We woke far too early for my taste, but not as early as sometimes for Mr. Photographer, so I will attempt to be grateful. Normally, at home, my watch buzzes me awake at 6:45 (unless I tell the darn thing to snooze), but this morning it was 5:30. After a restless sleep (I think I was awake five times if not more) I actually woke rather easily, so I will attempt to not complain.

Dan had the exciting motel decaf coffee and I started this blog after getting packed for the day and dressing warmly.

After leaving the motel, Dan graciously did the Starbucks drive-through, so his wife could have some better coffee. Notice I didn’t say the best coffee! But Starbucks is definitely better than motel coffee.

Then we drove up to a spot where we went off the main road, through a neighborhood with some rather nice looking homes, and Dan had to get out to open gates a couple of times to get us through. It looks like the neighborhood has added these gates to slow people down, which I totally understand. The last thing they probably like are all the hotshots driving through very fast.

We reached our destination of the moment, Dan got out his tripod and camera and all, and I got out my iPhone and my little Fuji, He patiently waited outside for the sunrise, and I patiently sat in the car for a bit to stay warm. It wasn’t tremendously cold out, but it was cold enough. A bit different than down in Bishop, where it was not quite so chilly.

Eventually, I did get out, and took photos with both the iPhone and the Fuji. Lo and behold, we were near Mount Emerson so of course I had no choice but to shoot that. It’s so interesting to see the difference in color as the sun rises.

After returning to sit back in the car a bit longer to get warmed up, I looked outside and the mountains had a lot more light on them. It was incredibly beautiful with the clouds. Just constantly changing.

Dan continued his patient waiting for some trees to get some light on them. He did come back to the car at one point for gloves, which meant I could tease him about not dressing warmly. Because I’m nice that way.

As I was working on this blog, sitting in the almost warm car, I heard a tap on the window. Dan pointed the opposite direction of “my” mountain, and wow! Such a beautiful sight.

I did a bit more photography of flora with my Fuji, and then got back into the car to wait for Dan.

I did hop out once, just to show the difference in the mountains after the sun had risen.

My mountain and me. (It’s to my left, the viewer’s right, and clouds are taking it over.)

We continued on the dirt road for a bit, stopping maybe twice.

Next up was South Fork for a bit to see the aspens. Dan pointed out places where there had been a lot of color just last week but was gone now. When we stopped at a usual spot we go to any time we are here we saw another photographer who greeted Dan: apparently they met in Yosemite a few months back. Small world.

While the color wasn’t as it has been in the past, it was lovely and we shot for a bit. I also used Dan’s better macro lens for a few images and I hope to find, once we are home, that I managed to get something good from that.

The sign with worms included cracks me up. Below that there was a sign that said something about it being the best tackle shop in the canyon. Thing is, it’s the only one there. Heh.

Then it was on to North Lake. I had to look to my left to avoid seeing the drop off at a few points. Funny, though — when I take a photo of it (see below) it doesn’t seem so bad.

The color in the area was nearly all gone, but there were still some things to shoot and not every bit of color had fallen. Besides, I just love being out in this part of the world so color or not I find it beautiful.

Following North Lake it was time for breakfast, so we headed to Cardinal Village, and enjoyed a whole lot of food. No lunch today!

We spent a good amount of time at our table, but eventually got back in the car and went to a spot where Dan knew he’d get a good enough signal, and we sat for a bit, and restless me got out and took a few shots just because.

Then we opted to go back to the motel, allowing Dan to get his new photos on to his iPad and I could then write more on this blog and get photos loaded. (It appears that during the day, when most people are away, the photos load quicker. Well, most of the time, anyway. I did run into some glitches.)

I may or may not have taken a nap.

When we decided to go back out we went back up to the road to South Lake. There were a few stops as we drove. Dan shot more than I did, but I did a bit with the camera and iPhone. The latter you see here, of course. All of the below is on our way to South Lake. (But no, I didn’t take a photo of the lake itself.)

Then, to keep with tradition, we drove to Lake Sabrina. I only took one record shot.

We ended up talking with a young woman for a short time: she was on her own, driving what looked to me like a very nice van, and seemed happy to get to chat a bit.

Then it was down to get gas (over $100 to fill the tank. Yikes!), back to the motel to unload gear, and off to the Mexican restaurant we wanted to revisit.

Ah, Astorga’s! We have fond memories of the place, but tonight was a comedy of errors. The young waiter, shy and mumbling, took our drink order. Later he came to take our food orders. Then he had to return to ask Dan what kind of beans he wanted. Then he came back to ask if I wanted the enchlidas suizas on their own or with beans and rice. Finally, he came back to ask what our drink order was! Poor guy … surely he must be new? Our drink order arrived, and shortly after so did my meal. BUT a bit after that a different server came out. First she talked to another couple and I heard her apologizing: they had brought the woman’s mean to me! (We had ordered the same thing.) Then she came to our table to explain that Dan’s meal would be a bit later because of the mistake in giving me someone else’s order. Well, we were fine with it, but I do have a feeling we might skip Astorga’s if we return. Time will tell. The food was just fine, so I can’t complain about that. They just seem to have rough edges.

Back to our motel we went, where the parking lot was nearly full. This looks to be a popular place.

Tomorrow is moving day, but odds are we will first wake up at some non-patty time for a bit of photography before we pack up and leave Bishop.

And now I will read a bit and then attempt sleep.

Until tomorrow … adios!