FIFTY

Today Cindy and I celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary. I had some photos to put up from May, 8, 1971 but they will have to wait for 51 and 52 etc. I took this shot at the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California just last month. It is perfect for today.

In those 50 years of marriage and together even longer, we put hundreds of thousands of miles riding side by side in a variety of cars from a 50 Chevy Deluxe Convertible, a 62 Tempest, 63 Karmaan Ghia, and 34 more to a MINI and a Subaru. We have crossed the country repeatedly, driven to Alaska, travel to Maine or Florida like it is next door and have driven in 49 states and all but one multiple times. We crossed Pittsburgh to buy a donut then the opposite direction for ice cream. We are now nearing 300 National Park Service units in the last few years. There is always something else to see, somewhere to experience a different part of the country, more ice cream and undiscovered restaurants. Planning for this year has taken us to Florida, California, Nevada & Arizona and are now scheduling stops in MN, WI, OH, MI, NY VT, NH, ME and back through Pittsburgh.

But what makes it special is who you travel with, who shares those journeys and dreams. How blessed I have been. We have a great family with extraordinary grandkids, good friends and find joy and gratitude every day. This is a glimpse not a book of the joy of having years together to experience the rich blessings of God.

When you travel with that one special person you see love in every mile, every turn and every mountain.

Last One

I know you come here for the fabulous photos and scintillating writing, or so I tell myself over and over and over. However, today and tomorrow are more personal. This morning I leave for the final quarterly meeting I will attend before I retire after 35 years of trekking to these meetings. I remember my first one in a church basement on uncomfortable metal chairs next to a very noisy air handler. A lot has changed in that time. We are now the Waypoint Church Partners covering multiple states with multiple staff - then we were the Virginia Evangelizing Fellowship serving the Commonwealth of Virginia with the sterling Marion Harris. I started by developing a new church planting strategy as a volunteer, was giving a small stipend, then part-time, full-time and had every title they could think up. After thousands of miles, hundreds of churches served or started and countless coffees I soon step away from Waypoint and will miss the people I work with and will celebrate the opportunities God has given me. It has been a privilege to see the Kingdom expand and work with superior men and women across the board.

Driving

I have been privileged to drive on many if not most of the historic and scenic highways of America. I may make a list someday. But this one, the western approach to Death Valley National Park on Hwy 190, was simply one of the very best. We took it from Lone Pine, CA (where it was #136) through Death Valley and while all of it was a wonderful drive the 12 mile descent to Panamint Springs was spectacular. It was even great fun in a rental Kona, imagine with a decent car. Wow.

The Arch

Alabama Hills had several arches. I scrambled up some of the rocks and found this view from a better perspective than down on the trail. We really enjoyed our time here, hope we can come back some day. There are some campgrounds and lots of space to boondock in the BLM area. I looked through a book that showed old still photos from movie and TV shows and the current place to see where they were shot. I plan to see if I can find some of the old shows to watch.

Smile

I imagine this is just graffiti and as such ought to be discouraged but here in the Alabama Hills, CA this has been painted in with eyes and lips for decades. It does change a bit, one showed spiky teeth and a much brighter star behind the eye, another had elaborate eyelashes. I don’t know how often someone takes the initiative to report this rock, nor do I remember what they called it but in the sameness of the landscape and the dust that swirls into every nook and pore, it makes you smile.

Black-chinned Humingbird

I spotted this little guy on a branch near where I was photographing the Burrowing Owls. This is another new bird, number 398 on my life list. It is a male and quite common in the Southwest but I never saw one on two previous trips. Over all I was a bit disappointed with the three places I had picked to specifically go in search of new birds, a wildlife refuge near Death Valley was nice but only a very few birds, the Henderson Water Treatment Bird Viewing park, again very nice and lots of birds but mostly very common. Although I did get a nice photograph of a Cinnamon Teal a bird I have seen only once before. Finally the Montezuma Well had an extensive list of birds seen in April but when I was there I saw only four kinds and very few of those. So the search continues for 399 and 400.

Serendipity

Cindy and I were sitting on some boulders near Zabriskie Point (named for a movie filmed here) at Death Valley waiting for nightfall and the stars to emerge. There were still people going up to the overlook and just on a whim I started photographing the silhouettes. One couple just separated perfectly against the red sky.

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NLT

Not a Cloud in the Sky

What appears at first glance to be a cloud pattern is actually salt patterns on the Great Basin of the Death Valley National Park seen from a nearby overlook. 28 degrees cooler at this point than the surface temperature on the flats.

The Trip Post

Kellen and I left LA after the Beverly Hills Auto Service changed the oil. This was a not as elegant as the name but a well run independent shop where everyone spoke German. They did a nice job on K’s car and we were off, north along the coast. I’m not about to detail the trip - you can still read C2C2C and K has a summary post up. It was an adventure. And it was also a lot about the car, car places and showcasing the car in photos. Once I got on to the idea it was fun, trying to get a great shot of the car. The one I picked for today is Kellen making a hard turn on the Bonneville Salt Flats and that place was amazing.

