2016 was a turbulent year for lots of folks, but for me, it was super lucky! I tracked history, beauty, and wonder across seven states and Canada, and though I still haven’t found George, the pictures from this year still fill me with joy when I look at them!

1. The Mystical Crystal Ice Cave!

Have you ever seen a more magnificent underground ice palace? The way the lights sparkle in the ice? The way the frigid water creates dazzling sculptures? It’s really hard to get into the Crystal Cave at Lava Beds National Monument, because there are only six spaces on each tour that sell out within minutes of becoming available. There was a cancellation the day I arrived, which made this one lucky blunder into beauty!

2. Snow-Free Señor Castorieti!

I had adventures with more friends this year than in any other, and this picture is the best example of that! While visiting my good friend, Danielle, in Canada, I also got to escort my friend, Scooter Wojak, into the Land of Beavers. Along the way, we strolled stunning beaches along the Bruce Peninsula, with just enough snow that Señor Castorieti could join us for a lakeside frolic!

3. Taking Aim at Saratoga!

History is still alive and still very much fun! I toured Saratoga National Historical Park on a perfectly gorgeous day in May, and although this was the place where the tide of the American revolution turned in favor of the colonists, I actually enjoyed the British cannons a little more! Incoming!

4. Strolling Strong for AIDS Walk New York!

I did my very first online fundraiser this year, and though $50 isn’t a whole lot in the scheme of things, it was the first of what I hope to be many contributions to worthwhile organizations in the coming year! After raising the money, I met up with some friends at Central Park to participate in AIDS Walk New York! Under the banner of the Salty Birches, we walked through sun, rain, and inspiring hymns to raise funds and awareness for the devastating disease!

5. Colors of the Petrified Forest!

This ancient tree may have lost its life ages ago, but it is beautiful even in death! Look at the colors! Look at the textures! Throughout Petrified Forest National Park, I found rainbows of color on ancient logs stretching for miles, a forest of meditative crystals!

6. The Winding Hilltop Maze of Tuzigoot!

Tuzigoot National Monument was not a place I had heard of before making my list of national parks to visit, but it was impressive to see it for the first time on a hilltop. It’s a magnificently preserved pueblo whose inhabitants worked hard to manifest the breathtaking Flower World! I love tracing the lines in this photo. Give it a try!

7. A Celebrity Sighting!

Of all my favorite celebrities, Bigfoot is key among them, because despite all his fame, he’s never forgotten his roots! Well, I just so happened to run into him this summer at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and he let me take a selfie with him! How fantastic!

8. Crater Lake Photo Bomb!

Crater Lake National Park is spectacularly beautiful, with crystal clear waters and high mountains. I wanted to take a photo at the edge of the lake to show off its shores, but a golden-mantled ground squirrel got caught in the shutter when he came up to tell me the lake access was closed! It sure made for a funny shot!

9. My Final Historical Landmark!

It’s hard to believe that after six years, my quest to see the historical landmarks of California has come to a close! From Campo to Crescent City, it’s been an enlightening, exciting, dangerous, and intimate experience with my home state, and on October 1, I picked the Battery Point Lighthouse (#951-2) to cap off the adventure. I had just snapped a shot of the last plaque, when my brothers appeared to surprise me, bringing along a whole host of friends I’d met on my adventures, and we had a really nice celebration. I cried! It was wonderful.

10. Graveyard of the Dragons!

I took a walk with my brothers into the primordial Fern Canyon after our last landmark celebration, and we stumbled upon an ancient dragon graveyard! It reminded me that the dragons, though super scary and strong at one time, were all eventually defeated. That’s a good lesson for looking forward to 2017.

So I wish you strength and determination in battle with your own dragons! As for me, with my historic quest complete, it’s time to turn my attention more fully to the ever-expanding list of national parks, and to the wonders of the world. This is a wonderful world that we live in, and I encourage each of you to explore as much of it as you can!

Happy New Year!