Last Friday, what was to be my ONLY day off for several weeks, my beloved old man, Jackson, woke me around 7 am, needing to go outside. I grumbled about having to get up to let him out. "Jacks, I wanna sleep-in this morning," I grumped as I slid open the patio door. As he and Sadie darted out the door I poked my head out, my eyes still closed, to inhale a nice deep breath of a spring morning. It smelled of rain (as it had for days) but, wait, something was different! My eyes shot open and instinctively and immediately focused on my back property line. The trees there were STILL for the first time in what felt like WEEKS! NO WIND! I ran to the closet, threw on some adventure clothes and headed toward my next desert destination, the ghost town of Pearl. Although there was no wind that day, the weather forecast was grim. They were predicting rain. But I didn't care! As long as there was no wind (it seriously complicates flower photos) I was ready and willing to brave the elements!
easily one of my favorite places to be right now--where the pavement ends!
Almost immediately upon turing off the highway, I was delighted to find plenty of wildflowers right along the road. There was absolutely NO traffic that day so it was perfect! I stopped frequently, often leaving my truck in the middle of the road (which ended up being rather convenient when I needed to run for cover from the rain). Although it made for a wet day, the damp earth smelled just wonderful, EVERYTHING was gorgeous green and the rain speckled flowers were simply amazing.
it definitely rained on me!
i love just-about-to-bloom flowers.
they simply brim with potential and clearly ooze hope!
There were so many flowers and so much to stop and look at, took me over an hour to go what I later figured to be less than a mile! Why did I bother to figure the exact mileage? Because somehow, in my state of blissful distraction, I managed to make a giant loop and ended up back at the highway--on a different road than I originally came in on! I guess it was one of my famous detours. Fortunately my ATLAST came to the rescue once again and before long I made the CORRECT turn at the one and only intersection and was back on the way to Pearl!
i did manage to cross paths with this badger on my detour.
not a spectacular photo of him, but at least i did manage to get one!
As you began climbing through the canyon into the foothills, the road follows right along a tiny stream. I immediately recognized it as a great place to work on my silky water pictures! As I searched for the perfect spot in the stream I ran across a few new flowers and even found some wild mint!
I was thrilled to find the mint because I personally attempt to corral a large patch of mint growing naturally in my back yard. I think the smell of fresh mint is simply divine! I often pick a plant, crush the leaves between my fingers and then rub the oil under my nose during my weekly DOG POOPY PATROLS! It doesn't entirely stop my Poopy Patrol Gag Session but . . . well, come to think of it, I guess it just makes the poop smell a little more minty! Besides, I can't figure out what else to do with ALL that mint!
I picked a particularly appealing section of the stream and found a delightfully damp log to sit on. I began diligently working to REMEMBER how to adjust the settings on my camera in order to achieve the perfect, but ever-elusive silky water picture. I had only snapped a few pictures--none of which achieved the desired effect--when I looked up and focused on the plant mere inches from my face.
MORE POISON OAK!
And that quickly ended my photo session at the creek!
NO HUNTING-NO TRESPASSING
I honestly think it would be much more effective it they painted:
POISON OAK PRESENT
on the tire instead!
pearl, idaho. spring 2008
It had been years since I had been to Pearl but the last time I was there, there were still a few old buildings remaining. This time I found little evidence of what was once a thriving mining town. All of the buildings were gone! Even though the buildings were full of cow manure and in a terrible state of disrepair, they were still the last remaining bits of history. After some research I have since discovered that the owner of the nearby ranch burned the buildings (which he owned) one winter, claiming they were a popular site for underage drinking. I was so sad! Good-bye Pearl!
I imagine that some new bride planted this lilac bush in the front yard of her house. Although her home and her well manicured lawn are mere memories, her lilac bush still thrives and serves as one of the only reminders that human life once existed in this canyon.
The trail is the thing, not the end of trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for.
~louis l'amour~
Keeping that quote in mind as I left what used to be Pearl, I continued on, intending to follow Pearl Road until it meets Highway 55 on Horseshoe Bend Hill. And true to the quote above, it it turned out to be the most spectacular part of the trip!
I came around a bend in the road to find this patch of White Mule Ear Daisies! BUT . . .
THEY WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS 4-WIRE BARBED WIRE FENCE!
THE ONE WITH ALL THE NO TRESPASSING SIGNS.
So, I did what every good photographer would do!
I checked for an electric fence, video cameras, and police aircraft.
And then I laid down and rolled under the fence!
I got REALLY wet and muddy.
But it was worth it!
And even though I was delighted with my patch of Mule Ears, I was simply not prepared what was around the next bend!
The foothills were just COVERED WITH YELLOW FLOWERS! It was such an amazing sight! After taking a thousand pictures, I stopped and DANCED.
I stretched my arms out wide and spun around in the sea of yellow faces.
Laughing. Smiling. Simply Full of Joy.
NEVER LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING ANYTHING BEAUTIFUL, FOR BEAUTY IS GOD'S HANDWRITING.
~ralph waldo emerson~
~lovely self-portraits~
these really never get better.
i'm blaming it on the rain this time!
~FAVORITE PARTS OF THIS ADVENTURE~
- ROLLING UNDER THE FENCE! Dad says No Trespassing signs don't to apply to flower photographers!
- TWIRLING IN THE FLOWERS.
- THE RAIN
~MIKEY~
SORRY WE MISCOMMUNICATED AND YOU MISSED THE TRIP!
NEXT ADVENTURE, I PROMISE!
:o)
