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James W. Young, Professional Photographer

2011 LDS Temples Galore Trip

I usually spend time at my summer home in Oregon in the springtime, but an interesting event
happened in late October, 2010.  I was contacted by a Glenn Cheney concerning a temple image
on my web site: An image of the Atlanta, Georgia Temple taken in July, 2006.  It was an early
evening picture with the colors of sunset on clouds in the background.  Mr. Cheney wanted a high
resolution image to make a picture on canvas to present to his parents for Christmas later that
year.  After Christmas, I heard from Glenn's parents:  President Darrell and Yvonne Cheney of
the Atlanta Temple (he is 2nd counselor).  They were thrilled, and so a conversation about the
May 1, 2011 rededication of this same temple ensued.  In fact, they extended an invitation to
myself and Karen to attend....and even to stay with them while in the Atlanta area.

During January and February of this year I began considering the possible trip to Atlanta, as
an alternate to my normal Oregon trip.  Gee, I thought, I could photograph many temples that
I have never seen...all along the way.  A long road trip could include some grandchildren to see
as well, and later would include the possible viewing of a shuttle launch from Cape Kennedy also!

My initial plan included visiting a few new national parks, some friends, and my daughter in Ohio.
Staying in touch with the Cheneys, I continued to formulate additional things to do.  Maybe I
could do extensive photography of the Atlanta Temple as well.  Then Karen looked at her school
spring vacation that occurred around that same time period.  She could fly to Atlanta, see the
temple open house, and the shuttle launch, but would have to leave before the dedication took
place.  By March, we had a reasonable plan that would have me drive across country to Atlanta,
pick up Karen and spend more than a week in the area as well as in Florida.  I had 15 different
LDS temple sites I could easily visit along the way to Atlanta and then back home.  It would
take 30-40 days, and wasn't finalized until I was half way to Atlanta: 40 days would do it!

The following maps, pictures and itinerary descriptions will be shown on a daily basis, starting
on April 4,....and ending May 13, 2011.  Each day will carry a map of the day's travels, using
letters and colors to define specifics.  The red line (with arrows showing direction) shows the
actual roads taken, along with G for gas stops, T for temple sites visited, C for sleeping in
the car, M for staying in motels, A for accommodations at friends' homes, C for Church, F for
firesides given, H (black) for a helicopter ride, and B (black) for a boat trip, and V for visits
to friends, NPs, waterfalls, etc.

ENJOY!


April 4

Map
I left Wrightwood at 6 AM traveling east through Flagstaff, AZ, then on to my
first temple visit at Snowflake late in the afternoon.  I would then continue on to
Albuquerque, NM arriving at 2 AM.

Snowflake

Snowflake

Snowflake

Snowflake

Snowflake

Snowdlake


April 5

There were no lights on the Albuquerque Temple when I arrived.  Seems that
with the considerable road construction on the street in front of the temple, the
lights were turned off at night so as not to attract visitors who could get caught
in the traffic tangle of that road construction.  The gate was open, and I walked
on site, only to be approached by temple security.  I told him what I was doing,
and he offered to turn the lights on at 4 AM.  I slept in the car until then.

Albuquerque

Albuquerque

Albuquerque

I slept till 7 AM, and took the following morning images.

Albuquerque

Albuquerque

Albuquerque


April 5

Lubbock


Railroad
After getting gas in Albuquerque, I drove east and south toward Clovis, NM, and
found the following train track cleaning device re-circulating and cleaning the rocks
along the edges of the ties on both sides.  The foreman told me it was a process
known as 'track ballast maintenance'.


Cotton
They grow lots of cotton between Clovis, NM and Lubbock, TX

Lubbock Temple, afternoon and evening

Temple

Lubbock

Lubbock

Lubbock


April 6

April6.jpg

Lubbock Temple in the morning

Lubbock

Lubbock


Barracks
The restored barracks at old Fort Concho in San Angelo, Texas

Hospital
The restored hospital at old Fort Concho

After visiting a friend in San Angelo, TX I drove to just north of Big Bend NP.
I slept in the car for the night, and took the following images of the night sky.

MilkyWay
The rising Milky Way at 11 PM, with lingering clouds


April 7

MilkyWay
Milky Way at 4 AM

BigBendNP

After sunrise, I drove into Big Bend National Park, first driving to the visitor
center in the Chisos Mountains, then to the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook to the
west, and finally to the Rio Grand Village at the eastern edge of the park on
the Rio Grand River.  I left the park late in the afternoon, and drove north to
Fort Stockton and got a motel room for the night.

