Category Archives: Troy’s Blog

Adventure, New Experiences, Rocky Moutain National Park, Troy's Blog

Monopoly Traveler Reflections–Flattop Mountain

January 23, 2022 Troy

The entire reason we were in Rocky Mountain National Park was because of Flattop Mountain Trail. We had been exploring this incredible and gorgeous national park for the past day and a half but now it was time to see the trail that was on our Monopoly Board. Our family spent the day viewing snow capped mountains, amazing waterfalls, and wildlife which brought us to Bear Lake. The trailhead for Flattop. With all of the exploring we had already done, the energy level was draining. We could have decided that this was close enough but it wouldn’t have felt right. How could we ask a ranger to sign our board, as we had been doing at each park to this point, if we at didn’t at least see the sign for this trail? Ready to go we exited our car and headed for the trail.

The first part of this hike takes you to Bear Lake before veering off past the lake to Flattop Mountain Trail. As we worked our way up the trail we came across a little wildlife hopping through. It was fun to see this Snow Hare in it’s summer dress – mostly a gray coat. In the photo above you can see it on the right side at the edge of a boulder. The girls are looking in its direction. We enjoyed just observing this rabbit as it searched for food near the trail. Eventually we decided to press on as it was getting later in the day and we wanted to be back at the car before dark fell over the mountains. We continued to make our way up this relatively easy trail, following signs for Flattop Mountain. Altitude was certainly being felt but wasn’t seeming to be a major issue. A short time later we arrived at the beginning of Flattop Mountain Trail as announced by a sign at the side of this trail.

At this point we took a short break to enjoy accomplishing our goal of stepping on Flattop Mountain Trail. It was never our intention to hike this whole trail as we were pretty worn out from exploring this large, mountainous wilderness. I walked up the trail a little ways being accompanied by my daughters before turning around and retreating back to the sign just to say I hiked on this trail pictured in our Monopoly board. From here headed back to the car and returned to our hotel after eating dinner for some much needed rest. We had successfully achieved what we had set out to do but I couldn’t help but ponder if this really counted as exploring the trail that brought us out to these Rocky Mountains.

Even though we managed to get to the trail we set out to find, A small part of me felt as though we kind of cheated and didn’t really experience the reason this trail was put on our Monopoly Board. Even so, there was really no intention of returning and hiking to the top of Flattop Mountain. As the years went by and we continued on family adventures, we came upon a summer with no park to explore. This feeling of not really hiking the Flattop Mountain Trail had grown more and more. This was also helped by our experience backpacking on Isle Royale for a few days. I grew in my confidence to be able to hike longer distances. And now wanting a summer trip to spend with the family decided to take on the challenge of getting to the top of this mountain and fulfilling this piece of the game. While planning this trip I also began to study maps, distances, and what we would need to do for this hike.

I began to train for the 10 mile hike round trip up into the mountains. Being unsure of how the altitude would affect me, I focused more on building my lung capacity than my leg muscles as I was pretty comfortable with the physical shape I was in. Eventually the time of our trip arrived. It was early August and we drove to Estes Park. This was the first time we returned to one of the National Parks we had already visited. Along the way we made stops at Pipestone National Monument and Scot’s Bluff National Monument so there were new places to see. Making it to Rocky Mountain National Park, I couldn’t stop thinking about whether or not I could really do this. Was I physically fit enough? How would the altitude impact me? The day before the planned hike my oldest daughter announced she was going to join me. She couldn’t let me do it alone. Who would be able to come back and tell mom if I got injured after all? I was thrilled to have company on this hike. Doing it alone just isn’t as enjoyable for me. I love sharing adventures with people.

We woke up about 3am to get dressed and head to the trailhead. We wanted to get an early start so we could make it to the top and begin our descent before storms began to build. And storms had been active and were forecast to remain active in this area. We each grabbed a hiking pole, turned on our flashlights, and began the 5 mile journey up the mountain. Everything looked so different that it was seven years ago. Of course it was also dark out and the may have played a part. One foot in front of the other we climbed higher and higher. By sunrise we had put a couple of miles behind us and were about to go above the tree line. We would stop for breaks every now and then but for the most part this hike was going well. Getting above the trees we began to be greeted by marmots venturing out of their nighttime hiding places for the morning. As we continued on we noticed some hikers behind us. We were the first ones on the trail on this day but now others were coming into sight. And they seemed to be catching up to us. A little more motivated we continued moving up the mountain side getting closer and closer to the top.

