Morocco

I started creating a blog post for this trip, the old way. There was so much packed into this trip that I would never get that done. So, I’m going with a different approach to make things go faster.

I have separated the trip into 14 locations (listed below), and each location has its own photo album covering that area. The collection of those photo albums can be found on my Adobe site: Mark Pastor – Morocco. This approach allows me to organize photos as I normally do, in Adobe Lightroom. Then I avoid the next steps of converting them and transferring them to this blog site. Instead, I just link to the Adobe photo albums.

It was a 17-day trip, starting in Casablanca and wrapping up in Marrakesh. We covered a lot of territory visiting many cities and locations during that time. We arranged the trip via Intrepid Travel.

Here is a high level view of the path we followed. (Map courtesy of Intrepid.)

Below is a list of the location/albums, each one links to that respective photo album. These are listed in chronological order of when we visited those locations.

We traveled with a fantastic group of 12 people (including our tour guide). The photos below collectively captures each one of us.

A group of eight travelers posing together with mountains in the background during a trip in Morocco.
A group of twelve people enjoying drinks and chatting together on a terrace with lush greenery and mountains in the background.
A group of twelve people sitting in a warmly decorated room with a thatched roof, engaged in conversation, while one person stands and speaks.
A group of people dancing in a vibrant room decorated with various flags. The atmosphere is lively, with blue walls and patterned tiles on the floor.

I will be actively updating the verbiage around the photos on my adobe website. Please check back for updates whenever you feel the urge.

Here is where you can find the photos: Mark Pastor – Morocco

As far as the group goes, we remain in touch with each other and I look forward to keeping that going.

It was a great trip, we covered a lot of territory, and I will need a lot of time to reflect and absorb all we did and learned.

Sea Life, a new Grackleman Animation

I tried something new with this one. Most of the animated elements are pixel-based (i.e. paint) rather than vector based (i.e. pen). I really like the effect and will likely do more in upcoming productions.

I hope you enjoy this one. I was also looking for a closing message, and I like what I came up with. This one leaves a lot to personal interpretation.

Breeze, Another Animation

I started this one just like the last one. My initial intention was to create something visually appealing on a 4×6 post card. Like before, once I had the initial content created I came up with ideas of where I can add animated features. And that’s how this one was created, once again. The lesson to learn is when I design for a small card the resolution is not good (I.e. get pixilated) on larger screens. Perhaps I will learn my lesson for the next one.

Here is Breeze. All input/feedback is welcome.

Hearthwalk

This project started out as a 4×6 postcard, looking for some inspiration on the hearth above my fireplace. Then the urge to add video content took over, and this is the final result. I posted an earlier version on Instagram and Facebook but wanted to fix some shortcomings in this version.

Train Ride – Denver/Glenwood Springs

Leslie treated me to a train ride for my birthday (September 7): Denver Union Station to Glenwood Springs. The train travels through the rocky mountains, going through Granby and Winterpark and eventually meeting up with the Colorado River and follows that to Glenwood Springs. The train is the California Zephyr and actually runs between San Francisco and Chicago, so we were on a small part of the whole run. Our trip took about five and a half hours one way. We spent a couple nights in Glenwood Springs at the Maxwell Anderson Hotel (formerly Hotel Denver) which is right across the street from the train station.

We traveled to Glenwood Springs on Sunday. On Monday we rented e-bikes (I’ve never been on one before) and rode along the Colorado River from Glenwood Springs to Dotsero, about a 36-mile round trip. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was awesome. The hot springs pool was a welcome site later that afternoon. For the rest of the time in Glenwood Springs we explored the shops, the eateries and some local trails.

We headed back to Denver on Tuesday. It was a short trip, but a great getaway.

