Scary

Scary Display - San Rafael  2017

Pumpkins - Marin County  2017

Home Depot display in San Rafael.

Pumpkins at Larkspur Landing.

Monday Ibis Blogging

Ibises (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Anyway, I think that these are ibises . . .

Taken with an Olympus E-M10 with a 75-300mm zoom lens. The lens was extended full-length, which I think you're not supposed to do.

[Update: Yes. Barbara confirms the bird ID!]

San Francisco Sightems - 2

Napper Tandy - San Francisco  2017

RIP Mike G - San Francisco  2017

"Best dive bar in the Mission."

"I feel very blessed that it has been up as long as it has."

San Francisco Sightems - 1

The Jelly Donut - San Francisco  2017

House of Brakes - San Francisco  2017

. . . from last quarter. iPhone photos.

Solano Avenue Sightems - 2

NYC & T (Solano Avenue) - Alameda County  2017

Lulu 1000 (Solano Avenue) - Alameda County  2017

Art exhibit! At Art Thou.

Solano Avenue Sightems - 1

Doorway (Solano Avenue) - Alameda County  2017

Solano Cleanette (Solano Avenue) - Alameda County  2017

Images for "cleanette."

Pizza

Domino's Pizza - Alameda County  2017

On Solano Avenue, in Alameda County. Could be either Albany or Berkeley . . . not sure.

Compare to earlier sandwich shop photo.

Smoke

Richmond Bridge, Smoke - Marin County  2017

Ferry Terminal, Smoke - Marin County  2017

Much clearer photo of the Richmond Bridge.

Much clearer photo of the Larkspur Ferry.

Monday Horse Blogging

Horses - Sierra Nevada  2017

I managed to get this shot in before they noticed me.

One More Night in Boomtown

Empty Seats (Boomtown) - Nevada  2017

Mike, Jukebox (Boomtown) - Nevada  2017

. . . and time for some iPhone pix. Empty seats in a large unused space, and Mike waiting for his order of quesadillas.

Boomtown Pix

Hills, Clouds - Nevada  2017

Car Seat Cover - Nevada  2017

Just miscellaneous stuff from the Boomtown parking lot.

Brush Fire

Airplane - Nevada  2017

As I approached Boomtown I noticed a black plume of smoke in the hills above the hotel. There was a brush fire being attacked by specialized planes dropping fire retardant. I was able to pull over and get some action shots before they declared victory and stopped.

HIghway 395 South

Shack, Dry Lake - Sierra Nevada  2017

Meadow - Sierra Nevada  2017

Coming back to Boomtown from Alturas I traveled through semi-arid country east of the mountains, then turned west and gained some elevation, and some nice lush meadows.

The weather had cleared up considerably.

Coke Truck - Sierra Nevada  2017

Leaving Alturas - Sightems

Sunflowers from Highway 395 - Lassen County  2017

Most Likely Cafe - Modoc County  2017

 A little tricky taking the sunflower photo . . . had to come to a complete stop right on the highway, at a certain spot (to avoid electrical wires). But very light traffic in back, so I was able to pull it off.

Cafe: Yelpers report this location has closed.

Leaving Alturas

Camero (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Sears Catalog Sales (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

A few last photos taken in the AM before I headed south on highway 395. Very interesting area . . . will need to plan a return trip in a different season.

Monday Dog Blogging

Dog (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Seen as I walked from my hotel to the Wild Mustard, a local coffee shop, for coffee and an apple fritter.

Good.

Harold's Frosty

Diner Items (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Diner Interior (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Nice burger!

Government Buildings

Tulelake City Hall (Tulelake) - Siskiyou County  2007

Modoc County Courthouse (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

2007 and 2017.

On a similar theme: the Bridgeport courthouse.

Modoc NWR - 4

Reeds, Mountains, Clouds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Reeds, Furrows, Clouds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

The empty fields in the distance are apparently used by sandhill cranes when they pass through.

Like I said, I had the whole place to myself. Some of these photos might make nice prints. Wouldn't want to push the drama too far though.

Toyota RAV (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Modoc NWR - 3

Marsh, Reeds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Marsh Detail (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Top photo a two-photo (top and bottom) merge using the E-PL7 / Panasonic lens combo.

Bottom photo taken with the Olympus E-M10 with a 75-300mm zoom lens.

Modoc NWR - 2

Marsh, Reflections (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Marsh, Reeds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Dramatic lighting effects. Top photos taken with an Olympus E-PL7 and a Panasonic 12-60mm zoom lens.

As far as I could tell, I was the only person there.

Self Portrait (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Sunrise

Sunrise, Sunflowers, Ranch Buildings - Modoc County  2017

I set out early in the morning for a return visit to the wildlife refuge. Nice to see that the rain had reduced the smoke substantially and that there was a nice cloud cover.

Monday Heron Blogging

Heron (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Nice overcast light after the rain. Still some sprinkles, but nothing major.

I followed this fellow as he made his way across the pond, then turned around for a profile photo.

Alturas Rain

Cloud from Motel (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Rain from Motel (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Distant thunderheads loomed high above the town when I returned to the motel (with burger and fries).

Later, a loud drumming noise outside: I opened the door to my room to discover a major downpour was going on!

Cedarville, Dorris Reservoir

Cedarville Grocery - Modoc County  2017

Cloud, Dorris Reservoir - Modoc County  2017

Continuing on over the Warner Mountains, one comes to Surprise Valley, and Cedarville, which will be deserving of a return trip.

Finally, a visit to the Dorris Reservoir. No wildlife, except for a lone egret down by the shoreline.

But some amazing clouds were starting to make an appearance.

Warner Mountains Excursion

Forest (Warner Mountains) - Modoc County  2017

Pine Trees (Warner Mountains) - Modoc County  2017

In an effort to cram in as much scenery as possible I left Devil's Garden and headed for the Warner Mountains, just east of Alturas. Very close, in fact . . . an amazing change in topography and vegetation.

Signs

Surprise Valley - Modoc County  2017

Take Jesus Seriously - Modoc County  2017

Above: signs seen during my recent trip to Modoc County.

Below: sign seen during my 2007 camping trip to Lava Beds National Monument.

Honor Your Oath - Siskiyou County  2007