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We’re leaving

 …on a jet …..  bus. On the road again.  It’s a slow boat to Phoenix; we’re going to take weeks to get there.North through Falfurrias, fuel in Premont, on past Alice, George West, and Three Rivers.  We’re at Choke Canyon State Park (again). 2017 Arizona Trip Map  Working our way along back roads; we won’t see any freeways for days.  We don’t know how much internet we’re going to get before we get back to a more civilized path.  Good reception here at Choke, but don’t know about the next two stops: Lost Maples and South Llano River.  Stay tuned, but don’t worry if we go dark for a couple days. The best advice we’ve receive on the scope/rifle invention is that we should be careful where we show it.  If a Border Patrol agent comes around a bend in the trail and sees us aiming it in his direction, there could be a problem.  Perhaps we should rethink our invention. 
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I just had an idea

 Scopes are great; much more powerful than binoculars, but they’re cumbersome on a tripod; not terrible, but if I’m going to walk in a mile or two to look at something, I generally choose not to lug the scope. How about we put a scope on a rifle stock?  It would have three points to steady it; two hand-holds and a shoulder.  It would be steadier still if one could rest an elbow or two on something.  It wouldn’t be as steady as a tripod by any means; no way could a person hold it firm enough for 60 power, but it might be useful on its lowest power, 20X, and that’s a lot more magnification than 8X binoculars.  With a strap on it, it could be slung across a shoulder and carried for miles.  I know from prior experience that it’s possible to march many miles with a rifle slung across a shoulder. Now we just need a name for it.  Click and release rifle?  Assault scope? 
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Fresh fish for breakfast

 An osprey flew overhead, across the river, and landed. He was carrying a load, so I put the telephoto lens on him Yup.  Fresh fish for breakfast.  A Big breakfast.