Marin Civic Center

Civic Center Interior - Marin County  2024

Civic Center Exterior - Marin County  2024

So . . . jury duty! And it turns out that even if you're elderly you can't be excused!

So . . . I (and others) showed up, waited around for about half a day, went down to the courtroom, then we were notified that the case had been settled. Thanks for your service!

Later in the month Hali and I visited a "Senior Fair" being held at the civic center auditorium. The main building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; he didn't do the auditorium but it was done in his style.

Civic Center Auditorium - Marin County  2024

San Francisco Sightems

Girl, Mailboxes - San Francisco  2024

People Waiting - San Francisco  2024

Two more iPhone photos in the Mission District from last August.

Turkeys

Turkeys (Fairfax) - Marin County  2022

Turkeys cleverly constructed by Hanna and Nolan a few years ago. Materials and, quite possibly, the idea, supplied by Hali. 

Note the use of horse chestnuts from the California Buckeye tree up the street.

Seminary Buildings (1984)

Seminary Exterior (San Anselmo) - Marin County  1984

Seminary Exterior, Clouds (San Anselmo) - Marin County  1984

Most likely taken with a Mamiya twin-lens reflex camera, using 120 roll film.

Mt. Tamalpais (1984)

SF Theological Seminary, Mt Tamalpais - Marin County  1984

We moved to Marin County in 1981, so this was taken a few years later. Although I don't remember taking this photo, I assume that I was at the same viewpoint that I discussed in 2009.

(Side note: the photos in my earlier blog posts won't enlarge when clicked upon . . . annoying.)

Monday Cat Blogging

Cloudy - Berkeley  2014

We were over in Berkeley so that Margaret and Jim could check out my new Sony RX100VII. When we arrived we were gratified to see that Cloudy was hanging around their front yard. Then it transpired that Cloudy was being let into their house! Wow!

I took a photo of Cloudy on the living room carpet, but with not enough space above the creature's head in the photo. So I added some extra carpet using Photoshop. (Original shot below.)

Cloudy - Berkeley  2024

August Poison Oak

Poison Oak - Marin County  2024

Poison Oak, Bay Trees - Marin County  2024

Two photos from last August. Poison Oak leaves are probably much more colorful now.

Wells Fargo / Ansel Adams

Wells Fargo Bank Interior (A. Adams Images) - San Anselmo  2024

Ansel Adams Image ("Pasture, Sonoma County") - San Anselmo  2024

I was recently in the Wells Fargo Bank in San Anselmo and noticed these large Ansel Adams images handing on the wall. I should probably do some investigative reporting and get back to you with the details of how they came to be there.

The Ansel Adams Gallery has the pasture photo for sale as a "framed reproduction."

Yosemite Creek Picnic Area

Juniper - Yosemite  2024

Plants, Granite - Yosemite  2024

Last stop before the final drive home. When I'm here I like to take a little time to photograph the juniper seen above (earlier shots posted last year.)

Pizza 'n Coffee

Pizza, Beer (Mammoth Lakes) - Sierra Nevada  2024

Coffee, Muffin (Mammoth Lakes) - Sierra Nevada  2024

My usual pizza and beer at the place next to my motel in Mammoth Lakes. Then, a walk down to a new coffee place for coffee and muffin (Sony RX100 on the table). iPhone photos.

Compare to shot taken earlier this year in Monterey County with my old, now missing, Canon GX5.

Mountains / Ritter, Banner

Road, Mountains - Owens Valley  2024

Mount Ritter, Banner Peak - Owens Valley  2024

I made another unplanned excursion down a side road in the valley. After driving a short distance I turned around and pulled off to the side of the road to get a photo of Ritter and Banner in the distance with a salt pond (?) in the foreground.

Owens River Trout

Wild Trout Area - Owens Valley  2024

Sign Past End of Road - Owens Valley  2024

I had a motel reservation in Mammoth Lakes, so while driving there I was able to take some time to explore some new places. I spent some time walking around the end of the road past the Wild Trout Area sign. There's a power station back up the road, administered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Monday Clark's Nutcracker Blogging

Clark's Nutcracker - Sierra Nevada  2024

My 2023 photos of these birds were actually better. But this one is OK! Taken with a Nikon Z7II with a 24-200mm zoom lens. The photo required quite a bit of cropping, but the Nikon sensor is 45mp so it kind of worked.

White Mountains

White Mountains, Road Back to Bishop - Sierra Nevada  2024

The White Mountains are in the "rain shadow" of the Sierra Nevada, so pretty dry. Nice view of them taken from the road going down towards Bishop from my campground.

I venture up there now and then for bristlecone photos.

Best Meal / Cold

Udon - Sierra Nevada  2024

Morning Temperature - Sierra Nevada  2024

Best meal of the trip: Sanukiya Udon from Cost Plus, with cut-up pork belly pieces from Trader Joe's. And some Mexican beer.

