Collaborative travel journal for lovers of the American West! (page 26 of 41)

We saw this fence in Silverton too—so Colorado!

This has already been mentioned, but it’s such a great idea—this “best of” really helps me see how much I still have left to explore!

Back to the original idea, here’s my small contribution: it’s not the photo of the century, but this park gets so little mention on VF, so here it is... It’s Sipapu Bridge in Natural Bridges NM, a park that, in my opinion, is worth a slight detour.

I think this post is getting a bit out of hand.

I quite agree with that.

So I understood it was about a photo that means a lot to you, i.e., linked to an anecdote or an original situation that makes us love this country and why.

I think that’s what we were supposed to understand too.

Now everyone’s just posting their photos (which are gorgeous, of course)

Some of them, yes...

The original idea was excellent

Yes, even if writing is harder than dumping an SD card 😛

but actually, the "collaborative" journal is becoming pretty ordinary

Anyway, the original concept wouldn’t have filled many pages. Besides, if we only kept the posts that respected it, I’m not even sure one page would be filled. So, Fabhyène’s second idea—choosing a theme and changing it regularly—gives this discussion a much-needed breath of fresh air. But it’d also be great if everyone only posted one photo (their best one, in their opinion). Choosing means letting go, I know, it’s tough...

Hey everyone, and yeah, it’s true that between my initial idea and what this journal has become, there are quite a few differences. Pretty quickly, I faced a dilemma:

Either start reframing most participants... spending all my time on it... and adopting a "firm" attitude... but while I do that in person (face-to-face) in my facilitation work, doing it through a forum would’ve made me look like a little dictator 😠 sitting on the original rules.... Or go with the flow and have fun...

So I chose the second option.... 😏

Since the fun’s fading now, I think I’ll let this journal live its life—I’m not its owner anyway... or it might just die a natural death. But I’ll have learned a few lessons from this experiment that I’ll probably apply to other journals later 😛

Thanks to everyone for your participation, whether it was strict or not, and see you around!

hi there! 🙂 Street art in San Francisco A little anatomy lesson in the hippie district

Chinatown (which we only passed through) marcalamar🙂

hi;

For these final shots, I’ll say bravo in advance to whoever figures out where the photo was taken:

I initially thought of Fort Bluff, but I’m leaning more toward a palisade at Fort UTAH in PROVO.

Fabienne, Thanks for this great idea for a travel journal. We’ve been enjoying several of your journals—they’re so well-written and interesting—and for once, I felt like contributing to this one since it’s easier to share photos here and let everyone describe them in their own way... whatever works! What I’m feeling after these latest messages, though, is that even something like this hits a snag. Too bad. I’m still looking forward to seeing how it unfolds. Michèle

For these last clues, I say bravo in advance to whoever figures out where this shot was taken:

Easy! You can clearly recognize the queue fence for the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom ride at Disneyland Paris! You didn’t dare go any further and came back sheepishly to your group... 😛

Easy! We can totally recognize the queue fence for the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom ride at Disneyland Paris!

Oh no, I didn’t think I’d get busted so fast!

You didn’t dare go any further and came back all sheepish to your group... 😛

Okay, I’ll admit it—I’m scared of flying. The upside of EuroDisney is that you can get there by RER. And the RER, with my favorite comfort blanket, is doable…

Hi Jean-Paul,

Hello;

For these final clues, I say bravo in advance to whoever figures out where the photo was taken:

I initially thought of Fort Bluff, but I’m leaning more toward a palisade at Fort UTAH in PROVO?

Neither one, Captain—I actually gave the answer to Fabienne a few posts back. 😉

It’s simply the roof of a picnic table shelter at Upheaval Dome in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands NP. I lay down for a moment after lunch, and the view inspired me. 😇

I went with the second option... 😏

And I think you made the right call, because even though the original plan got a bit shaken up, everyone had a great time thanks to you, it seems.

