Bret's Closet--Photo Blog

New Blog

2009-12-27T10:41:00.001-08:00

FYI... I am no longer posting to this blog.

Check out my new blog at

http://www.brethuish.com

Jeep Trip In Death Valley

2009-12-13T21:54:00.003-08:00

We took a little jeep trip today with friends. It was an all day adventure up an obscure canyon on the west side of Death Valley. We were shooting for a client... It's great getting paid to do what you love.

Bad Water

2009-12-10T21:10:00.003-08:00

Welcome to the lowest place in North America. This is place is called Bad Water and it is located in Death Valley, California. These incredible patterns in the dry lake bed are caused by water evaporating and leaving the salt behind. Standing amongst these salt polygons is like being on another planet. Death Valley is a never ending source of amazement.

Salt Creek, Death Valley CA

2009-12-06T21:31:00.007-08:00

Salt creek is a salt water river. Who would have even thought that possible? It flows through Death Valley and at this time of year, December, it is not much more than a trickle. In places it dips beneath the surface only to appear again a bit "down stream". Eventually it sinks into the sands of the basin, not to be seen again. It is the home of one of many varieties of desert pupfish that actually have adapted and thrive in the salty water. Everywhere you turn, there is beauty and wonder in this amazing place. (click image for larger view)

Death Valley Movie

2009-11-30T11:22:00.003-08:00

This is a little movie we put together to give you a taste of Death Valley, a most remarkable place.

Artist Pallet

2009-11-24T18:56:00.002-08:00

Found this big raven sitting on a rock posing in front of Artist's Pallet, Death Valley National Park

20 Mule Team Canyon2

2009-11-23T19:41:00.003-08:00

We are in Death Valley. One of our favorite spots is 20 Mule Team Canyon. If you think you have seen hot and dry, you haven't seen nuttin' until you've been here.... It is spectacular!!

Valley Of Fire

2009-11-19T21:21:00.003-08:00

The Valley Of Fire is Nevada's first state park. The colors and textures are amazing. It is a short 50 miles from Las Vegas yet few take the time to visit.....

Las Vegas Office

2009-11-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

Another tough day at the office in Las Vegas!!

Loneliest Road In America

2009-10-27T19:02:00.002-07:00

We are working on our latest documentary about the Las Vegas water grab attempts. We are in Delta Utah and recently took a rather lengthy drive along what is often called the loneliest road in America. It is US highway 50. We learned why it earned this name. No services, no cell coverage and, well, nothing... here is a photo we took. It has earned its name!! Click on image for the full size version

Don't Need Roads

2009-10-18T20:17:00.002-07:00

Took a little 4WD adventure today outside of Moab. Spectacular country and no, we don't need a road....

Arches National Park

2009-10-07T20:06:00.002-07:00

Spent some time in Arches National Park today..... Just too beautiful!!
This is Balanced Rock. I just love this place....
The other shot is "Park Avenue" and is equally a awesome. I would heartily suggest a trip here.

Mesa Verde Burn

2009-10-03T20:35:00.003-07:00

There can even be beauty in destruction. This once lush forest in Mesa Verde National Park stands decimated from fire, and yet its beauty, texture and colors show nature's handiwork. This image was taken moments before sunset this evening.... To be witness to this was way out beyond awesome.

Rio Grande River Gorge

2009-09-23T17:27:00.002-07:00

This is the Rio Grande River Gorge. We took a little Jeep trip along the west rim and down through the middle. We crossed the Rio Grande at the Taos Junction. It was just beautiful.

Dining Car

2009-09-15T20:03:00.002-07:00

An old train dining car. Still in use, albeit in a railroad museum..
This was in a little town outside of Santa Fe. The old railway station is still in use. It is called Lamy. Talk about a blast from the past.

And Along Came A Spider

2009-09-14T19:43:00.002-07:00

We took a little road trip photographing New Mexico ghost towns and found this beautiful female cat face spider devouring a fly. Very, very impressive! For the whole thing CLICK ME.

