October/November in the US Photo Essay
- Jack Richards
- Nov 17, 2025
- 1 min read
Austin and I just got back from our second trip the US this year: 30+ hours in the air
3 states, 1 wedding, and precious time with friends and family.
Pacific Northwest
First stop, I stayed with my parents for about a week, saw friends and enjoyed the peak fall foliage.
Jet lag + east coast meetings = up before sunrise Thankfully "The Mountain was Out" to greet me The main attraction in Tacoma (and Wright Park) Tis the season to squirrel nuts Spanish Strawberries, delicious, soft and forage-able Duck, Duck, Duck... Goose (there's no goose, just fall foliage) Ginkgo tree mid-autumnal-transition More ginkgo Peak leaf peeping in the secret tunnel to the Vault Breakfast, Chez Richards Spot the locals / tourist (Colin joined for the weekend) 50 shades of grey More fall A quick hike to see Galloping Girdy's replacements Gray-inbow 18-ish years of friendship! Moscato Sky at Queer/Bar, Seattle Issa Man at Queer/Bar, Seattle Amora Namor at Queer/Bar, Seattle I know you're queer, but what am I? Peak fall at Nisqually Nature Reserve Boardwalk +Mom Bird watchers Bird watching - Land Bird watching - Water Friend watching Seal watching Bird watching - land 2 Bird watching - sky Frog watching Barn watching Leaf watching Spot at the Museum of Glass Kids Design Glass in action They don't call it the hot shop for nothing Kids Design Glass, Cat Sundae The master, Lino Tagliapietra More Lino Lines in Glass Glass Lines The shadow of the artist... More Kids Design Glass works Glass flowers Flowers in Glass* (acrylic) Icons of Tacoma (and the Hot Shop) Rayna and sky blue pink reflections in the bay Machettes by Carey Wong Caboose Train line Either way, you're heading the "right" direction Mount Tahoma - Golden Hour Mount Tahoma - Dusk Mount Tahoma - Sunrise The mountain was out on the final day A rare sight, three Richards on a plane!
SoCal
I flew with my parents to LAX where we met Austin who landed an hour before us. Austin and I spent the week with his brother and family north of the city and a few visits with family and friends in LA and Orange County.
Landing at LAX Two Uruguayans... Is it Halloween or just every day? Trick-or-treating in Santa Clarita with the extended family Two Uruguayans, a cowboy and Shadow from Mortal Combat Dia de Los Muertos in La Ventura Mexican Dia de los Muertos* Low Riders Low Riders Upside Down Right side up First Fernet sighting in California Extended family on the La Ventura Pier Take 2 Trying the toys... Those Mullins blue eyes... Brayden taking 3rd Home run for Brayden (1 of 3)! Brayden spotting a sibling! Preparing for winter Birthday brunch for Meatball and Ariel! Golden Hour in Downtown LA Development... SoCal friends 8-ish years of obsessing over getting the best shot Family Family friends Downtown LA - Dusk Fernet spotting #2 Morning calm Chaos after the Dodger's World Series victory parade. LA - Rivers LA - Roads LA - Rails Cora & Hazel Pacific Coast Highway (and traffic) Prepping for the holiday market at Crystal Cove Crystal Cove One of the many rentable cabins (if you're lucky) Crystal Cove, the site of a few films 9-ish years of friendship Marbled SBP sky Moon spotting Bird poses - 1 Bird poses - 2 Snapped for the memory The camera sees stars our human eyes loose to light polution Getting ready... Moon spotting The pros racing I took it slow... Brayden wizzing by Brayden 1/2 a lap ahead of Austin Sam... More our speed... Austin won... Boomer keeping watching Schnauzer spotting So long Pacific So long LA(X) Exit row with more legroom than business class. What happens in Vegas...
New York City
Final stop, and motivation for the timing of the trip: the wedding of Austin and Luke (other Austin) plus a few nights out with friends.
Waved to the family as we flew by NYC skyline - blurry NYC skyline - clearer NYC skyline - clearest Downsized our storage unit (and still room for more!) SBP from the parking lot Visited a friend Architecture spotting is more fun when you don't live in NYC The Hora Selfie for now, waiting for the pro pics Scoutting Scout NYC skyline - golden hour Lust Caution: Act 1 Lust Caution: Act 2 Lust Caution: Act 3 Lust Caution: Act 4 Lust Caution: Act 5 Lust Caution: Act 6 More architecture peeping Imposters... NYC skyline - twinkle edition So long, fall. See you in May! Happy place... Our plane on its way in The Rockaways A relic from our former commute to the beach So long, JFK NYC skyline - last glimpse
Our plan is to enjoy summer in South America. Our next trip north will likely be in Southern Fall / Northern Spring. See you then, US.
Les fotos en el bitácora son muy elegante y hermoso. Las palabras muy claro y interesante sin la manera de muchos artículos de viajes - demasiado expresivo con detalles no importante.
I like how you write - spare and engagingly and you have a good eye.