Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Sunset-to-Dusk Cloud Formation

Enthralled by this cloud formation, a little further down the trail I zoomed in a little and recomposed for this shot.  Lucky it was captured, as only a few minutes later the brilliant sunlit scene was lost in the edge of dusk:

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Reflected Cloud Formation at Sunset

Having said that about the dried-up parks, there are canals that snake through the region that have continuously running water with trails aligning both sides for all to enjoy.  Our son-in-law was eager to show us this one just north of Chandler, in the city of Gilbert.  This is where our dog Koko met a horse for the first time, an introduction that lasted about a millisecond.

What caught my attention here was that awesome cloud formation at sunset, with its brilliant orange hues; as a bonus we have a reflection in the water of the canal.

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Water Reflections at Pima Park

Having grown up in Orange (TX), then Beaumont, then Nacogdoches, then Houston - places where water abounds and rivers run full - the lifestyles built around living in the Sonora desert is a whole new world to us.  Even more so to my wife, having grown up in the jungles of Taiwan.  So just about everything out here is culturally very interesting.

Such as what you see above.  A look at the water and trails built up above water level points to the first thing that amazed us about life in the desert Southwest.  That is, parks here are engineered to be flooded, and during the hot six-month summer season are routinely inundated via an underground water system to keep the grass alive.  Yes, water percolates up from underneath and the whole place is flooded, turning the park into a huge reflection pool divided by the trails.  Then it takes a few days to dry up, and a couple of weeks later they do it all over again.

More reflection shots below, captured by my iPhone 15 Pro Max:

All of these neighborhood pics, by the way, were captured with the iPhone, as I didn't feel like carrying the Bigger Cahoona around on our neighborhood walks.

Sedona - Bark Pattern on Large Tree at Diamond Point

And finally, sharpened a bit to enhance the bark lines on this tree, which was converted to sepia then black & white below.  This will end the surprisingly short series of keepers taken in and around Sedona.

Sedona - Dead Tree Branches over Red Rocks

Another pic highlighting the enhanced color of wet rocks against a pattern of dead tree branches.

Sedona - Rained-on Rocks on Diamond Peak Trail

It rained on and off the last day we were in Sedona, but we wanted to try a trail around Diamond Peak in spite of the fact that we'd probably get wet.  This was within walking distance of the AirB&B, so we traipsed over and found out that everyone was right - the rain does indeed beautifully bring out the color in the rocks!  Due to the rain I didn't get out the Bigger Cahoona (or phone) much, but wanted to capture that color so snuck in a few featuring Chenjean.

Sedona - More Perspectives of Cathedral Rock Formation

Another couple of perspectives of this awesome formation...

Sedona - Cathedral Rock Formation with Highway

 

Sedona - Rooftop Scene with Cathedral Rock Formation

This is a breathtaking formation, the Cathedral.  Snapped many photos of it, several perspectives of which will be posted in the next few days.

Sedona - Rooftop Scene with Valley Clouds

This shot reminded me of a pic that was posted from Alishan in Taiwan.  Love those clouds in the valley.  The dehaze tool in Photoshop was used to bring out the green in the hills beyond and saturated the sky some.

Sedona - Important Sign

 ...one for the "Signage" category in the ole' index.

Sedona - Art Installation in Town

We went into town during the afternoon on that first day in Sedona.  After arm wrestling for a parking spot we explored the main strip.  What we discovered was that the best - and quietest - spots were back behind the shops, where this was captured.

See below for a closeup of a portion of this installation:

Sedona - First Hike, Dead Tree Branches

 

Sedona - First Hike, Silhouette View

Our first full-length hike was on a trail that began just across the street from where we were staying.  We made a pretty good go of it, but it got plenty hot and we weren't that well prepared, so just went a couple of miles in and back.  This is one of the views, which was darkened to enhance the silhouette effect.

Sedona - Moon with Clouds

By the time we got settled in the AirB&B it was dark, and this is the sight that greeted us as we stepped out onto the 2nd floor balcony.  Gotta catch it, so I rushed inside to retrieve the Bigger Cahoona.  The image was a little bit fuzzy due to camera (er, arm) shake, so the moon  was clarified using this pic, published back in 2018.

Sedona - Cascading Rock Formation

This guy reminded me of one of my favorite pics from Palo Duro, posted here.  There was a desire to climb as high as possible up these escarpments, but not this time...

Sedona - First Hike, Rock Formation with Storm Clouds and Sunshine

Storm clouds were brewing, but before it became completely overcast a bit of sunshine peeked through to light up the formation featured in yesterday's post.  A bit of luck...

Sedona - First Hike, Rock Formation

Now that we had our first visit to Phoenix to get the lay of the land (published here), we were eager to return for the birth of our second grandchild, due in mid- to late September of 2025.  Since we were due to be home from our New England cruise on Sept 10th we were worried that we might miss little Kato's entrance, but by the grace of God he was born without complications on September 21st.

Since we'd planned to be there for two months, a couple of side trips were planned.  As a way of expression their appreciation for our help, Allison and DeQuan (our son-in-law) arranged for a two-night stay in Sedona.  From Allison and many others we were encouraged to visit Sedona as one of the top go-to destinations in Arizona.

