Leaving Safford and Thatcher Arizona, I drove east towards New Mexico on the most remote roads I could find on the map. I traveled on roads ripe with twists, turns, and incomparable scenery. I’m reminded that this is best the way to meet North America. By staying on the interstate you see little of the … Read more
Sunday, after spending the day at the Gilbert Water Ranch, I drove the Superstition Highway forty miles east to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. I’d been here only once before in the fall of 2019 (last year) and was looking forward to another visit. I doubt that birding was a consideration or a … Read more
I scouted several of the trails at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert after I arrived late Saturday afternoon, but I did not carry my camera. The light was fading and I wanted to get a feel for this place I’d been hearing about all these years. Given the developments of housing and light commercial buildings … Read more
My journey into Texas has been delayed while I’ve been preparing my travel gear for the trip. I put a lot of my energy into a kayak I’d hoped to bring with me, but when I broke the steering arm that drives the rudder, I had to decide if it was worth it to delay … Read more
I don’t know how many folks have looked into the “Birds I Have Known” galleries lately, but recently I discovered it’s been a mess for several months. Yesterday I began reviewing the Bird Galleries on my website and was horrified at the shape they were in. Not all of them, but enough were corrupted to … Read more
I’m getting closer to making good on my threat to hit the road in earnest. Texas is calling. My goal outbound is to connect with some friends in Arizona and perhaps chase a few birds along the way before I tackle all those Texas miles. I have no delusions of seeing all that Texas offers, … Read more
Whether your interests are hiking, exploring, shopping for art, camping, mountaineering, relaxing, summer jazz, or just escaping from the hustle of the southern California cities below, the mile-high region around Idyllwild has many attractions. My explorations of this area usually go beyond the town limits. I think of the town as a starting point for … Read more
I was going through old images today, clearing out duplicates and just general digital house cleaning. I found a set of older files I had assembled and called “Scenic-Set”. I thought they were interesting in retrospect. This isn’t what I shoot today (i.e. not birds), but I thought they were fun and worth sharing. My … Read more
Midway between Interstate 5 and US-99, 15 miles from Los Banos and 11 miles from Merced California, is the approximate geographic center of California’s Central Valley. It is also the site of the 10,000+ acre Merced National Wildlife Refuge. Prior to the “civilization” of the west, the entire Central Valley of California was a destination … Read more
For me, Iron Mountain is a daily experience. From my property it sits prominently in view when I gaze east from my home. At 2,601 feet elevation, it is not the highest peak in the county. Nearby Mount Woodson, at 2,881 feet stands taller. Yet from the perspective of the valley floor in Poway, it … Read more
