John Henry /  by Dave Hileman

I knew about John Henry from songs, most recently a Bruce Springsteen album called Live in Dublin has a spirited version of the ballad. But I did not know he was a real individual. Near the village of Talcott there is a small park by the railroad and the river where the tunnel is located that may have been the site of the contest between John Henry and the steam machine. I always thought it was about driving spikes into the ties but it was a means to dig places in the solid rock to blast for tunnels. This may or may not be the place and the circumstances of his death are in dispute but a lot is known and you can read a more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)

Welcome to Hinton, WV /  by Dave Hileman

Clearly this photo is of the train station that now serves AMTRAK. It does not look too different from old photos I saw of the station in the early 1900s. Hinton today is in the midst of a renewal. Streets are nicely kept, flowers on many corners, murals painted or repainted, a huge welcome center and new business are popping up. Why? In part because of the designation of the newest National Park, Hinton is the southern most portion of the New River Gorge NP. It is also the gateway to the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk where the New River begins its steep descent into the gorge. We also had a very good meal in town.

My turn of the century Hinton colorized “postcard.”

Going East /  by Dave Hileman

A few minutes after the train in yesterday’s photo we watched this one pulling a full complement of laden coal cars slowiy passed the station. Still raining but only a slight misty rain. The engineer even gave us a “toot” on the horn as he drew near. The station is Christmas red because it is a year-round Christmas shop, nothing related to the railroad any longer.

Going West /  by Dave Hileman

This CSX train is pulling a long load of empty coal cars that will be filled in the mines of West Virginia. It is likely that the train originated in Newport News at the coal terminal. It is traveling pretty fast as it passes the White Sulphur Springs station. Freight trains do not stop here but AMTRAK does three days per week.

The wind and the rain and the noise made for an interesting experience that close to a speeding train.

Amazed /  by Dave Hileman

This is a close up of a seed pot made in New Mexico years ago. What is stunning is the lines you see are hand painted with homemade dye from some source and applied with a yucca plant stem that is chewed to the right size and flexibility. Look at the remarkable spacing and the even width of the many lines.

Wood Duck 2 /  by Dave Hileman

One more shot on the wood duck that I posted a few weeks ago. It is turning a bit instead of straight on. This was in New Mexico.I loved the reflection and the deep rich colors.

Mountainair /  by Dave Hileman

A small town in the geographic center of New Mexico with a population of less than a 1000 is the gateway to several ancient Indian pueblos that are a part of the National Park Service. The town has a grocery, an old railroad station, a couple of restaurants and art galleries and a very nice restored hotel. This bar is on the main street, Broadway, which is US Route 60 that also goes through Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia. I just thought this little bar is the kind of place that a traveler might not choose to stop at unless they were in a movie where the main character gets in a brawl.

Mountain Laurel /  by Dave Hileman

In West Virginia’s eastern mountains there is a bog called Cranberry Glades. Cranberry Glades are a cluster of five small, boreal-type bogs in southwestern Pocahontas County, West Virginia, that Dennis and I explored along with two other state parks and several small towns over the last three days. This area, high in the Allegheny Mountains at about 3,400 feet is also the start of the Cranberry River. It was raining when we were walking the boardwalk trail so we did not spend too much time but this Mountain Laurel caught my attention with the rain drops along the edge. Worth getting a bit wet.

Heritage? /  by Dave Hileman

Not really connected to the fact we wander alll over the country in a trailer but CIndy’s Aunt Timmie and her husband, Doc owned travel trailers by the 1930’s and lived in them for a long period of time in Florida. They eventually moved into a fixed location mobile home with a screened room attached. I cannot imagine pulling these heavy units with cars of the era or living in Florida with no AC in these. Must be why most of the old photos, like the afternoon checker games were of people living outside.

Checkers on the lawn. Not sure which was theirs but they owned several different ones over the years.

The “streamlined” one. I think the car was called a Businessman’s Coupe because of the extra large trunk for sample cases, for example. I do not know if Doc was still practicing medicine but if so this would have suited house calls.

Double doors on this unit.

Rest In Joy /  by Dave Hileman

I have written about Curt and Jackie McSherry before in February of 2019. I wrote then:

“Many people influence all of us in different ways. The primary reason we are towing a travel trailer with a plan to visit more than 400 parks across the United States is due in a large measure to the enthusiasm for both camping and National Parks and the encouragement we had with Curt and Jackie McSherry.”

When we were traveling last year, Jackie died. We were not able to attend the service. Then this Spring while we were in the Southwest, Curt passed away. Again we missed the service and we both felt awful about our absence. While it is true that they were instrumental in us traveling with an RV, yet that is not their primary gift to us.

Before I ever met them, Jackie called me at my church office one day as they were moving to Toano back to her childhood home after years of service to the county all around the world. It was to ascertain if Williamsburg Christian Church teaching was faithful to the scripture. She let me know at the outset that they would be attending a different church, but not one she was confident was centered on the Gospel. It was a long call but even over the phone I could sense a joyful, delightful person. Several weeks later they arrived at the church I served as they were not content to attend where Jesus was not uplifted. What a special day for us as we then grew to know and love them both. The served willingly, provided generously, opened their home and hearts to so many people and their joy was infectious and their wisdom welcome. They were wonderful examples of a good marriage, of a life of service, of faith and grace. When I told them that we were beginning a new church in Toano they were thrilled because it was their prayer and desire to be able to invite friends to a church they trusted in their hometown. And on opening day and beyond, there was Curt at 80 unloading chairs and tables each week to transform a gym to a worship area and Jackie’s welcome with hugs and smiles melted the skeptical and the lonely and the anxious hearts. Their gift to us and to hundreds more was the gift of themselves: to serve, to love, to share and to invest their time and energy that faith might grow, grace abound and Jesus be glorified.

We were with them again years later at the opening of the new facilities for the Toano church, Lifepointe. They were so excited. It is difficult to imagine what the impact on the Kingdom was through their service to their Lord. A few weeks later, Cindy and I had our last visit with them in their home. A place where so many people were blessed by Curt and Jackie. Of course we did not know it was the last visit. Thankfully, for believers, it is only the last time on this planet.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV

Curt and Jackie visit the Oliver in Williamsburg.

Curt & Jackie taking one of my devious Christmas tests in 2001. Sadly Curt is using the wrong end of the pencil. He must have looked at Jackie’s paper:)

My last McSherry snap - Jackie at the opening of Lifepointe’s new facility. She was introducing me to someone she invited to church. Always!


Abandoned /  by Dave Hileman

These were once homes in the mining town of Terlingua, Texas. Cinnabar was discovered here in the 1880’s and several mining companies worked the general area until 1947 when the last mine closed. Cinnabar is processed into quicksilver, or mercury and today while there are still uses for the element concerns about its toxic nature limit its use. The town was once well over 2000 people and about 5000 in the immediate area. Today 75 people call Terlingua home. Many of those in small, decrepit trailers and shacks. A few have rebuilt an old structure into something more substantial and there are a smattering of art shops and restaurants along with one store and an inn in what was one mine owners mansion.

This home had a stone foundation with an adobe walled interior.

Two More New Edit Process /  by Dave Hileman

These are both from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and were taken in the fall of 2016. These two were both way too dark and before when I lightened them, I’m sure I did so incorrectly, they were dull and flat. Much better today. Love shooting in the streams of the GSMNP anytime of the year.

But "Where is the Moose?" /  by Dave Hileman

This plaintive wail from the followers of Cadillac Moose is understandable as the beloved alces alces of the Two Lane Touring site has been mysteriously missing for weeks. I shall bring you up to date on the Case of the Curious Moose.

First through I must dispel a most guileful rumor that your host at the Two Lane Touring site was involved. Not true. Even as I approach the three-quarter of a century mark I must protest that traveling for many miles each day, hiking, tearing down and setting up camp, hiking, museums to visit, repairs and maintenance of car and trailer, photography, processing, posting each day of the journey, planning, daily repasts, shopping, and a bit of sleep ever left me too tired to also attend to the needs of the Moose. Rubbish, Cadillac simply vanished.

How, you say? Here is the tale as odd as it is true. It began as many of Cadillac’s misadventures do, with food. The Moose was doing pretty well six weeks into the journey, even if his expectation to supplant the quintessential coach of the Great British Baking Show, Paul Hollywood, was a quixotic quest with a certain conclusion, he was trying. Then we arrived at Big Bend National Park. At one place Mexicans had placed pottery and other bits on the ground to sell. Now no one was there, you left your funds in a jar and took your purchase. The Moose was sure he would find a taco or enchilada in one of the vessels and after trying on a spectacular hat he begin to explore the pots. We reminded him that we were leaving and expected he was back in his travel cubby. But, no. Another tourist picked up a large jar, paid his $10 and left with a Moose asleep in the bottom. Unfortunately for Cadillac this family was from Norway and leaving in the morning. Cadillac awoke in luggage somewhere over the North Atlantic and content with the situation, went back to sleep. Then things took an ominous turn.

In Oslo he was discovered by the customs agent and he had no papers. The poor Norwegian family claimed no knowledge of him and the government declared him a stow-a-way and would not allow him to leave the airport. At first the Moose was upset but soon realized a Moose in an Airport is a Curiosity and there were many places to get food and people glad to feed him. Not food he knew much about. However, soon was enjoying fårikå- a hearty stew, smoked salmon, lutefisk, Gudbrandsdalsost- a smelly brown cheese, and his favorite, sursild, pickled herring. He ate a lot of pickled herring.

Meanwhile the authorities at the airport were desperate to rid themselves of the havoc creating Moose. Mexico declared they had no moose and would not welcome one regardless of what kind of pot he was in. Canada insisted they had zero missing moose and did not need another, the USA refused to permit him with no vaccinations. Out of options and near panic over his escalating demands, they choose to declare him a “comfort” animal and go commercial to Canada where his handler would conveniently lose him in a forest. That plan went awry when the wildfires forced the plane to be re-routed to the USA but Dulles, Newark, Logan and Laguardia were all under restrictions because of the smoke so Raleigh was selected. When the plane landed and Cadillac noted familiar food was nearby he headed for the first Chick-fil-A he could see and that was, you guessed it, 1/2 mile from our house.

So he is back, but in quarantine until such time as the pickled herring breath abates, might be weeks.

We are so lucky.

Looking pretty swell in this fancy hat

Searching for the elusive taco

Early Harvest /  by Dave Hileman

The basket of vegetables is from a farm house museum in Eastern North Carolina. I was revisiting some older photos (2016) looking for one specific photo and decided to see if some I never processed might be improved with the newer software and possibly better skills on my part. This photo was one of the first I did or rather re-did. The original was way overexposed and lacked detail. With the new ON 1 2023.5 I was able to get usable image.

Progress /  by Dave Hileman

I found this photo from Summer 2016. It is the USA map I have just finished with a red pin for each National Park Service unit. At that point there were 418, now 424. I had not yet put in the yellow pins for the 40 or so parks we had visited. So as we visited and photographed a park, the red pin was replaced with a yellow pin. We are currently at 357 parks with 67 to go, a few of those are very unlikely but we are still looking at over 400.

Similar angle to the first shot but with the map on the wall this is best I could do.

Here is the map after our recent trip.