tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28143916104598639782024-03-21T02:53:53.818-07:00Among the MysteryGroup Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-68322118162393787722012-12-03T23:03:00.000-08:002012-12-18T13:35:11.728-08:00New Work, New Colors! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH_zEXspetJdb45RzD1f2aShukn2zd92vIgRfS-WeMPQngxbunoaepCKiazwhG5JqsW3B_vnsuD5uv45uYnr1W96PBCTlOtyw4qwwaEBF9pW_sdpX7ExN6qFIQAV2vRklJSnol4QvqW8q/s1600/Debs+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH_zEXspetJdb45RzD1f2aShukn2zd92vIgRfS-WeMPQngxbunoaepCKiazwhG5JqsW3B_vnsuD5uv45uYnr1W96PBCTlOtyw4qwwaEBF9pW_sdpX7ExN6qFIQAV2vRklJSnol4QvqW8q/s400/Debs+studio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Deb found color at her CGU Studio</span></span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3FywQ5RyjN7PjnL6GPjV7TtUkjtWv6PkOeiVK08sY45Odmio1xbdOzI3G5ENOdFAgB_7NAbj9NpmFMofvMNoriRrFK0Py35NT7_Zxys-7oc8vPh_6PfY4iLMaA-VNHK36SQRZ2ZOY7-r/s1600/DebTree2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3FywQ5RyjN7PjnL6GPjV7TtUkjtWv6PkOeiVK08sY45Odmio1xbdOzI3G5ENOdFAgB_7NAbj9NpmFMofvMNoriRrFK0Py35NT7_Zxys-7oc8vPh_6PfY4iLMaA-VNHK36SQRZ2ZOY7-r/s400/DebTree2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't get me wrong she still is working in shades of grey, though California living has flooded her palette. Cyan is happy about the change as well, so happy that she lends mommy a hand any chance she gets. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyJh7bKdt1qTT1gFU8OwY8sBaiSONJ_ZIvr9SS_LsTaPi2rKWzptDz9zA4ayEkjpAipz367T2hDajnuo1ZPq2jbxva_YxgHOAGVpFSFnqca2S3baQ9uoG5LAK0_3vV-NexJPvaqIcYpBR/s1600/cyan0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyJh7bKdt1qTT1gFU8OwY8sBaiSONJ_ZIvr9SS_LsTaPi2rKWzptDz9zA4ayEkjpAipz367T2hDajnuo1ZPq2jbxva_YxgHOAGVpFSFnqca2S3baQ9uoG5LAK0_3vV-NexJPvaqIcYpBR/s200/cyan0.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Click to enlarge</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Deb has been exploring new surfaces as along with new media. She hopes to<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>push her explorations much further. Grad school has come with its challenges, but Deb feels extremely blessed to be at CGU. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Claremont is home to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens; which is a great source of inspiration, showcasing many native trees. Deb enjoys spending time among the Oak trees, some of which are many hundred years old. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDbluF3TybJZ9toLV8TcBDdNvokQjEVt1L50ArTqu8fhKHG-nKHEazL9flCqYMnCo117l4pJODMp0giw-cJd-r8OrnzJOzEM4vNlaFjUd0nRytXZprzywFZFyfQQ2Mstmx6a_vhvXMfvs/s1600/trees888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDbluF3TybJZ9toLV8TcBDdNvokQjEVt1L50ArTqu8fhKHG-nKHEazL9flCqYMnCo117l4pJODMp0giw-cJd-r8OrnzJOzEM4vNlaFjUd0nRytXZprzywFZFyfQQ2Mstmx6a_vhvXMfvs/s320/trees888.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/vccartadventures/CyanCalifornia2012#slideshow/5823400720829651746" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Qd06x4jGHT41mrUf6B_h7h9X_5OONGJi0CV7YsLPW0hPsdHA4GLSptRL0fcXHAzH1uRZIFFLks5kM802gfU7QnUdMxsmmIn52OATPUXSwIsZ8KDiHtJFyDsl6vMaDzzjMwPAIqaIOZsV/s200/skycat.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Click Cyan to see some of our family photos.</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-51069026053863923612012-08-15T05:30:00.001-07:002012-09-03T23:30:02.245-07:00Back to the West Coast<br />
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<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_9096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDar_I2LRT3XLdBqtTg0hlynSZX1hnMvudpn9GCJ3Y8uBe6RDQS-iTp2cvtsEvlhVY9tjg-JtedaHZzsz26CMa0Wo55BnwJoiRJv8yMXKUdL0ibPc6WelARhyphenhyphenZE2pDjKwNsMnpcte7uyQl/s1600/thumbnail-3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_nmNd2jIlIJiPxDqLjCtRirCFbfbacttkpz3lKJaTtom0kL63-2AYDCeYzYdw0h93Ub2lruydAmO_UCcxAk9nU1I9wII8-Qf3ZKXv4TNoDJBj0rPx2_lBamydPFZpGdwhkq-neNSARuA/s1600/Seattlezoo_pine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_9081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWss3cwE4hH4onAl-8D5c-RZU0zeB08zoL4d8Bs7Joj6tfRtCb6AM_A2R1sYSN0p8j6pyM_L0LHH1PoOLJvgvWD8fPL-KRXVeC30XrhOCeGGAwrQnWo8yu2Fw2uYmq20fsmwezJBEYijl/s1600/thumbnail-2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_9088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-QLy1XcQCQwDj3MNDmcf1s2TnAe8tkgS-WMeP6L-vs15567n1BJ7WHF38dvcI37xTEu14XNLGJldM1SrGrARxmb3Usnvn74OTLiuxbB6-TvEoepsdA6cFkeHuJuOvKeZhwcEIVXJx0WL/s1600/thumbnail-1.jpg" /></a><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_nmNd2jIlIJiPxDqLjCtRirCFbfbacttkpz3lKJaTtom0kL63-2AYDCeYzYdw0h93Ub2lruydAmO_UCcxAk9nU1I9wII8-Qf3ZKXv4TNoDJBj0rPx2_lBamydPFZpGdwhkq-neNSARuA/s400/Seattlezoo_pine.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_9088.jpg" target="_blank">Click on Reference Thumbnails to view Images</a></span></div>
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Well its been a long time coming but the day is finally here. Deb is headed to California for Graduate school. Cyan has logged several traveling hours this past month and is ready for the flight and the adventures that will follow. Deb will be working on a new body of work and on a new & fun surface. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u style="color: #0b5394;">Attention Tree lovers:</u> In this post you can see several of the reference photos deb will be using and links to more fun tree photos. Please do not distribute these photos but feel free to print the images for personal use. Most of these images are of Deb's Midwest Friends, check back for new tree friends and a plethora of Palms.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRM3_SBkqWR74b26HgsQfJNoc7qhsCOCXzvWGnpGhg1GjYpswugAgKinBtp-Ir4p8Gl5oz-MQ6K2tNFMHKO5x1-2vINbFS7rqgBKxI8r0nIVMyV6wkdfpDyzvuM0IF_CVIzjtNbnJmxXN/s1600/monterey231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRM3_SBkqWR74b26HgsQfJNoc7qhsCOCXzvWGnpGhg1GjYpswugAgKinBtp-Ir4p8Gl5oz-MQ6K2tNFMHKO5x1-2vINbFS7rqgBKxI8r0nIVMyV6wkdfpDyzvuM0IF_CVIzjtNbnJmxXN/s400/monterey231.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_4112.jpg" target="_blank">Fall pic1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_4122.jpg" target="_blank">Grass Wheat</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_4065.jpg" target="_blank">Tree Silhouettes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0661.jpg" target="_blank">Leave Shadows </a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0175.jpg" target="_blank">Sycamore 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0164.jpg" target="_blank">Ohio Tree</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0134.jpg" target="_blank">Forest sapling </a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0122.jpg" target="_blank">Ohio tree 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0078.jpg" target="_blank">Naked Sycamore</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0175.jpg" target="_blank">Sycamore 2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0076.jpg" target="_blank">Winter Sycamore</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0061.jpg" target="_blank">Sycamore Leaves</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0039.jpg" target="_blank">Ohio Tree2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0027.jpg" target="_blank">Ohio Tree 3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_5553.jpg" target="_blank">Cal Home</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_5552.jpg" target="_blank">Cal Home2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_5554.jpg" target="_blank">Cal Home3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0012.jpg" target="_blank">Cal Gram</a> <a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0013.jpg" target="_blank">Cal Gram2</a> <a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/REF/img_0014.jpg" target="_blank">Cal Gram3</a> n<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuH7ymmyVYf4D6EpRgfYX9ezevO1M8cIwuK8OPWLMBRCAuNH7yEWrbdjsGQVzfTfiqYi6lVIIu1USgNC4PaVx56l2KciBNRHrq7dc6dGmx4Dt6dYd6gN1a0oJP-nB9LoMcdMgBDfbQAQtd/s1600/columbus78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuH7ymmyVYf4D6EpRgfYX9ezevO1M8cIwuK8OPWLMBRCAuNH7yEWrbdjsGQVzfTfiqYi6lVIIu1USgNC4PaVx56l2KciBNRHrq7dc6dGmx4Dt6dYd6gN1a0oJP-nB9LoMcdMgBDfbQAQtd/s640/columbus78.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-79119782677279350972012-03-24T14:08:00.002-07:002012-03-24T14:39:36.801-07:00New Adventures<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Deb is off to California again, this time she will be returning as a graduate student. She was accepted to Claremont Graduate University for the past two years. She ran into a beautiful baby bump last year and now is on her way to Graduate school this summer. There is a three hundred year old oak right in the near by botanical garden that I'm sure she will make friends with.</span>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-34944865112381739132010-10-09T02:56:00.000-07:002011-03-28T20:34:36.688-07:00Amongthemystery.com<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >New website! </span><span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;color:#4e4e4e;">My work is a secret world hidden among the gathering dusk under the trees. Cool evenings after a hot day or a quiet place in the afternoon... </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" ><a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/">www.deborahfaithcorrea.com</a> </span>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-28190184650559725912010-09-26T04:00:00.000-07:002011-01-30T23:26:46.759-08:00West Coast Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7XJVs5MbzsZrgQWxEMCvYLzvEarD4N4pDyX6VAbSjOu2ZJUmSDcrLl2I9vH7cejhG0K2XrTdWcPzu4RW7foPQvBQiKt3XL7J7xaQ9GYxs_y-KsGgLPHsw8xMBznpheBvd45AXyIKMX-3/s1600/DebsBlog_correa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7XJVs5MbzsZrgQWxEMCvYLzvEarD4N4pDyX6VAbSjOu2ZJUmSDcrLl2I9vH7cejhG0K2XrTdWcPzu4RW7foPQvBQiKt3XL7J7xaQ9GYxs_y-KsGgLPHsw8xMBznpheBvd45AXyIKMX-3/s400/DebsBlog_correa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521282038348951410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-family: arial;"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/07/tree-prints.html">Link to View Tree Prints</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/Blog-Tree-Prints.html">Link to Purchase Prints</a><br /><br /><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post.html">Link to the Tree Story</a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QyfKxO_Q1TXbrYFx2K5LwbAFPcTSFOQfqxuSiqNZfJ4rD1QlQ9z34alttIBoHZQkN39beXJ-yMcZOInmgFj5jBSHo2oE_u7QJr6eVftEd68_nQKnaXkHOmZdXPsYNFxGFCSiJYL9af2P/s1600/start_blog_correa_03.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QyfKxO_Q1TXbrYFx2K5LwbAFPcTSFOQfqxuSiqNZfJ4rD1QlQ9z34alttIBoHZQkN39beXJ-yMcZOInmgFj5jBSHo2oE_u7QJr6eVftEd68_nQKnaXkHOmZdXPsYNFxGFCSiJYL9af2P/s400/start_blog_correa_03.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521927948645150850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post.html"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 567px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GcmYIo8PWdzYkDkNo_MXudc1T8v90A5nQcgw7-E3VxuzgY1v6nmzpXe8XEGCmbP7KahbyTWKmnr8WnCympWy85dV2u4ngAAXWxL6Im0wmgEVhBxXZmK0eM5Uz41M4iCVfSAHa3Y7gMQi/s567/start_blog_correa_large2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525992887705242562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >Deb has printed 9 sets of 25 drawings from her recent trip down the West Coast. You can view these silk screen prints here. Double click on the images to get a better view.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/07/tree-prints.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Link to View Tree Prints</span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >We took over 5,000 photos and covered over 2,000 miles of landscape between Washington to California. Read about the story in sequence by looking for <a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post.html">"The story continues..."</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </span>Double click on the images to view larger images, find a few hidden details & surprises. <a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post.html">(Start here)</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >Deb is selling limited edition prints on her website through Paypal. If you have any questions please contact her directly through email.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/Blog-Tree-Prints.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Link to Purchase Prints</span></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-36435973026631491632010-09-26T03:44:00.000-07:002011-05-01T04:00:24.653-07:00One ending another begining<span style="font-family:arial;">So before we sent out the prints, we hit a little bump. A baby bump! So there is going to be another Correa on the way. 4/5/2011 We just heard the little heart beating today (during our second check up). If Josh's dad has his way we will have a little baby girl... </span>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-27109154526722808012010-09-10T19:22:00.000-07:002011-01-26T07:41:14.777-08:00A journey's end<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4LK8kZuponXn87j8hRYDErgBDgoB0vr6EMZ1KBSk93PGGiqc9TMAL49zVStO2tNFDc98wz8ZUwnQKiny_Vx2F_jj06V8HlbRdgfhPAuKxqTz-AX8q9A1qQkK_P-pBbc0RD9Uini8LCtB/s1600/CorreaFamily1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4LK8kZuponXn87j8hRYDErgBDgoB0vr6EMZ1KBSk93PGGiqc9TMAL49zVStO2tNFDc98wz8ZUwnQKiny_Vx2F_jj06V8HlbRdgfhPAuKxqTz-AX8q9A1qQkK_P-pBbc0RD9Uini8LCtB/s400/CorreaFamily1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566299209379938274" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >Flying back to Ohio I reflected that a week ago I just beginning our 2,000 mile journey. Not only did we cover a lot of ground, but we also saw some amazing sights; the daily glimpse of the Cascade mountains in Seattle; the misty pine covered hills of Oregon where fog blotted out the border between land, sky and ocean; moss covered maples overhanging our road; gigantic trees dwarfing all who aspire to stand beside them; waves crashing on sheer cliffs; sea lions, elephant seals, ground squirrels and elk.. I saw firsthand how the abundance or lack of water, sun and wind can shape an environment, and I saw firsthand the amazing creativity of our Creator in the variety of organisms that make a home in every environment.