Garner Island trail

I’ve hiked the trails at Anderson Marsh State Park a number of times but never realized the park included trailheads at other locations. I found this one at the end of a dead-end street in the city of Clear Lake. I parked below an osprey nest (beware of “gifts” dropped from above!) and then followed the fairly short trail through […]

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Beautiful Berryessa

It was early May, with cool temperatures and the skies threatening rain. At the end of a 2-hour drive from home, we did some exploring along the west shore of Lake Berryessa and found only a handful of other people — and no one at all in this quiet spot. The wildflowers were abundant, and the day seemed just about […]

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Signs along the shore (plus one)

One popular genre of photography which I’ve occasionally dabbled in is shooting vintage signs — especially those mid-20th-century beauties that are clearly past their prime but still evoke nostalgia for one’s childhood. One of my favorite efforts was the Jules Motel sign in Clearlake, California, which I photographed and initially shared back in 2017. I treasure this image because even […]

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Tiny wings

Not all my photos of insects were a great success on my most recent trip to Lake County, but I am pleased that I spotted my very first Lorquin’s admiral. According to Wikipedia, these handsome butterflies are very territorial and sometimes go after larger animals rather aggressively; luckily, this one was in a peaceful mood! On this outing I also […]

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View from the hill

Hiking up the Dorn Nature Trail at Clear Lake State Park two months ago was one of my most enjoyable outings this year. I had the trail nearly to myself, and while the sun frequently vanished behind clouds, leaving behind a chilly wind, I was able to take things at my own pace and spend time just listening to the […]

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Lake County ranch

Staying in a small house near Middletown (south of Clear Lake), we knew to expect cats roaming the property. Now, I’m not sure anyone informed the cats we would be arriving; but luckily our furry landlords allowed us to stay, as long as we kept to ourselves and didn’t make too much noise.

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