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Capitol Reef NP, 7/2/12
So our 11 day tour through Southern Utah/Northern Arizona has come to a close. It seemed like every road we drove and trail we hiked generated yet another exclamation over the beauty and majesty of this area of the world. We finished in Capitol Reef NP on their 75th anniversary and I must say that this may be one of the best kept secrets in the National Park system. Just beautiful with towering bluffs and beautiful fruit orchards (where the fruit is free if you eat it there and a dollar a pound if you take it to go).
We feel as if we have barely scratched the surface of this vast area, and you can be sure that we’ll be back. Despite Utah’s bizarre and counter-productive liquor laws.
Hickman’s Bridge, Capitol Reef NP, 7/2/12
Capitol Reef NP, 7/2/12
Escalante Petrified Forest SP, 8/1/12
When we went to Ireland a few years ago, we kept running across these brown signs that pointed out sites of interest. We got into the habit of hanging a last minute turn to go off and see something unplanned. This habit, which we have embraced, came in handy today during our drive up Rt. 12 from Bryce Canyon to Torrey. We found ourselves looking at piles of petrified wood after hiking up a plateau at the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park (after an unplanned sharp left). While there we had a nice chat with the girl at the gate and she highly recommended a drive down the Burr Trail, which we took. This led us down a nice road winding, climbing and falling through canyons until we came to a tiny slot canyon, which we explored. None of which we would have seen had we had a plan (we didn’t) and had we stuck to it (we wouldn’t have).
Anyway, we’re now in Torrey after a quick stop into Capitol Reef NP. Tomorrow is the park’s 75th anniversary, so we’ll help them celebrate before heading off to Salt Lake City and the end of this great road trip. We’ll be posting a more detailed account of these travels in the coming week or two, so stay tuned.
Slot Canyon 11.5 miles SE of Boulder UT, 8/1/12
View from Rt 12 about 15 miles South of Torrey, UT., 8/1/12
Capitol Reef NP, 8/1/12
Zion NP, 7/30/12
Found some WiFi in the lobby of the Bryce Lodge, so here’s a brief post. We’ve been to a lot of parks recently and the consensus is that they are all incredible in their own way. Bryce has been no different. Putting aside broken water mains (now fixed) and early morning fire alarms going off (half of us were already up and heading out to the sunrise anyway), Bryce is quite spectacular. Hoodoos! Who knew?
We’re leaving Bryce tomorrow and driving Rt 12 to Torrey, one of America’s more scenic drives. We may find time to post tomorrow night, but no promises. We’re having too much fun!
Sunrise @ Bryce, Bryce NP, 7/31/12
Wall Street, Bryce NP, 7/31/12
Wall Street, Bryce NP, 7/31/12
North Rim Lodge, GCNP, 7/27/12
As I type this we’re in our cabin at the Zion Lodge. Who knew they’d have WiFi? We certainly didn’t. Since our last posting we’ve driven through Monument Valley, realized that using 18 year old maps is probably not the best thing to do, spent two nights at the North Rim Lodge, much of it on the Veranda, and driven to Zion. Most of the time we’ve been saying the equivalent of “Holy Crap!”. The sights are just unbelievable and we’ve been taking pictures like crazy. Here are just a few to tide y’all over…we’ll be posting details when we get home (and LOTS more photos).
North Rim, GCNP, 7/26/12
Angels Window, GCNP, 7/27/12
Zion Valley, Zion NP, 7/28/12
Lake Powell Resort, Page, AZ, 7/25/12
Well, we haven’t been posting during the recovery from my “heart event”, but I’m doing fine, feel great and I’m getting stronger by the day. In fact, we’re currently in the midst of a major road trip through the Southwest: Salt Lake City (for a family event), Moab, Page, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Torrey, Utah. As I type, we just finished a day of driving through Monument Valley and we’re enjoying a cocktail in the bar of the Lake Powell Resort overlooking the Lake. Here are a few shots just to show that we’re alive and enjoying life!
Canyonlands NP, 7/23/12
Arches National Park, 7/24/12
Canyonlands NP, 7/24/12
Dead Horse Point SP, 7/24/12
Fishers Tower, Off Rt128 outside Moab, UT, 7/24/12
Goose Neck SP, 7/25/12
Here a few shots from my recent trip to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park via the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Near Asheville, NC, 9/12/11
These two shots were taken early (very early) in the morning from the Blue Ridge. It was gorgeous and a nice, cool break from a long Florida summer.
