My 3rd Act

@my3rdact.bsky.social

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National Park Geek 50/63, Route 66 Completer, WA Parks 105/124, VanCamper, RoadTripper, Pottery & Junk Collector, Navy Mom, Gma, DogMom, PNW Master Gardener 8b, Ally/Advocate, Meditator, Empath. Making the most of life during these challenging times.

A map image of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas
A towering statue of a man in a blue shirt stands among tall grass and sunflowers at sunrise, creating a serene and nostalgic atmosphere.
A grid photo that shows each of 6 flower types boxes. Pinks, purples, peach, and yellow.
A white, arched concrete bridge spans across lush greenery under a partly cloudy sky, conveying a serene and peaceful rural landscape. The unique and graceful Rainbow Arch design was the brainchild of James Barney Marsh, a bridge designer from Iowa, who patented the concrete and steel truss design in 1912. Marsh spent the next two decades erecting approximately 70 of his Rainbow Arch bridges throughout the Midwest. Built in 1923, this 130-foot bridge carried Route 66 motorists over Brush Creek until it was bypassed by the interstate in the 1960s. The bridge consists of a pair of arches disposed between two abutments, with concrete banister railings aligned parallel with the bridge deck. The original patents called for slideable wear plates, molded into the concrete where the bridge deck came into contact with the beams and abutments. This is important, as one of the main benefits of this design was to allow for the expansion and contraction of the reinforced concrete bridge under varying conditions of temperature and moisture. The Brush Creek Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 1992, upon seeing two other Marsh Arch bridges on the short stretch of Route 66 through Kansas dismantled, the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association worked successfully to save the Brush Creek Bridge.
A serene lake with clear blue water reflecting lush green trees and distant snow-capped mountains under a bright blue sky; evokes tranquility. Bear Lake is a scenic trailhead and destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sitting at 9,450 feet. It’s an alpine lake beneath Hallett Peakand the Continental Divide . Bear Lake Road is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long and starts close to the Beaver Meadows Entrance station of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The lake was formed during the ice age by a big chunk of ice. Several moraines can be found downhill of Bear Lake.
A large handmade troll kneeling and pushing rocks with green trees and shrubs behind her and the mountains around Cripple Creek in the background. Her name is Rita the Rock Planter. Created by artist Thomas Dambo, Rita is a towering troll figure crafted entirely from recycled wood. But she's not just any troll – Rita kneels on the ground, carefully tending to the earth. Inspired by the historic mining landscape, Rita kneels attentively, patching up the ground where miners from the 1800s may have carelessly left holes behind. This playful giant serves as a symbol of environmental care, reminding us to treasure the beauty around us. #thomasdambo #cripplecreek #Victor #Colorado
Sunset scene with a glowing orange sun setting over a busy road lined with cars. The sky is filled with warm hues, creating a serene, picturesque view.
A serene lake with calm blue water is surrounded by dense, dark green pine trees under a cloudy sky, evoking a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
Giant statue of a smiling man in a green uniform and cap holding a wrench. His right hand is raised in a wave, set against a backdrop of trees and buildings.
Close-up of a vibrant purple thistle flower against a backdrop of a sunny, grassy meadow with a clear blue sky and scattered clouds, evoking a serene mood.
A grid photo that shows each of 6 flowers in a box.
Mountain landscape at sunrise, featuring a prominent peak bathed in warm light. Foreground includes a calm lake, rocky shore, and driftwood. Tranquil atmosphere.
Sunny beach scene with turquoise water, clear blue sky, and light beige sand. Driftwood and a green tree add to the serene, tropical feel.
Mountain landscape featuring snow-covered peaks and glaciers under a clear blue sky. Dense pine forests cover the foothills, conveying a serene and majestic atmosphere.
Colorful map of the 7 Western States visited on my road trip: Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Oregon.
A colorful tile mural of vintage scenes on Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, featuring classic cars, historic buildings, and bold lettering. A clock stands nearby.
Close-up of vibrant pink sedum flowers clustered densely on green stems, with sunlight highlighting their textured petals against a blurred garden backdrop.
Scenic mountain landscape at sunrise with a grassy foreground, scattered rocks, and lush pine trees. A calm, warm light bathes the scene.
