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Watery Wednesday

December 16, 2008

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This is my first entry for Watery Wednesday, but you can check out other photos on this theme by clicking on the logo above or at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/.

The picture below was taken on Antigua, in September, 2001.  Betsy and I were on a belated honeymoon cruise in the southern Caribbean.  We visited six different islands on that cruise, but I think Antigua was definitely one of my favorites.
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I especially liked the coast near Shirley’s Height, where this picture was taken.  The coast line, except for a few cactus, was mostly barren and dropped sharply down to the ocean, which was an incredible blue.  I’m not sure how high the cliffs are, but while we were there we looked down on a helicopter flying along the coastline!

The  contrast between the red-brown cliffs, the deep blue water, the bright white surf and the lighter blue of the sky is one reason I like this part of Antigua so much.  I hope you like it too!

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Another Sunset Photo

December 13, 2008

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I enjoy taking pictures of sunrises and sunsets and will take almost any opportunity to show them.  Sunday’s Sunrise/Sunset Photo Meme gives me such an opportunity.  To see other sunrise/sunset pictures from all over the world click on the logo or name above.

The picture below was taken in May, 2008, at Sunset Beach, North Carolina.  Betsy and I were spending a few days at the beach and had driven to Sunset Beach after an early dinner.  Sunset Beach is an island and we were on our way back to the mainland as the sun was going down.  There was no other traffic on the causeway at this moment, so I stopped to get this picture.  The Intracoastal Waterway is in the foreground.
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You can click on the picture to see a larger version.

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A Sunrise Photo

December 6, 2008

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Last week I posted a sunset picture.  This week I’ll prove that I can get up to see a sunrise by posting a sunrise picture.  To see more sunrise/sunset pictures click on the logo above to go to the Sunday Sunrise/Sunset website.
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This picture was also taken on Mount Nebo in Arkansas.  I got this picture by going to Sunrise Point on the mountain.  Although we got there just as it was beginning to get light, we had to wait some time to get this picture.  The sun has popped up above a layer of clouds.  The mountains on the other side of the valley can be seen below the sun and clouds.

I’ll have to admit that it takes a little more effort to get a sunrise picture,  especially on a cold, windy morning.  But I think the effort was worth it.

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A Sunset Photo

November 29, 2008

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This is the first time I’ve tried something like this, so I guess it is an experiment on my part.  Carla is the person that brought this meme to my attention, so I thought I would give it a try.  You can go directly to Sunday Sunrise/Sunset by clicking on the logo above or by clicking HERE.  At the website you can find links to other sunrise/sunset photos.

This picture is one that I took last November from Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas.

Sunset from Mt. Nebo, Arkansas. November, 2007.

Sunset from Mt. Nebo, Arkansas. November, 2007.

I chose this picture because I like it and because Betsy and I are going back there this week.

Betsy has been going to Mt. Nebo for longer than she has known me, but she took me there for the first time in November, 2006.  This trip will be our fourth.  We always stay in a beautiful cabin on top of the mountain where we can enjoy the mountain views and the sunsets.  Up there on that mountaintop it is almost always quiet and it is easy to enjoy the beauty and grandeur of God’s creation.

We’ll be gone for almost a week, but we should get home sometime Friday evening.  In the meantime I hope you all have a very good week.

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A Visit to the Quiet Side of the Smokies

November 28, 2008
George at Greenbrier Creek, November 3, 2008.

George at Greenbrier Creek, November 3, 2008.

I’ve mentioned before that Betsy and I went to Cosby in early November to belatedly celebrate Betsy’s birthday.  I finally got a photo page put together with which to  share our memories.

We rented a cabin for three nights, and since we went in November rather than August, we practically had the place to ourselves.  The cabins on either side of ours were empty.

When we planned our trip we hoped to do some hiking and waterfalling, but although we got some hiking in, we did not see much in the way of water in waterfalls.  Our drought has been just too severe.  We found Noisy Creek Cascade, but there was almost no water in the creek.

We did find a couple of surprises, however.  For the past three years three of Betsy’s grandchildren (two from Texas and one from Florida) have spent a day in the Smokies near Greenbrier campground.  We’ve seen pictures and video of them playing in the creek and we found the spot they visited — Greenbrier Cascades.  Although there was water in that creek, both Betsy and I resisted the temptation to go swimming or tubing (it was just a little cool!!).

But the nicest surprise was at Serenity Falls.  There was a little water coming over that falls, but there were also three rental cabins on the creek.  One of the cabins was at the very base of the falls with a deck that extended over the creek.  It didn’t take us long to decide that we wanted to go back there in the early spring and spend at least one night in that cabin.

Although our  outdoor activities didn’t go exactly as planned, our stay was very relaxing and enjoyable.  To see more of our Cosby trip click HERE.

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Niagara Falls

November 24, 2008
Betsy at Niagara Falls with the Rainbow Bridge in the background.

