Alders & Creek, Blackberry Leaves

Alders, Creek - Point Reyes  2019

Blackberry Leaves - Point Reyes  2019

Top photo is a tripod, "high resolution" shot. Next one hand-held.

Limantour

Grass, Hills - Point Reyes  2019

Grass, Sand Dune - Point Reyes  2019

I walked up over the sand dunes to Limantour Beach, but the views of the surf were pretty flat.

Point Reyes A.M.

Alders, Fence - Point Reyes  2019

Field, Poles, Sky - Point Reyes  2019

I've been meaning to try some more high resolution photos using the Olympus E-M1II, so I drove out to Point Reyes early on a Saturday morning. Top photo is a "high res" tripod-mounted shot.

Patterson - 2

Birds, Yellow Flowers - Stanislaus County  2019

Red Truck, Sun - Stanislaus County  2019

Two photos taken at the Starbucks parking lot near the Patterson onramp to Highway 5. I used a Canon G5X for these photos.

Patterson - 1

Welcome to Patterson - Stanislaus County  2019

Intersection - Stanislaus County  2019

So I had to turn right to get over to Patterson. Then the search for a Starbucks.

Traffic Jam in Modesto

Vista Ranch Sign - Merced County  2019

Leaving Mariposa I drove west to highway 99, then north. Once I got to Modesto, however, there was a huge traffic jam, apparently due to emergency pothole repairs. So I got off 99 at Crows Landing Rd, reasoning that I could get over to highway 5 that way.

Well, yes. It eventually does intersect with 5, but as I found myself heading south, not west, I did a quick route change and drove over to Patterson.

Monday Avocets, Marbled Godwits & Willets Blogging

Avocets - Marin County  2019

Marbled Godwits, Willets - Marin County  2019

I drove over towards the Hamilton Wetlands area recently to pick up my photos from the MCF exhibit. Of course, I couldn't leave without walking up over the embankment to see if there were any birds.

There were! Plus, an extreme high tide was taking place. Once back home I could make the avocets' ID without much trouble, but the other birds were more difficult, requiring Barbara's help. I had gotten the right section of the book, though.

And as always, nice reflections for a self-portrait.

High Tide - Marin County  2019

Hangar 7 - Marin County  2019

Trees, Cameras

Trees, Rock Wall - El Portal  2019

After taking a short walk taking photos near the El Portal campsites I returned to my motel in Mariposa, arriving in the late afternoon. Once there I set up my cameras and used an iPhone to take the photo shown below.

From left to right: an iPhone held by myself, an Olympus E-M1II and an E-PL7, then a Canon G5X. Note the obligatory A. Adams poster.

Cameras - Mariposa County  2019

Merced River - El Portal

Merced River - El Portal  2019

Merced River - El Portal  2015

Two photos of the Merced River from the Foresta Bridge taken at different times of the year. Top one taken in February, 2019, next one taken in May, 2015. No real sign of fire effects.

I drove down to my usual campsite (closed for the winter), walked around, then had my sandwich for lunch, along with some Fritos and beer.

Fritos and Beer - El Portal  2019

Cathedral Rocks

Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Fall - Yosemite  2019

Snow Falling from Tree - Yosemite  2019

For this particular view one has to stay in the left-hand lane just before the valley exit (even though the exit uses the right-hand lane.)

There was too much snow for me to work myself around to get a good view of El Capitan; you can just make out Bridalveil Fall coming over the edge. This was my last stop in the valley before driving down to El Portal.

Below, an October, 2009 wideangle photo from the same location.

Cathedral Rocks - Yosemite  2009

Meadow (Shade)

Trees, Snow - Yosemite  2019

I parked in the shade for some less-contrasty photos. At first I thought that the trees were oaks, but now I'm not sure.

Toyota - Yosemite  2019

Meadow (Sun)

Trees, Rock Wall - Yosemite  2019

Trees (Backlit), Snow - Yosemite  2019

After I left the Swinging Bridge I looped around and headed back in the opposite direction, arriving at a large meadow that's located between the road and towering rock walls.

Top photo taken with an iPhone. Bottom one with an Olympus E-PL7  and a wide-angle 9-18mm zoom lens.

Yosemite Fall

Yosemite Fall, Merced River - Yosemite  2019

Yosemite Fall - Yosemite  2019

So, the main attraction of the Swinging Bridge area is a great view of Yosemite Fall reflected in the Merced River. I've taken numerous photos, but never in winter.

The snow plastered to the granite cliffs kept peeling off with startlingly loud reverberations throughout the valley.

Monday Poodle Blogging

Poodles (Placerville) - Sierra Nevada  2019

Taken with an iPhone . . . I was quite impressed with their colorful outfits.

Swinging Bridge - 2

Merced River, Trees, Snow #1 - Yosemite  2019

Merced River, Trees, Snow #2 - Yosemite  2019

Getting to the bridge was a little tricky. People had made a narrow path through the snow, but it was very narrow and slippery.

Path to Bridge - Yosemite  2019

Swinging Bridge - 1

Merced River, Branches, Snow - Yosemite  2019

Trees, Branches, Snow - Yosemite  2019

I was able to find a place to stop at the Swinging Bridge over the Merced River, one of my favorite viewpoints.

Pohono Bridge

One-Way Road - Yosemite  2019

Branches, Snow - Yosemite  2019

My usual dogwood viewing area. No dogwood blossoms this time, however . . . extremely complex visual arrangements of trees, branches and snow.

Cascade Creek

Cascade Creek, Snow - Yosemite  2019

Once past the entrance station my first stop was at the Cascade Fall parking lot, where I spent some time watching a man removing his tire cables from his Subaru. Then I walked across the road and back a bit to the bridge overlooking Cascade Creek for some photos. Very nice!

Below, a photo taken from the same spot in May, 2013. As always, click to enlarge.

Cascade Creek - Yosemite  2013

Mariposa to Yosemite

Merced River, Rocks, Snow - Yosemite  2019

Scenic Pullout - Yosemite  2019

I left Mariposa in 22 degree weather . . . cold weather probably due to a clear sky overhead. Went to Subway, got a sandwich and drove east.

One of my goals was to view fire damage from last year's Feguson Fire, but it was difficult to see any damage because of the snow cover. Probably requires some experience.

I pulled out at one of the overlooks to peek over at the Merced River below. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was walking on solid, slippery ice. Yikes. A cautious return to the car and then on to the entrance station around 9:15 AM. The ranger wanted to make sure that I had chains/cables, which I did, then waved me through.

Entrance Station - Yosemite  2019

Mariposa

Building, Mariposa Creek - Mariposa County  2019

Art Park (Mariposa) - Mariposa County  2019

I had a two-night reservation at the Best Western in Mariposa. Walked up the creekside trail for pizza one night, and a tostada the next. Motel wasn't that crowded in February!

Motel Parking Lot - Mariposa County  2019

Monday Horse Blogging

Horses - Mariposa County  2019

I put a telephoto lens on an Olympus E-PL7 for this photo.

Hornitos Church

Church (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2019

Church (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2019

After Coulterville I looped down to Hornitos on the way to Mariposa. I've visited this church several times, but I've never seen anyone else there. At least there were some nice clouds in February.

Below, a 1946 photo by A. Adams of the same subject (we'll see if I get a takedown notice):

Coulterville

Yosemite Garage (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2019

Playground (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2019

Walking around the small tourist stop of Coulterville.