2020: THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN ROAD’S YEAR IN REVIEW

  

…as random and crazy as the year departing was, 

expect little or no order herewith…

 

We’ll start with Edward’s annual first-week-in-January “Polar Bear” swim in Lake Sonoma (with the best stick ever)…

 

 

Our area would again be visited by fire this year…

 

 

…and circumstances curtailed a bit of travel, but I did revisit some favored roads.

 

 

The coast has replaced the Sierra as our go-to place for beauty and reflection…

 

 

…any time of the year…

 

 

…with all manner of creatures…

 

 

…and hidden little Edens.

 

 

 

We bid farewell to Romeo…

 

 

…a classic BMW that deserved better than to be gathering dust in the garage… 

 

 

…and Mom found permanent rest in this favored place.  (Photo circa 1967)

 

 

 

A ‘chase car’ trip to Central Oregon afforded us this view of Shasta…

 

 

                                                   

…a week on the Metolius River…

 

 

…a visit to McKenzie Pass…

 

 

…and a loop down the Oregon Coast.

 

 

 

Random additional images include:  Sunset at Bandon, Oregon…

 

 

…a perfunctory derelict truck…

 

 

…a nice new-to-me section of pavement…

 

 

…and “OH! NO!”

 

 

 

Best book among the many read this year?  Dr. Lepore (Closed circuit to folks at the WSJ: A woman with a PhD is a doctor) offers a readable 400-plus year history of the United States reminding us that we do have ideals, but we don’t always stand up for ‘em the way we say we do. Witness the past few years.  (Allow about a month to finish it, but well worth the effort).

 

 

Shots of the year as judged by our panel of expert (yes: ‘expert’ is singular.)

5^th Runner Up: representing too little time with Grandkids in the real world this year:

 

 

4^th Runner Up: because we want them grandkids never to miss critters like this:

 

3^rd Runner Up: Coastal School (or fire?) Bell.

 

 

2^nd Runner Up: Dusk in Upper Lake, California.

 

 

Shot of the Year: Thomas Kincade-esque Cabin across the Metolius.

 

 

Here’s hoping for a more conducive 2021 – (more conducive for damned-near everything.)

 

© 2020

Church of the Open Road Press