Just in case you want to see some good photos from my cross country all camping trip....Ill be staying in some of the most beautiful places on Earth and visiting with a few animal shelters on the way. Its all on my ME page too, in case I forget to post.
. . -----------April 12---------------- 
My first full moon.....of the trip, of course:). 
Me now
Me then, that's me on the left, back when my Mother used to dress me....dont laugh!
And many of you know Ive been working to create a no kill shelter here in Alabama, here is my inspiration, my Golden Retriever, Murphy....he loves everyone and everything.
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The Trip
Here's a few photos, I took great shots of some mother/foal pairs in the setting sun with that beautiful lush green Alabama grass and the long afternoon shadows...check back and Id love to share some with you.
Murphy saying goodbye to old friends. "Oh, the things I have to do for a little tummy rub and the occasional snack"
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And making new ones.
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Well, maybe not just yet but give him time:)
------ -----April 8th, a day in the country and an evening with friends.----- -----
Im not sure why, but Ive always been drawn to water towers, so I have to throw in a few of these every now and then.
One of my best friends practicing a little before the show....mostly just goofing off.....looks so serious:)
And my buddies ...just singing and having fun..they write their own music...too bad I cant get audio on here....youd be very impressed.
Well thats a day in the country and an evening with friends, who could ask for more than that?
My first full moon.....of the trip, of course:)But, nevermind that....if you have a minute go to art4critters.com and check out the artists of the month. Its always hard to choose because everyone is so incredibly enthusiatic and they are all doing what they can without expecting ANYTHING in return, but these are definitely 4 of my favorites....not only for their attitude and compassion but for their talent as well....or maybe the other way around, either way theyre great!
Ill even make it easy for everyone....here they are!
Wyanne Chase http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZwchase66QQhtZ-1
Lisandro Peña http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZ3nextQQhtZ-1
Manuela Valenti http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmvstudio*galleryQQhtZ-1
Gail Hogan http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlagaviotaQQhtZ-1
And check back here in a few days, Ive got a lot of great ideas for photos and internet access is little easier for me once I get a little further west.....Oh yeah, email me your address(mailing) and Ill send a postcard......yes, YOU!
-----------------------April 17-------------------------
I had a strange dream...not the strangest dream, just one of those that seem so real that you feel like you havent really been asleep. I dreamed my niece was living with me,(Ill have to get a photo, she is BEAUTIFUL)...anyway she came home crying because her teacher wouldnt let her share her "show and tell" with the class. So I read the tear stained letter her teacher sent home with her. It explained that among several other items, a pencil was simply not interesting enough to warrant a show and tell discussion. I believe hair barrettes, soda cans and driftwood were also on the list. Now, being the open minded artist uncle, I can see how hair barrettes might not be all that terribly interesting...not to me anyway, but Id surely give someone a chance to make them interesting, but cmon...driftwood..it comes in all shapes and sizes, it could look like ANYTHING, how could someone say that isnt interesting? Im betting that if it were shaped like Elvis and she sold it for 82 bazillion dollars on ebay it would be interestng. And....a pencil? Not only did this pencil have a picture of monkey island and her name on it, (HOPE), she got it in the zoo gift shop, which I just know has to be a magical place to a 5 year old....and just think of all the things she can do with it....I think she calls it a portable handheld communications inscriber(she takes after me)....she draws with it, she writes love letters to that cute boy that sits next to her in the lunchroom(she didnt get THAT from me:), and if anyone ever gets fresh with her they might feel the business end of that pencil in the last place you want someone to stick a pencil...yeah shes tough:)
So I asked Murphy, what the heck does this all mean? Now he usually has just the right answer for me, words to make sense of it all, but today he is just rambling about how Baskin Robbins has been brainwashing people for decades.....telling us we can only have ONE cherry on our banana splits,...he's been a little upset about that ever since we made banana splits at a friends house and she had a giant wholesale jar of maraschinos and still only put one on hers. And he made me swear to tell everyone you can have as many cherries on your ice cream as you want!!!
But he did promise to tell me the answer if Id take him panning for gold. How can I argue with that?
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-------------------------April 22-------------------------------
An old car and some goats.....ahh what a busy life I have:)
And with all my visiting out of the way, I should start putting some miles behind me now so it should get interesting now, and dont let me forget to make Murphy tell me what that dream meant!
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. My favorite photos so far....you will probably see one as a painting one day.
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Regarding Murphy with suspicion....if they only knew:)
------------------------May24-27ish......Big Sky and Montana critters-------------- May 29 Sarvey Wildlife Center ----------------------------------May 30 PAWS, West Linn Oregon----------------
This is my favorite shelter to visit on this trip and one of my two favorites anywhere, ever. They not only provide impeccable care for all the animals, they do it on a shoestring budget. Theyre ALL VOLUNTEER, and thats what I really like to see. I feel it is the best way to make sure our donations do as much good as possible.Not to mention, Sharon Murphy was bottle feeding a 4 week old kitten when I arrived. 3 legged dogs and bottle fed kittens get me every time:)
The grass is always greener
May 28-29....on the road again
Now this is what they call a chance of rain today and tomorrow in Washington:)
I was lucky enough to get to spend the afternoon with a wonderful group that Art for Critters supports. Sarvey wildlife Center is a wildlife rescue just outside of Everett Washington.
