Photos of the Salinas River at Sundown

Peace at the River as the Sun Sets

After walking through Union Road Wine Country yesterday, I stopped at the river on my way home just as the sun was almost down. I parked on Navajo off South River Road and all these pictures were taken in the same block within a 20-minute period. It was quiet except for the singing birds. I experienced great peace here after a hectic day. 

The Salinas River at Sundown

At one point I looked down toward the river and saw footprints of someone who obviously made a path to it. I used a zoom for this shot because I didn't dare get close by taking that same slippery and wet path. 

Footprints in the Sand Lead to the River's Edge

The same footprints are on the left of this photo. I aimed the camera so that the true colors of the plants and the hill would show, but it muted the colors of the sky. 

Green Hill above the River

My Cameras

I took these photos with a point and shoot Nikon Coolpix S9300. I love this camera because it fits in my purse or my camera bag and it gives me 16 megapixels and an 18x zoom so that I can capture wildlife without scaring it. I also had my Canon PowerShot SX410 IS along. Both the cameras fit in my shoulder camera bag together, and I can also fit in extra batteries and flash drives, along with my driver's license. 

When I go for a photo walk I pack both cameras into the bag and go. The PowerShot gives me 20 megapixels and a 40x optical zoom, but the Coolpix is often all I need and sometimes handles colors better. Both shoot HD video. The products below are the ones I use myself. 

 Nikon Coolpix S9300 16.0 MP Digital Camera - Silver Canon PowerShot SX410 IS (Black) Canon PowerShot SX410 IS Digital Camera Case Camcorder and Digital Camera Case - Carry Handle & Adjustable Shoulder Strap - Black / Grey - Replacement by Synergy SanDisk Extreme 32GB 90 Mb/s SDHC UHS-I Card (SDSDXVE-032G-GNCIN) [Newest Version] Powerextra 2 Pack Replacement Battery and Charger for Nikon EN-EL12 and Nikon Coolpix AW100, AW110, S640, S6000, S6100, S6150, S6200, S6300, S8000, S8100, S8200, S9050, S9100, S9200, S9300, S9500

If you need an online photo editor, I have reviewed FotoJet, my most used online editor, and linked to that review.  I used it for these shots to crop and add text. FotoJet has a free version that handles the basics and helps you design collages and other projects with your photos. There is also a paid version if you want more fonts and effects.

This next photo is almost the same scene as the last photo, but I focused on the sky instead of the ground colors because I wanted to capture the sunset. The way I aim the camera determines which colors will show best. I haven't mastered the manual settings yet, so I use the AUTO setting most of the time. I also occasionally use Macro or Zoom when needed. For some sunsets, I also might use the dawn/dusk scene setting. 

Pastel Sunset over the Salinas River

Back to the River

This next photo is similar to one above, but it focuses more on the bank of the river and the hill.  

Sunset over the Hills above the Salinas River

Below I've  focused on just the sunset.

Lone Tree Beside River as the Sun Goes Down

My focus in this next photo is the reflection in the inlet of the overhanging branches of what I believe is a willow tree. 

Tree Reflection in River Inlet

In case you missed my other recent posts with photos of the Salinas River, please follow these links to find them. 

Salinas River Walk Photos and Sky Journal
Salinas River Photos from Vineyard Bridge in Templeton
Rain, Rain, and More Rain in Paso Robles
The Salinas River: Now You See It

Personal Note

I will not be posting tomorrow because I'm having a root canal procedure under sedation. I will be sleeping most of the day afterward, and I have instructions not to work -- not even on the phone. I did this last week, too, so I know now how the sedation affects me. 

I posted about my experience with the sedative on myLot, a discussion forum. You can read it here if you want to: Root Canal Report and my Experience with Halcion. You do not have to join the site to read this, but only members can comment. This site is my preferred social network because it's really social and the discussions often go deep. I've made many online friends there over the years whom I now know better than my non-virtual friends. 

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Photos from the Rio Seco Vineyards and Tasting Room in Paso Robles

The Rio Seco Tasting Room and Vineyards 

The Rio Seco tasting room is surrounded by vineyards. As you head east on Union Road from North River Road, you will enjoy a beautiful drive through wine country. Just before you get to Penman Springs Road you will find Rio Seco's entrance road. The tasting room is at the end of that road. This is where I parked. 

The Rio Seco Tasting Room

Below is the overview from the entrance road. On the way, you pass some of the vineyards. I love the big oak, but you knew I would, didn't you.

It was a cloudy day, and I arrived about 4:35, just as the sun was about to set. The sky views were spectacular. I felt I was at the bottom of a big bowl of clouds. 

A View of the Rio Seco Vineyard and Oak Near Tasting Room

Unfortunately, it's impossible for me to capture such a panoramic sky view in a blog post. I felt a bit like this lone oak under the sky. 

A Lone Oak High in the Vineyard

The closer it got to sundown, the more interesting the sky became. This view was facing west, and it looks back at Union Road, the way we came. 

A View from the Rio Seco Vineyard. Union Road  is heading west back to town. 

The Winery Cats I Met

Most of the wineries I visit have working pets. Some have dogs, some have cats, and some have both. As I approached the tasting room, Midnight greeted me. Actually, the photo is deceiving. He really was friendly. He was meowing a greeting and let me pet him. He reminds me of the feline P.I. Midnight Louie in the mysteries by Carole Nelson Douglas that bear his name.   I love those books. 

Midnight, the Rio Seco Feline Greeter.

This is the other tomcat I met while he was dining. From his size I imagine he dines often. 

Winery Cat Enjoying Dinner

A Restful End to a Busy Day

I normally rest on Sunday, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I spent a good part of the day working hard physically. After a late lunch and some rest, I was determined to get back into Union Road wine country this afternoon, even if it was late. I like the cloudy days because they work magic on the sky. 

I would encourage you to make the drive yourself if you haven't done it yet. There are wineries all along the way if you enjoy wine tasting. It's only a short way farther to get to Steinbeck Winery from Rio Seco. We visited Steinbeck twice this week. They have rearranged their tasting room historical exhibits a bit since our first visit. See it as we saw it in March 2015. 

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Photos of Sundown at Steinbeck Winery

We attended a meeting at Steinbeck Winery tonight and got there just as the sun was setting. It's unfortunate that the sun was setting behind buildings and power lines, but that could not be helped. At least you can still see the sunset. The birds on the wire are a bonus. 

I took another photo after the sun went down but was still lending color to the clouds.

 This last one focuses on the tree with the sunset in the background. 

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Sky Journal of Day with Sporadic Showers

Morning Sky

The weather forecast gave the impression I'd stay dry if I finished my shopping by mid-afternoon. I got in my car, and although the sky was cloudy, it wasn't raining. That was at 10:55 AM.

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 10:55 AM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

I drove to Atascadero, parked on Traffic Way and took a few photos. This is one that shows how green the hills are now. As you can see, the sky was blue looking northeast. 

Sky View from Traffic Way in Atascadero about 11:30 AM, ©  B. Radisavljevic

I walked around and took more pictures in the almost deserted Sunken Gardens.  It was windy, and you can see how the wind and earlier rain had combined to make the fountain spill over onto the surrounding area. 

Fountain at Sunken Gardens in  Atascadero about 11-45 AM, ©  B. Radisavljevic

After leaving the park I made my way to Smart and Final to shop. I was there by noon. By 1 PM I was back in my car, and there was still no rain. I headed to Trader Joe's in Templeton. I had planned to stop at Von's but it had started to rain hard by the time I drove the short distance there and the parking lot was full. I only needed one thing there and opted to skip it and go straight to Trader Joe's. It rained on and off all the way to Templeton. Fortunately when I got to Trader Joe's the rain had stopped and the sky was blue again. I left my hat in the car. 

Afternoon

That turned out to be a mistake. As I left Trader Joe's I could see the rain coming down as I reached the exit. My hat was in the car, so I tried to keep my glasses dry. As luck would have it, the rain became just a drizzle as I walked to my car. When I got home the rain had pretty much died down. I was able to unload the car without getting wet. At 4:30 I went to my front yard to take a picture, and this is how the sky looked then. 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 4:30  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

As the Sun Went Down

These photos were taken at 5:25 PM

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:25  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

Sunset

These photos were taken from different angles at sunset. I show them in order. 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:48  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:48  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:48  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

It was eerie to drive in and out of showers as I passed under storm clouds on my way home.  I'm grateful we've gotten more rain, but not enough to do much damage. Our friends in Northern and Southern California have had much more damage. 

I"m seriously thinking of getting one of these rain barrels to collect and save some of this water for the summer. 

Good Ideas RW50-KHA Rain Wizard Rain Barrel 50-Gallon, KhakiGood Ideas RWURN-LIG Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon, Light Granite

How has your weather been this week? How has it affected you personally or those you know?

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Salinas River Walk Photos and Sky Journal

An Unintentional River Walk

I didn't mean to go for a river walk today. It was raining when I left the house about 2:40 and I only intended to shop at Smart and Final downtown and come right home. By the time I left the rain had stopped and it was a gorgeous afternoon. As I drove up 21st Street, I saw a photo I wanted to take so I parked on Spring. That photo didn't turn out, but I kept walking to 20th. I noticed there that the sky was quite different on the east side of the street than the west side. The east side was dark and gray.

The East Side of 20th and Spring Street Is Gray

The west side was bright blue with only fluffy white clouds. Just by turning your head you'd get a different sense of what the weather was like. 

The West Side of 20th and Spring Is Bright and Blue

I took a few shots I will share in another post of a surprise I found, and then I started home on South River Road. That's when I noticed what a lovely day it was for a photo walk along the river. 

The Salinas River Between Navajo Avenue and 13th Street

I parked on Navajo right where it curves to parallel the river. Then I strolled up to the 13th Street Bridge. After taking a few photos from the bridge, my camera battery died. That meant the walk back to the car was much faster than the walk to the bridge. This photo was taken very close to where I parked. You can see the Derby Wine Estates Building across the river. 

Looking Across the River to Derby Wine Estates Building

It appears the city planted some colorful shrubs on the slope. I assume the mustard is wild. From this view, you only see one channel of the river. Vegetation and sandbars keep you from seeing the other channels from here.  

Colorful Shrubs Combine with Wild Mustard to Beautify the Slope

One thing I can't show you is the sound. The trees chirp as you pass them. The birds and bunnies scamper along the ground so fast they are almost impossible to photograph, but I heard the brush rustle. Birdsong accompanied me all along the way. This is one of the last shots I got before my battery died.

Looking North from Salinas River Trail North of Niblick Road

I finally got to the bridge after taking over a hundred photos. You can the see the whole width of the river from the bridge, but I couldn't capture all of it in the shots I took while my battery was still alive. I was facing south toward Niblick Road when I took this shot. It will give you an idea of the river's width.  

View of Salinas River Looking South from 13th Street Bridge

Sky Journal February 11, 2017

This was a day of swift weather changes. I took my first photo at 12:19 PM. Doesn't it look like a beautiful day?

It's a Beautiful Day to the East at 2:19 PM

This is the same scene at 2:30. It doesn't seem too much different except for that creeping gray cloud to the left of the oak tree. 

Gray Cloud Is Sneaking up to the Tree, 2:30 PM

When I stood facing the tree and turned left to look south, I saw a much different picture that was more accurate in predicting the weather. It was taken only seconds after the one above.

Gray Rain Clouds Approaching from the South at 2:30

 

Sure enough. Although I was hurrying to leave on my shopping errand, I couldn't beat the rain. The drops started to come just as I took this photo at 2:40 before I got into the car. 

At 2:40 the Rain Began

My entire walk took an hour and fifteen minutes. I highly recommend this walk for anyone who likes to photograph the river and the critters who live near it. 

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What a Difference Five Minutes Can Make in the Sky

Evening Sky on Wordless Wednesday 

Just a few words! the sky was gray almost all day. I wasn't even going to post photos. At around 5 PM I looked out and saw this scene instead of the steady gray, so I was going to title it The Most Exciting Sky of the Day.

Paso Robles Sky to the West at 5 PM, 2-8-17, after a Gray Day

I went in the house, downloaded the photo and edited it to post. Then I looked out the window again and saw this. 

Paso Robles Sky to the West at 5:05 PM, 2-8-17, Approaching Sunset

What a difference a few minutes and the sun can make in the sky!

46 West Wine County is Green Again

46 West Wine Country is Green After the Rains

I had a view minutes to stop and photograph the green pastures on my way to our Templeton house today. I stopped at the Tooth and Nail Winery castle parking lot and walked as far east on the property as I could go. I took this photo from behind the winery. I love the green pastures, the fences that divide them, the oaks, and the green grass between the rows of vines.

Countryside East of Tooth and Nail Winery

When I saw the cattle enjoying one of the pastures just east of Tooth and Nail Winery, I knew I had to photograph them. I used my zoom because I could not get too close. I took the photo from the back of the Tooth and Nail Winery. The photo is divided in the middle by Highway 46. You can see a vineyard on the other side of it, as well as the oak trees.

Castle Grazing on Land Just East of Tooth and Nail Winery

This view as I looked down at 46 West from the castle parking lot drew my attention. Since I used a zoom, the view across 46 looks closer than it really is. The light is dim looking south, since I took this series of photos around 4:40 and the sky overcast.

Looking Across Highway 46 West from  Tooth and Nail Winery Parking Lot

Sky Journal 

I'm changing the location of the sky journal today. It was gray almost all day between the oak and the palms where I usually record changes in the sky. The photos around 4:40 from the castle grounds were more interesting.  This is my favorite. 

Sky View from Tooth and Nail Parking Lot, 2-6-17 about 4:40PM Looking West

When I got to the house, I had to capture this sky as I looked east on 46 toward Highway 101. It was about 4:50 and you can see just how gray the sky is in contrast to the tiny bit of light where the road meets the horizon. Notice the mustard is beginning to bloom on the side of the slope

Looking East on Highway 46 West about 4:50, 2-6-17

Lastly, we see the sky looking southwest over some of our trees as I turned in my driveway. Just a bit of sun is peeking through the gray clouds.

Sun Peeks through Clouds Over Trees on Our Land. 

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