Landscape
While I was at the Tetons several weeks ago, the planet Mars was very prominent in the morning sky. I was fortunate that the Moon was setting early which left me a night sky with lots of twinkling stars.
Here is an image of the Grand Teton range from across Jackson Lake with Mars being more visible than I’ve ever witnessed. It was shot shortly before 0500.
Architecture
In June of 2016 while traveling on the Heartland Rewind RoadTour, on my way from Moab to the Tetons and Yellowstone I let the GPS choose a route up through Idaho on a two lane road. We had been on the road for a few hours when we came upon this old building.
Idaho Line Shack
It caught my eye so I found a spot to pull over and shot a few frames.
My normal MO is to let the GPS choose my routes (after I review and eliminate major highways). Sometimes I regret it. But most of the time it takes me through small towns and interesting scenery, usually with very little traffic.
Fast forward 25 months.
This year when I left Grand Teton, I headed west through Idaho, once again allowing the GPS (a different one than last time) to plot my course. Mid-morning I came around a bend in hilly country and saw an interesting shack on my left. I pulled over to investigate. Something looked strangely familiar.
Idaho Line Shack redux
As soon as I could, I checked images and notes from my time here two years before. Sure enough, it was the same building. Oh, the leaves on the vines were green this time and the fields were gold instead of green but we were in the same exact spot only heading in the opposite direction.
Go figure! thousands of miles to wander through and my GPS chose this road in the middle of Idaho farmland . . . again.
RoadTour 2018
We’ve reached the Northwestern terminus of this odyssey. Really, one can’t get much more Northwest in the lower 48. We are at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island at the top of Puget Sound in the Salish Sea.
Tomorrow we take the ferry back to the mainland and start our journey home.
Here are a couple photos from the shoreline of San Juan Island.
Uncategorized
We spent a couple days on the tallest active volcano and glacier on the lower 48. The campground we were in hosts mountain climbers from all over the world. Many of them climbed around the clock. It is wild seeing those tiny headlamps they wear flickering about the glacier in the middle of the night. Better them than me, ha ha.
Yes, those spots of light over on the left of the glacier are climbers. Crazy folks!
Cheers from the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Paul and the puppy.
Architecture
When I first visited the Tetons I happened upon this chapel. From the moment I first set foot inside I’ve had this image in my head. Monday morning when I left Grand Teton National Park I stopped and shot several images. Funny, it was raining both times I visited this chapel.
Yes, that’s a window facing Grand Teton. I suppose that if the sermon gets too boring, one can always daydream of hiking the mountain.
This small log chapel, built in 1925, offers spectacular views of the Teton Mountain Range and a majestic place to pray. The Chapel will seat 65 people with additional seating outside, weather permitting.
RoadTour 2018
On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
Clancy and I are about to embark on RoadTour 2018. It’ll be interesting. As usual, I have no firm idea where we are going or when we’ll get there. She is 14 months old now and while still a puppy at heart, obeys my commands (most of the time). We were on the road over the winter and Clancy got a pretty good handle on traveling. When we return from this RoadTour, I expect she will be an avid camper and explorer. As I’ve been loading up, Clancy climbs in and takes the passenger seat. It’s where she and I first spent any time together and I believe she has fond memories of being there. We drove home in it from Missouri where I got her. Heck, if I just leave the side door open it wont be long before she is in the seat watching everything or curled up asleep. Good doggie.
This will be the first trip with the new solar panels and batteries. I’m looking forward to even more freedom as we explore remote places.
As always, we are delighted for you to tag along. And, thanks to some of your suggestions while we’ve been on the road, I have explored places I didn’t know existed. It is good to have you along. We are heading west this time. Check back often as I will be posting updates when I land someplace where internet is available. Speaking of which, unless I’m in the middle of the nowhere, miles from anywhere, the AT&T hotspot on my iPhone does a reasonable job of getting me on the web.
If you’d like to help out with expenses, please click the PayPal link below. Fuel is outrageously expensive these days.
Uncategorized
Puppy and I are wandering around in the south. A 10 mile drive down a side road through the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge will bring you to Saint Marks Lighthouse. The wildlife refuge has both salt and fresh water and is home to quite a few species of wildlife. The lighthouse marks the entrance to the Saint Marks River and is the 2nd oldest lighthouse in Florida.
Landscape
Yesterday we had quite a snow event here. And it is snowing again this morning. I measured 9 inches. I listen to the emergency services, the road department and the power company on a radio and most if the time it is silent. But, when we have a severe storm or wild fires or such, these folks all get busy. Yesterday was one of those days. We were without electricity here for nearly 5 hours.
Though it was snowing pretty hard and very grey out, I grabbed a couple cameras and jumped in the Kubota all-terrain vehicle and went looking for something to photograph. Ha! The snow was flying and pretty deep, we pretty much had white-out conditions and there were some icy places. It’s a shame I had to leave the puppy home due to complications form surgery last week. I know that experiencing snow for the first time would been fun to watch.
About a mile and a quarter from the house is an old abandoned farm. It is one of my favorite places to shoot some photographs. The old barn and silos have been prominent in my work. Here are a couple images from there yesterday.
R.V.
While we are on the road enjoying our nomadic life, I try not to plan too far ahead unless I absolutely must when necessity dictates to check an item off my bucket list. The usual modus operandi is to investigate our next landing spot the day before leaving our current one. While I enjoy this ad-hoc travel planning for the most part, there are times I wish the dog could read a map and assist with deciding which way to go next. This is an area where you can help. Suggestions are always welcome.
Oh, and I most certainly will take advantage of a driveway or nice flat parking lot to settle in for the night if it is convenient and I’m not going to reach the next destination that day. Wally World is just fine for a night. And speaking of reaching destinations, I try to limit my travel to 300 miles or less (way less if possible) each day. We’ve had days where we drove 37 miles and then days that seemed like marathons. 100 to 200 miles is just about perfect when one is driving at 50 mph or less. And I do try to keep the speed down to a comfortable viewing level.
For much of my travel I am without internet. When I land somewhere that I can connect to the world wide web I post some updates. If I have moderate cell coverage (rare at times) I will at least post a picture or two from my smart phone and make a quick update.
We wander and look for places to see and photograph. So, please join us and feel free to comment.
Cheers
Paul and the Puppy
If you’d like to help out with expenses, please click the PayPal link below.
Architecture
When I first saw it I instantly thought of the Flat Iron building in New York. The very acute angle of the intersection struck me as quite similar.
Sightings of ghosts from every era in Maryland’s history have been reported at the Maryland Inn, particularly in the basement, where the foundation predates the inn. Figures in ancient uniforms have been seen coming from the direction of the iron-gated old basement wine cellar, moving toward where the cozy taproom used to beckon with its promise of companionship and beer. Employees of the inn tell stories of hearing voices in the empty dining room, catching a sudden and very strong whiff of pipe tobacco, finding objects moved inexplicably out of place, or hearing footsteps in vacant guest rooms (especially those on the fourth floor). excerpt from whatsupmag.com
Why I believe I see the Robinsons standing there in front of the Inn. Well, coo coo ca-choo to you Mrs Robinson.