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Foto Friday Fun 289: every picture has a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 11 readers including South African wildlife and ancient Native ruins.

Vermillion Cliffs & House Rock Valley SR89A Kaibab National Forest ArizonaSusie chose #1019 because it’s her birthday today!!!!  Her photo is a view she may have seen when leaving the Kaibab Plateau if her and Gus headed east on SR89A when they visited me at the North Rim way back when.  There’s an overlook with this view of House Rock Valley and the Vermilion Cliffs in northern Arizona.

House Rock Valley & Vermillion Cliffs Hwy 89A East ArizonaLisa chose #1030.  This shot taken less than ten minutes after the above shot now in House Rock Valley.

Young elephants at play Addo Elephant National Park South AfricaJodee and Bill chose #8211.  I could watch elephants all day, and especially young ones like this at play.  This was my third visit to Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa during March 2014.

Hyena pups Addo Elephant National Park South AfricaYogi chose #7659.  Not quite as fascinating to watch as the above but I do find hyenas fun to watch, especially the pups, and from a distance as they really do smell rotten.

Clouds over San Ysidro Mts Anza-Borrego Desert State Park CaliforniaPam and John chose #3101.  A spent quite a bit of winter 2014/15 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California.  While there I watched a lot of stormy weather like this over the San Ysidro Mountains to the west.

Iris Yarnell ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #1210.  The Iris is first flower to bloom for Spring in Yarnell, Arizona.

Box Canyon Dwelling Wupatki National Monument ArizonaSteve chose #612.  From my first visit in 2009 to Wupatki National Monument where Southwest Native Peoples lived less than 1000 years ago.

Sea Otter at Tsitsikamma National Park Storms River Mouth South AfricaJeff chose #2117, “the final score of the lightening delayed SDSU vs Air Force football game.”  If I’d been scoring it would have been 1, for how many sea otters I saw at Tsitsikamma National Park in South Africa from my chalet porch in 2013.

Springbuck Mountain Zebra National Park South AfricaSherry and David chose #8473.  The antelope-like animals in South Africa look very different than in the US.  These Springbuck were seen at Mountain Zebra National Park and in other parks I visited.

In camera sketch of Grand Canyon from Jumpup Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaRita chose #3985.  She likes to see photos of the Grand Canyon so this might work with a major difference of an in camera sketch.  Not like I do that often.  For the real and amazing views from Jumpup Point it’s worth following the link to the most remote place I’ve ever seen the canyon.

Box Canyon Dwelling Wupatki National Monument ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #622 for the “time it is at this moment.”  And this photo captures a piece of time at Wupatki National Monument on the same day as above.

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Arizona

mountains valley sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 ArizonaMy choices are sunsets first one from home looking at the Weaver Mountains and the second one part way down Yarnell Hill on the Weaver Mountains across the valley and mountains beyond.

Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories.  Please join in next week by leaving a number between 1 and 9999 in your comment below.

Do you have a favorite this week?

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Foto Friday Fun 24 Comments

Day trip for Flagstaff Fall Foliage at Snowbowl

fall aspen Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI so needed a fix to see the fall foliage that I’m used to seeing on the North Rim but that’s seven hours away.  Plus with stormy weather predicted for most of the week I decided to take the open window last Wednesday and drive to Flagstaff.

meadow fall aspen Kendrick Peak clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI’d been thinking about it for days and figured to see some snow as well as fall colors at 7,000 feet in elevation.

trees Antelope Peak sunrise Yarnell ArizonaAwoke early to a pretty sunrise.  Packed snacks and warm clothes and left home about 7am.  I even washed the inside of the windshield though you wouldn’t know it to look at the photos taken on the fly.

View NE Pioneer Parkway Prescott ArizonaHeading up Iron Springs Road I saw it might be a while before the Cottonwoods turn colors.  Bypassing most of Prescott under blue sky yet see a cloud bank to the north where I’m headed.

Juniper-Pinyon US89 North ArizonaThen north on SR89 through the awful Chino roundabouts and past the fields of tall bright shiny gold grasses.  Didn’t see any antelope but did see long-horn cattle.  Climbing towards Ashfork the Juniper and Pinyon woodlands don’t show any obvious visual fall colors except for the golden grasses.

construction I40 East ArizonaLots of construction on I40 slowed down the drive but what a difference it will make when done and no potholes large enough to swallow a Smart car.

snow trees Snowbowl Road Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe closer I got to Flagstaff the more clouds and the temperature dropped to 50°F.  Driving up to Snowbowl felt like the beginnings of winter.

snow fall aspen Snowbowl Road Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAs the shoulder became more white the aspen started showing a little color.  The road is in terrible condition, no shoulder and the fog line is crumbling away.  Suppose that’s the result of lots of snow and plows to clear it.

snow chairlift trees low clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThis was my first visit to the end of this road to Snowbowl.  Bet it’s a pretty place to snow ski, something I quit doing many decades ago in exchange for warmer winter activities in the southern desert.

chairlift snowy meadow fall aspen Kendrick Peak Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaFrom the busy parking lot I walked a trail towards the ski lifts and beyond.  I wanted to take in the view from higher up without climbing any mountains before walking into the forest.

snowy meadow fall aspen Kendrick Peak Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaTalked to a young man who came up from Phoenix for a few days to take photos of the fall aspen.

