BOBS LAST BIG TRIP

From March 2013 to July 2013, Bob and I when back to the Grand Canyon to volunteer at the
visitor center on the south rim.

Even though Bob loves our long road trips, the ride was pretty uneventful. It took us about 4 day
to get from Cleveland to Arizona.

About a mile from the main gate to the Canyon, Bob insisted we stop so he could say hello to his old
buddy Smokey Bear. They talked for hours. They had not seen each other for about a year so I guess
they a lot of catching up to do. I heard Smokey reminiscing about this cute little Volunteer that came to see him (I think her name was Jenn).

He said she seemed like a real nice little 21 year old, but he said she kept messing with him.

So poor Smokey said to Bob, I did the only thing I could do, the only thing that would make her stop.

                                                     " I stabbed her with my shovel".

After Bob and I left Smokey, we headed in to the park to check in with my head Ranger, Libby Schaaf and maybe get a chance to take a few photos.

I'll tell you how that worked out on my next post.

SUNSET OVER THE CANYON

I took off from work a little early today to go shoot the sunset over the Grand Canyon.
I took these images on Desert View Drive just east of one of the best scenic views called Yaki Point.

I have already posted them on my face book page but I wanted my blog follower to see the too.

All of the images to follow were taken from the same location, but as you can tell from the photos, the lighting here changes so often and so quickly you have keep shooting.

I hope you don't get tired of seeing sunset and sunrise photos, because I plan on shooting a lot more of them.


Ok gang, that's the last shot of the day.










Bob and Me

DON'T GET ELK-ED

The last thing my daughter Kathleen said to me before I left California headed for the Grand Canyon, was "Don't Get Elk-ed".

Now I know what she meant. These guy walk around here like they own the place. I guess you could say they do.
The Elk sometimes wonder around the visitor center, grazing on plants and trees. They are truly amazing to see, they make the Mule Deer that also live here look like Chihuahuas.

So my question to you is , why would you go to a national park and try to pet the elk. That's right people come here from all over the world and try to pet the elk. Well I'll tell you why they do it.
Because they're NUTS!!! I have seem them charge people. I just hope I don't see someone get hurt.

Well I have to go shopping down in Flagstaff, I can't afford the food in the store here at the Canyon. But before I go I will leave you with these two last shot that I took of the elk.

I know it looks like I'm very close, but don't worry, I'm using my 400mm lens.

Everybody please have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

And what ever you do, just remember. DON'T GET ELK-ED.










Bob and Me

I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD SEE IT IN THE WINTER

The Grand Canyon gets about 4.5 million visitors a year and I bet most of them never see it in the winter. So just let me say, If you visit the Grand Canyon every year or even every few year, do yourself a favor, go in the winter just once. There a a lot fewer people, the pace slows to a crawl, there is always a seat on the shuttle bus, and if your really lucky, you'll get snow.

As you can see from the photo above, there is no snow in the Canyon, but where I'm standing to take this photo there is plenty of snow. That's because I'm on the rim and that's about 7000 ft. above sea level (does the word mountain come to mind).


When the clouds start to break after a snow, the lighting on the canyon is spectacular. As a photographer I was like a kid in a candy store.

The moon come up long before the sun sets so you can shoot normal day shots.

Believe me when I tell you, it is very hard not to shoot the Canyon. The light is constantly changing and there are new formations at every turn, so if my photos start looking a little repetitious I hope you will forgive me.

Before I sign off, I just want to tell you that the Ravens are very large, very funny and very smart.
This guy kept posing for me hoping to get some food.I got a great shot of a Raven and he got no food from me ( PLEASE DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE!!! ).

THEY DON'T CALL IT GRAND FOR NOTHING!!!

Well I made t to the Grand Canyon and after meeting with me new head ranger, Libby Schaaf, she ask if I would like to take a 5 minute walk to the rim of the canyon. Of course I said yes, and this is what I saw.

Pretty spectacular don't you think. Well if you think that's spectacular just wait.

