This is the apex of the fighting at Gaines Mill. The Watt house was abandoned by the widow who lived here hours before the battle. She never returned from Richmond. https://www.nps.gov/rich/index.htm
New Normal (2 photos) /
This is not so much to decry what we have lost, after all, Lincoln, McKinley, Garfield and Kennedy were killed and other presidents shot and wounded while in office so there is no safe and secure time in the past even if we felt more secure. No this is about how simply taking a photo, this of the "other side" of the White House, is more difficult today in many of the parks as more places are off-limits where you could once go. This is an extreme case. The chain barrier, then service vehicles, then concrete barriers, then emergency vehicles, then double fence, walkway now only for officials and a newly multi-barbed and higher fence. Lots of "stuff" in the way.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2825/10414250576_f0b4137368_b.jpg
Welcome to Journeys /
Much looks just the same today as it did last week but Two Lane Touring is making a change that is more significant that it first appears. "Journeys" will occupy the space that has been "No Itinerary" for the last three years and for two years before on the old site. This was an eclectic place for photographs that did not fit under the National Park Service portion of the TLT and, sometimes, it still will. However, there are lots of planned differences too.
We will be writing longer pieces one or two or even three times a week on topics related to our travel: selecting routes, planning, gathering information, and preparation among many others. Related to how we travel is the camping aspect. That too will be a focus of Journeys. Again lots of preparation for travel when you are living with what you tow. We will talk about food, campsites, set up, issues finding a parking space when you are 36 feet long, what needs repaired or replaced, and how you camp free off the grid are a few of the subjects we will cover. We will review “Stuff That Actually Works” to make the trip easier or more productive from simple to critical like what flashlight can you depend on, what will keep your coffee hot, what generator works and how do you find WIFI while traveling.
We will share why we use travel and camping check lists (five or six of those) that help us arrive with what we need, usually:) We will talk about planning verses flexibility, reservations verses looking for a place as it gets dark and what is “restaurant instinct.”
The most challenging change is one that will occur this September. We are going to do a daily travel diary while we travel along with the photos, or as much of one as we can. Our three week trip to New England this fall is a trial for us for the four month Alaska trip next summer. Plus several short jaunts in between.
On the fall trip we will travel across eleven states, visit and photograph around 20 National Park sites including 14 for the first time. Which leads to the last component, photography. This is after all a photography site first and I intend to share more of how and why and what - than I have done in the past. I am still very much a learner and I find having to explain post effort helps enormously for the next photo. So, you won’t confuse this for a teaching site but I hope to unfold a bit behind the photo. And talk about some of the gear I use.
So, thanks to those of you who often visit Two Lane Touring. Your participation adds to our joy. Please leave comments, drop us a note or ask questions, we appreciate each of you.
IPhone
High Nest /
What a secure place for a nest inside the ring atop the steeple at Christ Church in New Bern. It is made with the moss growing on the trees in the church yard.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Psalm 84:3,4 NLT
The Vinegar Bible /
This bible was given to Christ Church in New Bern by King George II in 1752. The bible was published in Oxford in 1717 by John Baskett, the King's printer. This folio edition of the King James Bible would be a presentation piece piece for use in churches and the homes of the aristocracy. It had one major issue, poor proofreading it was riddled with misspelled words and worse. The Parable of the Vineyard became the Parable of the Vinegar, hence the Vinegar Bible. It also gave rise to a phrase we use today, "basket case" referencing a total mess as in that old car is a basket case and unlikely to be repaired.
A rather rare and valuable bible
According to the Island Rhythm... /
...just Bee Happy. Hope your weekend is great. We will be posting Saturday and Sunday with an announcement on Monday. Also two restaurants going up today and Saturday, I know I am behind.
Unique /
Just love the Joshua Tree National Park. The Dr. Seuss like trees just make me smile. Being there, just a thrill.
Thundering /
Bridal Veil Falls at Yosemite.
First - almost! /
This is one of the first trip digital photographs I ever took. It is at a Frank Lloyd Wright house, Falling Waters, in the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania. The house was built in 1935 for the Kaufmann family - prominent merchants in Pittsburgh. Loved going to the downtown Kaufmann store growing up in Pittsburgh area with lunch at the Tic Toc Room. American Institute of Architects named Fallingwater the "best all-time work of American architecture." It was opened to tours in 1964. Worth a trip.
