There Are Mountains in Georgia!!!

Posted on May 19, 2013 by fran

Wow! I can’t believe it’s been a month since I rolled out of Florida and into Georgia. I’ve been saving up my Georgia experiences thinking it would be easy to condense them into one blog post, but I found myself enjoying the state so much I stayed longer than anticipated. Now I have the difficult task of whittling down the highlights and images. That’s never easy for me because I want to share everything!

I never would have guessed that Georgia was such a mountainous state. These mountains don’t rival peaks of the Cascade, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountain ranges, but they are spectacular just the same. What I thought would be a fairly brief journey through Georgia turned into a few weeks, as I “feasted” on the the scenery… the forests, lakes, rivers and waterfalls… while they were brought exuberantly back to life by the wonders of spring!

At the recommendation of some of my new friends in Florida I planned my first stay near Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain. I usually opt to camp in state and national parks when possible. Most don’t provide full hook-ups (utilities) and they rarely have wifi available, but they all sit in the midst of nature. Camping next to a lake or stream, easy access to hiking trails, and meeting friendly neighbors who enjoy the same is worth the inconvenience of using the “dump station” on my way out of a campground, and having to find a nearby coffee shop to take care of business online.

My first Georgia campsite was at F.D. Roosevelt State Park, just outside of Pine Mountain. I managed to score an enviable lakefront site that I was thrilled to call home for a few days. While there I took Jazzy and Sadie for several hikes in the woods, visited Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Little White House”, and enjoyed watching a pair of geese and their adorable fuzzy yellow offspring!

Lake Delano in F.D. Roosevelt State Park, GA

F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain GA

My campsite along Lake Delano

F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain Georgia

Momma goose and her babies on Lake Delano

Chillin’ and Grillin’ at home in F.D. Roosevelt State Park (self portrait)

One neighbor I met, Joe, was on a solo exodus in nature while contemplating his future, his career, and in particular some choices he felt he had to make. Was it fate that brought him casting and reeling past my campsite? Our conversation started light…

“Hey… good evening.”

“Hi. I’ve been following this one bass all the way from my campsite.”

“Hmmmmm… Is his name Walter?”

My attempt at humor was met with a blank “who the heck is Walter” expression.

“Walter! You know… the trophy size bass that Norman pursues for years in the movie On Golden Pond.”

Still a blank expression.

“Ummmm… well… ok. I guess it’s an old movie.” I say as I glance away concealing a smile and only a slight bit of embarrassment.

We spent a fair bit of time chatting over the next few days… about life, about choices, and the importance of staying true to yourself and your convictions. I was truly impressed at the depth and understanding of this young man for his age.

A few days ago I came across a plaque with a quote on it that made me think of Joe and immediately snapped a shot of it with my cell phone and sent it to him.

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Lake Delano, FD Roosevelt State Park, Georgia

Joe, in pursuit of “Walter”

I spent one full day at Calloway Gardens. Unfortunately I was about a week or two late for their colorful azalea blooms, but found that there was still much to enjoy about this place. Walking amidst thousands of butterflies in the Day Butterfly Center was a delightful experience.

Day Butterfly Center, Calloway Gardens, Pine Mountain GA

New arrivals emerging from their chrysalides

Paper Kite Butterfly, Calloway Gardens

They also have a very nice “Birds of Prey” show which, of course, I couldn’t pass up. It was a good and educational show, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Red-shouldered Hawk featured along with a few other hawks and owls. This is the same type of hawk that I managed to untangle from fishing line and hold for a few moments while kayaking in Florida. (Story and picture here… Friends Along Florida Waterways)

Red-shouldered Hawk, Calloway Gardens

Barred Owl, Calloway Gardens

Barred Owl

Azaleas across a pond in Calloway Gardens

Colorful leaves, Calloway Gardens

To top of the day, I indulged myself in their Treetop Adventure and Zip-line course. This was a rather intense obstacle course stretching from tree top to tree top, and I was glad to be wearing a safety harness as I wobbled and swung and teetered from one challenge to the next. I did the entire course with a GoPro video camera attached to my helmet, but have yet to find time to edit the lengthy clip. (Hope to add it soon!!!)

After Pine Mountain I made yet another pit stop in Atlanta to visit my friends Eddie Tapp and Judy Host. I’ve written about these dear friends a few times before. (Fellow photographers and kindred spirits) It’s rare that I plan my route to include large cities, but there’s no way I’d pass through the state of Georgia without visiting these two special people. Thank you, my friends, for hosting me and my girls once again!

From Atlanta I made my way to Vogel State Park at the southern fringe of the Smoky Mountains. Here I scored another awesome campsite right along Wolf Creek, and spent my days hiking trails to one waterfall after another.

Wolf Creek, Vogel State Park

Trees in the mist near Vogel State Park, Georgia

Anna Ruby Falls, Unicoi State Park, Georgia

The fresh green of spring in Vogel State Park

‘Tis the season! While hiking through the park along Trahlyta Lake one rainy morning I came upon this mother goose protectively sheltering her babies from the rain. I didn’t know until I passed by again how many there were!

Momma goose and babies in the rain, Vogel State Park

Momma and her babies AFTER the rain!!

Wild Iris, Vogel State Park

Trahlyta Falls, Vogel State Park

Helton Creek Falls near Vogel State Park

Dog Hobble, near Vogel State Park

Upper Desoto Falls near Vogel State Park

Lower Desoto Falls, near Vogel State Park

My campsite along Wolf Creek, Vogel State Park

My next stop was not too far down the road… Tallulah Gorge State Park. I arrived and set up camp in the pouring rain, which is never fun but goes with the territory from time to time. I accept it, deal with it, and then count my blessings as I peel off my soggy attire while stepping into a dry motorhome instead of crawling into a damp tent. I did plenty of that, sometimes for days on end, while living in Washington.

The following morning I hiked the North Rim trail with Jazzy and Sadie, and enjoyed several overlooks along the way. Knowing they were not allowed on the suspension bridge I set out on my own that afternoon to hike the South Rim trail, then down 1099 steps to the Hurricane Falls lookout point at the bottom of the gorge (and back up again!!), and back across the suspension bridge, which stretches high over the gorge floor, to the north rim and my campsite beyond.

Tallulah Gorge

L’Eau d’Or Falls (french for Water of Gold) Tallulah Gorge

Hurricane Falls, Tallulah Gorge

Steps to the bottom of Tallulah Gorge (1099 of them!)

This 1000 ft deep gorge is absolutely stunning, and well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the area. Unfortunately the hikes I’d planned on doing down to and around the bottom of the gorge were closed due to weather and trail conditions, so I cut my stay one day short and headed off to my next destination… Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee.

View of the southern Smoky Mountains from a turn out on Highway 76 between Clayton and Hiawassee.

I have to admit the campground gods have been looking favorably upon me lately. I scored yet another great campsite, right on the waterfront of Lake Chatuge, at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. Moments after setting up camp I dropped my kayak in the water for the first time since leaving Florida. I did find myself missing the birds I grew to love along the Florida waterways, and thought it almost comical when I remembered there was no need to keep a lookout for alligator anymore. I was a bit startled when a goose came racing off the water and flew right at me, but realized it was my granola bar he was after, not me. I’m guessing he’s been fed a wee bit too much people food!

Another great campsite, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee GA

Hungry goose chasing me down for my granola bar while kayaking on Chatuge Lake

Although most of the Rhododendrons had not yet reached bloom, I enjoyed hiking through Hamilton Garden located right there at the fairgrounds.

