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Foto Friday Fun 456: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 15 readers including Southwest forests and red rock, mud, South African wildlife and fossils.

Dark sky & rainbow FR271 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaSherry chose #8367.  Always dicey when going for a forest drive during monsoon season but oh so worth the rainbow reward.  Seen in the Kaibab National Forest 9-26-14.

Corral at Lookout Canyon staging area Kaibab National Forest ArizonaJeff chose #4136 for the acres burned in the CalFire/Airport Fire when he posted last week.  Don’t think was a “forest” fire, but California has seen plenty of those.  Thinning occurs on the Kaibab National Forest in an attempt to return the Ponderosa Pine forest to the open like environment it should be.  When out for a drive in Lookout Canyon I found a horse-camp with this wonderful old rail fence.

Cliff above River walk trail Zion National Park UtahSusan chose #1914, “the year my Mom was born.”  Summer of 2014 was the year Pat visited from Serbia via Seattle.  When folks come to the North Rim, where I was working, I try to show them other places as well and Zion is another nearby national park.

Hand & toe holes Banshee Canyon Rings Loop Trl Hole in the Wall Mojave Natonal Preserve CaliforniaSue chose #2224, “for our home arrival.”  That’s today as I type.  My home tends to be wherever I park it, like when staying at Mojave National Preserve in February 2016.  Glad I didn’t have to use these human chipped hand and toe holes to get home.  Saw these on the equally daring Banshee Canyon Rings Loop Trail near Hole in the Wall camp.

red gall on AZ White Oak tree Yarnell ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #1802.  A most unusual gall growing on an Arizona White Oak tree in Yarnell.

Farview Pt bridge & hoodoos Bryce Canyon National Park UtahKeith chose #1209, “the date we closed on the land.”  That being near one of my old stomping grounds Tonasket, Washington.  This shot from another of my old stomping grounds, Bryce Canyon National Park in 2010 long before I worked there.  Look closely to see the natural rock bridge visible from Farview lookout.

Dry cracked mud along trail-road to Tuweep overlook Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaCathy chose #1939.  When camped at Toroweap Grand Canyon National Park, one needs to walk carefully to the rim so as not to disturb the cryptobiotic soil.  Instead it’s best to follow the well beaten road one mile to the rim.

Setting up telescopes Lodge veranda Star Party North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #2263, “My daughter’s birthday and age.”  Not as old as the stars that were seen at the Star Party on the North Rim Grand Canyon.  Here, setting up one of the many telescopes.

Canyon view BA Canyon from Mather Pt South Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaGypsy chose #8012.  Visited the South Rim Grand Canyon with a friend the day before my birthday in 2015.  Seemed strange looking across canyon to my North Rim summer home at the time.  Bright Angel Canyon is where one hikes on the North Kaibab trail and the green at bottom left is Phantom Ranch.  Hmmm, where should I celebrate my birthday this year and will you join me?

Valley of Fire State Park NevadaWanda chose #8930.  So much beauty in the Southwest and Valley of Fire is only an hour from Las Vegas.

Zebras at salt lick Pilanesberg Game Reserve South AfricaRita chose #0391.  A restaurant dinning deck provides opportunity to see wildlife pretty darn close in the private Pilanesberg Game Reserve.  Caption please.

Crinoid trace fossil rock against wood Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJennifer chose #2498.  She likes rocks so I presume that includes fossils.  Look closely for the impression, or trace fossil, of a crinoid in this piece of limestone on a fallen Juniper seen at the North Rim Grand Canyon.

Elephant Kruger National Park South AfricaAlan and random dot org chose #3598.  One of the big “tuskers” seen at Kruger National Park.

Waves & lighthouse Indian Ocean Scottburgh Caravan Park Scottburgh South AfricaJodee and Bill chose #5421.  They see ocean way more frequently than I.  Imagine my excitement to wake in camp and walk down to the shore of the Indian Ocean.  More shots coming of the sunrise at the end of the post.

House Rock Valley Rd Vermilion Cliffs National Monument ArizonaJo chose #4218.  After taking friends to visit White Pocket in northern Arizona this is the House Rock Valley Road drive north into Utah in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

Sunrise over Indian Ocean Scottburgh Caravan Park Scottburgh South Africa

Sunrise over Indian Ocean Scottburgh Caravan Park Scottburgh South Africa

Beach view Wild Coast Sun Port Edward South Africa

Ammonite fossil Wild Coast Sun Port Edward South Africa

Frankie's Ginger Beer Mac Banana near Port Edward South AfricaAs I was search for photos on 2-22-22 and found Jodee’s photo along the coast taken 2-22-14 it seemed like a no brainer to share a few more shots of that amazing day starting with sunrise, then a privately guided beach walk to the fabulous Mzamba fossil site, and ended with dinner and a beer at MacBanana’s.  All in a day in South Africa.

