Eastern Sierras Roadtrip

Terry Myers & I have had a road trip planned for quite awhile on Route 395 (Eastern Sierras).  At the last minute  we changed the date in order to take advantage of a photo workshop (Betty Sederquist ) in Bodie.   Thanks Cabby Bloss for the info regarding the workshop.

We arrived in Lee Vining on this past Friday night, got up early Saturday for the 45 minute drive to Bodie & were in the park at 6:20 AM.    An unexpected storm brought snow (!) and it was such a treat to be there and see everything covered with snow.  I've been in Bodie with heat, rain, wind & now snow.    

                                                       
There was a beautiful quietness to the town because of the snow.  

Moonrise over Reno

Tonight is my last night in Reno -- my sister & I went up to a hilltop overlooking Reno & photographed the full moon (actually, it was the night after the full moon).  

We were a bit worried about the sky because of the smoke from the Yosemite fire, but I think the moon was much redder than it might have been because of this.  My favorite photo of all I took this evening.

Wild horses in Reno area

Sunday I hung out with friend Cabby Bloss -- we went to Reno's Open Studios & enjoyed visiting with a few of the artists, then drove out to an area that Cabby's photographed before where the wild horses hang out.   They are incredibly beautiful & not all that wild!   They came over to the car after the window was rolled down, but we quickly rolled them up & the gray mare stuck his nose right on the window -- curious guys for sure!    We did get out and walked around a bit and they are curious more than anything else.  Cabby said they are looking for food, so next time we'll bring carrots & apples.  

Dust bath!

"Help, let us in!" (iPhone photo)

The Great Reno Balloon Race - 2014

I'm in Reno at my sister & brother-in-law's home to celebrate birthdays.  Yesterday we all got up very early & made it over to the dawn patrol and spent several hours watching the activities.  I didn't take a tripod knowing I'd only need it for an hour (& we spent 3 hrs there in the heat!), so only one shot of the dawn patrol came out (hand held & high ISO).   Highly recommend attending if you are in Reno at this time of year.

Dawn Patrol

Sculptures on Harbor Drive

While walking back and forth from the Maritime Museum to the docks where the Mexican vessel was, I passed by these sculptures.  They've been in place for years & I've seen them before, but this is the first time I've taken the time to photograph them.

"Green Fire" 

"Green Fire" by Robert Varhees (2006)  Port of San Diego Tidelands Collection.

I went to their web site & apparently there are/were 30+ of these sculpture pieces along Harbor Drive.  I'll have to be more observant, because I've just seen 4 of them.  

"Orange Tree"

"Fish Tree" 

"Orange Tree" sculpture by Guy & Ellen Mayenobe (2007)

and the "Fish Tree" by Zbigniew"Ben" Pinget & Toby Flores (2005).


They are surrounded today by construction fences & hard to really appreciate.  Hopefully when the construction is finished, they'll be polished up a bit and everyone will be able to see them.  Can you spot the moon in each of these?  

More photos from the Mexican Sail Training Vessel

Check out the shiny brass, lots on this ship to keep sparkling!

More hats.  

Cadets waiting to climb the rigging.  

Big job feeding everyone.

Always work to be done.  

A few more photographs as I was wandering around the ship.  Cadets were relaxed, welcoming & ready to go.  A few were double-checking lines.  The boat was spotless & polished -- lots of work!  They were just waiting for the visitors to leave and to pull in the lines.  I learned that it is traditional for the home town Navy to cast off the lines from shore.   Our Navy was here to do that & the Mexican Navy pulled them in.  

Final good-bye.  Heading out of the Bay for Seattle. 

ARM Cuauhtémoc

The Mexican sail training vessel ARM Cuauatemoc  has been in San Diego for 3 days.  I was down on Harbor Drive this morning to see them leave & wasn't disappointed.  For more info on the vessel click here:    l http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Cuauht%C3%A9moc_(BE01)

It's exciting to see a vessel such as this size in our Bay  (220 ft 4 in at the waterline) with 186 officers & crew plus 90 trainees).   I met a young woman from Vera Cruz Mexico, who shared that she flew up here to meet up with her boyfriend who was a cadet on the vessel.  It was a lovely reunion (I took lots of photos for her on her camera).   One of the officers had a visit from his family, including twin babies (looked about 6 months old).  Very emotional morning for everyone.

I arrived in time to see the Mexican flag being raised in the stern of the boat while the Mexican national anthem was played, then the US flag was raised while they played our national anthem.  During this time the crew were standing at attention & saluting the flags.   I was invited on board (!) and was very excited.  The young woman from Vera Cruz said "you are my friend, you can come aboard."   Felt very honored & was shown around by her boy friend.   Lots of photo opportunities as the crew also welcomed me aboard.   As the left, the cadets were up on the spars, waving & saluting as the music played.

Just a few photos her to show the overall ship with cadets on the spars.   More photos to come.  Exciting morning in San Diego on the Bay.  

Raising the Mexican flag. 

Bringing in the lines/nets.  Getting ready for departure.

Cadets up on the top spars!   

Leaving the dock with the help of tugs.  Very impressive!