Month: September 2016

To The Beach – Before the First Chill of Autumn

On By mvschulzeIn autumn, Beach, Explore, Hiking, Nautical, New jersey, Photography, Summer, Weather5 Comments

Last week, already nearly a week into autum, we had our last visit to the beach just before days of rains and near 50 mph winds raked the area.  A brief ride across the bay here brought us to Island Beach State Park, the New Jersey barrier island with its boardwalk to the ocean. 

img_8391-version-2img_8388img_8387img_8386

img_8372

Except for the banner, these are captured from my i-phone.

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

…

Martha’s Vineyard, (Two) – Magnificent Summer Cottages in Oak Bluffs

On By mvschulzeIn 1800's, Art, Buildings, Curiosities, Daytrip, Gardening, History, Photography, Pondering, Summer, Travel4 Comments

 

These colorful unique cottages date back to the late nineteenth century within a community of picket fences, pocket parks, and even an outdoor tabernacle. They are found in an intriguing area of shaded narrow streets and pathways ideal for walking.

dsc_0377

dsc_0378

In addition to pondering the value of being a house painter in Oak Bluffs, one would be a bit envious of those who choose to rent here; close to shops, restaurants, waterfront parks and the harbor.

Read more on Wikipedia, here.

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

 

Martha’s Vineyard – Gay Head (Aquinnah) Lighthouse

On By mvschulzeIn 1700's, 1800's, Adventure, Beach, Daytrip, Exploring, History, Photography, Travel, Vacation6 Comments

This past week we visited Martha’s Vineyard, a quaint, picturesque island just off the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts 

Overlooking the Gay Head Cliffs, the original lighthouse (circa 1799) was modified several times to LOWER the light as to render it more visible underneath frequent fog. The current brick version dates back to 1855 and was moved a short distance away from the eroding cliffs in 2015.
dsc_0427
Above: The view from atop the lighthouse.
dsc_0410
The beach at the base of the sacred cliff is open to hiking, but protected under modern land treaties of the original Wampanoug tribe, ancestors of whom date back over ten thousand years.

A few more photo highlights of our ~48 hour visit will be posted shortly.

Credits: Wikipedia, The National Park Service, and Wampanoug Tribe info panels.

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

 

9/11: Fifteen Years Later… We’ll Never Forget

On By mvschulzeIn 9/11, Buildings, Photography2 Comments

Shortly after the first plane struck the North Tower, my daughter called to ask if I had heard the news that a small plane had crashed into New York’s World Trade Center, tower #1. Her ‘heads up’ was early and sketchy, and not too alarming, …as these things happen, rarely, but occasionally. Soon however, I was enveloped in what seemed like a nightmare fantasy – grappling with my emotions and becoming increasingly stressed and overwhelmed as reports and images from the TV were now almost too surreal to comprehend.

Below are some photos captured from that day and a week later, as the impact and aftermath  of 9/11/01 changed our world forever.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
I recall practically gasping for air as I watched it all unfold on the TV.  Commentators themselves were grasping for threads of understanding,  reporting on near simultaneous events in Washington DC and Pennsylvania. As the onslaught continued I thought: When will it end? Where is this all going?  And “What’s that? A truck filled with explosives heading for the George Washington Bridge????” No, that unfounded report was NOT  true….but what was next? 
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Later afternoon, from an vantage point in New Jersey, about 20 miles NE, the panic and fear was giving way to quiet disbelief and sorrow.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Returning from the overlook, the quiet was palatable –  the communities slowely absorbing the magnitude of this insidious act of terror.  Contemplative silence underscored the juxtaposition of this otherwise beautifully clear day. 
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
9/18/01, 11:31 PM a week later, …a consoling couple silently contemplates the aftermath as the searching for victims continues, as seen from Jersey City across the Hudson River.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
The skeletal remains of Tower #2 is seen fragilely standing, surrounded by dark shattered buildings, cranes, and hundreds of the tireless first and second responders in the rubble below.

dsc_0726-version-2

Summer, 2016

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