She Is The Storm

This was the last of the sunshine for the afternoon.

It's been a stormy month or so here in California.  Finally we get some relief after a devastating summer of wildfires.  Though I do love rain, it doesn't exactly excite me as a car owner.  Specifically, as a car owner who loves keeping his car in pristine condition as much as possible.  I see rain clouds and the normal part of me gets excited.  "Colder weather, wearing boots, maybe seeing/hearing some thunder and lightning!"  Then I remember my car and her (temporary) lack of mudflaps.  I sigh as I think about the inevitable streaks of mud and leaves stuck everywhere.

I couldn't believe it, everything was gravel in this place!  Definitely worried for my paint job.

 
But on this particular afternoon I thought it would be a good day to get some pictures.  I've never had a proper photoshoot, and these clouds did add a dramatic backdrop...  So I drove a little ways out of town and took some pictures on the shore of a lake.  Nothing big, just an oak tree.  Ooh, and up that hill!  And that picnic area!  And...!  I was unstoppable.  My car got the full paparazzi treatment for about half an hour as I drove around to different day use areas and got better angles.  Some of the more...experimental...shots were not worth posting, but I did find a few that I thought were acceptable, especially given my usual inability to take a picture that clearly shows the subject.

She is the storm.

It didn't take long for the storm clouds to come charging back over the hills and into view.  You can only out-drive them for so long...  So I snapped a few last pictures and made my way home.

It never rained on me out here, but the wind and clouds weren't friendly.

On the way home I used my GoPro to record the drive; at least, the interesting bits. Of course, on an otherwise empty road, in an almost abandoned state park (there weren't even rangers at the toll booth), there was one other car.  A SLOOOOOW Toyota Camry just taking their sweet time in front of me the whole way.  At one point he essentially came to a complete stop in front of me.  I didn't make the connection then, but several days later I realized he was probably praying I'd pass him.  Not that I was tailing him per se, but he could probably tell I'd rather be anywhere other than behind him.  I'll see what I can get from that video; I may end up linking it here on the site.

She's eager to get back on the road!