Landscape view of rocky, red cliffs and greenery in the foreground, showcasing mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
From the Train
Vue panoramique d'une rivière serpentant à travers un paysage de collines arides et de végétation luxuriante, avec des nuages dans le ciel.
From the Train
Scenic view of a river winding through lush greenery with mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
From the Train
View of rocky mountain terrain with a small house built into the hillside, surrounded by greenery and large pipes running down the slope.
From the Train
Clouds in a dramatic formation above a mountain landscape, with soft hues of gray and patches of blue peeking through.
“Nixon Cloud” from the Train
A person standing beside an electric bike, wearing a helmet and sunglasses, with a scenic view of mountains and a river in the background.
Along the Bike Path
A view of a riverbank with a concrete bridge and two tunnel entrances in the mountains, surrounded by rocky terrain and greenery.
Along the Bike Path
Vue panoramique d'une piscine extérieure à Glenwood Springs, entourée de collines verdoyantes et de bâtiments historiques. Des personnes se baignent et se reposent sur des chaises longues.
Hot Springs Pool
Panoramic view of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, showcasing the surrounding mountains, the Colorado River, and the town's buildings under a blue sky with clouds.
From a Local Trail

Sky Pond

Last week Leslie and I went on a hike she’s been talking about for a long time. Sky Pond is an alpine lake destination in the Rocky Mountain National Park with trailheads along Bear Lake Road. What that means is you need to get a coveted timed entry permit waaaayy in advance. Fortunately we were able to get that done on July 1.

Rather than narrating the journey, I will instead mention some highlights and provide a gallery of photos to peruse below.

We got to Glacier Gorge Trailhead at around 6:30am (left the house at about 5am to get there at that time). There were 3 parking spaces left; good thing we only needed one of them. If we didn’t get that, we could have gone on the Bear Lake Trailhead without sacrificing too much extra hiking. It was a beautiful morning. We ate the breakfast we brought in the car and then ventured to the hike.

One of the first points of interest is Alberta Falls. I’ve been there before, and I didn’t even take a picture because there were so many people there. It’s popularity is likely due to the short hike to get there. As we continued on, we had some trail connections to choose from. Unfortunately, I chose a wrong one causing us at least a half mile extra distance.

Once on the correct trail, there were plenty of beautiful features and views to take in. The trickiest part of the hike was going up a waterfall area. I captured a photo of Leslie working her way up this area in one of the pictures below. There were several bodies of water along the way, most notably, (1) The Lock, where I snapped a great photo of a trout; (2) Lake of Glass, more trout, and stunning reflections, and (3) Sky Pond, the beauty expected from a remote alpine lake.

The total hike was about 10 miles round trip. We both did quite well, but acknowledged it was a great workout for the day.

A scenic view of Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park, surrounded by rocky cliffs and alpine vegetation, with green waters reflecting the sky and mountains.
A rocky trail leading down to a calm stream surrounded by trees and boulders in a mountainous area.
A bird perched on the forest floor, surrounded by greenery and pine cones.
A calm alpine lake surrounded by evergreen trees, reflecting sunlight on its surface, with a backdrop of rocky mountains.
A clear alpine lake with large rocks and a forested background, surrounded by tall pine trees, showcasing calm waters reflecting the greenery.
A trout swimming in clear water, showing its distinctive markings and colors against a sandy bottom.
A hiker scaling a rocky incline alongside a small waterfall in a mountainous area.
A hiker stands by a serene alpine lake surrounded by rocky mountains and greenery, depicting the natural beauty of Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Close-up of rippling water surface with reflections, likely from an alpine lake.
A couple sitting on rocks by an alpine lake, surrounded by mountainous terrain with snow-capped peaks in the background.
Alpine lake Sky Pond surrounded by rocky mountains and lush greenery, reflecting the blue sky and clouds.
Scenic view of rugged alpine mountains near Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park, partially cloudy sky.
Rocky mountain landscape with steep cliffs and a clear turquoise alpine lake at the base.
A serene alpine lake surrounded by rocky cliffs and pine trees, reflecting the landscape in the calm water.