Well I spent this past week designing a photo book of some of my best photographs from this winters adventure.
There are three versions all with the same content.
Full sized - Large Landscape Hard Cover premium paper - $53.95 right now
Smaller Size - Standard Landscape Hard Cover premium paper - $48.00 right now
Smaller Size - Standard Landscape Soft Cover Standard paper - $19.95 right now. You can grade the paper on this one.
Here is a preview of the book.
Enjoy,
Capt Jim
(Gypsy Professor)
The Gypsy
Over the past twelve
months or so as I talked about my plans to leave the “regular Life”
and go off on my adventure many of my friends questioned my sanity to
say the least!
Last
night as the end of my winter journey comes to an end, I reflected on
those thoughts and the many, many people who questioned me…but until you
have seen the wild, lived the wild and had the opportunity to discover
natures wonder and live within it…it is very hard to understand…
The Gypsy
A name fondly given me by my good friend Steve Carter this winter during my travels
A long days
drive had me weary and as the sun slowly set and the evening twilight
replaced the sunlight, I looked for a spot to stop and spend a quiet
evening reflecting on this past 6 months journey. As I drove along
through the mountains of Montana with snow capped peaks on one side and
high mountain lakes on the other the spot to stop materialized right in
front of me…a quick U-turn and I was overlooking a glass calm moonlit
lake with mountains in the background…as I pulled in to the overlook I
startled a herd of deer who were moving down towards the lake to drink
and feed in the rich grassland that surrounded the lake… After I parked I
left the door open to my humble little home so I could continue to
enjoy nature’s majesty. Dinner was cooked, the heat from the stove
warmed my house and I watched as the lake grew even calmer…a quiet
cocktail enjoying the view and reflecting on this past years journey I
was soon ready for bed, I heard the coyotes yelping in the distance,
this had been a fine evening.
As
I climbed in bed I heard noises outside which sounded like
footsteps…wondering if someone else was invading my territory I quickly
rose and looked outside to discover a large heard of Elk moving through
the crusted snow right outside my door, they too were heading to the
lake for a drink of water and some fresh growth of meadow grass.
This
morning rather than be awoken by the sounds of a city, the sirens, the
traffic, the clock radio the god forsaken Television…my alarm clock was
the sounds of migrating geese and the lonely call of a bald eagle…the
Eagle call, a warm reminder that my adventure continues as my Alaska
home beckons me once again.
And I thought…they ask why I have done this??
More later
Capt Jim
Professor aka The Gypsy!
New Town - Another State and GREAT NEWS!
I left Grand Junction Colorado again on Wednesday morning the 11th of April. Plan was to start my journey north to Kalispell Montana, with a stop in an old western town in Wyoming. So I spent the day driving up through northern Colorado and made a stop for fuel near Rawlins on damn near empty...you get in Wyoming fill your tank there may not be another gas station for over 100 miles...I drove the last 30 miles with the low fuel warning light glaring in my face!! But Made it. Then drove on to Riverton Wyoming and spent an overnight dry camping in the Wal-Mart parking lot, after a nice dinner in Riverton.
Early morning departure to drive up the Wind River Range to my destination of Meeteeste, Wyoming.
The drive up...with this out my left side of the truck almost all the way!
At another stop I say a herd of antelope and by the time I got the rig stopped, of course they moved further away....but a wonderful sight anyway!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
I arrived in Meeteeste after about a 2 hour drive, what a wonderful little old west town...with some interesting history. You can read about the town HERE!
Here is one of the old original bank buildings which is now a museum (Free entry at all museums in Meeteeste!
And an early RV - a Sheep Herders line camp wagon.
And now the good news - for those who have been following my Coast Guide License renewal and the problems of providing them the "amplified information" regarding my health status after my stroke 2 years ago....it has been an ordeal!
Yesterday I received this in an email!!
"Your application has cleared the safety and suitability vetting and medical screening/evaluation processes and is currently awaiting a professional qualification evaluation."
So it looks as though I am approved, will wait for the final notice that my new license is on the way before a big celebration, but I feel better about it now!!
Capt Jim
Gypsy Professor
Early morning departure to drive up the Wind River Range to my destination of Meeteeste, Wyoming.
