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Toward the light. But also toward the storm.
A few years ago, my friend Martha and I decided to drive from El Paso, where we were spending the weekend, to White Sands National Monument. That’s about a hour-and-a-half of driving.
Normally.
We left right after breakfast. Instead of taking the Interstate, we went on New Mexico highway 28, a noted scenic route. That should have added about 30 minutes to our trip.
Normally.
But we stopped. We stopped to look at an adobe barn. A pecan orchard. A church. We stopped in a little town where the church was having a festival*. We stopped for lunch. And etc.
So by the time we eventually made it to White Sands, it was very late in the afternoon. Most of the day’s visitors had already left. But the storm clouds were still hanging around, and the sun obligingly lit a band of sand in the distance.
White Sands National Monument
near Alamogordo, New Mexico
photographed 5.1.2010
*At the town with the festival, we were turned away from a parking lot that was, we were told, for church members only. We weren’t sure what identified us so readily as non-members, although we did come up with several options.
Couldn’t drag me away
Actual conversation:
Me – Look at that cloud! I don’t think we’d better make any more stops. We need to get away from that storm.
Patient Spouse – (no comment)
Me – Wait! I need to get that shot.
Patient Spouse – (no comment)
(Repeat many times, as needed.)
Wild Horse, Colorado
photographed 8.30.2016
But it still didn’t rain where I was
I was driving from Marfa, Texas, over toward Valentine. Off to the north, the storm was heavy over the mountains. I was in the outflow boundary (which sounds silly when the TV weatherman says it, but is actually a real thing) – the wind was very strong, there was a lot of dust, and I could smell the rain.
The storm fell apart before it got to where I was. But, until it did, it was spectacular.
east of Marfa, Texas
photographed 8.16.2013
Spring storms
I was driving home from a meeting; there were clouds on the western horizon that gave a gold tint to the light. In the east and north were remnants of a storm that had had a tornado in it. It was a nice change to see so many clouds; the on-going drought has meant a lot fewer spring storms than usual.
Unless NOT having spring storms is the new usual.
I made a u-turn (safely, I mean, when the traffic conditions permitted) to get back around to capture this.
near Idalou, Texas
photographed 4.1.2013
One Day | One Image 