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Foto Friday Fun 383: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 11 readers including various shades of red rock in Utah and Arizona, a couple panoramic landscapes above and below ground, and my hiking/travel companion for many years.

Wahweap Bay Lake Powell UtahCathy chose #739.  I sometimes camp along Lake Powell with this view near Wahweap Bay not far from Page, Arizona yet across the state line in Utah.

Carson at trailhead East Rim viewpoint Kaibab National Forest ArizonaJo chose #304.  She knows about walking with your dog.  Carson and I explored a lot of trails.  This from our first season at the North Rim Grand Canyon in June 2008.

Canyonlands from Bridger Jack Road UtahYogi, and random dot org, chose #3260.  An amazingly huge view of Canyonlands from Bridger Jack Road before even entering the national park.

Gaelyn The Wave Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness ArizonaSherry chose #9252.  An exceedingly happy me at The Wave in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona.  Had to hike in Utah to get there.

Saguaro desert Dome Rock BLM Quartzsite ArizonaSusie chose #4867.  A southern Arizona desert landscape near Quartzsite and similar to where she’s lived even further south in Arizona yet very different than her current desert in Saudi Arabia.

Fish ladder Spring Creek fish hatchery Underwood Washington 09-1996Jim and Diana chose #32.  The fish ladder at Spring Creek fish hatchery along the Columbia River in Underwood, Washington.  Took this while working for Fish and Wildlife in 1996.

View from Mountain Zebra National Park Eastern Cape South Africa

View from Mountain Zebra National Park Eastern Cape South AfricaDiane and Nigel chose #2509, one of five in a panorama.  Mountain Zebra National Park provided some of the largest views in wildlife safari parks in South Africa.

Secretary bird Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park South AfricaDoris chose #8955.  A Secretary bird, named because the head feathers standing up looks like pencils stuck in a secretary’s hair.  They are funny birds that stomp their insect and lizard food.  Saw them in several South African national parks including this shot in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park during my 2014 visit.

Storm clouds temples from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaRita chose #5732, a place she always likes to see.  A May storm in 2016 with virga dropping from the clouds yet not hitting the land as seen from the North Rim Lodge Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

Paradise Lost Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon

Paradise Lost Oregon Caves National Monument OregonJodee and Bill chose #137, one of five in a panorama in Oregon Caves taken during my 2007 summer season.  Paradise Lost is too tall to even capture in a panorama and is a tall-staired side-trip on the national monuments walking tour.

Clouds over the Eye of the Needle Drakensburg hike KwaZulu-Natal South AfricaJeff chose #2016, “my PADRES last made it to the playoffs 14 years ago.”  Me thinks something isn’t quite right with either the number or the math—but then I am easily confused over sports.  But then the Eye of the Needle might not look quite right either as seen on my Drakensburg hike during my first visit to South Africa in 2010.  (My favorite shot this week.)

light shine hoodoos Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahLast week’s sunrise visit to Bryce Point with friends brought interesting spots of light on the hoodoos below us.

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 below.

Do you have a favorite this week?

 

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Time to Order the 2021 Geogypsy calendar.

Foto Friday Fun 22 Comments

Getting things done before end of season

yellow Rabbit brush flowers hoodoos valley Table Cliffs sunrise clouds Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahFinally getting things done before end of season less than a month away.  That’s me, always procrastinating.

late light hoodoos trees Sunset Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahBut three days off in a row feels like a treat and makes it a little easier getting things done.  That followed by a four day work week, and two days off with company, then back to work.  Do we call what I do work?  Yes, but a nice balance being a summer seasonal Park Ranger and gypsy.

Last week’s days off were all about getting things done that I put off for too long.  The computer’s been wonky so I did a double backup in case it dies.  Also worked on the 2021 calendar photos and blog post.  Guess the profit from those sales will go towards a new laptop.  Once the final photos are chosen I’ll format and order so let me know if you want a calendar.

hoodoos trees Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahFinally got around to ordering a bunch of stuff—almond syrup for my morning latte, a Bissell pet-fur vacuum cleaner, camping solar shower bag, and Queen-size memory foam topper for the camper’s bed.  Need to have things shipped while I still have a physical address.  Other chores were mundane like laundry and cleaning house—which I can almost put off forever—and replacing a dripping water hose.