</span><br /><p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">When I returned to Ohio I had a mountain of work to do; finishing drawings then printing each of my nine drawings 25 times. (That's 225+ prints all by hand!) I compiled the prints in a hanging installation for the Cultivating Growth show. The prints were hung in descending order from North to South. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you</span> to all those who believed in me and pre-bought prints of the trees without seeing them. I hope you enjoy them even more knowing a little bit about them.<br /></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvyKJW3KEKX5-DuwE04wpOO4TxsOuk2Gur7IxEPdhsW7Q9GlFzF1XwiUH8AA5gxzJD1_VEB5MHZKOBOLsnGeg-UMUHpFmpJowQNrGrwqQgFfqUPGegrnx5jqX3zN4c4D2gLil78A41P8j/s1600/orangepalm_correa9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvyKJW3KEKX5-DuwE04wpOO4TxsOuk2Gur7IxEPdhsW7Q9GlFzF1XwiUH8AA5gxzJD1_VEB5MHZKOBOLsnGeg-UMUHpFmpJowQNrGrwqQgFfqUPGegrnx5jqX3zN4c4D2gLil78A41P8j/s400/orangepalm_correa9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565735032407207794" border="0" /></a>This trip encouraged me to pursue my creative goals. I gained confidence in my work and am currently applying to graduate school to get a Masters in Art. I am looking forward to many more road trips of this kind all over the US and eventually internationally!<br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">I hope you enjoyed reading about our journey and most of all I hope you are encouraged to go have an adventure of your own! Thanks for reading :)</p><p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Content by Deborah Correa</span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Layout and design by Joshua Correa</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >All photos by Joshua & Deborah Correa</span></span><br /><span style=""> </span></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMwVlhdC1yvYX2ig9YwPUnOmF7HTACD6bY3OGdL9y3v5PTbMsrYJp0DfiCHwOKlBCGXJ6G3hrzJt1NLeO5aiqMSID0iWnyPAYpd-baSgOpcCrbdMD3ZrCmJGeJXHpBP8ad7OiEDOqjjdf/s1600/+CorreaWestcoast_trees.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 548px; height: 411px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMwVlhdC1yvYX2ig9YwPUnOmF7HTACD6bY3OGdL9y3v5PTbMsrYJp0DfiCHwOKlBCGXJ6G3hrzJt1NLeO5aiqMSID0iWnyPAYpd-baSgOpcCrbdMD3ZrCmJGeJXHpBP8ad7OiEDOqjjdf/s548/+CorreaWestcoast_trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565736008741126354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzorlvpfcdG59Zkij3ehftCKs7p1XrdJYmgIMbJ39Xov5H4rDT4pLW0by_m95JWVPV6M3OJBQL_vRSkbudftn1LDHUEyWRuMosxRf1Vs3e1HgWDj5TbPRqrMtaohZEdPUTFwaTK8BV-CTS/s548/GS9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 548px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzorlvpfcdG59Zkij3ehftCKs7p1XrdJYmgIMbJ39Xov5H4rDT4pLW0by_m95JWVPV6M3OJBQL_vRSkbudftn1LDHUEyWRuMosxRf1Vs3e1HgWDj5TbPRqrMtaohZEdPUTFwaTK8BV-CTS/s540/GS9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565736004533132338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlII-lQ8Vc0QrpbTgDXJleKttxoRld07QDs8g1WlH0o_26c_pNYXKGnQBUmkDvrGKQruldqUWbdK208SDl06gpGYJ5Bvtw1dosgOtfvW7pP03lJfw3kHCTtoiKuTkC0-RUbRtwK8NHOQTY/s1600/GS8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 35px; height: 55px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlII-lQ8Vc0QrpbTgDXJleKttxoRld07QDs8g1WlH0o_26c_pNYXKGnQBUmkDvrGKQruldqUWbdK208SDl06gpGYJ5Bvtw1dosgOtfvW7pP03lJfw3kHCTtoiKuTkC0-RUbRtwK8NHOQTY/s400/GS8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565736010093091186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" ><a href="http://www.cultivatinggrowth.org/">www.cultivatinggrowth.org 2010 show</a><br /></span>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-10223737129377212422010-09-10T19:21:00.000-07:002011-01-25T17:40:11.878-08:00Trees of Orange County<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhDxVdbB603bwvK33IXpl9ehLi796Hve6YOfiUSqC9C6FR5QhjINoMnRNU4rS-OrMBXA6vR85x3QzB3_sZ3mdgzOSpkplZrI7EpaS9unft1-MM0K-JjtDgkWxMr2sw0DVgSZBQgrs3B72/s1600/oc+trees+light.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 548px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhDxVdbB603bwvK33IXpl9ehLi796Hve6YOfiUSqC9C6FR5QhjINoMnRNU4rS-OrMBXA6vR85x3QzB3_sZ3mdgzOSpkplZrI7EpaS9unft1-MM0K-JjtDgkWxMr2sw0DVgSZBQgrs3B72/s548/oc+trees+light.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565317674232087810" border="0" />O.C. Tree tour</a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSy_tEB9Fg4d30z7rmGNwr-6ttbPiGy8tvFO-fa86joHXyfBuv46p3mpAYH777dpYhuKROEmDyzZgTe-ATuxgzTCcqN-C7FUFOK0CFYieN1KdKrX33Jk950pjIl73VxQykRYiMGUqqwTNL/s1600/OCtree24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 60px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSy_tEB9Fg4d30z7rmGNwr-6ttbPiGy8tvFO-fa86joHXyfBuv46p3mpAYH777dpYhuKROEmDyzZgTe-ATuxgzTCcqN-C7FUFOK0CFYieN1KdKrX33Jk950pjIl73VxQykRYiMGUqqwTNL/s400/OCtree24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565353294806961602" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >The next day Josh’s dad Danny took me on a private tour of the trees of Orange County. First on the list were Canyon Live Oaks. I had forgotten to charge the camera batteries so I missed the opportunity to take photos of these gnarly trees, but enjoyed seeing them. We visited two huge Moreton figs, both planted in the 1880’s. </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgGLZdXrsJeGW2zJk4NzxnS-kB3qi0vpZhs-iPhJdjgaFxN1s-WqBC7fMc-IiBq15j0Nr-7NyXH1FhlGdoao_furMcvlbM8BMtYiBoFQFlQah6BRdizoYoxpxkqwAnkDCP7Qv1GVqa3dr/s1600/OCtree29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 418px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgGLZdXrsJeGW2zJk4NzxnS-kB3qi0vpZhs-iPhJdjgaFxN1s-WqBC7fMc-IiBq15j0Nr-7NyXH1FhlGdoao_furMcvlbM8BMtYiBoFQFlQah6BRdizoYoxpxkqwAnkDCP7Qv1GVqa3dr/s400/OCtree29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565353704659906658" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" >The Moreton fig at the Santa Barbara train station officially tops these two, however they were equally impressive. One was in front of a Catholic church and spread over the six lane street. The other stretched taller than the others. It grew on a side road in a neighborhood. The house it grew in front of had recently been torn down to make a park for the tree.</span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZZK3MpH8NH7uitMS73w80nNqvr-y3Bac9Vayiv6dkc1xSEa2n1ZHeJsqEOSd3hx9_GSogC_-vjjizgHTJaDJovKJRc-Sbmm0Wsx68AehTWZAhPKbJrCoXiGJRm-XliNVfTMonF6VJRcr/s1600/orange2.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZZK3MpH8NH7uitMS73w80nNqvr-y3Bac9Vayiv6dkc1xSEa2n1ZHeJsqEOSd3hx9_GSogC_-vjjizgHTJaDJovKJRc-Sbmm0Wsx68AehTWZAhPKbJrCoXiGJRm-XliNVfTMonF6VJRcr/s400/orange2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565321806385746578" border="0" /></a><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">The remaining trees on my list were the Orange tree and palm tree. And after all the eucalyptus trees we had seen I still didn’t have good photos of one. We visited a small park, but we had to pay to go into so we just walked around the entrance then left. There was an orange grove there and some beautiful California sycamores. Danny took me to the circle in old town Orange where I photographed the orange and palms. <span style=""> </span>In another park we saw some crazy twisting trees with no leaves. Their white mottled bark gleamed weirdly in the sun. I didn’t recognize these as sycamores until Josh categorized them as such. California sycamores are more angular then their Eastern counterparts. These must have been susceptible to a canker that causes some of them to lose their leaves. <a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/journeys-end.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></a></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/journeys-end.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The journey's end...</span></a></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_Qkl0j8pJprf3-VWVuy8woAJxFBo9WC6HuRj2SN1Db_gWGBE3PkJBrztB5E-FoCYboSEEgW9_zS4MwyBCEWnnTDo0lUA84OgvFuzQqh68Zfmw8mCGiiw7N3tT6k0S7KeiI1AROI5ZeRV/s1600/ocgrapes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_Qkl0j8pJprf3-VWVuy8woAJxFBo9WC6HuRj2SN1Db_gWGBE3PkJBrztB5E-FoCYboSEEgW9_zS4MwyBCEWnnTDo0lUA84OgvFuzQqh68Zfmw8mCGiiw7N3tT6k0S7KeiI1AROI5ZeRV/s400/ocgrapes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565354041600868530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5N-BGBJAhcUPnZ81HZl2F-jjm7vHS4DUUWgLE9S3lhYoQYsVSejHc6eqYVnBypkAymvFIOvYlZDMsedpx_PsmxSQnnc9A7l-6v-oLtGjmeFi-7VIPbZR5J2moy8dY0uCMbS2Xz09zCNk/s1600/ocshells2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5N-BGBJAhcUPnZ81HZl2F-jjm7vHS4DUUWgLE9S3lhYoQYsVSejHc6eqYVnBypkAymvFIOvYlZDMsedpx_PsmxSQnnc9A7l-6v-oLtGjmeFi-7VIPbZR5J2moy8dY0uCMbS2Xz09zCNk/s400/ocshells2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565354620101521058" border="0" /></a><table border="0"><tbody><tr><a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/elements/octreeshow2.gif"> <img src="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/elements/OCtreeshow.gif" alt="O.C. tree slide show" /></a></tr></tbody></table>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-8646927455423395412010-09-10T19:20:00.000-07:002011-01-23T02:00:32.090-08:00Disney & Dream Center<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6vil5J3WSVJsAQkjHzk0V_yzb9xxLPdtBSbZk__g6sujjNGdcm37mPCTLFMO-esHQCPmcvEmkhefTCqTGX63PlGqigz0PJTPaFfUDpgzcj_HeV6cJkoPTdO4XRK0wgrskSaquKPOsDAs/s1600/LA_style4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 548px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6vil5J3WSVJsAQkjHzk0V_yzb9xxLPdtBSbZk__g6sujjNGdcm37mPCTLFMO-esHQCPmcvEmkhefTCqTGX63PlGqigz0PJTPaFfUDpgzcj_HeV6cJkoPTdO4XRK0wgrskSaquKPOsDAs/s548/LA_style4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564961840493876402" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">LA to Placentia CA</span> </span></div><p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">We were now on the home stretch and ready to be done driving! The way to LA was clogged with traffic and I was brought back to a sharp reality. Once in the Los Angeles city limits the brilliant sun was hidden by clouds. I was told later this was the “June gloom,” and that residents are thankful for it because it prolongs the cooler days of spring. <span style=""> </span>We made it to the Correa’s by 8, in time to catch the second half of the Lakers game. </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieATs3Lvk08BLTPESIrTd4j2kel-ZC1tfM6KsOP16WXMQv8QePQpcaAHhMcZ3TzDy76gwBwpNkpMPSAsxSKMK9dwos59-P9FHGbW-akzkYMy9ikYzJSs-foevVS3irzwZmcTbQ1K13R43i/s1600/warlrg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR2kkBxn0wNxxxWHqE4zUSGTTySm1JLu7LBScm4uQIR1c89_ZCdXSl4MaqOt-247z-_zBGIEaGUcxJIyHkafz7-IPYms94JITl9GgGIiidtkGjeAw6lUF9odtZtWpKIhh1MGScd4T65bW/s400/war_horse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564969423256636738" border="0" /></a>The next day we returned our hardworking rental car, having added almost 2,000 miles to it, and borrowed Danny’s truck to visit LA. We went first to the Disney Animation Studio to visit a friend of Josh’s from his time at Pratt. Andre met us in front of the huge magician’s hat marking the entrance to the studio. We walked across to the ABC building to eat in the cafeteria. Josh got a free meal and we ran into a CCAD student interning for the summer. After a pleasant lunch catching up, Andre showed us around his area. He was working on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyOyBVXDJ9Q">Tangled</a>, Disney’s version of Rapunzel. His job was to create clothing and hair textures for the characters in 3D. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGegyPjZ36z6ZPNUFNXyVQ7s7jdbFtYVQhtx4YqI4hfXtDVOWzrXSNykv09kaRtpY4FMvpfSu7i1p8jIf3OW_76bFzgNOf1i86wywnXefKvSclrBneguNMal7N4WtfyeWF7yWq-wTjKUuw/s1600/lilcar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGegyPjZ36z6ZPNUFNXyVQ7s7jdbFtYVQhtx4YqI4hfXtDVOWzrXSNykv09kaRtpY4FMvpfSu7i1p8jIf3OW_76bFzgNOf1i86wywnXefKvSclrBneguNMal7N4WtfyeWF7yWq-wTjKUuw/s400/lilcar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564981071086824898" border="0" /></a>It was incredible to see what he did with the blank canvas he was given. I was so impressed by the screen shots I saw of the movie in progress. I am definitely going to see this movie!</p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO_OzPi2eGl7thXKZ82QMcOWLCe1oonXEdpcdeBei4pFiD6xvb4pyPFnK4V1jiO0WgGCuy8mcupk9Yco36j__Mw9Ja0BUzsY3Qj3HMKjO8J4Yz1nEaorP0nOBf1mj28YWbqm7AMUooNwC/s1600/disneyanimation2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO_OzPi2eGl7thXKZ82QMcOWLCe1oonXEdpcdeBei4pFiD6xvb4pyPFnK4V1jiO0WgGCuy8mcupk9Yco36j__Mw9Ja0BUzsY3Qj3HMKjO8J4Yz1nEaorP0nOBf1mj28YWbqm7AMUooNwC/s400/disneyanimation2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564988097219099106" border="0" /></a>After our brief journey into the world of Disney, we drove a few blocks to another world, that of the Dream Center. The <a href="http://www.dreamcenter.org/Press/index.html">Dream Center</a> is a non-for-profit outreach to the homeless and destitute. Located 2 miles from downtown LA, the Dream Center is housed in an old hospital which is being remodeled one floor at a time as funds allow. Every night close to 500 people sleep there. (What a contrast to Disney!) Our friend LaQuesha came from Columbus to LA to serve for a year. A unique service opportunity, the Dream Center boards volunteers to run its operations. LaQuesha is putting her CCAD education to use as a part of the graphic design team. We tagged along on a tour of the building, then ditched it to spend time with LaQuesha.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtBq02HGaFZPPGpybT5S1sWNZ36vPhwwrAfjsvUHOqhsw0ZnM3xy6_MnerbCHuOTEocTX4St-e-SUzK-7FKUs4nd1k7OVTZkrMAapCJc-_kPIz_5doEMcyVKCWgj0MbUcKJN36jSJ8y57/s1600/LA_Yepes2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtBq02HGaFZPPGpybT5S1sWNZ36vPhwwrAfjsvUHOqhsw0ZnM3xy6_MnerbCHuOTEocTX4St-e-SUzK-7FKUs4nd1k7OVTZkrMAapCJc-_kPIz_5doEMcyVKCWgj0MbUcKJN36jSJ8y57/s400/LA_Yepes2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565270019437946834" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><span style="font-family:arial;">On our way back to Orange County, I couldn't help comparing LA with the natural wonder of all that we had seen on our trip. The city just seemed tired out. Beautiful in parts, warm and sunny, but everyone just seemed to be putting one foot in front of the other, tired out from the daily grind of living. Most cities are like that, I think it comes from not having enough nature around us. We forget that there is a time for everything and that we are not the ones in control.