Windmill

2009-09-09T19:40:00.002-07:00

As we explored some of the high desert on the outskirts of Santa Fe, we found this windmill (and a lot of others) standing out against the billowing clouds of the New Mexico sky..... beautiful!!

Roasting Chiles

2009-08-24T19:54:00.005-07:00

Now here is what you do in Santa Fe this time of year. You roast chiles and devour them. This is a photo of Trixi's chiles sizzling on our patio. They were delicious..

San Miguel Chapel

2009-08-15T11:14:00.002-07:00

San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe is said to be the oldest standing church structure in the US.

A lot of history here... Santa Fe was founded in 1610 and is currently gearing up for a 15 month 400th anniversary celebration. Quite a place. (Click for full size image)

2009-08-07T15:11:00.003-07:00

We took a little walk in Santa Fe today along Canyon Road. It is also known as gallery road. This is what greets you as your turn onto Canyon Road. It gives a whole new meaning to "losing face"... Bad pun.

Santa Fe Lightning

2009-07-31T19:01:00.003-07:00

Trixi shot this one from out our Motor-Home window. A lightning strike in an RV Resort is quite a site, especially when you are staying there..... EEEEEEE-HAAAAAA....

Spanish Market

2009-07-26T20:18:00.005-07:00

Once a year Santa Fe hosts the "Spanish Market". It gives festive a whole new meaning. This is a mariachi band. It was a wonderful day enjoying the fiesta!! CLICK FOR HIGH RES VIDEO
CLICK FOR LOW RES VIDEO

Native American Market Place

2009-07-20T20:20:00.002-07:00

Seven days a week there is an Indian Market Place in downtown Santa Fe. There are multiple tribes represented selling their hand-made art. Pretty impressive. They have to draw lottery numbers at 8 every morning to get a spot. Some win, some don't. Anyway, here is a quick shot of what it looks like.

Santa Fe Mall

2009-07-20T15:20:00.002-07:00

We've been spending quite a bit of time shooting downtown Santa Fe as part of our project. This view of the Mall was beautiful. Keep in mind I HATE malls and for me do like one it has to be pretty special. (Click photo for larger view)

Cooking Class

2009-07-14T17:59:00.002-07:00

OK.... We're in Santa Fe. Trixi discovered the Santa Fe School of Cooking. She took a class today. Still another reason to love this wonderful woman. I just can't wait. This is a photo of what she learned to make today. I rest my case, there is a God!!

My favorite indian

2009-07-13T16:38:00.003-07:00

We made the trek to Santa Fe New Mexico and we love this place. We did a little tour of some of the galleries. This is a photo of a life size bronze of an American Indian. Fantastic!! The color, the detail and the texture were so lifelike. This guy looks like he is ready for business.

Gallup NM

2009-07-06T15:56:00.004-07:00

Well after 7 beautiful days in Sedona Arizona (with no internet so no blog entries) we have arrived in Gallup New Mexico and the drive was spectacular. We will be staying here for a night and then on to Santa Fe. As usual, Trixi did the driving and I carefully navigated... The drive from Sedona to Flagstaff up Hwy 89A was a gas... we loved it. As you can tell from the video we listened to an audio-book along the way which made the time fly!

Mr. Fix-It

2009-06-26T16:09:00.004-07:00

We have been getting ready for our next assignment on the road. There we were, ready to go and wouldn't you know it, the internet satellite dish went south. (It's supposed to point south, not go south). It would not contact the satellite, the GPS was toast and worst of all, it would not come down. Driving somewhere with that large sail on the top is not an option. So here I am fixing it. I have a headset on talking to tech support as I changed the upper control board. After I baked in the sun for a while it finally was back up and running. Trixi had a great time taking videos of the rooftop techno guru...

The Chicken Ranch

2009-05-27T19:29:00.003-07:00

We decided that no trip to Pahrump Nevada was complete without driving by one of the few remaining lawful brothels in the United States. It is called "The Chicken Ranch". We didn't see any chickens but we did see one patron greeted by a chick at the door. Very colorful! (Click picture for larger image)

Wagons HO!