Sunset over the sand dunes in the background with a tree and campsite in the forefront
Old River Road is gravel with hairpin turns and no guard rail. But the views are amazing!
Bag of Coastal Berry trail mix with a photo of various nuts berries and white chocolate on the front.
Peaceful sunset view of the Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge spanning across the calm water of the Narrows Strait with soft pink and orange hues in the sky.
Six photos in a box frame of bright garden flowers: close-up of white blooms, a large peach dahlia, yellow sunflowers, and purple asters, purple hibiscus against greenery, and deep red and magenta blossoms.
The image shows a forest landscape with peekaboo views of a large body of Samish Bay and San Juan Islands, which are characteristic features seen from vantage points along the Chuckanut Mountains and nearby Chuckanut Drive. 
Large bison / buffalo standing on a concrete pad with a sign noting it is the World’s Largest Buffalo. Also two kids playing nearby that barely reach the buffalo’s lower leg.
A rustic wooden sign reading "Sequoia National Park" stands before a forest of charred tree trunks under a clear blue sky, evoking a sense of resilience.
Towering moss-covered trees in the Hall of Mosses, Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park. Thick green moss drapes over twisted branches, glowing in filtered sunlight against a bright sky, creating an enchanting, otherworldly forest scene.
Natural hot spring pool at Hot Springs National Park, surrounded by stone walls along the promenade. Steaming mineral water flows from mossy rocks into the basin, with lush green vegetation covering the hillside in the background, creating a peaceful and scenic spa-like setting.
Mountain landscape at Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park with green pines, rocky ridges, and a cluster of purple wildflowers in front
A cholla cactus with clusters of yellow flowers and dense spines stands under the sun in the Cholla Cactus Garden at Joshua Tree National Park’s Pinto Basin, with rocky hills in the distance.
Colorful vintage neon signs line a walkway at the Route 66 Neon Park in St. Robert, Missouri. In the foreground, a large teal and black sign reads “Welcome to St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park,” with a red arrow pointing toward the park. Other restored signs in view include “Modern Cabins,” “Motel St. Louis,” “Skyline Garage Auto Service,” and smaller directional markers. The signs stand against a bright blue sky with a few trees and open grassy areas. These signs originated along Missouri's section of the Mother Road, from St. Louis to Carthage. Signs include: Route 66, The Al-Pac Motel, Alura Motel, D & G Liquor, Modern Cabins, Motel St. Louis, Scully’s Restaurant & Motel, Skyline Garage, Stanley Cour Tel, and Tri-State Bonding.
Close-up of a pale peach gladiolus flower with soft petals and a burst of bright coral streaks near the center.
This image captures a sunset over the water in Port Orchard, Washington. The sun appears as a distinct orange orb, and its reflection creates a shimmering path across the water's surface. In the background, a hazy sky due to the presence of smoke, from the Bear Gulch forest fire. The silhouette of the Olympic Mountains is visible on the horizon.
A grid photo that shows each of 6 flowers in a box. Medium pink Dahlia with yellow in the petals in the dark peak center to candy pink large plate size Dalia, one dark pink Dalia with yellow Center, one dark pink, Dalia with a green center. Plus one peach Gladiola, and a shot of a large rose bush with lots of green and flowers in varying shades of pink.