ChisosMts
Chisos Mountains

RioGrandRiver
Rio Grand River:  Mexico to the left, Texas to the right

JimInCanyon
Me in the Santa Elena Canyon (Texas side)

RioGrandRiver
Rio Grand Village area; Texas left, Mexico right with mountains in the distance

Mexican
A Mexican caballero came across the river at my request for a picture

CactusBee
A bee working the cactus flower at Rio Grand Village


April 8

April8

I left Fort Stockton, and drove east and north to Killeen, TX to visit a special
family.  A young lady, Angelique lives with her grandparents, Carmen and Ruben.
'Angie' found my web site a few years back while doing a school project, and
asked some assistance for an astronomy related paper for one of her classes.
I visited this family last year, and gave a talk in a classroom about astronomy
at the school where Carmen works.  Ruben is a retired US Army veteran.

Flowers
Texas wildflowers

Flowers
Lupine

Angie
'Angie' at her Tae Kwon Do class

Angie
'Angie' sparring with her instructor


April 9

April9
I left Killeen and drove to the Dallas area, first to visit the temple there, and
eventually to stay with friends Arlie and Rebecca Ordonez in McKinney.  Arlie
came with me to do the evening photography at the Dallas Temple.

Dallas

Dallas

Dallas

Dallas
Dallas

Dallas


April 10

April10
I did a Stake Fireside at the Frisco Stake Center, Sunday evening, with about
450 people attending.


April 11

April11
Leaving the Dallas area, and drove east into Louisiana to visit a radio amateur
friend in Alexandria.  Then crossed the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, then to
Jackson and north to Batesville for the night.
 
Louisiana

Mississippi


April 12

April12
I had breakfast with a University of Mississippi professor at Batesville before
continuing into Tennessee to photograph the Memphis and Nashville temples.

Tennessee

Memphis
The Memphis Temple

Memphis

Dogwood
Dogwood Trees along Tennessee Route 96

Parkway
View from the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge over Tennessee Route 96, just
west of Franklin

Nashville
The Nashville Temple

Nashville

Nashville

Nashville


April 13

April13
Leaving the Nashville area, I drove south into Alabama to Huntsville to visit the
NASA 'Space Camp' for youth.  At the end of the day I reached the Birmingham
area for a two-night stay.

Alabama

Rocket
Space Camp in Huntsville

MissionControl
'Mission Control' simulator actually in progress

Dogwood
These beautiful dogwood trees were found at Russell Cave NM, in the extreme
northeast corner of Alabama

RedClover
I had seen these beautiful red clover areas in the center of several interstate
highways, but you can't stop.  Finally I found this area at an exit.

RedClover
Birmingham
The Birmingham Temple at night

Birmingham


April 14

April14
After taking morning images of Birmingham Temple area, I explored several old
covered bridges less than 40 miles from my motel.

Birmingham

Birmingham

Bridge
The Easley Covered Bridge west of Oneonta, Alabama

Bridge
The Swann Covered Bridge northwest of Oneonta, Alabama

Bird
Great White Egret, with breeding plumage, seen in a small lake west of Nectar,
Alabama

Waterfall
A small roadside unnamed waterfall between Nectar and Cleveland, Alabama

April 15

April15
I left the Birmingham area and drove to Atlanta, Georgia.  I would begin a two
week stay in Acworth, Georgia at the home of Darrell and Yvonne Cheney.

Georgia

Atlanta
The Atlanta, Georgia Temple

Atlanta

Flowers

TempleSign


April16

April16
The following day, I picked up Karen at the Atlanta airport, and we went to the
temple for a private tour of the newly renovated interior.  Darrell Cheney, of
the Temple Presidency, took us through during the last day of the Open House.

Presidency
Here is the Temple Presidency:  Left to right; Yvonne and Darrell Cheney (2nd
Counselor), Beth and K. Dean Black (President), and Edwinna and Lynn Bassett
(1st Counselor)

Flowetrs


April17

April17
Sunday found us attending Stake Conference in the Powder Springs Ward (C-1)
then to the Douglasville Ward for a second session of Stake Conference (C-2).
We returned home, then went to the Hadaway Ward for my fireside for the
entire stake.


April 18

April18
Monday Karen and I left fort Florida, and the Kennedy Space center, as well as
to visit the Orlando Temple.