The absolute best part was the opportunity for me to spend 10 days with my outstanding grandson. I realize that time is precious and that kind of opportunity is not likely to come around again so I treasure each weird meal and miles of conversation or comfortable silence. It was a joy.

The very best thing I can imagine is that my wish for Kellen is that he gets the same kind of opportunity in his lifetime. It is a memory I will not forget. And if any of you get such a choice, do not hesitate, just go.

Regular programing returns tomorrow and next week new camping and Eats!

Just One

We arrived back in Raleigh to fanfare and food. Had a super nice time at Geof and Laura’s enjoying being home wtih friends, family and no major distances to cover. The last day was excellent and the time at Chincoteague perfect for the Atlantic photo.So why the Chick-a-dee? I am tired and weary and I will get lots of posts up this weekend. Goodnight!

One more from PGH

What a nice night.

Nostalgia

Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 50’s and 60’s nearly everyone would recognize Bill Mazeroski rounding second base after the World Series winning homerun. Statue is at PNC Park on the Allegheny River. In Detroit we toured the Ford F150 plant, the Henry Ford and ended the day with four hours of Pittsburgh in the evening.

"Sometimes you feel like a nut..."

You know you are with a super grandson when he is willing to go 80 miles kinda out of the way to allow me to get park number 292, Effigy Mounds (no coconut) National Monument. The mounds were on the top of a plateau about 400 feet over the Mississippi. We hiked up and were able to view several un-named mounds and two that were roughly in the shape of a bear. As with most of the mounds we have seen it is simply an appreciation of the culture and skill of the builders that is the draw. This park is isolated from any of our planned travels so it was great to pick this one up on the way East. The best part was the great view of the river.

The “Bear”

Path by multiple mounds

Grand Prismatic

What else can you say?

We traveled about 1200 miles the last two days. Today was with really only one major stop that will be on the dock for tomorrow. Lots planed for Sunday’s travels.

“Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy” Psalm 65:8 NLT

We are still checking --

— not too sure what planet we are on here.

Mammoth Springs, Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Astonishes

In racing it is said that driving a corner at the maximum speed and line possible is going 10/10ths. There have been a very few drivers who exceed what mortals can do, Fanigo, Moss, Clark, Gurney & Schumacher come to mind. Yellowstone is a park that exceeds at whatever it presents. We entered the park and encountered in a mile a bison plodding along as we drove at his speed. He was covered in glittering ice. We viewed mud pots, vents, geysers and hot pools all emitting clouds of steam and, of course, Old Faithful, scheduled to erupt at 12:04 and erupted at 12:04. We only had the late morning but well worth the stop.

And Now for Something Different

To be right up front, I was much better today, even ate twice, however, at nearly 10 as I write this, the tiredness is creeping in. Actually rushing so again plans are aborted after the singular post. But what a neat day. Kellen and I left Ely, the town where a Wal-Mart is well over 120 miles away, and headed to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. We arrived about 10 and drove out on the salt. After a few experiments to see what a bit of speed felt like 80mph, we set off to set the Land Speed Record for stock 2003 S-60 Volvo sedan with full compliment of luggage. I was quite content to let Kellen go after the record with a paltry 100/105. The Kellen took off toward the horizon until the speck disappeared in a cloud of salt. He returned past me at speed - note the photo and then after a couple more at 60ish for photos he stopped, excuse me, pitted. His camera on a tripod recorded him at 135 vicinity. The FIA or NASCAR or SCCA or the FBI have not settled the crown on K but, really, what other 2003 stock Volvo has even competed the year, so until notified otherwise, I declare Kellen US LSR holder for 2003 stock S-60 Volvos at the BSF. Five cylinders forever!

Walnut Canyon NM

This was neat place. You walked down (and up!) a bit over 300 steps from the canyon ridge to what they call the Island Trail. It wraps about a rocky peninsula with 900-1100 year old cliff swellings.

A persona note, I am able to eat a little bit today but incredibly tired. So, done for tonight and hope for a more alert day tomorrow.

Sunset Crater Volcano

I have posts up only because I was ahead a bit. I had several others planned that I will get to mid-week. Both Cindy and I ate something that made us terribly ill Friday night all day Saturday and for me most of Sunday. Very sick! I was able to leave Monday AM with Kellen but not near 100% yet but way better than Saturday. He will post today’s trip and I will chime in ….tomorrow, I hope. Meanwhile, this park was interesting and the lone tree on the ridge sits in a dark, volcanic ash that is black and crunchy to walk on.

Montezuma Castle

This was a new park for Cindy but not me as I was here when I was 12. Don’t remember much but I have the 1960’s brochure. This cliff dwelling is five stories tall and you cannot tour inside the ruins since they were closed in 1951.