Hiking at noon in the desert isn’t the brightest idea. But we had plenty of company. This 4.8 round trip hike takes you through a canyon, along a creek, and has a 1930s cabin. 
Refreshing
A trio of b/w images.
A variety of plants
Limestone shelf
Slate in a field of limestone
El Capitan
Filed under Photography, Travel
My friend said Carlsbad Caverns are as stunning as the Grand Canyon. She might be right. This is a high quality US National Park.
The Bat Amphitheater 
Top notch landscaping 
Speleothems
Stalactite with Popcorn
Stalagmite
The elevators were out of order. I felt bad for a lot of people.
Filed under Photography, Travel
My 23rd U.S. National Park. Big Bend has a rugged desert, stunning canyons, and an interesting group of mountains – the Chisos.
We didn’t see bears or mountain lions. But we saw plenty of roadrunners, coyotes, bats, jackrabbits, and lizards. 
My friend in Texas taking a picture of me on the Mexico side. A short walk across the Rio Grande.
The Santa Elena Canyon
The Chisos Mountains in the distance.
Rio Grande River
Santa Elena Canyon and the Rio Grande River. Mexico on the left United States on the right.
Ancient lava flow crumbling into the white chalky limestone. Tuff Canyon.
Tuff Canyon
Filed under Photography, Travel
Wandering around the city. 
The Alamo – a public park
Riverwalk 
Saint Patrick’s celebration 
The courthouse 
Freetail brewery
Floating lights. 
Dinner
Filed under Photography, Travel
Pacifique and Tresor traveled 8,000 miles from Kigali Rwanda to St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. They brought with them a message of Peace through their Artwork, Dance, and Music. Pacifique founded the NIYO Cultural Center and the NIYO Arts Gallery. They have inspired our building to think globally.
Welcome to NKMS
Rwandan Drums
reflection
Pacifique
giant smile
Tresor descending
Painting technique
students helping out
vision unfolding
interview time – Tresor telling stories
rain stick
choir
Tresor playing national songs
shields and drums
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
Even though it can be crowded, Clingman’s Dome in North Carolina in the Smoky Mountains provides gorgeous vistas, stunning wildlife, and unpredictable weather. The Appalachian Trail provides quick access to solitude. The Forney Ridge Trail and Andrews Bald are spectacular.
These are some rugged trails…
My son now leads on our adventures.
The clouds rolled in
Hidden beauties.
That’s not a volcano. :-).
The highest point in Tennessee about 6700 ft.
Filed under Photography, Travel
U.S. National Parks inspire and impress.
Granite shines…
Moro Rock – Sequoia N.P.
In Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon
Water sparkles…
Grizzly Falls Kings Canyon
Near Zumwalt Meadows in Kings Canyon
Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon
Trees soar…
Sequoias
Sequoia N.P.
Sequoias
The parks tell stories…
Cedar
carved messages
horsetails outliving the dinosaurs
The diameter of the largest tree on the planet
Who can we thank for fighting for these parks?
John Muir statue at Muir Woods in San Francisco
Filed under Photography, Travel, Uncategorized
I went to San Diego in 2003, but didn’t make it over to Joshua Tree National Park. Twelve years later, I finally explored this relatively unknown park. The Colorado Desert and its cholla cacti and yucca plants in the south contrasts with the Mojave Desert and the Joshua trees in the North. Large exposed boulders of granite abound.
The Valley
Cholla Cactus Garden
Cholla Cactus
Cholla Cactus
An Oasis in the Colorado Desert
The Arch
Rock and Cacti
Near the Arch
Exposed Granite
Joshua Trees
Wind Farms outside of Palm Springs
Filed under Photography, Travel
I took these photos while doing my daily walk for health. Finding interesting material for my art projects is keeping me more fit.
The thistle provided a few interesting shots.
Speaking of art…
My favorite exhibits at the Laumeier Sculpture Park…
A living museum in Faust Park.
Filed under Photography, Travel
Peace and Harmony in the American West…
Life Long Friends
Joshua Trees
Blossoming Sandstone
Bridge from the Past
Loss of Control
Fortress of the Birds
Nevada Pines
Lava fields – Sunset Crater
Mysterious Lines
Rhyolite Sacrifice
The End of the Trail
Death Valley Sculpture
Pariah
Filed under Photography, Travel
Freshly "Pic'ed" 