Finally our destination came into view. We were going to make it. The altitude had become a bit more of an impact now but we were still able to go. And with the hikers gaining behind us, we kept pushing. They were not going to beat us to the top! Step after step we finally reached the summit of Flattop Mountain. A few minutes later the next pair of hikers arrived. We all found a few boulders to sit on and grab a bite to eat enjoying the view around us. Chatting a little we found out that these other two were Marines and came out hiking frequently. No wonder they were able to catch up so quickly. After a little rest we continued to explore the top of the mountain and came upon the Continental Divide Trail. I decided to follow it for a little ways before returning to the summit of Flattop. We have finally completed this property on our Monopoly Board.

But now something else was stirring in my mind. The next adventure was behind me in the photo below. Off in the distance, over my should, there it stands – Longs Peak! The highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Hawaii, New Experiences, Troy's Blog

A New Year Begins

January 8, 2022 Troy

The last year has brought a lot of changes with one of those being able to celebrate the arrival of 2022 from Hawaii with family. For the first time in several decades my family had the opportunity to travel over the holidays and decided to take advantage of such a situation. The question was where? Hawaii was presented and accommodations were available but COVID could really be an issue as Hawaii had been pretty strict with people entering. As fall got under way we decided to begin booking a week in this paradise as the pandemic restrictions seemed to be staying the same, allowing us to spend a week vacationing without the need to quarantine first.

Christmas arrived which we were able to celebrate with family, unlike the year prior. As soon as our family gatherings were over, it was time to pack. Fortunately we had been doing some of this beforehand knowing there would only be a few days between Christmas and our trip. There was much to be done during the week both at work and home but New Year’s Eve day was upon us before we were ready. The next day would be a full day of flying. If everything went according to plan, we would be in the ocean before sunset for the last day of 2021.

It was 4am and the alarm began blaring, however we were already awake and beginning to get ready for our day. A short time later we were in the car on our way to the airport. It was an early flight out of Minneapolis with a stop in Los Angeles before continuing on to Hawaii. Moving through security without any issues we walked to our gate with just a short time before boarding the airplane would begin. Time kept ticking by but our flight did not board. Earlier in the week airlines had experienced a lot of cancelations due to COVID and technical problems. We kept wondering if they were effecting our flight on this morning. Now it was just a few minutes before we were supposed to leave and the announcement finally came that boarding would begin. Once we were seated, an alert came across the phone that our flight was delayed 45 minutes. By the time we were in the air it was more than that. Fortunately our connecting flight in LA had sent an alert that it was delayed a couple of hours so we shouldn’t miss it. Unfortunately my plan of being in the ocean before sunset was not likely to happen now. Oh well, if that’s the worst that happens it’s still a good day of travel.

As daylight began to fill the sky, the clouds became visible from our runway. Soon after we were flying through them watching snowflakes sweep by our windows as we continued higher. Eventually we made our way above them. The white, fluffy cotton like now floated below us appearing as a harmless blanket. Within a short time the rays of the rising sun made their way into the windows of the airplane and filling the sky with beautiful morning light. What a sight from this viewpoint. As we made our way across the country, clouds covered much of the ground below, but at one point mountain tops rose above them. It created a beautiful and scenic view from our tiny windows as we fly by admiring the snow covered rock sculptures.

Moving further west we finally broke out of the clouds allowing the landscape below to appear. We were almost to LAX at this point and could see this sprawling city coming into view. Continuing to descend towards our runway, SoFi Stadium appeared just outside our window – the home of Superbowl 56 which my wife and I will be a part of in the next month. It was nice to get a view of where we’ll be working for a few weeks. Minutes later we were on the ground and heading towards our next flight. With the that flight delayed we took some time to meet up with our final family member heading to Hawaii for New Years. Soon after meeting up, a portion of our group went on to meet some longtime friends on their way to the airport for a flight to Minneapolis. We only had a few moments together to swap hugs before each continuing on their journey. Amazing how things work out sometimes. Had our connecting flight not been delayed we would not have had the opportunity to meet up.

