Deer portraits taken on August 7, 2024
Deer portraits taken on August 9, 2024
Deer
Category: North America
The Forest of the Deam
Charles Deam Wilderness and Lake Monroe
Mist over the forest one day in June, 2023.
Revisiting Some of Utah’s Most Beautiful Places
Once more around the national parks in Utah
An older image of Zion’s Overlook, in 2020
Visiting the national parks in Utah, of which there are many well known ones, was slightly different in spring, as the weather changed, and some of the snow remained on the mountains, making it a very pretty sight in many places, while the weather warmed, and yet the spring blossoms did not quite emerge to cover the ground with blooms. Unlike the forests of the Midwest, the landscape in Utah is more Martian, many say, and I would agree, with its reddish hues and desert landscapes, and the mountains with sparse ground cover that do not really ever seem to change with the season, in many places.
Skiing at Brianhead Resort was a very scenic sight, with beautiful vistas on many sides of the mountains, with the red hues in the distance against the white snow.
The best places to go in Utah that are National Parks are arguably the Big Five:
Bryce Canyon
Zion
The Canyonlands
Arches
Capitol Reef
There are also places of immense beauty that are lesser known, such as Snow Canyon, near St. George, and many places around St. George, like the Pioneer Park boulders and the trails in the Red Cliffs National Conversation Area. There are also pretty places around Moab that aren’t amongst the Big Five that are worth exploring, though I will leave those up for the visitor to discover themselves.
Not to be missed is Salt Lake City, with The Crater nearby (in Park City), and the white sands to the left of the city (an hour and a half away).
On the way back to the Midwest, Vail is a nice place to visit with its Swiss styling, even if one is not skiing and merely taking in the sights. Visit the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Shop for gifts if anyone likes chocolates.
There was just enough time to get back in time to see the Solar Eclipse with friends and family.
Vail, covered in snow, from one of the roads.
As always, all opinions are my own.
The Old Town in Alexandria, Washington, D.C.
Some things leave behind memories that are greater than others, though small moments matter, no matter how insignificant they may seem.
The drive through the mountains of West Virginia and its sweeping mountains is one that takes one back to olden times.
After a few weeks in a pleasant small town (though it is growing at a rapid rate with apartment complexes) with friends and family after solar ecplise and a season of tennis in the summer ahead, the mountains of West Virginia once again beckoned.
However, I did not wind up stopping in them, as a friend was playing a piano concert in the German Embassy in Washington D.C., and it is not often that these things happen. So, I went and watched, and made a “film” of it with the equipment I had.
While there, which was a short weekend, the old town of Alexandria and the wharf had some nice views to walk along, and another lovely woodland walk starting from the Old Anglers Bridge into the woods and back along the Potomac River – until next time. As always, all opinions are my own.
Traveling Across the USA
When I look back at the photographs, the last eight months was extremely full of new sights and landscapes, though while I lived it, it didn’t feel very different. I spent weeks living a different lifestyle, traveling to Tuscon, Arizona, and to several different small towns and landmarks nearby, before the year turned toward the end. A snowdrift in Denver, during the cold spell, caused me to stay for a few nights in a very small former coal mining town, Leadville, with extremely beautiful snow capped mountains in the distance, in high altitudes, and an appreciation for various kinds of lifestyles, while I was there.
I returned to Indiana yet again in the spring, where the leaves were changing, the blooms were opening up and sprouting into green hues everywhere, and the placid lake in the mornings as the sun drifted over it changed morning and evening, reminding me once again why I liked being in Indiana so much, anyway.
The months passed slowly, and another trip out west happened. Weeks slowly became the past, as it kept moving on, and suddenly the blooms were gone and full leaves had been grown. I wandered around the New River Gorge, taking in the sights and climbing, and visited the Red River Gorge, on the way back.
Another trip took me to Asheville, where finally, I visited the Biltmore Estate and drove along part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, admiring the views.
