Day one…
I’m not very organized. I’m also a night owl, more likely to stay up to catch a sunrise than to wake up to greet one. So attempting to hit the road at a reasonable hour is not an easy thing for me. But it seems I did finish throwing the last minute items in the car and was on the road before noon.
I didn’t intend to stop along the way while I was still in familiar territory because I was “burning daylight” (as my husband was known to comment). But then when these guys were just standing out there in the field in all their glory….. (though the guy on the right seemed to be having a ‘bad hair day’ at the back end 
). Well, how could I not?
I’ve known for years we have elk around here. I used to find their “calling cards” out in the fields at our other house, but I hadn’t seen them for several years. It seemed only fitting to pull over and take a shot. Or two…..
Then it was time to move on.
I resisted stopping as I headed on down the coast until this scene just pulled me to the side of the road almost against my will. 
Finally there was the following stop because I’ve been hoping to catch a lenticular cloud somewhere in my travels and this is about the closest I’ve managed it. Not the best shot, but it sure looks like one of them lenticular clouds hovering over the mountain top. It even looks like a second smaller one off to the right.
It seemed like a good omen, though I would have preferred better lighting and a bit less haze.
Made it to Ukiah, California the first night just as it was getting dark.
Distance covered: roughly 370 miles [595 km]
To be continued…
Thanks Tahira. It was truly a lucky shot.
Wow! That third shot with the coast & fog is truly AMAZING!! Simply gorgeous, Gunta.
Great pictures! The one with the coast is my favorite!
I have to travel one day to california…
The coast shots in this post were Southern Oregon, but I’m glad you liked them.
haha, nice fail. so next travel destination is… oregon:-)
Ahhhh, but wait ’til I get to the shots of the Big Sur coast of California….. if you make the trip out here, I would suggest doing both.
Elk are such majestic animals and those photos of the ocean are just stunning.
There is something about elk that seems to suggest that word majestic. They are that indeed. Thank you for the nice words, but that ocean should take most of the credit. Have you had to head north already? I bet you’ll miss the mighty Pacific. Hope all is well and your travels are safe.
We are still in AZ and will stay south until around the first part of April. We don’t want to head north too soon and encounter bad weather.
I have never, ever seen elk on the hoof in my travels…found an antler or two, but that’s it…wow…how fortunate. And that third shot is absolutely gorgeous…I can feel myself pulling-over, as well, from way over here. How could you drive away?
Well, come on over, we got lots of them hairy critters. Some folks even have them in their freezer. I used to see them quite often on the road over to my favorite beach and then I went through a stretch when I didn’t. I don’t know if it was bad timing or they had moved elsewhere, but there they were again on the very day I wanted to be heading south.
I think it would be a grand experience to see them so often…but will pass on having them in the freezer….
Nothing quite as good as fresh elk liver….. and this coming from one who tends vegetarian!
I’m nothing if not inconsistent. 
Hmm…I’m not big on liver, period, so I’ll just take your word for it, my inconsistent friend.
A beautiful collection, Gunta, and the third one – ammmmazing!
Thank you, dear friend. Once in awhile I just get really, really lucky.
The 3rd image is just phenomenal
Thank you, Bashar. I have to apologize for the lack of comments over at your site, but I have been totally swamped and still seem to be even at this point.
honestly don’t worry about it… stop by whenever is convenient for you
The Third image – the vista along the coast shrouded in mist is absolutely spectacular and easily my favorite shot of your – a peach and in my view very saleable.
The workshop has encouraged me to start shooting in RAW. Pity this one was jpeg. That shot is what much of our southern Oregon coast looks like. Might even have to make the attempt to try some processing some day…. wish I could trade the brain in for a younger version. sigh
Great shots, I have to say that beach scene is a perfect postcard image of that coast, I love it.
Gotta say our coast is definitely postcard-worthy! I love it, too.
Wonderful pictures of the majestic elks and not to mention the beach. Wow, that’s a great one with all those waves floating in.
I think your reindeer are much prettier. But I do love our beaches.
Lovely pix
Thanx…
I like the misty beach picture best, Gunta
Thanks, Dallas. That one was my favorite for that day, too. There’s something so mysterious and cool about misty scenes.