Southport Fire Department

Southport Fire Department, 1011 North Howe Street, Southport, Brunswick County, North Carolina. Founded in 1893, they are 100% volunteer and operate out of this one station. The station was built in 2011 and won a gold award for volunteer fire department from Fire Chiefs Magazine in 2011. I don't know why it is but it seems I'm always looking straight into the sun when I find a new fire station. Check their website those bar doors are red.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway or Bust

We rode the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak back in 2005. There are three basic ways to make it to the 14110' peak. Drive, hike or take the train. The train is the way to go. It takes about 3 hours to make the round trip. They give you 45 minutes on top. That doesn't seem like a lot but the air is rare up there. You just hang out, check out the views, peruse the gift shop or hit the oxygen bar. 45 minutes is a long time. If you're lucky you can see some wildlife from the train. At least some marmots. But definitely the hummingbirds at the station.  Safest way to travel the 9 miles to the top. Plenty of safety improvements. Three different braking systems. First there is the hydraulic brakes, then the manual brake. Last but not least there are the springs that will stop you.. Manitou Springs... Colorado Springs...

The Emporio

This is Emporio on Mott Street in NoLita, NYC. Looks like a cool place to eat, the menu looks like an adventure. By this point in our day we were adventured out and trudging towards the car. Someday I would love to go to the City and just bum around for a couple days. No plans. Just calorie intake and shoe leather express.

Chinatown Friendship Gate

The Chinatown Friendship Gate at 10th and Arch Street in Philadelphia. This is the first authentic gate built by Chinese artisans in America. Built in 1983/84 as a symbol of cultural exchange with Philly's sister city, Tianjin, China.

Whatsit

OK, I ask again, "What is this?" I mean besides two old tires cut and bolted together then buried half way in the ground, the other half in the weeds. I have found these before only last time they were on the complete opposite side of the State Game Lands. I've looked at the layout of all the old farms that make up this Game Lands and they are not near any corner or even on the same old farm. While out walking last month I actually stumbled onto two of these. Both in the same drainage just a couple hundred yards apart. The last one I found 3 or 4 years ago was a mile and three quarters southeast of these. I am baffled.

Tri-Colored Heron

The Tri-Colored Heron is one of four that I have seen and gotten pictures of. Although these are not the best pictures, they are what I have. We say this guy fishing along the western bay shore of Assateague Island, Virginia, while on a pontoon boat cruise around Chincoteague Island. In the past I have seen Blue Herons, Black-Capped Night Herons and Green Herons.

Where Eagles Fly

This Bald Eagle was seen flying along the Tom's Cove shoreline on the south side of Assateague Island, Virginia last fall.

Sunday Morning, 9AM

I saw fire in the skies

I felt my heart pound in my chest

I heard an eagle cry

Now I'm alive I can breath the air

Feel the wind, smell the earth in the air

I watch and eagle rise above the trees

Project myself into what he sees

Take me away

Come on and fly me away

Take me up so high

Where eagle fly

Eagles Fly

Sammy Hagar

1987