Rising from the corn over Lancaster County farms.
Where's Cadillac? /
Great Question. His court ordered hoof monitor shows that he is slowly moving across South Dakota. Again, we will let him tell his story if he arrives but the tracking shows that he has left North Dakota - I suspect he was hanging out with the Reindel’s for a bit as they fed him too much when we were there last year. I hope that they pointed him in the correct direction but he is not too good as knowing directions or geography, well, knowing anything actually. So at least he is moving and it appears from coordinates that he is on the Missouri River. If so this could be a long strange trip. He has our travel plans but so far we have seen neither hide nor antler of him.
Cadillac merch being prepared in anticipation of great demand.
Glory /
Sunset at a country road intersection in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
“But we worship at your throne— eternal, high, and glorious!” Jeremiah 17:12 NLT
A Very Long Way /
It would seem so if along the ridge in front of you were scores of cannons and hundreds of soldiers behind stone walls, four deep so the fusillade never slackened. You had reached this point marching in formation then wheeled left along the road and at this point turned again to press the charge across the last 1/2 mile or so, slightly uphill on that hot July afternoon in 1863. You can see the Pennsylvania monument on the right side the clump of trees in the right center was the High Water Mark but not likely the real objective. Most historians believe the attack was supposed to aim at the higher ground to the left where the National Cemetery is now but in the battle confused the objective. Last of the Gettysburg photos for a bit. This again is the route of Pickett’s Virginia troops.
The Spangler Farm /
This is the view that the soldiers driving the wagon bearing the wounded General L. Armistead would have coming back from the charge on July 3. Armistead his hat held high over head on the end of his sword led his men across the stone wall at the apex of the Confederate advance. He was mortally wounded there and taken back to this farm that served as a battlefield hospital for more than 1900 men from July 1st and continued after the battle. At one point 500 wounded men filled the barn and more in the house and outbuildings while the family of 6 lived for a week in one upstairs room. You should really read this: https://www.historynet.com/the-war-came-knocking-on-spanglers-barn-door.htm
Spangler's Barn /
This is the area where the troops Pickett led regrouped after they made their way through some woods. It is also the site of the Union’s 11th Corp field hospital from the afternoon of July 1 to the end of the battle. Spangler’s farm is in a swale and not visible from the Union lines and in fact this arm of the attack was not visible unit they were 1/2 mile or less from the Union line. From this perspective you have to see that the attack, Picketts Charge, had a chance of success that walking the field from the Virginia Monument you don’t see. The fences along what is now Route 15 (Baltimore Pike) had to be taken down on both sides of the road and the road itself created a bottleneck that added to the difficulty of achieving any victory. That road is where the troops stalled. They had been visible for 100 yards enough time for the Union gunners to zero in on their position. It is also where Pickett wheeled his troops to the left, or north for a few hundred feet leaving his flank exposed to withering fire. We walked this path in the early morning and it was hot. By the time of the attack (2:00) it was hotter that July 3rd day about 88 degrees and they had waited most of the day in the heat and noise with little extra water or food to eat. An attack that failed likely from the initial planning one that served to end the primary chance for a southern victory in the war. The next nearly two years were fought with ever diminishing opportunity for the south to achieve their goals.
My First Book /
Let me clarify, my first book that I recall buying with my own money. It cost about $15 and I was told it was too expensive. But it was agreed I could buy it if I earned the money. I was subbing for a friend on his paper route and while not very steady, I earned enough over a month or two to order the book. I poured over every page, every map, every photograph countless times. The cover is taken on Little Round Top and is the stature of General Warren who climbed the hill and saw its strategic value and that confederates were moving toward the base. He immediately sent troops to the top and they were there just in time to prevent the South from occupying the height that would have dramatically changed the battle.
Over the years I have visited Gettysburg countless times but I never took a photo of Warren like the cover of “my” book. Until last night. I was there the sun was setting and I tried to recreate the cover I remembered. I could not get the sun to move from behind the cloud but that was OK. I did, it turned out, shoot the photo too high, but I got the angle pretty well from memory. It was not the photo I liked the best that night, that would be the last one of this post. Lots of fun in the heat!
And, yes, of course I still have the book.
