BajaNomad

If I make it, will they come?

David K - 6-5-2011 at 11:47 AM

Getting photos and trip reports added to my web site VivaBaja.com involved making a web page on my WebTV (had since 1999) then having my web host convert the pages to html or whatever tricks he uses to make it look the best on VivaBaja.com. This often took up to a year to accomplish, and I am no longer using WebTV for Internet viewing as I had in the past (the computer is faster and I am used to it).

I decieded to try a blog page on blogspot.com like others have used to post updates outside of our posts here on Baja Nomad.

Here is my first blog page with a few photos from last weekend's trip to Shell Island... I can make changes to it and will work at improving how it looks. I asked my web host to put a link to it on VivaBaja.com, as well...

Comments?

Here it is: http://vivabajablog.blogspot.com/

BajaGringo - 6-5-2011 at 11:53 AM

Looks like a good start - can you adjust the format to fit the pictures? A blog format should work well for you...

David K - 6-5-2011 at 11:55 AM

Yah, I like big photos... but the first one spread wide into that text... not sure how to bump the start of it down... so I shrank the first photo, for now. Needs some editing still... It is new to me, so give me some time and advice! Thanks!

BajaGringo - 6-5-2011 at 12:01 PM

I found this - it might help you make that page column adjustment so your photos fit:

http://blogneedmoney.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-change-widt...

David K - 6-5-2011 at 12:21 PM

Okay Ron, I added 4 images to the beginning and left them small, so the info bar on the right remains outside the larger photos below.

David K - 6-5-2011 at 12:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
I found this - it might help you make that page column adjustment so your photos fit:

http://blogneedmoney.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-change-widt...


Thanks...something else to play with... I appreciate the tip!

Elizabeth and I are going to the zoo this afternoon... it is such a glorious day here in San Diego/ Oceanside today!

gnukid - 6-5-2011 at 12:37 PM

Looks Great DK! Nice work!

Curt63 - 6-5-2011 at 01:28 PM

Looks good David. I read a lot of travel blogs and yours looks like a great start!

bacquito - 6-5-2011 at 07:31 PM

Thanks, your a zillion miles ahead of me in computer knowledge. Great photos!

BajaBlanca - 6-5-2011 at 08:11 PM

I have learned to blog when we travel and i find it is the perfect venue to write about what happened on the day (as opposed to after the trip). To me, the feelings just seem to jump onto a page after a day filled with new experiences. and the photos accompany the dialog better IMO.

have fun with the blog, it is incredibly time consuming when you first start out.

David K - 6-5-2011 at 08:27 PM

Well, I was happy to find a venue to catalog my trips easily... As some of you know, most of my trips of the past 12 years are shared on VivaBaja.com... specially those since Elizabeth and I met when I really increased the trips to Baja! This blog may work out until the day comes when I learn html and my web host lets me tinker with my site! As it is now, he won't let me for fear I will mess up something! LOL

The trip reports are shared here on Baja Nomad Trip Reports forum first... but, they can get lost mixed in with all the others over the years since Nomad has served us.

I like seeing them just to help me recall when and where each of the trips happened. Seems like each one holds a special event I like to recall. Be it lost mission hunting or seeing bighorn sheep in our camp... Baja sure is a fantastic place!

mtgoat666 - 6-5-2011 at 09:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
This blog may work out until the day comes when I learn html and my web host lets me tinker with my site! As it is now, he won't let me for fear I will mess up something! LOL


get free Wordpress software, change your host to GoDaddy, and you'l get along fine.

UPDATE: New additions...

David K - 7-29-2011 at 09:31 AM

The blog seems to be working out and I have added the big Lost Santa Isabel mission search trip, with all the photos.

So, all three of my 2011 Baja trips are now on the blog site...

1) April, Lost Mission Expedition with Nomads
2) May, Shell Island with family
3) July, Shell Island, Gonzaga Bay, and El Rosario

So that it just isn't a photo album, I have included travel details, road logs, that may be helpful or interesting.

CLICK: http://vivabajablog.blogspot.com/

Curt63 - 7-29-2011 at 10:18 AM

Great job!

David K - 7-29-2011 at 02:16 PM

Thanks! It is my first attempt at using a blog site to share my trips...

Up to 2010, I posted my 'major' trips on my web site VivaBaja.com.

Alas, my web host must actually upload my work (originally done on a WebTV system) to the web site... and it was always my desire to do it myself (if I ever learned HTML)...

Short of learning HTML, the blog seems to do what I wanted... and my web host says he can convert the blog pages onto VivaBaja, as well.

willyAirstream - 7-30-2011 at 07:10 AM

Nice looking blog. I see Toyota ads there, in your future :)
2tips - Keep your disk space in mind when sizing pics and maybe break long posts ( ie many pics) into 2 pages ( 2 posts) to accommodate people viewing on slow connections.

willywebdeveloper

David K - 7-30-2011 at 07:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by willyAirstream
Nice looking blog. I see Toyota ads there, in your future :)
2tips - Keep your disk space in mind when sizing pics and maybe break long posts ( ie many pics) into 2 pages ( 2 posts) to accommodate people viewing on slow connections.

willywebdeveloper


That is a good point Willy! I know that on Baja Nomad I like to limit the number of photos per post because too many will not allow slower Internet connections to see all of it (or any of it).

I didn't even consider that being an issue with the blog page when I put ALL the photos and text from our grand Lost Mission Expedition into the blog.

Any Nomads out there... Is the Santa Isabel blog page not fully opening for you? On Nomad, I put the photos and trip report into 6 parts and some of them into an 'a' and 'b' sub post for this very reason.

High Speed Internet can sure spoil you... Thanks again Willy! Viva Willys-Overland!

fdt - 7-30-2011 at 08:55 AM

Muy bien mi amigo!

David K - 7-30-2011 at 09:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
Muy bien mi amigo!


Gracias Fernando,

Let's have another get-together soon, okay?

Udo - 8-2-2011 at 07:15 AM

Really cool blog, David. I enjoyed the photos as well as the well-written dialog. Photos are very sharp.
Although I have seen these before, it's nice to see them in an orderly sequence.

Gracias, David!

David K - 8-2-2011 at 08:02 AM

Thanks Udo... Yes, photos are mostly ones I have used in trip reports here.

capn.sharky - 11-22-2011 at 01:22 PM

great photos---looks like a lot of fun

David K - 11-22-2011 at 03:17 PM

Thanks Sharky! Good to see the old gang posting... Happy Thanksgiving!