Welcome to Flashback Friday, where Fandango invites us to take a look back at some of our older posts. This one goes way back to the dark recesses of pre WordPress days.
Travel Journal – Kapaa Hawaii. Departure day – today we bid Aloha to our Kauai paradise and head back to the mainland, back to real life. Insert big sigh here. I don’t cry every time I leave Kauai … oh wait yeah I do. But life goes on, I have work to do and heaven knows my back misses my mattress!
Our Sunday Stills prompt this week is “path.” Ahhh there’s a prompt I can really sink my toes into. I’ve traveled many, many, many paths. City streets to muddy back country trails and all have been marvelous.
A rainy day at market in Osaka, Japan. The golden statue is “Billiken” the god of Things as They Ought to Be.
Back country wilderness trail at Kolob Canyon, Utah
“There are many trails in this life, but the one that matters most, few men are able to walk … even Comanche men. It is the trail of a true human being. I think you are on this trail. It is a good thing for me to see. It is good for my heart.” ― Michael Blake – Dances with Wolves
Trails at the Grand Canyon
“Just because my path is different doesn’t mean I’m lost.” Then again… – Gerard Abrams
Up the trail in La Plata mountains, Colorado
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” — Robert Frost
Path to the main temple at Honen-in Kyoto, Japan
“All that is gold does not glitter. Not all who wander are lost. The eld that strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.” – J.R.R. Tolkein
I just can’t get enough fall leaves. Until recently, I spent most of my Autumns overseas. China, Taiwan, Japan, Hawaii, you get the gist but no matter where we went, I always found my beloved Autumn leaves. Here the view from behind one of the temple buildings at Nanzen-ji, Kyoto Japan.
It may have become apparent by now but I’m doing a lot of low-spoon posts. I do not refer to subject matter but rather to the energy I put into them because, frankly, I have none. It’s time (again) for another flare – Autumn Edition. Our prompt for Terri’s Sunday Stills this week is our monthly color challenge of – Lava (black-brown, black, and/or orange). Being, the “rock person” I am, I’ve opted to share a couple pics of, well, lava.
Above a shot of Newberry Caldera (yep that’s all lava). It’s commonly called Newberry Crater but it is actually a caldera, formed when the overlying rocks collapse when a magma chamber is emptied. The volcano is roughly the size of Rhode Island (1200 square miles) and the caldera itself about 17 square miles. The caldera remains both seismically and geothermally active. We saw numerous cinder cones and vents, basalt flows, and, of course obsidian.
A huge chunk of obsidian along the “Big Obsidian Flow” be careful, those edges are sharp (please … don’t ask). 😉
Welcome to another walkabout. Today we’ll be taking an oh-so-short trip via the boardwalk around Grand Prismatic Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
Grand Prismatic Hot Spring
Located in the Midway Geyser Basic in Yellowstone National Park, it is the largest hot spring in the United States. It was named for the prismatic colors ranging out from the central pool.
The bright, vivid colors are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The mats produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll and temperature of the runoff.
In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green.
Wee flowers
Other beauty abounds nearby including some tiny little wild flowers in a mustardy hue.
Although the surrounding area is covered with pines and prairies, the Midway Geyser Basin itself it barren of trees for obvious reasons. We came across this painting in a coffee shop which reminded me of the stark dichotomy of the abundant life and barren landscape.
There you have it, I said it was quick! This post was inspired by:
Terri’s Sunday Stills where our monthly color challenge in Mustard and Marsha’s PPAC #60 where we can always find diverse artistic expression
In the Eastern Panyu district of Guangzhou, China, lies the Lotus Hill Resort. Famous for its temple and numerous scenic sites and, you guessed it, public art.
The first thing that catches the eye is, of course the Lotus Pagoda at the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. The pagoda itself is one of the oldest landmarks in Guangzhou, carrying nearly 1500 years of history. This octangular pagoda stands 57.6 meters tall, the tallest pagoda in Guangzhou.
Lotus Pagoda at Lotus Hill Resort, Guangzho, China
The pagoda towers above the grounds but my eye wanders to the gilded rabbit statues. Rabbits are considered the luckiest of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac symbolizing mercy, elegance and beauty.
Stair and steps and view oh my
Ahhh, my old nemesis … stairs. Lots and lots of stairs, but worth the climb looking out over the Pearl River delta.
Guan Yin Goddess of Mercy statue
At the top of the hill, we find the largest statue of Guan Yin, Goddess of Mercy in the world. Standing over 130 feet tall, the statue was originally cast in 1994 using over 120 tonnes of bronze and 180 taels (that’s about 230 ounces) of gold in the coating.
Lotus Flower
And finally we make our way to the lotus ponds, their gentle serenity and exquisite beauty marking the end of our walkabout.
Greetings sentient life forms! Today I thought we’d take a tiny (and I do mean tiny) walk about Rachel Nevada, take in some high desert scenery and art.
Welcome to Rachel, Nevada, elevation 4,840 feet. Above, an exhausted Rver stands beside the Time Capsule Beacon.
In case you can’t make it out, the plaque reads:
On the eighteenth day of April, AD 1996 Twentieth Century Fox dedicates this time capsule and beacon for visitors from distant stars, to the state of Nevada and the “Extraterrestrial Highway”
This time capsule will serve as a beacon to be opened in the year A.D., 2050 by which time interplanetary travelers should be regular guests of our planet earth.
Alien face mosaic of local stone at the base of the time capsule.
