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Kings Canyon National Park Trip Cut Short

June 18, 2021 by · 4 Comments

Kings Canyon National Park Trip Cut Short

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Kings Canyon National Park trip cut short. Again, the place was fantastic, and visiting highly recommended!

On our way back to Maxx’s from Lassen Park last week, he called to tell us he and Catalina were both sick with flu-like symptoms. My pulmonologist told me that people with fibrosis seldom die from fibrosis. They get a cold or flu, then develop pneumonia. That’s what does them in. So Maxx’s call did not deliver welcome news.

We decided to camp in Maxx’s yard for two nights. We’d then leave Sunday, two days earlier than planned, to go to King’s Canyon and Sequoia Parks. Great plan! I did not go into their house, nor was there any physical contact, and any discourse happened with masks on.

Sunday morning we drove south, as pleasant a drive as you’re likely to get on CA-99, then headed east on CA-180 from Fresno. Soon the van was climbing mountains again, doing switchbacks and hairpin turns. I think I’m finally getting used to them!

We found our site at Princess Campground and had lunch. I wanted to go Do Stuff, but Susan said, “I think we should just hang out and relax.” I didn’t like that idea (at all) but it wasn’t worth arguing about, especially when you know you can’t win anyway. So I wrote some travelogue pieces for Global Outdoors , which whiled away most of the afternoon.

…but Gollum and the evil wargs…

In the morning we got our usual civilized start, leaving for Kings Canyon about 10 AM. Missed the best light again! The descent into the canyon was almost otherworldly. You could imagine Orcs, Dwarves, and Elves having massive battles in terrain like this, at the very edge of Mordor. Super cool!

If you drive much out west, you’ll see lots of signs warning you about falling rocks. Well, yeah, the roads cling to cliffs! We came around one bend and there was a wheelbarrow-sized boulder on the centerline, apparently freshly fallen. Glad I wasn’t there ten minutes earlier!

Believe it or not, the road is at the bottom of this cliff, out of the frame.

 

This type of yucca grows all through the canyon.

 

Here’s CA-180, once it’s away from the cliffs.

At the bottom of Kings Canyon you find the Kings River. CA-180 follows the south fork for ten miles or so before turning back on itself and forcing you to drive the other direction. The river is sparkling and pure, full of rocks and rapids, and good enough trout habitat that I was able spot several fish holding in the current.

We went on a short hike, on fairly level ground. I found it exhausting, and couldn’t understand why.

Susan is probably 25 feet away from the base of the tree. This is not the Grant tree!

In the morning we went looking at sequoia trees at Grant’s Grove, highlighted by the General Grant tree, the third largest tree on earth. All sequoias are way more than majestic, but this was an incredible example of an extraordinary living thing in its prime! I have no idea how to adequately photograph those sequoias in any way that comes close to doing them justice.

Still no Grant!

I found this walk exhausting, too. Still couldn’t figure it out.

The General Grant tree, only 1700 years old, give or take a few. Young, for a sequoia.

We returned to camp and took a nap. When I woke up I started prepping for dinner and realized I felt awful. A thermometer stuck under my tongue registered 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit. I turned the food prep over to Susan and went and laid down again.

I did not get up for 38 hours. Ouch.

When I felt sort of human again, we did not want to risk complications in a remote area with no cell service. It was horribly disappointing to leave- we hadn’t even been in Sequoia National Park! -but it was the prudent thing to do. We left.

I seem to be recovering as well as could be expected. Thank you for your concern!

Thank you again for reading this week’s post on the Kings Canyon National Park trip cut short. Life is great and I love life! But I hate getting sick!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Take a trip! Do SOMETHING!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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Lassen Volcanic National Park- a Photo Essay

June 12, 2021 by · 2 Comments

Lassen Volcanic National Park- a Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Lassen Volcanic National Park. The place was fantastic, and visiting highly recommended!

