Animals Out In Front

of our dashcam. This year we have really been able to catch the animals running out in front of us. I have enjoyed being able to go back and get second and third glances of animals, or things I thought were animals. It is a plus when they hang out in front of the car because I can share these with you. I grew up in the Midwest so I have a little experience with deer running out in front of the car. I will say it is usually at night from a flat corn field. I will preface the video with I am glad Roy is the driver, because I would have thrown my hands up and screamed because I thought it was close. (it wasn’t that close)

https://videopress.com/v/29zB8638?preloadContent=metadata

Jumped Right Out There

During our stay at Custer we were also treated to a jokester who was this turkey kept wanting to weave back and forth. I think he was a wild turkey who was drinking his own brand. (remember my story lol). This guy trotted in front of us and then would not let us pass first one side of the road and then the other side of the road. This was a road less traveled in Custer State Park. I think it occurred when we were looking for you guessed it buffalo.

https://videopress.com/v/IJDGBpdH?preloadContent=metadata

Turkey Trot

https://videopress.com/v/jGGtXRCC?preloadContent=metadata

Double Cross

Also during one of our many dirt road adventures we came around a corner and saw a mom and baby pronghorn running like the wind. I never did see what was chasing them or what spooked them I do know I caught it on dashcam.

https://videopress.com/v/ScHEGNmu?preloadContent=metadata

Run

This buffalo I want to share with you did not cross in front of the car he did get close though. We were just driving up the road minding our own business, ok we were out just for an after dinner drive. I see this large black spot getting closer and closer I realize buffalo, (side note here why are the backsides so narrow?) so we slow down and watch. Roy also makes a U-turn so I can get a better picture with my cellphone, because I forgot my camera. I also wanted to show the right way to not be blocked by anything in the car when taking a picture, the kid in the sun roof has the right idea.

Living Large

The dash cam is still delivering and I will be sharing more of these adventures in the next few blogs, plus you can always find them under the 2021 videos tab.

When You are Glad Roy

Doesn’t have a camera close by. Yes it is true I do goofy stuff. So I admit it. This trip has been filled with some of those times here are a few. I want a picture of the full moon rising over Mount Rushmore. Metal rails make good horses. Roy is definitely not a princess. Rocks are animals in hiding. Knowing I don’t have everything but me thinking I do.

Roy is not a Princess now please remember this is my story. I was running out of logical places to put things on this trip, so where do you store something flat under the mattress. This was a good place because I wasn’t going to be making the bed until we got to where we were going anyway. Well Roy has a three legged seat cane he uses sometimes, I know he needs it so under the mattress it went. I forgot about it and he wanted to use it, I then proceeded to basically tear the trailer and car apart looking for it, because I knew it was here. This is where Roy Not being a Princess comes in,,, Only a Princess could feel a pea under so many mattresses, why couldn’t Roy feel the cane. If he only had a camera to see me racking my brain.
Rocks are animals in hiding. The camera that would have been needed here would be for my face the look of I’m sure it was. I am amazed at how many things rocks especially look like animals. This does though mainly happen when I’m almost asleep so my defense is not paying attention.
For some reason I insisted that the full moon could rise over Mount Rushmore, (it can if I make up a picture) I just could not get it into my head the direction relation. Camera was needed here because of the light bulb that went on when I grasped it.
Knowing I don’t have everything and thinking I do. I do not know why but this caught him laughing hysterically. I have to say he did though plant the seed in my brain. It was during one of the night shoots, I was almost done and he asks “Am I going to leave my tripod there?” I say no . So I put everything away get in the car buckle up and say let’s go. He then replies so you really are going to leave the tripod there. I say no and promptly retrieve it. I say it was power of suggestion I was going to leave it so I tried.

The one that is the main reason I am glad no camera is me attempting to ride a metal rail. I was just being me. I do not know what came over me except my inner child. I had just finished shooting some long horn sheep after gracefully get out of the car for this one. (good day for balance) I successfully got some pictures, then I attempt to step over a guard rail not so gravefully. I get one leg over and mind goes blank on what to do next. So I improvise; I start riding it like a pony and getting into it. That was until this women asks if I was stuck. My answer nope just riding my horse. She proceeded to lose it in laughter. At least my being sorta stuck made her day. I did eventually did get the courage and skill to get my leg over. Roy and a stranger got a good laugh out of it. I do so enjoy making Roy smile all the while being able to say ‘It wasn’t me.’ No photographic proof I can deny it then.

My name is not Micah

That is what I thought this little boy’s name was and whose family was nice enough to stand and look at Mount Rushmore while I took photos. His name was Rust but more on that in a bit. (I promise I have taken photos.) Staying in one place we have put on 500 miles just driving around the park taking photos and getting stopped by buffalo. But I digress.

