South on County Road 14
by Danette Steele
Title
South on County Road 14
Artist
Danette Steele
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
I had heard whispers of an enchanting valley near Meeker, Colorado, a place where the mountains whispered secrets to the wind and the trees swayed in harmony with the universe. Armed with my trusty camera and a pair of hiking boots that had seen better days, I embarked on a quest that would forever cement my name in the annals of landscape photography history.
The journey started innocently enough, with me setting out on a bright morning, my excitement rivaling that of a kid in a candy store. Little did I know, this adventure was about to turn into a roller coaster of hilarity. I followed a trail that led me up the mountains, feeling every inch the intrepid explorer, until I stumbled over a rogue tree root and performed an impromptu dance that would've made even the clumsiest of comedians proud.
As I dusted myself off, I couldn't help but chuckle at my own klutziness. But that was just the beginning. The trail twisted and turned like a labyrinth designed by a mischievous deity, and I found myself at a fork, with no idea which way to go. I flipped a coin in a true show of wilderness decision-making prowess, and naturally, it vanished into thin air, leaving me to ponder whether the coin had simply retired to a quieter life among the pine needles.
Undeterred, I pressed on, trusting my gut and the occasional signpost that seemed more cryptic than a fortune cookie prediction. Hours passed, and I found myself in a showdown with the wilderness over a rickety rope bridge that looked like it had been plucked straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. Summoning my inner action hero, I took a deep breath and inched across, my camera swinging wildly from my neck like a crazed pendulum. Halfway through, a gust of wind made me cling to the ropes like a koala on caffeine, and I swear I heard the bridge snicker.
After what felt like an eternity of adrenaline-soaked balancing acts, I triumphantly reached the other side, my heart pounding like a bass drum at a rock concert. But the universe wasn't done with its comedy routine. Just as I set up my camera to capture the majestic valley, a mischievous squirrel decided that my shoulder was the perfect vantage point to survey its kingdom. I'll admit, I shrieked like a banshee on helium and flailed my arms in a manner that could rival a windmill in a hurricane.
With the squirrel finally persuaded to seek its photo opportunities elsewhere, I managed to snap that classic landscape photograph of the valley. The sun bathed the scene in golden hues, the mountains framed the valley like benevolent sentinels, and the meandering river sparkled like a trail of diamonds. It was a moment that made the whole ludicrous journey worthwhile.
As I trudged back to civilization, triumphant and slightly delirious, I couldn't help but reflect on the absurdity of it all. The mishaps, the wildlife encounters, the accidental acrobatics – they had all conspired to make this photography expedition a legendary tale that I would regale around campfires for years to come.
So, there you have it – the epic saga of how I captured that classic landscape photograph near Meeker, Colorado. A tale of courage, clumsiness, and critters, proving that sometimes, the most unforgettable journeys are the ones where you can't help but laugh at yourself.
Uploaded
August 20th, 2023
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