Yet another room with a view. This one’s a little less craggy, a
little more cozy.
Oakland
Category Archives: PhotoJournal
Day and Night
At Sinkyone Wilderness SP along the Lost Coast. Good hunting. Shot
deer, elk, and scads of birds. The real adventure was driving in. A
101 year old guy behind the wheel of a luxury car negotiating roads
that appeared to be scarred with wheels of a thousand wagon trains and
that might have been easier to traverse with a repelling kit. Can’t tell you
how many sentiments I hurled at Chaz with each pounding of the
underbelly of the car.
deer, elk, and scads of birds. The real adventure was driving in. A
101 year old guy behind the wheel of a luxury car negotiating roads
that appeared to be scarred with wheels of a thousand wagon trains and
that might have been easier to traverse with a repelling kit. Can’t tell you
how many sentiments I hurled at Chaz with each pounding of the
underbelly of the car.
But then I climbed out of the tent early this morning and hiked to
Jones Beach a few a miles so up the coast. All was forgiven when I
ran into the herd of Elk.
Jones Beach a few a miles so up the coast. All was forgiven when I
ran into the herd of Elk.
And as the sun crept over the range separating Sinkyone from
civilization and began to paint everything in a morning glow I became
very thankful that Chaz pushed me in this direction.
civilization and began to paint everything in a morning glow I became
very thankful that Chaz pushed me in this direction.
One of these days maybe we’ll get an opportunity to share one of
these adventures together. As it is we’ll meet in Oakland for coffee
and the next day he’ll go east and I’ll go south.
these adventures together. As it is we’ll meet in Oakland for coffee
and the next day he’ll go east and I’ll go south.
Will try to get some pics from the photo walk up this evening if I can
find some bandwidth.
find some bandwidth.
California 1
First shot of many I suppose. Going to follow this route all the way
to it’s end. Will jump off at various points for visits but it Cal 1
start to finish. Incidentally this Hwy begins on the north end in
Legget, CA. Legett’s claim to fame is that it contains within it’s
borders the redwood tree that one can drive thru. I declined.
Pacific Bound
I’ve been traveling the very winding Mattole Rd between Ferndale and
the Ocean for the last hour. It’s only about 25 miles but it’s
surrounded by such compelling scenery that I just can’t resist
stopping. Even had a short conversation with a couple of brave White
Tails.
The sunset last night was over a harbor. Tonight you’ll get the real
thing. Chaz recommended camping along The Lost Coast and so far his
advice has been spot on. So I’m headed for Sinkyone SP looking for a
place to plant my now lopsided tent.
In the meantime here’s a picture if what I’m seeing at the moment. And
oh yes, that’s the Pacific.
Bend – Better Late Then Never
Arrived here last night after a day long trip from John Day (3 hours by GPS). Bend was not originally on my ‘itinerary’. But when it came time to leave Idaho I glanced at the map and noticed it sitting there in Central Oregon and remembered that I had an old friend who had moved to Bend several years earlier. I got in touch, discovered she was still there, and set off in that direction.
It’s a great town. The people in John Day warned me that Bend had once been a nice place but of late had become Los Angeles – an allusion to the number of Californians who had discovered it and moved there. Of course the people in John Day also warned me that the country was on the verge of collapse and that riots and looting would soon ensue unless Michelle made it to the White House. (No, I’m not making that up.)
I decided Bend had a distinct advantage over JD. Once I saw it I also decided that Reston, my hometown in Virginia, would be much like Bend if it had 20,000 more residents, no traffic issues, a more relaxed attitude, a river running through it to connect all its wonderful lakes, a real central park and some history that preceded R.E. Simon. But of course I haven’t been here when it snows.
I’m out f here this morning but went out and took a few more pictures to share. Here they are.
California
Crescent City
When I left Virginia people wanted to know where I was headed. Iusually said “California” since that was as far west as I intended
going. “So”, they asked, “how long does it take to get there?” “Oh”, I said “3-4 days, maybe 5. But I don’t plan on taking a direct
route. I have a few side stops to make.” I had a few. I’m into my fifth week. My trip odometer reads 6890.5
miles. I didn’t dip my toe in the water but the sun you see is setting
over the Crescent City harbor and if you looked just a short distance
past it you’d be gazing at the Pacific. It’s nearly 40 years since I
did this last. And I’m only maybe halfway done. Could be there will be no endpoint. There’s more than one answer to
the question “Where are headed and how long will it take to get
there?” Gotta scurry down the coast. Later!
