Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

On the very small section of Rt 16 to get to our home on the Broadkill Beach Bay, we drive on a strip of road that takes us through one of the wetland ponds of  Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

It is a quietly beautiful place and a wonderful spot to see great sunsets.

Bringing home dinner one night, a variety of white waterfowl were just packed along the road area.

I was lucky to have no cars come for minutes as I drifted down the wrong side of the road to capture a few photographs.

Finally the birds had enough of my presence and flew to another area, and I got dinner home.

Miltonian Stonehenge

  These poles in the middle of the beach were a couple days of camera play for me. I saw them as my own beach style Stonehenge.

In the background you can see another house that will surely have the same fate as this one soon enough.

On day two, I asked for a little cooperation from the family to use these poles in a photo shoot.

  Following instructions,...



...and patience was required.

OK. Set the timer.



Under Construction

I can't wait to do this next year.

 

Broadkill Beach, Milton, Delaware

We had a busy first day in Delaware, and really didn't have time to appreciate the beach because of the storm that greeted us shortly after we settled into our house. 

The next morning began the twice a day walks on the almost empty Broadkill Beach. 

If you like a crowd, this place will not be your thing. 

Unobstructed walks...

Beach combing...

 

A little room to toss a ball...

 

And the music of the waves to read a book by, and sleep by, was the norm.

Video:Waves and terns on Broadkill beach

Gentle bay waters and,...

..blue, blue skies greeted us for the rest of our stay.

 Home sweet home. 

 

Mt. Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods, NH

I hope these pictures say "elegance", "relaxed", "beautiful" to you, because that is what this place said to me.

Enjoy!

Monument Valley and the Movies

This was the amazing view from our house at Gouldings Lodge in Monument Valley, Utah.  Some of what we are looking at is in Arizona. The natural features are on both sides of the state line. 

The history of the Goulding Lodge is very tied in to the early Hollywood westerns.

The Museum is a fun spot for photographs with "The Duke".

‘Captain Nathan Brittles’ Cabin’, also called ‘John Wayne’s Cabin’, is located just behind the museum.  In actuality, it was Mike (Mrs.) Goulding’s potato cellar, where she stored her fruits, vegetables, and other perishables.   When ‘She Wore a Yellow Ribbon’ was filmed here in 1949 by director John Ford, this structure was used for exterior shots only as the personal quarters for the Cavalry Post’s commanding officer, played by Wayne.

We spent most of Sunday at the Navaho Tribal Park driving on the 17 Mile Trail within the park.

 We saw several stray dogs during our visit, and some had their pups tagging along.

We were stopped at a Navaho jewelry stand at this overview and the rider slowly walked his horse out to the point. It just was a perfect scene and this is an area where John Ford did a lot of his filming.  No wonder!

 

A family favorite is Forrest Gump and this sign marks the spot where he ended his run. Below is the scene from the road.

There are so many views in this area that you will see in current truck commercials and many, many movies. As beautiful as it is, it is a harsh landscape and it couldn't have been easy working here.

Its quite amazing to visit the area and learn about how the Gouldings brought Hollywood and the world to see it.  We were thrilled to be able to spend time in Monument Valley in such beautiful weather.