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 🙂

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 🙂

Tokyo: Sans Masks, 1981

On June 16, 2020 By mvschulzeIn 1980's, Corona Virus, Photography, Pondering2 Comments

Face masks have been common in many world cities well before the Corvid – 19 pandemic. So I recently looked back at a business trip I made to Tokyo some years ago. Back then: …no masks, no worry.

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

Yosemite Falls – Silhouette

On February 22, 2020 By mvschulzeIn 1970's, California, Close Up, driving, Exploring, Family, Geology, Hiking, History, National;Parks, Photography, Road trip, Summer, Telephoto, Travel2 Comments

Offering a break from winter blues, below is a late summer image of the top of one of the world’s most photographed waterfalls – during the dry season.

August, 16, 1972
Cascading 2,425 feet (739m) into Yosemite Valley, California, water flow reaches maximum volumn during late spring snow melts.

EXA SLR 35mm film camera, 200mm Vivitar, f 3.5 lens

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

Swiss Army Knife meets Mt. St. Helens

On January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 By mvschulzeIn 1980's, driving, Explore, Family, Geology, History, Mt. St. Helens, National;Parks, Photo, Photography, Pondering, Telephoto, Travel, Vacation, Volcano, Washington StateLeave a comment

Lately, I seem to be hung up on Swiss Army Knives. See here. Originally, in that post, I wanted to compare the enormous display with my real knife. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the knife. But …here it is. I had used it as contrast to the ash from the Mt. St. Helens explosion, nine years earlier. The two pictures below, from our vacation in August, 1989, were taken on the banks of the Toutle River some 30 miles downstream from the catastrophic event which literally blew the top off the mountain.

ABOVE: A few miles east of the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center in Washington State, Rt. 504 crosses the Toutle River, (located near “Toutle” on the satellite image below.) BELOW: Topless Mt. St. Helens is visible from Interstate 5, about 35 miles away.

The Visitor Center is between “Castle Rock,” and “Toutle.

Thanks for viewing, and zoom in for a closer look. M 🙂

From the Vault: Sunrise – Wildwood Crest, N.J. 10/10/75

On October 10, 2019 By mvschulzeIn 1970's, Beach, Family, New Jersey, Photography, Sunrise7 Comments

Forty-four years ago to the day, this young guy (me!) captured sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, as my young wife and 10 month old daughter slept in the Madrid Motel room before another vacation day at the shore.

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

Chimney Bluffs State Park, New York

On August 18, 2019 By mvschulzeIn Exploring, Geology, Hiking, New York State, Photography, Road tripLeave a comment

A little hiking, some bird watching, and erosion at the edge of Lake Ontario

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

Summer Sunset – Florida

On June 28, 2019 By mvschulzeIn History, Photography, silhouette, sunset5 Comments

Golden Sunset from Marco Island, Florida

Family Vacation, some years ago

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

A Rainy Day in Georgia, – Fla, SC, NC, Va., Md, De, and NJ

On April 18, 2019April 18, 2019 By mvschulzeIn Photography, Road trip, Travel, Weather4 Comments

Some images from our rainy three-day drive from Disney World, Florida, to New Jersey. The weather system intensified on the last day as we withstood 8′ seas on the Cape May (NJ)-Lewis (Del.) car ferry, an 80-minute open sea transit of 17 miles.