Snow vs. Not-snow
I suppose this is meant to assist people who can’t differentiate
between glaciers and permanent snow packs
Pinnacles at Crater Lake
Heat rock to about 400 F, fire it down a canyon at say 100 mph, let
simmer for roughly 70,000 years and this is what you get. Results may
very but you won’t last long enough to discover that.
Plaikni Falls
The return from Pinnacles passes this site so I stopped in. There are
three wheelchair accessible trails at CL and this is one of them.
Having walked the trail, as evidenced by this picture, I can tell you
I would not want to attempt it in a wheelchair – unless it was
motorized and had extra-wide tires.
Flora
Not a lot grows up here and what does, other than trees, doesn’t grow
very high. Most if does grow very pretty though.
A Little Slice Of Crater Lake
Driving around shooting trying to warm up. Close to freezing Mazama
Village last night.
T + 11: Last Leg Into Glacier
A lot of water has passed over the rocks since I managed my last post:
Badlands, Tetons and Yellowstone and few smaller but no less interesting places in between.
At some point I will sit down and write up the story and add the pictures to illustrate it. Up to now I have been too busy doing to get around to telling. Touring the National Parks is a time consuming affair – they are just so overwhelming. I have a new appreciation for travel writers now. How they ever make deadline is beyond me.
The photograph is of a portion of Schawbackers Landing at the foot of the Grand Teton. It’s a popular spot for both artists and photographers alike. A very reflective place in more ways than one. The series of shots I took at this location are, IMHO, among the best on the trip so far.
This morning I’m in Helena, MT, a first for me in both the state and the city. For you easterners who have forgotten all those state capitals you had to memorize in the third grade, Helena is the capital city of Montana. I checked into a hotel here last night, got a hot shower and caught up on bill paying. This morning I have to try to find an outfitter and pick up a set of long underwear and another pair of wool socks. It’s already snowing in Glacier and I found out night before last in Yellowstone just how woefully prepared I am for cold weather camping. I guess if one is going to die, freezing is as good a way to go as any, and certalnly one would be hard-pressed to pick a more beautiful spot than Glacier, but all things considered, I’ll invest in a few more pieces of clothing.
Looking forward to meeting Peter, Chris and Ali – all of the Western Montana Photographers Meetup – at St Mary’s campground this afternoon.
Here’s the route plan for the day.
Later!
T + Something
Camped at Grant Village for the next couple of days. Site right I’m
the edge of the West Thumb.
T+8.1: Breakfast on the Run
Fresh pressed coffee, maple-flavored oatmeal with craisins and sliced
almonds, banana-already gone- and peanut butter- not shown.
T+7.2
A very long day. Roamed more than 400 miles around the base camp. Took
447 shots including sunrise and sunset. I’m better at sunsets. I
suppose because I have more practice. Too, they seem to extend longer
than sunrises.
that, well, the sun rises and it’s then too late to do much other than
wait for sunset. I love chasing the sunset, especially here in the west. They last an
incredibly long time and seem to spread out across the sky to a much
greater degree than is the case back east. Gives one lots to consider.
But the sunrises? Blink and it’s over. I wish I had a couple of examples for you tonight but I took none with
the iPhone (don’t ask; I don’t know why.) and I’m just too tired to go
through the downloads and conversions right now. I have a couple that
are really good though and I’m anxious to show them to you. So,
mañana! There is a crescent moon tonight that will rise in the eastern sky
about 0200. Hoping to get to it. That would be sunrise, sunset and
moonrise all in the same 24 HR period. Whew! Good night boys and girls! -rgh
Sent from my iPhone
Arrived Badlands
T + 6: St Joseph’s to Pierre (slight change in plans)
The big news yesterday for me, at least initially, was flooding. The Missouri River and it’s creeks and run-offs were swollen beyond belief for someone like me
who has never driven through this part of the country when water is high.I suffered a few delays but the people who live here had entire farms underwater. It was both a wondrous and sorrowful sight to observe.
I had checked into a hotel in St Joseph‘s, MO late Sunday night rather than camp and I’m glad I did – a big storm passed through overnight. Probably would have blown me and my tent away.
