Author | Lightnews

@spastic555.bsky.social

1.5K followers 120 following 280 posts

I like to hike in beautiful places and to grow things. Dad and loving husband. Just here to share and enjoy others’ art and thoughts. None of my original photos were generated through AI. Not interested in thirst bots.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 13h

I really wish there was an edit button 🤦‍♂️

1 2

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 13h

While withholding SNAP benefits is inhumane, the fact that the richest county in the world has nearly 42 million people on those benefits is disgraceful. That’s nearly 1 in 8 Americans. Simultaneously there are people with private jets and mega yachts. Tax the rich now or eat them later.

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 14h

Went for a hike at Taylor Mountain Regional Park today. Short hike, but I always loved be that place. Didn’t go to the summit, but went around to the eastern part of the park that gets a little less traffic. #hiking

A view north from the trail. Mount St. Helena is in the far background

Sun sneaking around the old man’s beard lichen on a big, beautiful oak

Another artsy shot of a lichen covered oak with the sun peeking through the branches

Up close on the lichen, with the oak and sun in the background

1 10

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 1d

A tale of three trees. All planted at the same time, all within 20 feet of each other. All photos taken within seconds of each other. #Fall

A little green still showing in this red maple

Still pretty solidly green red maple tree

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 3d

Ok, the commute home was much prettier than then way in. #sunset

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 3d

Same location as my last post, but a drastically different vibe this morning. Sadly, with the time change this weekend, today is probably my last bike commute for a while.

A very foggy morning, with trees barely visible in the distance.

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 5d

I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy my bike commute when I do it. Today was one of those mornings. Crispy, clear fall #sunrise #photography

The sun rises behind an oak tree, while low mist/fog swirls in the background

1 29

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 6d

Yes, Petaluma, CA. Northern Bay Area

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 7d

Back to Jack London State Park for a rainy hike today. Almost 10 miles, I’m done for the day! #hiking

Lots of low clouds prevent me from taking g grand views, so here’s the trail.

The trail through the low clouds and rain

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 9d

It’s kind of all over the map. Last year they bloomed Nov-Jan, so who knows?

1 1

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 10d

It’s nice when the trash takes itself out.

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 13d

This was a few days back, but still interesting. orb Weaver spider maybe? My camera was close, but it was pretty big #Spiders

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 13d

And to not pick up charm stones thrown into the lake (before the natural dam was dynamited). Fascinating history to the site. I’d love to have seen it when the lake filled the valley!

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 13d

I’ve been going there a long time too. I’m old enough to remember when one needed to carry a permit and proximity card to get in. Good hiking spot, though I could use a few more trees along the way.

1 1

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 14d

I almost took a picture of them😁
There were like 6-7 of them just staring at me

1 1

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 14d

Today’s hike was Tolay Lake Regional Park east of Petaluma. I did the West Ridge Trail as it has been a couple of years since I did it last. It’s a slog during the summer because there is almost no tree cover, but it’s a pretty nice spring/fall hike. #hiking

Siri thinks this is a type of wild onion “small onion”. Not sure, but they were pretty and all over the trail in a few spots

A tiger swallow tail butterfly. It wouldn’t let me get closer without flying away

A garter snake sunbathing across the trail. Beautiful reptile!

2 23

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 14d

A friendly danger noodle giving me a blep on my hike today. #photography #snek

1 2 46

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 15d

Goodnight, BlueSky #sunset

1 14

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 15d

Ok, back to my non-political posts. The sun rises so late now that I’m getting to see some amazing sunrises. The sliver of the moon is visible, as is Venus if you look really close. #SunRise

A sliver of the moon illuminated above an orange sunrise

1 21

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 15d

#NoKings #Petaluma

Mr. And Mrs. Spastic peacefully protesting

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 15d

Hard to tell the scale of how many people were marching, as we started on the streets and then funneled down to the sidewalk. Definitely hundreds, maybe thousands. #NoKings #Petaluma

Protesters in Petaluma, CA for No Kings Day 10/18/25

1 11

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 17d

Christmas in October? The Christmas Cactus has a solitary flower. Don’t even see any buds for other flowers. They’re pretty while they last
#BloomScrolling

2 24

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 19d

I used to run at Ellis Creek. I liked it even more than Shollenberger. It was so neat seeing the swan families there every year.

1 4

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 21d

Another Annadel State Park (Santa Rosa) hike today. What a beautiful day! Temps were perfect, the sky was clear, the breeze was minimal. It is a gift to live on such a perfect world. Now if we could just get on the same page to protect it from the greediest of our species. #hiking

For being a tall guy, I sure enjoy things close to the ground. Some which mushrooms on a damp side of the trail

Droplets of dew caught in a spider’s web

Lake Ilsanjo just barely visible behind the plants

1 1 22

spastic555.bsky.social @spastic555.bsky.social · 22d

Just some insects on flowers for your #BloomScrolling pleasure

A honey bee on a red zinnia. I like the background blur so you can see how the flowers are losing their healthy glow

Honey bee full of pollen on an aging pink zinnia

A hoverfly making you think it’s a bee, on a pink zinnia

2 1 30