Betsy at Niagara Falls with the Rainbow Bridge in the background.

Betsy and I first went to Niagara Falls in 2002.  At that time we were on the Canadian side of the river.  We actually stayed at Fort Erie, Canada, and drove along the river each day to the falls or beyond.

We of course saw the American Falls from the Canadian side several times.  We did spend part of one day at the state park on the American side, but it was a hurried visit.

When we were in Buffalo visiting Kelly and Chuck last month we went back to the state park.  It was late in the afternoon when we got there, but we did have time to walk down to the falls and along the river.  The day had been rainy and it was still quite windy when we got to the falls.  But the power of the falls was obvious and very awe-inspiring.

To see more of our visit to Niagara Falls click HERE.

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Old Fort Niagara

November 19, 2008
George along the river wall of Old Fort Niagara. October 25, 2008.

George along the river wall of Old Fort Niagara. October 25, 2008.

In 2002, when Betsy and I went to Niagara Falls the first time, we stayed on the Canadian side of the river.  One day we drove the length of the river from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and stopped at the Fort George historical site.  From Fort George we could see Old Fort Niagara on the American side of the river.

When we visited Kelly and Chuck last month we had a chance to visit Old Fort Niagara.  Actually we learned that there are two forts sharing the same site.  Old Fort Niagara, the historic site, dates back to 1726.  During the Civil War the garrison expanded beyond the walls of the fort and became the “New” Fort Niagara.  The last army units were withdrawn from “New” Fort Niagara in 1963.

The French were the first to occupy the site of Old Fort Niagara, starting in 1679.  Their first two posts were short-lived, but in 1726 they erected a permanent fortification.  The fortification, the “French Castle”, was designed to resemble a large trading house and is the oldest structure at Fort Niagara.

The British gained control of Fort Niagara in 1759, during the French and Indian War, after a nineteen-day siege.  The British held Fort Niagara throughout the American Revolution but were forced, by treaty, to yield it to the United States in 1796.  Fort Niagara was recaptured by the British in 1813, but was ceded to the United States a second time in 1815 at the end of the War of 1812.

The War of 1812 was Fort Niagara’s last armed conflict — it served as a border post after that time.  The fort was restored between 1926 and 1934 and is now open to the public.

To see more of our visit to Old Fort Niagara click HERE.

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Proof Our Vacation Was Relaxing

November 15, 2008

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I’ve mentioned a couple of times how relaxing our visit to the Smokies was.  Tuesday was especially nice as we stayed at the cabin all day.

The picture above was taken about noon on Tuesday.  I’m not going to mention any names concerning the identity of the person under the blanket!  I simply offer the picture as proof of the relaxing nature of our stay in the Smokies!!!

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Some Mountain R & R

November 13, 2008
Bunny Brook Cabin, Cosby, Tennessee. November 11, 2008.

Bunny Brook Cabin, Cosby, Tennessee. November 11, 2008.

Betsy and I got back yesterday afternoon from her belated birthday celebration.  We spent three days on the ‘quiet side of the Smokies’ in Cosby, Tennessee.

We rented the cabin, Bunny Brook, shown above.  One nice thing about going in November rather than August was that we had almost the entire place to ourselves — the cabins on either side of us were empty.

On Monday we did get out to do some hiking, but we spent most of our time at the cabin.  Now don’t think we were being lazy — we were simply taking advantage of the amenities of the cabin.  Two of the nicer amenities were no phone and no computers!  Since the days and nights were both cool we got a lot of use out of the fireplace.  But we also enjoyed the hot tub.  Do you have any idea how relaxing a hot tub under a full moon and stars can be?

All in all we had a wonderful vacation.

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Driving Through Western New York

November 12, 2008
Lake Ontario at 30 Mile Point, New York. October 25, 2008.

Lake Ontario at 30 Mile Point, New York. October 25, 2008.

Kelly and Chuck (my daughter and her husband) have lived in the Buffalo, New York, area for a little over a year.  One of the things Kelly talked about last year was apple picking, so she planned on taking us to an orchard while we were up there.

One thing about Buffalo that impressed us was that you could quickly get into the countryside from the city.  I’ll admit that I didn’t realize there was so much agriculture just outside Buffalo.

Kelly and Chuck took us to Lynoaken Farm, an orchard that allowed you to pick your own apples.  Unfortunately, it was raining when we got there, so we picked our apples from bins rather than from trees.  But they sure taste good anyway!

We also visited an Amish store (Yoder’s Country Cupboard) and another farm, Brown’s Berry Patch.  Brown’s has been a family farm for over 200 years and was interesting to visit.  In addition to growing all kinds of fruit, Brown’s also made some delicious ice cream — which we just had to sample!!

Since Betsy likes lighthouses, we also visited Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse.  The lighthouse is near Brown’s and is one of a series of lighthouse on the shore of Lake Ontario.

To see more of our drive through western New York click HERE.

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