My Bixby Bridge shot for the day – well, actually, I guess for the trip
Bixby
Seals – sort of
Can’t Find The Rock
In 2004 Ruth and I toured the area between SF and Monterey by car. She
had business in Monterey and I rode along because I could and any ride
with Ruth was always worth the time invested and then some.
We stayed in The City for a couple of days and then rented a car and
headed south. Along the way we stopped at Pescadero Beach SP. I took
several shots of Ruth perched on a rock overlooking the ocean. And
then some nice passerby stopped and snapped a shot of both of us on
the same rock.
It became memorable because it was one of the few photographs
reproduced for display, in her office and at home. She was hard to
please when it came to photos.
So when I plotted the trip down the PCH I knew I would find my way back to this spot just as I had to a number of other places that Ruth and I had visited with one another. But when I arrived the first problem became finding the rock. I finally settled on the first one you see pictured here because I did not have a copy of the reference image with me. Later I managed to ferret the older pictures out of the files and decided to post them as this update. and oh yes: I had identified the correct rock despite the changes the California Park Service had made in the area since my last trip down the coast.
If the jump in time sounds confusing just let it pass. I do. Time is over-rated – sometimes. The only thing it’s good for is consumption. We were time-consumers on the afternoon this picture on the rock was taken. It was a good day. Returning to that rock touched my soul just the way it did on the first visit. Just the way Ruth did.
I decided it was also important to place a new visual stake in the sand for this trip. As much as I wished that Ruth could be included in these new pictures it wasn’t going to happen no matter how long I stood there and watch the surf come and go. Time Slips Away
Last Shot of the City
Time to head south. Can’t look back. Might turn into salt.
Eastern Sierra
We’ve had our own private campground here – Moraine. It’s a beautiful
site that we got for free because the one for which we had
reservations had been closed due to budget constraints. This one is
all ours because it had been closed for the season. But the one we had reserved for the group was closed for budget constraints. In consolation we were given this site for free. Good Price.
Sunset in the Sierra
Mono Lake
Mono Lake is so salty you can bob standing up
Yosemite +
Camped last night in the Inyo National Forest Cold!!!! Swimming today
at Lake Mono which is about as salty as the Dead Sea.
Alamo Square
Last time I took this shot Ruth was in the center of it. It was an
overcast day and raining off and on. April 2004. It was a very good
year.
No Fish
So after a pretty good photo outing on Treasure Island this morning I
thought I’d drive into The City and see if I could do even better. I’d
paid the one-way toll; might as well get my money’s worth, no?
Embarcadero, as good a place as any. I wandered around several of the
piers anchored by The Ferry Building and chatted with a few of the
early morning fishermen looking to hook lunch or dinner or something. “Catchin’ any fish?” I asked. “Nah”. Nuhtin’s biting” was the usual response. Else a shrug. Same for me. Walkin’ up and down these piers and can’t get a shot to
save my soul. Think I’ll go over to the coast side and look for seals. Catch you
later; story of my life:)
Kids
I only get to see my son Charles once or twice a year, and much of the
last five years less than that. It turned out that we were both going
to be in the Bay Area during the same twelve hour period so we’d made
arrangements to get together for coffee and a bite to eat.
coast I discovered that his upcoming trip for Green Tortoise, which
begins Monday, was a four day affair to Yosemite rather than a six
week cross country that I thought it was. Better, as we chatted about
this, he invited me to come along. So I not only get more days with Chaz than I had any reason to expect,
but I also get to “go to work” with him! That, more than all the parks
in this country, makes this journey worthwhile. I never feel as if I get enough time with my children. This will be a
real treat. And then in another month or so I’ll get time with
AnnaSummer in Austin. Life is good.
Oakland
Yet another room with a view. This one’s a little less craggy, a
little more cozy.
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.
RichardBeGone 