In Yellowwood, someone who was traveling across the country said, “you might look to the future and aspire to it, but one day, you’ll look back and realize that the last ten years is what you did.” We often look to the future and admire our plans without fully realizing that where we are and what we’re doing is what we knit into our shroud, as the saying goes.
New River Gorge, The Blue Ridge Mountains, and The Great Smokey Mountains
Climbing in The New River Gorge was breathtaking. The sights of the river, down below, and the town, which proclaimed itself “The Coolest Small Town in North America,” led to a pleasant experience. Mist covered bridges, high above the ground, and humidity. It was nice to wind through familiar places, distant roads, heading back towards Indiana.
Prepare for difficult, long sustained climbs in the New River Gorge and if it is nearby, the Biltmore is a once in a lifetime experience to visit, very similar to a European castle, in Asheville, NC. It’s time for the photographs. As always, all opinions are my own.
The Blue Ridge Mountains
Along The Journey Home
These cows were visible from a winding road that was either near Wolf Creek, TN, or a little closer to Bluff NC. There wasn’t much cell service and the roads were being worked on, at the time. I saw a rider on horseback on the highway I was on and asked directions to Hot Springs, NC, and then after a very winding road that was gravel, turned around and made it to 40, heading northwest. A very pretty sight along the road in a quaint, country way.
The route I took wound through the Smokey Mountains at one point, and it was nice to see them again, majestic and covered in mist, the fog reaching into the deeper blue hills in the distance. It was very nostalgic. Time passes, and some things change, and yet, some remain.
Ravens are very intelligent creatures. They can even talk like humans, in some instances, if trained. This one met me on top of the mountain and spent time nearby, before it flew away.
A view of Pigeon Forge from an overlook.
The full moon in August, 2023.
Miami
Pristine beaches along the coast and also, SuperBlue and the Rubell Museum — and the Vizcaya Mansion and Gardens is a nice place for an afternoon stroll.
Redwoods
From a recent trip to California, within the forest of the Sequoia National Park, where je ne c’est quois — freedom is where one finds it, or dares one to live…
New York
New York is a state full of lakes and forests. There are some beautiful places in New York state, which were on the way back to the Midwest. If you are there, visit these for their sheer gorgeousness and scenic beauty.
Watkins Glen State Park
There is a really nice stone-ledge trail that follows the ravine, leading to several waterfalls along the way. It is a little more than 2.0 miles long from the upper falls to the lower falls. One of the most scenic is Rainbow Falls. It is a quaint, essential stop along the way in New York state, or a visit in itself. Watkins Glen is a small town located on the edge of Seneca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, in the Finger Lakes district.
The Corning Museum of Glass
It is a very large museum – any visitor to the Corning Museum of Glass will likely want to spend the two days the admission ticket allows to fully explore all the beautiful exhibits. Stretching from different time periods, the glass is used in different ways in various artistic exhibitions, and has many large galleries and rooms.
The Finger Lakes region – Ithaca
Ithaca is a destination in and of itself – it has Cornell University, here, as well as deep stone gorges and white rushing, cascading waterfalls. For a small town, it feels larger than its size, likely because of the steep mountain slope the Cornell University is situated upon, and the fact that University of Ithaca is nearby, as well as the large Cayuga Lake, where there are magnificent sunsets and sunrises viewable right from the shore at the clean, beautiful Stewart Park. Jog or walk along the 6 mile Waterfront trail that takes one from Stewart Park to other scenic places along the shoreline in Ithaca, and see the waterfalls in the area, as well as downtown – and visit the Botanical Gardens and impressive architecture in Cornell, before leaving.
Green Lakes State Park
Green Lakes State Park is a few miles outside of Syracuse, NY. It is located right next to a tiny town, Fayetteville. The park itself contains two glacier lakes that are not so big, but worth visiting.
The waters are a beautiful blue-green, very clear, and filled with water that does not mix, so one can see through to the bottom in most places. There are yellow fish that swim along the shore, as well as other species, and a beach lies on one side of the larger lake. A hiking trail within the woods goes right along the edge of both trails – roughly 3 miles loop for the larger trail, and about a 1 mile loop for the smaller trail. Both trails are connected, and return to the beach, which is right near the main parking lot and bathhouse.