Valley Oak, Red Bluff Recreation Area

Tuesday morning we hopped in the chariot and drove, on the interstate, to Red Bluff, where we set up camp for a night at the Red Bluff Recreation Area, on the bank of the Sacramento River. Although the river allegedly contains fish, there must not be many- no one was fishing. We went for a walk on the Shasta View Trail, where we spotted the famous peak in the distance. Of more immediate interest were the beautiful valley oaks (Quercus lobata) there.

Morning found us heading east on Highway 36, infamous in California for being the state’s most dangerous road. From what I saw I can’t agree, but we only travelled a relatively short piece of it.

About 9 AM we entered the park. Almost immediately we came to the Sulphur Works. Steam vents in the ground release large quantities of stinky steam. A natural mud pot boils, right next to the road. Truly, we live on an amazing planet!

A boiling mud pit at the Sulphur Works.

You find four kinds of volcanoes in nature- Lassen has samples of all four. The last eruption of Mt. Lassen was fairly recent, 1914. You can identify rocks there that are only 105 years old!

Susan plays with a boulder. I think that’s Diamond Peak rising behind her.

We camped there two nights, circumnavigating the park, investigating all the short walks and taking two longer ones, to King’s Falls and to the Devil’s Kitchen.

Balsamroot, at the Sulphur Works.

 

King’s Falls.

 

The trail to King’s Falls!

 

Mt. Lassen. It’s much more impressive from the other side.

 

If you’re looking for a 2000-plus foot elevation gain, Mt. Lassen Trail might be for you!

 

Looking east from the park road.

 

One of several lakes along the park road.

 

Another view along the park road.

 

Another view!

We wanted badly to hike the Bumpass Hell Trail but it was closed, covered with ice and snow. Our last morning there we woke up to 37 degrees and snow flurries. The park’s elevation averages around 6000 feet, with many higher points!

The edge of the Fantastic Lava Beds at Butte Lake.

 

Walking through a meadow, on the way to Devil’s Kitchen.

 

In the woods, same trail. Do you see Susan?

 

Snow plants, a strange species found along the trail.

 

At the Devil’s Kitchen.

 

Susan, such a tourist! At the Devil’s Kitchen.

I cannot recommend a visit to Lassen Volcanic Park  highly enough. FANTASTIC place!

Thank you again for reading this week’s post on Lassen Volcanic National Park. Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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“Home” for a Week- Post and Photo Essay

June 5, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

“Home” for a Week

Thank you for reading this week’s “home” for a week post and photo essay. On Sunday Maxx and Catalina went away for a week. We stayed on, house-sitting and pet-sitting, our “home” this week.

One of thousands of flowers in the conservatory.

But first, on Saturday, we all went to Golden Gate Park. It was cloudy, and windy, and chilly. That did not stop the weekend parties in the park, or the throngs of visitors. There were flowers growing everywhere, even though we didn’t get into either the botanical gardens or the Japanese Tea Garden.

A six-piece jazz band, busking in the park.

 

Catalina and Susan at the water lily pond.

 

It could be the orchid conservatory!

 

We did get into the Conservatory of Flowers, though, a greenhouse full of beautiful, healthy, tropical plants. I may have gotten carried away with the camera, my little Olympus point-and-shoot. There was so much to photograph in there!

It could be the carnivorous plant conservatory!

 

Sunday, we went to the airport, dropping off our hosts in the process. See you next week!

Monday, Memorial Day, we laid low, and considered the sacrifices others have made so all of us can enjoy our lives today.

The Pinnacles.

Tuesday Susan and I went to Pinnacles National Park, a two-hour plus drive. It was hot when we took our first hike. It got hotter as we walked. There was little shade and the sun was blazing. We got to a point where we said, “This is dumb,” and turned around. The temperature was in the 90s!

She doesn’t look like she’s sweating to death!

We did see a California condor, never thought I would, and a coyote, too. But it was a long way to go to walk three miles. One hike was all we attempted.

