The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park in Winter

For the past several years, my mom has travelled to Arizona for the Gem & Mineral Show in Tucson. It’s long days at the shows but a few times we have made it into road trip where I got to check some national parks off my list. One of those times we drove to the Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert.

I loved how the snow dusted the barren landscape. The temperature was a high of 35 that day but the sun was out. It was so peaceful with hardly any other people walking the trails or cars clogging up popular areas.

I remember our bed & breakfast, Brad’s Desert Inn, had themed rooms. We were in the eagle room (go birds) and the owner would make the most enormous breakfast. She told us about her dreams for renovating the rooms and I hope to go back one day to see how they turned out.

This trip had many memorable stops. Arizona is one of my favorite places but I definitely loved our time at this park. Stay tuned for a more detailed blog post on the route we took and stops we made along the way!

This national park has preserved part of Route 66. This old Studebaker sits at the crossroads where the newly built I-40, runs almost parallel with it.

Painted Desert Inn

sedimentary layers of Blue Mesa

Agate Bridge

Like a giant chocolate log cake.

This is where I bought a petrified wood specimen to further my collection! :)

On the road again...

Oregon sunrise

I love being on the road, not the whole preparation for it, but once were out there with the music and podcasts blaring, it’s peaceful. We’re getting ready to head out into America once again, now a new region I’ve never been to: the Midwest! I’m excited for the weird road side stops, vast open grasslands, learning about the last wild areas of the US, and exploring the strange terrain of Badlands National Park.

Here’s a throwback of all my most recent road pics!

“There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” -Jack Kerouac, On the Road: the Original Scroll

Near Asheville, North Carolina on our 1st road trip down to Georgia for the Professional Photographers of America conference. 2016.

Drove down to the end of the road for the cloudy sunset, Hawaii, 2013.

My view from behind our driver, Damien, across the countryside of Cuba on our way back to Havana from Trinidad. 2016

Signs of the South, 2016

Dingman’s Ferry Bridge, connecting PA and NJ, 2016.

Golden Road, Maine

Sedona, Arizona

Arizona to Nevada

Hoover Dam

Las Vegas

My mom, somewhere in Arizona, 2018.

Driving through Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Whizzing by New York

Cadillac Mountain for the sunrise, 2016.

Monterey, CA, 2017.

Joshua Tree

Jenni + co-pilot Gabby in Joshua Tree

Zack, near Sacramento

To Ashland, OR!

Crater Lake

Forest fires in Bend, OR, 2017.

Devastation of the fires, outside Bend, OR, 2017.

Claudia at the wheel during our Iceland adventure.

Crazy Iceland roads, 2018.

Gabby driving through the Italian countryside, 2019.

On the way back from Washington, D.C. 2020

Snowstorm outside of Tombstone, Arizona, 2019.

Petrified Forest, 2019.

Goats hanging out in Hawaii, 2019.

Volcanoes National Park

Oahu

Devastation from the 2018 volcanic eruption.

Italian countryside, 2019.

Pittsburgh, 2018.

A Southern Excursion: The Deep South

On this section of our journey…

Being able to see America’s industrial past at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, the only preserved blast furnace open to the public.  Serving as a reminder of the haunting sacrifices many Americans made in order to make the United States an industrial powerhouse. 

Acknowledging the continued struggle of rebuilding New Orleans, specifically in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Bywater and making the short drive from New Orleans into the Bayou to explore Jean Laffite National Historic Park and Preserve.

Wild pig hunting along the Lumber River in North Carolina with the help of the land and wildlife conservationists from Lumber River Outdoors. 

Birmingham, Alabama

We continued south to Birmingham, Alabama for an opportunity to take a glimpse into the dangerous past of iron working at a blast furnace. Sloss Furnace had been producing iron since the late 19th century up until 1970 and is a National Historic Landmark.  

Sloss is the only blast furnace of this scale preserved as a historical site. Iron production of this scale is part of what drove the United States toward industrial dominance and ultimately global dominance, something that deserves appreciation and should not be lost.

Looking through to the blast furnace in the back right of the photograph.

Molten iron would flow into this area to cool and harden as the finished product or "pigs".

The water reserve used to cool the furnance.