We’re not in school after all. And rules are made to be broken. 😏

It was a great idea—thanks to you! 🙂

Hello Marie Martine. It’s true this place isn’t very well known or busy—I passed through back in 1988, that was ages ago! It’s definitely worth the detour. Thanks for the photo. The unpaved switchback descent (Moki Dugway) on Route 261 toward the valley and, further on, the San Juan River’s meanders are absolutely worth their weight in gold. Don’t miss the Muley Point viewpoint either—take the dirt road to the right just before that famous descent. Cheers, Bernard.

Hi Fabienne. Your initiative was excellent and got the adrenaline flowing for lovers of the USA and travel in general. Thanks anyway—it was all positive.

And to continue on architecture: visit Balboa Park in San Diego.

Hi everyone, I don’t mean to be a killjoy but I think this post is getting a bit out of hand. The original theme was: "The idea: one post =

a photo you took in the American West that means a lot to you and your comment on that photo or about it: where and when, the backstory, why it’s special to you..."

So I thought it was about a photo that means something to you—tied to a story or a unique moment that makes us love this place and why. Now, everyone’s just posting (admittedly gorgeous) landscape shots or other photos we’ve seen before, without the little text that makes you dream or think. And on top of that, dozens of photos (not just one at a time with its story) that have already been shared, more or less, in other travel journals.

What do you think, Fabienne? The original idea was great, I think, but in practice, this "collaborative" journal is becoming pretty ordinary, except for a few posts from users who seem to have gotten the spirit of it.

Otherwise, maybe change the subject name and call it "American West odds and ends journal" 😉 No hard feelings, have a great week!

That’s totally normal because the American West *is* a bit of a free-for-all....

Otherwise, change the subject name and call it "USA odds-and-ends travel journal" 😉

It’s totally normal because the American West is a bit of a mess....

😉 Yeah, what a jumble... a bit like the "Alabama Hills" on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. I really liked that place for its chaotic, haphazard vibe. Like I’ve mentioned in another travel journal, it looks like a giant had fun tossing rocks everywhere... At first, I thought we were dealing with two different geological eras (those rock piles and the Sierra Nevada mountains), but strangely enough, it’s the same one!

Hello Marie Martine. Indeed, this place isn’t very well-known or frequented. I passed through in 1988—what a long time ago! It’s worth the detour. Thanks for the photo. The unpaved switchback descent (Moki Dugway) on Highway 261 toward the valley and, further on, the San Juan River’s meanders are absolutely priceless. Don’t miss the Muley Point viewpoint either, via the dirt track to the right just before the famous descent. Cheers, Bernard.

Hi Bernard, Oh, the Moki Dugway! I’m still shaking just thinking about it! We did it going *up*. The next day, we hit it off with a couple from Blanding during the 4th of July parade—they were amazed we’d chosen that route, telling us locals avoid it because they’re too scared to take that “road”! We get it… some sections are a little terrifying… I’m not sure much has changed since your trip 30 years ago!

In the "new" theme "bits and bobs" 😉 Embudo Gas Museum on the highway between Taos and Santa Fe, for lovers of rusted things, old gas pumps, and motor oil cans—but not just that (it’s really beautiful and well done inside). If you’re passing through, Johnny’s super nice! 🙂

Oh yes, Bernard is well-known and very popular with the regulars on this forum—and it’s thanks to him. Don’t miss out! 😎

Hi Chris, We drove the Moki Dugway twice in our RV—once going down and once going up. I wasn’t scared as long as we took it slow. It’s way more impressive when you arrive...😄 Noëlle

Yes, as mentioned earlier, Americans tend to be a bit cautious about certain roads that we use without any worries—like (from experience) the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain NP (which is absolutely not a real trail!) or the San Juan Highway, specifically the Million Dollar Highway section. Sure, these roads can be dangerous in winter with snow and ice, but the rest of the time, they’re amazing! Have a great day, everyone.

Hi Marie Martine. Actually, my visit to the national monument dates back to 1988. As for the Moki Dugway, I passed through again in 1991 and 2010. I noticed in 2010 that the turns had been paved, but the rest hadn’t changed. Cheers, Bernard.