Tag: memories

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features 7 images chosen by readers from my photo archives.  I love sharing these memories as photos are drawn up from my past.

Yogi chose #2014, “because that is the here and now.”  And although this photo of the Drakensburg Mountains was taken in 2010 it was my here and now at the time.  This amazing hike took me into the serenity of these luscious peaks and is part of what has captured my heart in South Africa.

Diane chose #1947 for husband Nigel’s date of birth.  Living in France she and Nigel may never make it to the Grand Canyon in reality so I like sharing it virtually.  This is a morning shot taken from the Grand Lodge in August, monsoon season.

Being that Sherry ‘forgot’ to leave a number I’m choosing #65 for her, the number of characters in her comment.  And with that you all get a shot of this character, me, in my arts and craft store in Tonasket, Washington.  I used to paint the window for holidays and this was taken around St Patricks Day 1984.  Can you believe all that hair?

Bibi chose #5660, “which is the distance in miles from Belgrade to my first destination, Seattle!”  And another of her destinations is here at the North Rim.  Yet I don’t think she’ll be including these caves found along the Wild Coast of South Africa on this journey.  Joan and I were guided down the beach by Dezela to the fascinating Mzamba fossil site.

Elaine chose #18, “as we’ve went over the 18 hour mark between sunrise and sunset.”  That’s a big deal when you live in Alaska so I don’t know how happy she’ll be with this snow covered Chateau at Oregon Caves National Monument.  After working a summer season leading cave tours I stayed for part of the winter as a volunteer in 2003/04.

MaryBeth also chose #2014 because it’s “this year and the year Paul and Michelle got married.”  Weddings always make me think about flowers so here we have the brilliant blooms of Indian Paintbrush taken along the Arizona trail on the North Rim.

Jonker chose # 8762, randomly.  And here is a random shot of a herd of springbok, a medium-sized antelope, seen at Kgalagadi National Park South Africa.

My choice this week from an awesome sighting of 7 California Condors seen at Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon Arizona.  Stopped here with staff on our way to training on the South Rim.  #54 had just landed on an obviously well used rock actually chasing off a younger Condor to another perch.

Thank you for joining in Foto Friday Fun where readers choose a number from my archives and I share the corresponding photo and a story.   To join in the fun for
next week leave a number between 01 and 9995 in a comment and maybe see your chosen image next week.

Do you have a favorite from this week?

I have so many photos to share from this recent journey in South Africa.  So as I label them am posting every 100th image on the Geogypsy Facebook page where you can follow along.

Capturing the present for future memories of the past

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features 9 images chosen by readers from my photo archives.  As the temperatures get higher it seems the numbers get lower.  Another week of real mix up between South Africa, Grand Canyon, Oregon and a Washington blast from the past.

Yogi chose #2001, “because I posted my 2001st post this morning.”  Congratulations!  That’s a whole lot of writing.  I’m only on 1433 posts so can barely see that far ahead.  But I did enjoy this far view while hiking at Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa during my 2013 visit.

Bibi chose #638 because “I’ll be visiting you from June (6th month) 3rd to the 8th…”  I can hardly wait to meet her and show her around the Grand Canyon.  Hopefully the road won’t be too rough for a drive to Point Sublime, a favorite viewpoint of mine.

Diane chose #1943, “the year I was born, shhhhh don’t tell anyone.”  Mums the word, just like this little pill bug curled up on the trail to Brian Bush camp in the Drakensberg, South Africa.  Feel free to let me know what this thing really is.

Sherry chose #6667 and I know she loves to enjoy the coast so am sure she would also like watching sunset at Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa.

Elaine chose #70 for the day’s forecasted temperature which surprises me for spring in Alaska.  But I’m sure it was warmer than that when I visited Aztec National Monument during June 2005 in New Mexico.

MaryBeth chose #999 which gives us an aerial view of the Kaibab National Forest, Arizona.  What a wonderful way to see the world.  And even better was flying over Grand Canyon on my journey back to the North Rim after rafting the Colorado River back in 2011.

Sallie chose #90, “because the temperatures rose to that this week—getting too hot—time to leave.”  Well it was at least that hot when I hiked the Grand Canyon in May 2008, even though it was in the 30s when leaving the North Rim.  This view of Bright Angel Canyon was from almost the bottom.

Barb chose #70 because “my 70^th birthday is this week. My son says I’ll be on ‘bonus time!’” 70 is not old when compared to the age of Oregon Caves where I used to lead cave tours.  His time will come.