There were many lethal dangers in this line of work leading to many casualties.  Naturally this leads to many supernatural stories.  None more infamous than the stories surrounding James “Slag” Wormwood, a foreman at Sloss during the “graveyard shift” from sunset to sunrise, who did not seem to have employee well-being as a high priority.  The furnace burned 24/7, but with fewer workers during the night.  This obviously made the work harder for the few who worked that shift and in turn made it more dangerous.  Many died during these overnight shifts.

The raw ore would be brought through this tunnel.  Looks like the perfect "Slag" hangout spot.

Then the ore would be hoisted into the furnace.

We visited the site during the week, so we basically had the place to ourselves with near free-reign.  The structures of the complex are massive, towering above you as you stroll the grounds in complete silence.  This definitely creates an eerie feeling, but also a feeling of appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices made by those who toiled to power America’s rise to industrial supremacy.   

Steam towers

Classic Southern features.

New Orleans, Louisiana

We continued on to our southern-most destination. The historical mystique of New Orleans is well known, but many do not realize that the struggle to rebuild and preserve New Orleans is still on going, especially in the neighborhoods farther from Downtown and the French Quarter.  We stayed in Bywater, a mostly residential neighborhood, experiencing an urban renewal seeing the opening of many new shops, art galleries and restaurants. You can still see the effects of Katrina in Bywater, but there is definitely more cash coming in whether it be through these new attractions or from the growing Airbnb community that offers the opportunity to stay in classic New Orleans housing at a very affordable price. The newly renovated houses and shops of Bywater are works of art.

...but there is still work to be done in Bywater.

Elizabeth's- a restaurant in Bywater that provides an excellent "country breakfast" and fried green tomatoes. 

Not everyone in Bywater is on board with airbnb.

The Country Club

We also checked out some of New Orleans’ more traditional attractions. Of course Bourbon Street and the French Quarter are on the top of that list with various historical structures housing clubs, bars, restaurants and museums.

Laffite's Blacksmith Shop- one of the oldest bars in New Orleans

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

Home to famous beignets, don't worry if you spill a little powdered sugar on the floor.

However, nearby Frenchman Street in the Marigny neighborhood provides live music in an assortment of jazz clubs, bars and in the street with a more local feel.  

Live jazz at The Spotted Cat

…And you can’t forget the cemeteries…

Bywater also has its own cemeteries, much quieter than some of the cemetaries closer to the city center.

We also walked through Metairie Cemetery one of the largest in New Orleans.

We also walked the field of one of the more unique battles in US history.  The Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 pitted the British Army against an odd assortment of allies led by Andrew Jackson including militias from Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Louisiana, Native Americans from the Choctaw tribe, slaves, free African Americans, and pirates loyal to Jean Laffite.  

Looking across the Battlefield from the American position.  The British tried to cross the swampy field, but were mowed down.

Near the British position lies a national cemetery with soldiers from a wide range of wars. 

A portion of the Louisiana Bayou just outside of New Orleans is protected and made accessible to the public as Jean Lafitte National Wildlife Preserve. Certain areas within the park provide an opportunity for undeveloped bayou experience as minimally maintained trails lead you along various channels, making it easy to come face to face with some of the bayous residents.  If you would like a slightly more safe experience, there is also a series of boardwalks that give you an opportunity to explore the bayou from an elevated position.  

The boardwalk in and out of the bayou at Jean Lafitte National Park.

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On our way back into the city we checked out NOLA Brewing Company, which brews and serves beer out of a converted warehouse in the industrial neighborhood of Irish Channel.  

Columbus County, North Carolina

You could spend weeks in New Orleans with new experiences everyday, but for us it came time to move on.  We headed north toward home, but not before stopping in North Carolina to meet our new friends at Lumber River Outdoors.  

The plans for habitat construction at Lumber River Outdoors are ambitious.  We met Derek and Ricky, two of the men behind Lumber River Outdoors, they toured us around the Co-op of private land and let us stay at their cabin they call “The Roost.”

"The Roost"- our lodging

Lumber River is a Co-op of private landowners with a common goal of improving the land for wildlife development.  Enhancing quail habitat is the primary goal, but the Co-op also holds land in swamps along the Lumber River and farmland that offer prime habitat for wildlife including deer, turkey, and the reason in which we made our stop… feral pigs.

