2026.5.4 大崩山 Mt.Ookue in Miyazaki prefecture. Japanese　El Capitan.

Japanese azalea Mitsuba azalea, Rhododendron dilatatum Evergreen azalea, Rhododendron keiskei Akebono Azalea, Rhododendron pentaphyllum

I don't mind Terra Core sampling - in fact I like them - but it takes extra time to label every container on top of using a PID. It's specially annoying if the core gets jammed midway, but at least we saw some evaporite, gypsum I think (which I don't ever see at these depths along the Gulf Coast).

This relationship is not easy. It has never been easy. No one expected it to be easy either. But they love each other regardless. They are willing to endure strong pressures and even destroy parts of themselves to be together with each other.

When they eventually pass away and are subjected to the mercy of nature, at the end what everyone sees is a surprisingly polished surface admired by everyone. It records the story between the two rocks, how they endured harsh stresses and sharp edges and corners to result in something hauntingly beautiful:

both people in the photos are me! this is from my visit back in march of last year. went just for fun and to climb in the lava caves. Pisgah is about 35,000 years old, and in the southern most part of the Mojave Desert. Its very well preserved from the desert conditions, which makes the caves safer than average. photo #3 is from the back of Glove Cave (past the book you sign if youve ever been there) and photo #4 is where you can see whats left of the volcano!