Trail hike in Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee Georgia

Rhododendron, Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens

Rhododendron bud,
Hamilton Rhododendron Garden

Iris, Hamilton Rhododendron Garden

Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia, was only about fifteen miles down the road, so I made a point of checking it out my first day in town. I was so entranced by the 360 degree view that I set my alarm for early the following morning so I could reach the parking lot well before sunrise, giving me time to hike to the top in time to capture the first light of morning. As it happened it was a very foggy morning, so no “sunrise” to speak of, but the foggy layers woven between the mountains held a mystical beauty all their own.

Afternoon view from the top of Brasstown Bald

Early morning from Brasstown Bald

Morning fog from Brasstown Bald

On the trail back down Brasstown Bald

Sadie and Jazzy enjoying the hike with me on Brasstown Bald

As it happened, my friend (and Canon contact during my time on their elite team of “Explorers of Light”) Steve Inglima was visiting his brother not far from me in North Carolina. He took the time to come down for a visit one afternoon, and showed me some of the sites I had not yet seen. The tiny little community of Brasstown was one of them. Field of the Woods in Murphy was another. The intense religious conviction that went into the creation of this place reminded me of another place I visited while journeying through southern California… Salvation Mountain. Thank you Steve, for taking the time. It was wonderful to see you!

Little front porch in Brasstown Georgia

Field of the Woods

There’s a song that’s been slow dancing through my head since the morning I crossed over into the Carolina’s, and I can still hear old Willie now… singing “Georgia on my Mind.”

One last peaceful image of a foggy morning from my campsite on Chatuge Lake…

Foggy morning on Lake Chatuge

Memories of Florida

Posted on April 29, 2013 by fran

It feels good to be on the road again after four months of sitting still. I was rarely still mind you, but “The Beast” was… sitting in the shade of a big oak tree that dropped things on her constantly, (acorns, tufts of spanish moss, twigs and even limbs at times, not to mention the dust and pollen) and was home to a lot of birds who dropped things on her too! And although I walked Jazzy and Sadie several times a day, they spent a fair bit of time waiting patiently for me to return from a water excursion that did not include them. They clearly share my joy to be on the road again, not to mention the new trails and scents to be found along the way. As the miles disappear beneath me though, my melancholy mind draws me back to my memories of Florida.

Of all the states I’ve been through on my journey, Florida has seen the most of me. One month last spring, and four months this winter and early spring add up to a little more than a quarter of my time out here. I’ve already written about Florida nine times. (see My Favorite Places Revisited for quick links to all of them) You would think I’d run out of things to share, but the experiences just kept coming.

My new friends Glen and Gwen, and their “Gulf to Lake Paddlers” group, got me out on Rainbow River a second time. It was interesting to see how springtime had changed the landscape in the two weeks since we had been there. Many of the birds even acted differently. I’d never tire of the unique and diverse variety of birds in Florida, especially along the waterways.

Great Egret takes flight over Rainbow River

Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage fishes the shores of Rainbow River

Juvenile Little Blue Heron, just starting to show his true colors!

White Ibis in flight over Rainbow River.

Male Anhinga, sporting his breeding colors (note green around eyes), rests above Rainbow River.

Spring colors at Rainbow River

I was fortunate to get my daughter, Elissa, out to visit me twice while camped in Florida. We enjoyed some day trips, including Tarpon Springs and Cedar Key. And although she was a little reluctant at first, I got her out kayaking along Halls and Homosassa Rivers, and ultimately out on the Weeki Wachee. There’s no doubt she enjoyed both adventures immensely!

Kayaking Halls River with Elissa and our new friend Reuben.

School of dolphin making a meal of mullet along Homosassa River

Momma Wood Duck cruises with her babies on Homosassa River

Little Blue Heron, Weeki Wachee Springs

Weeki Wachee Springs

We were also treated to a private stroll along the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk with my friend Kathy. This was shortly before the warmer weather took most of the manatee back out into the Gulf.

Manatee at Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

Great Horned Owl, Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

Curious turtle at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

One thing about staying camped in one place for awhile, it’s easier to build friendships with the people I meet. That was the case with Trish and RD Daniels, and their friend Jim. Trish and RD (neighbors in the campground) invited me to join them for a day trip to the Clearwater Beach area to visit their friend Jim. We had a marvelous time taking a ferry out to Caladesi Island where we strolled the beach for quite some time, talking and plucking seashells from the sand, followed by a sunset dinner on Clearwater Beach.

A walk on Caladesi Island with new friends Trish, RD and Jim.

Willet’s standing on the shores of Caladesi Island

Seashell seashore of Caladesi Island

Gopher Tortoise grabbing a meal on Caladesi Island

Enjoyed dinner at sunset on Clearwater Beach with Trish, RD and Jim.

Another outing, this time to Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs, with my “Gulf to Lake Paddlers” friends. I’m really going to miss this gang!

Gulf to Lake Paddlers, Three Sisters Springs.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Crystal River

And days before I rolled out of Homosassa/Crystal River area my wonderful friends Gwen and Glen took me out for a fishing excursion on the Gulf. I managed to catch a two Spotted Sea Trout and two Mackerel. I gave the Mackerel to friends, but made a couple of yummy meals out of the Trout. We spotted a few bald eagle on the way back up Crystal River. Such magnificent birds!

Catch of the day! Mackerel on the left and Spotted Sea Trout on the right.

Bald eagle perched atop a palm on Crystal River

Bald eagle in flight over Crystal River

Four months after my arrival in Homosassa, it was finally time to go. I found myself having to go through a mental checklist before hitting the road. The important things that had become so routine felt oddly new to me again, for a few minutes anyway… secure everything that can slide or fall while mobile, awning in, patio chairs and grill stowed, slides in, jacks up, unhook utilities, clean and stow same, program GPS, dogs in, steps up, break off, take a good look in every direction and take a big WIDE turn out of campsite, find a spacious place to pull over and park, run back for the car, hook up, run through all the gears and let it idle in neutral for 3 minutes, put her in AUX mode, hop behind the wheel of The Beast, buckle up and hit the road with plenty of water, good tunes and a smile!!!

At the recommendation of my friend Jim at Nature’s I made one last stop before leaving the state… Ochlockonee River State Park. This is a small but beautiful park just south of Sopchoppy Florida, home of the Worm Gruntin’ Festival. I got such a kick out of this (and the fact that I’d missed it by a couple days) that I had to stop and ask a local to clue me in. Worm grunting is a technique used for bringing earthworms (bait) to the surface. The “grunters” pound a wooden rod into the ground and rub a metal flatiron back and forth across the top of it. The vibration either gets them excited or drives the worms crazy, but it brings them to the surface.

My campsite right along the river in Ochlockonee River State Park

Pines and Palmettos, Ocklockonee River State Park

This park is well known for their unusual White Squirrels which weren’t running around in abundance like the others, but I did manage to find a few.

White Squirrel, Ochlockonee River State Park

Small pond surrounded by Pine trees in Ochlockonee River State Park

While camped here I dropped my kayak in the water for a 7.5 mile solo adventure on a loop up the Ochlockonee River, down the twists and turns of Bear Creek, and back up the river to the campground. It was a hot, muggy afternoon, but the exercise felt good and I enjoyed the peacefulness and critters along the way.

This Osprey, carrying a rather sizable branch, reminded me of the endless walks I took with the dogs while camped in Homosassa. I was amazed to watch Osprey flying above the treetops and snapping off brittle branches to use in their nests.

Osprey busy building a nest. Ochlockonee River

Curious Alligator on Bear Creek

At the recommendation of the park ranger I took a side trip to Wakulla Springs State Park and did their boat ride. It’s the only way to see most of this beautiful bit of waterway since they don’t allow any other boats on the water within the park, and there are no trails along the water. Because of this there’s an abundance of wildlife. Lots of alligator, turtles and of course all the birds I’ve grown to love. I also visited St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, a vast haven for Florida’s critters.

