Monday Egret Blogging

Another foggy morning at the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course, the egret still being there. This time, three vertical shots for a photomerge. Earlier shot here.

Photo: Egret—Marin County, 2010

Dante's View

Mike headed up to Dante's View for the always-impressive view there. There was another photographer running up and down the paths toting his camera on a tripod. Don't know why he thought he needed a tripod.

Photo: Dante's View—Death Valley, 2010

The Way of the Geezer: Fritos & Beer

Another in the proud Fritos & Beer series. Mike parked on the Greenwater Valley road and got out his extra-large snack size Fritos (all he could find at Ralphs) and his beer for this exquisite tailgate photo op. (The bag of Fritos lasted him the whole trip, by the way.)

Nice yellow flowers in the vicinity!

Blog note: this is post #900 of the mikereport!

More Fritos: Eureka Valley Road #1, Eureka Valley Road #2, Yosemite.

Photos: Fritos and Beer—Death Valley, 2010; Yellow Flowers (Greenwater Valley Road)—Death Valley, 2010

Death Valley Dunes (Overcast), 2010

Mike visits the dunes every 50 years, just like clockwork (see previous post.)

This time, it was overcast and a little bit drab, so no dramatic shadows. Next scheduled visit is . . . um . . .

Photo: Branch, Dunes—Death Valley, 2010

. . . from the archives #62: Tree, Sand Dunes—Death Valley, 1960

Tamarisk tree, probably. I think I was using a Speed Graphic with a roll film adapter on an old wooden tripod.

Photo: Tree, Sand Dunes—Death Valley, 1960

The Way of the Geezer: Zabriskie Point

At the famous Zabriskie Point, early in the somewhat overcast and subdued morning. It was OK. Mike joined the other photographers already there, took a few snaps, then headed back to his campground for coffee and a granola bar.

Photo: Zabriskie Point—Death Valley, 2010

Monday Cow Blogging

Two photos from 2007. Top image taken during a late season trip to Shasta County. Lower taken outside of Sacramento.

Photos: Cows in Rain—Shasta County, 2007; Cow—Sacramento Valley, 2007

The Way of the Geezer: Texas Springs Wind

As the evening wore on, Mike waited for the wind to die down.

But it didn't. Staring out at some picnic tables he noticed the wind picking one of the tables up and tumbling it over and over, improbably returning it to an upright position, although one of the benches was broken. (Above photo taken early the following morning.)

He finally had dinner inside the camper shell: some chilled barbequed chicken, Fritos and a nice red wine. During the night the truck was continuously buffeted, bouncing Mike's bed up and down as the wind whistled through the night.

Photo: Picnic Tables (Texas Springs)—Death Valley, 2010

Alameda Spring Festival People

The fact that Mike's pix were not selling gave him time to observe other participants. Of particular note: the puppeteer who had set up shop opposite Mike, and Miss Alameda, also opposite.

Photos: Puppeteer—Alameda, 2010; Miss Alameda—Alameda, 2010

Town of Alameda

Actually, the town of Alameda is a quiet little community. Non-hip. Nothing wrong with that! But, alas, Mike's pix did not move at all at the Spring Festival there.

Not at all.

Photos: Masonic Temple—Alameda, 2010; Eagles—Alameda, 2010

The Way of the Geezer: Sandstorm 1

The wind would deceptively die down, then return with a fury. The sand and visibility issues were worst down on the valley floor; up above in the hills it was clearer, but Mike had all he could do to keep upright at times.

Photos: Sandstorm and Clouds—Death Valley, 2010; Sandstorm—Death Valley, 2010

Monday Dog Blogging

This cool fellow was hanging out at the beer booth next door to Mike's booth at the Alameda Mother's Day Spring Show.

Photo: Dog—Alameda County, 2010

The Way of the Geezer: Texas Springs Campground

Mike drove through the Panamint Valley and over Towne Pass and into Death Valley, finally arriving at the Texas Springs Campground in the early afternoon. Zero cell phone reception, but luckily the ancient pay phone booth was still in operation. Also: very windy.

Photos: Truck in Texas Springs Campground—Death Valley, 2010; Telephone Booth—Death Valley, 2010; Sea Level Sign—Death Valley, 2010

Trona

"Trona is known for its isolation and desolation, as well as the nearby Trona Pinnacles. The local school plays on a dirt football field because the searing heat and highly saline soil kills grass. At one point it boasted an 18 hole golf course that was all sand except for the greens."

Wikipedia

Photos: Rest Stop—Trona, 2010; Searles Valley Minerals—Trona, 2010

Trona Road #2

A few big rigs whizzed by, stirring up clouds of dust off the highway shoulder, but otherwise, nothing. Then, underneath a Kodachrome blue sky, on to Trona for gas and views of the town.

