tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28978788415904315412024-03-14T00:26:31.070-04:00Great Big Open RoadRandom musings from a misplaced New Yorker...Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.comBlogger339125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-56774724280563562332023-01-18T09:57:00.005-05:002023-01-18T09:57:52.968-05:00The Final Hours...<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">The final hours in Seattle were fun, low voltage and relaxing. Jess and I have learned not to plan minute by minute and having everything laid out but, rather, by watching the weather and determining how bad weather might negatively impact when we wanted to do.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So, the last day had us in Seattle, scoping out Pike's Place Fish Market. Pike's Place was first opened on November 30, 1907 and has continued to be a mainstay of societal Seattle for over 100 years:</p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZS1Z8LWhqOctlTQol9lJz_6jJFCobqEBlJkcFC_0n-AswtuUwB_vnOWFZ8oalIsb8CyoXg_hyTH3hb0QroIfb74SURImJyXq0bd5VKq8uidmYxn7h7DxK-7Mfe_KCx1eiVUFQfWAgtl86kP2qXZPsasjnMyJ9XIWUEG1W41xhwm9cw-Q98YMuQXe/s800/pp02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZS1Z8LWhqOctlTQol9lJz_6jJFCobqEBlJkcFC_0n-AswtuUwB_vnOWFZ8oalIsb8CyoXg_hyTH3hb0QroIfb74SURImJyXq0bd5VKq8uidmYxn7h7DxK-7Mfe_KCx1eiVUFQfWAgtl86kP2qXZPsasjnMyJ9XIWUEG1W41xhwm9cw-Q98YMuQXe/w640-h426/pp02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The view of Pike's Place from Puget Sound...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlFabCZkErll25832sKsd0WTBHmoGAHxwiDkjJ4MIIcZQR6cOUND63SbCMfDlCiL46PPwtfPcoI2VEHkV1wV5147sWzKgwSMGSkwZ0FE1SwdzB9Urrv3xtdbSBpxV3BtRLgBMtlKbqv3Cz885PO1hjAXn9XRTwPjVfpN_vTLFdKPd-U_HxFEUKS1h/s800/pp14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlFabCZkErll25832sKsd0WTBHmoGAHxwiDkjJ4MIIcZQR6cOUND63SbCMfDlCiL46PPwtfPcoI2VEHkV1wV5147sWzKgwSMGSkwZ0FE1SwdzB9Urrv3xtdbSBpxV3BtRLgBMtlKbqv3Cz885PO1hjAXn9XRTwPjVfpN_vTLFdKPd-U_HxFEUKS1h/w640-h426/pp14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The far more popular view of the market from the street...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">The first thing we had to do was park and,truth be told, there's plenty of that. Unless you get there early in the morning, though, you're not like to get street parking and will have to opt for one of the many garages in the area. We were there on a Tuesday, so the obvious caveat here is that I have no idea how crowded the garages get on the weekends.<br /><br />On a Tuesday afternoon? They ain't bad!<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIXjTkGUGYOUWs91RvvCQPWnBCyb_YtC-ua3kXMVHn9u19MtBV2dezTxXBrwSszcUYk-w4H_DPOV66vLwYwD6evEuH9H5fekH-c5nhz727fo1X1Kua0sjGdP0KgFCYDimHj-PZFFP5sL6GUC-sVFtLjMPPyy-xWJvYrKyWfo77ylV2ZO_bsTei6a2/s800/pp01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIXjTkGUGYOUWs91RvvCQPWnBCyb_YtC-ua3kXMVHn9u19MtBV2dezTxXBrwSszcUYk-w4H_DPOV66vLwYwD6evEuH9H5fekH-c5nhz727fo1X1Kua0sjGdP0KgFCYDimHj-PZFFP5sL6GUC-sVFtLjMPPyy-xWJvYrKyWfo77ylV2ZO_bsTei6a2/w640-h426/pp01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Just make sure you make a note of where you park. It's easy to get lost.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We don't really do a lot of shopping here, and we definitely slip into "tourist mode", either. But it's a great place to spend an afternoon wandering, and maybe grabbing a cocktail or a beer somewhere. It's also a great "people watching" spot, and there's never a shortage of subjects to photograph. The whole place is a like a great big sightseeing trip that you can go on while sitting on a park bench with a coffee:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5D4DEm_ewDnRPDwVCtIz-HuOQgSGxhsT8EXwk4Fx3EmkJqApJEfiSBqkBoPpyrg3marPFN4PSoYa4wHgJtF0ONtEcdfhlJZPyJ3kBquy8cMuJiCRIIPjJVxQ4wvtKY_q95JyhLr28fU1AhUOL98DJ46K6J0-g5JdpoHmHr25jJMITAy7C5c9nPamd/s800/pp03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5D4DEm_ewDnRPDwVCtIz-HuOQgSGxhsT8EXwk4Fx3EmkJqApJEfiSBqkBoPpyrg3marPFN4PSoYa4wHgJtF0ONtEcdfhlJZPyJ3kBquy8cMuJiCRIIPjJVxQ4wvtKY_q95JyhLr28fU1AhUOL98DJ46K6J0-g5JdpoHmHr25jJMITAy7C5c9nPamd/w640-h426/pp03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa_xVh7Ji4Z6OiS1ntSiZlSekW_4c651ObrkRbJzGIUBZsUUFqXCZjYZz4OXSJmiU4jj_VoVoqXs94r8A7giPcPgsPQgH-nmVSiAG_VNHlbRVRUgB4JaZP3xZgWjBHRUucFkwCN_J7NoWQF6wyqNkJsFeMtqjDfMzIeQ9sqQ30OgO7kBlbK5VhTeQ/s800/pp05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa_xVh7Ji4Z6OiS1ntSiZlSekW_4c651ObrkRbJzGIUBZsUUFqXCZjYZz4OXSJmiU4jj_VoVoqXs94r8A7giPcPgsPQgH-nmVSiAG_VNHlbRVRUgB4JaZP3xZgWjBHRUucFkwCN_J7NoWQF6wyqNkJsFeMtqjDfMzIeQ9sqQ30OgO7kBlbK5VhTeQ/w640-h426/pp05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgileq_tOL6wkM5CU-WY-nsWCMF4zWVrgt3kjlIUqZB3HqY260225LCTcdsDnexFfaCQ9HQ27dNNQvUkzE8uKr9Ti1bgeXO0TmdaNf5QsdymervToLVAWwb-ekMPgsoCPUejLzuJP5BFB9U0_IL8d7ZtkMvI8kQeJw1Ph8eDMZeKP53dMj803k7eDkz/s800/pp06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgileq_tOL6wkM5CU-WY-nsWCMF4zWVrgt3kjlIUqZB3HqY260225LCTcdsDnexFfaCQ9HQ27dNNQvUkzE8uKr9Ti1bgeXO0TmdaNf5QsdymervToLVAWwb-ekMPgsoCPUejLzuJP5BFB9U0_IL8d7ZtkMvI8kQeJw1Ph8eDMZeKP53dMj803k7eDkz/w640-h426/pp06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwV8e5k5sLLpDMCb616g9l-3Ha2tDfaJwNwJR8_teUMRcLvXrDmVqRM-YHvIT6MUhU4n4Vqy-2bFw8fkEaIDyolvblIv3IcnKOc9P9J-qs-6HsW_p7uHPWHhlkWT_NuNvwCr5YAlEBbFGCP7A3GEZ6ZJUgEjs96kSzSCVz0SElpympRRs1EVksyar/s800/pp07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwV8e5k5sLLpDMCb616g9l-3Ha2tDfaJwNwJR8_teUMRcLvXrDmVqRM-YHvIT6MUhU4n4Vqy-2bFw8fkEaIDyolvblIv3IcnKOc9P9J-qs-6HsW_p7uHPWHhlkWT_NuNvwCr5YAlEBbFGCP7A3GEZ6ZJUgEjs96kSzSCVz0SElpympRRs1EVksyar/w426-h640/pp07.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V-3joQ0fkDMcPoCVERh03Q9YE31ipjc0YkiT_cqhK8aPA4W5ofoxbPNlZ3WfPr4-mzFDYHpZZq9UGkxACSX3T-JXj41xX05SJ7C_7S54vy0BUmlHtVi5g1zFwap383_Ks4fs57-vwu-81ktZfwG2k7Syi7FOS6SsFDxf4Jev9-NgtTxdaI9CLlB7/s800/pp08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V-3joQ0fkDMcPoCVERh03Q9YE31ipjc0YkiT_cqhK8aPA4W5ofoxbPNlZ3WfPr4-mzFDYHpZZq9UGkxACSX3T-JXj41xX05SJ7C_7S54vy0BUmlHtVi5g1zFwap383_Ks4fs57-vwu-81ktZfwG2k7Syi7FOS6SsFDxf4Jev9-NgtTxdaI9CLlB7/w640-h426/pp08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFKeKpQxJJNPrhSi2Gt80-PuLBAJ_GW6sVrE2dRQk2yyBlxF33vvC4AqxfN1bgYBlTYojy9gfkr7zcG6agsUwqtkLGWWsbVTW3PnPCAoaJ86gTKfnn_IpuxmwRQwdn55VP5hxy0DCPKHBZQ38MC524vv5d10pJ9CEXlC-X7j_ac8ueNIP718LWyCu/s800/pp10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFKeKpQxJJNPrhSi2Gt80-PuLBAJ_GW6sVrE2dRQk2yyBlxF33vvC4AqxfN1bgYBlTYojy9gfkr7zcG6agsUwqtkLGWWsbVTW3PnPCAoaJ86gTKfnn_IpuxmwRQwdn55VP5hxy0DCPKHBZQ38MC524vv5d10pJ9CEXlC-X7j_ac8ueNIP718LWyCu/w640-h428/pp10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIIMPlDE0v9Zi8UaWgk8YTY-bpTtAetx-64BTAW1mHxr7yRgZ3FHr6ixNLNlRfwf191Z3h-LakH_DwklBPGYK5PI0is4UsD-aVc2p4NMShKH1dO9kDWDD_AwP7e7UX_uABB3rNM7dbj7c7yMRSa3YLHqOaIQV0ZElncmA2ZFyi_QSmQfvbIGTGFz0/s800/pp11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIIMPlDE0v9Zi8UaWgk8YTY-bpTtAetx-64BTAW1mHxr7yRgZ3FHr6ixNLNlRfwf191Z3h-LakH_DwklBPGYK5PI0is4UsD-aVc2p4NMShKH1dO9kDWDD_AwP7e7UX_uABB3rNM7dbj7c7yMRSa3YLHqOaIQV0ZElncmA2ZFyi_QSmQfvbIGTGFz0/w426-h640/pp11.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUtNa9_NQ_Z1kH-LlmlyCOUrrKyIqcq5A7Yyt2ggoYtA8msxDHEUM-0Ew64Sk_-PF7vMSYxlvWl1lFqF8QpoJSZ9E7_cTIVNnc6vQpnOB6phwEgblSyWlCNVTZMwUgNacuYv54DtfkVbE3opIy_35MttucqM2h1uVbF_gvGQ7tC7qPZGKt55r5uNH/s800/pp12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUtNa9_NQ_Z1kH-LlmlyCOUrrKyIqcq5A7Yyt2ggoYtA8msxDHEUM-0Ew64Sk_-PF7vMSYxlvWl1lFqF8QpoJSZ9E7_cTIVNnc6vQpnOB6phwEgblSyWlCNVTZMwUgNacuYv54DtfkVbE3opIy_35MttucqM2h1uVbF_gvGQ7tC7qPZGKt55r5uNH/w640-h426/pp12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0d8oPscqvQpbpujFtoZG1C_EY13-sl8Tf0uDJFIZfRP_H_IC4Gy6BmpFenxOiUzC6VgqITAxnWxrRg2zynQ9-bITQlNxsFgNM760XURLw4l86ocZmUrpVTO2Fkit05OYPEeL8qnCbvzqLaOs6uNcWY2ZaHEl6DQLXtCC3R6GTh0XrVFrovhvF0GMY/s800/pp13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0d8oPscqvQpbpujFtoZG1C_EY13-sl8Tf0uDJFIZfRP_H_IC4Gy6BmpFenxOiUzC6VgqITAxnWxrRg2zynQ9-bITQlNxsFgNM760XURLw4l86ocZmUrpVTO2Fkit05OYPEeL8qnCbvzqLaOs6uNcWY2ZaHEl6DQLXtCC3R6GTh0XrVFrovhvF0GMY/w640-h426/pp13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCyXUcOjlVOyTO7Cn0PrjNptKf-dMf9yWEDNs9fWQiJ2KPVRa385JXwq01sfVY6Lw8c2bDpF4hPZ2uLghf5wkGmDhF16J1BTHzxUIIVgkEyC9m3If8y5YdtHH4KTjPvGPKVoxUeE6GaHYRQNKeZAtnX3tt3SSTBMlLMyTfWbPYRCUu9h8Ln1t0oPi/s800/pp16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCyXUcOjlVOyTO7Cn0PrjNptKf-dMf9yWEDNs9fWQiJ2KPVRa385JXwq01sfVY6Lw8c2bDpF4hPZ2uLghf5wkGmDhF16J1BTHzxUIIVgkEyC9m3If8y5YdtHH4KTjPvGPKVoxUeE6GaHYRQNKeZAtnX3tt3SSTBMlLMyTfWbPYRCUu9h8Ln1t0oPi/w426-h640/pp16.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSHNGhS0h5XrtEb7DFmtKDMV3LHjGNaWg5PpE2OuUaHyJjlmX30U-RJUe0975CzHjmaCFBBPOi2r2NlfO0VdyJ1G5EUIQJQwQw2VNNrfjdOaxmEtA0YPSQ-znmSVPTWQu9CW6oYqw9IlMQWQv1JEPOCfBRrqHFf8eBfB66ETgBb3RWJ-aARjaS47b/s800/pp17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSHNGhS0h5XrtEb7DFmtKDMV3LHjGNaWg5PpE2OuUaHyJjlmX30U-RJUe0975CzHjmaCFBBPOi2r2NlfO0VdyJ1G5EUIQJQwQw2VNNrfjdOaxmEtA0YPSQ-znmSVPTWQu9CW6oYqw9IlMQWQv1JEPOCfBRrqHFf8eBfB66ETgBb3RWJ-aARjaS47b/w640-h426/pp17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRU8OydLJwXrb1pOBCAS7j4vRkpLeaXY1LfS95D4nh9_o8eTBvL-hqCbLmv8z8IXV2p9VPDPItiqS1faVJgcQ4sdykYwJtY_qGEnTfpN88VEbX1XVpQI458tMWqQM6qf49Z6v902cII7HF0RZCltxdd7CNRtliI6D9pmRARfXVx0S6Oj-Px5-F21F/s800/pp18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRU8OydLJwXrb1pOBCAS7j4vRkpLeaXY1LfS95D4nh9_o8eTBvL-hqCbLmv8z8IXV2p9VPDPItiqS1faVJgcQ4sdykYwJtY_qGEnTfpN88VEbX1XVpQI458tMWqQM6qf49Z6v902cII7HF0RZCltxdd7CNRtliI6D9pmRARfXVx0S6Oj-Px5-F21F/w640-h426/pp18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAslTTw6gx6_vrGBkVWo2xwgv2gkh5KFzhVFq0qonMM4IpEX0Cd_vMOw8dih4cFOGQe0RsrTjWBriUl9tC_LcJUvOIgF3h6TRbm_t5nOPyCWI1WJClaQlQu8wDIC2hSZ29StuptLqAdUrSvBw9RKzC8_FJ0x1UlcOwZreNTwhqafbDF4MmXkHm8CP/s800/pp19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAslTTw6gx6_vrGBkVWo2xwgv2gkh5KFzhVFq0qonMM4IpEX0Cd_vMOw8dih4cFOGQe0RsrTjWBriUl9tC_LcJUvOIgF3h6TRbm_t5nOPyCWI1WJClaQlQu8wDIC2hSZ29StuptLqAdUrSvBw9RKzC8_FJ0x1UlcOwZreNTwhqafbDF4MmXkHm8CP/w640-h426/pp19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4jWBQo7uirH41i6ECVhiovZfEqMYz5Huj_DeCAfEEIOUC9liu4UAf57sNS0Ofu6a_mifl1Ap8a4VDEVtJIxoXWxpb8ldoOjTic5F00GJQ7-spvN139eKi7HKnR0v3zyTQj-drMED6OIg1Xza_jx4elMGr3hKTwN_JdgcItlKi62Qp5GQExmsPFJ5/s800/pp20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4jWBQo7uirH41i6ECVhiovZfEqMYz5Huj_DeCAfEEIOUC9liu4UAf57sNS0Ofu6a_mifl1Ap8a4VDEVtJIxoXWxpb8ldoOjTic5F00GJQ7-spvN139eKi7HKnR0v3zyTQj-drMED6OIg1Xza_jx4elMGr3hKTwN_JdgcItlKi62Qp5GQExmsPFJ5/w640-h426/pp20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYdmDrp595iSQNv0TwJQQR0_ZkovGhc96tzXzjal8TAQl5TpU3oOqXV9w7m3mx8YGc7wKP5rmnvbTvzyYVprso1byZB5s06NtH6wwL6Mq_m3PgD8eOjkOv7ITzOTY78aJDMjnIFS6O-b4vMoTDUAjfa6Mri5OtYY8ixNN9BM-mK6hUFNtcuCHEeYf/s800/pp21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYdmDrp595iSQNv0TwJQQR0_ZkovGhc96tzXzjal8TAQl5TpU3oOqXV9w7m3mx8YGc7wKP5rmnvbTvzyYVprso1byZB5s06NtH6wwL6Mq_m3PgD8eOjkOv7ITzOTY78aJDMjnIFS6O-b4vMoTDUAjfa6Mri5OtYY8ixNN9BM-mK6hUFNtcuCHEeYf/w640-h426/pp21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzveyo-ncT5faUzHnbVUpnM5TQ5Yzub8SjzqkXD3ve6Tt02dBCpA4BH0FiY8hFWs-dEO1l2E-v5xTApgtXFqglxQBCUpeAaUj3CXkHqOsaGQneF43EKoqYFj4nGr5secfnu-HXbcy31fF7lGWTqZzPIrYZm5TAfJBCB7aw2l9k2f1l1pt7b6LEpOE/s800/pp23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzveyo-ncT5faUzHnbVUpnM5TQ5Yzub8SjzqkXD3ve6Tt02dBCpA4BH0FiY8hFWs-dEO1l2E-v5xTApgtXFqglxQBCUpeAaUj3CXkHqOsaGQneF43EKoqYFj4nGr5secfnu-HXbcy31fF7lGWTqZzPIrYZm5TAfJBCB7aw2l9k2f1l1pt7b6LEpOE/w640-h426/pp23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUyD0Wx7mkBSVl2VLySoAleNz13VO_CfM0tprYAAl39ZC5i6Y3UQwQCfyfrC5Oabu3Lmx92clHdnq8i4tPfBoCzrwgFDCVoP9ykm6dC_h_UiCf3CPLT_KKfC7NenRqEg33FhLJHc0hTKrYxz8Wt5DQ9GRnaZxikY0oCPO65YLfb0MGPQKO6WWf83p/s800/pp22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUyD0Wx7mkBSVl2VLySoAleNz13VO_CfM0tprYAAl39ZC5i6Y3UQwQCfyfrC5Oabu3Lmx92clHdnq8i4tPfBoCzrwgFDCVoP9ykm6dC_h_UiCf3CPLT_KKfC7NenRqEg33FhLJHc0hTKrYxz8Wt5DQ9GRnaZxikY0oCPO65YLfb0MGPQKO6WWf83p/w640-h426/pp22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIc36QMr0CT8u5FrB3CSMTdAAzEAiHg3wYtCjF4sHDT2Hmb6mA94jKj39nd7DVxtBkvsgBdno367KPXvC8AhrPiB4eJKq1OMAlYxWLUGEQ8Pkt7uLGg00p-pFxCp3jRuvwKQVMzB5IO4wqTWbWobvLHUe5Gp1KgaLh93EfAqAUX-oHjWtsgcoNx2_/s800/pp24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIc36QMr0CT8u5FrB3CSMTdAAzEAiHg3wYtCjF4sHDT2Hmb6mA94jKj39nd7DVxtBkvsgBdno367KPXvC8AhrPiB4eJKq1OMAlYxWLUGEQ8Pkt7uLGg00p-pFxCp3jRuvwKQVMzB5IO4wqTWbWobvLHUe5Gp1KgaLh93EfAqAUX-oHjWtsgcoNx2_/w640-h426/pp24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5s6ZeHn4aHKX9jaTskTvZVzIxYBMXA_Uf68rmP4EyNIXntA0Xr1E4mVym9DtrE38muas9hjGwEsG6IWxBicftl4hBD-hF36csy7MbjmRUCzRk7hezsVqPFGdKslc68IbOx2xi95OwCCu1Astv09_J1LOVLzQYWsIGzGmQ3-R-6O4uLR9U-Nk36rq/s800/pp25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5s6ZeHn4aHKX9jaTskTvZVzIxYBMXA_Uf68rmP4EyNIXntA0Xr1E4mVym9DtrE38muas9hjGwEsG6IWxBicftl4hBD-hF36csy7MbjmRUCzRk7hezsVqPFGdKslc68IbOx2xi95OwCCu1Astv09_J1LOVLzQYWsIGzGmQ3-R-6O4uLR9U-Nk36rq/w640-h426/pp25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjGmZ10ihyevzkj9hrDYIcO8NeSCVcth7mL4oD_A0culsZHsWxoJLTjpQbcX54wafq00YPYA5D03GML-1lRWfLgLHuAdOjWzfGHUypQOvNVHfLL_7AyBKGtvdA86UKR9Z0NMoMzVWuPM1cJbOEnEluiIlF5HwNa6t7wdlV156jhQF3JTVVAObmL9n/s800/pp26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjGmZ10ihyevzkj9hrDYIcO8NeSCVcth7mL4oD_A0culsZHsWxoJLTjpQbcX54wafq00YPYA5D03GML-1lRWfLgLHuAdOjWzfGHUypQOvNVHfLL_7AyBKGtvdA86UKR9Z0NMoMzVWuPM1cJbOEnEluiIlF5HwNa6t7wdlV156jhQF3JTVVAObmL9n/w640-h426/pp26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5WhLPVtQklkK08-0g1flYftnlEWSITv6bOtLbBM7rdjD85VuG48svjpAQkz5MbFQw1pSH8EbgalZ6WZTy64U37HwjRc15-NsAkeKY96nTmtCNLvkHDiFdOLoHwU5mxh4byuoUYuvuGjMFSvxG6ZTxV9OFgZpmx2jx2KLquxqWNY4Yf6-V__Gf9aM/s800/pp27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5WhLPVtQklkK08-0g1flYftnlEWSITv6bOtLbBM7rdjD85VuG48svjpAQkz5MbFQw1pSH8EbgalZ6WZTy64U37HwjRc15-NsAkeKY96nTmtCNLvkHDiFdOLoHwU5mxh4byuoUYuvuGjMFSvxG6ZTxV9OFgZpmx2jx2KLquxqWNY4Yf6-V__Gf9aM/w640-h426/pp27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Truth be told, I can't recall a single trip I've ever made to Seattle which didn't include a visit to Pike's Place. It's like going to New York City and not going to go the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Plaza to see the Christmas Tree during the holidays. It just doesn't happen. It truly is one of those things that <i>has </i>to happen.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next day, Wednesday, was my day of departure (late in the evening, but, still) so we just hung around the apartment watching Netflix, Amazon, Paramount, etc. It turned out to be the perfect ending to a perfect trip which I definitely hope to make again...<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-65899244878334705742022-12-24T11:41:00.000-05:002022-12-24T11:41:07.014-05:00Northern State Hospital...<p style="text-align: justify;">One thing I love to photograph is abandoned buildings. They're gritty and cold, and they leave you imaging what they were like when they weren't abandoned. One such place is Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, a little over an hour north of Seattle.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The drive is uneventful; and, for the most part, all along I-5. And, on a clear day, you might even be able to spy Mount Rainier:</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiDjAW7noZeMNpZZ2Ix_kQXMmHVNLAc8ENfT2UWk25QbX5ldJoysFYV08dDz4Y5w6762ErWaIjLio4enTzrLWBUJ-haQoJrU75rIR6KqJMHUE0nHHMCC6__rHD8cklYDaKN0yAWVx6lVadPrgbhO1xnWORzmY3q6mhNmAcZl8hpk-QcOR83X2JMyM/s800/IMG_1060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiDjAW7noZeMNpZZ2Ix_kQXMmHVNLAc8ENfT2UWk25QbX5ldJoysFYV08dDz4Y5w6762ErWaIjLio4enTzrLWBUJ-haQoJrU75rIR6KqJMHUE0nHHMCC6__rHD8cklYDaKN0yAWVx6lVadPrgbhO1xnWORzmY3q6mhNmAcZl8hpk-QcOR83X2JMyM/w640-h426/IMG_1060.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"The mountain is out" is often heard from the locals when you can see Rainier...</i><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Northern State Hospital first opened in 1912, and was once the largest facility for the mentally ill in Washington state. At its peak, it housed over 2,700 patients. Northern State Hospital fell victim to the changing perceptions of mental hospitals in the 1970's, though, and it closed its doors in 1976 after the state legislature cut off funding. While many building are still in use (and off limits) for job corps and drug rehabilitation services, the remaining grounds and buildings are open as a recreation area.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When we arrived, the surrounding area looked like any municipal park you would find anywhere. As we walked from the parking lot, down a path and up a hill, however, things changed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilM1l6d7Y4w5DGUYjbk2_sTgTUnOgAspXTunLL6paHfif7XU7o8Fr-I3ThXjsWFa2FJWwdhrv3qjOV8cmZScUThYU8MIv3mRWz4lShYCiaqRaChY3R89y8ilAATdn7SoeR564urgkgSYfXLj2VqaN6rASWVWWMLa4aOLReIMAUZngniLPbu3wxEo0j/s800/nsh19.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilM1l6d7Y4w5DGUYjbk2_sTgTUnOgAspXTunLL6paHfif7XU7o8Fr-I3ThXjsWFa2FJWwdhrv3qjOV8cmZScUThYU8MIv3mRWz4lShYCiaqRaChY3R89y8ilAATdn7SoeR564urgkgSYfXLj2VqaN6rASWVWWMLa4aOLReIMAUZngniLPbu3wxEo0j/w640-h426/nsh19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Our first glimpse of what was once Northern State Hospital...</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> </p><p>There were a number of building on the site and, as you might imagine, the vast majority of them were abandoned and in varying states of disrepair:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBeUeG1uMfLJvX0F2mV3qcviyJZBSqcx3N4rNOejkBDzoUdc4hcpy-LJ2mtaryVDQhxA-MCzspkUUycWWWznmMiEzqClf1xr1pf6vttoVYmZSjzWMCNznZfo9Zx0NEwJTH1Q5ft9ZpkMdN4Eis5BSQvPf7r1ZnL5J_iHc1jYsvhKJt1z9RDEJyd5A/s800/nsh08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBeUeG1uMfLJvX0F2mV3qcviyJZBSqcx3N4rNOejkBDzoUdc4hcpy-LJ2mtaryVDQhxA-MCzspkUUycWWWznmMiEzqClf1xr1pf6vttoVYmZSjzWMCNznZfo9Zx0NEwJTH1Q5ft9ZpkMdN4Eis5BSQvPf7r1ZnL5J_iHc1jYsvhKJt1z9RDEJyd5A/w640-h426/nsh08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3KAx-V96kkuqqX_lKLr13V30UFN5Wm_jLdCC0FAHZZ6p_yKM5I60V-1yzRqfVDSyfXPIkMEjJMsYmZj116hAy-U-lG3Fs_EIJzXLIvsKpNL2bHTHowGqDDH10tVasEpMNf5m8z_tjy_bk9NHRDW-IExyxcpYnohVPQPXtmxWKT4-bZGvviOOftLu/s800/nsh01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3KAx-V96kkuqqX_lKLr13V30UFN5Wm_jLdCC0FAHZZ6p_yKM5I60V-1yzRqfVDSyfXPIkMEjJMsYmZj116hAy-U-lG3Fs_EIJzXLIvsKpNL2bHTHowGqDDH10tVasEpMNf5m8z_tjy_bk9NHRDW-IExyxcpYnohVPQPXtmxWKT4-bZGvviOOftLu/w640-h426/nsh01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8ZxsMUzeHTrUqfmtmUu8XDJf6YTFUBYVqVqvK9pCKa-zrUbMixdbsIv0DPtbYC7n2OSGDB_Nuq8UOpjPzg9QhlgZsLbhQhIyV8bySoRVAJ2gKdw-nAzyIEKGEjwYSw010hXSr-O9HT5Yc0rmxgLOwswDrWjki5_oOM9RQO5vrMAnoIhAZoINZBVn/s800/nsh07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8ZxsMUzeHTrUqfmtmUu8XDJf6YTFUBYVqVqvK9pCKa-zrUbMixdbsIv0DPtbYC7n2OSGDB_Nuq8UOpjPzg9QhlgZsLbhQhIyV8bySoRVAJ2gKdw-nAzyIEKGEjwYSw010hXSr-O9HT5Yc0rmxgLOwswDrWjki5_oOM9RQO5vrMAnoIhAZoINZBVn/w640-h426/nsh07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Kav21DpH0b8jjPxB_Riy8ai_aegTZrIfZvQac6gsM_nt5jiWBLxxN6JVDl282V_18KDbWxKqj6JmngSNXkl8EU65X7g1lXBpdFpDtKB4JdfRP6FtUc2jm4lKUF6bJSLtMIp9xS5A0vRFutFjjXrTm1SnQOd7rLc8hRkP7KHjB82qZqLty6bmzspq/s800/nsh14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Kav21DpH0b8jjPxB_Riy8ai_aegTZrIfZvQac6gsM_nt5jiWBLxxN6JVDl282V_18KDbWxKqj6JmngSNXkl8EU65X7g1lXBpdFpDtKB4JdfRP6FtUc2jm4lKUF6bJSLtMIp9xS5A0vRFutFjjXrTm1SnQOd7rLc8hRkP7KHjB82qZqLty6bmzspq/w640-h426/nsh14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>To be perfectly honest, there were some building I refused to go into. They just looked like they were waiting to fall down an, frankly, I didn't want to be inside them when they did.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One thing you always seem to see at abandoned sites is graffiti. Some of it is sparse and simple, still more could almost be considered, given its environment, ornate. But graffiti abounds in abandoned places, and Northern State Hospital was no different:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrAIvEvzuDJ7b_n2ZWONdrX-ZbOH8apDdmMoPMX5JI4HVfQkDya1miplwl2IWavARwYUoVnodeAlp8Hh_ba2920EzU1WKlDO5C0k71zbKuK5CM5kAGGGI2xWCfk5wnhIZmsFwGvxPEoJ83HavlCC-9QJwLYrQWFGszqeTWJrx1BWSX8PsALff_Mvh/s800/nsh03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrAIvEvzuDJ7b_n2ZWONdrX-ZbOH8apDdmMoPMX5JI4HVfQkDya1miplwl2IWavARwYUoVnodeAlp8Hh_ba2920EzU1WKlDO5C0k71zbKuK5CM5kAGGGI2xWCfk5wnhIZmsFwGvxPEoJ83HavlCC-9QJwLYrQWFGszqeTWJrx1BWSX8PsALff_Mvh/w640-h426/nsh03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlnQDhlv0A_cPC2bhO90ohhf_rTsAus0jiizDWEM5YovYr8mtgwQa1xlKnQx_LIhte3flGTZa5p01-Oe7NdIgoZ1sKYY8fQRS5Q57FPwqM_1_lUZvSlsNTpLe-BNf5zt02ihqhLpGk6e1xAroYHGduk1swwiwz4uuvxR7DrllNQQAcln8b-bEjS0O/s800/nsh09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlnQDhlv0A_cPC2bhO90ohhf_rTsAus0jiizDWEM5YovYr8mtgwQa1xlKnQx_LIhte3flGTZa5p01-Oe7NdIgoZ1sKYY8fQRS5Q57FPwqM_1_lUZvSlsNTpLe-BNf5zt02ihqhLpGk6e1xAroYHGduk1swwiwz4uuvxR7DrllNQQAcln8b-bEjS0O/w640-h426/nsh09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfHa5hLwoPJD6iicQgHjI148RIv6Ck2mWJIQrobKkST2ugn6sRpHvJ5-LX3qw_Z6bXsqJ_rPFeOxT5rJrogKomP4IZFFYnXgvl4VFdVn2V0HaKcoTPKCdMATO4ig3uMuH7Hm8Kw3JsUzzrdmjHtUrIifhvyigjCiOPlr_JW9X96llMakd5JdKYBO1/s800/nsh12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfHa5hLwoPJD6iicQgHjI148RIv6Ck2mWJIQrobKkST2ugn6sRpHvJ5-LX3qw_Z6bXsqJ_rPFeOxT5rJrogKomP4IZFFYnXgvl4VFdVn2V0HaKcoTPKCdMATO4ig3uMuH7Hm8Kw3JsUzzrdmjHtUrIifhvyigjCiOPlr_JW9X96llMakd5JdKYBO1/w640-h426/nsh12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOepPsV3Zt79SoaHdPGilq7YnXDZr4jgmpUFDcHPGd-zWfDkmdwH0uLAcCe6maClfJBXmhL9jSqYXvTgPXMYdy2LeE7AqbJt757HlcLkVuWfWRykEg137uvZdysUgamnCldJqcOIOc1VTk-kiLTLjHYgdyHriVOjLCIKhPCF7yYUMlzZ9HsNGyAiE/s800/nsh15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOepPsV3Zt79SoaHdPGilq7YnXDZr4jgmpUFDcHPGd-zWfDkmdwH0uLAcCe6maClfJBXmhL9jSqYXvTgPXMYdy2LeE7AqbJt757HlcLkVuWfWRykEg137uvZdysUgamnCldJqcOIOc1VTk-kiLTLjHYgdyHriVOjLCIKhPCF7yYUMlzZ9HsNGyAiE/w640-h426/nsh15.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgur1-18G0_aqNO6BoxjV9ib4mSHZY8e0UDPnWSH1FX3zqsRLnUn2aOUiwvhmG-oSQRUhkoISOiJhDc9SNQSYiBKrhFJeFt-0nCOCKu-7KshOK2cYWNlsR0pg3KgiH6lJ_o0e3hpIyMnFwCNL5FHhfvxtiNmAQGD-m1K1wrvcdmanD0GeA2AAklvGNU/s800/nsh13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgur1-18G0_aqNO6BoxjV9ib4mSHZY8e0UDPnWSH1FX3zqsRLnUn2aOUiwvhmG-oSQRUhkoISOiJhDc9SNQSYiBKrhFJeFt-0nCOCKu-7KshOK2cYWNlsR0pg3KgiH6lJ_o0e3hpIyMnFwCNL5FHhfvxtiNmAQGD-m1K1wrvcdmanD0GeA2AAklvGNU/w640-h426/nsh13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP9eVNxumVyTSCnYOk7-5Gl5IhJAFIBCXcjx4w25JNXXRIxobKf6Zxbp2sZhIMtX5_YXLTrYFnRg0VIA_tyGZqAzr1DYwMoJFkBXojhmc-NOiUNbBf8eBmQa7ayC0_lTbSM5FhfzIl_wOeBWVCEQjbU2SPGfwBsW5RbfW6rywcME71G9M_S49Rwg6/s800/nsh17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP9eVNxumVyTSCnYOk7-5Gl5IhJAFIBCXcjx4w25JNXXRIxobKf6Zxbp2sZhIMtX5_YXLTrYFnRg0VIA_tyGZqAzr1DYwMoJFkBXojhmc-NOiUNbBf8eBmQa7ayC0_lTbSM5FhfzIl_wOeBWVCEQjbU2SPGfwBsW5RbfW6rywcME71G9M_S49Rwg6/w640-h426/nsh17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">What I found the most striking was the vivid colors against the drab grey of the ancient cinder blocks. Add to that the fact that the ceiling and roofs were long gone, and it really does make for some cool photographs. with those vivid colors now displayed beneath the green canopy of the surrounding woods, as well. <br /></p><p>And, if you want a creepy place to take pictures of your friends, abandoned mental hospitals are good locales: <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdpdfcObnShwkvvsP2rFUZA5jEeVdecdtGpdBFir-Fy3C1nYfOmyZaszhjXyYR5XYhy-r0Rb6NU9_eaYfdLaiuvSB7lyOLh9wq-XhyQfvYunvdK1yct4gdyHFZ1xxQiC0aZBD0Rot0_N_u525t7ekYB8NKtvXi8iPXkOymLYurVjKKxTh0iwY4rdG/s800/jess02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdpdfcObnShwkvvsP2rFUZA5jEeVdecdtGpdBFir-Fy3C1nYfOmyZaszhjXyYR5XYhy-r0Rb6NU9_eaYfdLaiuvSB7lyOLh9wq-XhyQfvYunvdK1yct4gdyHFZ1xxQiC0aZBD0Rot0_N_u525t7ekYB8NKtvXi8iPXkOymLYurVjKKxTh0iwY4rdG/w640-h426/jess02.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></b></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This is my daughter, Jess, walking through one of the graffiti-ridden, broken down, partially collapsed buildings at Northern State Hospital in Sedros-Woolley...