sheri Fakhouri – 37 weeks (2)
16-Logan Kahler – 38 weeks (2)
17-Nathanial Brown – 39 weeks
18-Jesse Howard – 39 weeks
19-Tamara Peterson – 42 weeks
20-Mindi Terrell – 54 weeks (2)
21-Linda Bennett – 83 weeks
22-Sarah Toot – 84 weeks
23-Angie DeWaard – 88 weeks
24-Dawn Krause – 92 weeks (2)
25-Kim Barker – 98 weeks
26-Joe Duff – 99 weeks
27-Teresa Kahler – 110 weeks
28-Carla Stensland – 110 weeks (2)
29-Micky Augustin – 112 weeks
30-Andy Sharp – 113 weeks
31-Bill Wentworth – 114 weeks
32-Cathie Morton – 118 weeks
33-Elizabeth Nordeen – 119 weeks
34-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 121 weeks
35-Kio Dettman – 123 weeks

Reminder. Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon (Central BBQ – Southaven, Mississippi) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - DEANNA MCCLAIN
Deanna McClain (Iowa) – 1 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland (Boone, Iowa) – 1 week

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Indiana) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Indiana)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, New York) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 3 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Iowa) – 5 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Woodward, Iowa)- 7 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Boone County, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Des Moines, Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Saint Paul, Minnesota) – 10 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 28 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (35 South Near Ames, Iowa) – 29 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP -
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 34 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SHERI FKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Red Lobster – West Des Moines, Iowa) – 38 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 39 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ames, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Des Moines, Iowa) – 40 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (Boone, Iowa) – 40 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Iowa) – 43 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa) – 55 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Johnston, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 84 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania) – 85 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Pennsylvania)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 89 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 93 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Estes Park, Colorado) – 99 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Dacono, Colorado)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Texas) – 100 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Boone, Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP -
Carla Stensland (Polk City, Iowa) – 111 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP -
Carla Stensland (Polk City, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Huxley, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Alleman, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Omaha, Nebraska) – 114 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 115 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 120 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Norwalk, Iowa) – 122 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 124 weeks

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (Ames, Iowa) – 546 weeks

37 participants! That is a great week! Up one from last week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Colorado (2)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Iowa (34)
+ Kansas (1)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Mississippi (1)
+ Nebraska (2)
+ New York (1)
+ Pennsylvania (2)
+ Texas (1)

Thanks to the travels of Mary, we added Indiana to the list! Thanks to Adam’s travels, we’ve added Mississippi!

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each state):

+ Arkansas (3)
+ California (1)
+ Colorado (4)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (343)
+ Indiana (2)
+ Kansas (16)
+ Michigan (4)
+ Minnesota (2)
+ Mississippi (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (12)
+ New York (6)
+ Pennsylvania (8)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (16)
+ Vermont (1)

17 states so far! Not bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple states:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX)
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT)
+ Mary Green (MI, IA, IN)
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO)
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN)
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD)
+ Andy Sharp (IA, NE)
+ Adam Gordon (IA, MS)

Mary has joined the list of people that have submitted from 3 states. Jen maintains her 1 state lead to be crowned the Queen of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Travel! I’ll keep workshopping that name. But I might buy a crown for the winner. Just another idea I’m spitballing.

There were a couple of big milestones reached this week. Brandon hit the Double Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! But Joe Duff 10 upped him and reached the Triple Digit Streak Club! WooHoo! WooHoo!

It wasn’t all fun and games though. Not all rainbows and unicorns. Monica’s streak ended at 6 weeks. Suzie’s is no more after 8 weeks!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 443 - SENTIMENTAL
SENTIMENTAL (SUGGESTED BY JOE DUFF)

SENTIMENTAL! What a great theme for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! It will be interesting to see what people find gets them all filled up with sentiment!

I look forward to your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of SENTIMENTAL in this place in this place that is mostly purple because I am sentimental next Monday.

WPC – WEEK 441 – LEADING LINES

Today is Micky’s birthday so I have to wish him a happy birthday:


June 22
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKY!

I hope your birthday is filled with all the outdoorsman adventures you can handle!

+++++++

It is the last Monday of the month and on the last Monday of the month I like to revisit our Frequently Asked Questions. Who asks these questions? I mostly ask them of myself. But that isn’t a Frequently Asked Question. These are:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

What skill level photographer can participate?

THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is open to photographers of all skill levels. From award winning photographers to professionals to the highly ranked amateurs to those that are just beginning to those who don’t even know how to focus a camera. All skill levels are encouraged and welcome. You can’t be too bad and you can’t be too good! Everyone has room to learn and be challenged!

