theparkerfamily.org

Tag: Travel

  • Photos: Cypress Creek, Wimberly, Texas

    Out in Texas for Thanksgiving. It’s been an aweful long time since I have done any photography …

    Not too long after the trip to Arizona, Emily (the Cat) started having pretty severe problems with her stomach. Turns out that everything is okay, but she has been on twice daily medication which has put some limits on travel and extra-curricular activities.

    I had never been to Texas hill country before, so driving out to Wimberly and back was really quite something. My life has been so East Coast-centric, that just about any new biome impresses the heck out of me.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Cypress Creek, Wimberly, Texas

  • Carter’s Country Shooting Range

    [Carter's Country Shooting Range, Houston, Texas]
    there is nothing better than going with three hot young texas women to a shooting range out her in a suburb of a suburb of houston, texas.

    the spindler sisters were decidedly the only women there under 300 lbs — and watching the crowd as they moved through is as close as i’ll ever get to witnessing supermodels navigate the paparazzi on fifth avenue.

    i didn’t shoot myself — not sure anybody was ready to a the long-haired hippie with anything approximating a loaded weapon — but watching everybody else watching the spindler sisters squeeze off a few rounds was totally worth all those awkward “who let him in here” stares i recieved.

    See Slideshow of the Photos on Flickr:
    Carter’s Country Shooting Range, Spring, Texas

  • Travel: Road to Nogales, Arizona

    This photo set is kind of a hodgepodge of what was left after Patagonia and Parker Canyon were removed.

    Early snaps were of the stretches of Coronado National Forest between Tucson and Parker Canyon, later snaps were from the road between Patagonia and Nogales. We did catch a stunning sunset right on the outskirts of town.

    On the way back to Tucson, I got caught in yet another Border Patrol checkpoint. The agent stopped us, looked at me oddly for a couple seconds … I finally said “Hello,” he asked if I was a citizen, and then told me to move along before I responded.

    I wonder if maybe some of these resources should be reallocated to something like murder or domestic violence or something.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Road to Nogales, Arizona

  • Hike: Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Arizona

    After all that driving, it appears that the preserve was closed. Unfortunately, I kind of had to pee (and the gate was unlocked), so I decided to take my chances.

    We walked around a bit, saw yet another snake (NOT poisonous) and I was incrediably impressed with the preserve. It was well signed, very good literature, and obviously well cared for.

    As we were leaving, the preserve keeper came over to shoo us away (nicely, of course) … and we talked for a while before we drove off. Not that I am not already a donor, but if I wasn’t I think the whole experince was enough to inspire me to get my checkbook out.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Arizona

  • Travel: Parker Canyon, Arizona

    Last day in Arizona, and I was determined to not have any bad wildlife experience between me and the plane home.

    The initial thought was to drive down to the Mexican border, stopping at a Nature Conservancy preserve along the way. Through the first part of the trip, however, we were innundated with signs for an Arizona State Park called “Parker Canyon.”

    Feeling a bit of familial loyalty, we took a detour and wandered around the *completely* empty state park.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Parker Canyon, Arizona

  • Travel: Coronado National Forest, Arizona

    After yesterday’s rattlesnake excitement, we opted for a day of staying in the comfy steel confines of our rental car.

    I had heard good (if touristy) things about Sabino Canyon and the sound of a tram car between myself and Mother Nature sounded like a pretty ameniable idea to me. Unfortunately, Sabino Canyon sustained pretty severe flooding the past season and was largely closed.

    Thanks to the wonders of the interweb, I tripped on the Sky Islands Parkway which covers 27 miles in one of Coronado National Forest’s northern most pretected spaces. What an unbelievably lucky discovery.

    To some extent, it was standard “parkway” setup … not too dissimilar from Skyline Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway. However, the scenery was just stunning and unlike anything on the East Coast. Easily the best drive of the trip so far … and nary a poisonous snake in sight.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Coronado National Forest, Arizona

  • Hike: Saguaro National Park, Arlzona (part II)

    The first hike was so good that I decided to come back, take a wrong turn, get stuck in the desert after dark and anger not one, but two venomous western rattlesnakes. Mmmmmmm.
    Explore the Photo Set:
    Saguaro National Park, Arlzona

  • Travel: Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona (part II)

    Much like the trip to Ramsey Canyon, our first stop at the Desert Museum was MUCH too short. Unlike the trip to Ramsey Canyon, the Desert Museum was 15 minutes away (as compared to 1 hour and 45 minutes). It’s a very photogenic museum — some of my favorite Arizona shots came from here.
    Explore the Photo Set:
    Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona

  • Hike: Saguaro National Park, Arlzona

    After the disasterous hike this morning, a small group of us who were staying through the weekend broke off and hit the western branch of the Saguaro National Park.

    We all had our role — Simon was on amphibian patrol, Steve pretended he could analyze animal poo and Jonathon evaluated the sharpness of cacti needles. Oh, and I ran around taking pictures, all the while rediculously underestimating how far away we were from the summit.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Saguaro National Park, Arlzona

  • Travel: Ramsey Canyon, Arizona

    A Nature Conservancy preserve, just on “our” side of the U.S. / Mexican border. It came complete with an I.N.S. (what are they called now?!?) blimp and everything. Due to a scheduling snafu, we spent a whole 45 minutes on the ground … *sigh*.

    On the way back, our bus was forced to stop at Border Patrol checkpoint. The most fun of the trip so far was trying to convince an English ex-pat friend of mine that he should hide in the bathroom to avoid being deported. He kept dismissing the idea as “poor” as “it might arouse suspicion” … *sigh*.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Ramsey Canyon, Arizona