“One person’s weed is another person’s wildflower”(Susan Wittig Albert)

Have you ever felt like you could hold an exciting conversation with a flower or tree? For as humans, the natural landscapes that we encounter every day can provide numerous opportunities to make deep emotional connections in our lives. Consider this brief example that follows. Let’s say Julie, a newlywed mom was experiencing one of those days when so many of her new adult challenges seemed to go wrong. As she pondered a way out of her latest funk, her afternoon walk led her to unexpectedly wander into a public botanical garden. After paying keen attention to the colorful flowers, unusual shrubs and overgrown weeds in the wild there, she would later recollect how much happier she had felt at the time of this stroll. You might then understand Julie’s follow up desire to pursue a new hobby of adding new kinds of exotic greenery within the confines of her own home.

I now call your attention to our road trip visit to the University of California Arboretum in Santa Cruz this past Sunday afternoon. Accompanied by our close friends Bobbie and John, we conducted a one hour walking tour amid this extraordinary 5.5 acres of plant life diversity found throughout the world. In retrospect, I can report how exhilarating it felt to share my emotions with them about so many plant species from South Africa, Australia, and American Southwest environs that I had never seen before.

So take a look at the photographs collection from this recent botanical garden walk below. I’d be curious to know of any specific emotions you felt in browsing through these pictures. Feel free as well to share your thoughts about any particular kinds of  natural vegetation that would enhance your current home/work environment. My next road trip blog will take place amid the stunning setting of San Francisco by the Bay.

“I love driving; Driving along the California coastline is the best drive in the world.”( Al Jardine)

It’s cold and very windy today in Morro Bay along the California Central coast. That’s not very inviting weather for these two, east coast “roadtrippers” to get out and hike today. So a Plan B scenario surfaced in my mind to just take a lazy drive to experience the spectacular scenery of the Pacific Coast Highway. (PCH) Sadly, a major road closure before Big Sur Village would prevent us from traversing the entire ninety mile stretch north to Monterey  today. Yet strong vestiges of such Pacific cliffside heaven would be similarly experienced as we meandered around for one hour along the small southerly segment of this celebrated highway. I must compliment Ruth for her keen photographic eye in capturing the quiet solitude we experienced in “killing time along PCH today. For I seemed preoccupied with keeping two hands on the steering wheel for extra safety around those steep curves on this blustery Thursday afternoon.

“Some men fish all their lives without knowing it is not really the fish they are after. (Henry David Thoreau)

Ruth and I have now reached the point in this road trip where each passing day settles into a lifestyle of self-contentment. Don’t get me wrong for my restless wandering nature cannot be easily satisfied. Yet a casual glance at those pristinely beautiful shorelines along the Central California coast speaks loudly of being freed from my accustomed “urban mayhem” to lead a simpler and less busier life amid “mother nature” in retirement.

Witness then our four night stay along the cool waters of Morro Bay as a most pleasing location to “get out and about” with inner peace this week. For there’s those spectacular sunsets and quiet harbor views as we leisurely walk after dinner. Of course the giant presence of Morro Rock can also fulfill our Zen intentions to sit quietly for indefinite periods while we watch hordes of seabirds beg for food or sea otters playfully float by in the bay. A few miles south of Morro lies Los Osos, where a serene hike follows closely along the steep coastline of the Bluff Trail at Montana de Oro State Park. As a result of becoming more emotionally “in tune” to my surroundings there as I slow my pace, I pause frequently to embrace smaller images of detail like a springtime flower in first bloom, an unusual sea shell, or a sun loving lizard. Enjoy the photos below. My next blog will cover the Pacific Coast Highway seashore environs north of Morro Bay.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ( Anatole France)

Ruth and I rolled into Southern California on I-10 a few days ago to start our coastal road trip tour of the Golden State for the next two weeks. We then began this leg of our vacation with a three day slowdown in the greater Simi Valley region with close friends Tommy and Jenny plus their little grand-dog Schnauzer, Archie. It’s very important to mention that Archie, this bearded wonder, celebrated his birthday that weekend and we felt honored to be invited to share in his special day of fun. Ahhh! Those delicious dog cupcakes that I almost mistook for a human dessert at dinner time. Or what could top a competitive game of “Find the Ball” where Archie managed on every occasion to ably retrieve his prized ball no matter where I threw it. Meanwhile, what an exciting thrill ensued when I risked inciting Archie’s growls at me as we engaged in those heated tug of war battles for possession of his squeaky ball in the backyard. Such fine table manners did Archie also possess as he patiently waited for his tasty birthday treats at the dinner table. What a privilege it meant for me as well to share half of our bed at night so our “birthday boy” could settle into some dog dreaming slumber. Happy Birthday Archie and thank you Jenny and Tommy for making this past weekend feel like home. We head north along State Road 101 for Central Coast California next on our road trip. Shifting then to  the Pacific Coast Highway near San Luis Obispo, we hope to to find four more quiet days in beautiful Morro Bay.

