Accidental and spontaneous photo shoot tonight
@bagarad (14283)
Paso Robles, California
June 4, 2012 10:49pm CST
I had to take some shipments to the post office and on the way I saw layers of clouds over the city that looked like they might bring some rain. It would have made a great picture, but there was nowhere to pull over. I decided that when I left the post office I would go to the top of a certain street which overlooks the city and try to get a picture from there. Unfortunately, I had forgotten where that street was, and as I was looking for it, I saw the street I was on about ready to turn into Peachy Canyon Road. If you have seen the hub I wrote on my adventure on Kiler Canyon Road, you might remember that at the very end of Kiler Canyon I turned off onto Peachy Canyon Road to get back to Paso Robles.
Anyway, I decided this time I would take Peachy Canyon to Kiler, entering it from the opposite end from last time, and to the hill which overlooked the city, and then take Peachy Canyon home in the opposite direction from last time. It was a gorgeous drive, and before I knew it, I saw a vineyard I never visited and it appeared to have a tasting room at the top of a high hill. Perfect, I thought! The gate was closed and the tasting room had closed 20 minutes earlier, but it was an automatic gate and it opened for me. I figured I could take pictures even if the tasting room was closed. What I wanted was outside anyway.
I parked and walked around. The owner saw me and asked if the gate had been open. When I said it had opened for me she said the timer must not have been working right. But she said it was OK to walk around and take my pictures, and she even let me use the restroom, which I was beginning to need. One of the pictures I took from the top of that hill is here. In all I took 336 pictures and videos before I finally got home. The videos were of fields of grain waving in the breeze, a deer grazing on a hillside above the field of grain, a couple of wild turkeys looking for dinner on the ground in a walnut orchard, some large birds flying, and some cattle near where I parked to try to catch the turkeys with my camera. What's funny is that when I was trying to "shoot" the turkeys, I could hear loud moos. But when I started to video the cattle, including a couple of not-so-small calves trying to grab a snack from their mom, they were absolutely silent and hardly even moved. You just never can tell. As soon as I have time I'll be writing up the sounds and sights on this trip on HubPages, but I have some other things I have to finish writing first. I was just so excited about this trip, I had to share with someone, and who better than my friends on MyLot. I wish you call could have taken that peaceful and beautiful drive and stopped to walk around with me.
What have you done today that's unusual, if anything?
2 people like this
9 responses
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
10 Jun 12
That picture looks like it was taken from a helicopter to plane. It is beautiful. I have never just took a ride to take pictures. But I really should start doing that. I will be going up to P.A. soon, so I will take some pictures from the road and I will try and venture off close by to where I will be. Then I will post them up. It seems like you like in a beautiful area. I am here in the concrete jungle. But I should take some pictures here as well. When I get the guts to just drive around I will take some pictures.
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
15 Jun 12
All that sounds quite interesting. But I was never one to be close to nature. I prefer it away from me. I don't mind looking, but I won't interact with it. I guess the city in me is a hard thing to shake. But I do enjoy going to the country from time to time. But I also cannot stand all the noise here. So, somewhere in between would be a good balance for me.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
10 Jun 12
I"m not very adventurous, but I do like to explore roads I've never taken if I have a fairly good idea of where I will wind up. I have to go to town often, and if it's not too dark, it's fun to take an unusual route home. I want to get pictures here that no one else has taken -- pictures off the beaten roads. Then I sell them on Zazzle products. I also learn a lot. I photographed a hay field yesterday, but noticed it was a grain. I just didn't know which one. So I asked one of our church members who does a lot of plowing for local farmers, and probably also mows and bales hay. He told me that field is barley. So now I learned something. I discovered a strange bug on my milkweed yesterday that's not red like a milkweed bug, but it has some of the same markings. It's a sort of iridescent blue. Now I need to find out what it is. I'm also taking a greater interests in birds and their habits. I think I'm a closet naturalist.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
5 Jun 12
Great shot! Sounds like a great day out :-)
I haven't done anything unusual, but I've been taking pictures too. I've been chasing bugs around the stable. There's not really a lot of insects this year, it has been too cold I think. It is supposed to get warmer during the week so they might still come.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 Jun 12
Great picture. Which other kinds of insects did you capture? I got a bee on some lavender yesterday. I love nature photography. Now that I have a better zoom, I can get some good bird pictures, except it's still hard to capture them in the air because they move so fast -- even in video.
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
6 Jun 12
I got some bumblebees, but it is difficult to zoom before the bumblebee moves on. I was also chasing beetles, I think I'll practice a lot this summer. Maybe even find out what the different beetles are :-)
I also like taking pictures of birds. I've got some very good shots in my head, am still trying to figure out how to make the birds pose as I want them to!
@GardenGerty (169534)
• United States
5 Jun 12
Nothing unusual to share today. I am actually in Minnesota visiting my daughter and family. New grandbaby due any time. I have gotten to spend time with my three year old grand daughter and gotten lots of hugs and smiles today. I love evenings like you describe, and I am sure the area around you is gorgeous. Especially in the moonlight.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 Jun 12
Isn't visiting with your granddaughter and anticipating the new grand-baby a bit unusual for you? After all, new grand-babies aren't born every day. Hope all goes well and that you'll soon have exciting news and pictures for us.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
5 Jun 12
That sounds very beautiful! Nice of the owner to let you hang around even after they were closed. I get what you are saying about the cows - because my daughter does the same thing! My daughter is just learning to talk, and she will be chit-chatting in her own language with a few real words here and there. Whenever I break out the camera she's quiet and no longer wants to talk! I do manage to catch it sometimes, but it's a lot of work to get just the right moment :)
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 Jun 12
Those cows, except for the young ones who only seemed interesting in getting a drink from Mom, seemed kind of curious, yet bored by my trying to get their pictures.
