Patriotic No Passing Zone - Memorial Day Weekend

I love this. We were In Hingham, MA last fall and traveling from our campsite to the Boston Ferry we came upon this section of Main Street that was painted in red, white and blue. Creative.

“May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” Colossians 1:12-14 NLT

Memorial Day Weekend

I hope yours is wonderful. The flag is flying over Fort Warren on Georges Island in Boston Harbor.

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

The Log

Here is what we finally chose to track each day. We will make this available at the end of this journey.

Milage each day, Campsite (commercial, park, boondock) and Campsite Cost, fuel each day and End of Trip (EOT) cost/ mpg, daily weather, general: Bears, Workouts and Issues.

National Folk Music Festival

We were able to attend this about six years in a row in Richmond but lately have been away, as we will this year, when it occurs on the first weekend in October. There are six stages at Browns Island area and it lasts three days. Excellent music from lots of genres - todays shot was clearly a country act that I recall nothing about but he has a great smile. The bonus is the event is free and there are dozens of food venders. Had a great time every year.

The Demands!

You do not know how we Moose have suffered like steerage class passengers on a first class ship. I became aware of this awful injustice a year ago and have been working very diligently - except for needed R&R like a few brief trips, massages, Game of Thrones, a few video games, the NCAA basketball season and dinners and lunches, and snacks. And a brief appearance on The Voice. Perfect example of blatant unfairness that Moose calls are NOT considered music. I thought Blake was a country guy. Otherwise, antlers to the grinding wheel. What was my subject? Oh, yeah, Moose Rights. 

Our Eight Principle Demands:

1. Full Antler Access. Cars need more headroom and doors need to be “T” shaped are just a two of the critical adjustments that are necessary for full Moose participation. 

2. The image of the Moose has been used for years and we have had zero compensation. This must stop. We are demanding full value of Mooseness. We want a huge price maybe even 39 dollars.

3. The restoration of the United States’ most glorious political party, the Bull Moose Party. Then we too can yell at other people regardless of the facts and maybe vote. See item #1 RE voting booth!

4. Free maple lattes. 

5. The outlawing of all cruel and misguided hunting seasons for Moose. Or if hunting is permitted, we want to arm all Moose for self defense. Removal of all “trophy” Moose from walls and fireplaces replaced of course, with Official Moose Images™. 

6. Appropriate statues of deserving Moose who helped make America. Bullwinkle J. Moose, Thidwick, Midget, Balsam &  the much maligned Thunderclap Moose are just of few of the thousands of deserving Moose. Small plastic replicas will be available in the Moose Rights Gift Emporium online. 

7. Ending of demeaning names. Or compensation for the use of Moose or its variants like mousse (we see what you did) in fine dinning establishments, gift shops, exotic cars, lodges and all other commercial usage. 

8. Marsh establishment in all municipal, county, state and national parks and all spas and resorts for bathing, marsh delicacies and lodging thus making travel much easier for millions of Moose. We recommend 20% be planted in delicious lilies. 

These are, of course, initial demands that are completely reasonable and should have zero difficulty passing once we organize our March on Mount Vernon - we have learned a march on poor Mr. Washington is the best publicity. I have two commencement speeches (one of my most outstanding skills) to give this weekend so have a nice Memorial Day weekend

Breaking in my new sleeping bag for this trip. I estimate it will take three days to get there.

Another One

I don’t know what it is, maybe the colors or the reflections or just the idea of sea and the smells of the shore, but I am drawn to these kind of photos, I must have 30 or more over the last few years. This one is really cool colors.

Miss Me?

"Here I come to save the day" 

That means that Mighty Moose is on his way. 

Yes sir, when there is a wrong to right 

Cadillac will join the fight. 

On the sea or on the land, 

He gets the situation well in hand.

(If you wish to sing along you can find the tune here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdIev12fCPs)

My 2019 debut at Two Lane Touring is appropriate for a theme song because this is going to be an epic trip. And with the history of our current guide, definitely in need of multiple rescues. Some of you may be wondering why I would endure another of these endless wanderings, an entirely appropriate question. Ordinarily I would have said no; three of these journeys were enough for one lifetime. But I am on a mission, an important mission that if successful will mean I need to do no more of these trips with the “guides.”