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Oh, and the other thing about abandoned mental hospitals? You just never know what kind of off the wall creepy stuff you'll find. Apparently, here at Northern State Hospital, the "creepy stuff" tends to be dolls. really, <i>really </i>creepy dolls:</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5WLASxpL8hgXwousUHfvoTvH7o71zTCKJxpoFw1KUFKD_PJFxoioL-FI-ngUDxyzvXRZosTM70wxQ1QBJjOUVK91OVEdC4Gv5iDqDnd0X5XTzZzmCPAz8E0IJG6piEwS8BlMIfK8w32Mh7nkhpx82eC4Y7ZGsYUBoKoOZC3BdIuRujCXECyUQyJm/s800/nsh02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5WLASxpL8hgXwousUHfvoTvH7o71zTCKJxpoFw1KUFKD_PJFxoioL-FI-ngUDxyzvXRZosTM70wxQ1QBJjOUVK91OVEdC4Gv5iDqDnd0X5XTzZzmCPAz8E0IJG6piEwS8BlMIfK8w32Mh7nkhpx82eC4Y7ZGsYUBoKoOZC3BdIuRujCXECyUQyJm/w426-h640/nsh02.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa5sw90DEExXIGj7vNhT_q9qkeSyzDEILkkIoOqxMeGKHrh0O70jUp1tJ3iKIkiJZMoUJPpZN-lBvQ4qikZX1u-mjaCu2NOL51Ymvxk7JODPlIKieO462M7iJfjM3MYNkrMU_lhceXgy5fAtqngRG4UE4z5m4-t33Qv3Zz7ryT7mAagilX6KuYS4v/s6720/nsh11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa5sw90DEExXIGj7vNhT_q9qkeSyzDEILkkIoOqxMeGKHrh0O70jUp1tJ3iKIkiJZMoUJPpZN-lBvQ4qikZX1u-mjaCu2NOL51Ymvxk7JODPlIKieO462M7iJfjM3MYNkrMU_lhceXgy5fAtqngRG4UE4z5m4-t33Qv3Zz7ryT7mAagilX6KuYS4v/w640-h426/nsh11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>After spending about an hour and a half or so walking through these dilapidated buildings, we decided to head over to another part of the hospital where most of the buildings are pretty much intact. Most are padlocked and no longer in use, and there's no such thing as a window that isn't broken:</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZh0AXbaMaiMFp_20Xebz6vc1pGZDOknPVYKLxvcfkx5csWKlMKYZgw9OElY2Mth7Qoc_aCZYx6yylKxvWYyeIqFWASFS5Ya9Ywfa86zm4qghVV-_BMmSLR8CkAYAzgu3epkRBRHwq_W6QiUwXBzj7EAVD-Uc6D2Lt14TU0x-Kq5-N5bvdyntuuhDP/s800/IMG_1071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZh0AXbaMaiMFp_20Xebz6vc1pGZDOknPVYKLxvcfkx5csWKlMKYZgw9OElY2Mth7Qoc_aCZYx6yylKxvWYyeIqFWASFS5Ya9Ywfa86zm4qghVV-_BMmSLR8CkAYAzgu3epkRBRHwq_W6QiUwXBzj7EAVD-Uc6D2Lt14TU0x-Kq5-N5bvdyntuuhDP/w640-h426/IMG_1071.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-Ij2hJQ05FNSN2qQ4t6RZXiUL7jzvb8lDTRCbWVmtf5CzABmoSXVrSXgW5Mz5galODaN459wVqxmr2fmfuiU0w0S5oA5C-LeT1x9XVBhaJ1dYwspqd524qW-R1KTxJ-f3pWugcOUw9siOoN2pHOsok_J0Vo8hRbqLdwX0bIMhHfE2lB2OGb_WSuo/s800/nsh05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-Ij2hJQ05FNSN2qQ4t6RZXiUL7jzvb8lDTRCbWVmtf5CzABmoSXVrSXgW5Mz5galODaN459wVqxmr2fmfuiU0w0S5oA5C-LeT1x9XVBhaJ1dYwspqd524qW-R1KTxJ-f3pWugcOUw9siOoN2pHOsok_J0Vo8hRbqLdwX0bIMhHfE2lB2OGb_WSuo/w640-h426/nsh05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCTDkBpqpjsdEzQnB8wVAvaJPMPqilgS2-SBd2t1-fQCeDidiKBJEZ05LzwBIdZqZEA_l83T20YigV2y5DyYgA5WY3C0HKw85Fk_fWpVfQUmmsC9xGUbJWds_iwBBD8JRVMBGkPNcyfXUEmfuIw8KHeb9JYZnpR-4Qx3vtoChjcBlLMCG1Exth2jr/s800/nsh06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCTDkBpqpjsdEzQnB8wVAvaJPMPqilgS2-SBd2t1-fQCeDidiKBJEZ05LzwBIdZqZEA_l83T20YigV2y5DyYgA5WY3C0HKw85Fk_fWpVfQUmmsC9xGUbJWds_iwBBD8JRVMBGkPNcyfXUEmfuIw8KHeb9JYZnpR-4Qx3vtoChjcBlLMCG1Exth2jr/w640-h426/nsh06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY2lULgnrzyj4lvqoP2_iFJ2iSEpYnn5xCr_yJ5wWrN0xvsUPesEE2C1A5yfxNMvQmzAnj-ezGFWolezC9w-8yqKc5Gi3qSenOCWmBh3SAN7uQ99SFDzRq1goSHa1vyg3HpXSwhuPnJEBR-JwuZqY9mMOJHkaUHBCCbD1nciAWRbwOBvIdpCRHWC1/s800/nsh10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY2lULgnrzyj4lvqoP2_iFJ2iSEpYnn5xCr_yJ5wWrN0xvsUPesEE2C1A5yfxNMvQmzAnj-ezGFWolezC9w-8yqKc5Gi3qSenOCWmBh3SAN7uQ99SFDzRq1goSHa1vyg3HpXSwhuPnJEBR-JwuZqY9mMOJHkaUHBCCbD1nciAWRbwOBvIdpCRHWC1/w640-h426/nsh10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS5PeESsYoc6DY8I64h4IqUUUCjWQg2A1fkTyBLSZLrP0qMOqI7sbjUtTlHYHJFmeuvfE5HEp_cuXsAq_XGW9MX9CzGOBBaYGizqcQHEPs5VB2pOx6gbvdTMeUyZBP-1r9phzCht8gMpSjCKbAaCcSCrJ_4OnmpyRKZTh-F3diTzvOdrbBRXNZuto/s800/nsh04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS5PeESsYoc6DY8I64h4IqUUUCjWQg2A1fkTyBLSZLrP0qMOqI7sbjUtTlHYHJFmeuvfE5HEp_cuXsAq_XGW9MX9CzGOBBaYGizqcQHEPs5VB2pOx6gbvdTMeUyZBP-1r9phzCht8gMpSjCKbAaCcSCrJ_4OnmpyRKZTh-F3diTzvOdrbBRXNZuto/w426-h640/nsh04.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, none of the buildings in this area were accessible. All we could do was shoot from the outside. That's fine, I suppose, but you just don't get photographs with the same character as when you can actually walk among the broken glass and shattered floor tiles. Be that as it may, though, we made due until deciding we would call it a day.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It dawned on us that we hadn't eaten since breakfast, so we found ourselves a barbeque joint call Double Barrel BBQ:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7wX-hiYKd7XmSpWkTGmJCJWfXw-H3jtVLQLZP-4VaA4ImsBLbKYZA9iKxXlpRXt_PTa62JdvNT1_ifBSzQOKVMQH5rNO9wJj6cYxwMgoizm5SOqEUHoXG0PRxhRAHxYarqjyxQtnEp-Idxalyjlnoo51QSiWigpfqBy-assURNRzuh037ohqBvhE/s800/IMG_1075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7wX-hiYKd7XmSpWkTGmJCJWfXw-H3jtVLQLZP-4VaA4ImsBLbKYZA9iKxXlpRXt_PTa62JdvNT1_ifBSzQOKVMQH5rNO9wJj6cYxwMgoizm5SOqEUHoXG0PRxhRAHxYarqjyxQtnEp-Idxalyjlnoo51QSiWigpfqBy-assURNRzuh037ohqBvhE/w640-h426/IMG_1075.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE0Mu_nmYx0FFxaK4u-tRA-JaGL1R_TDQmgqMmXbNgWrNpj8JOiAxdu_WX-ZO0vMRqb1RXxLmPMYxzwq2NnNzSb6k5nOnjU7aJygmRuzZCaffxGLFgelMJExEaL3VOwsx8uzySqh3n7psD9GOGYh7ijWPRRdYnq4fdmf9U1EXho07v7N7QH5BSmfE/s800/IMG_1077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE0Mu_nmYx0FFxaK4u-tRA-JaGL1R_TDQmgqMmXbNgWrNpj8JOiAxdu_WX-ZO0vMRqb1RXxLmPMYxzwq2NnNzSb6k5nOnjU7aJygmRuzZCaffxGLFgelMJExEaL3VOwsx8uzySqh3n7psD9GOGYh7ijWPRRdYnq4fdmf9U1EXho07v7N7QH5BSmfE/w640-h426/IMG_1077.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Now, living in northeastern Florida, good BBQ is easy to come by. Sometimes it seems like you cant swing a dead cat without hitting another great eatery. For whatever reason, I guess I just never thought that quality barbeque would be found in the pacific northwest.<br /><br />Yet, there it was:</p><p>Cornbread with butter, smoked turkey, brisket (can I get a "Hell, yeah!"?), mac & cheese, and cole slaw, all washed down with a tasty sweet tea. It was outstanding and 100% legit:<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pG7-OulIZCnZTOWqTnOX_VOS-ZObJxBkHTMS83NSTZRVSVP1ypHsLBIpu-3tbwINHYQ6hJLoFXU6ELwzNA2YYrYynkuFYl10PM5tsyYRBuY0H3IlJjlSLNUTI-vzhsEF0SBydKrJBIYVQJa6WZ3wzdyUAwdatQeMQPnfxEhwWl5DFo-ey7kql6eU/s800/IMG_1078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pG7-OulIZCnZTOWqTnOX_VOS-ZObJxBkHTMS83NSTZRVSVP1ypHsLBIpu-3tbwINHYQ6hJLoFXU6ELwzNA2YYrYynkuFYl10PM5tsyYRBuY0H3IlJjlSLNUTI-vzhsEF0SBydKrJBIYVQJa6WZ3wzdyUAwdatQeMQPnfxEhwWl5DFo-ey7kql6eU/w640-h426/IMG_1078.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">At this point, it was getting dark and it was clearly time to head back to Seattle. Thankfully, I wasn't driving, so I was able to get a good nap in during the trip.<br /><br />Our last outing of the day would come the next day, both local and iconic...<br /></p><p><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-67252955440566998822022-12-20T16:40:00.005-05:002022-12-20T16:40:52.871-05:00Chateau Ste. Michelle...<p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's no big secret that I enjoy a nice glass of wind on occasion. I'm a red wine guy; primarily a nice Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon. And, when that glass of wine is poured on the property of the winery that made it, all the better.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My daughter and I made the 45 minute drive from Seattle to Woodinville to visit the vineyards of Chateau Ste. Michelle. I've had their wines here in Florida but, like I said, there's something special about enjoying a glass on the grounds of the vineyard which made it:</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAI9VRuHvMqQD4pN60c_ev5ycrFpHmoF-N196LG88jk_NnwY5G1cWi9mlaKq8fuUaIGUnU6H9rtWJCsTl2gBLo0c8zs1M4qIyUL0OKg7Q-qNK9Ae0sd3S-9SBTUsCctvztBY5xqH9mK7gSXZO0uW09PGdnaWvFAbUvKM-Jik1IN5Ah3CCFg63tC_Y/s800/csm06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAI9VRuHvMqQD4pN60c_ev5ycrFpHmoF-N196LG88jk_NnwY5G1cWi9mlaKq8fuUaIGUnU6H9rtWJCsTl2gBLo0c8zs1M4qIyUL0OKg7Q-qNK9Ae0sd3S-9SBTUsCctvztBY5xqH9mK7gSXZO0uW09PGdnaWvFAbUvKM-Jik1IN5Ah3CCFg63tC_Y/w640-h426/csm06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Chateau Ste. Michelle was built on the 1912 estate of Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson, and dates back to the repeal of prohibition. A more modern French chateau was added in 1976:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n1y2chnc2Zhj6zLNAiG4Yo2L4XMi_ho_s7MDUjPxY3HjLVJ6ElxKO0HIElCSldEhIm1kZYKtn2jHrUCuuECEL719QILD2Z735Pg6Lt9NgrSugf2QwFQzZElorPECUtCQuMAsJ79hwOyTcYrJ9s_nqNPooGe_ayiWod-rBhbnyPRTMVUUh9iC2y-1/s800/csm03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="800" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n1y2chnc2Zhj6zLNAiG4Yo2L4XMi_ho_s7MDUjPxY3HjLVJ6ElxKO0HIElCSldEhIm1kZYKtn2jHrUCuuECEL719QILD2Z735Pg6Lt9NgrSugf2QwFQzZElorPECUtCQuMAsJ79hwOyTcYrJ9s_nqNPooGe_ayiWod-rBhbnyPRTMVUUh9iC2y-1/w640-h416/csm03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p> <br /></p><p>We decided to do their wine tasting and, at $25 per person, it's not a bad deal at all. The thing I enjoyed most about it was that the wines we'd be tasting were wines that were available nowhere else. As much wine as this winery ships throughout the country, these were to be featured and sold only here.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMzryRHFbG4DswHamCtT4N-_wM5wKl_G5DdV_EM1mQbGoKamrT6-uYMvdWfQ98FYajU1A4IfDvk8ocm14dMxQ3M4nH9D6T7BVGqpYetUHRbXvIKJEEQ3M9nu08lW8X_Npif28QWe015SSHHoT_oK5OCmvxDvOKUjONvP7klsnVlRTjUpF6MEUOvna/s800/csm04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMzryRHFbG4DswHamCtT4N-_wM5wKl_G5DdV_EM1mQbGoKamrT6-uYMvdWfQ98FYajU1A4IfDvk8ocm14dMxQ3M4nH9D6T7BVGqpYetUHRbXvIKJEEQ3M9nu08lW8X_Npif28QWe015SSHHoT_oK5OCmvxDvOKUjONvP7klsnVlRTjUpF6MEUOvna/w426-h640/csm04.jpg" width="426" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I know I said I'm a red wine guy, but this Chardonnay was really good...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The winery also features a concert venue, and the estate itself is quite expansive. We took the time to explore the grounds for little while, but before too long decided to hit the road and move on to other things.<br /></p><p>One of the things I like to do when I travel is cruise Craig's List. I look mainly for camera gear (it's easy to carry home) and, every so often, I get lucky. This trip would prove to be somewhat fruitful.<br /><br />I found a camera that I was interested in, and we arranged to meet at the seller's house that afternoon. For $60 I was able to procure a Canon FP SLR from 1964, in very nice condition:<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dJUkvYcDARxRbd8Cz-xpTRaD-0uHl1tyoq-hIIoH1EbGZRewX7jSETP5Ei648wZs9ydT_l3gklE9VNgyYkMMQv2zNnxNfLOtxF1dtajJgS7PRiKHb855aqfm5-5vBJMo7ffXSpCRXuJCsnuVWAUg8EqphrH7AS-cGuMkJQg9fOKRoPAyZfFr-0vS/s800/canon01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dJUkvYcDARxRbd8Cz-xpTRaD-0uHl1tyoq-hIIoH1EbGZRewX7jSETP5Ei648wZs9ydT_l3gklE9VNgyYkMMQv2zNnxNfLOtxF1dtajJgS7PRiKHb855aqfm5-5vBJMo7ffXSpCRXuJCsnuVWAUg8EqphrH7AS-cGuMkJQg9fOKRoPAyZfFr-0vS/w640-h426/canon01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It seems to work perfectly, but unfortunately the one roll I've put through it wasn't fed onto the take-up reel properly, so nothing was exposed. I'll have to try again with some of the film I bought that day. One of the nice things about it is that, since it doesn't have a light meter (I can use an iPhone app for that), it doesn't require a battery.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I get a roll of film through it successfully I'll send it to my daughter who'll process it for me, and then I'll be able to get some pictures from it posted.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next day we opted, once again, to veg out in the apartment and relax. My daughter is self-employed, so she needed to do some things on that front and, quite frankly, I don;t mind getting some extra rest!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-16128326830172238852022-12-20T13:45:00.002-05:002023-01-18T08:16:09.919-05:00Seattle - Days 1 & 2...<p style="text-align: justify;">The last time I was in Seattle was n April of last year. I'd driven out to Washington state to pick up my daughter for an epic drive back to the east coast along US-20 which, at 3,365 miles, is the longest road in America. That trip remains my favorite vacation ever.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My daughter and her fiance came out to visit for my birthday in July, and one of the gifts they gave me was an Alaska Airlines gift certificate so I could visit them. So, late October seemed like a great time to visit. I booked my ticket out of Orlando and started planning what to do while there.<br /><br />As an aside, people ask me why I flew out of Orlando instead of Jacksonville, which is much, much closer. Well, I was able to get a non-stop flight out of Orlando. In retrospect, though, Orlando is just such a freaking madhouse (it's the 7th busiest airport in the United States), next time I'll happily fly out of JAX and deal with any layover.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The flight was okay; I slept for a little while, and we actually landed in Seattle a bit early. It was around 9pm when we got to their apartment, and I had been up for a while, so it didn't take long before I was laid out on the couch, ready for sleep.<br /><br />The next day, we walked around their neighborhood a bit. While I'd brought my Canon 5D MKIV, I also had my trusty Fuji X100F. It really is a handy little camera to have around when you don't want to lug the big rig around, but when you want something more than your cellphone.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97FjkG7n0ILGNhsPYRwIY3RvpNUNv3bzo_Un-d6Qbwv-VvVmJAnb1Z-BzcBxWF28-4hII6SES3snuzXs346Sd3JwRkp71SIZ_2A5PElRpnJ89rYrGcWJ4-EdaP_uw2RPsq4sw1TMS1DiejxWnauiyzSW9fCpJAu3kQpGob8Rv2pmHdMzUEzYzGgG8/s800/jess03.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97FjkG7n0ILGNhsPYRwIY3RvpNUNv3bzo_Un-d6Qbwv-VvVmJAnb1Z-BzcBxWF28-4hII6SES3snuzXs346Sd3JwRkp71SIZ_2A5PElRpnJ89rYrGcWJ4-EdaP_uw2RPsq4sw1TMS1DiejxWnauiyzSW9fCpJAu3kQpGob8Rv2pmHdMzUEzYzGgG8/w640-h426/jess03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The apple of my eye...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITE3URXJ3pI52whGV-e3Tg_GC5cDwk3gmWr0XYeRMZLCzzK2rrGiZy1c3CeKh-JPSxXbJySC7KSFklwLEoobzsH47wIlUF7IWRqBL2cV1rICySJ-RNBh_ucWRyQS66NXfmaOLQKVceJhhp9dVeMQhA89kFPKoyxmJT8ujvPMqD5TT-NNj0cX9VrEV/s800/del01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITE3URXJ3pI52whGV-e3Tg_GC5cDwk3gmWr0XYeRMZLCzzK2rrGiZy1c3CeKh-JPSxXbJySC7KSFklwLEoobzsH47wIlUF7IWRqBL2cV1rICySJ-RNBh_ucWRyQS66NXfmaOLQKVceJhhp9dVeMQhA89kFPKoyxmJT8ujvPMqD5TT-NNj0cX9VrEV/w640-h426/del01.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></b></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>We had lunch at the De Lux Bar & Grill. Really good food!<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfQeEfL5jE4cZyIv6Z-NlHJYVzq2eo2wlrh_rwE3eraFlXn9mNH4mtAzrVy62-3uR_II3DzjcaIbWyN2d9QyA3TzEmcCGklx3xOu3b6ytVm8xcA2h9htY9bVK57CHCUJYqL4ipdwxB2km_POHzypCryDFhBcDogcgGQr5PUkOu2XNjrXA01-BSn1m/s800/ch03.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfQeEfL5jE4cZyIv6Z-NlHJYVzq2eo2wlrh_rwE3eraFlXn9mNH4mtAzrVy62-3uR_II3DzjcaIbWyN2d9QyA3TzEmcCGklx3xOu3b6ytVm8xcA2h9htY9bVK57CHCUJYqL4ipdwxB2km_POHzypCryDFhBcDogcgGQr5PUkOu2XNjrXA01-BSn1m/w640-h426/ch03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Some garage doors in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVAIUT1GiX9iPO1fyWgrn5W_8KibR98mOUZFsPjI6ebsSd-gv2fAWLMNPm5U5Z-FCYJNTDrwS68qSYlUbbzjzVi0BV3m2vwwOz0X_r96IDcRBVCQlNOiivx8j7RpeiHRwq-b3Hb7tZ7HlIQG8l1PRzqcxyh2GL6elch0ZuDMsSLZ_VG1EnmwDbko1/s800/ch02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVAIUT1GiX9iPO1fyWgrn5W_8KibR98mOUZFsPjI6ebsSd-gv2fAWLMNPm5U5Z-FCYJNTDrwS68qSYlUbbzjzVi0BV3m2vwwOz0X_r96IDcRBVCQlNOiivx8j7RpeiHRwq-b3Hb7tZ7HlIQG8l1PRzqcxyh2GL6elch0ZuDMsSLZ_VG1EnmwDbko1/w640-h426/ch02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Tasty cocktails are always a good call...</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Needless to say, I was still dealing with the effects of jet lag, so we didn't make it a late night. We spent the evening watching horror flicks. In the morning, my daughter and I would be heading over to her photo studio, which is right across the street from Lumen Filed, which is where the Seahawks play. I've been looking at photos of the studio for months, and I was excited to finally get into it and check it out.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The studio is about 1,200 square feet, with high ceilings and running water (which is nice, as my daughter processes her own film there). It's set up with some excellent lighting rigs, as well as a backdrop wall for those seamless shots you always see models in:<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuGswyQ_w1242NrAiS6SilI2XNnnJG6Xe-gDNXGqlMlCK5aapAH6bsvrtQ5-yaMTso8_zxGtW0fTrKX2VMqwwtNeIMa8nRlBELtKHsCcvCXh8-TK6Wt_yUeihJjOaJdpTimjdrCigxeu5ehYwNPbCq0WBGWtVgi07qFQv7GGSbQwxzAQmzNi8Kazj/s800/studio02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuGswyQ_w1242NrAiS6SilI2XNnnJG6Xe-gDNXGqlMlCK5aapAH6bsvrtQ5-yaMTso8_zxGtW0fTrKX2VMqwwtNeIMa8nRlBELtKHsCcvCXh8-TK6Wt_yUeihJjOaJdpTimjdrCigxeu5ehYwNPbCq0WBGWtVgi07qFQv7GGSbQwxzAQmzNi8Kazj/w426-h640/studio02.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z0GX54wIlIQd3TUbnlorKZOJuEDdd25ZKwk32SeAtfPSk3Ibagj0dLfkcGHrnAOtpLnJSER8XWdF4VHvABoXlAHFnXPjckjd9d2P4vUOqthv7YOzRt1oJFTaZbqR75F2U16_fQGbiSDi7GFhwkw3cxqDIfpeqrKqkT_S0_Xtneh1SJr8YrEuk-JR/s800/studio01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z0GX54wIlIQd3TUbnlorKZOJuEDdd25ZKwk32SeAtfPSk3Ibagj0dLfkcGHrnAOtpLnJSER8XWdF4VHvABoXlAHFnXPjckjd9d2P4vUOqthv7YOzRt1oJFTaZbqR75F2U16_fQGbiSDi7GFhwkw3cxqDIfpeqrKqkT_S0_Xtneh1SJr8YrEuk-JR/w640-h426/studio01.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></b></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My daughter, being the frugal shopper she is, bought that 6' umbrella reflector for $1...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>If you didn't know, my daughter has done a bit of modeling, but I think she'd be the first one to tell you that, first and foremost, she's a photographer. I guess that's a genetic thing, as both my brother and I are photographers. The apple, as they say, doesn't fall far from the tree.</p><p> As such, she simply insisted on taking advantage of the chance to
photograph dear old dad with her Hasselblad. And, considering how good she is, I was more than happy to oblige. <br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F5sqxGq-eKJNBbNjLWkbWM_f6K044pCLkq7F8G-qMDgDIxs4GQzGw2cxUYPE7sC_S03b5EMxlkAaMYZqR2yNxiVFfZbUNkAhbwvDX6CPyx3q0_WnOXrfAmc3AFmaFsEH82GAc5LbHXC0cuQCZhxtFWqMJbmlAF0AEmwqagIvKqBJqRQoh4harQDp/s6720/jessy01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F5sqxGq-eKJNBbNjLWkbWM_f6K044pCLkq7F8G-qMDgDIxs4GQzGw2cxUYPE7sC_S03b5EMxlkAaMYZqR2yNxiVFfZbUNkAhbwvDX6CPyx3q0_WnOXrfAmc3AFmaFsEH82GAc5LbHXC0cuQCZhxtFWqMJbmlAF0AEmwqagIvKqBJqRQoh4harQDp/w426-h640/jessy01.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>One of the things I wanted to photograph was a guitar I built back in 2001. I was working for a small travel guitar company back then, and built the guitar for a special event that was being held in Louisville, Kentucky that year. The front of it is simple Sitka spruce and, to be honest, is kinda' boring. The back and sides are flamed Maple, though, and look pretty striking. </p><p>I thought it turned out rather nice:</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMtmZ-V8GCp17aJPhc8zzp8ikb_PEhKc1DzYi6oCjUE6EAdlUjcZNi1WvglTdputBHRO9iSrOGo09SGSLYpRyK7C_EJ6C_9rh3rWHGF-CGfwb1Kl3HrGc1WYpI1Ot7lQBZ03ijnz2Xu9OUUSkWMwUrCRalFj7hNuqgE5QAlY2U_h2TgVi37IdnEF9/s800/go06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMtmZ-V8GCp17aJPhc8zzp8ikb_PEhKc1DzYi6oCjUE6EAdlUjcZNi1WvglTdputBHRO9iSrOGo09SGSLYpRyK7C_EJ6C_9rh3rWHGF-CGfwb1Kl3HrGc1WYpI1Ot7lQBZ03ijnz2Xu9OUUSkWMwUrCRalFj7hNuqgE5QAlY2U_h2TgVi37IdnEF9/w640-h426/go06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LKiZJam5oyvrte8hvu1JfZa7M65OYsU2o3E4wFDRvK5mxQGwYXIXQdUFIfwqLkSIdL-FYnO66IgM6mSEXZ-vCNgEaObnW81Ok663Rl7jsd8EyGi1udn-l5e62dUIabJCdRl7dWyp3NvC7DTId0fJyP9PjOEcojq5MVjxRnb97Yt8wzPpre8SQTLo/s800/go07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LKiZJam5oyvrte8hvu1JfZa7M65OYsU2o3E4wFDRvK5mxQGwYXIXQdUFIfwqLkSIdL-FYnO66IgM6mSEXZ-vCNgEaObnW81Ok663Rl7jsd8EyGi1udn-l5e62dUIabJCdRl7dWyp3NvC7DTId0fJyP9PjOEcojq5MVjxRnb97Yt8wzPpre8SQTLo/w426-h640/go07.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOQI7YHQzgbzWGiWX-WfzFgz7yWU6nJLJrDe9yZriBPQC_5YYvRwGIwCBliKuz4IXtPnq-Zr6fc5uozbCzKg71y0lfyl-8oQnvC_MMz7wGQaHy7MQ0YwjrK54cbBNlYRPHRbhSh3kroSo3Ed9YeNmIeAASgP6hI6qTrq8ryMCLUxWIkYL10cyLu4m/s800/go08a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOQI7YHQzgbzWGiWX-WfzFgz7yWU6nJLJrDe9yZriBPQC_5YYvRwGIwCBliKuz4IXtPnq-Zr6fc5uozbCzKg71y0lfyl-8oQnvC_MMz7wGQaHy7MQ0YwjrK54cbBNlYRPHRbhSh3kroSo3Ed9YeNmIeAASgP6hI6qTrq8ryMCLUxWIkYL10cyLu4m/w640-h426/go08a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I love working in the studio and, hopefully, I'll get to see the photos my daughter took of me soon. It's been a while since I had my portrait taken, so I'm getting pretty anxious to see what my daughter comes up with.<br /></p><p>The third day in Seattle would actually be spent being pretty "low voltage". My daughter wasn't feeling 100%, so we decided to lay low and recharge for what would end up being a highlight for me the next day...<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-65490177935740376662022-12-20T12:33:00.003-05:002022-12-20T12:33:48.071-05:00Colorado Springs - Pike's Peak<p style="text-align: justify;">After Garden of The Gods, it was hard to imagine another natural feature which could have such unrivaled beauty. Such a place exists, though, in Pike's Peak.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tMCT0zkhZgdug7T3BLW8TeHffrNdb2fEoGCY2-_DGrghPp-63czvFVTbNLsb5doUFXgHEADSwwo4wz_iWg-O1gsTw4LS67oMaOaOlLsWHAl4RCcnH2f6UDis5077jcGyA73LKMHDQQZXeXIhMxj0Mgt0a8ttMnGh5QyT-G44oFgIWykChpbqpaDu/s800/pp01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tMCT0zkhZgdug7T3BLW8TeHffrNdb2fEoGCY2-_DGrghPp-63czvFVTbNLsb5doUFXgHEADSwwo4wz_iWg-O1gsTw4LS67oMaOaOlLsWHAl4RCcnH2f6UDis5077jcGyA73LKMHDQQZXeXIhMxj0Mgt0a8ttMnGh5QyT-G44oFgIWykChpbqpaDu/w640-h426/pp01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Pike's Peak as seen from Garden of The Gods...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">I first laid eyes on Pike's Peak in 1976. I was heading to the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. We had flown into Denver from New York, and our bus trip to Philmont took us past the mountain. But that was it. We got to see it.<br /><br />From a distance.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This time, though, I would actually step foot on it. I've lost count of all of the television shows I've watched about it, so I was excited to finally get to the top.<br /><br />We decided against driving to the summit and, instead, decided to take the <span>Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which runs out of the small town of Manitou Springs:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0W0BukL642K4k6fvkFhvTvlBIu0RW-qMuIh6CxC7TFSdVrbNjsh50VWDf1jXpj3LZMkfr3OEkX_ENvriJXVfp0iDdXcjsYj2dSr-T77Chu3SRY9JYZUbBLGBt51gDUVhDantd_fF7QqaQRFVQ-0QC2ZVepcovYHFNBtuHBKyZyotrNBp-RryNz66/s800/pp01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0W0BukL642K4k6fvkFhvTvlBIu0RW-qMuIh6CxC7TFSdVrbNjsh50VWDf1jXpj3LZMkfr3OEkX_ENvriJXVfp0iDdXcjsYj2dSr-T77Chu3SRY9JYZUbBLGBt51gDUVhDantd_fF7QqaQRFVQ-0QC2ZVepcovYHFNBtuHBKyZyotrNBp-RryNz66/w640-h426/pp01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Cog Railway...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kX1oWA-a1kVxjCHPyAil22MEveJEbbzbcjStR5T4bMaw2Nm0OpEqK_yJRiBhfbLQH8SQBnUDok6UlFY2WzmXwDM9PiTWBI-nYNJsOeTLqUoIi8T3otkGW8lMO7i6jUf_HJ56KRgZG387y9JAqhaLfExvR5w3SblYEECgSwTzclEhZ6BSWwaxkf6l/s800/pp02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kX1oWA-a1kVxjCHPyAil22MEveJEbbzbcjStR5T4bMaw2Nm0OpEqK_yJRiBhfbLQH8SQBnUDok6UlFY2WzmXwDM9PiTWBI-nYNJsOeTLqUoIi8T3otkGW8lMO7i6jUf_HJ56KRgZG387y9JAqhaLfExvR5w3SblYEECgSwTzclEhZ6BSWwaxkf6l/w426-h640/pp02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Believe me when I tell you that the effects of altitude sickness are very real...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>The Cog Railway offered a leisurely, if not somewhat protracted, trip to the top of the mountain. </span><span>When we got off the train, it was pretty obvious that I had
started to succumb to the effects of altitude sickness. I had a bit of a
headache, and a bit of dizziness, and all I wanted to do was sit down.