The Boldt Castle and Yacht House
The renovated castle of the Boldt family is in the Thousand Islands region, right across from the Canadian borderline. The Boldt castle is on an island itself, which is crossed by a ferry twice an hour for visitors. It is easy to access this place – and the castle is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon, on its grounds, and within its doors.
Rochester is worth a visit also, with the beautiful Highland Gardens, and the beautiful gardens on the grounds of the Kodak museum, inside the mansion of the George Eastman estate.
Buffalo has a very cool set of architecture, too. There are many old churches and buildings that give the skyline character, and a walking tour of them would be worthwhile, if one has the time.
Cuhayoga Valley, right outside Columbus, Ohio, and the Lake Eerie beaches, make visiting Columbus worthwhile, though that is a different state. Also, visit the Columbus Zoo in Ohio for its large animal viewing areas, from different regions of the world.
Going East to the coast
A long road trip through to the east coast, taken slowly – over the course of a few days – made it possible to stop to see one or two attractions in a leisurely manner along the way. For those who like to take their time, or if they have the opportunity, going slowly to another place can be a nice way to go.
Columbus, Ohio
Going north east, towards New York, the first stop was in Columbus, Ohio, where there was time to walk through the Columbus Park of Roses, a rose garden with other small gardens within it. There was time to take in sights of the city landscape, which are pleasant from the Scioto River Boulevard. The Franklin Park Conservatory is another place I wanted to see, for its luxurious grounds and gardens, and the architecture of the Conservatory itself, which could take a few trips to fully experience.
Cleveland, Ohio
There is the Rock and Roll Museum, which is very cool, and not to be missed! Experience playing in a rock band in the live karaoke style room in the Garage, while learning how to play simple chords on the piano, bass, drums, and guitar in the nearby room. There is a lounge room with ukeleles and acoustic guitars free to play, and three floors of portraits, tour pieces – the Wall from the tour of Pink Floyd, for example, and costumes from Taylor Swift and many other artists – on the walls. There are theatres playing rock related movies and so on, and a cafe there, as well, although I did not see what was playing, as most of my time was spent in the Garage listening to the musicians.
Also in Cleveland is the wonderful Museum of Art, which has a world class collection of nearly every artistic genre, from Classical European paintings and sculptures and coats of armor and tapestries, to ancient Greco-Roman art, Egyptian, and Chinese, and African pieces. Then there are the modern contemporary sides, with galleries showcasing modern 20th century paintings and paintings from the last few decades and years. It is free, and so is parking nearby. The grounds are beautifully maintained, as well.
There are many things to do in Cleveland that seem very fun, such as walking on the beach boulevards, and going to the many free museums. This post has some good ideas: https://vacationidea.com/ohio/best-free-things-to-do-in-cleveland.html. It is a vibrant city.
Niagara Falls, NY
Rochester, NY
When one conjures up images of Rochester, the beautiful Highlands park with a castle, and the George Eastman estate may not be the first picture that comes to mind. Both places are free, although the galleries inside the George Eastman estate – the Kodak entrepreneur – cost $18 to tour. However, it is beautiful there, in both places, with their gardens and stately architecture.
Rochester itself is a city with a style unto itself, somewhat rough, and unpretentious. For those who like the grit and atmosphere of it, there is charm there.
Lake Champlain – the Plattsburg & Champlain area, in upstate New York
Stretching along the coast roughly ten minutes from the Canadian border, crossing into Montreal for those who can or want to continue north from this town, lies Plattsburg and Champlain, along the large, seaside-style coast of Lake Champlain. A fresh water lake, its coastal ruggedness of rocky ledges and trees, and pines, in places, remind one of the northwest, in the Big Sur, or further north, perhaps by some stretches of the tristate areas of Highway 1. It is ruggedly beautiful, with cold water. It is cold to swim here, even in the summer months, and refreshing, although the sunny days are sparse in between clouded, overcast scenic vistas, although this may be part of its charm.
