Barron Gorge

I looked at the first page of your AU pictures... (big size--about 10 pictures or so)...wow Ron...just omg WOW!!! Every picture is crazy good and I just don't have the words to express the wonder of them all. How awesome that you could get such super shots, and those are just the first 10! ZOWIE. When Steve and I went to AU, I still wasn't into photography yet (I'd get my first p&s a few mo's later) so we didn't have many pictures and I wasn't taking them. Naturally I would LOVE to go back for many months...don't know when that will happen but we really want to go!

It's a delight that you stopped on a picture of dappled light--captivating, isn't it? I love anything dappled...you should see me with horses and dapples...lol, I'm a lost cause! :D Anyway, I'm glad you liked that picture and I'm happy that it tugs at you to go for a walk in a lush forest!

Regarding our Meetup hikes, we had it all figured out! :D For the first half of the hike we'd be with the group, and just hike. At the half-way point we'd wave goodbye and off they'd go while we returned at a much slower pace to take pictures. It was ideal! We'd have to explain what we did to the hike organizers but once they understood this is what we always did and we promised to not get eaten by a bear, it was fine! Then of course we'd post our pictures to the Meetup event and everyone just loved it! Sometimes we took pictures of the hikers too and that was fun as well. A win-win situation until the hikes all became too large. 45 hikers is just stupid. We agreed that 20-25 was the max but it was always going over that so we just stopped going. A shame. :(

I loved reading about your Alaska adventure, your kids are just SO AWESOME to get such a generous gift for you guys!! :) Too bad about Kodiak but sounds like the rest of the trip was primo! We'd love to go on a cruise up there if we can figure out how to get plenty of on shore time too. (The only time we'd ever consider a cruise...or to other extreme northern or southern destinations)

Hmm, your enthusiasm for snowshoeing makes me wonder if it would work out...well, at some point I'll have to find out!! :)

Heh, not surprised to hear you love running too. It's been since I was about 18 yrs old that I was forced to stop. *whimper* There's nothing like the feeling you get from running, *sigh*...sorry that your injuries over the years stopped you too. BOO!!

Interesting to compare our various injuries...and how identical most of them are! If only there was a way to go back in time and undo the accidents, eh? Or embrace the warnings to not overstress your body when it says STOP. Oh well!

I hope you enjoy your bacon-wrapped steaks, they sound grand!!

I'm off! Have a great rest of your evening! :)