I’m a visual person. I love color, shapes, patterns, angles, etc. And I really love seeing a pretty sky. And interesting clouds. Heck, I even like a completely empty sky when it’s that amazing, intense blue you usually get after a huge storm has passed. You know, since the storm has almost completely scrubbed the atmosphere of moisture.
As I’m looking at these pics, I see my CMOS sensor needs to be cleaned again. Sigh… Maybe no one else notices or even knows what that means? LOL.
Sun Dog?
That picture doesn’t do the sky justice. The spot of intense color was neat to see. Those instances of color are very fleeting, so I had to work fast, and I didn’t capture it very well.
I had to darken the final image, using PhotoShop, to make the intense color appear in the photo. Now the picture just looks too blue to me. I decided I’d share it anyway.
Setting Sun
Shortly After Sunset
Another of my favorites.
Almost gone!
I love how the short contrail/flat-and-skinny cloud toward the top, center part of the frame is lit up.
Dark but still pretty.
I get very excited when I see the sky lit up, and I usually start clicking away at the shutter button, trying hard to capture the color appropriately or at least in a way that’s pleasing to the eye. The problem is, I don’t always remember to make sure the horizon is flat.
Since I’ve mentioned that on here, I figured I’d give you an example.
Way crooked horizon. See how it slopes to the left? Not good.
Flatter, but still not perfect.
The second shot is passable, but it’s still not perfect. I can’t remember if I was trying to capture a flat horizon with that shot, or if I just got lucky.
Below is an edited version of the same, passable shot.
Flatter with more-intense color.
See how much better?
Is it me, or do the clouds look like a goose in flight?
I went to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge yesterday with hopes of seeing big flocks of Snow Geese. I’ve been thinking about visiting that place since October, when I failed to see Snow Geese during my visit to Chincoteague. It’s a three-hour drive from my house, though. Sometimes it’s hard for me to justify — to myself — investing an entire day just to go see a bunch of birds.
So, when I learned of a dog transport passing through this area, I figured I could multi-task again. I could help transport the dog AND drive to Blackwater.
Ellie’s Transport – Rustburg, VA to Whiting, NJ (not the actual route)
Originally, I was supposed to take Ellie from Warrenton to the other side of DC. But I figured if I carried her to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the folks on the NJ end might appreciate traversing ruralish highways instead of Interstate 95.
I was right. 🙂
Ellie with her foster Dad, Bob Fairbanks
So, after handing Ellie off to her foster parents in Queenstown, MD, I drove about another hour to Blackwater.
Pretty Day at Blackwater
It was around 3:00 when I got there, and there wasn’t a whole lot of daylight remaining.
Unfortunately, there were few Snow Geese to be found. I did get lots of other cool pics, though, and quite a few crappy ones.
Before I share my captures, I will say this… I am no bird photographer. I take pictures of birds, but I don’t have the right equipment, i.e., a big-ass, expensive zoom lens and industrial-strength tripod, to capture technically good bird photos. I just take snapshots.
I also have to say that it was very windy and cold there yesterday. Temps hovered around 40 degrees F (about 4.5 C), but the wind made it feel much colder. The wind also wreaked havoc on my focus. Using a zoom lens requires a tripod and/or a very steady hand. Although I had taken the tripod along, I didn’t bother setting it up because of said wind.
The first set of pics was taken with my point-and-shoot camera.
Looking out over the water.
Blackwater — a tidal wetland — is a pretty place.
I really enjoy visiting tidal wetlands.
Cool — and mysterious! — pattern in the ice.
I really like my captures of this pattern in the ice. I’d hoped the folks at the visitors’ center could explain how it was created, but they were equally intrigued.
A bit of grass in the foreground, while blurry, makes this shot, I think.
Nice colors, eh? The sun was setting.
One of my favorite sunset captures.
My point-and-shoot — a Canon G16 — is a higher-end camera, and it has pretty good zoom capabilities, but digital zoom is only good if the light is bright and the camera is very still. Remember, it was windy. And daylight was fading fast during my visit.
The pics shared below were all taken with my DSLR camera, equipped with a zoom lens.
Just a pretty picture.
This image of a Great Blue Heron is blurry, but I think that adds to the shot.
Same bird, slightly more in focus.
I like how you can also see the bird’s feet in the second picture.
I saw quite a few herons yesterday.
I like the blurry marsh grass in the foreground.
That’s an eagle atop of the snag.
This guy (or gal?) was kind enough to land right in front of my car.
Looking for attention?