This a.m. Thursday the 17th of June we planned to get up early and head to the Iron Mountain Road that leads to Mount Rushmore. This road has three one lane tunnels that perfectly frame the mountain, as many of you know this was my goal to get the perfect framed shot of Mount Rushmore. So we are driving up the road and off to the side on a hill we see 3 very large male buffalo, these guys know how to disappear, when calves are around.

Upon arrival I set up my camera and tripod then proceeded into the middle of the road. Catching good light we were there at 8:30 am Roy got up and we got going before 7am. (I promised him biscuits and gravy from a restaurant we ate at 10 years ago.) This trip I have been practicing making adjustment s to my exposure settings by using the f/stop more then anything. I try different positions and settings trying to get the perfect light. One other thing I am learning is patience, I still want to get a few shots and leave. If you do that then everything changes from leaving early. This proved true today. Enter Micah I mean Rust.

This family with 2 young children pulled up behind where Roy was parked, and looked a little worried that they might be blocking us because I was moving my camera I said no just taking pictures. They proceed through the tunnel to get a better view and I get an idea. I get the shot all set up and ready to click away they then move. I did ask them to stop move a tad and turn around, I was happy they did. They walk back and I show them the pictures and the little boy has a handful of Mica so I said ok thinking that was his name. He then walks away to find more and comes back to give me a tiny piece. I then find out that his name was Rust. It is amazing how people come into your life. The boy is into gems and fossils so I suggested them go to “The Museum at Black Hills Institute” in Hill City. I gave them my blog info and will be posting their picture. Later in the morning I was able to catch another family gazing at Mount Rushmore. I think the trip to the tunnel was a success.

We head back towards camp to grab an early lunch about 11am we arrive at ‘Wolf Camp’ This is a restaurant that we discovered the first time we came through Custer State Park in 2013. It has changed a bit from just being a roadside stand now it has a campground and the restaurant. I like the hours 8 am at the earliest to open 10 am at the latest to open. It was funny we found the restaurant the first time by accident and the second time by pure luck we were taking a short cut to get to Iron Mountain Road. (It was right where I thought it was) I said it was at a place where the road went off to the right if you were coming from Mount Rushmore it was on the left. I just didn’t know where. From here I did a little shopping stopped at one of the welcome centers then set off for buffalo.

We found buffalo alright we were part of a train. It was something that has never happened in all of our travels the herd was moving down the road in front of us. There had to be 200 head moving up the hill on the road, took us 45 minutes. So to get out of traffic after the herd moved on we took a dirt road that the visitor center said buffalo had also been spotted being we got lucky again. The wildlife loop drive today was to go in search of the burros and feed them, which we did find in the perfect spot. I did not feed them though I was able to enjoy a mother nursing her foal.

Then tonight we topped off with an outdoor play called the Marvelous Wonderlettes. The musical was held at the Blackhills Playhouse on an outdoor stage. It featured music from 1948 and 1958. The best part of the musical was this was the dress rehearsal and it was give what you can tickets. It being a musical the sponsors’ ads were even sung. This was a perfect ending to a photastic day.

The Dark of Night

After clouds, a thunder storm, some campground lights, and wrong locations I was finally able with Roy’s assistance to get some Milky Way pictures. June 11th was the night that both of us realized how dark the night is. We even got lucky and had just a tad of light from a building which allowed for some semi natural light painting. I will take any help I can get when it comes to lighting up the dark scenery. We are returning tonight to the same area just a different position.

I was spooked by the quiet of the night. It was funny we were near water so every little plop I heard the hairs on my neck would rise up. I lived in Florida so water + plop equals Alligator just saying. So there were no gators only maybe a turtle or two, we did see a sign for turtles not gators. I will say there were a couple of times during the night I did feel like I was being watched and it was not Roy’s eyes. It was just almost like whatever it was might have been just curious, if not I would have been eaten. I am not sure if this was intentional or not but I found that both of us were talking in hushed tones, it almost felt like when you were a kid and did not want to get caught talking in church. Very peaceful and strangely refreshing. I also tried my hand at some night landscape that I need to work on that is also another beast in it’s own way. As we were getting ready to leave Roy asked if I wanted to leave my tri-pod there until tomorrow, I said no. Well I get all packed and put me seat belt on and say I’m ready to go. He asked are you sure. I had left my tripod I am so glad he looks after me. (this is after he couldn’t stop laughing).

So I am finding the internet does not work very well during the day, maybe that’s when we are supposed to be out exploring. I did do a little bit of exploring earlier in the day due to internet not cooperating. Custer State Park is broke up into three scenic drive areas 1. Iron Mountain Road (twisty turning) leads to Mount Rushmore. This road also has pigtail bridges and one lane tunnels. 2. Wildlife loop here you will find bison, burros, Prairie Dogs, and an occasional deer. 3. Needles Highway there is a tunnel that feels like you are being threaded through a needle. That isn’t how it got it’s name. We will be driving each of these and I know I will have some pictures.

