Nice hat!: Nope. That’s not me or my car!
Before I met my wife, I hardly traveled at all. Since marrying her, I’ve been on a non stop traveling adventure. We don’t usually venture too far, just a few hours from home by car. Anything over 8 hours, we take a jet! We seem to always be going somewhere, and that somewhere usually involves a beach! 
She loves to go and I love to take her.
This summer has been a rather atypical summer for us in that we haven’t been to Seabrook Island, SC since early June. Highly unusual indeed! On August 26th we head for sunny California and will stay in Carmel By The Sea for a week. It should be interesting and fun. We are traveling with our good friends, Richard and Tamami Polk. You know Richard, AKA “The Student”.
Anyway, since she’s gotten all of the traveling stuff in my veins, now I want to travel. Since I have all of the gear that I think that I’ll need for a while, it’s time to allocate a little budget to independent travel. I was surfing Travelocity and looking for Last Minute Deals. They have some fantastic ones to places that I’ve never been and places that I’ve wanted to go. For example, this coming weekend, I can get a flight + hotel for 3 nights in Tucson, AZ. Yeah, I know that it’s pretty danged hot, but “It’s a dry heat!”
California memories
What I really want to do, however, is visit some of you folks. I saw some great deals for all over the place, including Michigan, Ohio, Florida, etc. I’m thinking that about 4 times/year, I’ll venture out on my own for a weekend of fun with people whom I’ve never met in person. It sounds like fun to me! No, I am not independently wealthy, but I figure that I can sacrifice a lens or two in exchange for meeting some of you fine people and forging some new friendships!
What do you say?! I could be coming to your town. 
MJ, I’m already headed your way. Who’s next?! This weekend, I might drive to Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Anybody else?
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7 Responses to “Road trip”
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Hey, Mike Moats is teaching a Macro class in Ann Arbor on the 29th. You could spy on his teaching methods and meet some folks all at the same time.
Tuscon is one of my favorite cities, and well worth visiting even in the heat. I recommend the Adobe Rose B&B, which was wonderful when we stayed there. It may have changed owners since then but it’s still worth a try if you’d like to get out of the chain hotel experience. There was also a great restaurant, one we liked so much we ate at it twice the week we were there, which is very unusual for us. When you commit to Tuscon as a destination, I’ll see if I can dig up the name if you’re interested.
Thanks Wren; however, I will be in sunny California on the 29th. I would love to come to Michigan, though. There are a few of you that I’d like to meet. I believe that you, Mark Graf, and Bonnie Bruno are in Michigan, if I’m not mistaken. If that’s the case, we could all meet somewhere. I’m really interested in the upper peninsula that Mark likes to shoot. I’ll have to check the deals for September.
Paul, this second picture is amazing. I hope you’ve got it framed on a wall somewhere. The color of the water is almost surreal!
Nope…I’m from the Pacific Northwest. Done my share of traveling, though, and lived in Arizona when I was very young. The macro class in Ann Arbor sounds great–too bad you can’t be two places at once.
We lived near Monterey, which is a stone’s throw from Carmel. You’re going to really enjoy your time there. It’s beautiful! Pacific Grove was one of my favorite places, too. Monarchs migrate along the coast there, and during a certain period each year, you can see bushes literally covered with Monarch butterflies. It’s an amazing sight, but back then my interest in photography hadn’t blossomed yet. Too bad.
I remember when I shot this same waterfall a few years back. There aren’t many vantage points to view these falls from, and the beach is off limits. When I was there, I met a guy that was just sitting watching. He was a native Californian that has been all over the west coast. He told me this was simply the most spectacular view he has ever seen and just likes to come here and absorb it in. I was already in awe being my first time there, but when a long timer raves about it, you know it is something special.
(And related to the “no insignificant views” in prior posts, I certainly hold value in this one over many.) Would love to have you in Michigan Paul.
I do have that exact location hanging on my wall. Your second shot. A gift from MJ. Have you guys conjured up some type of plan?
Hey, if you ever make over to good old Europe, more specific to Sweden or to Germany, feel yourself heartily invited…:)
I’ve seen pictures of that waterfall floating around…I think over at radiantvista. It’s really an absolutely stunning place. I would love to sit there and watch!
Boy oh boy, would I LOVE to go to the Smokey Mountains and hang with you this weekend!! *sigh Oh well, if you don’t make it here and we move next year, you’ll get to visit me in Tennessee (more than likely.) I’m still pushing to stay in VA, though. I’m really falling in love with the nature in this state. Get a map and see just how much of our land is set aside and Natural Area Preserves, and we’re looking to add 400,000 more acres! Woo hoo!
Can’t wait to see all the images from your trip…too cool!!