The mystery bird is.....

the varied thrush! I finally discovered the bird call I had admired so much in the redwoods forest and temperate rain forests of the northwest. I kept hearing this beautiful and melancholy call in several rain forests. Here it is: varied thrush

It sounds better in person. Also, the notes I heard were held longer and there was more time between notes. I had to listen to over a hundred bird calls from the northwest area too find this!

I'm in Gibsons, B.C. now and will stay here for a few more days and then head home.

Candian Geese surfing

After Victoria, we headed toward the west coast near Port Renfrew and Botanical Beach with extraordinary tidal pool critters and volcanic rock beaches. Now we're just north of Nanaimo and the area where we camped last night was right on the water and we saw a large group of Canadian Geese crossing the water from one point to another. They went in groups of 3 or 4 and were surfing along on the waves. It was super cute to watch them and if a bigger wave came, they would turn and face it and sail over the crest. So I guess Canadian Geese like to surf, at least when they are in Canada. ;)

While hiking in the forest near Botanical Beach, I heard that same bird with the piercing call that I had heard in the Del Norte redwood forest. It must frequent temperate rain forests. I thought it had one note that it used, but realized now that it was 3 at least. First a lower call, then a bit higher and only this time did I hear it's highest call - so 3 notes, that I noticed. The notes also sound very sharp and each one is elongated. I wonder what bird does this call. It's a haunting and beautiful sound.

Saw a most wonderful tree growing on a tree stump sticking out of a lake in the interior of the island, but not too far from Port Renfrew. Don't have photos downloaded yet, but will soon. A most magical tree it is...

Victoria

In Victoria, Canada now and finally met up with Kevan. Spent a nice city day and now we are embarking on driving up the west coast towards Port Renfrew.

Port Angeles, WA

I like this town! Beautiful little spot, scenic, it's sunny right now too, although I'm not sure how often that happens. Much bigger than the towns I've been frequenting - totally livable place, I think. Just a ferry ride from Seattle (about 3 hours, I believe).

I stayed in the strangest hostel last night. The family living there were nice and I had a bed to sleep in (private room) and it was clean, but the place was the messiest place I've ever seen with clutter shoved in every corner and the house was also under construction. The way I "locked" the door to my room was to put a big stone against it. Well, it was nice of them to provide the stone, otherwise, the door wouldn't have stayed shut. Their daughter had two pet baby ducks - so sweet! They would follow her down the sidewalk, squeaking away.... It was basically like someone's messy and cluttered house under construction and they just let other people sleep there and use the kitchen and bathrooms. They did have wifi though, which was very useful to me. I didn't mind it and I'd stay there again, but it was just.....odd.

I'm heading to Victoria on the ferry in an hour to meet up with Kevan and begin my Vancouver Island tour.

Remembering the redwoods

Rialto Beach and Neah Bay

Yesterday morning, I hiked on Rialto beach, just west of Forks. there are dramatic sea stacks to see, one of which is called Split Rock. The beach was filled with driftwood (some of it HUGE) and was dramatic, windswept and seemingly desolate. There were a fair number of people walking on the beach, but they were peaceful, quiet, against the roar of the sea...seemingly humbled, if I may say so.

It rained on and off and more so when I wanted to take photos of the rocks. I don't mind the rain, but it doesn't go too well with photography. Mist and clouds are good, but rain drops on the lens are not so good.

I enjoyed this beach, with it's roaring sea, tumbled driftwood, cobblestones and misty rain. Too bad that I had to head back to Forks to do some work. Otherwise, I would have stayed there longer.

Last night I stayed in Neah Bay (on the Makah reservation) and went out for breakfast this morning to the only place that offered breakfast there. I had a great breakfasdt of huckleberry pancakes and ended up chatting with the waitress who later introduced me to some locals who came in and they invited me to their table and I chatted with them for a while. They were super nice and I'm glad I got to meet some local people. Later I hiked up to Cape Flattery and stopped at the Makah museum on the way out of town.

In Port Angeles now at the library. Seems like I'm touring all the libraries of the Northwest! I'll be heading to Victoria tomorrow on the ferry to meet up with Kevan.

Hoh Rain Forest pics

Some pics from yesterday.

Hoh Rain Forest

Visited the Hoh Rain Forest for the second time in my life. the first was in 1994. Still magical as ever, like an enchanted elven forest from the world of Tolkein. It was raining a bit this morning and last night and I was concerned about photographing in the rain but once I went inland into the real "rain forest," then the rain stopped.

I tried to find one area I photographed back in 1994, but after 15 years, I think it must have changed a bit. Although the Hoh is a magical forest, I feel like the most incredible forest so far has been that redwood forest in Del Norte park with the fog and dripping leaves. That was just so ethereal and other-worldly and it was just me and the forest. Only thing was you could hear traffic occasionally as it was near the highway. Even so, it was almost like stepping into another world.

I feel like having to work on this trip causes a bit of stress and having to rush things. That is something I do not like about working while traveling. Something to consider for future trips.

In Forks tonight and am staying in a hotel with wifi so I can get some work done. The library is good but it closes at 7pm and I spent half the day in the forest.

Astoria, Oregon

I'm in Astoria, Oregon at a coffee shop/book store. Very cute little town. In general, Oregon seems like a nice state. I drove up from Crescent City yesterday, and although I miss those redwoods, Oregon has lots of nice trees too. I drove through Portland on the way here and must say that it seems like a very nice and green city. I was there once back in 1994 but didn't go around the city that much. Portland has an appearance of being a "livable city." and... it's a 6 hour drive to Crescent City, the gateway to all those beautiful redwood forests.

