Hello y’all,
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything, but it’s not that I haven’t had the desire or anything worth writing about. It’s because I feel the need to have an epic story to tell, something big, something exciting or ground breaking and nothing less will do. Well, my life isn’t one big epic adventure, even though sometimes I like to think it is. Actually, most days are quite boring. Lately, it’s the little things that have meant more to me that the big events. These big events or great adventures are kinda like the equivalent to New Year’s Eve. It’s never as fun as its made out to be and it’s amateur hour at its finest. Getting all excited over a brief moment in time is fine from time to time, but it’s unsustainable. I’ve come to appreciate the journey, more than the destination.
Oh my GAWD, that sounds just like a paragraph out of some new age self help book, which it is not, or maybe it is, since I never actually read one. What I’m trying to say is that my fear of becoming boring or writing about things so bland that no one will ever read it has overtaken my enthusiasm to just write, express my ideas, or share a random thought or two. It’s has become so bad that I’ve just completely given up writing anything at all, and that’s not good. So from now on I’m going to try to just write more often, even if I don’t hit the publish button. Writing should be fun and so that’s what I’m setting out to do. Bring back the fun, the funky or just a spontaneous idea and get it down on paper or pixel. So that’s what I’m going to do is “Just Do It” as the Nike Ad says.
Jim & Jen with Mt. Baker in the background
Well, it’s been a very rainy summer here in Seattle, so when I recently saw the weather forecast calling for a few days of sun and warm temps last week, Jen and I jumped into the RV and headed up to Mt. Baker. Usually Mt. Baker is just too far to go for a day hike and since it’s been so rainy, especially on weekends we haven’t gone up there this year. We packed quickly and headed straight to Artist Point which is at the end of highway 542. It’s aptly named for is gorgeous 360 degree views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan.
Ptarmigan Ridge Trail
Milky Way over Mt. Baker
Mt. Shuksan
It’s a really long drive, especially in an RV, so we didn’t get there til late, but we catch the sunset and decide to park for the night right there in the parking lot. There are no signs saying that we can’t so we decide to risk it. It was a warm, clear night with no wind or clouds in the sky and we have the place to ourselves. It’s an unusually warm October night and I’m excited to shoot the stars, because they’re unusually bright from being so high up at 5,150′ and with no moon. I’ve been trying to shoot stars lately and it’s a lot harder than just pointing the camera to the sky and letting the shutter stay open for a few minutes or hours. Plain old star trails are boring IMHO. I usually like to include something in the foreground to give a sense of perspective and then I had this humorous idea after my last star trail session. I’ll let you be the judge, so please send in your comments, cause I’d like to hear back from you about this photo posted below.
They're Here!
Personally, I think it’s hysterical, but that’s just me.
Anyway, I’ve got lots more to write about this trip, but I’m going to save it for my next post, so please check back soon to read about our hike, my idea of “Building a Better Mouse Trap” and the “Mouse Murder Mystery”…
It’s a good story and you may actually use this mouse trap in your home, cabin or RV.
Cheers,
Jim
They're Here!