On the way out, some memories.

Now, just as my wife and I are about to embark on another of our journeys, I thought that I would bring you some photographic memories of our prior excursions. What I have done is chosen just ONE from each of our little adventures, and each one is special, maybe not from a photographic sense, but in the sense that it alone can bring back a flood of fond memories.

This photo, from our first ever Alaska cruise is probably nice enough, though not nearly as crisp as I would have liked. But this particular photo became the basis for a painting, which still hangs in our bedroom. It is the reminder of what it felt like to be there.

This next picture is from our 2009 trip to Costa Rica. There as so many more scenic, more spectacular photos I could have used, but there is little question in my mind that this quiet shot of a Caiman sunning itself on the riverbank, really says it all for Costa Rica - you had to have been there.

Next is our 2010 trip to India, and of all the spectacular pictures possible (of the Taj Mahal, etc.), none speaks India to me like this photo of the one legged man, going about his business, caring for  his two kids in the back of his home-made rickshaw. The look in his eyes, and those of his kids' speaks without having to know the language.

This one was really hard, because our next trip to Alaska (also 2010) was such an incredible explosion of photographic wonders. Picking just ONE picture seemed an impossible task. And why this one? Well, you've got to look at it awhile, to see the angelic form breaking off the glacier, to fall down into the ice cold water. There was just something rather poignant about the whole scene.

And this next photo is from 2011, and our trip to the Canadian Rockies. As we were winding up our great adventure (including an episode called the nosebleed from hell), this particular vista, with the ravishing sunlight, the immense mountains, and the changing colors of upcoming autumn all cascaded into my camera for a great farewell.

For 2012, our most spectacular excursion was a lot closer to home, and particularly close to what has become home for us. We spent a long weekend at Beaver Lake in NW Arkansas with family and had a really special adventure. Now, that's me at this end of the ski line, not that one out there!

2013 was our year of change, and especially our change of address. But first there was this little trip to northern California which we had to get out of the way, and, regardless of what you might think of California, no thinking is required in Muir Woods, just looking and absorbing.

Then finally, our trip out west, because we really needed it by this time. It was a great and grand photographic excursion, yet it seems the quiet of Bryce Canyon was there in our memories. It has been there for centuries, quiet, majestic and a bit tucked-away.

In any event, I hope that you can take a bit of our enjoyment for yourselves, as we are off again (July 25th) for another, and beware, there will be photos!

Just one, this time.

This time, I've chosen just one photo. It's one which I have shared before (just a few posts before), but even as a rerun, this one kind of caught me off guard. It's so obviously one from the Grand Canyon, and it's one which was there for the taking - nothing fancy. But nevertheless, it expresses something so special, almost ethereal.

Back from the "Dust Bin"

In anticipation of our summer trip this year, as well as the arrival of summer weather here, I was going through some photos (some previously posted, others not), and I just thought that I would share some with you. These were all from prior summer excursions, either very local, or very far away.

Enjoy this fanciful collage! 

Just a few more - this time from Monument Valley

I was going through some of my photos from our recent trip out west, and thought you might enjoy a few more of these shots from Monument Valley. It is "The Location" for so many iconic Westerns, including a bunch of John Wayne films, Gunsmoke, and so many more. It is hallowed ground for the Navajo people, and having visited there I can see why.

Anyway, my wife and I will be going to Alaska again this summer, and I hope to take some more fabulous photos while there - but if you don't think they're any good, I'm sure you'll tell me :)

A second look

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Now that I've had the chance to look over my photo collection again, I thought that I'd share some of these with you. In my way of thinking, some of the photos that I took, were taken from a peculiar perspective (e.g. numbers 1 & 6). While others were just memories of what it felt like - to be there at sunset, with the incredible silence (photos 2 - 4). And what about number 5? Well, it just seemed to me to speak of great distances...

From the footpaths, a different perspective

This is a bit of different kind of travelogue for me. Our last full day in Zion Canyon was essentially up to us, so my wife and I filled it up on foot, hiking the easy and some not so easy trails that meander through Zion Canyon. The Virgin River had recently receded from flooding rains, and the whole place was thoroughly alive.

All this walking around was invigorating, yet somewhat humbling, too, as if we were treading somewhere on the planet where we could bring back memories, if we could just catch enough of the sights and colors to make us remember the sounds and smells of a most magnificent trip. Enjoy!

Looking up. The first of our Zion Canyon Experience.

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The first thing that strikes you as you drive into Zion Canyon, is that, unlike the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, your major direction of awe is upwards. For in Zion Canyon, you arrive on the floor of the canyon, with the majestic formations rising up all around you. As you can see, with the exception of photo number 7, the scenery draws you upward. (And just to warn you, the better pictures are to come in the next session).