May 1979. I can still feel the freezing cold of the water as I walked through the stream to the dunes. The warmth of the sun and the chill of the morning breeze. The quietness broken only by the occasional laughter and voices of other visitors. It was a time of change. One stage of life ending and another beginning. A return to civilian life after 9 1/2 years in the Navy.I purchased a postcard at the gift shop that I still have posted on the bulletin board next to my computer. It included a few words written by Ann Zwinger ". . . even in winter there is the promise of spring. . . The white of snow becomes the white of summer clouds. . . part of each season is contained in every other."
Anyone care to venture a guess as to where this picture was taken? A little hint, western United States ;-)
Update May 21, .. 11:00 a.m
Craig Manson of Geneablogie fame has correctly identified the above scene as the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, it is an amazing area. It's on my list of places to visit, again. Someday.
Some incredibly nice photographs:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grsa/resources/photos_dunes.htm
Children's artwork inspired by the dunes:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grsa/artwork.htm
Links to more photographs:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grsa/resources/photos.htm
There are a lot of other nice websites, just do a search for Great Sand Dunes...
Mt. Rainier finally had a good weekend forecast, so it was time to attempt the Furher Finger route.
Our route is shown in red. We descended the Kautz Glacier route, shown in blue.
Dave on the Nisqually Glacier passing some crevasses on our way to high camp.
Doug and Dave on top with a little snow falling.
Dave below the steep pitches on the Kautz Glacier, just above the Turtle Snowfield.
Having returned to Boston from our stay on Cape Cod, we were greeted by the "Leaf Season" in full effect. It happens so fast! This is very new for 
This is the fist time I have ridden my Pashley in over two weeks, and the absence made me hyper-aware of the differences between her and my Motobecane mixte. To my surprise, the upright sitting position took a bit of re-adjusting to: To be completely honest, I was somewhat frustrated with the bicycle's composed and stately demeanor after having grown accustomed to the faster and more responsive mixte. Also, I do not have a front rack or basket on the mixte, so another thing that took some re-adjustment on the Pashley was the enormous basket obstructing my view of the front tire.
It was a crisp Autumn day, and it felt oh so cozy to glide through the streets in my soft, flowing cream sweater upon the nicely broken in leather saddle.
I tried to capture the sweater here, but this wasn't my day for successful self-portraiture. Wearing it made me feel as if I were officially acknowledging and celebrating Autumn.
Tweed hat, bought at the Provincetown Army/Navy store - my current favourite cycling cap.
And an attempt at a "Panda shot". Not very informative I admit - but hey, it captures the moment. Happy Autumn cycling!
