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On the way home

trees sunrise FR545 Coconino National Forest ArizonaThe most recent two week vacation to restore my sanity is over and I broke up the drive a bit on the way home from Bryce Canyon because it was hot and I don’t like to drive more than 3-4 hours in a day.

valley SR12 West UtahA rather uneventful two hour drive and 3000 foot drop in elevation off the Paunsaugunt Plateau with temperature increases and no stops along the way.  There are a few cute small towns and I saw people rafting on the Sevier River but I didn’t need anything or want to cook the cat.  Got to Kanab about 1pm.  Parked, level, and plugged in with AC for Sierra and me at Bill’s house.  I love being able to visit friends in the comfort of my own home.

DSCN5641 smoke San Fransisco Peaks SR89 South Arizona

smoke San Fransisco Peaks SR89 South ArizonaThe next day I continued on the way home via SR89 from Utah to Arizona through Page where I only stopped for fuel at 103°.  The view was hazy with smoke from lightning started fires on the Kaibab National Forest and the Obi Fire on the North Rim.

meadow trees San Fransisco Peaks clouds FR545 Coconino National Forest ArizonaI drove off pavement east into the Coconino National Forest north of Flagstaff and felt the temperatures drop as the elevation rose.

camper Sierra cat on leash FR545 Coconino National Forest ArizonaFound a nice place to camp with a signal and brought Sierra out on her leash.  She lead me around walking like five feet and plopping down with heavy tail wags.  Then would move on and do that again.  We never walked more than 15 feet from the camper.  I got the feeling she wasn’t entirely impressed.  But the poor girl hadn’t been outside in a week.  I figured she’d be really happy to be home the next day where she could run free.

meadow trees San Fransisco Peaks smokey sunset clouds FR545 Coconino National Forest ArizonaSadly as the evening settled, so did the smoke.  Not bad enough to totally obscure the view but could definitely smell it and gave a little extra color to sunset.

meadow trees smoke San Fransisco Peaks FR545 Coconino National Forest ArizonaNight above, morning below

meadow trees early light San Fransisco Peaks FR545 Coconino National Forest ArizonaIn the morning the smoke had decreased for the rest of the drive on the way home.  After a quick grocery stop in Flagstaff I encountered road construction on I40 west.  Sure glad the road is finally being repaved as it had potholes large enough to swallow a Smartcar.

truckcamper Yarnell ArizonaMade it home in about 2 1/2 hours, parked and plugged in.  Sierra went out for hours.  We stayed in the camper one more night and moved back into the little house slowly over the next two mornings to avoid the 90+° days.

Berta memorial flyerThis past two weeks on the road is just what I needed.  As usual, nature revitalized my spirit.  I love to journey but also like to have a home to come to.  I am working on a community gathering to celebrate Berta’s life.

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Arizona, Places I've been, road trip, United States, Utah , , , , , 22 Comments

Stormy skies at Marble View

sunset glow Vermilion Cliffs & Navajo Mountain from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe stormy skies at Marble View were a perfect match for my feelings in turmoil, yet ultimately soothed and calmed me down.

meadow forest clouds SR67 South Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe day began with sunrise at Sunset Crater then onto the Kaibab Plateau and Marble View with a stop at the North Rim Country Store to top off fuel and say hi.  Believe it or not, I drove away without paying but had left my credit card behind.  I didn’t get far along Forest Road (FR) 611 when I realized my stupidity and turned around.  Then back again and it took about an hour from pavement to get to Marble View overlook on the Kaibab National Forest.  One of my favorite places to camp, look for fossils, storm watch, and just hang out.

view South trees storm clouds Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAfter parking and leveling in the perfect spot for views I let Sierra out and she roamed a little but not too far then hid in the wheel wells for at least an hour.  She was more than ready to get out of the camper but I’m sure found all the smells and textures very different than Yarnell.

trees Marble Canyon storm clouds Marble View Kaibab National Forest Arizona

storm clouds Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI had the place to myself for a while and only had to share with two other campers.  Storms blew from west to east yet mostly stayed to the north of me.  I love watching and feeling the power of monsoon storms.  It only rained on me a bit yet I heard that Flagstaff was hit with both hail and rain so I left there in time.

trees last light Marble Canyon reverse sunset clouds Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaClouds were too heavy for much of a sunset however rays struck out just before sinking below the horizon to shine on the valley and outline a bit of the walls of Marble Canyon where the Colorado River flows.

view East trees light & shadow Marble Canyon clouds Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe morning started off only partly cloudy then continued to build throughout the day.