Florida

Orlando

Orlando

Orlando

Orlando

Orlando

Orlando


April 19

April19
We visited the Cape Canaveral National Seashore, then the space center, and
finally had dinner in Cocoa Beach and visited the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Shuttle
STS-134 on launch pad B, as seen from the north

Telephoto
The 'BIG' lens to see the shuttle from 6 miles

VLB
The Vertical Assembly Building (VAB) at the Space Center

LaunchPad
Launch Pad 'B' as seen from 2 miles

SaturnV
The end (bottom) of the Saturn V rocket

Apollo
A returned Apollo capsule

Karen
Karen and the Atlantic Ocean off of Cocoa Beach

Jim
James

April 20

April20
We drove south to Biscayne National Park and later to Key West

BiscayneNP
Biscayne NP

WaterSign
The boat traveled very slow through the 'Manatee Zone'

Captain
The boat captain (left) and his helper

Lighthouse
The Lighthouse on Boca Chita Key

Boat
Our boat

Miami
Miami across Biscayne Bay as seen from Boca Chita Key

NPSign

Birds
Comorants pearched on pilings with the South Miami area in the background

Egret
A Snowy Egret dries its wings in the sun.  These types of birds do not have oil
on its wings like other water foul, therefore they must dry their wings when they
get wet.

MantaRay
Manta Ray

Pelican
Brown Pelican

Sunset
Sunset off of Grassy Key on our way to Key West

April 21

April21
Spending the night in Key West, we headed north to Everglades NP, and ended
in Melbourne for the night

Boat
Excursion boat off Key West

KeyWestEnd
Looking south across the Straits of Florida

Jim
James

Karen\
Karen

BHBridge
The east end of the old Bahai Honda Bridge

Bridge
Looking west at what still remains of the Bahai Honda Bridge.  The newer road
is on the right.

Everglades National Park
Pelicans
White Pelicans off the coast near Flamingo at the southern tip of the park

Ibis
A juvenile White Ibis

Egret
A Great Egret

TurkeyVulture
A Turkey Vulture

April 22

April22
We drove north to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR).  For the
night we had dinner and stayed in Valdosta, FL

The Stephen C. Foster State Park in the ONWR
Tadpoles
Tadpoles

DragonFly
A Dragon Fly

Alligator
An alligator with a dragon fly on its left eyebrow

Forest
The Okefenokee forest

LilyPad
Lily pads, with a waterlily

GiraffeTree
An interesting tree in the Suwannee River in the Okefenokee State Park.  Park
visitors have fastened wood boards up the trunk, so as to climb to the swing
attached to the first limb.  We called it the 'giraffe' tree.

April 23

April23
Leaving Valdosta, we returned to Acworth and the Cheney's home.

Flowers

Flowers


April 24

April24
  Sunday we attended services in the Burnt Hickory Ward, then later went to the
  Atlanta Temple.  Both Karen and I received permission to be on the grounds to  
photograph the temple for the entire afternoon.  We were introduced to Max
 and Debi Kimball who live in a condo complex across the street from the temple.
  They gave us permission to photograph the temple from their 6th floor balcony.
The Kimballs are close friends of the Cheneys, and Max was in the Atlanta
Temple presidency.

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

\Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

The following three images were obtained from the Kimball's balcony
Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta


April 25

April25
Karen and I drove into northern Georgia, and eventually into southwest Franklin,
North Carolina to visit friends and photograph waterfalls along the way.

Waterfall
Amicalola Falls, Georgia northwest of Gainsville on Georgia 52

Tree

TreeFlowers

Flower

Flowers

Flower

Dogwood

Waterfall
Dry Falls, North Carolina, east of Highlands on US 64

Waterfall
Cullasaja Falls, west of Highlands on US 64


April 26

April26
The next day we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway into the Smoky Mountain
National Park, then to the Cherokee Indian Reservation just southwest of the
Smoky NP.  Then we went to Deer Creek north of Bryson City, NC to see many
ore waterfalls.

SmokyMts

SmokyMts

Trillium

Waterfall
Mingo Falls on the Cherokee Indian Reservation

Waterfall
Juney Whank Falls

Waterfall
Indian Creek Falls

Flowers

YalingLena

Waterfall
Tom Branch Falls

MikesFamily
Yaling and Mike White (W4MTS), and their daughter Lena

James
Jimmy



April 27

April27
Karen and I drove back to Acworth, GA


April 28

April28
I took Karen to the Atlanta airport, then hurried back to Florida for the Shuttle
launch.  Just north of Forsyth, Georgia I saw the obvious damage caused by a
tornado that had touched down along the freeway during the night of April 27.
I stayed with John Trent (KE4QIV) and his wife Jo in Cocoa, Florida.


April 29

April29
Although the shuttle launch was once again scrubbed, I spent a day with John
Trent (KE4QIV) and his wife Jo.  After an early rest, I left for Georgia to
photograph the damage caused by the tornado that swept across the freeway
north of Forsyth, Georgia.