The drive up...with this out my left side of the truck almost all the way!
At another stop I say a herd of antelope and by the time I got the rig stopped, of course they moved further away....but a wonderful sight anyway!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
I arrived in Meeteeste after about a 2 hour drive, what a wonderful little old west town...with some interesting history. You can read about the town HERE!
Here is one of the old original bank buildings which is now a museum (Free entry at all museums in Meeteeste!
And an early RV - a Sheep Herders line camp wagon.
And now the good news - for those who have been following my Coast Guide License renewal and the problems of providing them the "amplified information" regarding my health status after my stroke 2 years ago....it has been an ordeal!
Yesterday I received this in an email!!
"Your application has cleared the safety and suitability vetting and medical screening/evaluation processes and is currently awaiting a professional qualification evaluation."
So it looks as though I am approved, will wait for the final notice that my new license is on the way before a big celebration, but I feel better about it now!!
Capt Jim
Gypsy Professor
Update - April 9th, 2012
A little update...I am in Grand Junction Colorado camped behind the Moose Lodge, it is a great, inexpensive spot to be in. Electric and water and sewer close by, so easy camping except for the sand spurs...damn RV section is full of them. But the drinks are good and reasonable, the food is good and inexpensive...and some nice people. Wish the club were open more than 3 nights a week...but as with all Fraternal Clubs generating new younger members is a PIA. Not sure why. This club has a beautiful facility and nice people, all old, but nice. At 62 I think I am the youngest person in the club on any given night.
I am STILL waiting for information on the renewal of my Coast Guard License...hopefully the Dr in Salt Lake supplied the last request for information on Friday. I am checking on that today...so if not Friday maybe tomorrow.
No real immediate travel plans at this point in time. I am staying here until time to head towards Montana. And making sure that everything for the USCG has been completed.
No real picture taking the past few days...more trailer work, had a hose break and leak 20 gallons of water from the fresh water tank all over and had to fix that, so not much going on...today is re-supply day and some clean-up.
I hope to take a few pictures either later today or tomorrow. Then is the USCG is satisfied, I will work on the plan to begin heading North.
More later.
Capt. (Maybe) Jim
(Professor)
I am STILL waiting for information on the renewal of my Coast Guard License...hopefully the Dr in Salt Lake supplied the last request for information on Friday. I am checking on that today...so if not Friday maybe tomorrow.
No real immediate travel plans at this point in time. I am staying here until time to head towards Montana. And making sure that everything for the USCG has been completed.
No real picture taking the past few days...more trailer work, had a hose break and leak 20 gallons of water from the fresh water tank all over and had to fix that, so not much going on...today is re-supply day and some clean-up.
I hope to take a few pictures either later today or tomorrow. Then is the USCG is satisfied, I will work on the plan to begin heading North.
More later.
Capt. (Maybe) Jim
(Professor)
March 5th & 6th - Leaving Moab area
Before leaving the Moab area on Tuesday the 5th of March, I decided a late afternoon trip into Arches was a worthy effort....
Spent the morning getting the trailer ready to travel and for some remote camping, so filled the water tank, emptied the waste tanks and got everything put away and ready for the ride towards Grand Junction Colorado...
But here are a few shots from Arches National Park.
More to come as I continue my travels...will be in Grand Junction for a few days before heading back up to Salt Lake City to hopefully put an end to the renewal of my USCG License...they are being difficult with some of my past health issues....
More later,
Capt Jim
Spent the morning getting the trailer ready to travel and for some remote camping, so filled the water tank, emptied the waste tanks and got everything put away and ready for the ride towards Grand Junction Colorado...
But here are a few shots from Arches National Park.
More to come as I continue my travels...will be in Grand Junction for a few days before heading back up to Salt Lake City to hopefully put an end to the renewal of my USCG License...they are being difficult with some of my past health issues....
More later,
Capt Jim
Moab and Canyonlands
Time to recoup, clean the trailer, shop for some groceries and spend some time in one place. I chose to take my break in Moab, cold here and some snow the first couple days, but it warmed up nicely in the afternoons and I was able to visit Canyonlands National Park - both areas that are accessible from here. Island in the Sky and the Needles district.
Here are some pictures from my travels this week.