I’m a sucker for interesting reflections.
There’s that interesting pattern in the ice again.
Great Blue Heron
Same bird, different orientation.
I stopped at the visitors’ center for a potty break, to warm up, and to ask about the Snow Geese. I was starting to think they’d all flown north already (Blackwater is one of several over-wintering spots for them on the East Coast).
That’s where I captured this eagle shot, which I posted to FB with the caption, “Got really close to an eagle! That’s a phone pic, no filter.”
Close-up of an Eagle!
Of course, the prankster in me left a few important details out of that caption. It was a real, but dead, stuffed, and mounted, eagle in an exhibit.
The volunteers at the visitors’ center told me the Snow Geese were spending their day in nearby fields, off-refuge, eating. While there was still sufficient light, I set out to see the elusive Snow Geese.
Snow Geese
Snow Geese (some were quite far from the road; see the white dots in the background?)
Snow Geese
After observing them for a bit, I drove back to the refuge, hoping maybe they’d return before dark.
Canada Geese
Note, I did NOT say Canadian Geese. They’re CANADA Geese, people, not Canadian Geese. That’s one of my pet peeves when people talk about birds.
Along Wildlife Drive at the Blackwater Refuge.
Great Blue Heron
If you look at a larger version of this image (just click on the picture) you’ll see that its neck feathers were blowing in the wind.
I captured quite a few nice sunset shots, which I’ll share in a separate post.
The Snow Geese did return to the refuge, but not until after sunset. I DID capture a few shots with the point-and-shoot, but they were blurry.
One blurry, dark photo of Snow Geese in flight.
The pics I captured during my previous visit are better. The first image shown below is a good pic from my visit in 2011, when I still had a separate moto blog.
Snow Geese in Flight
One of my favorite bike pics.
It’s really pretty amazing to see — and hear! — hundreds of geese in flight. I guess if you like that sorta thing.
If you’re curious, here a link for more info on about Snow Geese. And here are some nice pics captured by someone else — found via Google — that clearly show Canada Geese beside a Snow Goose.
I must say, it was nice being out in the world for a change. I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit. 🙂
I’ve been a fan of kitschy roadside stuff for as long as I can remember. Perhaps it started with the big Yogi Bear statue at the Jellystone Park campground my family frequented in the mid- to late-1970s. It was about 20 feet tall and, like the one pictured on the right, included a basket into which people could climb for photo ops. (I’ll have to dig to see if I can find one of those pics.)
Even before I saw that Yogi, I remember seeing and being delighted by those trashcans at amusement parks topped with lids that were made to look like the head of a clown, lion, bear, or other animal so that you could “feed” your garbage to whatever critter topped the can. Anyone else remember those? If I am not mistaken, some even were equipped with some sort of device that created suction, like a vacuum cleaner, so that when you held trash close enough to the mouth it got sucked in.
I don’t know why the stuff amuses, intrigues, and delights me, it just does. I’m not just talking about big statues of men and animals, but all of the goofy Americana stuff that was once used to advertise and/or make a business stand out. Like Muffler Men.
You knew I was headed there, didn’t you?
Like I said, I’ve always liked these big guys, along with other roadside oddities, but it wasn’t until I met Fuzzy (aka Rachael) that I learned these big guys have names and, even better, a following. Other people think they’re important, too.
Anyway… I actually saw two giants on my recent loop through Virginia and Maryland.
Fallen Giant
I HAD to visit the Big Viking of Chincoteague before leaving the island. Currently, he is on his back in a field beside what appears to be a property owned by a “collector.” RoadsideAmerica has a picture of the Viking taken in 2008.
Fallen Giant
Apparently, the property where he was stood was purchased by someone who didn’t want The Viking. So he was rescued and is being stored here until a new home can be found.
Close-up
I don’t often get a chance to see one of these giants up close and personal like this.
Fallen Giant
Fallen Giant
Pegged Leg?
Showing him some love.
He may be down, for now, but hopefully someone will give him a new home soon.
Old Friend Revisited
Since I was sort of going to be in the neighborhood, I figured I’d stop in Ocean City, Maryland on the way home to visit this guy, who has been at the Jolly Roger Amusement Park since 1964.
Old Friend
I’d seen him before and have always thought him to be very cool. But I wanted a closer look now that I know he’s an authentic International Fiberglass creation.
Me and Roger
New Kid on the Block
To reach Ocean City from Chincoteague, I opted to go through Berlin, Maryland to say hi to this new guy.