A late start out Monday morning was lengthened when I discovered, about 20 miles down the road, that I had left my camera battery and charger at the hotel. Add and hour. Then came the sign on I-29 “Closed“. A not-to-well marked detour took me past some windmills and a few good shots and finally dumped me back out on the interstate. But when I got to Council Bluffs/Omaha I found the road blocked again. No detour signs so I just kept turning north until I got to Sioux City. From there it was pretty much clear sailing but between the detours and stopping for photographs I was now nearly three hours behind schedule.
Not wanting to arrive at Badlands NP and have to set up camp in the dark, I decided to take another detour into the SD state capital at Pierre.
Found an absolutely fabulous local motel called the Governor’s Inn. HIGHLY recommended the next time you’re in Pierre. As I write it’s Tuesday morning and I intend doing a few shots here in the city along the riverfront and then heading – at last – to Badlands for the rest of the day and most of tomorrow.
I’ll have a little more time today since as soon as I cross the Missouri heading west again, I’ll be in a new time zone. 🙂
T + Something
Sunset approaching The Badlands
T + 4 & 5: St Jo to Badlands
Didn’t get a chance to post last night; too tired by the time I rolled into St Joseph‘s, MO. It was also too late to go looking for a campground and pitching tents in the dark so I checked into a Days Inn. It has a bed and an internet connection and that’s about all the good things I can say.
Awoke this morning to the sound of thunder (and wind and rain and lightening and the like) and was feeling pretty good about not being in a tent. As I write this things seem to be clearing up a bit. The sky to the south is beginning to break blue.
Unfortunately the sky to the north is breaking bad and that’s the direction I headed today. Destination: Badlands of South Dakota. How Baaaad can they be? We’ll see.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=St+Joseph,+MO&daddr=Badlands+National+Park,+SD&hl=en&geocode=FdKnXgIdW-lY-ilxJS6TThrAhzGocdNbeZZ15g%3BFWF3mwIdX2Ls-SHwd-baMV5oaQ&mra=ls&sll=39.757778,-94.836389&sspn=0.305104,0.612488&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&ll=41.820455,-98.393555&spn=5.730721,9.338379&z=6&output=embed<br /><small>View Larger Map</small>
It’s about a 10 hour run so I better get rolling. If the skies clear I send up some pics from the phone later.
T + 3: Lover’s Leap
David and I spent a large part of the day post-processing the Shaker Village shoot and getting ready for a book signing in the evening at Lover’s Leap Winery near Lawrenceburg, KY, about an hour’s drive from base in Elizabethtown.
I joined David and his friend Beth for the trip and while they smoozed and signed and sold, I ran the property in search of a few good shots while at the same time trying to correct some of my setting errors from the pevious day. For the most part we were all successful – a good time was had. And I finally gained an appreciation for an f/22 apperture. These are some of my favs from the 464 shot during the three hour visit.
T + 2: Shaker Village
A long days shoot with Dakota at Shaker Village, Pleasant Hill, KY. Eight-hundred and forty one images collected. Here are few for now.
T + 1
My new friend Sam in Elizabethtown, KY
Ruth Elizabeth Crawford: 23 April 1950 – 17 August 2007
No one loved is ever lost and Ruth was loved so much
Picture taken in Trafalgar Square
T – Day: Reston to Elizabethtown….
…… With a stop in C’ville to visit with Ruth
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=11614+Ivystone+Ct,+Reston,+VA+20191&daddr=University+of+Virginia,+Charlottesville,+VA+to:Elizabethtown,+220+West+French+Street,+KY&hl=en&geocode=FWcZUgIdcsZj-ykBU3AxREi2iTFSN_Hi-f5f-w%3BFUGHRAIdjAVS-yHnWjG_qxe_KQ%3BFYddPwId1g7i-im5yQLdMu9oiDGRe1o2Gl0lvQ&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.136668,78.398437&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&ll=38.3232,-81.59772&spn=1.23986,8.50142&output=embed<br /><small>View Larger Map</small>
T – Minus 1 The Big A
What you’re looking at here is my brand new Big Agnes 4 Bedroom, NO bath home. After having tried it out on a camping/rafting trip to WV this past weekend, I think I’m ready for prime time in the Missouri Breaks.
RichardBeGone 