2009-05-18T22:04:00.004-07:00

It's hot and dusty here in many places but near the Furnace Creek Golf Course we found a lot of history snuggled up against palm trees and green grass. This old horse drawn wagon is a great example of the collision between today and yesterday. There is such beauty here against the bluest skies you have EVER seen. (Click Photo For Full Size Version)

Gonna Get Hot

2009-05-15T15:54:00.001-07:00

Oh yes.... There IS a reason they call it "Death Valley"...

Golden Canyon From Zabriskie Point

2009-05-09T20:51:00.015-07:00

An unbelievable view from Zabriskie Point looking down Golden Canyon. Click Photo for 7 minute Death Valley Movie.

Hot

2009-05-08T11:13:00.003-07:00

You think it's hot here? Where'd you get your first clue. Wait until summer when it REALLY gets hot.

Road To Death Valley

2009-05-05T20:59:00.006-07:00

It is not hard to imagine that this area was once covered by a large magnificent lake called Lake Manly. Being there is truly amazing. Click the image for full size photo. Click HERE for more information about Lake Manly.

Solar Panels

2009-05-03T22:26:00.003-07:00

We were treated to a tour of the Solar Farm here at Death Valley. It produces about 1 million watts of electrical energy at peak capacity, and peak capacity happens a lot here in the land of the sun. It was fascinating and the technology shows great promise. The magic of death valley continues. Click the photo for the full size version.

Scotty's Castle

2009-04-28T21:09:00.002-07:00

Scotty's Castle is a must see if you go to Death Valley. Quite a place. (click on photo for full size image) For more information click HERE.

Dante's Overlook

2009-04-21T19:36:00.003-07:00

The view from Dante's Overlook. You can see pretty much the entire Death Valley basin. Click the photo for the larger view. This place is beautiful!

Desert Blooms

2009-04-17T20:21:00.002-07:00

More beautiful desert flowers. Click the image for full size.

Zabriskie Point

2009-04-15T20:11:00.003-07:00

This is the parking lot at Zabriskie point at sunset. Just beautiful. Also here is a great video of Death Valley we put together. Make sure your sound is turned up.

Click Me For A Great Death Valley Video

More Sphinx Moth Caterpillars

2009-04-11T20:43:00.002-07:00

I don't know. Maybe you are getting tired of these guys. But these caterpillars, the sphinx moth (also nown as the humming bird moth) is just so beautiful that when I spotted three of them together, I just couldn't resist. Welcome to Death Vallely. (Click photo for full size image).

Desert Flowers

2009-04-10T20:17:00.004-07:00

This scene is about a mile below the mouth of Hole In The Wall Canyon, Death Valley. As you can see, the spring wild flowers have arrived. The contrasts and the colors are unforgettable. (Click on photo for full size view).

20 Mule Team Canyon

2009-04-09T20:10:00.003-07:00

This is 20 Mule Team Canyon. The colors are just nothing short of spectacular. Click the image for full size.

Hole In The Wall, Death Valley

2009-04-08T21:20:00.002-07:00

We went 4-wheeling it into Hole In The Wall in Death Valley today. Here it is. Fantastic country.

Titus Canyon Via Google

2009-04-06T21:54:00.002-07:00

This is titus canyon via google earth and satellite imagery. Gives you a little better idea of what this area is like. AWESOME!

Titus Canyon

2009-04-06T21:01:00.003-07:00

This is Titus Canyon. We have made two trips here so far and the geology is mind-shattering. It is a narrow canyon with huge jutting canyon walls on each side. The rocks were thrust upward when the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate started their battle. And the battle continues. Just standing in this geological war-zone is a magic experience.

Caterpillar

2009-04-05T20:01:00.004-07:00

Once a year, in the spring, the wildflowers bloom in Death Valley. The little critters that eat wild flowers also come out! Here is one of each.

Pupfish Mating

2009-04-02T22:30:00.009-07:00

The endangered desert Pupfish is a rare and amazing sight. These fish defy all odds. To just see one is rare enough, but we actually filmed a pair mating. We have the footage in HD and we are ecstatic. Please enjoy this low res version. We loved the opportunity to watch it in person!

