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@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 12, 2026, 1:05 PM

#BlueSkyArtShow Saturday, theme of #Undulating.
"The first instinct would have been to go to the ocean. But my visit to the Badlands National Park in South Dakota show you can get motion sickness on land." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Badlands #OglalaLakota

Photo shows the eroded buttes, spires, and layered sedimentary beds of Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota.
Location: Situated about 75 miles east of Rapid City, featuring dramatic multi-colored rock formations and a mixed-grass prairie.
Key Features: The deeply eroded landscape displays distinct depositional layers packed with rich fossil beds dating back millions of years.
Activities: Popular visitor highlights include the Badlands Loop Road (SD-240), boardwalk trails like the Door and Window trails, and wildlife viewing for bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs.
The native Lakota name for this area is Mako Sica (also written as Makȟóšiča), which literally translates to "bad lands". For hundreds of years, the Oglala Lakota people gave it this name because of the area's incredibly rugged rock terrain, lack of water, and extreme weather temperatures, making it a very difficult place to travel through. When early French fur trappers arrived, they simply translated the native name into their own language as les mauvaises terres à traverser ("bad lands to travel across"), which is how it eventually became known as Badlands National Park today

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 8:57 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"From a few years back on a visit to a best friend near Detroit. They pull out all the stops for Samhain. Does my witchy heart good." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #Samhain #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Detroit #WitchSky (No, it's Never too early.)

This image shows life-size skeleton displays from the annual "Skeletons Are Alive" exhibit in downtown Northville, Michigan. Location: Downtown Northville, MI, where local businesses decorate and display dozens of creative, life-size skeletons every October. Displays: The photos feature whimsical setups including a witch walking a skeleton dog, a college coed holding a pizza box, a skeleton in a dress reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's iconic pose, and a Día de los Muertos-themed skeleton seated near a "Now Hiring" sign. Event Details: The display typically runs through the month of October, bringing festive and spooky community spirit to the town's Main Street and local shops.

Samhain is celebrated as the Witches' New Year from October 31 to November 2, marking a liminal time when the veil between the physical world and the spirit realm is at its thinnest. Ancestor Veneration Build an Altar: Clear a space and decorate it with photos of loved ones who have passed, black or orange candles, and harvest foods like apples and pumpkins. Hold a Dumb Supper: Set an extra plate of food at the table and eat a meal in complete silence to honor and invite the spirits of ancestors. Speak Their Names: Light a dedicated ancestor candle and say the names of those who came before you to keep their memories alive. Release and TransformationWrite and Burn: Write old habits, grief, or things you want to release on a piece of paper, then safely burn it in a fire or cauldron. Reflect on the Cycle: Meditate on the concepts of death and decay in nature, understanding how rest makes space for new growth in the coming year

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 12:49 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"I found the high school where Buffy went before Sunnydale."
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

The image shows a green-and-white directional road sign pointing to the right for "City Center," "High School," and "Cemetery" stacked one above the other in a somewhat darkly humorous progression.

@porterstrongrv.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 7:05 AM

Planning a long-term RV stay in Texas? Learn what to consider when choosing a monthly RV site, including hookups, amenities, location, pricing, Wi-Fi, and comfort.
Read the guide: porterstrongrvresort.com/monthly-rv-s...
#rvsites #texas #rvpark #rvlife #travelling #roadtrips #rvresorts

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 3:25 AM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"I was driving to Albany and got sidetracked."
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

A road sign for the town of Tangent, Oregon.
"Grass Seed Capital of the World"

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 9:43 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"Remember...remember...the fifth of November?! Nah, that ain't it. Did I turn off the lights? Did I stop the mail for the week? Oh, man. I know it will come to me." - mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #SanAntonio #Texas #RentalCar?

The historic building in the background is The Alamo, which is a famous Spanish mission and fortress located in San Antonio, Texas. The guy standing in front has forgotten to look for famous historic buildings...like the one...in the background. Just. Turn. Around.
Maybe he's thinking of getting something to eat at Custard's Last Stand.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 5:29 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"If you give them your name, that's on you." - mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #WashingtonState #OlympicPeninsula

