Crisscross /  by Dave Hileman

Still dealing with the injured finger yet with a bit of improvement. Therefore, not much writing as I post already edited photos. This is on a stream in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Monument Valley Horseplay /  by Dave Hileman

The Indians of the Navajo Nation were adapt at offering the tourists opportunities for experiences. One man had this beautiful horse out on a small promontory where you could have your photo taken. The young man with the family that we were on our tour with chose to go. I was able- the family paid, to take his photo as well as several with his family. Neat memory. I would love to have stood a bit more to my right but that was not possible so I opted to get the distant landmark separated from the subject.

Humpback Bridge /  by Dave Hileman

This is a beautiful covered bridge with an interesting feature, the hump in the bridge midway across. The bridge is just a couple minutes off I-64 near the WV -Virginia line. Well worth the five minutes. I have injured my finger so typing and work are limited. I will write more about the bridge later.

Acorn /  by Dave Hileman

Thought I would sneak in another shot of my new favorite Western bird, the Acorn Woodpecker. I saw my first one ever at Big Bend NP but after that saw a dozen or more. This one was at Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico

Inspiration /  by Dave Hileman

Just in case you wondered where Mr. Lucas got his ideas for the Star Wars characters, may I suggest Beartown State Park in West Virginia. Around every corner you will encounter a new idea.

Relic /  by Dave Hileman

This massive tower was used to fill the coal tender for steam locomotives. It stands along the C&O in Ronceverte, WV. The RR station is in the distance along with an abandoned bridge over the tracks. If you look very closely you might see a “hobo” as they were called when this tower was operational standing along the tracks.

A Glorious Fourth /  by Dave Hileman

No fireworks photo this year, no sparklers, no picnic. We get the basics of celebration. We see in this simple photo symbols of faith, work, sacrifice - without which there would be no America. We see ideals embodied by those who strived to live in freedom and self-reliance. We see in the community Church, generosity and grace and open arms - hallmarks of America. We see in the tiny flags fluttering over some of the graves service to the last devotion. America is worth preserving, worth the hard work and sacrifice and worth holding tight to a Constitution that emerged from the Declaration of Independence we celebrate today that allows all of us to strive for a “more perfect union,” if I may borrow words from Abraham Lincoln. God Bless.

160 Years Ago Today /  by Dave Hileman

This peaceful pastoral scene was full of thunder, smoke, screams, yells, flashing metal and booming guns as the Army of Northern Virginia under Lee gave one last desperate charge across these fields to dislodge the Army of the Potomac led by Meade and pull a victory out of the encounter at Gettysburg.

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

—Abraham Lincoln

The small marker on the other side of the stone wall is the furtherest the North Carolina troops advanced

The Pennsylvania Monument lies at the heart of the Union line

John Henry /  by Dave Hileman

I knew about John Henry from songs, most recently a Bruce Springsteen album called Live in Dublin has a spirited version of the ballad. But I did not know he was a real individual. Near the village of Talcott there is a small park by the railroad and the river where the tunnel is located that may have been the site of the contest between John Henry and the steam machine. I always thought it was about driving spikes into the ties but it was a means to dig places in the solid rock to blast for tunnels. This may or may not be the place and the circumstances of his death are in dispute but a lot is known and you can read a more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)

Welcome to Hinton, WV /  by Dave Hileman

Clearly this photo is of the train station that now serves AMTRAK. It does not look too different from old photos I saw of the station in the early 1900s. Hinton today is in the midst of a renewal. Streets are nicely kept, flowers on many corners, murals painted or repainted, a huge welcome center and new business are popping up. Why? In part because of the designation of the newest National Park, Hinton is the southern most portion of the New River Gorge NP. It is also the gateway to the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk where the New River begins its steep descent into the gorge. We also had a very good meal in town.

My turn of the century Hinton colorized “postcard.”

Going East /  by Dave Hileman

A few minutes after the train in yesterday’s photo we watched this one pulling a full complement of laden coal cars slowiy passed the station. Still raining but only a slight misty rain. The engineer even gave us a “toot” on the horn as he drew near. The station is Christmas red because it is a year-round Christmas shop, nothing related to the railroad any longer.

Going West /  by Dave Hileman

This CSX train is pulling a long load of empty coal cars that will be filled in the mines of West Virginia. It is likely that the train originated in Newport News at the coal terminal. It is traveling pretty fast as it passes the White Sulphur Springs station. Freight trains do not stop here but AMTRAK does three days per week.

The wind and the rain and the noise made for an interesting experience that close to a speeding train.

Amazed /  by Dave Hileman

This is a close up of a seed pot made in New Mexico years ago. What is stunning is the lines you see are hand painted with homemade dye from some source and applied with a yucca plant stem that is chewed to the right size and flexibility. Look at the remarkable spacing and the even width of the many lines.