The month of January in 2010 finds me driving to the south of Mexico and during this two mouth journey, I am able to explore fourteen different states.

After having driven down from Texas during the last week of December 2009, I begin my journey from Monterrey, Neuvo Leon south through the county. The first opportunity for a photo of the sunglow is in Morelia, Michoacán when I am outside washing the jammer and look up to see the sunglow shining through the clouds.

I grab my camera, zoom in and begin taking photos of the sunglow above the mountains on the distance horizon.

East of Morelia, Michoacán on federal highway 15, while driving to locate the monarch butterfly sanctuary, I stop for the night at a roadside park, one with a waterfall, a spring and a grand view of the Mil Cumbres (thousand summits).

In the morning, as the light begins to illuminate the day, I record the pulchritude with my camera. Below is a few of the photos taken this morning.

After spending two days in the mountains, I need to return to town, any town so that I can access WiFi to upload my photos to the web site.

Ziticuaro is the name of the town which provides the WiFi and did so with free access from on a road in town. However, when the time came for the sun set that evening, the colors were so radiant, that I just got out and took photos right there from the street.

With several of the mariposa sanctuaries visited, now I desired to visit the Pacific south coast. The drive down goes through a desert mountain range and the sunset approaches, the colors began to show up.

The area is called the Infiernillo which is Spanish for Little hell.

After driving through the desert, I arrive at the small town of Blue Beach and find a place to park but it is hot and must needs wait until late until it cools down.

After driving up the Pacific coast, I then search inland for internet access, then I drive to Lake Chapala, the largest lake in the country and viewable from space.

Arriving at sunset, I quickly retrieve my camera an begin taking it all in.

Then the drive north begins by leaving Morelia and driving through Guanauanto, then across Jalisco, to Aquascalientes, and next into Zacatecas which during that evening, there was a huge storm at the sun setting.

I am driving north though the mountains and there are storm clouds all day, into the night. I continue northward until very late this night.

The next morning, I drive the rest of the way towards the Texas border and get into line for the crossing of the Rio Grande river back into the US. It is a long wait to make it to the inspection center and finally, I am back in Texas.

After spending almost a week in the Rio Grande Valley, (in Texas, known just as The Valley) I drive through Goliad, then head for Johnston City and the Perdernales River after having been told that the state park has great blinds for bird viewing. Arriving only a short time before the sunset, I drive to the falls looking for a photo opportunity.

Later, when in League City and at one sunset, seeing a golden wall think it worthy of a photo.

My path next leads me to near the geographic center of Texas at the town of Brady. Here, I not only see some great sunsets but make some great friends in the small local congregation.

Continuing my return to Washington, I drive through the top of Texas into northeast New Mexico where the third engine is installed into the jammer. While I am waiting for the work to be done, I stay at Laughlin Mountain Ranch not far from Laughlin Peak. In fact, it is clearly visible from the ranch. Here, Ferdinand shows me how he trains horses.

After arriving in Washington, I begin preparing for the long journey when my home sells and during the fall take several short trips. One that I especially enjoy is the drive on the Oregon Coast.