A few recent photos...

I was going through a few different folders on my computer earlier today and felt like sharing a few photos I've taken recently.   I'm really enjoying the new camera.

I ran up on this trailer over the pass and enjoyed the sight.

Palm Springs at the 10, looking West.

Drove around most of the day after Kristi's baby, looking for a shot like this. 
Something about this shot, and the lines, and colors - I really love it.

Calling this one 'Beppe's Glass'.

Madelyn, clearly, perched on a fence rail watching another girl ride horse.

I showed a few from this series before, but like this one too.

4000 pictures

I turned a milestone this afternoon - photo number 4000 with the new camera. I've had an idea in mind since we got to this park, and today I was finally able to take a couple of shots at it.   Nothing spectacular, still pretty tho. ;)

A few photos, and a story

 In going through my photos from our trip through Joshua Tree, I found a few that I wanted to share.  I love this spontaneous shot from the overlook of the dam. 

Similar shot to the one from Death Valley.
I really liked the way the JT on the right stood out.

My first shot in the park.

Just a winding road through JT, shot from Keys View.

Joshua Tree has always been a rock climber's paradise,
I have a few stories of my own, and I enjoyed
the way this photo turned out.

This was on the previous JT blog; this was our Lily.

And this was the story about 'Lily'.  The book taught us
about how the trees grow, their background,
and most importantly gave the girls a way to be involved
in the park.  I got the link from the NPS website:
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/forkids/upload/lily.pdf

My two favorite shots from the day are below.  These are blooms from the Cholla Cactus Garden which really is so striking that it has to be seen to be believed. Be careful though, those cactus will attack you if you get too close!

Mt. Soledad Park and Veterans Memorial

This afternoon we went to visit a site that was said to offer views of San Diego like no other. I figured it would be nice to go up and shoot some panoramic photos of the vista, spend a little time in the adjacent park, and that it would be just like many of the other views we've run across throughout the trip. And don't get me wrong - as you can see the view was great, but little did I know how the site would touch me.

Mt. Soledad is a prominent landmark in the city of San Diego, Ca. At 822 feet above sea level, with 360-degree views for miles, it is a landmark that is used not only by commercial pilots flying into San Diego International, it also houses the transmitters for most local radio and tv stations, and was used as part of the early-warning defense system in WWII. Odd trivia reports that it was once used by the Lindberghs for glider flights in the 1920's, and that Mrs. Dr. Suess (Audrey Geisel) still lives up on the hill in a lavish house that was the last house that Dr. Suess ever lived in.

The park at the top of the mountain was first used as a Memorial Park in 1914, and in 1954 they built and dedicated a 29-foot cross to honor Korean War veterans. Finally, it was transferred to the Federal Government in 2006 as a National Veterans Memorial now run by the Department of Defense, and an amazing memorial it is. In our journey we've seen many war memorials, but this one had a much more profound impact on me than others - both for what it contains, and how it was presented.

The memorial is designed to be six concentric walls with 3,200 black granite plaques that tell the story of a veteran's (or the family of veteran's) military service. It honors U.S. Veterans both living and deceased that have been honorably discharged from any branch of the U.S. military. There are also bollards that honor community and veteran organizations, including groups of soldiers, like the Jedburghs, who parachuted into enemy occupied territory in 1944 in France and the Netherlands and helped arm 100,000 resitance members in the liberation fights, or a group of WWII Paratroopers who parachuted at Amfreville, France on the 50th year commemoration of the Normandy Landings, complete with a picture and paratrooper information.

I think the plaques and the way they are presented is the most endearing part of this place.  I love the etched photo - the purity in the memory of it. I am enthralled by the story presented in the words. I'm amazed that this may be one of the only memorials that doesn't require you to be gone to be a part of it, though clearly most of those memorialized are.  One of the most touching type of plaques to both Jill and I were the ones that featured husband and wife. With sayings like "Brought together by war -- kept together by love.", and "Together in war and peace.", they brought to mind some of the spectacular stories of WWII. I can almost see my grandparents in those photos.

Even once-ordinary soldiers that went on to become extraordinary statesmen are honored here.

Unfortunately, there is some controversy with the memorial, and apparently it might go all the way to the Supreme Court. In the middle of the memorial is a Latin Cross, first built in 1913 and restored twice. The court's opinion states that the Latin Cross in the middle of the memorial "primarily conveys a message of government endorsement of religion that violates the Establishment Clause" of the Constitution. (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit). The case is expected to go to the Supreme Court. Now, I'm not one to get in the political mess of those kinds of actions, but I can say this -  I never once felt that religion was being endorsed by the government while I was there. The memorial felt right, and proper, and true. To me, I think that's good enough not to have to argue about it.

If you're ever in the area, take the small detour up the hill above Mission Bay to wander amongst the plaques. You can learn more about the location here: http://www.soledadmemorial.com/.

Even if you don't know any of the soldiers on the walls, I'd bet you'll be moved by what it takes, or took, to Serve.