2009-04-01T20:52:00.003-07:00

I thought it might be fun for you to see a little video clip we took of the wild burrows.. Very beautiful animals.

Rhyolite

2009-03-31T22:12:00.004-07:00

This is a photo of a ghost town named Rhyolite just outside the boundary of Death Valley National Park. We visited there today and took so many beautiful images of a lost time and place that it boggled us. We were also lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some wild burrows, common to the Death Valley area but a totally new sight to myself and Trixi. They were much larger and more beautiful than I had imagined.

How Low Can You Go

2009-03-28T21:44:00.002-07:00

OK.... Here I am at the lowest place in the northern hemisphere. Pretty nifty huh? I shall hence forth be known as Bad-Water-Bret. Catchy ain't it?

Artist Drive

2009-03-27T22:11:00.002-07:00

There simply are no words to adequately describe Death Valley. This place is just magic.

Hoover Dam

2009-03-26T20:53:00.005-07:00

Hoover Dam is just amazing. The most amazing thing is that the water is supposed to be up near the roadway. Global climate change and increased water demand are drastically reducing lake levels. Lake Mead is so low that if something is not done, the water will be so low that Las Vegas won't be able to get the water and electricity generation will stop. Pretty scary.

Las Vegas Strip

2009-03-22T15:29:00.003-07:00

Driving down the strip last night. Almost stimulus overload.

Lake Las Vegas

2009-03-20T20:56:00.003-07:00

OK... It has had a lot of problems. Nobody figured on a downturn in the economy or that Las Vegas would run out of water. Who knows. But the manmade Lake Las Vegas area is beautiful. Unfortunately it is also pretty much a ghost town. We had a wonderful time shooting imagery there and daydreaming about what it could be. It is a spectacular dream.

Lake Mead Dog

2009-03-18T22:38:00.006-07:00

We decided today while we were shooting footage of the rapidly diminishing Lake Mead we would let our dog Roger check out the water. It's been a long while since he has had a good swim.

Las Vegas Work

2009-03-17T20:18:00.001-07:00

We are getting a lot of work done while we are here in Las Vegas, but it's not ALL work.

Sams Town

2009-03-16T16:05:00.002-07:00

We are staying in Las Vegas at one of our favorite haunts, Sam's Town. The casino is right next door (walking distance) along with 7 restaurants, 4 movie theaters and a Walmart right across the street. No designated drivers necessary here. Pretty nice. The couple in the photo along with me is Denny & Nancy. We met them years ago on the road and our paths continue to cross. Good friends are hard to find and they are the best.

On The Road Again

2009-03-15T13:27:00.004-07:00

So, we finished up in Salt Lake City and we're "On The Road Again". This time we ended up in Las Vegas. We have a little work to finish up here then it's off to death valley.

2009-03-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

We decided it was time to upgrade our RV. What cha think?

2009-03-09T16:26:00.001-07:00

Yes it is snowing in Salt Lake City... ugggg

Exporing

2009-03-08T20:25:00.002-07:00

It is so nice to explore with somebody you are nuts about. Here we are out kicking the brush and taking photos. It was a great day with an even greater lady... Trixi

Moist Pasture

2009-03-07T20:05:00.003-08:00

We went out for a few minutes today when the weather cleared and looked around for some nice images. We found some incredible reflections and some beautiful farmland. As you can tell, the water table was rather high this time of year.

Fun In The Snow

2009-03-06T21:22:00.001-08:00

Somebody we know had a really fun time in the snow.

Salt Lake City

2009-03-05T18:21:00.002-08:00

This is where we finally landed. It is cold in Salt Lake City but this brand new RV park is a godsend. It is quiet and isolated but just off a freeway ramp so access into the city is easy. It snowed today and the air was crisp and clear!

Big Rigs

2009-03-04T19:46:00.002-08:00

Here we are along I-15 on the way to Salt Lake City. We stopped for a moment to hob-nob with the big rigs. We felt right at home.

