Last night was my 40th birthday party. Thanks to the most wonderful Wifey in the world and my awesome friends and family for throwing me a fantastic party. We all had a blast with the Murder Mystery Party. It went over a million times better than I could have expected. I wore a cape all night because I am awesome and it was my special night. Thanks again to everyone involved. Pictures HERE if you are bored.
After a few nights sleeping outside in the Yosemite Valley, it was time to move camp to the high country. We packed up camp and started driving to Tuolumne Meadows. As the crow flies it is only about 20 miles, probably less. But it takes 3-4 hours to drive there. The elevation climb is several thousand feet and the drive is across the beautiful ridge of Tioga Road. We came up to the high country of Yosemite last year, but only for a day trip. This year we were going to sleep outside, under the stars for a few nights, and wake up in the most beautiful part of the park. As Bob Hrabek the park ranger said to us as we entered, “Welcome to Paradise”. He wasn’t kidding. Ranger Bob then proceeded to hook us up 
with what must have been the best campsite on the grounds. We were nestled in the trees and backed right up to the trail that lead to everywhere you could possibly want to wander. A giant change from down in the valley. The climate changed too, once the sun was gone it was freezing. Perfect for sleeping outside.
On the drive up to our new home we stopped at Olmsted Point. Another place we stopped last year, but completely different this time. The weather and skies were very cooperative for photography. The skies were deep blue with cotton ball clouds. I was able to capture a picture of a tree I loved last year, but couldn’t do much with it on camera because of a dull sky. We marched out to the Point for another view of Half Dome, and then continued to our new home in Tuolumne Meadows. Once there we set up camp and went for a hike straight from our tents to Lake Elizabeth. It was an elevation change of over 1000 feet, maxing around 9500 feet. Elizabeth Lake is were the most amazing photo experiences happened, while we were there everything changed to make for the perfect conditions. I hope I was able to capture something. I will find time to get to those photos next. For now I was able to get through a few more photos, Olmsted Point and our hike toward Elizabeth Lake. Those pictures are HERE.
I finally had a chance to go through a few more of the Yosemite pictures from last month. I can’t believe it has already been a month ago. I went through and processed a few of the 
panorama photos and HDR photos that I made. Some are fun, others are nonsense. I also went through the pictures of the day Josh and I went to see the big trees on our own. Giant sequoia trees, and they are giant. Pictures do them zero justice. We hiked up to a point that is only a mile from the museum and could tell that nobody goes up there. It was an amazing vista point, but since there was no road to drive up there, I doubt it gets many
visits. That was a fun day in Wawona that started out hectic and full of uncertainty. It definitely worked out for the best. Later we were able to find a spot and watch the sun set on Half Dome. People queue up and wait for hours to get the perfect picture of the “golden light” on Half Dome. Josh and I fell ass-backwards into a spot in a meadow and watched from there, with nobody else around. Josh was able to watch some of the football game by Peeping Tom’ing through a stranger’s window. My pictures are not the storybook pictures of Half Dome, but I’ll take it for my personal collection. I still think the best pictures are yet to come. I haven’t even gotten to the days with the amazing skies and mirrored lakes. Some of the newest pictures are HERE. 
I finally had some time to look through pictures from Yosemite last month, September 2014. I have only made it through the first day and a half of pictures. I know the best are near the end of the trip, but I have to go through them in order. That is part of my CDO disorder.
We hiked the Panorama Trail on our second day in Yosemite. The group of 5 went together. The first day Josh and I set out on our own to circumnavigate would is called Mirror Lake or Mirror Meadow. It was a lake when I was here last year, and a meadow this year. Amazing what this planet does.
Pictures are HERE in case you are interested or overly bored. 
Learning to photograph waterfalls is something I became obsessed with recently. The opportunity does not arise very often to shoot waterfalls, considering where I live. But I did a lot of reading, and finally had the opportunity earlier this month while on Orcas Island Washington. I am pretty happy with my first attempt after jamming my brain with knowledge. HERE are a few pictures. http://www.jimmysellers.com/pictures/index.php?/category/25 
HERE are some of the better pictures from Wifey and my trip to Washington State and the Orcas Island earlier this month. www.jimmysellers.com/pictures/thumbnails.php?album=102
Lucky us, we got to watch whales, seals, and eagles for an afternoon. Whale watching became more than checking out fat people in scooters. Some of the better pictures HERE.
In the short time I have been geocaching it has provided my family and friends with some 
amazing adventures. Mostly it brings me to places I would have never been otherwise. Seeing sights and views that I would not have found, or dared travel to without searching for a hidden container. Our trip to Oregon and Washington was no different. I was able to hike to and find some of the oldest geocaches still active, original hides made in the year 2000 (cue song). Thanks again geocaching. HERE are some of the pictures and views because of geocaching. http://www.jimmysellers.com/pictures/index.php?/category/25
If you have to go to a wedding on the other side of the country, the least they could do is make the sky look like this.
Some more pictures from Sarah & John’s wedding in Oregon July 2014: http://www.jimmysellers.com/pictures/index.php?/category/25
Another busy day of outdoor fun here on Outdoor Orcas Island. The day started absolutely perfectly, with french toast. After that it was time for a massage. Wifey made the plans, so there had to be some ‘chick friendly’ activities today. Nothing quite as fun and a reminder of the frailty of human life as getting naked in front of a strange woman. I usually pay more than we did today for this pleasurable activity. Once we were done getting a tuggless rub, it was time to kayak again. We went to the nearby beach and rented a kayak and cruised around the bay. From there we went back into Moran State Park. We went on a horsie back trail ride. It was the thing Wifey was most excited about. She does this all the time at home, but it is her favorite thing. I enjoyed it tremendously. 
I can’t imagine traveling across the country in that fashion, but 90 minutes in the beautiful forest is fine with me. It was getting near dusk by this point, we hiked down to Cascade Falls to get some after dark pictures of the moving waters. I think they may have came out good, I can’t wait to get home and see our pictures from this trip.
Tomorrow is our last day here. We hang around the island until about 2pm. Then we are on an overnight flight home. I will have my pep talk with the pilot to let him know the precious cargo he is carrying, and to please not nosedive into the boring middle of the country. See you on the east coast.