VLB
The VAB from the Riverside Inn in Titusville.  We set up our tripod and camera
equipment to photograph the shuttle launch, and this is all we got!

Hams
John and Jim


April 30

April30
 I arrived north of Forsyth, Georgia at 8 AM.  As I took photographs west of
the freeway on a frontage road, an elderly couple told me of a family that had
lost their house east side of the freeway.  It was the home of Chris Landers.
Chris, his wife Christi, and daughter Logan all suffered injuries, especially his
daughter with a serious eye injury.

Later I arrived back in the Atlanta area to attended the "Southern Lights",
a contemporary musical in the Atlanta Civic Center with 2700 youth from the
Atlanta area LDS Stakes and Wards.  The prophet of the Church, Thomas S.
Monson attended the performance.

Tornado damage west of I-75 and north of Forsyth, Georgia
Tornado

Tornado

Tornado

Chris Landers' home totally destroyed, 1 mile east of I-75
Tornado

Tornado

Tornado

ChrisLanders
Chris Landers in the red shirt

The "Southern Lights" performance
Choir
The choir

Monson
Elder Ballard (left), President Monson (center), and Elder Walker (right)

The "Southern Lights" performance dancers
Performers

Performers

Performers

Performers

Performers


Performers
Youth singers

Performers
Drummers

More performance dance routines
Performers

Performers

Performers

Performers

Performers
The finale

Ballard
Elder M. Russell Ballard

Performers
Backstage performers

AtlantaNight
The downtown Atlanta city skyline


May 1

May1
The Atlanta Temple dedication took place on the morning of Sunday, May 1 2011.
President Thomas S. Monson held two dedicatory sessions; one at 9AM, and the
second one at 12 noon.  I attended the second session.


The following Temple images were obtained between the two dedication sessions
Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta

Monson
President Thomas S. Monson

Monson

Ballard
Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Max Kimball

Atlanta



May 2

May2
Leaving Atlanta early Monday morning I head for both Columbia, South Carolina
and Raleigh, North Carolina for their respective temples.

The Columbia South Carolina Temple at sunrise
Columbia

Columbia

Columbia


Traveling to Raleigh, North Carolina
Lake

Flowers

Flower


The Raleigh North Carolina Temple
Raleigh

Raleigh

Raleigh

Raleigh

Raleigh

Raleigh


May 3

May3
Today I drive to the Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  Then
I visit a ham friend in Hampton, and finally go to Williamsburg and Richmond,
Virginia

OuterBanks

Pelicans
The pelicans searching for food off Bodie Island

Lighthouse
The Bodie Island Lighthouse

CapeHattaras

Lighthouse
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Landscape
The view from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Sandunes
Sand Dunes of Hatteras Island

KittyHawk
Wright Brothers National Memorial Museum

Monument
Kitty Hawk Memorial

Virginia

KD4EAQ
My ham friend, John Osborn, KD4EAQ

Williamsburg
Williamsburg House


May 4

May4
I have an early dinner with my granddaughter in Richmond, then drive most of
the night through Pennsylvania and into northeast Ohio ending up in Kirtland.

Katie
With granddaughter Katie

May 5

May5
After spending the morning at the temple of the Church of Christ, I later drive
into Medina.  I have dinner with another ham friend, and then spend the early
evening with my daughter, son-in-law, and my grandson.

The Kirtland Temple (Church of Christ)
Kirtland

Kirtland

Kirtland

Flowers

Kirtland

CuyahogaRiver
The Cuyahoga River (time exposure) in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park

LeviEileen
Grandson Levi, and daughter Eileen in Medina, Ohio

RodEileen
Son-in-law Rod, with Eileen

May 6

May6
Eileen and I spend some time together, then we all meet at the Medina chapel
for my fireside.


May 7

May7
I leave for Columbus to photograph the temple there, then into Indianapolis,
Indiana to see the property for a temple to be built there, and finally I go
west into Illinois, to the Mississippi River, and north to the Nauvoo Temple.

The Columbus Ohio Temple
Columbus

Columbus

Columbus

Ohio

Indiana

Indianapolis
The still vacant property for the recently announced LDS temple in Indianapolis

Illinois

MississippiRiver
Sunset on the Mississippi River north of Keokuk, Illinois on State Highway 96

The Nauvoo Temple
Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Nauvoo


May 8

May8
 I attended Sunday services at the Nauvoo Ward, meet two ham friends for lunch,
and then leave for St. Louis, Missouri.  I got a motel, photographed the temple
late in the afternoon, then returned for some nighttime imaging.

