Weekly Photography Challenge Thread (see first post rules and then the poll at top before entering)

I should have a butterfly hatching this week.

 

None entry: my new solar walkway lights. They are so fun! Just set them up this morning and now get to enjoy them

 

Congratulations @LarryDangerfield !

 

Entry:


Nature isnt always pretty; my buddy's place got hit by an EF3 tornado last Friday, was helping him attempt to clean up today.

 

Only liked cuz you helping him out

 

Entry:

Table Mesa Rd. North of Phoenix. If you look closely you can see the flowers on the tips of the saguaros that are lining the left side of the road.

 

non

from last week, got me hankering for a bratwurst

 

I took a small spin down that road before I changed up the stock Firestones. I'm running Wildpeaks now and would be more at ease
going a little further. Seems to go on and on looks like good spots to find some rattlers crossing around. Was it in decent shape?
Would it be a good road to explore for someone with not a lot of experience? I'm a bit long in the tooth for getting into 'issues'
in the middle of nowhere.

 

Nature don't play. I've lived in that area and these storms and tornadoes are not to be trifled with. I've lived through Earthquakes in
California and they aren't no picnic either, but the storms in the mid-west are scary as hell. Sadly lots of people perished in those storms
across several states.

 

Entry.

 

Non entries. A tree fell at the boat ramp some time ago and when they cut it, part of it stayed stuck.

 

Although the guide books rate this trail as easy to moderate, it depends on whether the dry wash crossings (there are about a dozen of them--this pic was taken from the middle of one) have had the big boulders filled in with smaller rocks and gravel to smooth them out. This time since we haven't had so many big storms this year the boulders in the washes had a lot of smaller gravel filling their gaps so the crossings were relatively easy. If the washes haven't been filled with gravel, there is no way to cross because the boulders run between 18" and 36" in diameter.

That being said, I ruined a tire (got a big gouge in the sidewall from a sharp rock). It was a better result than last time though when I got high-centered. Also, I have rock sliders and skid plates and about a 3" lift. Not sure I would try this without any of them. Also, you will need to air down your tires--I go to about 20psi, or your kidneys will forever hate you.

Finally, I have a Garmin Mini InReach "communicator" that tracks my whereabouts and sends it via satellite every ten minutes to a website. Keeps my wife with peace of mind since she can track where I am. You can also send and receive texts using it via satellite. I off-road once a week and wouldn't be without it. Costs about $300 to purchase and you also need to pay a monthly subscription of about $15 to $25 for the communications service. You can turn the subscription on and off every month if you like so you only pay when you use it.

Instead of this road I would try Bloody Basin Rd. that goes between Hiway 17 and the Sheep's Bridge. It is about 10 miles further north on Hiway 17 than Table Mesa. Head East and just keep going until you get to Sheep's Bridge. It is definitely smoother and a much prettier drive (except for the last 10 miles or so where the road is covered with 6 to 12" rocks). The Sheep's Bridge is definitely something to see--its like a mini Golden Gate Bridge about 300 feet long (and only 4 feet wide) across the Verde River. The drive is about 30 miles one way and will take you from 5 to 6 hours round-trip plus whatever time you spend exploring the bridge and stopping along the way.

 

NTree


Japanese Maple I’ve been working on +20yrs

 

Excellent descriptions for decision making. I'll be skipping Table Mesa....
Bloody Basin sounds much better.!

I'm pushing 70 and getting a flat or fking up my ride in some manner on Table Mesa isn't something I'd like to do.
Busting a tire up isn't either.

 

Hawthorne Warrior (non)Another obscure .22 joins the collection.

 

Non

 

Man vs. Nature (entry)

 

Entry. Out on the water catching fish.

 

I don't have many photos this week, but I did introduce this young lady to my pond this week hoping she will find it as natural a habitat as possible.

Entry: