Archive for the ‘Scenic Sunday’ Category

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Scenic Sunday #71: Wesner Bald Overlook

November 22, 2009

The view from Wesner Bald Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina. October 25, 2009.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway last month was so wonderful that I took many pictures that I want to share.  The autumn colors were gorgeous in some areas, but even when there wasn’t a lot of color on the trees, the blue sky was dazzling.

The picture above was take at the Wesner Bald Overlook on the Parkway  where it seemed that the mountains were marching to the horizon.  I think that last line of mountains shows why they are known as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Scenic Sunday # 70: Yellow Face Overlook

November 15, 2009
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The view from Yellow Face Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. October 25, 2009.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Even though I no longer live in the mountains of North Carolina, I still like to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway whenever possible.  The picture above was taken three weeks ago at the Yellow Face Overlook east of Maggie Valley.  No wonder some people claim the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most scenic byway in the country.

 

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Scenic Sunday # 69: Cheoah Lake

November 8, 2009
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Cheoah Lake and Dam, Graham County, North Carolina. October 13, 2009.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Last month Betsy and I drove The Tail of the Dragon on our way to Georgia.  The Tail of the Dragon is an 11-mile stretch of U. S. 129 which is considered by many to be one of the world’s best motorcycling and sports car roads.  The Tail of the Dragon gets its name from the 318 tight curves on the 11-mile stretch.

The Tail of the Dragon takes drivers through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  After crossing into North Carolina we turned onto North Carolina 28, which continued to offer some beautiful scenery, even if it did have fewer curves.

The picture above was taken at a turnout overlooking Cheoah Lake in North Carolina.  Near the center of the picture is Cheoah Dam, which forms the lake on the Little Tennessee River.  The Cheoah Dam was featured in the Harrison Ford movie The Fugitive.  This is the dam that Ford jumped off to escape near the beginning of the movie.

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Scenic Sunday # 68: Woolyback Overlook

November 1, 2009
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Woolyback Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway. October 25, 2009.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Last Sunday was an absolute gorgeous day in the mountains, with a clear blue sky.   Betsy and I took the Blue Ridge Parkway from Maggie Valley and stopped at several overlooks to enjoy the autumn scenery.

The picture above (which can be enlarged by clicking on it) was taken at Woolyback Overlook at mile marker 452.  “Woolyback” refers to a thicket created by the mountain laurel and rhododendron that’s so dense you can almost walk in it.

The elevation at this overlook is 5,425 feet, so most of the vibrant autumn colors were gone.  But you can see rust-colored trees at lower elevations and of course the ridge lines of the mountains leading back to the horizon.

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Scenic Sunday # 67: Maggie Valley

October 25, 2009
Maggie Valley, North Carolina. October 20, 2009.

Maggie Valley, North Carolina. October 20, 2009.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Betsy has been in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, since Tuesday.  She said that the colors had just exploded over the past couple of days, but I thought the scenery was pretty good on Tuesday.  The picture above was taken on the deck of the cabin they’ve rented.  I’m looking forward to seeing the view when I pick Betsy up today.

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Scenic Sunday # 65: Bali

October 11, 2009
A beach on Bali. June, 1987.

A beach on Bali. June, 1987.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

I’m basically a farm boy from Indiana who has been blessed in many ways.  I was able to go to college, became a high school mathematics teacher, get a Master’s degree, teach mathematics in college and then switch to computer science.

In 1985 I began teaching computer science at Heidelberg College in Ohio, and in 1987 I was chosen to be part of an exchange program with a college in China.  The Heidelberg team was to teach during summer in China, but due to a difference in academic calendars we Americans had a couple of free weeks at the beginning of summer.  Since we were to enter China through Hong Kong, it was decided to spend part of that free time in Hong Kong and on the island of Bali in Indonesia.

The picture above is a scan made from a slide which was taken one morning on Bali.  I had gotten up early and walked along the beach past the place we were staying.  I rounded a point and entered a small cove.  This little collection of huts was on the beach across the cove.  I felt as if I had stumbled upon the set of South Pacific!

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Scenic Sunday # 63: St. Thomas

September 27, 2009
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. September 10, 2001.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. September 10, 2001.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

A couple of weeks ago I shared some pictures of St. Maarten from our honeymoon cruise in 2001.  We were on St. Maarten on 9/11, which made for a very surreal day.

Our first port of call was Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands.  While there we took a sea plane ride in the morning over some of the other nearby islands.  In the afternoon we took a tram to Paradise Point, a park and overlook that offered some fantastic views of the harbor and ocean.

To see more of our day on St. Thomas click HERE.

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Scenic Sunday # 62: Charleston

September 20, 2009
East Battery Street, Charleston, South Carolina. June 22, 2008.

East Battery Street, Charleston, South Carolina. June 22, 2008.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

The picture above was taken on the seawall of Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina.  It shows some of the beautiful homes on East Battery Street, many of which date back to the Civil War.  Fort Sumter, site of the first shots of the Civil War, is in the harbor off to the right.  Behind me and to the left is White Point Gardens, more commonly known as The Battery.

I lived in South Carolina for three years and have visited Charleston several times.  It’s a beautiful city and I thoroughly enjoy walking through the the historic district (as long as it’s not too hot!).

The picture above was taken in June, 2008, when Betsy and I visited Charleston on our anniversary trip.  If you would like to see some more scenes from the area around The Battery, click HERE.

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Scenic Sunday # 61: St. Maarten

September 13, 2009
Sunset off Philipsburg, St. Maarten. September 11, 2001.

Sunset off Philipsburg, St. Maarten. September 11, 2001.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Betsy, in her blog yesterday, told about our day on September 11, 2001.  The beauty of St. Maarten in  the Caribbean was a surreal contrast to the events taking place in the United States.

The picture above was taken as our ship was leaving Philipsburg, our port of call in St. Maarten.   In spite of all the tragedy of the day,  This scene gave us a sense of calm and peace.

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Scenic Sunday # 59: Ocean Isle Beach

August 30, 2009
The ocean and beach at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. May 5, 2009.

The ocean and beach at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. May 5, 2009.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

The picture above was taken this past May at Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina.  It was a perfect morning with clouds on the horizon, a calm, blue ocean, and a clean beach all to ourselves.

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