California/Nevada Trip

Mike and I just got back from a quick road trip that let us spend a couple of days in Nevada, and a few more in California. The main goal was to see Death Valley -which is indescribably beautiful and simply stunning- but as a lover of topography, almost every turn in the road provided me with some new feature to look at as we wound our way through the wide open spaces of the high desert.

 Of course, I took many pictures and am posting a few of them now. I shot this photo of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam from the walkway on the new bridge. We later learned that the water level was down 150 ft. after a scorching summer, as evidenced by the waterline.

The Kelso Dunes in California were lovely, nestled among rugged hills in the Mojave National Preserve. We had the dunes to ourselves, to enjoy with a hot sun, the slightest ruffle of a breeze and the soothing sound of silence


A few brave lizards were to be seen scooting about, but most wildlife knew to stay cool in the many burrows we saw dug into the sand.   

California's Red Rock Canyon was breathtaking, the scale and colour of them a delight to investigate.

Oddly enough, I feel more relaxed in the desert than I do here at home.

 There is endless space to breath in these wide open spaces, not always an easy thing to find in our busy lives.

Again, I can't find the words to describe Death Valley. It is huge, untamed, colourful and endlessly fascinating. Mike and I tend to cover as much ground in a day as we can when away, and we didn't leave enough time to enjoy every stop in the park.  Guess that means we'll have to do it again....

The picture above is Zabriskie Point. I'm going to look up the movie of the same name from years ago and see if the scenery plays a significant part in it.

Artist's Palette is one stop no-one seems to neglect. We spent a lovely hour watching the sun go down and the shadows weaving their evening magic. 

A huge arroyo had carved it's way into  the hills where we stood, and we could imagine how thunderous the water would sound roaring through it in a rain storm.

As daylight neared it's end, we found ourselves in Badwater Basin, a salt flat that covers 200 square miles. It is also the lowest point in the USA at 282 feet below sea level.

I have neglected my blog shamefully, but will return with more trip pics soon. Thanks for stopping by...

Signs, Signs: Friends

When I came across this sign in a shop, I laughed out loud. 

I know I have good friends, and others who are true indeed, but clearly I am lacking in rowdy friends.

Luckily,  I do have my husband, (partner-in-crime and chief instigator), who absolutely gets the sentiment in this statement.

We have often said, "Damn...that was fun!", occasionally in situations it might have been wiser to avoid. (A few things come to mind.)

So far, we have managed to stay out of prison.

Some might say that's because we've been extremely lucky, if not always especially smart.

Now that we're senior citizens, it's undoubtedly time to settle down. I'll try to remember that next time we go on a road trip...:)

................

I'm linking up to Signs, Signs today. Do pop by to see other signs from around the world...

http://signs2.blogspot.ca/

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/

R is for Road trip

My husband and I are masters of the Road Trip. Few things please us as much as  the road ahead of us with only the vague hint of a schedule we know can change at the promise of an interesting detour.

We had only five days free last October to explore. Beyond knowing that I wanted to see Montana, we were open to anything. In that five days, we managed to cover five states, drove four thousand kilometers, and saw three of the National Parks I love so much.

 Driving through Washington and Oregon, we stopped at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, as otherworldly a sight as you could ever see. 

With temperatures sitting at 100°F, I was amazed to see patches of snow still held in the lava beds.

The Tetons have been on my bucket list since I first saw Ansel Adams' renowned shot of them in his Mural Project.

 On our tight schedule, there was little time to stop and look around, but what we did see of them was marvellous to behold.

 

 Those familiar with Ansel's Teton /Snake River photo will see that mine falls short of his iconic interpretation, not helped by the fact that a slow, steady fire worked a line of smoke across the base of the mountains.

Yellowstone enabled 
me to tick off 
another must-see 
item on my bucket list. 



I waited as eagerly as 
the other tourists for 
Old Faithful to make 
his brief but spectacular 
appearance.

Leaving Yellowstone, we came across the intriguing Mud Volcano Area. Not deterred by the sulphurous air, we spent time studying yet another of Mother Nature's curiosities.

Montana's Pictograph Caves made for another fascinating stop. 

 Of course, I took many photos, of which these are only a few.

Garnet Ghost Town, Montana

I'm linking this post to ABC Wednesday, and suggest you drop by and check out other takes on the letter 'R'...

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

J is for Jaunt

                    Jaunt: A short excursion or journey for pleasure

Jaunt" is one of my favourite words. I like the way it pops cheerily out of the mouth...and am always drawn in by the lure it calls up of a sudden and enticing getaway...a dash of fun and excitement in the day where none was expected.

 One can certainly plan jaunts, but I think they are best enjoyed when presented out of the blue. My husband and I are always open to the possibility of jaunts, finding ourselves easily able to adjust if a change of direction is offered up. 

One day last week, we set out in late morning for a bit of a drive. We had no destination in mind, but found out that the further along the road we went, the further still we wanted to go. 

Our short drive turned into a round trip of 650 kilometres. We considered stopping when we got to Abbotsford, but continued on past Hope and Chilliwack, and then onto the Coquihalla Highway, ending up in Merritt. Home to the fabulous Merritt Mountain Music Festival held every summer, the town was a quiet and rustic spot to explore on this September afternoon.

Of course, the main rule of road trips  is that one never goes back the same way one came if it can be avoided, which is why we switched to the old Trans Canada Highway and made our way over to Lytton for supper.  

Lytton well deserves its reputation as B.C.'s hot spot, and is also where the Thompson River empties into the mighty Fraser.

It is interesting to see the very clear difference in colours as the waters come together.

I am always fascinated by topography but had forgotten the wide variety that presents itself in B.C.'s Fraser Canyon.

Of course, I also kept my eyes open for ramshackle buildings long abandoned, and was not disappointed in finding a few.

From dry, scrubby hills to well-watered pastures, there was variety enough in the landscape to excite my photographer's eye, though many of these shots were, of necessity, taken from the swiftly moving car.

There was little time to stop if we wanted to make it home before the day was done.

Landslides are common in this part of the province...evidence of their power is to be found everywhere.

By the time we headed homeward, the light was long gone, but we carried back with us the knowledge that we had packed a bounty of pleasure and beauty into this particular day....

For more takes on the letter "J", do stop by ABC Wednesday at the link below....

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.ca