The Traveling Widower

Tag: california

  • Enough Already

    April 13, 2026

    A man standing in front of Delicate Arch in a rain-soaked landscape, wearing a plastic cover over his camera, with another camera on a tripod nearby.
    AI, not real, and I have a much better camera cover

    If you follow the Weather Channel, or live in California,  you probably noticed that we have had what seems like a winter storm in spring. It’s been raining (more like pouring) for a couple of days, and snowing in the Sierra. We normally do not get thunder and lightning storms here but there have been some booming storms rolling through at night. I would not care usually, other than worrying if my pool will overflow into the house. That has never happened, but I always need something to worry about (it’s in my genes). The last time I checked the rain gauge in the backyard, it was up to 4.5 inches.

    A clear glass rain gauge with a pink top, partially filled with water, set in a garden background featuring green foliage and decorative elements.

    That’s  a lot of rain.

    Unfortunately, some activities that I like to do are dependent on relatively dry weather. I was scheduled for a birds of prey photo shoot this weekend, where we had setup shots of hawks and owls at a local falconry organization. That would have been a lot of fun, but they do not fly their birds when it’s raining. Makes sense. I would not want to be standing out in the rain with my camera gear anyway, and the shoot has been rescheduled in May. They have a Shriek Owl, and I really wanted to get some shots of the little guy. We have them in the woods behind the house, and can hear them calling at night. We used to sit out on the patio to listen to them. Sigh.

    My main concern with this weather pattern is my upcoming trip to Moab Utah which is for a course in astrophotography. It’s going to be really hard photographing the Milky Way if there is a lot of cloud cover. Depending on which weather service you look at, most of the nights for my stay in Moab will have some cloud cover, and on some nights, rain. Expletive removed. I have been exceptionally lucky with my travels the past year + – the only significant rain I’ve had on a trip so far, was the first day on the Road Scholars trip, in Snow Canyon Utah. It was kind of fun hiking in the rain that day. But the rest of that trip was perfect, and you can get some interesting shots with rain and clouds in Red Rock country. As long as you have a rain cover for the camera. Which I do have for all my cameras and lenses.

    Three hikers on a wet, rocky trail in a desert landscape, wearing rain gear amidst cloudy skies.
    Real photo
    A scenic view of a rocky landscape under cloudy skies, showcasing layered rock formations and distant mountains with a hint of fog.

    We did get some rain going through the Panama Canal this past month, but we were on the ship by then, and it sort of added to the overall experience as we went through the canal locks. Besides, everyone other than myself was drinking heavily, so it was a really nice party.

    A group of people gathered at night near a large lock structure with illuminated ships in the background.
    A nighttime view of a ferry boat with passengers on the upper deck, preparing to depart.
    View from the deck of a boat in a lock at night, with rain visible and illuminated structures along the waterway.

    I’ve never been to Arches before, and have not been to Moab since 1970. I imagine it has changed in 56 years. Hopefully for the better. If this is the same hotel I stayed at with my undergraduate geology field camp, I hope they do not remember my name. Another long story involving a large group of long-haired, muddy, tired geology students and a lot of beer. Some other time.

    At any rate, I have a free day when I get there before the course starts, and plan to do some day hiking – the weather should be OK then. Once the course starts, we have three straight nights of Milky Way photography in the park, between midnight and dawn. Thursday and Friday look grim on the forecast, but Saturday night may be OK. All of that could change by the time I get there so who knows. I have no clue as to what the trip lead will do if it rains. The course ends on Monday, but I’m staying an extra two days, and the weather is clearing both days. So, I may have more opportunities on my own. I’m not going to stress out about it – I’ll make the best of the situation.Just roll with it.

    I must be due for something good happening…ongoing medical issues, having to bail out on the Baja Gray Whale trip, still living the life of Eleanor Rigby at home and being forced to give up wine (and martinis!!). And now a potential wash out of a trip I have really been looking forward to. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket. Something’s gotta give (a great Jack Nicolson movie).

    Peace

  • Hot and Humid Part II – A Wondrous Day

    Close-up of a lizard perched on a branch, showcasing its textured skin and prominent eye against a natural background.

    March 26th, 2026

    This has definitely been the strangest trip I’ve been on since I started my new life of traveling. Maybe strange is the wrong word, but this definitely has been different in terms of the wide variety of activities I’ve participated in.

    Today (Thursday) was focused on a full day of activities in one particular area quite a ways west of the Golfito Bay, where multiple activities started from a single point – Playa Blanca. We had to sign up for two activities a few days ago, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, all of which required short bus rides from the beach. Most of the activities were focused on exploring some Costa Rican family run eco-related business, as well as a bit of Costa Rican culture. It was another wet landing (boo hiss), this time to a large public beach where we had reserved space for our lunch activities, and where the charter buses would pick us up. This time, I had appropriate water shoes. No more dancing through the rocks (ouch!)