So off we went, driving through marvelous terrains and elevations new to us Houstonians.  Quite the adventure in and of itself.  Our AirB&B wasn't quite ready when we arrived, so we took a slow drive through a neighborhood on the edge of town, one that was pretty close to the rock formation that you see here.  This is where we embarked on the first "hike" of our time in Sedona, though it was a very short one.

Surprisingly, in post-capture work on these pictures I discovered that there weren't that many keepers.  So this little series will be short, then we'll move on to other adventures of our time in Arizona...

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Twilight Nightscape

As it got darker and nearing twilight, I tried the same thing, using my elbows on the railing to steady the camera.  Managed a pretty sharp photo, realizing that there was enough light outside to make things easier.  What would it be like when it got dark?  After all, a true nighttime cityscape was the goal.

As it happens, it was lousy.  To get a night shot when it's dark, the most important ingredient is stability.  It's imperative to keep the camera - and your subject - absolutely still, preferably on a tripod (for the camera).  But it was just me and my elbows on the railing, which is when I discovered that the ship itself, even though secured to the dock, moved quite a bit.  That movement, which is more pronounced than people realize when they're looking at a docked giant, was a deal-breaker...just could not get a decent pic, and after about ten minutes I hung it up.

But the picture above I think is a good way to tap in and conclude our journey to and through the New England coast.  It was an awesome ten-day trip, one that we're very glad and blessed to have made.

So what do we do next here?  We made a second trip to Phoenix with side trips to Sedona and the Grand Canyon.  What was captured there should easily take us through the remainder of the summer.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Evening Cityscape

On our second and last evening docked at Québec City I was looking forward to getting some good night shots from the balcony of our room.  Trouble is, I have a pretty slow lens on the Bigger Cahoona.  This was the result when using my elbows to steady the camera and using aperture mode to keep the shutter as wide open as possible.  Not a bad result...I was encouraged.  But it was still pretty light outside.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Daylight Shot of School Building

Could not resist a few parting shots of the school building and environs as we boarded for our last night of the cruise, including this daylight photo taken with the Bigger Cahoona.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, House Boats

Saw these houseboats on our way back to the ship after the tour.  Seems like a neat way to live, but not cheap...these guys cost several hundred thousands of dollars apiece.  When I taught at Clear Creek High School back in the day, one of my fellow teachers and his also-teacher wife lived in a boat nearby, which I thought very intriguing.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Falling Ice Sign

Don't see many of these around Houston...

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Closer Look of Boardwalk Hotel

A closer look at one end of the hotel...

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Boardwalk Hotel

Toward the end of our tour we walked down a long boardwalk, where I finally got the view I'd been wanting of this hotel.  What an incredible structure, and if you fork over enough cash it's possible to spend the night inside!  A little above our station in life, but it's pretty to look at.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Black Statues on State House

Getting closer allows a better view of the black statues in each alcove.  Looks like the one below might make a good bookmark:

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, State House with Fountain

Now this one is a government building.  Normally it would be open, but there'd been an attack in the not-too-distant past, so it was heavily guarded and closed to tourists.  Still, got some good exterior shots of this awesome state house.  Wider view below:

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, City Street with Apartments

A pretty neat street...all those colors, then a steeple at the end.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Open Fountain

 

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Touring PE Class in Session

Our guide told us he was going to show us something interesting, but we'd have to be quiet when we got there; said he's been kicked out of the place more than once.

After seeing this it was no wonder.  He nervously scoped out the area, then we stepped inside this entryway that opened into a courtyard.  Another guide in period costume had a group already in progress, but the kids appeared oblivious to their presence.  Still I backed off some lest the clack of the Bigger Cahoona's mirror draw unwanted attention.  Evidently this place has great historical value, but don't remember what it was...

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Dead Bishop on Bier

Just off the rear end of the sanctuary was this sarcophagus with presumably a dead guy inside.  The shepherd's staff indicates a church leader who supposedly shepherded the flock under his care.  The hat makes it appear that he was a bishop.  High-level stuff, but seems the ones in England look a little bit better.

It was very dark in that portion of the sanctuary, so had a great deal of trouble holding the Bigger Cahoona still enough to get a halfway decent focus.  This pic only was rendered blogworthy after extensive sharpening, and brightening, in Photoshop.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Opulence in Church

Not sure what this is used for, as it's elevated and has a halo thing up top right in the middle of the congregation.  Does this elevate the stature of the one standing there?  Seems that opulence is an oxymoron in a place that supposedly preaches humility and compassion for the poor...

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Church Frontispiece

 

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Gold Ornamentation in Church Interior

Canada is by no means impoverished, but you do wonder how much something like this costs and where the money goes once it hits the plate.  It's the same in poorer, undeveloped nations.  Not sure, but think it's probable that at least the statuary at top is plated with 24 karat gold.  Closer views below:

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Red Candles in Church Interior

We did go into one church, where I got some pretty good interiors.  Above we have the traditional candle stand often seen in Catholicism.  Other church candle pics posted here.

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, More Bookmarks and Another Sihlouette

Made a couple of bookmarks from the spire posted a couple of days ago, this time two peek-a-boo shots.  Semi-silhouette of another spire below:

2025 NE Cruise - Québec City, Herbaceous Cannon Fodder

Canada is known for its progressive liberalism, so wasn't surprised to see this.  In fact it's a great message, and reminded me of the time a hippie stuck a flower in the barrel of a trooper's rifle during the 60's anti-war movement.  Also makes for a unique photo-op...