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

For those new to the blog and/or Foto Friday Fun I want to explain how I do this.  I have always been diligent about labeling my photos.  When I scanned prints and started shooting digital I added numbers to the descriptive labels (usually starting over daily or monthly) instead of using the camera default number, which I finally accepted many years later.  That means that a lot of old photos have very low numbers.  Anyway, when you leave a comment with a number, I start with my oldest photos stored on external drives and run a search with your number.  I usually choose the oldest on file that hasn’t been published on the blog already.  Bonus, for years I’ve added a code to my label that identifies where pics have been posted.  Guess I don’t have to explain my complicated system any further.  Needles to say, I am OCD about labeling my photos, amongst other things.

Foto Friday Fun 28 Comments

Sun and Moon over the mountains from camp Kofa

Ocotillo desert Chocolate Mts sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaPart of the February Geogypsy Journey—that nobody attended except me—included watching for the full moon over the mountains.  Clear nights are best for the moon, clouds make colorful sunsets, and dust is different.  Wind tends to blow during the winter in the desert Southwest so the days and nights are uncertain.  Yet even a cold (to me) 45° night in the desert feels better than below freezing with snow.

Sierra cat on pillow Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaEnd of a long day

After watching the early rising moon for several clear afternoons, moving a little further south on the horizon every day, I hoped to see the full moon over the mountains with the rugged ridgeline of the Kofa Mountains.  I’ve seen it before, and you may have too if you’ve seen my photos or been there yourself.

desert Kofa Mts moon Palm Canyon BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaClear sky at sunrise hits those same rugged Kofa Mountains, just a little further north than the current header shot so the light is different again.  I believe early February would be better for that.  A good reason to make the February 2023 Geogypsy Journey: Sharing the Kofa Light nature experience centered around that full moon rise on the 5th.  (More coming on this around August/September or ask.)

desert Chocolate Mts sunset clouds Palm Canyon BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaBy afternoon the temperature reached almost 80° and a light southern breeze kept the camper comfortable.  I sat outside reading and watching the world, eye caught by a soaring Prairie Falcon.  Noticed the moon about an hour before a pleasant sunset.

desert faint Chocolate Mts dusty BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThat wind persisted over night, increasing in strength, and blowing against my door from the SSW, opposite what the usual winter wind does.  At first it was just rudely obnoxious.  By early afternoon the camper was rocking and soon came the dust.  First the Chocolate Mountains to the west disappeared.

desert Kofa Mts dusty moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaBy dusk, moon over mountains was looking pretty fuzzy.

Ocotillo desert dusty sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaAnd sunset was a rather eerie blur.  The temperature suddenly dropped about 30° so I oven heated the house with pizza for dinner.

12v receptacle wiresThe next morning, clear blue sky still carried a haze of dust particles, yet the stillness was a creepy contrast to the night before.  An afternoon light wind eventually blew the dust away.  I played electrician when the hot wire on the 12v socket simply fell off.  The solar panels are making lots of power and keeping the battery fully charged every day.  What good when I couldn’t access the power?  I had already tried to tape the connection but no go.  I do not have the right connectors to replace the one that’s obviously not holding a solid connection.  Spare parts are important to carry.  So I stripped back some of the plastic insulation to expose more length of wire and wrapped it around the post on the back of the socket.  Viola!  It ain’t pretty but it works until I get the right connectors in town this week.   I’m a half-ass MacGyver.  I do have to be extremely careful not to bump it when plugging and unplugging the inverter that makes 12v DC into household 110v AC to charge my laptop.  Another thing I want to change, the inverter should have a power switch to reduce that stress on the socket system.  I don’t really know.  Maybe I’m wrong.  I’m not really an electrician but I’d like to see the entire set up more solid.  Perhaps an inverter could be hardwired.

AR moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaIn the afternoon I took a walk to look for a potential location to shoot the moon over the mountains, and maybe a Saguaro in the foreground.  Between the PhotoPills app I never entirely trust, and a backup compass bearing, I get a close idea to where the moon should break over the horizon.  Sometimes, it’s close to right.  I set the tripod where I wanted to shoot from, within sight of the camper where I returned for dinner.

desert sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaMoon rise occurred about 30 minutes after sunset, noticeably clearer than the night before.

desert mts moon rise Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaWith the limited light I always struggle to clearly manual focus the camera when auto focus doesn’t work.

Kofa Mts full moon rise Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe series isn’t bad, of course I want better, but gives me the challenge to try again next month.

desert Chocolate Mts Earth Shadow moon setting BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaAt sunrise east over the Kofa Mountains, I managed to catch the setting moon over the mountains and Earth’s Shadow to the west, the Chocolate Mountains.  Such a wonderful name.  Sometimes the first morning light makes them look dusted with confectioners sugar.

As I began to process the moon photos my laptop tells me the drive is full.  My D5600 camera takes 24mp photos, times almost six because I shoot in jpg and RAW, plus bracket every shot and all that equals huge file sizes that fill disk space.  I backup everything twice on external drives so it was time to move photo files before I could process more with Lightroom.

last light desert mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI’m kind of camped at the end of a line and isn’t easy to find.  In almost two weeks here, only two vehicles have come by then turn around and left.  But on weekends, the main gravel Palm Canyon Road can be like a freeway.  People fly in all kinds of vehicle from two-wheeled to 12, kicking up a trail of dust that thankfully blows away from me, most of the time.

