Click on image for closer view.

One of the things I’m doing on this trip is location scouting for a feature film I’m writing. North of Tonopah is probably a great location for part of the film. I first saw this area back in April and needed to return and take another look with a different perspective.

The above image is a panorama of the storm that was north of Tonopah in the valley. It was quite big and quite alive with electricity and wind and rain. Later on I was finally able to capture my first lightning photo ever. It took quite a lot of patience and many many many many black frames of nothing to get this shot. I now know how difficult some of the more spectacular lighting photos that others have captured must have been to get.

While I was exploring one of the sites that I’ve earmarked as a location, Dusty disappeared! He blended right into the rocks that I was walking around in. If it wasn’t for the thunder and his subsequent shivering and trying to cower underneath my legs, I don’t think I would have spotted him! Ha! Can you spot him?

I definitely think the area would work for a reinactment sequence in the film I’m writing. I’m going to check in with the Nevada Film Commission and see what they have to say about the area.

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Yesterday I went on a hike that was just going to be a little hour or so dog walk. When I got to the top of the Bridal Veil Falls, which is at the end of Telluride Valley, I just had to keep going. I was parked at about 9000 feet in altitude, and by the time I got to the top of the trail, I was at about 12,200 feet. This is definitely the highest Izze and Dusty have been, and I think it might be a winner for me as well.

There were some amazing waterfalls and wildflowers on the hike. Its amazing how climbing a mountain is as much a psychological experience, as it is a physical experience. The voice in my head was raging a battle like I’d never seen before.

“We’re almost there.”

“But my legs are tired.”

“We’ve come this far and you want to turn around?”

“I didn’t bring any food or snacks.”

“And your point is?”

“Can I stop and rest?”

“No. Keep going. It’ll totally be worth it.”

… and so the battle raged.

So when I finally got to Blue Lake, an amphitheater of gorgeousness awaited me, and we all took a power nap.

Click on the Image for a closer look at the panorama

On the way back down, which was much faster and involved far less inner bickering and more a conversation about what I should eat when I got back, I took this panorama of the Telluride Valley. The town of Telluride is just off center to the left.

Click on the Image for a closer look at the panorama.

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They care about NOW! This is what I hear/see/interpret when I pay attention to them:

What are you doing now? Are you going to play with me? Are you going to take me for a walk? Are you going to take me outside? Are you going to sleep? Are you going to just SIT there? Are you going to feed me? How about a treat? I like treats. I’ll do stuff for you if you give me a treat. Come on just do something with me, like now already!

Eckhart Tolle responded to a question from Grace in Pleasanton, California, who asked: “Since I’ve been an owner of a dog I find myself so much more in the present. My question is, why am I naturally so much more present with animals than I’m sometimes dealing with people?” 

Well, the animal does not provoke thought activity because the dog is not thinking. When the dog looks at you, the dog is not thinking what kind of person you are, the dog is not judging you, there’s— the dog is at a stage of consciousness prior to the arrival of thought. So the dog is—and that state has certain similarities with the state of presence, in which is the state of going beyond thinking—where we are going.

From Chapter 4 of Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey’s Webcast

I was packing up the motorhome the other night after horseback riding, getting ready to pull out early in the morning so i can make it to the 8:30am river raft trip down the snake river here in the Tetons. The dogs watched me do the dishes, take out the trash, put all my dirty clothes in the hamper, take a shower, shave, eat, etc…. and then they wanted to play. They were tired of seeing me do stuff and didn’t care that we had just gone for a long walk. hey wanted to play tug of war, fetch, hide the bone, etc. NOW. stop all this commotion, stop worrying about getting up early again, and play with us!!!!!

Dogs force us to be present. Thanks Izze and Dusty!

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We stayed at the Indian Creek Campground. These are from one of the creeks that flow into Gardner River.

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no no, that is cody, my x-girlfriend’s x-roomate’s significant other. that picture was from halloween in 2004.

this is cody, wyoming:

we had a big rain storm come through thursday night in cody. it started to rain while i was at the rodeo, and so i rode my bike home in the rain. the sound of the rain on the roof of the rv put me right to sleep. it reminded me of being at camp in north carolina, where at night it would sometimes rain on the tin roof. ahhh comfort sounds.

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