Nesting Osprey, Wakulla Springs

Bald cypress, Wakulla Springs

Great Egret in breeding plumage, Wakulla Springs

Bald Cypress, Wakulla Springs

Nesting Osprey, Wakulla Springs

Tri-colored Heron, St. Marks Wildlife Refuge

Florida was a special place for me in many ways. The waterways, especially those that can’t be accessed by motorboat, were absolutely stunning. And as I’ve mentioned, I’m a big fan of the birds found throughout the state. What I’ll remember most about Florida though is the wonderful new friends I met there. There are far too many of you to name here, but I know you know who you are. I want YOU to know that you will all be a part of my treasured memories as I travel down the road.

***Note, for those of you who are unaware, I’ve finally created a Journey In Focus Facebook page where you will find more frequent tidbits as I travel. Feel free to go there, and if you’d like, you can “like” it. https://www.facebook.com/JourneyInFocus Remember also that you can sign up for email notifications when I post here by clicking on the mail icon at the top of my home page. And feel free to leave your comments here! I always enjoy hearing from y’all!

My Favorite Places Revisited

Posted on April 21, 2013 by fran

Hello friends! I know some of you have been wondering where I’ve been. Amazingly, until a couple days ago I hadn’t moved in nearly four months. My last few blog posts were about my time in a special part of Florida… Homosassa/Crystal River… and in particular, the wonderful experiences I had and the special friends I met there. My time was so full that I decided to take a little hiatus from blogging… give myself permission to let it go for awhile, breath and enjoy the days. Letting go of life’s pressures WAS after all, one of the purposes of this journey.

So I kayaked, and did road trips, and spent time with friends, and walked the dogs a LOT! And I worked on other projects, including a “slideshow” from my first fifteen months on the road. THAT was one hellava big task! But it was inspiring, even to me.

After more than 23,000 miles on the road, not to mention hundreds on foot and nearly that many by kayak, I was overwhelmed. More importantly… I was grateful. I was grateful for the gift bestowed on all of us of this great land. I was grateful for the spirit it took to put myself out here. And I was grateful for the vision to see and capture the stunning vistas, and incredible animals, and memorable moments… to share.

I’ve been asked numerous questions while on my journey, the most amusing of which is, “You drive that big thing… YOURSELF?” Honestly, it never occurred to me that I couldn’t. The number one question though, is “Of all the places you’ve been, where were your favorites?”

While working on my slideshow I was inspired to consider this question, pick my favorites, and share my answers with you. Picking my favorites was harder than it might seem, for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s limited to places I’ve been on my journey. The choices may also be skewed by other factors… weather, season, how much time I had in any given place, and what I was able to do with that time. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ve yet to see some of my favorite places, and that some of the places I’ve seen might have been favorites if only I’d had good weather, or more time.

Five favorites seemed like a fair number, but I constantly found myself wanting to add more. And of course… there were an overwhelming number of images from these places to share in one post. My remedy to that is to share a few select images, and the links (in blue) to my writings about these places. By following the links to the pages you will not only see more of the beauty, but read about the experiences as well. I also decided not to limit myself to one “stopover” point, one town, or one park, but rather “areas” that I feel comfortable grouping together as “a place”.

Keep in mind also, that I grew up in Washington State and lived in California for more than fifteen years. Both are amazingly beautiful and diverse states, but neither is on my list simply because they were not in the least bit new to me. They are both well deserving of top honors though, and if you read my posts about them you’ll understand why. (Just type Washington or California in the search bar at the top of my home page.)

So… here we go… in random order;

Upstate New York- I traveled into New York State through the southern tip of Canada (Niagara Falls area), and almost hate to admit how astonished I was as I made my way across the state. From Letchworth State Park, through the Finger Lakes region, and into the Adirondack Mountains. The landscape was lush… the lakes and waterfalls gorgeous!

Middle Falls in Letchworth State Park

Watkins Glen Gorge, Watkins Glen New York

Enfield Creek, Robert H. Treman State Park

Seventh Lake, New York

Ausable River near Lake Placid

Read my tales from Upstate New York at these links.

Crossing Into New York

Come Along on a Walk with Me!

Where Fairy Tales are Born

Trips and Trails and Puppy Dog Tales

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Oregon Coast- Having grown up in Washington the Oregon coastline was not entirely new to me, but I had not seen it since I was young and never in it’s entirety. I did a multi-day side trip to see the northern part of this coastline while I was home in Washington visiting family. Cannon Beach was the first place Jazzy and Sadie ever set foot on a beach, and they LOVED it. They ran and romped and played gleefully in the soft sand and cool breeze.

I traveled the southern part of this coastline when I continued on my journey after more than a month in Washington. My camp spots were almost always within the sound of the surf. The peaceful sound of the waves rolling rhythmically into shore is something I’ll never grow tired of. And of course the dogs loved our crisp morning walks in the sand. I did ride out one of the most brutal storms I’ve endured on this journey while camped along the shore in Gold Beach, but by morning the skies were beautiful, and everything even fresher than the day before!

Cannon Beach

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

Oregon Sand Dunes near Coos Bay

After the storm, Oregon coast

Oregon Coast

Read and see more here!

The Oregon Coast

When I Think it Can’t Possibly Get Any Better…

Stormy Weather

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Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks- Where do I begin! Between the stunning vistas, the many hiking trails, and the amazing variety and abundance of wildlife I was in paradise between these two parks. Not only once, but twice I traveled here on my journey. It was so hard to drive away from here that I pushed back my departure three days in a row. To put it simply… mountains, lakes, rivers, bison, antelope, and moose. Lots of ‘em!

Autumn color before the Grand Tetons.

Bull Bison and Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

Osprey bringing fish to the nest, near West Yellowstone

On a day ride from West Yellowstone up to the Continental Divide and the border of Idaho.

Old barn and the Grand Tetons from Mormon Row.

Jackson Lake and the Grand Tetons.

Lots of goodies to see and read about here!

Sunrise on The Tetons

Teton and Yellowstone National Parks

The Road to Yellowstone

Tetons… Way Beyond Grand

Full Circle Through Eden

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Upper Peninsula of Michigan- I’d always heard how beautiful the “U.P.” is, and I swore one day I’d get there. When the time finally came I wasn’t disappointed. I’m glad I allowed myself ample time to experience this place from west to east. My only regret was leaving before the turning of the autumn leaves. All the more reason to come back one day. One thing that will always stand out to me was having to keep telling myself, while watching the waves crash ashore on Lake Superior, “This is not an ocean!”

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MichiganPictured Rocks along Lake Superior, Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

A hike in the woods, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Lower Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Crisp Point Lighthouse, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Yakin’ with Jazzy and Sadie in Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Beautiful images and some good stories here…

Pure Michigan- The Upper Peninsula (part one)

Pure Michigan- The Upper Peninsula (part two)

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The Waterways of Florida- I’m writing this post a day after departing Florida for the second time on my journey. Last spring I spent a month traveling throughout the state, mostly under a storm cloud. I made camp in numerous places between the western gulf shores, the Keys, and all the way up the east coast. This time around I spent more than four months hovering south of “old man winter”. Most of that time was spent camped in one place… Nature’s Resort in Homosassa. Before my arrival in Homosassa the longest I camped in one place was a week. (My average stay was 3-4 days!) It was not my intention to stay in one place, but the price was right and there was no shortage of beautiful places to see!

