America and Canada are crammed with beautiful sights that range from mountains to deserts to oceans, to plains, to rivers… and well the list just goes on and on. This is a waterfall from Old Stone Fort State Park in Tennessee.
Continuing on with our 2016 journeys, Peggy and I left Oregon in March to retrace my 1989, 10,000 mile bike journey around North America. We were on the road until mid-June, and I just wrapped up my posts on the trip. It took me longer to write about it than it did to bike it! The truth of this is that I can’t begin to capture the experience in ten photos. It was a challenge to me to capture it in 54 posts and 1000 photos. None-the-less, here are a few random shots:
I started my journey in the foothills of California in the spring. In a couple of months the green grass here would be brown, or golden as they call it in California.
One of the more challenging parts of my ride was through Death Valley. Twenty Mule Canyon was on my way out of the National Park on my way into Nevada.
I found a touch of outer space when I rode by the Very Large Array of radio telescopes as I rode down the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains in New Mexico.
Literally dozens of roadside sculptures entertained me on my bike trip and then Peggy and me as we re-drove the route. Peggy and I found this 25 foot high longhorn in West Texas, where you would expect to find it.
Louisiana is bayou country, the place where you expect to see water moccasins slithering through the water, or get good reflection shots.
The Natchez Trace and the Blue Ridge Highway are both beautiful. It’s the Trace here. An added advantage of both National Park highways is that no commercial traffic is allowed. Translate: I wasn’t dodging 18-wheelers.
I found this small waterfall beside the road in the Great Smokey Mountains. Dozens, maybe of hundreds of such falls graced my trip.
The Atlantic Ocean greeted me along this rocky shoreline of the Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia. This was my fastest point east. After this it was time to turn around and ride 5,000 miles west.
A stream along the Trans-Canada Highway in Ontario. My rivers ranged from the mighty Mississippi to mere trickles.
I crossed several mountain ranges including the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies twice. It is a photo of the Rockies in Montana.
One thing I learned over and over is that beauty comes in all shapes and forms, such as this lonely tree in North Dakota.
Whoops. I just counted my photos. There are 12. I’ll call it a bakers 10.
Wandering through Time and Place 
You are a visual artist! Thank you for sharing your experiences and beautiful photography! 🙂
Thanks, Karen. What a nice compliment. –Curt
Ahhhhh…. there’s that tree, again. It is beautiful. My other favorite from this group is the little stream along the Trans-Canada. The second, rocks-in-gree-grass, photo looks a bit like a mini Stonehenge!
I can’t resist the tree or small streams, Linda. 🙂 As for the rocks, they reflect memories of my childhood growing up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. I’ve always found the rocks beautiful and a wee-bit mysterious. Usually found among the oaks, they have a definite Druid feeling to them. –Curt
I enjoyed taking that trip with you Curt – where are you going next year?
I have three thoughts, Andrew. One will be to continue to explore the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. Two, as I mentioned before is to head for Ireland, but I might throw in a bit of Scotland and England. (I’ll be doing genealogical research.) Three is a multi week backpacking trip through the mountains of Northern and Central California. –Curt
Sounds like a good set of plans! I am going to Valencia and Murcia, two cities in Spain that I haven’t yet visited, Ireland in July and then Portugal for most of September. Here’s to happy travels!
Absolutely, Andrew! Here’s to happy traveling. –Curt
I’m such a sucker for nature photos and these are wonderful representations of just how gorgeous and diverse our beautiful USA is. I loved K.D. Dowdall’s comment that you are a “visual artist”. Very fitting my friend…
As much as I love to wander the world, Joanne, I am always impressed with the beauty of America. Expect lots of nature this coming year! Thanks. –Curt
Great photos, Curt! Cheers to more journeys in 2017! Looking forward to seeing the three trips you mentioned in the comment above. 🙂
Thanks, Kelly. It should be a fun/interesting year. Likewise with your journeys. 🙂 -Curt
The first shot is stunning. As for the visits with family this wk, you are a rich man, Curt.
Very rich indeed, D.
Great collection of photos Curt! I especially always love your landscape shots. Here’s to more in 2017!
Peta
Many, many more are coming, Peta. On to 2017! –Curt
Some absolutely beautiful photos in this lot Curt. My favourites – the opening waterfall, the next two after it, the small waterfall in the Smokies, and the lone tree. As you say – beauty comes in all shapes and forms.
Alison
That waterfall made it into our annual family calendar, Alison! 🙂 And beauty is darn near everywhere, as you and Don know so well. –Curt
“or golden as they call it in California.” Yes! We prefer golden grass to brown grass! This comes from an old friend of mine who told me that it will make me feel better when everything turns … brown. She was right!
Such lovely pics from your trip. I’m a fan of waterfalls, so I especially love the photos you took of them.
Growing up in the foothills of the Sierra’s Evelyne, I got quite used to “golden,” starting in May. 🙂 As for waterfalls, what’s not to love! –Curt
So many astounding sights but really that 25m bull takes the cake or the beef roast. Happy New Year to you both and looking forward to what lies ahead on your path in 2017!
He was definitely a Texas kind of bull, Sue, right down to his anatomy. 🙂 –Curt
Love the photos.
Thanks, Jane. –Curt
I remember some of the lovely photos. It was easy to recognize “outer space”. 🙂
Thanks, Timi. I like to think that some of my photos, as well as words, make their way into people’s minds. 🙂 –Curt
Great combo of pics from your travels. You are fortunate to have seen so many things in so many places, and we’re fortunate to see them through your eyes! Love that longhorn!
It was a great trip. Rusha. One for reviewing the bike route, but even more so for seeing so much of the US and Canada again. Always glad to share. –Curt