Award winning photographers? Really?

Yes. I can think of at least 10 photographers that participate regularly that have won a photography award of some kind.

Is this a competition?
NO. It is a challenge. There are no winners and losers. Well the people that don’t participate are losers.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

Yes. That limit is 2. If you send me more than 2, I will post the first 2 that you send. I’m not trying to harsh your photography buzz, but any more than that starts to overwhelm the other submissions and it takes me about 5 minutes to take a picture from my inbox to code it on the website. So I have to manage my workload.

If you are going to submit more than one picture, I strongly urge you to choose completely different subjects for each submission. If you are submitting multiple pictures of the same subject, make sure that each picture is saying something unique.

If I start to average like 45 participants a week, I will lower the limit to 1.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough for me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme every week. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Do I have to wait until Monday morning to submit?

Absolutely not! In fact (AND CAN’T EMPATHIZE THIS ENOUGH) I appreciate the submissions that make it to me by Sunday evening. Makes the job of putting this together on Monday morning much easier!

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their widest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point. But don’t tempt me!

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own. Only exception is the SLICE OF LIFE theme. But if you let me know where the picture was taken, I will include that. In fact, I appreciate you letting me know where a picture was taken. If you don’t let me know, I will assume the picture was taken in the state you live in.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will take suggestions only and ONLY in the comments sections of the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE posts the last week of October and the 1st week of November.

+++++++

LEADING LINES! They lead somewhere, but did they lead to being a popular theme? You will have to keep scrolling to find out!

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, February 19, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

1-Mary Green – 1 week
2-Susanna Funk – 1 week
3-Stehanie Kim – 1 week
4-Becky Parmelee – 1 week (2)
5-Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks (2)
6-Deanna McClain – 2 weeks
7-Willy McAlpine – 3 weeks (2)
8-Sara Lockner – 5 weeks
9-Monica Jennings – 5 weeks
10-Suzie Brannen – 7 weeks (2)
11-Lowell Davis – 7 weeks
12-Michelle Haupt – 7 weeks
13-Alexis Stensland – 7 weeks (2)
14-Brandon Kahler – 8 weeks
15-Scott Degeneffe – 26 weeks (2)
16-Sabas Hernandez – 27 weeks
17-Mike Vest – 32 weeks
18-Sheri Fakhouri – 36 weeks
19-Logan Kahler – 37 weeks
20-Nathanial Brown – 38 weeks
21-Jesse Howard – 38 weeks (2)
22-Tamara Peterson – 41 weeks
23-Mindi Terrell – 53 weeks (2)
24-Linda Bennett – 82 weeks (2)
25-Sarah Toot – 83 weeks (2)
26-Angie DeWaard – 87 weeks
27-Dawn Krause – 91 weeks (2)
28-Kim Barker – 97 weeks
29-Joe Duff – 98 weeks (2)
30-Teresa Kahler – 109 weeks (2)
31-Carla Stensland – 109 weeks
32-Micky Augustin – 111 weeks
33-Andy Sharp – 112 weeks
34-Bill Wentworth – 113 weeks
35-Cathie Morton – 117 weeks
36-Elizabeth Nordeen – 118 weeks
37-Shannon Bardole-Foley – 120 weeks
38-Kio Dettman – 122 weeks (2)

Reminder. Here is the list of rules for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:


1. The picture must be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch and take pictures challenge!
2. There is a limit of 2 submissions per person per theme. If you send me more than 2, I will use the first 2 that you submit.
3. Deadline to submit your submission is 11 AM next Monday.
4. To be considered the photographer of an image, you have to be the one that clicks the shutter. If you hand your camera over to somebody else to take a picture of you, you are NOT the photographer of that image.
5. No screen captures. This is a photography challenge. Not a “look at what I found on the internet” challenge.

