This Friday was jammed with activity.

After the early morning in Davenport, I drove over the mountains of Bonnie Doon to Boulder Creek and on to Big Basin Redwoods, getting there at 9:15 am. I hiked down to Berry Creek Falls and back, an eight-mile hike, and getting back to the car by 2:00 pm.

Title: Berry Creek Falls, July 2012
Info: Nikon D7000, Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens, Joby Gorillapod, f/11, ISO 100, 3-second exposure
Photography: Ken Lee
Location: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek, California, USA

I had seen a restaurant, Taqueria Apatzingan, near where I was staying. Apatzingan is a small town in Michoacan in Mexico, and has a specific cuisine, which includes, among other things, a birria (a slow-roasted, flavorful goat soup). I was surprised that there would be one this far north, and was filled with curiosity, a trait I had inherited from my traveling buddy Curious George. The broth in the birria was very flavorful, but the cut of meat left something to be desired, and I found the restaurant near my house to be noticeably better.

Later that evening, I would go to Four Mile Beach, a charming isolated beach north of Santa Cruz, taking more photos (none shown here), then later that evening, hanging out with John and Sandra again, eating at the Saturn Cafe.

Left: Curious George tries to climb the towering redwoods.

21 July 2012 Saturday:
Got up early to photograph Four Mile, which I had also photographed last night. The light didn't hit the sea stack the way I anticipated, and dissatisfied with the light, I turned around to photograph other parts of the beach instead, including this photo here.

Title: Four Mile Beach
Info: Nikon D7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, Feisol tripod, f/16, ISO 100, 10-second exposure
Photography: Ken Lee
Location: Four Mile Beach, Wilder Ranch State Park, California, USA

After packing my stuff, I headed over to my friend Mike's house in Ben Lomond and hung out until the evening. I hadn't seen him in fifteen years, but we hung out as if we had seen each other last week, going for a beautiful hike in Henry Cowell State Park and blabbing on his deck overlooking the San Lorenzo Valley.

Title: Natural Bridges I
Info: Nikon D7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, Feisol tripod, f/6.3, ISO 200, 3-second exposure
Photography: Ken Lee
Location: Natural Bridges State Park, Santa Cruz, California, USA

A very similar photograph to the one on the previous page, taken close together. I can't decide which one I like better, so I'm displaying both.

Title: Bowling Ball Beach 1
Info: Nikon D90, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, Feisol tripod, f/14, ISO 200, 10-second exposure
Photography: Ken Lee
Location: Bowling Ball Beach, Mendocino County, California, USA

Another look at Bowling Ball Beach.

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