Back to Table Mountain

I just couldn’t wait to get back to Table Mountain because I knew it must be getting pretty good by now and I was right.

Tuesday I headed over on my motorcycle again and then took the mile walk to get to the best spots and I was not disappointed.

The quantity of flowers had multiplied dramatically in the 5 days since I last was there.

It’s not yet near the spectacular bloom that we’ve some years and there is not a lot to see from the road but if your willing to walk a little you will be rewarded.

The forecast is for rain tomorrow and I would love to see that happen.

With some showers maybe we could still have a bumper crop of wild flowers this year.

Spring in the Bay Area

Connie and I spent the weekend in the bay area.  We spent Saturday and Saturday night at Dave and Jane’s in San Ramon.  Dave and I took a little ride up Mt Diablo to check for photo ops.  The greenery was spectacular and the color of the grass seem surreal  but we didn’t stay long.

Sunday we went to Heidi and Jay’s in Sausalito.  In the afternoon I had time to drive up to Mt Tamalpais.  What a beautiful day and the spring weather and scenery were great.  This is looking down from Ridgecrest Blvd. towards Stinson Beach.

This is the view looking back down Ridgecrest Blvd.

This is a view of San Francisco from Mt Tamalpais.

Spring Flowers on Table Mountain

I think maybe another week and we could have some serious wild flowers.

I went for another walk today and they have increased quite a bit in the last week.

Of course some years are better than others but I’m hoping that this year will be a good one.

Right now most of the best spots are a long way from the road.  I had to walk a couple of miles get these shots.

I would say the poppies have quadrupled in the last week and the lupines  have probably doubled.

I’m sure I will be making several more trips out there in the next few weeks.

It’s only about 10 miles from the house and in this beautiful weather I can take a motorcycle.  The hike actually kills 2 birds with one stone because I go for a walk everyday anyway.

Not Exactly Travel

Well folks, it’s been a while since we went on any big trips, but we have several coming up this year.  As always I expect to get lots of good pictures.  You will be able to decide for yourself whether I actually do or not.

In the mean time I can’t just sit around and not take pictures, especially with my new camera sitting around and burning a hole in my camera bag.  Yesterday it was sunny and I took a little ride and long hike and here is what I got.

I rode my motorcycle up to Table Mountain and then I hiked around on top of the mountain for several miles trying to find some good shots.

I was on my way to get some photos of a waterfall that I know about but was interested in finding whatever I could along the way.

This photo was made from the process of combing three photos together that are taken at different exposures.  The process is called HDR for high dynamic range.  Those are Poppies in the foreground.

This is the waterfall I was looking for and it’s called Phantom Falls because it only flows after the rain.  We have had a lot of rain lately. 

Here it is again.  Table Mountain can be incredibly beautiful in the spring when the wild flowers bloom but they are just getting started.  I think I might be a week or 2 early.