A western pond turtle suns itself on a rock. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California; May, 2009.

The Pacific Ocean is placid as can be at sunrise along the Inside Passage near Desolation Sound. (Click on thumbnail for a better view of the snow-capped peaks along the BC mainland; you can almost hear the birds patweeting) Cortes Island, BC, Canada; April, 2009.

Faux History: The son of Further. In 1964, Oregon native Ken Kesey's second novel Sometimes a Great Notion demanded his presence in New York, so Kesey bought a 1939 International Harvester school bus that he and the Merry Pranksters painted in day-glo colors, and outfitted it for a cross-country trip. With Neal Cassady at the wheel, they left La Honda, California, in June 1964 and began their now legendary journey across the country, smoking marijuana, and dropping acid along the way. The top of the bus was made into a musical stage and when it detoured through some cities, the Merry Pranksters blasted a combination of crude homemade music and running commentary to all the astonished onlookers. They arrived in New York in July after an arduous journey, whereupon Neal Cassady introduced them to Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. Ginsberg embraced the new legends immediately and arranged for them to drive to Millbrook to meet the other psychedelic pioneer, Timothy Leary. The real Further now collects ivy and blackberry bushes in the back 40 of the Kesey farm here in Oregon. This newer version was once sent to the Smithsonian as the real thing. As the saying goes "Never trust a Prankster!" I caught up with the son of Further, and Ken's son Zach (blue shirt to the right), at The Dead show in the Bay Area earlier this month. Needless to say, the real Further was actually the first real RV. Winnebago soon followed suit. (Click on the thumbnail to see the Acid Test poster set for the day after the show I attended, and photo of Ken). Mountain View, California; May, 2009.

The British Columbia Parliament Building lit up at night. (Click the thumbnail for more detail) Victoria, BC, Canada; April, 2009.

The Space Needle, skyline, and Mount Rainier. Seattle, Washington; April, 2009.

Sometimes, you take a photo expecting one thing and getting something entirely different or opposite of what you were attempting. This photo was taken the first day I got my new camera and I wasn't fully knowledgeable about all facets of it. I thought I had the vendor in focus through the wreath's hole. Turns out I had the wreath in focus instead. Oh, well. Portland, Oregon; April, 2009.

Early morning high rises reflection. Taken from Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada; April, 2009.

The Columbia River rolls on as Mount Hood looks on in the background. (Click on thumbnail for more detail). Taken near Wishram, Washington; May, 2009.

It's always a kick to camp out with other Deadheads at a Dead show. This weekend we traveled up to see The Dead at the Gorge Amphitheater. I have a couple of friends that I always put out as our camp mascots, Mr. Charlie and Rosie, seen here as the inside couple. They're a little anorexic, but we plan to get them into rehab fairly soon. Lots of people stop to take their photos or to have their photo taken with Mr. Charlie and Rosie. Here, my friends Marie and David (the couple on the outside in this pic) pose with them this past weekend, as we attended another great Dead show. (You can see who that little guy is peaking over Rosie's shoulder by clicking on the thumbnail) Quincy, Washington, May, 2009.

I was going into a grocery store right after a rain storm when I spotted this huge bin of apples that was outside the store. (Grab a hand towel if you click on the thumbnail 'cause you're gonna get wet) Bend, Oregon; March, 2003 (I think).

I was headed to a friend's house last evening to pick something up and ran across this rainbow about a mile from my home. Madras, Oregon; May, 2009.

Mount Shasta. Taken near Weed, California; May, 2009

The Dead at Shoreline Amphitheater. Mountain View, California; May, 2009.

A Dutch windmill in Golden Gate Park. San Francisco, California; May, 2009

Sunrise over Twin Island from Hollyhock Beach. Cortes Island, BC, Canada; April, 2009.

Cherry blossoms blooming in the early morning sun on Laural Point. (Get up close and personal by clicking on the thumbnail) Victoria, BC, Canada; April, 2009.

High rises at night. (Click thumbnail for more detail) Vancouver, BC, Canada; April, 2009.

Shallots at an outdoor market catch some sun. (Click on the thumbnail for more detail) Portland, Oregon; April, 2009.

Psychedelic! A reflection of the carnival area at Seattle Center off of the back side of the Experience Music Project building. Seattle, Washington; April, 2004.

Through the gate into the hot tub area and the Pacific Ocean beyond. How it does a body well to sit in the tub on a clear night at twilight, listening to the waves and watching the stars pop out one by one. (click on the thumbnail for a better view) Hollyhock Retreat Centre, Cortes Island, BC, Canada; April, 2009.