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| Group photo from October 2017 workshop. |
We planned to stay two nights at first, but extended our stay an additional night after having way too much fun. We had a really good time and all needed a break.
The Pedernales River was high and flowing strongly, and it was a little bit scary swimming in it (way downstream of the main falls, where swimming is not allowed) with the boys. We hiked into the primitive backcountry and found an amazing spot along Bee Creek. The water was flowing well there too, but it was safe to play in.
Both photos above were taken in Bee Creek in an almost-slot mini-canyon.
The wildflowers were great all the way from Houston to the park. Inside the park, however, there weren't too many. But I did find a nice patch of yellow near the banks of the Pedernales River.
I have other photos of the Pedernales River and also Bee Creek (a tributary) sans wildflowers. I'll get these up in a few days.
Last week Jeff and I spent a late afternoon and evening messing around the Brenham area.
The skies were excellent for a while, but it was quite windy. It clouded-up just before sunset.
The flowers are great this year in some spots. You just have to get out and explore the backroads :-)
The moon was new during our visit to the park, and I was fortunate that on both nights during our trip, the skies cleared from evening thunderstorms after sunset.
Both shots were taken at 24mm, 30 seconds, f/2.2, and ISO 3200.
What's impressive to me are the distances and elevations between two extremes such as the Salt Flats near Guadalupe Mountains National Park and the mountains themselves.
We stopped at a wide, open place along the highway and walked out onto the flats as we approached the park. I don't think our minds were able to appreciate or process that we would be standing on the very top of those mountians roughly 24 hours later.
Guadalupe Peak is +8749 feet above sea level, just over 5110 feet difference from the Salt Flats.
As an aside, this set up is very reminiscent of Badwater in Death Valley. The salty flats of Badwater (at -282 feet) in Death Valley sit between two high mountain ranges, the Panamints and the Blacks. You can visit Badwater and then within a short time drive up to Dante's Viewpoint near Coffin Peak (in the Black Mtns) at an elevation of +5475 feet.
Of course Death Valley is much more expansive than the Guadalupe Mountains region, but the distance and elevation differences are similar. Each place is equally impressive to me.
Here's a small view of the back cover:
My south rim sunset photo looks like it might be on February (if that order is correct).
I took this photo while hunting a while back, and it is part of my High Lonesome photo project. I definitely remember shooting this photo after being entranced by the amazing colors and iridescence of turkey feathers in the sunlight.
Many thanks to Texas Highways for choosing my photo!
