I never thought I’d share so much of my life online, but I’ve always wanted to be published. So here I am celebrating four years of blogging with over 1100 posts. And now I’m all over the internet.
Moon over sunset Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
At first I thought I was blogging for me. A way to keep track of the things I do and places I go. Then people began to actually read what I wrote sometimes leaving encouraging comments. I even get emails from people asking about the places I’ve seen and written about. Now I realize I’m actually writing for you. Sharing information and experiences in the hopes of helping others enjoy a special place, or at least allowing you to live vicariously through my words and photos.
Sunrise over Grand Canyon from Toroweap overlook Arizona
And I’d like to think my photos have improved over the years of practice. I started with a Brownie Box at age nine. This latest DSLR has really been a challenge and I still have much to learn. Thinking of taking a photography class so I know just what the camera is capable of.
Sunset Zion National Park Utah
Networking has been the hugest opportunity to learn about blogging and how to get my content out there. Everything I read lists good content as the most important and I keep working to improve that.
Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa
The best part of blogging has been getting to know all of you, and meeting some of you in person. Something I hope to continue to do. I might not have gone to South Africa without knowing the cyber friends who live there. I want to travel and meet more of you along my journeys.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument Lake Powell Utah
The next step is being paid or at least subsidized to travel and write making my dream continue to come true.
Grand Canyon from South Rim Arizona
Thank you all for following along. Plus a special thanks to FabGrandma who encouraged me to start blogging and has been my mentor ever since.
Nice photography as usual.
Thanks Abe.
I’m so glad you blog and so glad I found you! One day we will meet so I can see that smile in person. xo
Thanks Jane. The feeling is mutual.
Thank you for sharing your world with US! I’m enjoying all your posts!
Thanks Cheryl.
Loved the last GC shot for today…. Hey, now you are encouragement to all of us newbies! Keep on rolling 🙂
Thanks. Glad I can encourage others. You bet I’ll keep on rolling. 🙂
I’ve been blogging for a little over four years too and have had some of the same experiences! It’s a wonderful way to practice taking pictures. Meeting people from all over the world has been an extra special bonus.
I love the rainbow over the Grand Canyon. Living in photogenic places helps a lot, doesn’t it?
Here’s to many more years!
Thanks Loran. Blogging has turned into a wonderful thing. Hope to bring more photos from around the world.
Thank YOU for giving me a place to go where I feel COMFORTABLE enjoying your photos and stories! You have led me to more interesting places online and have soothed my wish for travel! I may not be there in body, but you sure do make me feel like I AM there in spirit!! 8*)
So again I say THANK YOU!!! 8*)
Glad you enjoy my journeys Melissa. I hope to keep them coming.
Congratulations on 4 years:)
I haven’t been at it nearly as long as you, and sometimes question why I am still blogging. Maybe I should take heart from what you said and remember all those out there who enjoy the words and pictures…..
I also love your last photo. They are all beautiful but the last one is stunning:)
It’s great to be in contact with a fellow guide in a totally different place!
Sue
Thanks Sue. I hope you’ll continue blogging.
Congratulations Gaelyn, on your 4th bloggerversary! I’m so glad I met you those years ago on Esther’s blog and followed you here. I simply love blogging and hope that one day we will meet in person. (((Hugs))) Jo
Thanks Jo. I’m really glad we’ve met in the cyber world also. Plus meeting John and family was awesome. I’ll get back to Africa.
Congratulations on 1100 post and 4 years of blogging. I think if I had to limit myself to only 5 blogs that I follow, you would certainly be in my top 5. I have so enjoyed each and everyone of your posts, and I feel as if I have toured the Grand Canyon with you, I cannot thank you enough for this. As for your photos of skies, no one is any better and yes I agree, even since I have been following you your photos have improved. I wish I had a good camera, but my supermarket special will have to do sadly we have more important things where our money has to be spent 🙁 I need to say thank you to Joan, as if I had not followed her blog I would never have found you.
Keep well, take care and please keep blogging. Diane
Thank you Diane. I am also glad that Joan’s blog brought us together. I sure wish she still had comments on as I miss the conversations there.
It’s not only amazing that you’ve been blogging for 4 years but that you’ve been full time RVing for 15. Quite inspiring.
Your photographs are so beautiful that you might be teaching a class rather than taking one it seems to me. That must be some camera if it is capable of even more than you do with it.
Thanks Sherry. I still feel like I have so much to learn about photography.
Congratulations on four years and over 1100 posts!
Thanks Nina.
Congratulations! Four years ago when we were sitting in my RV dinette, talking about blogging and starting your blogspot blog, it never occured to you that you could do it as well as you do. While I may be your mentor, you are inspiring to me every day, and even more than that, you are one of my best friends in the world. I love you, girl, and hope you meet your dreams soon.