The day continued to pass by, however at a slower pace than normal since we continued to move west and time changes kept the clock moving at a slower rate. Once again in the air, the largest of cities began to shrink below with nothing but ocean ahead for several hours. Sitting back and trying to relax as the waves rolled below while this plane flew west, there was much anticipation of a tropical paradise. Finally we began to lower in the sky and see land once again. Moments later we landed for the last time and retrieved our luggage as the sun lowered to the horizon. With color filling the evening sky, we loaded everything into our car for the week and headed towards our place of residence. Along the way fireworks began exploded across the hillside in celebration of the end of 2021 turning to a New Year. Throughout the night these fireworks continued raining down eventually lulling us to sleep after a very long day of travel. We awoke to explosions going off all over Kona, Hawaii signaling the arrival of 2022. With a brief smile I passed out once again anxious to awaken to daylight and ocean waves to start a New Year in a way I’ve never experienced before. Will this set a new tone for the up coming year? It certainly can’t hurt, right?

Photos, Seasons, Troy's Blog, Winter

A Winter Solstice Treat

December 24, 2021 Troy

On the winter solstice I went out hoping to catch a glimpse of the comet Leonard which is possibly visible just after sunset. Unfortunately I didn’t see any signs of it and became frustrated when clouds began to cover the horizon. It was a cold night with temperatures near 10 degrees F and I was about to head back home when something unusual started to appear. My first thought was the Northern Lights. Quickly I knew this was not the aurora especially since I was shooting towards the south. A brief detour, the bright white dot just above the trees is Venus. Saturn and Jupiter are also in the picture higher up towards the left diagonally. Uncertain of exactly what was happening I continued to photograph the sky. Unfortunately my equipment was somewhat incomplete for such photography. I had a tripod but ended up having the wrong connector on the camera so I needed to figure out a way to shoot long exposure pictures. Using hard surfaces and a timer on the camera, I continued to shoot the sky all around me which you can see in the panorama below as these lights continued to hang in the night sky slowly changing. Sometimes shining brightly and then fading. The size would climb higher in the sky and then become shorter again.

I enjoyed these for about 45 minutes before they disappeared. Finally getting back into the car I could barely feel my fingers and toes. Quickly turning on the heat, I started driving and remembered seeing photos of these sky lights before but couldn’t remember what they were called or what causes them. Once home, the camera batteries went on the charger and I began to search lights in the night sky. Finally the answer was found – they are simply called light pillars. These are caused by ice crystals reflecting area lights and probably moonlight from the nearly full moon almost at the horizon. What an amazing surprise to celebrate this shortest day of the year! From what I can find, since all of the conditions which have to be just right for these to appear, they are more rare than the Northern Lights. Finally, a positive creation from all of our light pollution I guess.

Photos, Troy's Blog, Winter

Digging Into a Snow Drift

December 19, 2021 Troy

Recently we had several inches of snow in the forecast and I wanted to get some great photos of it. The next morning called for cold and clear skies so I headed out to a nearby park to capture images of the fresh snow before the days sunlight began to melt it away. The sky was less interesting than I’d hoped with clouds covering the horizon and clear skies above meaning no color in the clouds or sun at the horizon. Eventually the sun rose above the clouds to shower everything in warm, bright light. What I did find were patterns in snow from winds blowing strongly during the snowfall. It created some dramatic drifts carefully carved with each flake driven into the ground by forceful winds. Why does the snow remain in one streak while the rest of it was blown away?

What fascinates me is taking a closer look at these drifts and seeing the patterns and layers. Imagining what was happening while they’re being created. In this case, how did the snow go together in each layer? What I also find amazing is the same forces that create these drifts are also factors in how stone and sand are naturally carved – especially sandstone in the desert Southwest of the United States. Only snow drifts happen much faster so we can witness it in a matter of hours.

As the snow was falling, I took some time to capture a few of these and photograph them. It was a challenge for several reasons – the temperatures were near freezing so they melted quickly once under the camera, they were small as far as snowflakes go, and the crystals formed in all directions which is unusual.

In the picture above the blurry bright area on the lower right is a toothpick. This gives you something to compare how small these individual snow flakes were. Knowing how small these were makes me question what impact that had on the drifts created? If these ice crystals had been bigger, as they often are, the drifts would have formed differently with different patterns and shapes. In the top pictures there’s a very narrow drift. I’m certain it would not have been possible with larger snowflakes as they can get picked up easier by the wind, whereas these smaller ones are probably more aerodynamic allowing them to stay in place. What protected that little strip of snow? I didn’t look at that at the time of photographing the imagine so I’m not sure.

