Cam Check

Sunday was a beautiful day to get up on Mt. Tam and check my trail cams.

This morning my wife dropped me off with my ebike at the gate across from the closed Pantoll parking lot, and from there I rode up to Rock Spring, hiked out to the cams, then rode back home to San Francisco. I'd thought about trying to ride the whole round-trip, but I wasn't sure I'd have enough battery power to pull it off. I rode home trying to save power by using "battery off" mode on downhills and level ground and found I still used maybe 2/5 of the battery. Would 3/5 have gotten me up the mountain from home (about 22 miles each way)? I think it would have been pretty close. Something to try another day. I found several working electrical outlets near the Mountain Theater and thought I might use one next time to recharge the battery while I hike.

Bright-eyed foxes and other usual suspects. Still no Bigfoot appearance.

Here's that big dusky-footed wood rat again. He showed up quite a few times at this cam site. Nice ears.

Early morning light on a field of False Lupine.

I liked seeing how the weather changed on April 16. Here it's about 8:30 in the morning...

...and here it's ten hours later.

Lots of turkeys gobbling on the mountain today.

Serpentine Onion 

(or sickle-leaf onion, Allium falcifolium)

This jackie must have been moving pretty quickly, tripping this cam at 8:30...

...then this one two seconds later.... 

No, not quite. I do reset the time on each cam when I change batteries, but they are not actually synchronized to the second.

I just love how perfect this fox's fur looks.

I also love how happy this coyote looks.

Phone shot of a mossy oak tree glistening with dew in the morning light.

Lots of spotted coral root taking over the native orchid duties from the calypsos.

Nice antlers coming in. 

First fawn of the season.

Pretty great camouflage.

Had to stop and feast my soul on beautiful Bolinas Ridge one last time before heading home. Such a beautiful day, not too hot or cold, and not even too windy yet. The green is still refreshingly beautiful, but it's fading, and I won't be surprised if it's brown the next time I get up there. A whole spring is going to come and go while we're all taking shelter from the coronavirus, but with a little luck they'll open the mountain up soon.

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Glen Park Coyote

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Ascent to Glory

California Light, San Francisco's Sunset District

The Ascent

Skyline from Grandview Park

Glory

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I've been bringing my phone camera along on all my walks since the stay-at-home went into effect, taking a picture a day from about the same spot looking out toward Mt. Tam from Grandview Park. Occasionally I'll see something else along the walk that I want to photograph.

Once before today I thought I might have a chance to see a glory but that one fizzled out as the fog rose too high. This morning, though, the light and fog came together just right. 

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Lucky Dogs

Yosemite in April, and only a lucky few who get to enjoy it this year. Can you imagine being able to shelter in place in Yosemite Valley? I think I could handle that for quite some time.

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Joshua Tree

I'm not sure I'm going to keep posting these virtual photography trips from bygone days. They're making me antsy to go outside and do the real thing. One thing's for sure, we will never take "freedom to roam" for granted again.

Although Joshua Tree and pretty much every other national park are closed for the duration, there is a bright side. For the wildlife, at least.

Plus we get to breathe significantly cleaner air. The last time I was in Joshua Tree the Keys View overlook was choked out with smog. Check out the Purple Air map now. Take a picture of it. Then check it out again after the world gets its carbon curve back into hockey stick mode. 

Boulder & Juniper

Gambel's Quail

Flowering Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree Flower Close-Up

California Thrasher

Phainopepla

Fishhook Cactus

Mojave Mound Cactus

The Easter Bunny

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The Outback

Putting a load of laundry in the dryer, another in the wash. Pouring some kibble for the cat who just woke from her nap and brushed with a meow against my leg. Down the stairs to our little garden looking so fine with a sky-fallen coat of jewels in the leaves, Easter colors in the bleeding hearts. Finding spiritual renewal in my own back yard.

Bleeding Heart (cropped)

Bleeding Heart Leaves

Miner's Lettuce

Unfurling Fern

Selfheal

Calla Lily Leaf

Calla Lily

White Garden Flower (whose name I no longer recall).

Pink Garden Flower (whose name I no longer recall).

Orange Garden Flower (whose name I no longer recall).

I Should Remember the Name of This Common Garden Herb 

But it's Slipping My Mind

Yard Buddha

Yard Buddha's Cat

May a sense of life renewed 

fill your souls every day, 

wherever you are.

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