Picture shows the deep Olympic forest. On a tree there is a sign advertising ESPRESSO.
Commentary text reads: "The Fae have a new strategy to lure you to the forest."
(Note: This is an actual coffee stand in the Olympic National Park.)
The Fae have traded their traditional fairy rings and sweet mushroom tarts for something far more modern and irresistible: the rich aroma of fresh, specialty coffee. Imagine walking near the tree line on a crisp morning and smelling the unmistakable, deep scent of a perfectly pulled espresso shot. This is their new trap, designed specifically for the tired and caffeinated modern human.
If you give them your name, that's on you.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 1:28 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"The modern traveler uses all tools at hand to help keep him on schedule. Technology is a friend to young and old alike." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #Yellowstone #OldFaithful #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #NationalParks #Geyser #Geezer

The image shows a wooden sign for the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park with a person standing nearby. The sign reads "Old Faithful Geyser" in block capital letters. A person with shoulder-length hair wearing a blue shirt and a multi-colored jacket stands to the right, looking toward the camera while holding a phone. In the background, a crowd of visitors watches the geyser erupt behind a safety barrier. The guy with the phone is clueless.
Photo by the spouse of the clueless guy.

@rick-harlan.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 11:25 AM

Before GPS Saved Us Rick remembers paper maps, vague directions, missed exits, and the ancient family tradition of arguing about where the highway went. #GenX #BackInMyDay #RickHarlan #RoadTrips #BeforeGPS #GettingOlder #GenXHumor

@quartzmedia.bsky.social Sep 8, 2026, 7:49 PM

The road trips that make the destination irrelevant #RoadTrips #TravelUSA

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 6, 2026, 4:22 PM

Last day for the #AlphabetChallenge of #WeekIforIntegers. So might as well add #StunDay and #Scape. Hurricane Ridge never disappoints.
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #WashingtonState #Mountains

The image shows a rustic wooden sign for the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center in Olympic National Park, noting an elevation of The road to Hurricane Ridge leads up 17 miles (27.3 km) into the subalpine ecosystem of Olympic National Park, reaching an elevation of 5,242 feet (1,600 meters) at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
2nd image is this stunning view of the Olympic mountain range, abundant wildlife including deer and marmots, and well-maintained hiking trails. They also highlight the convenient parking lot, helpful park rangers, and the overall beauty of the area.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 5, 2026, 1:31 PM

#BlueSkyArtShow #minimal.
"How does a poor person get to do road trips? This little home away from home helps, plus a willingness to camp or 'boondock' in cheap or free camp sites. Oh, and gluten-free noodles. Lots of cheap noodles." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

The selected region shows a green and black solo camping shelter, a 1 Person Tent. Tent Overview Capacity: One-person solo design. Color: Olive green body with a black mesh top. Design: Freestanding structure with aluminum poles. Use: Lightweight setup meant for backpacking and hiking.
Boondocking is camping off-the-grid in remote or undeveloped locations without utility hookups like water, sewer, or electricity. What Is Boondocking? Definition: Staying overnight outside of developed campgrounds using your own resources for power, water, and waste. Cost: Usually free, making it popular for budget-conscious travelers. Common Locations: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, national forests, and permitted overnight parking lots

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 5, 2026, 1:12 PM

#7SyllableSquad
#7SyllableSentence
#trip

Destination never ends.

#MickPic #MickTrip #RoadTrips

This image shows a drive along an open asphalt highway through a dry, high-desert or shrub-steppe landscape under a clear blue sky. Landscape Features Terrain: Broad, open, and arid land with low rolling hills and sparse dry vegetation. Roadway: A paved highway stretching straight toward the distant horizon with visible lane markings. Setting: A daytime view captured from inside a vehicle looking through the windshield.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 3, 2026, 1:21 PM

#PalacesAndGardens theme of #PalaceRunway
"Entrance to Golden Gate Park. Not the exact image they were going for. Unless you see the flowers as Sir Walter Raleigh's cape being laid out over the muddy grounds for folks to pass in." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

This image shows the manicured, terraced flower beds located directly in front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. Key Features Visible in the Image The Valley View: The terraced lawns and symmetrical planting beds display seasonal floral arrangements sloping downward from the main conservatory building plaza. Victorian Pedestrian Tunnel: On the left side, the historic brick archway allows pedestrians to walk underneath John F. Kennedy Drive safely. Golden Art Structure: On the left slope, a stylized golden sun or floral sculpture sits embedded in the landscaping. Potted Sago Palm: A prominent ornamental cycad is displayed in a classical terracotta urn positioned on a stone balustrade pillar in the foreground.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 3, 2026, 3:01 AM

#WaterfallWednesday
"A late entry, but this one was way back in the 2011 archives. Drift Creek Falls near Lincoln City. I remember it being an intense first hike, because Michigan is flat." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon