Wasteland Wakened~

On May 7, 2023May 27, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS190 Comments

The Sonoran Desert in Southern California,

is bursting in bloom!

Rains continue into May in the desert which is unheard of.

Note the people midway up the mountain to give you perspective on the scope of of the superbloom which cover many mountains.

Blooming Brittlebush carpet the foothills in vibrant yellow blankets.

This bloom in Whitewater Wildlands Conservancy is ‘Off the Beaten Path.’ Most superbloom areas in Southern California are mobbed with crowds, but even on the weekend, there are very few people here. You hike by yourself in the wilderness.

The river for which the conservancy is named is full of snow melt cascading into the desert from the surrounding mountains,

filling natural resevoirs to capacity with overflow.

Southern California mountains and deserts are happy!

Cheers to you from the desert in May.

Note: I am traveling now and continuing my ‘Off the Beaten Path’ travel destination series as I go.

Off The Beaten Path: Kotor

On May 5, 2023May 6, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DESIGN, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS179 Comments

Church of St. Nicholas,

Kotor, Montenegro.

My favorite places,

are less traveled and uncrowded.

Kotor is exactly such a place. It is charming, unspoiled and an explorers paradise.

Kotor is one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic.

It is a desiginated as two separate Unesco World Heritage Sites. First, for it’s buildings of medieval significance, and secondly for it’s Venetian defensive structures built at the height of Venetian power in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Cheers to you from the first in a series of ‘Off the Beaten Path Places’ in our small world~

Cali Coast~

On February 9, 2023February 9, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS199 Comments

Sunset over Channel Islands National Park.

The palms stand sentinel,

with the setting sun.

In daylight,

people come to play.

The vigilant palms,

are happy now,

with storms, and lots of rain.

Cheers to you from the central California coast~

Odd Birds~

On December 30, 2022December 30, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life291 Comments

They remind me,

very much,

of my childhood ballet teachers.

They have the same haughty

mien,

and graceful moves.

They love shaking their tutus,

and dressing up for opening night!

Who doesn’t?

Check out the even more graceful wild ones in South Africa at:

https://cindyknoke.com/tag/south-africa/

Wishing you a Joyous & Healthy New Year from the prancing dancers at Ostrich Land in California~

Peace & Merry Christmas To You~

On December 22, 2022December 24, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DESIGN, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS326 Comments

Venice Italy

Strasbourg France

Barcelona Spain

Melk Austria

Cinque Terre Italy

Lisbon Portugal

Strasbourg France

St. Petersburg Russia

Vienna Austria

Dubrovnik Croatia

Santorini Greece

Budapest Hungary

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you from our fragile, precious world~

Santa Barbara Wine Country~

On December 18, 2022December 18, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, TRAVEL REVIEWS218 Comments

in late fall, (click to enlarge)

has it’s own,

fall palette.

Vineyards,

put on a muted,

ombre display,

as the wine grapes are ready,

for harvest.

The trees,

are showing off too.

Cheers to you from Santa Barbara~

Canadian Colors~

On December 3, 2022December 3, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS214 Comments

Awesome Alberta, (click/tap to enlarge)

struts her stuff,

in early fall.

Stillness,

reflects,

Mother Nature’s peaceful palette.

Cheers to you from astonishing Alberta~

September Storm~

On October 25, 2022October 25, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS208 Comments

moves in fast,

at high elevation,

in the Canadian Rockies.

It is a beauty,

to behold,

albiet quite cold!

The ride back down the mountain,

was nippy without our ski gear.

Cheers to you from the rockies in the fall~

Canadian Scenes~

On October 13, 2022October 14, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS253 Comments

Mirrored,

Moraine Lake,

reflects it’s beauty,

back at you.

Understandable why this lake is the seventh most instagramed in the world.

This time we stayed in the lodge at the lake and got to enjoy it after the day trippers tripped away.

Kicking Horse River Yoho National Park.

Quiet River in busy Calgary.

Cheers to you from Canada in September~

Yoho~

On October 1, 2022October 1, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life182 Comments

Muted fall colors, (click to enlarge)

and pale powder rivers.

Canada is gorgeous,

in every season,

but fall’s,

subtle splendor,

takes your breath away,

as does a gregarious gray jay!

Cheers to you from Yoho National Park in the fall~

Cindy Knoke

Category: TRAVEL REVIEWS

Wasteland Wakened~

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Off The Beaten Path: Kotor

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Cali Coast~

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Odd Birds~

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Peace & Merry Christmas To You~

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Santa Barbara Wine Country~

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Canadian Colors~

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September Storm~

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Canadian Scenes~

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Yoho~

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