Amazing Sightseeing Experiences ✈️????
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Yep, the past few winters were above normal, so this last one, being right at normal, would seem below normal by comparison. Poppies do need an above average winter to bloom (up here, anyway). And they need warmth, too...the hills here where I-5 goes through Gorman were way too cold to produce blooms...got frosts up through the end of May. Killed my tomato plants, in fact.
Going to wait 'til June to plant next time!Beautiful photos, and nice video too! Well done. The up-close shots are especially tasteful.
I have been around a bit, but have to say that Grand Canyon blew me away, and it was even somewhat unexpected. What you don't realize when looking at photographs only is the mind-blowing scale of that landscape! Photos taken in 2019 during a hasty and unplanned hike down South Kaibab Trail to well beyond Skeleton Point. The kids and wife had unexpectedly retreated to the hotel room, so I had some hours of freedom .. Only downside: I packed and unpacked my camera and binoculars so often that I forgot the expensive Steiner on the trail somewhere...
.. Only downside: I packed and unpacked my camera and binoculars so often that I forgot the expensive Steiner on the trail somewhere...
I was blown away by the Grand Canyon too. We stayed a couple of nights in the lodge. The whole experience was amazing.I have been around a bit, but have to say that Grand Canyon blew me away, and it was even somewhat unexpected. What you don't realize when looking at photographs only is the mind-blowing scale of that landscape! Photos taken in 2019 during a hasty and unplanned hike down South Kaibab Trail to well beyond Skeleton Point. The kids and wife had unexpectedly retreated to the hotel room, so I had some hours of freedom
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Devils Tower in Wyoming also blew me away. I've seen it in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and in books/magazines. Much larger than I expected. Same with Mount Rushmore, much larger than expected.
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota...not so a-maize-ing.
The Grand Canyon was a "Holy F&%$#" moment for us.
Bad Lands also very cool. The buffalo stampede at Custers Park, SD.
I would love to see the Taj Mahal. Pictures of it are just marvelous.
The mundane can blow you away if you keep an open mind and really look around.
^^^ Like stopping to smell the roses. I’m working on that ?
Thanks! One of my favorites was that one blue flower, I think it is a lupine, but what do I know about flowers.Yep, the past few winters were above normal, so this last one, being right at normal, would seem below normal by comparison. Poppies do need an above average winter to bloom (up here, anyway). And they need warmth, too...the hills here where I-5 goes through Gorman were way too cold to produce blooms...got frosts up through the end of May. Killed my tomato plants, in fact.
Beautiful photos, and nice video too! Well done. The up-close shots are especially tasteful.
Last season, July 2019-June 2020, we had 10.7 inches. We even had a decent snow, for Lancaster on Thanksgiving day, 2019. About 6 inches. For us, that's a big snow, lol! My 18 month old granddaughter got to build her first snow man though! It was fun watching her reactions to the cold and wet white stuff!
This season, we've had 1.32 inches. I didn't even bother going out to have a look. It would have been a nice drive, but a waste of gas, if all I wanted to do was see the poppies. They're really dependent on that rainfall.
Bummer about your 'maters. I don't know what your growing season is there, but it may not be too late to plant a new crop. My dad lives in Garden Grove, and for the last several years, most of his have come up fine, but the tomatoes are mostly deformed. They eat good, but look like something out of a horror movie.
I stumbled on it the first time I went from Lancaster to Bakersfield while on a job and was blown away. It's been a while since I've been back to the Poppy Preserve but as I recall, It's in the middle of nowhere and there is absolutely nothing else to do out there except enjoy the view. I loved that about the place. No hotels, restaurants, no bs. Just poppies.
If you ever travel to my home country, Argentina, Iguazu Falls is certainly worth visiting. It will make you wonder if there can be anything more awesome. Worth the price and more.
The thing about the Grand Canyon, is well it's huge. You don't really get an appreciation for that easily as most things in geology are scale independent (looks the same at 1 cm vs 10 meters). I knew the canyon was big, but when we hiked down for 20 minutes, then it hit us how big it really is.
A long way down still, and a long way back up. Helps bring the scale of the canyon into focus.
A long way down still, and a long way back up. Helps bring the scale of the canyon into focus.
The capacity for awe is in each individual, not in any particular sites that are destine to evoke awe. One can also see the ordinary in the spectacular as well. The night sky without light pollution can do it for me. The high seas mid-Pacific is more than your awe detector can handle so might leave you blasé. Then there's the universe in a grain of sand, as some poet said.
I've been very blest to do some travelling, and have seen some incredible things. Of everything I've ever seen, from here to Australia and places in between, nothing comes close to the smiling faces of my family.
Like I said; you have to check their schedule to see what’s running.
The train days in August are usually the biggest.
My favorite is the UP locomotive that was used in Silver Streak.