Sale Fell Through - Thousands Rejoice (others a sigh of relief) - TLT Back to Normal /
Well, kind of normal. Lots of empty desks, no decent morning coffee, no afternoon lattes, trials abound. However, one lovable (editor note, pick a factual word please) antlered critter MAY be on his way from North Dakota. You may wonder why is he in North Dakota, long story and his to tell. So we may have some staff soon - if his boat arrives on time, (Boat! please use a factual concept for travel from ND -harassed editor note.) More information as it seeps in this week - meanwhile… on to the photograph.
Pennsylvania Memorial on the battlefield at Gettysburg on a moody morning. One of the more interesting of the monuments on any of the Civil War battlefields. On occasion you can take narrow spiral stairs to the platform on the dome level. I never shot from this angle before, we are walking just a bit past the High Water Mark Memorial and looking northeest.
CAUGHT!!! /
“Shocking, just Shocking” was the nearly universal distress at the latest news from the photography world. Two Lane Touring has become Too Lame Tattling in an last ditch attempt to save the prestigious, Poolitzer award winning photography web site. One of the staff photographers simply said it is a matter of finances, there is just not enough income to maintain the huge staff required to produce such an amazing, high-quality product 365 days a year. (Note that is most of them!) First the cuts were in travel and equipment, then layers of fact checkers, artists, web designers and support staff. Next to go were the truly hard cuts: senior staff masseuse, both regular and decaf baristas, chauffeur, senior staff travel and ice cream concierge and of course the entire kitchen staff from sous chef to the head waiter. The situation was dire and called for desperate decisions. Hence the reluctant sale to Too Lame Tattler. They keep adjusting the name and that’s not our fault either.
Today we delve into the shocking facts behind the photograph and the story of innocent bovine creatures being paid to pose for an “opportunity” photograph that will likely earn millions for the photographer but not for the poor duped Bessie and Blossom, Clarissa and Cupcake. Only bitter broken promises fill their feed trough. The story began when our shady photographer published his notorious “all lined up” photo on his web site. We cannot bear to reprint it here (that we do no have access to it is a minor issue) but you can view it on Mr. Mxxx’x page at https://www.thewanderinglensman.com/2020/07/recent-road-trip-to-lancaster_15.html
He thought he was secure in his nefariousness but his scandalous behavior - before the the “Lineup” photo - was captured by one of our intrepid (Could use fabulous or amazing or talented here as well...or all four, Ed Note) staff photographers in the very act of buying pastoral perfection. You can see clearly in the photo Mr. Mxxx cowjoling (yes we have a license to make up good words - #700 License to Pun) cow inmate number 293 who was already behind bars for mooing passing buggies. She is a known miscreant. The agreement was clear for a little extra corn mixed with Danish alfalfa, the good stuff, #293’s cousin would lead others down the lane of easy hay. Once the picture was taken the heartless photographer stole away with no recompense to his hoodwinked subjects.
Todays tragic story behind the photograph is tough reading but it does not stop down there. No, indeed. Future exposés include:
Which Southern Amateur Photographer is really a closet Unicyclist! The neighbors said “He seemed so normal or sort of, we just didn’t know.”
What budding photog in Williamsburg left his Nikons in a box to shoot across thousands miles with a cell phone. Sure its convenient, as if that matters. You NEED 110 pounds of equipment on your back.
The etherial woman in Virginia who wanders aimlessly along a single highway shooting empty barns. The humanity. Empty barns, oh how disturbing.
Then, most tragically and shockiingly, the NC woman who gave her father’s cameras away to save the family farm and got NOTHING in return..
All these and more developing stories as Too Likely Talltales exposes the dark room of picture taking. The gritty, noise filled underbelly of photography is not pretty (iso 100 helps) but we will shoot from the hip and not avoid the hard calls or 10 stop filters. TLT will fearlessly point out poor aperture choice, payola, ugly framing and even Canon users. Most of our subjects will claim to be framed but, and remember this always, the CAMERA never lies.
Inmate 293 tying to look cool and innocent. What’s in the bag, Mr Mxxx?
Restful /
“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest” Hebrews 4:9-11a NLT
Somewhere in Yellowstone National Park.
You Haul /
This Amish farmer solved his need to carry larger items with the addition of a untility trailer on the back of his buggy. Note the iron wheels on the cart. They do not intend to get too comfortable with modern life. Those wheels keep the journeys shorter than they may otherwise be tempted to travel.
Mist Rising /
This is along a lightly used road alongside of Yellowstone Lake early one morning as the cove was filled with white water vapor and rising fast. We could hear an elk bugling that added an eerie element to the scene.
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.
