On The Road Again! (Thanks Willy!)

This year's journey will include every National Park in California and a few coming and going! In all, I hope to drive over 10,000 miles through the West. Fortunately, since I drive a hybrid that averages 40 mpg, the fuel prices that have skyrocketed lately shouldn't hurt too bad.

I began my trip with a quick 2-day visit with my friend Stacy Rae (we shot a number of cooking videos featuring recipes from her new book!)

I then hit the road to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Unfortunately, there was is a wildfire burning just north of there so the mountains you can usually see disappear occasionally. The first day I spent roaming Mesa Verde National Park. Very interesting! Again, wildfires in New Mexico made for very hazy landscape shots and I discovered one of my telephoto lenses which I had been shooting has a major focus problem so from here on out I will be toting around my big Canon telephoto. Should get awesome images but it is why I do not have many here.

The second day I accidently went on a 6 mile hike! I meant to take one trail that was 2.6 miles round trip and instead began the Piedra River Trail and once I realized I had really been gone awhile, I stuck with it until I hit the 3 mile mark and turned around. Beautiful country! Saw a Smooth Green Snake (almost stepped on the poor guy!) and a small Northern Water Snake. I also saw a number of bird, some of which I gor photos including a Steller's Jay (who wouldn't stand still!), Yellow Rumped Warbler (who also would not cooperate and a house Wren who posed for me.

I also got a great shot of a flycatcher only to discover the focus problem with my lens. And of course many wildflowers - kost of which turned out to be out of focus because of the lens problem. I did get a shot of a hummingbird moth! Overall a nice but longer than anticipated hike! Tomorrow Vegas! And as they say "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!" (although since I am more of a outdoor guy, I will probably hit Death Valley National Park!)

While this travel blogs will not go into the depths that my sister Deb's do (She does a phenomenal job educating you all on everywhere she goes,) I hope you enjoy my 10,000 mile trek.

Until next time!