More Pinnacles. With a moon.

We headed west and drove along the coastal highway for 30 or 40 miles, much less frightening than either further north or further south. Or maybe I’m just getting used to roads barely clinging onto mountainsides? The temperature dropped from the 90s to the 50s in less than 100 miles.

The dogs with Maxx on an earlier trip.

After leaving the dogs home alone all day Tuesday, I for one felt a little guilty. So Wednesday we took them to Rodeo Beach, a dog-friendly beach, so they could do some running. I brought cameras, thinking I’d get some pictures. HA! The dogs took 100 percent of my attention, leaving exactly none for any other activities. We ran them in the sand in the waves for a couple hours, though, exactly what we wanted to do. Get them some exercise and get them tired out, because that’s what they like. We all had fun!

Getting to the beach in the Marin Headlands. 18%!!!

 

In the BART station at Embarcadero.

Thursday, we braved the Bay Area Rapid Transit system to go to San Francisco. We got off at the wrong stop and then went the wrong way, seeing many people who were, shall we say, very street-savvy. We turned around before total immersion, and started asking directions to Chinatown. Those obtained, off we went.

If only we’d wanted to go somewhere else…

I love Chinatown! I like the buildings, the Chinese characters I wish I could read, the people shopping in the markets, they crazy things you see for sale. I like listening to the people speaking Chinese. I like the street art, and all the flags and lanterns. It’s all quite exotic, and if you get uncomfortable, English-speaking land is just a few blocks away. I like that we ended up in a place called the Spicy Shrimp for a bowl of noodle soup and a plate of chow fun. Yum yum!

The flags and the lanterns!

 

The street art!

We wandered down to the waterfront, over a mile from Fisherman’s Wharf. There were no sea lions. I guess they all work for tourist tips at the wharf. Then we wandered back to BART, and rode back to Castro Valley.

A view of the Transamerica building.

 

A different view of the Transamerica building.

BART is clean, and compared to what I’ve seen of rapid transit in Boston and New York, lightly used. The trains were on time, and fast. We couldn’t tell if this was the nature of the beast, or COVID related. When you consider the crowds of cars on the roads around here, I’m sure we’ll use it again next time we go to San Francisco.

The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.

 

Show off your pride!

Friday Susan painted and I wrote for my Global Outdoors travelogue. And we’re again lying low this weekend. So thank you for reading this week’s “home” for a week post!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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Yosemite Park and Muir Woods- A Photo Essay

May 28, 2021 by · 2 Comments

Yosemite Park and Muir Woods

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Yosemite Park and Muir Woods! I’m glad you’re here!

Now, let me send you somewhere else. This reporter has been writing a travelogue for a website called Global Outdoors. The most recent one they have posted is at this URL- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com/news/2021/5/24/traveling-america-by-van-on-the-road . But the posts go back to planning the trip and building out the van, if you are that interested. The content is quite different than what you see here. If you’re bored at work, please check it out!

Arches on the California coast.

Over the weekend we drove up to Sebastipol to visit Brian and Laura Jaye, long-time friends of Maxx. Maxx took us all out to CA 1 to see the sea. I can hardly believe they put a road on the side of those cliffs. It is terrifying to anyone who fears falling. The scenery is fantastic, though!

Maxx, Catalina, Carlo, and Betty.

 

General store, Elk, CA.

 

The flowers along the coast are gorgeous. These are California poppies.

Monday, Susan and I drove from Castro Valley to Yosemite National Park. Once we got clear of the major highways, the drive was beautiful- rolling hills turning into mountains, sparsely travelled four lane highway turning into narrow, winding mountain road.

El Capitan and Half Dome.

We reached the park entrance around noon. At least fifty cars were in line ahead of us.

Susan and John in Tuolumne Grove.

Clearing the entrance gate, we entered the park and drove to the Tuolumne Grove parking lot. I wanted to drive up Tioga Road, but it was closed. We parked, and hiked down into one of only 25 groves of giant sequoias left on the planet. They are so amazing!