During the snowfall, these were the types of flakes falling. With each crystal appearing to be in a random direction, there were lots of interesting shapes to look at as they began to melt. One of the pieces that amazed me was how thick each of these crystals were compared to their overall size which is easier to see with larger images. One of the questions I had was did each of these snowflakes form this way or were there many small crystals that collided together to form these? It’s intriguing to think about and try to solve this question in an effort to learn what conditions are needed for such a ice crystal to be made.

fall, Lake Superior, Photos, Troy's Blog

Late Fall Colors of Lake Superior

Image December 12, 2021 Troy

Early in November there was an afternoon trip to Duluth to pick up my daughter from college for the weekend. I never like to just go there and turn around to come home. There’s too much to explore along the Great Lake which comes to a point in Duluth. I stopped at a park on the North side just to get out and breath in the air flowing off this Great Lake. Surprisingly there were some magnificent fall colors still painting the shoreline. Fortunately I had the camera with as I’ve learned to never go to this area without it. While the grand landscape of fall colors had disappeared, there were trees here and there showing off their fall displays. Most of these were Mountain Ash Trees with a few Maples mixed in.

Mountain Ash were showing off their incredible shades of orange and yellow, depending on where in the tree you looked. Topping off this display were beautiful orange clusters of berries which complemented its foliage for such a striking fall arrangement growing next to the dark granite shores of the lake. Taking pictures of the overall trees seem to lose the vibrancy of these oranges and yellows. In addition, the trees that surrounded them had all lost their leaves and now only had bare sticks to show making for a much less interesting picture. It was a cool fall day with a light breeze blowing off the lake and the sun covered by clouds. Yet it was relaxing to stroll along the shore to take in the fading show of fall, capturing a piece of the show here and there with the camera.

As I continued to photograph the Mountain Ash trees, a birch tree kept distracting me with it beautiful white bark interrupted by dark scars as the tree repaired areas damaged previously. Eventually I turned the camera towards this birch tree working to capture this interesting bark. When I used the right angle, Mountain Ash leaves and berries would contrast beautifully with this bark allowing the photograph to show the white bark beginning to peel from the trunk as birch do. Areas where branches once danced in the breeze were now covered in dark, rough bark making an interesting view next to this white bark. Having taking a few shots and now satisfied with the pictures I captured, it was off to explore more areas of this park.

Heading towards Duluth, there’s an amphitheater with the historic lift bridge residing in the distance. Here a young maple tree continued to hold on to its blazing red leaves while all of those around it had recently lost theirs. This created a bed of red and yellow on the ground as if to pay homage to this last tree holding on to it precious life giving foliage. A beautiful final fall display as winter snows will soon cover it all in white. Off to campus to reunite with our daughter and prepare for the long drive home as darkness would spread across the freeway.

Flowers, Photos, Troy's Blog

A Little Summer Flower Abstract Photography

November 21, 2021 Troy

From time to time I enjoy photographing things at a magnified rate showing details that can often show a different view. The photo above is from a tropical hibiscus flower. I really like how colorful the photo is even though much of it is out of focus. That limited focus was intentional to show all of the hairs on each stigma which bring out interesting textures. The blurry background compliments these stigma providing some great contrasting colors brought out by the right lighting to highlight those colors. It can be a fun challenge to get a shot set up at this magnification determining what to focus on, how to compose the shot, and how to use existing lighting or add lighting in certain places. Once these are put together you can produce some interesting pictures.

While out enjoying a public garden I noticed this agave plant and was intrigued by the colorful margins outlining each leaf along with the sharp tip which produced a nice color gradient. Crouching down to find an interesting view to highlight these features I noticed something quickly scurry out of view. With a little patience, a spider slowly revealed itself among these sharp leaves. Clearly well protected. Once the spider was in sight I began snapping away, capturing the contrasting red leaf margins and the brown with green fuzzy spider among the nice green leaves of the agave. Sometimes there’s a nice bonus to add another element to a composition. In this case it changed what my focal subject was, making the agave secondary instead of the main subject. Being able to adapt to opportunities like this can be a positive thing and sometimes a distracting thing if you only have few moments to capture your subject with the perfect light.

Taking a stroll through some gardens revealed a mix of two colors of celosia. I liked the contrast of this red bloom surrounded by gold flowers and spent some time annoying others as I blocked a nice portion of the path so I could find a composition to bring out these contrasting colors.

