Kentucky Bison and Elk Perserve

In the Land Between the Lakes near the Kentucky/Tennessee border is a 700 acre, 3.5 mile loop that contains elk and bison and lots of other little creatures you are supposed to see from your car. However, when it is close to 100 degrees, you mostly see just trees and prairie, but I got my $5 worth and caught a mother Elk and her calf off in the distance. 

Nashville Shopping

If I was going to go all "urban cowboy" Nashville is the place to do it.....

How the Diamond Cave got its Name

The name of the Diamond Cave came from the slave who discovered it. As he was lowered down with a rope to see what was down there, he saw reflections everywhere coming from his lantern off of the water on the rocks. He said that there were diamonds everywhere down there and that gave the cave its name. This shot is from the top level of three very extensive levels in this cave system. Kinda spooky, if you ask me.

Diamond Cave, Kentucky

Right off I-65 between Louisville and Nashville is Diamond Cave, a wonderful and large cave formation which, for $15/person, breaks up the drive and gives some cool refreshing air on a warm day. Lots of interesting cave formations, including this large column, which took thousands of years to form.

Lexington Thoroughbred Park

Not a perspective you want to shoot live but these realistic statues won't run you over. This park celebrates the thoroughbred industry in Kentucky.

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica pier in the distance. I actually never got to the Pier as I had an early dinner across the street from where I was standing but one day I think I will do a trip to hit all the piers just for fun. They are tourist traps anyway, but so what. It would be interesting.

Flying over the Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado

My Samsung phone caught an amazing shot of what I think (from the GPS tag) is an area inside the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Amazing colors. Shot through the airplane window but still, not bad.

Great Sand Dune National Park, Colorado

Neat trick. I take a shot with my camera from an airplane window and then immediately with my cell phone. The cell phone shot contains GPS location information and Lightroom reads that and puts it on a map. So, now I know where the plane is flying when I take the shot. Pretty cool and a nice view of the mountains and snow in the early morning sunlight. The unedited cell phone jpeg shot is below. Man, these 16 megapixel cameras are pretty good.

At this size, can't really tell the difference between a $2,000 camera and a $500 Samsung camera phone, plus the camera phone has GPS and the ability to upload to FB or Dropbox immediately.

Spokane River Calm

Later in the evening run along the Spokane River caught a calm moment prior to a storm coming in. Made for a nice cell phone shot.

Spokane River Run

It took a couple of days when I was there last week, but I finally found a wonderful loop path along the Spokane River and back to the hotel. Next time, I will have a nice place to run. This shot is taken along that path.

Portland Old Town

Not liking Portland right now as Michael Jr can't find a decent place to rent, but this location is quite beautiful. Right across from the river and a beautiful park near the downtown area.

You know where you can find me.....

Portland food truck. You know where you can find me...

Got to love a bar like this

Portland has quite the craft beer culture. Every bar has a list of brews currently available. However, you have to love a bar with a fat, old bald guy in sunglasses as your logo. Also fun ordering a flight of beers served on a paddle for you to try as a sampler.

Don't Understand? Change your Perspective.

Sometimes to figure something out, you have to change your perspective.

Spokane World's Largest Radio Flyer

What do you do when you run by the world's largest Radio Flyer wagon? You stop to take a picture of course.

Spokane River Falls -- Another view

Finally got some better skies in Spokane so here is another view of the falls through parts of the downtown area. Very impressive view of nature, as controlled by man with the river having been damned up. I speak tonight at the smaller red building on the left-hand side in the background.

Spokane River Falls

Downtown Spokane has a wonderful falls area that not only generates electricity but also provides beautiful views of the power of nature. The water here is moving fast.

Italian Restaurant in an Alleyway

What do you do when you see an Italian Restaurant in an alleyway? You go there to eat, of course. This is Supano's in Baltimore. Quite good, actually with a nice "man cave" bar in the basement. Ate outside, but the Man Cave looked cool, with pool table, darts and a nice bar.