Biking Anza Borrego
©Bert Gildart: For those who enjoy biking, Anza Borrego Desert Park provides a multitude of opportunities. Small though the town may be there are at least three outlets that sell new and used equipment. As well, “Biker Dan” provides repairs, and I’ve relied on him several times.
Biking the soft sands of Coyote Creek in Anza Borrego State Park. Rich Charpentier out in front.
Yesterday, I joined up with Rick Charpentier, a fellow Airstreamer and biker, who loves to mountain bike. Because time was short for Rich, we picked Coyote Canyon, driving first to the trailhead for Alcoholic Pass. From here, we continued along the dirt road, biking about four miles toward a stream famous for the historic explorations of de Anza, the Mexican explorer who first traveled through the region. He was bound for San Francisco, several hundred miles to the north, but Rich and I decided we would stop a little short. We peddled through the soft sand but turned around after fording the tiny stream through which de Anza passed on Christmas day. The stream also recalls the site near which the wife of one of the explorers in his group gave birth.
I worked hard trying to create a picture that would convey our ride and to do so had to rely on a camera chest mount. Photographically, I knew what I wanted, but because I was guessing at framing had to repeat exposures several times before I got what I wanted. I wanted an image that included my handle bars, “Rider Rich, soft sand and the distant mountains. The picture here is just as I took it and has provided me with much satisfaction.
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THIS TIME LAST YEAR:
*Antsy McClain (Humor and Pathos Unite Everyone)
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
February 18th, 2014 at 7:50 am
Nice image! As a fellow cyclist, I appreciate it as you must.
Bob