In Celina (Grand Lake Region), we stay at the West Bank Inn. It’s a funky little bit of road hospitality. It stands directly across West Bank Road from a little boat harbor off the lake. The harbor is sheltered by a groin about seventy-five feet or so from shore. Water birds out doing water bird stuff congregate on the rocky wall.
Getting in to the Inn is a bit of a challenge (no elevator), especially for two mobility-challenged seniors. But we find the option to use the balcony and the privacy from being on the second floor to be worth the hassle. We have to lug all our stuff, (two hard side suitcases, my camera bag (about 40 lbs.) a knapsack, Toni’s tote and purse, and our travel mugs), up a metal exterior staircase to our room. (We usually ask for — and get — a specific room. Once we’re in, we do not go right back out. Friday night this trip we hit the room about 5:00 and took a nap. Missed the sunset, which was one of the main attractants to the trip. Woke up pre-dawn and figured to get the sunrise. Took a few shots from the balcony.
Here’s one… I don’t really know what/if to do with this. It’s shot from the balcony of our room at the West Bank Inn of a flock of pelicans resting on the water off the west bank of Grand Lake St. Marys taken shortly after dawn on Sunday March 21 this year. The grain is from a super-high ISO (Actually, auto-ISO) shot taken in morning twilight. It looked really dead to me until I ran Photolemur on it. The picture brightened up and took on a blue-hours cast. But I can’t see a crop or refinement that can make the picture better. And, frankly, pretty as it is, it’s still nothing to write home about.