I took this in Avon which is just outside Hartford CT. It was late December so there was a chill in the air as I arrived before dawn to walk around the pond. This was just after sunrise about halfway around. The best part of being here early is the stillness of the water and the reflections that result. I finished the hike and headed to the airport to return home to Florida for the holidays.
Arrowtown Afternoon
The little village of Arrowtown New Zealand in the autumn. There were so many warm colors all around that it seems like they all ran together. Perhaps they did as they imprinted in my brain a most fond memory.
Queenstown River Dock
On a rainy day I walked around the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. This was in Autumn so the leaves were changing. At the higher elevation it was snowing and this location is at the foot of the Remarkables mountain range. So while it rained here, at higher elevations it snowed such that as the clouds cleared we were treated to pristine snow capped mountains. All in all it was a beautiful introduction to a beautiful country.
Under The Tree
Two children playing under a well known tree along the shore of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, New Zealand. Actually, I don’t know if the tree is well known, but its my story so I’m sticking with it. I also imagine the tree is quite happy having children play under it and climb its branches. One of those things I can only imagine but never really know for sure.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Mount Bonpland
This is taken from Mount Bonpland, high up in the New Zealand alps not far from Glenorchy. We landed on these rocks and clamored about looking for shots but mindful of the engine time on the helicopter. I don’t recall the exact number but it was more than a dozen stops on peaks with views I could only dream of, this being one. This was taken a few days after a snowfall in the autumn of the southern hemisphere.
River Valley, North Carolina
This is near Gorges State Park not far from Asheville. There was so much scenery I wanted to stop at every bend in the road and, left to my own whims, I’d probably still be there. The whole region is full of beauty and so collects a lot of artists as places like this do. You can’t go more than a mile in any direction without passing some art gallery or artisan’s studio. One day I will just have to spend a good amount of time amongst the hills and valleys like this. Then before you know it I’ll be sporting a goatee and a French beret and talking like a real artist. In the meantime you’ll find me at the local coffee shop, that’s the best I can do for now.
Click on photo to enlarge
Bank of the River
I stopped at an “open space” along the Farmington River near Hartford. Looking at a local map it seems there are a lot of these open spaces which are not quite parks yet they to seem act as buffers between the natural landscape and the development. I found this area on one of that last remaining days of autumn and was mesmerized by the deep, swift, quite flow of the river. It impressed me with a feeling of understated power. No waterfalls, no rapids, just deep dark flowing water along this secluded bank.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Frankton Arm of Wakatipu
When I first arrived in New Zealand I was a little overwhelmed by the beauty and landscapes. But it didn’t take long for me to snap out of it and start taking pictures of my immediate surrounds, like this one from right in front of our hotel in Frankton. Frankton is a little village just outside of Queenstown proper where the airport is located at the foot of the Remarkables mountain range. It had just rained and if you look closely you can see the snow on the mountains over Queenstown. Anyway, this was taken in autumn just before winter in the southern hemisphere so the trees still had color, but now I imagine this scene looks very different as New Zealand enters summer.
Click on photo to enlarge
Biltmore Estate
This was taken from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. This is one of those old world estates with thousands of acres and vineyards and rolling hills. Now it’s open to the public and you could spend a week here exploring and living the life of Riley.
Click on photo to enlarge
Below Rainbow Falls
About a week ago I took this from Gorges State Park, which is nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This spot is just below Rainbow Falls, which is just around the next bend. There was a good little hike that seemed longer than it was on account of all the slopes and switchbacks, but was well worth when we finally arrived. I’m so glad we have state and national parks that preserve wilderness and landscapes like this for the public. If not for that much of the lands would be private and inaccessible. But that’s certainly not a problem here as there were plenty of hikers enjoying the last days of fall before winter decides to take over for the duration.
Click on photo to enlarge