Rocks, jeeps, ducks, ersatz shopping malls and moonrise

This morning we got up close and personal with the red rocks on a jeep with a "cowboy" driver who took us up a rutted, rocky road to the Mogollon Rim, an escarpment that runs for 200 miles across Arizona.

This is Hoss with Jan and the other couple who bounced along with us for the two-hour ride.  Here are a few images of more rock formations:

This one is called the bat. You can see his head in the middle with outstretched wings on either side.

And this is called Kissing Rock or Window Rock for obvious reasons. If you look to the right at the bottom of the formation you can see Fred Flintstone in profile with his sticky-outy hair. I think it is so funny--and so human--that we find these caricatures in so many of the rocks.

These next two may have names but I don't recall.  I'm including the photos to show how close we got to these formations from the steep and torn-up road.  

At least we were in a jeep with an experienced driver.  I can't stop thinking about the guy from Europe who came in the back way by mistake in his rented Kia. He was about six miles into it and absolutely panicked. Hoss says that Mapquest shows the road we were on as the shortest route from Flagstaff to Sedona. I think by the time he made it down that his rented car would be a write-off.  So sad. He won't be doing that again.

As for me, I won't again ride in a jeep on a road like that after drinking a cup of coffee!

This afternoon we explored Tlaquepaque, an ersatz Mexican village shopping area with lots of lovely stores and restaurants.  Behind it was a park on the edge of Oak Creek with a bunch of resident ducks.

And here's your goodnight moon photo. Miss Luna rose above the rocks as they were glowing red from the sunset.  Sedona is full of moments like this. In spite of touristy shopping and jeep tours, the sublime beauty of the place keeps shining through.

Sedona's red rocks

Five years ago Harry and I drove through Sedona in the motorhome, got a tire repairedand drove

repaired, and drove away (it's a long story involving a frightening descent on a narrow, twists road, a cranky husband and road work and traffic everywhere). I was beguiled by the beautiful rock formations and was determined to return and explore this high desert area. So here I am with my sister on a five-day jaunt to Sedona. 

We arrived in Flagstaff on Sunday afternoon to biting cold and patches of snow. But Sedona is at a lower elevation and when the sun comes out it's pleasantly warm if you're not in the shade. Yesterday we took a trolley tour of the highlights and learned the names of some of the rock formations.  There's coffee pot rock and Three Sisters Rock, Finger Rock, and the iconic Bell Rock, seen here from the parking lot. We're planning to hike around that one before we leave. It's reputed to be a vortex of energy as well.

This beautiful formation is named after Snoopy and if you look closely you can see him lying on his back at the bottom right.  And above him on the main formation in the middle is Lucy watching TV.

The next one's a bit easier to see. this is called Kachina Rock, named after the Native spirit woman. She keeps watch over a beautiful area called Boynton Canyon, home to the very exclusive Enchantment Resort. 

Sunset in Sedona is amazing because there's beauty in all directions. As the sun goes down it shines a golden light on the rock formations making them glow even deeper red.

We drifted around some galleries and boutiques in the sunshine and made a reservation to take a jeep trip out to the Mogollan rim.  So this morning we're up early and dressing in our warmest clothes.  I'm hoping to learn about how these amazing formations were created.

Granville Island cement silos -- and update

A week ago a friend and I visited our buddy Kath in Vancouver.  These photos are of the cement silos down at Granville Island. Aren't they fun! I love it when companies make an effort to brings smiles to our faces by transforming gritty industry into charming characters like these. I don't know where these characters come from--but somehow I feel I should know. Any ideas?

It's been weeks and weeks since I posted here. Life has been busy but not that busy, but somehow I've got out of the habit of blogging.

As an update, I have been involved in a group art show that is taking quite a bit of time. Here's the announcement.

I've sold two paintings there, which was a thrill and an added bonus. Now we're planning to put up a new show for November and one for December as well. So I've been painting away.

Next week my sister and I are going to Sedona, Arizona for a few days. I'm sure I'll be inspired to photograph some of the beauty there and post it. Maybe that will help me get back to my blogging routine.

Three Billy Goats Gruff

These three goats reminded me of the Three Billy Goats Gruff from the children's story. They posed for us on a rock at the top of the cliff.  

We were honoured with a parade of maybe 50 goats wandering along the path as the sun set. 

What an amazing variety of colours and sizes and coats can be seen on these goats.

I loved the little nubbins of horns on this fellow.

 Here are some of the adults enjoying the view.

Victoria's Classic Boat Show

A Labour Day tradition in Victoria, the Classic Boat Show takes place on the docks in front of the iconic Empress Hotel and the Parliament Buildings at the Inner Harbour.

Boats from up and down the west coast of North America attend, many from Seattle and Oregon and as far away as Long Beach, California and Alaska.  Plus many from Victoria and Vancouver.

It's fun to wander the docks and look at all the different kinds of boats, from little tenders to huge cruisers and work boats. Everything is spiffed up and varnished to its ultimate brightness, even the dinghies with their perfectly coiled lines.

I really liked this little sloop called Loon but couldn't talk to the young woman owner as she was facing out to sea. 

This restored fishing boat was from Victoria. 

One of the largest boats was the 88 foot Gyrfalcon, which has been lovingly restored by a retired couple as their retirement home.  The main cabin inside has lots of beautiful storage lockers.

Not all the boats were polished though. This little rowing dinghy belonged to a working boat from the North Island. The owner lives aboard an old trawler and carves masks for a living.

But it's the bright varnish and the shiny whites of the boats against the dark green water that really make the Classic Boat Show glow for me.

September

Don't you love the change of light that comes with September? This is taken of a chive in a pot on the back deck railing looking over to the terrace and the trees.