Author Topic: Some photos from my trip (Read 6198 times)

Monkeyleg · « **on:** July 19, 2011, 12:36:06 PM »

In all the times I've been out west, I've never stopped to take a really good photo. They've all been snapshots.

This time was no different, but I did put some online. If you've never seen Utah, these will give you an idea of what you're missing. (Or, as my wife says, "it just looks like a bunch of rocks.")

I took a lot of photos from the highway in the Rockies in Colorado, but it was overcast and raining, and they look lousy.

Photos are here.

PTK · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:23:02 PM »

Just a bunch of rocks?

She can stay out of my favorite vacation spots, then!

Seriously though, thanks for sharing the pictures. I haven't been to Utah in probably five years. I need to make time to get out there. :)

EDIT: Niiiiice Mustang. For some reason I forgot it was you who mentioned owning one previously. I knew someone (or multiple people?) owned one on here. That made my day to see it parked on the side of the road in a couple photos.

charby · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:35:43 PM »

I always thought you had a beard.

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:49:06 PM »

*Envious sigh*

So, what mods to the Pony besides the obvious wheels/tires?

Brad

Ben · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2011, 03:34:24 PM »

Thanks for sharing the pics Monkeyleg! All very nice. The lake image struck me as a cool place to hang out. So what did the full route end up being?

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2011, 05:04:52 PM »

Charby, the beard went a couple of years ago. My wife was right in that it did make me look less old (as opposed to "younger").

Brad, it's been lowered 1 1/2" with a Ford racing spring kit. It also has a C&L cold air intake and JLT tuner. The other stuff (rear spoiler, louvers, etc) are obviously cosmetic. I'd love to put a blower on it, but the ones I want are $6K.

Ben, the full route was AL to TN, IL, MO, KS, CO, UT, NV, AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, MS and then back to AL. Just a bit shy of 4,000 miles. And the only states where I saw any rain were UT and CO, the ones where I really wanted sun.

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She can stay out of my favorite vacation spots, then!

As long as those spots don't include New Orleans, New York City, Boston or Martha's Vineyard, you're safe.

Those are her favorite places.

grampster · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2011, 06:10:52 PM »

Great pics. Great trip.

TommyGunn · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2011, 07:31:50 PM »

Fantastic pics there, Monkeyleg!!

Do we live in a beautiful country -- or what?? ??

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2011, 07:39:27 PM »

Pretty rocks.

RoadKingLarry · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:36:06 AM »

Nice stuff, thanks for sharing.
Makes me even more eager for my trip to CO. next week.
We're leving the Mustang at home and taking the Road King though.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2011, 01:54:16 AM »

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We're leving the Mustang at home and taking the Road King though.

I would have much rather taken my Springer than the Mustang. Consider yourself lucky.

Something I forgot to mention in my posts about this trip is that nearly the entire trip was paid for with rewards points from my business debit card and business American Express card. I had to shell out about $600 for gas and maybe $150-$200 for food, but the rest of the gas and all of the motels--Comfort Inns, La Quinta, Radisson, etc--were paid by rewards points.

Tallpine · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:44:48 AM »

Quote from: Monkeyleg on July 20, 2011, 01:54:16 AM

Something I forgot to mention in my posts about this trip is that nearly the entire trip was paid for with rewards points from my business debit card and business American Express card. I had to shell out about $600 for gas and maybe $150-$200 for food, but the rest of the gas and all of the motels--Comfort Inns, La Quinta, Radisson, etc--were paid by rewards points.

Are you going to be on TV now ?

Jocassee · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:45:59 AM »

Quote from: Monkeyleg on July 20, 2011, 01:54:16 AM

I would have much rather taken my Springer than the Mustang. Consider yourself lucky.

Something I forgot to mention in my posts about this trip is that nearly the entire trip was paid for with rewards points from my business debit card and business American Express card. I had to shell out about $600 for gas and maybe $150-$200 for food, but the rest of the gas and all of the motels--Comfort Inns, La Quinta, Radisson, etc--were paid by rewards points.

That is awesome. I'm glad you had a great trip with plenty of sun. I find driving is one of the most therapeutic activities in my life. The bike is more fun, more intense, but I don't get off feeling relaxed.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2011, 11:34:50 AM »

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The bike is more fun, more intense, but I don't get off feeling relaxed.

No, me neither. When I'd return from a 10-14 (or, once, 21) day trip, I'd crash for a day or two from exhaustion, and that's when I was a lot younger.

MrsSmith · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2011, 03:15:08 PM »

Thanks for sharing the pics, Dick - great shots and looks like a great drive. Brings that "road trip" urge back to the surface!

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2011, 04:56:27 PM »

Thanks, Mrs. Smith. I'm always a bit disappointed, though, when I view my photos when I get back home. I've never been a good location or landscape photographer (maybe because I never tried hard enough).

These are the sort of photos I'd like to do, if I had the time.

MrsSmith · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2011, 06:08:09 PM »

Well who wouldn't? Several of those look as though they were taken using a polarizing filter and other helpful tools though, so don't be too hard on yourself. One of those you labeled Capital Reef I think it was - that was a really good shot. If you want "hang it on the wall" quality, you might want to actually get out of the car though. Bug guts don't help make the image sharper...

Are you still on your trip or are you back home now? Any shots of CO?

Balog · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2011, 06:09:29 PM »

Huh, you know I don't think I've ever seen you mention it Dick. What do you shoot? Medium format? I know a lot of the model/product stuff is done on MF.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:13:32 PM »

Balog, I was 99% a studio photographer, shooting with 4x5 or 8x10 cameras. When digital came along, I either shot with 4x5 and a digital back or with a Hasselblad and a digital back.

As for polarizing filters, that much I know.

It's just different disciplines. Take a location or landscape photographer and put him in a studio and he can't do the simplest tabletop product photo. Not many photographers can bridge disciplines equally well.

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Bug guts don't help make the image sharper...

No, but stopping to clean the windshield often slows me down. I was there for speed, not clean windows.

Notice the nice winding highway in the shots with the Mustang on the side of the road?

MrsSmith · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:37:45 PM »

Yep. Made me jealous.

RevDisk · « **Reply #20 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:56:13 PM »

Very pretty! I like water, and green. Probably should do a road trip through Utah just for something different, though.

dm1333 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 20, 2011, 08:53:50 PM »

I have a picture at the same spot in Red Rock Canyon. Bryce is beautiful but for my money you can't beat Zion NP. Utah is still pretty high on my list of places to live in after retiring from .mil. All the scenery of Colorado but not as many California transplants.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #22 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:52:06 PM »

dm1333, I've been to Bryce so many times that it's not that exciting, but Red Rock Canyon never fails to take my breath away.

This time, after I paid the $25 to get into Bryce (

), I was driving behind a small motorized cart hauling a bushel or two of gravel. I saw what looked to be a small passing lane, and so went around him. There were no other vehicles nearby.

An approaching ranger flashed her light bar, and I pulled over and rolled down the window.

She had scary crazy eyes, and was practically screaming at me for crossing the double yellow lines. I've been chewed out by cops before--male and female--but she was something else entirely. She then said she'd be watching out for me while I was in the park. She spooked me enough that I left after just fifteen minutes.

And the rangers worry about permit holders carrying guns in the parks. She shouldn't be allow to carry anything more deadly than a dull pencil.

Scout26 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 20, 2011, 11:37:33 PM »

Nice pictures. I hope that I can make there someday.....

seeker_two · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2011, 11:45:48 PM »

Well done on the pics!....

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Author Topic: Some photos from my trip (Read 6198 times)