Side of the restaurant/gift shop/motel check-in building. Rachel’s population was 48 as of the 2020 census and I think most of them worked here at the A’Le’Inn.
Rachel is the nearest “human” habitation to Nellis Air Force Range and Area 51, located along the scenic(?) Extraterrestrial Highway where, apparently, parking rules are strictly enforced. And, Yes, there is an “Area 51 Do Not Cross Use of Deadly Force Authorized” sign and NO I did not hike out into the desert to take a picture of it.
Speaking of road trips, we were speaking of road trips weren’t we? We didn’t make one this year. We had plans to take a road trip to Paradise and tiny hamlet on Lake Michigan with BIL and his family, no RV, just car and motels. Shortly before our scheduled departure date, Superhubs’ diabetes went brittle, again. Our destination resort is some distance from medical care and I was uneasy about the trip so we ended up canceling reservations and deciding on a “staycation” instead. Then, lo and behold, the day before our intended departure date, Hubs tested positive for COVID and 3 days later your truly followed suit. So, no road trips or even staycations this year. I thought perhaps we’d take a short trip down the old memory lane to last fall.
Halloween moon over South DakotaBarren Optimus Lite
We left South Dakota and our beloved Optimus Lite (our 5th wheel) along with 15 years of life on the road as full-time RVers behind with a grateful prayer and a thankful heart on October 31, 2021.
Cactus bread
Our first stop was Sturgis, SD where we (OK I) indulged in a final taste of that South Dakota delicacy known as “cactus bread.” The next morning Superhubs had his annual cerebral MRI and we headed out.
Ceramic brick wall quilt squares
In all honesty, about the only stops we made or pictures we took were at roadside rests and restaurants. We made the entire 1325 mile trip in 3 days (which is a LOT of driving for a couple of spoonies). Above a quick stop at a rest area in “quilt country” I’m sorry I’ve forgotten what state it was in. There were quilts and quilt art everywhere including this tile display on the exterior walls which I found fabulous enough to warrant a quick pic.
A reminder of my long lost Fall
Ahhhh FALL!
Along the way I was graphically reminded what I have missed so much the past 15 years – FALL! I am such a fall kind of person and it’s such an incredibly short season in most of the states we’ve lived in over the past decade and a half. WOW, I so totally needed that.
Kentucky, the bourbon state?
Finally, we entered the Bourbon State. I always thought Kentucky was the Bluegrass State but apparently, they’ve kind of changed their marketing focus. *insert rolling eyes*
First roadside rest in Kentucky
It is, thankfully, still known as the “Front Porch of the South” and possibly the “horse statue and reference” capital of something I’m sure.
A new view
Finally, after many long months of waiting and working, the plans all finally came together and we watched our first sunset on our new porch.
Today I’m taking us back to River Rock Roasters in Laverkin, Utah. We saw examples of tabletop art last week, and today we’ll take another look.
Big Whirlygigs
Heading into the building, we are greeted by some fun whirlygig wind sculptures. Fascinating to watch and really appropriate for an area where the wind blows every day. The adjacent town, just about a mile south is named “Hurricane” for good reason.
Acrylic resin pour art
The place is half coffee shop, half art gallery for local artists. Nearly everything on the walls is “for sale.” Here two epoxy pour paintings. They reflect light very well (see the ceiling light in the “blue marble”) and have intricate designs and depth.
Enough solitude
And, of course a quote from Royden Card a favorite local artist
Moon in daytime over the Virgin River
Heading out, we must stop and admire the view. I always make it a point to admire a daytime moon and in the crystal clear skies of southern Utah it’s so worth it.
View from I-15
And so, we head on out, leaving the River Rock Roasting Company behind as we resume our travel.
Virgin River Gorge wall
Passing through the Virgin River Gorge the walls of the gorge are massive and steep, prime public land for rock climbers. Captured this little slice of gorge wall looking out of the car window as we went by at 60 mph. 😉
Linking up to Marsha’s PPAC # 55 do pop over and enjoy a bit of horsing around. 🙂
Til next time
~May your Mondays be short and your weekends be long May your memories be sweet, and your coffee be strong ~JP
During our trip to Oregon last year we visited the Fish Hatchery near Oakridge, Oregon. The hatchery raises rainbow trout and chinook salmon for release into the Willamette River system. They also have a sturgeon pond some of which are over 50 years old and 10 feet in length.
Upon arrival, we discovered that, like most entertainment venues in the area, the hatchery was closed. But, the public areas remained open so we had the opportunity to take a short hike through the wooded areas and the exterior portions of the hatchery.
Salmon Sculpture
A tribute to the might salmon, a carved wood and driftwood sculpture erected over the base of a burned out tree.
Bighorn Sheep – Cool Dude!
A wood carving of a bighorn sheep, playing it cool in the summer sun. It was exceedingly bright the day we visited and shades were absolutely essential. No, those are not my sunglasses. 😉
Eagle carrying a salmon
When does a map become art? Often in my opinion but here it’s obvious. This magnificent carved wood map of the Willamette River System was too long to capture in one shot and appears to be made of a single plank of wood.
Map of Willamette River System
The rest of the carved river map. I love the way the wood whorls, knots and grain give the carving such depth.
Leaping salmon Batman
Ultimately, we made our way to the salmon pools where fingerling hatchery salmon are already practicing jumping the falls. At this stage they are about two inches long. We stood watching their antics until the relentless summer sun finally sent us dragging ourselves back to the car, the air-conditioned, cool and inviting car.
Inspiration for this post brought to you by Marsha’s PPAC #52
Wide Eyed Wonderings 