The Truly GRAND Tetons

What eye candy!  We left Lander and drove to the Teton National Park. Luckily, we entered from the east which is the preferred entrance if you want to be overwhelmed by immediate grandeur!! We spent the rest of the day clicking away.  It is impossible to capture the majesty that these mountains possess. Even the surrounding area rides on the wave of beauty in this special place. Enjoy.

While we saw more sun yesterday than the previous four days, it was still cloudy both in the morning and afternoon.  We have had few opportunities to capitalize on that golden light.  Fall is just beginning here, especially with some of the low-lying bushes.

We are spending at least two more days in the Tetons.  We have a nice log cabin room, coffee pot that works, gas in the car . . . and views to die for.  Tom said he is not leaving until we get some good light!!  I wonder, is snow reflected light considered good? If we stay long enough we will see full fall, the migration of elk and moose, and snow.

Cheers.  Hey, its the weekend.  Ya better get out and shoot!

Shelter in Place?

No, that is not a good idea!  We were out of the motel by 5:15 and drove 20 miles in horrendous rain towards Estes Park.  Just as I was ready to tell Tom I could not drive any further we spotted emergency lights ahead of us.  As it turned out, it was a sheriff's vehicle parked in such a way as to block the road. Traffic was being returned to Boulder.  Her instructions were that residents and others were to 'shelter in place' as all roads in and out of Boulder were closed!!  She offered to direct us to a Red Cross shelter if we had no place to stay.

We slowly headed back to Boulder, noting that the water was much higher in some places than it was earlier. We ate breakfast at IHOP and weighed our options.  Tom felt that I-25 would not be closed so he came up with a route that took us that far. Once on I-25 we headed right for Cheyenne, in heavy rain and fog.  We are spending the night in Lander, WY.

We will not be going back to Rocky Mountain National Monument.  Neither of us felt that staying one more day in Boulder would allow a trip back over Trail Ridge Road.  It could be closed for days.  Our hearts extend sympathy and prayers for those affected by the severe weather.  It was scary for me.  I cannot imagine the fear that would come with evacuating in the dark.

Intermittent rain, often heavy, stayed with us until just outside Lander.  We took some photos along the way and tried taking some in downtown Cheyenne and along the road either from the car or where we could pull over.

Taken along I-25 near the Ft. Collins exit.

Pretty funny that you can be so anxious to shoot that even a shot out the front windshield is OK!!

When we got to Cheyenne the rain let up just long enough to give us hope.  I went to the train station.  Tom headed down an alley!  I admit I like his alley shot.  Just another one of the photos that tells it like it is and has geometry, patterns, mood, weather, etc.  I would not have taken it.  Glad he did.

Shots along the road were slim picking.  Tom tells me this part of Wyoming can be repetitive and boring.  I agree.  Fog, rain, fog, rain!!!!!  LOL.  But then, we would turn the corner, the sky would clear up some, a bit of sun would peek through . . .

As we got close to Lander the scenery changed from the above to more hills, green grasses, farming and sheep!!

But, as I walked further up the road this item was more visible . . . a sheepherders wagon!!

We are up early this morning.  The sky is CLEAR!!!!  We are blessed with each other's company, a great expectation for the day and a bunch of friends that feel close as we shoot.

Be content.  Shoot often (it will raise your contentment meter).

Sung to "It's A Rainy Day in Boulder"

It's raining again.  Neither of us clicked once yesterday.  Seems kind of strange to check into a hotel, get everything unpacked and not need to charge camera batteries.  

We are up! Here is our weather map at the moment.

Coffee is on!  Life is great.  

So, how about looking at some of the photos we took of the oldest church in Colorado.  We had not processed those images and since we did not shoot anything yesterday it gave us an opportunity to catch up a bit.  

The church was build in 1856 and compared to many mission churches we have visited this church seems really new! We met up with Michael, the church's caretaker, who gave us some historical information and invited is into the church to take photos. He asked if we could put together an image to replace the old on in the sign at the front of the church.  He wants one that incorporates the madonna and the church with the madonna placed up in the sky overlooking the church.  Tom said he could do that and did so last night.  It took some time (hence only my images today).

We are off to go back over the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. We are still hoping for a sunny sunrise on mountain sides but may find rain again. Either way, today we are shooting! We will head up into Wyoming tomorrow.

Hope everyone is staying dry, cool and shooting often.