The feral pig population is exploding across the south as the invasive species continues to devastate the ecosystem, reproducing at an exponential rate.  We thought we’d try to do our part to help stem the pig population and of course earn ourselves a delicious reward.  

Walking to the blind.

Our place for the night!

Unfortunately, the near 100-degree weather made hunting very difficult and no pigs were to be found.  However, we would love to return to see Lumber River Outdoors’ progress in forestry and habitat development and of course make another try at pig hunting in the swamp.  

The view from our blind with the help of a Green LED light.

Looking for sign of wallowing pigs

Looks like ideal pig terrain, but none to be found.

The Southern Excursion ended with the long drive north on I-95.

Not to forget two stops that have become a tradition when traveling through Virginia... Carl's in Fredericksburg, VA

...and Buz and Ned's in Richmond, VA

If you missed the first part of our excursion down south check it out here!

Philadelphia to Boston to Maine: The Summer Road Trip Begins

As in any Compass & Canvas endeavor, we sought the primitive, the historical and the abandoned to raise awareness for preservation, protection or potential renewal.

Passing through NYC for the first leg of our epic Eastern tour of America.

The trip started with a stop in Boston. Its rich colonial history is well preserved and well known, needing little introduction. One could easily spend a weekend in Boston walking the Freedom Trail, but we found ourselves drawn to the Boston Harbor Islands. The National Recreation Area surprises in its feeling of remoteness considering its proximity to Boston.

We envisioned overcrowded islands serving as an extension of the Boston Waterfront, Georges Island serves this purpose, but from there a free ferry transfer can take you to more remote islands. We caught a ferry from Long Wharf North along the Boston Waterfront, it is only $17.00 dollars to board a ferry or $12.00 if you have a student ID and then transfers are free.

Arriving at Georges Island, where you can transfer to different islands in the park. 

Besides providing transfers to the other islands, the Civil War era Fort Warren stands on Georges Island and it has been maintained to the point that the park service allows visitors to basically have free-range in exploring.

Descending stairs that go to nowhere inside Fort Warren on Georges Island.

We chose to catch a transfer to Lovells Island, one of the outermost islands. With limited ferries, Lovells provides a secluded opportunity for exploration. The island also houses a few man-made structures used by the Army up until World War II.

Inside the structure pictured above.

I love rocks -- end of story. 

Birds contemplating the destruction of humans -- nbd. 

Crabby + sassy!

Just make sure you don’t miss the last ferry home!

The ferry that was going to leave us stranded on Lovells Island.

Zack's "mad" face.

When visiting preserved history in Boston one can’t forget to catch a baseball game. It provides a look into the sports fan experience of the early 20th century, particularly the narrow halls that seem to hold in the heat and steam from the concession stands and the thousands of people moving through them.

Much different from the open concourses that wrap around modern stadiums.

Fenway Victory Gardens, the oldest continuously operating Victory community garden that was started during World War II. 

After leaving Boston we continued north to Maine. Maine’s coastline is a tribute to preserved natural beauty enhanced by picturesque structures whether they be forts, light houses or coastal towns. Acadia National Park was our final destination with a few stops along the way. The Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park and the coastal town of Wiscasset, ME, with its famous Lobstah Rolls at Red’s Eats, are two such examples.

We stopped at the International Cryptozoology Museum, the only museum specializing in creatures such as Bigfoot (actual footprints shown in the case above!), the Loch Ness Monster, and so many more that I  didn't know existed. 

A glimpse of the head light itself. 

One of the stops we made was at The Desert of Maine, which is both strange and disappointing. It is 40-acres of what seems to be sand but is in fact glacial silt. 

Acadia is a compilation of donated land that became the first National Park on the east-coast. If you want to move freely throughout the Park make sure you arrive early. Like way before sunrise early! You should also bring a map because network coverage is very spotty. The park also surrounds plenty of harbor towns if you need a break from exploring.

The early morning drive to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain.

Even though we woke up way before dawn, there were many people there already. Next time I'm staying up all night. 

First people to see the sun that day! Woot, woot!

Wild blueberries line the side of Cadillac Mountain, a perfect snack for watching the sun come up. 

Acadia National Park is a great to visit because it is so accessible. The loop drive winds around Mount Desert Island, making every place you stop scenic and beautiful. 

