Peccary /  by Dave Hileman

This strange creature is a Peccary or Javelina and are also known as Skunk Pigs which gives an idea of the odor associated with these odd critters. They travel and live in small herds of about 6 to 9 individuals and that group is known as a squadron. This one was in the Big Bend National Park about 200 yards from the Rio Grande.

USS Yorktown /  by Dave Hileman

Rusty, Janet, Jill and I visited the USS Yorktown last month. This is a magnificent ship and one with a great history. I will drop a few photo and share some of these occasionally the next two or three weeks. Suffice it to say, we were all impressed and really felt the whole day was well worth the trip. The ship is permanently anchored in Mt Pleasant, across the river from Charleston, SC.

Outbound? /  by Dave Hileman

This is the train station in Edinburgh that Jill and I left from for London on the high speed train. It was a great ride and a super choice for this leg of the trip.

Marbles Return /  by Dave Hileman

Today is a fun and personal photo. My grandson, Kellen, and granddaughter, Addie, in this photo from 2009 are at Marbles Children’s Museum in Raleigh, NC. Today, Kellen, works at Marbles. He is an Exhibit Design Technician and loving his job. Cool to see the fun he had at Marbles and now he helps create more fun for more children. (Addie is not at Marbles but a senior at NC at Chapel Hill and will be working in finance in LA come spring. Maybe she can finance the new addition at Marbles?)

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.