Here are some funky mirror pictures I shot to document the change in scenery along the road trip:
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Back home again in Indiana
We decided to spend our last night of the road trip near home at France Park to get in some disc golf, a real campfire (forest fires and timeframes prevented fires along the trip), meteor shower watching and wine tasting!
Dean got in some tree climbing on Sunday morning. There's a picture in there of his knee and me at the picnic table to give perspective of how high he climbed. We saw the beginning of the Persiod Meteor Shower and had a roaring fire even though it was already plenty hot! The heat was and remains shocking for me after spending the summer on San Juan Island with normal highs in the 70s.
We even had a little excitement in the last moments of our trip as the keys got locked in the car. Oh well, apparently T.E.R.T. wasn't yet meant to be over.
Dean got in some tree climbing on Sunday morning. There's a picture in there of his knee and me at the picnic table to give perspective of how high he climbed. We saw the beginning of the Persiod Meteor Shower and had a roaring fire even though it was already plenty hot! The heat was and remains shocking for me after spending the summer on San Juan Island with normal highs in the 70s.
We even had a little excitement in the last moments of our trip as the keys got locked in the car. Oh well, apparently T.E.R.T. wasn't yet meant to be over.
Driving through Illinois
As we continued our way into Indiana through Illinois, I must admit that it got a girl wondering why in the world I live in the Plains.
Alas, I simply HAD to post the picture of Dean rolling in his goofy hat I bought him in Minnesota.
These pictures are from Sheldon, Illinois where we had some excellent conversations with locals about the affects of the big box companies on small town economies.
Alas, I simply HAD to post the picture of Dean rolling in his goofy hat I bought him in Minnesota.
These pictures are from Sheldon, Illinois where we had some excellent conversations with locals about the affects of the big box companies on small town economies.
Driving through North Dakota
We drove straight through North Dakota stopping only for a picnic on the side of the road at sunset. I wish I would have got a picture because the sunset was magnificent and there were monarchs flying around us.
I was shocked that after we drove through the mountains into the flat areas that we were greeted with miles and miles of sunflowers growing in fields along the side of the road. I beamed thinking of my friend, Linda, from Global Peace Initiatives here in Indianapolis planting sunflowers in inner cities.
Driving through the sunflowers was a joy I will never forget.
I was shocked that after we drove through the mountains into the flat areas that we were greeted with miles and miles of sunflowers growing in fields along the side of the road. I beamed thinking of my friend, Linda, from Global Peace Initiatives here in Indianapolis planting sunflowers in inner cities.
Driving through the sunflowers was a joy I will never forget.
Yellowstone
Ah, Yellowstone. What a complete and utter treasure this park is to our great country. 2nd in my mind only to Denali.
After we left Glacier, we charted our path towards Voyageurs National Park excluding Yellowstone. This even though we flipped a rock (like one would a coin) inside a squatted tee pee that told us to go to Yellowstone. We didn't heed the advice. Even so, we had many signs to go to Yellowstone but kept avoiding it until finally we were looking for a hotel room 300 miles from the park in the middle of the night and every room for hundreds of miles was booked. We finally decided to just pull an all-nighter and go for it. We arrived in the park at sunrise and had the park to ourselves which was astounding.
We set up camp for 4 hours in the middle of the day, each sleeping about 2 hours in separate shifts and got back to the park fresh and new.
Inside the park, we saw: geysers, Old Faithful, eagles, elk, grizzly bears, black bear, bison and deer.
We toured the park for about 14 hours!!! It was a most magnificent day. I would recommend this park to anyone.
After we left Glacier, we charted our path towards Voyageurs National Park excluding Yellowstone. This even though we flipped a rock (like one would a coin) inside a squatted tee pee that told us to go to Yellowstone. We didn't heed the advice. Even so, we had many signs to go to Yellowstone but kept avoiding it until finally we were looking for a hotel room 300 miles from the park in the middle of the night and every room for hundreds of miles was booked. We finally decided to just pull an all-nighter and go for it. We arrived in the park at sunrise and had the park to ourselves which was astounding.
We set up camp for 4 hours in the middle of the day, each sleeping about 2 hours in separate shifts and got back to the park fresh and new.
Inside the park, we saw: geysers, Old Faithful, eagles, elk, grizzly bears, black bear, bison and deer.
We toured the park for about 14 hours!!! It was a most magnificent day. I would recommend this park to anyone.
Glacier National Park
We camped outside of Glacier National Park the night before entering the park. We spent the entire day driving through the park and through the famous "Going to the Sun Road". We saw the last remaining glaciers in the park which was the draw for both of us.
We were taken aback by the beauty and scale of this park. The wildfires were putting a bit of a haze in the park which you can see the haze in many of the photos.
It was a lot of fun guessing what was coming around the next bend!
