11/17/07- 135th Pigeon Pt. Fresnel Lighting

About half-way between San Francisco and Santa Cruz
on the Sat. after Nov. 15th each year the Pigeon Point Lighthouse
celebrates the anniversary of the original lighting of the
Fresnel Lens and re-Lights the Fresnel for all to SEE
and enjoy for ONE evening.... Some years it is clear.....
This year is was pea soup FOG.... But then, isn't that
WHY the Lighthouses and Fog horns were built and used?
So the ancient mariners could see and hear thru the fog
where the land was so they wouldn't get ship-wrecked?
This year a number of our members braved the bone-chilling cold
and some were rewarded with excellent images.
Kudos to all of those that went....... Maybe next year
we will bring our own foghorn, so I'm sure it will be Clear ;-)
In the meantime, enjoy these our members, Ed and Stephen,
are sharing with us....as we all Give Thanks
for our many blessings this year and next.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Nov.3,2007- Elkhorn Slough Outings

It took a bit of planning but it was worth it
in the end and many of us are waiting for
our return when Capt. Yohn calls !
Not only was it just a beautiful marina with
boats old, new, fishing & research, but the slough
is a tranquil place (that day! ) and was filled with
much wildlife (birds and mammals alike)
It is located 1/2 way between Santa Cruz and Monterey.
We filled 2 FULL tour boats and lunched together in between.
It was a Wonderful Day filled with beautiful sites and
Great to meet the New Friends with whom we have been chatting!
We now have new phrases...like "Incoming!!"
and Ed's Jokes to remember.... ;-)
and new definitions for what a Red Nose means ;-)
So now we have even more shared memories and
I don't know about you, but I'm waiting for Capt. Yohn
to do the next schedule so we can set another date!
The entire day went by WAY too fast for me......
You all have seen the images of the critters & winged ones
so here's them that got them ;-)
Thanks for being such a Great group of folks!!
Suprada's Mamma Otter & baby image is now gracing
our Group homepage for awhile....
taken with a 300mm, so don't be scared
if you don't have a Beast like some do....!
It's what ya do with what ya got !
Good folks+Good images= Good times !
Who's ready to go back?

Oct.27th Outing for Fall Yosemite Color

Oct. 27th found 11 members of FM_NorCal heading to Yosemite
to gather the Fall Colors on their film or pixels. The day was a bit
smazey from the smoke from the L.A. fires, but the Fall colors
and dogwoods and Oaks were Gorgeous, as was the company!
Although other members had said the colors were past their peak,
we found plenty to make images of and even had a show
put on by some "rut-rack" play fighting buy some
mule deer bucks. Some of us were meeting face to face
for the 1st time, and others didn't connect until we shared
a rousing dinner at of course, The Mountain Room!!
At the dinner was Scott (Archon), Mike G., Shiva, Viswa,
Oliver & his lovely wife and myself. Randy, Jim S.,
Thien Anh and bro Anh D also made it to the park, but not for dinner.
Where we shared a Re-Union and the 2 virgins on the trip!
My new "Rumi"car (Guess I'll have to go back when
I get the Rumi Plate back ON;-))
and Mike Goertz who had never been there
before......so it was a Momentous Occasion!!
"Sake-it-to-me" ;-)