MY LAST TRIP
to
TEHACHAPI
 

May 3-6, 2006
 
On the Road Again…
Recently, my health-both physically and mentally-has gone down hill. Close friends have died this year and as webmaster of our class website, I have the task of writing their memorials. My weight, blood sugar and blood pressure all seem to want to soar like the recent changes in Sacramento Valley temperatures.

Ultimately, I have only one choice left. As they so wisely decided in "Animal House", my only option was a Road Trip.

On May 3, I embarked on a 1,100-mile journey to the Tehachapi Pass in Kern County. I spent three nights sleeping in my camper shell at a place I lovingly call "Camp Bealville". Technically, the location is at the south end of the 13,270-foot long Bealville siding, at milepost 340.5.

The opening photos provide a good description of "Camp Bealville". If you like trains, lots and lots of trains, this is the place to be.

This is actually at least my third time camping at Bealville Siding. The last trip was at least two or three years ago and in the middle of summer. This trip, I had mostly springtime temperatures. Also, this was my first trip where I had a still camera to record the trains and the scenery. Previously, I had only shot video and I am not even sure where those tapes are today.

For still photography, I was armed with my new HP M22 digital camera. It was my first new camera since purchasing an Argus C-44 in 1961 during my early days in the Air Force. (I adapt slowly to change.) I have no doubt that my "toy camera" as I fondly call it, was the cheapest camera in use on The Hill during my four-day visit. I paid $139.95 for it at Wal-Mart and then acquired a 512 MB memory card, a 1 GB card, and finally a lightweight tripod for a total investment of a little over $200. The total cost for high-octane gasoline for my small compact truck was greater than that.

The large memory card allowed me to return home with over 325 images at a low compression 4mp setting on the camera. The default image size was roughly 2300 x 1700 pixels.

The M22 is a small, hand-held digital camera. The lens is not much: a 6.5 mm focal length (the 35mm camera equivalent is 36.7 mm). F-stops are rather limited: f/2.8 to f/6.5. This is a long ways from my vintage Argus (now in a museum) days where I had three lens to choose from: 35mm wide, 50mm standard, and a 100mm telephoto.

Obviously, with the M22 I just about have to be on top of the object if I want sharp detail. Distance and detail are out of the question. However, I have been very impressed with the quality of images that I have captured thus far. The camera has an automatic focus default setting, which sets up when the camera is powered up. Focal length (yes, it has a 6X zoom) and aperture are set by the camera's computer, a process that takes about ten seconds to complete. It also has six preset combinations that can be chosen by clicking a front-end button for conditions including low light, bright light, and fast-action.

 

 
 

2014 hours 05.04.2006