Category: River

Four Gems Against the Odds

Post author By TravisGood
Post date January 24, 2010
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My plan was to drive west along the far north of New Mexico to Farmington. The remarkably useful NMroads.com showed snow had closed many roads. I couldn’t do the Enchanted Circle. I couldn’t drive north from Chama. Neither could I go along a key stretch of scenic route as I had hoped to. However, as evidenced by the fact that I’m typing this in Farmington, with patience and lots of detours I arrived and the day was a success.

I drove through snow, hail, rain, and sun. I drove over ice, packed snow, slush, and dry pavement. The changes in weather and elevation and sunlight brought delight to the photographer in me. Never did I feel endangered but I always remained cautious. Today I drove through a picturesque New Mexico Weather Wonderland!

Bike River Road Travel

Picture Taking while Bike Riding

Post author By TravisGood
Post date January 19, 2010
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I know, I know. Walking and chewing gum at the same time. What a talent!

Seriously, this first stage of my road trip is about distance punctuated with bike rides. It started with a couple of rides in Virginia. The following day I rode along rivers in Knoxville and Nashville. Today my river rides were in Memphis and Little Rock … and they were the best yet!

Bike River Road Travel

Riding the Rivers

I woke up this morning wondering “Why the heck did they name this town Johnson City?” Odd thought for first thing in the morning! Maybe I had a sense that answers would be coming.

On my drive to Knoxville I visited Johnson’s Early Home, Johnson’s Homestead, Johnson’s National Cemetery, Johnson’s National Historic Site … have you figured it out yet?

Falls Lake Lighthouse River Road Travel

Across the U.P. to Canada

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 26, 2009
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Upper Peninsula to Canada — Sought out the lighthouse, found lots of bird activity, decided to combine the two in one picture. Many, many shots later I was able to realize my vision. Good results often come only after much persistence.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan was just about the last place I’d ever get to. It wasn’t on the way to anywhere; it’s not near where I live; I don’t know anyone who lives there. This was my chance! My plan was to follow the coast of Lake Michigan with only two detours: 1) Whitefish Point Lighthouse and 2) Sault St. Marie in Canada. That night I’d rest my head near the Macinack Bridge which connects the two great peninsulas of Michigan.

Just as I entered Michigan I picked-up a map and guide to all of Michigan’s 118 lighthouses at the Visitors Welcome Center. Did you catch that? 118! Unlike other lighthouse trips to Maine and Oregon and Prince Edward Isle, I wasn’t going to try and see them all. This trip was my UP experience and time was limited. I was going to focus on the easy and the interesting lights. <fix>

Animal Bridge Canyon Falls Lake Mountain River Road Travel

Impacted by Road Construction

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 22, 2009
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By the time I arrived at Grand Teton National Park it was getting dark but the peaks and the clouds cast a mood worthy of shooting. This disappointed me somewhat as I know from previous visits how beautiful these mountains can be. No matter, I planned on spending lots of time in the area over the following day. Little did I know that road construction would prevent me from getting back to these commanding peaks.

Yellowstone Road Construction

Yellowstone Road Construction Like a man on a mission I shot north through the Tetons, inched along the Rockefeller Parkway (which was being resurfaced) and wound my way through Yellowstone National Park in pitch darkness to the north entrance. My mission? To get some sleep, some food and some gas. When I finally got to Gardiner, MT I checked in to my motel and found food and gas at the only store open in town, five minutes before it closed. Whew!

I love Yellowstone and wanted to see as much as possible. The road network in the park is shaped like a figure “8” with radials heading off to five different entrances. During a very long day I covered it all save one road segment and one entrance which were both closed due to road construction. Though I didn’t do much hiking, I did see a lot, and it reinforced in me a feeling of awe. By late evening I had made it out the east entrance, through Cody WY and to my hotel in Billings, MT.

Bridge Canyon Falls Family River Road Travel

Columbia River Gorge

At the end of the last ice age, water from Glacial Lake Missoula found it’s way to the sea by bursting through the Cascade mountain range at the point we now know as the Columbia River Gorge. Who knew?!

Again, I learn through my travels and I found this insight fascinating. No wonder rivers plunge hundreds of feet forming world-famous waterfalls. No wonder the gorge walls can climb as high as 4,000 feet straight up. No wonder this river-to-the-sea is so mighty. It’s all due to the residual impact of floods from a melting glacial lake over 12,000 years ago!

Just look at the majesty of the eastern entrance to the gorge … glorious.

Columbia River Gorge

Before the melting flood broke through, this canyon didn’t exist.

Canyon Hike Mountain River Road Travel

Brilliant Red Utah

My next stop was Moab, UT where I was going to deliver a box of DVDs to the parents of a friend. Old favorites such as Arches and Canyonlands were also on my agenda as were new recommendations such as Dead Horse Point. Little did I know that an interesting-looking shortcut would drop me into the Colorado Riverway Recreation Area, another wonder of red rock and water.

To a great extent I’m going to let pictures convey the grandeur of the area. However, before I set you free on my albums I want to make two points. First, the rock really and truly is a beautiful shade of red. Second, the combination of blue sky, red rock, and green plants combine to make magic. The Colorado River is what makes this possible in Utah’s arid plateau.

I could spend a month in this region and not begin to do it justice.

Guess I’ll just have to keep returning!

Enough! Let’s see some pictures!

Museum River Road Travel

Cincinnati Lights

This town is photogenic. A few months ago I was passing through and took note of it’s appealing character: the winding Ohio River, it’s many bridges, hills all around, and a beautiful skyline. I knew it had the makings of a photo shoot and I had it in mind for a revisit … this was it.

The Cincinnati Museum Center has a scale model of the city which is where I started to piece together my picture-taking ambitions. Foremost I wanted to capture some contemporary views which I could superimposed over identical historical images. This I didn’t manage to pull off; too ambitious. However, with all the buildings, bridges, river, hills and lights my second ambition was to get some skyline shots. This I did and I had a blast trying to sight my shots.

While I didn’t get to a few of the better vista points I did get enough good pictures to come away happy. Finding the night baseball game in process was a real coup!

The next morning was cloudy so after visiting the sites I’d missed at night, I hit the road.

Above you can see what I missed; shooting that would be lovely at night!

I feel a return engagement is inevitable.

Bridge River Swim Travel

Brooklyn Bridge Swim

Third time’s a charm! In 2007 they lost my paperwork. In 2008 I showed up but the event was canceled due to a hurricane warning (a false alarm). Then, finally in 2009, my paperwork was in order and there was no hurricane and I was finally able to swim under the length of the world’s most beautiful bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn.

Bridge Family Historical River Road Travel

Canada’s Eastern Provinces

Post author By TravisGood
Post date July 15, 2009
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Kelsey at Niagara — Ironic that here I chose a picture taken on the U.S. side of Niagara Falls but Kelsey’s exuberance outshines the dreary day. She started energized and positive and throughout 12 days and more than 3,000 miles she remained a great travel partner! Go Kelsey!!!

Road trips with Kelsey are starting to become a tradition. Our first outing was down the east coast to Charleston. Our second trip was along Route 66 <fix> from Chicago to Santa Monica. She’s proven to have what it takes to flourish on this kind of trip so why not keep it going?! Heck, soon she’ll be able to share in the driving so we can do even more.

Wanting to ensure she has a good time, I take her over territory I’m already familiar with. Just recently I had been along the Maine coast <fix>and up to Prince Edward Isle, <fix> two years ago I drove across Canada, and three years ago I’d visited Niagara Falls. I proposed weaving these together into one massive loop and she agreed. The route of our trip is mapped below. We started in D.C. and went clockwise around the circuit.