Nitch /  by Dave Hileman

If you climb the Precipice Trail at Acadia National Park, you can find this small emerging ecosystem. Over the years the rock has eroded until it holds a substantial amount of water, maybe 6 or 8 inches deep and around it you will find grasses, small trees and bushes. Each time I have been here it seems to be a tiny bit larger. All on an otherwise bare rock face.

Passing /  by Dave Hileman

This gravestone is found in the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. There is a small graveyard not far from the VC where a small number of the original guides are buried. Most of them were African American, slaves before the Civil War and free after but their work did not really change. They were “leased” to those wanting to set up guide services long before it was a National Park and most of them continued after 1865 but were now earning their own funds. Some guides passed the knowledge on to their children who continued to guide people even after it became a park. The guides were highly respected and this graveyard on property was given to them. You can also see some of their names in the candle smoked writing on the ceilings of the historic portion of the cave. This stone is one of the few remaining in situ.

Curious /  by Dave Hileman

This little wren kept pondering why we were not eating at this table in our campsite. He was very disappointed because he had me pegged for a crumb dropper. He may be right. Note how he blends into the color scheme of his natural habitat..

Mr & Mrs John Korycki /  by Dave Hileman

John and Angie had a beautiful wedding yesterday afternoon in Clermont, Florida. It was such a fun afternoon and I was privileged to officiate at the ceremony which is double fun when you have known the bride since she was a young teenager. We had dinner at our friend’s home on Wednesday night where we met John. He is an impressive guy and we expected nothing less than Angie would choose carefully! Rehearsal was on Friday evening and the wedding at 3:30 at Real Life Church.

New Bird! /  by Dave Hileman

Posing for me, just for me, on a tree about 100 yards from our campsite was a Black-bellied Whistling-duck. More importantly, he posed while I got my camera out and changed to my long lens. I got off six shots and then he flew. This bird is characterized by the red bill, white eye ring and pink legs. The upper body is a rust color, the lower is solid black, (hence the name.) This is a new bird for me, number 410. Next up, maybe a Fulvous Whistling Duck? No could not be that lucky but they do live in the same environment. Maybe?

KaBoom /  by Dave Hileman

We began with a superb breakfast at Kona in the Polynesian at WDW. What a delightful experience in a very pretty place. Loved walking the grounds. We could have had a free Disney Minnie ride but we had driven to the place. The Minnie Vans were just starting up and they were still doing some training. We went back to the campground and checked out, moved to the outside lot and took the bus into Disney Springs to do an errand. Then we moved to our campsite at Lake Louisa. We met our friends for dinner and the met with the bride and groom for a bit. Nice evening. Couple of boomers from Epcot fireworks - we watched from the boardwalk area.

Another Perfect Day in Paradise /  by Dave Hileman

What a lovely day. We took a long walk in the campground and then took the boat across the lagoon and had excellent meal at Steakhouse 71. We had always liked The Wave and were skeptical but it was still really fine. Back to the campsite by boat again we went to the pool and sat in the hot tub, not my normal activity. Then we were across WDW to the Beach Club’s ice cream shop, Beaches and Cream where we had ice cream sundaes for dinner. Brilliant decision. A walk around the boardwalk, watched the fireworks and then back to the campsite. Cindy planned these two days and made all the reservations for the meals. It was just perfect. Nice prelude to the wedding prep.

The photo today is from a Florida swamp. I think I discovered alien spacecraft refueling. I expect a Nobel Prize any day now.

A Day in the Wilderness (sort of) /  by Dave Hileman

We arrived at Fort Wilderness Campground about noon and got the site we wanted in Bobcat Bend. You have been to Disney too many times if you know sites you want in advance. It is perfect. We are not going to parks but don’t think that means a lazy day, we walked 7.5 miles on day one. That is almost 18,000 steps. We around the campground, drove to Disney Springs for an early dinner at The Homecoming. Too much food, but so very good. We have another day’s meals in the leftovers. We walked at the Springs, took a boat to Port Orleans and walked about there and boated back, hustled from one end to the opposite end to get back to our car and back to the campground in time to walk to the beach and watch the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. Tomorrow will not be less busy. But what fun. We snagged a cone to share at Salt and Straw during a deluge in the afternoon (before dinner!) and it was exceptional. We tried S&S in Seattle three years ago and it was equally as good.

