The Mid 40's are in the Books

For some reason I never got around to writing about traveling to National Parks numbers 44, 45 and now 46...!

Back at the end of June we visited Olympic National Park (#44) in Washington.  There are actually two parts: a rainforest/coastal part and then the more alpine mountain park.

Both have their own intrinsic beauty.  It was amazing to be able to spend time in both places.

Then we drove north to catch a ferry to get us across the waters of the sound...

The next day we arrived at Cascades National Park (#45).  The visitor's center wasn't much but the drive through the park was full of large vistas of mountains and trees.  Lots of small streams and rivers.

Then there was this:

I called it Heaven on Earth.  Almost as beautiful as the first time I saw Glacier National Park... almost...

Then, this last weekend I met my best friend from medical school, and we spent the weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park (#46).  It was the last national park I had to check off my list in Colorado.  So worth the wait... and the trip!

As my friend said, photos in no way do justice to the beauty of the scenery.

We saw so many animals including a moose and baby.

Elk on the slopes of the mountains.

Meadows reaching up to the skies.

My friend is a fan of waterfalls, so we did a bit of hiking.

Kinda rough given the base elevation was about 9,000 feet,

but with her encouragement I tramped on and up.

So glad I did.

Another beautiful place checked off! 

Nature Photo Challenge, Day 4

Day 4: When we do a road trip, my hubby and I like to sometimes go off the beaten path. If a sign on the road sounds interesting, we'll take a little side trip and check it out. Sometimes we accidentally find something amazing... like this waterfall in a Washington State forest area off a forest road that our GPS for some reason thought was going to be faster than staying on the main highway. Shorter yes, faster no... but we did catch some amazing scenery...

#1800 - On Bridges

I don't know why I love bridges, but I do.

Whenever we travel, I am always taking pictures of the bridges we pass...

Wooden single lane bridge near Honeydew, CA

Bridge across Mattole River

I like the elliptical shapes of this one

Heading from Washington State to Oregon

across the Columbia River

Western NY bridge

San Rafael Bridge

Dogs with Oakland Bay Bridge in background

Token Golden Gate Bridge photo

(we pass through here often)

But my favorite bridge is the one I travel across almost daily:

Fernbridge

It's over 100 years old, and it is still the longest

poured concrete bridge in the world.

I've taken dozens of photos from every angle

But I especially like crossing it

Leaving to work in the morning

And heading home in the evening

Or leaving for work in the evening

And coming home in the morning

But I especially love that moment

when after a long journey

you turn the car onto the bridge

and know that you are almost home...

2013 A to Z Post:

B is for Brooder