There are still 2 ways to submit:
1. Email your submission to bennett@photography139.com.
2. Text your submission to my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Sometimes, for special people, for special circumstances, we can negotiate something.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks or the rules of the challenge or how to submit. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:


WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman (Boone, Iowa) – 123 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley (Summerset Trail – North of Indianola, Iowa) – 121 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen (Iowa) – 119 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton (Norwalk, Iowa) – 118 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth (Omaha, Nebraska) – 114 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp (Boone, Iowa) – 113 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin (Beardshear Hall – Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 112 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Brookside Park – Ames, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler (Lagomarcino Hall – Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa) – 110 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff (Houston, Texas) – 99 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker (Nevada, Iowa) – 98 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Boone, Iowa) – 92 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause (Bandorama – Boone High School – Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard (Ames, Iowa) – 88 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot (Ludlow, Vermont) – 84 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett (Kansas) – 83 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Terra Park – Johnston, Iowa) – 54 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell (Terra Park – Johnston, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson (Mayo Clinic – Rochester, Minnesota) – 42 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) – 39 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard (The Waterfront – Ankeny, Iowa) – 39 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Ames, Iowa) – 38 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler (Boone, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa) – 37 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri (Ankeny, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest (Madrid, Iowa) – 33 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez (Ankeny, Iowa) – 28 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa) – 27 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe (Boone County, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler (Iowa) – 9 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt (Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - LOWELL DAVIS
Lowell Davis (Bandorama – Boone High School – Boone, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen (Clive, Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Boone County, Iowa) – 8 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland (Iowa)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner (Des Moines, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings (Boone, Iowa) – 6 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine (Ledges State Park – Boone County, Iowa) – 4 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - MARY GREEN
Mary Green (Michigan)

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - STEPANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim (Downtown Brooklyn – New York City, New York) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee (Arkansas) – 2 weeks

WPC - WEEK 441 - LEADING LINES - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett (McHose Park – Boone, Iowa)

36 participants! That is a slight dip from the previous weeks, but still a pretty great week!

There were submissions this week taken in the following places:

+ Arkansas
+ Iowa
+ Kansas
+ Michigan
+ Nebraska
+ New York
+ South Dakota
+ Texas
+ Vermont

Thanks to the travels of Sarah, we added Vermont to the list!

Here is the Year 11 list of states where submissions have been taken (submissions taken in each state):

+ Arkansas (3)
+ California (1)
+ Colorado (2)
+ Hawaii (2)
+ Iowa (307)
+ Kansas (12)
+ Michigan (4)
+ Minnesota (1)
+ Missouri (1)
+ Nebraska (10)
+ New York (5)
+ Pennsylvania (6)
+ South Dakota (2)
+ Texas (15)
+ Vermont (1)

15 states so far! No bad! So far, the following people have submitted from multiple states:

+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe (IA, CO, MO, TX)
+ Sarah Toot (PA, NY, VT)
+ Susanna Funk (IA, CO)
+ Mary Green (MI, IA)
+ Tamara Peterson (IA, MN)
+ Nathanial Brown (IA, SD)

Sarah has trimmed Jen’s lead down to 1 state to be crowned the Queen of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE Travel! I’ll keep workshopping that name.

There were no major milestones this week, but there are some big ones coming up!

There were some sad times though. Susanna couldn’t build on last week’s submission and her streak is over before it began. Jen and Deanna’s streaks both ended at 2.

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 442 - ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! What a great them for Year 11 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! One of my favorite themes every year. Since I’m pretty sure several of you are shut-ins, I like to see some of you actually leave the house now and again. Although I’ve mentally prepared myself for pictures of toy cars.

I look forward to your interpretation!

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ROAD TRIP in this place in this place that is at least a trip on its best days next Monday.

Your Friends are Mine, You Know, I Know

I took a few pictures for the THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES. In fact, I even took a road trip along the old Lincoln Way backroads to Marshalltown to take a few photos.

Here is the collection of images that didn’t make the cut:


Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, &  Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

Trains, Planes, & Automobiles Alternate

It was decent little road trip. With only one weird experience. But we’ll tackle that at another time.

Liberty Bowl Road Trip Grub

When Jesse and I went down to Memphis to watch the embarrassing debacle that was the Liberty Bowl we made sure to eat a bunch of delicious food. Fortunately the Pastor at my church lived in Memphis for several years and he gave us several solid recommendations on places to eat.

Here are the pictures from my Memphis food adventure with Jesse:


Liberty Road Bowl Eats
On the road trip down, we stopped at an Imo’s pizza for a meal.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
St. Louis–style pizza is a type of pizza popular in St. Louis, Missouri, and surrounding areas.[1] The style has a thin cracker-like crust made without yeast, generally uses Provel cheese, and is cut into squares or rectangles instead of wedges.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
For supper that night we ate at Central Barbecue.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
The cole slaw was maybe the worst thing I’ve tasted in my life, but the rest was amazing!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Breakfast the next morning in the hotel.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
B.B. King’s Blues Club with Andree and his brother.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
It was so dark in there, there aren’t many pictures.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
But the entertainment was hard to beat.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Breakfast again the next morning. We really didn’t eat supper the night before.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
More breakfast at Gibson’s Donuts.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
We got a free donut cause it was our first time.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Before the game we had brunch at Railgarten with some awesome people! Cyclone fans!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Food was nothing special but it got the job done.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Also we met up with Jon and his friend.

