Fortress /  by Dave Hileman

This is Fort Matanzas, a Spanish fort built in 1742 on Florida’s Atlantic Coast south of St. Augustine. This National Monument is visited by boat from the NPS Visitor Center. It was here 200 years before this fort was constructed that shipwrecked French forces who were intending to capture the fort at St. Augustine were met by the Spanish and 111 Frenchmen who surrendered were killed, two weeks later, a second group of 134 surrendered and were killed. It was then that this area got named, Matanzas -- meaning "slaughters" in Spanish.

Resting Place /  by Dave Hileman

The Duke and Duchess of Argyle are entombed in the church at Iona, Scotland. The lands of Iona were owned at one time by them and they were instrumental in the rebuilding of the church here and then in the late 19th century were given a final spot in the chapel for their service to Iona.

Hunter (And Friday posts are back!) /  by Dave Hileman

This man has been trying to find the Loch Ness creature for over 40 years, full time! He lived for a long time in this RV but now lives elsewhere. He makes a living giving interviews and presentations but, I think, mostly by selling small, clay Nessie figures. And donations. Sort of felt sad for him spending his life in that way. I doubt he would see it that way, still.

Hotel George /  by Dave Hileman

This was our hotel the first night in Scotland. It is in the village of Inverary about 90 minute drive from Glasgow Airport. It was well kept and had excellent food. It opened in 1776 so I imagine it was not named for Geo. Washington:) Lovely space in a lovely town. Our room was third floor third window from the right.

Read and Pray /  by Dave Hileman

This is a view from the small sunken flower garden on the Cathedral property at Iona, now restored, where monks could enjoy some afternoon sun shielded from the often relentless wind, here for prayer or reading (or napping!) The cross from 1500 is seen and beyond that is St. Oran’s Chapel where many kings were buried.

Summer is Easy /  by Dave Hileman

The bright afternoon sun brings out a mom and two cubs who frolic in the lush meadow grasses. A bike ride around the Cades Cove loop in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is always rewarding. Photos from a long way with the Fuji X-T5 and a 55-200 lens.

Back To Basics /  by Dave Hileman

Not many, actually not any that I am aware of, have followed this blog for the whole length of time I have been posting. Nor should anyone if you have not been sentenced to house arrest with nothing else to do. I started this just a bit over 14 years ago to force myself to improve my photos. I had a decent camera from about 2008/9 but two or three years in it was still on AUTO and Jpeg. So, I reasoned, post them publicly and you will be so embarrassed you will learn to take a better photo or you can take up Curling when you move to Canada out of shame. Then in 2015 I started on the National Park experiment to see and photograph the now 430 NPS units. It was then I changed the name to Two Lane Touring to reflect the desire to travel the scenic byways in the quest. And I posted, as I had from the start, 7 days a week. About 3 or 4 years ago I tried to “improve” the blog, writing more, more multiple photos and other poorly planned things. I introduced Cadillac the moose and he was fun but a lot of work. After Cindy died, my trips to National Parks lessoned, the trailer is sold yet the goal is still there. Since I was not doing so many parks I tried other things like extensive photos when on a trip, more information on the pictures, befriending Rowena in Scotland (also a lot of work). I have done themes and other stabs and things but they all take a lot of time. Not the real issue, however, the real issue was it was not fun some of the time. Even though my goal to improve the photos was still in process I was not doing everything well. So, my friends, and if you have read this far you certainly are a friend, I am going back to the basics, a photo a day, every day, and an occasional foray into some other aspect that strikes my fancy but usually just a shot each day. This most humble of blogs is not about how to take photos - everyone cheers, not about gear - I know little and not about the history or romance or drama or a YouTube on walking up a mountain to watch someone else shoot a spectacular image. It is just a photo each day. On a trip Rowena or Cadillac or ? may join but only temporarily. And I might even show a photo or two before and after processing, but still, each day, once again, a photo with minimal text. Thanks for being on this journey with me. Blessings, Dave

Lets see where the back roads take us!

More About the King's Burials /  by Dave Hileman

This is St. Oran’s Chapel. It is the oldest structure intact as built on the complex finished in 1100. Here is where many of the kings are buried and it was a “thin” experience, meaning you felt the presence of God very powerfully. Jill and I were in here for a bit before anyone else arrived and that was a special time. The building is small and simple. It is still used for burial services.

Burial Field for Scottish Kings /  by Dave Hileman

From the history of the site:

Iona Abbey, now a church, is one of the oldest and most important religious centers of western Europe, considered a sacred site. Established by Saint Columba in 563 AD, it quickly became one of the centers that perpetuated the spread of Christianity through Scotland. Indeed, King Macbeth ("Mac Bethad mac Findlaích" in Gaelic) was known for helping to spread the Christian faith throughout Europe.

Today, more than a thousand years later, abbey is one of the most well-preserved Ecclesiastical buildings survived from the Middle Ages on the Scottish Isles. Its ancient burial ground, St. Orin's Chapel Cemetery ("Rèilig Odhrain" in Gaelic), is the final resting place of centuries of monarchs from Scotland, Norway, Ireland, France, and even some Vikings. A plaque at the chapel reads: "Built in the 1100's, it is the oldest intact structure on Iona. Go through the decorated doorway to see the remains of an impressive tomb and a collection of elaborately-carved West Highland grave slabs."

Unfortunately, there is no way to know for sure which royal graves are present at Iona. A 1549 inventory recorded 48 Scottish, 8 Norwegian and 4 Irish kings buried at St. Orin's cemetery, Macbeth, who was nicknamed the "Red King," among them. However, none of those graves are now identifiable, as the inscriptions have worn off long ago.