W. Lloyd Williams

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Filtering by Tag: national park

Jasper, AB in Pictures

September 10, 2010 We've posted about Jasper, Alberta, one of our favourite places in the world, back in August 2008. You can check out those posts by clicking here and here and here and here and here and here and here, where you can see much more of Jasper (in much better weather) than you'll see in this post.

We were on the move and only had time for a one night stay and a few drive by snapshots this time.

We stayed inside Jasper National Park at Whistler's Campground, one of two big rig campgrounds.

-P

Broad Cove, Cape Breton

August 13-15, 2010 Broad Cove, Cape Breton, NS

One of few campgrounds with full services for large RVs in Cape Breton, the Broad Cove Campground also offers a great beach just a short walk from the campsite.

We plopped down just before sunset to take in the hush of the tide, and an impromptu rock game.

Jay made his mark in the reddish granite sand:

A calm evening welcomed us on our first night in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

-P

Up the Canal

August 11-12, 2010 St. Peter's, Cape Breton, NS

Battery Provincial Park

After Deb and I drove around in circles, we chose a seascape and a site large enough for both busses.

All five of us took a morning walk to St. Peter's Canal, just outside the campground, and arrived in time to see the canal in action.

The bridge our busses crossed to turn into Battery Provincial Park is high enough for small vessels, like Reel Happy from Antigonish, NS.

The bridge swings open ...

... to accommodate the biggies. A park employee mans the controls on top of the bridge.

Three boats arrived close together. They're corralled behind a lock until everyone's ready to go.

Her sailboat secured by bow and aft lines, a sailor from Donegal chats with Jay.

Aphrodite from the BVIs waits her turn:

The final lock opens.

Everyone's free.

The 800 metre canal links Bras d'Or Lake to the Atlantic Ocean. St. Peter's Canal is a National Historic Site and the only functioning lock system in Nova Scotia.

-P

Acadia Photos

July 23, 2010 We drove the Acadia Park Loop Road.

Sand Beach: a crescent beach between granite mountains.

Jay (in the white tee) rock-hopped while we waited for Thunder Hole to thunder. It didn't quite thunder, but it grumbled.

Gardner and Jay take in Jordan Pond.

After a lunch of seafood and popovers at the Jordan Pond House restaurant, the boys gathered more dessert: wild blueberries.

Views from the peak of Mount Desert Island:

Bar Harbor from afar:

-P

Tenerife, Canary Islands: Part 2

April 18, 2010 Las Canadas National Park.

A caldera, the 2nd largest in the world behind Yellowstone, makes up much of the park.

"Star Wars" and "Clash of the Titans" scenes were filmed here.

Back in the cloud we drove through a stretch of forest damaged by a recent windstorm

Out of the cloud we steeply descend into La Villa de La Orotava, a wealthy cultural city with narrow streets lined by many a church and bright buildings with balconies, shuttered windows and terracotta tile roofs.

As steep as San Francisco...

A rich finish of ornately carved wood balconies and window frames:

Our last stop: La Casa de los Balcones built in 1632 now houses souvenir shops and caged canaries. We bought local pistachios which are smaller, less salty and have a smokier flavour than those we buy elsewhere.

Back on the boat we watched the fueling boat top up the ship. Then the pilot boat trailed, sidled up and the pilot lept off. Passengers applauded from their balconies and he waved like a celebrity until he was out of sight.

We left the dark clouds behind for two more "at sea" days.

-P

Jackson, WY

September 13-22, 2009 Elk antler arches in Jackson:

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Jackson is best known for its scenery, wildlife, skiing, fresh-faced and long-haired residents, and close proximity to Grand Teton, but the town Jackalope is hard to miss:

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Our stay coincided with the Jackson Hole Art Festival:

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We met Erik, Caroline and wee Nicole from Norway and thoroughly enjoyed a few campfires and outings with them.

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They camped next to us in Wilson Road Campground, as did a carpenter - in his 20' sailboat.

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A nature walk with Mathieu Ricard in Grand Teton National Park rounded out the Jackson experience. He is a Buddhist monk based in Nepal, the French translator for the Dalai Lama and researcher of the scientific benefits of happiness. He spoke of compassion and how we can use Nature's beauty to inspire inner beauty and cultivate respect for the environment and others.

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-P

Jackson, WY

September 13-22, 2009 Elk antler arches in Jackson:

L1020822

Jackson is best known for its scenery, wildlife, skiing, fresh-faced and long-haired residents, and close proximity to Grand Teton, but the town Jackalope is hard to miss:

L1020823

Our stay coincided with the Jackson Hole Art Festival:

L1020826

We met Erik, Caroline and wee Nicole from Norway and thoroughly enjoyed a few campfires and outings with them.

L1020833

They camped next to us in Wilson Road Campground, as did a carpenter - in his 20' sailboat.

L1020830

A nature walk with Mathieu Ricard in Grand Teton National Park rounded out the Jackson experience. He is a Buddhist monk based in Nepal, the French translator for the Dalai Lama and researcher of the scientific benefits of happiness. He spoke of compassion and how we can use Nature's beauty to inspire inner beauty and cultivate respect for the environment and others.

L1020848

-P

Geysers Galore

September 13, 2009 Apparently, 300-500 geysers gush in Yellowstone National Park.

L1020617

Old Faithful is the most famous and the first to be named in the park back in 1870. Apparently, Old Faithful was used as a laundry in the 1880s, even though the force of the eruptions sometimes damaged the cotton and linen garments that were flung into the crater for cleaning.

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Most geysers smell of sulfur - free rotten egg scented saunas.

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Castle Geyser surges longer than Old Faithful, about 20 minutes followed by 40 minutes of roaring steam. It's plume towers 90 feet high.

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Geyser basin trails wind by springs that boil, steam, spit and spout water high in the air.

L1020809

Yellowstone is the largest active geyser field in the world.

-P

Geysers Galore

September 13, 2009 Apparently, 300-500 geysers gush in Yellowstone National Park.

L1020617

Old Faithful is the most famous and the first to be named in the park back in 1870. Apparently, Old Faithful was used as a laundry in the 1880s, even though the force of the eruptions sometimes damaged the cotton and linen garments that were flung into the crater for cleaning.

L1020767

Most geysers smell of sulfur - free rotten egg scented saunas.

L1020781

Castle Geyser surges longer than Old Faithful, about 20 minutes followed by 40 minutes of roaring steam. It's plume towers 90 feet high.

L1020786

Geyser basin trails wind by springs that boil, steam, spit and spout water high in the air.

L1020809

Yellowstone is the largest active geyser field in the world.

-P

Yellowstone Jewels

September 10-13, 2009 Yellowstone National Park, WY

The force and spectacle of gushing geysers impress, but the jewel-toned hot springs of Yellowstone awed me more.

Sometimes they bubble or boil:

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Sometimes they don't:

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Sometimes they steam:

L1020717

Sometimes they are crystal clear:

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Sometimes they seem bottomless:

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Sometimes they're two- or tri-toned:

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Sometimes they run off in neon rivulets:

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Sometimes their vapor hangs:

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Sometimes they're small:

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Sometimes they're named Artist Paintpots:

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Sometimes they're multi-textured:

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And sometimes they're just awesome:

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-P