Eastside Beauty

 

Blue Lake, Eastern Sierra

My friend Kevin at a remote Eastern Sierra lake.  This lake has the most surreal water color of any I've ever seen.

Lewis Creek

My friend Wes at the lower pool of Corlieu Falls along Lewis Creek, a few miles north of Oakhurst, California.  December 2, 2023.

Trail of the Sequoias

Last light on Trail of the Sequoias, a lightly-used path that meanders past Log Meadow into the less-visited depths of the Giant Forest.

Alta's Pull

The barren summit of 11,204-foot Alta Peak beckoning shortly after crossing the last straggling trees that cling to these upper slopes.  Smoke was in the air making for a hazy afternoon as the Redwood Fire burned in the nearby Redwood Meadow Grove.  Sequoia National Park, September 16, 2023 with my Dad.

The Door-Way to Log Meadow

 My friend Wes in the presence of giants at Log Meadow, Sequoia National Park.  August 2023.

Paradise Creek Poppies

 California poppies in bloom along the Paradise Creek Trail in Sequoia National Park, as seen earlier this spring (late April, 2023).  What a beautiful wildflower bloom we had this year with all the rain!

Wooden Walls of the Giant Forest

Standing in the silent strength of the Giant Forest.  These trees have done well this year, being watered deeply by a record-breaking winter with the most snow the Southern Sierra has seen in decades.  I feel wonderfully blessed to be able to walk in the company of these great trees which have stood many tests of time.  Photo captured by me in June 2023.

 

Winter in the Giant Forest

Giant sequoias along the Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park, March 2022.

California Nights

California Nights, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

I'm back in Southern California.

Last night I spotted clouds in the west, and rushed to Shell Beach to catch the sunset. It was a beautiful evening, 70 degrees with amazing colors in the sky.

Painting with Light in Lake Tahoe

Tahoe, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

I was standing in the water when I took this picture.

With my phone on maximum brightness, I painted the word "Tahoe" in air during a 30-second exposure with my camera. This is the end result...and the best one out of at least a dozen attempts!

Pacific Valley - Big Sur

Pacific Valley, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Back in May I was offered the opportunity to stay at a private ranch in Big Sur overlooking the ocean. I jumped at the chance, and spent a weekend in early June in the southern section of Big Sur. Got this photo at a beach in a hamlet called Pacific Valley, several miles south of the ranch where I stayed. It was quite a beautiful place...

The Tree of Swirl

The Tree of Swirl, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Whoa! This picture must have been Photoshopped, right?! Wrong - it's all done in camera.

This photo actually shows a tree in my backyard. I got it by zooming in while simultaneous spinning the camera. Pretty cool, huh?

Pizza in North Beach

North Beach, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco is famous for being Italian, and, consequently, having great pizza. I got this tasty pie at Caffé BaoNecci on Green Street - it's certainly one of the best pizza places in the city.

If you remember the movie Mrs. Doubtifre, Caffé BaoNecci is located on the bottom of floor of the building that stood in for Robin Williams' apartment in the film.

Traffic and Fireworks

Traffic and Fireworks, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Took this a few days ago on the Fourth, of course. We were on an overpass above a busy street...the fireworks were great!

Sunset in Avila

Sunset in Avila, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Two Fridays ago I was at Avila while the sun was setting. It also happened to the night of a windstorm, and 50-mph gusts were sandblasting me as I took this photo.

Afternoon Sun

Afternoon Sun, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The wildflower bloom is nearly over here in Southern California. I took this photo back in April on a remote road near Cayucos. The lupines were much thicker than this in some places - we found one patch of the flowers the length of a football field.

Avila Beach

Avila Beach, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Avila Beach is a small town in the southern part of SLO county. Located at San Luis Bay, the town faces south and thus has a warm microclimate with gentle surf. I was there on Friday night and the town's famous warmth was absent - 40 mph winds were howling through the canyon out to sea, creating waves heading away from shore. Although you can't tell in this photo, I was being pelted with sand.

Chinatown Lights

Night Lights, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

While exploring the shops in Chinatown, San Francisco, this one stood out due to its huge collection of lights and lanterns.

A Night in the City

A Night in the City, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

A few friends and I drove up from San Luis Obispo to San Francisco for Friday night and Saturday. Most definitely an awesome trip. This is the view last night from Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands - those lights on the otherwise dark hillside are car headlights.