From the place where I photographed the big cottonwood tree and the wild and crazy clouds, this is the Whitewater River, from which the canyon and nature preserve get their name. The river is a small permanent stream that originates in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows some 50 miles through the desert, past Palm Springs and other desert cities, and eventually flows into the Salton Sea. From this viewpoint, it is about .2 mile from the Pacific Crest Trail, the long distance hiking trail that runs from the Mexican border in southern California, and extends all the way to the Canadian border. Some trail-worn hikers on the trail use the nature preserve for camping along the trail 1/20/20 Judith Sparhawk
Right before the lockdown, I made a trip down to San Diego, including a visit to the town of Imperial Beach. Right by the beach, I saw this statue of Captain Morgan on the roof of a bar and restaurant, Ye Old Plank Inn. I realized it referenced Captain Morgan Rum. My curiosity was piqued, and I looked up just who Captain Morgan was. Maybe everyone already knows this, but the rum is named after the 17th century Welsh privateer of the Carribean, Sir Henry Morgan, who died in 1688. He was a privateer, pirate, a wealthy plantation owner, and later was Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. Since 2017 the rum's label slogan has been "Live Like the Captain". 5/2/20 My website: www.sparhawkphotography.com
When visiting in the Morro Bay area, daily trips to The Rock are always different. One side is protected by breakwaters, forming the calm entry to the boat harbor, protecting the sea otters. The other side is open to the bay and its waves, a favorite of surfers. One morning the waves were especially large and wild, with the wind blowing spume from wave tops. It was great fun shooting the waves and surfers, and I took about a zillion shots before I was done. This one shows the waves, spray and one surfer riding the wave. 9/29/21 www.sparhawkphotography.com