But, of course, being my first time here, I wasn't going to spend it
sitting down.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Despite the </span><span>hour and 15 minutes it took to ascend to the summit, once we got there we were treated to some pretty spectacular views:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOb7mCxub_fOfqb3USs8H8e7HHlZzAeRg2kfgn0FnWx5DrjKD6mjUAF1WecnCWkM71Ar3A9dc2PQm4wZLfcJaGBpVOl3r2m6h-KGKJikO6gMltl1UrqMgn2x4D8-XhOeLkLg7r-qoGWA9tk-Ozpf31JHvYz-npNaRa1rsx0PHNeMuvSpK5HTvm04T/s800/pp04.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOb7mCxub_fOfqb3USs8H8e7HHlZzAeRg2kfgn0FnWx5DrjKD6mjUAF1WecnCWkM71Ar3A9dc2PQm4wZLfcJaGBpVOl3r2m6h-KGKJikO6gMltl1UrqMgn2x4D8-XhOeLkLg7r-qoGWA9tk-Ozpf31JHvYz-npNaRa1rsx0PHNeMuvSpK5HTvm04T/w640-h426/pp04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Believe it or not, you can see Kansas in this photo...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKp2EFJK2HJoDat5CsC-wVRUERHmONHn5nCd0suU4ccxf6U3FQ930fS511lDoiRk_LBg8-ksxdOPJNyWdPOioppApDiVr6tHnD1aKbFKKidEliFFNicBnJlNGOnMsZLEYQm1VwyOAdJpoFVTT0eQvhKwoG09lFdk26H0pw89PROklcdUcN7k-hJtK/s800/pp14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKp2EFJK2HJoDat5CsC-wVRUERHmONHn5nCd0suU4ccxf6U3FQ930fS511lDoiRk_LBg8-ksxdOPJNyWdPOioppApDiVr6tHnD1aKbFKKidEliFFNicBnJlNGOnMsZLEYQm1VwyOAdJpoFVTT0eQvhKwoG09lFdk26H0pw89PROklcdUcN7k-hJtK/w640-h426/pp14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnmizkkIovLp-74em2mo8A16Zsa47Ul0D8w_G5V3pFVe_FgMCsFGEBTaOu3uvwNltY5r_STtvPqzQtKHtGBzO0dCQsLWG15OCnT1Q6pvUNDNcdYl_PtQpVuzSQlaDzwK5fWjlCXTwq57qIFpKo-bPfaFdeinYr8vMlvpu3Rse82X_WpAelQOEUaUu/s800/pp09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnmizkkIovLp-74em2mo8A16Zsa47Ul0D8w_G5V3pFVe_FgMCsFGEBTaOu3uvwNltY5r_STtvPqzQtKHtGBzO0dCQsLWG15OCnT1Q6pvUNDNcdYl_PtQpVuzSQlaDzwK5fWjlCXTwq57qIFpKo-bPfaFdeinYr8vMlvpu3Rse82X_WpAelQOEUaUu/w640-h426/pp09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Cog Railway train at the summit of Pike's Peak...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>While at the summit, we treated ourselves to some bottled water (served in aluminum cans due to the altitude) and yeast-free doughnuts (again, due to the altitude). But it seemed just as I was getting over the effects of altitude sickness, it was time to board the train for the trip back to Manitou Springs.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>In hindsight, should I ever have the chance to visit again, I wouldn't take the train. It's too expensive, too uncomfortable (the hard plastic seat digs into your butt-cheek if you're in an aisle seat), it takes too long and there's no bottled water water to buy at the train station (unless you want to buy a "collector" aluminum bottle for $37). There are a number of companies which will get you to the summit in comfort, and you'll actually have time to explore the summit for a bit longer than you do when you take the train.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>So, it's definitely worth the trip to the summit, just choose your transportation wisely...<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-7167257941651905902022-10-20T17:19:00.002-04:002022-10-20T17:20:11.196-04:00Colorado Springs - Garden Of The Gods...<p style="text-align: justify;">The second big trip of August would find me, once again, in another time zone. This time I traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The main point of this particular trip was to photograph <a href="https://gardenofgods.com/">Garden of The Gods</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971, Garden of The Gods is actually a Colorado Springs city park. In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins purchased 480 acres of land which included a portion of the current park. When he died in 1907, the Perkins family gave the land to the City of Colorado Springs, with the provision that it would always remain a free park. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The rock formations are nothing short of spectacular: <br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzuUI2fZwsARGhgJed2xXsfoBfiCkTUSq7WSPA50tdgzKOHSaj7XhnFPaou4IjXBa99PB1riJkUCzubyZOmXFQiKsgE9ssZxVhXV4qpbApDHc_D_hTvJYdNIr6gpXgufFkv6pzqxs5gGnenG2nrWlLiu7EJ3hxiufqaTW0WK3-U7TqHX0UHdtNead/s800/gg01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzuUI2fZwsARGhgJed2xXsfoBfiCkTUSq7WSPA50tdgzKOHSaj7XhnFPaou4IjXBa99PB1riJkUCzubyZOmXFQiKsgE9ssZxVhXV4qpbApDHc_D_hTvJYdNIr6gpXgufFkv6pzqxs5gGnenG2nrWlLiu7EJ3hxiufqaTW0WK3-U7TqHX0UHdtNead/w640-h426/gg01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UxIMn4LGi5C-9xtX7jgIDTedAS65GXzLP4MYyqVYaW-NaRpeJYKAn12OSg26yIxqtw7-m5j2gjRf7YnDrHVus4gh9NisNtg3RJL99DgLVvGUkBBZ0rqqp3r9Tp56Rkx1cF737rxU_kMi18qz8E2E5uHV3R_8nrh5oewj62xOeah5bztcSOg7eCmr/s800/gg09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UxIMn4LGi5C-9xtX7jgIDTedAS65GXzLP4MYyqVYaW-NaRpeJYKAn12OSg26yIxqtw7-m5j2gjRf7YnDrHVus4gh9NisNtg3RJL99DgLVvGUkBBZ0rqqp3r9Tp56Rkx1cF737rxU_kMi18qz8E2E5uHV3R_8nrh5oewj62xOeah5bztcSOg7eCmr/w640-h426/gg09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bVVi5hk7RApYvig1siKUtT6i21vp6her1HO75Aw-iQcJorRp7k4L-pB7HEoOoUkWb8SoNyufUuS-MDMQeA7ZOdWjQN-ErcF02flvI-trPC_ylQkoUkvV60hCJsU6QVGkxR3J5jJqx2G2Ai8tbApQ2GyUr3n77kpaZja2B344VHn1tx6nUvfQAj8v/s800/gg19bw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bVVi5hk7RApYvig1siKUtT6i21vp6her1HO75Aw-iQcJorRp7k4L-pB7HEoOoUkWb8SoNyufUuS-MDMQeA7ZOdWjQN-ErcF02flvI-trPC_ylQkoUkvV60hCJsU6QVGkxR3J5jJqx2G2Ai8tbApQ2GyUr3n77kpaZja2B344VHn1tx6nUvfQAj8v/w640-h426/gg19bw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjEMzbv-JI6jloUrwnKnxDoGCb4N8NTB8Vue_gTJwLPfh4VKiPMmMn2-FfMxQljHhFKgEIegn7exKAMxaWDk-frDzJDTk30f4kDPamz4-Zl3A1b2G7Y6M2-pW2CqoDEJZNhGc-dthGVbFU-oLp7trLioa3HmYa8pgwlwJI0h3lIazDE_A4VDRCNpC/s800/gg10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjEMzbv-JI6jloUrwnKnxDoGCb4N8NTB8Vue_gTJwLPfh4VKiPMmMn2-FfMxQljHhFKgEIegn7exKAMxaWDk-frDzJDTk30f4kDPamz4-Zl3A1b2G7Y6M2-pW2CqoDEJZNhGc-dthGVbFU-oLp7trLioa3HmYa8pgwlwJI0h3lIazDE_A4VDRCNpC/w640-h426/gg10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4MNMrEhPc4QefSIt7EinfaryILcdTggFhWD17gVWrisJKOIE3AAt3HCwMO5FqepxLE0SF_Khbk0RQwxcLVVF-CDHdxSnF5B1Q0Dn6TMPT8D5eufVKI0oEdxURxNbdUWxTsuiqGUVZQU-oeXI2rTv3LRohfM0oUDGL7jHYcxm-ExC_P7iSLd6Wsc9/w426-h640/gg15.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Rock climbing is permitted within the park...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaq86ceQ9WQUEJqYN4jR71IpPL91S2SfLm9Sp7odFop379RBGFohURe3GqTelAcIMr5OBhGhgp7lcnepuVdpXiMBygYQ9Vzt5S9tRvPVTvcCwxwa4TpIFvHJiJ-d3yb_YL7nZYpdnpK4V3xpwA6XBuVF_A-ak3Sp5QytIRumAEAUlSY_6Qxpr3dwDi/s800/gg02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaq86ceQ9WQUEJqYN4jR71IpPL91S2SfLm9Sp7odFop379RBGFohURe3GqTelAcIMr5OBhGhgp7lcnepuVdpXiMBygYQ9Vzt5S9tRvPVTvcCwxwa4TpIFvHJiJ-d3yb_YL7nZYpdnpK4V3xpwA6XBuVF_A-ak3Sp5QytIRumAEAUlSY_6Qxpr3dwDi/w426-h640/gg02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Kissing Camels<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2a2rykAhN8QYev-iWphvkOsEr1UzBiuWrTYJLjJU__Q8PkPXBuW5CHWwlBJTsI4ZzHVc1DtmdWvNwbPRqL7E-g9EJIvZpZXrFz_bGTgM5U9166N2mZrvN-9zkx3CL6ZBPb9aH3I1EXZZPlwI_5giawAk7-INvCMRMzDgnJmdveuaJ3U4YC_echc1/s801/gg06.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2a2rykAhN8QYev-iWphvkOsEr1UzBiuWrTYJLjJU__Q8PkPXBuW5CHWwlBJTsI4ZzHVc1DtmdWvNwbPRqL7E-g9EJIvZpZXrFz_bGTgM5U9166N2mZrvN-9zkx3CL6ZBPb9aH3I1EXZZPlwI_5giawAk7-INvCMRMzDgnJmdveuaJ3U4YC_echc1/w426-h640/gg06.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Balanced Rock<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Many wonder where the name originated. Well, two surveyors who helped to set up Colorado City explored the site in August of 1859. One of the surveyors, Melancthon S. Beach, suggested it would be a "capital place for a beer garden".
His companion, the young Rufus Cable, awestruck by the impressive rock
formations surrounding them, exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why, it is a fit place for the
Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods."<br /><br />And there you have it. <br /><br />And, having visited it, I must say it's quite an appropriate name...<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-62998812084980180952022-10-07T15:57:00.000-04:002022-10-07T15:57:01.444-04:00<p> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">At one point during the planning of this trip, we'd batted around the idea of staying at one of the <i>really </i>big campgrounds The Buffalo Chip is probably the most popular, and certainly draws in the most notable musical acts of the entire rally. Everyone from Aerosmith to ZZ Top has played over the years here during the rally.|</p><p style="text-align: left;">So, yeah, that would've been cool, but what wouldn't have been as cool would've been camping, with no shade and some 25 showers, with as many people who could cram into their 600 acres. <br /><br />No, not really for me.<br /><br />Another one of the extremely large campgrounds is Full Throttle Saloon, where we elected to go to have a few drinks and do some more people watching.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq9JTwYDnReujK-XPywaAc39-5kRMEZMevRmVcazYzqU5rIaJD8KSALmL6AL6YAnWYoSnpr2x0X9CPi-vt4KfO_vA95Opgf1mEwUPJI4HniFuem_2MPgMGZQfXPf66siUkjmkNex9rnec0L3LLd59jBDCCZs6QKevREI22gat3TgpS8CvvQTkSdIO/s800/ft23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq9JTwYDnReujK-XPywaAc39-5kRMEZMevRmVcazYzqU5rIaJD8KSALmL6AL6YAnWYoSnpr2x0X9CPi-vt4KfO_vA95Opgf1mEwUPJI4HniFuem_2MPgMGZQfXPf66siUkjmkNex9rnec0L3LLd59jBDCCZs6QKevREI22gat3TgpS8CvvQTkSdIO/w640-h426/ft23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Full Throttle Saloon is known as the world's biggest biker bar, and I can't say I would disagree with that. Like Buffalo Chip, they accommodate as many campers as they can cram onto the grounds, and the grounds are expansive. But the bar itself is absolutely enormous, and it fills up fast.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As you roll up, the first thing you notice is the sculpture they have. It's all bike related, of course:</p><p style="text-align: left;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSTumJ7u1-XfxSieuv6GzpeVpsi3pCCOls8jX4NDQ7Mr6eVeu2pPhJex0FWFrLUrFkzx_kF1YS2WqXP2yUfPWSqueB0jOwr4ZFSfuLD_ZFLuSWX_3ZHaAnxzN0sMh072un6qzj0gzqHWisN0S3KcH2v8Y6SLkb6nlzH_a75h6l6rsXTuiVmT0Dubh/s800/ft01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSTumJ7u1-XfxSieuv6GzpeVpsi3pCCOls8jX4NDQ7Mr6eVeu2pPhJex0FWFrLUrFkzx_kF1YS2WqXP2yUfPWSqueB0jOwr4ZFSfuLD_ZFLuSWX_3ZHaAnxzN0sMh072un6qzj0gzqHWisN0S3KcH2v8Y6SLkb6nlzH_a75h6l6rsXTuiVmT0Dubh/w640-h426/ft01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh--GozzxiUCM_ltIDSY_aHt5U3esEPyF7olIea_etokQnwXsjplfa5te1QY_DSJGl_G-bk--ZsA9DH3ryIwWu6lgK1KFj8BWTPRbnq5rsRtbrNIZ8ESEOGFfJy6ix3NdC_Iv4ZktYgaWTfywF1roZihnLgBoTttSV89WOMtCmLwoeLzc6sDveUDG/s800/ft02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqh--GozzxiUCM_ltIDSY_aHt5U3esEPyF7olIea_etokQnwXsjplfa5te1QY_DSJGl_G-bk--ZsA9DH3ryIwWu6lgK1KFj8BWTPRbnq5rsRtbrNIZ8ESEOGFfJy6ix3NdC_Iv4ZktYgaWTfywF1roZihnLgBoTttSV89WOMtCmLwoeLzc6sDveUDG/w640-h426/ft02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutoFXHlaS0bEiAEEeZmbkAbTa639gp99mfPR6TMJEHQDdTX-As7EFFoYKDgOWHFwzMZ4_e_9Z8IonGhQ061sxJ9vkXnG8z7KrrdjeCfebzSTPynho924LysbqeGge1Fmo0ykJZ0rgLb7--NWFdYS5K7AcO9o9kJyEZ7y5zbNtIimOLMxa7bJnuSSq/s800/ft03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutoFXHlaS0bEiAEEeZmbkAbTa639gp99mfPR6TMJEHQDdTX-As7EFFoYKDgOWHFwzMZ4_e_9Z8IonGhQ061sxJ9vkXnG8z7KrrdjeCfebzSTPynho924LysbqeGge1Fmo0ykJZ0rgLb7--NWFdYS5K7AcO9o9kJyEZ7y5zbNtIimOLMxa7bJnuSSq/w640-h426/ft03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiee-tC2RWBX9AcCWfvwvT0M_FvtVMfOeDBp9vuLzfuGOhcFh9QtSqMOkSSZkUL6RQmrCUCk_IGrjvCPkmTKvPiIMAEgtVhKXR8KAGqjtggnvpaSpb2-WFs1kXuWz0BY0wtX8IVlblLmYEsgxecg_aGAzz9-s2Omdlw_t6rSwGYkH5qwrgL41i2f3/s800/ft04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiee-tC2RWBX9AcCWfvwvT0M_FvtVMfOeDBp9vuLzfuGOhcFh9QtSqMOkSSZkUL6RQmrCUCk_IGrjvCPkmTKvPiIMAEgtVhKXR8KAGqjtggnvpaSpb2-WFs1kXuWz0BY0wtX8IVlblLmYEsgxecg_aGAzz9-s2Omdlw_t6rSwGYkH5qwrgL41i2f3/w640-h426/ft04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">Once you step in the front door the enormity of the place hits you. Or so you think. When you step out the <i>back </i>door the grounds take on a whole new dimension. An enormous covered patio is littered with motorized vehicles of all shape and size, including a full-size Freightliner semi coming out of the wall:</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYq39QFr7GB3m6B65do2C8A4qAm8VTBV8ifBd15wXYEwckLhBZM2FtHGFhgiBlBpx8W3lpd78HHp8ztLOWdNl3dZqZX3HXRpdERs1rgXotmtxOdpOYeaenx3zVMOqmF8sQn5wmw4XX5yTgiMVx-3JrU7f_Vjiiwn9_3D8ipbqkJ6PmWP_pfWuUiCo/s800/ft07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYq39QFr7GB3m6B65do2C8A4qAm8VTBV8ifBd15wXYEwckLhBZM2FtHGFhgiBlBpx8W3lpd78HHp8ztLOWdNl3dZqZX3HXRpdERs1rgXotmtxOdpOYeaenx3zVMOqmF8sQn5wmw4XX5yTgiMVx-3JrU7f_Vjiiwn9_3D8ipbqkJ6PmWP_pfWuUiCo/w640-h426/ft07.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p>We grabbed a couple of bar stools and got ourselves some beers and let the biker world go by: <br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QzpkPS-H2NrEtbqhwiqbcXYo_k6ryBoVlgr34bwQ-CGVzzY2hzr3v_spHuSqSIAD4Z_LshTnA8hgSthQs_Kz54V42ELC9WZoc_YJwoF1G8WdF2HRE6a8zzV90ITJktRvY0rJMoIUHVFKrZ9G_7hIUDE4op1fHZfmsGDeu8RdTdjlUX1odxR_fAUH/s800/ft08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QzpkPS-H2NrEtbqhwiqbcXYo_k6ryBoVlgr34bwQ-CGVzzY2hzr3v_spHuSqSIAD4Z_LshTnA8hgSthQs_Kz54V42ELC9WZoc_YJwoF1G8WdF2HRE6a8zzV90ITJktRvY0rJMoIUHVFKrZ9G_7hIUDE4op1fHZfmsGDeu8RdTdjlUX1odxR_fAUH/w640-h426/ft08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Bartenders come to Sturgis from all over the country solely for the rally...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7IwKoGNHrtqsviK_MQBBI2O4s4oWVRzB7cmFqutVBXhRFZtn2Rbu7GJhqflxzdBND22RQRFm5O9ZhdT_yCkvvTatYtiUxG8ThaT5WBfSFe76TAtHeEQP__cUQBmGAMfgu5YMVxLmqJwHOb_mOPiC4sHuhr43sH2TP0F7hjNsr1eQPFFOpMvs-ZtK/s800/ft09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7IwKoGNHrtqsviK_MQBBI2O4s4oWVRzB7cmFqutVBXhRFZtn2Rbu7GJhqflxzdBND22RQRFm5O9ZhdT_yCkvvTatYtiUxG8ThaT5WBfSFe76TAtHeEQP__cUQBmGAMfgu5YMVxLmqJwHOb_mOPiC4sHuhr43sH2TP0F7hjNsr1eQPFFOpMvs-ZtK/w640-h426/ft09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2jaQvxcCJ13_kt-McHfNTLa6nwaIcgOnZMIffGX4PbJAcQoHn2UE018Bw9NQj2Pw74nC9gfgwDc0wgpi4f8dOb6bIkwrtLjzYc9BJioOxfOJGE3qHL5vpP1wDC-BNr9AZeC1n-comfGsr8OS4MjyEm1k2PPkba1xHRF5mfeWNW8i5FcPH2QiZ2A3/s800/ft12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2jaQvxcCJ13_kt-McHfNTLa6nwaIcgOnZMIffGX4PbJAcQoHn2UE018Bw9NQj2Pw74nC9gfgwDc0wgpi4f8dOb6bIkwrtLjzYc9BJioOxfOJGE3qHL5vpP1wDC-BNr9AZeC1n-comfGsr8OS4MjyEm1k2PPkba1xHRF5mfeWNW8i5FcPH2QiZ2A3/w426-h640/ft12.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p>The people watching opportunities were plentiful all over, so after our third beer we decided to walk around and see what else FTS had to offer.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u51XMbjVqhapfNpA-vt2XY-nlkxMsW-MgvDvHnTzmzSPzSYA1Qk8Fj1jo4Vr-kEuFGL6-6uJpWcgPI3z0uHdiIoU1oRYV15Na-mLcwDoiZ6e_id0hZWO09x5gYaC6IYhHty1eczKbVxWEnKE9fJxzPN4zxPjhKzEYt__dmFqwUhLqx6qkYTA5kMn/s800/ft06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u51XMbjVqhapfNpA-vt2XY-nlkxMsW-MgvDvHnTzmzSPzSYA1Qk8Fj1jo4Vr-kEuFGL6-6uJpWcgPI3z0uHdiIoU1oRYV15Na-mLcwDoiZ6e_id0hZWO09x5gYaC6IYhHty1eczKbVxWEnKE9fJxzPN4zxPjhKzEYt__dmFqwUhLqx6qkYTA5kMn/w640-h426/ft06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>So, yeah, dude gets on a motorcycle and rides in inside this sphere. It's crazy to watch!</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc3juHmsYQV3ZZEz4yLzMYTh1jRca14MNLBhciDoqymS_sIOY9iAEjPbqkgy-yrePL2CUdoJTiZQi9EwSZaGxzdxXcg3d3NwISTu5r1sXauvo_iIAtrD3F4SLKZQGA_kGrVS4cky7M_ykLE0IxhHga7BsRvy4V9o0VVSD3KCwxbl32tsUgC8wpHLX/s800/ft10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc3juHmsYQV3ZZEz4yLzMYTh1jRca14MNLBhciDoqymS_sIOY9iAEjPbqkgy-yrePL2CUdoJTiZQi9EwSZaGxzdxXcg3d3NwISTu5r1sXauvo_iIAtrD3F4SLKZQGA_kGrVS4cky7M_ykLE0IxhHga7BsRvy4V9o0VVSD3KCwxbl32tsUgC8wpHLX/w640-h426/ft10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This is so you ca see it from the road!!</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAmXKyg14uVKXkImRbQ_K56mzShxW6v3XbJGnEIxkXLVvOpWNgtMB95VdVlx1Z-nE8Bl-3bwVnGtPGvYWxJaPQKWD-OslE32zR2LX3Rsxn3JHh_3zVD_0ggZU9AMuheq9DmaUdJizqx4_E2XOahhlEorTJWwqSXUZVKeVCbqLuk9SRWovdocf0zlK/s800/ft11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAmXKyg14uVKXkImRbQ_K56mzShxW6v3XbJGnEIxkXLVvOpWNgtMB95VdVlx1Z-nE8Bl-3bwVnGtPGvYWxJaPQKWD-OslE32zR2LX3Rsxn3JHh_3zVD_0ggZU9AMuheq9DmaUdJizqx4_E2XOahhlEorTJWwqSXUZVKeVCbqLuk9SRWovdocf0zlK/w640-h426/ft11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>This is the main stage at the Full Throttle Saloon. It's the perfect place to be if you want to hear the hard rock band Jackyl on stage doing their sound check... <br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3BJaFWltL8V8h6utxdBKR4YcG20PucJPv_AG-pY-ZAhSHFYVsRYV4giy2juC4AbVi1eZri9StO1xc84BZFU42ecqaKvItbolNzIomnIzq9o-JYtDxiulXZcg4EDlojVPaXsISX5y4Q9yA_pT7yAx6S3_OOdTNvmwaZ_zBuDTryvh1eTSQj1SKLQQ/s800/ft14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3BJaFWltL8V8h6utxdBKR4YcG20PucJPv_AG-pY-ZAhSHFYVsRYV4giy2juC4AbVi1eZri9StO1xc84BZFU42ecqaKvItbolNzIomnIzq9o-JYtDxiulXZcg4EDlojVPaXsISX5y4Q9yA_pT7yAx6S3_OOdTNvmwaZ_zBuDTryvh1eTSQj1SKLQQ/w426-h640/ft14.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Not entirely sure what to make of this...</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG7FK2PFoYe0hFXIT_Q8xZo7VKNnrmBS0lCgB6lOU1T1YHZQ22dbEx2HOVr2Kzp8s9plrdBZmRCSVUTXrwUy6_DlzIKPTqJgL_vcxt1uXC1kuUsf_rYj42TkNyBRjSemTjc1wpJBdH8hWu_KtcpVs0H5Z7QafR5lUTH2Jwz6DWR_yKfsp5-G6Kv6L/s800/ft15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG7FK2PFoYe0hFXIT_Q8xZo7VKNnrmBS0lCgB6lOU1T1YHZQ22dbEx2HOVr2Kzp8s9plrdBZmRCSVUTXrwUy6_DlzIKPTqJgL_vcxt1uXC1kuUsf_rYj42TkNyBRjSemTjc1wpJBdH8hWu_KtcpVs0H5Z7QafR5lUTH2Jwz6DWR_yKfsp5-G6Kv6L/w640-h426/ft15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Chillin'...</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-zXlp1H7DctG-3KblP9b4OBGRjMgwDboZEh7ljRiMMQ9BxJjv9BfGf1nxvRmp-9mVMyDW-79UfZl-ghbfrLmDmruwAN5JaAKbeF5MPCI0kctkT-PB4ECotITnr10ujvNw-z0O1mShPJBRakIDIoDM0eWKXJABjVMRg3L4LYCpfFwmENRxn9frnt6/s800/ft16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-zXlp1H7DctG-3KblP9b4OBGRjMgwDboZEh7ljRiMMQ9BxJjv9BfGf1nxvRmp-9mVMyDW-79UfZl-ghbfrLmDmruwAN5JaAKbeF5MPCI0kctkT-PB4ECotITnr10ujvNw-z0O1mShPJBRakIDIoDM0eWKXJABjVMRg3L4LYCpfFwmENRxn9frnt6/w426-h640/ft16.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Again, nothin'...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaCt3dW70w6I956vJ0HZvOErteiUMXw1UZwy-BeYZU-0jiLffUrdq__q58_c8EgM4yGYzmQtuBr_SjcqbLEwtAIC59eJgVSFOdDsXzga73h_K7zSPkZQcsepODhF4pafat5d1QePJKLwfo6tRjuJ5C2fqbBdCnSgVJJr-CNo2z5udKcC8QqHz4HmO/s800/ft18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaCt3dW70w6I956vJ0HZvOErteiUMXw1UZwy-BeYZU-0jiLffUrdq__q58_c8EgM4yGYzmQtuBr_SjcqbLEwtAIC59eJgVSFOdDsXzga73h_K7zSPkZQcsepODhF4pafat5d1QePJKLwfo6tRjuJ5C2fqbBdCnSgVJJr-CNo2z5udKcC8QqHz4HmO/w640-h426/ft18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>This is a section of a bridge from, well, I've no idea, along with an iron skull. Because you need to have that at the Surgis Bike Rally!<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKIyBUHNmu9zfPpHx209X1NwM3m93YBMfWInfq3hN6iZz7FchZYNaws0w3DJolaYDvQVaZCSNm-TCzFcoZPV738paGJy358Teqpy6IymZTu6bJheQO6QlaVU_i2w2fNe5rME8KgvSszRo9U7mNc8lcEQbk3w8BIUYTwHfpS7NNPY7qMGfH1tmIzNG/s800/ft19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKIyBUHNmu9zfPpHx209X1NwM3m93YBMfWInfq3hN6iZz7FchZYNaws0w3DJolaYDvQVaZCSNm-TCzFcoZPV738paGJy358Teqpy6IymZTu6bJheQO6QlaVU_i2w2fNe5rME8KgvSszRo9U7mNc8lcEQbk3w8BIUYTwHfpS7NNPY7qMGfH1tmIzNG/w426-h640/ft19.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Inside the FTS store...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAqy1xwow1QBjhQkYyaoXZtfGJG3Xr6uxl1Ccdmh3l8gR73sNKy6J4dF2TP2l7GNqALbXYG3-PaOD2zCgNsdXVKu38jyPwYt65UecGjhbEbc580EqygxrAKWELPZv0AakY7wzk72TguVCM79Mp-6pfGbfgJN0nrCP9J-Wh2R8VpOt7Rw8UEAqJPJp/s800/ft22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAqy1xwow1QBjhQkYyaoXZtfGJG3Xr6uxl1Ccdmh3l8gR73sNKy6J4dF2TP2l7GNqALbXYG3-PaOD2zCgNsdXVKu38jyPwYt65UecGjhbEbc580EqygxrAKWELPZv0AakY7wzk72TguVCM79Mp-6pfGbfgJN0nrCP9J-Wh2R8VpOt7Rw8UEAqJPJp/w426-h640/ft22.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Unbeknownst to many, there's a distillery on site...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> </p><p>So, while I don't know if I'd ever camp there, Full Throttle Saloon is a great place to go to get a beer, listen to some live music and just relax while the rally happens around you. It's definitely worth the short drive from downtown Sturgis...<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-15746380372730566902022-10-07T14:46:00.002-04:002022-10-07T14:46:31.335-04:00<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Following our visit to Mount Rushmore, we decided to take the hour long drive over to the storied town of Deadwood, South Dakota.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There's loads to see along the way and,. of course, we stopped to take some of it in: <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwUzIo3QOcHac-rxI3UzIFzzS-MpP7x6nbqfZ7rZTQuKWpVi_wO5ggBWIhR61xClkIlS5-hvrseo4vFncSb79Jtjhn4Ns66RoiHl5ZR1WhJRrybgZYYjWvzMi3Pd-xh2XAzTVVxXzrueqnRttIm9vduwC3itJFGxdVgOa09vtU_2PqmFEeJm6iX_2/s800/dw03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwUzIo3QOcHac-rxI3UzIFzzS-MpP7x6nbqfZ7rZTQuKWpVi_wO5ggBWIhR61xClkIlS5-hvrseo4vFncSb79Jtjhn4Ns66RoiHl5ZR1WhJRrybgZYYjWvzMi3Pd-xh2XAzTVVxXzrueqnRttIm9vduwC3itJFGxdVgOa09vtU_2PqmFEeJm6iX_2/w640-h426/dw03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJTd33K7x9ci_3p2o9wKxTZ_SEDKeDEABscuEpv-sdJwg1MO-DGOwdeVf5gjsnYrfcJ1_IowkqzgouCogCTVwDyjcNTsZ9mFVy-2ZY5NwwgwajiAJDMD3KEHw_keIaNPznWiRb4hbTq_1tWH74t8RESvjHQI1LMGT4I3kALiyg8TC7-J85eU7lNNW/s800/dw02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJTd33K7x9ci_3p2o9wKxTZ_SEDKeDEABscuEpv-sdJwg1MO-DGOwdeVf5gjsnYrfcJ1_IowkqzgouCogCTVwDyjcNTsZ9mFVy-2ZY5NwwgwajiAJDMD3KEHw_keIaNPznWiRb4hbTq_1tWH74t8RESvjHQI1LMGT4I3kALiyg8TC7-J85eU7lNNW/w640-h426/dw02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoZO2bGJOdblKD5CDIrPrzY101greRv4UgbrCQXDcxQZmyykZpdB81xjOaxb9m1FrMgQfqUavVWMIGOA_kglxQCrTF8OXyRFZ-8-lkjf0xK7kRc39IuN9Nz6M87LTxsUzPM0lMd-dTHf5VXSt_mjOvLEDZg256olst-yUJuLzlHYn18oX5sQMv923/s800/dw01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoZO2bGJOdblKD5CDIrPrzY101greRv4UgbrCQXDcxQZmyykZpdB81xjOaxb9m1FrMgQfqUavVWMIGOA_kglxQCrTF8OXyRFZ-8-lkjf0xK7kRc39IuN9Nz6M87LTxsUzPM0lMd-dTHf5VXSt_mjOvLEDZg256olst-yUJuLzlHYn18oX5sQMv923/w640-h426/dw01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Deadwood was founded by early settlers who got the name for the town
from the dead trees found in a nearby gulch. While this area of the
Black Hills was, by treaty, owned by the Lakota, the discovery of gold
in 1874 took an unofficial precedence, and the population had grown to over 25,000 by
1876. As of the 2020 census, though, that number had decreased to a far
more manageable 1,156. In the late 1800's, old west figures Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock, who was murdered here, called Deadwood home.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7j7Q6069BKRQd6gjTnioi9mHjj3m1lBMF0yE1srOqA9SgQEeRs62RbNe52GZuY-ZO2jYIuLQlZIPCka0BVknht-8bsYCtDsNU1wo-Ejti5Ig1BFI52keHTKi-keKKRq8mk94hVkPXIZV4nJHVRKvsoG-p9j6XZtVPNKTqK5Cfp_RDvke5fvLC8ft/s800/dw05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7j7Q6069BKRQd6gjTnioi9mHjj3m1lBMF0yE1srOqA9SgQEeRs62RbNe52GZuY-ZO2jYIuLQlZIPCka0BVknht-8bsYCtDsNU1wo-Ejti5Ig1BFI52keHTKi-keKKRq8mk94hVkPXIZV4nJHVRKvsoG-p9j6XZtVPNKTqK5Cfp_RDvke5fvLC8ft/w640-h426/dw05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9SXN0VDVT3YHrY_LQX6S9Lia88zDFxGRO4HhVqRBEHuVjcJymjPGQ4VhfMhKDsNvsg5phxUO-E_81awo1fujj544icdkgwcGDGecxn6OjuTPyuRGqaC5Cw6dPrtU6AGsqW7l0f45bJLO0woxhrtagoCYbPTNm7j7ikOy2aX3fd5PpUxWEA9yxbn9/s800/dw10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9SXN0VDVT3YHrY_LQX6S9Lia88zDFxGRO4HhVqRBEHuVjcJymjPGQ4VhfMhKDsNvsg5phxUO-E_81awo1fujj544icdkgwcGDGecxn6OjuTPyuRGqaC5Cw6dPrtU6AGsqW7l0f45bJLO0woxhrtagoCYbPTNm7j7ikOy2aX3fd5PpUxWEA9yxbn9/w426-h640/dw10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdSVwbNuC5fFFQ1GTYPuDYEPeLSh52bUVo_CQRpqYFIZJY-NmKGDl-DBLD6lzE9qQcjdWr5GTQRFfhKr9Ip4xLPOXpVJAHwj7g_Of2E5Gm-z8kYufkBSUaHBdmbr_rAoQ_KqDg4zRBTiz-vjcpwMrteM0CtugZteK3KVxzaJvtGC1e4LVbwLHBKD8/s800/dw11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdSVwbNuC5fFFQ1GTYPuDYEPeLSh52bUVo_CQRpqYFIZJY-NmKGDl-DBLD6lzE9qQcjdWr5GTQRFfhKr9Ip4xLPOXpVJAHwj7g_Of2E5Gm-z8kYufkBSUaHBdmbr_rAoQ_KqDg4zRBTiz-vjcpwMrteM0CtugZteK3KVxzaJvtGC1e4LVbwLHBKD8/w640-h426/dw11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">During the rally, the streets of Deadwood become packed with bikes and parking is at a premium. Even people on motorcycles had trouble finding parking. Once you find it, though, you'll be glad you decided to tough it our until you found a spot. The local Harley Davidson dealer (appropriately named Deadwood Harley Davidson) pretty much takes over the entire town square with motorcycle displays, music,demonstrations and, of course, the obligatory swimming pool:<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgKBVQzsWZrwtCkfA4DDQBk-uE1Sj9hmsRKRaxlVtvYhqAtQOCJ-CZDcUlufq6EtsXd4NsleSY7PrBzQZAngYlrQCDszuP0NbM8Ylfp3LLdW866EEsO52bJza6K7UtosEvw3rBQu71EZDADmx9aa50-zhTtNZwYu2I_05olGnxxNpPxSpISEPM3lh/s800/dw12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgKBVQzsWZrwtCkfA4DDQBk-uE1Sj9hmsRKRaxlVtvYhqAtQOCJ-CZDcUlufq6EtsXd4NsleSY7PrBzQZAngYlrQCDszuP0NbM8Ylfp3LLdW866EEsO52bJza6K7UtosEvw3rBQu71EZDADmx9aa50-zhTtNZwYu2I_05olGnxxNpPxSpISEPM3lh/w640-h426/dw12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">We decided we need some adult beverages, so we wandered into a joint called the Bodega Bar which had the two things we needed more than anything: beer and air conditioning. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OsCrzA9MWjha3G4Yst5gDAK8mStqrgEQRL5lu922pIbLTJ6bBQ80jE2H1oex6a-QjQNLimsmmLkhxEgU5TMEE9izvJrp2ggz0nPOqOgSOUbt3glr159wFKK6fzjDwjAE17-3y4yATPDPpv5Uk9bi8ft2QPRcrWKxm49DS4lVjqUqrt1m_d3ZzewX/s800/dw13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OsCrzA9MWjha3G4Yst5gDAK8mStqrgEQRL5lu922pIbLTJ6bBQ80jE2H1oex6a-QjQNLimsmmLkhxEgU5TMEE9izvJrp2ggz0nPOqOgSOUbt3glr159wFKK6fzjDwjAE17-3y4yATPDPpv5Uk9bi8ft2QPRcrWKxm49DS4lVjqUqrt1m_d3ZzewX/w640-h426/dw13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The drinks were cheap and, anytime you come to an event like this, the people watching opportunities are plentiful. I don't remember their names, but these to guys were having almost as much fun as we were, so we decided to hang out for a bit and buy rounds for each other:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkSVe6pdx2N546Pn99DzPlN1YVpAeT8axnEesNqrsdK7x1LaAn5IyxNqBYWIOpui2eVrl-L-M08Y-Fp4kNaDsAFTx0tLLgJMoEQ3ZPaUJDyRuqa6z4yL0k7l6q5FsD5hB6yBeK3TKumG1htwd7D7n65Yom_c5z-9Z9Xsyh-62mwvg0XpbquanoJJ6/s800/dw09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkSVe6pdx2N546Pn99DzPlN1YVpAeT8axnEesNqrsdK7x1LaAn5IyxNqBYWIOpui2eVrl-L-M08Y-Fp4kNaDsAFTx0tLLgJMoEQ3ZPaUJDyRuqa6z4yL0k7l6q5FsD5hB6yBeK3TKumG1htwd7D7n65Yom_c5z-9Z9Xsyh-62mwvg0XpbquanoJJ6/w640-h426/dw09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Oxn9gLCvYNwfuoTi5qbTL_1CneFuUAGj7WX9n1YTiAzR3ljfRFp_G1lOAXhxQlTwuMkttKxIfTN3-trfnUXUn0IsTA7viTZC1mzoHDjrEr9UbWaFc85O1BTDMV6LmHcByjNDXHYkRvTMaYqy-mEqLROD6OkTc75Zfv4rD_JJVvdeIyanXG02aZjX/s800/dw14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Oxn9gLCvYNwfuoTi5qbTL_1CneFuUAGj7WX9n1YTiAzR3ljfRFp_G1lOAXhxQlTwuMkttKxIfTN3-trfnUXUn0IsTA7viTZC1mzoHDjrEr9UbWaFc85O1BTDMV6LmHcByjNDXHYkRvTMaYqy-mEqLROD6OkTc75Zfv4rD_JJVvdeIyanXG02aZjX/w640-h426/dw14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">It was a great day, and the Deadwood experience was more than worthwhile (even if it did take us a half hour to find parking). Even though this was just my first time to the rally, I can't imagine a tip here during the rally being complete for anyone without a visit to Deadwood...<br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-27768560221172571182022-10-07T13:42:00.002-04:002022-10-07T13:42:54.351-04:00Mount Rushmore and Beyond...<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the cool things about being in this part of the country is the driving. Endless lengths of pavement give way to blue sky and rolling hills at every turn. And, sometimes, those rolling hills are the Black Hills and, if you're in the Black Hills, you have to go to Mount Rushmore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Admission to Mount Rushmore National Memorial (that's the official name) is actually free. You do have to park, however, and that's where they get ya'. It's actually not bad. Parking is only $10, $5 if you're 62 or older and free if you're active duty military.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We actually didn't go into the park itself. I was here back in 2013 when I drove cross country, and took the hike that's offered around the base of the mountain. We were here for the photo ops, though, and a great photo op was available right there on the road leading to the park, SD-244:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gzUj3VcSe3OHq8xSXQ-Szgqujb1IzKPL_w0pMIRkH1AVB0Z-neBa2EmocqVeI9AfNgaXkAUzzJPFtl1_J9aAKLAlZXP0OKoDfdJLSq0tB9sMMHhE4kuqQ20OUZ_RRrpzgo7pjxSYw6zCh1dvAdMbQfGMJvOwSmaPKp3yTTyLZUrw7VMr91asr6qX/s800/mr02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gzUj3VcSe3OHq8xSXQ-Szgqujb1IzKPL_w0pMIRkH1AVB0Z-neBa2EmocqVeI9AfNgaXkAUzzJPFtl1_J9aAKLAlZXP0OKoDfdJLSq0tB9sMMHhE4kuqQ20OUZ_RRrpzgo7pjxSYw6zCh1dvAdMbQfGMJvOwSmaPKp3yTTyLZUrw7VMr91asr6qX/w640-h426/mr02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Construction on the monument started in October of 1927 and opened 14 years later in October of 1941. People often wonder why these four Presidents were chosen. If you happen to be one of those people, well, wonder no more.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore, is responsible for choosing the faces carved into the mountain. He chose them for these reasons:<br /></p><ul><li><div align="justify">