</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/disney-and-dream-center.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/trees-of-orange-county.html">The story continues...</a><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.georgeyepes.com/George_Yepes/Home.html">George Yepes,</a></span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.georgeyepes.com/George_Yepes/Home.html">St. Lucy's Terrance</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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/></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-31483856590656809502010-09-10T16:53:00.000-07:002011-01-22T12:41:17.097-08:00Purple Jacarandas and a huge Fig tree!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKLaimA4zZJ3CewvmttSjl8f8Cx-s9ikRnYCnKSCTtYa07_iXdR1tBSr1jLr3RN8wC6ZRQnyWZiTCSd-FLQstpGQOq6DPKvKa1R3IOeOzTwjk0dX8GM5T8SOLAFgtHFfZUYO3RPp9vgGJ/s1600/santa+barbara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 520px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKLaimA4zZJ3CewvmttSjl8f8Cx-s9ikRnYCnKSCTtYa07_iXdR1tBSr1jLr3RN8wC6ZRQnyWZiTCSd-FLQstpGQOq6DPKvKa1R3IOeOzTwjk0dX8GM5T8SOLAFgtHFfZUYO3RPp9vgGJ/s520/santa+barbara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537141633797077794" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="MsoNormal">Santa Barbara CA</p> <p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal">As soon as we came within sight of Santa Barbara it immediately felt like southern California. Palms abounded, flowers burst from every corner, the wind became gentler and sky even seemed to be bluer. We turned off the 101 to hunt up a giant fig we had been told about and I saw my first jacaranda tree. The jacaranda tree comes from South America and blooms with purple-blue flowers in the spring. The streets were lined with these beautiful trees. I am happy to say we continued to see them all over LA and Anaheim. </p> <p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUKPmkFG7zV1Yoe9pUEwpMmq77TybGueCIxQT5Kp87HF7QWRec_yS217Eyabo_bmIjdXK0oTNcNEIORiN5zrIRLqAgS3ee75npHfHWH4eNSxPFo6a-9GDg5cdwr7Q3cZZD8Iw7IabZxOP/s1600/Santa+Barbara+fig.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUKPmkFG7zV1Yoe9pUEwpMmq77TybGueCIxQT5Kp87HF7QWRec_yS217Eyabo_bmIjdXK0oTNcNEIORiN5zrIRLqAgS3ee75npHfHWH4eNSxPFo6a-9GDg5cdwr7Q3cZZD8Iw7IabZxOP/s400/Santa+Barbara+fig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538216792573654738" border="0" /></a>Josh located the huge fig at the train station sans directions with no problems. I’m glad I don’t try to hide from him. I swear he has a built in GPS!<span style=""> </span>The fig was truly incredible. It's spreading branches shaded the entire corner of a small side street tucked beside the freeway. The train station was large but empty; the unused parking lot told of busier days.</p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal">The fig was a Moreton Bay Fig from Australia, brought as a seedling to the US in 1876 and planted. The last official measurement was in 1991, when the branches spread out 167 feet with a total height of 76 feet. The trunk measured 12.5 feet around. The roots rise chest high and stretch out as wide as the branches. I read later that it is common for the homeless to sleep hidden in the roots. I found someone’s bag and blanket so it is probably true.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >It is not often we have the opportunity to be next to a living monument. That's what this fig tree is. It was alive when the first automobiles began to populate the streets, it saw women get the right to vote and the civil rights movement. Beatniks slept under it in the 1950's then hippies ten years later. A generation and a half have lived and died in it's lifetime, families gained and lost fortunes, wars have been fought abroad and at home. What stories would it have for us? What wisdom for this culture of hurry and immediate entertainment?</span><span><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/disney-and-dream-center.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/disney-and-dream-center.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> The story continues... </span></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhpDLXZpJZxyARkIlvnWf2Y3i8eirPWscUpn9a5RYFqTTKS9sfOE1PLsdxKxjy74_bZlrvnHtlZ_hnEjjEDt7zARgAOOEN8sGCKroxJ6KAvB8D-QEBvjXH1rta7fQ-kwSjole6lByhyphenhyphen-E/s1600/Santa+Barbara+fig1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 520px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMx_8PrTCCxHQwhEoTzSx_g7H78xxLQVo8-7dACBAXW4GdXms_zhtd9PejUImX4Vwc_tq5L2dz9x8Wq_psMdkM2eFCeS9vbPnkL95cbZjFGqqhy12g_kmtcqFbjzn2wGH-_1pHHFJTMlF/s520/branches2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537160010252698818" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDEpatARU3q0iV0he_iyqsk16tucy6tIyFNGqkFHnjY_6e0Eb_dCg5cvYCE-yZ2WBvZMMq7GTlBKYyAzujxEszjprm8I4ePX3H4c2vj-oNVtQsSDb7IRsQi6bynVAgy4XEROEgEtz01bu/s1600/jcorrea_fig.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oBgH2eK1MbhKrIzjCyp6FWN-nLhN7JFWxHBjU6LFWmbf1qoSkvCIX5thH7_ap80GzPEtViIOJKbYyI1f2KM2BvjHJR4fRVYmMjVzrsbroRsUpUDKRzu99_crCuI8kV0sd1fnplkByiOd/s400/correa_santa3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538219423990012274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhpDLXZpJZxyARkIlvnWf2Y3i8eirPWscUpn9a5RYFqTTKS9sfOE1PLsdxKxjy74_bZlrvnHtlZ_hnEjjEDt7zARgAOOEN8sGCKroxJ6KAvB8D-QEBvjXH1rta7fQ-kwSjole6lByhyphenhyphen-E/s1600/Santa+Barbara+fig1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 520px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfJKiLyhUdB_otax4jChCZxLg73t6MxJF5sM_2gGp6cnbqyKGSXRs6WdFmO5WnRF5w_-32_Cm8ABlFtkfrwhBTK_FIjL8XDpNujw9gStdCbuw-71GUkFxNpm9Nr6WXWeTvuXiNJWxMUun/s520/roots2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537189477764519218" border="0" /></a></p>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-91700043830887038662010-09-10T16:49:00.000-07:002010-11-08T03:42:02.806-08:00Flowers<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOaEJHen5fjkF9M_yW7phQfZKvClQYWeKARnyH24obCKnmuLdztRaixLeeZT_kifAnus-T8HW42CTXmWy16HQDEwWkCE5t9X9RS6wR78u5VR3mbTGDLTZDa3PAZMk93seRlvnzcIt76D-/s1600/san+luis+obispo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 429px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOaEJHen5fjkF9M_yW7phQfZKvClQYWeKARnyH24obCKnmuLdztRaixLeeZT_kifAnus-T8HW42CTXmWy16HQDEwWkCE5t9X9RS6wR78u5VR3mbTGDLTZDa3PAZMk93seRlvnzcIt76D-/s525/san+luis+obispo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527989090889886770" border="0" /></a>San Luis Obispo </div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingAn1kAssfhBCjW5y27YbMLFi6aHr8xq1qp7FLcZjZQBmzuk7NKR_00RjMOYmR-g5KrGq1pDgrWbgucSI5HQbj21aCWSb9jDRvtK2gmydTDnhAFVDXhlvOFzA1u2dL-EEHJ-bj2SOKuIT/s1600/IMG_0253.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingAn1kAssfhBCjW5y27YbMLFi6aHr8xq1qp7FLcZjZQBmzuk7NKR_00RjMOYmR-g5KrGq1pDgrWbgucSI5HQbj21aCWSb9jDRvtK2gmydTDnhAFVDXhlvOFzA1u2dL-EEHJ-bj2SOKuIT/s400/IMG_0253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527988781061489618" border="0" /></a>An hour later we fully rejoined the busy pace of life in Central California. Our little two lane CA-1 met up with the 101 at San Luis Obispo and became a freeway whizzing past the yellow hills. I wanted to observe the by now scanty population of native trees so Josh sniffed out a small botanical garden. I happily identified some of the trees I’d been seeing while Josh photographed the flowers and played tag with some resident quail.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnblqsMZAdAz_MW7g5lTW37l0n04-3Mh0eTCB86rRYiy9OGdsTi5_OrkmAwOxXwozIJy6F28he9GS8oSxUPSmhziqTKSl1hyIKLKLOa93FU6F7avt7WSEDw_rx2addHdIyatZhr6MC8lGk/s1600/507+IMG_0409.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnblqsMZAdAz_MW7g5lTW37l0n04-3Mh0eTCB86rRYiy9OGdsTi5_OrkmAwOxXwozIJy6F28he9GS8oSxUPSmhziqTKSl1hyIKLKLOa93FU6F7avt7WSEDw_rx2addHdIyatZhr6MC8lGk/s400/507+IMG_0409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527990883532008770" border="0" /></a>South of San Luis Obispo, farmers took advantage of the year round growing season and irrigated large stretches of valley. Dividers to break the wind stretched between the fields. We passed through dusty towns looking very similar to towns in Baja Mexico. Eucalyptuses grew wild here. Each one unique, their leaves clustered like balls on the ends of their branches. Palms dotted larger towns and landscaped entrances. The golden hills rolled on with us to Santa Barbara and the ocean.<a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/purple-jacarandas-and-huge-fig-tree.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/purple-jacarandas-and-huge-fig-tree.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a></p><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fvccartadventures%2Falbumid%2F5528059675364349857%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" height="350" width="525"></embed>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-72420688369428326272010-09-10T16:45:00.000-07:002010-10-14T12:54:44.352-07:00Castles and Seals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3XOnuqzFkQnKIiyPwUArlTca7fovmROChCfczX8XK8xoAnGzVV9wi0tkZl72BNbTsYFpQ5eWNs_vvtfstg_mLu4Qn3cnd4uS7n60zIIE92s2CIRMHa5qIJdrEcF2ViJuyM1MMLkvgPFK/s1600/elephseal38.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3XOnuqzFkQnKIiyPwUArlTca7fovmROChCfczX8XK8xoAnGzVV9wi0tkZl72BNbTsYFpQ5eWNs_vvtfstg_mLu4Qn3cnd4uS7n60zIIE92s2CIRMHa5qIJdrEcF2ViJuyM1MMLkvgPFK/s525/elephseal38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527261789882106450" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> 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mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: right; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" >Piedras Blancas, CA</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">....................................</span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuJUL2MYeDtKqBhoPUROouTACkuvCusO_FXY00AVvBHJzhSD8LCG18BW8J2CXAdn6pI7EzIcpn8rCF1iFNppHAuWlEQByQCdacKg2SQiqy9BpfS_NORg3GAE8ek1ednJ4MqxBfpapF_dj/s1600/424+elephseal+%2838%29.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuJUL2MYeDtKqBhoPUROouTACkuvCusO_FXY00AVvBHJzhSD8LCG18BW8J2CXAdn6pI7EzIcpn8rCF1iFNppHAuWlEQByQCdacKg2SQiqy9BpfS_NORg3GAE8ek1ednJ4MqxBfpapF_dj/s400/424+elephseal+%2838%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527261940956348434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Returning to the winding, narrow road we looked at the time and vowed we would not stop again unless it was for something really incredible. An hour and a half later we were out of the mountains on a rolling brown plain level with the adjacent beach. Our plan was to stop at Hearst Castle, which sounded really incredible, when we passed a crowd at an “Elephant Seal Viewing Area” We turned around quickly and joined them. The wind just about blew me over when I got out of the car. In the parking lot, fat little ground squirrels popped their heads out of the brush to see if we had food. They liked our granola bars just as much as the chipmunks at Prairie Creek did. </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP6PJk9mCW52Ar0I_vT0vLJUYSTMsbCJpNsm3xx2OO6r1hKPC7w2M3fEnG56nRFez_5lxwmDSCqB-gqhHOQDQlP8N20YuW2WAgcUDeaRc4yrdZFPfxw2DZ6juaLR_3mZtgto0QNbVl5Ad/s1600/435+elephseal+%2820%29.jpg"><br /></a><a style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP6PJk9mCW52Ar0I_vT0vLJUYSTMsbCJpNsm3xx2OO6r1hKPC7w2M3fEnG56nRFez_5lxwmDSCqB-gqhHOQDQlP8N20YuW2WAgcUDeaRc4yrdZFPfxw2DZ6juaLR_3mZtgto0QNbVl5Ad/s1600/435+elephseal+%2820%29.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbUCo60N_w67894gu6wyd84rqHAQYM-A0ivB3JFOc5JBwQPYczcxvMgJ1sDXhnY89B3XmFDPoHCOihZIC2KXqrT11cvTW0-JMAWRM3Q64nJA2n2KGXhNY-hF0cQHKUDlmKGSKsc9VqJ89/s400/elephseal_correa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527378920613380178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">The elephant seals were pretty incredible. Apparently, they come to this beach, a beach further south, and a beach in Alaska at regular intervals every year, different age groups at a time. The early part of June, when we were there, younger (sub-adult) males come to shed their winter skin. Older males would arrive next to molt, and then leave to return in December to battle for mating rights. Females arrive late December, give birth to their babies, and then mate again in February. <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4nPqB7i6PmzILul0MRyhP0OfiHCHW1hP6oiCOp6ZAzglg9yGKBi1_yUtEtJucLpmCuWSqDC7jsZ04gZdBWcly6Ah4gMs9PtBLnAyd8iOhuj-bBbUpGAnDPw25dVsV_tY-K73dzuWl-AI/s1600/elephant+seal00.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4nPqB7i6PmzILul0MRyhP0OfiHCHW1hP6oiCOp6ZAzglg9yGKBi1_yUtEtJucLpmCuWSqDC7jsZ04gZdBWcly6Ah4gMs9PtBLnAyd8iOhuj-bBbUpGAnDPw25dVsV_tY-K73dzuWl-AI/s400/elephant+seal00.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527375578364696834" border="0" /></a>After a brief time at sea the females return in April to molt.<span style=""> </span>Pretty amazing. Some of the seals we saw were beginning to get their long noses, which is why they are called Elephant Seals. We thought those guys were pretty huge, some up to seven feet long and well over 2,000 lbs. But a helpful park docent told us full grown males can be 16 feet long and over 6,000 lbs.!</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2vTekca0WiuVQbQIiD2TOQXqmwtnZHF35fq_vR8kC6hrfrF_hWN4nVMCLXYY5ryvZXnWCNawfe8zvoZaV6a8-vu35womL41xVg_QjrrgoHJVmwjtOQG7x3iJEogD08y3TQGDO9LhWVMp/s1600/elephseal+01.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2vTekca0WiuVQbQIiD2TOQXqmwtnZHF35fq_vR8kC6hrfrF_hWN4nVMCLXYY5ryvZXnWCNawfe8zvoZaV6a8-vu35womL41xVg_QjrrgoHJVmwjtOQG7x3iJEogD08y3TQGDO9LhWVMp/s400/elephseal+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527375693751412274" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Hearst Castle was going to have to be pretty amazing to beat the Elephant Seals! We went up the road ten minutes then climbed a long driveway to a crowded parking lot. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">We couldn’t see anything resembling a castle and it looked like the big attraction was a long hike up a hill. We decided to forgo the castle and get back on the road. From Josh's family I learned that Hearst Castle was the estate of William Randolph Hearst and is full of incredible architecture and art. We will have to go back and visit sometime.</span><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/flowers.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a><br /></p><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AmGPWYCSWP4VL0zFHiZBPDXoGHIQDzajzbEfR0EPf-Dp-c5XXUu0MsbVtggYLM_aos-ZEIK3Vo6q7WmhSSK2GpFKpRrKOM2VOcE7Ci2m-RZ7Qil8GsQZYRoNb1pm2-RWnNMwrho-RfkV/s1600/429+elephseal+%28122%29.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2u5uSJ2V1JXA1Sbbd7bPekQzNLdPTNh0Cx7kj8GGhhhGSh5KpmJwXh8rLF3EChYZWtIqxnrM0yiEXh-10eBKWIXxD-v50ubiA2JtwbFaXdAY06OqrOwepcSfJIY9wrK2cGpOrYdmpmLif/s400/correa_2b.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527371814238999826" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl0vrjdT2F9zWSJkTVeS3KRh3CrsPLjx0XwUwvwSjOgZnra2M_AMa4n5tjp_WlFpQ54JeB8cQLC_fYZ9XuEMypgMzmAuDhMfsdcLPeczQprYheIuOSHt_0YfSRGqlVBL_b0T2KwjxzN1m/s1600/elephseal_bird.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Am7P9hEfMCNLestOFq6jXo60Ba4pwBMqxjzBHHuN5OhetTwi9HrmMpKVZnyitlgeP96NOL1kKL0XOBg-1v5M0nBHTdKVPuObt24ok6LijULj3XDN7Z_QiOwatF2sOCl-7Oag9Ltfgv1U/s400/correa_5b.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527371671054059906" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXWRFkgvfqvevs3QGuW0Z9brljm_lBcMItKnbvnhlzJLqKAD9L-Xa6fKzHZDaWlid7BodKBH31va6yTatfhQgu0BbN4px7dnQAmbVSblusoTHsjs3MvpISxp06V0bYQ91ipYnZyq3qnWv/s1600/441+elephseal+%28160%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6JHApQ5aHsxeywoUYlQj3kDCoD5zlpdG-4gAtEpwzs3uzYlYYYgHy1HuUcz54q9szfgyvH5cakY6vFSiDzBW8Im-mxq6RDz79RNM9pGkUcPmBw2SY-cwHOfZXbUxAMo9VE-k82kin5MC/s400/correa_4b.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527371519515664146" border="0" /></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-80186174442435600552010-09-10T16:24:00.000-07:002010-10-12T21:21:01.844-07:00A Hidden Haven<table border="0"><tbody><tr><img src="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/elements/bigsur_topsecret.gif" alt="TopSecret" /></tr><tr><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" class="MsoNormal">Julia Pfeiffer State Park</p> <p face="arial" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6UgQUBMp3FRaubBbvSW6LVjVI7T3FbeMWw5jCuMPeisqxo92MZM2RAbDrBGA4xBm7xGGY8xsTBJxKtdBfvfTBdhNwfgu5djLQxkh1yxYr4GdH3SCkzOiHp8zffFEg3xppItPXhmc9l2P/s1600/bigsur_flowers.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 38px; height: 38px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZKtb2HP8M56QNOwxpnF9iVfsMCO7JXwAf9nNQ_5xUEQaRvt7X2cNTrrS2grtBOQD9cQO0cU38AsolCRncNJP7TgeHzQ9KtsB5oQ19tyiwmjeIGzMKuVA7hWXUmXLEWIeJPHUORCjlbOk/s400/bigsur_flower1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527143541380674850" border="0" /></a>Traveling on Highway 1 we were off in our own little world once again, inhabited only by other tourists, backpackers and bicyclists. What a sight the next morning to see the sun streaming over the hills, the ocean pounding on the rocks below us. We stopped multiple times to photograph this or that, only once going into one of the state parks. We found it quite by accident; I think I was getting a little motion sick from the twists and turns. The entrance to Julia Pfeiffer State Park is tucked in a curve. We drove into the small, uninhabited parking lot; signs were posted everywhere “No overnight parking”. It cost $10 to park there, another way to deter sleeping in cars I’m sure. We were getting low on funds and wanted to get to Anaheim that night so we opted not to stay long. I got out and ran up the hill a short way into the woods while Josh stayed with the car. I came around a bend in the trail and stopped short in amazement. A cheerful stream greeted me, babbling down a hill, finding its way down to the ocean below.</p></tr><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNVEy0ARMix7iaQL8F4LJpO05hmZdafqqsued7FehyphenhyphenWmHZPlceCBmwA_Y6jo4aIw_ArR0j1g1ViuXP4XejIsDvHZQEM3qGuxyfosv_rj-5P_-7rGDdUSMFzpH7RdHPYXgoWiMXLrs1l5r/s1600/403+big+sur2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmODB_pMEhHHG0d9hF718DDjDj1on9Rdal_GCrfH27ZtYct1J_tms1va8E9KZediAUStiyfKQSN81bfW4FyAF2UP7PeyRBwRrnC2lEv9wzlk-ij5_b5Rp0XOHiF1sd3G0q-0vHiVMhwKCr/s525/big+sur9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527129067314947122" border="0" /></a></tbody></table><table border="0"><tbody><tr></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><table border="0"><tbody><tr></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><table border="0"><tbody><tr><a href="http://www.deborahfaithcorrea.com/files/extras/among_background_correa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 15px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNMXZRp909pRN3oR8yMuX61jbiZ6GWxx7jjAQfzCJKVSfuO2tsnHibeSlTPjeouPfYPv433xIF9FFVOdhymZLh-rLGrTkfPWyA_Bn7qcq2-xNrj-UB5fhon1cMW5WY2RW3itMiG7GUDM0/s525/among_link_correa9.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527148351105742754" border="0" /></a></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >Impressive redwoods grew on either side of the stream, not straight and true like their Northern brothers, nor as big around. A leaf canopy had been formed by the force of the wind pushing the trees down and to the side. Light pierced the leaf canopy, falling on the water in patches and making it sparkle like diamonds. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >A quiet aliveness permeated the </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >glade, the light filtering through the trees was like light coming through stain glass windows in a cathedral. I lingered, enjoying this unexpected haven, then ran back to Josh. We switched, I stayed with the car while he explored.</span><table border="0"><tbody><tr></tr><tr></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >We wanted to explore further here, but our time was running out. There was still a lot to see before we got to Anaheim! <a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/castles-and-seals.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtxDORHZZLfNnV_zHsaIjDwbmw7gtJnUL_PNXYMZOvZKhlPVGfNlhx-KJu1XeCdqPQK_HQ56NoIPYYcLUvM_ycP4ritt82rGvoyOgWMAYLe3CaHQdWkK0ZYYH8yb19vIku1VNWZgpleyw/s1600/400+big+sur.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvddf4mHBI3SxSni7dTJWlnWyoLojcwGmCq6zFqt_k8VddAdwYtAuKgesUZgBy-Nnlht85wCUyVuZztBo51P-gGHp2lNHacLAJTxhOLmc9Gdk3BAgrFXotn2n3NSMftkm5S7aFpGva7FC/s400/correa5a.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527133605689086818" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpqT4glCR4XLtMkm2FYQPAK4sRJ2JYRstViiRbCwXTgeXbF_Pk8FlSaGCfDKocv25OsxbAdQlOHeBCK6LtoVAVzPZ6MWGOMu6EwHhA037OqzbKb-_9L4iyduumeS4p9BwmF6NwTZbViI7/s1600/412+big+sur.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-zzvbws8-o8GOjYGMQnsZp_2atae0g3bv_sNv-Mkp2HvKVY-xpWZKuLGGQNKCLCRQ5jFwcHht1FcxOknK4sS6Y-Sqd4pPDRkzFWLZKD0K8kQI9D4grMwrhzga1NVRfJFPeNmNGNQFbib/s400/correa2a.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527133097581622594" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijJW_nuW1pC8mmQubQwX1iRbtfYQf8xEJdOWi7qfsQFzgDhY2Xw_1PPeSEKy3qZuzLSfQAVuogs9nocekpIiqkdWhyfXpesQxAA3qE2Gh9tMF7-G9n-MWYnuyPXUGQnutsNcCVLljF_f8/s1600/397+big+sur.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSzz9oue3aJ2mcy5gtCHOomJt7xyklDK9k7d_B9R1JIm3l3CfJvhOM2tCK6UCA7Wi3QiQbsiXPMM88Bva8o6CJhI8hXqstwVYXLM2OFv_JxmLKgFCssjNPnMhFXv9kHFrO3P4Ijl3zigU/s400/correa9a.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527133247246226146" border="0" /></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-20727601256026461862010-09-10T16:23:00.000-07:002010-10-11T04:52:06.585-07:00Golden Sunsets<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h1r1otgqbGAOWrhN_5Kbl-JlFWM2427Ewg8UzgTtGxCbrRBXKF-4wWtCnUXWN8CJvlq6ePWfhV580aF7cOih5bC_LWm4n4i9_mJM6d54S56ls43FJh19JpjMjDStNrF982NZaSZE01Tc/s1600/379+monterey+%2863%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h1r1otgqbGAOWrhN_5Kbl-JlFWM2427Ewg8UzgTtGxCbrRBXKF-4wWtCnUXWN8CJvlq6ePWfhV580aF7cOih5bC_LWm4n4i9_mJM6d54S56ls43FJh19JpjMjDStNrF982NZaSZE01Tc/s525/379+monterey+%2863%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526251204709481234" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" >Big Sur, CA</span></div> <p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal">We left the congestion and traffic of Central California and got on Highway 1, which would take us south along the coast through the Big Sur all the way to Santa Barbara. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKSfaHCqR07hj8mH8OJx1YVccUXJvbpY7dJGLQgs4vKVU9VhIucLu6_T0uiFhfW36P02VRyZd5inL2ipTuHiusoaMn9dhjcmUIzFF_ppFHpWbefMegTLIWcy-Zcp6JiaFt8hyphenhyphen4rvGymCM/s1600/374+monterey+%2868%29.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKSfaHCqR07hj8mH8OJx1YVccUXJvbpY7dJGLQgs4vKVU9VhIucLu6_T0uiFhfW36P02VRyZd5inL2ipTuHiusoaMn9dhjcmUIzFF_ppFHpWbefMegTLIWcy-Zcp6JiaFt8hyphenhyphen4rvGymCM/s400/374+monterey+%2868%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526251769578720162" border="0" /></a>The two lane road clung to the side of huge hills, often cutting into them. Sturdy pines grew on the sides of the hills where the wind had not scoured clean of all but course grass. Below us to the left was the sea, cold and breaking with fury on the rocks. There was no beach here, just the bottom of the hills plunging into the sea. Golden sunlight shone strongly on the red hills. We pulled over at just about every overlook to take pictures of the amazing sunset that was accompanying us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1gaEJBLccpkXBJSjbYlVJNf3t6SQeJEPyOz3dqvRWudP0tbDACsKVDNR0pCxraAX7Ycvl78s7h5k1WXSvuK2J9cdrNf8TiS_pbwkywsKqWDORecT4oc4FMA81KnfyOLI8kl9nzuxrodc/s1600/big+sur2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1gaEJBLccpkXBJSjbYlVJNf3t6SQeJEPyOz3dqvRWudP0tbDACsKVDNR0pCxraAX7Ycvl78s7h5k1WXSvuK2J9cdrNf8TiS_pbwkywsKqWDORecT4oc4FMA81KnfyOLI8kl9nzuxrodc/s400/big+sur2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526251435226289058" border="0" /></a>But it was almost impossible to take good photos because it was so windy! <span style=""> </span>We drove about half an hour along the coast then the road turned inland into the state parks. It was almost dark by now so Josh got us a room in the first motel we came to. I had been up for camping, but the wind was cold and it was already dark. The next day was our anniversary and Josh didn’t want me to be uncomfortable on our anniversary. He is the best husband in the world! <a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/hidden-haven.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues...<br /></span></a></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg7hQ55W4ET0rnmaFIJbhzvc29Ox8bfSzq95StON2eDHnw50T3A6B3p78_UwaZVeA9Eo8WMWkIoAUI37vlukmo8HfEXO38pN64j3Njsz1H3geSEaaRMdZM3vfgx-HgVALg7mxaKth9vJm/s400/big+sur4.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg7hQ55W4ET0rnmaFIJbhzvc29Ox8bfSzq95StON2eDHnw50T3A6B3p78_UwaZVeA9Eo8WMWkIoAUI37vlukmo8HfEXO38pN64j3Njsz1H3geSEaaRMdZM3vfgx-HgVALg7mxaKth9vJm/s400/big+sur4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526337786555853442" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGoErL-_h_MW5Hq6gxeSyuFzt0bJjzVxypWiGtMOkMxinvlRNs65dDVe1uDj9i59-LRS1kU254LuJ4WjugyQyV5iRtPkqBfbmHmYVuQBunO8Wb_gOXsMXxNxdbsFmfx9GUsebobrRvk9T/s1600/big+sur6.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGoErL-_h_MW5Hq6gxeSyuFzt0bJjzVxypWiGtMOkMxinvlRNs65dDVe1uDj9i59-LRS1kU254LuJ4WjugyQyV5iRtPkqBfbmHmYVuQBunO8Wb_gOXsMXxNxdbsFmfx9GUsebobrRvk9T/s400/big+sur6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526343790827998274" border="0" /></a></p>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-82727729914670581832010-09-10T15:04:00.000-07:002010-10-11T14:34:37.776-07:00Butterflies and Dr. Suess trees<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbgnLqbU7R62SlqEaOUrg3SjNfDbaoM3Nr_70HjrZBHl4VIHn4OIx-8BzNuWDZea6JwykrVwLvRt016ETNP6Cn7U7_DmzXyY_qJx-53u6bP8r-QxigWyE7Q3RDCf-6YgUVbIFV5ZMT8qS/s1600/M_pines.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbgnLqbU7R62SlqEaOUrg3SjNfDbaoM3Nr_70HjrZBHl4VIHn4OIx-8BzNuWDZea6JwykrVwLvRt016ETNP6Cn7U7_DmzXyY_qJx-53u6bP8r-QxigWyE7Q3RDCf-6YgUVbIFV5ZMT8qS/s525/M_pines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525316305215531810" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" >Pacific Grove, CA</span><br /></div><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmDSnjMU_ZTdU5W9x4KSMD6D7Kcu5bexB13WZQsNxuLWCnhS5NMbU1U7NcZlXavKBjhv5vjkgAfJHHkcsn4k56JOZECP9tGuF7-kIucGbf1CT9dpe9vA6sHLbNyb-ckPpq_9bbIVvZGvt/s1600/Butterfly+monterey.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 25px; height: 25px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiTxo_j_o32KGUCfJlxq7kURza-xgU4AvnLXRVhxPPcgTkenLA-dmtUWythf1njhQBDhbtinVbbnt5D2qvYhRSGrqC1-lnJM8b0B0kMR28Y_Ee4v-J2nEiQSOPL7YT_c8sFwJUyEEnb7B/s400/butterflyhouse_small.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525499504961520754" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiI0etpeM2RUmbsyi5n_E9xj_ahTKNant2jaE8eEmwuNUWInbqHXL9z2bHk8dPYLB1Xik8ouRMbrGaiM7US3EjqP5yS0VLehNAIQMyZOU9cjFBeRENdF635wB7mRAl7ijGu18c2x9Fw2-P/s1600/Correa_002.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiI0etpeM2RUmbsyi5n_E9xj_ahTKNant2jaE8eEmwuNUWInbqHXL9z2bHk8dPYLB1Xik8ouRMbrGaiM7US3EjqP5yS0VLehNAIQMyZOU9cjFBeRENdF635wB7mRAl7ijGu18c2x9Fw2-P/s400/Correa_002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525956744843505618" border="0" /></a>Our next goal in Monterey was to find those elusive pine trees that only naturally grow in three places, one being Monterey. Josh has an innate sense for finding things we are looking for and it didn’t take him long to come to a neighborhood that boasted it was a “butterfly town.” I had learned from my tree book that the Monarch butterfly winter in the Monterey pine, so this was a good sign we were close. Sure enough, over the next hill was a protected park of Monterey Pines. They were unlike any conifer I have ever seen. Tall trunks stretched up about 70 ft., with branches emerging from the top five feet, then twisting and flattening out like a mushroom top. They looked like something from the mind of Dr. Seuss!