What? Where? Why?

Did you ever buy something without knowing for certain what you would do with it or where you would keep it? I have more than once. A 17 foot kayak comes to mind. Too heavy for me to lift off the roof alone and really no place to keep it, so it was sold. All my irrational dreams of cruising gently down beautiful, insect free, cool waters went with it.

Well apparently the state of North Carolina has a similar issue. They bought the last Barnum and Baily Circus Train. Now what to do with it. Hmmm. Well while we decide let’s put it on an abandoned portion of train track well off the beaten path and then make a good choice. Right. We found it near Spring Hope, NC via Google Earth. And once there managed to get permission to park in a logging facility near to the track. We first dodged four or five old carrier type train cars near where we parked and then set off down the track. It was hot, very, it was buggy, ultra - it was not a fun walk. The train was about 1/2 mile or so. When we arrived we found out all the bright and colorful cars had been pained over a solid boring grey. And we were getting bit by every known and a few unknown NC pests. So we took a few shots and went beck to the vehicle. The misery index was at 10 the satisfaction index at 2. Not the best of these jaunts. But we did see the famous train. And indications are that it will be there awhile.

Dodging these began the adventure

Our first view of the goal and the 700,000 bugs between us and the train.

There were about 20 cars but fallen trees, hundred degree heat and, did I mention bugs? as well as painted out cars made our decision to turn around easy. Maybe in the winter.

Power

This is the bottom or nearly so of Yellowstone Falls where 50,000 gallons a minute are spilling into the river.

WPTF 50,000 Watts (4 photos)

This is the art deco style broadcast station, WPTF - We Protect The Family, that an insurance company owned from the 1920’s to nearly 2000. This building, erected in the early 1940’s was used until 1992. The tower behind it is huge and designed for the daytime 50k broadcast - there are two slightly smaller ones that are directional for nighttime use. In the basement of the building is a disaster broadcast studio and according to a web site the equipment, turntables and lots of reminders of 50 years of usage are still inside. It is across a busy railroad track and behind a fence. We walked across the tracks and took photos from the gate. Would be fun to actually see inside but that is highly unlikely. The station still broadcasts today along with an FM station that was added about 30 years ago. Not sure where the broadest originates but it cannot be as cool as this place. Reminds me of the station in the movie American Graffiti and a time when stations were local and had personality.

This train came past just after we crossed the highway, the radio station is in the background

A more “dreamy” version

News and Notes

This is a scene from the street that goes past the campground where we stayed in Intercourse, PA. We are headed back there in a week. So in about 10 days we will be doing “Buggies, Crops and Straw Hats, the Sequel.” Always something interesting to photograph in the area. Then we are off to several Pennsylvania State Parks, a brief stop in Pittsburgh and Wheeling then home. We will be posting more new material for TLT. And maybe a NPS site. Maybe.

The Moose is back, or should be. It seems his luggage is lost in Portland and that might not be good. He is lost in North Dakota. Cadillac confuses the state with NORTH Carolina and NORTH, South Carolina completely flummoxes him. His ETA - if he finds the right bus, is Thursday so he ought to be posting soon. Unless I can convince him otherwise. Or get him to move to Florida or SE Virginia where there are, apparently, people who actually like him.

This week I have some photos from Raleigh of hidden, overlooked or forgotten spots that my grandson and I trekked to last week. And several Yellowstone photos from 2019 that I never edited before. That can happen when you shoot 19,000 photos in a summer.

Worship in a Pandemic…

…needs to overcome the lack of people gathered together. We can still worship.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 16:8-10 NLT

Boston’s historic African Church heart of the abolition movement.

Red

On the street in Lititz was this most inviting place to enjoy a coffee. Sorry I did’t.

Two Lane Touring Announces:

First we would like to introduce the new travel trailer tow vehicle, a new to us Toyota Sequoia. This answers the question on most people’s minds, why does TLT not drive a vehicle named after a National Park. Well, rest easy because now we do.

At the same time we wish to acknowledge the fine work done by our Ford Explorer Sport Trac who is now seeking a new home with less strenuous requirements for the retirement years.

As you know we are highly responsive to the needs, whims and wishes of our core audience. It grieves us if things are not perfect for them. I have been known to lose several minutes of sleep over their concerns. Therefore, for the RV, travel and photography friends we have significantly improved your experience with TLT’s in person component. Our new ride includes second row captains chairs in leather, a console that converts to a table, a full climate control system, a blueray DVD system, multiple beverage holders AND heated seats. I know you are suitably impressed and very grateful but there is more. We now have room for your gear as well, you no longer need to hold (carefully I might add) my camera gear on your lap. You’re welcome. Of note is the passenger initiated unlocking system for the back door. There are many more features for the first row crew that you can aspire to as you log more time and earn points with TLT. We also offer this lush transport system to family and other close and qualified friends. Application forms will soon be online.

Secondly, some of you have noted the moose was absent on our last trip. Sadly that was true but things are changing. I will allow Caddilac to unfold the entire story to his vast audience in the near future (the short version is that it is pretty cold in Alaska in the winter) but for the moment let me just say that he is in process of moving to NC and will be seeking employment in the Raleigh area that suits his unique gifting and abilities.

Finally as of today we have added zero parks this year. As in none. We are still hopeful but it is a challenging environment. So we are altering what we intend to photograph for 2020. As part of that plan, we are heading back to Pennsylvania and some of the state parks along the northern tier of the state. Any suggestions appreciated.

