...My Favorites
Page 14
Over the last couple of years I have taken a few trips to both the eastern states and the western states.I have a real fondness for the American Southwest, but let it be said that the eastern part of our country has beauty that equals, and in many ways, surpasses anything the west has to offer.Our nation is so diverse, the opposite sides so dramatically different, one can't help but appreciate and admire the stunning landscape nation-wide. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Charleston, South Carolina were my main travel locations out east. Utah, out west with a couple of trips to California. My winter and summer home bases, Arizona and south Texas, always force my camera out of sleep. One can't travel between east and west without stopping to smell the roses, so the deep south was also included in my travels. Here are some favorites that I hope you enjoy viewing.
Above is a picture of a coastal bird called the Anhinga. To the left is a Great Blue Heron, and note the alligator at its feet. These and the following few pictures were taken on a swamp boat cruise in Louisiana.
The Red Heron, also called the Reddish Egret, is nicknamed the dancing bird. Not done by other coastal fowl, the dancing bird jumps and turns and does all sorts of crazy theatrics. The purpose: to stir up the fish in the water, making finding his dinner a little easier. It's crazy fun to watch them.
Sunrise at Pleasant Harbor RV, on Lake Pleasant, Peoria, Arizona
Along Interstate 10 in eastern Arizona
A travel partner and I decided to take a new venture, into the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. It was spring time, so in lower elevations we had warm, sunny days, but as we gained elevation in the mountains, we got into some melting snowbanks. Our route took us from Phoenix northeast to Globe on state highway 60 through the Salt River Canyon where the above two photos were taken. At Show Low, we turned southeast onto highway 260 to Pine Top and over to Eager, then headed south along state highway 191 to Alpine, deep in the heart of the White Mountains.
Our journey ended in Clifton, Arizona, the location of the nation's largest open-pit copper mine. The highway 191 divides the mine, offering vast open views of the open mine.
There's an interesting fact about the state highway 191. Until its name was changed in 1992, the highway's designated number was 666 creating the nickname "The Devil's Highway." That, in turn, led to thievery and vandalism of the highway signs. In addition to that, the spectacularly winding road with constant switchbacks, was causing numerous accidents and fatalities, justifying the state to decommission 666 and rename it 191.
A pullover on the state highway 191 shows not only a stunning view, but also the remoteness of the area.
Chiricahua National Monument is a park in southeast Arizona, known for its balancing rock and hoodoo formations. Wonderful hiking trails travel right up against the huge boulders.
Black Skimmers and gulls congregate in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
