Living one shutter at a time
Enjoying the Golden Hour Photographers of ever skill level from DSLR to smart phone, soaked in the splendor of the South Rim. All those cameras and not a single selfie was taken! Yet as the Golden light faded the dreaded bus loads of tourist arrived. Read more
Trip Advisor is great at laser targeting potential wallet-flushing theme parks, hotels, and dining experiences. But if you’re looking for public lands, rock formations, abandoned mines, ghost towns, and the such I advise asking a local. Generally, the older the better, who else knows all the locations, history, and has time to deal with a few meddling kids and their dog. If only the campervan more resembled the Mystery Machine, and Ruth looked a little less (judgmental Schnauzer) and more Scooby Doo. Read more
Rolling through Southern New Mexico in record high temps the starship campervan began to feel more like a vehicle from Mad Max. Covered in Dust, an insect graveyard upon the grill and bumper. The previous morning I’d hit a tumble weed. Am I an official “road warrior”? May I point out the van is a tiny home on wheels, NOT a finely tuned super car. Yet somehow, we managed to dodge countless birds, deer, and a fox. Mother Nature really needs to start a wildlife/ woodland creatures suicide counseling program. Read more
New Mexico; I kind of expected endless craft shops, tons of Woodstock brain-burnt hippies, incense, crystals, and new age finger cymbal experiences. Someone waving a bundle of smoldering “secret herbs and spices” around while fanning me with a feather. Wouldn’t be the first time, Enchanted Rock “end of the world 2012”. It was a show! Lots of chanting and drums, not a lot of world ending! Read more
To the hum of tires and the clicking odometer, I find the worries of daily life fading. Windows down, the starship campervan sets out to explore strange new worlds. Jamming to the beat of a Janise Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Doors, sound track. “Scotty full speed ahead”. Read more
Watching our backyard flood through the movement of windshield wipers I questioned my sanity. Why leave a good job, a nice home, great neighbors, friends, and family to live out of a van? Only moments later still filled with apprehension the van shredded its drive belt. Read more
Yes, I’m leaving a good job with amazing coworkers , many of whom are like family. We’re stepping away from the safety of our suburbia middle American Dream to live out of a homemade campervan.
I’ve been told I’m committing career suicide, going through an early midlife crisis, and my personal favorite, “you should start doing drugs, like normal people”. And yes, this was said lovingly! “Drugs are bad MKAY” Read more
This trip to Arkansas was simple, take pictures of night skies, waterfalls, and share the experience with our friend Rosy. An Australian whose fluid eloquence with profanities is only rivaled by her kindness and twisted sense of humor. In my opinion everyone needs an Australian friend. Ours are really good at day-drinking, feeding you Vegemite, playing pranks, and using curse words most Americans have never heard, in ways no Grammar-Nazi could punctuate Read more
Setting up my tripod before a mirrored lake, I manually adjusted each setting in the manner all photography was done before (AUTO). Shockingly Ansel Adams didn’t use an I-phone, or a point and shoot. Sliding the dial from Auto to Manual opens “a whole new world, don’t you dare close your eyes“. Ok, Aladdin may have been trying to impress Jasmine. But if you want to go on a magic carpet ride, (More Steppenwolf/ “less Disney”) try a little night photography. Welcome to the Power of the Dark Side. Read more
Flailing hands at my assailants, I ran as panic set in. A mixture of sweat and blood was on my hands. My heart pounded with the echoes of heavy footfalls amplified by low boardwalks and bridges. A cloud of relentless attackers had been driven into a frenzy by the smell of blood. Read more
Little Adventures 