Arches National Park visit 8/26

As a part of our vacation time we stopped at Arches NP for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, because of having to turn the truck in later today we didn't have even more time available. There's so much more we both wanted to see and it's a wonderful place to visit. Where I can do so I am notating certain images. I'll note the weather was overcast so some of the images just aren't the best and I haven't optimized them in Gimp.

This is near the entrance.

I believe this is Park Avenue.

The landforms are quite interesting in this part of the park. You can really see some of the layers.

Here are the Three Gossips in the upper left.

The Three Gossips closer, and a different angle.

Petrified sand dunes are in these next three images.

This is Balanced Rock.

To the left you can see Double Arch.

I think this is Turret Arch but I'm not positive.

This is an arch that is forming. It kind of looks like a giant eye.

This is a much better view of Double Arch. If you make the image larger you can see the people underneath. The thing is huge.

Another view of Double Arch.

This arch is one of the more recently and hasn't completely formed. As far as I'm aware it's unnamed.

I believe this is Sandstone Arch.

This is more of the petrified sand dunes found in many places in the park.

I loved the juxtaposition of the forms here.

Unnamed arch.

This is Delicate Arch.

This might be Skyline Arch.

This boulder made think of a petrified Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle which gave me a laugh.

We stopped at the gift shop and they've added these bronze sculptures out front.

At some point we have plans to return. Probably next year. If we do we'll probably spend two days on this park alone, and two more at Canyonlands NP.

Hickison Petroglyphs

One of our vacation stops is a place I've never been to before. The petroglyphs are approximately 12,000 years old. You'll see several of them in these images. I couldn't hazard a guess as to what and of them mean though I will say one looks a bit like a written language though you can judge for yourself.
Some of these images I captured just because I love the juxtaposition of the like and shadow and all were shot with my SLR.
Okay, I'll shut up now and let you look at the images.

The stretch which is US 50 doesn't have much traffic as you can see from this image. 

I'm going to try to capture some good images at Arches NP and I'll try to share them in a future blog. BTW, this vacation thing is great.

Mt Shasta

We had to go to Yreka to pick up a number of things for Susan's mother Peggy. We're done with that now and we're enjoying our vacation time starting today. For the first leg of travelling Susan was driving. Tomorrow I'll be driving us to Reno after we visit the fish hatchery.

This is Lake Shasta today. As you can see the water level is quite low. I'd seen several boat loading docks that no longer reach the surface of the water level. I estimate the reservoir is approximately 30% of capacity.

All throughout the west coast I've noticed a lot of dead grass. There just hasn't been the normal amount of rainfall even in Washington and Oregon. This picture was taken near Yreka. 

We reached Mt Shasta City and one of the first places we went is Shasta City Park. All around us were tall trees. There are Redwoods and White Pines. I estimate these trees are at least two hundred years old. It hit me that I should fire off a frame up into the canopy. Very nice.

In the park was this cool little foot bridge I had to photograph.

This is the stream that runs through the park and I photographed it from the bridge.

Susan on the bridge.

She was a bit tired from the last few days. I, of course, wandered around a bit more.

I tried another frame of the canopy. This one isn't quite as good as the other one.

I thought the pathway was cool.

Of course doing the tourist thing you have to get at least one of Mt Shasta.

Over the next few days we'll be in several places and I'll take plenty of photos which I will post in a future blog or two.

Garden July

This year the garden has really been doing well. One of the new plants I'm growing is Liatris and they look lovely among the Cosmos.

The tomatoes are coming along nicely. These are the mini ones that are Susan's.

The main section of the garden.

The strawberries are looking good too.

The Wisteria has really been putting out vines this year.

Vacation time

Here in the US we have a tendency not to take vacations. I was one and now that I think about it the last time I had one was in 2005. I didn't go anywhere, it was a staycation. That's kind of sad actually and toward the end of next month that changes.
So far we have plans of visiting Mt Shasta, CA, and Arches National Park in Utah. It should be really good for Susan, and I, as a couple. We'll be able to spend some quality time together.
I think our not taking vacations in the US is one of the contributors to marital break ups. We aren't taking any time as couples to help build our relationships. It's necessary I think.