Being Watched

On March 20, 2022April 15, 2022 By mvschulzeIn 2000's, Birding, Birds, Boating, Close-Up, Exploring, Florida, Nautical, Photography, Pondering, Travel, Vacation2 Comments

Some time ago we had rented a small boat near Little Hickory Island, south of Fort Myers, Florida. These two Pelicans remained perched, even though we were slowly approaching, giving me an opportunity for this image. I particularly like the sharpness of the nearer bird’s head, as he peacefully scrutinized our passing.

Thanks for viewing and as usual, comments are always welcome M 🙂

HURRICANE ONCE AGAIN – Grand Isle, Louisanna

On August 30, 2021 By mvschulzeIn 1960's, Adventure, Beach, driving, Exploring, History, Hurricane, Photo, Photography, Pondering, Remembering, Road trip, Storm, Summer, Travel, Weather11 Comments

Yesterday, 8/29/21 – It is likely a small barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, some miles south of New Orleans, was devastated one more time. Two friends and I were there (a driving vacation from NJ to New Orleans) slightly less than a year after Hurricane Betsy (1965) nearly wiped Grand Isle off the map. The images below were taken on August 21, 1966.

A year after the gulf beach road was pretty much wiped away, we were there (in the foreground) trying to cool off, (not happening!) and recuperate from the previous night on Bourbon Street.

Thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcome. M 🙂

The Smith Tower – Seattle, Washington

On March 19, 2021 By mvschulzeIn 1910's, 1980's, Adventure, Art, Buildings, Exploring, Family, Observation, Perspectives, Photography, Pondering, Seattle, Sky Scrapper, Summer, Travel, Vacation, Washington State6 Comments

At forty-two stories, 462′ (141 m,) the Smith Tower was the tallest building in Seattle for fifty-five years, 1914 to 1969. On a vacation some years ago, we enjoyed the history of that building and climbing to the observation level near the top.

From the NW corner, eleven-year old Steve stands before the Seattle Space Needle seen here to the north.

Eastern Elliot Bay forms the waterfront of Seattle.

And the view south is the old King Dome, which we thoroughly toured earlier, with the King Street Train Station (with tower) and I-5 in the distance to the left, here looking south

Thanks for viewing, zoom in for a closer look and comments are always welcome. M 🙂

Walking in Annapolis, Maryland

On March 15, 2021 By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Curiosities, Exploring, History, Photography, Pondering, Travel5 Comments

While in town for a wedding some time ago, we walked past the impressive Maryland State House, still in use, and dating back to 1772.Above is the upper portion of the building including its lightning rod, designed by Benjamin Franklin.

Thanks for viewing, …zoom in for a closer look, and comments are always welcomed. M 🙂

Enforcement Squad

On November 25, 2020 By mvschulzeIn Birds, Car, Career, driving, New York, Perspectives, Photography, Pondering, Road trip, Travel5 Comments

As seen some years ago on a cloudy day in New York State

Thanks for Viewing. Comments are always welcomed! M 🙂

To Zoom, or Not To Zoom

On November 2, 2020 By mvschulzeIn 1970's, California, change, Explore, Exploring, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation2 Comments

This is a technical post, for testing. This Image of San Francisco taken in the summer of 1972.

Grand Canyon to Tetons

On October 27, 2020October 29, 2021 By mvschulzeIn 1990's, Adventure, Exploring, Family, Geology, Hiking, National;Parks, Perspectives, Photography, Pondering, Summer, Travel, Vacation6 Comments

A slightly different take on two great national parks.

Above: Kaibab Trail, South Rim Grand Canyon – 8/7/95

Thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcome. Zoooom in for a closer look. M 🙂

Above: Early morning fog (referring to the photographer, me!) and Jackson Hole – 8/11/90

Tokyo, Pan Am, the SST and Hawaii

On June 25, 2020June 25, 2020 By mvschulzeIn 1980's, Adventure, Airplanes, Beach, Career, Hawaii, Photography, Pondering, Travel5 Comments

As a follow-up to my previous post here back in the 1980’s, I departed from Narita Airport in Tokyo on an overnight and almost empty PAN AM 747 to Hawaii. I would meet my wife, Jeanne, as she arrived from New York, where there was a glimpse of the British Airways Concorde Super Sonic Transport, at that time providing regular transatlantic service at over 1300 MPH (~ 2100 kph.)

**Above:** **British Airways SST as seen landing at JFK, NY, March, 1981**

**Above: From the waiting room at Narita Airport, …my overnight ride to Hawaii.**

**Sleep, stretched out on empty seats, was easy on the overnight, above …and approaching Honolulu, below.**

**Above: Jeanne arriving from the mainland, later that afternoon.**

**Above: From our balcony in Waikiki. Rainbow courtesy of “Pineapple Showers.”**

Thanks for viewing, …and comments are always welcome. M 🙂

The Piermont Pier

On March 17, 2020March 18, 2020 By mvschulzeIn 1800's, 1940's, 1990's, Airplanes, Boating, Boats, Cars, Curiosities, Daytrip, driving, Exploring, Geology, Hiking, History, Hudson River, Lighthouses, Memorial, Nautical, New Jersey, New York City, New York State, Perspectives, Photography, Pondering, Railroad, Remembering, Telephoto, Trains, Travel, WW II8 Comments

About four weeks ago, in one of our last ventures before the Corvid-19 Pandemic, we visited the little town of Piermont, New York …on the Hudson River, and explored its 182 year old rock and earthen pier, which by 1851 served as a loading and unloading track bed for Erie Railroad trains picking up steamboat passengers from Lower Manhattan, twenty-five miles to the South. On the then longest rail line in the world, vacationers would travel 450 miles (724 km) to Dunkirk, NY and the shores of Lake Erie. Some hundred years later, long after the excursions were outmoded, tens of thousands of WW II troops would depart from this same mile long pier to ferries, and transfer onto troop ships in NY Harbor. Sadly, thousands would literally leave their last footsteps on U.S. soil right here. A monument nearby is solemnly named “Last Stop, USA.”

The Piermont Pier is located about two miles (3.2 km)south of the new Mario Cuomo Bridge, jutting out a little less than one mile (1.61 km) into the Hudson River.

The old steamship/ferry slip from years ago is seen above, …to the left.

Above: Today, the pier is a commercial, residential, and hiking park.

Remnants of the steamship/ferry docks can still be seen in this 2/23/20 view looking south. New York City would be just beyond Tallman Mountain to the right.

Above: A bollard, used for securing heavy lines, is seen here near the end of the pier, looking south.

Above: The trestle part of the new bridge, carrying the New York State Thruway, is about two miles (3.2 km) to the North; and Hook Mountain, overlooking the Hudson, is seen beyond.

Above: The striking new Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge; and two miles (3.2 km) further, Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse off Tarrytown, NY seen to the left of center span.

Taken some years ago while boating on the Hudson, Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, also know as Tarrytown Lighthouse or Kingsland Point Lighthouse, was “installed” in 1883.

Thanks for viewing. Zoom in for a closer look.

And a special note: BE WELL, …and please use best judgement practices as we “navigate” through these un-precedented difficult times. M

I’d like to thank the Piermont Historical Society for their added information concerning this topic, and Wikipedia. I am a proud contributer/donator to both sources.