Views from Manual Antonio NP with its beautiful beaches and tropical rain-forest.
for additional photos please visit — www.peterskucmaphotography.com/International-Travel/Costa-Rica/Manuel-Antonio/
On May 3rd we spent our day in Monteverde – in the morning taking a hanging bridge tour through a Cloud Forest – viewing humming bird, three levels of the cloud forest, many species of birds and fauna and flowers.
For additional photos please visit – www.peterskucmaphotography.com/International-Travel/Costa-Rica/Monteverde/
Early on May 1st we bused to the Rio Frio for a full day boat tour of the wetlands and pastures of Cano Negro Wildlife refuge – sailing right to the Nicaraguan border. Cano Negro is noted as a haven for animals and birds as well as fauna and flowers. We found Howler, Spider and white-faced monkeys – reptiles including alligators, Jesus Christ lizards, turtles and sloths. At the end of the day we went to Eco Termales Hot Springs for a relaxing swim and dinner. On May 2nd we hiked the Las Colades trail in Arenal NP to view more fauna and flowers as well a views of the volcano.
For additional Photos please visit:
https://www.peterskucmaphotography.com/International-Travel/Costa-Rica/Cano-Negro-Refuge/
or
https://www.peterskucmaphotography.com/International-Travel/Costa-Rica/Arenal/
On the 29th we motor launched and bused back to San Jose from Tortuguero joining with new members of our group. Early on the 30th we toured San Jose viewing historical and government buildings, public parks and mansions from the heyday of the sugar cane and banana plantation owners. Leaving for Arenal we visited Sarchi ( an artisan town) and stopped at a rural school which Gate 1 (our tour company) supports – we present the students with pads, pencils and markers. The students performed local songs and dances for us.
We departed Fort Lauderdale on April 26th for San Jose Costa Rica arriving early in the afternoon giving us some time to walk the pedestrian center where we strolled and viewed — the flower market, government buildings and opera house. Continue reading “Costa Rica 2018 (part 1)”
As an tune-up to Haley’s graduation trip to the Big Five we took an easy stroll through William B. Umstead State Park a North Carolina state park in Wake County, North Carolina. It covers 5,599 acres nestled between the expanding cities of Raleigh, Cary, and Durham, North Carolina. The park has 22 miles of well shaded hiking trails along with many miles of mixed use trails. Our goal was to reach a massive downed oak tree that has been chain saw carved by local artists Jerry Redi and Randy Boni. The art work features animals, tree branches and leaves.
A Friday morning trip high up into the San Gabriel Mountains (5500+) confirmed we are nearing draught conditions again. Crystal Lake was almost non-existent and the surrounding mountains were snow-less. There is an effortless 1.33 mile trail to and around the lake which provides excellent views of the surrounding mountains and forest which has bounced back after the 2002 Curve Fire. The trailhead is 24 miles of winding road from Azusa along rt. 39. Leaving the lake I headed to the Lewis Falls trailhead about five miles back down the mountain about 2 miles before the Rincon ranger station. The trailhead is unmarked but its on a bend with a wide shoulder and one car parking areas just before and after.
The trail to Lewis Falls along Soldier Creek is a very short trail – one mile round trip – but this is no stroll through the woods. The last tenth of a mile is a completely unmaintained scramble and boulder-hop along the creek bed, and takes about as much time to traverse as the first 0.4 miles.
The Devil’s Punchbowl is a unique 1,310 acre geological wonder where you hike a 1 mile loop trail through a deep canyon formed by the runoff of water from the higher San Gabriel Mountains. The trail takes you to the bottom of the bowl and through the up tilted rock formations created by layers of sedimentary rocks forced up by the local earthquake faults. After completing the loop hike I headed to the South Fork campground to hike the 6 mile out and back trail to the backside of the punchbowl and to the Devil’s Chair a huge white rock mass at the turnaround point. While hiking the trail I had many views of the snow-covered San Gabriel’s and decided to get a upclose look by driving to Inspiration Point along the Highway 2 where it crosses the Pacific Coast Trail.
After many years of watching the parade by standing on Colorado Blvd. or from my office building on Lake Ave. we “roughed it”. Well not really we rented a table at a local restaurant along the parade route – enjoyed brunch, watched and photographed.
Members of Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club first staged the parade in 1890. Since then the parade has been held in Pasadena every New Year’s Day, except when January 1 falls on a Sunday. In that case, it is held on the subsequent Monday, January 2. This exception was instituted in 1893, as organizers did not wish to disturb horses hitched outside Sunday church services.
For more info on the Parade see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Parade
Earth, Wind & Fire
Travelling Photographer 