Sierra cat inside camper BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaNot like my little house on wheels isn’t dirty enough with dust, dirt, and cat hair.

desert Mesquite tree truckcamper Chocolate Mts sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaIt’s about time to shop, dump, fill, and do laundry.  Timing mostly revolves around propane needs to maintain fridge, stove, and heat.  Have RVer company coming this weekend so need to get chores done before hand.

desert Kofa Mts dusty reverse sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaHazy view

Must be getting itchy feet as I’ve been studying the road atlas—a real paper version—for routes this summer.  Starting with the Cascade Mountains north to the Pacific Northwest and then east through the northern states for a mid-September arrival in the Chicago suburbs for my 50th high school reunion.  I’m not good at specific date plans so reservations are rather difficult to digest.  I figure if I stick with routes through/near federal and state public lands I can boondock much of the way.  I’ll be staying off interstates as much as possible.  What we used to call “blue-lines”, now those are the freeways on maps.  I’m not about go fast to get somewhere and would rather enjoy the journey.  I hope to visit with some of you along the way and will share my route ideas soon plus am open to suggestions.  Side trips can be arranged and I like to friendock if you have space for my truckcamper.

desert Kofa Mts full moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaPhone shot of the full moon over the mountains

In the meantime, I’m thinking about a different set of mountains for full moon rise in March.

(Hope you enjoy this palindrome date on Tuesday 2-22-22.  The next time all of these conditions align in the same way is in the year 2422, 400 years from now.  Don’t think I’ll be here. But if you read this then, please leave a comment.}

Arizona, full moon, Kofa NWR, Places I've been, RV life, United States , , , 38 Comments

Foto Friday Fun 455: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 12 readers including Grand Canyon, South African wildlife, flowers, and a taste of Mexico.

Storm over House Rock Valley from Hwy 89A West ArizonaTreDuece chose #1371.  As he seems to spend a lot of time “on the road” he’ll recognize that I do also.  This is a drive-by shot, taken from SR89A, of a storm I was heading into over House Rock Valley and the Kaibab Plateau beyond.  August monsoon 2010 in Arizona.

Derek Suwaima-Davis Hoop dance Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaCathy chose #5000.  It is likely she’s watched International Hopi hoop-dancer Derek Suwaima-Davis at the North Rim Grand Canyon Heritage Days.

Snow on Widforss Point from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #1102.  They saw Widforss Point from the North Rim Grand Lodge during a summer visit.  This snowy view from 4-29-10, before the North Rim was open.

Blackback Jackal Pilanesberg Game Reserve South AfricaRita chose #0374.  Caught this Blackback Jackal just waking up while on a morning safari drive at Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa during my 2014 visit.

Red leaf on Purple Cranesbill Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJo chose #6900.  One leaf of Purple Cranesbill showed a pop of September color along the Walhalla Plateau on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.

Dark sky over morning sunlit canyon from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSusan chose #1937.  An August monsoon morning put on quite a show over the Grand Canyon from the North Rim Grand Lodge verandah.

Leopard in tree Pilanesberg Game Reserve South AfricaSue chose #9812, “for the youngest daughter’s birthday.”  Four days after my 60th birthday I watched this leopard in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa.

stained glass Daisies in the Wind East Wenatchee Washington 6-1987Alan gets #84 for the number of words in his last post.  Been a lot of wind lately so this “Daisies in the Wind” seems appropriate.  I taught and created stained glass in 1987 while living in Wenatchee, Washington were this shot was taken.

Paria Cemetery Paria River Road Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahSallie and Bill chose #6666, “Just to be different and because it doesn’t worry me.”  I could only laugh when the oldest shot with that number, from 7-21-15, is the Paria Cemetery, a rather remote place with a long gone town in southern Utah.  Note the colorful bentonite cliffs in the background.

Lions on road Kruger National Park South AfricaGypsy chose #4112, “April 1! stay in Patagonia’s Lucy & Desi Spartan long, long trailer.”  The trailers, called caravans, are very different in South Africa.  I don’t think people fill them with rocks. But if on the road early in Kruger National Park, you might have to avoid lions just waking up on the warm pavement, even after rain.  Thus why we sometimes find scat on roads.

Puerto Cito Baja MexicoJeff chose #43, “the total points scored in Super Bowl 56.”  Not to be confused with this super bowl of a bay in Puerto Cito, Baja Mexico.  I’m thinking nobody watched TV from there in January 2005.

Orange flowers Sterkspruit Falls trail Drakensburg KwaZulu-Natal South AfricaSherry chose #1623.  Saw these brilliant orange flowers (maybe lilies) along the Sterkspruit Falls trail in the Drakensburg, South Africa.

Gaelyn's RV flower shop Yucca Valley California Feb 2003Being the week of Valentine’s Day this shot seemed good.  While living in my motorhome and selling at a flea market in Yucca Valley, California during Februray of 2003 a man I dated brought me flowers.

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

Foto Friday Fun 30 Comments

Lijit

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