I had hardly expected Juneau to be bathed in summer light. With an average of 280 cloudy days every year, I counted my blessings to be in Juneau on the one day when I could see the sun for more than 18 hours continuously. So I took that opportunity to explore the length and bread of the roadway network in the capital city of Alaska. Fortunately, it wasn't a lot - Alaska's Route 7 runs a mere 39miles north from the capital.
Hugging the coastline, the route provides expansive views of the mountains of Glacier Bay across the Favorite Channel (whose favorite channel was this?). And on this balmy summer day, with snow still dusting the high peaks across the channel, it was relaxing to watch the local crowd enjoying the few hours of sunshine.
Juneau
AK USA
A National Parks Journey - Channel Islands National Park
The little set of islands tucked just off the coast of southwestern California is quite unlike the mainland: picture the same rocky and rugged California coastline enveloping a windblown ocean environment replete with kelp forests and the islands own unique wildlife. So near and yet so different - that was the impression I carried from my short visit to the largest island from the town of Oxnard.
I remember wandering around the tiny island, learning about its history, and admiring the tiny island foxes that roamed around the island carefree and unafraid of humans. Its not an island paradise of Hawaii, but it certainly had its own charm.
Channel Islands National Park
CA USA
A National Parks Journey - Dry Tortugas National Park
Tranlsated literally, dry tortugas means dry turtles, though I could never fathom how that name stuck to the series of Caribbean reef islands situated on the far end of the Florida Keys. They weren't the easiest to get to. Starting with a 3hour drive along the heavily trafficked US Route 1 to the end of the Florida keys, it continued on a 3hr ferry ride on choppy waters that took us to a series of atolls, including one topped by a 19th century fort. But it was worth every minute of it.
Far from any population centers, the only folks that provided company on this island paradise were the tourmates from the ferry and the Park personnel. I took the time to explore the nooks and crannies of the historic Fort Jefferson, and tried to juxtapose the red-brick architecture with the azure blue skies above and turquoise waters below. My only regret was not being able to camp at Dry Tortugas, and enjoy a Caribbean sunset. Perhaps that calls for a return visit.
Dry Tortugas National Park
FL USA
Where the Mountains meet the Sea
The march of the waves is incessant and steadfast. For years and decades and centuries, the swells brought on by the strong Pacific winds have crashed against the Tillamook headlands. Over millenia, this has slowly etched away at the rocky leaving behind the seastacks this region is so well known for, including the famous Haystack Rock of Cannon beach
From this vantage point in Ecola State Park, you can watch this erosion in action, albeit at a glacial timescale. The morning light, combined with the sea spray that hangs around above the water, yielded a blissful scene that was imprinted in my mind.
Ecola State Park
OR USA
Sun, Sand and the Shining Sea
Sky above, Sand below, peace within....
A blast from the past as we all need a cheerful break from this doom and gloom...
Krabi
Thailand
Seaside
An Ode to Memorable Sunsets
Lost, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever.
As a photographer, seeking out the golden hour can mean the difference between being at the right place at the wrong time and the right place at the right time. Once sunset a couple of years ago, I found myself at the scenic Pacific coast of Nicaragua, far before the turmoil began there. I count myself lucky to have found one of the two golden hours.
Las Peñitas
Nicaragua
Last Rays
“Hark, now hear the sailors cry,
Smell the sea, and feel the sky,
Let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic."
A wave swooshed over the rock in front of me, erasing the thousands of footsteps that ambled along that warm sandy beach along the Pacific shoreline of Las Penitas in Nicaragua. The last rays of the sun cast a deep orange glow in the sky, signally the end to a wonderful week of traveling around the beautiful country.
When I look back at this photo, I can still hear the sound of crashing water from every wave, and the sweet smell of salty air with every breeze.
Las Penitas
Nicaragua