Pure Synchronicity

I got this sweet shot up at Jackson Meadows Reservoir in late August, 2015.  I just really like it.

Kate, the dogs (Ben and Biggs) and I took a nice 1.75hr drive up to Sierra Buttes in Lakes Basin area. We wanted to check out the campsites for future RVing up that way. It was perfect timing as the snow had greatly receded. In fact, it was equivalent to late June in a typical year. So the lakes were full and the waterfalls and streams were running full blast. We hiked to Frazier Falls, which I had never seen before since I usually go to this area late summer or fall and they are dried up. They were magnificent. Something like a 300 foot drop and this was at the 6200 foot level. We like to camp right on or very near lakes, so we really didnt find any great campsites in that regard, so we will have to just continue doing day hikes in that area. (click to enlarge photos)

 

 

 

Kate and I happened across a fantastic deal for staying at the retreat center, Asilomar, near Monterey at Pacific Grove.  We stayed there three nites last week 2/21/13 and found it to be delightful.  There are something like 200 acres including beachfront with many buildings designed by the famous architect Julia Morgan.  We brought our bikes and road from our room to Cannery Row in Monterey.  Saw the famous Monarch butterflys, sea lions and a gorgeous coastline.  Fabulous trip all together.  Here are the photos.

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We went to the Mardi Gras parade in Nevada City Sunday. It had a huge turnout and was terrific as always. This has been going on for all the 17 years I have been in this area. It used to be called the Joe Cain parade, in honor of a fellow who got the Mardi gras celebration restarted after the civil war.  The whole town celebrates with street fair booths, zydeco music and lots of colorful costumes, beads, feathers etc.  Here are some pics I took with my phone, not great but you get the idea.

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The birds during and after the storm were amazing to watch. I was firing off photo shots of these almost as much as the waves.

After the storm these two buddies had to do some exploring to see what had been washed up.

After the storm, the ocean waves were awesome! I took a ton of pictures of them and they can be found on my picasso albums. https://picasaweb.google.com/106198852688550183940/WrightsBeach?authuser=0&feat=directlink

This was an amazing sunset while I was camped at Wrights beach shortly after Thanksgiving this year. A huge storm was coming in the following day, so the ocean was extremely calm this evening.