Like many towns, Angels Camp has a downtown and a section of strip malls and big (-ish) box stores. Today we have a look about the traditional "town" part. As in the case of most of these places along hwy 49, there are antique stores filled to the brim with things I don't need.
Yesterday's entry contained a sad story of a child who lived on a few hours. Today we start with one that is even worse.
We are getting settled in our house sit in Angels Camp, CA. On our first outing, we naturally sought out a cemetery (or two or three). This one, in the small but charming town of Murphys, was our first stop.
So, here we are, headed south. We've passed through the rain and clouds of Washington and Oregon and finally descended from the south side of the mountains that keep all the water to the north. Finally, some blue sky here in California. And in the clear air, we see Mt. Shasta.
Not too far away from Sequim is the village of Seabeck, on the Kitsap Peninsula. Here is where the Big Beef Creek joints the Hood Canal. Every year about this time, there is a small fish, called a midshipman, that runs through here to the canal. This brings out the birds in significant numbers.
We made another stop at the eagle's nest by the shore to see what we could see. On this trip we got to see mom quite well, but the kids are pretty elusive.
Although there is still snow on Mt. Baker, it does look quite different from the way it did in the dead of winter.
A short drive along HWY 101 from Sequim to Port Angeles and we find the road that takes us to Hurricane Ridge on the northern edge of the Olympic National Park.
A trip to the shore to see what birds we might see there seemed in order. It is also interesting to note that from Sequim we can see the San Juan Islands and, on a relatively clear day, Victoria Island as well. Above is one of the San Juans.
Back on the road again. This time we are doing a repeat stay in Sequim for the folks we sat for over Christmas. Now it is warm (-ish, it is the PNW after all), the hummingbird feeders are filled and the birds are out in significant numbers. There are two hummers we see: Anna and Rufous. The Anna hummers are much quicker about getting in for a sip and back out again. The Rufous are a little bit more laid back and easier to catch on camera. So today we have photos of the Rufous variety.
The advantage of a cloudy day (of which we have many here in the PNW) is that the exposure of the photos is much easier. For example, the flower above is uniformly illuminated and nicely exposed. It also helps that I got the focus right.
Once in a while I find a flower that catches the light in just the right way to create a softly glowing feast for the eyes.
There are plots of fences in Snohomish. This one has small gaps between the boards that allow the sun to shine through making a pattern on the sidewalk. Sometimes patterns are fun.
In a surprising period of sunshine in Snohomish, I'm out and seeing what I can see that you, dear reader, might find at least a little fun to look at. This iris is showing off quite nicely in the bright sun.
In spring, colors are confusing. Some bushes have already mixed in the colors they will have in a few months when fall comes.
Although we returned from our tour of the west a little late in the spring to enjoy the peak of the blossoms, there are plenty of plants still going strong.
To give you a taste of our local spring color, especially since I removed it all yesterday, here are few of the blooms I found on a short walkabout.
After being on the road for a couple months, it felt good to have a walk around the neighborhood again. It is much easier to find compositions in new places where everything is interesting and new. At home, however, where you've shot everything several times already, it is a bigger challenge.
Today we explore a few flowers in monochrome to see if we can see old things in a new way.
Our final stop on the journey back home is in Winthrop. This small town is notable for choosing the theme of an old west town complete with wooden sidewalks and buildings with unfinished wood tossed about in gay abandon.
Continuing north on Hwy 17, we next come to Dry Falls. This is a pretty spectacular place (see previous visit). Today, since we are enroute, the visit was short and I aimed my camera at some of the specific features that I found interesting.
Much to our surprise and pleasure, we found a great horned owl perched in a tree just on the shoulder of the road. Naturally, I had to stop and see what sorts of photos I might be able to make.
On one of the endlessly beautiful days in this part of Oregon, we drove up in to the Elkhorn Mountains to see what we could see. From the overlook above, we can look back across Baker City toward the east to see the Wallowa Mountains. It is easy to see from this vantage why people wanted to settle this broad green plain.
Sometimes the markers are simple (and broken). Others are much more elaborate.
On the edge of Baker City is the town cemetery, Mt Hope. Curiously named since there is no mountain or even hill there. It is all quite flat. Yet, it is filled with people how worked hard to eek out a living in an expansive country still filled with dangers and many unknowns.
