Arches national park, day 2

Moab - Arches National Park - day 2

OK I got it wrong yesterday so here is the correct title 'Arches National Park'

An early start woke me at 4-30am, up showered and out by 5am having already sorted my gear the night before. Only 10 minutes away from the park with quiet roads was an easy trip.

A great sunrise, few people up, a couple stood near by and admired the rise of the sun.

Soon over I headed back to the motel - did I mention it was once used by 'The Duke'? big John Wayne, apparently he stands an inch taller than me, I wouldn't say that big then!

Breakfast supplied by motel was cereal, coffee and waffles. I indulged in cereal and the coffee was watery. The sun now climbing high was beating down its heat 85 degrees today. Hot n sticky. I looked through a few shops looking for the unusual clothing you can't get back home in UK. Nothing to be had I headed back for an afternoon kip. 

Awaking and another shower. Damn it's hot, time for food, I decide on going to the market, salad and a chicken breast and stock up on fruit..  Mm its so nice and refreshing. I eat outside.. Needing ice for the cooler I go back in, mistake I buy a slice of dolche leche cheesecake, Mmmm but still all for only $14. That's less than a tender. Off I go for sunset shots. 

Firstly not a sunset shot but a shot of delicate arch, this is an extreme get to site, even this side was not an easy climb, but easier than the 3 mile hike up hill.

You can get a grasp of its scale with the people in the shot.

Then on to double arch it's getting close to getting sunset shots.

This arch is joined at one end, it was once a tunnel some millennia ago but the roof collapsed, honest not my fault. It ended up like this, again scale can be had by the people.

Now sunset time

Above is the opposite side to double arch with the backdrop of La Sal mountains, lovely warm colours. But when we where close to the sun going I turned and saw

And

So all in all a good day.............. But wait it ain't finished yet.!

Star shots - no star trails until I get home with much needed software......

Well the above is not exactly a star shot but the sun had set and was leaving a lovely glow.

The same range but later, top left you can see lense flare from the hmoon that was casting shadows on the ground. Awesome!

This image was quite a long exposure where the light on the foreground is from the moon. 

Moab - National Arches Park, day 1

After arriving in Moab, booking into 'the Apache Motel' (where John Wayne stayed). The temperature was in the 80's f, phew it's hot for sure, I showered and ventured out to Arches National Park, stunning scenery indeed. I drove around and decided some sunset shots would be good. The place I chose is called "Balanced Rock" which seems unbelievable in itself. A beautiful sunset.
 I have hopefully altered the way the images work, getting used to software. The images should open in a new window when clicked on, I hope! All images have been edited in IPhoto on IPad. Seems a pretty good programme considering the limitations of a tablet.

These last three images where taken just as the sun was setting, gloriously warm colours created on the already warm coloured stone. Will be back in morning for sunrise shots and again for more sunset work. Also planning a trip into park for night photography, stars.

Hummimngbird

I stopped for a coffee during my long drive. As I walked out I could not believe my eyes. A hummingbird directly in front of me feeding. I ran for my camera and did the best I could. 

 How lucky was that?

Monument valley

Today I wil let my photos do the talking, after last year when I spent an hour being toured around monument valley, this year I found out you pay $5 per head and you can drive round yourself, took me 5 hours and it is well worth it, inspirational. Also found a road some may recognise - if not then google 'eagles best of album'

The scenery out here is breath taking.

Lee and Mark your missing a great one and it's only just started.

 

Up and at em

After a good nights sleep I awoke early, luckily there was a cafe across the road from the motel (which was comfortable and clean with a great shower.

Breakfast was eagerly awaited, boy those Americans know how to eat.

 Doorstep toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brown & coffee. Set up for the day.

 A Toyota sequaro. A huge beast, automatic with all mod cons. Super!

 Set out driving 196 miles of  rd, scenery was mostly plain. Called in at Walmart (ASDA to you and me back in UK). Picked up an ice box, 24 bottles of water, 18 cans of diet coke, some peanut butter m&m's to take home, 2 new shirts, 3 t-shirts, bag of ice, watch and I was set for the trip. Arrived late afternoon, booked into 'Mexican Hat Motel, showered and went to photograph the Mexican hat.

 Back to hotel to blog, oh dear no wifi and no service on phone. Ah well time for dinner, 'The Swinging Steak' was recommended to me so I had to oblige!
 Mmmm different, watching the BBQ swing as the steaks cooked, well worth the wait too.
 A 24oz 'New York strip' delicious. A few 'Buds' and I hit the sack knackered. Slept through until 7 am........... Where the next day begins :-)

Day 1 - FLIGHT CANCELLED

FLIGHT CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!!

Some fool in Philadelphia reversed into the towing eye

What do I do now?

Well first off queue up to see what's going on. That wasn't so bad 10 minutes. 

"yes sir I can help, can I have your passport?"

I pass it over, wait a minute or so and he prints tickets, phew I thought its ok.

" yes sir your booked on flightxxxxx" I thought to myself what a relief, they have sorted another plane but wait "you fly on 27th at same time"

"whoa hold on there I say, I have a car booked, hotels, an itinery to follow"

He says "sorry sir but that's all I can do for you, please join that queue if you wish to complain"

I look round the queue is way back near the doors and around a corner. I join it despairingly, everybody in the queue is expecting same as me.

Eventually!!!!!! After an hour or more I get to the front, explain my plight and the young lady smiles and taps keys.

"we can fly you to London, then to las Vegas, then to Phoenix then to flagstaff, you will be there by about 12:15am"

I say "YES! That's fine by me" 

She prints tickets and off I go to terminal 3, get my first flight and onto London. I now have a 3 hour wait for my next plane but I am going without losing any holiday time. Yeehaw!

Day 1 - The Long Haul

Well it's 4:45am and the dawn chorus has woke me! I never noticed such a cacophony of sound before. What pigeons, songbirds such a lot of different sounds, without the drone of traffic ( theres one thing I won't miss on those long lonely highways - British traffic and it's insultive ignorant rush to go anywhere) how can you all sleep through this strange eerie yet beautiful start to a day?

The garden is looking lovely. Love my family so stay safe while I go adventuring xxxxx

The excitement builds

Well, I seem to have woken wondering how to get past the problem of posting images. Looks like problem solved. Speech to text works perfectly too. Well almost. So now back to sleep and wonder what the next problem To solve will be. Good night all.

2 sleeps to go

I am getting excited at the thought of my adventure. Suitcase packed - check
Camera gear packed, batteries charged, lenses and sensors cleaned - check
Passport, money, tickets checked - check.

Ready, willing and can't wait.