The photo below is of a kale leaf. I liked the texture of the ruffled edges along with the color of the leaf against the background. The background is actually a hibiscus flower which provided some great contrasting colors. The shadows created from having light coming from the side also create some interest for me. All of the characteristics cause me to want to explore the photo more. Paths created from all of the curves that are both in focus and out of focus in this leaf just ask to be visually followed up and down and to the right and left. There is no visible pattern to be found in the direction each turn takes.

These are considered abstract pictures for a reason. They can be interesting to one person while others find them distracting or lack enough to spend any time looking at. I enjoy looking at plants and other subjects from this perspective because I see things and learn about them in ways I would not have expected. Additionally, we don’t often seek out this level of detail which can be fascinating. Hopefully they are interesting and enjoyable to others as well.

Adventure, Monopoly Traveler Reflections, New Experiences, Troy's Blog

Monopoly Traveler Reflections–Altitude

November 14, 2021 Troy

It was my first time exploring in a mountain landscape. Driving up into the Rocky Mountains with my wife, two children, and my dad made for an incredible experience as we were in awe of the beauty everywhere we turned. It was early July so only the mountain peaks had snow while the pine forests were green and the tundra alive with flowers everywhere. The sun was shining with puffy white clouds floating across the blue sky. In Estes Park where we started it was a nice, warm summer day but as we ascended towards the peaks it became windy and cooler. Only a light jacket was needed still but a noticeable difference. On this, our first full day in Rocky Mountain National Park, we started in the valleys but worked our way up the mountain stopping occasionally to gaze at the grandeur of the sights surrounding us. By lunch time we had arrived at the top of this peak to the Alpine Meadows Visitors center. Strangely breathing had become more labored. Our pace of walking needed to be slowed or it felt like we had run a distance and were now short of breath.

We were now over 11,000 feet in altitude and had never experienced this before. Getting use to it a little it became more intriguing to continuing exploring with this shortness of breath. After looking around in the visitor center and enjoying the views from this location, we grabbed something to eat and then headed for the short climb to the summit at 12, 000 feet. I felt as though I was back in training camp for high school football as each step required more and more effort. On top of this, the clouds seemed to be building and there was a sign warning not to be up there when there’s a threat of lightning and thunderstorms. With more clouds now filling the sky we wanted to make our way up somewhat hurriedly and return to the visitor’s center before any storms arrived. What a great experience and view to share with my family! Who would ever think it would be the beginning of more mountain adventures?

fall, migration, Photos, Seasons, Troy's Blog

The Sandhill Crane Migration

November 7, 2021 Troy

It’s the time of year again when Sandhill cranes gather in large flocks to begin their migration for the winter. It’s a scene that is always magnificent with cranes filling the sky while calling out to each other as they locate their perfect spot to spend a night. Thousands of these pre-historic birds gather for several weeks during the fall to gorge on area corn fields in preparation for the journey south. It’s an event amazing to witness and one that I try to participate in every year and thankfully had an afternoon, although last minute, to check out their return from the local fields to their roosting place.

I arrived as the sun was nearing the horizon requiring me to hurry as it’s almost a 2 mile hike to where I was headed. The cranes were already heading back and as I got closer I could hear their unmistakable calls going back and forth. Finally coming into view of the wetland area I could begin seeing flocks of cranes already landed with more overhead coming in. I still had almost a mile to go and continued on my brisk pace stopping occasionally to enjoy these birds as they flew by. Finally I arrived at the spot I had scouted out a few years back and took out the camera. I wanted to set it on my tripod but didn’t give myself enough time to set it up without spooking a lot of cranes so my photos required hand holding into the decreasing light. Even if it didn’t turn out as desired, I had a great time and enjoyed watching as these birds gliding against the setting sun while listening to their familiar sounds.

With darkness filling the landscape I returned back to my car ready to call it a night. Arriving to the area I had parked, I was greeted by a couple of DNR officers inquiring about my activities. It was hunting season and they were looking for my license had I been out participating. I quickly showed my weapon of choice on this night – my camera, and was dismissed to head out with little more said. Another fun hunt for pictures on a nice fall day.

fall, Photos, Troy's Blog

The Vibrant Colors of Fall

October 30, 2021 Troy

Earlier this fall I went in search of beautiful fall landscapes with my family. I’m addicted ever since my camping trip to the North Shore last fall and the colors put on a spectacular show. This year is a different year, as they all are, and the colors were more challenging to find but they were there, just had to be found. There were pockets here and there as some trees had changed and quickly lost those leaves while others remained green. It may not have been as grand s sight as a year ago, but it was still enjoyable to explore the North Shore of Minnesota as it’s a beautiful area nearly all of the time.

