The Louisville Photographic Society, of which I am a member, arranged for us photo types shoot the animals at the Louisville Zoological Gardens in the early morning before opening to the public. Wait a second, we didn’t actually shoot the animals, we shot them. Well, you understand.
This little island in the Caribbean is a diver’s paradise. That is their tagline, actually. Although a lot of cruise ships stop there these days, it is not nearly as well-known or as popular a destination as Curaçao or Aruba which are nearby and also Dutch. (Bonaire is still a territory of the Netherlands while the other two are independent now.) There are few places to just swim and hang out on the beach, but the island and its little sister Klein Bonaire are surrounded by coral reefs and the amazing marine wildlife that brings. There is a huge sea salt operation run by Cargill and some historical sites (including slave quarters) dot the island. Wild donkeys roam and this is the only remaining natural flamingo nesting ground, I was told.
Supercross? What’s that, you say? The photos pretty much tell you everything you need to know, but the link will explain better.. In this case, the event took place in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Some events are outdoors (rain makes it very interesting). If you think athletes only wear shorts and jerseys, or shoulder pads or ice skates, you’re wrong. These guys train like the elite athletes they are.
In days of yore, not necessarily your days, this was a train station. I remember my mother driving my father to this place near downtown Louisville to get on a train to New York. There is no passenger train service in Louisville anymore, so this place has become what you see here.
We are so fortunate to have the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest so close to Louisville. What a treasure. Had to get out there again and see if any Fall colors were left. There were. And, I got to climb to the top of the fire tower.
Campbellsburg, Indiana is not the usual destination for a weekend drive or for just about anything else, actually. The lure of an enduro event drew me in. The Kendra Enduro Series drew me in. (Kendra is a brand of motorcycle tire.) This is a weekend event held on a cattle farm. They mow the "grass" somewhat, lay out a course over many acres of farmland and woods, and guys and girls (I estimate from ages 7 to adult) take turns doing laps, competing by time. There were folks there from California to Pennsylvania, most in RVs and campers. An entire subculture in evidence.
From the Grand Canyon, it was on to Sedona, Arizona, and environs. Pink Jeep tour gave me some ideas on photo opps. Lave Lake (first photo) was interesting. I moved on to the Grants, New Mexico, area which included the Coconino National Forest and some interesting off-road routes. In New Mexico, I also visited the Acoma Pueblo, Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. After a while, one becomes jaded with the beauty and expanse of the arid Western U.S. Europeans must freak out when they see just how big the landscape is. It is hard to explain how difficult it is to whittle down so many images to post. Anyway, the Tucumcari area provided some kitsch and neon, although its Route 66 history is just that, history--a sad town now. From there, it was a dash to home-sweet-home.
To celebrate a big birthday, I took my bride on a road trip to the Western U.S.. We stopped in Denver for two nights to be with great friends, then headed out to Moab, Utah, and Arches National Park, following the Colorado River for the last 70 miles. Traversed the Shafer Trail and White Rim Road between Moab and Canyonlands National Park--straight out of a Jeep commercial. (Check out videos on YouTube and you'll see.) Potash plant with its azure ponds. Crawling over rocks, driving along a narrow "road" on the edge of a canyon wall with a 2,000 foot drop. We made it in our 4x4 truck made it OK, of course, but it was quite the adventure. Then, it was off to the Grand Canyon, a visit that included a spectacular helicopter tour. More to follow.
On the way home from Mt. Meridian, Indiana, home of Putnam Park Race Course, I traveled a few back roads before reaching the Interstate highway. It was a fun weekend at the track and with the social activities that are part of the Kentucky Region of the Porsche Club of America's twice-annual high performance driver education event. Sunday was marred by torrential downpours that followed me all the way home.
Thunder Over Louisville, one of the (if not the) biggest fireworks shows in North America was last night. Before dark, an amazing airshow for the half million spectators. Couldn't help myself--had to take some photographs. And, yes, the one with the girl's reflection that appears to be on the building was un-staged and very intentional.
March for Our Lives, Louisville edition. In the most miserable weather we could have had, thousands of people--mostly young people--came out to march today. Great to be a witness to this.
Winter keeps hanging around like 4-day-old fish, but that doesn't mean we can't go on a drive to the country and whip around the back roads. I had that opportunity on a drive to Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, this past weekend, and had to stop to take a few snaps. Always great to see the Confederate Battle flag.
Big freeze and thaw, so out on the road to see a frozen creek. Then, back to the cave until record warm temperatures beckoned. On the road again on the motorcycle, with these from Laconia, Indiana.
I put together a video slideshow of shots I have taken over the past couple of years in Kentucky. Here is the YouTube link: The State We Live In.
Little MC trip to the country on a sunny late-Autumn day in the 50s. Had to be done.
New York, New York, New York. Unlimited characters.
Los Angeles, California. The nation's home to L-shaped strip centers, freeways, show biz and all things suburban. Sure, there are some nice spots (Griffith Observatory, for example), the Petersen Automotive Museum is great (if you spring for the vault tour), and the weather is way above average. This cliché was invented here: there's no there there.
Don't answer that. Kentucky is, like most places, good and bad. It's people are, like most people, good and bad. Here are a few from my ride out to the hinterlands of our commonwealth, starting with a stop at a huge flea market near Shepherdsville, then on to New Haven and beyond.
Lunken Airport in Cincinnati was the venue for vintage WWII aircraft, up close and personal.
Great field trip organized by the Louisville Photographic Society to Old Friends Thoroughbred horse retirement farm near Midway, Kentucky. Derby winners Silver Charm and War Emblem, and many other big-time stakes winners, are there in retirement along with their not-so-famous friends. They love to chew on the fences. Fun fact: Horses have the second-largest eyeballs of any land animal, second only to the moose.
