Month: May 2016

A Few Favorite images

On By mvschulzeIn Astronomy, Birds, Daytrip, Dogs, Home, Hudson River, humor, New jersey, New York, Photography, Road trip3 Comments

A few previously unpublished images from the archives – or – what to publish when you are a.) too busy, or b.) at wit’s end (end of wits?) to create anything else!

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Sandy Paws guarding the remote – Northern N.J. 5/4/15
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Tyler guarding the goal, N.J. – 4/25/15
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Gull scrounging for food, Seaside Heights boardwalk, NJ – 5/23/15
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Grazing around at the Senior Equine Retirement Farm, near ATCO, NJ – 5/23/15
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Home for the birds and the buzzin’ bees, Jersey Shore – 5/19/15
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Clouds blowing by the moon on a windy night, Jersey Shore – 2/23/15
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West side of Hudson River, Tompkins Cove, NY – 5/29/15
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Optimism by the Hudson River, Tompkins Cove, N.Y. – 5/29/15

Thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

Pine Barrens, Lost Railroad and Civil War

On By mvschulzeIn Car, Civil War, Daytrip, Exploring, Geology, Hiking, History, MGB, New jersey, Photography, Pondering, Trees3 Comments

A few weeks ago,  I explored a small but typical part of an abandoned single track railroad constructed in the early 1860’s. It transverses the New Jersey Pine Barrens, an immense area of 1.1 million acres of sandy soil characterised  by oak and pine trees, cranberry bogs, blueberry cultivation and underlying aquifers. When new, these now forgotten rails carried some 17,000 troops to America’s Civil War.

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Images captured with an I-phone 5s, a few steps off Savoy Blvd., Woodmansie, NJ

Alien to the peace and tranquility of this warm afternoon, I could almost feel the undeniable apprehension of regiments of soldiers riding these very tracks towards the inevitable battles to the south, 155 years ago.  

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

America’s Cup and Crowded Skies – New York

On By mvschulzeIn Boating, Boats, Daytrip, Hudson River, Nautical, New jersey, New York, New York City, Photography, Planes7 Comments

We had the pleasure to see some of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in New York Harbor last week-end. With crowds lining both sides of (and on) the Hudson, the unique and expensive racing sailboats were impressive. 

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To please spectators, some of the boats paraded under “fast  tow” on their hydrofoils, as shown here with the team USA “Oracle.”

Overcast skies dominated the first of two days, and racing was limited due to less than acceptable wind. 

DSC_0726Overhead, however, were the ever-present helicopters, offering race coverage and sightseeing perspectives for those fortunate…  or were they? 

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Although it looks worrisome from the camera’s long lens, day in and day out “Air Traffic Control” manages to do a remarkable job of keeping these helicoptors  spaced apart within controlled flight paths – a fact underscored by safety records. 

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I captured the official event photographer as he captured us, from our vantage point below the iconic Colgate Clock, in Jersey City. 

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As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

Mercury Transiting the Sun, today 5/9/16

On By mvschulzeIn 1990's, Adventure, Astronomy, Exploring, New jersey, Photo, Photography, Pondering, Science11 Comments

DSC_0140DSC_0140 - Version 2About 8:58 AM EDT this morning, Mercury (The round black dot) is seen beginning its transit in front of the sun. (Sunspots are visible above.) Image at about 600 mm f 6.3, 1/400 sec, hand held. 

As usual, click on to view closer, and Comments are always welcoms. M 🙂