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Corky’s after the game!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Give me a pile of everything that is delicious and bad for you!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats
Way better coleslaw!

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

Liberty Road Bowl Eats

It was a great trip and so much great food! I would say that Corky’s was my favorite. But I don’t think we had a bad meal. That includes the lunch at A&W in Mount Pleasant, Iowa on the trip back.

That is the last food adventure I have to share right now. Maybe I will come up with one in the next few days. So I will have one to share next Sunday. Time will tell!

Jagged Little Road Trip II

Here is the balance of images from the quick road trip I took with Jesse up to see Bethany, Nora, and the musical JAGGED LITTLE PILL.

Some of these are at that art park. The others are from around the Orpheum.


Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip
Do you think this was left by Cindee and Randi or somebody that is doubling it up in their love life?

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

Minnesota Trip

So how was “Jagged Little Pill” you might be asking?

It was okay. There isn’t much there-there as far as the story goes. Although that is a generic criticism that could be made of most musicals. It definitely feels like a stretch to make the songs fit the storyline. It is definitely worth seeing, but I don’t know I would go see it again. Once seems enough.

The Orpheum Theater is beautiful, but if you are of the female persuasion, the bathroom situation is a bit of a disaster. Go before you get to the theater. That is a Photography 139 Orpheum Theater Pro Tip! If you are a dude, it ain’t great shakes, but you are a dude, so it is still quite a bit better.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip! Go to see Rancho Deluxe. Got to hang with Bethany and Nora. Got to eat a great breakfast. Got to see a cool art park. Got to see a good musical. Got to hang with Jesse. 10 stars. Would recommend!

I Scream: Winterset Field Work

I am definitely starting to run low on food adventures, but I think that there are a few on my horizon. This food adventure took place in November. I cruised down to a state park near Winterset cause it was on my list of places I wanted to see in 2023. On my way home I stopped at a Mom and Pop ice cream shop called Frostee’s. It was the second to last day it was open in 2023. Here are some pictures:


I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's
This year I should go back and buy a Frostee’s shirt!

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's
Even a gross Coke cup can’t ruin ice cream.

I Scream: Frostee's
Got a raspberry malt as I’m trying to take more risks.

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

I Scream: Frostee's

How was it? You know I have the Ted Lasso policy on ice cream:

Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints.
-Ted Lasso

Last year May 7 was the first day Frostee’s was open. I imagine it will open about the same date again this year.

Frostee’s is located:

101 East Green Street
Winterset, Iowa

There is one other picture to share from this trip. It wasn’t taken at Frostee’s but on one of the famous Bridges of Madison County. It made me laugh, maybe it will make you smile too:


I Scream: Frostee's

Next Sunday’s food adventure. Will cover the food I ate on my recent trip to Memphis.

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: Audubon Field Work

A couple months back Jesse and I hit the open road and ended up at The Feed Mill Restaurant in Audubon, Iowa. It was the 9th stop (technically 10th – but I’ll cover that) on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. Leaving me just one stamp short of earning my Tenderloin Trail 2.0 shirt!

Despite being one of the closer Tenderloin Trail 2.0 restaurant stops to Boone, I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to cross this one off the list. Their hours are pretty awful. They are only open a few hours a week. Which is too bad, because their food is excellent!

The Feed Mill Restaurant is inside Waspy’s Truck Stop and that gas station itself has really good food. There are two Waspy’s. One in Audubon and another in Templeton. If you are in the area, I think it is worth the stop. But you know me, I’m partial to food in gas stations. Casey’s Pizza. The Filling Station in Madrid. The Filling Station in Ames. Joe’s in Kansas City. You get the point.

Here are some pictures from the outing:


Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

As you know, in addition to being a noted tenderloin fiend, I also love me a great cheese curd. Fried or otherwise. If I remember correctly their cheese curds were muenster. It made a fine cheese curd, but it wasn’t decidedly different from your standard cheddar cheese curd. So I’m saying it was pretty great!

As for the tenderloin. It was a pretty great tenderloin! Now the question is, would I eat there again? Would I go out of my way to go there? Would I make a special trip to get this tenderloin?

