Leaving behind the rainstorms in California’s Central Valley, we arrived in the desert to find blue skies — and 25-35 mph winds, with gusts up to 55 mph. The Big Guy had hoped to go for a walk in the desert in Barstow, but after getting blasted by that gale outside, we opted to run up and down the stairs […]
My previous post took so much out of me that I haven’t felt much like posting anything for the past week. Things may get a bit irregular again this week, as I’m in the process of relocating; but I’d like to start out with something a lot more cheerful than an old, deserted farmhouse! These are some photos I shot […]
These are not pretty pictures. I’m still not really sure how I got the courage (or foolishness) to wander through the old farmhouse in Mendocino County last February. I do feel sure that, given the chance, I would absolutely not do it again. I have no desire to go back inside that lonely house. I’m honestly more than a little […]
I’m so glad my curiosity led me to explore this tiny oasis of redwood forest in the middle of Fort Bragg, California, last November. Although it’s relatively small, this park is a priceless gem for anyone wishing to escape for a few minutes and soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of the coastal rain forest: nature at its most […]
I’m sure there are quite a lot of places named Davis Lake (or Lake Davis) throughout the country, but this one is located in Manchester Beach State Park in Mendocino County, a few miles north of Point Arena. I wasn’t even aware I was hiking in an area named Davis Lake Wetlands and Coastal Dunes Natural Preserve until I came […]
A few scenes, shot with my phone camera, from a lonely corner of Justin, Texas. We discovered this trail in the undeveloped area behind our rented house in March 2025. Although there are blocky stone benches and dog waste stations along the path, I saw no other people while I was exploring.
Because this week has been a little bit crazy, rather than introducing a new episode I’m taking a look back at a segment of California’s Gold that I featured previously, in February 2020. It’s called Places I’ve Wanted To Go, and it originally aired on February 1, 2009. I do think it’s interesting to note — since I just happen to be visiting the area — that the Palace Theater in Fort Worth, Texas, is actually the home of the second oldest continuously operating incandescent light bulb in the world. Below is the original post: Huell clearly had a lot of fun in this episode of California’s Gold, originally aired in 2009. I love the idea of taking the time to finally go see those places you’ve always wanted to see; my own list includes the Winchester Mystery House and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. But Huell chooses a couple of spots that I had never heard of before, and even though I may never go see them for myself, I’ve discovered a few new things about California’s colorful past. And by the way, if you’re curious to see whether that 119-year-old light bulb is still burning, you can check it out for yourself right here. Join Host Huell Howser on an adventure to two places he’s been wanting to visit for years! First up is a a stop along Highway 395 in the town to Lee Vining to see the […]
Today I have a few more pictures of the interior of the old farmhouse near Manchester Beach in Mendocino County. These images were all shot with my phone, although as I went deeper inside I discovered that my best results came with using my phone’s flashlight in combination with the flash on my Fujifilm camera. At the moment, however, the […]