Ichetucknee Springs

Great Egret flying over Santa Fe River

Sunset from my campsite on Grassy Key

My first Manatee encounter, Homosassa River

Great Blue Heron flies over Halls River

Kayaking with friends at Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

Read all about this marvelous state! (These posts are from spring of 1012 and winter of 2013)

Rolling Into Spring

New Sights and New Routines

Bird is the Word

Between Spring Showers

Final Days in Florida (2012)

Florida Take Two

The Warmth of Homosassa

More Beauty Around Homosassa

Friends Along Florida Waterways

Memories of Florida

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There were several other places vying for the top five spots here, and well worth mentioning. As stated, Washington State… in particular the North Cascades, the Olympic Peninsula, and the San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound. California… the northern coastline, Redwood Forest, Yosemite and Sonoma Valley. Glacier National Park… WOW! Colorado… the entire western two-thirds! Sedona… one of the most unimaginably stunning places I’ve ever seen. Utah… from Arches National Park all the way down through Canyonlands National Park and beyond was breathtaking!! (My posts about all of these places can be accessed through the search bar at the top of my home page.)

While working on the slideshow I was reminded not only of the beautiful places I have been, but also the unforgettable experiences I’ve had along the way. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones will always be at the top of that list. But the list goes on… kayaking amongst groups of dolphin, swimming with Manatee, getting up close with the mountain goats in Glacier National Park, an amazing wolf encounter that left me breathless, witnessing the birth of a baby Llama, rescuing and holding a hawk in Florida, and not only sharing more than 23,000 miles on the road, but hiking hundreds of miles of trails and shores with the two best dogs I know… Jazzy and Sadie.

And of course… spending time with my daughter, Elissa, at numerous beautiful spots across the country is one of those special blessings I could not have done without.

Kayaking with my girl!

The Warmth of Homosassa (Florida)

Posted on January 16, 2013 by fran

That’s a bit of a play on words I guess. I’m sitting in one of the warmest places in the country right now. I’m also surrounded by the warmth of many newfound friends. And I’m adjusting… to a much slower pace after more than fifteen months and 23,000 miles on the road. I gave myself until the end of the year to meander rather spontaneously around this country, absorbing and sharing the beauty and experiences as I went. Now, in addition to saving money on gas, it’s time to sit still long enough to get some work done.

Getting things done is proving to be far more difficult than I had hoped because most everything I have to do involves the internet, and the available WiFi is hit and miss. The speed (and existence) seems to come and go with the breeze. This is one big detail I have to iron out. In the mean time, it’s put me behind once again.

It has been my habit to write about a place after I’ve moved on down the road, but I can’t put this off. I already have far more images than I could possibly share in one post, and many more experiences ahead of me, so this is only a first installment about my time in the Homosassa/Crystal River area.

It was the manatee that brought me here. Swimming with these gentle creatures is an experience I could not pass up, and I was on the phone lining it up within minutes of settling into my campsite. After a quick online search I chose to schedule my “manatee experience” with a group simply called Snorkle with Manatee. The following morning I was on a pontoon boat with two gentlemen from England and the boat captain, Laura. She did a wonderful job of educating us on the Manatee, as well as proper (and lawful) etiquette before we slipped into the water wearing mask and snorkel.

You’re not supposed to swim after them, but if you’re still and calm their curious nature will bring them to you. In this adorable video clip one of the young manatee comes to me and bends for me to rub him when I reach out with my hand. With a video camera in my other I had little forward momentum so I kept slipping away from him, and he reaches out to me with his flipper to pull me back in!!

The friendly guy in the second shot below is literally holding onto me. He held me for a long time, turned me around and held me some more. I found out later they refer to him as Chester the Molester.

The campground I chose couldn’t be better. Nature’s Resort sits right on Halls River, making it easy to get out on my kayak frequently. In addition to the manatee there is a huge variety of birds to enjoy along the river… heron, egret, pelican, osprey, eagles and more!

Then there’s the people! I met several nice folks who came and went, but many of the people here live here full time or keep an RV of some sort as a weekend get-away. In time I got to know and treasure many of the regulars here. They are a fun and funny group! The stories… the pranks… the howling laughter. They remind me so much of author Carl Hiaasen’s characters I think I should write a book! There are too many to list by name, but I call them my “Cast of Characters”.

I have to share a funny story before getting to my image gallery… After a frustrating afternoon of trying to load my Manatee video to YouTube on slow WiFi only to have it fail, I slammed my laptop shut and grabbed my kayak. I needed fresh air and exercise… badly!! Ten minutes up the river I noticed a couple guys who looked like they were trying to paddle a Nature’s Resort pontoon boat with an oar. I know from years of boating that stuck on the water is not a fun place to be so I went to check it out. Engine wouldn’t start. They were stranded and there were no other boats in sight. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I offered to try to tow them back with my kayak. Took awhile, but I got ‘em there!! Now I have two more friends in my Cast of Characters!

There are many more stories soon to come, and many more beautiful images too! Enjoy the gallery below!!!

Great Blue Heron taking flight over Halls River

Great Blue Heron in flight, Halls River

Great Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Egret, Halls River

Anhinga watching over Halls River in Homosassa

Cormorant swimming Halls River

Great Egret taking flight over Halls River

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron takes flight over Halls River

Little Blue Heron

Osprey, Halls River, Homosassa Florida

Brown Pelican taking flight on Halls River

Brown Pelican, Halls River

Brown Pelican staring me down on Halls River

Little Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Egret taking flight, Halls River

White Ibis, Halls River

Juvenile Little Blue Heron taking flight, Halls River

Wood Ducks, Halls River

Great Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Egret, Halls River

Spider Monkey of Monkey Island, Homosassa Florida

Spider Monkey of Monkey Island, Homosasa Florida

Cat hoping for some fish at The Freezer in Homosassa

Cute pup watches the boat traffic go by on Halls River

Drawn Back to the Sea

Posted on December 16, 2012 by fran

The picture of Elissa below was taken a month ago while celebrating her twentieth birthday in Asheville North Carolina. I don’t know if I’m more astonished that my little girl is twenty, or that a whole month has already gone by since then! As always, our time together was precious to me and went by far too quickly.

My baby turns twenty!

I’ve made a tradition of letting Elissa update my map of all the states I’ve been through each time she joins me on my journey. I usually get a bit of heckling about the ones I’ve missed, but I think even she was amazed that I’ve actually made it through 43 states since I left Texas 15 months ago, and many of those states two or three times!

Elissa continuing the tradition of adding recent states to my map

A day trip along the very popular Blue Ridge Parkway was top on my list of things I hoped to share with Elissa while we were there but it was closed in both directions, due to snow one way and an accident the other. Instead we took a trip to DuPont State Forest and hiked out to Triple Falls which is the background to scenes from the popular movie The Hunger Games. Sadly what autumn color might have remained was stripped from the trees on the fringes of Hurricane Sandy so we did not get to experience the area at it’s finest. I’m hoping to get back here in the spring!

Triple Falls in DuPont State Forest

While in Asheville we got to spend some time with clients who’ve become very dear friends. Steve and Lisa Jane Johnson flew out from Texas so that I could do their annual Christmas card portrait. I’ve been a part of this long standing tradition for many years, and since I’ve gotten to know some of their extended family I’m sworn to secrecy every year. The cards are aways beautiful and creative, and kept under wraps until they arrive in the mail. I would share, but Lisa Jane would then have to shoot me!

While in route to a second camp spot in South Carolina Elissa and I were amazed at how much more color we found on the trees as we traveled south on the highway. With little change to the climate and type of foliage I can’t comprehend the difference, but it drew us out for a walk in the woods once we were settled in our campsite.

I’ve mentioned before that the only significant hardship on my journey is being away from Elissa. We’ve managed to find some time together during all of her breaks from school, and I have to admit I always anticipate her arrival like a child anxiously waits for Christmas. Each time I see her at the airport I am overwhelmed with emotion… my miracle, my precious baby, my spirited and headstrong child… grown into a beautiful, vivacious, loyal and loving young woman. How is this transformation possible in the blink of an eye?

