When I am completely immersed in the natural world, it is then that I feel truly alive.

Mr. B shares the joy I find in leaving the modern world behind and seeking solitude in vast natural spaces. Once the weather turns warm we happily pack our bags and head off into the woods whenever our schedule allows. Over the 4th of July we ventured out to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Meandering down bumpy dirt roads filled with rocks and tire-sucking mud holes without a final destination in mind, we eventually found ourselves stopped alongside a beautiful stream.

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Our third and final day in San Francisco was a short one. My flight was scheduled to depart just after lunch, so we had but a few brief hours left to enjoy the city. It was only 8AM on a Sunday. The sky was a cool early morning blue promising another day of California sunshine and the streets were empty save for a few pigeons still cleaning up from the night before. With coffee and camera in hand, Mr. B and I set out to find the Powell-Hyde trolley. Friends familiar with the city told us to wait for the Powell-Hyde line, as it provides the best views of San Francisco and the Bay. After watching several cars come and go we began to wonder if we were in the right spot and fret about wasting our limited time in the wrong location. Just as we were about to head off looking for a map, a trolley car marked Powell-Hyde pulled up. We hopped on, managing to score the prime front right seat without anyone in front of us to block the camera.

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