So before our night adventure began we decided to drive into the town of Custer. Yes, I bought a t-shirt. I also stopped in the visitor center where I got more travel books. I was also warned tongue in cheek – not to hang here during Sturgis unless I enjoy mega crowds. They are looking forward to it after last summer. After browsing through them I see a trip to Wind and Jewel cave in the future. Plus I found info on what to do when we are in Rapid City. After the adventure of the ‘big’ city we decided to head up to Sylvan Lake lodge (we were thinking dinner). The lodge was just too crowded and lacked parking. I was able to practice some landscapes and people scapes. So we took a short drive down the needles highway.

I do want to share a snippet or preview of one way traffic. Coming down the Needles highway we approach a one lane tunnel, there is a little bit of a bottle neck. We could have gotten on the end of this round of going through the tunnel but we waited. So after four cars went through coming towards us we decide to inch forward. Picture this we are inching our way in the tunnel and this little car enters the opposite end. A true game of chicken. (Roy did not back down). It was cute watching the little car creep out in reverse.

So for dinner we ended up at the Blue Bell Lodge, they have the sweetest lean Buffalo. (Which probably roamed the grounds at one point. ) They advertise that it is from South Dakota. From here we headed home did some web surfing and started our night adventure.

I am posting some photos of the buffalo from our first night in the park

Legal High Point

I have to say today I was higher than I’ve been in a long time. The views were amazing although the amount of winter homes dotting the mountains near Sundance and Park City Utah were a tad distracting. The first part of the rise out of Salt Lake City was gently curvy it seemed like a lazy gentle rise. The second part past Sundance on the way to Park City felt more like being pulled straight up. Right outside of Salt Lake City we passed Bridal Veil Falls, no pictures I did not think to grab my phone which I did grab for some older cars. Speaking of old cars they must have been a meet-up happening or they were just out for a Sunday drive on Monday.

This trip we have seen more wild horses than on any of our other trips. In fact today we were lucky to see three separate groups. The first group was near water with a dozen foals some were resting on the ground while the mares flipping their tails to keep the young cool. I also saw one nursing it is so amazing to be able to experience the mother baby bond. This group was near Beaver not so far down the road there was a group of three stallions hanging together. On the climb outside of SLC was the third group a few Appaloosa with also fouls. We saw a larger group on yesterday also.

All of the animals we’ve seen so far have had a fair amount of babies. In fact, we must have been seeing a calf take his/her first steps, it seems out west they let mother nature take control. Who would have thunk Wyoming had so many sheep and yes there was a black sheep in every flock we saw. Birds have been of the robin variety with a few (sea)gulls put in the mix.

Tomorrow we are on the way to Rawlins, WY which means one day closer to Custer State Park. Tonight I’m out to find the milky way.

We found Beaver

So today was day two, 6/6/21. We are enjoying cool breezes and open windows, the last two days were brutal in the heat department. Over 100 degrees, Beaver Utah is about 80 and the nice part of this is it should get a tad cooler. Every trip requires a mascot and ours is (wood) Chuck a stuffed Beaver. I will be posting his photo bombs in the future.

The drive up today was interesting, a lot of traffic going from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City Utah. Las Vegas is open for business, full capacity the employees were fully masked but the crowds were about 1/3 masked. The place itself was also extremely busy. We were able to have dinner at the Angry Butcher with a friend.

So far not many wild animals, did see some wild horses and a few ravens just above St. George Utah. The ravens were just dotting the skies. The landscapes though have become covered with solar panels which to the naked eye look like lakes. The night sky is dark which is amazing to be away from light pollution.

On a side note we (Roy and I) are still doing daily short video clips on every subject. At the rally in October we will show the DVD.

People of the Night

I do not mean vampires, although I do hear the howl of coyotes when I am out at night. We decided to travel out on a night with no moon it is the best time to see my new love, The Milky Way. Roy does not need to get jealous because I need him to drive on these dates. If you are interested in finding out when the best time to go and see the milky way is check out the Photopills App Our first stop of the night was off the I10 on Box Canyon road I had a great view of the milky way but any panoramas I would attempt would not work. So plan B head up to Joshua Tree National Park, there is a parking area near the Cottonwood Campground. This is becoming my go to spot when I’m in the park. So what about those people of the Night I mention.