The 2014 Toyota Sequoia Platinum in Super White

Second row seating and console

Second row climate system, full instruction provided for passengers

DVD player with individual headphones and volume controls. We offer a nice selection of movies and shows at surprisingly affordable pricing.

Art

On one of the trails we walk at the NC Museum of Art is this outdoor piece that reminds me a bit of a Roman helmet. I’m not sure what it is intended to represent. But when the flowers came out last week suddenly I see art.

70th Anniversary of this Photo!

Apparently I was two once, don’t remember much about it. The birthday clearly included cake and that tradition continues with an excellent cake made this year by Cindy and decorated well by Ellary, my youngest granddaughter. We shared that on Monday evening as it was when we could all get together. The photo was taken when we lived briefly at some place near Pittsburgh on Middle Road not sure where exactly - we did not live there too long. That’s my dad and brother. My dad died about 10 years after this photo and my brother 25 years ago. Any guesses on the car it does not look like an ordinary Ford or Chevy product.

I am so grateful for my family and God’s amazing blessings and for the joy of each day He grants.

Young

A young boy on a two wheeled cart with a pony pulling them along was headed somewhere late evening on a warm summer night in Lancaster area.

Two Horse (actually MULE .. thank you David) Power Required

This man is raking the cut field into rows so it may be baled. It is a lighter task than the actual cutting of the alfalfa so instead of the four horse teams we see two animals in use. If the ground were wet, for example, the farmer might still use four horses but they adjust the effort to the work needed. Keeps others fresh and rested.

Wheat

Close up of a large field of ripe wheat in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NLT

300 Yards (2 photos)

This is the back side of the house in Gettysburg that served as Meade’s headquarters. The apex of Pickett’s charge is about 300 yards from this spot. A five minute walk. War was certainly a more personal prospect in those days and the number of generals who were killed is testimony to that reality. Meade did an excellent job here being in command of the Union for only 3 days prior to the battle. However he lost favor when Lee’s battered forces crossed the Potomac into Virginia. It is difficult knowing the scope of the battle and the exhaustion of the forces to see how he could have prevented Lee’s retreat.

The second photo is from the same spot but facing toward the attack. For perspective the trees in the right of the photo are at the High Water Mark of the Confederacy, the hill to the left of the center group of trees is Round Top, the spire monument is to Vermont soldiers and the National Cemetery would be to your right.

Evening Sky

This is from our campsite in Lancaster.

Old Mill

This covered bridge in the southern side of Lancaster serves as a frame for the 18th century mill. Unfortunately the mill is on private property and a vigilant, vulgar guy makes certain you know that fact. Clearly he was neither Mennonite or Amish. Or nice. Still a pretty place and worth the slight detour to get here.

I recommend you go to www.thewanderinglensman.com because Dennis Mook captured a horse and buggy exiting this bridge. Not sure when he will post that photo but there are lots of excellent images there to enjoy until he does.

This photo was also modified to remove some distracting elements.

Unexpected Kiss (two photos)

We met Philip in the Beaon Hill Campground near Intercourse, Pennsylvania. He is an actor from Manhattan on his way to bike across the USA with his French bulldog, Tandy. He stayed two nights that we were there and enjoyed chatting with him. He was the Grinch in the national Broadway tour and that allowed him the resources to make this trip to raise funds for out-of-work stage actors and crews. He said in a normal year’s season, 95,000 people are employed by the NYC theaters - currently fewer than 1,000. He is not making great time but clearing enjoying his journey -as is Tandy riding in a little cart. Your can follow him on Instagram as the Nomadicmanchild or on YouTube as The Unpredicted Journey. We wish him safety and joy on his long ride across this amazing county.

Reaping

It was clearly a time for cutting the alfalfa(?) fields as we saw team after team at work in the fields. Most of those doing the cutting were doing so with four hourse teams. It looked like hard, hot work but certainly required a skillful hand on the reins. Not quite the work of the lone Amish farmer hoeing the long rows that we saw in Sunday’s post but still they stopped every so often to let the horses rest and to drink.

Crossing

There are more than twenty covered bridges in Lancaster County. Most of them are still being used to cross small streams. A few are closed to traffic or now in parks or tourist haunts. This one is in everyday use and is pretty busy. The wagon is approaching from the south. Please note the in the right hand side of the photo on this side of the bridge - set up by some entrepreneur, a small vending device for you to get corn to feed the ducks. Cool.

I did a lot of work on this photo. Not my usual practice but there ware several distractions including my truck in view. I took those out and for the first time used Lumina sky replacement for a subtile improvement as the sky looked the same color as the bridge boards with no variation . Anyway, full disclosure - heavily reworked photo.

Toil

I wonder what life would be like if we still were connected to the earth like the Amish men and women are engaged every day. One thing is certain, no gym needed!

“By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground

from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19 NLT

Honor the Fourth with honor for those who earned it.

I have no idea who Bernard was other than his simple tombstone in a small cemetery in Southeastern Pennsylvania has a flag and a holder showing that he fought in the War for Independence. Fireworks are in short supply this year, at least officially, why not thank those that provided the opportunity that America presents. Flaws and shortcomings acknowledged our democratic republic is still the best system in the world in this life.