Corned Beef & Cabbage Heaven

2009-03-01T20:00:00.006-08:00

OK.... so good friends are hard to find but we have found the best. We have to pack up the motor-home and go to Salt Lake City on a family emergency. When our good friends found out they immediately asked us over to the most delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner the night before our departure. Larry and Wanda... Truly good friends. So here is a photo of Larry and me in front of the broom (the broom is a long story for some other time)... but we are now broom brothers.
And, of course, here is a photo of the most delicious corned beef and cabbage you've ever imagined.

8 legs

2009-02-28T22:55:00.002-08:00

The creatures of the desert vary from large to small. The small fellow was crawling between some rocks in Berdoo Canyon on the way to Joshua Tree National Park. There really is something magic about the desert.

Desert Dog

2009-02-25T19:11:00.001-08:00

Winter is a special place in the desert, especially if you are a desert dog like ours.

Ants

2009-02-22T19:45:00.002-08:00

There are a lot of these little fellows out in the desert. Even with so many, it's tough getting a good photo. I'm sure I'll do better than this one but it's a start.

Solitary Tree

2009-02-20T21:03:00.004-08:00

There is an amazing subtle beauty to the desert. This lone tree, against the skyline, represents the tenacity and beauty of life in the desert.

Joshua Jeep Trip

2009-02-19T16:36:00.005-08:00

One of the great things about being in this area is the number of terrific backcountry jeep roads that are near. This is a photo of our jeep in Joshua Tree National Park after a wild and wooley 4WD trip up Berdoo Canyon. Yikes what a road and what a great trip.

Desert Snow

2009-02-18T19:27:00.002-08:00

Winter in the desert is unlike anything you may have seen. We are located at the interface of the Sonoran and the Mojave deserts. Technically we are in the low Mojave desert. The mountain you see in the background is San Jactinto. We are in the desert about 17 miles away. It is warm here and cold there. Quite a contrast. I love it!!!!

Salton Sea

2009-02-16T16:41:00.003-08:00

First an apology for waiting so long to update my blog. Trixi and I have been on location near the Salton Sea of Southern California for the last year making an environmental documentary about the plight of the Salton Sea. It is truly an amazing and wonderful place. If you are so inclined you can click HERE to find out more. The Salton Sea is truly a photographer's paradise.

2007-11-30T16:59:00.000-08:00

Trixi took this photo from the wind-farm area near San Gorgonio pass last night. It was an amazing rainbow standing out at sunset over the desert. Just Wow.....

Back Home

2007-11-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

The trip back home was uneventful but LONG. We flew out of Frankfurt over the top of the planet north or the arctic circle and had a great view of the ice pack of Greenland. The flight took 12 hours (uggg) and then we landed in Las Vegas. It took us over 3 hours to get to our hotel after we landed thanks to the typical traffic from hell in Las Vegas. Good grief. Anyway, we have been adjusting to the time change and here is a photo of one of the pools we have been basking in as we reset our biological clocks back to pacific time. The desert is such a wonderful place to live!

More Colors

2007-11-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

A view of a November vineyard from a castle window. Come on now. How can this be real??

This Germany in the fall is just nothing short of stimulus overload.

More Fall Colors In The Woods

2007-11-02T05:32:00.001-07:00

I don't think I even need to comment.

Fall In Germany

2007-11-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

I went out with Trixi today as she went in search of Fall colors in the German Black Forest. Wouldn't you know it, the magic unfolded before us. Here is just one of her shots..... Click on it for a larger version.

What is this?

2007-10-27T08:58:00.001-07:00

The contest is over and our friend Markus Freiwald has won by correctly identifying this critter as a hedge-hog. We found this one in the backyard and I was WAY surprised at how big it was. Pretty cool. Thanks Markus.

{OK. No hints. The first person to identify this "thing" wins.}

More Fall

2007-10-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

I just can't resist it. The fall colors in Germany are beyond description so I have to post photos. Even they don't do it justice. This is a photo of some renegade leaves in an old vineyard as sunset nears. Standing there was priceless.

Autumn In Germany

2007-10-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Fall has fallen in Germany and the entire wine-country looks like an accident in a paint factory. Pictured here is a castle atop a hill bathed in Golden October splendor. This particular hill top is the oldest vineyard in Germany. We're talking around 1200 something A.D. Amazingly beautiful place overlooking the Neckar river. Wish you could see it! Also above, some last hold-out grapes that were missed during the harvest..

