Why I can't leave California

I've stood amongst the oldest living things on the planet

and I've stood next to the largest living thing on the planet

I've seen the view from atop the highest peak in the 48 contiguous states

When people think of Volcanos, they think of Hawaii, but California has a couple too...

Shasta is the most picturesque

But Lassen was the most recently active, it last errupted in 1915

San Francisco is a charming city, as far as cities go....

downtown Frisco

Lake Tahoe, elevation approximately 6200 feet, is the highest lake of its size in the US. It has 72 mile of shoreline, and a surface area of 191 square miles. Its the 10th deepest lake in the world. The bottom of the lake is lower in elevation than Carson Valley to the east! It is certainly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Its surrounded by white stuff in the winter, but I love hanging out there in the summer. The lake is so large that on any map of the world, or on any globe, it is plainly visible.

Great pictures George! Though I was a little surprised that the final picture was not of a large breasted young woman in a skimpy outfit.

Art

Lets not forget the southern California beaches, I don't want to disappoint Art...

Now that's what I'm talkin about!

Art

body surfing the Wedge in Newport Beach

the solitude of the pier at Ventura

The hustle & bustle, sights and sounds of the pier at Santa Monica

When the state flower blooms in the spring...

Almost extinct, the California condors are a very old species. Their habitat is located in the Sespe wilderness behind Fillmore, chosen because the Sespe is the most primitive wilderness in north America, and therefore the birds are least likely to encounter human beings.

They were a common sight in the skies above Fillmore when I moved here 20 years ago, but one died when it became entangled in power lines in-town. So the forrestry people moved them farther back into the Sespe.

For a sense of scale, the wingspan you are looking at is about 10 feet

Way cool George, I never realized that you had so much natural beauty there!

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls

Kings Canyon is as deep as the Grand Canyon

California's Mirror Lake

The lighthouse at Point Reyes

the second wife & I had begun making a photo study of all the California lighthouses. Maybe someday I'll pick up where we left off

Mono lake is a very saline lake, more salty than the ocean, due to evaporation. The lakes level was at one time higher than it is today, water has been diverted to supply drinking water to southern California. Fresh water percolating upward from the ground below the lake would rise to the top as it was lighter than the salt water in the lake. Thousands of years of this action formed these "tufas" rising from the bottom of the lake as a result of the minerals in the fresh water reacting with the salt in the lake water. Then when the level of the lake lowered, the tufas were exposed.

Not too far from Mono Lake is the town of Bodie, elevation 8400 feet. An undisturbed ghost town (abandoned mining town) from California's mining boom of the late 1800's.

The sand dunes at Pismo Beach

That is the best representation of California I have ever seen, you certainly do make a hard case to beat....

quote:

Originally posted by Cowboy from Hell:
and I've stood next to the largest living thing on the planet

Holy cow! You sure have changed since that picture was taken. I hardly recognized you standing next to that tree. And where's the cowboy hat? %^))

George,
you make a great ambassador for California. Travel brochures aren't that good.

Looks like the next issue is off to print!

Great images, George. I certainly don't need any convincing. If I could afford it, I'd move to the SF Bay area in a flash. California has the highest concentration of beautiful and varied scenery I’ve ever seen. The babes and cars are a bonus! I’ll just have to make do with my occasional trips there as my savings allow.

Wow you just gave this NY'er a reality check I need to get out more often!!! Seems like a great place to drive the Pantera George!!

Some fantastic shots George.

Thanks John.

I hope all is well with you and your wife. Tell her George says hi!