After a precious few days with her I’m filled with even more emotion when I have to say goodbye and put her on a plane back home to Texas. And then comes the hard part. The quite after the joy. It’s hard to shake off the sadness when Elissa has gone home. My best remedy is immersing myself in a beautiful place… hiking through a thick green forest, kayaking a beautiful waterway, or strolling up a beach to the sound of the crashing waves. Much to my dismay I spent the next ten days camped in barren forests under dark gray skies and pouring rain. Talk about a funk!

Thank goodness I had my very dear friends Eddie Tapp and Judy Host to visit in Atlanta. I hovered north of the city waiting for both of them to return home from individual business trips, but as soon as they were back I was on their doorstep and ready for some healing time with two of the most loving and sincere people I know.

While in the Atlanta area I also soaked up some time with a another friend, Rainy Chastine, and her family. As with many of the friends I’ve visited along my journey, these three are all fellow photographers. Professional photographers I should say… old school. (As in we’ve all been around for a good long while!) I don’t know how to adequately describe the bond shared amongst our peers, at least not in brief, but I will say it’s really quite remarkable.

Interestingly, time with these friends gave me a good excuse to take a bit of a sabbatical… from driving, from shooting and from blogging. For more than a week I enjoyed “normal stuff”. Normal as in not nomadic. I cooked in a real kitchen with Judy. Got a pedicure. Went to the mall. Celebrated Thanksgiving with Rainy’s family and friends. Cemented a friendship with her adorable nine year old daughter, Summer. Got hooked on The Voice with Eddie and Judy. Celebrated Eddie’s birthday with several of their friends. Lots of conversation. Lots of smiles. Lots of laughter. All good, and all healing. Thank you, my friends, for being there with open arms.

After several days of recharging off the road I finally aimed “The Beast” toward the shores of South Carolina. Roughly six hours later I pulled into Edisto Beach State Park and settled into a campsite a short stroll from the surf.

I’ve been asked a lot of questions during this journey… “How long will you go?” “Aren’t you scared traveling alone?” And one of my favorites… “You DRIVE that big thing???” …but one of the most significant is “What have you learned about yourself since you’ve been on the road?” One thing I’ve understood about myself for a long time is that I NEED nature. This subject alone is worthy of a blog post all it’s own, and will probably lead into a book I’m planning on writing, but there is no doubt that I feel less alive while confined indoors, or surrounded by a city. For me, nature and nurture go hand in hand. Deep down I’ve always known this about myself, but the necessity has come to the surface while on this journey. Whether high in the mountains, deep in the forest or strolling along a shore… there’s no doubt that my soul needs nature like my body needs the air that I breath.

The moment I stepped on this beach it was like a gentle wave of peacefulness washed over me, and I thought to myself, “I am home.”

Sunset at Edisto Beach State Park

The two days I planned on spending at Edisto Beach turned into four, and I was quite tempted to stay longer, but had plans to meet friends in Florida and had a few days of traveling in between.

I don’t do a whole lot of dining out, but after a long day on the road AND a long walk on the beach I needed a meal far more than I wanted to cook, so at the recommendation of one of the park staff I ventured out to the Waterfront Restaurant. The food was good, the staff was friendly, they had free WiFi, AND the owner told me about a great place to kayak where I’d likely see dolphin!

That night the sound of the surf lulled me into a restful slumber, and before daybreak it drew me back out to the beach.

Pelicans glide above the waves at sunrise

Late that afternoon I made my way to the southern end of Edisto Island with my kayak, where I did indeed find dolphin.

Kayaking with dolphin along the shores of Edisto Island

I forgot to mention that I learned of Edisto Beach from my friends and fellow travelers, David and Beth. David also suggested I check out Botany Bay Plantation, just down the road. This is a Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Management Area with a swampy creek on one side and the Atlantic Ocean and beach on the other… with a whole lot of trees, a small lake, and a few interesting tidbits of history in between. I enjoyed taking the self guided driving tour at a leisurely pace, stopping along the way to photograph the scenery.

Tunnel of oaks through Botany Bay Plantation

First alligator sighting since returning south, at Botany Bay Plantation

Bleak Hall Plantation icehouse

At the recommendation of one of the park rangers I also enjoyed hiking Scott Creek Trail right there in the state park.

Great Egret

Regardless of my plans for the day, I was drawn to the beach for sunrise every morning. I know Jazzy and Sadie enjoy walking along the shore every bit as much as I do, but they’re also good at indulging me… sitting patiently while I stop to photograph the waves and dolphins and pelican along the way.

Dolphin pair at sunrise

Brown Pelican

Jazzy and Sadie happy to be back on the beach!

I was camped about forty miles south of Charleston, and since I’d never been there I spent one afternoon hiking throughout the historic part of town. I know I didn’t come close to seeing all there is to see, and will make a point of coming back one day to discover it in more depth. In all honesty, it’s one of those places I know I’d enjoy more if I had someone to share it with, so hopefully I’ll come back with a friend.

Battery Park

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

Upon my return from Charleston I discover that a Pilot Whale had beached itself just a short distance from the campground, and sadly couldn’t be saved. I know it’s often illness or age that causes a whale to do this, but I had no way of knowing the reason when I left the following day. I just did a google search to see if any answers had been posted, and discovered this was one of at least three Pilot Whales that died along this part of the coast in a matter of days. No confirmed reason yet, but it’s suspected that intestinal parasites may be the cause in at least one of the whales.

Edisto Beach State Park… home for a few days… was another one of those places I had a hard time leaving, and did so knowing that I would return. When I do, it will be to this same campground. It was recommended to me, and I can easily endorse that recommendation. The beach is marvelous, the surrounding area enchanting, and the staff was helpful and friendly.

Along the East Coast with More Friends Than Fair Weather

Posted on November 8, 2012 by fran

I’m not even going to try to candy-coat it… I’m feeling skunked by my autumn in the northeast. I’ve dreamed of seeing this part of the country ablaze with color for many years, and had high hopes of adventuring through several states to witness and capture them at their best. With dreary, rainy weather far outweighing the sunny days, and the unusual lack of vibrance in the trees, I know I can’t even come close to showing anyone the beauty of the northeast. Lesson learned; Nature keeps it’s own calendar. Best not to count on it’s cooperation, and arrive with an open mind rather than one full of expectations.

What the northeast was lacking in color, it made up for with friends… old and new. I’ve shared several times that one of my greatest joys out here is precious time with friends. Some of those friends I knew and sought out to reconnect with along the way, while others were chance encounters with strangers who quickly became friends.

For several months I’ve been communicating with Horace and Sharon, who I met in Jamaica more than twenty years ago (and haven’t seen since), about connecting when I made it through the Boston area. As that time drew near many of the campgrounds in the northeast were shutting down for the season, making it difficult to plan a stopover for few days. Knowing my size limitations, Horace arranged for me to “camp” on the property of their very good friends, Steve and Bobbi, about forty-five minutes north of them in Hampton Falls New Hampshire.

It’s never easy to impose on friends… lock, stock and barrel (not to mention two dogs)… but to drive onto the property of complete strangers can feel like a huge intrusion. What little discomfort I may have felt was put to rest when Horace and Steve greeted me with smiles, escorted me up the long driveway, and got me settled into what would be our “camp site” for the next few days. We could not have asked for a better spot, nor more gracious hosts.

One of our favorite camp spots, in Steve and Bobbi’s front yard!

After exploring the woods around their home with the girls, I went inside and spent time getting to know Steve and Bobbi, and their dog. Oscar, who was obviously quite precious to them, was old and ailing but still getting around slowly and able to eat the home cooked food Bobbi prepared for him. I enjoyed the way he pushed his head firmly into my hand each time I reached out to pet him.

