The battle of Gettysburg took place on July 1st, 2nd and 3rd 158 years ago. Each day decisions were made or not made that could have changed the course and the outcome of the battle. Day two those moments were frequent and the Irish Brigade was at the heart two of those moments but the most critical time would occur on July 3rd when they would man the Angle that was the focal point of Pickett’s Charge. The Irish did not flee the stone wall as two other units did and rose up to meet the first of the Confederate troops only 40 or 50 feet from the wall. The southern line was stopped and the center of the Union line held. In all the Irish Brigade lost 320 of the 540 who marched into Gettysburg. The Celtic Cross is their monument on the battlefield.
The Battery /
When you stroll (you don’t “walk” here) along the battery you are engaging in a history that goes back to 1737 when Broughton’s Battery was built here. A seawall was added in the 1750's. Broughton’s Battery was later decommissioned in 1789. A new wall and promenade were completed in the 1820's, still referred to as “The Battery.” It is a beautiful place to enjoy stunning views of the Cooper and Ashley rivers and the old forts visible across the water. I always thought I should live in one of these houses. Darn finances.
Katmai National Park: The Big Bear (7 Photos) /
I wrote on yesterday’s post about the two five-year old siblings who were fishing in the river, and not fishing very well, and then their distress at the very large male grizzly headed toward them. When they spotted him they left the water and one went into the brush, the other stood on the bank and briefly sort of hopped on his front paws a bit while making an odd huffing sound. After asserting his right to be there, or whatever he was doing, he too went into the brush. At that moment the Big Bear was in the river’s edge but he then veered toward us and came up on the bank we were standing along. Our guide said to stay still. I was sitting on the ground shooting with my camera on the tripod closest to the river from the rest and our guide said I could keep shooting. He unsnapped his marine flare holster but did not remove the canister. As the bear neared us you could hear his breathing and he moved his head from side to side looking toward the water then toward us but he never varied his speed, just kept steady past us and on down the river until out of sight.
Then the siblings returned. First they tried a bit of fishing but then came up on our side of the river. The more subservient one stayed away but the other decided he too could walk past us and did so. Unlike big bear he never took his eyes off of us and once past returned back up stream again staring at us the whole way. They then finally worked out of sight up river.
We headed across the dune and soon found the Big Bear fishing in the mouth of the river. Successfully. He caught two salmon quite quickly and then wandered up the bank, paused to turn back toward us and then left into the low shrubs.
We had to leave and it was far too soon. A day unlike any I had ever had. The photos today are sequential to my story.
Note the salmon diving back into the stream that got his attention!
Just missed….again!
And he huffs and snorts, but leaves.
Leaving the stream to investigate us is the reason for the upset by the other two.
He owns the river.
The Big Bear from less than 25 feet. Nervous much?
“Anything you can do…” But not more intimidating for sure as one of the siblings walks past us too.
Katmai National Park, Alaska (8 photos) /
Katmai is a remote National Park of over 4 million acres, a bit larger than Connecticut. It is about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage and south of the Kenai Peninsula. The only access is by plane or boat. We visited the park in the summer of 2019. We were camping in Homer at the KOA on a hill over town with a super view.
Most of these park photos are new to the site, and all of them are recently edited or re-processed. There will be a link to this post in the National Park Gallery menu under Alaska and Katmai. Still working on the link process but this type of link will be the new norm for all of the park entries going forward, and I do plan to re-do all 290+ that we have already visited. Lots of photos.
There are two primary ways to visit Katmai to view the bears - the park is all about the bears. The first is a day trip by seaplane to the primary Visitor Center at Katmai called Brooks Camp. After attending a bear safety class with a ranger, you are admitted on a timed schedule to several viewing platforms. The most popular is by a waterfall; this is where many photos of a grizzly catching a salmon are taken. In pre-covid times you would be on site about 4 hours. Alternatives to the one day trip to Brooks Camp include tenting overnight in a fenced safe compound or inside accommodations in a lodge with a second full day bus trip to the “Valley of 10,000 Smokes.” You can fly commercially to King Salmon, a small village, stay overnight and use a float taxi to Brooks Camp. Visiting Katmai is expensive.