I got here on Tuesday, November 29th, It was a clear sunny day and the lighting on the Canyon was fantastic. I had Wednesday off to get settled in and my first day was Thursday. I got off at 5:30pm. I was pretty tired so I went right to bed. The altitude here is about 7000 feet and the air is a lot thinner than it is at sea level in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was told it would take a few day to get use to it.

The next morning when I went to take a look at the Canyon, this is what I saw.


Yep, you guessed it SNOW!! and lots of it. But it was different and more beautiful than any snow I had ever seen.

Maybe it was the bright blue sky and warming temperatures as the day went on but what ever it is, I love it .



Even Bob said, hey lets stop here and take a picture of us in the snow. I tried to tell him it was not a good idea to stop in the middle of the road for a picture. He stopped anyway and we took this photo ( Bob's kind of crazy that way).


I talked to some of my friends and family on the phone that day and I got the same response from most of them, "I didn't know it snowed in Arizona". Well trust me it snows in Arizona!!!

When it snowed like this back home in Ohio, all I wanted to do was to stay home and watch reruns of Walker Texas Ranger and stuff my chubby little face. But not here, I just wanted to get out and explore.


Above, is the Santa Fe Railroad Depot. It opened for business in 1910. Today you can still ride the train into the Grand Canyon Depot from Williams, Arizona.


This is the Hopi House designed by Architect Mary Colter, her first major assignment at the Grand Canyon.

I shot the photo below at sunset just before going home. I also shot some pretty nice images of the Canyon which I will show you on my next post.

Until then, Bob and Me will say good night.

MOVING ON...

Well, the time has come for Bob and Me to be moving on.

We left the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the 21st of November. I didn't have to be at the Grand Canyon until December 1st, I just wanted to take some time and be by myself for awhile.
Now I have to tell you, the young men and woman that I lived with in that dorm (all 25 of them)
were one of the most amazing group of folks I ever had the pleasure of associating with. I lived there for 10 months and had the time of my life.

I Really didn't realize how ready I was to leave the dorm until I spent my first night alone at the Super8 Motel in Santa Cruz, CA. I had a TV (that I controlled),a big bed and quiet. You know,
that alone quiet, when you can just lay on the bed and think, with no distractions. I have to admit, it was wonderful.

That's not to say that I won't miss the great volunteers I worked with, like my good bud Drew Van Winkle and the the terrific staff of Rangers.

Bob had to take one last look from high on the hills. Bob wanted to see the dorm the Lagoon and
the Ocean before we left.

Even though it only takes about 14 hours to drive from San Francisco to the Grand Canyon, I decided to take my time and enjoy the time to myself. It took Bob and Me about 4 days to complete the trip and of course I stopped to take photos along the way. Not a lot but enough to keep it interesting.

These shots were taken on the 17 Mile Drive in Monterrey, CA.. It cost $9.50 to drive on this section of Hwy 1 but it is worth it. In fact I paid twice, because the first day I went through, it rained, so I got a room for the night and paid another $9.50 the next day.


For some reason they call this Bird Rock, but all I see are Seals and Sea Lions.
This guy reminded me of my older brother Jim. Not really into crowds.

Here is the Lone Cypress, one of the most famous and most photographed trees in the world.
Why?... I don't have a clue.



This is why I love driving on the California Coast, I love watching the surf.

I made one last two day stop before I checked in with my new boss,Libby Schaaf at the Grand Canyon. I stopped in Williams, AZ on Historic Route 66. A small western town about 65 miles south of the Canyon.


This old Diner didn't look like much from the outside, in fact I wasn't sure if I wanted to try it at all.

If you ever get to Williams, you have to stop, it really takes you back in time and the food is great.
The service is good and you meet some of the nicest people. She didn't talk much, but she was pretty hot.

After you have your breakfast, lunch or dinner, leave the car in the parking lot and take a stroll
though town and enjoy the sites.



I know you'll have a good time.

OK... that enough about the road trip, I'm headed for the Grand Canyon in the morning so I'll say good night.
You'll hear from Bob and Me when we get there....