Those of us that still work, pretty much have the same routine when they have to go to work.  Get up, shower, eat breakfast, go to work, spend 9-12 hours at work, and come home.

It gets to be a way of life.  Some days are better than others.  We all know that.  It’s what makes us “Tick” so to speak.

There are many ways to commute to work, I for one have walked, rode a bus, rode a train, car-pooled and driven in my own vehicle.  I have commuted as far as 75 miles one direction.  And no, I do not miss that way of commuting!  

Which do I prefer?  Driving myself.  

If you’re going to make that commute no matter how short or long of a drive, there is always something going on.  Please pay attention to what is in front of you and please, no distracted driving!  

The first thing I do is of course turn on the radio.  I must have music while I am driving.   

The unfortunate part of my commute is I travel east in the morning, and west in the evening. And yes, the sun is an issue certain times of the year.  

I have two ways I can go to work.  Take the highway or take the side roads.  Weather is a huge factor in the winter on which way I go to work.    I tend to stay on the side roads in the winter. No, they’re not plowed, but I would rather have traction with snow, as I am not a fan of driving on ice.  It’s a personal preference.  I can go as slow as I want on the side roads and not have to worry about someone being in a hurry behind me.  

Living in the Southern Pacific Northwest, there is always something to see and watch out for.   This time of year it is the farming equipment.  Where we live, you are always on the look out for deer.  That is 365 days a year!  I just wish I could dodge the bugs!  

No matter which way I go it is beautiful.   I almost always come home the same way.  The side roads.  Mainly because if I take the highway I have to make a left turn off the highway, and there is no left turn lane, so I would rather be more safe.  

As a photographer, I notice things.  The sky, the trees, the migrating birds, the water levels and of course the sun position.  

I have  a favorite spot that I stop at most days.  It is at the top of a road called Township.  It is the eastern end of the road.  It’s at the top of a hill.  The view is beautiful every day of the year.  

I do stop.  I try to stop at the same place each time.  Sometimes I forget.  But no one says I have to take the picture everyday.  However, 365 days of the same place could be interesting.  

Since it is May, I will start with that month.   Spring and farming season.  

The skies are not dependable in the spring.  Amazing clouds, to gray skies, to the smoke from the farm fields being burned off for the season.  On the top of Township, you can see it all! 

        Bug Spots on the windshield are common!  As is the burning of the farm fields.

        Big Skies are abundant.  A hint of rain and sometimes snow, yes in May!

For some reason I didn’t take a picture in June. And I know I went to work that month, it was the beginning of butterfly season at work, so we were busy!

July and August were not our friends this past year.  The fire “Season” was horrible.  I did not take a picture in July either.  I will  post this one, it is our front yard.  And you can see the smoke and no sun.  I truly hate fire season.

                                                                           July 24, 2018

        August 9, 2018, you can’t even see the mountains in the horizon due to the smoke.

                                                     August 27, the skies are getting clearer!

                                                              September 12, 2018

September 25, 2018, the sun is moving lower when I come home, usually this is about 4:50 pm or a little later.  See those mountains in the distance? Thats where I go.  It is a 7 mile straight stretch across to the highway!

                                        October 9, 2018, the shadows are moving too!

                                         October 29, 2018,  Fall is for sure in the air!

  November 13, 2018 two weeks later, the sun is lower and there aren’t many leaves left!

November 21, 2018, the wind is abundant, the fields have been harvested and the dirt begins to blow across the roads through the fields.  This time of year is a two hands on the steering wheel time.  Because of the wind.  The trees begin to give awesome silhouettes against the sky!

December 6, 2018, yes that is snow out there and on the sides of the roads.  And it’s getting darker when I get home!

December 19, 2018.  The snow melted, and I think we are already wishing for spring. However, it is a long ways away!

January 29, 2019.  I am certain there were many snow covered roads between this picture and the last.  Once I reach this point, I just want to get home.  The sun is low, and the temperatures are cold!

February 5, 2019, six days later.  Yep, these are the 15-20mph roads.  These are not my favorite days to drive.  Township does not get plowed very often.

February 18, 2019.  By this time, we all knew the groundhog lied about spring!  But it’s still beautiful and the sun is much higher, and maybe warmer weather will be on the way?

March 4, 2019.  Spring just has to be on the way, the farmers are starting to flood their fields!

March 19 2019.  An odd cloudy day.  We did have snow the end of March. Just so you know!

April 10, 2019, April showers bring May Flowers?  It brought cold temperatures a few snowflakes, and not much hope for spring!

April 12, 2019, two days later, a hope for spring.  We love springtime on the mountain.  It’s unpredictable.  As I write this today May 19, 2019, its a rainy cool day with the chance of a few snow flakes.  Yep.   Gotta love spring in the Southern Pacific Northwest.

Do you commute to work?  How do you go?  Do you have a favorite route?  Find a place that you can safely pull over and see what you can capture!  Try it once a month.  Maybe twice.  I don’t take my big camera to work with me, (I would never make it on time)  so these are cell phone pictures.  You should try it!  Just for a couple months.  However, if you are stuck in heavy traffic, please don’t try it.

You could pick a spot on your street, or even in your front yard.  Do you drive by a park on the way home?   Take the pictures and notice the difference in the sun position, the leaves on the trees, the clouds in the sky.

It’s an amazing world out there.  Go capture it!!!

Be Nice Humans

Tlynn