Crooked House

2007-10-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

You know, from time to time as you wander about Germany, you really feel like you are in Disneyland or maybe a fairy tale. This house suddenly appeared nestled in a little alleyway and it must have come about in a POOF of magic. And no, I didn't photoshop this. It is a real house I saw it myself. You've just gotta love Germany.

Happy Birthday

2007-10-14T10:11:00.001-07:00

This first photo is one of the feast we had last night at Annette's birthday party. It was a wonderful party and we had a great time. Annette and Trixi have been friends since childhood and it was nice to help her celebrate her birthday.

The other photo is a famous little street in Bad Wimpfen and we managed to catch it with the light just right. Good grief, it looks like it jumped right out of a post card. Sometimes I surprise myself and take a really nice shot...

Pizza, German Style

2007-10-13T04:54:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, I am a bit behind on the photo blog but catching up. This is a photo from Thursday when we went out for Pizza. Pizza in Germany, it sounds like it could be a book title. The pizza is very different here. The crust is thin and a little tough and the covering is quite greasy. If that doesn't sound appetizing, sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound that way. It was REALLY good. Later on that night my stomach told me not to do it again... I'll probably not listen.

German Restaurant

2007-10-11T02:34:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, I am hopelessly behind with photos and blogging, but slowly catching up. Pretty much every Thurday evening we go to dinner with friends from Trixi's childhood days. We go new places each time. Last Thursday we went to the place pictured above. I scanned their post-card because my photos turned out so dark.. We were greeted at the door by the owner who regrettably informed us there was no room. Trixi said (in german).. "Oh sure, we came all the way from America and now you don't have room". His smile lit up like a Christmas Tree and he said (in german)..."Come on in, we'll just make room". And so we did. We had a great meal and he had me drink some rare Italian liquor that I can't even remember (that's how good it was). I think I have a picture of the bottle.... I think. It was a great night. Cheers.

Alps

2007-10-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

Not a whole lot going on as we recover from our great-grape-picking episode so I picked a photo from our Austrian Alps trip. It was beautiful beyond description. Here's a picture of Trixi hiking in the high-country. What a memory.

Grapes And More Grapes

2007-10-07T03:23:00.001-07:00

The grape picking was just beyond description. The vineyard belongs to a friend's father and he needed help to get the crop in. It was a small vineyard and there were a total of 10 of us picking. It only took three hours. After that the pickers (all friends and relatives of the owner) were served home-made cakes and coffee and beer and wine. After that we took what turned out to be about 3000 pounds of grapes to the winery and watched the process there. Of course we filmed and took photos of the whole process and we'll get those produced and posted when we have time. After our return from the winery it was a full course meal and more wine and beer and schnapps and great camaraderie. It was so not American. I loved it. Kind of like Thanksgiving on steroids. Then, just as we were leaving, the owner of the vineyard gave me some schnapps glasses and a great old beer mug to take back to American with us. What a day. This is a culture that remembers what life is supposed to be like..

Our Neighbors

2007-10-05T10:53:00.001-07:00

In case you wondered, our grape picking adventure was put off until tomorrow, Saturday October 6th because it rained like it often does in Germany and we all expected to see Noah gather up animals at any moment. The rain stopped but the vineyards were like giant mud-pots and the grapes were like sponges..... Sooooooo, we will try it again tomorrow. The photo above is of Alex, Jennifer and Manuela our neighbors. They treated us to Onion Cake and Potato cake...Eeee-gads... Delicious. You can see the cakes in the background..

Our Friend Alex

2007-10-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

I would like you to meet our very good friend Alex. He and his wife Manuela and daughter Jennifer live next door to us in Germany. Alex knows everything and everyone and is a great friend to have, particularly when you are a doofy American who can't even speak the language. He is the local volunteer fire-chief and here he demonstrates his skill at walking on a rope in the Austrian Alps. I'm not quite sure how valuable this skill really is, but it was fun.