We were taken aback by the beauty and scale of this park. The wildfires were putting a bit of a haze in the park which you can see the haze in many of the photos.
It was a lot of fun guessing what was coming around the next bend!
Wildfires in Montana
There were wildfires in Montana near Glacier National Park when we were there. These are a couple of pictures shot from the car at sunset maybe 30-45 miles away:
Driving through Montana
We saw a fox, cows and horses just walking across the road!
Assorted pictures of our drive through Montana:
Assorted pictures of our drive through Montana:
Driving through Idaho
We drove through Idaho by way of Coeur d'Alene seeing why this area is so famous for its natural beauty. Although we didn't stop, I know I will return back to this gem.
Olympic National Forest
We spent most of the day Saturday in and out of the Olympic National Forest with a couple of views of the San Juan Islands and snow capped mountains.
We had a great Thai meal somewhere along the way, saw a hatchery and even won a little money at a casino.
We had a great Thai meal somewhere along the way, saw a hatchery and even won a little money at a casino.
Magical Old Growth Forest
Dean saw an ancient tree when we were driving through Olympic National Park and immediately pulled the car over. We were treated to an old growth forest covered in moss and magic just inside the woods from the road.
It was such a special place! We played like little kids; we giggled and laughed. We were also humbled and reverent all wrapped up in one forever memorable experience.
It was such a special place! We played like little kids; we giggled and laughed. We were also humbled and reverent all wrapped up in one forever memorable experience.
Pacific Ocean
We decided while we were in Olympic National Park to just throw caution to the wind and drive all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
We had a great ride out and back. We didn't get back into Seattle until midnight, but it was well worth it!
We had a great ride out and back. We didn't get back into Seattle until midnight, but it was well worth it!
Ginko Petrified Forest State Park
We saw a road sign for this park and I had to see it! Dean was onboard and we spontaneously pulled off the interstate and checked out the park.
It was fantastic!!! The park had petroglyphs which were moved from their original locations because of the Columbia River Dam project.
We saw many species of trees that had been sliced and polished.
We dug through local pieces of petrified wood for nearly an hour looking for the perfect piece in the desert of Washington. I had never been in "dry heat" before and it truly is different.
It was a pleasant stopover that I will always remain happy that we took.
It was fantastic!!! The park had petroglyphs which were moved from their original locations because of the Columbia River Dam project.
We saw many species of trees that had been sliced and polished.
We dug through local pieces of petrified wood for nearly an hour looking for the perfect piece in the desert of Washington. I had never been in "dry heat" before and it truly is different.
It was a pleasant stopover that I will always remain happy that we took.
Ferry ride from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island
Dean and I decided to drive to Olympic National Park the morning after his arrival. Luckily, my friend Kari had given me great advise on the fastest route which included a fun and cold ferry ride!
Dean was used to 90 degrees+ in Indiana so the 50 degree windy ferry ride was quite a shock to him. He got a small taste of my life out on the boat in the early summer when hats and gloves were a requirement.
It was fun to see the skyline of Seattle fall away in the distance as we started our adventure.
Dean was used to 90 degrees+ in Indiana so the 50 degree windy ferry ride was quite a shock to him. He got a small taste of my life out on the boat in the early summer when hats and gloves were a requirement.
It was fun to see the skyline of Seattle fall away in the distance as we started our adventure.
Seattle
I saw Pioneer Square, people dancing which made me smile, International Warehouse District and more this trip. Dean and I had one of the best meals ever at the International District at a vegetarian Chinese restaurant. Who knew radish cake could be so amazing?!
We saw the Blue Angels flying for Seafair while on a wrong bus. But are we every really on the wrong bus?
Some scenes from in and around Seattle:
We saw the Blue Angels flying for Seafair while on a wrong bus. But are we every really on the wrong bus?
Some scenes from in and around Seattle:
Solo Day in Seattle
I have just returned from my whirlwind roadtrip with my dear friend Dean from Washington State to Indiana. Dean and I planned on he and I driving out to Washington in May and I would fly home. However, he was chosen to lead a team mapping the Continental Divide Trail in May so we flipped it.
He flew out and we drove back together with no itinerary, no reservations and an open road full of choices. What a delight to have in ones mid-thirties!!!
The following photes are my solo day in Seattle. I went to Snoqualmie Falls outside of Seattle while awaiting Dean's arrive to start our road trip home.
He flew out and we drove back together with no itinerary, no reservations and an open road full of choices. What a delight to have in ones mid-thirties!!!
The following photes are my solo day in Seattle. I went to Snoqualmie Falls outside of Seattle while awaiting Dean's arrive to start our road trip home.
Flight to Seattle on a Seaplane
Here are some shots of my last flight off the island on a seaplane (both landing and takeoff were on ground not water).
The really great thing about this flight is that we
flew really low!
The really great thing about this flight is that we
flew really low!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
