Repost: Antelope Canyon

I've been out of touch for the last year, but have not forgotten the many dear friends I made on line.With apologies for the long absence, I hope to reach out and reconnect with each and every one of you.

I'm beginning with a repost, in part because my very rusty skills are in need of a jump start. I am also inspired by the work of photographer,Eric Pouhier, recently brought to my attention by my brother, Martin.     

On a road trip to Utah a few years ago,my husband and I made a detour into northern Arizona.

I had always 
been 
fascinated by 
pictures I'd 
seen of slot 
canyons 
and a stop 
at Antelope Canyon 
was definitely 
on my 
bucket list.

The Upper Canyon did not disappoint, though we did not get as much time to look as we had hoped. A rain storm approached and we were quickly hustled out.

The very same forces of water that formed the glorious swirls of sandstone over time also present considerable danger to unwary tourists who fail to heed the warnings of flash floods.

(My regular readers will know that this only peaks our interest further!)

Grey and stormy though the day was, the sandstone walls simply glowed in what little light filtered down.

Seen from above, there is little indication of the beauty that    lies beneath.





Once plodding through water, even our foolhardy selves were forced to admit it was time to leave, but I know it will not be the last time we visit this wondrous place.

T is for Thunderclouds

I have an ongoing love affair with clouds...I'm often seen gazing at the heavens to catch the inexorable ebb and flow of movement across the sky.

On a road trip several years ago, my husband and I seemed to drift from one storm to another, no matter how far we travelled or how many states we crossed.

Mesa Verde, Colorado

 Awed by the power and beauty, I took shot after shot.

 These are some of the results....

 Monument Valley, Utah

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

A fairly typical November day here in Vancouver

And after the storm come rainbows. 

I captured this one arcing over the River Lagan in my birth city of Belfast, Northern Ireland.



For more takes on the letter "T", do drop by ABC Wednesday and enjoy the view...





http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.ca/

G is for Grand Canyon

Though I have been lucky enough to visit several times, I am simply unable to come up with words that adequately describe Arizona's Grand Canyon.  

'Stunning' is a good place to start...'majestic' is also a true and undeniable description...yet neither of these begin to describe the visceral impact one feels upon registering its amazing beauty. 

For me, 'breathtaking' is as close as I can come to explain the sense of reverence I felt gazing into the Canyon's  cavernous depths. My breath, indeed my whole being stilled with awe the first time I saw this natural wonder, with its contours so intricately sculpted over millennia by the erosive forces of wind and water.

My eyes were all that moved, greedily taking in the vibrant colours, the statigraphic layers...the sheer magic of this place that is so unlike anywhere else on earth.

Before I ever saw the Grand Canyon from the ground, I saw it from the air, a large gash on the earth's surface that is shocking in its size.

 Of course, my camera and I were happiest to be right there peering over the edge of rocky ledges in an effort to gauge the full scope of its depth.

I was both amazed and delighted with the ever-changing mood and mystery of the Canyon as the day's light changed it from minute to minute. Layers that had been sharp and bright early in the day were later washed golden and hazy in the late afternoon sun.

 If I stood patiently enough, I could see the light change from minute to minute in its inexorable sweep across the Canyon, an elemental journey that has taken place in this spot for more years than we can begin to comprehend.

It is easy to be at peace here, where nature proceeds unhindered and all we humans are required to do is observe the process and accept with grace the fact that we're a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

I am linking up to ABC Wednesday...do stop by to visit many more takes on the letter 'G'!

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.ca/

Signs, Signs: Route 66

When visiting the American Southwest, we always make sure to fit in another stretch of historic Route 66. It is a treat like no other driving down these old roads that so many before us have taken in search of a better life for their families.

.

Springfield, Missouri is recognized as the birthplace of U.S. Route 66, given its name there in 1926. Following the old trails laid out by the early explorers and railroads, this new highway quickly became a popular route for trucks because of its flat, open stretches.  It eventually reached across the country from the coast of California, up to the windy shores of Lake Michigan.

This was a road that offered hope. The Dust Storms of the 1930s forced many families from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas to head west to California in search of agricultural jobs.

.

 After World War II, Route 66 came to define a generation looking for adventure and freedom on the open road…businesses flourished along the roadside, eager to profit from this new tourist trade.

.

As progress escalated, faster highways began to replace the old roads. Route 66 was deemed irrelevant, and in 1985, was replaced by the new Interstate Highway System

.

Many changes were made to the route over the years, with sections altered, discontinued and rerouted; yet it remains today one of the best scenic drives to be found anywhere.

.

.

.

The stretches that survive

are a wonderful slice

of history.

Diners and gas stations

line the route, reminders

of a time when

 life seemed simpler

and the

future resonated

with hope.

.

.

Time slows down on this gentle

 route, and I never tire of it.

.

We’ve covered less than half of the route so far, from California, through Arizona to New Mexico, but eagerly anticipate completing the rest.

.
.

Amarillo, Texas to

Chicago, Illinois

 sounds like a heck

of a road trip,

 don’t you think?

.

For more signs from all over the world, drop in to visit Lesley at the link below....

.

http://signs2.blogspot.com/

.

Signs, Signs & Window Views: Sedona

.

.

Since my last post featured

Sedona's Chapel of The Holy

Cross, I thought that
for Lesley's Signs, Signs,
today, I would

continue with

photos of the various

notices posted

around the grounds.

 .
 .
.

Beavertail Cactus

After a warm, brisk
climb to the hilltop,

I could completely identify with

The Rocks!

 
 And for Mary t's Windows
 and Doors,  I also wanted to share shots of the home

 one sees when

 looking down into the valley below.

 Take note of the astronomical observatory. Can you imagine starting each day within sight of these brilliant red hills and ending it by gazing at the stars in that huge expanse of clear sky?

This might possibly be the closest we earthbound creatures get to

Heaven until Judgement Day, (and some of us aren't even sure of our chances then)!

.

.

I'm linking this post to Signs, Signs today. For more quirky signs from around the world, check out Lesley's meme at the link below....

.

http://signs2.blogspot.com/

.

And for Window Views, &Doors Too, stop by and visit Mary t. here...

.

http://windowviews2.blogspot.com/

.