Sadly, I found out yesterday that Oscar passed away the day before. He was 15 years old and lived a long and happy life, but my heart goes out to Steve and Bobbi for the loss of their beloved little friend.

Steve and Bobbi’s cool little guy. Oscar

Knowing how much I love horses, Horace asked if I’d like to visit his friend Jay’s farm to see and possibly photograph his “Warmbloods”. Of course I jumped at the chance! Jay was there to greet us, and walked with us to the fence where we were immediately greeted by three of the biggest, most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen.

With Jay’s permission I stepped into the pasture to give them each an alfalfa treat I had tucked in my pocket. In no time at all I was surrounded by these tremendous animals. They could not get close enough, which might have been intimidating because of their size and numbers, but I did not feel afraid. I’ve mentioned before that I believe horses can sense our spirits, but the same can be said for theirs, and these three had very gentle spirits.

As it turned out, it was actually difficult to get good images of them because they followed me so closely around the pasture. It was hilarious actually. They were like little puppies wanting all the attention they could get! I chose not to sweat the images too much and enjoyed their presence instead. The encounter was so amazing I could have stayed for hours, making it hard to walk away when it was time to go. Thank you Jay, for sharing the “gentle giants” of True North Farm with me!

Jay Howlett’s True North Farm

Duplicor

The wonderfully handsome Bodacious, Duplicor and Kingston!

Bodacious sitting down on the job

While I was photographing the horses, Horace grabbed a few fun shots of me with them…

Getting some lovin’ from Bodacious!

My helper!

Both Bobbi and Sharon are big horse lovers as well. Bobbi’s horse, Sachi, was stabled at a ranch within walking distance of their home, so I got to spend a little time there as well. And Sharon took riding lessons at a ranch a little closer to their home outside of Boston. Horace and I made a challenge of trying to get a great action shot of Sharon and Sugar in a very dark barn, on a really cloudy day. (Kudos to Canon for the quality of the highest ISO setting on the 5D MarkII.)

Sharon perfecting the “sliding stop” on Sugar

Bobbi’s horse, Sachi

Steve, Horace and Sharon

After a few wonderful days with Horace, Sharon, Steve and Bobbi, it was time to continue on my journey. I was already stretching my stay in the northeast out longer than most, and had to consider weather and the fact that most of the campgrounds in this part of the country were closing (if not closed) for the season. Next stop was Cape Cod where fellow photographer and Brooks Grad, Patrick Wiseman, graciously offered me camping space in his driveway.

With the business climate in the world of professional photographing changing at mach speed, Patrick decided to branch out to hotel ownership and, more recently… restauranteur. Needless to say he had a lot on his plate while we were there, so the girls and I had plenty of time to explore the Cape on our own. We had one glorious day of sunshine and spent it zig-zagging all the way up to the tip of the Cape, stopping where we could to nose around, and hike a ways whenever possible.

As always, I was drawn to the lighthouses. They are always unique and full of history. Details about these lighthouses and more can be found by clicking on the blue links. Chatham Light.

These adorable first mates really wanted to come ashore and play with my “roadies”!

Brewster’s Windmill

Home of Edward Penniman, well known whaler from the Eastham area.

Edward Penniman House, Eastham

Nauset Light below replaced the Three Sisters of Nauset in 1923. You may recognize it as the lighthouse on Cape Cod Potato Chips!

Nauset Light

Two of the “Three Sisters of Nauset”

The Pilgrim Monument, which stands high on the hill in Provincetown, commemorates the day the Mayflower made landfall in Provincetown Harbor on November 21st, 1620 after 67 days at sea.

Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown

The Highland Lighthouse was a particular favorite, and I barely made it there before sunset.

Highland Lighthouse

The following morning I launched my kayak from a small marina on Prince Cove and spent a few hours “stalking” the local water foul.

Swan pair in Prince Cove

Common Cormorant

Prince Cove

Great Blue Heron

Osprey on the hunt

The shot below was not a particular favorite but I was amazed to see that this Osprey actually has a fish in EACH talon!

Osprey double dipping

Swan in Prince Cove

The night before leaving Cape Cod I checked out Patrick’s restaurant, Mooncussers Tavern in Harwich Port, and enjoyed some wine and the most delicious Tapas I have ever eaten! I would highly recommend this place (which will also be an Inn soon!) to anyone visiting the Cape!

Sending a very BIG thank you to my special friends, Horace and Sharon, Steve and Bobbi, and Patrick! I can’t begin to tell you how much my time with all of you meant to me. I hope to see you all again soon!!

Vermont to Maine

Posted on October 31, 2012 by fran

At writing I am staying with friends in Waterford Virginia. After locating a huge barn to tuck my RV into, we spent the afternoon battening down for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. At this point my days in northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are really just a blur. I’m writing tonight under a wee bit of pressure, in an effort to get no farther behind. It’s a bit like bailing a bottomless boat. Fast pace, time with friends, bigger priorities… the usual excuses. I beg forgiveness to those awaiting news.

My route out of upstate New York took me across the northern end of Lake Champlain into Vermont. I hate to admit that I pushed myself down the road at a fast pace in hopes of arriving at the most northeast destination of my journey, along the coast of Maine, during peak color. My “plan” was make my way far northeast in time for the color and follow it in a meandering path south through the autumn months. As it turns out, it’s really not something that can be planned. I’ll delve further into that subject later on, but for now let me take you down the roadways Vermont and New Hampshire.

Cool barn I stumbled upon only a few miles after crossing over Lake Champlain

I’m sure I could spend an entire season searching out and photographing the covered bridges of Vermont and surrounding states. Luckily I happened upon a few on my route. Certainly my tiny collection of Vermont images would not be complete without them!

Finally! A Vermont covered bridge!

The girls looking more than a little bored during a long day on the road.

I was amazed again to find wild flowers AND autumn color in the same place.

It’s always hard to say what is going to catch my eye as I’m traveling through the countryside. Beautiful lighting, rich textures and vivid colors always attract me, but there’s more to it than that. I was thinking about this the other day after someone asked me how I find my subject matter and I realized that I actually “frame” most everything I see. I do this without even thinking about it. I’m guessing it’s partly the nature of the artist in me, but no doubt that way of seeing was fine tuned with years of experience as a photographer. Regardless, I do know that I seek out subject matter and composition as well. If I can look at a scene and frame a work of art in it I’m always inspired to capture it. The subject matter can vary greatly, but clearly I tend to favor raw natural beauty and old historic subjects, such as the gravestones in this old cemetery.

I pulled off a in the adjacent church parking lot when I saw the combination of color and texture here. From the moment I stepped onto this sacred ground I was sensually spellbound. That’s kind of a difficult word to use since it’s traditionally thought of in sexual terms, but I know no other word to describe the effect. “All senses stimulated!” The visual part is obvious. The aroma was deep and moist and earthy. The complete lack of sound put me at peace. An old friend of mine once said to me that “the quiet” can sometimes be the most beautiful music of all. I couldn’t agree more. The other treat was the surprisingly soft ground beneath my feet. It was like walking on a cloud. I had to bend down and run my hands through the deep cushiony ground cover. The fact that I was standing in a cemetery may have added to the effect I suppose, but the sensual perfection made me feel very alive!

Although the drive is a complete blur to me, the “moments” are not. The unique moments that draw me in are like precious gems that I carry along in the treasure chest of my memories. Interestingly, it’s only a small percentage of those moments that I am able to stop and capture photographically. I’ve yet to shake the pitiful feeling I get when I’m drawn to something I want to photograph and there’s no place to stop.

That was the case with the next three images. I ached to stop as I drove by this scene, and it haunted me as I continued down the road. I’m guessing I was 3 or 4 miles away when I saw a pull-out wide enough to turn both motorhome and car back down the highway. Once I got back to the lake I still had to drive beyond it to find a place big enough to get safely off the road. This is the part that might have many of you shaking your heads, and no doubt has passersby questioning my sanity. I need to form a visual here… Imagine me draped in a big poncho, with camera in hand beneath, running along the roadway in the pouring rain with a smile on my face. There’s not much doubt I turned a few heads on this particular day, but it was well worth the effort to me.

All of the images above spanned from the western edge of Vermont, through New Hampshire and into Maine. The rain didn’t let up during that two day trek, and I managed to break two of my own rules because I was determined to reach the coast of Maine by the end of the second day. Rule one… limit myself to 4-5 hours of driving in one day. Driving long hours in a beast of a motorhome is grueling in the best of conditions, but doing it alone in unfavorable weather is exhausting. Rule two… get where I’m going before dark. There’s a fair bit involved in settling into a campsite, starting with unhooking my car and backing into my site.Then there’s leveling the motorhome (which can at times involve adding blocks if the ground is un-level), and hooking up the utilities before putting the slides out. None of this is easy in the dark, and and it’s especially unpleasant in the pouring rain. It is, however, exactly what I experienced that night.

I almost hate to admit how disappointed I was when I woke the following morning to more rain and almost a complete lack of color in the trees. I was camped very near Acadia National Park, and although uninspired I loaded the dogs into the car to explore Mount Desert Island and the park. My spirits were perked up a bit when I found an ideal spot for kayaking, and immediately circled the spot on my map so I could find my way back. I was also glad to find there were still pockets of color here and there!

My journey took me into the park and up Cadillac Mountain. With the weather so socked in there was little to see, I was delighted to find another artist hard at work and perfectly situated for a nice image. If you look closely you can see a hint of Eagle Lake through the clouds in the image below.

The following day I took advantage of a reprieve from the rain to put my kayak in the water and was fortunate to find some beautiful autumn color along the way.

I also spent a bit of time journeying through the harbors and bays around the island and making my way to the lighthouse in Bass Harbor.

Bar Harbor area from Cadillac Mountain

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

After a couple of days in the Trenton area I headed south toward Camden. The route took me over the Penobscot River near Bucksport. I was intrigued enough by the design of this bridge to pull over for a better look, and especially enjoyed the contrast between this relatively new bridge and the old one it replaced.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge

After settling into a campsite at Camden Hills State Park I headed out to explore some small towns and roadways that were inaccessible in The Beast. One windy country road in Rockport led me to the most curious looking cattle I’ve ever seen. “Belted Galloway”, I discovered later, affectionately referred to as “Belties”.

Rockport Harbor

Camden Harbor from the top of Camden Hills

My final stop in Maine was at the Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth. Completed in 1790, it was the first lighthouse built by the United States government. I understand it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country.

Portland Head Lighthouse

Two days have passed since I started this blog post and in the mean time the northeastern corner of our country has been hugely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. (Tropical Storm?? Whatever!) Rest assured we are safe and sound here in Waterford! Right now my thoughts and prayers are with the millions who are suffering greatly in the wake of the storm. In an effort to do what little I can to help I’m going to pull together a little fund raiser for the American Red Cross with my 2013 Journey In Focus Calendars. Stay tuned for that! I need to learn a bit of html language in order to make it happen!

Trips and Trails and Puppy Dog Tales…

Posted on October 19, 2012 by fran

…That’s what this journey is made of! Those words came to me with a smile as I was driving down the highway with my lovable dogs, Jazzy and Sadie. As wonderful as this adventure has been, it would certainly not be the same without them. They help ward off the loneliness that might set in while traveling the country alone.

I’ve traveled many miles, and through several states since the adventures I’m about to share, and it frustrates me once again that I have so much catching up to do. Journaling my travels in this blog is important to me for many reasons, but it can be time consuming and tedious as well. It’s especially hard to attend to when I have an opportunity to spend time with friends (old and new), or I’m driving, or have places to explore (which is pretty much everywhere!) But sharing my adventures allows me to relive the moments, and keep those who care about me apprised of what’s happening in my life. It also fuels my journey in a way. If not for this blog (and Facebook) I would not have the means to share my adventures with so many, and honestly… it’s the sharing and interactions that keep me inspired. I was discussing this with a friend the other day and thought of that age-old question… “If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise?” If not for my friends out there who are tagging along and enjoying my journey virtually… I wouldn’t make a peep.

That said… this post is going to be a bit short on words. I have a lot of ground to cover today and I don’t want to get any further behind on blogging than I already am. It’s a harder decision than you might think… cutting it short. I know that many of you enjoy the stories, but honestly… when I get back-logged I start feeling overwhelmed, and the stress and pressure of my past life has a way of sneaking back in. So, executive decision of the day… do a quick post and get your butt down the road!

When I left Ithaca I made my way up to the Adirondacks. With autumn color setting in, even in the pouring rain every mile was even more enchanting than the last. We found a campsite in Old Forge and did a lot of hiking in the rain. I really don’t mind hiking through a forest in the rain. It brings out a deep earthy freshness… and never fails to take my heart home to the woods of Washington.

Serene Lake

Zippy and The Beast in Old Forge Camping Resort

From Bald Mountain, near Old Forge

Whitetail Deer

The girls LOVE hiking off-leash

Squirrel???

They were framed!

Campsite visitor

With the limited window of autumn, and several states to cover, I had to tear myself away and keep moving down the highway. Routes 28, 30, 3 and 86 took me all the way to Lake Placid. Along the way I literally felt my heart beat faster as I came around corners to scenes like these!!!

Seventh Lake

Wild flowers AND Autumn color

Tupper Lake

When I arrived in the town of Lake Placid I found a place to park The Beast, and took Zippy and the girls for a side trip out to Mt. Jo, which was highly recommended by a gentleman I visited with at one of the many places I pulled off to enjoy the beautiful vistas above. I was promised an amazing view from the top, and set out knowing full well that unless the rain let up I was not likely to see much. But… it meant another hike in the woods, so I didn’t let that stop me.

1980 Olympic ski jumps, Lake Placid

The trail up Mt. Jo

From the top of Mt. Jo

Soaking wet at the top of Mt. Jo

Before heading across Lake Champlain I found a place to camp in Au Sable. The scene below was an unexpected surprise as I drove across the river to the campground, and I had promised myself if the light was good in the morning I’d make a side trip back before continuing the journey eastbound. The light did not come… only more rain… and the coast of Maine beckoning me. Sandwiched between New York and Maine lie Vermont and New Hampshire, two more gorgeous states! They’re next!

Again, sorry for the brevity, but I know I will feel a bit “lighter” as I journey forward today!

Ausable Chasm

Where Fairy Tales Are Born

Posted on October 12, 2012 by fran

It was hard to leave Watkins Glen after such a brief stay, but I know my window of opportunity for autumn color is narrow, and there is still so much of this corner of the country I want to see before weather necessitates my hasty return to the south.

Ithaca was only a bit farther east at the base of another of the Finger Lakes, Cayuga Lake. As I travel I try to research the areas I’m heading towards. I know I can’t “see it all”, but I don’t want to get hundreds of miles down the highway and have someone say to me, “You were there, and you didn’t see THAT?” While researching the Ithaca area I found more natural wonders to explore.

Right up the road from where I camped was one of the tallest falls east of the Rockies. Taughannock Falls drops an impressive 215 feet, and is part of yet another beautiful New York State Park (by the same name.) As you view the falls of this area in my posts, keep in mind that these were taken at the end of an unusually dry summer. I can’t help but wonder how amazing they must be in the spring!!