It was really hot inland, and now, back on the coast, it's foggy and 53 again. Seems kind of to be the constant temp, although it drops down to 49 at night. In the northern redwoods areas I was wearing 3 wool shirts. Should have brought some gloves too! It was cold carrying my tripod in my hand in the forests (at least in the foggy ones).

after this I'll head into Washington towards the Forks area and Hoh Rainforest.

Walking through a dripping foggy redwood forest

Now I'm in Crescent City after two days in the northern CA redwood forests, Prairie Creek and Del Norte Redwood State Parks. This morning I had a walk through a beautiful, ethereal foggy redwood forest. I love these redwood forests. I had this one to myself as I did yesterday - lucky me. :)

More redwood pics on my flickr account: flickr

Redwood Rainforest

My first impression about my campsite in the Van Damme State Park was that it looked like a rainforest. Well, proving that, it rained all night! It was a beautiful spot, in a lush, beautiful redwood rainforest. I hiked a bit this morning and took some photos and then went into Mendocino to do some work at a coffee shop. Mendocino is a nice little town.

Now I'm off to the redwoods farther north and my next stop is Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Back in San Francisco

Wow, I lived in San Francisco for 13 years and haven't been back here for 4 years. Feels strange. Familiar and comfortable on one hand, but strange too, almost like I never left or something, but somehow that I don't belong here anymore. And yet, I feel a nostalgia and almost sadness about being here, like reminiscing about times past. I had some good times and memories here. Although I don't think I'd live here again, at least not directly in the city. I was informed a two bedroom now goes for $2500! Unbelievable! Once upon a time, back in 1994, I lived in a two bedroom in SF for $900 and my share was $450.

I leave tomorrow for my continued journey northward. It's been great staying with Luc and Lorilee in San Jose and I'll miss them and hope to see them again sometime soon.

the next stop is just south of Mendocino and then two days in the north redwoods, first camping at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and then one night in the Redwood Hostel just south of Crescent City. Then I'll head inland toward Portland and camp near the Mt. Hood National Forest (wanted to stay on the coast but couldn't find a campground for July 4. Then afterward I'll head to Astoria.

CA Redwoods - Big Basin Park

Now staying in San Jose with some friends and we went to take some photos of the redwoods in Big Basin. Here are some pics.

Nevada: land of sagebrush, mini-forests and the lonliest road in America

I headed across CO on route 70 and then into Utah, where I saw this cool tree in a desolate landscape of salt flats. I had left 2 hours later than I wanted to so I didn't get to Delta, UT until 8:30pm. For some reason, I didn't like the "vibes" of Delta, so I was hesitant to stay there, but if I didn't, then I would have to travel much further to find a campsite as there was just empty land between there and the area around Ely, NV, which was about 2 hours further. Not staying in Delta was further solidified by the fact that the only campground was $28/night, and here I was planning on sleeping in my car (instead of setting up a tent). That's a bit much to pay for sleeping in your car!

So I continued on and hoped to find some BLM or national forest primitive camping area after I crossed the border into Nevada. So I drove on and near dusk a bat flew into my windshield. I thought this was a strange occurrence. I was concerned about wildlife being on the road so close to darkness, but I never thought I'd hit a bat, or rather the bat hit me. Poor thing.

So when I crossed the border into Nevada, there was the usual casino/motel/restaurant sign flashing. Just one though, as there was nothing else there except this one building. There was also an RV park too and I found I could camp there for just $5. It was fine except for the guy driving around on an ATV around midnight. I slept in the back of my car for the first time. Not bad at all. I fit in there diagonally. Nice to not have to put up a tent.

I drove on through Nevada the next morning, continuing on route 50, known as the "loneliest road in America." There was also some traffic passing by in the other direction, although there sometimes is 100 miles in between "services" and in that land there is nothing but wilderness - no people. But infinitely more interesting than driving on route area through desolate landscape. There is more variation on 50, with flat basins or sagebrush, then hills with mini-forests, then flat basins again. In the center of Nevada, in the middle of nowhere really, is the small town of Austin which seemed like a rather nice town in comparison to the border towns of Nevada. No signs of the usual casinos, but just a cute, small town. All the towns in rural Nevada seem to be still in the 1950's though - it has a very time warp feel of going back in time.

Past Austin the landscape gets a bit less interesting, and hence more boring to drive. So when I saw a huge, magnificent tree in the distance, I decided to see if there was a turnout to stop and rest a bit. Well, there was and also several other people were there. The magnificent tree was also covered in hundred of shoes! Known as the "shoe tree," people apparently decided to start throwing their shoes on it and it became a tradition and now there are hundreds of shoes hanging in it and more around the bottom as I guess some people couldn't get them to stay in the tree. Strange way to treat the only big tree along route 50!

Leaving today on a road trip

So, finally I'm leaving today on my forest photography road trip. I'll be driving to CA via CO, UT and NV (route 50 across Nevada) and will arrive in San Jose tomorrow evening to stay with friends. Then after the Bay Area, I'll be driving up the coast to photograph what I see along the way, including the redwoods and other forests, until I reach Vancouver Island.

So the focus is trees and forests, although I'm certainly not excluding other subjects. Here's a start with a cute local juniper tree on the Mt. Sanitas trail.