Valley View Sunrise In September Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Wandering Camera – Three Days In Yosemite

Valley View Sunrise In September Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Welcome to Wandering Camera!  Around this time of the year I come out of my summer hibernation by camping in the chill air of the High Sierra Mountains between 8000ft and 10000ft.  This year however, we had to change our plans at the last minute due to the wildfires.

I have been to Yosemite Valley in every season but summer.  The days are too hot with temperatures ranging between 28C – 36C, while my melting point is around 16C. 

I was, however, so desperate to see the mountains that we drove to  Yosemite Valley with the mercury hovering around 48C.

 

 

Taft Point And El Capitan Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

We spent the first morning visiting a few favourites.  There was a heat advisory that day, and  it was clear that we needed to wake up extremely early to enjoy the summer outdoors.

We wanted to hike at least one trail.  Hiking to Taft Point was short enough for us to be back by mid-morning, before the day got too hot.  We got up at  5 AM, and after a little coffee, it was time to make the 45-min drive to the trail head.

 

A panoramic view of the Yosemite Valley  was waiting for us at the end of the 1.1-mile hike.  El Capitan (the massive rock on the right side of the photo)  towers over us in the valley, and here we were looking down at it.

 

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions –

 

 

 

At 7700ft elevation, Taft Point sits about 3500ft above the valley floor without guardrails.   If you suffer from acrophobia, you will really want to brace yourself. 

 

We also found four fissures with very sharp and long drops.   Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –

 

 

 

My husband very gently reminded me that it was time for me to get back with these kind words – “Going out with you is like going out with a Yeti.  I need to get you back in your icebox before you melt away.”

 

 

Taft Point Yosemite National Park Nature Journal @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

A sketch of Taft Point from my own handmade watercolour nature journal.

 

In the afternoon, clouds started rolling in above the valley.  That night, we heard loud thunder followed by rain.  Beautiful, torrential rain, accompanied by the most delightful petrichor.   Nature is always full of surprises here in the Sierras, and I LOVE her for it.

 

 

Valley View Sunrise In September Yosemite National Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I was hoping beyond hope that I would get a wonderful sunrise the next morning.  We again got up at 5AM, and drove into the valley.  Initially the clouds were really low, so I didn’t get to see a peach/pink sunrise.   Still, watching the sun come up over the Cathedral Rocks to slowly wake up the north side of the Valley was ever so beautiful.  I believe I even spotted a little mist on the Valley floor.

 

 

Purchase Golden Hour At Half Dome Yosemite Naitonal Park @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

It turned out to be a beautiful, cool day!  The sun kept on playing hide and seek, lighting up the granite rock faces here and there.  That afternoon we read by Cook’s Meadow over mugs of tea.  With that, the day and our time there was over.  We finished our stay watching the last light of the day decorate beautiful Half Dome.

 

With a deep feeling of sorrow and yearning, I said goodbye to my mountains.

 

 

 

Wandering Camera art and photo linky party @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

Wandering Camera is a monthly event that runs on the last Thursday of every month.  If you follow me via email, you will get a reminder.

All photo and art/creative-themed posts are welcome.  You can continue to link up multiple posts.

Please add the badge or a text link back to this site on your blog, or on each post that you link up.  I look forward to visiting you.

Have fun!!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

 

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Radcliffe Camera Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

Wandering Camera – Catte Street, Oxford

 

Hi Everyone!  Welcome back to Wandering Camera, a monthly photo and art link-up.  I am looking forward to sharing my travel and wandering photos with you, as well as seeing a bit of your world too.   When I was hosting it before,  I started sharing photos and an account of my visit to England in 2016.   I love old architecture.  Naturally, my travel started with exploring Oxford University and some of its architecture.

 

 

University Church St. Mary Tower and Spire Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

After visiting the Christ Church and Magdalen colleges, my husband and I walked up to Catte Street.   At the very beginning of the street is the university church of St. Mary.  The 90ft thirteenth century tower is the oldest part of the church, topped with a 101ft spire which was added in the early fourteenth century.

It was the end of the day, and we had just enough time to climb the 127 steps to the top of the tower, where you see the clock in the photo above. We were rewarded with a magnificent bird’s eye view of the city and the nearby colleges. 

 

 

 

View from university church St. Mary Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

High Street down below, with the countryside in the distance

 

 

 

All Souls College view from university church St. Mary Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

All Souls College along Catte Street

 

 

 

Radcliffe Camera Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

The Radcliffe Camera is in front of  the church of St. Mary, with Catte Street on the right.  It was designed by James Gibbs as a circular library, the very first of its kind in Britain. Now it is used as reading rooms of the Bodleian library.

 

 

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.

 

 

I had to use my long lens to get a few close-up photos of the beautiful dome.

 

 

 

Radcliffe Camera Dome Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

From my travel sketchbook – The Radcliffe Camera dome and the Sheldonian dome in the distance.

 

 

 

Hertford Bridge Sheldonian Theatre Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

After enjoying the wonderful view, tea and cakes were in order at the cafe downstairs, with the beautiful Radcliffe Camera as our view.  Afterwards, we walked up Catte Street toward the Sheldonian theatre.  Once we reached there, I walked past Hertford Bridge on New College Lane to take a picture of the theatre dome framed by the curvature of the bridge.

 

 

 

Sheldonian Theatre Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

The Sheldonian theatre was built between 1664 and 1669.  It is not a theatre in the conventional sense but the principal assembly room of the university.

The reason it is called a theatre is because Christopher Wren was inspired by Roman theatres, and designed this D-shaped building so.  However, load bearing columns in the centre space to support the ceiling would not be aesthetically pleasing.  He avoided adding the columns by designing a roof truss that spanned the required 70ft, a great technical achievement in roof construction.

 

 

 

Sheldonian Theatre Oxford England @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

I have long been fascinated by Sir Christopher Wren’s work.  A visit to the theatre was therefore a must for me and I had the most amazing time walking around and taking it all in in person.

 

I hope you enjoyed this very concise walk along the historic Catte Street in Oxford.

 

Here are my previous posts and photos from England, 2016 –

 

Christ Church, Oxford Part I

Christ Church, Oxford Part II

Magdalen College, Oxford

 

 

Wandering Camera art and photo linky party @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

Wandering Camera is a monthly event that runs on the last Thursday of every month.  If you follow me via email, you will get a reminder.

All photo and art/creative-themed posts are welcome.  Per previous requests, the link-up is open for a month, so you can continue to link up multiple posts.

Please add the badge or a text link back to this site on your blog, or on each post that you link up.  I look forward to seeing your photos.

Have fun!!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

 

Leave a comment

 

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