Taughannock Falls

On the one sunny morning I had in Ithaca I took the girls with me for a hike in Robert H. Treman State Park. It was reminiscent of Watkins Glen in many ways. Both are deep, narrow gorges cut through a magnificent landscape. Both are pristine and completely natural with the exception of the man-made stone steps and bridges, and those are so beautifully done they only add to the elegance. The hike along Enfield Creek was enchanting at every turn. It would not have surprised me to see pixies and fairies along the way, as it is surely the kind of place from which fairy tales come! It tickled me to wonder if the presence of my dogs might have frightened them away.

Just down the road from the park this old barn, surrounded by the early colors of autumn, was worth a hike back up the road. As I’ve mentioned before, my eye is always drawn to old, antiquated buildings. There’s a sense of history in them that almost transports me back to an era gone by.

While in Ithaca I also visited Cornell University, which sits high on a hill overlooking the town and Cayuga Lake. I’m sure on a clear day you could see much more of the Finger Lakes region. I studied at the University of Washington, and still think it’s one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen, but Cornell’s grand old ivy covered buildings and stunning view are at least a close runner up.

And down the hill from Cornell is the town’s namesake, Ithaca Falls. It is quite impressive, and very accessible, making it a popular place for visitors to the area. During the three hours I spent hiking the gorge in Robert Treman State Park I encountered only four other people, but here at Ithaca Falls there were literally hundreds. Waiting for an opportunity to get a clean shot (no one in it) of the falls took much longer than the hike to get there.

The journey continues eastward, and with each new day the colors of autumn are more enhanced, and around every bend in the road another perfect painting is revealed.

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Note- My 2013 Journey in Focus Calendars are in! I have to brag a bit here, and say they are beautiful! Please contact me directly if you’re interested in purchasing.

The Journey Continues… One Year Later

Posted on September 28, 2012 by fran

I have to admit it boggles my mind… that I’ve been out here, on my own, traveling across this great nation… for a year! And what’s maybe even more interesting is that I haven’t grown tired of it yet. By the end of the year I will slow my pace dramatically, staying in each location for a month or more. This will allow me more time to work on the numerous projects I’ve begun, but have little time to attend to while in motion, and it will save me a substantial amount of money on gas. It will also give me time to get to know some of my favorite places more intimately, which I will enjoy immensely.

While thinking of my year on the road I have the urge to share my melancholy… the most memorable moments, favorite places, precious time with friends and family… but I think those may be better shared at the end of the year after I’ve gone full circle around the country. By then I’ll have seen most of the “lower forty-eight”, and will undoubtedly have a bigger collection of memories in my treasure trove.

For now I have my work cut out for me to keep up with my blogging and business. At writing I am in upstate New York, and am working my way northeast to satisfy a long awaited dream of seeing these states completely saturated in autumn color. From what I’m gathering (online research and asking questions of the locals) the peak color is coming earlier than normal, and after an extremely dry year, it is not likely to last long. That means I’ll have to move along at a pretty good clip, exploring AND “moving my home” almost daily, in order to see it all. It also means I will not get to see all I had hoped to see. Many of the places I have on my lengthy list will have to wait until I return to this corner of the country. And I will return, I assure you. It is stunningly beautiful here!

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And now… a word from our sponsors…

One of the projects I’ve been working on is a beautiful 2013 Calendar made up of some favorite images from my first year on the road. Until I go to press on October 8^th, I am offering these at a discounted price of $16 (including tax and s/h). Orders of five or more will be further discounted. After the 8^th they will go up to $18 (plus tax and s/h). Until I create a shopping cart option here your orders will have to be placed directly through me by using the “Contact” button at the upper right corner of the screen. These calendars are high quality, and will make wonderful gifts for the upcoming holidays. Just think… you could be the only one to show up with a gorgeous 2013 calendar instead of a bottle of wine for the hosts of the many parties you’ll attend over the next few months!!! It would be far more memorable and last a whole year longer!

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Back to our regularly scheduled programing…

On my way out of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan I took the time to hop on a ferry to Mackinac Island. I took the dogs along rather than leaving them in the RV sitting in a parking lot all afternoon. This was their first time on a ferry, and although a bit nervous, they did great. No surprise. These two are so accommodating!

Interestingly, automobiles are not allowed on the island, so the only way to get around is on foot, by bike, or in a horse drawn carriage. I would have enjoyed renting a bike and touring the island, but with the dogs in tow that wasn’t an option. I actually went to two of the rental spots hoping they’d have a bike with a sturdy enough “kid trailer” to haul the girls in, but they didn’t seem to exist, so we walked.

I found the island to be very quaint, and was not surprised to learn that ”Somewhere in Time”, a favorite movie starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymore, was filmed there. We covered a lot of ground in a few hours, and I found myself wishing for more time to explore further. While there I made myself a promise to come back one day, and splurge on a room in one of the beautiful hotels. A word to you romantics out there… this would be a great couples get-away!

Light tower with the infamous Mackinac Bridge in the background

Everywhere I go there’s Zen!

Another stop as I headed south was “The Cross in the Woods” Shrine in the small town of Indian River. By far the biggest cross I’ve ever seen, it stands 55′ above the mound it is built on, and spans 22′ in width. I understand the cross is made from one California Redwood Tree. Impressive!

Cross in the Woods Shrine

From there I headed east to Lake Huron and meandered my way south. I found another waterfront campsite on the Thunder Bay River at Lake Winyah. Here I was able to kayak with the girls on board for a little while before a storm set in. At dawn there was a little break in the rain so I hopped back on the kayak with my camera. The birds weren’t as cooperative as some.

Shortly after my paddle on the lake I broke camp and continued south. The weather was not conducive for sightseeing (nor driving for that matter) but I did make a few stops so the girls and I could stretch our legs. One of those stops was at the Tawas Point Lighthouse.

Our destination for the evening was the home of my friends Angela Carson and Steve Post in Northville. I’ve mentioned in some of my other Michigan posts how many photographers I know in this state, and Angela is one of them. I parked the Beast snugly in their driveway and spent a few days hanging out, visiting and getting caught up on some work in the comfort of their home (and tapped into their internet connection.)

While there I took the time to drive to Ann Arbor to visit my niece Lindsey. She’s actually my ex-husband’s niece, but his family still feels like family to me. I had not seen Lindsey in several years, so it was wonderful to get some time with her. We spent the afternoon at the barn where she boards her horse, Graham.

Jazzy and Sadie were quite an attraction amongst the horses, who all came over to the fences to check them out. Some were quite excited by their presence as you can see. And the two little barn goats, six month old pygmies named Mario and Luigi, were hilarious! They were curious about the dogs, but afraid at the same time, and their antics were comedic. Let’s just say they bounced and bleated… a lot! And they were adorable.

Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for awhile know how much I love horses. Graham is big at 17 hands, and absolutely beautiful! Lindsey saddled him up and we took turns riding him. While she rode, Mario and Luigi came over to hang out with me, and attempted to eat my jacket. I rode… cautiously… feeling more than a little out of practice on an english saddle. It was an afternoon very well spent.

Lindsey and Graham

The adorable duo, Mario and Luigi!

A HUGE thanks to Angela and Steve for giving me a comfortable place to get caught up with life, and to Lindsey for taking time off work to spend with me and the girls!

After nearly a month in Michigan I’m moving along. Stay tuned for the beautiful state of New York and the coming of autumn!

Journey in Focus

with Fran Reisner

Tag Archives: Dogs

There Are Mountains in Georgia!!!

Memories of Florida

My Favorite Places Revisited

The Warmth of Homosassa (Florida)

Drawn Back to the Sea

Along the East Coast with More Friends Than Fair Weather

Vermont to Maine

Trips and Trails and Puppy Dog Tales…

Where Fairy Tales Are Born

The Journey Continues… One Year Later