"Which is the most beautiful national park in the USA?" This is a question people often ask me, and you would think it would be difficult to answer with all the places I have seen. But it isn’t! It’s Yosemite. And that is saying a lot because there certainly are a ton of stunning national parks, not to mention the state parks too. But nowhere have I seen such majesty … [Read more...]
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
There is a silver lining to all that crazy winter weather we had this year, and that is the incredible California wildflower super-bloom this spring. I was worried that I would miss it since we had gone to New Mexico, where we experienced some horrendous winds. I love New Mexico, but this year wasn't the best. By the time we got back through Arizona and into California, I … [Read more...]
My 10 Favourite Photography Locations in the American Southwest
I love being a snowbird! For the past 7 years I've left the grey and rainy pacific northwest behind in late fall to follow the sun down to the American Southwest to explore and photograph the stunning landscapes until spring. I've seen some truly remarkable places, but to become an all-time favourite, a location has to meet a few criteria: The most important thing is … [Read more...]
Photographing Roosevelt Elk at Elk Country, California
As we make our snowbird trips down south in the fall and back north again in the spring, there is a special place that we always pass on the Oregon coast that has quickly become one of my favourite camping and photography spots of all time. Elk Country. Near Redwoods National and State Parks, on Highway 101, the campground and surrounding area is home to 7 herds of Roosevelt … [Read more...]
Return Trip to Alabama Hills California
As we stepped out of the RV in the darkness, we were but two lights and a jingle. Me with my headlamp, Ray with his flashlight, and Angie with her dog tags jingling along beside us. We bumbled our way down the dusty dirt road, shaking the night-time cobwebs from our minds, towards our first-light destination: Mobius Arch in Alabama Hills. We first visited this place 3 … [Read more...]
Day Trip to Big Sur California
Since we started travelling in the RV 6 years ago, Ray and I have become “bushed”. It’s a term my mother used for people who spent too much time in the bush and can’t handle being around other people anymore. We spend a lot of our time out in the desert, not in the bush, but often completely on our own, so I think the term still applies. We love the wilderness and quiet … [Read more...]
Revisiting and Reshooting at Joshua Tree National Park
Last spring, things were starting to heat up where we were in southern Arizona, so Ray and I decided to seek refuge in some higher ground. One of our favourite higher ground locations in the American Southwest is Joshua Tree National Park in California. It is right on the border between Arizona and California, so it wasn’t too far at all. This would be our third trip … [Read more...]
Quality Time at the Salton Sea
When we begin our snowbird trips, we always take our time going down the Washington, Oregon and California coasts enjoying the sights along the way. We only drive about 5 hours per day, skipping a day here and there, and taking around 2 weeks to make it down to the Coachella Valley in California where we meet up with the sun. By the time we get here, I'm ready for some … [Read more...]