Who could have foreseen the change that would come? If the land could speak in any language, it would paint a history too dire and sweeping for any canvas to contain. The sky itself could not tell such a story. Both it and the land have witnessed the passing of ages together. Silent, hand in hand, like two ancient brothers destined to watch the beautiful and sometimes cruel cycle of time. Once upon a time, these lands were different. A beautiful hilltop view from Pear Valley

Henry Billings idly studied the compass in his cabin aboard the William's Flight . It had been two years since he'd set sail in search of the man who had ruined not only his brother's finances, but the family name as well. He could not abide such humiliation, and when Parliament failed to satisfy, he'd taken matters into his own hands and set sail with a modest crew, some of whom were close friends and others there simply for the wages. His family, after all, used to be known

Having had the immense privilege of photographing Operation Surf in Central California, it only seemed right to share their ongoing mission with you. The entire team of people who make up this operation prove the theory that "love is a verb." The arrival of Wounded Warriors at San Luis Obispo Airport Hundreds of locals show up at the airport to give an enthusiastic welcome and heartfelt thank you to the Operation Surf attendees. In most cases, the Wounded Warriors are coming

A hundred thoughts raced through Adam's mind as he stared at the space shuttle in the visitor's center, poised, as he thought, in a perpetual state of action. As if it still had some fight left in it, in spite of the trappings of humankind. There was a fine line between the fancies of boyhood and the endless expanse of being an adult in an adventurous, unpredictable and often dangerous world. It wouldn't be long before his own adventure launched in a much newer model, and whi

Freedom starts here. With speed. The audience and the race car drivers were on two sides of the same coin. One half basked in the electric environment, eager to share in a small portion of the thrills that came simply by partaking in the event. The other half, those few who at this point in life found themselves neck-high in the thrill and the risk of it all, were the drivers themselves. Anticipation for the start of the race thrummed across the stadium, leaving none immune t

The True Spirit of the American West As soon as he saw the raging spirit enter the corral, something deep down inside of him knew they were kindred spirits. A raucous, desert-brown sandstorm of a horse was manhandled into the corral, snorting, kicking and screaming for all the world as if it were a runaway steam engine. The cowhands shouted and tugged at the ropes and waved their hats, but he coolly leaned on the fence, never batting an eye. It was with the stoic trademark of

Precision, Trust, and Speed at NAS JAX Princess of the Skies, Queen of Cumulus, Empress of Elysium...Zachary had heard just about every nickname under the sun given to these efficient machines. Lesser names often stuck as well. Hardware. Equipment. Man-made marvels. People could call them whatever they wanted, but to him they were more than machines made to be flown in, more than stunts for the public eye. In a way, Zachary felt as close to the Blue Angels fighter jets as a

Beautiful Yosemite National Park - California William "Bill" Stoughtly wiped the sweat from his brow as he trudged what he guessed to be his sixth mile through the uninviting terrain. He wasn't poetic by any stretch of the imagination, but even he couldn't help reflecting that the only inviting thing about this uncharted valley was the scenery. It's part of what lured him west in the first place, the other being the siren's call of gold, which meant fortune and, in the long

Edmund Davies was nearly blindsided by the ship's boom as the great vessel lurched atop a violent wave. The storm had appeared out of nowhere, and what had started as a beautiful, promising day at sea now left them with no certain promise of tomorrow. Amidst the turmoil, he couldn't help but think of everything dear and safe he had left back on land and wished now that he'd never agreed to set foot aboard the Majestic. A young man who boasted neither wealth nor exemplary bree

Clarence gazed up at the stars from the festering, mud-filled trenches and took a shuddering breath. He had long lost track of how long he and his brothers-in-arms had been there, and even less how much had passed since the Civil War began. But even in the pit of darkness, there were reprieves. A rare moment in which the sound of gunfire was scarce finally arrived, though it wasn't without consequence. The squelching of boots trudging through thick mud, the moans of an injure

The village of Kodore housed the bravest warriors for two hundred miles in every direction. It wasn't the biggest village among the settlements that were scattered across the deep, dark forest. But what it lacked in numbers, it made up for through the reputation of Ika-mae, the bravest hunter in the land. One night during midsummer, the elders of his village held a council with the elders from the neighboring provinces. All of the settlements within two hundred miles of Kodor

K'runa heard the dull thrum of the motors long before he espied the strange creatures floating on top. From beneath the water, they looked like trees perched on a small hill. Cautiously, curiously, he emerged from the chill embrace of his domain and ventured to get a closer look. Without so much as a splash or sound, he smoothly raised nearly half his girth out of the water and got one good glimpse of the alien creatures. The high-pitched noises and raised arms told K'runa th

Anbrozo's heart beat fast as he stood, transfixed, suspended in a sea of spectators. He was an unusual figure, familiar with many things natural and supernatural. As a man who existed in the 15th century, his wise head had always kept those traits hidden from the public eye. His crafty, subtle nature and alarming skill with the sword had a tendency to gain him audiences with loftier individuals who guarded lowlier goals. Only an hour ago, he'd been on an errand of secrecy at