Now I messed up the best photo, I was greeted by a 3 legged dog named Tank...and if you want to win me over a 3 legged dog will do it every time:)
THis is Jim with his tracking dog, he helps them find wounded animals that were reported to them so they can get them back to the sanctuary and get them the vet care they need.
And one of the holding "cages"
And a couple of their critters
Now I know that was a lousy photo tour, but Ive visited and worked with 100's of shelters and Im just trying to make sure we are all donating the the very best and most worthy causes, I really like this place, and Im hard to impress. You can tell when your with people that just love what theyre doing and thats the feeling I got at Sarvey, good people trying to make a small difference in the world.
If youd like to learn more about them and hopefully help them with their mission you can find them at http://www.sarveywildlife.org/
One of my favorite shots.
If youd like to know more about PAWS you can call Sharon Murphy at 503 650 0855 I dont think they have a website yet, but We're going to try to fix that soon.
Oh....and before I forget AGAIN. We have 2 new artists of the month. And Im so sorry I forgot to tell every one but Ive gotten a little behind on things.
But theyre incredibly talented artists and are doing so much to help these shelters and never ask for anything in return. ...so even if youre not shpping right now, if you could take a moment and visit these artists and just write a quick note saying nice job, I know they would appreciate it....we all need a pat on the back every now and then, dont we?
Anne Marsh http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZchloecatpepsi
Melody Lea Lamb http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmllamb46
The trip so far...
Ok this is the final installment,,,....I dont want to ruin the supsence but Im guessing you know where this trip was going to end:) Im back home and I know the dates are all goofed up but the geography gives a good idea of the time line.
------May 27 and 28th.....Down the coast.
---------May28 still on the coast--------------
-------------May 29 Yosemite--------------------- 
Counters by VillagePhotos.com
Now this is what they call a chance of rain today and tomorrow in Washington
I was lucky enough to get to spend the afternoon with a wonderful group that Art for Critters supports. Sarvey wildlife Center is a wildlife rescue just outside of Everett Washington.
THis is Jim with his tracking dog, he helps them find wounded animals that were reported to them so they can get them back to the sanctuary and get them the vet care they need.
And one of the holding "cages"
And a couple of their critters
Now I know that was a lousy photo tour, but Ive visited and worked with 100's of shelters and Im just trying to make sure we are all donating the the very best and most worthy causes, I really like this place, and Im hard to impress. You can tell when your with people that just love what theyre doing and thats the feeling I got at Sarvey, good people trying to make a small difference in the world.
If youd like to learn more about them and hopefully help them with their mission you can find them at http://www.sarveywildlife.org/
----------------------------------May 26 PAWS, West Linn Oregon---------------- This is my favorite shelter to visit on this trip and one of my two favorites anywhere, ever. They not only provide impeccable care for all the animals, they do it on a shoestring budget. Theyre ALL VOLUNTEER, and thats what I really like to see. I feel it is the best way to make sure our donations do as much good as possible.Not to mention, Sharon Murphy was bottle feeding a 4 week old kitten when I arrived. 3 legged dogs and bottle fed kittens get me every time
One of my favorite shots.
If youd like to know more about PAWS you can call Sharon Murphy at 503 650 0855 I dont think they have a website yet, but We're going to try to fix that soon.
Oh....and before I forget AGAIN. We have 2 new artists of the month. And Im so sorry I forgot to tell every one but Ive gotten a little behind on things.
But theyre incredibly talented artists and are doing so much to help these shelters and never ask for anything in return. ...so even if youre not shpping right now, if you could take a moment and visit these artists and just write a quick note saying nice job, I know they would appreciate it....we all need a pat on the back every now and then, dont we?
Anne Marsh http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZchloecatpepsi
Melody Lea Lamb http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmllamb46
One last picture from PAWS...
I spent a little more time than I had planned on the East coast so I felt lik e I needed to choose between taking my time on the coast or at Yosemite, I went with Yosemite...so as much as I hated to do it, I didnt stop anywhere on the coast. I wanted to stay in Seattle for a while but it just wasnt in the budget....youve got to love Seattle, theres music everywhere...music that reminds me of my younger days back in the late 80's and early 90's....good times, I couldve spent a month there easy and I have to admit I got a little chill passing through and hearing Kurt on the radio.
But...off we go:)
...just a bridge..I like bridges:)
I was pulling out of a turnout on the Pacific Coast Highway, somwehere in Oregon and I saw this guy doing what looked like tying soemthing down on his roof. But I looked a little closer and he was actually drawing on his truckr. He had pulled over in the rain and just started drawing flames on the side of his truck.