Fiery sunset sky blending orange, gold, and pink tones, silhouetting tall evergreen trees and power lines in the foreground. Caused by smoke from the current fire in the Olympic National Forest and Park in Mason County near Lake Cushman and Hoodsport. #beargulch #saveourparks #olympicnationalpark #protectpublicland #forestfire
A sunlit brick pathway winds under a leafy wooden pergola in a lush garden. #Chetzemoka #PortTownsend #Washington #Protectourparks #PugetSound #AdmiraltyInlet #CascadeMountains
Iconic Ted Drewes Frozen Custard sign popping in vintage colors of pink and blue with trees and a bright sky in the background #StLouis #Missouri #artyear #photography #Americana #neon #frozencustard #TedDrewes #getyourkicks
Solitary white egret standing in shallow turquoise waters near a sandbar, with a distant Miami skyline on the horizon under a bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds. #photography #artyear #protectpublicland #resist #istandwithparkrangers #Biscaynenationalpark #AtlanticOcean #Biscayne #Florida
Close-up of blooming pink Japanese anemone flowers with delicate yellow centers, set against a lush green garden background, capturing the beauty of late-summer blossoms. #gardening #gardens #Zone8b #flowers
#JapaneseAnemone #PinkFlowers #GardenBloom
Vibrant sunrise over Cabo San Lucas coastline, with golden sun emerging from behind rocky cliffs, calm ocean waters reflecting orange and pink hues, palm trees and lush tropical greenery in foreground, and bright red bougainvillea flowers along a wooden fence overlooking the beach. #CaboSanLucas #PuebloBonito #SunsetBeach #bougainvillea #sunriseinmexico #eatwelltraveloften
A loose flower arrangement with pink China rose, light lavender, Anemone, dark purple Asters, light pink, Seaside Daisies, fuchsia pink, Sweet William, white Yarrow, and pink Oregano with green cut leaves filling in between the flowers. In a small crystal vase. #gardening #PNW #Augustblooms #findjoy #gardens #photography #garden #rose #anemone #yarrow #sweetwilliam #oregano #daisy
Rolling green hills stretch into the distance under a sky filled with fluffy clouds, with a vivid patch of yellow farmland glowing in the midground.
A winding stone path cuts through a manicured lawn and leads into a dense forest of tall evergreens at #BloedelReserve. #takeawalk #meditate #PNW #BainbridgeIsland #artyear #photography #Washington #westcoastbestcoast #landscape #gardens
📸: Washington State Parks Reservation website. Scenic lakeside campsite with a white metal picnic table on a concrete pad, a wooden privacy fence, and a fire pit, set against rolling green hills, trees, and a clear blue sky—ideal outdoor spot for camping. #LakeEntiat #ColumbiaRiver #CentralWA #WashingtonStateParks #Protectourparks #camplife #savepublicland #DarogaStatePark #offthegrid
Twisted Sierra juniper tree at Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park, California, surrounded by granite boulders and alpine vegetation. The gnarled trunk and windswept branches of the juniper contrast against the rugged granite slope and sparse conifer trees in the background, characteristic of Yosemite’s high-elevation subalpine terrain. #photography #artyear #protectpublicland #resist #istandwithparkrangers #YosemiteNP #Juniper
A guided cave tour with visitors gazing up at large, jagged stalactites hanging from a warmly lit cavern ceiling. A guide in blue gestures toward the formations. #FantatsicCaverns #Soringfield #artyear #photography #Americana
Close-up macro photo of a fuzzy bumblebee collecting nectar from a vibrant purple lavender flower. The bee's delicate, translucent wings shimmer in the sunlight and appear gold in color. Its black and yellow-striped body is covered in fine hairs. The lavender blooms are in various stages of opening, showcasing rich violet hues and intricate petal textures. Background is softly blurred, emphasizing the bee and flower. #bumblebee #pollination #Augustblooms #gardening #gardens #bees #bloomscroll
Sunset over the snow-capped Mt Olympus peak, with vibrant orange, yellow, and pink hues glowing above the summit. The foreground features silhouettes of evergreen trees and rolling forested hills #mountains #olympicNP #NPGeek #OlympicPeninsula #Sunsets #Mt Olympus #SaveourParks #ProtectPublicLand
A collage of six close-up photos of colorful garden flowers: yellow #StJohnsWort Purple, White, and Pink #Hibiscus Dark pink and light pink #Lilies #flowers #gardens #artyear #Augustblooms #gardening #flowersky
Scenic view of a serene aspen grove along the Aspen Grove Trail in Great Basin National Park, captured in summer daylight. The tall, slender white trunks of quaking aspens rise vertically against a backdrop of dense green foliage and soft, partly cloudy skies. The forest floor is dotted with grass and underbrush, emphasizing the lush natural beauty of the high-elevation alpine ecosystem. Ideal for hikers, nature lovers, and travelers exploring Nevada's Great Basin wilderness. #AspenGroveTrail #Aspens #GreatBasinNationalPark #QuakingAspens #NaturePhotography #HikingNevada #AlpineForestScenery