A tunnel was carved through this dead tree trunk.

We hadn’t gotten our bearings yet, but after the walk Susan wanted to see El Capitan. We headed towards Yosemite Valley, stopping at overlooks along the way. When we got down onto the valley floor, the road looked like a parking lot. A long line of vehicles were parked on the road, which was temporarily closed for construction We joined the line, and sat down to wait.

After 20 minutes or so, the line started to move. It was slow movement, but it was movement. Hooray!

Our first view of El Capitan was stunning. People climb that cliff?!?!? We managed to snatch a parking spot, and did what tourists do- we snapped photos. That chunk of rock, while amazingly huge and imposing, wasn’t doing much at that moment, so we got back in the car, got back into the traffic, and creeped along- right into a controlled burn.

Didn’t come to see this!

The smoke quickly affected my breathing. You couldn’t see the mountains any more. We turned around as quickly as we could and got out of there.

Smoke filled Yosemite Valley.

Entrance into the park Tuesday morning was easy- no wait! The valley was completely filled with smoke, so after a 45-minute wait due to road construction (I photographed Mercer River while waiting), we drove up onto the Glacier Point road (on another terrifying mountain road) and drove all the way to the Glacier Point overlook.

Mercer River. Methinks there might be many trout here.

 

Mercer River, view 2. Note the cars parked on the road, left side.

 

Susan at Glacier Point. The view? AMAZING.

In the meantime, the wind had come up and blown most of the smoke out of the valley. The views from Glacier Point were incredible. We stopped at a couple other overlooks, then hiked up Sentinel Dome.

Sentinel Dome.

This walk was very tough for me. We were at such high elevation, I just couldn’t get enough air. Slow, slow, slow going, but finally I got up there.

Susan and John, somewhere in Yosemite.

The view, of 360 degrees, was dizzying. I hardly took any pictures- no way could they begin to convey the experience. The struggle up there was so worth it!

A view of the Half Dome.

We sat on the dome for over an hour. Some mental arithmetic told me that if we left right now, we’d be back to Castro Valley around sunset. We hiked back (it’s so much easier going down!) and hit the road. My phone took us through the backest roads (is backest a word?) imaginable, but got us to the interstate. We got to Maxx’s about 1930 hours after an amazing couple of days.

A redwood tree. Yes, they are very big, too.

Thursday, we hit a much closer target, Muir Woods National Monument, home of coastal redwood trees. Redwoods lack the bulk of giant sequoias, but they go straight up, seemingly forever. And it’s not like they’re small!

Redwood sorrel carpets the ground in places.

 

Susan admires some trees…

We took a leisurely hike of two miles or so, then went to Fish., in Sausalito, for lunch. Squid Caesar salad and squid over linguini, it was so good!

Lunch!

Then, it was off to Marin Headlands for views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, and the Pacific Ocean. Great stuff! Beautiful spot, and fantastic (if breezy) weather!

The Golden Gate Bridge, icon of San Francisco.

The plan for Saturday is to visit San Francisco. Should be an interesting day!

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Yosemite Park and Muir Woods!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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Some Places We Visited This Week- A Photo Essay

May 15, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Some Places We Visited This Week- A Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Some Places We Visited This Week. I type this from a couch in my son Maxx’s living room, having finished our drive across the country earlier today.

I’m tired. The last few days have been a grind. This post will be mostly captioned photos, little text.

We left Escalante and its terrifying roads and went to Red Canyon campground. A hike, a quick trip to Bryce Canyon. In the morning it was a brisk 28 degrees- time to leave!

A fantastic rock formation, VOFSP.

A long drive down I-15 through the incredible Virgin River Canyon brought us to Valley of Fire State Park.

The Valley of Fire State Park has infinite incredible rock formations.

 

Susan, on a hike in VOFSP.

 

More fantastic rock formations, VOFSP.

 

A raven, an important animal to the natives according to the pictographs, VOFSP.

 

VOFSP lies within the Mojave Desert. It gets hot there!

 

We encountered numerous bighorn sheep at VOFSP.

 

 

Susan, on a hike in VOFSP.

 

Susan, on the same hike.

Two nights in the Valley of Fire, and off we go. Through armpit Las Vegas to Death Valley.

Crappy Las Vegas traffic on I-15- not the trip highlight.

 

The happy couple at the entrance to Death Valley National Park.

 

Badwater Basin, the lowest geographical point in the United States.

 

Susan dances at the lowest point!

Ended up not wanting to camp there, we continued to Lake Isabelle, then Kern River Canyon, two nights. Went to see the Trail of 100 Giants in Sequoia National Monument. Many terrified moments on the mountain roads ensued!

The Kern River. I watched a guy use salmon eggs to catch a couple small rainbow stockers here.

 

I’m learning how to photograph the Milky Way. I made this shot from our Kern River canyon campsite.

 

Susan stands inside the base of an enormous sequoia tree.

Got a campsite for one night on the Pacific coast near San Luis Obispo. After that, it was California Highway 1 through Big Sur, then a dash to Maxx’s to beat the weekend traffic! And here we are!

Elephant seals howl on the rocky beach along CA 1 near Big Sur.

 

A Bird of Paradise flower along CA i in Big Sur.

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Some Places We Visited This Week!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

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Utah- Incredible Natural Beauty- A Photo Essay

May 8, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Utah- Incredible Natural Beauty- A Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Utah- Incredible Natural Beauty. The state has lots of prehistory in the form of Anasazi ruins, too. We could easily spend a month here and not see or do everything available. I still haven’t touched those fly rods, either, although I did see a few trout today, small ones, while hiking along the Escalante River.

Susan hikes through a slot on the way to the petroglyphs.

Mesa Verde National Park lies in Colorado, and our week started there with a scary drive to the top of the mesa. We went for a hike on the Petroglyph Point trail, a two-and-a-half-mile loop at 8000-plus feet elevation. I had to take it slooooow; these lungs have problems at sea level. It was a great hike and the petroglyphs were only a small part of it.

The petroglyph, a history of the antelope and raven clans.

 

Susan on the return trip.

 

The famous cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde NP.

 

The remains of a pueblo, with a kiva, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

Another day, another archeological site. This one was Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which sits on the state line. This monument was different than others in that the sites were fairly distantly spaced, with private lands in between. We got turned around and ended up at Hovenweep National Monument, lucking out to get the last campsite there. We were now in Utah.

Ruins at Hovenweep National Monument.

We went on a hike before dark, another incredible experience.

Ruins at Hovenweep National Monument.

 

A Susan and John selfie, at Hovenweep Monument.

The next day we drove on Utah 95 through Bears Ears National Monument to get to Natural Bridges Natural Monument. Everyone should experience both the road and the monuments!

Susan examines one of the bridges.

 

That tiny speck under this bridge is Susan!

The sun rose again. We went to the Needles Overlook in Bears Ears. What you look over is the canyon of the Colorado River, upstream of where it’s designated “Grand Canyon.” It’s still grand!

Susan on the edge at Needles Overlook, Bears Ears National Monument.

 

No arch in this shot at Arches National Park.

Then it was off to Arches National Park. We took a number of short hikes, none more than a mile, any of which could be life-changing in the right circumstance. The amazing thing about this trip is every day is better than the previous one, just cake-and-ice-cream scenery day after day!

Arch one and arch 2. This things are huge.

 

The famous double arch. Tiny specks at the bottom are people.

We had a travel day scheduled. We were passing Canyonlands National Park, where the Green and Colorado Rivers converge. We did it too fast, no hikes. Still amazing.

Petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock, Bears Ears NM.

We got on Utah 24 off I-70, headed to Capitol Reef National Park. Sadly, we only could get one night at the campground there. This place so warranted further exploration!

I heard something out the window at dawn. Twenty mule deer were just outside the van. Capitol Reef NP.

 

One of may incredible rock formations, Capitol Reef NP.

Continuing west on 24, we entered the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I have traveled on mountains roads in Bolivia and Peru. Route 24 through here was the most terrified I’ve ever been on a road. Two narrow, swerving lanes, sheer drops of forever on either side, and no guard rails. YIKES!!!

Not at the terrifying spot, Grand Staircase-Escalnte NM.

We made it, somehow. Today we hiked in Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, seeing more petrified wood than I saw at Petrified Wood National Park.

This colorful fossil tree trunk is 300 million years old.

 

You can see the annual rings in this one.

Whew! That brings us up to date!

Thank you for reading this week’s post on Utah- Incredible Natural Beauty!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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A Tour of Northern New Mexico- A Photo Essay

April 30, 2021 by · 1 Comment

A Tour of Northern New Mexico- A Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s post on a tour of northern New Mexico. Hope you like the photos! Lots of places in New Mexico are still closed because of COVID, as we learned to our chagrin this week.

We were driving through a small town called Carrizozo. We had cards to mail. I drove past the post office and went around the block to get back to it.

Some Carrizozo street art, not on the street.

The town revealed by that turn-around was awesome. While we ogled the street art a man came over to us and said, “Welcome to Carrizozo! We’re glad you’re here!” Turns out he was Mayor Ray Dean. We spent a quarter hour chatting with him. The town’s population is about 1200, 47 of whom are artists. They are looking for more artists, and retirees, to come and live there. You could do worse.

In Carrizozo, some good advice.

 

Carrizozo had this burro thing going.

We wanted to visit Valley of Fire National Recreation Area. It was closed. We stopped along US 380 to see the lava flows, then continued on to Socorro. From there it was continue west on US 60. I wanted to visit the Very Large Array. It was closed. They let cows in, though.

The cows could get in to the VLA, but we could not.

 

We went through a place called Pie Town. A name like that screams at you to stop. We didn’t though.

The chapel in Quemada.

We found a lovely little mission church in Quemada.

The Santa Fe trail passed this rock. Petroglyphs and inscriptions from pioneers can be found here, but the gate was locked.

We wanted to visit El Morro National Monument. Only open Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

We stopped at the Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave. Since this is privately owned, it was open. We paid the fee, then hiked to the crater. It was cloudy, windy, and cold. I took pictures, bad ones.

Susan down in the lava tube with a Navajo family.

The elevation, about 8000 feet, was killing me. Breathe in, breathe out, rapidly! From there we hiked to the ice cave, which was an old lava tube from the volcano. That volcano’s lava flowed more than 20 miles, and at one spot we could see nine other cinder cones. It was a great stop, and wonderful hike, and really nice to find something open.

We woke up to 36 degrees and snow.

We camped that night at Bluewater State Park. It was cloudy, windy, and cold. We woke up to 36 degrees and snow flurries.

Another fun sculpture on the street of Santa Fe.

At this point we hadn’t showered in four or five days, and had been sleeping in our clothes because it had been so cold. So, we got on the interstate and drove to Santa Fe, where we had a restaurant meal and an evening in a motel. Warmness! Showers!

A fun sculpture in one of Santa Fe’s galleries.

The art in Santa Fe- oh, my GOD! Every gallery we visited had stunning, museum quality work. There were lots we didn’t visit, either because they were closed or because of time constraints. A lot of the buildings there are built in the adobe pueblo style. The place had a very cool vibe- it was the nicest town we’ve visited so far.

The streets of Santa Fe are loaded with museum quality art like this.

We went to see the Puye Cliff Dwellings- closed.