We pull down the road and see one other car and see he is stargazing so we think. After I get set up, and take some photographs I notice that my foreground is not quite in sharp focus. I am also working on nighttime panoramas. I have my nodel rail which keeps the horizon in line. I added a rotator that allows me to advance my camera by a certain number of degrees so it is easier to stitch the pictures together. Before I had this I had to turn on a light and make sure the camera was moved correctly. Special gadgets make life easy. I then notice my foreground wasn’t quite in focus. So I pull out the big light so Roy can illuminate a tree I can focus on. I think at this point I captured the curiosity of the Night person I hear foot steps and a voice what are you shooting? I explained the milky way and some light painting. Like every night time person I’ve met out here in the night he was very friendly and helpful. I asked him what he was doing, he said is is more into astrophotography. He mentioned his set up was to photograph nebulas. Here is his website Orion Bear Astronomy enjoy his awesome pictures. His timer went off and Roy said when you come back he wanted to know what every nebula was.

He did return with his pointer and some amazing explanations, Roy said he was only joking he just can not see the shapes in the sky. I on the other hand said please go ahead. The Picture on the right shows the Sagittarius Star Cluster I think. I was just amazed at his knowledge. Unfortunately I got a lot of information all at once and some stuff did not stick. The cluster that I always bring out the pink purple colors is called the Lagoon Nebula. I also learned a few of the constellations that surround the milky way, one of this is the scorpion it does pop out once he traced it for me. I am interested in getting a pointer not sure I am ready to upgraded my camera for an astro set-up. We did talk that I might be able to use my long lens on a tracker and get some of the Nebulas out there. I will make that a next summer project. (JK)

Just talking in between shots we looked over and were able to watch Jupiter rising. I was able to capture it just coming over the mountain.

Later in the evening I was trying to capture Cassiopeia I was not very successful I will however try that constellation later this summer. We also tried some light painting to see if that could bring more attention the the stars, that was an epic fail. I also had as you can see a plane fly through the scene. This was towards the end of the night of the night and the cold was effecting my brains. (my story).

I enjoyed meeting Anthony and was glad that he wanted to share his knowledge with me. We did call it a night and I went over to check his setup and thank him for opening my eyes to the night sky. I am now excited for the Griffith Observatory to open so I can get up close to the stars.

April is so Pink

Yes I am almost ready for May moonshot. I have a spot when I am at home that I shoot from. My secret spot until there is a super full moon that is. This month I had two other photographers join me. One even got in my shot. I was able to keep some of the foreground because we still had some sunlight when the moon was rising. This year photographing the moon I am able to stretch my limits and learn more about composition. It does help that I am involved in two night photography Facebook groups.

May full moon we will still be here so I will see if my secret spot is back to being secret.

Poofect Ending ….

to an amazing weekend. I have a feeling our travels this year will be filled with humor, and ‘that really happened’ blogs. I say this with a smile and a shake of the head.

I had such a great time hanging in Anza Borrego and I have photos to prove it. I am working on editing and sharing those here and on facebook. This however is too juicy not to share ahead of those posts. As you know there is always a back story and lead up so let me start.

I woke up this morning, Monday, thinking what a full couple of days time to pack up and head home. I get dressed and think what should I wear jeans tennis shoes or sandals and shorts. We have to do the black tank and that is always messy so I decided on shorts and sandals. (SMART Move). Nothing out of the ordinary occurred during the loading of the car, breakfast, finishing packing up, even getting Roy up. I am pleasantly surprised thinking we might get out of here way earlier then I thought. I have started helping with the outside when I can, today was one of those days. This is where Murphy showed up, I did invite him though unwittingly. I learned it is like saying quiet or slow in the OR. So here goes

I get the electric cord picked up and put away (so glad that I did),
Put my gloves on
Take out the sewer hose.
Made sure the hose connections are tight and secure
Gave the gate handles on both tanks an extra push to make sure they were closed

Those are all the right steps and I’m whipping through them. I squat down with the hose in my hand and am getting ready to connect the hose. People who know me know that squatting and balance and me can be an interesting combo. I am so glad I listened to the little voice in my head that said adjust your stance and where your feet are. Roy, put a cap on the sewer pipe that had a handle so it is easier to twist off, that is what I did. As I go to turn the handle I hear a gush, I struggle to get the cap on without getting covered in poo I did. I also experienced the longest 30 seconds of my life. The only thought that went through my head was OH CRAP!! The next thought was glad I didn’t shower last night.

This could have been so much worse.

I only got my sandals messy
I did not fall on my butt in the liquid mess
I had shorts on so I didn’t have to change
This was at the campsite not the dump station
Only a little came out

I share this for a couple of reasons: 1st it is funny, I didn’t get hurt, it wasn’t that messy. 2nd if you have full hook-ups at your campsite you should hook up the sewer hose and leave the gate handle closed when you arrive. As I am still shaking my head Roy is cleaning the site with a hose, so it doesn’t stink for the next camper. All I have to say you are not camping until you have a mess to clean up. Next up PICTURES.