We chose another option - an excursion with Bear Adventures from Homer on the Kenai Peninsula, a great town in Alaska to visit. The pilot/guide flies four guests in a small plane to a remote area on the coast of Katmai National Park, lands on a beach, and you take a guided walk among the bears. This option is also expensive - and I have been to Disney! But it was the most amazing experience - worth every penny. We paid a bit under $700 each with an early bird special in the spring.
Our first reservation was aborted by bad weather after getting up at five, suiting up in our hip waders and listening to the safety lecture. But glad they take weather seriously. There was an opening the next afternoon, and it turned out to be a perfect day. As we approached the park, our pilot flew in lower looking for opportunities. He spied three bears and said we would try this bay - activity indicated the salmon had started to spawn.
He was correct. He landed smoothly on the beach and over the first dunes were three bears, a mother and two cubs about 2 years old. (All bear facts courtesy of our guide) Before we had settled along a log to watch them, a wolf appeared and the three bears chased it over the dunes running right past us. Shortly they came back, no sign of the wolf, and resumed fishing about 40 yards from us. We watched them a long time until they moved out of sight up the stream. We walked over another dune or two and soon spotted two 5 year old bears fishing and playing the at edge of the sea where the steam entered. I failed to focus properly on them thus poor photos! As they moved inland, our guide moved us to another location where he expected that they would emerge and fish, again correct. Now we were mirroring them on one side of the river while they moved up the other side. Amazing. We were never more than 20 yards from them.
Then the BIG bear approached. He was 1000 pounds plus and would be 1200 by end of the summer. The two younger ones moved back into the weeds and the full sized male grizzly walked past us on our side of the river less than 25 feet from where I was shooting. He ignored us (yay) and continued out of sight toward the mouth of the river. The other two continued to ineffectively fish and, in a show of bravado, one crossed the stream and walked past us just like the big one did, never taking his eyes off us. He then turned around and went back past us to rejoin his sibling. We went back toward the river outlet again and watched the big bear catch two salmon. As he moved off, we returned to the plane and flew back to Homer over an extinct volcano. We saw some unique sea birds, three eagles and glorious scenery.
What a fantastic day! The staff of Bear Adventures was very competent - committed to guests’ experience and safety while maintaining a respect for the bears and their habitat in Katmai National Park.
Cadillac’s Viewpoint: Pure perfection and I even got to pilot the plane, of course. Cadillac’s Elevation 5 Antlers
Tomorrow: the Big Bear Lumbers in
Momma returns from the wolf chase over the dune
Back to fishing
We were told they stand when curious and two year olds are curious.
Not a happy bear
The five year old siblings - likely their last year together.
No you cannot outrun a bear, 1000 pounds of fast.
Ready to leave with one more windy photo
A special beauty - eagle soaring over the beach
100 Mile Challenge : Bridging the Gap /
This is a different TLT post to let you know that I am going to walk (possibly kayak a bit and bike a bit) 100 miles in NC State Parks and Greenways by early August. Why? To support the Bridges Church in Winston-Salem NC where my friend, Patrick Norris, is the minister. They already run a wonderful food and clothing distribution center on their property. And use the nicest building to house it! They want to do more in their community to teach skills, support families, mentor kids and share faith. That is a goal I can support.
The hundred mile walk is designed to raise some seed money for the project, and you can support the walk/bike/kayak at any amount per mile that you choose. Did I mention how hot and humid it is in North Carolina in the summer? Of course not - I don’t want you to feel guilty but joyful with the prospect of sending me forth into the stifling heat. I did not mention the possibility of snakes either. There are lots of them lurking on the paths of NC parks I am sure. And they will be hard to see with the swarms of mosquitos particularly through my glasses dripping with sweat from the heat.
There will be regular updates on Two Lane Touring under the menu tab 100 Mile Challenge where you can see photos of the walks, track mileage, and chart the number of orthopedic visits. What a deal. Now, you are asking, how to get engaged with the process? Well, this is the one time mention on TLT, and there will be one email as well. That is it - no further pressure. If you wish to help, here is the link: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/fundraiser/MTE4NDIx/58257
Did I mention the heat?