Finding areas more protected from the wind allowing the trees to keep their vibrant leaves yielded those beautiful sights I was searching for. It was an amazing fall day with temperatures reaching the lower 70’s Fahrenheit under mostly sunny skies. Being able to see some incredible fall leaves only added to a relaxing day in the North woods. Much of the day was spent driving around gravel roads taking in the views, stopping on occasion to admire the show being put on by trees here and there.

My photos tended to be more concentrated on these pockets of vibrant colors and the changing leaves themselves as a result of what was available. Still a beautiful sight as even these pockets were uncertain after a very dry summer. It was expected that the trees may just drop their leaves once cooler nights approached with shorter days. Fortunately there were some timely rains to provide enough moisture for these leaves to change and stay on the trees for many to see.

We came across an area which I thought was available only to people participating in activities there but turned out to be open to visitors. This area had some amazing autumn displays, some of the best we came across on this afternoon. And there weren’t a lot of people using the trails and overlooks available to explore making it even more peaceful and enjoyable.

While on one of these trails, a grouse came on to the trail as if to lead us on a fall color tour for awhile. Eventually it decided to abandon the tour and continue on its way. A nice addition to this already beautiful afternoon!

Adventure, Camping, Minnesota, Sunrise, Troy's Blog

Catching a Beautiful Summer Sunrise

October 24, 2021 Troy

There are days when photographing the beautiful landscape around you comes at a cost. Often that cost is sleep. On this particular morning I wanted to capture the sunrise over Hayes Lake. A manmade lake surrounded by forest created from a small river flowing in that has been damned off. The challenge with being awake for the sunrise was that I had spent much of the night photographing the Milkyway rising from the horizon over this calm lake. And before that, the day included searching for Minnesota’s native orchids of which several were found, but that meant little rest during the day (and night). The conditions just presented the opportunity I was looking for for each of these possible photographs.

During the day, several orchids were in bloom and there was no rain expected (although passing showers popped up) making it a good opportunity to search for them. Along with spending hours in search of as many orchids as I could find, there were other native plants in bloom along with areas to explore all day long. Food? Not sure how important that really is. A few bites of something should be enough and on to the next area needing to be seen. After a day of adventure it was time to return to the campsite for a brief meal. Once this was complete, the sky continued to clear so out to do a little scouting for nighttime photos. An advantage of giving myself time was being able to enjoy the beautiful sunset. With just a few clouds floating across the sky, the colors provided a great end to the day.

With a little time before it would be dark enough to capture the night sky and a few potential places to set up the camera, I returned to the campsite and enjoyed an evening fire. As I started to relax I began to question if I really wanted to go back with the camera. My pillow was started to really call after a day of exploring and the time nearing midnight. As darkness engulfed the landscape, the stars shown brightly with not a cloud to hide them. A great situation to photograph the night sky with very little light pollution. One of the darkest skies I’ve had the chance to spend the night under. How could I possibly pass up this situation? Dragging myself into the car I returned to the lake where I was earlier and set up the camera. As those first pictures lit up on the screen I was re-energized and kept shooting away trying different things and different compositions. As the night wore on, fog began to develop across the lake making it more challenging to capture sharp pictures.

It was now after 3am and the sun would begin filling the horizon in just a few hours and this fog could make for some great sunrise photos. Do I just stay awake and enjoy the quiet morning hours? I decided to go back to the vehicle, turn on the heat to at least warm my hands and feet which were now pretty cold and see if I could get in a brief nap. Sleep could come back at the campsite once the sun made it’s way higher in the sky. At least that’s what I convinced myself of. I woke to a small amount of light entering the area and a few minutes later was back out at the lake setting up for the imminent sunrise. Just as I had hoped, the fog continued to float across the glass like surface I had left a short time before. Continuing to shoot away, I was enjoying the world waking up around me welcoming a new summer day and eventually capturing the image at the top. Returning to get some sleep? A new day had arrived and there was more exploring to do. Maybe an early night to catch up…..

Gaining Life Experience