Cover photo: A tree reflects through debris and points of sunlight in a park puddle.
Here in Northern California we’ve been having some prodigious rainstorms. According to the weather guy on TV (who is quickly becoming one of my least favorite people not living in Washington DC) we’ve been hydrologically pulverized by an atmospheric river and the pineapple express. My dear old dad would’ve stated it in plain English – “It’s raining like a bastard.” Thanks dad.
Yesterday we got a brief respite, the clouds parted, a strange bright orb appeared in the sky and things dried off a bit. It was the perfect opportunity to celebrate a little drying with a little photography.
A friend on Facebook exclaimed with glee “I love the rain!” Tell that to our neighbor who woke up to this yesterday morning.

The saturated ground surrendered this palm tree to the wind gusts.
Lexi, who spends most of the day at the back patio door looking sadly out at the rain was out of her mind with boredom so I took her for a ride in the car as I ran errands. We briefly walked around the city park so she could do her doggy business and as we toured the pathway I saw some of the backwash from the week of storms.

Canon EOS60D 1/10 sec. f/5.6 72mm ISO 100
Above and below. “God willing and the creek don’t rise.” Refugio Creek is usually a little trickle, really a poor excuse for a creek that dribbles around the trees. It’s most notable attribute is its ability to attract trash from the fast food joints. This week the creek got angry, flushed away the burger wrappers and roared through the trees surrounding the creek bed.

Canon EOS60D 1/4 sec. f/20 135mm ISO 100
Concrete benches front a small section of the little man made lake at Refugio Valley Park. On a normal day grandma and grandpa sit on the benches as their small grandchildren throw bread to the ducks, geese and gulls that inhabit the park. Below a gull perches on the railing that normally separates lake from land and surveys a nearly submerged bench.

Canon EOS60D 1/100 sec. f/5.6 85mm ISO 160
As the day wore on the clouds started to break; puffy mounds of white and gray broken by patches of blue. A great local photo venue is a waterfront park in nearby Pinole. The park, fronting San Pablo Bay is also home to a sewage treatment plant which I try to stay upwind of.
The sun broke through the storm, presenting an ever changing panorama captured below in color and monochrome (with a little editing license).

Canon EOS60D 1/500 sec. f/5 10mm ISO 100

Canon EOS60D 1/1250 sec. f/5 10mm ISO 100

Canon EOS60D 1/400 sec. f/5 10mm ISO 100

Canon EOS60D 1/640 sec. f/5 10mm ISO 100

A bank of clouds stretches out to Marin County Canon EOS60D 1/800 sec. f/5 13mm ISO 100

As the afternoon wore on the clouds started to close in again. Canon EOS60D 1/250 sec. f/5 10mm ISO 100
Meanwhile back at the park some residual puddles put on a show of reflection and light.

A smudgy eucalyptus reflection. Canon EOS60D 1/60 sec. f/5.6 72mm ISO 100

A gift of blue sky. Canon EOS60D 1/100 sec. f/5 45mm ISO 100

Canon EOS60D 1/40 sec. f/5.6 87mm ISO 100
Above and below: The welcome sun creates points of light that dance on the reflecting puddles.

Canon EOS60D 1/100 sec. f/5.6 87mm ISO 100
As I write this it’s raining again and will be through the weekend. Ugh.
Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
Little Johnny wants to play;
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again!
Impressive. Beautiful photos.
Thank you. Very much appreciated.
Paulie, your photos blow my mind, every time!!!! I thought we were getting some crazy rain here, but it’s nothing compared to what you have shown. Wow! I know it’s terrible to say, but your photos make it beautiful….easy to say since I am not in it, I suppose.
Thank you so much. Aside from the neighbor’s car our neighborhood has escaped the serious damage like closed streets and mudslides.
As a homeowner I’ve become a bit paranoid when it comes to big rainstorms and the inconvenience and expense they can cause. I constantly do walk arounds to check for leaks.
As any wise person would!!!!! So glad you guys and your home are safe!
What a deluge! I’ve been watching the weather news and it seems like you had more than enough rain, hopefully easing your drought. Stay dry!
Thank you for visiting Eliza, I think for this year we could get by without another drop and the drought would be considered eased. I’ve been lucky but for the anxiety that the sound of a gushing downpour at midnight causes.
We’ve been in this house for 30 years and this year is the first time that the pool has overflowed – twice.
I can understand your anxiety, many reasons for worry from Nature’s extremes of drought, fire, mudslides and flooding. Stay safe.
Your photos are wonderful!!!
Thank you so much Luisa.
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