This road trip has been good for me. I’m now in Phoenix visiting my parents for a couple days and sleeping in a real bed for a change. I’ll head back out tomorrow morning and drift back towards home. I find it inexpensive to camp in the National Parks with my senior pass while entrance fees are free. I’ve never been to any of these parks before. This is not a photographic expedition but a vacation. I’m acting like a tourist and shooting from the same locations the tourists are shooting from. I just take more time as I shoot.
My first night was in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Since it’s late in the season I’m not fighting large crowds. I’m able to select just about any campsite I desire. So far this park has been my most impressive and will stay on my bucket list. Clouds moved in early in the evening then rained hard for a couple hours during the night. I stayed dry but the rain cover on my tent was soaked the next morning. In the above image you can just make out a few people who have climbed to the top of the dunes.
The second night was in Mesa Verde National Park. I’ve camped here once before while on one of my motorcycle trips. I setup camp then drove down to the cliff dwellings. I was back around 6:00 pm. As I sat on the back of my Forester eating a plum I notice out of the corner of my eye a movement near my tent. I turned and notice a large bear saunter through my camp, probably 20 feet from my tent. He never looked at me just moved back into the brush. He sure made a stir throughout the campsite. Parents were watching the kids closer and food bas being stored away.
My third night was spent at the Grand Canyon. Now this place was packed. One campground was full and there were only two open sites when I drove through. I must admit to being very impressed with the canyon. It does take your breath away. It’s beauty cannot be described but must be experienced. I rose early on Saturday morning and drove to Moran Point for the morning sunrise. There were only two of us with our primary purpose to just be there, taking a photo once in a while. After he moved on I had the Canyon rim all to myself. What a place to have quiet meditation.
There are several national parks I can pass through on my way back home, with Zion and Bryce as priorities. I like this idea of making the agenda for the day after I wake up. Since I’m camping, access to the internet is very limited and it’s been nice not having it. Hope everyone is staying out of trouble while I’m gone.
13 Comments
Bob Dein
I am envious! Have you tried the Dunes image in B&W?
Monte Stevens
No, I haven’t but will because it would make a good image in black and white.
Steve Skinner
Monte, your image from Great Sand Dunes has inspired me to make a visit there soon.
Monte Stevens
Good, put it on the bucket list.
Tom Dills
The Great Sand Dunes photo is beauteous, Monte. I’m with Steve…I definitely need to go there!
Monte Stevens
Sounds like we need to have a meet up, shoot some images and delve into some hardcore photography/philosophy conversations. Maybe a latte or tea.
paul
Now, that’s my kind of vacation! Wow! Who needs the Internet when you have all of that at hand?!
Monte Stevens
The scenes have been moving sometimes to tears. Would like to understand that.
Chris Klug
Your image of the Canyon is beautiful, and I agree totally that it has to be experienced. Even a beautiful image such as yours pales in comparison.
Monte Stevens
Right on, Chris! I just passed through Escalante, now that was powerful to me and can never be expressed in words or image.
Cedric Canard
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time Monte. The scale of the Dunes is amazing. I think the name of that NP should be changed to: the Freaking Huge Sand Dunes National Park. Just sayin’.
I had once made a list of all the NP in the USA – I think there were close to 60 or so – and told myself that I would visit them all some day. Hasn’t happened (yet), I’ve only visited 15 of them (which isn’t bad of course). What I would like to do though, is plan a journey that would allow me to visit them all in one single, year-long trip. It’s a nice dream anyway.
Monte Stevens
I like that name. 🙂
This trip has only allowed me a taste of each of the parks as I’m not spending much time in them. As you say allowing days and weeks to explore would be the thing to do. If we did that I cannot see how it would not change us. Maybe that is what has happened to me on this trip. What would a week do?
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