Photo: Trona Road—San Bernardino County, 2010; Trona Stop Sign—San Bernardino County, 2010

. . . from the archives #61: Joe, Trona Road—San Bernardino County, 1973

Trona Road looks today much as it did back in 1973 when my brother and I first came upon it. He was the Art Director of this project: it was his idea to assume this Dali-esque pose on a vanishing-point desert road. So we had to search for the correct road, finally finding this perfect stretch of highway (later discovering that it was Trona Road), together with the perfect sky and clouds. The only concern (not a minor concern!) was avoiding getting run over by the big rigs frequently roaring by.

I used a Nikon F and Panatomic-X film. This photo has appeared in the L.A. Times Sunday magazine and was used on the cover of Bill Mohr's Momentum poetry quarterly.

Photo: Joe, Trona Road—San Bernardino County, 1973

Railroad Track

So I gave the rattlesnake a wide berth and continued down the road to the railroad track. Perspective! Clouds! Wow!

Photo: Railroad Track—San Bernardino County, 2010

The Way of the Geezer: Monday Rattlesnake Blogging

Mike left Los Angeles on April 20th headed for Death Valley, somewhat concerned about the weather report: strong winds and possible rain were in the short-term forecast. But first, the town of Mojave. Mike's stomach was a little unsettled, so he decided to calm it down by having an Egg McMuffin, hash browns and coffee. It worked! Then, north on highway 14, turning right just before Red Rock Canyon onto the Randsburg Road.

As the road pushed further into the desert it crossed a railroad track, which Mike could see would make a nice dramatic photo. Pull over, get out of the truck and walk back to the crossing. But first, a rattling noise. Wha? Yikes! Right there, on the shoulder: Mr. Rattlesnake in full threat mode. Naturally Mike then cranked out the telephoto zoom and took some pix.

Photo: Rattlesnake—Mojave Desert, 2010

Some Birds

Recent birds seen: a robin outside our dining room at the top, and a towhee in the midst of winter blackberry vines at the bottom. Now, if I had a nice big telephoto lens the images would be much nicer. As it is, I have to crop and enlarge.

But, on the other hand, I probably wouldn't have had that nice big telephoto lens actually on the camera at the time anyway. (And, the background on the towhee shot is too confusing no matter what.)

Photos: Robin—Marin County, 2010; Towhee—Marin County, 2010

Mercedes

Nice wheels!

Mike got to ride in this Mercedes when he visited Torrance to have lunch with J.T. Great lunch! The Mercedes was OK too.

Photo: J.T.'s Mercedes—Torrance, 2010

Melrose Avenue #18

Shot from across the street with self-portrait. Note to self: recycle for Halloween.

Photo: Melrose Avenue Self-Portrait—Los Angeles, 2010

Melrose Avenue #17: Korean Taco Truck

Someday I must order something from the Bull Kogi Korean Taco Truck.

Photo: Korean Taco Truck—Los Angeles, 2010

Melrose Avenue #16: Shepard Fairey Mural

. . . from the L.A. Times:

If you've driven along Melrose Avenue in the past couple of weeks, you probably have noticed a new outdoor mural on the north side of the street near Ogden Avenue, across from Fairfax High School.
The recognizable mash-up of pop-psychedelic images -- including an elephant, a lotus flower and "Obey" logos -- point to only one source: Shepard Fairey, the popular and controversial L.A. street artist.
Fairey and his team of artists created the 56 foot by 18 foot painting on the exterior of De La Barracuda, a clothing, hair and art gallery space frequented by über-hip trendsetters.
A spokesman for Fairey said that the artist has a close working relationship with Barracuda. He said the outdoor wall space usually is used for advertising but there was a gap in bookings, so the owner allowed Fairey to temporarily take over the space for his artwork.
Anyone wanting to check out the mural in person is advised to do so soon. The spokesman said that the artwork is scheduled to stay up only "for another couple of weeks" before it is covered up by an advertisement.

Photos: Mural—Los Angeles, 2010; Working on Mural—Los Angeles, 2010

Since 1963

Let me think . . . um . . . was I in the Los Angeles Induction Center, entering the U.S. Army?

I'll say yes.

Photo: Since 1963 (Farmers Market)—Los Angeles, 2010

Monday Cat Blogging

Finally . . . a cat photo! For Monday Cat Blogging! (Although we all know it should really be Friday Cat Blogging.)

Photo: Stable Cat—Marin County, 2010

Hollywood Back Yard

That Southern California light: scenes from Marge's back yard on Ogden Drive in Hollywood.

Photos: Cactus—Los Angeles, 2010; Back Yard—Los Angeles, 2010

Melrose Avenue #15: Special K

Such an unending variety of odd things on Melrose!

Photo: Special K—Los Angeles, 2010