Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas - San Francisco  2026

Hydrangeas, Ferns - San Francisco  2026

Nice hydrangeas seen on my walk/hike up to Twin Peaks.

Monday Crow Blogging

Crow at Twin Peaks - San Francisco  2026

Taken during a recent hike up to Twin Peaks. As I noted before, the crows there are really quite big. I saw tourists feeding them, so they see no need to move away from humans.

Drive Through Sacramento Valley

Valley Hills - Central California  2026

Dilapidated Structure - Central California  2026

Interesting drive back home: I got turned around in Merced and had to switch on the GPS lady - she was able to get me to Highway 99 north. But then she found an alternate route cutting across the Sacramento Valley utilizing a series of small two lane roads. 

I don't know how much time was saved, but the drive was nicer than freeway traffic. I had to stop at one intersection for pix of hills and a falling-down structure.

Mariposa Creek / Road Closed

Mariposa Creek - Mariposa  2006

I had made sure to bring along everything that I would need for a photo trip into Yosemite. As I drove out of Mariposa on Highway 140 I was pleased that I had gotten an early start. Then I saw the electronic sign ahead: "Highway Closed at Bear Creek Bridge."

What!!??

I pulled over and checked out the Yosemite website. Yikes . . . sure enough the road was closed between Mariposa and El Portal due to a landslide. 

Then a U-turn and back to the motel, where I was able to verify that indeed the road was closed. I quickly tried to run through various options in case I stayed an extra day in Mariposa. But I had spent a lot of time the day before taking photos in the foothills along highway 49. Luckily I was able to cancel the motel reservation.

Before leaving I went for a walk along Mariposa Creek. Nice!

Road Conditions Screenshot 2006

Mariposa Sightems - 2

Street - Mariposa  2026

Truck, Clouds - Mariposa  2026

Some rain, but not enough to get the streets wet. Dinner at a Mexican restaurant, then prep for the next day's trip into Yosemite.

Mariposa Sightems - 1

Garage, Clouds - Mariposa  2026

Shed - Mariposa  2026

 After leaving Hornitos I drove the short distance to the town of Mariposa and checked in to my motel. Then walked around with a Sony RX100 and an iPhone. (Top photo - iPhone.  Bottom one - Sony.)

St. Catherine's Church (Hornitos) - 2

Tombstone, Church (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Cemetery (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

I've photographed this church several times before, starting in the 1990s. The dramatic clouds seen in yesterday's post were still there for this visit. 

I used a Nikon Z7II.

I couldn't quite decipher the inscription on the tombstone, but I was able to look it up on the web:

St. Catherine's Church (Hornitos) - 1

St. Catherine's Church (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

I've posted this view before on the blog, but this time I could include some dramatic clouds!

Monday Goat Blogging

Goats (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

In Hornitos. They were in somebody's backyard; I could hear them before I could see them.

Hornitos Views

Agricultural Equipment (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Oaks, Clouds (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Nice clouds! Photos taken with a high-res Nikon Z7II. 

Hornitos Sightems - 2

Gas Pump (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Display (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Stuff seen during a short walk down the main street; photos taken with an iPhone.

Hornitos Sightems - 1

Road, Clouds (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Wheelbarrow (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

After leaving Coulterville I took the side road over to Hornitos. One of my usual stops.

Coulterville Sightems - 3

General Store (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

Roses (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

After I walked around and took some photos I got back in the car to navigate the highway 49 switchbacks going south.

Then the side road to Hornitos.

Coulterville Sightems - 2

Two Chairs (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

Jeffery Hotel (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

Coulterville pix first appeared on the blog in 2019. Since then I've always stopped through on my way to Mariposa.