June 11, 2009

Beating the Moody Blues


The weatherman has predicted a 30-40% chance of rain every afternoon this week. We thought we might sneak in a high country ride by starting early. As we began a ride at 7800 feet, above the Uinta River on a road leading to Pole Creek Lake (7800 feet), the sky was still mostly blue.
We made good time, cantering much of the way along a not-too-rocky dirt road.
Our only stops were for the wildflowers.
We saw western wallflower, also known as prairie rocket,

western groundsel,

and skyrocket.

In Bennion Park, a long meadow at 10,300 feet, marsh marigolds bloomed in the snowmelt.

Hefty snowbanks remained in the trees.
We had seen one elk on the way up, and Daisy hunted for more. The territory looked perfect for them. They were probably hiding out, waiting for us to go away so they could return to their grazing on the rich spring grass.
By 11AM, the sky was looking gloomy, so the better part of valor suggested we start back.
When we reached the trailer, the clouds appeared ready to burst.
The first raindrops fell just as we loaded up and began our downhill drive.

We had hail, too.

but that didn't stop us from photographing the blooming chokecherries
and cliff rose along the way.
We rode sixteen lovely miles and didn't get wet. Now, that's good timing.
To view a myriad of skies all over the world, click here.

40 comments:

  1. Such great shots once again, your blog is always a delight.

    Have a fantastic weekend
    Guy
    Regina In Pictures

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  2. Beautiful territory out there!

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  3. Really good timing! That rain cloud looked so dark blue with water, and you also had some hail!
    Thank you for the delightful tour!

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  4. Janie, I just love the wide open spaces depicted in your photographs. Your title is perfect--that sky really does look moody!

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  5. Thanks for sharing another lovely trek.
    Glad you had everything timed perfectly. We have been having lots of storms here the past few days and they're asking for more.

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  6. Glad you beat the rain (and hail) down the trail. "Skyrocket" was a new flower to me--must not grow this far north or this high.

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  7. Nice set of pictures, the first one is super, great dept!!!

    Have a nice Skywatch Friday!!

    Greetings from NL

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  8. Excellent shots - I love the sky shots especially!

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  9. I love seeing the Utah wildflowers. They are soooo different from the ones in Ontario, Canada!

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  10. You had a taste of almost everything the weatherman could think of dishing eh?

    Again, what a lovely area you live in.

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  11. These are great. I especially like the view through the windshield.

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  12. Janie, You've managed to ride between showers the last couple weeks. Loved the wildflowers and blooming bushes. If it ever stops raining here, I'm going to find some marsh marigolds.

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  13. Looks like a hail of a time! I guess 30-40% is still a chance. I'm glad you got to see all you saw, despite the weather.

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  14. All seasons in one! And those wild flowers are amazing. As equally amazing to the life you live. What a great outdoor adventure Out in the open space...Non Stop?

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Australia:Quadrat in Focus

    Also, if I may wish to copy those wild flowers for my compilation of flowers that are foreign to me, am I allowed? I'm just interested in their names for identification incase I will see them here. Am not very good with names.

    I hope to hear from you. Thanks.

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  15. You do live a beautiful place! Looks like a great place to ride. Your shots are terrific as always!

    Enjoy the weekend!

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  16. I enjoy your rides so much. Great shots. Photographing in spite of hail is impressive. Every now and again we get a hail storm and they tend to freak me out a bit. I love thunderstorms but not hail.

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  17. Wonderful photos. You saw a LOT on this trip!

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  18. Beautiful photos, ALL of them!!
    Thank you for commenting on my blog!
    Take care and Happy SWF

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  19. Good to get early and enjoy the sun while you can. Same pattern here. A clear sky can become menacing very quickly. glad you didn't get wet and had a nice ride. Beautiful wildflowers.

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  20. Thanks for taking us along with your trek. Good timing really. Keep dry!

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  21. Janie, as always your journeys are so enjoyable. Thanks for taking us along with you. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Smiles

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  22. Snow! Interesting how long that sticks around.

    I just woke up so the WV, readynap, is appropriate!

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  23. Hello. I had to visit as soon as I saw the header "Beating the Moody Blues" on your comment at Jay's on TheDeppEffect. I adore the Moody Blues and thought you were posting about the band. Alas, I'm enjoying your post--lovely photos!

    It was nice meeting you, and have a wonderful weekend. Petra :))

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  24. Just looking at these photos just makes me want to go there right now, right away! your photos do that to me. Hope you have a great weekend Janie. Beautiful shots!

    Tess (life is beautiful)

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  25. Always love to come here and see your beautiful State. Great images!!!

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  26. You certainly times your ride well. Beautiful scenery as always. The flora too is wonderful.

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  27. You certainly times your ride well. Beautiful scenery as always. The flora too is wonderful.

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  28. Thank you Janie for your nice comment! Every time I take my dog D'Ora for a walk here in Vienna, I think of how beautiful it could be in Utah, riding on horseback :)
    Have a nice weekend!

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  29. Thank you for taking us alone for this lovely ride. Even now I am back in the US, the West still looks so far away from me.

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  30. What a array of experiences in just one ride. And everyone must be so fit to ride up and down through the mountains. I would have loved to have been there.

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  31. Beautiful pictures! You sure had a lovely day.

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  32. What a lovely series of photos, showing a lot of the great territory!
    I really love the one with those white flowers growing side by side with the snow!

    Thanks for visiting!

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  33. I'm glad you got in your ride before the rains came. And I'm also glad you shared the trip with us.

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  34. A lovely day, lovingly depicted. I love the feel of the air just before a storm - it has such power that I love being outside at those times.

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  35. That is good timing indeed !!! :-)

    Great shots of a perfect place to take a ride..

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  36. the beauty is breathtaking. thanks again for the views. lifts me out and away from grey old london! every time.

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  37. Oh, gosh - that sounds just wonderful! I love all the wildflowers.

    Great timing, too, by the look of things! I have a soft spot for raindrop pictures. :)

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  38. The weather has been crazy lately, but good for skywatch!

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  39. Great photographs. I was up north of you this past weekend in Island Park, Idaho. I took some pictures which I will post later of wildflowers. I am ashamed to say I didn't know what any of them are except generically.

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