Skippers Canyon Path

For some reason I never got around to posting this photo from New Zealand over a year ago. This was taken on a crazy narrow road with switchbacks above vertical drops into a canyon. It's one of the most dangerous roads in the world, and even walking can be a little harrowing if you're not paying attention. Case in point, I walked off the road on to this little trail to the right and at the far end slipped on some grass with vertical drops either side. I simply fell on my butt rather than down the cliff so I guess my number wasn't up yet. There was also a mountain bike trail running down the opposite mountainside. It looked pretty extreme from our vantage on this side of the canyon. But given my track record on this trail I'm probably better off walking than riding a bike, then again maybe not.
Skipper Canyon Road in Queenstown New Zealand

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For some reason I never got around to posting this photo from New Zealand over a year ago. This was taken on a narrow road with switchbacks above vertical drops into a canyon. It’s one of the most dangerous roads in the world, and even walking can be a little harrowing if you’re not paying attention. Case in point, I walked off the road on to this little trail to the right and at the far end slipped on some grass with vertical drops either side. I simply fell on my butt rather than down the cliff so I guess my number wasn’t up yet. There was also a mountain bike trail running down the opposite side of the canyon. It looked pretty extreme from our vantage and given my track record I’m probably better off walking than riding a bike, then again maybe not.

Sunrise Over Deerpark Heights

I took this back over a year ago in New Zealand. It was pretty frosty before the sun came up and so when it did we all started peeling off the layers. Nevertheless, getting here early was epic and this moment as the sun rose over the Remarkable mountain range epitomized the natural beauty of the area. Now, I just have to figure out when I'm going back.
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I took this back over a year ago in New Zealand. It was pretty frosty before the sun came up and so when it did we all started peeling off the layers. Nevertheless, getting here early was epic and this moment as the sun rose over the Remarkable mountain range epitomized the natural beauty of the area. Now, I just have to figure out when I’m going back.

Maligne Lake

An early morning trip on Maligne Lake in Jasper Alberta. These lakes are pristine and in many cases appear turquoise due to the sediments from the surrounding glaciers. This is a popular lake however it's about ninety minute drive out of town. One you head out on to the lake you are surrounded on all sides by majestic peaks and unforgettable landscapes. But then again, that describes the Jasper in general.
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An early morning trip on Maligne Lake in Jasper Alberta. These lakes are pristine and in many cases appear turquoise due to the sediments from the surrounding glaciers. This is a popular lake however it’s about ninety minute drive out of town. One you head out on to the lake you are surrounded on all sides by majestic peaks and unforgettable landscapes. But then again, that describes the Jasper in general.

View from Jasper

Mountain lakes are peaceful first thing in the morning. On this morning I was lucky enough to get a few colors of the sunrise as well as the calm water. That's Mount Edith Cavell in the distance which has a big glacier that hangs precariously over a small lake. However there are no glaciers around this lake and so the water is clear without the typical aqua blue which is typical of glacier fed lakes.
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Mountain lakes are peaceful first thing in the morning. On this morning I was lucky enough to get a few colors of the sunrise as well as the calm water. That’s Mount Edith Cavell in the distance which has a big glacier that hangs precariously over a small lake. However there are no glaciers around this lake and so the water is clear without the typical aqua blue which is typical of glacier fed lakes.

View from Bell Rock

This is the view from Bell Rock in Sedona. I was here over the New Years and the weather was spectacular, cool in the evenings and warm in the day. Now I suspect with summer approaching its much much warmer. These rock formations are so unique that it's all you can do to pull over and stare for a half hour. It's not something that's too common here on Earth, Mars perhaps, but not here. I lingered here so long that when the sun fell below the rocks it got dark very quickly and so I ended up using the light on my iPhone to make my way back to the parking lot. Note to self, bring a flashlight next time.
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This is the view from Bell Rock in Sedona. I was here over the New Years and the weather was spectacular, cool in the evenings and warm in the day. Now I suspect with summer approaching its much much warmer. These rock formations are so unique that it’s all you can do to pull over and stare for a half hour. It’s not something that’s too common here on Earth, Mars perhaps, but not here. I lingered here so long that when the sun fell below the rocks it got dark very quickly and so I ended up using the light on my iPhone to make my way back to the parking lot. Note to self, bring a flashlight next time.

Little Manatee River

About a half hour drive from me is this state park where you can walk the trails or launch a canoe and explore the Little Manatee River. I managed to get here on a work day and so I pretty much had the place to myself even though all the campsites were full. I think people must have been out canoeing because I didn't see anyone on the trails. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

About a half hour drive from me is this state park where you can walk the trails or launch a canoe and explore the Little Manatee River. I managed to get here on a work day and so I pretty much had the place to myself even though all the campsites were full. I think people must have been out canoeing because I didn’t see anyone on the trails. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

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Top of the World

I just found this image on my iPhone. While touring the south island of New Zealand by helicopter I must have taken my iPhone out at some point to capture the moment. As I recall this was on top of a Glacier that sloped down and that the ice was quite slippery. I took this and then walked a little beyond where my friend was standing and then realized that if I slipped there was no way to self arrest. That's when I began taking baby steps backwards until I felt I was no longer in danger. As long ago as this was, I remember it like it just happened.

I just found this image on my iPhone. While touring the south island of New Zealand by helicopter I must have taken my iPhone out at some point to capture the moment. As I recall this was on top of a Glacier that sloped down and that the ice was quite slippery. I took this and then walked a little beyond where my friend was standing and then realized that if I slipped there was no way to self arrest. That’s when I began taking baby steps backwards until I felt I was no longer in danger. As long ago as this was, I remember it like it just happened.

California Pasture

A farm pasture in San Mateo County along the Pacific Coast Highway. I was on a stop over from New Zealand to Florida and had a day to drive around. I probably need to spend a little more time driving around here because there seems to be something scenic at every turn of the road, and there are a lot of turns.

A farm pasture in San Mateo County along the Pacific Coast Highway. I was on a stop over from New Zealand to Florida and had a day to drive around. I probably need to spend a little more time driving around here because there seems to be something scenic at every turn of the road, and there are a lot of turns.

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Sunrise Above Queenstown

One of the last mornings in New Zealand we drove up into the hills above Queenstown to watch the sunrise and then went for a walk down Skippers Canyon. We sat on the side of this mountain taking pictures and waited for the sun to rise  which takes a little longer due to the surrounding mountains.

One of the last mornings in New Zealand we drove up into the hills above Queenstown to watch the sunrise and then went for a walk down Skippers Canyon. We sat on the side of this mountain taking pictures and waited for the sun to rise which takes a little longer due to the surrounding mountains.

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Crowley Boardwalk

This is part of a half-mile long boardwalk through the mangroves of central Florida at the Crowley Natural and Cultural History Preserve. I don't know how they passed through mangroves on foot back in the day, but without this boardwalk it seems to be impassable.  The walk is pleasant and shaded with few distractions and at the end a wooden tower overlooking a river and floodplain.  Along the way you see native plants, animals and birds and get a small glimpse of what the land was like in years past, back when they had no boardwalk.

This is part of a half-mile long boardwalk through the mangroves of central Florida at the Crowley Natural and Cultural History Preserve. I don’t know how they passed through mangroves on foot back in the day, but without this boardwalk it seems to be impassable. The walk is pleasant and shaded with few distractions and at the end a wooden tower overlooking a river and floodplain. Along the way you see native plants, animals and birds and get a small glimpse of what the land was like in years past, back when they had no boardwalk.

Click on photo to enlarge.