We went camping. Here is a view of the blue sky reflected in the beautiful North Fork of the Skokomish River on a late summer afternoon.

Clear water meanders down the North Fork of the Skokomish River in the Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Linking to Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Scenic Weekends, NF Catching the Light Monday,  Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Water World Wednesday, Weekend Reflections, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks so much for visiting here and please—come back soon.

We went camping last week, southeast of Mt. Rainier in Washington. At first the local river, the Ohanapecosh River (pronounced o-HANA-puh-cosh), was clear and gorgeous.

The Ohahapecosh River at the La Wis Wis campground in Lewis County, Washington

Then (bonus image time!) it rained very, very hard. Here is the same river, a few miles upstream, after much rain.

The Ohanapecosh River in Lewis County, WA, after heavy rains

Linking up to Outdoor Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Scenic Weekends, Water World Wednesday, Weekend Reflections, and Saturday Show Off. Please check out the sidebar at right and try a tag, category or search to see something new here. River, perhaps?

My dear friend just got a new place on Camano Island, WA and it has a water view, with the Cascade Mountains and their icecaps in pink splendor.

Sunset view from Camano Island, WA

Linking up with Pink Saturday, Reconnect With Nature Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Weekends, Skywatch Friday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Weekend Reflections, Water World Wednesday, Blue Monday, and Saturday Show Off. Have a wonderful, scenic weekend!

My sister Jo went to China recently by herself, partly with a tour, and she is a fabulous writer. You can read the story of her trip here (start from the links at the bottom) and you will be very entertained. Not your average travel missive.

She took some neat photos while she was there and I thought I’d show you this one from her boat trip up the Yangtze River.

(c) Jo Sanders 2013 Going up the Yangtze River in China

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On the way up to Camano Island, north of Seattle in Washington, for a past Thanksgiving dinner we passed this river and the Cascade Mountains behind it. Can you see the tiny specks of all the birds resting on the water?

Many birds alight on the Stillaguamish River in Washington

Participating in Scenic Weekends, Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Water World Wednesday, Nature Notes Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here today and please come back soon!

My daughter Lila is travelling in S.E. Asia for a few months (lucky!!) and has been sending updates and photos to friends and family, courtesy of the internet, of course. The days of a postcard arriving months later are over, or at least are supplemented by more timely stories and images. This view of a river and the sky was taken in a small Cambodian village where she got to stay with a local family overnight.

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We were in Kennewick, WA, at the edge of the Columbia River, not too long ago. There was a smoky fire in the area which I must admit made the sunset even more beautiful.

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On the way back from our camping trip last week as we crossed the Puyallup River, our local volcano, AKA “the mountain,” was out and glorious. Taking lots of photos from the car window sometimes lucks out. This one is SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), not even cropped. Not bad!

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On a trip up to Camano Island yesterday, just loving that sunshine, there was the Stillaguamish River (the “Stilly”) and the magnificent snow-capped Cascade Mountains as a backdrop. Today all is cloudy again, but it was so nice while it lasted.

Speaking of sunshine, I am headed south to the San Francisco area (Wine Country, here I come!) to visit and take in the Impressionist show at the de Young Museum, as the show is soon to head back to Paris. Paintings just look so different in person, and it’s much easier to get to San Francisco than Paris. I can’t wait, as great weather is predicted and it will be so good to hang with the peeps again. It will mean time off from this blog and Free Photos, but just for a week. I’ll be back before you know it with lots of new photos.

In the meantime, be sure to visit Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday, and do browse around here and Free Photos while you’re here. Ta-ta!

Continuing a theme, here is the Sol Duc (pronounced Sole Duck) River in the background swishing over the rocks. The Sol Duc is within the Olympic National Park in Washington State, in the Pacific Northwest.

There’s an unknown wildflower in front. Anyone recognize it? [later: Clairz says it’s fireweed! Yay, Clairz!]

Check out Scenic Sunday and SOOC (straight-out-of-the-camera shots). Before you do, browse around here a bit. What appeals today?

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