While The Girl and I were hiking, I noticed the skyline. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-16 16:47:04, 35mm, 1/640sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X Film Simulation, SOOC.
Typically, we think of a skyline in terms of a city. However, while hiking The Girl near our campsite in Utah, I noticed this vista. With one eye on her, I made a few captures and like this one the most.
There are a few more frames from this overnight stop that are worth sharing. I will work through them over the remainder of the year.
The Sun set not long after I made this capture. By that time, we had completed our short hike and returned to the camper. I set about making some supper and taking care of my girl. Then I enjoyed my supper and a beer and we settled in for the night. I was tired and had a lot more miles to make before arriving in Missouri.
A hint of a Utah hoodoo, near my camp on my way east back in October. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-16 16:46:39, 35mm, 1/1100sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X film simulation, SOOC.
Back in October, I headed east to see Older Grandson married and to spend time with my children. My second night out, we pulled off I-70 to find a campsite for the night. About a half-mile off the highway there was a pullout on the trail. It made sense to reverse the rig to put the door on the trail side, so I did and spent the few minutes required to setup the camper.
Then I got The Girl out of the 4Runner, checked to see that the group of feral horses were far enough away to not be a significant temptation, and we started a short hike to look around. I learned that the trail was washed out by recent rains so the risk of nighttime traffic was low. I also found these rounded rock outcrops that made me think of Goblin State Park, which I visited another time a decade ago.
The hike done, I fed us and we settled in for the night. Both of us slept well.
It was a good trip, if exceptionally busy. I am so grateful for a safe trip and the time spent with my children. Life is good.
On our way home from the east, we camped near Monticello, UT. This was our late afternoon view. Captured with X-T5, 2025-11-15 18:25:28, 18mm, 1/750sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Kodachrome 64 film simulation, processed in PhotoLab7.
On our way home from the east, we camped near Monticello, Utah. Our campsite was in the National Forest just a couple miles west from Monticello and off the main highway. I (carefully) drove down an old logging road about 150 yards until I found this spot. I had to stack a few rocks to get the camper level, but that is nothing new.
The campsite was clearly used by other campers. I noticed after setting up camp some left-over deer parts, presumably from a recent hunting expedition by locals.
It would not have made me change locations because all of the potentially stinky bits were already consumed by the local wildlife.
After setting up camp, I got The Girl out of the rig and we hiked a bit out of camp. I noticed her pick up a stick and then noticed it was actually a deer leg. Ha! She reluctantly left it behind. It was during our hike I noticed where two or three gut-piles had been and realized that the site was recently used as a hunting camp.
I kept her close in even though she wanted to range out. The brush was thick enough that it would be easy to loose sight of her. I was also a little concerned that weather was blowing in. I had listened to the local NOAA Weather Radio channel on the way in and there was a chance for rain in the evening. The way the wind was blowing made me think the forecast was probably correct.
I paused on the way back to camp to make the image. I was intrigued by the convergence of the contrails and how the sky interacted with the branches.
After a bit of roaming about from camp, I decided I was hungry and figured she was probably hungry, too. We headed back to camp before the Sun fell behind the mountain to the west. I got the grill out and cooked a sausage I had in the refrigerator. I had a packet of pre-cooked rice and a can of Ranch Beans, so I had a feast.
Supper made, we settled in for the evening, listening to the wind blow through the pines. The gunfire died down as the Sun fell — some locals were plinking with a .22 some distance away. And, as evening came on I heard a chorus of coyotes singing much closer than the gunfire. That gave me some concern for care for when I got The Girl out for her evening constitutional.
I heard rain on and off all night. The wind occasionally rocked the camper a bit and continued to sing in the trees. I stepped outside a couple of times to empty my bladder and could see it had showered a little, but the ground was not muddy and the sky was clear.
We slept well that night. It was quiet at camp. We woke to gray skies and the threat of rain. I made a coffee, listened to the NOAA Wx station, and considered the day. We broke camp early so I could get off the logging road should the rain come. I doubt the 4Runner would have problems with a little mud, but decided to move anyway.
We did hit rain on the way to Moab. It was not heavy, but a steady light rain. It would have been snow had it been a little colder.
While walking The Girl on a circuit around the campground, I noticed this frame and captured it. Captured with X-T5, 2025-11-09 10:23:36, 55mm, 1/220sec, f/8, ISO-500, in-camera Velvia film simulation, SOOC.
I paused to overnight at the Lake Texoma campground near Mead, OK on my way from Missouri to Texas. My youngest and his wife live near there, so a family meal was in order. We arrived late and I had to back into my camp in the dark, of course. But I learned that my handlight (EDC) worked well as an improved back-up light and permitted the alignment of the rig in the spot.
It did not take long to set up camp. Then I got The Girl out for a walk in the dark. She was on high alert for critters, of course. But, we found none.
That handled, we settled in for the night and I fed us. Then we slept.
I woke early, of course, made coffee, then walked over to the central facility to do my morning regimen, including a shower. When I returned, The Girl was ready to start her day, so we got out and walked the perimeter of the campground. A few others were stirring, some breaking camp; others enjoying the fall morning.
As we walked, I found a frame I liked. So I paused to make a capture. I rather like this one, if the colors are a little accentuated by the film stock selection.
We broke camp and then met Young Son and spouse for a meal before heading on to Lubbock and friends there.
The answer to the question posed is simple. I do not have the personal bandwidth necessary for radio operations at the moment. Work and personal obligations are sufficient that they use up my available resources. But, this will change and I will have an opportunity to go operate in the field. I will be ready for some POTA and SOTA activations and will enjoy those exercises.
Despite being busy, I remain grateful. Life is good.
I found these characters on a shelf in a coffee house. Captured with X-T5, 2025-11-01 12:50:10, 50.5mm, 1/75sec, f/8, ISO-8000, Tri-X film simulation in-camera, SOOC.
It is the custom of my Older Son and DiL to stop at coffee roasters along their travels, sample the coffee, and purchase one or more bags to take home. On this particular day (I do not recall which day it was nor where we were), we stopped into a small coffee house in a strip mall, maybe in Indiana. The place was busy enough with locals, but not packed. I thought the ambiance was interesting and wandered about while waiting for my joe.
These three blobs caught my attention (hat tip to Wife, who often said “caught my eye” while winking furiously), so I paused for a few frames. I like this one the best.
The coffee was good. Mission accomplished, we loaded back up into the 4Runner and headed towards home.
It was a good day. I am grateful for much, but especially my children. Life is good.
While in Pennsylvania with my kids, we stopped at a local coffee shop. I stepped into the plaza area behind it and was blessed with this image. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-29 12:33:36, 35mm, 1/500sec, f/8, ISO-250, SOOC.
There is so much I could write about from my long roadtrip in October and November. But, for the moment, work demands my energy. So, there will be bits and pieces from my travels as I post a few more images from the trip.
We visited a nice coffee house in York, Pennsylvania. Older Son and his wife like to buy coffee from such places as they travel. It is a neat intention and I might steal it.
As we waited for our coffee to be made, I stepped into the plaza area that is shared between a number of establishments behind the coffee house. There was a wonderful mural painted on one wall. The Sun was shining on it beautifully. I made a few captures using the X-T5. I like this enough to post it.
The coffee was good. The fellowship with my children was better. It was a good day and one I am grateful for.
On walkies with The Girl, I noticed the Sun on the early morning fog. I made the capture, even if my phone was the camera at hand.
On my way east, we camped at Ford County State Fishing Lake, near Dodge City, KS. The wind was howling and fought me from the time we cleared the Front Range to Dodge City. The blasts from the double-decker cow haulers was so bad that The Girl because frightened and anxious. She watched for the approach big rigs, panting, and ducked as they passed.
Most have been streamlined and produce little wind blast from the bow wave. However, the cow haulers shocked even me, the seasoned old road-tripper.
So, we were both exhausted when we hit camp. I was concerned that the north wind might make setting up camp difficult. But, there was sufficient wind break from the trees around the lake that it was no trouble.
I got her our for a short hike along the shore, then we retired to the camper as the Sun set.
I fed her, but was so tired I did not make supper for myself. I had a beer and a snack. Once that was done, we hit the rack and I slept hard.
On waking before dawn the following morning, I made coffee and sat down with my little CC Crane radio to listen to the weather and the news. The Girl roused as the Sun rose, so I took care of her and made myself another coffee. Then we got out of the house and started a short hike around the lake perimeter.
She was on the hunt for squirrels, but I saw no nut-producing trees and she saw no squirrels.
What I did see was sunrise on the lake surface. There was enough fog from the warmer water to make the shot interesting. Although I had only my phone with me, I made the capture.
Then we broke camp and headed east. It was too early for my breakfast, so we travelled on to find a diner for my food.
I love the way the light falls on The Girl. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-29 09:06:34, 55mm, 1/80sec, f/4, ISO-320, SOOC.
We were messing around the AirBnB early one morning and I noticed the light falling on my sleeping Girl. She was tired enough after our hike to want a nap. She gave me a wonderful candid portrait.
I made several images in this old cemetery. This is one that I like. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-26 12:38:59, 27mm, 1/550sec, f/5.6, ISO-250, in-camera Tri X Film Simulation.
Somewhere on the way back to Missouri from Pennsylvania, DiL wanted to stop and walk and old cemetery. She found several and then picked one. It was good to be out of the rig for awhile and the places always provide some interesting images. I came away with a few.
While walking The Girl, I noticed this row of houses .Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-25 07:15:09, 18mm, 1/750sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri X Film Simulation,
While in Philly for the wedding, I walked The Girl around the block a few times. The row houses are a fascinating architectural thing that I do not routinely see. Therefore, I needed an image for the memory. So, I made one.
While I do not want to live there, the visit was worth the effort. Life is good.