</p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6-Sqn_oYjmCV5ffmX_6fj6rh8z83fsexZ4PHt2KCBi83cLSdGz9tI5tZRgeiX1FF-fycBJmbAWUKrVHcg137zHPojYW_Fhh_Oc3VEMRsTMMdscQPcEWzL8mAipmy8US19V5UKMt2hKpB/s1600/monterey_pine4.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6-Sqn_oYjmCV5ffmX_6fj6rh8z83fsexZ4PHt2KCBi83cLSdGz9tI5tZRgeiX1FF-fycBJmbAWUKrVHcg137zHPojYW_Fhh_Oc3VEMRsTMMdscQPcEWzL8mAipmy8US19V5UKMt2hKpB/s400/monterey_pine4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525959209869976962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAFa5SzKhcUYl9LQ3psFg3Wiq7O4CxXGc0UcTunSIHeNQ4AwlrwNsIMgwQ_CkGFUftfu61z4cIeKon23qA2h5JoOIXTXNvldS94T_keQuZzA0iNCC8f_srlsyC9IOTu_K0hZEijJYCFze/s1600/monterey_pinetrees2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAFa5SzKhcUYl9LQ3psFg3Wiq7O4CxXGc0UcTunSIHeNQ4AwlrwNsIMgwQ_CkGFUftfu61z4cIeKon23qA2h5JoOIXTXNvldS94T_keQuZzA0iNCC8f_srlsyC9IOTu_K0hZEijJYCFze/s400/monterey_pinetrees2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525958560898358210" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The undergrowth was also interesting. Coastal Live Oaks grew scraggly and dripping white lichen. They looked diseased, the leaves struggling to grow in spite of the lichen overtaking its host.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The golden evening light sifting through the pine and oak leaves gave the whole place a dreamy quality.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >I could hear the waves on the shore and children playing in their backyards. There was such a magical everydayness to that evening. Well satisfied on finding the rare pines, we traveled south into the Big Sur.</span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/golden-sunsets.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues...</span></a></span><br /></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNTvwrxSdDPos6uU_2QWGo2S-S8Qzzvd3CAXyShMLEJGipskj_2NZ4yfE_ZItKoy2t344aF52Npje9OLuxy7j30KTj_M2ALJo4CFrgNUiyHos_ZW7K4Kkgk-VORZ4kH9wmrZUIrknAaYJ/s1600/mont_forest.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByY36csvHt28t7z_Ny-wIg_0Cjta-OLa92t4iF3d2ojzHl8Sk6mDYgH4KFH1yZFxDHoW_ROj1EoGjZR2xoVjKMR3sjB-X8aT8Tq26uPhhIn7JC2GxM49ZweRgjrtti8NdprHNAlopNtts/s400/squarepine7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525844795542358434" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKU7bZZlVmCU8CVwUyjYR18QBcgs90Gh1CC8uFLwKEXBROY0qChQr0UzkH_Pq1yRbg-s97-dmuYaYsQ-ruT9FRGRP5GCB4vVVcpC6CPTY7tn9lho23ryXLTT8npbZHT-N4yJvE1JgtCQA/s1600/monterey+tree2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbDe5rnxu2MaNnP30sFeuaxmk4C7C62bm8PBVcCQ883F1zl0HsMQmOangqfmtwAKI-QB3pz__h-icAKYuuiQIl2Ignha9ody5JNqm4ESc_88Fu9t64_qVf0xFV9d_jS3C9P_p-Q4tcdSK/s400/squarepine0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525844541546734786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB7dBK2lsQyjQy-M4VrnAG-t4a7jsz4z8QFoY-tWmECfmBlR6-_hofSUErSYole2eRsLEaLD5HRDJ1yHvVmEk8_JT3iptHLLd1tkdU2XErgk_SSJ0Mmc6islrf5wVL92WgplCXRiMkxLk/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju14rlTWpfiDDG-F4AB_l2SBlOMqbwJTk6-IEu84oxsS9B2bFskaG5Qmvku48h4UXp2hLLFvVg_VDMkVuKWP8gSPiQLUVkMOB_Q0gxb9cygb4k2AVeJxbsWt9bvRQnf_ZYjQrCJ75_dU3q/s400/squarepine2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525844545631750562" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjnELPQr_kxHu1diHllk38X6Jw3982guWGJ2zaErZ26zs0a8KjSG5Oj1aHN1TEzAg0UfbX_gn-re2XqDJr1Zxy-7jtWDB3qCKSpcBrMv-BYpxpvsyMeJajHD1C_WzKmbo0Ti8kG69g6ap/s1600/monterey_pc.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH_IH-O4fpR7CNlY9uPtaeHpZyYSZRTcrAhd5EHnIXU9lMFVRZyMstCePut-5gO6n8WvtUPn5VqL3D2op-1lOPJPYYDYQRi3ZDpfgIuHhkyZYUYtuNb6Gx97qhZMRxXg9TB70CZbz2vcM/s400/squarepine5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525844795072699298" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKBi2kOBmJc8fegbXCGyAX1op9UOmAFUnpJumFtSsFKZtsMCOpA9KCO6Bu_yYoPaY4J_NdbvsF70CcdPX2Mn7ZaVgNF773wIIFUwpS9NAvf4E_lgfpwdcHDBdAJoYuopLALBmP_UrpcrO/s1600/monterey+tree1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgU4qChkpuVhBnH1FW2Kh-3hYOAJlsrle7SXAmv13zg2cqsxm-17I11-n15S6oH_7zP3E90X2MBmnidO9nYXZVK34IWHs-vf6_yOzJ5PpLBQ9ko4tMWH2SAyr4HHuxZ50wXcHK4bCUXF3/s400/squarepine3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525844653873098194" border="0" /></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-50192201576558961322010-09-10T15:03:00.000-07:002010-10-09T03:40:42.023-07:00Monterey Bay Aquarium<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1U1WbI7SK4M-74OoZ87UFaE93mOXI6f3AP2QI87vlnkM1sIvkSu6YgMw6JeqPdhc8v7q_DVo-97os2xInIekpCSFL5fHa1ZBtwI98517eVR96jVG8A6zqUDUnmjAhJaCbE1LoE7Vs5pc/s1600/aqua3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 467px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1U1WbI7SK4M-74OoZ87UFaE93mOXI6f3AP2QI87vlnkM1sIvkSu6YgMw6JeqPdhc8v7q_DVo-97os2xInIekpCSFL5fHa1ZBtwI98517eVR96jVG8A6zqUDUnmjAhJaCbE1LoE7Vs5pc/s467/aqua3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524725147832550130" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" >Monterey Bay, CA</span></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" > </span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxqr2ar5WNPjQdePFNRTO8FO-QfZcGMjNvWFzxzyJlD8xBYrWuci0vdELHgkVK1s9dL-9tiwxbkNO3odho4h2PnlKwPHLMgh9WkbgscvQqUCmrowoIp-yP8ZJKEbDamB8cdXcjMHupvcV/s1600/aqua_otter3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxqr2ar5WNPjQdePFNRTO8FO-QfZcGMjNvWFzxzyJlD8xBYrWuci0vdELHgkVK1s9dL-9tiwxbkNO3odho4h2PnlKwPHLMgh9WkbgscvQqUCmrowoIp-yP8ZJKEbDamB8cdXcjMHupvcV/s400/aqua_otter3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525033995375062338" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >We left San Fransisco with the sun shining on us, I'm glad we got a chance to explore the city. It here in our journey that we used a map for the first time. We wanted to get to Monterey before the Aquarium closed at 6, what freeway could get us there the fastest? After having the road to ourselves from Washington to Northern California, the congested roads of Central California were painful! Outside the sun shone warmly on brown rolling hills, dotted with scraggly scrub and black oaks. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >We passed town after town and many different types of agriculture. I must confess my attitude was not the best and I missed the restful green of Oregon. As we got closer to the coast our spirits lifted. What is it about the ocean that makes you forget your small problems and discomforts? I suppose it has something to do with it's bigness and consistency. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The ocean will always be there. Ever changing yes, but also still so much bigger then you can imagine, wild yet inviting. I think it is a good picture of God. I am a visual person, "out of sight out of mind" I need reminders of the complete security and power of God. His creation does that for us. </span><p class="MsoNormal"><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtCUVujThALIIaw8Dt3Q_NdJGM7HQqr-1Emf3QIf3O3c7niBarJQfnil8YtiejYMucdnxniqybuhUqXJSw2cYGVym_S5uYv-5TAVBkXZBU6DEX_NUBrbgYsYtg7Tngj1xDdjc8pU6q1eK/s1600/aqua_200.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtCUVujThALIIaw8Dt3Q_NdJGM7HQqr-1Emf3QIf3O3c7niBarJQfnil8YtiejYMucdnxniqybuhUqXJSw2cYGVym_S5uYv-5TAVBkXZBU6DEX_NUBrbgYsYtg7Tngj1xDdjc8pU6q1eK/s400/aqua_200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525031251748737442" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw01gc1C54fs0NXwqfFNbl9ItnqzVWSTU644002TS09n1Vp8HAWmd_ezqfyWfEWt066Sjx6csqLsq1PIr8ohWj1t70oyA4g-GJAbTnRp6RBkVf7E6rG5PHqMzCtVKPH2VZjd7ll_zr3jlf/s1600/aqua_jelly_correa.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw01gc1C54fs0NXwqfFNbl9ItnqzVWSTU644002TS09n1Vp8HAWmd_ezqfyWfEWt066Sjx6csqLsq1PIr8ohWj1t70oyA4g-GJAbTnRp6RBkVf7E6rG5PHqMzCtVKPH2VZjd7ll_zr3jlf/s400/aqua_jelly_correa.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525032922208250322" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >We made it to the Aquarium with 45 minutes to spare. Josh enjoyed taking pictures of the otters, sea horses, and the many other marine life that lives there. My favorite was a crazy looking sea horse that looked like sea weed and the green sea turtles. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >One turtle in particular seemed so melancholy, </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekxCC9O4VCAf0GUuwY1f1tyqwJVWN-7kki8x1Nbk0cpJYi6UjD-hlacttHo1OjDoX_ZYxd5nezNBbUpEUww3gZi28uCGQraDjhphhFqxu492R_gXzfnqpnEoCgi3wB4HR4U_coZKzjwDt/s1600/aqua_jelly.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekxCC9O4VCAf0GUuwY1f1tyqwJVWN-7kki8x1Nbk0cpJYi6UjD-hlacttHo1OjDoX_ZYxd5nezNBbUpEUww3gZi28uCGQraDjhphhFqxu492R_gXzfnqpnEoCgi3wB4HR4U_coZKzjwDt/s400/aqua_jelly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525031496631513778" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >like he was longing for wide open spaces. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >I sat and commiserated with him for a little while. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/butterflies-and-dr-suess-trees.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues...</span></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEiAgBJpN_Neu-IH3FRfB0dVNzZU_HS4PQYkfhcCC5AAE8CI9Wgjm4pp9DddyhL6q08qjPl3d5QeRUAHGkd8IIrrhDlNh7jGWG7M5hCHeATu7kaNAXuO7pB8S-ZETQIixCb1Pypkn1DbD/s1600/aqua_seahorse_correa.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEiAgBJpN_Neu-IH3FRfB0dVNzZU_HS4PQYkfhcCC5AAE8CI9Wgjm4pp9DddyhL6q08qjPl3d5QeRUAHGkd8IIrrhDlNh7jGWG7M5hCHeATu7kaNAXuO7pB8S-ZETQIixCb1Pypkn1DbD/s400/aqua_seahorse_correa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525032453463511250" border="0" /></a><span style=""> </span></p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWYi4eFUHL27xfmgx0Z9A8A_8DIUoYPlnkyinQoi91LLm9ApyrW9ps3nob6g8pqolmebexLGsK9ehf-uoAjvgndhXRCnmeYzWBta8GbjOHfb_g8CdC3FzaDjEUQ3eaLmzA6M8kY9P45qN/s1600/turtle_correa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuOAAbAwLKsDaN3FCOcHbemgjnuoPy7keyAWGcfGJTkOXMKZSGlmS8UvadGjOxZiFgqSKVzAZmlxlHun_6PwFWWkjQSsN5vxCX2YfPE9PIiT5vCfWHHLGaSYSH2s3z-EwilbviC4bBh0I/s400/turtle_correa2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525045794087540786" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 0, 204); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">San Jose and San Francisco</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY2hI5ysLbTZegGoL-NZeNz6iLDAFB0nda7Wi8oop-XtN39z5JMlmnRGkJZDlVuO-bkHC0XVX_xXC0mxi_8dIM4iH_wXEylObWvF9LYueUKcZCiUJbN10aWb-YUQCKRNLAJfFMEGYbE2X/s1600/Deb_correa001+oak.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY2hI5ysLbTZegGoL-NZeNz6iLDAFB0nda7Wi8oop-XtN39z5JMlmnRGkJZDlVuO-bkHC0XVX_xXC0mxi_8dIM4iH_wXEylObWvF9LYueUKcZCiUJbN10aWb-YUQCKRNLAJfFMEGYbE2X/s400/Deb_correa001+oak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523405553210897858" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" >After our lovely detour on the Avenue of Giants, we rejoined the 101 and busted butt for San Jose. We were about 5 hours away from our destination. The setting sun was beside us as we wound down through the mountains and came out into the valley. I began to see large spreading trees, sparsely leaved with twisting limbs and light gray bark. I suspected these were the California Live Oaks I’d been on the lookout for.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" >Josh jumped out to take photos in the gathering darkness and we were back on the road in an instant. We made it to San Jose that night about 1 in the morning.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" >We had only been traveling for two days but were so grateful for a cushy bed! The next day we rested and had a great time with the Weils family! They very graciously loaned us their season passes for the Monterey Bay aquarium, so after a day of rest we set out again to Monterey Bay.</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" class="MsoNormal">Not two minutes into our drive, Josh got a text from a friend from college he had been trying to reconnect with. Katie was in San Francisco and would we want to meet her for lunch? I wasn’t really interested in seeing San Francisco; we had crossed the Bay on the Golden Gate Bridge in our drive from Redwood country, but it was dark then and we did not see much of SF. We doubled back to San Francisco to meet up with Katie.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBll007waeQTsYcweYqji5whHqwcb4zA960MqF6R3VDxAwn9aDCAzdjhQfusv6ukRK03f6KEus8RNU14QHXWVra3k5bCiM-Zeu0Ns4Sz3Kfh2lP6Vj8gPpEfomFtCmCDtGYHW7UPC_xmMK/s1600/san_fran.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBll007waeQTsYcweYqji5whHqwcb4zA960MqF6R3VDxAwn9aDCAzdjhQfusv6ukRK03f6KEus8RNU14QHXWVra3k5bCiM-Zeu0Ns4Sz3Kfh2lP6Vj8gPpEfomFtCmCDtGYHW7UPC_xmMK/s400/san_fran.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523417455157840418" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" >The hills in San Francisco scare me! The road goes straight up then straight down the other side. Are you sure that car will stop at the stop sign? Can our car stop at the stop sign? We wondered the city a little, visiting the Golden Gate bridge outlook, (too foggy to see anything) the museum circle, and a Starbucks to get directions. In our meandering through the city in the misty fog, we drove along the banks of the bay and saw some really great pine tree that I thought might be Monterey Pines. Monterey Pines are extremely rare, my tree book says they only grow in three locations, San Francisco not being one of them. I am still not certain what kind of pine they are, but will do a drawing of them someday. The sun came out and we found our way to the Market district where we met Katie for lunch.</span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOggEGr6U20boRAmbmWetuelzYoHD0Bqo7kff-7Gte8Y885ylcwXJNmQx34ZzNhsShIcDjrJ3l0YIhIogMD2mWqdR4F7oYogKV_g5TERRUTDef1VH8iJkNIG0Mvht19s96x2LEtJzR1bOw/s1600/san_fran_van.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0O4vqNGGN2B1rl6LIOC7EK_mBPn2-dhp6aSeVJaZUCVknkRahMK4koMM-j-VQ73IxsbeBMs-zjhSWB5_FVSNamDxD2pbRh5bYGykXjUAM3TWKBYHzMeEn1iRitXMIdIsaVG1amn39H0f/s400/san_fran_van2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523680982465221538" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" > At that point I found I enjoyed SF.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" >I saw a really great boutique that I will shop at when I have a million dollars, and we enjoyed the graffiti on trucks and colorful houses that lined the streets. I even got a little better on the hills; still don’t want to drive there though!