view Northeast trees Vermilion Cliffs storm clouds Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaWhile only a light rain fell on and off throughout the day thunder and lightning kept my attention as the storms wrapped around the point to the north and south.  House Rock Valley got hit hard causing flash flooding according to the Flagstaff weather reports.  I like being high and relatively dry at Marble View.

storm House Rock Valley Vermilion Cliffs from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaSierra only went out briefly first thing in the morning then stayed in the rest of the day.  All that thunder booming might have had something to do with that.  Then when it was almost time to go to bed, windy and slightly raining when I went outside to unplug my electric, and she slips out on my return.  Of course she doesn’t come when called and I decide to go to bed.  When I woke up at 2am and opened the door she was happy to come inside.

rock trees pt Kaibab monocline House Rock Valley Vermilion Cliffs Marble Canyon Navajo Mt from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaFriday morning again begins with only a few clouds and I get out for a walk.  At the point the view takes in north to south.  Marble Canyon is seen below.  Far off to the left the Vermilion Cliffs rise up and due east is Navajo Mountain about 100 miles away.

Kaibab monocline House Rock Valley Vermilion Cliffs clouds from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe far wall of North Canyon clearly reveals the East Kaibab Monocline.  The east-dipping fold developed between 80-50 million years ago during the uplift of the Kaibab Plateau.

unidentified yellow flowers trees valley from Marble View Kaibab National Forest Arizona

trees Marble Canyon Navajo Mountain clouds from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThere is very little soil on this 270 million year old Kaibab limestone making it easy to search for marine fossils.  What flowers grow are stunted almost like being on a tundra.  The wind can be fierce and the trees are twisted and gnarled on this ancient landscape.

trees valley plateau mountain storm clouds from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaLate in the afternoon storms again rolled from the west.  The last slash of light created a glow to the east.

sunset glow Vermilion Cliffs from Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI was inside processing sunset photos when the phone call I’ve been waiting for not to happen came through.  Berta passed away peacefully in her sleep.  I posted the above photo on Facebook dedicated to the most amazing woman I’ve known so far.  Then I shut down the whole social media thing knowing there would be a huge response I was not ready to deal with yet.

It was understandably a rough night.  I am so sad for the loss of my best friend, yet I am happy she is gone.  Her family did everything possible to make her comfortable to the end.  And now it is time to grieve and recover.  We will carry her memory to the end of our days.

Sierra on hood of truck Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaIn the morning I let Sierra out and she went wandering down the forest road.  I wondered if I’d ever see her again.  Then about 20 minutes later she returned and curled up on the hood.  I know I need to quit worrying about her, but I do.  I’ve tipped her world upside down.

storm to north Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaMore heavy storms this time dropping hail briefly followed by a steady rain.  Heavy wind picked up from the northwest and the temperature dropped radically.  I spent most of the day indoors and took a few phone shots through the window.

Gaelyn Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaMy last day was mostly clear with some big fluffy clouds to create light and shadow play across the valley below.  I started to make arrangements for the next move, into the park.  I am feeling some mixed emotions about being on the North Rim.

rainbow Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI could just live right here enjoying the scene through storms, sunshine, or rainbows. Well at least until the snow came.  But it’s time to move into the park and visit the canyon and friends.

 

Arizona, Kaibab National Forest, Marble View , , , , 18 Comments

Super Blue Blood Lunar Eclipse at Kofa NWR

phases lunar eclipse arc Kofa National Wildlife Refuge AZOn January 31, 2018, a Super Blue Blood Lunar Eclipse appeared for the first time in 150 years.  While none of these astronomical events are rare in themselves, together is a big deal.  The moon is ‘Super’ because it’s 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual.  The second full moon of the month is called a ‘blue moon’ even though it is not the color blue.  And during a total lunar eclipse the moon passes through Earth’s shadow giving it a red tint, or ‘blood’ color.

returning moon eclipse Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaIt’s sort of like, once in a blue moon.

saguaro sunset Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaAfter a week on the compact desert too close to Quartzsite and other RVs I moved about 40 miles south to the BLM adjacent to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) along Palm Canyon Road.  It’s a more dense desert with mountains all around but also provides some far views.  I thought it might work for the lunar eclipse in the early morn of Wednesday.

photopills augumented reality moon rise Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI downloaded the PhotoPills app onto my Android and had three days to figure out why.  Thank goodness for a strong signal as I watched videos, read articles and played with this powerful little app for photographers.  Maps, charts, suggestions, and augmented reality made it possible to line up moon and sun, rise and set, along the actual horizon I’m looking at.  It was close, there are mountains.  Not sure how to adjust for that yet.

desert sunset sunrays Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaFor a slight change in vegetation I moved east a bit the next morning to be surrounded by more desert plants: multi-armed saguaros, jumping cholla that glistens in the sun, lime-green twisted palo verde, lots of creosote bushes, beavertail cactus, and some other scrubby stuff I don’t know by name.

Kofa spiral labyrinth Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaHowever I ended up parked a little too close to the Kofa spiral labyrinth which I knew nothing about.  Can’t see it from the road but folks come looking so there’s a bit too much traffic for my taste.

Kofa Mountains sunrise Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI planned to move again the next morning.  But not until after the breathtaking 360° sunrise that rose with wings over the Kofa Mountains to the East.  Color engulfed the horizon and sent a cherry glow to the surrounding landscape, Southeast the Castle Dome Mountains, Southwest the Chocolate Mountains (how can you not like those?), Northwest the Dome Rock Mountains, and me sitting in the middle of it all.  I even took video on the phone but I’m not sure it will load here.

desert Kofa Mountains Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaWhere I thought the moon would rise

PhotoPills calculated when and where the 96.7% waxing gibbous moon rose over the mountains using augmented reality.  I was off a bit as it’s difficult to see in the phone’s screen with sun shinning on it.  Plus I haven’t figured out how to add “obstacles” to alter the actual time the moon would break this elevated horizon line.  Definitely a learning curve, but fun.  I am amazed by the possibilities.  I can even plan in advance and save for offline use.

desert Kofa Mountains moon Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI wanted to photograph the moon as big as possible so swapped into my largest lens, 55-300mm.  Not exactly wide angle or all that much zoom/telephoto, but it’s what I have and was happy with the results.

Kofa Mountains moon rise Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaRebecca (an excellent photographer) and husband showed up Tuesday afternoon in time for a brew before catching the 99.6% waxing gibbous moon rising over the Kofa Mountains along with a little bit of sunset.  She pulled out the big lens at 400mm with a 1.5x teleconverter.  Wish I’d taken a photo of that set up.

Then early to bed with the alarm set for 3:30am to catch the beginning of the super blue moon lunar eclipse.

lunar eclipse Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI set up the tripod Wednesday and shot the moon, repeatedly, for about an hour from the presumably 3:51am start time but noticed no change to the moon.   The bright light of the full moon sent shadows across the desert floor however was still too high in the sky to include any landscape.  The 47°F was tolerable with multiple layers and a hat.  Yes, I’m a weenie, even in Arizona.

lunar eclipse Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe eclipse’s phases lasted over three hours as the Earth moved between the moon and sun.  I set the tripod near the camper and stepped out of the warmth every ten minutes to shoot a bracketed image.  Had the remote batteries not been dead I probably could have shot from inside.  Does seem a little like cheating, but if it was colder I would try.  Definitely takes some commitment.

lunar eclipse Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaSadly, focusing on the moon in the dark isn’t easy and by the time the blood moon arrived approaching totality the camera was out of focus and those shots are all blurry.  Then it got really dark with an infinite starry sky which I also failed at photographing.  This is when I probably should have bumped up the ISO.

Kofa Mountains sunrise Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaFinally around 7am the eastern sky began to lighten.

saguaro returning moon set Chocolate Mountains Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe returning moon slipped down low enough to see the mountainous horizon and a little foreground.

returning moon set Chocolate Mountains Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThen disappeared before returning to full.  Exciting!

Several days in the desert have warmed to about 80°.  I love it!!!  But it’s not right and shouldn’t be this warm the end of January.  Also surprising is the lack of wind and thus a palpable silence in the desert.

almost full moon Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThat night I enjoyed the gloaming once again, 99.6% but now waning gibbous, shrinking.  Have struggled to remember waxing and waning until I thought about waxing as adding dribbles on an old Sangria bottle.  Hey, it works for me.

desert road almost full moon set Earth shadow Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaAnd Thursday morning I didn’t need to be up so early to catch the almost 8am sunrise followed by a fading moon-set into the Earth’s shadow.

eclipse map

What I learned

Got some good shots and learned some lessons for next time.  July 27, 2018, the next total lunar eclipse will be visible from South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.  Guess I’ll miss that one.  Not until January 20-21, 2019 in North America, so I’m sure to have forgotten much and will study it all again.  Using PhotoPills really helped with pre-planning.  Research helped with camera settings.  I didn’t change the ISO from 200 throughout the shoot and probably should have during totality but don’t like to go over 800 as images get grainy.  Bracketing with the long exposures resulted in blur.  Check focus more frequently.  Go to bed earlier for that early of a shot although I did take an afternoon nap after Rebecca and husband left Wednesday.

The next Super Blue Blood Lunar Eclipse happens 12-31-28.  Wonder where I’ll be for that New Year’s Eve celebration?

astronomical events, eclipse, photography, Super Moon , , , , , , 16 Comments

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