Fireworks over Bay Lake

A mid-fifties Amphicar plies the water in front of the hot air balloon at Disney Springs.

Wekiwa Springs /  by Dave Hileman

First stop on the way to the wedding was this state park in the north part of greater Orlando. It was an okay place, pretty hemmed in by development but nicely kept. The big draw here is the spring and it is packed with people enjoying the 68 degree water in the hot Florida sun. The campground had 60 spaces with electric and water and a few of those had sewer. We took a 3 mile hike at Sand Beach but did not see much wildlife. One red-shouldered hawk. But it was a neat, mossy, humid environment with lots of various palms and ferns. Could not imagine cutting through this stuff like the Spanish explorers did in helmets and breastplates. I would have been dead by the end of the first week.

The Springs Pool

The Mill Creek Trail at Sand Pond

Wounded /  by Dave Hileman

This young seal was attacked by “something” and had a head wound. We alerted a ranger but I have no idea if they were able to do anything for the seal. Along the rocks in Otter Cliffs at Acadia National Park.

"Going to the Chapel..." /  by Dave Hileman

We are headed to Florida where I am going to officiate a wedding. So we washed, de-oxidized, washed and waxed the Oliver and really cleaned the Sequoia as well. Looking good I think for 98,500 miles on the trailer and 130k on the hauler. We will be at two Florida State Parks and 2 days at Fort Wilderness. So looking forward to seeing our friends and enjoying a great week.

10,000 Plus /  by Dave Hileman

We are crossing the Bear Tooth Mountains from Yellowstone to Red Lodge. The road is well over 10k at points and it was spectacular. The road is 63 miles across alpine tundra. It is also the largest high altitude plateau in the United States. The highest point on the highway is 10,974 feet. This is another recovered image.

Short Walk - 2 photos /  by Dave Hileman

Last Sunday we had an errand for North Raleigh Christian Church driving to Williamsburg from Raleigh in the AM to worship at LifePointe then back. But after church we had a walk with our son downtown and an ice cream at Big Scoops - his treat! Nice. It had just rained, hard, so everything felt fresh. The flowers were thrilled:)

I think this is some sort of day lilly but I know they grow all over Virginia along the roads. I always enjoyed seeing them. THis one was against a Williamsburg picket fence.

At a garden gate, once again for me a mystery flower. I think my focus is on the little brother here.


Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site /  by Dave Hileman

This is not a new photo. I bought a camera a year before I took this but it is an early one of mine taken on our trip west in 2009. It was not available to me for several years. I had a strange convergence of events when the Aperture program was discontinued and the remnant I had was so corrupted it would not open. I had rescued a lot before it just quit working but about 3500 or more photos were gone, in effect. Until my grandson managed to get one of my old BU hard drives working and a better copy downloaded and I spent the morning getting some photos back. Yay. I am excited to have them and while many are not too good it is still great to have them and the record of our trip. Plus with better editing I might get some decent shots. Might. This is an original chuck wagon one of thousands of artifacts you can see at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Montana. We stumbled onto this park heading to Glacier and we loved it. A ranch for more than 100 years it was turned over intact with everything as it was to the NPS. Great place to visit.

So that is one part of the news. We also leave early Sunday morning for Florida. We will be at Fort Wilderness for two days and Lake Louise State Park for 6 while celebrating the marriage of our friend’s daughter, Angie. She and John will marry on Saturday the 25th.

Cool Off /  by Dave Hileman

We have started with the extreme heat and humidity too early! Enjoy the refreshing spray of this waterfall.

Actually I may have some news tomorrow. I think I do, but tomorrow I will know for certain. Stay tuned.

Also next week is travel again, more on Wednesday and Friday is the 7th or 8th anniversary of TLT. Roll out the party.

Congratulations, Addie! /  by Dave Hileman

Our talented, disciplined and beautiful granddaughter completes her high school education this afternoon. She was on both the YOTA and LRHS swim teams (and is the head coach for the summer swim team.) She was a standout academically with National Society Honors in multiple subjects and will head to college at UNC, Chapel Hill this fall. Could not be more proud of her. She is a joy.

One of her senior photos, not one of mine.