Notes From The Road
A few Polaroids from a little Leica Sofort camera that shoots Fuji Instax Mini film... so I guess they aren't actually Polaroids anymore. Fujiroids? Leicaroids? I had an instructor in college that just called them "roids." He was a total asshole. Can we just agree to keep calling them Polaroids?
Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo, CA
Hwy 14 West
Panamint Valley, CA
Panamint Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley
Joshua Tree NP
Joshua Tree NP
Joshua Tree NP
A few polaroids from the long weekend... we wandered up North to Humboldt to escape the heat wave... Was still 98 degrees on the coast, but a far cry from the 112 degrees on the drive up through Santa Rosa...
Drove through the redwoods on the 128 out to the coast, you forget how amazing Northern California is sometimes, living in the city.
We stayed in a cabin made out of an old wine barrel, which I had no idea was a life goal of mine until now...
No. #20170128_05 Amboy, Ca.
Made a quick run down South through Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert back in January. I often forget just how empty most of California really is... and how "red" most of the small towns along the way really are. We stopped at this boarded up Motel, Roy's, in Amboy, which is somewhere between nowhere and not here. And then this RV full of German tourists rolls up, gets out, takes a bunch of pictures, and cuts out.
No. #20170127_02 Joshua Tree NP
No. #20170127_05 Joshua Tree NP
No. #20170128_04 Kelsoe Dunes, Mojave Desert.
We almost... almost... climbed to the top of Kelsoe Sand Dunes, but my ankle full of metal and our small dog were not cooperating. Plus we ran out of water. In the desert. Because we're city folk, apparently.
No. #20170127_07 Joshua Tree NP
No. #20170128_06 Palm Springs, Ca.
#0463_02A - Somewhere in Oregon. August of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.
We finally made the trek up to Eugene, Oregon, by way of Ashland to see a family friend, and to visit Cougar Hot Springs, which is quite possibly my favorite place on earth...
It was the first time I'd ventured anywhere without crutches or a cane since breaking my leg in May, but soaking in hot water for 5 days took the edge off. Felt good to be on the road for a while, seems like the summer just sort of melted away this year...
Safe to say this may have been the last long haul for our beat up old Honda... what with a bad front end and no air conditioning, I think it's about time to put her down.
#0464_08A - Joanna, Oregon. August of 2016. Leica M3, Zeiss 50mm f/1.5, Ilford HP5 400.
#0462_14A - Highway 5 North, August of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.
#0470_25A - Yosemite Valley, October of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.
Randomly ended up in Yosemite Valley in October with some old friends for a day... Hadn't been through there in years, and I completely forgot what a circus it is during the high season. Additionally, the last time I was out that way, selfie sticks weren't yet a thing... Strange to take a step back and see just what's become of this great American Landscape.
#0470_18A - Yosemite Valley, October of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.
#0470_15A - Yosemite Valley, October of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.
Finally getting through some scans from way back in February. We took a quick run up to South Lake Tahoe for a long weekend. Ended up at this weird hotel bar in Reno, everyone in the place looked like they were on at least their 3rd marriage.
#0433_06A - Lake Tahoe, CA. February 2016. Leica M3, Zeiss 50mm f/1.5, Ilford HP5 400.
#0432_15A - Fallen Leaf Lake, CA. February 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.
#0433_18A - Fallen Leaf Lake, CA. February 2016. Leica M3, Zeiss 50mm f/1.5, Ilford HP5 400.
#0433_01A - Psychic, somewhere near Davis, CA. February 2016. Leica M3, Zeiss 50mm f/1.5, Ilford HP5 400.
The whole South Lake / Reno scene always struck me as a kind of a violent fusion of people who are way too into skiing, compulsive gamblers, white trash and a truly unique landscape. Not exactly my bag... I don't ski and never make a bet unless I know I can't lose. I've been called white trash, but it's been awhile. Anyway it's still pretty...
On the way up we stopped at this burrito shop in a strip mall off the freeway with a psychic nextdoor... how is this still a thing? And how is this a thing in a strip mall off the freeway outside Davis?
#0433_21A - The Wife. Reno, NV. February 2016. Leica M3, Zeiss 50mm f/1.5, Ilford HP5 400.