    I chose a rain forest hike, at a privately owned eco-lodge and park for the morning adventure. A very good choice.  The lodge (https://www.dantalodge.com/) was absolutely beautiful, and had trails wandering off into the rain forest. Our hike crossed a few creeks, and meandered up a somewhat steep trail (with a rope handrail) which peaked at a three story observation tower. Along the way, we stopped to photograph anything of interest we spotted along the trail  – this included some birds and a lot of amphibians and lizards – small Basalisk “Jesus Christ” lizards (they walk on water) were found along streams, and there were some extremely small (and lightly poisonous) frogs in the leaf litter along the trail. 

    A bird with a striped brown and white plumage standing on rocks by a stream, surrounded by green foliage and fallen leaves.
    Close-up of a thick tree trunk covered in spiky texture, surrounded by green leaves and a large brown leaf resting nearby.
    A small brown and black frog camouflaged among fallen leaves and branches on the forest floor.
    A group of hikers crossing a wooden bridge in a dense, green rainforest.
    A panoramic view of a lush green jungle with a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds, featuring a leafless tree in the foreground.
    A colorful woodpecker peeking from a textured tree trunk against a blurred green background.

    There was not really an abundance of wildlife, but it was just an enjoyable hike – it was hot and humid, but were in the shade most of the way, and we had a great naturalist describing everything as we strolled along at a reasonable pace.

    Once we made it back to the lodge, the owner provided a nice selection of fruits and juices, and the best empanada I’ve ever eaten. We also spotted some Toucans, and I found a large Basalisk, sunning itself in a fountain. A great photo-op.

    A bamboo structure with a metal roof, surrounded by lush greenery and tropical plants, featuring a pathway leading to the entrance. People can be seen inside the building, engaging in various activities.
    Interior view of a wooden structure surrounded by greenery, featuring bamboo columns, wooden furniture, and a spacious wooden floor.
    A lizard sitting on a wooden surface, displaying its textured skin and long tail, with shadows and natural background elements.

    And I finally managed to get a couple of half-way decent shots of a Toucan.

    A close-up of a toucan's colorful head and beak partially hidden behind a tree branch, surrounded by green foliage.
    A toucan perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.

    After we were done re-hydrating and relaxing, we boarded our air-conditioned bus for the short ride back to the beach.

    The Nat Geo/Lindblad crew really does a great job of introducing the guests not only to local culture, but also to the country’s efforts to maintain the environment of their lands and ocean. Aside from a nice barbecue lunch, we were entertained by a local dance group, and then had another presentation by an organization that tracks and rehabs sea turtles – they brought along a recently captured one, to show us how they record information on the turtles, clean them up if necessary, and the re-release the guy. Which they did. A happy turtle.

    A woman dressed in traditional attire with a white blouse and a purple skirt is dancing outdoors. The setting includes canopies and other people in the background, creating a festive atmosphere.
    A group of dancers performing a traditional dance outdoors, wearing colorful folkloric costumes. The scene features bright blue, red, and gold outfits, with dancers showcasing vibrant movements under sunny trees.

    I chose a visit to a chocolate (cocoa) plantation for my afternoon outing. Another great choice – Finka Cobo (http://www.fincakobo.com/). It turned into a combination garden/flora walk and Squirrel Monkey photo-op. Woo hoo. We walked the garden with the owner and our own National Geographic naturalists, with the owner describing non-stop all the plants, the history of his property, the different fruit varieties….a veritable fountain of knowledge. Once we got to the cocoa plants, he gave a great demonstration of the process behind turning the cocoa beans into chocolate – even got to chew on a bean or two. I knew it was a complex process, but it was great to actually see what the producers had to go through. 

    Close-up of a tree trunk with greenish bark showing small white flowers and a blueish patch near the base.
    Close-up of delicate white and yellow flowers blooming on a textured tree trunk, with green lichen accents.

    Along the way, we had already spotted a bunch of squirrel monkeys bouncing through the trees – photographing them became the focus of the rest of our walk. These little buggers are difficult to photograph, as they move quickly through the thick foliage. But if you are persistent, you can get a couple of good shots. They are not exactly cute – the look like little devils!

    A squirrel monkey hanging upside down from a branch, surrounded by dense green foliage.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a tree branch surrounded by large green leaves.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a branch amidst lush green leaves in a forested environment.

    Eventually, we did need to stop taking pictures, and headed back to the main lodge where they set up some fruit with chocolate sauce and a wonderful chocolate cake. This turned into a day for gorging on different foods. Diet time when I get home. And they also had those cute little Long Nosed Bats on the ceiling – at least I think they are cute.

    A bat hanging upside down on a textured wall.

    And there were lots of beautiful flowers in the garden – a bit of everything.

    A close-up of a vibrant pink orchid flower with a darker purple lip, surrounded by green leaves and natural foliage.
    A vibrant red and yellow heliconia flower hanging among green leaves in a tropical setting.

    We eventually got back in our nice, air conditioned bus, to return to the beach and get wet shoes again to board a Zodiac back to the ship. A long but great day.

    Peace