Jonker chose #7 because, “I’m off to Durban via the Wild Coast this week and will be away for a week.”  No coast, but it was very wild to attend the Barter Fair in Okanogan County, Washington back in the late 90s.  A place totally off the grid, up in the mountains, where hippies gathered to trade their wares.  The outside circle had to be half a mile across.  Our converted school buss is just out of this shot on the right.

My choice this week is what my library/office looks like at the North Rim.  It’s where I’m spending most of my work time right now getting a new program ready for our opening May 15, 2014.  I seem to forget every year how much time 40 hours a week takes out of life.  Therefore I haven’t been reading many blogs lately, or writing for that matter.  But I’ll soon get into the swing of it again.

Thank you for joining in Foto Friday Fun where readers choose a number from my archives and I share the corresponding photo and a story.   To join in the fun for next week leave a number between 01 and 9995 in a comment and maybe see your chosen image next week.

Do you have a favorite from this week?

I have so many photos to share from this recent journey in South Africa.  So as I label them I’ll post every 100th image on the Geogypsy Facebook page where you can follow along.

Capturing the present for future memories of the past

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features 10 images chosen by readers from my photo archives.  I’m really enjoying the mix up from Arizona, South Africa and a blast from the past.

Diane chose #1011, “the day and month of Nigel’s birthday.  I hope she’ll remind me when closer to that date, I’ll still be at Grand Canyon watching the morning light chase shadows down the canyon walls.

Jonker chose #9997, “Just to see what it is.”  What it is, is Blue Wildebeest at a salt lick which is within view of a restaurant in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa.  Every time we stopped here, which was daily, we usually saw animals of a different kind.

Yogi chose #59, “because that is how old I am.”  There are 59 hand-made Christmas ornaments on this tree (go ahead, count them) set up in my craft store, 1983, in Tonasket, Washington.  I sold craft supplies, yarn and locally made items.

Arija chose #1949, “the year we left Europe and migrated to Australia since no other country would have us.”  I’d take you in a heart beat, yet I feel you’ve grown to love your country of adoption.  Just as much as I love when fall comes to the Kaibab National Forest.  But I can wait until after summer.

Sherry chose #785 and she’s “thinking of you happily back in the Grand Canyon.”  And I am!  In fact I’ll be very glad when it’s no longer cold and summer monsoons bring rainbows like this hanging in Roaring Springs Canyon.

Cheryl chose #4999 because, “I tried to divide to pick the middle, but it’s an odd number.”  I’m sure some will think me odd to take photos of hyena tracks in the road while in Kruger National Park South Africa.  But then I also take pics of animal dung.

Sallie also chose #9997, same as Jonker, to “be last this week.”  She’s going to have to settle with second to last with these zebras getting friendly in Pilanesberg Game Reserve South Africa.  Even though I know better, I have the desire to ride a zebra.

Elaine chose #60 because, “our high temperatures are predicted to be in the 60s all this week.”  Now that’s a really big deal when you live in Alaska.  I think it was at least 60 even in March when I camped for free along Freeman Road on BLM land between Casa Grande and Gila Bend Arizona on my way to Texas in spring of 2011.  It’s a favorite boondocking piece of desert.

MaryBeth chose #2011, “the year I met Bob—still together—OMG!!!!”  A lot of this week’s photos were taken in 2011, but not this one at Golden Gate Highlands National Park South Africa from last year’s visit.  Don’t the minerals leaching down the rock face remind you of icing on a cake?

Bibi chose #3333, “No reason; just looks nice.”  Well I thought these Buffalo looked nice grazing on this hillside in Hluhluwe iMfolozi National Park South Africa, even though they were rather far away.  Plus note the interesting shape to the trees.

My choice this week taken April, 22, Earth Day, seems appropriate to natures tenacity.  After the Yarnell Fire I was amazed at what survived.  The wind patterns must have been tornado like, leaving behind destruction that ranged from total annihilation and twisted melt down to barely singed and missed completely.  This survivor burro made of solid plaster peers between the spring flowers contrasted with charred bush trunks behind.

Thank you for joining in Foto Friday Fun where readers choose a number from my archives and I share the corresponding photo and a story.   To join in the fun for
next week leave a number between 01 and 9995 in a comment and maybe see your chosen image next week.

Do you have a favorite from this week?

I have so many photos to share from this recent journey in South Africa.  So as I label them I’ll post every 100th image on the Geogypsy Facebook page where you can follow along.

Capturing the present for future memories of the past