“No one thinks Las Vegas is real: it is illusion, but visitors willingly suspend disbelief and pretend.” (Hal Rothman)

One constant form of sensory excitement that typically intensifies as Ruth and I visit Las Vegas comes to light in our imagination as we simply walk around aimlessly at our leisure. More recently, the changing image of Vegas to clean up its sinful reputation now seems to evoke more family fun moments for us like a Disney Park experience. Don’t get me wrong though. If we desired to indulge in any personal fetish to dress, speak, or act with no semblance of guilt, Vegas could still deliver.

I can only say, however, that for my birthday celebration, it felt right for me to just “chill”, save money , and find more “low key” inspirations on our stopover in Las Vegas this year. After all, we have more than five weeks on the road to indulge freely if we wish after we leave here. Consider first of all our morning look around “Old Vegas” along the indoor mall of the Fremont Experience to admire its imaginative ceilings of creative abstract expression. Returning to the strip after lunch, a second excursion would take place for us at the Bellagio Hotel Botanical Gardens as our senses heightened to the amazing sights and smells of its most recent floral displays. Crossing over the indoor tunnel for a dinner search along the  Caesar’s Palace Forum corridor, its mystical sky ceiling along our path set the stage for some impressive art and window shop viewing. A night stroll along Las Vegas Boulevard back to our hotel to observe the inspiring “neon sunshine” along the strip would provide a most satisfying end to this memorable day. Tomorrow we finally reach Southern California via a five hour drive along I-15. Enjoy the photos.

“And while I stood there, I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a shared manner the shapes of things in the spirit and the shape of all shapes as they must live together as one being.” ( Black Elk- American Indian)

I’m enchanted by the presence of hoodoos. Yes, those twisted piles of rocks with a grotesque looking appearance stood out prominently in our visit to Valley of Fire State Park during this morning’s road trip visit. I must say I’m a bit surprised by this conclusion as my mind seemed preoccupied today. with our upcoming three day stay along the Las Vegas strip again while my knee aches barked loudly from our recent hikes in Zion National Park.

What then could possibly excite me in visiting some rocky piles as began our latest nature tour in the middle of the South Nevada desert? Yet then my imagination began to work on me as I stared hard at these ancient red rocks along the scenic loop road of the park. What a nice refuge I thought for a bird, bat, or other wild animal hoping to find safe shelter in one of the dark holes that penetrated the exterior of each boulder. How equally comforting might the cave strewn appearance of so many of these rocks have been to Anastazi Indians who once sought shelter under cover to cool off from the extreme desert heat. Would such a private sanctuary offer them as well an inviting home? Giving further thought to Indian leisure time amid this hoodoo landscape, it became clear to me that creating petroglyphs and other rock art seemed to have made their lives more entertaining inside these comforting rock homes.

How enlightening to me as well that I seemed to find hope in the human condition in these fragile rock designs that so stubbornly adapt to this extreme desert environment. For current lessons of natural science now offer hope that our human species can similarly fight for our species sustainable future as we unite to combat global warming and the associated earth climate change crisis. Hmm… A St. Patrick’s day celebration in Vegas takes place tomorrow. That sounds like a nice topic for my next blog. Enjoy the photos.

“A National Park is not a playground. It’s a sanctuary for nature and for humans to accept nature on nature’s own terms. (Michael Frome)

It’s amazing how Grand Canyon and Zion National Park seem so exhilarating in landscape appearance yet by way of different ways. At Grand Canyon , you gaze downward in awe at a cavernous chasm below hoping for a mere glimpse of the raging Colorado River below. Whereas at Zion, the opposite effect occurs along the end of its famed “Scenic Canyon Drive” as one’s eyes extend mystically upward along that massive cliffs that narrowly encloses the slow moving Virgin River below. To stand amid such canyon magic in both cases invited me to contemplate spiritual meaning in life beyond oneself for sure.