George Washington - Signifies the struggle for independence and the birth of the Republic.</div>
</li><li><div align="justify">
Thomas Jefferson - Signifies the territorial expansion of the country.</div>
</li><li><div align="justify">
Abraham Lincoln - Represents the permanent union of the States and equality for all citizens.</div>
</li><li><div align="justify">
Theodore Roosevelt - Stands for the 20th century role of the United States in world affairs. <br /></div></li></ul><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpututB4qcTrUQ1ZrqCJmVgqrfaFeFIyRl8TM9N6Dj5URnHNbRh1G_SqpcuCJD-41Q8cix807tzvBI4IIGrsyQf3Zmj9y4Ci71V4x0zW0nKevGOB40tQsJ8kyBa154xpgtpq7KDQ9whICnso7bwL31GOALxzvIfbPJmA9Trrnymm1h07NTwPa6vRU/s800/mr03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpututB4qcTrUQ1ZrqCJmVgqrfaFeFIyRl8TM9N6Dj5URnHNbRh1G_SqpcuCJD-41Q8cix807tzvBI4IIGrsyQf3Zmj9y4Ci71V4x0zW0nKevGOB40tQsJ8kyBa154xpgtpq7KDQ9whICnso7bwL31GOALxzvIfbPJmA9Trrnymm1h07NTwPa6vRU/w640-h426/mr03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>One of the little known facts about Mount Rushmore is that the original design called for the sculptures to be head-to-waist, but funding dried up in 1941 causing the shutdown of construction:</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX07eaX_9uxk_7fe1YXhU26z_ZyHzXFa4CDHjw26ykcDwz-3JAYIILrAG_lqf1bddIp5oA2GnFVlVVvSenAEHK9-51oa1aIxamUMsCsbvCF_vf1T8A8p_y9axNUIzhZ7N1DkO7zHanvbVyGFfJ3E1A-K4g0TFfOLEtWxRyqDo-1vaMAxJQAS-nExAp/s640/mr06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX07eaX_9uxk_7fe1YXhU26z_ZyHzXFa4CDHjw26ykcDwz-3JAYIILrAG_lqf1bddIp5oA2GnFVlVVvSenAEHK9-51oa1aIxamUMsCsbvCF_vf1T8A8p_y9axNUIzhZ7N1DkO7zHanvbVyGFfJ3E1A-K4g0TFfOLEtWxRyqDo-1vaMAxJQAS-nExAp/w640-h428/mr06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This photo was taken during my visit in 2013...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The allure of such an attraction is lost on no one, and I got a kick out of watching this Hells Angels member and his girlfriend taking "selfies" with the mountain in the background: <br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBZmVBxHlb7azGPNNND70KJwwSdQE5zuboismo92f-nzT7SFjYUdzyq69j3WivNrRRMNBjViYilb6uBBkOZsfNuaagwJhIOu84Imv9YtoNBbI2JdZ_tUttxqySC4pGHmMPqWgAIvPCb9hB5fydP_V0qDFVnLpMoyMw3YVVq30-vN44yEth35Zx4t2/s800/mr04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBZmVBxHlb7azGPNNND70KJwwSdQE5zuboismo92f-nzT7SFjYUdzyq69j3WivNrRRMNBjViYilb6uBBkOZsfNuaagwJhIOu84Imv9YtoNBbI2JdZ_tUttxqySC4pGHmMPqWgAIvPCb9hB5fydP_V0qDFVnLpMoyMw3YVVq30-vN44yEth35Zx4t2/w640-h426/mr04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">From where we were on SD-244, we drove past the park entrance and, aft6er a few miles, came upon what's known as "Profile View". From here, you can see a great profile of George Washington. Sadly, the other sculptures aren't visible from this vantage point:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLELYnX2GuN-xIDj97PcyhxnZbflogvioAye_fIEO74RN5dotmAhSdE2Sd8tDkVTsBg0YBJJjEYB5YUZwVjk6W0O3JNB0efYR7T34pL_NjwyTQZiamVLjol4bunBX0I-HgCV1NTAX9ExztZ0ixMlbHOmtUbfIAKXfGJ-GKBPdgon-VxcMKVA2k-2Ci/s800/mr07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLELYnX2GuN-xIDj97PcyhxnZbflogvioAye_fIEO74RN5dotmAhSdE2Sd8tDkVTsBg0YBJJjEYB5YUZwVjk6W0O3JNB0efYR7T34pL_NjwyTQZiamVLjol4bunBX0I-HgCV1NTAX9ExztZ0ixMlbHOmtUbfIAKXfGJ-GKBPdgon-VxcMKVA2k-2Ci/w640-h426/mr07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1PU_IVAGV95Q0ZOjKIegYggcgNr9R856ahXslr6sLYz7ghOt5au0eV1crxKNJoWib_0IsJa4uSzFoW8HPls4JupqdwKBX05KdpzYRo4Kw55ZTT84GlzV-hSjrT8eJj9cICzNCCXSsabnK-H5izge4sYFBOxF5gIiVuPJx8W7vrX-5jwrLcE6ROJO/s800/mr06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1PU_IVAGV95Q0ZOjKIegYggcgNr9R856ahXslr6sLYz7ghOt5au0eV1crxKNJoWib_0IsJa4uSzFoW8HPls4JupqdwKBX05KdpzYRo4Kw55ZTT84GlzV-hSjrT8eJj9cICzNCCXSsabnK-H5izge4sYFBOxF5gIiVuPJx8W7vrX-5jwrLcE6ROJO/w426-h640/mr06.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Mount Rushmore is one of those places in America that I think every American should visit at least once. There are a few of those places; Washington D.C. and Gettysburg are certainly worthy of such reverence. If you ever find yourself meandering your way through the Black Hills, take the opportunity to visit this magnificent icon of the American spirit...<br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-25348352520445844732022-10-07T12:58:00.002-04:002022-10-07T12:58:26.808-04:00Sturgis...<p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the whole reason for coming all this way was to go to Sturgis. Main Street is where it all happens, as we wanted to be there.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, I had heard that upwards of 800,000 to 1,000,000 people were going to be on hand this year and, while there were bikers <i>everywhere</i>, I don't think the attendance numbers quite hit those lofty predictions. Even still, bikes jammed Main Street, just as they do every year, and the downtown bars, restaurants and shops all make their year at the rally.<br /><br />Before taking on Sturgis, though, we decided to hit the Needles Highway. The Needles Highway is much like the famed Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee. It's a bit of a dangerous drive, so much so that it's closed every winter. Also, there are some rather small tunnels which threaten the paint on practically any four-wheel vehicle that dare traverse them. White knuckle? In some places, yeah, maybe a little:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYu-fx3oP4-_Lfl4nN8h1hcoF_ExkwXYFUBUQ7R2z2tr_7iuYOwEekFjEPLbpMnDQuHB_hepp9cQfwzdoW93y2GjtJoN1VtXXxlt5OFIKJUMR-XQc6P4ftcxr8CYyIg_jjCccixn3MmXcRoRgfJ-L_AjQNcolK5OSnH4_Bir4P8raISIJzP_EpoEt/s800/cnp01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYu-fx3oP4-_Lfl4nN8h1hcoF_ExkwXYFUBUQ7R2z2tr_7iuYOwEekFjEPLbpMnDQuHB_hepp9cQfwzdoW93y2GjtJoN1VtXXxlt5OFIKJUMR-XQc6P4ftcxr8CYyIg_jjCccixn3MmXcRoRgfJ-L_AjQNcolK5OSnH4_Bir4P8raISIJzP_EpoEt/w640-h426/cnp01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgW7JlrigXpMfDRScfNQ1njuKYvt3KIJAlXLGXTI6qJjP8g1vTHgTiUIA6fQUfFEmVYLSY7OrWSHhWcSxqqlAwM6QEt_sInzvvYUPI18k7F2HckNdG3aBhjzDH5s62sCPsPXdVIludNdBBpfbTfwYzrydfiqcjTGexh9NGJ44STHRx1h6Gnivy6Sq/s800/cnp03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgW7JlrigXpMfDRScfNQ1njuKYvt3KIJAlXLGXTI6qJjP8g1vTHgTiUIA6fQUfFEmVYLSY7OrWSHhWcSxqqlAwM6QEt_sInzvvYUPI18k7F2HckNdG3aBhjzDH5s62sCPsPXdVIludNdBBpfbTfwYzrydfiqcjTGexh9NGJ44STHRx1h6Gnivy6Sq/w640-h426/cnp03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFfmMTSXsJcbSAkzG1ZXjUz8QQvmXcEYDB8gbbyyLx1mPRIbvqFj9f3Cti6359rg6mFQL1pqnFyRkHu5gW4eGNmfkIrG4pYVSzLJEKP2TqcIrYYNXJvAAV0EQzYB5_6re0sph80sx9k7UmW78xWOSZPkXguqtH57vqWi117KsJAqwsQWdIzAFTXl-/s800/cnp07.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFfmMTSXsJcbSAkzG1ZXjUz8QQvmXcEYDB8gbbyyLx1mPRIbvqFj9f3Cti6359rg6mFQL1pqnFyRkHu5gW4eGNmfkIrG4pYVSzLJEKP2TqcIrYYNXJvAAV0EQzYB5_6re0sph80sx9k7UmW78xWOSZPkXguqtH57vqWi117KsJAqwsQWdIzAFTXl-/w640-h426/cnp07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>These folks were all waiting for us to get through the tunnel...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">And then, in some areas, it's a wide open, leisurely drive:<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXslmNT4IIaId7H7GBgo9SQujKcRe64ftw732K7DDdbCk5YmqfznHLd2vYrHbxKx6IpWWAqYdl7K-0ZcBoFWMx6lbS1l8BM524oBB4qEW0BidyGnw3-QqxNMWu0-XrJ5sqEsFA2lVoUmNX1Go9uqvf5cA3wVIs0exQQJpMRa6Y2J3RdSPksec-tGYX/s800/cnp04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXslmNT4IIaId7H7GBgo9SQujKcRe64ftw732K7DDdbCk5YmqfznHLd2vYrHbxKx6IpWWAqYdl7K-0ZcBoFWMx6lbS1l8BM524oBB4qEW0BidyGnw3-QqxNMWu0-XrJ5sqEsFA2lVoUmNX1Go9uqvf5cA3wVIs0exQQJpMRa6Y2J3RdSPksec-tGYX/w640-h426/cnp04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1bwR6e7TaAcxXNAXoKZmRPIZnNSJf-Piync0Ef-J099sIE-Sm_jEeoKDn4FxoQUNyZimyEasKN5ZGo35TxfxI9eIuKVBr8fcgDNtI-qCbDGG6aHNH9NdrsD1x_MpkdlqKbM51ZaQQZS2co3mNmTdNRYJbyMY6D3-w2v01_L_xdETv89bgVn5dand/s800/cnp05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1bwR6e7TaAcxXNAXoKZmRPIZnNSJf-Piync0Ef-J099sIE-Sm_jEeoKDn4FxoQUNyZimyEasKN5ZGo35TxfxI9eIuKVBr8fcgDNtI-qCbDGG6aHNH9NdrsD1x_MpkdlqKbM51ZaQQZS2co3mNmTdNRYJbyMY6D3-w2v01_L_xdETv89bgVn5dand/w426-h640/cnp05.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIIF9exRvUxeIPlQYaX_S_X4WJtLEeahPAGO38hjSHdK7UplMi0duFick1dm0yrF7IKv08zJa6IZmPHLcso0Xj5lJncjXpICDLbk1ET5A_tjm16kpI0KPy6I9cl1exNAFk-oaKLDNaiicGDXRg5z40shWnaozZHdBEHM318UvvMMwCqVGkCsEjurO/s800/stu13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIIF9exRvUxeIPlQYaX_S_X4WJtLEeahPAGO38hjSHdK7UplMi0duFick1dm0yrF7IKv08zJa6IZmPHLcso0Xj5lJncjXpICDLbk1ET5A_tjm16kpI0KPy6I9cl1exNAFk-oaKLDNaiicGDXRg5z40shWnaozZHdBEHM318UvvMMwCqVGkCsEjurO/w640-h426/stu13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">We decided to venture into Custer National Park and, if you've never been there it's, well, wide open and vast:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU7ZcDWLqtC08mXss63Th2fWT3gNV7SFSJuc93g2eZ5B0YZI41x6fSHXEiQMFQu7CYEsGGcz-J38yAIyJ_f_y0sdTt9fMIfmiM5BVhmtPcnNktZKkX-SCUj3aZX2I93kCs7yvOE0Hzf_57UA566-cPl0miUojkFZ-0kEu42qBRJIleGdWqePe_Eio/s800/cnp10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU7ZcDWLqtC08mXss63Th2fWT3gNV7SFSJuc93g2eZ5B0YZI41x6fSHXEiQMFQu7CYEsGGcz-J38yAIyJ_f_y0sdTt9fMIfmiM5BVhmtPcnNktZKkX-SCUj3aZX2I93kCs7yvOE0Hzf_57UA566-cPl0miUojkFZ-0kEu42qBRJIleGdWqePe_Eio/w640-h426/cnp10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Quite honestly, there wasn't much to see other than motorcycles (and a lot of them). Still we decided to drive through and, at one point, made a right hand turn up some dirt road.<br /><br />And there they were:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgALScN_0SM17sjvlOs7rrrDP7nckE7C4QWlrKEDBxxkr2KGxCIZK4kXd6f4pdcaT7KnD0144n-94xDQfEc9tNc2CEO7j3ngl_aDEV0nVdnWDHDA0eDQPr1SUahDwyoQcQHfZFxAgbTw4Aic6D-tQlGiQyeN9tCELftIVXNu_ifewGJUhAFZMibF0D/s800/cnp11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgALScN_0SM17sjvlOs7rrrDP7nckE7C4QWlrKEDBxxkr2KGxCIZK4kXd6f4pdcaT7KnD0144n-94xDQfEc9tNc2CEO7j3ngl_aDEV0nVdnWDHDA0eDQPr1SUahDwyoQcQHfZFxAgbTw4Aic6D-tQlGiQyeN9tCELftIVXNu_ifewGJUhAFZMibF0D/w640-h426/cnp11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Last year, when my daughter and I drove through Yellowstone, we were amazed at the size of the bison there. They were <i>huge </i>animals. These, however, while being large in stature, were quite thin in comparison, and you could tell it was getting towards the end of their summer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TfUPIQYT2Lb51rCuaq2JwOMkfLdPQ0JDGVz5fxW6E5igNdQskOCbza-VJ6Y6hvGhDZiVefCZWHsqlDNENG4Iq7oIH-8xJ-7MiMU1QBed-L4afOynjncsI3UU1XDw0en7E_0f8ePgxQwcbRTnK9xK6sV3XUdzxlrT9xDMpQB0f2Cu1cvbFQlzQ2My/s800/cnp12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TfUPIQYT2Lb51rCuaq2JwOMkfLdPQ0JDGVz5fxW6E5igNdQskOCbza-VJ6Y6hvGhDZiVefCZWHsqlDNENG4Iq7oIH-8xJ-7MiMU1QBed-L4afOynjncsI3UU1XDw0en7E_0f8ePgxQwcbRTnK9xK6sV3XUdzxlrT9xDMpQB0f2Cu1cvbFQlzQ2My/w640-h426/cnp12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2-dLmgxxF6sac080EZ_dLG5KqEMVh0ZEuiHQcAQVJ0Di5zhndFmYpL8h_Rdw5ogqruzlj1Rv04TPxuCCYZpZ4KZ-jNQPpLHqwzMqM6zJJEp1lgQBJEJ4AnpomcvLM-J1g5M5lzhHnQ5jpaOXHL7POhsyU8zoOEmBi641urRAq2rmHiZbZNNcnH7s/s800/cnp09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2-dLmgxxF6sac080EZ_dLG5KqEMVh0ZEuiHQcAQVJ0Di5zhndFmYpL8h_Rdw5ogqruzlj1Rv04TPxuCCYZpZ4KZ-jNQPpLHqwzMqM6zJJEp1lgQBJEJ4AnpomcvLM-J1g5M5lzhHnQ5jpaOXHL7POhsyU8zoOEmBi641urRAq2rmHiZbZNNcnH7s/w640-h426/cnp09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Our cruise through Custer National Park at an end, we decided to head into Sturgis.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The rally in Sturgis is really a sight to behold. If you're like me, and enjoy people watching, this is definitely a good choice. </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJUhufvoysWtBPBzFCHKeJmGgTIHgvGrH59wtNXolV-T0k2K3YdOoAfSlELrX3g0BGsovtNaHJSHP1zXAvBzZdtJyJ93sn5zyagYKJAdpkKE066-z5CXcOGyNajAOKIcWV3ehRIztdy8kkmn-sowTeduXnElNz_ZY93uGGVawn7qSLCcXV3e2FF5_/s800/stu01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJUhufvoysWtBPBzFCHKeJmGgTIHgvGrH59wtNXolV-T0k2K3YdOoAfSlELrX3g0BGsovtNaHJSHP1zXAvBzZdtJyJ93sn5zyagYKJAdpkKE066-z5CXcOGyNajAOKIcWV3ehRIztdy8kkmn-sowTeduXnElNz_ZY93uGGVawn7qSLCcXV3e2FF5_/w426-h640/stu01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This guy was a real character, and quite obliging...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOLBQbFWRpmjVQsA6G0P4y1p_7b8touSUcdYWU0_ztN-2Q5RlkGyr42vqG1CIqPiz4BIXdZpflj6I-gAn0Ip82JijSadB3U_PCO0POF4JhDHS1TGF90rREDKkAetrWA2bfOrai91CTKlGuhTEGj_X00GJ9RlGppzrElMa--j9Gps5ZrOWlCv-LaAw/s800/stu14.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOLBQbFWRpmjVQsA6G0P4y1p_7b8touSUcdYWU0_ztN-2Q5RlkGyr42vqG1CIqPiz4BIXdZpflj6I-gAn0Ip82JijSadB3U_PCO0POF4JhDHS1TGF90rREDKkAetrWA2bfOrai91CTKlGuhTEGj_X00GJ9RlGppzrElMa--j9Gps5ZrOWlCv-LaAw/w426-h640/stu14.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Just because you can doesn't mean you should...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">And, not only are there some pretty crazy people to see, there are, of course, the motorcycles:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLO1eqMccFfv-HjF3G4sN2mRvMLr_sbDDNtlLHwCRSe3aJZNxTjssGb0a0R4msGY4OhdbyE5do597egBNcyoQNrFh0jj2UV7q3swAwCmI0nlXHU6wVlRMHRvdN_ls5_42oR5D1QFrLovzqDp63lXaSAwL4XcoYpMKQO0NXQpZfm5jpeMDZrb_SANE/s800/stu25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLO1eqMccFfv-HjF3G4sN2mRvMLr_sbDDNtlLHwCRSe3aJZNxTjssGb0a0R4msGY4OhdbyE5do597egBNcyoQNrFh0jj2UV7q3swAwCmI0nlXHU6wVlRMHRvdN_ls5_42oR5D1QFrLovzqDp63lXaSAwL4XcoYpMKQO0NXQpZfm5jpeMDZrb_SANE/w640-h426/stu25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8pLWuuX-6DUxKFygIadS--PU9i99QCrWSuI1WimGcdOPr0i_13Jy4FBD-zdB0OY8OEv2PLuenm-d2hFNd7q6Ri32Nj-4nP7qXyv1_r4kgkix8h3QP1UEL6qSSz2WIX1G8fYYx5e_zjwU8072j3Mt_hNh2I661tVQmAhpBzfTfF1H1MawkQWTOmZK/s800/stu24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8pLWuuX-6DUxKFygIadS--PU9i99QCrWSuI1WimGcdOPr0i_13Jy4FBD-zdB0OY8OEv2PLuenm-d2hFNd7q6Ri32Nj-4nP7qXyv1_r4kgkix8h3QP1UEL6qSSz2WIX1G8fYYx5e_zjwU8072j3Mt_hNh2I661tVQmAhpBzfTfF1H1MawkQWTOmZK/w640-h426/stu24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VsHuo3rl8v4Q1UyHu5pb6hKptJB4hJaeAt8xwlU3LnU78n3_gPO1w99w8Ry9pYB6JAhhRQFSBdxgdcMokMR0aL9FLS0V_-Y3nhz4IGe9qMtfJmiQqujFUcCia8_PE7bMPhSSWEq3YP5bGIciM7q652g4GJb0PpVw5LUosCVKEFIkKUGx43e15Mfz/s800/stu23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VsHuo3rl8v4Q1UyHu5pb6hKptJB4hJaeAt8xwlU3LnU78n3_gPO1w99w8Ry9pYB6JAhhRQFSBdxgdcMokMR0aL9FLS0V_-Y3nhz4IGe9qMtfJmiQqujFUcCia8_PE7bMPhSSWEq3YP5bGIciM7q652g4GJb0PpVw5LUosCVKEFIkKUGx43e15Mfz/w640-h426/stu23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovaQloqWWOAqEIaTLsPwNhyu20ZlRSJQ7kwUnOZdeRGf9YvOOMAu7tZD6pGoQ39gF4mPXmNAbsACQ4MyMiqfqplB11zDER0rdRWx_4lmVMQy14K0QdmBj2pt_9-acWf_VzGmGWdGBdoOQ9vrmKGjpk7ScM8RWaybrz5_XnrRipcXXEF2C1LJyu9iI/s800/stu22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovaQloqWWOAqEIaTLsPwNhyu20ZlRSJQ7kwUnOZdeRGf9YvOOMAu7tZD6pGoQ39gF4mPXmNAbsACQ4MyMiqfqplB11zDER0rdRWx_4lmVMQy14K0QdmBj2pt_9-acWf_VzGmGWdGBdoOQ9vrmKGjpk7ScM8RWaybrz5_XnrRipcXXEF2C1LJyu9iI/w640-h426/stu22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETN9olQOVr4Hi3KCrgYp2STKrwpO0Zh4QaJ0j3-K0oGstjVOCnt7_3uFbkyuDR4aaNd_y9V0RNfVHcYbwpqZcvjlqtvN9TcAkLwk35cPsIaJobrTi1Tml54Oa1M-2QNtN7HV-iiNaQ--PdzhGK52-KCYB0PiBvWH3xlyHK52S8RtS0FTLh1cncl1u/s800/stu21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETN9olQOVr4Hi3KCrgYp2STKrwpO0Zh4QaJ0j3-K0oGstjVOCnt7_3uFbkyuDR4aaNd_y9V0RNfVHcYbwpqZcvjlqtvN9TcAkLwk35cPsIaJobrTi1Tml54Oa1M-2QNtN7HV-iiNaQ--PdzhGK52-KCYB0PiBvWH3xlyHK52S8RtS0FTLh1cncl1u/w640-h426/stu21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaFtmRViSsik73YqAwpmDBtXpUb9q2lI_7-P_uo-vPogLEydmsviRev3HhWouqzIo3i8MSK3lMC5IwS9te_-pGLGf3nM8yofvmBw0mdYNXJpzuYefqyePRb_9rvNw342uuddYNtfgJZR-Nul0pkOVBKlA33W7Q2SrRNUY1YX41Ij4_JDcB2w6OgPg/s800/stu16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaFtmRViSsik73YqAwpmDBtXpUb9q2lI_7-P_uo-vPogLEydmsviRev3HhWouqzIo3i8MSK3lMC5IwS9te_-pGLGf3nM8yofvmBw0mdYNXJpzuYefqyePRb_9rvNw342uuddYNtfgJZR-Nul0pkOVBKlA33W7Q2SrRNUY1YX41Ij4_JDcB2w6OgPg/w426-h640/stu16.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sZ6W9K72QjAdBFLdDDqiVevBknYh5qsIrs17B3lhVQyMdF-FwcYwSpY2Ty7i-DmMoDn3aq_EUOTo1MqtfQhDI02nSz8thrxULErWE1GA17mQ49akfpQnb9TSz2a8To91I2Bc1kVkiG8w2eKuj4shkLopTPYJmv7q7EMZm8cd5LJa7PA4UxjsOGRa/s800/stu15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sZ6W9K72QjAdBFLdDDqiVevBknYh5qsIrs17B3lhVQyMdF-FwcYwSpY2Ty7i-DmMoDn3aq_EUOTo1MqtfQhDI02nSz8thrxULErWE1GA17mQ49akfpQnb9TSz2a8To91I2Bc1kVkiG8w2eKuj4shkLopTPYJmv7q7EMZm8cd5LJa7PA4UxjsOGRa/w640-h426/stu15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXc-1ah8kF4ADOUrFpzsvc1JgKeiLoe5x6CxF4iyKcP6xTOnXwCOja1whptQJGr2EQRdf1d1oluBPFNHF26pa3KsqgspApqX5NGJl-15uwEW0WlfKIlUOxJhiiGZTOArig1RZAgRCxIU3uhcK1UhXv1Y4RFVP-QnOj4lkAKUGVV3X6nmhLiU5mAmI/s800/stu17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXc-1ah8kF4ADOUrFpzsvc1JgKeiLoe5x6CxF4iyKcP6xTOnXwCOja1whptQJGr2EQRdf1d1oluBPFNHF26pa3KsqgspApqX5NGJl-15uwEW0WlfKIlUOxJhiiGZTOArig1RZAgRCxIU3uhcK1UhXv1Y4RFVP-QnOj4lkAKUGVV3X6nmhLiU5mAmI/w640-h426/stu17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsl9BORJj9ogn7mNAw_Zze3Z1Z9XZ5bCvP3q1X-GUu8pwa5j2jstc0UJC2ORo-N5MQLNwaqeT5hBn2SzeG8PMAsa1db8XCU-f_YV_4slo90kEVgvv9BR4_iSZSWj2_bm3dk3rHkARBRlBVCzSF1SdvB5-Qocke__JQ7qfgWDkPWrDo9moeHOnuvh2/s800/stu20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsl9BORJj9ogn7mNAw_Zze3Z1Z9XZ5bCvP3q1X-GUu8pwa5j2jstc0UJC2ORo-N5MQLNwaqeT5hBn2SzeG8PMAsa1db8XCU-f_YV_4slo90kEVgvv9BR4_iSZSWj2_bm3dk3rHkARBRlBVCzSF1SdvB5-Qocke__JQ7qfgWDkPWrDo9moeHOnuvh2/w640-h426/stu20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdh38h42tpWXXli54M4JLW6sZklJrLFNlcrMBjo_TtHUE0OfyhjCiqggzxgH2uC4Dr3OXe54EnFLB_w1SRnSXG2tUrhn-1XU-CWuu76X20wyisXZdBXkGlsuwEz2OvFbLrNAyjZlcMOybw9W2MFKhw66dADzjiaDL7mVOKq1a911sHPtFftA0ZH_e/s800/stu12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdh38h42tpWXXli54M4JLW6sZklJrLFNlcrMBjo_TtHUE0OfyhjCiqggzxgH2uC4Dr3OXe54EnFLB_w1SRnSXG2tUrhn-1XU-CWuu76X20wyisXZdBXkGlsuwEz2OvFbLrNAyjZlcMOybw9W2MFKhw66dADzjiaDL7mVOKq1a911sHPtFftA0ZH_e/w640-h426/stu12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKyyPHENO0-u9Sl1s2qNkfoJ0k8d3XPk680IBOHd8dHahqTATaP5wHuVuYwXZsenuClJTb43bxgaMtr6aTPfElY8aJebCLS3Ad7aXLs4X27LSzRpsoPBj5qztHPe48XFxx6yK_Qxwy0KcB5XcGQOMZzRHR4se4-N7_6SUh5_yR4EHz4ABIgmfmTQO/s800/stu04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKyyPHENO0-u9Sl1s2qNkfoJ0k8d3XPk680IBOHd8dHahqTATaP5wHuVuYwXZsenuClJTb43bxgaMtr6aTPfElY8aJebCLS3Ad7aXLs4X27LSzRpsoPBj5qztHPe48XFxx6yK_Qxwy0KcB5XcGQOMZzRHR4se4-N7_6SUh5_yR4EHz4ABIgmfmTQO/w640-h426/stu04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJS6fyjgYiQ_bM4YUZSYCZEdwDXJ_0LQbmUqM42Lfv77c8IHver5WN_ZDJ1EDacXPdIdtTlermE0GLJ15Kqs5MEaBPiwlWQLxQtlmGyCSUEG4LiebvYtlPUnPZiAlxxVNTAkPQfiTjBiVK8LmtTVIoCDGnifBiYkBqZDR2WISoOIIsaHQuEd8MBqK/s800/stu03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJS6fyjgYiQ_bM4YUZSYCZEdwDXJ_0LQbmUqM42Lfv77c8IHver5WN_ZDJ1EDacXPdIdtTlermE0GLJ15Kqs5MEaBPiwlWQLxQtlmGyCSUEG4LiebvYtlPUnPZiAlxxVNTAkPQfiTjBiVK8LmtTVIoCDGnifBiYkBqZDR2WISoOIIsaHQuEd8MBqK/w640-h426/stu03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-3l7FyaiDwxuqgpSgJ1fiRZJRHGY4rxmMyhIJ0cZo3Bkx-zA5XU9cu_rwfv5zyKpr8VmKoW8Q2GiP7jJveMSDS2vsrfZ3drA5HSXV06AwCPfYO4fCfpeEa06gr0YGMsY_TnwTPasTEGaD_zLgpl4EZfpGwlkpCDadRWjsCx7xrsFPok6ogxD-5HV/s800/stu02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-3l7FyaiDwxuqgpSgJ1fiRZJRHGY4rxmMyhIJ0cZo3Bkx-zA5XU9cu_rwfv5zyKpr8VmKoW8Q2GiP7jJveMSDS2vsrfZ3drA5HSXV06AwCPfYO4fCfpeEa06gr0YGMsY_TnwTPasTEGaD_zLgpl4EZfpGwlkpCDadRWjsCx7xrsFPok6ogxD-5HV/w640-h426/stu02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, if that wasn't sensory overload to the nth degree, you have to remember that live music is <i>everywhere </i>in Sturgis during the rally. For our evening entertainment we opted for the Iron Horse Saloon. The facility is top-notch and can easily host any act, big or small. When we were there, the band "Hairball" was performing. They pretty much do everything that's 80's rock, and they even dress the part::</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfrBlq3YXwkpuHG0Zf08r_H6oiZILe2g7VrLcr-LTNTcfEcHLnI6o9sbB6F2Ar4IVHNsCwlJc-tPKq4QKxJVpVButONkweiW2WyPntv8V7vZwYKiK2KDmovl_ihZhfHJJzSw0pS3FNRDVV1zOuG8uWFNtfEbYwF8Kv1f5SQT7Teo5BAogZYyq5bd9/s800/hb04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfrBlq3YXwkpuHG0Zf08r_H6oiZILe2g7VrLcr-LTNTcfEcHLnI6o9sbB6F2Ar4IVHNsCwlJc-tPKq4QKxJVpVButONkweiW2WyPntv8V7vZwYKiK2KDmovl_ihZhfHJJzSw0pS3FNRDVV1zOuG8uWFNtfEbYwF8Kv1f5SQT7Teo5BAogZYyq5bd9/w640-h426/hb04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoS878gr1Bq7ovbI5DbZjkOMu675nJksknbQkDqeWZ-tUFJjxe73uSxIPrwZF0_haQTQIKTJoqyclzJ5fKIjmRoKkDpLTGIAc2_aZMcIkmaQ7SKHzT4LVO2osLtvd8kP5zkS03mCrsN76Om5BFw3abWvKzgtErJMdxAHUGFG09SQ8bWfWKG6SBqo6/s800/hb03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoS878gr1Bq7ovbI5DbZjkOMu675nJksknbQkDqeWZ-tUFJjxe73uSxIPrwZF0_haQTQIKTJoqyclzJ5fKIjmRoKkDpLTGIAc2_aZMcIkmaQ7SKHzT4LVO2osLtvd8kP5zkS03mCrsN76Om5BFw3abWvKzgtErJMdxAHUGFG09SQ8bWfWKG6SBqo6/w640-h426/hb03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9dMWlpvZvLsEO5tI70cnT6Qx4iYjkY2fK-Vqw3i41rpp6o8ycrUpO8DYvaEOyutBl28MMrZNHG416jFSmIPQ7-yXshxDUbSUjih1UyR3njL63xGJSh9CxRp_hyHJAGaMf33W4uoIR2C4j235AyacP-BCQDZXYOXTfG-TIBAfuQNS7jNesqDe7bpK/s800/hb02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9dMWlpvZvLsEO5tI70cnT6Qx4iYjkY2fK-Vqw3i41rpp6o8ycrUpO8DYvaEOyutBl28MMrZNHG416jFSmIPQ7-yXshxDUbSUjih1UyR3njL63xGJSh9CxRp_hyHJAGaMf33W4uoIR2C4j235AyacP-BCQDZXYOXTfG-TIBAfuQNS7jNesqDe7bpK/w640-h426/hb02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOwFv36gASlA_KXn2bRFqjJ5OZJfqhFAs-Nwe1Lhcz7WPaSYnqCF9BJsUvs1ugoKmPYuBiJAGcci5x66CYza0C3eQmMBb0OMxJJaLCVuN0ZX-eUV5Hx-d3n0AgteNtO9upn_OGm0dmaOFV0Vgh8rQXEg527V_vFQeG8PPhI31O2l8553dHWX5VBXd/s800/hb01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOwFv36gASlA_KXn2bRFqjJ5OZJfqhFAs-Nwe1Lhcz7WPaSYnqCF9BJsUvs1ugoKmPYuBiJAGcci5x66CYza0C3eQmMBb0OMxJJaLCVuN0ZX-eUV5Hx-d3n0AgteNtO9upn_OGm0dmaOFV0Vgh8rQXEg527V_vFQeG8PPhI31O2l8553dHWX5VBXd/w640-h426/hb01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was surely a feast for the eyes and the ears, and there were about 6,000 people crammed into the outdoor venue. That said, it never felt crowded and you never had to wait too long for your server to return with your beer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We erred on the side of caution this night and decided to stay downtown in the camper. It was probably a wise move, as the police were everywhere, we'd been drinking, and we had more things to do the next day...<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-88777526783963793872022-09-06T14:53:00.005-04:002022-09-06T14:53:48.203-04:00Black Hills Harley Davidson...<div><p style="text-align: justify;">We have a local dealer here in Florida, <a href="https://www.brucerossmeyer.com/" target="_blank">Bruce Rossmeyer's Harley Davidson</a>, which is pretty much "ground zero" for either Bike Week in March or Biketoberfest in October. At some point during those events, you <i>have </i>to get to Rossmeyer's.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Well, the Black Hills Rally has a similar dealer, only it's like Rossmeyer's on steroids: <a href="https://www.blackhillshd.com/" target="_blank">Black Hills Harley Davidson</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKnPv8hEVeVnNYWGeW7zUC4ih23U5v_gXKKrmqZjIw9jBX_MBNMZQJcZr0jDlGb_NThRaeNoR5n_agGKnJABeeZNza8h9E9C8LLdGUCnEcvAPvH9VIlA05SrNV-hY4iCPx1plRpSEdVhVwU_iDmuzy6STE6psM3LeN4LWdFdQjANSEwMKNl_bEQs6/s800/bh25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKnPv8hEVeVnNYWGeW7zUC4ih23U5v_gXKKrmqZjIw9jBX_MBNMZQJcZr0jDlGb_NThRaeNoR5n_agGKnJABeeZNza8h9E9C8LLdGUCnEcvAPvH9VIlA05SrNV-hY4iCPx1plRpSEdVhVwU_iDmuzy6STE6psM3LeN4LWdFdQjANSEwMKNl_bEQs6/w640-h426/bh25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Black Hills Harley is right off of I-90 in Rapid City, and it would be a monumental understatement to say that it's "absolutely huge". Dealers from all over the country ship bikes to Black Hills Harley for their "used bike" sale during the rally. They set up an enormous tent, and they have literally thousand of motorcycles on hand. By the end of the rally, though, the tent is pretty much empty:<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGPPW8FrjIdoJP-yBJJGt6WPtu50hSKgohG9nxKuV06Ae2Bcf1cBrPFYAQuNECNAS_XXv0SsTnkEKrsXTL7XcNFVqrb9HVQtWh_KmTnCycChTH5rvT3KT2gNkQ62_n-cY2f8HQ5Y9nYdBQihDZVT2swU2S-6QGNRl0UKhwkeIgHt_nHxZIGhuMMHK/s800/bh06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGPPW8FrjIdoJP-yBJJGt6WPtu50hSKgohG9nxKuV06Ae2Bcf1cBrPFYAQuNECNAS_XXv0SsTnkEKrsXTL7XcNFVqrb9HVQtWh_KmTnCycChTH5rvT3KT2gNkQ62_n-cY2f8HQ5Y9nYdBQihDZVT2swU2S-6QGNRl0UKhwkeIgHt_nHxZIGhuMMHK/w640-h426/bh06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNayJucFSSRID3nQs7ut56u8BhDAbr-er6PeWrl4O4PGuXu5_ssvNXnSxm-zGoSGBkOeAJqWZmo04h_Q2Bx0mbA_eINieJ5VpbdgN-SRFtCgbOYP7uELbagFMtcOhq2gZMxTkRY57ETXFJt1TFBBNN8spq53yhN3aq6SH7MDEkFttFqRxv7Z7BeI2/s800/bh14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNayJucFSSRID3nQs7ut56u8BhDAbr-er6PeWrl4O4PGuXu5_ssvNXnSxm-zGoSGBkOeAJqWZmo04h_Q2Bx0mbA_eINieJ5VpbdgN-SRFtCgbOYP7uELbagFMtcOhq2gZMxTkRY57ETXFJt1TFBBNN8spq53yhN3aq6SH7MDEkFttFqRxv7Z7BeI2/w640-h426/bh14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_C3OEUrLzGAy97LgPTPEDrN07IUBLBRc5d93Ge_J6evykMmfMgpAq7Md-AJXCsZ97-M41UpngkxG92h5Vl5JHLvxRtHhTha9X1rlX9DBtb0VYGpNMW-fuxKGZzYYUNPBKSkoBc7WJ2yonPf3WTzt4UMbt_7AQ0YFfw__i-fmJSOMpWm4D7LcTgqK/s800/bh15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_C3OEUrLzGAy97LgPTPEDrN07IUBLBRc5d93Ge_J6evykMmfMgpAq7Md-AJXCsZ97-M41UpngkxG92h5Vl5JHLvxRtHhTha9X1rlX9DBtb0VYGpNMW-fuxKGZzYYUNPBKSkoBc7WJ2yonPf3WTzt4UMbt_7AQ0YFfw__i-fmJSOMpWm4D7LcTgqK/w640-h426/bh15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Black Hills Harley has a wide array of vendors and, really, I don't care what you're looking for, if it's motorcycle related it'll be here. Hell, even if it's not motorcycle related it might be here. But the main attraction, of course, are the motorcycles. With so many of them on hand, it's hard to whittle it down to a few representative photos, but I'll try:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TmPrdOeOWAPo4bxp0IgXvV83majTu41ZfheM9K0vbg7YTSenly6Jjl0msND7fqux710Fut8ux0yAhTLH3MMP1YKae3-8P-B963-mhl3H1VVp0t2ludI0IXQC2QhyNiNMqpY1z_N8_tSy4fZZORmczx6-P7l2__mc-q7tRLXKzK2sD0RzqfyvNGTA/s800/bh01%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TmPrdOeOWAPo4bxp0IgXvV83majTu41ZfheM9K0vbg7YTSenly6Jjl0msND7fqux710Fut8ux0yAhTLH3MMP1YKae3-8P-B963-mhl3H1VVp0t2ludI0IXQC2QhyNiNMqpY1z_N8_tSy4fZZORmczx6-P7l2__mc-q7tRLXKzK2sD0RzqfyvNGTA/w640-h426/bh01%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PWGr_awYcVVVWYLF_sswMPEebRDyn7J6uhVGOhRI2fiaSaIKR-R4Utq0OdkPnPVYygKDHX3UyDgcLX3_9OWsqDxwNAFhBzRwCeUVrQnxI4z2NiKaCz9D0FolgQ_WOmYGUsF-o-SELC23Xeekb72vPt28ac0gEJ4AYxfohrQCLERCLds3bCciWMPm/s800/bh02%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PWGr_awYcVVVWYLF_sswMPEebRDyn7J6uhVGOhRI2fiaSaIKR-R4Utq0OdkPnPVYygKDHX3UyDgcLX3_9OWsqDxwNAFhBzRwCeUVrQnxI4z2NiKaCz9D0FolgQ_WOmYGUsF-o-SELC23Xeekb72vPt28ac0gEJ4AYxfohrQCLERCLds3bCciWMPm/w640-h426/bh02%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauhlJ_t60v5B_xPNQ_C5CS7P15KlrKEhVRU2bWeTLmR2KNyY4BlwuOUsmJYgadCYglPJqxV9eVGQx93ObybYKxsMya2qmoOI7LzzEJm6UPO-i1DFS77fN3PXEjdxQnLfH9SEUXQUBQo3dtzIjYii_sZ8xYUX_OewyiuACm71dCJDwAmC01kAidmxv/s800/bh03%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauhlJ_t60v5B_xPNQ_C5CS7P15KlrKEhVRU2bWeTLmR2KNyY4BlwuOUsmJYgadCYglPJqxV9eVGQx93ObybYKxsMya2qmoOI7LzzEJm6UPO-i1DFS77fN3PXEjdxQnLfH9SEUXQUBQo3dtzIjYii_sZ8xYUX_OewyiuACm71dCJDwAmC01kAidmxv/w640-h426/bh03%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmycjfSpTS86dTr2e8JM8I36stM4HjH5KLyvQgW8yaopW187YOQPyo7nDMqjHyUfDK_Mj_wdenLT_tgUTc1mzmY0okHwSH2YL6CETxHfJEXUMHYR2IhYHvz8EQV9zsy9x9vgU3ryf1mjQUUAL_lgpsN3EPk5nNXmMgKUqyR2sLBDupFRl6SGVuEl8/s800/bh05%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmycjfSpTS86dTr2e8JM8I36stM4HjH5KLyvQgW8yaopW187YOQPyo7nDMqjHyUfDK_Mj_wdenLT_tgUTc1mzmY0okHwSH2YL6CETxHfJEXUMHYR2IhYHvz8EQV9zsy9x9vgU3ryf1mjQUUAL_lgpsN3EPk5nNXmMgKUqyR2sLBDupFRl6SGVuEl8/w640-h426/bh05%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONaZRFSx6Pc5x1rLKfgX1wVHwEF-Wf452uX2pWZ_CnXhiDMFRBX7iAzY2XG_jOfbb06VpwCdreNPDPI828WoyTT0_gln4Mtsnlh8kcVTvisCodrRUA1LjYf5lFFkjiaouK6CRcs2F05HaTO-xlCD45V4-bvBBFBVKHw96HwpOkNhvV608OsnoU0yO/s800/bh07%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONaZRFSx6Pc5x1rLKfgX1wVHwEF-Wf452uX2pWZ_CnXhiDMFRBX7iAzY2XG_jOfbb06VpwCdreNPDPI828WoyTT0_gln4Mtsnlh8kcVTvisCodrRUA1LjYf5lFFkjiaouK6CRcs2F05HaTO-xlCD45V4-bvBBFBVKHw96HwpOkNhvV608OsnoU0yO/w640-h428/bh07%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKulXAkvU9THPnmkAxgTtC6I_PlX1fGL-PnTDKhzyaIBtHDY6re7utAilGR_C7XwZ34lHFTM3Hp_3CSE394B_S8FG5dwSmTOTvAdgZPmc5BPkYn1DnfbJSSL_2PY2Qo_Lt79dG6toKHJItLEC97aKJghsJAbaZlBzxSE-aXS0-Js4Y8zRROQfo7joZ/s800/bh08%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKulXAkvU9THPnmkAxgTtC6I_PlX1fGL-PnTDKhzyaIBtHDY6re7utAilGR_C7XwZ34lHFTM3Hp_3CSE394B_S8FG5dwSmTOTvAdgZPmc5BPkYn1DnfbJSSL_2PY2Qo_Lt79dG6toKHJItLEC97aKJghsJAbaZlBzxSE-aXS0-Js4Y8zRROQfo7joZ/w640-h424/bh08%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm82WsTaa1t9LCkzcr3UZqXoEAuaVJAQRL2mN_-y8idfww6xSRhkPRHOnmjYtj08vX_FOahwjpXW3UFZwPyi0p-YIDs0YF9ZxKnvbhKYhP1-YGq9k0pHR1_JpoTlINh885W86qiYN_URUZmCkYZz0xPeP6peaJ1vvSUD2UYzdpLQ0Cb76pxs5c2fYB/s800/bh09%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm82WsTaa1t9LCkzcr3UZqXoEAuaVJAQRL2mN_-y8idfww6xSRhkPRHOnmjYtj08vX_FOahwjpXW3UFZwPyi0p-YIDs0YF9ZxKnvbhKYhP1-YGq9k0pHR1_JpoTlINh885W86qiYN_URUZmCkYZz0xPeP6peaJ1vvSUD2UYzdpLQ0Cb76pxs5c2fYB/w640-h424/bh09%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ay29Pf1ncWlpnexZUgZlwqdBUeRf9wUcdLL3kSRO6D5ppIg0cRdFmwd3-iS6Q_CkJWFot05Kwru9TgnEgH0UrPhC505gvqUvjkO8DeY5fn93rjwHY5_wtmKewjzrst7XnE2bhI1AWN1Pe6_GA-3WET-2T5__TOAbbiNbKAWca4u2NR4zdHarHutZ/s804/bh10%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ay29Pf1ncWlpnexZUgZlwqdBUeRf9wUcdLL3kSRO6D5ppIg0cRdFmwd3-iS6Q_CkJWFot05Kwru9TgnEgH0UrPhC505gvqUvjkO8DeY5fn93rjwHY5_wtmKewjzrst7XnE2bhI1AWN1Pe6_GA-3WET-2T5__TOAbbiNbKAWca4u2NR4zdHarHutZ/w424-h640/bh10%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCm-L2fCwGvMM3YFa-S_lRj0_ao7FCAvr9vtQ0JFWCraZUpudIzPkUgEiT3DPXKJORjOBaGp-CJuk9aCs7WGboa3hLvZWhyYm109PpKMLPLjVHsLt_ph_6iKror9PQOY0QFbRtN6dhtt0BMh90tctxLnTCMIEYfsC6F3QK93eYqkp-HKVHAIt1C1oe/s800/bh11%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCm-L2fCwGvMM3YFa-S_lRj0_ao7FCAvr9vtQ0JFWCraZUpudIzPkUgEiT3DPXKJORjOBaGp-CJuk9aCs7WGboa3hLvZWhyYm109PpKMLPLjVHsLt_ph_6iKror9PQOY0QFbRtN6dhtt0BMh90tctxLnTCMIEYfsC6F3QK93eYqkp-HKVHAIt1C1oe/w640-h426/bh11%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14iZ4u4mET6_yMR8VJoXQDtKu1s-EGOqFrVVojlM-6JB7XKIw_vG_FSkoS_GrGW5id4mkbozstGuHjzbtCB2Cdb9Ae0wiJXoHCGUrLmNCAJrbbeXWo4dtdJ7auFqUgcfpBNn2o5X_9Gxofr12NcsHc2ZtviWJ3FLLe1iCqu3T1FyvQCWCx47I9Lln/s800/bh12%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14iZ4u4mET6_yMR8VJoXQDtKu1s-EGOqFrVVojlM-6JB7XKIw_vG_FSkoS_GrGW5id4mkbozstGuHjzbtCB2Cdb9Ae0wiJXoHCGUrLmNCAJrbbeXWo4dtdJ7auFqUgcfpBNn2o5X_9Gxofr12NcsHc2ZtviWJ3FLLe1iCqu3T1FyvQCWCx47I9Lln/w640-h426/bh12%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6OfjWuCI5M4rXvhp2ki6tPgLCuTZ-LxJKPuFUP8W06bitalHxijKfmTl6NljrxGGbpdeqcK9UAKlMIYcde8f6iF2kcZRhuEmk7Ts9V3DtRC1vUvbg5jwzFiS_i44dsy70Q41NY3LxA0cyX0MKdShTSlAQZH8G6vCcSzTL5B5MQg_xdQAJs0ygcgX/s800/bh13%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6OfjWuCI5M4rXvhp2ki6tPgLCuTZ-LxJKPuFUP8W06bitalHxijKfmTl6NljrxGGbpdeqcK9UAKlMIYcde8f6iF2kcZRhuEmk7Ts9V3DtRC1vUvbg5jwzFiS_i44dsy70Q41NY3LxA0cyX0MKdShTSlAQZH8G6vCcSzTL5B5MQg_xdQAJs0ygcgX/w640-h426/bh13%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3V9gY__qhcfp-xXmdAg3c5GXpnIhTxNizxa8DAiLR9yDSHxTFQHSnZ40_UvPFkRYmyfZjJ7ZnFs2BhcFUkSHOCB0hRQeQ1--Jx51mlTS0W8fqYy46TiYcipgVHsKrVTvb6jtHRu_UvNHKcoqlneB3oTlAmTbGxh1aD5S980y3crCHDFconw9E_MZ/s800/bh16%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3V9gY__qhcfp-xXmdAg3c5GXpnIhTxNizxa8DAiLR9yDSHxTFQHSnZ40_UvPFkRYmyfZjJ7ZnFs2BhcFUkSHOCB0hRQeQ1--Jx51mlTS0W8fqYy46TiYcipgVHsKrVTvb6jtHRu_UvNHKcoqlneB3oTlAmTbGxh1aD5S980y3crCHDFconw9E_MZ/w640-h426/bh16%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ-zPu7zh1EQFmQKFzNK5CwI2loFMfjI908x2OBAmLHrX-CVRITVZI6uHceVx-KMN70Du929aO85F5HAu2Lo7UCzM-PC7YpmbTJdju5rVnwJZSEROOIM3PoZZCutVinIcOrvFSVgxc01yblDyp447XWHZ1E423pGy8b9Epw2eHaZic8bM1ZErtl0l/s800/bh17%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ-zPu7zh1EQFmQKFzNK5CwI2loFMfjI908x2OBAmLHrX-CVRITVZI6uHceVx-KMN70Du929aO85F5HAu2Lo7UCzM-PC7YpmbTJdju5rVnwJZSEROOIM3PoZZCutVinIcOrvFSVgxc01yblDyp447XWHZ1E423pGy8b9Epw2eHaZic8bM1ZErtl0l/w640-h428/bh17%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeBBPQ355gC3HLGr7RMIfjnLYrJDGrQfMwq4UjJlyB3sY0C2sdwRPzLhuUwdtHqeB1REROQnHhVuvTKozdmG4zzBdpGYtlzx5WIdQ-O_EdWeeW5RXgV1g7MjsfWd6m9ZyS5xj4a95sdhSuvF54cpANcMrFlX4TSBvJg4axhzMArLiNnlNwNOInnZQ/s800/bh18%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeBBPQ355gC3HLGr7RMIfjnLYrJDGrQfMwq4UjJlyB3sY0C2sdwRPzLhuUwdtHqeB1REROQnHhVuvTKozdmG4zzBdpGYtlzx5WIdQ-O_EdWeeW5RXgV1g7MjsfWd6m9ZyS5xj4a95sdhSuvF54cpANcMrFlX4TSBvJg4axhzMArLiNnlNwNOInnZQ/w640-h426/bh18%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cLEzI8PTPR-FQcDVoTr4IUil-3XSkSAzS9loOxs1dDCf8TYlYeytHJEXLSDixu07qzgyqGN6odU4dftmWnIqD-0uoFeep5fX-vrqyEYDr7bHPeEpPpoW7VbOMC8iJXEbcoFKr17rEONmb2LfeflV9A1SrT6LvOy1W1PNdEoySmOX_dBRnodvtjww/s800/bh19%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cLEzI8PTPR-FQcDVoTr4IUil-3XSkSAzS9loOxs1dDCf8TYlYeytHJEXLSDixu07qzgyqGN6odU4dftmWnIqD-0uoFeep5fX-vrqyEYDr7bHPeEpPpoW7VbOMC8iJXEbcoFKr17rEONmb2LfeflV9A1SrT6LvOy1W1PNdEoySmOX_dBRnodvtjww/w640-h426/bh19%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkh_avkzZxAcEmF7pLt2kM17cBlAArBBMCXu0nQ2YVkURT7P5_eb5XrLwMDwhu8dIg892WO5mEpIcmAOO8F5_x473MZbFV3R-pzM6dqBKGDImLI9MAUrRu31x49tmShXEfwwS4IzfxYfc8mH8XznWPjDGpGjxfVTr4rv0bOBp8wN42tqmqDcMsKUm/s800/bh20%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkh_avkzZxAcEmF7pLt2kM17cBlAArBBMCXu0nQ2YVkURT7P5_eb5XrLwMDwhu8dIg892WO5mEpIcmAOO8F5_x473MZbFV3R-pzM6dqBKGDImLI9MAUrRu31x49tmShXEfwwS4IzfxYfc8mH8XznWPjDGpGjxfVTr4rv0bOBp8wN42tqmqDcMsKUm/w640-h426/bh20%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFOkjMUOo36BnKXUMczWlSxptV6AngkD1iakwS4jaDttq5R_np0I7uNsI6j8WSYQWG6ril8E-NGVQlS1iSeVUJwHoja9ie74UriQ0NqUVRRvDNP7BWerVG-JPpF9cwCnUjY-hlrlprOopu9UZKrCa7hF8bZR3G5GLmf-M1VEu26x2hKHLXx2fkprM/s800/bh21%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFOkjMUOo36BnKXUMczWlSxptV6AngkD1iakwS4jaDttq5R_np0I7uNsI6j8WSYQWG6ril8E-NGVQlS1iSeVUJwHoja9ie74UriQ0NqUVRRvDNP7BWerVG-JPpF9cwCnUjY-hlrlprOopu9UZKrCa7hF8bZR3G5GLmf-M1VEu26x2hKHLXx2fkprM/w640-h426/bh21%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFwgp3XZxfK0AuWdAh9Rg9ZauVfV4KLGKLNLdau1QghmKBuE8_1m3RSkFl7xK8vjLbpsWL23H8dIqFdzFQx8Lg25KzweFxZ8xF-8uavPYuQvlLrph_fjK8r0o9jlxO5LzGd9d7PKqELaSqm-TPYntm9hzWpFDSrw0qjw2SDx5hQTQ-aR_iaFBc37p/s800/bh23%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFwgp3XZxfK0AuWdAh9Rg9ZauVfV4KLGKLNLdau1QghmKBuE8_1m3RSkFl7xK8vjLbpsWL23H8dIqFdzFQx8Lg25KzweFxZ8xF-8uavPYuQvlLrph_fjK8r0o9jlxO5LzGd9d7PKqELaSqm-TPYntm9hzWpFDSrw0qjw2SDx5hQTQ-aR_iaFBc37p/w640-h426/bh23%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxOWIam_qoYra9PeOQUZdvmbp_1C2mcBorJUzAzfL1UctmujwJq1a6gWHeE2aEC0c6tQItynhL2Wp7pYGR_AC0ia8bZzG-kLQtUu3LcGxYb-q9lHQdBmN2igJnx-g9sFy3u7PmtK3yeO_LlExEzdEvYQUQlilmF8QffEyZ1Vc7P5d-et3CpRCgBxX/s800/bh26%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxOWIam_qoYra9PeOQUZdvmbp_1C2mcBorJUzAzfL1UctmujwJq1a6gWHeE2aEC0c6tQItynhL2Wp7pYGR_AC0ia8bZzG-kLQtUu3LcGxYb-q9lHQdBmN2igJnx-g9sFy3u7PmtK3yeO_LlExEzdEvYQUQlilmF8QffEyZ1Vc7P5d-et3CpRCgBxX/w640-h426/bh26%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIuKXM4dNr8QaAt1Mg3MA_RegzrXCcII1bWI4FAHJs6aA-mvsmEnBCY1XM_kkSqTY9cLBxVGspmk8Xf9fdjF_Q-ay2PhbOKsRdfRp3Hwr8RureOCMiwtjK3SWCXBuzoXQMcBVndS5ub-h_kOvSLu7mGLdKl0ZS1oKaJaJ_S2ULI9WPeQ8ZVT6k_-r/s800/bh27%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIuKXM4dNr8QaAt1Mg3MA_RegzrXCcII1bWI4FAHJs6aA-mvsmEnBCY1XM_kkSqTY9cLBxVGspmk8Xf9fdjF_Q-ay2PhbOKsRdfRp3Hwr8RureOCMiwtjK3SWCXBuzoXQMcBVndS5ub-h_kOvSLu7mGLdKl0ZS1oKaJaJ_S2ULI9WPeQ8ZVT6k_-r/w640-h426/bh27%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cCjE4elRvcpYtq3kn3LoYc_sODOxpUyd5NmTt5-wg3DOnbv0XQJvs__EcCLPUiN7bB40w2-HibrJq9PXMUBxi4X0_3yEhFW2DoB2-3uM5-0Dlu_zX1iTwHId1LiaqVGJ16kufCPF_Kt0vIo1Oy2oT_GnNp8mSqrysTtA_o8juwnqdNGVJVtrd4B1/s800/bh28%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cCjE4elRvcpYtq3kn3LoYc_sODOxpUyd5NmTt5-wg3DOnbv0XQJvs__EcCLPUiN7bB40w2-HibrJq9PXMUBxi4X0_3yEhFW2DoB2-3uM5-0Dlu_zX1iTwHId1LiaqVGJ16kufCPF_Kt0vIo1Oy2oT_GnNp8mSqrysTtA_o8juwnqdNGVJVtrd4B1/w640-h424/bh28%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUL5ucA0uazs3X_HOGEZufRosbZnQHO9W9aSs_oOZP1Ijnp4IuUBjLziXnC-VnhpXoh1gT3ya1LCq3OYTCf8yRWJgOeaRMCpWEGIF8_en6b5stEJMteC07sGtp5xS1pTOmkTi27PaJywDAb1kfxlXB3SHkCaLd7c4AYvkRDGQgc3mHIDLIlRM4tAt/s800/bh30%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUL5ucA0uazs3X_HOGEZufRosbZnQHO9W9aSs_oOZP1Ijnp4IuUBjLziXnC-VnhpXoh1gT3ya1LCq3OYTCf8yRWJgOeaRMCpWEGIF8_en6b5stEJMteC07sGtp5xS1pTOmkTi27PaJywDAb1kfxlXB3SHkCaLd7c4AYvkRDGQgc3mHIDLIlRM4tAt/w640-h424/bh30%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9pzHY2jXbnGuPURegEPQryS44v6MLvbpTRp-rotsGkOYiLt1564H8Uc05HxBB_gbAR4HpFGjoCaVXyVbTdAvmngdU84pvRjcUAr_SSrz_hYOPEiCPM78gI4VgydMn7EzwDzkD29vU4YeRyP_RZpQTCDyKDqo61toDMND5pcBmXpsw5ZK-iViHwfz/s800/bh31%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9pzHY2jXbnGuPURegEPQryS44v6MLvbpTRp-rotsGkOYiLt1564H8Uc05HxBB_gbAR4HpFGjoCaVXyVbTdAvmngdU84pvRjcUAr_SSrz_hYOPEiCPM78gI4VgydMn7EzwDzkD29vU4YeRyP_RZpQTCDyKDqo61toDMND5pcBmXpsw5ZK-iViHwfz/w640-h426/bh31%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwXPYGx8NCfgzWxTBFBwUGjYPefW6kQuM75_uT7pShLEu9IWPtMDRhp_A7C0IfMHSYkkGxAhsaXVWHkI8le54Q19hQEb-KzZsSbkK0TmyXgLAmOyLZ4dqz4HeASVoKQJCBz2mLveCw0T5O177godSbg6u8DjhvRJurWtJXjWQts945hZsA37kJsnL/s800/bh32%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwXPYGx8NCfgzWxTBFBwUGjYPefW6kQuM75_uT7pShLEu9IWPtMDRhp_A7C0IfMHSYkkGxAhsaXVWHkI8le54Q19hQEb-KzZsSbkK0TmyXgLAmOyLZ4dqz4HeASVoKQJCBz2mLveCw0T5O177godSbg6u8DjhvRJurWtJXjWQts945hZsA37kJsnL/w640-h424/bh32%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46rUhdzLY7ihWcpYB6CPhZi0IXHzpE2o077_HQcE5Xr029AOMnSAc1WSvl0poj_ojveVahu3-s48lJSsfsq195h2f1EeAESpQRXEDAlE32VzNsnh5eSpd3jmifs0FaLadIdoOe9ZxmRGi_Fs9XY4-2g0Y4ySF8KPr18O5FgdRwu669oVNWvreGRBb/s800/bh33%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46rUhdzLY7ihWcpYB6CPhZi0IXHzpE2o077_HQcE5Xr029AOMnSAc1WSvl0poj_ojveVahu3-s48lJSsfsq195h2f1EeAESpQRXEDAlE32VzNsnh5eSpd3jmifs0FaLadIdoOe9ZxmRGi_Fs9XY4-2g0Y4ySF8KPr18O5FgdRwu669oVNWvreGRBb/w640-h426/bh33%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCgRsvCWTsDQvBlU2L0YNUGn9-vwlc16z2fbFehZQfCOFxfkx8PmoedpJbZXrIdHRMgDqgbfAVIG5Z0a0ESxqYxxgHFGshJ_lF5hR0PI1aANC6zKff1PL4kM485iZrjpeWWXpyN88cgIJ_R94HQ-3rxM4SBCKFZQ5hPsZcCK6u91JyBr9-V8NVbgy/s800/bh34%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCgRsvCWTsDQvBlU2L0YNUGn9-vwlc16z2fbFehZQfCOFxfkx8PmoedpJbZXrIdHRMgDqgbfAVIG5Z0a0ESxqYxxgHFGshJ_lF5hR0PI1aANC6zKff1PL4kM485iZrjpeWWXpyN88cgIJ_R94HQ-3rxM4SBCKFZQ5hPsZcCK6u91JyBr9-V8NVbgy/w640-h428/bh34%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzCGcPHfhJJDQfYIadld7wIqQEQb97pJKyLgs7saku9qCNlQzr8DAD_CZN4TvYF4J1K-5OcC4Z0ok0Bnjj7ttna8jEgL5CLaJkU7n5Vz69LnLtp10hTw5GJH8XijI06lZTYH-H4HD1EHqfl0NspbjuSLqZlGgXIIZPHVcd0WG3XqdKWYVTLg5vJ-X/s800/bh35%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzCGcPHfhJJDQfYIadld7wIqQEQb97pJKyLgs7saku9qCNlQzr8DAD_CZN4TvYF4J1K-5OcC4Z0ok0Bnjj7ttna8jEgL5CLaJkU7n5Vz69LnLtp10hTw5GJH8XijI06lZTYH-H4HD1EHqfl0NspbjuSLqZlGgXIIZPHVcd0WG3XqdKWYVTLg5vJ-X/w640-h426/bh35%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuti9oydAbXSabdho-JgJozOG63kvKkdczAaybz1X-aRnSFmfO_nPr70B1krZVl_A21VjyvKKFNPdTJ8gT5jmEu9LV_S0Mbo0AaqrpvNu8TqcM-8LPgcTZHnX6xPv5k6wRWepm9gAMswRQ_Ml_KLWhPqh9-oZN9uaA272yFHSRctlpoKJ40gbu7kW3/s800/bh37%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuti9oydAbXSabdho-JgJozOG63kvKkdczAaybz1X-aRnSFmfO_nPr70B1krZVl_A21VjyvKKFNPdTJ8gT5jmEu9LV_S0Mbo0AaqrpvNu8TqcM-8LPgcTZHnX6xPv5k6wRWepm9gAMswRQ_Ml_KLWhPqh9-oZN9uaA272yFHSRctlpoKJ40gbu7kW3/w640-h426/bh37%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, yeah, sensory overload. Between the clamor of the motorcycles coming and going, the performance vendors installing and testing new engine builds and stereo vendors cranking tunes after an install, it can get pretty loud, to say the least. But it's a great vibe, and one you won't really find in any other environment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also, they had a wide array of vendors selling sunglasses, jewelry, knives, silencers (yes, silencers!) and even guns:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RhPBCeZ5B08PdjlzAFW04WfYRHQybuPhCgytoKsIkoCjgBrDArGbBYaEOCwL648mjRAqHlXxqVfPTyJEDIPq4YvMtYbZVrZOyM4uVjNJGtjqiAFIkoSw4c6IojZnC0H8cUDL57987rI3uUvezdFnsL6K7su-3jorp0KLtSo5uTFhd-CVPJuTaYgW/s800/bh39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RhPBCeZ5B08PdjlzAFW04WfYRHQybuPhCgytoKsIkoCjgBrDArGbBYaEOCwL648mjRAqHlXxqVfPTyJEDIPq4YvMtYbZVrZOyM4uVjNJGtjqiAFIkoSw4c6IojZnC0H8cUDL57987rI3uUvezdFnsL6K7su-3jorp0KLtSo5uTFhd-CVPJuTaYgW/w640-h426/bh39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLte4OtVGi15_wwymJhCsmOo5uZTOUGRn7uR8rm6GRcXcq2Mi3kVsvk8dChzPbHEAcXDFnl6UVHS-dtFurdaBfMA1pZeICb5D2-mMAWfFqFMu1AGM4RJHCdFJXF9BeQZhSFiiK8BEe4R5Kr0vU8jRyHEr0BJ5dSAnkx0pf6ln9WyJcc6Cu5mtV90pn/s800/bh40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLte4OtVGi15_wwymJhCsmOo5uZTOUGRn7uR8rm6GRcXcq2Mi3kVsvk8dChzPbHEAcXDFnl6UVHS-dtFurdaBfMA1pZeICb5D2-mMAWfFqFMu1AGM4RJHCdFJXF9BeQZhSFiiK8BEe4R5Kr0vU8jRyHEr0BJ5dSAnkx0pf6ln9WyJcc6Cu5mtV90pn/w640-h426/bh40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqsAz6ZqPMc_7SAP-5r6YeMhVSfXUs4lpMbxcpefsnNUFSg_iDcj5l4sKRm8dsD5US1mv8Ql_l_gY1p5Kyen_D-kWdWv8XyOhLc-3z0KscHxs2xm_1SXN18ghkJvYBSVvZ6StubG2ScpmtokdEWNBv27WN73t3vxKE12X_ukamw_veu7jthdI6jhO/s800/bh41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqsAz6ZqPMc_7SAP-5r6YeMhVSfXUs4lpMbxcpefsnNUFSg_iDcj5l4sKRm8dsD5US1mv8Ql_l_gY1p5Kyen_D-kWdWv8XyOhLc-3z0KscHxs2xm_1SXN18ghkJvYBSVvZ6StubG2ScpmtokdEWNBv27WN73t3vxKE12X_ukamw_veu7jthdI6jhO/w640-h428/bh41.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Okay, so the guns were special editions with a rather clear political message but, hey, when in Rome, right? They weren't cheap, either, all being into the four figures. And, if you found yourself getting hungry, you know you're always going to find good eatin' at a motorcycle rally:</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0-vFBAFmsRM1mXu6NYDK7-CO_jHzTBzzDi764KCreaYXcO4n_uOI2wjFzCCvxXyMFhuYPaAPNifhJAJtHL2IE3Pwh7LS07vG6SjtSKe_-orqBy2IQEHgQ5bQe5P0nAWo1xSSH0UnpqBcDxWdNotr19PVLhTKii_STvJACPWC_oq1rQN8zvaNnaqW/s800/bh42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0-vFBAFmsRM1mXu6NYDK7-CO_jHzTBzzDi764KCreaYXcO4n_uOI2wjFzCCvxXyMFhuYPaAPNifhJAJtHL2IE3Pwh7LS07vG6SjtSKe_-orqBy2IQEHgQ5bQe5P0nAWo1xSSH0UnpqBcDxWdNotr19PVLhTKii_STvJACPWC_oq1rQN8zvaNnaqW/w640-h426/bh42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>All in all, Black Hills Harley was quite the experience. The only aspect they lacked in was live music, which we tend to have no shortage of in Daytona. Even still, though, the sheer number of motorcycles would make up for it for any motorcycle fan, with acres and acres of them to drool over...<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-50209324248438294592022-09-06T13:40:00.001-04:002022-09-06T13:40:52.366-04:00Sturgis Black Hills Motorcycle Rally - The Arrival<p style="text-align: justify;">I feel somewhat remiss. After all, it's been almost a month since I returned from Sturgis, and this is the first I'm getting around to posting about it. That's okay, though. That means I've been busy and, as I like to say, "Busy pays the bills".<br /><br />Add to that the fact that I had another trip to Colorado planned for the latter half of August, and I simply decided to wait for the dust to settle before sitting down at the computer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As a reminder, this is what we were driving. It's a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with which we were dragging an 18' trailer with a motorcycle in it:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UVghtl8Xd22UpjcFbAoVcB34PWJPaIRWg9NcXAD6CZNLcDI_9ndgstotgWz-bAIehGxmjmz1E9bWMUaadRTFJ6xQf8cmlqj2fVY6PNus9KfSYTL3cH4bTeqOSbJ9sgBgbh0mER32nv716o75sUseF2-ghAsJGVp3l4D_geIl2t-kl-4XMCD4rDVZ/s800/blog08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UVghtl8Xd22UpjcFbAoVcB34PWJPaIRWg9NcXAD6CZNLcDI_9ndgstotgWz-bAIehGxmjmz1E9bWMUaadRTFJ6xQf8cmlqj2fVY6PNus9KfSYTL3cH4bTeqOSbJ9sgBgbh0mER32nv716o75sUseF2-ghAsJGVp3l4D_geIl2t-kl-4XMCD4rDVZ/w640-h426/blog08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, our drive to Sturgis was a bit of a chore. We had constant issues with the bike mount in the trailer, and those issues would turn 15 minute gas and bathroom breaks into hour long trailer repair breaks. The time in between, though, was rather restful!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcknrkGBeYRHYg32seiBYDdlR_1ArvJf5cvAXe89kv834kbI4qIhlaoSfMycTUJ8xbYLYT9YlmLQPkGZ_MMOqKy2j2R4Setwuao2i_ybzKGxmdLs6pogo9yYLDt0anEKBTa4GbBofQGDD2IHwgUcAjMPfeRIuIScgn7z-IxrKnf3XHT6Jitb8ktYY/s800/blog01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcknrkGBeYRHYg32seiBYDdlR_1ArvJf5cvAXe89kv834kbI4qIhlaoSfMycTUJ8xbYLYT9YlmLQPkGZ_MMOqKy2j2R4Setwuao2i_ybzKGxmdLs6pogo9yYLDt0anEKBTa4GbBofQGDD2IHwgUcAjMPfeRIuIScgn7z-IxrKnf3XHT6Jitb8ktYY/w640-h426/blog01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When we did get to have just a gas and bathroom break, we got to see some pretty cool rigs on their way to Sturgis. This red and gray trailer was being pulled by a matching red and gray motor home of equal length:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF-YaBZRfvAhUyWQtVgAwDZ8PqBlMqiGNKIKvuOoHc6VNoMPk3AUJ9xSjDFfuZwKk8Io1f5CHTmmGC4PRewfOQRgnsXWD9mCBr3cCGJTI5mFHmqRY060T_COK2W7T2Ay_XiMpXv1IhDVsjzjf2GmLuYFRpQtceS6D2P0sFrHsHRWrOn8VW297rp4U/s800/blog02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF-YaBZRfvAhUyWQtVgAwDZ8PqBlMqiGNKIKvuOoHc6VNoMPk3AUJ9xSjDFfuZwKk8Io1f5CHTmmGC4PRewfOQRgnsXWD9mCBr3cCGJTI5mFHmqRY060T_COK2W7T2Ay_XiMpXv1IhDVsjzjf2GmLuYFRpQtceS6D2P0sFrHsHRWrOn8VW297rp4U/w640-h426/blog02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">If I were to guesstimate, I'd say that easily half the people we encountered on the road and in gas stations and rest areas were on their way to the rally. They were everywhere:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XneQtG1iKaveu7uF90vaobgP1sBqTcdcL7xPokv8C2r0iJV5vhQqGENPrk2P5wAi_TlrRcL-naVy_H5zodrLuMkKGvTXMM1Dvq4WzgULr0cBgLDu9iM_XHhUWGT3MH6rc_Xwmr8muYzoIMdu2bN5Y6wEhgLe880E4J13kQ0MWLEZDk2X1sFW4YpW/s800/blog03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XneQtG1iKaveu7uF90vaobgP1sBqTcdcL7xPokv8C2r0iJV5vhQqGENPrk2P5wAi_TlrRcL-naVy_H5zodrLuMkKGvTXMM1Dvq4WzgULr0cBgLDu9iM_XHhUWGT3MH6rc_Xwmr8muYzoIMdu2bN5Y6wEhgLe880E4J13kQ0MWLEZDk2X1sFW4YpW/w640-h426/blog03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVsMcbzGUZqtDVEbFlkP6LAwr4QL3GJIrgy4gz5q69jvOpk4w78QlPyT16e4b1Zg5krF44pDY1j8L8BCaxmnW0h_Eq_K9u3dZ-2KYpU--WKVoVJMj2ljiHOJzRVU2pDSKFZZqjBc7kN8u29UQHAurp6nMcjF56RyGREVD-4JqOH3o_9StK6ptH_vU/s800/blog05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVsMcbzGUZqtDVEbFlkP6LAwr4QL3GJIrgy4gz5q69jvOpk4w78QlPyT16e4b1Zg5krF44pDY1j8L8BCaxmnW0h_Eq_K9u3dZ-2KYpU--WKVoVJMj2ljiHOJzRVU2pDSKFZZqjBc7kN8u29UQHAurp6nMcjF56RyGREVD-4JqOH3o_9StK6ptH_vU/w640-h426/blog05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAlavpzHSoA4lqlRUDARnsQ_wWlwDKuRwPm-FrW_AlqYCEdRXFZq1EKatrhOOe3RVVZuQIMO5txjz1G-9Lr4FhjQkbVMdEMGkQtgw_ydywrTTMuoPf2S5BUifCYujHGr2RDfwRZ5JAXehaPAyDFgex0cVqK_IrDiKteBnI6i6vxKagMgAQ_nqD3GS/s800/blog04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAlavpzHSoA4lqlRUDARnsQ_wWlwDKuRwPm-FrW_AlqYCEdRXFZq1EKatrhOOe3RVVZuQIMO5txjz1G-9Lr4FhjQkbVMdEMGkQtgw_ydywrTTMuoPf2S5BUifCYujHGr2RDfwRZ5JAXehaPAyDFgex0cVqK_IrDiKteBnI6i6vxKagMgAQ_nqD3GS/w640-h426/blog04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, suffice it to say we eventually got to Sturgis (well, Rapid City, to be exact) on Thursday, August 4 in the afternoon and started to set up our site:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiuH3Po31uHFUR0DoguWR8_RnyqO4y8X9jz_stWFu0W95w1pgkjvT9wXBDyAHA0AM0MG_V4ez9cNWiNzOKGIT0OISiuAmqC_0A8I-6IQL3xjE5x4YTJMOqECqPp2LvGjaLqNw1FNHSVntxn_qOfBfkaxt3U0JDVhwUCHcmUl7j69hfwfPtgRzn2HA/s800/ip18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiuH3Po31uHFUR0DoguWR8_RnyqO4y8X9jz_stWFu0W95w1pgkjvT9wXBDyAHA0AM0MG_V4ez9cNWiNzOKGIT0OISiuAmqC_0A8I-6IQL3xjE5x4YTJMOqECqPp2LvGjaLqNw1FNHSVntxn_qOfBfkaxt3U0JDVhwUCHcmUl7j69hfwfPtgRzn2HA/w640-h426/ip18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKV5zEC_h95bQbg7S7KwlBotxfCXD_zYA-GnQM55aV9uz67Qj-hLGSOJXk8P_OvY2VDW-xucR46v6M5GMRgoWpnSI8oCbZaZWQQlcLSdfa3p3Bepa96acL4znD8lYutaUDBoUD314CzKwRWONLKQ60DjasD64losCkSFML2XT_MeL59ulMY-qksbE/s800/ip17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKV5zEC_h95bQbg7S7KwlBotxfCXD_zYA-GnQM55aV9uz67Qj-hLGSOJXk8P_OvY2VDW-xucR46v6M5GMRgoWpnSI8oCbZaZWQQlcLSdfa3p3Bepa96acL4znD8lYutaUDBoUD314CzKwRWONLKQ60DjasD64losCkSFML2XT_MeL59ulMY-qksbE/w640-h426/ip17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">By the time we'd gotten all set up and had something to eat, we decided it was really too late to go try to do anything, so we opted to have a few cocktails at the campsite and get started with our week in the morning...<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-89503357549799156852022-07-30T20:10:00.000-04:002022-07-30T20:10:17.137-04:00The Drive (Sturgis or Bust!)<p style="text-align: justify;">So, it's crunch time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We've started looking at routes, and have decided to take the most direct route there is. We could've taken I-10 out to Dallas and then made a right, but we've opted to head north on I-75 off I-10. We'll take that through Atlanta and Chattanooga and up into Nashville.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">From Nashville we'll hop onto I-57 and stay on that until St. Louis. There we'll hop onto I-70 into Kansas City, which is where we'll pick up I-29. We'll follow that through Sioux City, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. When we hit Sioux Falls, South Dakota we'll head west on I-90 and follow that until we hit Rapid City, South Dakota.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite it being somewhat late in the game as far as planning goes, we were able to get a campsite, with full RV hook-ups, at the <a href="https://lakeparkcampground.com/" target="_blank">Lake Park Campground</a> in Rapid City. Our other option was a primitive site at the Buffalo Chip and, to be honest, there's going to be a lot going on there. But "a lot going on" also equates to "a lot" of noise at all hours. <br /><br />Lake Park is roughly 30 miles from downtown Sturgis, but they offer wi-wfi, a shower house and a laundry. There are shuttles which run from all of the area campgrounds into Sturgis and, while they don't <i>originate </i>rides in Sturgis, I can take an Uber from Rapid City <i>into </i>Sturgis. I also have the option of toolin' around in the camper, because it's not so big that it can't be used for day trips.<br /><br />Ah, yes, the camper. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> It's a Mercedes-Benz "Sprinter" type camper, although I'm not certain of the exact model. Seeing as it's Greg's, he'll get the king size bed in the back. I'll figure something out, as the captain's chairs behind the driver's seat and the passenger seat don't fold out into a bed. They do, however, swivel, so I'm sure I'll be able to make due. <br /></p><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtqL2Ijyb6UvjKWj9q7eHozjaekE4CDn7k5gP_u5aMTKCnWHv49ZLchQGORDLhnsSxZIuanqMYpjVgw_qQkb5jt3cWUjcHk5MQLSCUvDIECzfmiPuEaXrffnNzF6WublmG-zkG8PoqbRKgHufqLXkuMfiCydl0GwNzAF7P5kh2E19CixBb0AwpT6t/s800/294423356_473854427909978_7183943800651699771_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtqL2Ijyb6UvjKWj9q7eHozjaekE4CDn7k5gP_u5aMTKCnWHv49ZLchQGORDLhnsSxZIuanqMYpjVgw_qQkb5jt3cWUjcHk5MQLSCUvDIECzfmiPuEaXrffnNzF6WublmG-zkG8PoqbRKgHufqLXkuMfiCydl0GwNzAF7P5kh2E19CixBb0AwpT6t/w640-h480/294423356_473854427909978_7183943800651699771_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YQIB1ms7KMp1TR-UizC8KptbdPO1Z0Dm9k0pORFlrY1tDFQ5-LldaY6wen3M7k_75xC9PUTeAQj0NhkwZ9C8opPnaOmdLCnTxy_0Ry7G0jNEWGXDl_JmNxesKDHkrNe5dwofXmluYGpE3IotkHODcGsclOvm3L1GHPXMZHdAwZt0Iu1QRFpRC7QT/s800/294566450_762852798175103_2005372684771042438_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YQIB1ms7KMp1TR-UizC8KptbdPO1Z0Dm9k0pORFlrY1tDFQ5-LldaY6wen3M7k_75xC9PUTeAQj0NhkwZ9C8opPnaOmdLCnTxy_0Ry7G0jNEWGXDl_JmNxesKDHkrNe5dwofXmluYGpE3IotkHODcGsclOvm3L1GHPXMZHdAwZt0Iu1QRFpRC7QT/w640-h480/294566450_762852798175103_2005372684771042438_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3x2g-07kLCIk2rYp-2AA4GnyBFCus6tPx7Y6QBXApX2Ddk9y0Uw11Y-tmH1CECg84wwNlFxLgAr4w6knxgoaEYKSqCgvMONbre_d2CvziEaMOzrQlENCC-jNtgKnGrfe1QHbEiwFTNfPzyYM6W4gvOJjPx7n7qcpnLseodncqu5ayj1tDSWcP33i/s800/294635493_1077312242918093_1941710912406341252_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3x2g-07kLCIk2rYp-2AA4GnyBFCus6tPx7Y6QBXApX2Ddk9y0Uw11Y-tmH1CECg84wwNlFxLgAr4w6knxgoaEYKSqCgvMONbre_d2CvziEaMOzrQlENCC-jNtgKnGrfe1QHbEiwFTNfPzyYM6W4gvOJjPx7n7qcpnLseodncqu5ayj1tDSWcP33i/w640-h480/294635493_1077312242918093_1941710912406341252_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi7CeOPy5BMDoYv7yL62rHWJaDH7AQ5vpC61MBWH_zDuCsYpdvPEqKmjWeNebeEdlc1uEHuO5huE74hNIpIAKCKap5NV3LgwKSokKQwKt2XlxFtpu-Duw9D9WXKPKvR6CBHXwnwuZuPHNj5G6rv1XUx6S9rSySU0uQpsXeZ4d6xmFRrHyH-s5IUWK/s800/294369880_1412186352618784_320242885410554562_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi7CeOPy5BMDoYv7yL62rHWJaDH7AQ5vpC61MBWH_zDuCsYpdvPEqKmjWeNebeEdlc1uEHuO5huE74hNIpIAKCKap5NV3LgwKSokKQwKt2XlxFtpu-Duw9D9WXKPKvR6CBHXwnwuZuPHNj5G6rv1XUx6S9rSySU0uQpsXeZ4d6xmFRrHyH-s5IUWK/w640-h480/294369880_1412186352618784_320242885410554562_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1ZMC2danhwx_rlsYFbHUZhyaqesiuteBMPXpIC7MGA22jmqHYJ15DAg0sgTS_5X-4yBdV3q7Ve8he-Usy3ejObDkFQ0stjkb0JGTJOt-iYPkKkUzA1dANVOshuxQDwi1ah1xFudXWnnNP8wE12b7kf4SVeXdEcdgpPWapLvZILPtU2FS_dJp8Wnp/s800/294639070_610809817337130_1222980392158247135_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1ZMC2danhwx_rlsYFbHUZhyaqesiuteBMPXpIC7MGA22jmqHYJ15DAg0sgTS_5X-4yBdV3q7Ve8he-Usy3ejObDkFQ0stjkb0JGTJOt-iYPkKkUzA1dANVOshuxQDwi1ah1xFudXWnnNP8wE12b7kf4SVeXdEcdgpPWapLvZILPtU2FS_dJp8Wnp/w640-h480/294639070_610809817337130_1222980392158247135_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">And, if worse comes to worse, we'll be packing a huge tent that I can always crash in, as well. The reality of it all is that I've fallen asleep in my desk chair so often that I'm not really concerned with where I end up sleeping on this trip.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Greg and I plan on leaving around 1:00pm on Tuesday. That way, hopefully, we'll avoid the rush hour nightmare that is weekday Atlanta traffic. We'll take turns driving; probably five hours at a shot, so that we can drive straight through.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our total drive time, assuming we make gas and sanity stops along the way, should take us right around 32 hours. That'll put us rolling into Rapid City Wednesday evening. Otherwise, we'll stop along the way to decompress and and roll into town during the day on Thursday.<br /><br />Either way it's gonna' be a fun trip!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-23367461909088651142022-07-26T12:01:00.000-04:002022-07-26T12:01:12.542-04:00Just A Week Out...<p>So, for Sturgis, I want to make sure I'm ready for whatever shooting scenario I find myself in.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The primary rig I'll be using for photographing around downtown Sturgis and the madness there will be the Canon 5D MKIV and the Tamron 24-70mm f/28 VC. I bought the Tamron lens after my Canon version died. I was looking at a repair bill of around a grand for the Canon, and it just didn't make sense to me to send it in.<br /><br />I recently shot the Mecum Summer Special with this lens, and I'm impressed. The vibration control is, according to Tamron, good for five stops. I thought that was a bit enthusiastic of a claim but, man, I gotta' tell you, I was shooting at 1/30 of a second and getting razor sharp images. So, yeah, call me a convert.<br /><br />So, I'll have that wonderful "downtown rig", but I don't plan on staying in downtown Sturgis for the entire 12 days. There's a lot to see and do. Badlands National Park is just over an hour away. Devil's Tower, in Wyoming, is 90 minutes away. I've been to both of those already, but I wouldn't mind going back So, for that reason, I'm packing up the ol' Pelican case (which has been empty for far too long):</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-BsQ_eIm6KCG2cHPz4rr_NAc-hst4IMJB0fpoTeeYZ9Vp0v7ITkyuZo3AuwjySfnUKQfmHFMtKeCcKwoiQMv_pmm9JOiaYzhHDwx4YWuC5b7XSgbQ9nrPmP-FUrZY26pQL4AI-g5YZTthFaKSOIo6z1agNmudx2hSPFMfsQv_5Oy_BscRR02sBGe/s800/kit01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-BsQ_eIm6KCG2cHPz4rr_NAc-hst4IMJB0fpoTeeYZ9Vp0v7ITkyuZo3AuwjySfnUKQfmHFMtKeCcKwoiQMv_pmm9JOiaYzhHDwx4YWuC5b7XSgbQ9nrPmP-FUrZY26pQL4AI-g5YZTthFaKSOIo6z1agNmudx2hSPFMfsQv_5Oy_BscRR02sBGe/w640-h480/kit01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The gear...</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to the aforementioned rig, I'll also have my Canon 6D, my 100-400mm, the 70-200mm f/2.8 and the 17-40mm. I'm hoping to be able to convince some people to let me shoot their portrait. For this, I'll be bringing the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART lens. I was on the fence but, since space isn't an issue, I figured I'd bring it along.It can be a tricky lens to use, but the results are stellar. This is a photograph I took of my friend with the Sigma lens:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjCl7sbGw77pNUctbQL3Q1ho2nnXwxC-6LD2y9-aO2uQaO-eM9wtjbcJSs7ufA1vFKo0czdJO33G8iLA4QQFfY_3jg7qFsw13CFCCMXT3GKmO6cBNQV_Ew-hMJuu1xixX0TdHQmFSfrwOw5o0kL8xpxtNYKavswZZzRd97Gneyh6L72aBZn1oH_kq/s800/denise01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjCl7sbGw77pNUctbQL3Q1ho2nnXwxC-6LD2y9-aO2uQaO-eM9wtjbcJSs7ufA1vFKo0czdJO33G8iLA4QQFfY_3jg7qFsw13CFCCMXT3GKmO6cBNQV_Ew-hMJuu1xixX0TdHQmFSfrwOw5o0kL8xpxtNYKavswZZzRd97Gneyh6L72aBZn1oH_kq/w426-h640/denise01.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The image quality produced by this lens is... it's just different. It's not necessarily "better", per se, but there's something about it which makes me want to use this lens more. I'm just hoping I can get some willing participants!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And, as if all of that wasn't enough, I'm also bringing my Fuji X100F. It'll be great for shooting in the camper and during those pit stops we'll make along the way:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl2EY7-qWcB0KgHbDvuDjEp7-IFd9TkJcKdcj16AiBhuieaIN0f-BJG0RrAFYIq02om55evYQk3t_dR3uDc1_PsqzTHh0HBLml2Oqss7L0P-sohtVolX86xUpICGaFxXC1iZ7vN41qh5s3XIGqAIWq3gNtZINZHcKYHRwMcsKILlwE0xDv5fN2jGL/s660/dece15-3d3fc9-template-for-thumbnails-sharegrid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="660" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl2EY7-qWcB0KgHbDvuDjEp7-IFd9TkJcKdcj16AiBhuieaIN0f-BJG0RrAFYIq02om55evYQk3t_dR3uDc1_PsqzTHh0HBLml2Oqss7L0P-sohtVolX86xUpICGaFxXC1iZ7vN41qh5s3XIGqAIWq3gNtZINZHcKYHRwMcsKILlwE0xDv5fN2jGL/w640-h426/dece15-3d3fc9-template-for-thumbnails-sharegrid.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, now that the gear is all inventoried and packed, it's time to start in on the more mundane things; laundry, packing, yadayadada. The reality is that the next week is going to fly by and I don't want to get caught short.<br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I likely won't make another entry until, the earliest, a day or two before we depart. Thankfully the camper has wi-fi, so I'll be able to do updates from the road here on the blog, Instagram, Facebook, etc. during the trip, and I'll definitely be checking in from Sturgis after we arrive...<br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-41266776629765080372022-07-14T15:50:00.001-04:002022-07-19T15:23:31.184-04:00Sturgis, Baby!<p style="text-align: justify;">Well, after having not posted anything for quite a while, the traveling bug has bitten down once again, this time putting me on the road the South Dakota and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTAgv70FksKGTNqQkWiyqPBZ8DxFe6VaTfMqssMkwxvqy4MVdOPW_JmlEB0LFTLmb87XSdUjh3hlaLxCZ2BJ8HJtY5cnyVOKZGP8UE_r6rqVH8I2BebS81RDNEthxeIaClKKN-FS97BdFQ7SRrnbn4Z4G7CdK3PZ9A5DJMwbRCOE3dYtut0E0tHap/s1200/2022_Sturgis_Logo_1200x675.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTAgv70FksKGTNqQkWiyqPBZ8DxFe6VaTfMqssMkwxvqy4MVdOPW_JmlEB0LFTLmb87XSdUjh3hlaLxCZ2BJ8HJtY5cnyVOKZGP8UE_r6rqVH8I2BebS81RDNEthxeIaClKKN-FS97BdFQ7SRrnbn4Z4G7CdK3PZ9A5DJMwbRCOE3dYtut0E0tHap/s320/2022_Sturgis_Logo_1200x675.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was actually in the process of planning a trip to Colorado Springs to photograph the Garden of the Gods. It's been a kind of bucket list shoot for me, and I'm excited to finally get the chance to head out there. I got a really good price on a flight, so the end of August was looking like a perfect time to schedule my next photo excursion.<br /> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And then my buddy Greg bought a camper: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.insider.com/61f2fcb9792e7300116befa2?width=1000&format=jpeg&auto=webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://i.insider.com/61f2fcb9792e7300116befa2?width=1000&format=jpeg&auto=webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mercedes Benz Sprinter Camper</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">So, after a few beers and "what if" scenarios, we're leaving for Sturgis on August 2nd, and we're planning to return to St. Augustine no later than August 14.<br /><br />Now, I don't ride, but Greg does, and we'll be dragging a trailer with his bike in it. He'll ride his bike whjle we're there and, due to its relatively compact size, I'll drive the camper to get around. Greg assures me that there will be parking areas in Sturgis where I can park the camper, which will be good. That way we can have the camper more local for those times when we want to take a load off for a while. It'll also be good in that I won't have to carry all of my photo gear with me all day long.<br /><br />While I expect Sturgis to be a target rich environment, photo-wise, there will also be those stops along the way where I'm sure I'll be breaking out a camera.<br /><br />I'll have my Canon 5D MKIV and 6D, my Fuji X100F, my tripod, my iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone tripod (with remote!), assorted lenses (including the new Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC (vibration control) and a comfy camp chair.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'll be banging out a packing list, and I'll confer with my brother, who rode to Sturgis on his Street Glide back in 2014. I'll have a bit more room to pack things, but it'll be good to get his input for those "must have" items.<br /><br />So, there it is! If you know me, you know I love an impromptu road trip and, given the scope of this one, I think a two week lead time qualifies as "impromptu"!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-47592879314736640682022-03-06T07:31:00.001-05:002022-03-06T07:31:18.052-05:00Wrapping Up Another Year...<p style="text-align: justify;">I'm finding it a bit difficult to believe that's it's been six months since I've posted anything. It seems as though, as soon as I made that last entry, things went sideways and the schedule went into overdrive.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking back at 2021, the first thing I would say is that at least it was better than 2020. But there were still things we couldn't do. People were still worried about getting Covid. I understand all of that, but I'm not exactly a fan of giving in.<br /><br />Of course travel was different. My daughter and I were supposed to go to Belgium last year but, of course, Europe was pretty much locked down, as was the rest of the world. So, we decided we'd go this year, but there were still too many travel restrictions for it to be feasible.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So we made do.<br /><br />Without question, the highlight of this year was the six weeks I spent on the road in April and May. The journey from St. Augustine to Boston to Seattle was pretty epic. But then to turn around and drive from Newport, Oregon back to Boston, with my kid in the passenger seat, was a gift. Sure, we got on each other's nerves from time to time, but it's a trip neither of us would ever say we wish we hadn't made. Hell, I even let her do some driving.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After returning to Florida, it seemed like mere weeks before I was working again. The college shooting gig was a bit abbreviated, but thank goodness it was robust enough to keep me from having to get, dare I say it: a <i>regular </i>job. Also, the magazine gig picked back up. I had been writing articles (and including photos for free), but a revamped St. Augustine Social, with a new format, has me only doing photography (which I was originally hired for) and I'm making more money with it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And then I blinked and it was the end of February.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was able to attend Mecum again in January and, as is always the case, the automobiles on display and up for auction were nothing short of amazing. This was also the case at the recently held Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance. The level of automobile at "The Amelia" is, generally speaking, quite a bit elevated from an event like Mecum, though, such as this 1935 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton, which was expected to sell for around $500K:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrhaowO4eadnRDetxRdtQkr2GFdAXsAPnPb5plZ7ym2NBiegzSyCobp-3NrN2E8-E2Wl-wbszVeZpEArlhZzMgI1E6NLNOfMDBKS5gydQND2HjVNSg0dcYOsKp3RRcd-NEaZ08qQt0RY6Go2DCS-on3B6RqTpjFltwoOqD87sIqEiHKhRjVO5QTXTc=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1935 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrhaowO4eadnRDetxRdtQkr2GFdAXsAPnPb5plZ7ym2NBiegzSyCobp-3NrN2E8-E2Wl-wbszVeZpEArlhZzMgI1E6NLNOfMDBKS5gydQND2HjVNSg0dcYOsKp3RRcd-NEaZ08qQt0RY6Go2DCS-on3B6RqTpjFltwoOqD87sIqEiHKhRjVO5QTXTc=w640-h426" title="1935 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>1935 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Or, if you like a more modern ride, perhaps this 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo "S" Package, expected to fetch around $1,200,000, is more your style:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEindSV8Gtqkg0Po8oCdD109Dl57QtfWZ_7fCZMmoE_khUPmnOQFjC12EQ9U45uER7Xj50vI09GVnk3IasiZ5Rp9tBtyW-DNxszqMhFyofQuJ5dIAZKmglqQWZGJw9F-N6K9mfXi39ERnjpYCIqM7biMcG7lhutpa2qtGW0erqcdq0mThyBg18bvY8XQ=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEindSV8Gtqkg0Po8oCdD109Dl57QtfWZ_7fCZMmoE_khUPmnOQFjC12EQ9U45uER7Xj50vI09GVnk3IasiZ5Rp9tBtyW-DNxszqMhFyofQuJ5dIAZKmglqQWZGJw9F-N6K9mfXi39ERnjpYCIqM7biMcG7lhutpa2qtGW0erqcdq0mThyBg18bvY8XQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 911 "S" Package</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, for me, the Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance signals the star of my photographic year (Mecum notwithstanding) and, given that, this year, it coincides with the opening of Daytona Beach Bike Week so, if my luck holds out, I'll be looking forward to a busy spring...<br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-81605311720594081382021-08-30T17:03:00.000-04:002021-08-30T17:03:26.012-04:00Back In The Saddle...<p style="text-align: justify;">Seven years ago, I was hired by St. Augustine Social Magazine as a photographer. It was a real magazine with a shiny cover and pages and an editor and everything. But before the first issue ever went to print, I was asked if I wanted to write articles for the magazine, as well.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My first article was what became known as "Spot Check". I would check out local eateries, sample the food and photograph it.<br /><br />Tough gig, right?<br /><br />My product photography background was, let's say, "lacking", so photographing food helped me hone those skills.It finally got to the point where I was quite comfortable doing what I was doing, despite the fact that my role with the magazine was more on the literary side than I expected:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5MoxZ3T58M/YS095qLol_I/AAAAAAAAaKA/J-D_v8PFONUclYyKZn7M7UPhf6Av_KG4ACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/br04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5MoxZ3T58M/YS095qLol_I/AAAAAAAAaKA/J-D_v8PFONUclYyKZn7M7UPhf6Av_KG4ACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/br04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D--HS1S7pyY/YS1AWHGB9xI/AAAAAAAAaKs/X_LjQmp54AEnhtInYKXTsUOZKEHu-hspwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/co04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D--HS1S7pyY/YS1AWHGB9xI/AAAAAAAAaKs/X_LjQmp54AEnhtInYKXTsUOZKEHu-hspwCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/co04.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoiRbRhDy80/YS1BLS4bSFI/AAAAAAAAaK0/XNBcPDBiQRIcRUrpYXR38i41IjOq5tmrwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/mojo07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoiRbRhDy80/YS1BLS4bSFI/AAAAAAAAaK0/XNBcPDBiQRIcRUrpYXR38i41IjOq5tmrwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/mojo07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">I then started a column call "The Music Chair", with an idea stolen from a friend of mine in California. I dragged this gawd-awful green wing-back chair all over town, and photograph local musicians sitting in it for a photo to accompany the interview I did with them. It was a blast:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mn830f04vYQ/YS0_hLnr2jI/AAAAAAAAaKY/we0MvUVpSYoq7pIjiNVIQKkLWBAB0KHvwCPcBGAYYCw/s767/amy03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="767" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mn830f04vYQ/YS0_hLnr2jI/AAAAAAAAaKY/we0MvUVpSYoq7pIjiNVIQKkLWBAB0KHvwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/amy03a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLfpLjgWrqY/YS0-ozcyV3I/AAAAAAAAaKQ/tUJGJK3J5DACHL9a9q1VYAPGYe_Buw5dQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/mc03a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLfpLjgWrqY/YS0-ozcyV3I/AAAAAAAAaKQ/tUJGJK3J5DACHL9a9q1VYAPGYe_Buw5dQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/mc03a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEGra1cgT0w/YS0-NKN3n_I/AAAAAAAAaKI/13gAABDWpmgZgoXkXb5c54B05O85OGpdwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/bt04a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEGra1cgT0w/YS0-NKN3n_I/AAAAAAAAaKI/13gAABDWpmgZgoXkXb5c54B05O85OGpdwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/bt04a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I retired the chair when I sold off my 1999 Ford Explorer. The sad reality is that the chair wouldn't fit in the Nissan Altima I'd purchased. "The Musical Chair" then became just a metaphor for being photographed for the magazine. It was now more the article than the chair. This allowed for some interesting "environmental portraits" that the chair would never allow: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7t-wShwKNTw/YS1AAMx9Q8I/AAAAAAAAaKg/FRSkCNgCbSEvTGCYlCjhAgosihoYdppUACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/lm04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7t-wShwKNTw/YS1AAMx9Q8I/AAAAAAAAaKg/FRSkCNgCbSEvTGCYlCjhAgosihoYdppUACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/lm04.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UczmoNAbfjw/YS1Gj5KvnwI/AAAAAAAAaLU/sJr5_JNNVrcAweKVRYV9nAUj0BToyJzjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/lx02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UczmoNAbfjw/YS1Gj5KvnwI/AAAAAAAAaLU/sJr5_JNNVrcAweKVRYV9nAUj0BToyJzjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/lx02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPw2UuSN_Rk/YS1CqWxV-gI/AAAAAAAAaK8/frVjJmPoWbsImdEqdwKA5IpU3yuXXSBCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ba10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPw2UuSN_Rk/YS1CqWxV-gI/AAAAAAAAaK8/frVjJmPoWbsImdEqdwKA5IpU3yuXXSBCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/ba10.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibAm1fuIr8Y/YS1C84G5RFI/AAAAAAAAaLE/7ByQiAXAPyYhefQZFYlzoXX-Ipp-uoZCACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/jb01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibAm1fuIr8Y/YS1C84G5RFI/AAAAAAAAaLE/7ByQiAXAPyYhefQZFYlzoXX-Ipp-uoZCACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/jb01.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Not soon after, the world was hit by Covid-19. <i>Everything </i>stopped. My photography business ground to a halt in a hurry. Because of when Covid hit, and the fact that I did some traveling overseas in 2019, it was almost three years before I had any work with the magazine. It definitely sucked, but it also allowed me time to focus and re-evaluate things; what I wanted to do, what I felt was important, yadayadayada. I did some traveling with my daughter and drove coast to coast, seeing and experiencing those things you can only experience from the highway. It was worrisome, to be sure, but there was also a part of it all that was a bit exciting, too.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I definitely enjoy writing, but photography is where my primary interest is. If I get to write some, that'll be great. But the photography aspect is where I want to spend the majority of my time. And, the best part is that it looks like I'll be able to do exactly that, as I've been asked to focus on photography for the magazine. Seven years ago, in 2014, I was the magazine's first employee. They didn't even have an editor yet. Naturally, I feel a strong connection to the magazine so, when the publisher asked me back as a photographer, I couldn't say "yes" quickly enough.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm excited to see what a post-Covid world will bring, photograph-wise. The phone is starting to ring, the e-mails are starting to come in, and it's beginning to look like we may even get back on an even keel before too long. That'll be nice, especially considering the seas in which we've been sailing the last few years...<br /></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-44507549691013863032021-08-08T09:12:00.003-04:002021-08-08T09:12:41.587-04:00So, What's On Deck?<p style="text-align: justify;">You know, I really hate unpacking. I'm just now unpacking from a weekend trip I did to New Orleans back in June. It's horrible, I know. Somewhere, I think, I may even have a yet to be unpacked bag from the cross country trip.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The upside, though, is that I've now got time to do that unpacking. See, not long after coming back from New Orleans I have two week long shoots in the time span of three weeks. It was fun and profitable, but also time consuming. I decided I would rein it in a bit in August. The only shooting I plan on doing in August is for my tattoo project.<br /><br />What's that? You don't know about the tattoo project? Well, click here: <a href="http://www.americaninkproject.com/">The American Ink Project</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">That project's been going on embarrassingly too long, so I need to give it a swift kick in the ass to get it back on track. Let me know if you'd like to take part!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Travel-wise? I don't know that there's anything on the calendar just yet. I'm always up for an impromptu road trip, but as far as one of those trips which requires actual planning? Yeah, I got nothin'. In all honesty, the next thing I actually "gear up" for to shoot will be Biketoberfest in Daytona. There are also a few smaller regional car shows that I want to hit to generate some content for another website of mine, High Octane Photography. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Oh, you're not familiar with that? Click here and check it out: <a href="http://www.highoctanephotography.com/" target="_blank">High Octane Photography</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">And, of course, seeing as schools are reopening post-Covid, I'll be getting back into my college photography in September. That should carry me through the end of November and then start back up in January. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, it's not like I won't be busy, I just won't be on the road that much (I think I did enough of that this year, anyway). It'll be nice to be able to not worry about packing a bag for a trip.<br /><br />Which, of course, means I won't be <i>un</i>packing, either...<br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-41670853209358349242021-07-04T06:58:00.000-04:002021-07-04T06:58:07.319-04:00The Road Trip - Epilogue...<p style="text-align: justify;">You know, this road trip really was the journey of a lifetime.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I won't lie: I can't sit idle for too long. I have to move. I need to go. I want to travel. This road trip was the result of my daughter Jessy and I not being able to return to Europe for her birthday. We were going to go to Portugal last year, but Covid-19 simply made that impossible. We were going to go this year, and I was even going to spring for first class travel, but there were still too many travel restrictions in Europe, and Portugal in particular, to make it a viable option.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I hit the road.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One day in February I decided I wanted to drive the longest road in America: US-20, from Newport, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts. But it would take some work to get there. An entire adventure unfolded on the road before me before I ever even got to the west coast. I use the word "epic" to describe this trip because, really, it's the only word that fits.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Suffice it to say, a trip like this doesn't come cheap. While it's still cheaper than first class airfare and accommodations to Portugal, the receipts do start to add up over a while. My total cost for fuel was just over $1,000 and, for that, I squeezed 11,126 miles out of the Malibu: <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIme2zOH3oQ/YOGTUEfygCI/AAAAAAAAYTw/xY0trYBe-ccsXwrzczjeqIelp68ImkdOACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/car01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIme2zOH3oQ/YOGTUEfygCI/AAAAAAAAYTw/xY0trYBe-ccsXwrzczjeqIelp68ImkdOACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/car01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also, food, souvenirs, and the various other sundry things you buy along the way can put your wallet on a diet real fast.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But the one cost that always seems to be the greatest when traveling is lodging. Six weeks of hotels would've been prohibitive, especially with two of us traveling from Oregon. To this end, I have to thank some folks who were beyond kind in opening their homes to me on the way west, and to both me and Jess while coming east:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Kenny & Karen Koumjian - <span>Billerica, Massachusetts</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Mike & Tamara Gladstone - Rochester, New York</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Ron and Gwen Sommer - Wooster, Ohio</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Chris Rausch - Missoula, Montana</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Mark & Deborah Acerenza - Frederick, Maryland</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>I cannot overstate how much we appreciated the kind hospitality shown to us. From a place to lay our heads to filling our stomachs with amazing meals, those folks are a very big part of why I was able to tackle this type of trip, and they'll forever have my undying gratitude.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>It's probably not surprising, given my "travelin' jones", that people have already started asking where I'm going next. Well, I can't really say. I'd like to say Europe, but there's just no way to know. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>I'll let you know when I get that figured out...<br /></span></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-62884792033797631672021-06-29T14:11:00.002-04:002021-07-02T14:20:09.179-04:00A Milestone...<p style="text-align: justify;">Something I neglected to mention, but which was kind of a big deal for me on this trip, was the mileage covered.<br /><br /><br />I had two odometers running on the mighty Malibu. The first one would get reset every time we bought gas. The second odometer I kept running. I started it in my driveway and didn't reset it until after we returned to St. Augustine.<br /><br />Somewhere between Boston, Massachusetts and Frederick, Maryland we hit a milestone:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_YoXK7DvCg/YNth62y78vI/AAAAAAAAYTk/ltTzdc6P9po4niNLHG4qo2DSRNaCJdaBACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/IMG_4407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_YoXK7DvCg/YNth62y78vI/AAAAAAAAYTk/ltTzdc6P9po4niNLHG4qo2DSRNaCJdaBACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_4407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I know, I know. It was bound to happen, but I had long wondered how far I'd be driving, and this certainly put that all in perspective for me! The total number of miles driven was 11,126!<br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-21541382352578841202021-06-29T14:01:00.002-04:002021-06-29T14:01:32.387-04:00Gettysburg...<p style="text-align: justify;">My daughter grew up in southern California.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As such, other than in a classroom, she was never exposed to any history other than that. In San Diego, where we lived, everything was about the Spanish. I suppose that's to be expected.<br /><br />But there was a whole bunch of history that I wanted her to see. I didn't want her to read about it, or look at photographs. I wanted her to experience it. That's why we spent so much time exploring Boston and the surrounding area. It's rich in a history which dates back further than our country's founding. There's really no way to describe what it was like to be standing in Paul Revere's living room, after all. You just have to do it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, you can imagine the smile that worked its way across my face when my daughter asked "Hey Dad, can we go to Gettysburg?"</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lilithznW8w/YNsjYqOjvTI/AAAAAAAAYQE/auv3szKJolQhbgwwZkSOcLQhwCMudNLUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/gb52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lilithznW8w/YNsjYqOjvTI/AAAAAAAAYQE/auv3szKJolQhbgwwZkSOcLQhwCMudNLUgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This would mark my third visit to Gettysburg. The last visit was back in September of 2017. The visit prior to that saw me in a Boy Scout uniform; that was the mid 1970's. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once again, we would be fortunate to be able to stay with friends while visiting. My friend Mark, along with putting us up for a couple of nights, also arranged for us to have a personal guided tour from someone who, I believe, is the world's foremost authority on the Battle of Gettysburg, Mr. Ray Matlock:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FH7VcznmZuw/YNssKd-bdBI/AAAAAAAAYQM/g-yBbssluV8J1NZRANGhMkfzsk4uNyOnACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FH7VcznmZuw/YNssKd-bdBI/AAAAAAAAYQM/g-yBbssluV8J1NZRANGhMkfzsk4uNyOnACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb05.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ray Matlock near the North Carolina monument at Gettysburg...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ray's story is as fascinating as Ray is humble. He told me he first came to Gettysburg when he was all of 11 years old (I believe Ray's in his 70's now). When he took the very first photograph he ever took, it was taken at Gettysburg. The new home he shares with his wife was built only about a mile or so away from the battlefield. Ray lives and breathes Gettysburg, and his enthusiasm for it is palpable. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I've never met anyone who knew everything about anything like Ray Matlock knows about Gettysburg. His knowledge is encyclopedic, and he's quick with an anecdotal story about just about anything. For instance, my daughter mentioned that she lives in Seattle.<br /><br />"Oh, let me tell you about a little known connection between Gettysburg and Seattle..." and away he went, as if he'd had a Seattle connection story on-deck just waiting to be told.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TW1M8MR1-k/YNsuKLzNzNI/AAAAAAAAYQU/yYdTvCFMZGQgzKzlzlXvU2Vn1JgVmyiKACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TW1M8MR1-k/YNsuKLzNzNI/AAAAAAAAYQU/yYdTvCFMZGQgzKzlzlXvU2Vn1JgVmyiKACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ray Matlock speaking to my buddy Mark and my daughter...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Since I wrote about Gettysburg not long ago, I'm going to simply post photos from our visit, and maybe interject some witty prose here and there.</p><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mZR7mmxyFA/YNsvuvUmVCI/AAAAAAAAYQo/zm7oeLvi4z48FNWyPjhdcsgCQ5xoiUDpACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mZR7mmxyFA/YNsvuvUmVCI/AAAAAAAAYQo/zm7oeLvi4z48FNWyPjhdcsgCQ5xoiUDpACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A Civil War era farm house on the grounds at Gettysburg...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hlIzVVLbaPk/YNsvvwW_FBI/AAAAAAAAYQ8/KKkw5OLMcLIGcSpsLIyIJY9pFa02WHw8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hlIzVVLbaPk/YNsvvwW_FBI/AAAAAAAAYQ8/KKkw5OLMcLIGcSpsLIyIJY9pFa02WHw8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h424/gb06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOYQqqNuGFQ/YNsvwNamu8I/AAAAAAAAYRA/5wIlpaxyLg0cHJnuKf1nhPEsnId-AY-JgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOYQqqNuGFQ/YNsvwNamu8I/AAAAAAAAYRA/5wIlpaxyLg0cHJnuKf1nhPEsnId-AY-JgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h424/gb07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1m41ekvcx0k/YNsvwb5BCgI/AAAAAAAAYRE/vkPjMzf93-ktYhjDuOvn8BR0IoK-MDqfACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="532" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1m41ekvcx0k/YNsvwb5BCgI/AAAAAAAAYRE/vkPjMzf93-ktYhjDuOvn8BR0IoK-MDqfACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/gb08.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y57wtVnr1U/YNsvwVvKPUI/AAAAAAAAYRI/AEZSP2wdjxIz8gK58r79aSi8X4YhlEsJACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="532" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y57wtVnr1U/YNsvwVvKPUI/AAAAAAAAYRI/AEZSP2wdjxIz8gK58r79aSi8X4YhlEsJACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/gb09.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AX2Yg2vCKL4/YNsvwqB7kVI/AAAAAAAAYRM/rCaRPsW6_SoBCt11ZsrhXmGk6UDwTu9xQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AX2Yg2vCKL4/YNsvwqB7kVI/AAAAAAAAYRM/rCaRPsW6_SoBCt11ZsrhXmGk6UDwTu9xQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVzOAYNYmTI/YNsvxfFEWzI/AAAAAAAAYRY/be3j0qtJn7Id6UCNso1ygolYiWdazLgggCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVzOAYNYmTI/YNsvxfFEWzI/AAAAAAAAYRY/be3j0qtJn7Id6UCNso1ygolYiWdazLgggCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3JQj_xsGdQ/YNsvxvTBrbI/AAAAAAAAYRc/twnf1I6PfXUSTCP_X39EppVhtLMIqM2UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3JQj_xsGdQ/YNsvxvTBrbI/AAAAAAAAYRc/twnf1I6PfXUSTCP_X39EppVhtLMIqM2UQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The 11th Pennsylvania Infantry pays tribute to Sallie, a lifelong mascot. She is one of only two dogs featured on Gettysburg monuments, and the only one to be present during the battle...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpsAGIbQeKM/YNsvx3j9rrI/AAAAAAAAYRg/LKUNdYyP0W0gJu_h6GEwb2W9c0k6BhqDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpsAGIbQeKM/YNsvx3j9rrI/AAAAAAAAYRg/LKUNdYyP0W0gJu_h6GEwb2W9c0k6BhqDwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ray Matlock with my buddy Mark and my daughter Jessy...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UB2milVlmSQ/YNsvygSa7UI/AAAAAAAAYRs/6ZYcE6kUIUEYcyClnyslL0iFefU1TXM4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UB2milVlmSQ/YNsvygSa7UI/AAAAAAAAYRs/6ZYcE6kUIUEYcyClnyslL0iFefU1TXM4gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Pennsylvania Monument...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-521WsQgvn40/YNsvy6HC0wI/AAAAAAAAYRw/-f0aqSJRkpgaPNEir6wW1Ie8sa6wOE9EACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-521WsQgvn40/YNsvy6HC0wI/AAAAAAAAYRw/-f0aqSJRkpgaPNEir6wW1Ie8sa6wOE9EACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h424/gb19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Pennsylvania Monument. That's my daughter up top on the right...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JuPCm3cQ_bQ/YNsvzbJuLMI/AAAAAAAAYR4/K6Zyt4MXWFYo5hheulV0PZEUj3TlPTd_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s802/gb20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JuPCm3cQ_bQ/YNsvzbJuLMI/AAAAAAAAYR4/K6Zyt4MXWFYo5hheulV0PZEUj3TlPTd_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/gb20.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The State of Virginia Monument, with General Robert E. Lee high atop... <br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu0vqJ48xHw/YNsvzL27VzI/AAAAAAAAYR0/-t2YXFnLCRMIwRuay75BPlrEGZ5mHf5KwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu0vqJ48xHw/YNsvzL27VzI/AAAAAAAAYR0/-t2YXFnLCRMIwRuay75BPlrEGZ5mHf5KwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Someone lives in this small house, which was built in 1863...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b></b></i></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dr9mvByhniM/YNsvzrhUYMI/AAAAAAAAYR8/gWSfGe6Q_4I8P3X1KbrZgfj--9vL6oJqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gb22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dr9mvByhniM/YNsvzrhUYMI/AAAAAAAAYR8/gWSfGe6Q_4I8P3X1KbrZgfj--9vL6oJqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gb22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>If you don't want to drive your own car, you can always rent one of these...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhhiAurjCW8/YNsv4nl28TI/AAAAAAAAYSQ/rDwH9o7eyQc94ytSeMlphBrLqnBQIQjbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/jess01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhhiAurjCW8/YNsv4nl28TI/AAAAAAAAYSQ/rDwH9o7eyQc94ytSeMlphBrLqnBQIQjbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/jess01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>My daughter Jessy...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrnwPFEzlks/YNsv7yWFzCI/AAAAAAAAYSY/9rpJMcY0wtov5N922QUA9oDZEeWNmNfggCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/ma01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrnwPFEzlks/YNsv7yWFzCI/AAAAAAAAYSY/9rpJMcY0wtov5N922QUA9oDZEeWNmNfggCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/ma01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>My buddy Mark, who set up this amazing tour...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Ray took Jessy and I from the first shot of the battle at Gettysburg to the end of the second day. Unfortunately, I guess when you're one of the heavies at a place like this, business always comes calling, and Ray had to excuse himself for a meeting, leaving us to go through day three on our own. Before he did, though, we insisted on taking him to lunch at the Appalachian Brewing Company:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uVMGD_1Arc/YNtbjeZ5yHI/AAAAAAAAYTM/q6niWwGovIkpXsUByPz4HzHwN3s-fw12QCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/IMG_4429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uVMGD_1Arc/YNtbjeZ5yHI/AAAAAAAAYTM/q6niWwGovIkpXsUByPz4HzHwN3s-fw12QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_4429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZjgsSEVT8w/YNtbj6_2X1I/AAAAAAAAYTQ/h2cnwBcfH94F5W9F6n77aCO5mPO7BEkJACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/IMG_4430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZjgsSEVT8w/YNtbj6_2X1I/AAAAAAAAYTQ/h2cnwBcfH94F5W9F6n77aCO5mPO7BEkJACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_4430.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Tasty suds and excellent burgers...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Remember when I talked about actually experiencing history? That whole "being where history happened" thing? Well, that's exactly what Ray did for us here at Gettysburg. I was excited enough to bring my daughter here (and at her request!) so that she could see one of the most pivotal battlefields in American military history. But to have Ray there to explain, sometimes down to the finest of details, what had happened, and with whom, it simply brought Gettysburg to life for her in a way that, I'm certain, my narration could never have done. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If I sound like I'm laying it on a bit thick well, yeah, I probably am. It was simply awesome to see my daughter take such a genuine interest in something and have the opportunity to take that interest to the one guy on the planet who probably knows more about it than anyone alive today. Even today, some two months after the fact, I'm still in awe of the enthusiasm Ray has for this hallowed place, and how willingly and effectively he shares that enthusiasm with others.</p><div style="text-align: justify;">As we drove back to Mark's house, we couldn't help but continue to talk about not only the battle and the site, but also the <i>manner </i>in which we got to experience it. I know that, as I turned of the bedroom light that night, that this was a road trip highlight...<br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-34106844217636164242021-06-29T03:15:00.005-04:002021-06-29T14:02:08.384-04:00Boston...<div><p style="text-align: justify;">I've always wanted to visit Boston.<br /><br />I was here once on business several years ago, but that was brief and fleeting and, truth be told, I couldn't really enjoy it.<br /><br />This trip would be different.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We left for the city pretty early, but late enough to miss rush hour traffic. And, while this had the benefit of us not getting caught up in a traffic jam, it had the added detriment of available downtown parking being scarce. My guess is that we drove around for about a half hour before we were able to get into a pay lot for some ridiculously exorbitant fee. This mattered not: We were in.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Boston has some absolute jewels when it comes to historical places. Much like Philadelphia, much of the shaping of this country happened right here, along these very streets. Sure, the building may look somewhat different now, but visiting Boston is to visit where history actually happened. No textbook or school lecture can come close to rivaling that.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The streets in Boston are pretty narrow so, if you're driving, use extra care. In many cases, restaurants will spill their seating into the street. This is especially true on the north end, which is where you'll find Boston's version of Little Italy:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ug7JCfW4SSE/YNq4NxUw6kI/AAAAAAAAYNc/nl_F0nF-RPYykWmaCwBSf43GUfifPA4zACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/bos01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ug7JCfW4SSE/YNq4NxUw6kI/AAAAAAAAYNc/nl_F0nF-RPYykWmaCwBSf43GUfifPA4zACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/bos01.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kPRPgxVjBIU/YNq4OFtp9WI/AAAAAAAAYNk/tEn1ie39vuAKTT5gmzJHMwyFWQ6RFs2FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/bos04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kPRPgxVjBIU/YNq4OFtp9WI/AAAAAAAAYNk/tEn1ie39vuAKTT5gmzJHMwyFWQ6RFs2FQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/bos04.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6aN1k3b-Fs/YNq4Si6wibI/AAAAAAAAYN4/MY4F4kAOJgMCc3AVW_XArgQk9Zseo_DAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/bos09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6aN1k3b-Fs/YNq4Si6wibI/AAAAAAAAYN4/MY4F4kAOJgMCc3AVW_XArgQk9Zseo_DAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/bos09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Many restaurants remained closed due to Covid-19...</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8ezVf6Rqzk/YNq4TdiWgBI/AAAAAAAAYOM/FjNQ9OKH1gEhnChRnjAAqMgeCWmXuOsoACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/bos14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8ezVf6Rqzk/YNq4TdiWgBI/AAAAAAAAYOM/FjNQ9OKH1gEhnChRnjAAqMgeCWmXuOsoACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/bos14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuVQ9o6Zj6o/YNq4OcqPhdI/AAAAAAAAYOk/ZsIS5mdLktE9zwTtzY3gpjJSf2TqHcYogCPcBGAYYCw/s800/bos05.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuVQ9o6Zj6o/YNq4OcqPhdI/AAAAAAAAYOk/ZsIS5mdLktE9zwTtzY3gpjJSf2TqHcYogCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/bos05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The busiest area in the whole north end...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, remember how I said visiting Boston is to visit where history happened? Well, also found in the north end is a rather nondescript gray house. Back in the 1700's this house would be considered a small mansion, but it would be nothing so grand by today's standards. Frankly, there's nothing really noteworthy about it at all, save for the plaque reading "Here Lived Paul Revere 1770-1800" and another sign saying "The Paul Revere House":</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjIax6ULDxE/YNq7sJE9HOI/AAAAAAAAYO8/VDNLgsMx_8MMTgUCkCegEhqe-QW6ZxzRQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/bos17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjIax6ULDxE/YNq7sJE9HOI/AAAAAAAAYO8/VDNLgsMx_8MMTgUCkCegEhqe-QW6ZxzRQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/bos17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nnRUVAhNjn0/YNq7sIgC6VI/AAAAAAAAYPA/kSCIdUfmDpc2ejFlx1dxkUyK9gCRQ2oSgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/bos16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nnRUVAhNjn0/YNq7sIgC6VI/AAAAAAAAYPA/kSCIdUfmDpc2ejFlx1dxkUyK9gCRQ2oSgCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/bos16.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Tours of the Paul Revere House are offered for a very nominal $5.00 but, be forewarned, the tour goes by quickly. You see two rooms downstairs, and then (if memory serves) one room upstairs before being ushered into an expansive courtyard. As was very common in those days, a person's property was usually kept out sight from the street, and many had pretty grand courtyards protected by their walls:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Uj94BB9CTo/YNq4OlaGzsI/AAAAAAAAYOo/8oz9BCy5b1QuD0icC61sc_RFrKLqSbHBQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/bos07.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Uj94BB9CTo/YNq4OlaGzsI/AAAAAAAAYOo/8oz9BCy5b1QuD0icC61sc_RFrKLqSbHBQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/bos07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The courtyard at the Paul Revere House. Obviously, the brick building is not original...</i></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Another site which played a storied role in the history of our country was memorialized by <span>American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem which began:<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><b><i>"Listen my children and you shall hear, of the midnight ride of Paul Revere."</i></b><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, Longfellow didn't write his poem until 1860, when America found herself on the brink not a Revolutionary War but of a civil war. As a result, over the years many have pointed out historical inaccuracies contained it the poem. Frankly, I don't understand why some people can't just enjoy it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But back to the site in question.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Everyone has heard the words "One if by land, two if by sea." This was referencing signal lanterns lit in the steeple of the Old North Church, to signify how the British were attacking. When Paul Revere (and the much maligned, and not as well known horseman William Dawes) made that famous ride, there were two lanterns in the steeple.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZtAcmT1iNs/YNq4S4O4xoI/AAAAAAAAYOw/uYeEBjdLuMwg0mKQTEGkxUJ4n9PjFye-wCPcBGAYYCw/s800/bos11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZtAcmT1iNs/YNq4S4O4xoI/AAAAAAAAYOw/uYeEBjdLuMwg0mKQTEGkxUJ4n9PjFye-wCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/bos11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--PIsoUf4Wp0/YNq4Sq8AtVI/AAAAAAAAYOw/VGP9boZT1e0RjG0rVuw-YgdyNz_pmkmIwCPcBGAYYCw/s801/bos10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--PIsoUf4Wp0/YNq4Sq8AtVI/AAAAAAAAYOw/VGP9boZT1e0RjG0rVuw-YgdyNz_pmkmIwCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/bos10.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Boston's Christ Church (aka The Old North Church)...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Once again, as a little boy, a place which, once upon a time, might be shown an almost mythical deference turns out to be an actual, real place. And I'll never be accused of being the most religious guy in the room, but I have to wonder what it must be like to be a parishioner there, knowing the important role the church played in the early days of developing the country. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, while I was off shooting the Old North Church, Jess was off shooting other things, and I don't know that we realized how separated we'd become. Leave it to Jess, though. She not only found a bar where we could grab a cold beer after a day exploring Boston, she found it in the basement of a pastry shop (sorry, no pics):</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRLYCfgCZAE/YNrBvafIvTI/AAAAAAAAYPM/gajNmDg4nmIO6S30khL6IJukqSAXHMBdACPcBGAYYCw/s800/bos15.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRLYCfgCZAE/YNrBvafIvTI/AAAAAAAAYPM/gajNmDg4nmIO6S30khL6IJukqSAXHMBdACPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/bos15.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Go to Modern Pastry, walk through the door and past the crowd and make your way to the right side of the store. Look to your right and you'll see a flight of stairs. You're welcome...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was beginning to get a bit later in the day, and we still had one more stop to make. But, before doing that, we needed some refreshments and maybe a bite to eat. And if you're in Boston, can there be any other place to go?<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hATlMtKzB5M/YNsZkxRl_2I/AAAAAAAAYPw/Qi-ZPklfnpULumbevN5uYKh61S90D4IDACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/beer02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hATlMtKzB5M/YNsZkxRl_2I/AAAAAAAAYPw/Qi-ZPklfnpULumbevN5uYKh61S90D4IDACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/beer02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Fictitious, but not...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">When the producers of the television show "Cheers" were looking for a Boston bar to be owned by former Red Sox reliever Sam Malone, they didn't get much further than The Bull & Finch, right across the street from Boston's Public Garden. It was perfect for them in every way. Like the bar from the series, The Bull & Finch was a quaint, quiet local watering hole and, despite its obvious current popularity, it still has that vibe to a degree.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIAbgvHnGlU/YNsZk8TBkRI/AAAAAAAAYPs/_QLF5-yY1XYufRja_jAaVIJ0rFE6YHyUQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/beer01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIAbgvHnGlU/YNsZk8TBkRI/AAAAAAAAYPs/_QLF5-yY1XYufRja_jAaVIJ0rFE6YHyUQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/beer01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Had to buy a couple of these beer mugs for the bar at home...</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i></i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We opted to split the "Norm's Best" combo appetizer, as dinner would be waiting for us. That proved to be a good, tasty call. Onion rings, chicken tenders, and potato skins were perfect, and they were just enough to hold us over:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-27af0nmLQ/YNsduSYocJI/AAAAAAAAYP8/pAs_NYohuoQqjZh210t38t3PFPjLg-a3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/thumbnail_IMG_4389.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-27af0nmLQ/YNsduSYocJI/AAAAAAAAYP8/pAs_NYohuoQqjZh210t38t3PFPjLg-a3gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/thumbnail_IMG_4389.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Simple and quick...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">A visit to Cheers is a must if you're in Boston and anywhere within driving distance of Beacon Hill. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">With our appetites temporarily sated, it was time for the final stop in Boston, and it's one I've looked forward to for a very long time. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Launched on October 21, 1797, the USS Constitution is the oldest ship of any type still afloat, and it remains the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What we thought would be an easy "park and shoot" photo op turned into anything but. We ended up finding our way into some hotel pay parking lot (ten bucks, thankyouverymuch) which allowed us access to a view from just a pier away. Night was falling, and I knew it would be a perfect time to capture the ship's lighting along with the sky's twilight.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm pretty happy with what I got: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjKoATkX4sM/YNrBvnTfI_I/AAAAAAAAYPk/yqd6zfHAoHItebw-OB8WBXfvlWyUautXwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/con02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjKoATkX4sM/YNrBvnTfI_I/AAAAAAAAYPk/yqd6zfHAoHItebw-OB8WBXfvlWyUautXwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/con02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFXUioqTW8s/YNrBvl1rjOI/AAAAAAAAYPg/mOmraHesURU-TwgiUcw8i9ZzCEFQcX_TgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/con01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFXUioqTW8s/YNrBvl1rjOI/AAAAAAAAYPg/mOmraHesURU-TwgiUcw8i9ZzCEFQcX_TgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/con01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span style="color: red;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;"> ***PHOTO NERD ALERT***</span></b></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I've been asked how I was able to get those "star" shapes on the lights, the smooth water and the crisp focus on the ship. Well, it's not magic and, in fact, it's it's pretty simple. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">First, use a good quality tripod (I use a Manfrotto). Don't bother with the ones you find at Target or Best Buy. Buck up and pay real money for a quality tripod. You'll be glad you did Shoot in Manual mode and use a remote shutter release. Then, embark on the highly scientific method of playing around with your settings to find those which give you the look you're searching for.<br /><br />In the first image of the Constitution above, I used a 4 second exposure at f/14. I was using my 24-70 f/2.8, zoomed out to 24mm. My ISO was 640. The second shot used the same focal length and ISO, but I went with an 8 second exposure at f/16.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sadly, the USS Constitution would be our last stop in Boston. Having the opportunity to photograph such a magnificent ship was awesome, and that certainly wasn't lost on us. I hope to come back again one day to photograph it some more...<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-82589138224343017742021-06-29T01:57:00.000-04:002021-06-29T01:57:10.081-04:00Provincetown & Plymouth Rock...<p style="text-align: justify;">Our second day in the Boston area was going to be spent, in large part, on the road.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We decided to head to Cape Cod; all the way out to Provincetown. It would be about a 2-1/2 to 3 hour drive, but all of it would be along roads we'd not yet traveled. Needless to say we were looking forward to it. Our weather wasn't the best; it sprinkled here and there during the drive but, as we got further east on the Cape, it dried up a bit.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Driving, of course (as opposed to flying or even taking a bus) affords you the opportunity to stop when you want, for as long as you want. We happened to find a small flea market (swap meet for those of you on Pacific Standard Time) along the way and decided to stop. Most of what was there was junk, but I did manage to find something I'd had as a kid. Who knows where that one is now, but this new one looks pretty good on the shelf near my desk:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HM1f6HF-Yw0/YMpOSdtZFII/AAAAAAAAYJY/cjwtsa8oHqUFGplqV9AbPgw8h7c9pHlswCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/thumbnail_IMG_4348.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HM1f6HF-Yw0/YMpOSdtZFII/AAAAAAAAYJY/cjwtsa8oHqUFGplqV9AbPgw8h7c9pHlswCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/thumbnail_IMG_4348.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Flashbacks...</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">This is one of those old English made ones which, these days, can command a premium price. The seller wanted ten bucks, and I didn't have it in me to negotiate, plus my Dad worked for Esso before it became Exxon, and I really wanted it.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The drive top Provincetown is an exercise in patience. It's just a two lane road, and the speed limit, if I recall, only goes up to 45mph. That said, though, the silver lining is that you get to actually look at what's around you.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once arriving in "P-Town", we began the chore of finding a parking spot. Being a Saturday, the streets were very crowded with tourists (like us), but we finally found a spot on the north end of town. I dumped some change in the meter and we were on our way. If you visit Provincetown, be prepared to walk. It's certainly conducive to that, and the number of people on the street doesn't make navigating an car through the streets and easy endeavor.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We were only visiting for the afternoon, but if you were planning on staying overnight or a couplpe of days, there's no great shortage of bed & breakfasts and, one would presume, Airbnb's, as well. Hotels are scattered across the landscape, as well, but don't go looking for too many Holiday Inns or Marriotts. Most of the hotels here are independents:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2yHIuzmPqgM/YL07ja9ndXI/AAAAAAAAYGs/1wz6up9pmBwWL10lDbFgM5riRuUVGMoywCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2yHIuzmPqgM/YL07ja9ndXI/AAAAAAAAYGs/1wz6up9pmBwWL10lDbFgM5riRuUVGMoywCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/cc11.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVi7ZgZbUNs/YL07m4r0nCI/AAAAAAAAYG8/tIMo5BbWjwQLHbKhwIuTp1MN0HKp7hiyQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVi7ZgZbUNs/YL07m4r0nCI/AAAAAAAAYG8/tIMo5BbWjwQLHbKhwIuTp1MN0HKp7hiyQCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/cc13.jpg" width="426" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Two examples of the most common type of lodging facility in "P-Town"...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">As the drive had been a bit on the long side; the better part of three hours, we wanted to make good time so we didn't stop along the way to eat. Besides, how could we come to Cape Cod, and all the way to P-Town, and <i>not </i>sample the local fare? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are plenty of eateries in P-Town, although many of them were still being affected by Covid in terms of occupancy. The restaurant we landed in, <a href="http://vorellisrestaurant.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Vorelli's Grille</a>, seemed to be doing a robust business, although they did ask that we sign in with a name and phone number in case it was needed for contact tracing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLtZLaRQge4/YL06oPO-i0I/AAAAAAAAYF8/49XSXN2KD0k1PfpcqEVE-nW2Rp4Qjj1EACPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLtZLaRQge4/YL06oPO-i0I/AAAAAAAAYF8/49XSXN2KD0k1PfpcqEVE-nW2Rp4Qjj1EACPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/cc01.