It is a great tenderloin. The problem is that it is just down the street from Darrell’s Place and the Darrell’s Place tenderloin is the O.G. great tenderloin in Iowa. So being put in the situation of having to choose one, if I was in the area, I would choose Darrell’s Place.

That isn’t a reflection on The Feed Mill. Just nothing is Darrell’s Place.

The Feed Mill Restaurant is located at:

2079 US Highway 71
Audubon, Iowa

Located in Waspy’s Truck Stop.

But I’m not done with this post quite yet. Earlier I wrote that this was the 9th Stop on the Tenderloin Trail, but technically the 10th. That is because back in 2022 I visited the Wood Iron Grille in Oskaloosa with Carla and Teresa and knocked down their tenderloin. However, I didn’t have my Passport on me, so I didn’t get it stamped.

You can understand my frustration because it takes 10 stamps (out of 14, but really 13) to get the free shirt. So shortly after my trip to Audubon with Jesse I made a return trip to Oskaloosa with Teresa. With passport firmly in my hands.

I don’t need to cover the Wood Iron Grille tenderloin again, but I thought I could share 2 pictures from that trip:



The last bite of Tenderloin Trail 2.0.


The passport.

I got my shirt and this letter within a couple weeks of mailing in my Passport:



I’m not going to share a picture of the shirt yet. I have a whole photo session for that worked up in my head. Which means you will probably never get to see it, unless you catch me in the wild wearing it.

However, I would be a poor tenderloin enthusiast if I didn’t thank those people that helped me in fulfilling this dream. An accomplishment that some are calling “the greatest in the history of mankind”. So thanks to everyone who at least sat across from me while I knocked down a tenderloin on this trail:

+ Austin Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Porter Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Scott Degeneffe (Co-Founder of the Tenderloin Appreciation Society) (Iowa Taproom)
+ Jesse Howard (The Feed Mill, Birdies, Burgers & Brews, and The Pub at Pinicon)
+ Dahlia Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Logan Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Teresa Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’, Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille, Stumble Inn, and Wood Iron Grille)
+ Nader Parsaei (Darrell’s Place, Birdie’s Burgers & Brews)
+ Carla Stensland (Wood Iron Grille)
+ Phil Webb (Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille)

The only stop on the trail I made solo was PrairieMoon on Main.

You might be asking yourself what my future tenderloin plans are since I am eating healthier these days? It is true. I don’t really eat much fried food any more. Really hardly at all. That doesn’t mean tenderloins are off the menu. I have a plan for a more structured tenderloin quest this year. I want to make 1 special tenderloin trip a month. 1st on my list is the reigning 2023 Best Tenderloin at Cliff’s Place in Manning.

I haven’t had this month’s special tenderloin, so I’m going to effort to go to Manning next week and if that doesn’t work out, some place else. Also on my list are the 3 tenderloins on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0 that I haven’t tried. Jethro’s is also on the list, but I’ve had that tenderloin. It isn’t great. Plus my understanding is that the owner of Jethro’s is not a great person and I have limited desire to line his pockets with any of my green. Also on that list is the other finalists from last year. Plus any of the past champions that I haven’t tried.

Drop me a line if you want to go on one of these tenderloin quests. I already have you marked down Michelle. I haven’t forgotten.

The next food adventure I will share will be the last time I ate ice cream. At least I’m pretty sure the last time I ate ice cream.

Rancho Deluxe – I

It is time to share the August image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It was a picture taken with Rodan139 of RAGBRAI east of Luther.


2024 Calendar - August
AUGUST

I chose this RAGBRAI picture for August because RAGBRAI is a summer activity.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

CAMERA: Hasselblad L1D-20c
DATE: July 25, 2023 – 4:30 PM
LENS: 28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
APERTURE: f/4.5
EXPOSURE: 1/200
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will reveal the September image!

+++++++

High up on my list of things to see in 2023 is that kind of private art garden in Mason City known as Rancho Deluxe. Jesse and I stopped there on our way to Minnesota and it didn’t disappoint.


Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe
Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

Rancho Deluxe

There is another collection of images from this sweet place left to share.

Stanhope Watermelon Day – III

Time for another collection of images from the trip I made to Stanhope Watermelon Day with Teresa. This collection of images is from when we returned to Watermelon Day. After the parade we took off to Bradford for lunch. Then we came back for the free watermelon and the Foreigner cover band.

Here are some pictures:


Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Still one more collection of images to share from this day!