Thanks Karen. If it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t be where I am today. Gonna’ miss you.
You always have amazing photos, Gaelyn. I love the rainbow, and the Zion sunset.
Thanks Janie. It’s so much fun to have a place to share the photos. I love following your adventures.
Happy Anniversary. You have brought a lot of beautiful vistas to your audience and inspired a lot of people including me. I can’t wait to hear where you are going next.
Thanks Colleen. I hope to continue bringing beautiful vistas for many years to come. I’ll divulge where I’m off to next very soon.
Congratulations on four years. You and your blog have been an inspiration to me.
Thanks Alan. The inspiration is mutual then.
WOW to the photos, Gaelyn. You always tell a story I’m interested in reading (and seeing). Keep them coming.
Thanks Barb. I sure hope to keep the stories and photos coming.
As stated a long while back in one of my infrequent comments, I thank you for giving me a look back at all my ‘memory places’, and also for letting me relive the love, the feel and the smell of the outdoors through your work, photography and travels.
I congratulate you on your four years of blogging. You could have taken the time it took for you to compose your posts and been outdoors rambling, having fun and adventures. But you choose to use those precious minutes of your life instead to post tales and pictures for us blog readers, and I thank you for that.
I’m sure all of your blog readers would encourage you to shoot for the paid or subsidized travel and writing that you wish for. You have a wonderful ability to take beautiful scenic photographs, you’ve already proven that here on your blog. Go for it girl!
And yes, FabGrandma is a special friend it seems. I’ve never met, or may never get to meet either one of you, but you are special and very appreciated by what you give us readers through your blogs.
~Pam in Louisiana~
Thanks Pam. Glad I could bring you good memories.
I always enjoy your writing and pictures. The photos with this post are spectacular and deserve some payment. I hope you find that travel money!
Thanks Ruth. I’m working on some pitches for an upcoming journey.
Well said, Gaelyn, and so true. I feel the same. I’m glad I ‘met you’ online, and I will, will get there.
Thanks Bibi. I know we’ll meet one day.
Those last two photographs particularly are bull’s-eyes! Nice work.
Thanks Dan. So much more more to learn about photography and the camera. Tripod sure helps.
Beautiful photos as always. And interesting content — also as always! I’ll bet you meet your goal (the next step)!
Thanks Sallie. I’m working it.
Blogging opens up a whole new world with a lot of people one would never have met if it wasn’t for that. I would never in my wildest dreams connected with you if it wasn’t for blogging. It does take up a lot of one’s time, but it also have its rewards and develops one’s photography and writing skills. Oh how I wish I had all your followers who comment on your blog.
It’s a big/small world out there Jonker. I am forever grateful we met online and look forward to a return visit to your country and a tour of your area.
Congrats!! 😉
I feel much the same… type ‘ouch my’into the search bar and it’s all there for the world to see! Makes me wonder some days… but then, as you say, we want to be published so we must live with the consequence…
Keep going, thanks for all your visits to my site and also all your encouragement!! it is appreciated!!
Thanks…
At least the paparazzi isn’t shooting off cameras in our faces.
That is such a great story. And congrats! The first posts for me are difficult to read from my own work in the beginning. But it starts off innocent and like everything we develop and get better and stronger and faster…..the blog is about everyone and that’s when I realized that we have lots of work to do. The pictures are for the people and are a fun challenge for me. But the daily writing is what makes me smile. You certainly bring that energy and excitement into this blog and I appreciate all your dedication. It’s one of the highlights of my day….when I have internet connection. Hope you had an enjoyable day. We ate too much at the Meet Yourself festival….but it was a great day to spend with my other half. We don’t get many of those days together.
And since your new camera……your shots are incredible! The ones before were great but you can tell once you switched over with the new camera. And your space shots are always out of this world. You must teach me this when you come to visit. We are going to Mt. Lemmon on my birthday to observe the stars. And I can’t wait to meet you in person. Thanks to blogging that’s now possible!
I have so loved blogging, improving on my writing and photography. And thanks, I think the photos are getting better with the help of the new camera and processing software. Still much to learn and that’s OK with me because when I quit learning, I’m dead.
Glad you got to spend some quality time with your other half.
So when is your birthday, or do I have to wait to see it on Facebook? Mt Lemmon sounds like a great place to celebrate. I might try to set up the camera tonight for some star shots.
I so look forward to meeting you and Kathie this winter. Blogging is great. Like fast penpal.
And many more! I’ve been blogging over 3.5 years but my posts are only at about 420; you’re very prolific.