Couple on horses Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThen a couple on horse back road up and asked if I would take their picture, sure if I could take some too.  Nice way to get around and keep your feet dry, but you can see they are still bundled up, as was I, for the cold.

fall aspen Kendrick Peak Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThe sun tried to peak in and out of the clouds.

red Paintbrush flower snow Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI walked downhill towards the colorful forest and slipped in the snow.  A quick recovery kept me from getting wet.  Was hard to believe flowers still bloomed.

snow meadow fall aspen clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThank goodness for my water proof hiking boots my feet stayed warm and dry.

snow meadow fall aspen clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff Arizona

snow fall aspen Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaAs I worked my way closer to the forest I also paid attention to stay out of the way of other photographers.

snow fall aspen Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaAnd in that process met a couple photographers I’ve known only on Facebook who had driven up from Sedona.  They were all carrying tripods which I didn’t do but probably should have used it as a walking pole.

snow gold Fall Aspen clouds sunburst Snowbowl Flagstaff Arizona

snow gold Fall Aspen mountain clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaFelt like magic walking into the forest with the snow and golden leaves almost like the seasons were confused.

snow meadow trees mountains clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI spent about 2 1/2 hours wandering and making photos of this wonderland that all too soon will be buried under a white blanket and covered with skiers.

SR89 South ArizonaThen it was time to hit the highway home, a three hour drive.  More construction along I40 caused me to be going slow enough to see a Bald Eagle fly.  No photo of that rare sighting.

Iron Springs Road ArizonaThe clouds only thinned a little on the way back.  More storms coming makes me wonder if that will be the end of the color at high elevation.

Iron Springs Road ArizonaIf the temperatures continue to drop I’ll soon be looking for fall foliage in my own neighborhood.

Arizona, fall colors, Flagstaff, Kaibab National Forest , , , , 20 Comments

Foto Friday Fun 288

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by eight readers including a couple run down old houses, northern Arizona canyon country, and South African wildlife.

Old Ed Abbey residence for North Rim Lookout Tower North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #510.  This is presumably what’s left of the cabin where Ed Abbey lived below the fire lookout tower on the North Rim Grand Canyon during the late 60s early 70s.  A shame the park has let it slowly rot away.

Stormy sky Point Imperial North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Stormy sky Point Imperial North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaPam and John chose #1005, one of five in a panorama.  The clouds seem to hang in this stormy sky to the East of Point Imperial overlook on the North Rim Grand Canyon.

Auguereberry Camp Eureka Mine Emigrant Canyon Road Death Valley National Park CaliforniaGail chose #1009, the date she left “for a trip around a small portion of the southwest.”  Hope you’ll share where you’ve been.  Like maybe Death Valley National Park where you can visit the Eureka Mine and see this run down old house.

Fog shrouded Wotans Throne Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJodee and Bill chose #6221.  Although visitors to Grand Canyon are often disappointed by foggy days I always found them exciting.  Inversion lends a certain mystery and magic to the canyon as clouds swirl around Wotans Throne seen from Cape Royal.  (My favorite this week.)

Below The Wave Coyote Buttes North Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness ArizonaSherry and David chose #9118.  After hiking a few miles this is the final approach to The Wave.  Guess this hiker was tired or just happy to have made it.

Golden aspen along Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaJeff chose #2755, “the number of miles on the RV so far this year.”  I have no where near that many this almost traveless year.  But in 2010 when this was taken I could have easily logged that many miles just driving to and from the North Rim across the Kaibab National Forest.

Springbok Augrabies Falls National Park South AfricaRita chose #9537.  Look closely for the Springbok at Augrabies Falls where I celebrated my 60th birthday in South Africa.

Vermilion & Echo Cliffs Hwy 89A East ArizonaYogi chose #1718.  Heading East soon to turn South on State Route 89A with Vermilion Cliffs to the left and Echo Cliffs straight ahead.  This shot from 9-28-09 could be also be from then to 2017.

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaMy choice from Monday night’s sunset over the Weaver Mountains outside my door.

Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories.  Please join in next week by leaving a number between 1 and 9999 in your comment below.

Do you have a favorite this week?

_________________________________________________

If you have problems commenting try this:  leave the cursor after the last word of your comment, then use the Tab key to move the cursor to the Name, Email, and Website boxes before you click the submit key. The Fatal Error message doesn’t seem to stop the comment from coming through.  I’m working on it.  Otherwise, feel free to comment at https://www.facebook.com/Geogpsy , use the contact form found below the header shot, or send an email.  Please know I appreciate everyone who lands here and stays long enough to read.  I really do like comments and try to respond to them all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BTW, you can now shop for photo prints directly from this blog by clicking on the ‘Photography’ tab under the header image.

Foto Friday Fun 25 Comments

Lijit

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