Cross Country Road Trips

Houseboats

Another photograph of the boat reflections in the marina.

The Gas Station

Also taken at the George Skafidas Park during my walk with Juni today. It was ver overcast and I took this from a distance. Again, those wonderful reflections are present in the water.

Dignity of Earth & Sky

As we headed out this morning on our way to the Badlands National Park we pulled off the road to see the Dignity of Earth & Sky cultural landmark that is located in the Chamberlain SD Rest Stop. I'm so glad we stopped.

As We Entered...

The Grasslands National Park. My first feeling was one of disapointment because when Juni and I got ready to take a 5-6 mile hike I noticed "No Pets" signs that were posted most everywhere making sure that you were aware that pets can only be along the road and parking lot areas.  I understood this as we got further into the park and I saw the thousands of prairie dogs.

My Lunchtime View

Juni and I are sitting in the van and this is our view out of the sliding door. It is the Badlands National Park in western South Dakota. Tonight we will be sleeping in the grasslands just outside of the park.

Multiple Layers

I really enjoyed seeing the colorful layers of the rocks of the Badlands. I was difficult to capture these different colors because of the bright skies as we were driving around the park.

Our Spot

Yeah, that's our van... the dark gray one that is sitting at the edge of the cliff. Juni and I will be spending the night in the Bureau of Land Management Grass Lands and we found ourselves a perfect spot. They call this dispersed camping and, it's free. The only issue is that it is off grid which suits us fine.

Weed...?

Juni and I found this as we were hiking in the grasslands.

Days End in the Grasslands

Juni and I found this trail that lead from our van up to the fenceline that runs between the Badlands and the Grasslands. The fence is to contain the bison within the National Park grounds.

Badlands to the Left... Grasslands to the Right

This is "the fence".

The Climb by: Nathan Robles

I saw numerous pieces of atwork in Coeur d'Alene but this realy struck me. At a time where we as a country seem to want to hold people back because of their sexuality, the color of their skin, their religious belifs, etc... This piece speaks to the idea of helping. Of reaching out to lend a hand. To help someone reach the pinnacle of life. I wish we could all provide that support to those in need. What a wonderful place the world would be if we could do this.

The Climb II

This image zooms in on the climber and on the helping hand that is being provided.

Tubs, Showers & TV

This sign looks like it's from the late 50's or early 60's when things like a tub, showers and a TV where something extra special.

Jimmy's

This restaurant made it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. A great looking spot.

How do you Like Your Burritos

The Lady in Red

Cannon Beach, OR with the Haystacks in the background. Juni and I took a second walk on the beach today and this time it was in Oregon. For years I've had the Haystacks marked on Google Maps knowing that one day I would get there. Today we did. After shooting this image, I approached "The Lady in Red" and got her email address so that I could send her this photograph. The  beach was actually quite crowded but I had the ability to isolate her with this wonderful background.

The Pose

This was me photographing the photographer photographing his subject as she was happily enjoying the moment.

Hamming It Up

She was just having fun and had no clue that I was capturing the entire scene. Street photography is my favorite form of art and scenes like this just make me want to capture more and more.

Daughter Shoots Father

With a camera... This is the same twosome but in this scene, the roles have changed.

Wholly $@£€

That’s what I keep saying as Juni and I travel along. Around each turn there’s something even more spectacular than what we’ve seen before. This journey renewing my soul in so many ways but, as I write this post I have a tear in my eye that I’m not able to share this with Holly. This is the Ben Jones Bridge.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

I pulled off the road and down into a neighborhood to a photo spot that was listed on Google Maps and this is what I could see from that spot.

From Afar

If you can take your mind off of the waves, the blowing sand and the gull flying in the scene, yes, look past all of this and you will see a speck of white. A tiny speck of white. That is the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

Rocks & Gulls

This is looking the other direction on Cannon Beach. Looking this way the sun is bleaching the sky adding a whole different dimension to the image. It was such a great hike for Juni and me.

Cormorant in the Dead Tree

I passed this rock island yesterday and thought that I should've stopped to photograph is. Well today on my way back from the Rockaway Beach area I pulled off the road before passing it by. It was a heavy fog and mist causing this surreal look. I think it's quite fitting for Halloween.

The Full Island

Or should I say two islands.

Ancient Western Red Cedar

Juni and I hiked back to see this beautiful tree today and we did it in a fairly heavy rain.

Looking to the Right

Both this and the next photograph were taken from almost the same spot along the Oregon Coast.

A Magical Place

Today I got to see the Redwoods for the first time in my life and what an overwhelming experience it was. It me me feel small and quite humble to stand among these giants.

Redwoods, Redwoods Everywhere

There is so much darkness and bright light among these trees as you can see in this image.

The Base of the Redwood

It's so hard to capture these beautiful trees and really do them justice. This show the base of one of these majestic trees.

Me and the Redwoods

I just had to do a selfie while visiting these trees.

Great Wines of Brutocao Cellars

This was the first of my many wine stops as I travel California and It was a good one. Chris was my host for my tasting and we had a great conversation.

I'll Have a Pilsner

Yeah, that's what I said at this taproom in Hopland, CA. Of course it was called "The Hopland Tap".

California Surfing

Rt 1 about 10 miles north of Santa Cruz. Most times I just want to cruise down the highway but I was glad that the traffic backed up allowing me to capture this photograph out of my drivers side window.

The Crow at Pigeon Point

With the Pigeon Point Lighthouse in the background.

The Rock Climber

As Juni and I were taking a walk along the beach I saw this young couple from a distance and they had a little remote control truck that I just had to photograph.

Gull on a Rock

And the sailboat was a nice addition. I was too late to capture the boat behind the bird.

Point Pinos Lighthouse

Circa 1855. Pacific Grove, CA.

The Beach

Pacific Grove, California.

Keep Out

Sunset Beach on a foggy morning.

The Fence Post

These "Fence Posts" are all along the beach trail in Pacific Grove and although they are all similar, there are still enough differences to continue to attract my attention.

Point Sur Lighthouse

Today Juni and I took a drive down Rt 1 south to Big Sur and we stopped numerous times along the way so I could photograph what I was seeing. I attached my 400mm lens to my camera so that I had a greater reach. I decided that this needed to be in a soft-tone b&w giving it a somewhat haunted feel.

The Zoomed Version

This is the same lighthouse only this time I zoomed in to the full capacity of my lens.

The Crash of the Wave

I really enjoy watching waves building to such an intensity that when they smash into a rock formation they send out a great spout of water that blooms like a flower into a mass of white. The water then rolls down over the rock and returns to the deep blue of the sea. And to know that this scene plays out over and over again. day after day, year after year.

The Bridge

Circa 1932 the Bixby Bridge is an engineering marvel and a photographers dream. I stood there looking at it today and it just amazed me to think that they started with nothing but a large crevice that they had to build a crossing for the traffic of the future. And, they did it with the technology of 1932. This is located in Rt1 just north of Big Sur.

Bixby Bridge in B&W

This is another perspective on the bridge and I did it in b&w giving it a feel of what the photographs of 1932 would have looked like.

Friends?

Playing?

Just a Pup

At Rest

Sleeping

Sweet Emotion

Shyness