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our lunch at Vorelli's was ridiculously good. While Jess chose one of Vorelli's burgers, I opted for the more regional lobster roll. It quickly climbed to the upper reaches of the "best meal I've had on this trip" list: <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz0V2632wYE/YL06vC5WSKI/AAAAAAAAYF8/F2LkAQ_3OLQyqeM26Y5J3XPhIvNVhzXBACPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc03.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz0V2632wYE/YL06vC5WSKI/AAAAAAAAYF8/F2LkAQ_3OLQyqeM26Y5J3XPhIvNVhzXBACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc03.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>At $19.99, it ain't cheap, but it's soooo good...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The decor of Vorelli's is as comfortable as it is welcoming. Work from local artists works hang on the wall, and stained glass subdues the daylight coming in through the windows. The staff was fun and friendly, and they're totally on-point when it comes to "checking in" with you as you dine. If I ever happen to find my way back to P-Town, that lobster roll will definitely be among the dining choices I'll make.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Following lunch, we decided to simply walk along the main drag and take it all in. Photo ops abound along the road, be it storefronts steeped in nostalgia or artwork and wares for sale from street side vendors. Every so often we'd even venture into a store to see what they had.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxTqpW7bJss/YL069hwlmpI/AAAAAAAAYF8/8ALiFXzOBbgG6WB2BeTi24F1E8iJ2vkawCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxTqpW7bJss/YL069hwlmpI/AAAAAAAAYF8/8ALiFXzOBbgG6WB2BeTi24F1E8iJ2vkawCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFeJpNjPjRQ/YL07X7Vxg4I/AAAAAAAAYGg/hvkDORW2EaUQLdgm9WcWCf6mweeIRtUpwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFeJpNjPjRQ/YL07X7Vxg4I/AAAAAAAAYGg/hvkDORW2EaUQLdgm9WcWCf6mweeIRtUpwCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/cc08.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6PXuD6SB0Us/YL07fOAVtCI/AAAAAAAAYGo/1GpVrZYIUhQBAkgystGSN3fJakAJu3mGgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6PXuD6SB0Us/YL07fOAVtCI/AAAAAAAAYGo/1GpVrZYIUhQBAkgystGSN3fJakAJu3mGgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0Wfibjz4YA/YL075xQE1LI/AAAAAAAAYHM/-LGJR5z-vF89rgSF5vHgINQG3dIKc4GmACPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0Wfibjz4YA/YL075xQE1LI/AAAAAAAAYHM/-LGJR5z-vF89rgSF5vHgINQG3dIKc4GmACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ET4ctmC4Uu0/YL07y1Y6gOI/AAAAAAAAYHQ/9cnHRSrNvYEwaF3QX5T9JqFpeZL3U4hDwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ET4ctmC4Uu0/YL07y1Y6gOI/AAAAAAAAYHQ/9cnHRSrNvYEwaF3QX5T9JqFpeZL3U4hDwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y27e3NrfsX0/YL07q_6iekI/AAAAAAAAYG8/hFBV_ICnBHYomwFmvyyti-edw0BK47IOACPcBGAYYCw/s834/cc14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y27e3NrfsX0/YL07q_6iekI/AAAAAAAAYG8/hFBV_ICnBHYomwFmvyyti-edw0BK47IOACPcBGAYYCw/w408-h640/cc14.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldYQ1WabmqE/YL07_pGYZXI/AAAAAAAAYHQ/jO-6JECJ6TYhiS8koVp8Qr3B2awgcBWpwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldYQ1WabmqE/YL07_pGYZXI/AAAAAAAAYHQ/jO-6JECJ6TYhiS8koVp8Qr3B2awgcBWpwCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/cc18.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">There's also an small mall-type set-up with numerous merchants. Many of them were closed (thank you, Covid!) but there were still enough to make a stop worthwhile:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFwV8r5j9Qw/YL08zX_lctI/AAAAAAAAYHY/DjNiUFo6TxobT117Jx172C4KWR9NyoY1ACPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFwV8r5j9Qw/YL08zX_lctI/AAAAAAAAYHY/DjNiUFo6TxobT117Jx172C4KWR9NyoY1ACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h424/cc20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bw58j8FnTok/YL09Rg_GM9I/AAAAAAAAYIA/ap8wpOuGF4AS9jq0IPhv_LN5NALUHSGIgCPcBGAYYCw/s801/cc21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bw58j8FnTok/YL09Rg_GM9I/AAAAAAAAYIA/ap8wpOuGF4AS9jq0IPhv_LN5NALUHSGIgCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/cc21.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kZMtrqhzPE/YL09NI2cziI/AAAAAAAAYH4/JbDUJTG58H4B6oxBlzol450WqgkfXRMvACPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kZMtrqhzPE/YL09NI2cziI/AAAAAAAAYH4/JbDUJTG58H4B6oxBlzol450WqgkfXRMvACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h428/cc22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7USF7exqoUA/YL07caWV0CI/AAAAAAAAYGs/4pjgT5gQujkCYn4Zk7zHbKuYB77Yb4f7gCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7USF7exqoUA/YL07caWV0CI/AAAAAAAAYGs/4pjgT5gQujkCYn4Zk7zHbKuYB77Yb4f7gCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/cc09.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Town Hall...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWXKNS-C2Mc/YL08EtmgI8I/AAAAAAAAYHQ/0ffFQbvA0zI5u5itpYv-YKx41p1EAe-eQCPcBGAYYCw/s806/cc19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWXKNS-C2Mc/YL08EtmgI8I/AAAAAAAAYHQ/0ffFQbvA0zI5u5itpYv-YKx41p1EAe-eQCPcBGAYYCw/w424-h640/cc19.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you're looking for a place which will probably look exactly as you see it in your head, Provincetown is probably it. From the funky shops and beachside inns to the wide array of restaurants, the charm of P-Town is lost on no one.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, the thing about having a three hour drive to P-town is the inescapable fact that we were to have a three hour drive back to Kenny and Karen's house in Ballerica. Well, we figured if it was going to be three hours, we might as well make it four or five.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, I don't think it's any secret that I like shooting old churches. I love getting inside to shoot them but, when that's not an option, the outside will have to do. In this case, it was the First Congregational Parish, which was founded in 1827. It wasn't very striking from the outside, but I could tell from the second story windows that the inside would probably offer up a great photo op:<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6uC6xQn9jo/YL09ZWrYJRI/AAAAAAAAYIU/wDSW_NTEYH4HI1Oa9R_eSWEjiZY40h99wCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6uC6xQn9jo/YL09ZWrYJRI/AAAAAAAAYIU/wDSW_NTEYH4HI1Oa9R_eSWEjiZY40h99wCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0ce9JfDqCE/YL09hYKz_8I/AAAAAAAAYIg/uz5fdB-AzBYStjk1MpBoy7Lx5CA1OrR5QCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0ce9JfDqCE/YL09hYKz_8I/AAAAAAAAYIg/uz5fdB-AzBYStjk1MpBoy7Lx5CA1OrR5QCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h424/cc30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjfS1KP4T3M/YL09gIb7iwI/AAAAAAAAYIU/OUWGzqbBqgUjh6xEvQSlNWbkyyfLilE0wCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjfS1KP4T3M/YL09gIb7iwI/AAAAAAAAYIU/OUWGzqbBqgUjh6xEvQSlNWbkyyfLilE0wCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The adjoining Snow Cemetery<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">To be honest, this church and cemetery was a little on the creepy side. I can't really put my finger on why I felt so creeped out, but I was happy when we were finally pulling away.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We decided, pretty much at the last minute, that it would be downright criminal for us to come to Massachusetts and not visit the one place where it all began. The one place where the Pilgrims first hit the soil in the new world: Plymouth Rock.<br /><br />Now, to be frank, there's a lot of skepticism as to whether or not this is not only the actual place, but also whether or not it's the actual rock. Some actually believe that the Pilgrims landed in Provincetown as much as a month earlier.<br /><br />Be that as it may, though, the current location and the current rock are, in fact, considered to be accurate. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1920, the rock was temporarily relocated so that old wharves could be removed and the waterfront re-landscaped. During this time, a new Roman portico was built in such a way as so, when the rock was returned to the site, it would be at water level but still protected. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pTk0Nq7Ztk/YL09jtZmlGI/AAAAAAAAYIg/i9dDIMwsu_srYR9YBG57mj3etVWaqrGYgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pTk0Nq7Ztk/YL09jtZmlGI/AAAAAAAAYIg/i9dDIMwsu_srYR9YBG57mj3etVWaqrGYgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h424/cc31.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The inscription on the portico reads: ""Erected by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America to
Commemorate the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Landing of the
Pilgrims." </i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--WAIWRwiMY0/YL09rDjrp2I/AAAAAAAAYIo/GEeILh0oRvMmqMjvkvrT9m0Xs-N6q4_lACPcBGAYYCw/s800/cc32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--WAIWRwiMY0/YL09rDjrp2I/AAAAAAAAYIo/GEeILh0oRvMmqMjvkvrT9m0Xs-N6q4_lACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/cc32.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If not for the etched date and the portico, you could easily overlook this piece of American history...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">In all honesty, given its iconic status in our country's early history, I expected it to be bigger. It's estimated that the rock pictured above is approximately now only 1/3 the size of the rock that William Bradford originally stepped on in 1620.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I travel, one of my favorite things to do is to visit those places which, for so long, occupied only a mythical place for me. Was there <i>really </i>a Plymouth Rock? I always figured there was, but it took almost 59 years for me to actually see it; even a photograph. This whole area of the country is richly steeped in such history, and it could take a year to see it all.<br /><br />But we didn't have a year, so we had to get busy. We called it an early night after making it back to Ken and Karen's. We had plans to head into Boston early the next morning for what would likely play out to be another long, full day...<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-80187093442840700262021-06-06T12:02:00.002-04:002021-06-06T12:02:58.115-04:00Gloucester...<p style="text-align: justify;">Our second stop for our first day in Massachusetts would be a bit further north than Salem: Gloucester. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Located on Cape Ann in northeastern Massachusetts, the city of Gloucester is not only a popular summer tourist spot, but also developed into a major shipbuilding center. The first schooner is believed to have been built here in 1713. Its proximity to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland helped it grow into a major fishing center, as well. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Gloucester, for all its charm and opulence (some of the homes are amazing,) is still a working fishing port, first and foremost. The sea, or maybe it's just the idea of the sea, is treated with a reverence not commonly found. As an example, there's the Gloucester Compass Rose:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDkA-QOst1g/YLzaEOqpuJI/AAAAAAAAYFg/u2Z7_YTdz6kZ4kv-Vq9KBv9i_eJ3GsdywCPcBGAYYCw/s800/gl11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDkA-QOst1g/YLzaEOqpuJI/AAAAAAAAYFg/u2Z7_YTdz6kZ4kv-Vq9KBv9i_eJ3GsdywCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/gl11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> "The Gloucester Compass Rose", is located near Maritime Gloucester (a museum)... <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">There's a rock with a plaque nearby, with the following inscription:<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Maritime Gloucester dedicates<br />The Gloucester Compass Rose<br />To All Those Who Harvest and Preserve<br />The Bounty of Our Great Oceans<br />May 24, 2014"</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgcQ8xdKRrA/YLzYmJw1oYI/AAAAAAAAYE0/X-6pdvJ0K4Q4oC3Z82waToa_6TKNOI7mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gl07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgcQ8xdKRrA/YLzYmJw1oYI/AAAAAAAAYE0/X-6pdvJ0K4Q4oC3Z82waToa_6TKNOI7mgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gl07.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Some of the stately homes along the waterfront...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncyUhGl3JxU/YLzYmzRAnYI/AAAAAAAAYE4/yK2S1ejWe6sVwsm01g7q224o35r9i5BJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gl08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncyUhGl3JxU/YLzYmzRAnYI/AAAAAAAAYE4/yK2S1ejWe6sVwsm01g7q224o35r9i5BJQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gl08.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Gloucester Harbor...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5e1Qjveas3I/YLzYoig4RiI/AAAAAAAAYE8/BSuaFWvdIMcbs1Wqijz0b_ueWN5dgoz1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/gl09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5e1Qjveas3I/YLzYoig4RiI/AAAAAAAAYE8/BSuaFWvdIMcbs1Wqijz0b_ueWN5dgoz1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/gl09.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Gloucester Harbor...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The late 19th century saw a large influx of immigrants from both Portugal and Italy looking to find work in the growing fishing industry. As more and more fishermen arrived, more and more fishing vessels were able to sail. Of course, the increased number of vessels heading out to sea meant that the chances of accidents grew accordingly.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Along the harbor waterfront you can find the Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial. The Memorial lists the names of 5,368 of those who sailed from Gloucester but have never returned. Of the nearly 1,000 ships lost to the sea, 265 of them are known to have been lost with all hands. From 1860-1906, a staggering 660 ships sank at sea; more than 14 per year, every year, for 46 years. There were a total of 3,880 men lost during that time.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Perched at the Memorial is the 8-foot sculpture "Man At The Wheel", which was modeled after Capt. Clayton Morrissey, a prominent Gloucester fisherman:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sksD17SSTxc/YLzYisHM0LI/AAAAAAAAYFE/r7_6NzJ1PHoaQ8O6xfLvZ96c9a5f0kz_ACPcBGAYYCw/s800/gl05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sksD17SSTxc/YLzYisHM0LI/AAAAAAAAYFE/r7_6NzJ1PHoaQ8O6xfLvZ96c9a5f0kz_ACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/gl05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz56ZwKZ82o/YLzYhuEbtwI/AAAAAAAAYFY/nyJXe13WvYgUECWigCgLooErz5G0EZkKgCPcBGAYYCw/s799/gl01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz56ZwKZ82o/YLzYhuEbtwI/AAAAAAAAYFY/nyJXe13WvYgUECWigCgLooErz5G0EZkKgCPcBGAYYCw/w428-h640/gl01.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1rDENvHMo8/YLzYkrvXbWI/AAAAAAAAYFI/43OTUKhfFHULjPTfMGZFhLNuuVgoF5UmgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/gl06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1rDENvHMo8/YLzYkrvXbWI/AAAAAAAAYFI/43OTUKhfFHULjPTfMGZFhLNuuVgoF5UmgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/gl06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, admittedly, the impact of the loss of Gloucester fishermen at sea really didn't have much impact much beyond Gloucester. Most people in the rest of the country rarely, if ever, heard of such a thing. That is until Wolfgang Peterson's movie "The Perfect Storm" was released in 2000. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The movie tells the true story of the fishing vessel Andrea Gail and her crew finding themselves at the confluence of three gigantic Atlantic storms, something that had never occurred in recorded history. The Captain and crew decided to try to sail through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Perfect_Storm">the storm</a>, as sailing around it would've taken much longer and threatened to spoil their impressive catch. The decision proved fatal as the ship, and all six crew members, were lost to the deep. It's believed a 100' wave off the coast of Nova Scotia, recorded by a buoy, sent the Andrea Gail to the bottom of the North Atlantic.<br /><br />If you're at the Fisherman's Memorial looking towards the harbor, you can turn to the right of the Memorial and see those six names:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJnxyA2Ru0M/YLzYgGkgsNI/AAAAAAAAYFU/42UmGGzZ9LcQBQhfsEP3IPWkl6mqFda5QCPcBGAYYCw/s800/gl02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJnxyA2Ru0M/YLzYgGkgsNI/AAAAAAAAYFU/42UmGGzZ9LcQBQhfsEP3IPWkl6mqFda5QCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/gl02.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The lost crew of the Andrea Gail...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9hQBWHfCHo/YLzYhAvieJI/AAAAAAAAYFQ/gzB-RNaneVotWgAUyAF48KXIPOWopUMWQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/gl03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9hQBWHfCHo/YLzYhAvieJI/AAAAAAAAYFQ/gzB-RNaneVotWgAUyAF48KXIPOWopUMWQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/gl03.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Man At The Wheel overlooking the Fisherman's Memorial...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZYHFqEc8FA/YLzYiOCAaxI/AAAAAAAAYFM/Pgd2_WhSHRwkENP3olWZ9PQV6v3jbpmUgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/gl04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZYHFqEc8FA/YLzYiOCAaxI/AAAAAAAAYFM/Pgd2_WhSHRwkENP3olWZ9PQV6v3jbpmUgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/gl04.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I'm not sure who put this at the Memorial, but it seems to be appropriately placed. If I were to hazard a guess, it's a young boy's lament over the loss of his father, a fisherman lost to the sea...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The day had gotten a bit long and we still had the hour drive back to Ken's house in <span>Billerica, so we decided to call it a day. Between Salem and Gloucester we'd seen a lot and, also, learned a lot. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span>If you happen to be visiting the Boston area, be sure to make time to visit Gloucester...<br /></span></p><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2897878841590431541.post-52362801442900361202021-06-06T02:09:00.003-04:002021-06-06T09:40:00.251-04:00Salem...<p>We had two stops planned for our first day in the greater Boston area. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our first stop would be the town of Salem , Massachusetts. Just north of Boston along the coast, Salem rose to prominence in the 1690's with what became known as the Salem Witch Trials. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was a dark time in the colony, to be sure, but apparently the Puritans weren't fans of taking chances. Early on, Elizabeth Hubbard became to be one of the primary accusers, and her mere accusations carried weight. A member of accusers between the ages of 12 and 20, her age (17) allowed her to testify under oath. Swearing an oath to God on the stand gave the youngster a great deal of credibility in the eyes of the court. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Jonathan Corwin owned the house where many of the trials took place, and it's now the only building remaining in Salem with direct ties to the trials. It's now known simply as "The Witch House":</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZaWICxCbe0/YLxJDPpW-TI/AAAAAAAAYCg/c9_0NZlVexkDJo8QxUWkq-5djYcixFXlwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZaWICxCbe0/YLxJDPpW-TI/AAAAAAAAYCg/c9_0NZlVexkDJo8QxUWkq-5djYcixFXlwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/sa01.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts, home of the greatest witch hunt in American history...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Tours are help from Tuesday to Sunday and cost $9 per person. Much to my chagrin, photography and video recording is not permitted inside the house.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After our your of the Witch House, we decided to just stroll around a bit. Salem was first settled in 1626, so there was sure to be plenty to see (and photograph!):</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QayIqrKVJnw/YLxJDgPR1JI/AAAAAAAAYCg/a8DbAd39wuErulEVBuRABr7Pf7_hCJZigCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QayIqrKVJnw/YLxJDgPR1JI/AAAAAAAAYCg/a8DbAd39wuErulEVBuRABr7Pf7_hCJZigCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/sa02.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I was playing around with a new lens; the Sigma 35MM F/1.4 ART. It's a bokeh beast!<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kNDpdvyr-o/YLxJI1FuIuI/AAAAAAAAYCk/ah9zU_F9cfURHQvLkLHZtEKf4QhsrPp_gCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/sa03.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kNDpdvyr-o/YLxJI1FuIuI/AAAAAAAAYCk/ah9zU_F9cfURHQvLkLHZtEKf4QhsrPp_gCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/sa03.jpg" width="426" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The first church in Salem was a <span>Unitarian Universalist church which was established in 1629. The physical church was not</span> built until 1836...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYD0lmwLWSE/YLxJJDOmSdI/AAAAAAAAYCg/tcPDEQm10h0eYu5pL260Aa2w0J9St1_9QCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYD0lmwLWSE/YLxJJDOmSdI/AAAAAAAAYCg/tcPDEQm10h0eYu5pL260Aa2w0J9St1_9QCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h424/sa06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u365tEnH2NI/YLxJJ2Ga_3I/AAAAAAAAYCo/jkVxYjzxK6AbtvGEogKEmYxTCKpXpnwUgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa07.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u365tEnH2NI/YLxJJ2Ga_3I/AAAAAAAAYCo/jkVxYjzxK6AbtvGEogKEmYxTCKpXpnwUgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h424/sa07.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Ropes Mansion, which is part of the Peabody Essex Museum, was built in 1727...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IIOqOjXj0Oc/YLxJJz2dERI/AAAAAAAAYCk/tu5LV8FsCAw8CJJIrcwlCyv95asngSmtgCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa08.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IIOqOjXj0Oc/YLxJJz2dERI/AAAAAAAAYCk/tu5LV8FsCAw8CJJIrcwlCyv95asngSmtgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h424/sa08.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The view from the gardens of the Ropes Mansion...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">A lot of businesses were still closed due to Covid, but most were open. This allowed us to find an amazing place to have breakfast (well, maybe a breakfast-themed lunch) at Fountain Place. The food was good, the staff was friendly and it was well within walking distance of where we parked:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXnNVbLtZAU/YLxKl3duvCI/AAAAAAAAYDA/blDQ15d0vSUlqatLM503ofF5rtCqZzf4QCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXnNVbLtZAU/YLxKl3duvCI/AAAAAAAAYDA/blDQ15d0vSUlqatLM503ofF5rtCqZzf4QCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h424/sa10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kExF4Ma8Ja8/YLzPZUTodwI/AAAAAAAAYEE/GOn1PppLQDwgzKfbfr96crF-D4Sqgr97ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/IMG_4329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kExF4Ma8Ja8/YLzPZUTodwI/AAAAAAAAYEE/GOn1PppLQDwgzKfbfr96crF-D4Sqgr97ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_4329.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></b></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This omelette was absolutely massive. I'll recommend it but, geez, be careful...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, something I was unaware, but which Jess seemed pretty well aware of, is the fact that there's a statue here to honor actress Elizabeth Montgomery, who played Samantha Stevens in the sitcom "Bewitched" from 1964 until 1972: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gz0wtMJjaUs/YLxccBcTOsI/AAAAAAAAYDI/aQrul0TUimw6FCxBSA1ZT9KupP0wXZPFACPcBGAYYCw/s800/bewitched.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gz0wtMJjaUs/YLxccBcTOsI/AAAAAAAAYDI/aQrul0TUimw6FCxBSA1ZT9KupP0wXZPFACPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/bewitched.jpg" width="426" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Samantha Stevens, astride her broom in Lippin Park...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">There was one more "must see" site that, being a Dad, I was completely unaware of. Right along Ocean Avenue in Salem is a two story house which was used in the filming of the movie "Hocus Pocus", which starred Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker:<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wyqtO1pvsHk/YLxIygNE6eI/AAAAAAAAYBs/ZNdVIfV35Hw8YutrwSpAp9h8lVDEjWFHQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wyqtO1pvsHk/YLxIygNE6eI/AAAAAAAAYBs/ZNdVIfV35Hw8YutrwSpAp9h8lVDEjWFHQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/sa01.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></b></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This is probably the most photographed private home in all of Salem, Massachusetts...<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Salem offers no shortage of souvenir stores, occult stores and the like.As walking is the main mode of transportation in the central downtown area, it's easy to check them out:</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-L1g9GJ68I/YLxJK1mbAUI/AAAAAAAAYCo/vAFYqH5nIn84hFV9QKv_bLM3MGLYP571ACPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-L1g9GJ68I/YLxJK1mbAUI/AAAAAAAAYCo/vAFYqH5nIn84hFV9QKv_bLM3MGLYP571ACPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/sa11.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBumXqfxvhE/YLxJLlWA-rI/AAAAAAAAYCs/xs6DBsXUMA8BN18zA-pPuXoSFhENOC7jACPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBumXqfxvhE/YLxJLlWA-rI/AAAAAAAAYCs/xs6DBsXUMA8BN18zA-pPuXoSFhENOC7jACPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/sa12.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgegpMfWK3k/YLxKkLM5FcI/AAAAAAAAYC8/XOv1DwxFjkULta3LWu3_q_4RjiOF6KmxQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/sa05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgegpMfWK3k/YLxKkLM5FcI/AAAAAAAAYC8/XOv1DwxFjkULta3LWu3_q_4RjiOF6KmxQCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/sa05.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKCtBBslUVg/YLxkBzfADgI/AAAAAAAAYDM/MMhr6ZBNxI8crUn2Bte3UK3aWJ4BGj61ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/hat01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKCtBBslUVg/YLxkBzfADgI/AAAAAAAAYDM/MMhr6ZBNxI8crUn2Bte3UK3aWJ4BGj61ACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/hat01.jpg" width="426" /></a></b></i></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>An actual witches hat, made by a witch...<br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yGjIBtyRNxQ/YLxkCLWVaPI/AAAAAAAAYDU/QcN3M-2vtEYzklQngLzCACJrjS0v1ieSACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/sa13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yGjIBtyRNxQ/YLxkCLWVaPI/AAAAAAAAYDU/QcN3M-2vtEYzklQngLzCACJrjS0v1ieSACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/sa13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0W9yPjB7U4/YLxmWnHiFtI/AAAAAAAAYDg/jKKe8NVd210hffo72bT0OFSxm2EQ_D9BgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/quartz01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0W9yPjB7U4/YLxmWnHiFtI/AAAAAAAAYDg/jKKe8NVd210hffo72bT0OFSxm2EQ_D9BgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/quartz01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The array of souvenirs one can buy is mind-boggling, as well is the fact that you can buy a cap and a hat which were made by actual witches. I figure that's gotta' count for something, right?<br /><br />We ended up spending about three hours in Salem, but you could easily spend twice that and not see everything there is to see. From the whimsical to the bizarre, Salem's got something for every witch and warlock in the family, for every spell and incantation. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be doing a lot of walking...<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Steve Parrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03612394503262741293noreply@blogger.com0