Near Asheville, NC, 9/12/11
This guy was just standing on the side of the road near the Smokemont Campground. Again, very early.
Smokemont, NC, GSMNP, 9/13/11
And this guy was well off the beaten path in Cades Cove.
Cades Cove, TN, GSMNP, 9/14/11
Finally, here’s a shot of Pearson’s Falls, just off of I-26 near Saluda, NC. After spending almost 9 hours behind the wheel, this walk was a short and enjoyable detour. Just what I needed at the time.
Saluda, NC, 9/11911
Paris, FR 12/8/05
So, in keeping with the spirit of the last post, I’ll tell you about another Parisian tour we did. Navigating the subway system brought us to a normal commercial district with cafes and stores, similar to many we had been through while we were there. The guidebook led us to a nondescript door opening into a narrow hallway. At the back was a lady behind a window that collected our Euros and then we went through a door and down a narrow stairway. A long way down. 130 steps, then down a long stone corridor and into a room (or a grotto) full of bones. Human bones. We were in the Catacombs.
It’s really pretty amazing to see. We’d heard about them before, even seen them on TV, but in person it’s…hard to describe. It’s somber, spooky and overwhelming all at once. The bones are carefully placed, it’s not like they just dumped them. The catacombs were originally quarries but when the cemeteries got exceedingly nasty (which doesn’t even begin to describe the, um, sanitary conditions of the time) they moved the remains on in. Several million of them. That’s lots-o-bones. They placed them in piles according to type, piles of thighs and legs and arms. Piles and piles of skulls. Arranged in many different styles. Skulls were used many times as accents.
They made art.
We walked a long way, 2 km, through rooms and corridors all the same and all different. It wasn’t depressing in any fashion, it was fascinating. And then we climbed up another 85 steps and were, rather jarringly, back on the street trying to figure out where we were. It was nice to see the sun.
Note: All photos were taken with no flash. The only illumination was the bare electric lights and my mag lite, held by my lovely assistant. I used a fast lens (50mm, f1.8) and got some interesting shots. I’ve seen almost the same shot as the first one below published somewhere. Apparently the rose is a regular feature.
Paris, FR 12/8/05
Paris, FR 12/8/05
Paris, FR 12/8/05
The other day my boss had the Division over for a picnic/party.
Not this kind of cat
Burgers, dogs, beer (or, in our case, rum): the normal summertime shindig. He lives in a rural area in East Central Florida where there are lots of farms, groves and horses. We had a good time meeting people’s spouses and kids in a relaxed setting.
A woman in our group happens to live very close to my boss. Her family has been involved for the past several years with a cat rescue program. Now, we’re not talking tabby cats here, we’re talking big cats. Very big cats. At one point late in the afternoon a bunch of us drove down the street to her house and strolled into her neighbor’s back yard where these cats are kept. I was glad I had my good camera.
These folks have a huge cage in their backyard, just beyond the pool (this is Florida after all). Behind three layers of chain link fencing are two 400 pound tigers. They are, to say the least, impressive. Particularly after a couple of adult beverages. Before we were allowed into the inner enclosure we were warned to not stick our fingers through the chain link fence. As if THAT was going to be an issue. The reason was not in fear that they’d be used as a snack, but that these tigers are pretty much like any other cat in many ways. Cats like to rub against things. Four hundred pounds of cat rubbing against fingers stuck through fence equals broken fingers.
No fingers were harmed in the making of these photos.
Mims, FL, 6/4/11
Mims, FL, 6/4/11
Mims, FL, 6/4/11
Mims, FL, 6/4/11
We have a family of cardinals moving into the palm just outside our porch. At least I hope we still do. We (myself & Nickie, the gray cat) noticed the couple checking out the palm yesterday and today we noticed that construction had commenced. While speaking to my bride on the phone and watching the male bring materials to the female I realized that I should photograph the progress of their efforts. After hanging up I immediately grabbed the camera and came back out. There was a battle underway. Two males were fighting it out big time in the back yard, squawking and tumbling across the ground with wings a-flapping. I got some shots over the course of 3-4 minutes before combat left the area. I’ll never know which one won.
The female in the equation fled the scene.
Rockledge, FL 4/6/11
Above: Early construction
Rockledge, FL 4/6/11
Above: Combat
Rockledge, FL 4/6/11
Above: Between rounds
Scheduled for final launch on 4/19/11. Eighth anniversary of the smartest thing I ever did.
Pad A, KSC, FL 3/11/11
Pad A, KSC, FL 3/11/11
The World as We See It 