Where did the time go?
I can't believe I haven't written since back in August! I have to admit, I've not been motivated because I've not felt very inspired. It happens to all of us from time to time. But I've done a bit of traveling and have some beautiful places to share with you all.
But first things first.... I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
at the Top of the hill
I took a trip to northern NV back in March of 2009. I spent a few days with my lifelong friend who lives near where 395 crosses the NV/CA border. She spent quite a bit of time showing me around all the thing that she loves about where she lives... including the Travertine Hot Springs. It was so beautiful... and just over that hill, is a breathtaking view of the town, below. Seriously amazing.
Location : Travertine Hot Springs : near Bridgeport, CA
The Returning
We decided to make another visit to Durango over the July 4th long holiday. It was to be a camping trip, that due to a series of small roadblocks, turned into a Best Western trip. As it turned out, the roadblocks were perhaps placed in our path, because we were to get a call one evening that my 91 year old dad's health was failing fast. (which we most likely would have missed in the middle of the San Juan National Forest) So we packed the car the next morning and headed back to Vegas to unload and head to California. We got a call that he passed while we were traveling... I had had a "conversation" with him on the drive back to Vegas, and told him he didn't have to wait for me. My mom has been gone since 97 and he grieved for her everyday. I sure didn't want to make him wait to be with her any longer than he had to. So he is now with her again and that makes a lot of the grief easier to take.
The title of the series gives a nod both my dad's returning to my mom and our short return to Durango. Please enjoy a bit of the beauty we were able to take in during our brief visit to Colorado.
Durango, Colorado
Durango is located in the four corners area of Colorado. A famous neighbor is Mesa Verde National park, where you can see cliff dwellings dating back to 1250 AD. Durango has a wonderful climate and sits at 6512 ft above sea level, which gives it a nice mix of the four seasons with temperatures ranging from 10 in the winter to 80's in the summer. It's modern history starts with the discovery of gold in 1860. When you enjoy a stroll through downtown, you'll notice the buildings dating back to that era are still in use as restaurants, sporting goods stores, galleries and the like.
Got an itch to go back....
The World in HDR
one of my fellow photographers posted a photo using the HDR technique (thanks Jason). his posting made me curious as to the procedure and since I had a few photographs taken using the bracketing mode of my camera, I decided to give it a whirl. so here are the first few I've tried. I would appreciate any open/honest comments as to how it looks... not too overdone? etc.... thanks in advance!
in Celebration of spring
Lots of people were experiencing snow right up to Memorial Day. Now temps are soaring over 100. Crazy!! Here is a bit of spring tor those that missed it. :D
Cold Creek, Nevada
Wild Mustangs are just about an hours drive north of Las Vegas, in Cold Creek, NV. On a perfect Saturday afternoon, we took a drive out there and discovered wildflowers, wild mustangs and beautiful vistas.
Ghosts in the desert
These were taken at the Mojave National Preserve. It's fairly new to the US National Park system. 1.4 million acres, the Preserve seems to be simply creating a bountry and keeping the land located inside much the same as it's always been, with no motels/lodges or curosity shops. In fact, you would hardly know you're even passing through the Preserve, until you come to Kelso. In Kelso they have refurbished the old train depot with a rather lovely museum and opened a small cafe in the existing cafe area of the depot. The visitors center is housed here as well. You can stand on the veranda and watch the trains as they pass and get a small sense of what life was like when this was a thriving community with residents and post office. Now it's a ghost town, in the middle of the Preserve. I hope they don't plan any more renovations and they leave the rest of Kelso, just as they found it.
Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness Area
One of the largest Joshua Tree forest lies along Hwy 168 at the California/Nevada border, in the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness area. I had itchy feet and shutter finger so off we went to check it out. It helped that it was raining, adding some fabulous clouds and light. Here is a bit of what we saw along the way.