Now I must be getting a little older because my first thought was to walk over and help him.out....Why not?...Ive got a bunch of markers and I can draw flames pretty good when I have a mind to:) But my second thought was, ...if I start talking to this guy I might wake up in his trunk talking to his ex girlfriend about why she should have never said "I dont love you any more".
And since it was raining I decided to exercise a little caution....cause I tried to imagine the thought process that immediately proceeds pulling over in the rain to draw flames on your truck and I just couldnt think of anything that felt quite right:)....Maybe he dropped a cigarette and while he was feeling around for it he found a permanent marker....it happens, right?:)
But I wanted to get a photo of his drawings to shar with everyone....no luck though, I was pulling out as all that ocurred to me.
So I forgot all about it, cruising down the road, taking photos of whatever I felt amusing like Paul and Babe.....anything to get you to stop, right?
And a quck harbor scene to paint later.
And then we decided to take a driving break and just before we pulled out.....there he was but I still couldnt get a good shot of the artwork on his truck.
SO again I forgot all about him, but we kept passing each other and I started thinking I bet this guy knows I took his picture....probably thinks I stole a piece of his soul or something:)
And on we went......down the coast enjoyin the view the sun, which finally came out.
Now THIS is a great place to camp....I know because we stumbled on to it last year. Its hard to believe you can have a view like that all to yourself and its FREE!
Acouple of hours go by....and Murphy let me know it was time to stop again so we found a good spot to relax for a little while.
He picks a good spot doesnt he?
And when we came back to the parking lot.....the HE was AGAIN!! And busy drawing....this time wings on the tailgate!
So I took a quick photo cause I knew no one would believe me.
Can you read the text? It said Peacekeepers...Im not sure what thats all about:)
But I decided to just get in the jeep and go....cause by now my imagination is running away with itself and I climbed in....you have to know I messed my door up so I had to climb in through the passenger side and over the hump to the drivers seat and by the time I got settled in and looked up He was gone....he wasnt drawing anymore, he was 50 feet up the cliff that sat on the side of the parking lot, looking down at us......and in case you dont know, a good rule of thumb is not to mess with anyone who can outclimb you.....youll usually get whooped! And anyone that can climb a mountain faster than I can climb over the console in my jeep shouldnt be messed with:)
I figured as long as Im in all this rain I may as well get a rainbow shot....but its hard to do while your driving, I got this one........
And thought if I got closer, maybe I could get a better shot....but nope.
So I kept trying to get closer.
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Now Im thinking the end is just around the corner....closer
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and closer
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This is the place I know Ill never capture on canvas. If God ever put his thumbprint on the world this is it.
...No stories, I just sat and stared.
------------------------May 30-Now-------------------------------------------------
What a drive, I have to say the drive out of Yosemite is one of the best on Earth, that and the Pacific Coast Highway are my favorites by a longshot!
The moon in the Pass between Yosemite and the Edge of the Sierra....going out of Sonora.
The desert sun makes people do strange things:)
I cant go thrugh Arizona without visiting the Grand Canyon. This is just before I broke the news to Murphy that we wouldnt be panning for gold on this trip:(
Now if you havent ever had one....an 89 cent ice cream cone in the middle of the Arizona Desert might just be the best thing youve ever eaten in your life. Its a toss up though, I dont know if youve ever noticed but food tastes amazing when your camping. I had this grilled muenster cheese sandwich with peperoni and a Clausen pickle back in Montana that brings tears to my eyes when I remember that day...hang on I need a moment....sniff sniff:)
Seriously though, I think it makes you really appreciate what you have a little more when youre sleeping under the stars and bathing in a stream.
I remember once a couple of years ago I was hiking through the Alps with some good friends, and they decided to climb this mountain....when they pointed to it I figured they were just kidding as it was almost straight up, about 3000 feet into the sky and miles away. But they started walking towards it and then I realised they werent joking. Now theyre allabout 10 years younger than me and play soccer most every day so I was having trouble keeping up, but we walked straight up the hill side for miles and miles it seemed, then along the forest line for a nice break before clmbing up the rocks to the snow drift above which led to the valley in front of the mountain we were going to climb....and I dont know if youve walked in deep snow before but you have to plant every step.....kick the snow and then press down to make a step and then repeat......over and over and over. Its exhausting:) THEN we got to the valley and walked for FOREVER in the 10 ft drift. And when we finally got to the mountain itself, I fell asleep on somenes porch.
And when I woke up I was famished but we werent packing food for the day hike so I took what I had....a packet of Jelly leftover from the breakfast that seemed like years ago, and I made a jelly snow cone. I think that might be the best food Ive ever had:)
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A small town IN Oklahoma, I dont know if you can tell or not but the tower leans a bit to the right. The locals tell me This is the true resting place of Billy the Kid, that he was moved there back in the 40's and from fear that Billy might be able to resurrect himself they put his heart in the top of this tower. And now, to this day the tower leans out toward his grave as if his heart were trying to get back to his body.....Oh wait, no, the camera was just crooked:)
Sweet Home Alabama.....I bet the song is on the radio right now!
The trip so far...
Counters by VillagePhotos.com