I have been very busy with correspondence with various distant relatives primarily in Alaska. We are organizing! MOOSE RIGHTS is our rallying call and Moose Rights is our goal. So, you understand why it is critical to get to Alaska to reach the most Moose. This winter I had to use all my skill and subterfuge to make sure the guides chose it as their destination. I do fear that with them at the helm we may not ever get there. I remember the trip to Maine. Alaska is further away and the maps do not agreed as to where it even is - how will the Driver, (my new name to distinguish between the kind, pretty one and him), stumble his way to Alaska?

I did sign up for a couple of these essays before we are scheduled to leave but after I may not be able to write too often as I will be very busy organizing and corresponding - one of my more outstanding qualities. I will update you on the Moose Rights Platform tomorrow. 

Another thorny mess I had to free myself from.

Different

This is a piebald deer because of its two color mixture. This buck appeared in the edge of the woods as we were hiking the carriage road to Witch Hole Pond in Acadia National Park. The local newspaper ran my photo of the deer with a brief article about our week in Bar Harbor. It is the only photo I have ever had published. Don’t think I can retire from the royalties:)

Acadia National Park

Favorites

These are Harlequin Ducks. This photo is from the first time I ever saw one and I was quite excited. A beautiful distinct plumage makes these easy to ID when they are not flying low and fast along a stream. They love the rocks and fast rushing waters of rivers where they dive for food in what appears to be an impossible place to “swim.” This pair was on the Yellowstone River in the park.

Yellowstone National Park

In Charge

This is one very big turtle. What kind? Who cares I’m not going near it - nor was anything else, he was serene and respected. I think he was the grand turtle of this pond.

Unique

This large and distinct church building is in a very small town along the Virginia Carolina boarder. This one even has a large dome on the roof. I would imagine that the building could seat the entire town today. How will these kind of structures survive into another generation? It is not just a question of economy or upkeep but changing perspectives, limited usage and reduced population. I would love to see inside this property, maybe someday.

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6 NLT

Blues

This is one of the Holm’s Brothers, a decades old collaboration that produced some really good music. We heard them the first time at the National Folk Music Festival in Richmond and again when it became the Richmond Folk Music Festival. Excellent entertainers. One of the brothers died in the last few years so I am not sure if they group is still touring but I would imagine they are still about. Lots of their music on iTunes.

Beacon Week One / 5

For our last LH - at the moment, we travel to Lake Superior and the Picture Rocks National Area. We were on a boat tour of ship wrecks when we passed this abandoned LH on an island off shore.

Beacon Week One / 4

Still on PEI this time on the Western edge of the island. This one was open for tours. Because the island is relatively flat the LH seemed to be a bit shorter than some of those I have seen in NC and other areas.

Beacon Week One / 3

Again, these were taken shortly after my first camera acquisition - still on AUTO, but I have reprocessed them in Luminar recently. But I did not keep very good records and don’t recall the name of this LH or its exact location. I do remember driving done a red dirt road so it too is likely on Prince Edward Island.

Beacon Week One / 2

Prince Edward Island is awash with lighthouses. What a beautiful place - really feels like another world with another culture that you just get to glimpse. I loved our time here. I “think” this LH was on the north end of the island not too far from the Anne of Green Gables home.

Beacon Week One

We’ve done birds and beasts and house, now the sentinels of the coast, Lighthouses.

We will start with this one shrouded in fog on Campobello Island. We saw this one on a whale watching trip we took from St. Andrew by the Sea in New Brunswick, Canada.

Desolate

This is in the north portion of Yellowstone National Park in the Mammoth Springs area. The land here is in contrast to much of the rest of the park and certainly not the primary images you would see if you simply looked for Yellowstone photos. I found this area very neat. They are specifically called Traventine Terraces and this one is near the Angel Terrace.

It reminds me of the land described in Jeremiah

“They have made it an empty wasteland; I hear its mournful cry. The whole land is desolate, and no one even cares. On all the bare hilltops, destroying armies can be seen. The sword of the Lord devours people from one end of the nation to the other. No one will escape!” Jeremiah 12:11, 12 NLT

And it is not in a Museum!

Near a campground in Central Pennsylvania

Walk (2 Photos)

This is another shot of the neat walk deep in the glen of Watkins Glen State Park. The rushing water and cascading falls keep everything a bit wet, particularly after a large rain storm like the one here right before we arrived. A very cool place.

Watkins Glen State Park, NY