A tired seagull.

Sand Beach

If you need refreshments or a break from so much nature, Bar Harbor is an adorable area with ice cream and shopping. My personal favorites. 

This is a view from our cabin at Patten Pond. 

Bass Harbor Head Light otherwise known as the place where Zack was yelled at by photographers for "getting in the shot." 

More rocks, more love. 

One of the stopping points on the loop, Seawall, is a naturally occurring rock seawall. 

Creatures hide in between the rocks at Seawall, however this is not where you find the starfish. 

In Southwest Harbor we stopped at Beal's, an infamous lobstah roll restaurant. 

In classic Tayan fashion, we ordered too much food. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

At long last, we found starfish in Southwest Harbor. I think they really enjoyed the trash in the area. Who knew. 

After a few days in the park we decided to drive away from the coast and farther north into the Maine wilderness. In most cases such a massive swathe of undeveloped land would be very difficult and time consuming to access, but a well-maintained private logging road that runs from Millinocket, Maine to Quebec known as the “Golden Road” provides a path into this remote region.

Starting our way toward the "Golden Road," in northern Maine. 

The moose that we almost passed.

Moose caboose. 

A lake we stopped at to enjoy the dwindling sunlight. 

On our way home from Maine we decided to make a pit-stop in Salem, Massachusetts as it offers the opportunity to walk through some of the oldest houses in America with the added allure of the evils of the Salem Witch Trials.

One of the houses on the House of the Seven Gables property in Salem. 

Salem is a strange struggle between wanting to down-play the evil that happened there, and also relying on it to generate tourist revenue. This divide can be very clearly seen by the two different emphasizes in two of the city’s oldest original houses. The House of the Seven Gables provides a look into the more affluent lifestyle of those who lived between 200-300 years ago; and the Witch House provides a look into the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the men who presided over the trials.

Inside The Counting House, which was originally a place where sea captains conducted much of their business, such as balancing accounts or paying fees. 

The Witch House, or Judge Jonathan Corwin's house. 

Plus earlier this year a study used primary documents from the time of the Salem Witch Trials to pin-point the location of the hangings. They estimate the location to be on an overgrown hill behind a Walgreens, so naturally we had to investigate.

The entrance to the possible place where the women were hung. 

Tune in for the next leg of our epic Eastern tour of America - West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee! 

Summer Road Trip Sneak Peek

It has been a summer full of adventuring, leaving us little time for blog posts, so here is a sneak peak at what we’ve been up to during the summer of 2016.

Using the abandoned railroad line into Ocean City, New Jersey as passage through the “back bay” to Crook Horn Creek.

Ferrying between the Boston Harbor Islands and exploring the Forts and other abandoned structures left from various time periods.

Appreciating the pristine condition created by the protection of the Maine coastline through Acadia National Park and driving the under-developed logging route of the “Golden Trail” into the Maine wilderness.

Unraveling the people of Salem’s fascination and commitment to preserving three hundred years of history, trying to promote the positive while profiting off of the negatives.

Touring the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia and supporting the privately funded attempt to preserve one of the largest hand-cut stone buildings in the world.

Spelunking into a world created by slightly acidic water through soft limestone in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky and tasting the effect of this combination at a few of the areas historic bourbon distilleries nearby in Bardstown, Kentucky.  

Testing the “hype” about the renovation of East Nashville, Tennessee.

Being able to see America’s industrial past at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, the only preserved blast furnace open to the public. Serving as a reminder of the haunting sacrifices many Americans made in order to make the United States an industrial powerhouse.  

Acknowledging the continued struggle of rebuilding New Orleans, specifically in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Bywater and making the short drive from New Orleans into the Bayou to explore Jean Laffite National Historic Park and Preserve.

Wild pig hunting along the Lumber River in North Carolina with the help of the land and wildlife conservationists from Lumber River Outdoors. 

So stay tuned!

The Road Trip to Atlanta Part II

The drive down didn’t leave much time for stopping, other than a night in D.C.  visiting some friends, but that stop did not produce many useable photographs.  We had more time on the drive home providing opportunities to make a few stops.  With stops planned at a friend’s house in Asheville, North Carolina and a self-guided tour of the Petersburg Battlefield National Park in Virginia, we headed home.

