Cape Cod Revisited
Okay, this post would/should follow the post of Feb 14. I got ahead/behind myself. And I remember Ginny’s admonishment. “More people.” But I’m behind on going into the/my archives. Soon…she jokes there are pictures decades old that she is still waiting to see.
When I took these slides they were quintessential images for me. They were framed by my (then) father in law and remained on display for many decades. Pictures fade. I printed and framed these slides many years ago. The dunes faded to a monotone. The house (print) has faded to near ghostly. Kodak paper – it fades with exposure to light over time. Unfortunately, I (Kodak) printed in a format they had at the time – 8X12. It’s an odd sized print. Fortunately, there is someone who will print it. I can frame it again. My darkroom (no more) went with the last several moves. I Photoshop now. Luckily, my index system allowed me to find the (digitized) images in about five minutes. Amazing. The slides were taken back in 1981. Would you believe the house is gone? It was in a park/preserve and the house has since gone away. I visited decades later and discovered that this circumstance can never be again. I was sort of shocked that I could not return and that things change. I don’t know why I was surprised. I returned to the spot and the picture (house) was gone? I could never recreate the atmospheric conditions. So, why was I shocked? At least I got the slides. They are all stored away at the moment. Luckily, I digitized them. Crazy. I found the files/slides in a few minutes. ? Yeah, I did it with my database. There are too many images (>400k) to just cull. Lightroom would never be able to save me. Over the years, first on index cards, then Microsoft Works, and now Excel. My file system allowed me to track down the appropriate image in minutes. Neat! I wish I had digitized a few friendships too.
LA
We have been on a long journey to California and back. The estimate was 5500 miles point to point. The actual miles turned out to total 8200. Yeah, you never go in a straight line. This was the turn around. We spent a weekend with Jules. She can make gnocchi! I helped. It was great fun! And delicious.
There were cupcakes for dessert. I’d do it all again. In case you cared, I don’t really eat icing… too much sugar. I gotta watch my sugar. And I’ve been avoiding high fructose corn syrup too. So should you.
Hey! We got Jeff that hat in Moab. He actually wore it immediately. I usually wear my new stuff about a year later. I bet you didn’t know that either. Alas, my new jeans and new shoes had to be worn almost immediately. It’s inside info except for those who know me.
Grand Canyon
Iconic. Bucket list! It’s something you gotta see! A must! I took it (this pic) the same afternoon as starry night (see yesterday’s post).
It’s been done before (this picture). I’m not the first one in this spot taking this picture. But it’s my picture. I did it. I took it. When you stop to think about things, the Grand Canyon has been around for a very long time. Ginny pointed out something casually when she mentioned that it’s people who matter. That’s unique. That comes around once. In the scheme of history people are forgotten except for heinous war lords, assassins, etc. However, this monument to nature will endure. It’s my pic. The metadata says that I was there with my camera. I suppose a nostalgic pic of the kids or… Ginny would be more sentimental. “Priceless!” as they say in that current credit card commercial.
Jump
The kids taught me to do this silly pose. I’m too old and can’t jump too high any more. But here’s the secret. Bend your knees under you. Even a few inches of elevation will look effectively dangerous scary. The trick is to look like you are hovering in air without the ground beneath. Someone thought of this. Who? And, I did it. The significant other in my life is afraid of heights. She took this.
Did I mention that visiting the Grand Canyon was on my bucket list too? As with most things it/this happened spontaneously. I don’t recall ever going somewhere specifically because of a such a desire that I planned it. Mostly, I fit life into what is happening at the moment. We were on a cross country trip. You have to cross over somewhere? See the hat? Gloves? It’s was da** cold! I got mittens which allow my fingers to hold/feel the camera controls. And for those who know me, this is probably the last photo of my beloved pair of jeans. Kaput, three years, alas, poor jeans.
Moki Dugway
Look it up: It’s listed.
http://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/783-mokee-dugway-usa.html
I was warned about this road in a tourist office at our last stop. We continued and I was oblivious to the warning. The woman told me I would have to drive this road at 10mph. Ha! I laugh in the face of danger! We had had an interesting conversation about Bears Ears which had just been reduced drastically in size by the current president. Yes, that idiot. But the woman agreed with her/not my president. States rights vs Fed. It made sense for a bit until I realized that there’s coal and uranium rights too. Give the critters a break… But, I digress.
I’m used to seeing signs with warnings for “curves” ahead. I should have suspected trouble when the curves were horizontal. The next big warning were the stickers plastered over the sign like a badge of courage/honor for those who had passed this way before. Poor “dumb” me. It’s a three mile unpaved road with hairpin switchbacks that drops 1000 feet to the valley below. If you are riding in the passenger/shotgun seat, it looks like a sheer drop every inch of the way. Hey! It is!
My passenger screamed all the way down. She denies it! She says she whimpered. I offered to let her out to walk. She replied, “Then you’ll die alone…” It was not even a difficult downhill ski slope. But the view at dusk was pretty spectacular. Too bad. Down was thrilling. Up would not have been so much fun. That “republican” woman!? Do you think she sent me this way on purpose?
Since we returned history has unfolded to reveal that Bears Ears was reduced so that hunting and cattle grazing could begin again. And, the mining interests – coal and uranium could begin again. Bastards! That’s simply disingenuous. I’ve seen pictures of the mining operations. I’ve read about health issues that followed. How many bombs do we need? I guess you follow the money. Preservation of nature is not a priority for some.
Close enough to touch…
The arches are made from sandstone. This was as close as I got. Most of them are far, or a hike, or are not accessible. It was very cold; we didn’t hike. It’s fascinating to read how the arches formed. This one was off road and behind a large sandstone formation. Someone explored and found it a long time ago. Thanks. We stuck to the short trail and got to see it. This has been on my bucket list of pictures. It’s not “the picture.” I’ve been there now. Time was short. It always seems that way. But, I got to see it, experience it, and share it with someone I love. Perfect.
Big Horn Sheep
It was through the kindness of strangers that I saw the big horn sheep. They were mere dots on the mountainside. It’s sheer cliff. The distance was at the limit of my big lens. Dots, they were just dots. But I saw them. And I got a shot(s). There was group of loud Korean tourists ahead of me later as we walked. I decided to return the kindness and pointed out the sheep. They could not see them nor could they see them even when I pointed. I pulled out the trusty iPhone and enlarged the image. Immediately one of the men walked forward toward the cliff as he pointed excitedly to his companions. Oh my! I pulled him back and told (gestured to) him not to fall off the cliff. He grinned … and held back. Yeah, I wondered, if no good deed goes unpunished.
Silos
Silos dot the horizon. I am drawn to the new. There are plenty of rundown abandoned farms with forlorn spinning windmills. The newer shiny silos are the symbols of today. Technology in farming has turned away from the picturesque. I tried to get some quaint farm pictures. I missed.
In tow
I drove fast enough to be passing most trucks on the road. I was surprised by some of the things in tow. But you only have limited choices in getting things from one place to another. Sometimes it just doesn’t seem as efficient as it might be. For instance, you would tow your car behind your tractor trailer cab?
Passing by
We only got a glimpse this time. You can’t do everything. Some things are once. We stopped before. We nodded and remembered the first time around. This time around we passed up on the Eisenhower library and the cathedral on the plains in Victoria. We tried to see different things. I can’t believe that I have been to Kansas as many times as I have. Shhhhh, let’s keep this fact quiet.
