This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 12 readers including rock, sand, rock from sand, geology, and fossils both real and not.
Jim and Diana chose #99, “as my mom would’ve celebrated that birthday this past week.” After hiking from Cottonwood campground along the North Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch I celebrated making the 14 mile trek and wondered if I’d make it back out on the south side of the Colorado River the next day to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, 2008, my first rim-to-rim across Grand Canyon.
Sherry chose #6677. Thanks to Jeff’s suggestion, I camped and found flowers at Fossil Falls, where there are neither fossils or water falls.
Doris chose #9788. Beyond the high desert vegetation lies sand dunes, once sand then rock and now sand again, at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah.
Sue chose #309, “the month and year that we camped in Alabama Hills.” They’d probably like to camp, and kayak, at the Kolob Reservoir that I can only hope has more water now than when this panorama was taken 9-22-08.
Rita chose #1214, another panorama. An upstream view of the Colorado River from Navajo Bridge through Marble Canyon with Vermilion Cliffs to the left and Echo Cliffs to the right.
Diane and Nigel chose #2307. Walking on the beach in Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa. Who’s going where?
Wanda chose #1636. A collection of 275 million year old ocean fossils gathered while camping on the North Kaibab National Forest at Marble View back in 2010.
Cathy chose #8201. Entrance to a short slot canyon of colorful sandstone on the White Domes Loop trail in Valley Fire State Park.
Jennifer chose #7272. Once again, #RangersGetPaidinSunsets. Taken from the North Rim Grand Canyon 9-6-14.
Alan chose #2055. Five Turkey Vultures in a tree on the Kaibab National Forest in 2010 before I had a decent camera with zoom.
Sallie and Bill get #77 for the number of words in their last comment. Which, BTW, are always delightful so a younger me says thanks. Oh how I’ve changed since my first season as a Ranger in the summer of 1992 at Mt St Helens.
Jo chose #917, a goal she’s shooting for as a Top Seller in her Avon business. No climbing to this top where an old water pipe once ran near Wildrose Canyon in Death Valley National Park.
My choice of a floral bouquet seen on the Kaibab National Forest during my recent visit.
Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories. For more of the story just follow the links. Please join in next week by leaving a number between 0001 and 9999 in your comment.
Do you have a favorite this week?
Thanks for the memories.
If you ever see an archived photo that you’d like to see in the next Geogypsy calendar please let me know.
Love the slot canyon and seeing a happy you in 1992 – think we have all changed a lot since then. Our favourite though has to be Tsitsikamma, so many happy memories, camping with Nigel 30 odd years ago and long before that camping with my Mum in 1978. Wow that was such a great holiday, we toured down from Rhodesia and drove all along the garden route to Cape Town. We returned via Johannesburg where I was offered a job in a Horse hospital. January 1981 I met Nigel, the rest is history. Married 40 years next month.
3007 for next week please
Have a good weekend, I know you work but hope it is a fun Saturday and Sunday. Hugs fro us both, Diane and Nigel.
Thanks. I’ve loved this job for a long time. But not as long as you’ve been married, congrats. I really love Tsitsikamma area. #3007 for next week.
Thanks for the Fossil Falls flowers! We are now in Moab, for next week I’d like 1971 the year Arches National Monument became a National Park
Enjoy the Moab area parks. #1971 for this week.
Loving this post, happy you in the earlier years and the links! My photo beckons me to reexplore Valley of Fire one day. Was there early 90’s just driving through as the Vegas end of a Phoenix start for a Great West outing with some girlfriends. Still lived back East and was blown away by this Western country. Of course with the Grand Canyon being the center of attraction! Cool tracks in the sand, Navajo Bridge, basalt and crinoid beads for necklaces… thank you for sharing your life experiences!!
Lol…my goodness. I was enjoying the read so much I forgot to pick a #. Next week #6001 The vulture picture…I only saw 4 and then spied that sneaky #5 !!
Thanks. I’d like to revisit Valley of Fire, but the crowds now days might scare me off. So many places to see. #6001 for this week.
Hi Gaelyn, Fossisl always intrigue me Those Crinoids and Brachiopods in the North Kaibab forest look so interesting, the Brachiopods are my fav fossel. Nice shot of you as a Ranger in fact it’s my favourite. No 0249 for next week please. Hope all is well with you. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
My favorite place to fossil hunt is on the 275 myo Kaibab limestone and crinoids are my favorite finds. #0249 for this week.
Great photos all, I really love the slot canyon shot.
955 for next week
Thanks. #955 for this week.
You are right about kayaking but we tend to avoid reservoirs because so often you are kayaking around a brown ring, especially now. All our reservoirs in Southern Oregon are mudpuddles, with as little as 3 percent pool. Especially tough since Hyatt Lake and Howard Prairie provide water to many agricultural enterprises in the Rogue Valley, Medford, Ashland, Phoenix etc. Wells are going dry and the well drillers are now between 6 months and a year out to even come and look at the possibility of drilling. It is devastating for some of the vineyards this year in that valley east of us. How about 2222 for no reason whatsoever.
With all the rain lately I hope some of our SW reservoirs are getting water. Yet weather patterns are changing everywhere. We might end up growing crops in Alaska. #2222 for this week.
Great picture of the Colorado from Navajo bridge. I want to know what’s around the corner. The picture of the shoes and tracks made me smile. I sure would like to hike the White Domes Loop Trail after seeing your picture. You look great your first year as a ranger and you look great now as a ranger. You’re just a great ranger. What a spread of flowers you saw. With the lack of rain and the fires it’s wonderful to see such beauty. I’d like #5902 for next week please.
Thanks. I want to float the upper Colorado River from dam to Lees Ferry, then I can tell you what is around the corner. We are finally getting lot of rain. #5902 for this week.
Hi Gaelyn, I love the photo of you laughing in 1992. And the field of daisies in the last image is spectacular. Please can I have 2008 this week. Have a great week ahead. Jo
Thanks. Job is fun. #2008 for this week.
Like the tracks in the sand and sunset at theNorth Rim. #9505 from next week please.
Thanks. #9505 for this week.
Quick before I forget again = #819 next time? And thanks for being so sweet about my forgetfulness — I’m almost afraid to comment now as it might not live up to the “delightful” description!! Actually it’s not me that makes them delightful, but rather it’s because of the great photos and descriptions that I’m commenting on here!
Sweet to see you in Oregon on “our” picture. And yes of course you *have* changed since your early days as a ranger — you’ve gotten smarter, wiser, ,even more knowledgeable about our National Parks and the natural world. You’ve become an amazing blogger, improved on your natural gifts for writing and photography and more — and become an inspiration to many of us! . All good changes and thank you for sharing them.
Thank you so much. Your lovely comments always bring a smile, and make my head swell a bit. #819 for this week.