Calico Christmas

Being in a campground attached to a visitable attraction has been kinda fun this week. Even though the town technically closes at dusk, being a camper and knowing 'the late-night guys' has its advantages. For the entire month, Calico is decorated for the holidays, and it very apparent at night. I thought it'd be fun to wander around and show off some of the sites.

While we were visiting yesterday I took a couple of pics, and then took those same shots tonight with the lights on.

And then I took a couple of creative shots too.

Pictures, cameras, travel, and family...

As you all know, we went to Death Valley yesterday. It was a long day, followed by an early day today -- moving day actually. We got a later start than expected, and were a little tired after the trips both Saturday and Sunday. Death Valley will be talked about by Jill (in detail) tomorrow night I'm sure.

For now, I downloaded my pictures and while I caught some good stuff - nothing, save one - aside from some family shots - stood out to me in my downloads...

For some reason I really liked this one, and I hope to get much more time, and more snapshots, in DV in the near future... Tuesday will tell. ;)

A map for the trip - finally.

For a very long time, I've been trying to put a map on the Rig. There are several choices out there, but none, I thought, that fit our trip. The latest choices use license plate snipits for the states, and completely forget Canada. The past items I've seen have solid colored states (a must for me) and many have included Canada, but upon calling the manufacturer of that map, I've been told they don't produce it anymore. In fact, I was told that they get that call about three times a week, but have no plans for production. Now, I've seen some money opportunities squandered but, uh, hello - we're calling a company 'we (RVers)' need to research and are willing to pay whatever it takes to get your already produced map, and you aren't doing it... interesting choice.

So - I decided to just do my own. It is exactly what I want, in the shape, size, and form I want on my Rig. And while it took me some time to produce - I'm happy with what we came up with. Hours were spent designing the map, mocking the graphic, and deciding the setup. I went to a sign shop in town last week and finally - we've started our canvas - and I (I think WE) think it is perfect.

For those of you who are wondering - yes, there are places we've been that aren't represented here.  We chose a baseline, because of the trip and what it represents.  To fill in a state we must 1. Have stayed there in the Rig a week or more, and 2. Have explored a significant amout of territory to say we've 'done' the area.

In Rhode Island, of all places, we saw a Rig that put all the places they'd collected graphics for on their slideouts, and I made a mental note. They collected souvenir stickers of places they'd been, and I wanted to do the same.

So, we start here... toward the patio.  We're missing a bunch of places we've been - but I'm sure we'll catch up shortly.  There are some I need to buy, some I need to have printed, but I'm sure we'll  get everything figured out shortly.

I'm already thinking of what to do when we run out of room to plaster all the great places we've been... I've got some ideas, and I hope - for anyone reading this - that you get to see it soon. :)

Crater Lake

Jill's Journal (Rob's Pictures): Today we were blessed to take in the grandeur of Crater Lake for the first time. I’m not sure there are too many places on Planet Earth more beautiful. It is truly one of God’s most spectacular masterpieces.

R. - I made up some panoramas for today - one for each major stop where we could see a good portion of the lake.  I've also included one shot of Phantom Ship.  Be sure to click the pictures to see them full-(web)size, but in all honesty, these pictures do not do this place justice.

Our first view of the Lake.  We came in from the North entrance
and stopped at the first lot.

Second stop, moving counter-clockwise around the lake.  Wizard Island
in the center - notice the greens and teals in the shallows.  And yes,
that white stuff - it is snow.

Final panoramic of the day.  From the North just above Cloud Cap, the
colors along the shoreline were amazing.  The girls were watching the
wind paterns on the lake, which the late-afternoon sun highlights.

One final shot of Phantom Ship.  We had a short, fun hike to get to this spot.

Memories...

Jill wrote in her last post:
"More tomorrow on the great fun we had on the coast…"

And we did - we had an amazing time. And today was also fantastic. You all, those who read this, know those stories will come - we needed a little downtime today after a longer day than expected, with a lot to do. The rest in Portland is welcomed, and everyone here will get to catch their collective breath a little. WE love Oregon so far, and will decide from here, Portland, what direction we go... it's a mystery right now. :)

Jill will blog away in the days to come, but I just wanted to leave everyone with a little memory - one that may not have been seen by our blog's readers. It is not often I (yes, I'm invoking the I) look back at stuff, but I was looking for something and ran across this gem. Taken April of 'beforewewereontheroad', it was amazing to see the changes in all my girls... What a fun thing to be able to look back on, before the journey - and being able to compare it with where we are now...

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Jill said... (26 June, 2011 10:45)

Look at those itty-bitty, little kiddos!! Erika was barely 5, Madelyn 3, and Victoria 19 months. Madelyn has changed the most of all. She used to be short and stocky, just a little tank. Now she's tall and lanky and so skinny that the ethnic Mom in me wants to stuff her full of food 24 hours a day!

I remember that day so well -- Kite Festival, Georgetown KY, April 2009. We were about six months into considering the journey we're on now and I remember thinking, "This is the sort of thing we'll do all the time if we go 'on the road.'" And I also remember thinking that if days like that close to home could go well with such little kids, that we really could make this journey a reality... :)