The Nauvoo Temple in the morning
Nauvoo

An original sculpted 'Sunstone' at the nearby Nauvoo quarry
Nauvoo

Nauvoo

Iowa

Missouri

The St. Louis Missouri Temple
StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis


May 9

May9
After imaging the St Louis Temple in the morning, I headed to Mansfield to visit
my granddaughter, Ashlie. In a youth setting at a local church she talked about
her experience raising poodle dogs.

Morning images at the St. Louis Temple
StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

StLouis

Granddaughter Ashlie in Mansfield, Missouri
Ashlie

Ashlie

Ashlie


May 10

May10
I had breakfast with Ashlie's grandparents, the Philpotts, then toured their 120
 acre property.  Later in the afternoon, I drove into Oklahoma to photograph the
Oklahoma City Temple.

The Philpott's property west of Mansfield
PhilpottsLot

Jack
JackPhilpott

Flower

PhilpottsLot

Ashlie

Ashlie and grandma Jan riding their horses
\AshlieJan

Ashlie

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple
OklahomaCity

OklahomaCity

OklahomaCity

OklahomaCity



May 11

May11
I took sunrise pictures of the Oklahoma City Temple, then drove west into New
Mexico and the White Sands National Monument.  Continuing west, I crossed into
Arizona and the Gila Valley.  There I photographed the Gila Valley Temple, and
spent the night in a motel in Thatcher, Arizona.

Sunrise at the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple
Sunrise

OklahomaCity

OklahomaCity

Drove through the panhandle of Texas into New Mexico
NewMexico

The White Sands National Monument, west of Alamogordo on US Highway 70
WhiteSands

The Gila Valley Arizona Temple
GilaValley

GilaValley

GilaValley


May 12

May12
I got up at 2:30 AM, and drove to the south side of the road to Mt. Graham.
There I took images of the Milky Way, and as twilight began, the four planet
conjunction of Mercury, Venus, Mars , and Jupiter in the eastern skies.  After
returning to the motel to sleep for three hours, I left Thatcher, photographed
the Gila Valley Temple in sunlight, then drove to the Gilbert Arizona Temple,
Mesa Temple, and Phoenix Temple sites (all within a 20 mile radius).  Later I
drove to Flagstaff for dinner, and went to the Grand Canyon NP for the night.

The Milky Way as seen from state highway 366 on the south of Mt. Graham
MilkyWay

A four planet conjunction (also seen from highway 366).  Mars is in the lower
left, with Venus (brightest), Jupiter (upper), and Mercury (lower) to the right
Conjunction

The Gila Valley Arizona Temple in the morning
GilaValley

GilaValley

GilaValley

GilaValley

Flower

The Gilbert Arizona Temple construction site, slated for completion in 2013
Gilbert

Gilbert

The Mesa Arizona Temple and grounds
Mesa

Mesa

Mesa

Mesa

Flowers

Flower

Flowers

Flower

Flower

The Phoenix Arizona Temple construction site, with a groundbreaking ceremony
scheduled for June 4, 2011
Phoenix

Phoenix

The Grand Canyon National Park late in the afternoon
GrandCanyon

The Grand Canyon at night (illuminated by moonlight), as seen in the next two
images.  Note the stars in the sky top center.
GrandCanyon
Note the lights in the Geology Museum (foreground, upper right center)

GrandCanyon
Bright Angel Canyon in the upper left center


May 13

May13
I got up at 3 AM to photograph the Milky Way from the parking lot at Yavapai
Point.  I took a helicopter ride after sunrise over the canyon before heading to
Wrightwood, completing a 40-day, 14000 miles trip in 22 states.

The Milky Way from the Yavapai parking lot
MilkyWay

Sunrise at Yavapai Point
GrandCanyon

The remaining images were taken from a helicopter in extremely clear skies.
GrandCanyon
The Colorado River near Tanner Canyon

GrandCanyon
The Little Colorado River Canyon (lower center, extending to the right)

GrandCanyon
Nankoweap Mesa

GrandCanyon

GrandCanyon
Nankoweap Creek

GrandCanyon

GrandCanyon
Kwagunt Creek

GrandCanyon
Battleship Rock

GrandCanyon

GrandCanyon

GrandCanyon
Trees (and the helicopter shadow) over Walhalla Plateau

GrandCanyon

GrandCanyon
Bright Angel Canyon from left center to lower right

GrandCanyon
The Colorado River (center)

GrandCanyon

GrandCanyon
Crystal Rapids (center), with Crystal Creek entering the Colorado from the right
(obscured by canyon walls)

GrandCanyon
The South Rim in the upper left, as our flight ends.

I arrived back in Wrightwood at 4 PM.



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