The Golden Gate

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40 mm f/4 L USM, 1/200s, f/14, ISO: 100

I took Pongo for a walk today at Crissy Field in San Francisco.  It was overcast but warm and of course a little windy.  We were mostly there for the walk but I took a few pictures along the way,  This is a view I sometimes take for granted.

I've seen some old movie from the 1915 World Fair which took place on this very spot.  The wildest thing from those movies was seeing the Golden Gate without a bridge.  It's hard to imagine that thing hasn't always been there.

Traveling Companions

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, 1/80s, f/9, ISO: 100

This photo popped up as the wallpaper on my computer the other day, and as I looked at it I came understand it as being somewhat profound.  If you've followed my blogs you've seen pictures of all three of these individuals with little reference to who they are.  This is probably the only picture I have of all three of them together.  These are my traveling companions.

On the left is Jim.  I've known him for thirty years.  We met in college.  We've done a couple of road trips together in the last three years with a big one coming up in about a month.  Our first trip three years ago kindled my interest in the outdoors and photography.  Up until that point, I'd only ever visited a single national park, and that was only by driving through Redwood National Park on 101 on my way to Oregon.  On that first road trip we visited the Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone and I was hooked.  I've now been to sixteen national parks and I'll be adding to that total soon.  Jim will be there.

My son Sam is on the right.  He's been accompanying me on trips up and down the coast since he was an infant.  He's also joined me on trips to Yosemite, Point Reyes and the Grand Canyon.  I love traveling with Sam.  He's quiet and patient and open to adventure.

Pongo is my most regular companion.  He doesn't accompany me all of the time, but if I'm going someplace where dogs are allowed I take him.  Pongo loves seeing wildlife.  He's excited and occasionally intimidated by elk, deer and cattle.  He's not sure what to do with deer.  If a deer approaches us he hides behind me, but if a deer runs away he wants to take chase.  Rabbits, raccoon, squirrels, ducks, lizards and quail are all meant for chasing in his book.  We stumbled onto a white rat someone had dumped on a trail once.  Pongo was very upset with the rat when it didn't run away when he charged it.  He barked and barked until the rat scampered off.  Poor rat didn't know the rules.

Pongo is a mama's boy.  He's my wife's dog at home and mine on the road.  My wife rarely travels with me.  She prefers to stay at home with our other two dogs running her dog rescue organization.  Maybe someday she'll be in one of these pictures.

Elkhorn Valley

Elkhorn Valley Golf Course, Lyons, OR
Canon PowerShot SD770 HS

This is my friend Jim on his approach shot on I forget which hole at Elkhorn Valley Golf Course three years ago.  We were wrapping up an epic road trip that took up to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone as well as stops in Colorado and Oregon.  We're embarking on a similar road trip in a month.  We'll probably not play any golf on this trip.  We're loading it with scenic tours of return favorites like the Grand Canyon, Vegas and Yellowstone as well as new stops like Mesa Verde and Monument Valley.  It should be awesome.

Fore!

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 113, image #777.

Bridalveil Fall in the Mist

Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40mm L USM, 1/30s, f/5.6, ISO: 100

There's not a whole lot of water coming off of Bridalveil Fall, is there?  It's hard to believe this is a photo taken in May.  Bridalveil usually runs year round.  I wonder if it will dry up this year.  It's hard to imagine it won't considering how low it looks already.  Maybe the source is an underground spring?  Dunno.  Most creeks and rivers in Yosemite come from snow melt.  I imagine Bridalveil Creek is the same.  Guess I'll have to google it.

The Rainbow Face of Bridalveil Fall

Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

I've posted a number of photos recently of Yosemite in the rain.  There are no rainbows in those pictures.  The only time I've seen rainbows in Yosemite Valley--and I'm not saying they don't appear on rainy days, I just haven't seen any--is on bright sunny days around the big waterfalls.  I've seen pictures of moonbows around the waterfalls, but I've never seen one personally.

So, anyway, this isn't a full rainbow, obviously, just a hint of one.  There were two rainbows at the bottom of the fall.  I'll save that for a different post.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Canon PowerShot SD770 IS

Love this place.  Looking forward to going back in a month or so.  Bring on the next road trip!

S.S. Minnow

Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

OK, OK, this isn't really the S.S. Minnow.  Kinda looks like it, though, doesn't it?  I don't know the story about this boat.  It's basically a tourist attraction now behind a grocery store in Inverness.

That blade of grass bugs me now.  It didn't bother me when I took the picture a couple of years ago.  I've become fussier.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing.