TRAVEL Archives - Keeping With The Times

Snow Geese Migration

November 4, 2016 by Barb 2 Comments

I’d never witnessed the Snow Geese migration until earlier this autumn when we were driving through Saskatchewan. I’d heard about it from a friend but there’s no way a person can truly appreciate it unless they’ve seen it for themselves.

To say it was spectacular is an understatement, and these photos don’t do it justice. There were thousands of these birds flying in what appeared to be all directions, yet choreographed at the same time.

Here’s a little 10 second video I captured. It’s mostly about the cacophony :)

To learn more about these fascinating birds go to All About Birds – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

So this is day 4 of #NaBloPoMo … and while some of my posts are not going to be spectacular I have to tell you I learned something this morning … big time. So I’ve decided to create a list of 30 Things I Learned From Blogging Every Day in November, which I’ll share when it’s all over and done!

Abraham Lake, Alberta is a Hidden Gem!

September 30, 2016 by Barb 5 Comments

Abraham Lake on the David Thompson Highway is, in my opinion, one of the most spectacular sights in Alberta! and truly is a hidden gem!

We’ve driven past it dozens of times, but always on our way somewhere else. I was never sure what it was called since there are no big signs on the highway and the turnoffs are not at all obvious. Of course we’ve stopped and taken the obligatory photo of someone standing in front of it, but never have we explored the area. So on our way home from Emerald Lake, we decided to take the time to really look at it.

Abraham Lake was created in 1972, with the construction of the Bighorn Dam. Although man-made, the lake has the blue color of other glacial lakes in the Rocky Mountains, which is caused by rock flour as in other glacial lakes. (Wikipedia)

Abraham Lake, Alberta

Best skipping stones ever!

Natural or man-made … it’s spectacular! and with the golden autumn colours against the turquoise of the lake … well, it just doesn’t get any better.

You’ll find campgrounds with makeshift stone fire pits and picnic tables scattered throughout, as well as many hiking trails … a real getaway here people!!

I discovered Abraham Lake is also a winter destination for ice bubbles formed due to trapped methane gas. Way cool. I now have another one for the bucket list, people!! Do you not just love it when you have to add something to your bucket list!

After a couple of hours spent exploring and taking photos we headed down the highway, only to be lured off the beaten track once again. This time to explore the Bighorn Dam area on the North Saskatchewan river.

The Bighorn Plant is TransAlta’s highest performing hydro plant, producing an average of 408,000 megawatt hours each year.

When TransAlta built the Bighorn Hydro Plant, it created Lake Abraham — Alberta’s largest man-made lake. The plant is one of two TransAlta hydro plants on the North Saskatchewan River System in Alberta.

In addition to TransAlta’s hydro plant, Bighorn is a name given to a lake, river, creek, canyon and mountain range in western Alberta because of the abundance of Bighorn sheep.

TransAlta’s hydroelectric plants primarily provide electricity during periods of peak electrical demand and ensure system stability. Their operating flexibility means they can start quickly to introduce hydro power within minutes, balancing out shortages due to unexpected outages, or providing power at times of high demand. (Transalta)

North Saskatchewan River

I have no photos of the actual dam since it required a bit of a hike to get to it, and we were running out of time … but oh my, swooning once again here …

So there you have it … a veritable photo dump!

It was a spectacular day which ended with supper at Boston Pizza in Rocky Mountain House, and finally home to Red Deer.

David Thompson Highway, Alberta Canada

September 13, 2016 by Barb 6 Comments

The David Thompson Highway holds so many memories for myself and my husband. We’ve taken that route many, many times on our summer/autumn holidays, usually on the way from Central Alberta to British Columbia.

Alberta Provincial Highway No. 11[1] is a highway in central Alberta, Canada. It is known as the David Thompson Highway, and runs from Saskatchewan River Crossing in Banff National Park east through Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer until it connects with Highway 12 near Nevis. The highway is named after David Thompson, a British-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker who explored the area between Rocky Mountain House and Kootenae House (near present-day Invermere, British Columbia) through Howse Pass. Wikepedia

We started out on a little September getaway early Friday morning (destination: Emerald Lake, British Columbia.)

And so it begins … the colours!

On a whim we decided to drive into Nordegg to see if we could find lunch … we followed the aroma of fresh bread and pies cooling in a window at the Miners Café in the Heritage Centre.

We each had a bowl of homemade potato soup that was like eating a whole new potato swimming in cream. In addition we shared a grilled brie and cranberry sandwich on homemade bread. Lastly,we shared a piece of peach/apple pie still hot from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting all over it … bliss! I highly recommend stopping at the Miners Café if you’re in the area and are looking for some wholesome local food!

We made a quick stop at Abraham Lake, but I’ll be posting more photos in a future post since the leaves were even more spectacular as we made our way home from British Columbia 4 days later.

Mount Michener

Next up: Emerald Lake, British Columbia

Explore Magazine Feature

July 20, 2016 by Barb 7 Comments

I was pretty chuffed to find one of my blog posts was referenced in Explore Magazine’s Alberta’s 25 Best Hikes. It’s for a post I wrote last year on Sunwapta Falls and Old Man Mountain. You have to scroll down a bit to find the article (it’s #5) and the link to my blog, but it’s there! I mean … who would have thought ;)

… and in case you don’t know what Explore Magazine is …

Founded in 1981, explore is the award-winning national lifestyle magazine that delivers the information and inspiration that active outdoor-loving Canadians want-or more accurately, can’t do without.

Explore Magazine Feature, Keeping With the Times

*with permission

This seemingly small “nod” has done a couple things for me.

First, I’m so happy I took the time to document our trip last year. This blog is my life’s journal but to be recognized by a magazine adds an extra element of excitement and it has encouraged me to share more of our travels. I do share some, but often I let it lapse, thinking “who cares” (blog fatigue.)

Secondly, I’m determined to keep improving my photography. When I went back and looked at my post, I was relieved to see that my photos were pretty darn good! I’d taken the time to look for interesting angles and small details, sharing only my best shots. So thank you Explore Magazine for the pat on the back, and the encouragement to keep blogging!

If you’re interested in our complete trip, check out my post Our Canadian Rockies Getaway and follow the links.

Fountain Hills Lake Overlook Trail

April 12, 2016 by Barb 9 Comments

It wasn’t a stellar start to a Monday. Yesterday both the hubs and I woke up a bit off … one has a cold, and two couldn’t sleep because of it.

After a stand-offish first cup of coffee, we decided to go out and make the best of the day (I mean we’re in Arizona, the skies are stunningly blue, and the temperatures are divine.)

So it was off to Mountainview Coffee to see how the new owners are doing. As it was, there were a few glitches (no internet, and they seemed to be out of all menu items.) It was also hot indoors so we picked up our cups and went and sat on the patio. Duh. Instant mood boost.

But … uh, oh. Out comes a very toxic mother/daughter duo who plunked down at the table right beside us. It was impossible to ignore them. I won’t go into detail but the daughter was treating her mother with the utmost disrespect, and the mother was on oxygen and looked like she was on death’s door. After a bit I whispered “let’s go” to the hubs who looked like he was about to say something. Oh.my.gah.

When we got to the car we had quite the discussion; both agreeing how terrible the whole situation was. I even used the word abuse. Perhaps elder abuse? Mother abuse? Even so, you really never know what brings people to behave so badly. We certainly don’t know their background and unless someone gets physical, I’m of the mind to let it be. Hubby is not so clear … he may have finally had to speak. What do you think? Would you have said something? I just don’t know what 5 seconds of a stranger’s (surely unwanted) advice is going to accomplish.

Anyway, onwards and upwards (literally) as we took the short 1.5 mile hike “Fountain Hills Lake Overlook Trail“. We’re so glad to have discovered this little gem! The views are spectacular …
… and yes the photos are a bit cra**y since I only had my phone and I wasn’t taking a lot of care, but lately I’ve decided that just capturing the moment is enough. And talk about moments! we ran across this Argentine Giant in full bloom (down at the Fountain). It was positively stunning, and they only bloom for a few hours! What luck for us that we ran across it. So what started out as a not-so-great day turned out to be pretty awesome. We just had to make it happen.

Be kind whenever possible.It is always possible.

Dalai Lama

Midwinter Getaway in Banff

January 14, 2016 by Barb 13 Comments

I’ve just enjoyed a little midwinter getaway in Banff, Alberta.

Over the years I’ve accompanied hubby on countless business trips. I’ve travelled with him from one end of Canada to the other (and back again.) We’ve hit every major city and some not-so-major cities. I feel quite blessed to have had the opportunity to explore Canada this way—while staying at the best hotels.

This week we’re at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta. We’ve stayed here a few times but it just never gets old. Simply exploring the “castle” is enough, but throw in Willow Stream Spa and Afternoon (High) Tea and it’s nothing short of luxurious.

I’m not shy about exploring or eating by myself when hubby is in meetings (who has time for that?) so yesterday when I decided to enjoy the ritual of afternoon tea, I requested a large table, in a corner, with windows on both sides …
I didn’t want to bother the waiter so I took these photos myself … balancing my camera against my chin as I poured tea (hoping it would hit the strainer … and for the most part, it did!)
I really wanted to spread all the delicacies across the table amongst the teacups, linens, and silverware.

My plan would have been to stand on a chair and take a top-down ;) but for the most part I simply sat and drank my tea(s) while eating fruit, delicate sandwiches, scones, cakes, cookies, and profiteroles while enjoying the view …

After a couple of hours I asked the waiter to pack up the leftovers and I headed back to my room. Needless to say, I skipped dinner last night :)

Today we’re heading home for one night and then we’re off to Quebec … I’m hoping to be able to share a bit of that as well.

Have a lovely day!

Mount Lemmon AZ, Ski Valley Autumn Colour

November 14, 2015 by Barb 3 Comments

Welcome to Part II of my Catalina Highway, Mount Lemmon Trip Review!

If you like, you can read part I here.

As we headed further up the Catalina Highway, we started to feel hopeful as small pockets of yellow started to peek through the pines.

These are just teasers!
And then, goodness me … yes! How amazing are these carved tree trunks! At first I was dismayed at the damage, but then I began to think otherwise, what do you think? Check out the beautiful sunlight, peeking through brilliant yellows leaves against an impossibly blue sky. Sigh.I was thrilled to see oak … I don’t have access to many of these beauties.

and then …stunning maples … . I may have gasped. At the top …It’s so beautiful!

I know, it was a serious photo dump ;) but I hope you’ve enjoyed it!

If you’re thinking of taking this trip, this may be a good place to do a bit of research: Sky Island Parkway .

Thank you for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Day 14 #nablopomo

Catalina Highway, Mount Lemmon Trip Review

November 13, 2015 by Barb 3 Comments

Today I have a review of our trip to the top of Mount Lemmon via the Catalina Highway. Armed with plenty of water, a homemade lunch, and snacks, we set out on our adventure.

The Catalina Highway, officially the General Hitchcock Highway, is the popular name for a Forest Highway and scenic route located in Pima County in southern Arizona (Wikipedia).

When we first arrived in Arizona it was early November and I wasn’t ready to let go of autumn. After a little research and much debate, we decided to make a trip to Mount Lemmon (near Tucson) rather than Oak Creek (near Sedona) to search for colour.

We weren’t sure we’d find autumn, but we’d never been to Mount Lemmon, so we decided to take the chance. It was quite a hike from our place in Fountain Hills at 172.1 miles (3 hours 28 minutes), and after a while I was feeling a little sheepish, thinking I had sent us on a wild goose chase. But not to worry. It was spectacular! The whole drive was spectacular … we love the Arizona landscape, so really, we would have enjoyed the trip whether we found autumn or not.

As we neared our destination and arrived at the park we found the Cactus Forest which “is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 594 at the 2010 census (Wikipedia).”

Like I say, spectacular!
When we stopped for lunch at wonderful picnic area, I was already seeing colour … not really, but … maybe? The air was fresh, scented lightly by pines, and if you weren’t in the sun, it did get quite cool. I love that …

I have finally, after years and years of travel, started taking photos of the signs on the highway … oh my … am I the last person in the world to do this?

Mount Lemmon Hoodoo at Windy Point:

and then this … I think we’re on the right track …

I hope you’ll join me tomorrow when I share the spectacular colours we found … you won’t be disappointed!

Day 13 #nablopomo

Emerald Lake, British Columbia

September 19, 2015 by Barb 6 Comments

The whole trip was amazing, but our final destination was Emerald Lake, B.C. … what words could I possibly add to this …
View of the cabins …
The following photo shows where an avalanche occurs almost every year …
There is the main lodge Emerald Lake Lodge for dining and warming up by a fire, but our accommodations were an amazing little cabin with no tv, no internet, and no cell service. It was like we were on another planet and was so cozy. Every time we walked up to it, I affectionately referred to it as our little Hobbit Hole … yes … right on the lake.
Looking through a window from the main lodge … goodness, I love B.C. These pots reminded me of some kind of hanging bamboo …… our room!
breakfast is served … From the canoe …

I know … serious photo dump, and I still have more. We walked around the lake and I have a ton of mossy mushroom shots to share … but I’ll leave that for next week :) but, here’s a bit of top-down faffoolery with the flora and fauna I foraged:

Sunwapta Falls and Old Man Mountain

September 18, 2015 by Barb 3 Comments

A torrent of plunging water not far from the Icefields Parkway, Sunwapta Falls is just one of the many waterfalls in Jasper created by hanging valleys.
Hanging valleys were formed when glacier ice receded 8000 years ago, leaving behind broad U-shaped valleys. Larger valleys were carved deeper than smaller ones and in places where the two meet, the smaller valleys “hang” at a higher elevation. This is an excellent place to find waterfalls. At Sunwapta Falls, the smaller “hanging” Chaba Valley and larger Athabasca Valley join in a spectacular stepping waterfall that has carved a deep limestone gorge out of the rock some metres below the footbridge.

Parks Canada

We made a quick stop at Sunwapta Falls … just another stunning waterfall in Jasper National Park.

The result of thousands of tourists making their way down to the falls …
Now I’m just throwing in Old Man Mountain, Roche Bonhomme, or Nanabusho which is visible from the Jasper townsite as well as various places along the highway.

It struck us funny because the first night we were having dinner in a restaurant in Jasper, Don looked up and said “oh, there’s a face up there!”

We joked that it was Brian Mulroney, stern jaw and all …

Some aboriginals refer to it as Nanabusho: a teacher, a brother of humans, and a reminder of spiritual connection to the land.

Next stop … Yoho National Park and Emerald Lake Lodge … Heaven on earth.

Highway 93A – The Old Banff/Jasper Highway

September 16, 2015 by Barb 8 Comments

Backing up a bit here … rather than taking the Icefields Parkway (HWY 93) to Athabasca Falls, we turned off onto the old Banff/Jasper Highway (HWY 93A), which parallels HWY 93 and ends up at the falls. It was a last minute decision and one we were astounded that we hadn’t considered before. It was spectacular.

If you like to avoid major highways in Jasper National Park for the peaceful meander of a Canadian Rockies backroad, then Highway 93A or “the old highway” is for you. Part of the original Banff/Jasper Highway, it now sees much lighter traffic.

Jasper National Park dot com

It was such an unexpected and delightful drive … we met approximately 2 cars and saw an older couple on bikes …
When we stopped to take a closer look at a lake peeking through the trees, this is what we were presented with …
I haven’t been able to identify the mountains …

It was a dull, drizzly day so most of my photos turned out kinda dark … however, I used several actions by Linda Sattgast from the “Fix Photos Fast” class she teaches at Digital Scrapper.

Just a few clicks to adjust exposure, contrast, and shadows/highlights. Two more clicks … one to flatten layers, and one of my own actions to “save for my blog” … done, done, and done!

Thanks for stopping by today!

See Sunwapta Falls and Old Man Mountain for Part VI

Athabasca Falls Jasper National Park

September 15, 2015 by Barb 3 Comments

Our next stop was Athabasca Falls.

The 23-metre Athabasca Falls is not very high by Canadian Rockies standards, but the size of the river makes it one of the most powerful falls to be found in the mountain national parks. Pouring over a layer of hard quartzite, the falls have cut into the softer limestone beneath, carving intricate features, including potholes and a short canyon.

Parks Canada

It’s deceptively quiet at the beginning … and the whole area is misty with spray …

… then eerie, because … people have slipped in and died here … It’s positively thunderous …
… and magnificent.

See Lake Annette for part IV

Lake Annette, Jasper National Park

September 14, 2015 by Barb 4 Comments

After we explored Maligne Canyon, we stopped at Lake Annette (and Lake Edith … which I didn’t get a photo of … eek.) (This is Part III of our Canadian Rockies Getaway.)

Both are beautiful. Lake Edith seemed a bit rougher with private homes nestled in the trees (can you imagine?)

Lake Annette is smoother, calmer, and great for swimming, which is a bit of a rare find in Jasper due to the fact that most lakes are fed by glaciers (including Annette) … brrrr …

So, whoah … get a load of this guy … ;)

… sorry about the butt end but it was all he was going to show me on this particular afternoon and I was hiding behind a sign, using my telephoto lens … this guy was daunting …

The elk or wapiti is one of the largest species within the Cervidae or deer family in the world, and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia

He had a few ladies on standby …

Some people were standing so close to these animals, trying to get a shot with their phone (please do.not.do.that.)

I was talking to a ranger later in the day, and she told me that of all the animals in the park, elk are the ones she fears the most … she’s seen the injuries that have been inflicted by a seriously annoyed male.

This is where I slowly walked to the left and hid behind a Parks Canada sign …

See Highway 93A for part V

Maligne Canyon

September 12, 2015 by Barb 9 Comments

Maligne Canyon … part II of our Canadian Rockies Getaway.

Maligne Canyon is a natural feature located in the Jasper National Park near Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Eroded out of the Palliser Formation, the canyon measures over 50 metres deep.

Parks Canada has developed a self-guided interpretative trail along the canyon with signs describing the geological history of the area. There are four bridges across the gorge, each with its own special view. A short hiking loop tours the upper reaches of the canyon, while a longer trail follows the gorge and exits at a fifth and sixth bridge lower down.

Parks Canada

We crossed bridges 1 – 3 and regretted missing bridge number 4. We later drove to bridges 5 and 6. The whole hike was more than we wanted to take on … however we both decided it would be doable if we were prepared (this is what happens when you reach a certain age … you get very cautious … or perhaps you realize your limitations.)

Canadian Rocky Mountains, Maligne Canyon, Keeping With the Times

Maligne Canyon, Jasper National Park

Even though we’ve visited Maligne Canyon a few times, it just never gets old.

See Athabasca Falls for Part III

Our Canadian Rockies Getaway Part I

September 10, 2015 by Barb 14 Comments

The Canadian Rockies mountain range spans the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. With jagged, ice-capped peaks, including 3,954m Mt. Robson, it’s a region of dramatic wilderness, alpine lakes, diverse wildlife and many outdoor recreation sites. National parks include Yoho, home to Takakkaw waterfall, dropping a sheer 302m, Jasper, famed for its Athabasca Glacier, and Banff, site of glacier-fed Lake Louise.

My husband and I have lived most of our married life in Alberta, and every time we take a trip through the Canadian Rockies we are blown away by the beauty and majesty of it all.

This trip was a late 40th wedding anniversary celebration (we’re almost at 41 now), and it was pretty memorable.

We left early on September 4th, headed to Jasper National Park, where we stayed for two nights at Becker’s Roaring River Chalets, just off the Icefields Parkway and adjacent to the Athabasca River.

View from the dining room. Mount Kerkeslin in the background.

The chalets were warm, comfortable, and clean. The food in the dining room was pure deliciousness … and I know good food!

Canadian Rockies, Becker's Chalet, Athabasca River

Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park, Becker’s Chalets

We were in for a bit of a surprise when we discovered the Tour of Alberta was scheduled to go right past our chalets!

We waited …

… and waited …

… finally they appeared … and we were just mere metres from the riders!

It was quite the exhilarating sight … they were escorted by countless RCMP vehicles, event organizers, and marshals …

… 30 seconds later, they were gone!
what a blast!

OK … wait … don’t go! Check out the Tour of Alberta, Rocky Mountain (Bighorn) Sheep Style:

See Maligne Canyon for Part II.

Sturgeon Lake

June 4, 2015 by Barb 8 Comments

I accompanied the hubs on a business trip to Grande Prairie this week, and what a breath of fresh air it was! Although my favourite place to be is home, it felt great to be out and about.

On the way back I realized I had not taken one single photo, so when we took a detour to Sturgeon Lake I quickly remedied that!

No one was around and the gulls were owning this place … you can’t see them, but there were hundreds swirling around that little island, and there was quite a cacophony of screams and cries.

bokehlicious …

We were only there for a few minutes but it was enough for me to realize that I need to document our life a bit more.
We also stopped in Mayerthorpe to pay our respects to The Fallen Four.

Spring 2015

Upper Antelope Canyon

May 15, 2014 by Barb 13 Comments

When I first saw photos of Antelope Canyon a few years ago I was thunderstruck. Was there really such a place? It looked surreal, magical, heavenly. As it turns out “Antelope Canyon is the most visited and most photographed canyon in the American Southwest. It is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona.” (Wikipedia)

And as usual I never considered that I may go there some day but after a series of fortunate events (the main one being that we bought a place in Arizona to get away from our harsh long winters) there I was. Living a dream.

The following photo is my bucket list shot and I didn’t even see it until I got home and uploaded everything to my computer. I caught a sunlight shaft! It wasn’t even on my radar because we weren’t at the canyon at the right time.

Granted, it is not THE sunbeam in the second room that occurs when the sun is directly overhead between the months of March and September. But I will take it. Some people go there specifically to catch that one shot and leave horribly disappointed if it doesn’t happen. Not me. I was in awe from the moment we got there. I really did not have any expectations. The light is low and the tour we were on did not allow for tripods. Yes I admit it. I set my camera on auto and took almost 500 shots, hoping to get something, anything.

antelope canyon, keeping with the times

I’ve taken a long time to post this because I haven’t quite figured out how to process Antelope Canyon photos and I wanted them to be perfect … but if I leave it any longer, I won’t get around to just telling my story.

Our guide pointed out the bear. Can you see it?

antelope canyon, keeping with the times

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Caution: photo dump …

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I must say it reminds me of those pictures of baby ultrasounds … a womb … no metaphors here, just an observation.

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These are not people I know – I just wanted to demonstrate what it really looks like in there! There are many, many tourists and you usually have to shoot straight up to get an image with no one in it.

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After about a 20 minute ride bouncing along a dry, sandy, riverbed we arrived (along with hundreds of others).

antelope canyon, arizona, keeping with the times

You cannot visit the canyon on your own, you have to sign up for a tour. We went with Antelope Canyon Tours and they were fantastic! We thought it might be frustrating and chaotic, but no, these people were all business “chop” “chop” which is the only way to handle the hoards.

I stumbled across this great article at Gary Hart Photography and he describes the experience far better than I ever could in a hundred years. It’s a must-read if you are planning to go (I wish I had). Thank you, Gary Hart if you are reading this …

The Doors of Barrio Viejo

February 11, 2014 by Barb 25 Comments

barrio viejo

This is one of the images I took while on our photo walk in the Barrio Viejo, Tucson. I liked how the green window frame and the green leaves on the tree had some of the same tones; almost neon. I also liked the way the tree was creating a frame across the top of the building and drawing the eye in.

I’m contemplating having this put on canvas and then hanging it in our little kitchen. The tiles on the counter are this same blue, with some rusts and greens and reds – sounds perfect! Hope I follow through!

I’m a bit out of the loop – I see TT is about love this week so here’s my nod to love…

barrio viejo

kk_seriousmagic on the top photo

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen dot com

Butterfly Wonderland, Arizona

February 10, 2014 by Barb 11 Comments

Last week I visited the Butterfly Wonderland in Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, with the “ladies”.

Whoa! I didn’t know where to start. There were hundreds of these beauties flitting around, landing anywhere they pleased, including on my head. They weren’t shy, that’s for sure.

At first I was using my 55-200mm lens but it didn’t take me long to figure out that all I needed was my 18-105mm, and at times, my 40mm f2.8. Butterfly Wonderland, AZ

I wanted to get this fella with his wings open, but that was near to impossible. It’s too bad because they were the most gorgeous bright blue, but every time it landed, it closed it’s wings. Still pretty, though!

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When we finished at the Butterfly house, we all went for lunch at Mimi’s and enjoyed about an hour and a half of eating and talking (pretty much nonstop). How fun! Just like we’ve known each other for years.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful Monday!

10 Things I Love about Arizona

February 9, 2014 by Barb 10 Comments

Since this is the month of love, I thought I’d make a list of 10 things I love about Arizona. cactus love

cactus love1

Of course the warm temperatures would be at the top of the list.
How clean the roads are, and how at night the lane reflectors create a beautiful pattern which is almost mesmerizing.
Cactus.
The fact that we’re on holidays when we’re here.
The colours; rich golds, and rusts, and burgundies. The blue skies, the red sunsets.
Attractions like the Desert Botanical Gardens, Butterfly Wonderland, and the zoo.
The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Tortilla Flats. Next on my list: Antelope Canyon.
That hubby can golf whenever he wants.
Shopping.
Eating out. We’ve eaten at so many fabulous places! Sassi, White Chocolate Grill, Blue Adobe, The Cove Trattoria, Davanti Enoteca, Lons, oh my, it’s almost embarrassing!
Meeting wonderful blogging friends in real life. Oh, that’s eleven, oops!

So there you have it! I could list many more, but this will do for today.

But in case I sound ungrateful, when I get home, I’ll make a list of what I love about home. Because I do love my home.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Boyce Arboretum, AZ

November 3, 2013 by Barb 12 Comments

For the past week we’ve been spending some time at our little get-away in Arizona. It’s very relaxing here; we eat, we sleep, we tour around a bit, hubby golfs, I play with my camera.

On Friday we visited the beautiful 323 acre Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior. We spent over two hours exploring the desert and all the amazing plants and creatures that call it home.

I don’t know what this plant is, but it was a magnet to butterflies – there were dozens of them flitting around it and I was pretty lucky to capture three of them sitting still for a moment. I think they’re monarchs… but please correct me if I’m wrong! Did you notice the bees?

Update! TexWisGirl said she thinks these are Queen butterflies and I believe she is correct. Upon closer inspection, not only are these darker but they also have some spots on their bodies which I do not see in a Monarch. Thank you TexWisGirl!

barb brookbank, butterfly, photography, photoshop

It turned out to be quite the nice little hike (where some of us hid in the shade every chance we got).

Boyce-Arboretum

Beautiful cactus, beautiful light…

Barrel-Cactus

Have a wonderful Sunday!

The Grand Canyon–The Final Episode

April 12, 2013 by Barb 13 Comments

Our second morning dawned clear, bright, and cold. We were pretty relieved and couldn’t wait to get out and explore.

After a quick breakfast we headed out and spent the next several hours walking along the rim. Alert: photo overload!
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As you can tell, I was pretty impressed with this surreal, natural wonder.

If you ever get the chance… no wait! don’t leave it to chance–make it happen–visit the Grand Canyon!!

The Grand Canyon Continues

April 11, 2013 by Barb 7 Comments

Just a few more snowy vistas before we move along. Grand Canyon-web04DSC_0159

The sun stayed out for about an hour and we were able to enjoy the gorgeousness of the forest…

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I didn’t want to stand there with hubby so I offered to take his photo…

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Finally, the Grand Canyon. Photos cannot capture it. Words cannot describe it.

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But us photographers try.

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National Geographic writes “the road to the Grand Canyon from the south crosses a gently rising plateau that gives no hint at what is about to unfold. You wonder if you have made a wrong turn. All at once an immense gorge a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide opens up. The scale is so vast that even from the best vantage point only a fraction of the canyon’s 277 miles can be seen”.

It wasn’t long until the clouds and snow took over once again so we headed to the Yavapai Lodge where we spent the night.

We were travelling with another couple so we enjoyed a lovely dinner at the El Tovar Dining Room. It was warm and cozy, the food was good, and we had a view of the rim of the canyon.

We watched people scurrying around outside with hoods and scarves pulled over their heads. We marveled at the snow blowing around and off the roof and made predictions about what we were going to wake up to. Would it be cold, but clear? Or was there going to be a foot of snow blanketing everything?

The Grand Canyon

April 10, 2013 by Barb 7 Comments

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Shortly after we left the shelter of the gift shop/cafeteria (to escape the blizzard) and began to drive to our hotel, the sun started to peek out and we caught our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon.

We pulled into a viewing area and I just couldn’t get past the trees. They were so absolutely gorgeous with their twisted trunks, rough bark, and snowy branches.

I knew that the lighting was perfect and that the snow was soon going to melt so I slowed down and took dozens of shots, all the while exclaiming how beautiful it was. But the excitement was building as we inched our way closer and closer to the rim… more photos to come later!

I was using my new Nikon D7100 with the 55-105mm lens for the first time! I’m pretty excited about it! I did a lot of thinking about which camera I wanted. I looked at full sensors but decided the cost was just too prohibitive and not necessary for my needs. The D7100 is a 24.1-MP DX-format CMOS sensor and shoots up to 6 fps. I also bought the 55-105mm lens which will enable me to take a wider range of photos without having to change out the lenses constantly.

I sharpened the photos, adjusted the exposure, then bumped up the blues and greens a wee bit–that’s it…

So far, I’m quite pleased. I cropped the last image to within an inch of it’s life and I think the detail is still pretty amazing.

The Beauty of the Grand Canyon

April 9, 2013 by Barb 3 Comments

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Our trip to the Grand Canyon didn’t start out too hot. As a matter of fact we ran into a blizzard and had to sit in a gift shop for an hour or so where we busied ourselves eating hot dogs. (I believe the one I ate is still haunting me…)

I took this photo with my phone as we tore across the parking lot to get back to the car. I tell you that wind was biting and that snow was wet. Did we not just fly 2236.44 Kilometers to get away from this stuff?

But, being the troopers that we are, we swiped the snow off the car and proceeded out onto the highway thinking that if we could just get to our hotel, we could warm up and regroup. However, it wasn’t too long until a bit of sun peeked out of the clouds and the fog parted enough and we got our first glimpse of the Canyon.

I can’t even describe how it felt. It was absolutely awe-inspiring.

To be continued…

Sedona and area

April 27, 2012 by Barb 16 Comments

May you walk in beauty above you, beauty below you, beauty behind you, beauty surrounding you.

~Ancient Native American Prayer~

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From the vicinity of the airport looking down on the city.

Cathedral Rock at Red Rock Crossing

One of the most photographed scenes in Sedona, this spot is where Cathedral Rock is fronted by Oak Creek. Located just off Upper Red Rock Loop Road.

Earlier, on the way to Sedona we stopped to view these ancient cave dwellings:

Montezuma’s Castle

A beautiful and fascinating day!

Cathedral Rock, AZ

April 27, 2012 by Barb 6 Comments

This is a shot I took while we were out at Sedona – a fella at the tourist info booth told us where the best place to be at sunset was – and we were there! My sweet hubby waited, and waited, and waited. I came away a very happy camper!

Can’t wait to get back home and back to visiting all your blogs – it’s a pain to have no internet except while having coffee at Starbucks (major withdrawal).

More to come later.

Is it real?

May 16, 2011 by Barb 20 Comments

Well, yes it is real but is it natural? I don’t know . . . We came across this pleasant little surprise when we actually had come to see the Nakalele Blowhole in Maui (photos to follow).

A bit surreal . . .

It’s positively glowing . . .

There was no one nearby to take a photo of both of us together.

The drive from Kapalua, around Nakalele Point and on to Wailuku is extraordinary. Nakalele Blowhole is the result of the ocean wearing away the shore below the lava shelf. With each wave, water is forced through a hole in the lava shelf resulting in the “eruption” of water similar to a geyser. The “blowing” of the water varies dramatically depending on tide levels and wave action. High tide and strong surf result in the best effects. The blowhole can be seen from the road when the wave action is right or you can hike down to the area – just don’t get too close!

Useful Information:

The blowhole, point and light beacon can easily be seen from the trailhead without taking the hike.
Use extreme caution when walking these trails as they are rocky and descend steeply toward the ocean. Wear sturdy shoes, a hat and use sunscreen. Always bring drinking water, do not hike alone, and tell others about your hiking itenerary.
Be extremely careful around the blowhole as the waves and resulting eruptions are unpredictable and are deadly dangerous.
Never sit on, touch or get close to the blowhole or erupting water.
Monitor the ocean conditions continuously as rough waves may endanger you as the trail nears the water.

Duly noted . . .

It was like a ‘moonscape’

I took a tumble on this lava – it was razor-sharp and shredded my hand quite a bit – aarghhh

What could grow here?

Our first glimpse

People! there’s a hole there that leads directly into the ocean!!

All I can say is that it was an incredible experience and we came away awed and soaking wet!

Aloha Maui

April 19, 2011 by Barb 2 Comments

La Perouse Bay

April 17, 2011 by Barb 1 Comment

Located at the very end of Makena Alanui Road in South Maui, this lava strewn, alien looking landscape is the result of the last volcanic eruption here. Scientists estimate that in 1790 Haleakala erupted to form the jagged lava rock coastline.

It’s an amazing sight to see – it looks like a giant field that has just been tilled and it goes for miles and miles. All photos are mine.

Looking up the slopes of Haleakala

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Amazing lava ‘boulders’ everywhere

Right down to the ocean