As far as your daughter is concerned, it's always difficult to have the camera ready at just the right moment. When she gets a bit older and realizes getting her picture taken is a way of getting additional attention, things may change. I remember when my brother was a toddler and we had two relatives we saw every Sunday afternoon who loved to photograph us. When someone wanted to take a picture of him, they'd tell him to smile and say "cheese." After a few of these visits, when he saw a camera out he began to go around, stopping every so often when he wanted his picture taken and he'd say "cheese" without any prompting. It was hilarious.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
5 Jun 12
I'm very pleased the owner let you remain to look around and take your photos. I think I'd have been honoured of someone had been that interested in my property though.
What did I do that was unusual? Hmmmm. Well I was up at 6am with a hosepipe watering my driveway as we were expecting tarmacing machines in at the start of the day and the damp helps it to set apparently. I've never watered a driveway before. Seems a little silly when I have veggies desperate for water.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 Jun 12
I told the people I interfaced with that their view surpassed what I could see from Croad's Vineyard (my neighbor), which I had previously considered the best view from any tasting room I'd been to in Paso Robles. Maybe I should have a competition for the best view from a tasting room or vineyard in all of Paso Robles. But what would I use as a prize? A blog on their wonderful view? I did say I'd blog about this one. And I will. AS soon as I publish another recipe for the HubPages recipe contest. I finished one last night.
It would be unusual for me to get up at 6 AM even if I did nothing interesting afterwards. That's why I make a lousy farmer.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
5 Jun 12
You've inspired me. I've been feeling like I need to do something different every now and then but couldn't figure out what to do. Now I know. I'm going to try to make a habit of taking a short drive once a week or so, camera in hand. I see so many gorgeous farms and open land around here but never have my camera with me. It'll definitely break up the monotony of my daily life. 
You are so lucky to have so many gorgeous views within driving distance and also to have the time to go exploring. I don't always respond because of time restraints but I do always check out your discussions because you always post such wonderful photos. Thank you!
Nothing unusual here today. I went grocery shopping with my son mainly because I had to pick up some seed/fruit mix for our peacock and pulled some weeds since it was an absolutely gorgeous day here today, blue sky, a few very high white fluffy clouds and around 70 degrees with a light breeze. I wish we had more days like this.
You are so lucky to have so many gorgeous views within driving distance and also to have the time to go exploring. I don't always respond because of time restraints but I do always check out your discussions because you always post such wonderful photos. Thank you!
Nothing unusual here today. I went grocery shopping with my son mainly because I had to pick up some seed/fruit mix for our peacock and pulled some weeds since it was an absolutely gorgeous day here today, blue sky, a few very high white fluffy clouds and around 70 degrees with a light breeze. I wish we had more days like this.1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 Jun 12
Peacocks? You've got peacocks? Do you wear earplugs? I'll bet you have some great photo ops. On the way to Avila Beach last month we visited a vineyard that had a flock of peacocks, and even though it was mating season, I could not get the picture I really wanted -- the full tail. They sure made a racket though, whenever anyone honked a horn or did something else that startled them.
I'm glad I gave you an idea of something fun to do near home. I never go anywhere without a camera, because even if I'm just going to the post office I never know what might happen that I don't expect. Sometimes it's just a spectacular sunset on the way home. Sometimes I see an interesting bird or plant. Sometimes it might be a funny sign. If you get in the habit of always having a camera on you, I know you'll find occasion to use it.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
5 Jun 12
We have one peacock. He just showed up one day and decided he liked it here so we've been taking care of him. He's not too bad since he doesn't really talk a lot, only to get my attention in the morning when he wants his breakfast treat and occasionally throughout the day but it's not too bad. Thankfully, he's very quiet once the sun goes down.
He almost always fans out his beautiful tail feathers whenever my son comes outside. I'm not quite sure yet whether it's a warning to stay away or the peacock is actually flirting with my son. lol Whichever it is, he's given me some lovely photo ops. I've been thinking that I might get a few peahens, maybe next spring. If I do that I'll definitely be buying earplugs. 
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
5 Jun 12
Hello Bagarad. It is an amazing picture with the beautiful scenery. I am sure that you must have enjoyed it. I also like to take photos with my digital camera or my Ipod touch 5. Whenever I see something that attracts me, I take a photo of it. I have taken whole bunch of photos and I often have a look at them as they always bring me wonderful memories. Enjoy yourself, bagarad.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 Jun 12
It seems if I have a camera with me, I notice things I might not have noticed just walking by. I just looked at all 336 pictures I took and most of them came out very well. It was like taking the walk again. I love it when the pictures come out the way I want them to. I'm glad you are also enjoying this hobby.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 Jun 12
The turkeys I saw were quiet. I also saw some vultures in the street eating dinner, but before I could get out of the car they flew away. Strangely, there was nothing left of their dinner in the street. Maybe they took the last bits with them.
@luntian_grace (1373)
• Philippines
5 Jun 12
i would want to go there myself if i live around the area. i would want to photograph landscapes.
ma'am do they have flowers there? i love macro photography and would die knowing that there are flowers sitting there. x_x
1 person likes this