No doubt, the mountain Gods provided an excellent welcoming show for us on our two day visit to Zion this past weekend. Accessing the park though the west entrance via our motel in nearby Springdale, we conveniently parked our car in the Zion Visitor Center parking lot each morning. From there, we just hopped on the free park shuttle bus for convenient access to the easy Riverside and Grotto Walks along the canyon route corridor. I particularly enjoyed then those moments of silent meditation along the rock shrouded river as well as the occasional sightings of feeding deer in meadow areas along the way. Keep in mind that several tram stops remain closed due to COVID concerns and popular trails like Angel Falls and the Narrows passageway congest regularly with hiker traffic. 

“The landscape everywhere away from the river is of rock-cliffs of rock; plateaus of rock; terraces of rock; crags of rock; then thousand strangely carved forms.“ (John Wesley Powell)

We’re heading north through the high plateau region of Northern Arizona on our road trip today along U.S. route 89 and into Utah for our final destination at Springdale Utah, west of Zion National Park. Leaving the town of Flagstaff, we entered a mountainous region of dormant volcanic cones and craters. At Sunset Volcano Crater National Monument, we conducted a short walk amid a cinder cone region that remains heavily scarred and blackened by the latest lava blast that took place there 1,000 years ago. Passing east of the Grand Canyon, at higher elevations we stopped to photograph spectacular panoramas of the barren Marble Canyon plateau below dotted by deep river canyons and massive, horizontal mesas. As the Colorado River in the distance slowly came into view, we descended into Page, Arizona for a second time look at the geologic wonder of Horseshoe Bend. Turning west into Southern Utah, we passed through the rugged red rock region of Grand Staircase/Escalante National Park in Southwest Utah but in the interest of time, did not stop for a closer look. Turning onto route 9, our Zion entry would take place via its eastern entrance in late afternoon. Tomorrow , we will utilize the shuttle bus system from the Zion National Park Visitor Center to access designated hiking areas of interest.

“I shall smile when wreaths of snow blossom where the roses should grow.” (Emily Bronte)

I awoke this morning to find myself enclosed in a wonderful snow globe of silent whiteness. So as I continued my intentful gaze outside my motel bedroom in Sedona, Arizona at this first sight of gently falling snow I experienced a sudden urge to see the Grand Canyon again in all of its winter glory. After all, it seemed an easy enough drive via I-17 and I-40 to access the South Rim in a reasonable time frame Unfortunately, I did not anticipate the winter storm that Ruth and I would encounter along the way which would result in slick, hazardous conditions at higher elevations heading north of Sedona. After slowing my vehicle to 30 mph for extended stretches in this slushy road mess, the sight of snow plows coming into Flagstaff gave hope that we would actually see the Grand Canyon today.

So after a brief stop for breakfast on Old Route 66, we took advantage of a break in the weather and resumed our steady drive to the South Rim for arrival at the Visitor Center parking around 12:00 noon. As blue skies improbably settled in at the South Rim overlook near Mather Point, we again greeted the Grand Canyon in all its massive glory now blanketed with beautiful powdered snow. After a one hour visit along the “edge”, we returned safely back to Sedona in late afternoon after encountering several waves of snowstorm along the way. So for my nature lovers who have read this blog, I hope you will take the time to place the Grand Canyon on your travel bucket list. It’s definitely worth your time. Enjoy the photographs.

“The earth has music for those who listen.” (William Shakespeare)

Sedona Arizona has endured as of our favorite travel stops in the Western U.S. over the past several decades. It’s really quite simple for us to enjoy ourselves each time here as we settle into the Village Lodge in Oak Creek outside of town for a few days and begin to notice the colors, sounds, and shapes of nature’s subtle unfolding. Typically, it feels right each morning to just “gear down” with some easy trail hikes while staring wondrously at nearby red rock canyons. As usual, this system has worked for me after today’s hike as I observe that I’m feeling calmer, mentally sharper and significantly more aware of my physical surroundings. I recommend that you thus examine the matter of positive vortex energy of Sedona’s Red Rock canyons for yourself as a convenient excursion destination from the Phoenix vicinity. I hope you enjoy the following photographs from today’s five hour journey including: (1) a riverside hike at Red Rock State Park (2) a bit of self meditation at Buddhist Peace Park/Stupa and (3) a panoramic view of Sedona below from the heights of Airport Mesa.