Weekend in Shenandoah

Took a quick weekend away. We drove south to New Market, Virginia, through Luray and into Shenandoah National Park, entering the Skyline Drive at Thornton Gap (mile 31.5) and spent the night at the Big Meadow Lodge. Big Meadow is at the 51.2 mile point on the 105 mile long Skyline Drive. It was relaxing, I wish it could have been a little longer. This old snag is at Little Devils Stairs Overlook at mile 20.1 (measured north to south).

Friendship Fire Company of Bressler

Friendship Fire Company of Bressler, 625 Main Street, Bressler, Pa. Dauphin County Station 41. Chartered on March 30, 1920 they built a 1 story fire house on this site in 1921. That station was replaced in 1936 with a new brick station, now part of the current station. Additions of bays to the side and the remodeling of the original bays to the office and social area in 1964 and another bay addition to the rear in 2013 left the original building nearly unrecognizable. Bressler  runs with an engine, an air unit and a special unit.

MV Stikine

We were passed by this big boy while we lined up to dock in Ketchikan, Alaska last year. This is MV Stikine of the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. It is a 198' ferry that can hold 30 vehicles and 160 people. It's route was Coffman Cove to Wrangell to Petersburg.

OPACY

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore. It isn't often I get an opportunity to get pictures of the outside of the Yard. A Sunday game a couple of weeks ago gave me that chance.

No Spidermen

Yes, it's true. Spiderman is not allwed in the CN Tower in Toronto. Here is my proof. The CN Tower was built in 1976 and stands 1,135 feet. The Outdoor Observation Deck is at 1,122 feet.

Gypsy

Gypsy, sittin' lookin' pretty,
The broken rose with laughing eyes,
You're a mystery, always runnin' wild,
Like a child without a home.
You're always searching,
Searching for a feeling,
That it's easy come and easy go.
Oh, I'm sorry but it's true,
You're bringing on the heartache,
You're taking on the best of me.
Oh, can't you see.

Bringin' on the Heartache, Def Leppard, 1981

Bread and Butter

Once again I am no butterfly expert. These guys were with about 30 fritillaries (little orange and black butterflies) swarming around my small butterfly bush. Top two are the Cabbage White Butterfly, the bottom two are the  Clouded Sulfur Butterfly.

American Hose Company #2, Pottsville

American Hose Company #2, 323 West Norwegian Street, Pottsville, Pa. Pottsville Fire Department, Schuylkill County Station 70. First organized as the Rough and Ready Fire Company on June 30, 1848, they changed their name to the American Rough and Ready Fire Company in 1851. Again, after members returned from the Civil War 1866, the name was changed to American Hose Company No. 2. In 1869 the original firehouse was sold and the current site was purchased. And finally the cornerstone for the current station was set September 9, 1876 (it was modeled after the Hampden Fire Company's station in Reading). The Pottsville Fire Department (the American's were one of the original five companies) was organized in 1877. In 1960 social quarters were added. The newest bays were dedicated October 8, 2011.

Woodpecker Column

These larger than life woodpeckers (a yellow-bellied sapsucker and a pileated woodpecker) were spotted along Bremner Boulevard in downtown Toronto. They are the work of a pair of artist known as Fastwurm. The 'Tree' is 30 meters (100 feet) tall, so the birds have got to be 10 or 12 feet tall.

Sue

Well, Daddy left home when I was three,

and he didn't leave much to Ma and me,

Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze,

Now, I don't blame him 'cause he ran and hid,

But the meanest thing that he ever did,

Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue"

Boy Named Sue, Johnny Cash (Silverstein), 1969

Another Skipper

Remember last week when I spoke of butterfly identification? Well This is a Skipper, too. I'm not even gonna look to see which of about 30 different skippers there are. Just enjoy.

O's Offense

 1st Baseman Chris Davis

 Designated Hitter Steve Clevenger

 Centerfielder Adam Jones and 3rd Base Coach Bobby Dickerson

 1st Baseman Chris Davis and 3rd Base Coach Bobby Dickerson

 2nd Baseman Jonathan Schoop

  2nd Baseman Jonathan Schoop

 Shortstop Ryan Flaherty

Relief Pitcher Jason Garcia

O's Defense

 Starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen with the first pitch.

 Centerfielder Adam Jones

 Second baseman Jonathon Schoop

Right fielder Gerardo Parra

The Orioles offense put on an in-game batting practice session yesterday at the Yard. The bottom of the 5th sent 13 O's to the plate, 10 hits and 9 runs. For the Game it was 26 hits and 18 runs. The defense wasn't too shabby either. The A's got 2 runs. 

Franklin Fire Company, Chambersburg

Franklin Fire Company, 158 West King Street, Chambersburg, Pa. Franklin County Station 4.  Organized  December 8, 1903 as a successor to the Hope Hose Company to protect Chambersburg's 4th Ward.  A building had been built for the Hope's at the corner of Franklin Street and Martin Avenue in 1888. Upon the Franklin's organization a new building was dedicated February 7, 1905. In 1968 a two bay addition was built onto the 1962 bays and dedicated to Firefighters David Gabler and Harold Snider. Gabler and Snider died in an accident while responding to a call in Fayetteville on July 22, 1936. Major reconstruction took place in 1980/1981 adding to the living quarters and the social hall and tearing down the 1905 station. The 1962/1968 station was replaced in 1999 with the current station.

Skipper

You know, butterfly identification isn't as easy as it looks. Google up butterfly pictures and your not likely to find a match. Took me awhile. This guy has the elements of a Red Admiral but in the wrong places. Finally found something close. A skipper. This is a Silver Spotted Skipper. Definately. I think. Maybe.