Clearlake

My partner, R. , and I went up to Clearlake last weekend. Here are a few of the (as usual) zillions of pictures I took while we were up there.


Her band was supposed to play at an adoption party up there but it was cancelled because all the rain we have been getting has caused the lake to come up way above its usual level so the pier they were to play on and half the parking lot of the hotel were flooded.

So we got a nice 3 day vacation instead.

This first picture is of "Old Faithful" geyser in Calistoga on the way up there. I always assumed that there was only one "Old Faithful" but apparently it is a classification having to do with the regularity with which they erupt. As well as this one and the one in Yellowstone there is apparently one in New Zealand.








They have various goats, sheep and llamas there too...














Here is a poster of what the geyser looked lik in the 50's
The Buckingham country club in Soda Bay on Clearlake. Rather windy that day. I've always loved weeping willows. We had one in the first house we rented in northern California when I was two. Its branches hung down to the ground and I always wanted to hide under them to play but the older kids told me there were snakes under it. Usually I like ultra sharp photos but even though this one is a little soft from the wind and the gathering dusk, there is something about it that really appeals to me. The movement of the branches, the glowing impressionistic color of the tree and the grass.



We hiked around Clearlake State Park just outside of Soda Bay. As with many places around the lake, the park was rather flooded. Most of the camp sites were closed because they were under water. the Dorn nature trail was very nice with good views of the lake and the general area as well as beautiful details such as these moss covered rocks and various wildflowers.


I love this one with the miner's lettuce growing out of it.

You can see more of these pictures at: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=sh9x23e.71cn1jey&x=0&y=-vw850o . Click on the button at the bottom right that says: "view photos without logging in" if you don't want to set up an account on Kodak's site. I'll post the rest of the good ones there when I get a chance.