MARCH 27 - UPPER NEWPORT BAY PRESERVE

I had to run an errand to San Juan Capistrano today for some repair work on some jewelry. I decided to use the trip to explore the Upper Newport Bay Preserve located not too far to the North. My friend, Lin, joined me on this one day outing.

After our stop in San Juan Capistrano we were off in a bit lighter traffic than we had experienced from San Diego. As we were somewhat limited on time, we did not visit the Visitor Center, but took in the Back Bay Drive along the East side. This is a one-way drive and gets you very close to the shore line. We saw a few birds but I had not done my homework on the tides so we were there on a day and time of low tide. This restricted our chances of seeing a number of shore birds or duck as

the tide was OUT! We did see a couple of great blue herons, great egrets, a snowy egret and a pair of green-winged ducks. They were quite a distance from us but I did get a couple of pictures.

Great Egret

Great Egret with Morsel

Strolling

Green-winged Teal Pair

Green-winged Teal

The drive back to San Diego went very smoothly. I joined my friend Lin in a Photoshop group after a quick dinner in Oceanside at the Pit Stop.

There will be more traveling in April: to Pismo Beach, Joshua Tree N. P., Death Valley N. P., and the California Coast. Stay tuned as I will try to post on a regular basis during the month.

JOSHUA TREE CAMPING - MARCH 4-6, 2014

In preparation for a summer road trip of a couple of months,

we decided on a short trip to Joshua Tree National Park to break in a new tent, and get into the camping mode with regard to gear, etc.

On Tuesday, March 4, we took off in the late morning for the Park. We did not have reservations as it was going to be mid-week, and there are only a couple of the campgrounds within the Park that take reservations. The drive up was uneventful. The wind had picked up since we started and by the time we were looking for a campsite, we were also considering the wind in a choice for a site. We finally found a nice site in the Jumbo Rocks Campground. The wind died down in the late afternoon, and we enjoyed our new tent, and reading under the stars before heading to bed. 

(Reminder: Double click on first photo and you will see them in a slide show.)

Western Fence Lizard

Making Coffee

Delicate Yellow Blossom

A Sparrow

Skull Rock

California Poppy

Evening Color

On Wednesday, we went for a morning hike around the campground with cameras. I missed the very early morning light by a few minutes, and as I photographed some high cloudiness moved in. The traditional breakfast of “eggs-in-a-basket” was very good. Thanks to our friend Kathie Adams I now use a folding paper filter inthe percolator so the coffee was very good, with no grounds and an easy clean-up.

We hiked the Skull Rock Loop before lunch.

In the afternoon we went into 29 Palms to get a couple of needed items: batteries for my headlamp, and a new lighter for the camp stove. We also filled up with more water as there is none available in the Park.  

In Camp

San Gorgonio in Distance

San Jacinto in Distance

Desert Blue Bell

Walk Carefully

Mohave Yucca and Small Barrel Cactus

Mohave Yucca and Rocks

Spreading Juniper

Some Jumbo Rocks

The Photographer

Thursday morning we got up for sunriseand then went for a hike up Ryan Mountain. The view at the top was well worth it with both San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Peaks in view with mantles of snow on the tops. We had set up a rendezvous with Jen Albrinck who is head of Interpretation at Joshua Tree for late afternoon. Jen was our first supervisor at North Rim, Grand Canyon, as volunteers. Regrettably there was a late afternoon meeting called,so we missed her this trip. We hope to touch bases with her here in San Diego one of these days. The wind picked up in the afternoon and continued into the night so that sleep was not as peaceful.

A Skull Rock in the Making

Mr. Magoo?

Boo!

Desert Marigold

Sand Verbena

Joshua Tree Bloom

Friday morning, we again went for another early morning hike in the area, and had the area mostly to ourselves. After breakfast it was time to start breaking camp. We were interrupted a couple of time to talk with volunteers as well as neighbors. We were on the road home about 1230 and were home by 1545. The drive home was pleasant as we came a more scenic route via Hemet and Temecula.

It was a great trip. We reviewed our camping routine, and noted items that we need be sure to bring along next time. We are looking forward to the summer.

BIRDS AND TRAINS, FEBRUARY 28

Two weeks have been filled with photography and other events.  Once again I went to Santee Lakes to photograph ducks in flight and seemed to get a few good ones, mostly of a mallard drake. Also got a pintail looking handsome, and a wood duck showing off.

This past Saturday my husband and I joined others for a trip to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum which is located in Campo, CA. It is fully manned with volunteers, and you can take an hour and a half train ride with them which we did not do. I had fun wandering around taking photographs of old railroad cars, and gear. George photograph some of the train equipment, and then went wandering in the field nearby and in quest of animal life.

On the way home we stopped in Guatay, CA for a delicious ice cream cone, and a visit to Tryyn's Wooden Spoon Gallery where you can find all sorts of wooden tools for cooking - stirrers, spatulas, spoon, etc. along with pendants. In a side gallery he displays and sells work from other artists - potters, painters, and glass blowers. It is a wonderful place and Bill is very friendly and helpful. We have gotten a number of items from him in the past and did not leave empty handed this time either. Regrettably I did not take any pictures there.

Some of my time this past week has been devoted to judging the Coachella 2014 International Exhibition of Photography. This involved viewing about 1200 pictures in the Nature Division. I finished the first round of judging on Tuesday, and tomorrow, Saturday, I will travel to Riverside to complete the judging process with the two other judges in person. This time we will discuss the images and make the decisions on awards and honorable mentions. It is a lot of work, but an honor to be asked to judge such an event.

Next week we are off for a short camping trip to Joshua Tree National Park. I hope to get a number of photo ops with sunrises and sunsets, and lots of big rocks and beautiful joshua trees. It will also be a shakedown or breaking in of our new tent which we plan on using this coming summer as we travel for two months to Vancouver, B.C. and back.