Completed so far: 5.1 miles at Umstead State Park. Miles to go 94.9
Lets see if these old boots have another hundred miles in them.
Watch /
This is a momma Osprey on her nest along the James River. Don’t mess with mama.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” I Peter 5: 8,9a NLT
Rhino /
I imagine this was quite the exotic sign in the 18th century. Living in Williamsburg as we did for 25 years we walked past this sign countless iimes on our typical CW walk. It was my favorite small house, with lovely trees and a great location. This was once a store and is now a private residence owned by CW and rented to select associates of Colonial Williamsburg.
Softness /
The freshly mowed hay and the wheat field appear soft and billowy but they require lots of hard labor to prepare, plant and harvest the crop. Have you thanked a farmer lately? Do you know a farmer? You should because your food does not come from Door Dash or Publix.
From yesterday - Peter Falk, The In-Laws. - the good version, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079336/
“Serpentine Shelly. Serpentine!”* /
The reason I was able to take the two scooter kids that I posted yesterday was that I was parked along the road trying to capture this field. I do not think I really succeeded - or at lesst it is not quite what I hoped for when I viewed it that evening. It was stunning.
*Quote from one of my favorite movies, your guess?
Scooter Kids /
The large wheel scooters are everywhere in Lancaster County, PA. And, yes, that is where we were last weekend. We took our youngest granddaughter camping and to the Sight & Sound Theatre to see the play, Esther. Well done with remarkable scenery. I took a few minutes one evening (this was not my trip!) and shot four or five photos and maybe a couple more on the phone that I liked over the weekend. This one was on a side road less than a mile from our campsite off 897. The two kids seemed to be about 7 & 9 and were enjoying a nice brisk ride.
Working /
The sun is nearly down but the work is not done. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
One of my favorite photos of 2020 /
I ran this photo through a couple of filters designed to make it appear older. Not sure what I think of the process but I am posting it to give you a hint of where we were this weekend with our youngest granddaughter.
Misty /
On a trail across a coastal Georgia swamp in the thick mists of an early morning. Everything is still.
“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Isaiah 44:222 NLT
Cool /
As we approach the heat and humidly of summer, at least in Raleigh, I try to recall the cool refreshment of a mountain stream.
Star Wars Canyon (2 photos) /
The actual name in Rainbow Canyon and it is located in the northwest corner of Death Valley just outside the National Park a few miles. This canyon is used for low level, high speed military jet training, hence the nickname of Star Wars Canyon. If you were here when one came through you would be eye level with the pilot, for a nano second! There is not a schedule for the flights or we would have spent some time and waited. Seeing one of these scream into and out of the canyon must be amazing to watch —- and hear.
Bluebells /
Yes, I know, an actual name! I read the sign nearby. These cool flowers are found at Brookgreen gardens.
Arch too /
This is another of the sandstone arches at Alabama Hills in California. This short trail, about 1.5 miles, leads past four nice sized arches.
Oops /
I know that Flag Day in June 14th, what I apparently do not know is how to use a calendar. I simply missed a day and I had this ready to go, so, in honor of Flag Day, this is a view of Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. One that cost a lot of blood and tears to see the flag flying over that structure today. I was pleased with this photo as nearly the whole picture is shades of red, white and blue. Perfect for yesterday.
Another Old Station /
This is once again along Route 66 just north of Kingman, AZ on a lonely loop of the old route that connects to the interstate about 50 miles from where is diverges. Not much on this section but a couple of tiny towns and lots of scrub brush. We passed about 8 or so old stations and a couple of decaying motels.
Desert Owls /
This is a second pair of Burrowing Owls at the same location where the first set were photographed. These were slightly further away and on the opposite end of the the area. Still so cool.
“This judgment on Edom will never end; the smoke of its burning will rise forever. The land will lie deserted from generation to generation. No one will live there anymore. It will be haunted by the desert owl and the screech owl, the great owl and the raven. For God will measure that land carefully; he will measure it for chaos and destruction.” Isaiah 34: 10,11 NLT
