The end of day one of the new year had the potential for a beautiful sunset.
Plenty of blue sky. Enough clouds around to add color to the setting sun.
Headed out to an area I like for sunsets and decided to try a different section. There are narrow bands of pine trees divided by prairie and corn fields. I hiked the quarter mile out to the end of one of the tree lines.
With air temps at 29 and winds blowing at 15-20 mph (feels like 18 according to the Weather Channel), I thought the trees would give me a break from the wind.
They didn’t.
I had a good hour and a half to kill and took my time on the hike. Even taking my time I guess I cover a quarter mile relatively quickly.
I stood around watching the sky and the changes from the setting sun. On the horizon where the sun was heading was a low bank of thick clouds while just 50 miles to the north there was plenty of blue sky. The wind was blowing directly out of the west, into my face and the wind had no warmth.
The sun disappeared behind the low clouds. In the distance a bank of trees kept the horizon covered. I couldn’t tell if there was a break in the clouds on the horizon. The sunset was nice, but not what I expected.
After standing around for nearly an hour I was freezing my ass off. No matter how much you layer up for this kind of weather, it really only helps if you’re moving around, even a little. Since I couldn’t feel my fingertips any more and my toes were numb from standing still, I left.
You’d think I’d learn by now.
Fifteen minutes later I look in the rear view mirror while heading east and the horizon is lit up like it’s on fire. Taunted me all the way home. There was no where to stop on the roads and no good vistas anyway.
I had been standing in the perfect spot not 15 minutes earlier.
Did this same thing three times last year.
I must be a slow learner.
Note to self, stay till dark.
walt
1 Jan 2015Very nice photos, Ken, especially like the white pine cone set. If it’s any consolation, a friend and I fished for 5 hours today in similar cold, windy conditions but while standing knee-deep in the vast Seneca Lake, and fished till dusk (when the trout and salmon MIGHT start biting) but never caught a thing. Thank god for bourbon and the willingness to believe that fishing is more than just catching fish (we won’t go into what it is on days like this).
Ken G
2 Jan 2015I got lucky with that Walt, it was the only pine cones I came across that were still on the tree. Didn’t see another one in all those trees. Literally thousands of them on the ground. There’s something I’ve always liked about walking around pine forests. The needles and the pine sap keeps the undergrowth from getting out of control.
On a bad day of fishing, we can say all we want about getting back in touch with God and nature. To me, it’s more like being led to the gates of hell. My bourbon days are long gone, but after what you went through, a good Sam Adams would be required.
JustinCarf
4 Jan 2015Great photo’s, Ken. The first one with the trail between the trees really spoke to me, and really made me want to go take a walk in the nearby forest. That shot would really pop with the right amount of editing, but like I read, you’re going to revisit some of your photos and do that. Look forward to seeing the finished product.
Ken G
4 Jan 2015Thanks Justin. I have so many shots I need to start going through. 15 years of digital pictures alone. I need to win the Lotto to get the time I need to get this done.