It was fairly warm when I first arrived at the campground, but it started to turn cold the night before my departure. I was thinking that I should have brought some handwarmers to put down at the foot of my sleeping bag. Next time.

Treasure Lakes Hike - 4

Tree Trunk - Sierra Nevada  2024

No Sierra hike photo story is complete without a weathered tree trunk photo. I took this one on the way back to the campground using an iPhone 12 Pro Max.

I'm reminded, a little, of one of my 1993 film photos taken in Great Basin National Park.

Treasure Lakes Hike - 3

Sun Through Trees - Sierra Nevada  2024

So I had gotten a slightly late start for the hike. I got to the trail junction, hiked a bit on the Treasure Lakes trail and had lunch. The next part of the route was significantly downhill, which I didn't want to do. I'll have to put this on a future hike-to-be-completed list (along with the hike up to the lakes along Big Pine Creek.)

The Sony RX100 worked out OK! I think it's good to go for future trips! Also, I tried out an All Trails download of the hike, which seemed to work well. Will need more experience for sure.

Treasure Lakes Hike - 2

Aspens, South Lake - Sierra Nevada  2024

Granite - Sierra Nevada  2024

As I said, I've hiked this trail before, even taking a photo of the Bishop Pass / Treasure Lakes sign in 2007.

Treasure Lakes Hike - 1

South Lake - Sierra Nevada  2024

Plants Near Trailhead - Sierra Nevada  2024

I've started a hike from this trailhead numerous times before, but usually heading towards Bishop Pass. This time I wanted to try a side trail to the Treasure Lakes.

Also, as a secondary motive I wanted to take more photos using my new Sony RX100m7, trying to get a better feel for it.

Monday Burro Blogging

Marcus - Sierra Nevada  2024

Very interesting. First burro I've seen being used as a pack animal (we used to see wild burros driving into Death Valley). Marcus had been caught sampling some alfalfa down near the Salton Sea and had been relocated to a BLM facility. While there he was taught some rudimentary pack animal skills (taking a harness, lifting the hoof for shoeing etcetera.)

Tim, his owner, and Marcus were venturing forth on their first overnight trip, hiking up towards Long Lake. Fun!

Tim and Marcus - Sierra Nevada  2024

Clouds

Clouds - Sierra Nevada  2024

Some clouds arrived high up in the sky that evening, the only ones to make an appearance during my camping trip. Photo taken with a Sony RX100m7.

Bishop Creek

Bishop Creek - Sierra Nevada  2024

Taken during one of my early campground walks. I used a Nikon Z7II / 24-200mm lens combo, with the shutter speed set to 1/20th second. I relied on the cameras vibration reduction (image stabilization) to keep the rocks sharp while at the same time blurring the water. Seems to have worked!

Railroad Museum

Tracks, Railroad Buildings - Owens Valley  2024

Boxcar - Owens Valley  2024

I made a quick stop at the Laws railroad museum. Quick, because the temperature was over 90 degrees  F (32.2 C.)

Of note: this is the second railroad museum I've been to recently that doesn't have a steam engine on display! ("In the shop.") Annoying.

Desert Sightems

Fourwing Saltbush - Inyo National Forest  2024

Exposed Cliff - Owens Valley  2024

"Fourwing saltbush is one of the most widely distributed and important native shrubs on rangelands in the western United States including the Intermountain, Great Basin, and Great Plains regions."

I walked around the corner on the intriguing desert road and took the plant photo using the Nikon. Then I had to return to the car to retrieve the iPhone so I could go back and get the plant ID.

Desert Sightems

Off Road Entry Point - Inyo National Forest  2024

Fritos and Beer - Inyo National Forest  2024

I had lunch at an entry point for off-road adventures. The dirt road curved invitingly around some low hills towards . . . ? 

Had the place to myself, no cars passed by on the main road.

Saline Valley Road

Road Sign - Owens Valley  2024

Saline Valley Road - Owens Valley  2024

The sign shows that Scotty's Castle is "closed." But is it the road that's closed, or the castle itself? I visited Scotty's Castle in 1980.

Monday Dog Blogging

Dogs - Sierra Nevada  2024

Dogs (and Mike) out for an early morning walk around the campground loop. 

Eureka Valley Road

Eureka Valley Road - Owens Valley  2024

There's an earlier 2009 blog post concerning Eureka Valley Road. This time, the sun was out, the weather was warm and the contrasting desert light was somewhat flat. 

Hills, Erosion - Owens Valley  2024

Owens River

Owens River, Trees, Mountains - Owens Valley  2024

I had some clouds last year for a photo in the same area, but this year the weather was cloudless, sunny and warm.

I used a Nikon Z7II with a 24-200mm zoom lens.

Little Lakes Valley Hike - 4

Foxtail Pine - Sierra Nevada  2024

Fritos and Beer - Sierra Nevada  2024

Around noon I located a pleasant, shady, somewhat level spot and settled in for my lunch. 

Unlike my 2013 hike, I didn't feel the need to go to the end of the trail at Morgan Pass.