Anchorage, Alaska

Downtown from the Coastal Trail.

peek a boo

I was in Anchorage this Saturday and took a 4 hour "twilight" bike ride down the Coastal Trail. (New Blog title image) My main goal for the ride was to get a moose photo. The first ten miles were amazingly beautiful but no moose. On the ride back I had stopped to get a photo and I heard a rustle in the bushes across the path and turned my head just in time to see a moose push her head through the brush about 6 feet away. I was quite startled to say the least, but I was able to take the "peek a boo" photo, as the 1000lb female emerged from the brush followed by two large calves. Well, I had my moose photos; in fact, I was unable to pass for 10-15 minutes while the family had a snack and a drink along the path.  I continued back down the path, stopping every so often to photography the endless variety of fungi that were in full bloom. I have never seen so many different types and colors of mushrooms and fungi. The final icing on cake for the ride was coming upon a bull moose just outside of downtown Anchorage. (Top image)

Lunch by cook's Inlet

Juvenile male moose

so have you ever seen mushroom like these?

From the air

Here is my first photo shoot with my new iphone 4. We had an unusually empty flight in and out of Los Cabos, Mexico on Wednesday so I was able to get a few images from the air. No special equipment, no special lighting, no editing and everything shot through glass.

Whale Watching In Maui last year.

All Tail

Baby breach

Head stand and a wave

This was the most amazing encounter of all my whale excursions. We were sitting maybe 300 yards off shore watching a mother and baby resting. Suddenly a male, 30 or 40 feet from the boat, slowly raised his tale out of water and into the air, holding it for a few seconds, waving and then slowly lowering himself back into the water. He did this twice. I never saw any another whale do anything like this.

Missed breach

July 2010 Workation: Kona Coast

Sunset on the Kona Coast

Amazing Hawaii Hibiscus a long the road

I went to church this morning in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii at Moku'Aikaua Church, "First Christian Church in Hawaii" This was my second time, and I am always draw into worship with this Congregation. I felt blessed to hear the Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Henry K. Boshard, he turns 82 this week and was pastor of Mokuaikaua Church for 40 some years before he turned the pulpit over to his son-in-law, Kahu Derek Napoleon. Such history, 2 generations of pastors, Father and Son-in-Law, standing behind the pulpit, declaring the Glory of God in this church first established in 1820. The mantle is passed and I heard Dr. Boshard preach from Galations 5 as man ready for the coming chariot of Fire, "eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness by Faith". (Gal. 5:5)
May a double portion fall on you Pastor Derek.

July 2010 Workation: Philadelphia

Not too much time in Philly but enough time to walk down to The Reading Terminal Market. It a great market in heart of Philly with dozens of small ethnic food joints, and other vendors with flower, fish, meats, candies, fruit and veggies and more. Too late for the Amish & Mennonite booths, but with a hint from Zagat, I picked up some Peking Duck from Sang Kee for dinner; Tasty and only $6 with steamed rice and bok choy. I also stopped by Hershel's East Side Deli for a stuffed Pastrami on rye (midnight snack). On the way home I took a few images of city hall and some of the other interesting buildings on Market Street.

July Workation: Seattle

Today I lifted a glass of wine to the opening of Chad and Tara Campbell's new Cafe and Wine bar here in the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood of Seattle. They, along with their partner Brian have successfully opened In the Red Wine Bar and Cafe, (may they quickly move into the black) The cafe is a beautiful eclectic blend of hip yet not stuffy, quality yet not expensive, private yet friendly wine bar with a tasty and full list of wine by the glass for $5 or $8. I lingered with my friend, while we were "working" (OK he was working and I was workationing), I could not help wishing that I had such a place to frequent in Phoenix; better yet I wish all my Friends and family lived in the same community where the weather is mild yet seasonal and the culture is urban yet small town, in the city yet near the country, in the mountains yet near the coast, like so many neighborhoods in the Northwest. Yes, I know no place is perfect but some places are closer to heaven than others. And there's the real rub, this is not not really our home, is it? We're strangers here, sojourning on the road, cast out of the Garden and looking for the City; where work is toilsome and rest is illusive and incomplete.
Yet redemption is about beginning to enter into divine rest even here, seeing the creator has surrounded us with gardens and cities that are images of Eden and the New Jerusalem like we are images of Him. So I raise my glass, with friends, home yet far from home, slowing down to "smell the flowers" i.e. worship, letting my heart fill with gratefulness and faith.

July 2010 Workation: Kauai

You ever thought of the fact that at every moment there is an amazing sunrise and sunset, morning and evening, going on at the exact same time somewhere in the world, just like in the beginning of creation. God's Beauty is always eternal, without the limits of time and place. I had the great privilege to experience a taste of creation this morning on Kauai beach outside my Hotel.