Channel Islands in June

Tulum II

Just got my film back.  Even the ones where my camera went off accidentally look dreamy.

Ok, now I'll get on the bandwagon and get Christmassy. 

Tulum

This fall has had me traveling more than I normally like to, but looking back on it all now, it's been a wealth of experiences.  We vacationed in Miami, attended a wedding in north Mississippi, and just returned from another wedding in Cozumel.  Before joining the party, we decided to linger in Tulum for a couple of days.  Most of the time we read in the hammock, but I ventured out for a few walks along the wide white beaches, which were dense with life forms (and remnants of oceanic life).

Desert nest

Everything can seem a little harsher in the desert.  I did not escape this scene unscathed, but got a very large, thorny burr stuck in my foot.  Upon pulling it out, it then stuck into my finger.  That bird knew just what it was doing building its fortress there.

Palm Desert

A study in contrasts between the tamed and wild of Palm Desert -- the amount of sprinklers going off in the middle of the day made my blood pressure rise.  But a tour of The Living Desert opened my eyes to the sculptural treasures of the desert.  While some are used to great effect in town, lush green grass is definitely king here. 

I left Palm Desert via HW 74, the Palms to Pines Highway, and as I climbed the landscape changed every few miles.  I made it to Idyllwild, an hour by car, but a world of difference, and will post pictures of that landscape next.

Driving across the Everglades today

Saying goodbye to Florida, where orchids grow on power lines.

Images courtesy of Google Maps.

Beachy

In Miami

One day in, and I've already met some very nice creatures.