We continued on to Bandolier National Monument. The visitor center was closed, but you could hike the trails. The most popular trail is the one going to the cliff dwellings. About 1000 years ago, 700-800 Anasazi people lived in what is now called Frijole Canyon, in natural caves that were enhanced by hard, determined work. We visited some of them.

Susan sits at the entrance to a cave dwelling.

 

 

 

Susan negotiates the Ladder of Death.

After an incredible hike we had time to visit the Valles Caldera. About one million years ago, after enormous explosions and lave flows, the cone of the Valles volcano collapsed, forming an enormous caldera. I made no attempt to photograph it, not beginning to see how one might.

We drove to our next campsite at Abiquiu Lake through snow flurries. It was another chilly night.

We stopped in Taos, another nice town, for coffee and to visit a few galleries. There were a lot of “cool dudes,” I’m guessing ski bums, hanging out. We bought the biggest cream puff I’ve ever seen, then got back in the van.

The bridge over the Rio Grande Gorge.

We got on US 64. Just a few minutes out of Taos was the Rio Grande Gorge. I was thankful the bridge proved solid. We got out and took some pictures (bad ones).

US 64 was the most stunning drive in a state full of them. Amazing! At the top of a mountain we stopped. I was hungry, but even though the sun was shining the temperature was in the 40s. Neither of us wanted to get out of the van and mess with food. Susan said, “I have the cream puff.”

Getting her cream puff on!

We started eating that thing, as big as a child’s head. Our eyes met and we lost it, laughing uncontrollably, tears rolling down. Didn’t stop us from finishing the puff, though!

Our day ended at Heron Lake State Park, where we met fellow vanners Greg and Corrinne. They told us we needed to stop at Camp Kush, where we are now. On the way here we crossed into Colorado, stopped for coffee in Pagosa Springs, saw Chimney Rock (national monument closed), and stopped for lunch in Durango.

More adventures await!

Thank you for reading this week’s post on a tour of northern New Mexico!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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A Cave, Dunes, and Petroglyphs- A Photo Essay

April 27, 2021 by · 2 Comments

A Cave, Dunes, and Petroglyphs- A Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s post on a cave, dunes, and petroglyphs. Hope you like the photos!

We visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It was like the Florida Caverns, multiplied by a zillion. Eerie, fantastic, fantasmic, wonderful, unearthly- I could go on but the point is made. We spent three hours in the caverns, three unforgettable hours. Our only disappointment was that the bats had not yet arrived.

This photo mostly shows stalactites in Carlsbad Cavern. This photo cannot give a sense of scale- these structures are massive.

 

This was an attempt to give a sense of scale- note the silhouette of a human figure at the bottom of the lighted area.

A stunning three-hour drive through a mountain range brought us to Alamogordo.

Street art was carried to new heights in the town of Artesia. This bronze sculpture was on the side of the road.

 

Susan eats pistachio ice cream in front of the world’s largest pistachio sculpture.

After stopping to visit the world’s largest pistachio statue, we went to White Sands National Park. It’s just as fantastic as the caverns, in a totally different way- blasting sun, blowing sand, heat, wind, light. Lots of people there, having fun in the dunes. We took some hikes, then headed to see the petroglyphs.

A sand dune at White Sands.

 

The happy campers. It’s like our second honeymoon!

 

 

People ride plastic discs down the dune faces.

 

Susan enjoys a rare piece of shade at White Sands.

Three Rivers petroglyphs site has thousands of symbols etched onto rocks. A short hike brings one to them. Counters can try to keep track of how many they’ve seen. The number will be large.

Petroglyphs at the Three Rivers site are more than 1000 years old.

 

More petroglyphs, with the Sacramento Mountains in the background.

 

The moon hangs over the mountain in this view from our campsite at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, south of Alamogordo.

 

Barrel cactus blossoms, lovely things.

 

Sunset from our campsite at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.

Today’s plan is for a drive to another part of New Mexico and some new adventures. Be here to see them next week- same time, same channel!

Thank you for reading this week’s post on a cave, dunes, and petroglyphs!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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In East Texas, A Photo Essay

April 17, 2021 by · 2 Comments

In East Texas, A Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s In East Texas post. Hope you like the photos!

In Martin Dies Jr. State Park.

Our week started at Martin Dies Jr. State Park, on the shores of Lake Steinhagen. The lake was once the Neches River. A dam took care of that, making a large lake, and on one side of that lake you find the state park.

Butterflies worked the thistles.

In Texas, people fishing from shore in a state park do not need a fishing license. I went fishing with the spin rod, and caught the first fish of the trip on a red shad Culprit worm. It was a largemouth black bass that tipped the scales at about five ounces. It was the only bite I got.

We found some jack-in-the-pulpit.

We spent most of a day on the hiking paths. I hugged a big old loblolly pine and had a religious experience. Really.

View from a boardwalk along the trail.

Swallowtail butterflies were working thistles. I shot a couple hundred frames!

Cindy, riding Buca.

We spent most of the week on Ten Metre Circle Ranch, with our friends Ken and Cindy. They are amazing hosts! With them we visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Grimes County Court House in Anderson, and Washington on the Brazos. We learned a lot about Texas history, Pompeii, and butterflies! And we learned a lot about dressage, because Cindy rides!

 

Cindy photographs a butterfly.

 

There were all kinds of exotic butterflies.

 

There was a sizable reptile too- an iguana.

 

Roman sculpture was less sophisticated than the Greek, but it wasn’t shabby, either.

 

Classic Rock Coffee in Navasota. Don’t get the croissants.

 

The interior was awesome!

 

Grimes County Courthouse in Anderson, a great place to visit. Ask for Al.

I was not expecting the profusion of beautiful wildflowers along the roads and in the fields, or the rolling hills. We find this part of Texas surprisingly lovely.

Bluebells, the Texas state flower.

 

Primrose, common along roadsides.

 

The east Texas version of Indian Paintbrush.

Thank you for reading this week’s In East Texas post!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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In Cajun Country, A Photo Essay

April 10, 2021 by · 2 Comments

In Cajun Country, A Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s In Cajun Country post. Hope you like the photos!

I’m writing a travelogue for GlobalOutdoors.com. They post a new installment every Monday. You can see the first one here…

North shore, Lake Pontchartrain

Our week started at Fontainebleu State Park, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. At one time, the property was a sugar cane plantation, with slaves providing the manpower. Now it’s a state park where those slave’s descendants can recreate. Maybe we are making progress as a race.

Sugar mill ruins.

 

A hummingbird moth works a thistle near the ruins.

 

Happy couple, giant live oak.

 

The surrounding communities have some interesting attractions, although many are still closed due to COVID. Travel during a pandemic has some drawbacks.

When we got there it was closed, saving us ten dollars.

 

Susan strikes a pose in front of the Catholic cathedral in Lafayette.

From there we went to Palmetto Island State Park, in the heart of Cajun country. We learned to eat crawfish, and learned about the Abbeville Omelette Festival, where they make a gigantic omelette by using more than 5000 eggs!

Crawfish, yum!

 

Wash the ‘dads down with cold Abita!

 

Mural in New Iberia, Bearing Gifts.

 

 

 

 

The state park had a large concrete alligator to welcome visitors.

 

It also had red irises!

 

The old train depot is now a gift shop.

 

A mural of the Omelette Festival!

After two nights there we headed to Texas, where we are currently. Big Thicket National Preserve is the coolest place I’d never heard of! We stayed two nights in Village Creek State Park, outside Beaumont. But we’re moving again!

There’s a place in the Big Thicket called Pitcher Plant Trail.

 

Snack time for the pitcher?

 

Pitcher plant blossoms.

 

Cypress slough along the Kirby Nature Trail, Big Thicket.

 

There were magnificent old trees.

Thank you for reading this week’s In Cajun Country post!

Life is great and I love life!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! or take a trip!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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