Glenfinnan Viaduct, A Flashback, And More. 05-08-2024

Geraint May 7, 2024 3 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and beyond. This week the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland, is a flashback to 2013. It’s been a while since I’ve made a post from the “old country”. So here’s one of the Jacobite Steam Train, a tourist ride also known as the “Hogwarts Express’ from the Harry Potter movies. It’s an impressive site and worth the wait in pouring rain to watch it go by under full steam. I’ve ridden quite a few steam trains over the years. They were still running in Wales for the first ten years of my life, so I know what it’s like to stick my head out the window and to have the steam and soot blow in my face. Here in Taos, we are just over an hour’s drive from Antonito Colorado, and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Train Ride.

Glenfinnan Viaduct Jacobite Steam train — Glenfinnan Viaduct with the Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland.

Do you like it in black and white?

Harry Potter train on the Glenfinnan Viaduct in black and whiite — The Hogwarts Express in black and white.

Random images from the last few weeks.

Or do you prefer black and white?

Vallecito Mountain snows. The snow will stick around for a while longer with more snow possible well into May/June.

Vallecito Peak snows — Vallecito Mountain snows.

I went back down the trail last week and covered almost six miles to find the cactus location from the previous week. I found them still blooming beautifully, clinging to the rock walls of the Rio Grande Gorge.

A slightly different view of the same plant. I had to lean out just a little farther for this angle.

Claret cup cactus Rio Grande Gorge Rim Trail.

I am closing out this week with a sunset across the Taos Plateau.

As always, thanks for visiting and looking. Have a great week. G

Wonderful Winter In The Neighborhood. 12-27-2023

Geraint December 26, 2023 7 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week winter in the neighborhood.

I’ll keep it short and sweet this week. I hope everyone got what they wanted. I didn’t want anything and got nothing, it made my day. I already have plenty. That said I am now the owner of two happy feet and have been able to drive a little. So, I drove around the neighborhood and got a few new shots to add to the archives.

Last Friday, I followed a fog bank that was building over the Rio Grande Gorge and came across this scene a little ways up the road in Cerro NM. There was just enough moisture in the fog and temperatures dropped to 26º F to cover the trees and willows in hoar frost that created this winter wonderland.

Hoar frost, winter in northern New Mexico — Hoar Frost, Cerro NM.

I was reminded of other years when the weather elements came together to create the following scenes.

Trees with in snow — Winter in Arroyo Seco, NM.

When I drove the “High Road to Taos” I felt like I was entering “Narnia”.

Winter on the High Road to Taos — On the High Road to Taos, NM.

Back to the present! This was the moon on the winter solstice last week. It stood out clearly against a beautiful blue sky revealing the detail of the craters.

Solstice moon from San Cristobal. — Solstice Moon.

The sunset on December 24, was fuzzy and warm. The outdoor temps were not!

Mountain sunset San Cristobal, NM. — Mountain Sunset San Cristobal, NM.

The view below embodied a feeling of warmth but it wasn’t. Temps dropped to 9º F last night. Of course, it was coldest before dawn so I slept in and missed the moon setting across the plateau.

As always, thank you for looking, Happy New Year, I hope it’s a good one. G

Pigeon Hole, Window, Color, Pink

Geraint May 11, 2020 4 Comments

Pigeon hole, window, color of the day, pink! You know where that pigeon is heading to hideout from the storm tonight, joining a few friends in this building on the road in Cerro, NM, “gateway” to the National Monument. Thanks for looking. G

Snow Storm, Village Of Cerro, New Mexico

Geraint January 15, 2020 6 Comments

Snow storm, in the Village of Cerro, northern New Mexico. On the road to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument one passes through the village, or hamlet, of Cerro. The road meanders through fields, passing homes, farms, a sweet little church and a local cafe. I thought I’d post an image of things to come, in the region, weather wise, over the next few days. Thanks for looking. G

Shadows, Cerro, New Mexico

Geraint January 6, 2020 2 Comments

Shadows, in the hamlet of Cerro, New Mexico. The little Catholic church (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe) has a handrail, more than likely crafted by a local artist. We headed out to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, that morning, for some landscape images. We ended up spending an hour working on images of this church. Thanks for looking. G

Red-Tailed Hawk Aloft

Geraint March 26, 2019 2 Comments

Red-Tailed Hawk aloft over Cerro New Mexico. On the way to a quick photo shoot near Ute Mountain, I caught this beautiful raptor out the car window. I’m convinced it knows my maroon 4 Runner as it has a knack for taking off, from it’s perch, when it sees me long before I pull over. In this case it flew in my direction right past my open window. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Cerro