I apologize if this has been posted twice. I thought I pressed all the right buttons the first time I posted this...
The first photo is the start of a great day of hiking on Nasja Mesa. The second is of Hoodoos with Navajo Mountain in the background. The third is of a twisted dead juniper. The last one is looking down 300' into Anasazi Canyon. Thats the same canyon of which I posted a growing reflection shot on my first post of this series. We've climbed up to this spot (technical climb) and are looking back down into Anasazi Canyon.

I visited the Valley for a couple of days last week. Since the enormous snow fall in the Sierras this last winter has created runoff of epic proportions, I wanted to get in before the Valley really gets crowded. That didn't quite happen as due to continued closures of upper elevations (Glacier Point, Tioga Pass, Wawona), the Valley was packed with visitors, and road constructions didn't help. But it was simply stupendous in its watery glory. Waterfalls dormant for decades were flowing, with forces seldom seen. Green meadows and blossoming Dogwoods lent photo opportunities in every direction. I also had the opportunity to be present for a 97% full moon, which enabled me to get a partial "moonbow" at the base of Yosemite Falls. The only way to take a "bad" picture in Yosemite is to forget removing your lens cap. If you are going to Yosemite make sure your batteries are charged; literally, and figuratively.

Well, it's over. Dark Lady Kimberly has gone back to Rumania, after relentlessly pursuing me almost since the day she arrived at the Ministry of Mayhem. Time after time I found her staring lovingly at me as I polished the floors outside her room and office. It's not my fault if those floors are especially difficult to bring to a high gloss, and it takes me hours and hours of effort, and she found me there so often. Every day.

And night.

As an astronaut/custodian, I just take pride in my work, and in my opinion, the restraining order was completely out of line.

Light is what makes a great photograph. These were taken on our recent 24 day backpack on rarely visited lands on the Navajo Nation. The first photo was taken on the 3rd night. The only time we were ever near a trail, we were in a place called Surprise Valley. The second photo was taken on rugged Nasja Mesa after our second of three storms ( the 3rd storm would pin us in our tents for 36 hours!- very rare for the desert). The 3rd ( which I've already posted once) was on the first night of the trip. More coming soon!