Mark Cline Soda Jerk (Frontiertown)
RoadsideAmerica.com describes him as…
…a 21st Century Muffler Man, made by Virginia’s Mark Cline. Shorter than the classic model, with too-tight jeans, but muscular arms to heft his impressive vanilla swirl cone.
I’ve seen these mini Muffler Men before. They’re actually called Soda Jerks and Mark Cline, a fiberglass sculptor from Virginia, is the guy behind their resurrection. There’s a great Soda Jerks background piece on the American Giants blog if you’re interested.
I don’t usually get as excited about seeing these guys since they’re sorta new, but I should. I mean, they’re the new generation of Muffler Men. And Mark Cline, who I absolutely MUST visit one day, deserves some credit for keeping the muff alive.
Other Fun Stuff
Finally, some miscellaneous fun images I captured while meandering toward home on Sunday.
Also at Frontiertown with the Soda Jerk pictured above is an actual prop from the JAWS movie.
Yikes!
A Real JAWS Prop
It’s 31.5 feet long (over 10 meters).
Another reason to stop in Ocean City was to buy some fresh Dolle’s Caramel Popcorn. That stuff is the best!
Dolle’s Popcorn on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland.
Menacing shark at Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
This over-the-top mini-golf course caught my eye on the way to Jolly Rogers.
Creepy!
Miniature golf establishments have always been a mecca of oddities. In a place like Ocean City with numerous putt-putt establishments, over-the-top is sort of required.
The crazier, the better.
There was another place with aliens where I should have stopped, but didn’t. I was getting tired. If you’re curious, use Google Images to search for “Lost Galaxy Golf Ocean City Maryland.”
Anyhow, that concludes the re-cap my latest adventure or non-adventure as some folks may see it. 🙂
In case you missed my recent post, a brief stint of unemployment — three short days — sent me scurrying to have some fun before the new job started.
First up was a visit to my Dad’s house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I’d bought him a new cell phone, which I needed to deliver so I could activate the thing and switch his old number over.
Dad and Me
I’d planned on taking the car, but the humidity had finally dropped, which meant it would just be silly not to take the bike.
The main reason I’d wanted to take the car was that I’d decided to finally visit the nearby Stoudts Brewing Company, the source of my favorite “cow beer,” a Bavarian-style hefeweizen, which is very hard to find in Virginia.
Cow Beer Source
Luckily, Aunt Bertha rode over to the brewery with me, so I was able to get two cases.
Aunt Bertha
I thought I’d have to leave one of the cases at Dad’s house, but I actually managed to get it all packed into my bike.
The corn along Dad’s road was VERY tall.
My customary visit to the neighbor’s barn.
Horses in the field beside the dairy cows.
Dad’s neighborhood is awesome.
I fed the horses some carrots (it was Dad and Aunt Bertha’s idea).
Sunset over Lancaster County.
Zoomed in on sunset to capture that Great Blue Heron.
I spent the night at Dad’s then left early on Thursday for the ride home. Temps were in the mid 60s when I set out. It was lovely.
Here are some things I saw and captured during the ride home. I thought you all might like to see some of the pretty landscapes and other stuff I enjoyed in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
Even the gas stations in Pennsylvania are fun. I couldn’t resist filling up at The Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia.
Me and the giant cow at Turkey Hill.
Moo!
And I just HAD to stop by the Haines’ Shoe House in Hallum, which I needed to drive right past anyway.
Haines Shoe House
I saw quite a few pretty barns along the way, too.
Pretty Barn
Pretty Barn
Pretty Barn
Pretty Barn
Abandoned bus stop.
Pretty Barn
I really like seeing all the old barns in PA, which look a lot different than the barns I usually see in Virginia.
View near the PA/MD border.
A Ural dealer? I HAD to stop.
I’d never actually seen a Ural in person. So, when I came across More Than Motorcycles (official Ural dealer in Maryland), I couldn’t resist stopping to gawk. John, who was working on the older model pictured below, was kind enough to humor me.
Ural Dealer
New Retro Ural
Slightly older, limited edition model.
Painted building in downtown Thurmont, Maryland.
Back in Virginia. I just LOVE those stone walls.
Abandoned silo near Marshall, Virginia.
Lovely road near Marshall, Virginia.
And that ends my quick visit to Dad’s in Pennsylvania. It was nice seeing him and his sisters, Pearl and Bertha. Hopefully, I will get back to PA for another visit soon.
Next up, my incredible long-weekend jaunt with Hubby.
I did something special the weekend before last. The first full weekend of this crazy 2013 Spring. My son, Eric, and I went skiing.
Yep, skiing. In Maryland.
I actually started this post last Thursday. Almost a week ago. I didn’t finish it before heading north to Dad’s on Friday. He doesn’t have internet access. He, my brother, and I spent the weekend going through and weeding out his worldly possessions in preparation for his impending move. That’s a story for another post. While there, I caught a humdinger of a cold that had me on my back for a couple of days. Today, finally, I feel like I can function. Still sick, but WAY better. So life goes on.
Now, back to the last time referred to in the title…
My baby boy, Eric, is getting married on April 20.
Kelsey and Eric
He’s marrying Kelsey, his middle-school sweetheart. They may have “gone out” off and on a bit in high school, but his high school years were rough times for all of us. He prevailed, got his life back on track, and they re-connected a few years back. They rest, as they say, is history.
In 17 days, he’ll be a married man. We couldn’t be happier for them both. They make a really cute couple.
When Eric was younger, he and I would often do trips together. Usually to visit my brother in Chesapeake, Virginia. But we also did camping trips and other stuff, too, like ski vacations.
So I decided, since he’s going to be married soon, we should have a final Mom and son trip while he was still single.
I was having a heck of a time deciding where we should go. Since Winter has dragged on for so long, I thought maybe we could squeeze a ski trip in.
Windmills
Eric captured the windmill pics while I drove. It was a gorgeous day.
Windmills
This has been a crazy weather year, but it worked out well for us.
Deep Creek Lake, Frozen
Who would ever have thought we’d be skiing in Maryland in Spring?
Lift Ride
As you’ll see in these pics, we had the place practically to ourselves.
Eric
Hamming it up for me. I trained him well…
Eric
The place was deserted, but almost all of the trails were open and the snow was in great shape.
Me and Eric
Some folks asked me to take their picture. So I asked them to take our picture, too. A great shot, right? Except my pockets were crammed full of stuff and I look about 30 pounds heavier on the top than I actually am!
It was a great day. He’s a good boy.
🙂
After we’d exhausted ourselves on the slopes, we headed to the WV Place to spend the evening. Sunday, we were thinking about heading down to Green Bank, West Virginia to see the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. But the weather dudes were predicting snow for the next day. Lots of snow. While the roads around Green Bank are a motorcycle Mecca, they’re no place for an almost-new car when the roads are sleet- and snow-covered.
So we took our time on Sunday morning. I drove home via the scenic route, through Bean Settlement so I could show Eric my favorite Oreo cows.
Eric had never seen Oreo cows before.
We continued east on WV-55 through Wardensville and found the cutest little old timey mercantile/cafe. More material for yet another blog post.
Star Mercantile in Wardensville, WV
It was a perfect Mom and son bonding weekend. I do love my boy-turned-man.
Where HAVE the years gone? Sigh…
Yes, we’re looking forward to gaining a daughter-in-law. She’s very sweet. She’s got a lovely family. Those two are made for each other, that’s for sure. More on them later. I promise.
Now, since I am actually feeling human again, I need to get to work!
In case you haven’t heard, we’re selling our Maryland house. It will officially hit the market (MLS postings) any minute now.
Hubby and I have put our heads together to devise a marketing strategy that uses interesting ways to spread the word. Using this blog and my Facebook network was one idea.
Have you seen my SEVERN MARYLAND HOME blog? I created it specifically to spread the word about the house.
We were hoping friends and family would help spread the word. But we decided a $500 cash reward would be a good way to encourage folks to help get the word out.
If you share this link and someone you shared with buys the house because they heard about it from you, you get $500 in cash. It’s that easy.
If you share this with all of your friends and one of them shares it with someone who ends up buying the house, you still get $500. (It’ll be up to you to decide if you want to share the wealth with that friend or not.)
You’ll need to keep track of who you share this with, of course. And be sure to let me know if you think someone you know might be interested. That will help make sure you get the reward you deserve if they actually do make the purchase.
Maybe you know a real estate agent who has clients looking to buy in the Severn area. Tell that agent about this house. If he or she brings a client in that buys the house, you STILL get the $500. Just make sure that agent says… “My friend LuckyGirl told me about the house.” Or something like that.
In other words, we won’t know you shared this news with the buyer unless someone tells us.
Share the link on Facebook. Do whatever you like. We just want to get the word out. Just remind everyone you share with to let us know they heard about the house from you.
And really, we’d be tickled to give you five hundred dollars in cold, hard cash.