Going To Pick Grapes

2007-10-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

News flash!!! It's harvest time in the German wine country. Our neighbor's parents own a vineyard and just found out they don't have enough help tomorrow to pick the grapes. Trixi and I have volunteered to help.... It's old hat to Trixi who has done it many times before since she was born and raised in the wine country. But it is entirely new to me.. So, anticipate a tired dumb American to do the best he can and report tomorrow night..... Hopefully I'll have time for a photo or two for the blog. Isn't life just such an adventure?

Mushroom City

2007-10-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

We went hiking in the woods here just outside of Heilbronn after a long day. The hike was wonderful. It was like walking through an enchanted forest. Then, there it was.... Good Grief!! It was mushroom city. Here is the photo but it was even more amazing in person. I have never seen anything like it. I guess it's probably magic...

Harvest Time

2007-10-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

Today we took a two-hour hike through a local vineyard. It is grape harvest time in Germany and everywhere you look these big trailer full of beautiful grapes are headed for the wineries. The harvest is largely done by hand, and these tiny narrow tractors haul the hand-picked grapes to the waiting trailers. Pretty slick! Can't wait for the wine.

Nose To Nose

2007-09-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

OK.... This image is a little out of order since it was taken several days ago by our friend Alex Benz who helped us out and showed us around in Austria. This is me, nose to nose with a cow. (The cow is on the right). If you look below a few photos (sept. 22) you'll see the view of the cow I got. Each year in the fall the Austrians bring their cows down from the high country for the winter. We were there to film it. Alex snapped this picture from another safer angle. Thanks Alex....

Hike To A High Mountain Ranch

2007-09-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

We hiked to a place called the PinnisAlm. It is a very old farm high up in the Alps. It is still an operating farm but also serves guests at its restaurant. Above are two photos we took during the hike. Obviously fall has arrived as you can see in the one photo. In the other photo I can only say "Jule Andrews, where are you?"

The remaining photo is the small outdoor restaurant where we had lunch before we hiked back down.

Music On Top Of The World

2007-09-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a wonderfu lunch and some real Austrian music on top of the world. This is the top of the "Schlick 2000". We wimped out a bit here and just took the lift. We were pretty sore after all the hiking so this was a "down" day. Pretty high for "down" huh?

SennJoch Hutte

2007-09-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Our very good friend Alex Benz came to Austria for a couple of days to show us around. He lives in Germany and is Trixi's neighbor. This is a photo of the SennJochHuette (try to pronounce THAT one) where we hiked to. It was a long hike down but we were super-powered by the fuel at this great mountain restaurant. You want to eat here??? You hike!!

The Cows Come Home

2007-09-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

During the fall of each year the Austrians have a festival where they bring their cows down from the high alpine meadows in preparation for the winter. The cows are dressed up, the Austrians are dressed up and it is quite a show. We were there to watch it, photograph it, video-tape it and really enjoy it. A full video, slide show and travel-book will follow when we have time to put them together. The above photo demonstrates what happens when you kneel down and get too close to a curious cow. Wait until you see the movie!!

Elferhutte Hike

2007-09-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Well my dear friends I just have no words to describe the Alps to you. Our hike to the Elferhutte (pictured above) is typical of the incredible beauty all around us. It only took us a couple of hours to hike there and the view was worth it. Once there we had an Austrian lunch (see our travel book link below) and then set out back down the mountain. What a day. Thanks for joining us...
Click For Our Travel Book Hike To The Elferhutte!

Stubai Valley

2007-09-20T01:39:00.000-07:00

We spent most of the day hiking in the Alps. We came home sore and tired and with smiles that could not even be surgically removed. The beauty and majesty are beyond description. This is a photo we took of the Stubai Valley where we are staying. The view is from a hut we hiked to. Just incredible!

Austrian Alps

2007-09-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

We just finished up our second full day here in the Alps. Austria is completely awesome. We are surrounded by just incredible beauty. It has been a little rainy and cloudy but today it cleared for a while and we went on a short hike. Here are a couple of photos we took just a stone’s throw from where we are staying..... Just breath-taking!