BYW the camera was a Nikon 40 that was never off "auto."
River Walk /
We took about a 2 mile hike along the Pee Dee River at Morrow Mountain State Park in NC. It was actually along now what is called Tillery Lake. It was nice for about the first mile than it was not well maintained. There were lots of fallen trees to clamber over, steep and crumbling path at the edge of the river and super hot, even before nine. We ended about 300 yards from the dam and watched scores of Osprey diving for food and some GBH as well. We were advised to watch for rattle snakes as they were "on the move" and with all the rocks and roots we were cautious as well as hot.
Nice start at the parking lot.
One of several skittish Great Blue Heron
Nice Osprey, about 150 feet was as close as one got
The dam, turn around point
Reed /
On a low mountain at Morrow Mountain State Park on a hot and humid evening a hazy sun sets.
"He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged." Isaiah 42:3 NLT
Colonial Williamsburg Uber /
Need a ride? A nice lazy summer day's trip available at Colonial Williamsburg is a great way to see the town.
Drama Desk (2 photos) /
American novelist Eugene O'Neill, Nobel laureate in Literature, wrote at this desk while he lived at Tao House, his home near Danville, CA. It was here he wrote: The Iceman Cometh, Long Day's Journey into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. His personal life mirrored the tragic and difficult people he wrote about. His marriages and his children did not fare too well. The daughter, Oona, he disowned because at 18 she married the 54 year-old Charlie Chaplin, actually lived longer and more fruitful life than her two siblings both of whom committed suicide. The second photo is of the living room just off the den where he wrote. The home is beautiful in a idyllic setting and a far cry from the lives lived here. It is a National Park site but rarely visited. There were 3971 visitors for 2017 the year we were there.
Welcome Landmark /
Scotts Bluff (usually with no apostrophe) in Western Nebraska was one of the primary waypoints on the Oregon and Mormon trails. Rising steeply 800 feet over the Platte River, it was an important guide and point of reference as the pioneers needed to be over the Rocky Mountains before winter, this aided them by knowing arrival here beyond a certain date they likely would not make it that year. The road up makes this sweeping curve and then through a tunnel. At the base you can walk beside ruts from the thousands of wagons that made this journey west.
Ahoy (2 photos) /
Since I mentioned Bernard, Maine, yesterday I thought I would show a couple of the lobster "shacks" on the shore of Bass Harbor.
Safe Harbor /
This is another panorama shot - taken at Bass Harbor, Maine. The village of Bass Harbor is on the right side and the village of Bernard on the left side. A favorite lobster pound, Thurston's is in Bernard and an excellent harbor side restaurant in Bass Harbor, The Seafood Ketch. Both will show up in Eats! someday.
Foggy Mountain Breakdown /
Well, we didn't but it still reminded me of that Blue Grass song first done in 1949. This is the famed Linn Cove Viaduct - the last section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be completed. It opened in the 1980's and cost over 10 million dollars. This shot is from the start of the north end with fog rapidly cutting the view to zero in about five minutes. I like how the road just disappears. And if you don't know the story of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, check out this from NPR:
https://www.npr.org/2000/04/01/1072355/npr-100-earl-scruggs
If you don't know the song listen here and watch for some folks you might know:
Emmense /
You can feel a bit insignificant standing alone on the edge of Death Valley. The white in the photo is not clouds but salt on the valley floor.
"It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall."
Psalms 75:7 NLT
What a State /
The Barter Theatre is the official State Theatre of Virginia and is a very special place, a real treasure in Virginia. It opened in 1933 and is one of the very last professional year-round repertory theatres in the United States. The current building was extensively renovated in 1996 but was originally Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church built in 1833, is the second-oldest theatrical building in the United States and the oldest continuing theatre. It is worth the trip to watch a play in this venue and you have lots of super options for dinner, crafts, music and more in Abingdon.
Superior Sunset /
That is Lake Superior at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Lake Superior was a gorgeous deep blue and the sunsets both night were quite nice. The lake is rather clear and a neat activity was a boat tour over other vessels sunk in the strong storms that are characteristic of the lake.
