Photo by Joseph C. Justice, Jr.

Watch our video tour of the island: “Kauai Counter Cockwise“

– Carl Bidleman

Today’s photo is  the work of Thom Watson, a Virginia boy who now lives in Daly City, CA.  Thanks, Thom.

If you’ve got a few minutes, check out the OpenRoad video story of William Randolph Hearst’s castle and ranch.

– Carl Bidleman

Today’s photo is from Bryce Edwards of San Jose, California. I love the framing, Bryce. Thanks.

Despite the fact that the Ahwahnee is an upscale hotel in an incomparable natural setting, I really like the place.  Doug and I have filmed there several times over the years.  Stayed there once.  As a national historic building, it’s open to the public… not just to paying guests.  My wife loves winter in Yosemite, especially when she can sit on the warm stone bench inside one of several large fireplaces.  Don’t miss the Ahwahnee.  Even if you’re camping.  We’ve got a great video story about the Ahwahnee and it’s history on OpenRoad.TV.  Check it out.

– Carl Bidleman

Today’s photo is the work of Paul Kelly of York, United Kingdom.  Love the clouds, Paul.  And if you like this scene, check out Doug’s essay and video story about his Grand Southwestern Roadtrip.

– Carl Bidleman

Nine years ago this minute I was looking at this exact view.  While my wife Karen was somewhere out there on the horizon, hiking the perimeter of Convict Lake, my dog Buddy and I were sitting comfortably lakeside, nursing our bad hips.  I was preparing to have hip replacement surgery later in the month so I used this as an excuse to sit back, enjoy the quiet solitude, pull a couple cold ones from the cooler and continue reading Into Thin Air until Karen completed the loop.  To this day, I remember the contentment I felt at that moment.

What I didn’t know is that while I was enjoying this peaceful respite in the Eastern Sierra, life changed forever.  Upon my return home 24 hours later, I learned that at the very moment I was enjoying the alpine splendor of Convict Lake, a Ford 150 pickup blew a stop sign on a northern Michigan back road and killed my mother, Florence Bidleman, younger brother, Craig Bidleman, sister-in-law Tina Bidleman, and niece Dana Bidleman.  Only my seven year-old nephew, Brandon Bidleman survived.  They were heading to the Straits of Mackinac to see the July 4th fireworks. (I include their full names here because they didn’t live for much of the online era and Google returns few results when their names are searched.  I want to make sure people know they were here.)

I’m going to watch the fireworks in Sausalito tonight with Karen and Buddy’s heir, Jack the Dog.  But the holiday has never been the same.  I find myself telling everyone I know to enjoy a SAFE holiday. I’m happy to say my 16 year-old nephew is morphing into an incredibly fine young man.  A real tribute to the influences of his mom, dad, sister and grandma.

I’ve only been back to Convict Lake once.  It is still indescribably beautiful but a far more melancholy place for me these days.  My thoughts on this holiday are with families who are about to live this same experience.  Please drive carefully.

– Carl Bidleman

Thanks to Nelson Minar for a beautiful photo of the Mendocino Headlands, one of my favorite places.

– Carl Bidleman

Here’s a shot of a place I never knew existed until I stumbled upon it by accident back in 1989.  I was traveling from Detroit via Las Vegas to film a television special along the the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  I had never heard of Zion.  My photographer and I stopped every 300 yards to take stills of a landscape that continually surprised and delighted.  Here’s the visual evidence.  Thanks to Rene Schwietzke at Flickr.

Photo by Rene Schwietzke

– Carl Bidleman

Today’s photo of McClure Meadow in Kings Canyon National Park comes from Tom Hilton. I think I’d rather be sittin’ right there today.

We’ll have our Kings Canyon videos online soon. In the meantime, watch our videos of nearby Sequoia National Park:

Sequoia’s Most Famous Treasures

Sequoia’s Wilderness Wonders

Sequoia’s Little Surprises

Today’s photo, titled Ocean Ave., comes from C.K. Tse

– Carl Bidleman

Today’s photo of the day is San Francisco Skyline from Golden Gate Promenade – Morning by David Paul Ohmer of Cincinnati, Ohio. Crissy Field is a favorite of the OpenRoad.TV crew and I think it’s one of the finest public spaces you’ll find anywhere… a jewel of the common wealth.