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Afternoon at the Beach

This is Siesta Key Beach which is a short drive from my home in Florida. A couple of years ago this was rated the number one beach in the United States. Let's just stop and think about that for a moment. Somebody actually has a job to go around and pick the best beach. Really? I very much want that job. But I digress. There's always something fun going on here, I noticed they were setup for a duathlon the next morning and they also have drum circles that gather here every so often. I just thought it was cool how a bunch of friends decided to come here and play volleyball on this afternoon. In any case, I'll leave you with this scene while I go fill out an application for that beach rating job.

This is Siesta Key Beach which is a short drive from my home in Florida. A couple of years ago this was rated the number one beach in the United States. Let’s just stop and think about that for a moment. Somebody actually has a job to go around and pick the best beach. Really? I very much want that job. But I digress. There’s always something fun going on here, I noticed they were set up for a duathlon the next morning and they also have drum circles that gather here every so often. I just thought it was cool how a bunch of friends decided to come here and play volleyball on this afternoon. In any case, I’ll leave you with this scene while I go fill out an application for that beach rating job.

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Skippers Canyon Road

This road is on the backside of a mountain near Arrowtown in New Zealand. Apparently this is one of the most dangerous roads in New Zealand, at least according to the warning sign at the entrance. Adventure companies bring clients by jeep down this road for all types of activities including bungee jumping, white water rafting and extreme mountain biking. I couldn't get over how vertical everything seemed. The mountains around us were thousands of feet up and the ravines a thousand or more feet below. Lets just say I was glad to be walking and not on some adventure bus barreling down this road.

This road is on the backside of a mountain near Arrowtown in New Zealand. Apparently this is one of the most dangerous roads in New Zealand, at least according to the warning sign at the entrance. Adventure companies bring clients by jeep down this road for all types of activities including bungee jumping, white water rafting and extreme mountain biking. I couldn’t get over how vertical everything seemed. The mountains around us were thousands of feet up and the ravines a thousand or more feet below. Lets just say I was glad to be walking and not on some adventure bus barreling down this road.

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Snow Capped Remarkables

The second day after I arrived in New Zealand it rained in Queenstown. It lasted for about a day and the clouds were thick so visibility was poor. Once the rain stopped and the clouds moved out we were left with a spectacular view of the Remarkables which bordered us on one side. They get their name from the fact that they extend directly north and south which is rather unusual. To get this shot, I stood on a bridge above some rapids on the river and every now and then a speed boat would zoom by over the rapids to the delight of the paying passengers. Looked like a lot of fun.

The second day after I arrived in New Zealand it rained in Queenstown. It lasted for about a day and the clouds were thick so visibility was poor. Once the rain stopped and the clouds moved out we were left with a spectacular view of the Remarkables which bordered us on one side. They get their name from the fact that they extend directly north and south which is rather unusual. To get this shot, I stood on a bridge above some rapids on the river and every now and then a speed boat would zoom by over the rapids to the delight of the paying passengers. Looked like a lot of fun.

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Contours in the Field

I took this one afternoon near Queenstown in New Zealand just as the sun accentuated the rows in the field. Even after the sun recedes behind the mountains there is still another hour of light so I walked around looking for other interesting things to photograph. I took quite a few though not all interesting. Every week or so I find some other photo I forgot I had. Maybe with time I'm just able to look at it with fresh perspective. In any case, if this were in Florida (not that we have any mountains) then I'd be careful not to step on a snake, but as I understanding it there are no snakes in New Zealand, so you could just lay down in this field and take a nap. However you might wake up to a sheep grazing next you, but I suppose that's not so bad.

I took this one afternoon near Queenstown in New Zealand just as the sun accentuated the rows in the field. Even after the sun recedes behind the mountains there is still another hour of light so I walked around looking for other interesting things to photograph. I took quite a few though not all interesting. Every week or so I find some other photo I forgot I had. Maybe with time I’m just able to look at it with fresh perspective. In any case, if this were in Florida (not that we have any mountains) then I’d be careful not to step on a snake, but as I understanding it there are no snakes in New Zealand, so you could just lay down in this field and take a nap. However you might wake up to a sheep grazing next you, but I suppose that’s not so bad.

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On the Rocks

This is another shot of Half Moon Bay I captured while on a stopover in the San Francisco area. While I love the west coast of Florida, there is no comparison to the rugged beauty that is California. Sure, each is unique, but there's something about California. I'll just leave it at that, let you fill in your own thoughts. With any luck I'll head out here again in the not too distant future to soak up more of whatever it is. Happy Friday everyone.