Heading into the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Asheville is a city nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The scenic landscapes from atop mountain overlooks have always made it a vacation destination, but in recent years it has also become a micro-brewing hot spot.  The breweries made for good exploring as well.  We thought Wicked Weed Brewing took the honors of best brewery/beer.  It helped that they were selling their Freak of Nature 2x IPA on a happy hour special for about 2 dollars.  Needless to say, few photos were taken as a result. Top of the Monk is not a brewery, but equally as cool.  It is an unmarked, members only speak-easy (it wasn't that hard to become a member, you pay a dollar).  Members are also entitled to a small snack with every cocktail they order, obtained by unlocking it from a box with a key that comes with the drink.  

Ben led us on a hike far above Montreat College where he teaches history.  He also showed off his photography skills!  Blue Ridge refers to the blueish tint that mountains seem to have,  apparently it's from the amount of oxygen given off by the dense forest that covers them.  

Ben also toured us around Montreat College which is hidden away in a forest filled valley.

Even if you don't consider yourself a Civil War buff, Petersburg National Battlefield provides a great break for anyone traveling on I-95 just south of Richmond.  A road snakes its way between the Union and Confederate lines that held for 9 months as the Union army laid siege to the city.  This provides plenty of quick stopping points.  There are also hiking trails if you prefer exploring on foot.

Each side erected huge earthworks over the course of the 9 month stalemate.  The remnants  can still be seen today, but climbing on them is frowned upon. 

The photo above is the Union line.  The photo below shows the view looking toward the Confederate line.  For months each side dug in within shouting distance of the enemy.

Remnants from the Battle of the Crater: see movie clip for details.

If you're looking for BBQ in Richmond you have to go to Buz and Ned's.  Zack loves to tell the story from the first time he dined here... A father was overheard disappointedly asking his son who had left a little meat on his bones, "well you're not going to suck on them first?"  That's when you know you're at the right place!

If you missed The Road Trip to Atlanta Part I, click here!

The Road Trip to Atlanta Part I

I joined Professional Photographers of America in 2014, mostly because they insure my photography equipment.  However, PPA also hosts Imaging USA out of their headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center.  I had never been to a photo convention before and the PPA gives you a free ticket for the first time you attend Imaging USA.  Plus, I assumed January in Atlanta would be more enjoyable than Philadelphia. Perfect excuse for a road trip!  With a few other stops planned out along the way, we embarked on our journey.

Along the way I kept a journal chronicling the details of our trip. I've always enjoyed making books and combining my love of drawing, collage, and photography. I inserted some highlights from the various places we visited. Enjoy!

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CNN offers a guided tour of their headquarters.  This includes the opportunity to listen in on the live audio feed of the director inside the control room.  Just as interesting is the look into the newsroom.  We went on a Sunday afternoon; the newsroom seemed dead the reporters looked pretty bored.  I guess even the worldwide leaders in news have chill days. 

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Along the walk toward Ebenezer Baptist Church, even at the height of segregation this area formed an independent thriving African American community. 

3-Day Unlimited Pass for $18.00. Great deal!

The different neighborhoods of Atlanta are spread out and the MARTA Lines can’t get you to all of them.  Luckily, there’s the Beltline, an old railroad that has been converted to a walking and biking path. 

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The first speaker we sat in on was Sam Abell, who worked for National Geographic and has a very technical, precise approach to the way he composes pictures. The different situations he is able to capture is amazing.

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We walked on the path to Ponce City Market, an old Sears warehouse converted into a Hipster paradise.

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We also listened to Clyde Butcher speak about his work and one of my favorite subjects, the Nationals Parks. He uses an 8x10 camera to create huge black and white prints, but sometimes uses cameras as large as 12x20.

If you want to splurge, the Sun Dial is a good place to do it.  It’s at the top of the Westin and the entire thing rotates giving you a view of the entire city.  If you’re not trying to splurge, the bar is above the restaurant and it offers a limited, but much cheaper menu. 

Any Walking Dead fan needs no introduction to this photo.

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Zack taking in an imaginary service from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Coca-Cola propaganda everywhere!  We felt like we had been brainwashed.  Craving a coke right now.

We enjoyed a closing party at the Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the western hemisphere. They have FOUR whale sharks!!!