Yosemite and More

  While taking a short vacation up north I visited  Lassen Volcanic National Park. The big draw there are the thermo features especially Bumpass Hell. The park does not disappoint, for many reasons, not just mud pots. Lassen is part of the Ring of Fire, volcanos from Eastern coast of Asia to the West Coast of the Americas. It's always a good idea to not just focus on the big stuff. What made this tree bend this way?  Many trees showed which way was the  prominent wind direction, but not to this extreme.   I've seen plenty of Lupine and when I started this walk I swore I wouldn't take another photo of them, this is just one of many areas covered in Lupine. Areas of the park are just the remnants of former volcanos and pyrotechnic activity There have been a couple of fires in the park in recent years. Large areas show  the result of those devastating fires. One area right next to the road has mud pots and the lovely aroma of sulfur. Lassen Peak from the south...

 After visiting the very old town of Locke we went further north into the delta to the Grand Island Mansion. Talk about two different worlds. While Locke ( my previous post) was build in the 1909 and was really showing it's age. The Grand Island Mansion  built in 1917 was on a whole other spectrum. If you want an opulent, and extravagant wedding or business retreat this is the place for you. 24,00 square feet, 58 rooms, (most with their own theme), tennis court, helipad and so much more.  This is their 'front lawn' Lot's of outdoor statues Close up of the arm on the chair above. Lots of indoor statues Are you allowed to sit on this. Nothing opulent here.  The mirrored ballroom with a handsome photographer. It even has a disco ball. Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph Dave

 Locke is a very small town in the Sacramento River Delta. It had a  very diverse population but is best know as a Chinese Settlement. It is still a viable community today. The buildings are old and to be honest it doesn't look like they've done much to them since the early 1900's. It was a very interesting place to visit. Lots of flowers and esoteric stuff.  Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph, Dave

 A while back I visited the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. The steam engine they use is from my home town of McCloud California. #25 was a hometown favorite and headed excursion trains for many years. #25 built in 1925, her boiler plate. You've heard of being born on the wrong side of the tracks? Well I was photographing from the wrong side of the tracks, but still pretty cool.  They flush water and steam from the locomotive before starting out. I had a seat on the open gondola, you paid extra for the fancy interior in one of the parlor cars. The train was rocking and rolling but the scenery was pretty good. The business part of #25, running gear and drive wheels Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph Dave

  I took a trip to Sequoia National Park on Tuesday. Sequoia is the second  National Park, established in 1890 after Yellowstone, I believe Yosemite was third. I left a little late, but it was still a great experience.  Did some hiking and just a little photography 😀 Most of my photos aren't of the trees, they tend to be a little hard to photograph. This one is from across a meadow. For reference see the people walking near the base of the tree. However there was a lot to photograph that weren't on such a grand scale. The meadow provided a lot of opportunities. The age old question ' What came first the boulder or the tree?' Nature heals itself though it may take many, many years. Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph Dave