Southeast view from Yovimpa Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahView southeast from Yovimpa Point 9-14-20

Gray & White cliffs haze cloud from Yovimpa Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAs above with smoky haze 9-19-20

Back to work on Saturday with the opening schedule, a couple hours at the visitor center, then gone the rest of the day to Rainbow Point, 18 miles, at the end of the road south followed by my choice of where to rove.  OMG!  Another crazy busy Saturday.  Parking lot overfull by 11am so I drive down the road about 1/4 mile to a wide spot and walked back up to Yovimpa Point for a 12:30 and 1:30 Staircase geology talk.  The high wind felt cold and chased me off the point before the second talk.  Finished the afternoon roving at the Natural Bridge overlook for about an hour and then ended my day a little early.  What the heck, I have hundreds of hours of sick leave.

Sunday was just as busy.  I worked the afternoon at the visitor center and after dinner presented the 8pm evening program about wildlife at Bryce Canyon.  Typically, visitation would level out after the holiday to boomers and folks without children.  But so many people are homeschooling that travel to parks with kids is still a thing.  Not to mention all the extra RVs.

fall red & ever green below Yovimpa Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAutumn red mixes with evergreens below Yovimpa Point

Murphy at work in my laptop Monday morning, and on the website too, while I’m trying to post about the 2021 Geogypsy calendar.  Hoping to use the calendar profits to help pay for a new computer.  Still working on the comment problem here but it basically has to wait until days off, and help from a friend.  Instead my work schedule took me to Sunset Point area that day in high winds that could have blown my hat off.  Thunder boomed with cloud-to-cloud lightning and I managed to present the 11am hoodoo geology talk, but not the 1pm, before sprinkles of rain became grapple (mixed hail and snow) and then turned into a down pour just after I got into my truck.  So I returned to the visitor center to help with inside orientation knowing it would be very busy as people descend on the building when it rains.  Have been spoiled by being outside for that and it’s difficult to hear and talk through plexiglass especially wearing a mask.

Still plodding along on getting things done now that I have an end of work date of October 24th.  The Bissell pet-fur vacuum arrived and works pretty good.  Now I just need to get into the truckcamper with it to de-fuzz the place before moving into it for the winter.  Solar shower also arrived and will be convenient for outside hot water washing.  Set up the towing, winterizing, and storage of the 5th-wheel for winter on the same property as last year.  Can you hear my big sigh of relief?

hoodoos rainbow storm clouds light Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMy Friday on Tuesday brought another day of rain and hail.  Yet I still led a 4pm Rim Walk with 23 visitors even with sprinkles and we saw a rainbow.  Or at least half a rainbow.

hoodoos trees sunset clouds Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

trees sunset clouds moon Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahCompany arrived Wednesday and we visited until time to watch the light change on the hoodoos with hope to catch a bit of sunset color.  Then back to my RV to make dinner for a birthday boy/man.

yellow Rabbit brush flowers hoodoos sunrise haze sunburst Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

hoodoos first light Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThey even convinced me to get up before sunrise so we could photograph before they left Thursday for fall color in Colorado.  Hard to believe this was the first sunset and rise I’ve shot all summer.

trees sunset clouds from RV window Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunset

trees sunrise clouds from RV Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunrise

Well, other than through the RV window or door.  Lazy or what?

Back to work on Friday under clear skies with a light smoky haze on the horizon and roving the busy rim from 10am-2pm.  Most questions are about directions and trailheads.  Then back to the visitor center for the rest of the afternoon and more questions.

Another crazy busy Saturday and not necessarily because it was National Public Lands Day and also fee free as most visitors don’t even know it’s a free day.  All parking lots at overlooks were full and closed several times throughout the day.  Extra shuttles were added.  And even the overflow parking was maxed with mostly RVs.  Volunteer visitors helped us pick up litter at three popular overlooks.

first light hoodoos shadows trees Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMy afternoon Rim Walk went with, once again, 23 visitors and some wonderful conversation about overflowing national parks.  My cultural history talk/walk includes how people’s connection to the land has changed over time, both historically and as individuals.  I love when visitors share their stories.  I’m still calling this summer “weirdly wonderful” as it hasn’t been quite as crowded as the previous summer.  Really think we need more national parks to accommodate people.

trees sunset clouds moon Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahI wrote this on a Sunday off work—not my usual day—because I’m leading an almost-full-moon walk on Wednesday night.  I will post about that soon, or as I’m getting things done.  Then a friend calls and says, “How about checking out the fall colors on the North Kaibab?”  So that has me thinking about my next two days off.

trees sunset clouds Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahI found out from a cousin his dad, my 97-year old Uncle Kay, died last week.  He was the last of our family’s elder generation, and now it is us boomers who are the seniors.  Hard to believe.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Places I've been, Seasonal Park Ranger, United States, Utah , , , 15 Comments

Foto Friday Fun 382: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 12 readers including rocky landscapes in Colorado, Arizona, South Africa and Utah, sunsets, and a waterfall.