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOggEGr6U20boRAmbmWetuelzYoHD0Bqo7kff-7Gte8Y885ylcwXJNmQx34ZzNhsShIcDjrJ3l0YIhIogMD2mWqdR4F7oYogKV_g5TERRUTDef1VH8iJkNIG0Mvht19s96x2LEtJzR1bOw/s1600/san_fran_van.jpg"><span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></a><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/monterey-bay-aquarium.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> The story continues...</span></a></span></span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdsmzaheeH2XFb-jqaggKO4Elrx2-Q0KRp4Nof98I0uZWrj7e3EzCetqblhtUg6MTPbcOojC0GHctA-QiPM8BNaoClV8yMJy5ESoDEtnIrqMXSzyedNAgRpOmyMzey18p0stE3E-CLPk5/"><img style="float: left; margin: 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Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-18170639041157529102010-09-10T15:01:00.000-07:002010-10-09T23:01:08.151-07:00An unexpected treat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi_4uWKZTWeMMPYBuJhdOtocii-_Uqb4jrQVr8rR6rCHFN1di4M0Zv3kDBmyyDRTElNfyNkuCYX-Q1-TBdZm-FkDFAS8cSHTk5AtOvFCY_7qq8hAPTd4Gj_axnl-W1KJVt3gtERzziPtP/s1600/flower+groves_67.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi_4uWKZTWeMMPYBuJhdOtocii-_Uqb4jrQVr8rR6rCHFN1di4M0Zv3kDBmyyDRTElNfyNkuCYX-Q1-TBdZm-FkDFAS8cSHTk5AtOvFCY_7qq8hAPTd4Gj_axnl-W1KJVt3gtERzziPtP/s525/flower+groves_67.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523128489558372034" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Myers Flat, CA</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Earlier, in Prairie Creek we had seen signs for a "drive through tree". I <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Yky6oywGeNoa0G8gHYdBf35Y-MNZdK7XlKArY_p_7sbvCU4uQYGk89dhijKFMnIArD3pXNo-NzrHRbcb8fOUrPzHfUyUpX6pxuJnACl_WNE6NQdZP4DEFfEAxBAWRJtE6BfTYzrhGvRc/s1600/groves_66.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Yky6oywGeNoa0G8gHYdBf35Y-MNZdK7XlKArY_p_7sbvCU4uQYGk89dhijKFMnIArD3pXNo-NzrHRbcb8fOUrPzHfUyUpX6pxuJnACl_WNE6NQdZP4DEFfEAxBAWRJtE6BfTYzrhGvRc/s400/groves_66.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523129488595466482" border="0" /></a>have always wanted to do that, so I kept an eye out for the spot, which was along the Avenue of Giants.<span style=""> </span>We found it near the end of the 30 mile stretch, a little spot called Myers Flat. The place was privately owned by an enterprising person who was capitalizing on the tourists going through. It was 6 pm in the evening and they had left for the evening, but a sign at the entrance said we could still go through for $6 a car. We had tens and twenties but no fives or ones, so we went to the business next door to make change.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Upon entering The Groves, we were enchanted by the simple, elegant décor. It was a small winery with a restaurant attached. And not just any restaurant! This one had an elegant menu and wait staff, hand blown glass chandeliers and the heavenly smell of freshly baked bread. We decided to splurge and have our fancy dinner to commemorate our 5 years of marriage a few days early at The Groves. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyvnoN0xWen6k1q4fSYRtAWNEcKpvGCLyIm4lydFABtQ3swtJWZ0BqBBSQ0xsg3yUPcuJsLst8mcob4EUjyq4ogql1lxhB9_yHO3KBzI1NOVDGgjuiEl_g8GGvWjVMU-PCW9TGKLXE-FG/s1600/Debs_tree.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyvnoN0xWen6k1q4fSYRtAWNEcKpvGCLyIm4lydFABtQ3swtJWZ0BqBBSQ0xsg3yUPcuJsLst8mcob4EUjyq4ogql1lxhB9_yHO3KBzI1NOVDGgjuiEl_g8GGvWjVMU-PCW9TGKLXE-FG/s400/Debs_tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523324804276355010" border="0" /></a>What a nice surprise! We had been traveling all day, eaten mostly granola bars and fruit, and were a bit grimy from camping for two nights in a row. It was so nice to sit down in a relaxing atmosphere and be served fresh, hot, wholesome food. We got a hand tossed pizza (fabulous) salad and tea. After our lovely dinner there was still enough daylight to go next door to drive through the tree. Of course, as you might have suspected, we couldn’t actually drive through it. It was a dead Redwood held up and together by cables and it did not look very safe to walk under, let alone drive a rental car through. But we explored the little homemade park anyway. Not sure if we got our $6 worth, but for us the special event was eating at the little winery next door. God loves to surprise his children with good gifts!<span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/halfway.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> The story continues...</span></a></span></p>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-56720840930556394162010-09-10T14:35:00.000-07:002010-10-02T02:14:54.649-07:00Avenue of Giants<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrDDHaL1AaEHJfDDNw9tyyiHdsd7TvNIDKyuUouR0j6swmCo17vDi2l9gZ4yEwMItAuHFRPMVlZsRaAiakJa_fuLLtrAGydCJn3qCkvgzbwxJN6LN6Ua399JatfMxiLrL19aDWI4JukOr/s1600/ave+of+giants.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 63px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu24EHlV22HaIyqO1XOr_fAcY5C8dBlFmxAja9legtaZ4y_Wmk-u0qbjxAbPoy999t6_xDwZa02MMlvBGIoOgwHZGOEkmfJxVNm1rFyzPhqWCoBrTYGTmLBuuAvprhAIqKxpbCu3IklKE1/s400/ave-of-giants02.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522665970954172402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXZNAXlgcifKfAGkwCbKTvNR_i2WanlE0ld0bxBHDKKs2SSlkw6ieEFtQ1ZyZftBN8GX9SsX9Fm0_DYptD9gLnBVWCUmGu-mO0QGCB93xvK2yeL-ldpzLcud6nDFnlfooYAKpliP5u9gw/s1600/avenue-of-giants-8.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXZNAXlgcifKfAGkwCbKTvNR_i2WanlE0ld0bxBHDKKs2SSlkw6ieEFtQ1ZyZftBN8GX9SsX9Fm0_DYptD9gLnBVWCUmGu-mO0QGCB93xvK2yeL-ldpzLcud6nDFnlfooYAKpliP5u9gw/s400/avenue-of-giants-8.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522661935774263234" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" >Humboldt State Park, CA</span><br /></div><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3jxHuMZdPaNjCXJDPaQm5BuwaUB4yaxneoswhDbKxQsBWVnSEdcFYEK5Fe-yQlSZoWty9ambR0qOem-HC6Vtxeer8COVali1h7gkTILOCB9oNMEyQw8-n9ghfEJryxZBv7o1rA_7ztcS/s1600/flower+aveofgiants.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3jxHuMZdPaNjCXJDPaQm5BuwaUB4yaxneoswhDbKxQsBWVnSEdcFYEK5Fe-yQlSZoWty9ambR0qOem-HC6Vtxeer8COVali1h7gkTILOCB9oNMEyQw8-n9ghfEJryxZBv7o1rA_7ztcS/s400/flower+aveofgiants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522661146745078802" border="0" /></a>That day we planned to spend the night with friends in San Jose, a seven hour drive. The drive included the Avenue of Giants, a thirty mile scenic route beside the 101 among the Redwoods. The weather and environment stayed misty, green hills covered in Douglas Pines and Redwoods until we reached Eureka CA. There, all of a sudden, we were in the California we knew.</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">Though still Northern California, it was no longer misty and wet, the sun shown. We saw the first of the Eucalyptus trees that would continue to dot the hills all the way to LA. We also saw the first Palms, Mexican restaurants, and Spanish road names, and in that recognized the California we were familiar with.<span style=""> </span>Here also the topography changed, fertile valleys stretched out, green and filled with agriculture. There were also more people at this point. Roadside advertising brought me back to everyday life and checked the “other worldly” impression left by waking up among the Redwoods that morning. Everywhere grass and trees were green, but I no longer had the impression that the whole world was about to burst into new growth.</p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIslpx9BfcqmkUcWeJMr4zlBMWXZUWkjER_ATHKd5EZ2QuPDbIN21RWAYqS7OGlFG9WiC8qDzcIG7Ga4Gw7NPv_66haAd0yu9rUIKcPG3vSsuxJU-2JMRwiLVtY3PQZKQj2LeEVOb9JFj/s1600/avenue+of+giants+9.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIslpx9BfcqmkUcWeJMr4zlBMWXZUWkjER_ATHKd5EZ2QuPDbIN21RWAYqS7OGlFG9WiC8qDzcIG7Ga4Gw7NPv_66haAd0yu9rUIKcPG3vSsuxJU-2JMRwiLVtY3PQZKQj2LeEVOb9JFj/s400/avenue+of+giants+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522661512222980978" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrDDHaL1AaEHJfDDNw9tyyiHdsd7TvNIDKyuUouR0j6swmCo17vDi2l9gZ4yEwMItAuHFRPMVlZsRaAiakJa_fuLLtrAGydCJn3qCkvgzbwxJN6LN6Ua399JatfMxiLrL19aDWI4JukOr/s1600/ave+of+giants.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 71px; height: 71px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2AC7QDVfDZq_-1tFZQSB4p7ykcR8LuY6dRH3koQ9-1MzzYlRtp-8jiuUSSmnjCRd29zvSFCP25UEH-9XOXpPz2m25IuGYNt-rVKBlQmK0N_bEOTt5f6Y5UOhxAJ7KjLTmpbUcbKGYrUA/s320/Shandy.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522667229551063506" border="0" /></a>And so we came to Humboldt National Park, and the Avenue of Giants. Here the road went inland; we no longer were flanked by the sea. From the freeway we could see the tops of Redwoods poking up over the other trees. We happily got off the now four lane 101 and entered the Avenue of Giants. Immediately we were permeated by the quiet awe that draws one to the forest, and I pitied the other travelers bypassing this scenic route. We stopped the car and ventured into the cathedral.<span style=""> </span>I made friends with one giant ringed by smaller trees. Josh bounded through the underbrush like a deer. We returned to the car excited to see what else we could discover. I enjoyed taking photos of our magnificent view from the sun roof. We meandered on, stopping whenever we wanted to explore a little more. <span style=""><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/unexpected-treat.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></a></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-align: center;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/unexpected-treat.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues...</span></a></span><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrDDHaL1AaEHJfDDNw9tyyiHdsd7TvNIDKyuUouR0j6swmCo17vDi2l9gZ4yEwMItAuHFRPMVlZsRaAiakJa_fuLLtrAGydCJn3qCkvgzbwxJN6LN6Ua399JatfMxiLrL19aDWI4JukOr/s1600/ave+of+giants.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 28px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmQgdlzuCHW4GVbHBHWKdaXM9fLkiI5rJrZWkpmChapOTGb1Jve-euP3x4z6UhT1QMopge-EwxAeVAlsNfmbiwHLQFHPJyakGA_IlkpscsccxMZlZEW2RNt1Z8qkY6g8pVRdUeY_Ll8d5/s400/avenue-of-giants-7.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522660818939519042" border="0" /></a><p></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IO3FrqLNYR16Qhyphenhyphenyb1xKxq2W3i3_PSATnmlviD1sXVi6_H9qdH8jlqxl1AtgPd5SKzHf3a7rLHFeG3PjXS7uguzia5JMIQBbyehyphenhyphenImkwv4IIbt-kRZyFXlbxpwNF_AtL6S70I2eL59wY/s1600/redwood_0031.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywOugAVCOFEL-pELw-54HFOEbRlQayXgdMrOPl2Gprze5j_f3zBOzCB8gdrAHaiSd_H1gs14Xx5-i2DgIIiw_OanEK753MWGUUQxiR-Jo8cmAHN5cXPuAzn5jFau0Yj1M4bnuKgO1_ip_/s400/ave+of+giants202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523006556473355250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGAQyafBA48IUsMW0uL0C2Gy3cuoAyZp-5k13VGTFCLLUdmOwMGsMFPSOKOqs3IpHKlujGUnzJo_w_JkV_BnKQjMYbGZF40RCl0d_Kf90aDM4ecMdkO3CrLAVDUGKJ8rrsJ1KOXZXA1SD/s1600/van_0023.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeiRHdAVWKJsBy_hDT6-Hm2riTifNCH4fVSccZ1DAWl1QUgRgk0jzP2odbdpTqCj_lYiMSodR6ddXxaJ_tHbhhHkDsV0w4N7Dd-HbrwJXOh7bJB2QyA4hs1mUY7h3stCMOV3Zkh6Kubyr/s400/ave+of+giants200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523006176316452210" border="0" /></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-57334736638481556022010-09-10T14:09:00.000-07:002010-10-09T03:54:26.600-07:00Big trees and little chipmunks<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9vTyDjX-9fJD6ADAsaxP_o4KnIOAkOfn2xOpE4wkRIUxD9BMjKWTTByHcg2Jxfvd5WR5liTZDTBTQpoRbX62gkiNsRM8O-HtYiSEVlZxXhyCwpydo4qf2ij4ipMXf-HckcUjY8EPsrF-/s1600/prairie+creek+redwood2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9vTyDjX-9fJD6ADAsaxP_o4KnIOAkOfn2xOpE4wkRIUxD9BMjKWTTByHcg2Jxfvd5WR5liTZDTBTQpoRbX62gkiNsRM8O-HtYiSEVlZxXhyCwpydo4qf2ij4ipMXf-HckcUjY8EPsrF-/s400/prairie+creek+redwood2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521759182100266162" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" >Prairie Creek State Park, CA</span></div> <p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwvymTBKtp48GQRLqkVdKwrPdMHcSfRIm-GlKIcpwhzD_MAg0bt4H1s5ub_F-nYxBr-4h_m-b1sEksAGf45yO-GugNmODteNUnPPLNnAUWzNL7NEvm3kee5rhkGIUZW3WISLwpeYpIBPK/s1600/prairie-creek-us.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwvymTBKtp48GQRLqkVdKwrPdMHcSfRIm-GlKIcpwhzD_MAg0bt4H1s5ub_F-nYxBr-4h_m-b1sEksAGf45yO-GugNmODteNUnPPLNnAUWzNL7NEvm3kee5rhkGIUZW3WISLwpeYpIBPK/s400/prairie-creek-us.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521727265459325922" border="0" /></a>So what was it like camping between two <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7GBA9EcvAOkLeuxj7a119bfItkyIR-I5LK1q8a12aUdyHzZP8IjSobLEBIj42z1378FTMV1VNmtK5_ayK55GirnVWbb-OcTKIKB3gSKQLvOfyy1OjVphYB9T2x2sp4sRlja4ta8yLmD4/s1600/prairie+creek+redwoods+%284%29.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 873px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77CB75TkfP_ykB2oKgfsI1ucapD7JbbkKyQl0CFCqJNoLkYa62nkAphsXM6vcZ7tXIQYS2M4WHo-hzUhZS-VsEbl4w1M2xM6W9avvuWYBNhvlzwUC1aSuInWzy6FDkUtYrq5VSoeWHcqP/s873/slim_redwood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521742368257725170" border="0" /></a>redwoods? Well, first of all, we weren’t the only ones. We were at a camp ground, each site tucked among the trees, but the wonder and grandeur of the trees were not diminished by the noises of the other campers. All I could think about was the immense root system I was calmly sleeping on top of. It was incredible to wake up to what I thought was a drizzle, but was actually droplets that had collected on the scales above us and were now showering us in our own private rainfall. It was incredible to look up and up and up with no end in sight. Josh made friends with the local birds and chipmunks, who had grown accustomed to scavenging after campers. I am not sure how many oatmeal granola bars we shared with them that morning, but they kept coming back for more!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwjR2daJ4I3qyXU1OpzhiPjqbP_exN5cX775zok0-0FTIpcj9l4NQdf7rkRpTX3nfbLI-A0aGnu96VjM8YvPZ-TWb8fcnnau6-VsdWxD-L_t5MVSZasICnSY3xogKiJlDO4UR7GpjM6Fw/s1600/Chipmunk_correa.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwjR2daJ4I3qyXU1OpzhiPjqbP_exN5cX775zok0-0FTIpcj9l4NQdf7rkRpTX3nfbLI-A0aGnu96VjM8YvPZ-TWb8fcnnau6-VsdWxD-L_t5MVSZasICnSY3xogKiJlDO4UR7GpjM6Fw/s400/Chipmunk_correa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521729669141693378" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The abundance of water causes life to thrive in that environment. Ferns cover the forest floor, moss dripped from undergrowth and fallen trees </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >are blanketed by new life in the </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakK608z7V1OTdZIBOnonu0kU8sgi_OF6zWTX7O_wF2qSTS0vavFP6jyPjjefySf6ounn0A-LeE5sMsLdo_HFHEH21NhLgkJumXxRrb1_24ocEJybdGUeNRGOokIesKgUaqprJmtVkDBG7/s1600/prairie+creek+bird.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakK608z7V1OTdZIBOnonu0kU8sgi_OF6zWTX7O_wF2qSTS0vavFP6jyPjjefySf6ounn0A-LeE5sMsLdo_HFHEH21NhLgkJumXxRrb1_24ocEJybdGUeNRGOokIesKgUaqprJmtVkDBG7/s400/prairie+creek+bird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521734078740424114" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >form of ferns or moss. Lilies and other flowers grow in the meadow where elk graze.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPR2S0IzX5TsEnPP4bG0i95tdkhOvJgC10rsjUpXfsxPKXacjmt7_aAuObQT2fD0ssEjFQcNGFkELthOsevenGi73TWUFnOVIdSgbEyDAmldx5p_44IH_Dcmeh5ZrPmM54zwCHH_kP-I1/s1600/wildredwoods_flower.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 41px; height: 34px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnppLB9oHVVy1iUOQz-qpWu4UPl_xQ4p1Lx0MguL5IqXDGEpM0-X8AtqYcL35LnjCGjhlFAEjy5JH2Iqh9RQJNEcXowP19Nq37-yvREyZvKVnQ64UsDfWQUQF2QOXpLoymc3bFP3FuwJT/s400/wild_flowercorrea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521969625664805538" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The lushness of the landscape is as powerful as the trees that flourish there. An almost holy hush fills the air, a palpable quietness like what is found in a great </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >sanctuary. The lush life bursting from every nook and cranny tell of a life force much larger and deeper and with more purpose than anything we can manufacture. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >It was altogether different from the vast loneliness of the dunes </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >experienced the previous day, but the redwoods left me with the same sense of wonder and grandeur.Each tell of a Creator whose power and wildness are displayed in His creation.</span><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/avenue-of-giants.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK3MEJxqMS_ZEyv1zpkjSjJJwWqGN2HSXIMncY_N2n8Ar5-tdLOQrphOqiZMvNrHhcYSD09rJPg39NSCN4b6unNP6qgx6wj-hpjkVVJM2UB4MMxW9fz0U6efRnCODp8m9OLcenq1PLMUA/s1600/prairie+creek+josh.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 438px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK3MEJxqMS_ZEyv1zpkjSjJJwWqGN2HSXIMncY_N2n8Ar5-tdLOQrphOqiZMvNrHhcYSD09rJPg39NSCN4b6unNP6qgx6wj-hpjkVVJM2UB4MMxW9fz0U6efRnCODp8m9OLcenq1PLMUA/s400/prairie+creek+josh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521768317442490466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpxH57ZiU-F9YEV7CJei9iu7lN4k4U5Ixm7Ay1bihLFdxAdDwWKoQXFrIC3r-QS5nxsTElunrTUHNtFM73zGpNNVDA9DI65tNo2WM13hv2YD8StCiSCSflox4eT7_1XtCSw1S8qfmaFW-/s1600/redwood_correa3.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhBNRPQP0TfMWUA-TggH0buFOaVHwvQ5a7fMsUp9foSY-O8ZpihGrFAzySE8hMapEDDYirumVUHog3XGY6WamV7ZWOgqR9Jyk0bsOo4uh8tqZv3ZWXQh8_hHUi2mm8Yb9YKWxNCp7MmkW/s400/drawing35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521776848514728834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU1IMoVXc8NxFvjyE0sQn_1DGezCN_T3fPQaGOVcBhH03f9N0RmNjMDdPw3Z71ed745P1sC-tsDb5aVloUD8J8HkEbsn81FoBgghG4jcxPOaU6JJaKrOUci1rLUM5g7iLA1PFqir5nyiP/s1600/prairie+creek+redwoods+glasses2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm8nd3jGjbhWmN6pjvrtJTXpMF0kLvyYshkfV7Oeu93R8FXj7_qPLauFE4a3Hf22qbtXkwqNSMaTE0i9a5EOie4yHcqqi94YxqFfu3CiFcGus6YKHGxu3ZiE57yBXeevcgiEPigyJmeD-/s400/redwood35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521776710085013106" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLanGdjZN4AB0oYNnbX0N6KG5oI6qCN72Uskr8g-OjudYTP6tHoFECQWuR7B7QG3UykTKZTnF43VmgJTcjADt0MICLqABA4XofhB9ZI5FPzdnJWR3X4hEs_fmOhzA4iZCgWnlNbySer_gL/s1600/prairie+creek+redwoods4.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OuaNNwBDbBILZsVzaAQq0vQN7I6AHnq02134RXp1XUFll3RFRvVinCj0sw-FgbeVOA4C6Y4Ui5S6nPpRE6Jlvou_tmvqJyBivG2H6EcH6mSlIF9SLUT0kltnFtawmKYnuI7U4V0bnSKI/s400/redwood34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521776186569042066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1VzYxJ9qfH7Uq1SWUUO_QPwD5SmQ_37EtRkGCxwzMfOqsEXyJq9AWv4Yw6n5IzF99RtocVcK6MmHrKW2exVESlG4KbbMaWWHKI4vS_76V9D1ISsU_7tvbdGVepcWpyu6isMOuQWwlb64/s1600/deb-drawing-prairie-creek.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-rmjYzeDNddR3uk4RgKr3M767k_sUfzEBvIYCHbPCK2K_I0IrnlutjPuYde_BxmRFM_8fckj4E_GZLJ1LVY4j7jfF4MsHPMWbsm5J38NQfhhY6vZIYcaecuyzVOC0qbP7DrSNtJRG7Mk/s400/drawing34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521776311611155602" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEhdtpTI8qBbh7JLj0SbPg-z9o0uUFBg3PU2KcveJfWRI9SrpO1zN6uOxnXiX9o-UYLVVK5v6pAj4m2Ll0ty0V0vH2kF3xyTekRQKDTJ_v8DxLTt3VCvPqgTJ_J3bwdif-4zhp-WKd8gb/s1600/redwoodsfield_flower67a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGXZyf0x1RQAJM2pylGUaR_JWRdaM3tA13w5e-kpp_a9YpvEgNTupF5RotlDBXK7pCgu0tFRYw24qSrpAX2XpNUuEHk9XcjzvP-1DGGAgPHd2zX608m3dcp-TJaNah2hkEDr_-HmPlPcW/s400/redwoodsfield_flower34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521776506083063762" border="0" /></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-25386438274506843222010-09-10T13:59:00.000-07:002010-10-09T04:03:07.418-07:00The Redwoods<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV38LBwYbw7khEluf7NXRprsgpzuzQhSiOy13g8FsPR92cC6POYw7hjg-AfgNQa-bjFJhMTjHou02SqcUPtD8vc7jw5s_zeGpEUGXvIWYn-9llkLcm7MvTf4DVgsbJDNfbjuCoDujNyd6x/s1600/Prarie+Creek.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 490px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV38LBwYbw7khEluf7NXRprsgpzuzQhSiOy13g8FsPR92cC6POYw7hjg-AfgNQa-bjFJhMTjHou02SqcUPtD8vc7jw5s_zeGpEUGXvIWYn-9llkLcm7MvTf4DVgsbJDNfbjuCoDujNyd6x/s490/Prarie+Creek.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484794207569542386" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Crescent City CA to Prairie Creek CA</span> </span></div><p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal">We crossed the California border with no apparent change to the environment, still misty and green. After grabbing groceries in Crescent City, we continued to the national parks to find a place to camp.<span style=""> </span>We decided to get an hour further south to Prairie Creek National Park then camp. And so we entered Redwood country. Immediately, the pine trees, which had been our ever present companions since Seattle,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZJZeVT-9NvzBC9B1lsXVXGTApKGCq41D1Mx69Gjpo-fml58_0g6ElbWAMCJLI34sMWxb9-vrsU1DKsO7gcxGOL-kocpI28IKMUp0WidQcJJw0tPJOaEI_n5UaFH57dBPbpTHkd9w3Gsh/s1600/dunesnredwoods-treeoverhang.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 530px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqt1wY3eA69QJZ7CZKGONvRq7cbNzE6P90HX8mB9RlJKd0gOOyrc1x1ppfZjR_egsR1EKzKQIDRGrMfTCMq9JwWI5nlMnGUg4Z6xOj9CVprKT3ydZU5blFueFYpnkxmRewIAHtf2goGfU/s530/treetop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521551761175271810" border="0" /></a> stretched taller, as if increased growth was in the water (it might have been) then we began to see Redwoods. It was incredible to drive beside these giants, something I never got used to.<span style=""> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZcR_ZFQzOkD_146mlR2uHYck1oPcKhbAbALywFnCDUq-iBPI8QUVxmL98esZFFeF_Zr3X8B0p4_7WHfWd-6JbcjGmucXWXaSWdSgHDO9m_jracKoD3NZ984-Kw1DD2wp-VyoixDJm7jK/s1600/Wild_elk.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tRfvtc4Or0FD3hwYXrJysZOr5eVZ0PhRp3NG3VVMlvhXQf9Hdo8BwBpOnxfxyzh9bJF2yQatmisr4ZVlkIazOpTRRM-7rOuDGs7gHAqYmB8pFT4k0vK_kN0O2fx2A0RyFvbPlzR9zv3J/s400/Wild_elk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521552696207409634" border="0" /></a>The little two lane 101 wound through the clearings and valleys, under avenues lined with mossy maples, (here growing larger than their eastern cousins) and past small houses and stores pedaling sculptures made of reclaimed Redwood. </p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal">We somehow passed the state park and had to stop in the tiny town of Orick, which was really just a row of houses, a restaurant and a gas station. I helped a woman jump her battery while Josh got directions and dinner, then we were heading back to the park. On the way we passed Elk feeding in a meadow. We pulled over with the other tourists to watch. That night we camped between two Redwoods, amazing!</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsFr-wxnHeH-FYvVygOI_JqVAOqS-liN6znttaxs6Utd7nXpmFUCI53EUVY7Tlv3VU5xBjFA0_43xZAP-SiOqL6dYXHyqHBDiDger_Y0EEFwNHY834v7RhQR_27phRBeYwP8W9Nl7lQ70/s1600/dunesnredwoodscar.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsFr-wxnHeH-FYvVygOI_JqVAOqS-liN6znttaxs6Utd7nXpmFUCI53EUVY7Tlv3VU5xBjFA0_43xZAP-SiOqL6dYXHyqHBDiDger_Y0EEFwNHY834v7RhQR_27phRBeYwP8W9Nl7lQ70/s400/dunesnredwoodscar.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521650522719409170" border="0" /></a><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/big-trees-and-little-chipmunks.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-74645847217207372092010-09-10T13:55:00.000-07:002010-10-09T03:56:24.340-07:00Misty Oregon<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbhEDchMW4UeVzLK-dg8M1jl6Skx5eSK8C83SszHUJ1i8mOukCVaIKCH_Jg_wWHf8Kfx3kaYScoPf_aeroFMAYEUsQkaumc6EWiH170Q4-Nyi5t5TIWrbKj6x7LAX5zmF-Ovjmqc8tioQ/s1600/bandonOR_correa.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbhEDchMW4UeVzLK-dg8M1jl6Skx5eSK8C83SszHUJ1i8mOukCVaIKCH_Jg_wWHf8Kfx3kaYScoPf_aeroFMAYEUsQkaumc6EWiH170Q4-Nyi5t5TIWrbKj6x7LAX5zmF-Ovjmqc8tioQ/s525/bandonOR_correa.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521156950163948002" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" >Bandon, OR, Gold Beach, OR</span></div><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51fjpRZFb5cJzReFhpk7DvKKaMIJ8b-FfGQCJYVU2dVkXbB6ApNklHiAjuHGkMev951X4V_qDupTovNA5op7-yDOeALRu2oNXt4zcNV1sZD0MvoBq1EWI_oXTwEEZayoGe-P888zj2EAw/s1600/bluepine_correa1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 67px; height: 50px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51fjpRZFb5cJzReFhpk7DvKKaMIJ8b-FfGQCJYVU2dVkXbB6ApNklHiAjuHGkMev951X4V_qDupTovNA5op7-yDOeALRu2oNXt4zcNV1sZD0MvoBq1EWI_oXTwEEZayoGe-P888zj2EAw/s400/bluepine_correa1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520304390200370082" border="0" /></a>After exploring the beach we made our way out into the wet green expanse that is<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYrYH7cQ4BO7IHOu3yvmfRv4HU6fVOBI2Rhblpir4llo_S_l2xNWkH0VjjMYoBJ9N3L9FLjMSS_hZu13FjiPIoQkjIt4TfK6hG1M4KDt5ffqZtP-n6ro1rPrvMH7CxdePuKPBoSSqzq4-/s1600/gold-coast-oregon.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYrYH7cQ4BO7IHOu3yvmfRv4HU6fVOBI2Rhblpir4llo_S_l2xNWkH0VjjMYoBJ9N3L9FLjMSS_hZu13FjiPIoQkjIt4TfK6hG1M4KDt5ffqZtP-n6ro1rPrvMH7CxdePuKPBoSSqzq4-/s400/gold-coast-oregon.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521170419618720834" border="0" /></a> southern Oregon. It was here we picked up the 101, which was to be our guide for the next 500 miles to San Francisco. That day we turned the three and a half hour drive into 6 hours because we stopped so often to enjoy the view. I was in heaven among all the atmosphere. I loved the mist covering everything in mystery and intensifying the colors around us.</p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4YDOlIwkZbuDuFuB0a4c0UJxJ_zYxoDFkPxbSCbvlgDO8auzpctRSoj3Ei4s64tv7OTDPz-42CmMPZeILsCUTkJXt7j__xyY-rgA7Co8evAmcNy8OaavN_imSENm71m1-wrUn8tgrc3C/s1600/seals-527.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4YDOlIwkZbuDuFuB0a4c0UJxJ_zYxoDFkPxbSCbvlgDO8auzpctRSoj3Ei4s64tv7OTDPz-42CmMPZeILsCUTkJXt7j__xyY-rgA7Co8evAmcNy8OaavN_imSENm71m1-wrUn8tgrc3C/s400/seals-527.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521169454833200242" border="0" /></a>Once as we were crossing a bridge I spotted a sunken boat. We pulled into the small gathering of shops nearby for a closer look. In a nearby meadow was a gigantic stand of pine trees, Scots Pine I believe. The trunks were enormous, growing together, and the branches stretched like fingers in every direction. This was a prelude to the mammoth trees we would see later that day. While photographing the tree, we heard what sounded like seals, and sure enough, at the neighboring dock we saw a family of seals! There was a baby, but we were too far away to get a good glimpse. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBij-axRRgeq04oycAk6yfwEvbtXixbSVb2Hy4CbP3VQVSf2F4bOLLZ7gD-_l9E_gN18PVRENtMqrqHpHzOT9mwE0QbzvuZNRKDauDmCryTqgjC8BFoYcy0sp3xkL9Rjx1kofoCSDlTgxM/s1600/dunesnredwoods+54.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBij-axRRgeq04oycAk6yfwEvbtXixbSVb2Hy4CbP3VQVSf2F4bOLLZ7gD-_l9E_gN18PVRENtMqrqHpHzOT9mwE0QbzvuZNRKDauDmCryTqgjC8BFoYcy0sp3xkL9Rjx1kofoCSDlTgxM/s400/dunesnredwoods+54.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521170795965783298" border="0" /></a>After watching the seals for a short time, we wondered over to see the sunken boat. It was a boat damaged during the process of building the adjacent bridge, then left as a monument.<br /></p><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/redwoods.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-45226052250246426512010-09-10T13:54:00.000-07:002010-09-27T04:30:47.709-07:00The Dunes<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqugguifDNBcMEUeuaxhaAlzXP3vK3lF4vdHr3zLOrZTaNi4Su0YRynWkeywIDaCaclk-8VPS76pscIPdRBGbHGJsmiemmN0AJYBhFGzeY1sDdxR5R2NCylTaO1Y8V8u_zPVGPyO3S_VvB/s1600/68+dunes+183.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 535px; height: 218px;" 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0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" >Dunes at Siuslaw National Forest, Florence Oregon<br /><br /></span></div><p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Our destination that night was the coast. I was looking forward to seeing the ocean! The abundant pines and rolling hills returned as we got closer to the coast. We passed Florence and began to look for a campsite. The first state park we came to had camp sites called "sand lots." We thought that sounded like it might be on the beach but there were no staff around to ask as it was after 6 pm. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1yv54vymjXfomSg-h32QBfTsGT7ucBXW9hs6uPW1HAdPfc9trEf8uDxSi9n4Hzu2wUB1bb5ThWrbW1xUaIZ-CXntSdhF2BYSFmKUPACRsdbVcRulq3QoovAnPGZaVQOIb4YFWaZS-3HR/s1600/dunesnredwoods+214a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1yv54vymjXfomSg-h32QBfTsGT7ucBXW9hs6uPW1HAdPfc9trEf8uDxSi9n4Hzu2wUB1bb5ThWrbW1xUaIZ-CXntSdhF2BYSFmKUPACRsdbVcRulq3QoovAnPGZaVQOIb4YFWaZS-3HR/s400/dunesnredwoods+214a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521124116199558818" border="0" /></a>We stuffed our ten dollars into the box and set off to see what we had gotten ourselves into. The sun was low in the sky as we pulled around a curve and out of the dense woods. Thick pines gave way to shorter, stubbier pines, many a ghostly white from lichen bleached by salt water. Sand dunes rolled behind the sparse pines. Very quickly the straggling pines gave up and grass covered dunes stretched out on either side of us. The setting sun dipped below the dunes to our left, a thick fog hung over the road in front of us. We passed from the yellow grass, golden in the late afternoon sun, to blue and green fog cloaking the land in mystery. Since entering the park we had not seen anyone. The eerie mist led us to believe we had stumbled into another land, apart from civilization. We could hear the waves pounding on the beach but dunes piled high on our left, blocking our view of the ocean. To our right stretched a rolling grassland that disappeared into the fog. The road went on and on. Here and there we saw cars parked, but no human beings. We began to wonder if we had passed the "sand lots." The road ended in a gravel lot populated by a few campers and other vehicles. The dunes on our right leveled off, allowing a dirt lane to make its way past the beach and out into the ocean on a jetty made of large rocks. A wide channel cut into the beach to the right of the jetty. Now I understood that we had been driving on a long peninsula parallel to the mainland, the channel cutting between us and the mainland.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5AS7oU1lmJPA7ahQKPUxoFoA3xf8l3Tf5Z1Kf2ZTBXkuPuhaGjCFhb99BTPmNfE00im7EB5S799xMw1hbwG7Emj7MF0zD1p2ngKL_opKJgKfakgjen_aXyyGwSLGr2IdLBKOgIh66CcQ/s1600/55-dunes-060.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5AS7oU1lmJPA7ahQKPUxoFoA3xf8l3Tf5Z1Kf2ZTBXkuPuhaGjCFhb99BTPmNfE00im7EB5S799xMw1hbwG7Emj7MF0zD1p2ngKL_opKJgKfakgjen_aXyyGwSLGr2IdLBKOgIh66CcQ/s400/55-dunes-060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521138113741099458" border="0" /></a>We could barely see across the channel to the other side. We got out and walked up the dirt lane beside the dunes, and there was the ocean! Stretching away as far as the eye could see, vanishing into the mist. There was a wild loneliness to it. Here we did see other people, but we all seemed swallowed up in the vast emptiness of the ocean clothed with mist. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA__Q7CyWg4u286awYq_rCczD6Kv5EewjiYC5mRf5v9uhZ7-lrg6oGVyWFmDSm273XmCJzqZ9l80WthFdLe7hV5pwT820zR441AxnfyZ5Y0aWEiWpErrLGK75U7eFli01ZntJ2u2suOdm/s1600/64+dunes+204.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA__Q7CyWg4u286awYq_rCczD6Kv5EewjiYC5mRf5v9uhZ7-lrg6oGVyWFmDSm273XmCJzqZ9l80WthFdLe7hV5pwT820zR441AxnfyZ5Y0aWEiWpErrLGK75U7eFli01ZntJ2u2suOdm/s400/64+dunes+204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521138774738374402" border="0" /></a>No one was camping, but we decided since it seemed there weren't many people around, that we could camp where we wanted. We choose a spot up in the dunes and set up our tent. I (incorrectly) stated we didn't need to blow up our air mattress since the sand would be soft enough. Boy, was I wrong! We didn't get much sleep that night.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The next morning we awoke to a cold drizzle. But the drizzle mist did not diminish the grandeur of the ocean and the rolling dunes. We had camped next to a dugout made of driftwood. The beach was littered with driftwood, in some places whole trees had been tossed far up on the beach. This example of the ocean's power made me appreciate that we were not there during monsoon season.</span><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmBGdas_xx2xHm9CpEzLPuy0ZNt921PkWKXKML9PYY6n_-fUJ3ul13GF8BVIoJLL_T0mV1Q12oP20KKwaW5aKKMIsunVN4iR7ueRLmYZWVAEna-jXROATeC4n92CGXDZSWfbXkWHipLaO/s1600/58-dunes-087.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmBGdas_xx2xHm9CpEzLPuy0ZNt921PkWKXKML9PYY6n_-fUJ3ul13GF8BVIoJLL_T0mV1Q12oP20KKwaW5aKKMIsunVN4iR7ueRLmYZWVAEna-jXROATeC4n92CGXDZSWfbXkWHipLaO/s400/58-dunes-087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521141503755189442" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/misty-oregon.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a><br /></p>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-32592000964302746032010-09-10T12:02:00.000-07:002010-10-09T04:00:42.469-07:00On the way to the Coast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIVRY1MD0Qpj74T9Y4OOZEErQ0l8B_4NYtp668IzCzuNPKcIeOuZIfnBpPrxPcJ6GNAMTSDZ1q21ESYE716bcq5tdJn4jka0TvkS7ZpbXDxSb2HcFUAxB87IoDITyMECIkl_4FvvrHnD6/s1600/eugene_birch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 539px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIVRY1MD0Qpj74T9Y4OOZEErQ0l8B_4NYtp668IzCzuNPKcIeOuZIfnBpPrxPcJ6GNAMTSDZ1q21ESYE716bcq5tdJn4jka0TvkS7ZpbXDxSb2HcFUAxB87IoDITyMECIkl_4FvvrHnD6/s539/eugene_birch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518260178344811634" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >Portland to Florence Oregon<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAStDZjykHTRNvUOCF-7dJM1apq39kq4ffhUQwMm24plmzpnuONRgbOWcNTNi7fAsvNtjJcvQwt9YbXaIqiCRA9K56bRiIHlj6jKb52D0Z2nFOOegtEopYjmgpyaNnAQdw0N0FlPoEYWLa/s1600/Deb_correa_whitebirch.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAStDZjykHTRNvUOCF-7dJM1apq39kq4ffhUQwMm24plmzpnuONRgbOWcNTNi7fAsvNtjJcvQwt9YbXaIqiCRA9K56bRiIHlj6jKb52D0Z2nFOOegtEopYjmgpyaNnAQdw0N0FlPoEYWLa/s400/Deb_correa_whitebirch.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518262632136841250" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlBqXccNb6GkVoH4UA7CbBfjGMluVAqQs7nN6vnsmFCiFUtRtgRyFoZpZkHDfm0LjFjgmUEa656vN4cycyzYxLH-tEw5q-TNAdV0wgI-gMxGNdOoJI4a8hdKR_elJw56ql0nU2JHfGsyz/s1600/redalder.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 53px; height: 79px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlBqXccNb6GkVoH4UA7CbBfjGMluVAqQs7nN6vnsmFCiFUtRtgRyFoZpZkHDfm0LjFjgmUEa656vN4cycyzYxLH-tEw5q-TNAdV0wgI-gMxGNdOoJI4a8hdKR_elJw56ql0nU2JHfGsyz/s400/redalder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518275209191797026" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >One of my favorite Northwest tree is the Red Alder. There is nothing red about this tree, at least as far as I can tell. The Red Alder is a medium sized, slender tree. It grows gracefully along the road, its slender straight whiteness set off well by the tall dark green pines. The contrast is one of beauty, yet it is kin of the pines, the straightness and simplicity of its branches tell it is of</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" > the same spirit. The bark is smooth and white, with dark brown breaking through the white in horizontal gashes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_cnzvwK0peTqQKxt9XnIGqPYe0Wmpdv8LCT0K27rc1VUpQvpeNpcWGgFUYBb4fjaez_4S7yCbLRkRj9RcRrGb2xrAhyphenhyphen-JDJtCuTegz5GTxBJDhe-66bypBYkE10wF43SBotm2jXE1noU/s1600/sketchbook.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_cnzvwK0peTqQKxt9XnIGqPYe0Wmpdv8LCT0K27rc1VUpQvpeNpcWGgFUYBb4fjaez_4S7yCbLRkRj9RcRrGb2xrAhyphenhyphen-JDJtCuTegz5GTxBJDhe-66bypBYkE10wF43SBotm2jXE1noU/s400/sketchbook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518275593979578882" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The branches grow straight out from the trunk, effortlessly reaching up to the sky, then spreading out uniformly.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" > The leaves are small, teardrop shaped, slightly crinkled and a dusty darker green. We saw these lovely trees all the way to Northern California, though by that time they were but a shadow of their straight and true cousins in Washington and Oregon. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq6rixRAzwNFWWzMhBJuMGgBT6BoF0WgP3p5J-cXjAoEj4iZ3Tvuyz4YgV-ja9BpvwHyx96ibs6vt_ckMSqhf476OCoFju5uMt9JqVF8HZuo3iw-qbW8Oa-dI6pC_-1px8dn0wlesuJZq/s1600/side+by+side.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq6rixRAzwNFWWzMhBJuMGgBT6BoF0WgP3p5J-cXjAoEj4iZ3Tvuyz4YgV-ja9BpvwHyx96ibs6vt_ckMSqhf476OCoFju5uMt9JqVF8HZuo3iw-qbW8Oa-dI6pC_-1px8dn0wlesuJZq/s320/side+by+side.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518259721632718626" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-family:arial;">An hour or so from Portland the land leveled out a bit from rugged hills and valleys to a wide valley. Mountains were visible on either side, and large hills broke the evenness regularly. The yellow grass of Portland became green and lush again as we got closer to Eugene</span>.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >We stopped at a rest stop so I could draw what I thought was a Red Alder. I happily sat down to draw this beautiful tree, amidst curious stares from other tourists and truckers.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNseMS6kkkZtP-LsBNxVo-Eljw4fZ-_rwuszSFxatk077VAXxg2qNy9kNsN_9_NEZ4zdfD2OxjQTtI3PA4WnpfgBXaRrgtyEJgVq0t0CuXXJy4hxd6VQeeZkD19hv12JZzNOX5asPn4QO/s1600/white_birch.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNseMS6kkkZtP-LsBNxVo-Eljw4fZ-_rwuszSFxatk077VAXxg2qNy9kNsN_9_NEZ4zdfD2OxjQTtI3PA4WnpfgBXaRrgtyEJgVq0t0CuXXJy4hxd6VQeeZkD19hv12JZzNOX5asPn4QO/s320/white_birch.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518258687771888386" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" > It was growing dark so after a quick gestural sketch I took reference photos to draw from in the studio. Later I discovered this tree was not a native Red Alder, but a European White Birch. That is okay, it has turned out to be one of my favorite drawings from the trip!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/dunes.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a><br /></p>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814391610459863978.post-53277034725230816582010-09-10T11:32:00.000-07:002010-10-09T04:05:57.819-07:00Dogs and breakers<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9asAbYWd5mwk5ZzGAbWM_FWnjOUulLjyzFEeerI12gtgDZ811ojnCL95Mm973Y4tLUZzQr3s9raLQWQdi7O768yij-QQknKFMY8I70_OKzywvA5vQGzB2VjYg0yryHbK0AhIcIl7n86Lr/s1600/Portland+oldtown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 543px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9asAbYWd5mwk5ZzGAbWM_FWnjOUulLjyzFEeerI12gtgDZ811ojnCL95Mm973Y4tLUZzQr3s9raLQWQdi7O768yij-QQknKFMY8I70_OKzywvA5vQGzB2VjYg0yryHbK0AhIcIl7n86Lr/s543/Portland+oldtown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517446000208938626" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-family:arial;" >Portland, Oregon</span> </div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >Much higher in elevation then Seattle, Portland has traditionally been used as the entrance to Vancouver and the Oregon mainland. It is still an active port. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >There were ships, industrial buildings,and factories older then the industrial section of Seattle. When we got into downtown there was a difference in the architecture also. We saw older brick buildings, built during a time when Portland was the gateway to the West from the East.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3IlB7QlJk6WDiHUmW17VALmoMfPiO3lJWr9oESA-MMSGB3rRsA-ueEO2nHRCwolVkHffV1Vf8GLLFQvgTXqtLtItx5uuNufmlXNi-6KPwsNOHHUIUVR31YFodtGCQUWtxW5A8xqVSIRq/s1600/Portland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 529px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3IlB7QlJk6WDiHUmW17VALmoMfPiO3lJWr9oESA-MMSGB3rRsA-ueEO2nHRCwolVkHffV1Vf8GLLFQvgTXqtLtItx5uuNufmlXNi-6KPwsNOHHUIUVR31YFodtGCQUWtxW5A8xqVSIRq/s529/Portland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517445539616422530" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-T8EfEPxlOEXONqYYxe22yu20LsS4eEOEFIYzC5j1FQVoy-vnBqSRlezAtX0MbBQMSphm7n3ZJi6Ew4PGcbjSLnwCWzD3NCMndhgA_sRDnRppJpXPp4G96_jgW0eFA-12EPP-0p1JKy3N/s1600/29+Portland+465.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-T8EfEPxlOEXONqYYxe22yu20LsS4eEOEFIYzC5j1FQVoy-vnBqSRlezAtX0MbBQMSphm7n3ZJi6Ew4PGcbjSLnwCWzD3NCMndhgA_sRDnRppJpXPp4G96_jgW0eFA-12EPP-0p1JKy3N/s320/29+Portland+465.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517445195767921858" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" >The highway (or freeway as Californians call it) brought us along the river. We crossed a draw bridge to get into downtown and I spotted a Ferris wheel on the bank of the river. We parked and joined the throng of people enjoying the Saturday Street Fair. That’s part of the fun of road trips right? You happen upon wonderful glimpses of life in that part of the world. There were tons of people! So many artisans and crafters, neat healthy goodies, and creative clothing.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9SFSIRsWOev5O8rl-RxdC1qfRZfNcdCIgfMk_zFhSTCN6QeOu3PMoCyaWy2JoXNUIAawun3jXlNoj-loL1yptEvbg6ItT3mSGRkjrp8AeqCfLPjzoDannkZPuz6YeBGK5AyVUk-CIzf5/s1600/Portland+puppies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9SFSIRsWOev5O8rl-RxdC1qfRZfNcdCIgfMk_zFhSTCN6QeOu3PMoCyaWy2JoXNUIAawun3jXlNoj-loL1yptEvbg6ItT3mSGRkjrp8AeqCfLPjzoDannkZPuz6YeBGK5AyVUk-CIzf5/s400/Portland+puppies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517447584296087906" border="0" /></a>So many dogs too! We had fun watching the dogs meet each other. We wondered what César Milan would say to an owner whose dog was not “calm submissive”? After a few hours in Portland we were on the road again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://amongthemystery.blogspot.com/2010/09/on-way-to-coast.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The story continues... </span></a><br /></p>Group Biohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09638269241571925369noreply@blogger.com0