Snake River, Idaho Falls

Snake River, Idaho Falls - Idaho  2024

My Idaho Falls motel was located quite close to the falls; you could hear the roar of the water as soon as you walked out the door. 

Photo taken with an iPhone 12 Pro Max with its wide angle lens.

Welcome to Idaho

Farm Building, Clouds - Idaho  2024

Welcome to Idaho - Idaho  2024

The landscape changes almost as soon as you enter Idaho. The desiccated, dramatic Nevada landscape gives way to irrigated pastoral fields. And then, quite a long drive to Idaho Falls!

Nevada Sightems

Mountains, Clouds - Nevada  2024

Clouds, Roads - Nevada  2024

So, there were three parts of the drive from Winnemucca to Idaho Falls: #1 - Highway 80 east past Elko to Wells. #2 - Highway 93 north to the Idaho border. #3 - Highways 84 and 15 through Twin Falls to Idaho Falls.

The second part was by far the most scenic: desert landscapes with clouds and the occasional downpour!

Rest Stop (Nevada)

Trees at Rest Stop - Nevada  2024

Eisenhower Highway - Nevada  2024

Eisenhower and I were both born on October 14th! I had to hear about this on all my birthdays in the 1950s.

Gas Stations - 2024 / 1987

Love's Gas - Nevada  2024

Bill at Gas Station - Nevada  1987

Mid-May: lots of snow still on the mountains. The most spectacular peaks were in the Ruby Mountains, east of Highway 80. No photos, alas.

Highway 80 East

Highway 80 East - Nevada  2024

Ridley's (Winnemucca) - Nevada  2024

As I left the motel, the windows in the Ridley's across the street reflected buildings on the other side lit by the rising sun. The day promised to be a long one, driving towards Idaho Falls.

Monday Cow Blogging

Cows - Nevada  2024

So, this photo was taken on my journey back to California. Didn't see any animals of significance in Nevada while traveling east this time.

Winnemucca

Winnemucca Sign - Nevada  2024

Cemetery (Winnemucca) - Nevada  2024

First overnight of the trip was in Winnemucca (just as in the 1987 trip.) I was able to get some exercise by walking over to the local cemetery.

Later that night I peeked outside for a night shot of the motel's parking lot.

Motel Parking Lot (Winnemucca) - Nevada  2024

Road Signs - 2024 / 1987

Highway 80 On-Ramp - Nevada  2024

Highway 80 On-Ramp - Nevada  1987

Slightly better clouds in 1987. 

Nevada Rest Stop - 2024 / 1987

Rest Stop - Nevada  2024

Morning Coffee, Rest Stop (Bill & Marge) - Nevada  1987

I could be wrong, but it certainly looks like Marge is having Pringles for breakfast.

Note the film canister next to my coffee cup. T-Max 400!

Lovelock

Lovelock - Nevada  2024

Plant Roots (Lovelock) - Nevada  2024

During the trip I tried to stop at somewhat random places just out of curiosity. So, Lovelock, Nevada. I don't know how successful Lovelock has been at capitalizing on the lovelock phenomenon. 

Lovelocks (Lovelock) - Nevada  2024

Highway 80 East - 2024 / 1987

Highway 80 East - Nevada  2024

As I drove east on Highway 80 towards Winnemucca, my first stop, I remembered that I had traveled the same route with my parents in 1987. Back then we were on our way to visit relatives in South Dakota, and the most direct path there was, yes, on Highway 80 towards our motel in Winnemucca.

Highway 80 East (Bill Driving) - Nevada  1987

Nevada Rest Stop

Rest Stop - Nevada  2024

Sierra Nevada - Nevada  2024

Not a full-featured rest stop, more of a scenic view pullout. I last stopped here in 2022, when I was able to spot a train! No train this time, alas, but looking back, I had a view of the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada.

Monday Turkey Blogging

Turkey (Fairfax) - Marin County  2024

Sometimes they're there, sometimes they're not. Taken during one of our early morning walks using an Olympus camera with a telephoto lens.

Donner Lake

Donner Lake - Sierra Nevada  2024

I took a fairly long road trip in May, driving from California through Nevada and Idaho to Montana, returning through Washington, Idaho and Nevada.

This photo is the only one that I took in California during the trip.

Dune II

Dune Poster (Fairfax) - Marin County  2024

Theater (Fairfax) - Marin County  2024

I went to see Dune II last April. It was enjoyable! But I don't need to see it twice.

The real eye-opener was the revamped (to me) theater. Wow . . . trays for your food and auto reclining seats! 

Landing at SFO

San Mateo Bridge, Mt. Diablo - San Francisco  2024

Bay, Skyline - San Francisco  2024

Last photos taken as the plane prepared to land at San Francisco International Airport. 

Salt Ponds

Salt Ponds (vertical) - San Francisco  2024

Salt Ponds (horizontal) - San Francisco  2024

Finally, some salt ponds photos! I've seen them from the air before, but this was the first time I could get some photos. I used a Canon G5XII for the aerial pix. 

Apple HQ

Apple HQ, Highway 280 - Santa Clara County  2024

I got a nice view of Apple's HQ in Cupertino, complte with rainbow flag.

Blog Note

 Just thought you might like to know that someone just posted a comment on one of my 2015 posts. Check it out at Cotton Belt / UP 1068.

Valley Clouds

Clouds - Central Valley  2024

I was able to get a window seat on the flight back to the Bay Area. Here are some clouds drifting over California's Central Valley, with some extra clouds over the Sierra in the distance.                                   

Monday Cat Blogging

Cat on Fence (Fairfax) - Marin County  2024

Cat Behind Rocks (Fairfax) - Marin County  2024

Top photo taken in January, the next one in March. No sightings since then.

Hollywood and Highland

Hollywood and Highland - Los Angeles  2024

Leaving Los Angeles. Either we're heading back up highway 5 to the Bay Area, or we're returning our rental car to the Burbank Airport. Either way involves driving up Highland Avenue. This time I was driving the Dodge Hornet when I got the red light at Hollywood and Highland, with enough time that I could take an iPhone photo.

Cookies / Ivy, Graffiti: Melrose Avenue #94

Cookies, Self Portrait (Melrose Ave) - Los Angeles  2024

Ivy, Graffiti (Melrose Ave) - Los Angeles  2024

Cookies is a cannabis dispensary. Ivy photo taken in an alleyway just north of Melrose.

Kids / Monkey

Kids, Frog Art - Los Angeles  2024

Monkey, Self Portrait - Los Angeles  2024

Top photo taken in the Silver Lake district while we were getting a ride back to our car from Linda and Erica.

Next one taken on a morning walk going up Fairfax to Santa Monica Blvd. 

Ripndip

Ripndip Window - Los Angeles  2024

Ripndip Bench - Los Angeles  2024

Web site.

Los Angeles Flowers

Flowers, Street Art - Los Angeles  2024

Nasturtiums - Los Angeles  2024

Sightems seen doing our hourly Fitbit walks in the Melrose Avenue area.

Bring the Magic / Antidote: Melrose Avenue #93

Bring the Magic (Melrose Ave) - Los Angeles  2024

Antidote (Melrose Ave) - Los Angeles  2024

Vermeer 'n Coca-Cola: great combo!

Monday Cat Blogging

Sadie, Front Window - Los Angeles  2024

Sadie at the Vet - Los Angeles  2024

Sadie has been featured several times before on the blog. This time she got a special treat during our visit . . . a trip to the vets for a checkup and some shots! You can tell how much she enjoyed it.