Today - Monday the 5th of March is a get ready to leave tomorrow day, square the trailer away, fill the water tank, empty the waste tanks and fill up with gas and pick up a few snacks for the road...looks like I may head over to Colorado - Grand Junction area and do some exploring...
Stay tuned for more travels....
Captain Jim
(Professor)
Here are some pictures from my travels this week.
Today - Monday the 5th of March is a get ready to leave tomorrow day, square the trailer away, fill the water tank, empty the waste tanks and fill up with gas and pick up a few snacks for the road...looks like I may head over to Colorado - Grand Junction area and do some exploring...
Stay tuned for more travels....
Captain Jim
(Professor)
Driving Day - Zion to Bryce Canyon to Moab
I left the campground near Zion with the intention of going to Bryce Canyon and staying a few days...but the weather and altitude did not cooperate. I wondered why so many of the campgrounds were close - Holy Crap that place is high, over 8800 feet and snow and windy and colder than hell...so I went in to the park, it was sunny and cold when I went through the gate, after a short stop at the visitor center and a rest room break I return outside to find the cloud level had dropped to the parking lot and it was snowing like crazy...only re-enforced my decision to head back down the hills and get to lower altitude and better weather...
Here is the parking lot...
And the view...
So I went inside the trailer and had lunch, took a snooze and waited for some sunshine as hard as the wind was blowing I knew this snow squall would not last forever....it never got real bright and sunny but at least you could see!
Stay tuned for more adventures as I explore Arches National Park and Islands In The Sky in Canyonlands National Park!
Capt Jim
Here is the parking lot...
And the view...
So I went inside the trailer and had lunch, took a snooze and waited for some sunshine as hard as the wind was blowing I knew this snow squall would not last forever....it never got real bright and sunny but at least you could see!
Stay tuned for more adventures as I explore Arches National Park and Islands In The Sky in Canyonlands National Park!
Capt Jim
More of Zions
I spent a week camp at a campground outside of Zions - By far one of the cleahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnest and nicest campgrounds I have ever stayed in. Wonderful restrooms with great tile showers and all spotless. The grounds were perfect with good hook-ups - level sites, some shade trees for the summer...not much now, but still a perfect campground. If you are ever in the neighborhood oz Zion and need a campground spend a few extra bucks and stay here. The name is Zion River Resort. LINK.
Anyway - I spent several days in the park and just had a wonderful experience...one of my favorite places to visit and one of the most beautiful places on earth. I went on a few hikes and the hike just past the big tunnel called the Overlook hike is well worth the time it takes...the view which you will see in a minute is outstanding and shows a little of how massive the Canyon really is.
On with the pics...
Checkerboard Mesa in Winter
On the overlook hike...
More views on the hike...
One of the more thrilling parts of the trail - it was very narrow and wet and slippery and the drop on the left of the picture was well over 300 feet or so...
This is looking back towards the peaks behind you at the overlook.
And finally the view from the top at the overlook - this is a 9 shot panorama, so you can imagine the expanse.
Some detail shots
A closeup of one of the millions of HooDoo's in the park.
On one morning I was able to literally walk among a herd of deer.
That is pretty much it for Zion - update on yesterdays trip through Bryce Canyon and on to Moab later this morning...
Captain Jim
Anyway - I spent several days in the park and just had a wonderful experience...one of my favorite places to visit and one of the most beautiful places on earth. I went on a few hikes and the hike just past the big tunnel called the Overlook hike is well worth the time it takes...the view which you will see in a minute is outstanding and shows a little of how massive the Canyon really is.
On with the pics...
Checkerboard Mesa in Winter
On the overlook hike...
More views on the hike...
One of the more thrilling parts of the trail - it was very narrow and wet and slippery and the drop on the left of the picture was well over 300 feet or so...
This is looking back towards the peaks behind you at the overlook.
And finally the view from the top at the overlook - this is a 9 shot panorama, so you can imagine the expanse.
Some detail shots
A closeup of one of the millions of HooDoo's in the park.
On one morning I was able to literally walk among a herd of deer.
That is pretty much it for Zion - update on yesterdays trip through Bryce Canyon and on to Moab later this morning...
Captain Jim
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