Good Bye to Old Friends and Hello to New and a Day Trip!

Yesterday morning some great friends left the park for home - I hope Ed & Shirley have a safe trip. I said my good-byes early in the morning before driving 70 miles to meet an old Photography Forum friend for the first time in person.

Toni Ard and I met online in an Olympus forum years ago, but never had the opportunity to meet in person. She was new in photography and I helped her with some crtique and also answered many questions on processing in photoshop over the years. We both are no longer active in the forum, it has died a slow miserable death. Last year Toni decided to change camera brands and switched from Olympus to Canon and was kind enough to work a deal with me to purchase her nearly new Olympus E-5 camera body - the one I shoot now. Last year when I was in Twentynine Palms we attempted to meet up for a day of shooting, but never was able to make it happen.

Yesterday we both arrived at The Living Desert in Palm Springs at nearly the same time, perfect timing. We spent most of the day at the park and had lunch afterwards, it was great finally meeting someone in person who you had online contact with for a number of years.

Toni's photography skills have really matured over the past several years, she has become an exceptional photographer. I am happy to say I was around to witness her transformation.

It was a fun day and I took a few pics!

Ostrich Portrait!

Black Crowned Night Heron

Busy planning my trip to Ohio in a few weeks so stay tuned for more fun!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - Sunsets, End of Season and Trip Planning

I have had a busy past 7 days - filling in on night phone and patrol here in the RV Park while covering for a vacationing co-worker...during this time I have also been working on trip planning for my departure on the 21st or 22nd of April.

This week at the park has been a busy one, with the park almost full every night with what seems to be Northbound winter travelers. Also several of our winter residents have been pulling out daily, off on their own adventures on their way back towards home. Always a sad time to see so many friends leaving.

My trip to Ohio and my summer job will be a long one. I try to only travel about 300-350 miles per day when towing, although I suspect I will drive a little further than that if all goes well. The trip total is 2237 miles and I have it planned for about 7 days, hopefully will trim a day or so off of that once I hit the road. My intention is to arrive at Chatham Lakes Campground in Medina on or about the 27th of April, just prior to opening weekend.

The Map and Route!

Spring has sprung here in the Desert and we have been blessed with warm days a wonderfully cool evenings and some stunning sunsets.

My departure from Twentynine Palms RV Resort will be a little more emotional this year as I do not plan to return next winter, my plans are to head for Florida for the winter, then back out west the following summer and back here year after next, if all goes well.

Stay tuned - still a few more adventures before I depart a month from now!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - Joshua Tree NP - Spring has Sprung!

On Tuesday evening, just as I cracked a PBR - my neighbor and resident Ranger at Joshua Tree NP came by with her IPad and showed me some pictures of a section of the park having a wildflower bloom, Ranger Judy was happy to share the location...which happened to be 35 miles into the park...

So yesterday, I decided to make the trek and find the flowers...

The entire hillside is alive with color!

I only made one mistake - see the rock pile in the above photo - in my infinite wisdom I figured that would be a good spot to shoot the upper part of the hill in bloom, so I climbed up on the rocks, just as I was lining up my shot I heard a bunch of hissing and looked down in the crack in the rocks I was straddling and was greeted by a whole nest of rattlesnakes...well needless to say I jumped off of the rocks, damn near killed myself and missed the shot.

But did manage this one...before my departure.

Then I stuck closer to the ground with a wary eye out for snakes...

On the long return trip of 35 miles, found an Ocotillo in bloom...the Ocotillo is a very interesting spiny desert plant that looks dead most of the time...but when in bloom they are wonderful.

In Bloom!

There are also numerous cactus in bloom everywhere!

When I got back to the RV - time for a couple PBR's and my last piece of Halibut!

I hope to get into the park one evening for some star shots before I leave in mid-April.

Stay tuned!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

My Most Recent Books for Sale

I spent some time this fall creating a couple books for sale on Blurb. If you click on the picture it will take you to a preview and the ability to purchase.

After my gallery showing in Barberton last year, I decided to create a full sized hard cover coffee table book of some of my best photographs. The book measures 10 X 13 and is beautiful. It sells for $99.99 plus shipping.

Chasing My Dream

By Jim Lucas

At the request of several people, I decided to create a less expensive soft cover smaller version of the same book. It sells for $49.99 plus shipping.

Chasing My Dream - Smaller Softcover

By Jim Lucas

I also decided to create a book of some of my memories from my time at Yes Bay Lodge in Alaska, this book is being used to help market the Lodge and also will be available in the gift shop. It is a soft cover book and sells for $42.74 plus shipping.

Yes Bay Memories

By Jim Lucas

Since I will be spending my summer in Ohio this year - look for a Barberton Book this fall.

See everyone soon!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!