San Juan Mountains Colorado July 2005Jim and Diana chose #39.  From summer 2005 through an extremely dirty windshield, the San Juan Mountains in Colorado.  One of many places visited nearby when I worked at Mesa Verde National Park.

Stormy sky over Kaibab Plateau SR89A West ArizonaLisa chose #1256, a panorama from 9-10-09.  Not sure where I was coming from but this was the view of a stormy sky over the Kaibab Plateau from SR89A.

Chalcedony Desert Rose rock found at Lake Pleasant ArizonaYogi and random dot org chose #405.  A hollow rock lined with Chalcedony, often called a Desert Rose, found near Lake Pleasant, Arizona while camping out with my dear friend Berta, who also was a rockhound, for a celebration of my birthday just a few days late 3-29-09.  Yogi understands about long birthday celebrations.

Sky Island & East from Walhalla overlook North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #1809.  They saw this view of Sky Island and Grand Canyon from the Walhalla overlook while visiting the North Rim.

Vermilion Cliffs Hwy 89A East ArizonaCathy chose #1113.  The Vermilion Cliffs as seen from a drive by on SR89A, Arizona.  I’ve driven that stretch of road many times in both directions and still marvel.

Waterfall Havasu Creek Havasupai Indian Reservation ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #918 in honor of what would have been her mother’s 110th birthday.  918 was an address of mine as a kid in Illinois.  This waterfall has nothing to do with either.  Saw this, and many other waterfalls, while hiking in Havasu Canyon on the Havasupai Reservation during Spring 2010.

Dove along trail Warmwaterberg Spa Barrydale South AfricaJo chose #3300.  Saw this dove along a trail while staying at Warmwaterberg Spa in Barrydale, South Africa during my March 2013 visit.  I’m sure she’s seen these in her home country and possibly along the same Route 62 she recommended I drive.

Rocky outcrop along Swartberg Pass South AfricaRita chose #2789, no crawlies.  This rocky outcrop and far view was seen while driving Swartberg Pass in South Africa only days before the previous shot.  Just one of many mountain passes I drove that year.

Sunset Yarnell Arizona

Sunset Yarnell ArizonaSherry chose #347 for the time.  Over many years I took a lot of photos of sunsets in Yarnell Arizona.  The first one taken 12-21-08, and I couldn’t resist the second one with the same number taken 1-26-09.

Canyon view from RV North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDoris chose #8953.  An early October 2014 view from my RV parked on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.

Grand Staircase Escalante Hwy 89 West Utah

Grand Staircase Escalante Hwy 89 East UtahJeff chose #922, “the first day of autumn, and this covid summer can be left behind.”  I’m sure we can all agree that would be nice.  But these shots of the Grand Staircase Escalante were taken in the spring, both from SR89 in Utah, April westward and May east.  Both with the same number.

Ocean explorers interp sign at Seeberg view point West Coast National Park Langebaan South AfricaJodee and Bill , definitely explorers, chose #4221.  Last week we talked about going to the coast.  Though we were talking about California, this shot was at West Coast National Park Langebaan South Africa.

visitors taking selfies Natural Bridge overlook Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

Natural Bridge trees clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMy choices taken while roving at Natural Bridge overlook in Bryce Canyon National Park.  I just had to laugh (behind my mask) while taking a candid shot of the visitors standing with their backs to the view.

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 below.

Do you have a favorite this week?

Hey folks, Saturday September 26th is National Public Lands Day.  Here at Bryce we’ve organized a littler pickup with visitors volunteering to help.  Hope you’ll get out to enjoy public lands near you.  Also, you can attend the virtual California Condor release here https://peregrinefund.org/news-release/saturday-september-26-25th-annual-public-california-condor-release-taking

Still working with Hostgator to get comments visible.  Doesn’t seem to matter what device is used.

 

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Foto Friday Fun 24 Comments

Lijit

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