This is another shot of Half Moon Bay I captured while on a stopover in the San Francisco area. While I love the west coast of Florida, there is no comparison to the rugged beauty that is California. Sure, each is unique, but there’s something about California. I’ll just leave it at that, let you fill in your own thoughts. With any luck I’ll head out here again in the not too distant future to soak up more of whatever it is. Happy Friday everyone.

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Lake Unknown

I had to look this up because Google kept telling me this is Lake Unknown. That sounds to me like a software glitch, like what happens when the name is missing. Turns out this is indeed Lake Unknown on the border of Otago in New Zealand. You would have to climb some good size mountains to get here and that's probably how it got it's name. Just after we lifted off we flew through a micro rain shower as I held my camera outside for a clear shot of us flying through the opening at the far end. The high ridge then quickly descended to the Dart River as we headed onto more destinations equally as spectacular, if not unknown.

I had to look this up because Google kept telling me this is Lake Unknown. That sounds to me like a software glitch, like what happens when the name is missing. Turns out this is indeed Lake Unknown on the border of Otago in New Zealand. You would have to climb some good size mountains to get here and that’s probably how it got it’s name. Just after we lifted off we flew through a micro rain shower as I held my camera outside for a clear shot of us flying through the opening at the far end. The high ridge then quickly descended to the Dart River as we headed onto more destinations equally as spectacular, if not unknown.

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Horseshoe Bay

This is about an hours drive north of Vancouver and is one of the spots you can catch a ferry to Vancouver Island. There are campsites nearby and I could see the smoke from campfires already started. It's such a great feeling to be surrounded by these huge mountains. The people in this part of Canada are into the outdoors in a big way. On this afternoon I saw campers, kayakers, fishermen, rock climbers and cyclist, not to mention people just walking around enjoying the view. When you're surrounded with this much beauty it's only natural to spend a bit of time outside enjoying it, don't you think?

This is about an hours drive north of Vancouver and is one of the spots you can catch a ferry to Vancouver Island. There are campsites nearby and I could see the smoke from campfires already started. It’s such a great feeling to be surrounded by these huge mountains. The people in this part of Canada are into the outdoors in a big way. On this afternoon I saw campers, kayakers, fishermen, rock climbers and cyclist, not to mention people just walking around enjoying the view. When you’re surrounded with this much beauty it’s only natural to spend a bit of time outside enjoying it, don’t you think?

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Queenstown Gardens Sunrise

This is a little section of town known as Queenstown Gardens. It really is a special place, especially if you can get there in the morning when its quiet and the sun cast long shadows. Of course autumn has a way of painting the landscape vibrant so everything is enhanced for a few short weeks. I felt lucky to be here with so much to see and absorb, probably overload for my brain, but at least with the photos to remind me I can drink it in little sips whenever I want. Ah, New Zealand.
This is a little section of town known as Queenstown Gardens. It really is a special place, especially if you can get there in the morning when its quiet and the sun cast long shadows. Of course autumn has a way of painting the landscape vibrant so everything is enhanced for a few short weeks. I felt lucky to be here with so much to see and absorb, probably overload for my brain, but at least with the photos to remind me I can drink it in little sips whenever I want. Ah, New Zealand.

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Family at the Beach

This is another shot from Naples beach last week. There were so many children playing in the warm shallow waters it was really fun to watch. I think these moments are very subtle and stay with us our entire lives. I have some memories like this somewhere back, at least this pail helped me remember building a sandcastle. Such are the days when I had no concerns in the world and my life was carefree. Now, maybe a little of that from time to time might do me some good.

This is another shot from Naples beach last week. There were so many children playing in the warm shallow waters it was really fun to watch. I think these moments are very subtle and stay with us our entire lives. I have some memories like this somewhere back, at least this pail helped me remember building a sandcastle. Such are the days when I had no concerns in the world and my life was carefree. Now, maybe a little of that from time to time might do me some good.

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Pyramid Falls Along the Rail

Last summer we took the rail through the Canadian Rockies and along the way was Pyramid falls where the conductor slowed down enough to get a few shots. I stood in the opening between cars to catch this. It was last year but as I think back I can still hear the rushing of the water and feel the mist in the air. One of many such spectacular sights as we wound our way from Vancouver to Jasper. A trip I recommend.

Last summer we took the rail through the Canadian Rockies and along the way was Pyramid falls where the conductor slowed down enough to get a few shots. I stood in the opening between cars to catch this. It was last year but as I think back I can still hear the rushing of the water and feel the mist in the air. One of many such spectacular sights as we wound our way from Vancouver to Jasper. A trip I recommend.

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