Nimble /  by Dave Hileman

This steel guitar player was fast and sure with her selections. I stopped in Floyd, Virginia one evening on a trip to visit a nearby church. Floyd is well known as a great place to see music performers on the street, at the general store or in actual venues. Located on Route 8 south of Christiansburg, it is a cool tiny town and only minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Modest Home /  by Dave Hileman

This is the house where President J. F. Kennedy grew up on a nice, leafy street in a Boston suburb. It was a rather new area when the house was purchased. The blue structure peeking out from the back is the VC, no idea why it is bright blue. The house was an upper middle class home of the era and it a great visit. Authentic in many details. Parking here is very limited and on street.

Just One More... /  by Dave Hileman

This alligator was lurking under the kayak launch. On the pier about 20 feet out were several wide steps that led to the water easy for two people to carry a kayak down and set off on it. Under the steps was the 7 or 8 foot gator just there. Not moving but watching eyes wide open. I shot this photo in the rather dark space by shooting between the fourth and fifth steps. He did not move and I appreciate that!.

Peppermint Stick Today's Choice /  by Dave Hileman

I have written about Leopold’s Ice Cream in Savannah before, it is certainly one of the top ten ice creams we have enjoyed over the years. Each time we are in Savannah it is a required detour. We camped at a nearby Georgia State Park and came into town for a walk, dinner and dessert. The walk around several of the squares in town is always nice. Dinner was a new place, Savannah Seafood Shack. It is a sort of hole-in-the-wall kind of place with good food. You are shown to a numbered table, closely packed in, but then you order at the counter and they bring it to you after it is ready. The seafood boil was clearly very popular but we opted for fired fish and shrimp with boiled potatoes and slaw. Tasty. Then to Leopold’s. It began in 1919, was closed for several years and then revived by the founder’s grandson who is a successful Hollywood movie producer. It has become the place to go in Savannah as witnessed by the crowds. We waited nearly 40 minutes but when we left the line was well over an hour. A little unknown shop three blocks away, Ben & Jerry’s, had no line at all. Himmm.

I had an excellent Peppermint with a chocolate syrup and Cindy had the Georgian Socialite - Chocolate, pecans and caramel ribbons. Perfect ending for the evening.

Patience /  by Dave Hileman

This gator was not visible when we arrived on the pier to watch the sunset for the third time during our week at Lake Louisa State Park in Florida. But a couple of minutes later it emerged from the depth of the water and just stayed there mostly submerged for about 15 minutes. It never moved until it silently dropped down into the water and disappeared. All it wanted to do was welcome some kayaker back home or, perhaps, it enjoys the brilliant Florida sunsets.

City Hall /  by Dave Hileman

This is the beautiful Savannah, Georgia, City Hall. It opened in early 1906 and replaced one that was on the same site that had been built in 1799. The dome was originally copper but the gold leaf was added in 1987.

The Fourth of July /  by Dave Hileman

Some are apparently not celebrating this holiday, others are actively trashing the United States or trying to do so. Many more will still dress in red, white and blue, have picnics, watch fireworks and appreciate the opportunities afforded them by this most generous of countries. It is not necessary to make the obligatory, but it is “not perfect” statement as no work of humanity even comes close to perfection. Certainly no collective work. The United States has endured and prevailed over more challenges than we see presently and, I firmly believe, will again. I am proud of this land and if you know world history, the United States is as exemplar a collection of diverse people as ever existed. Anywhere. Anytime.

People like General Nathanial Greene who gave so much and endured so much personally are simply inspiring. Had he not died young many historians believe he would have been President, perhaps even the first President, if, as you recall, Geo Washington was most reluctant. The esteem that the Commander of the Continental Southern army was held is seen in the scores of places named for him and monuments, like this in Savannah’s Jackson Square built in 1830, that were raised to him.

I am equally proud of those unknown, like my ancestor, Peter Hileman who served in the Continental Army for a least one year including a stint in the bitter cold winter at Morristown and the battle of Monmouth in New Jersey. His two sons also served in the militia and later as scouts in Western Pennsylvania. I am sure that is why our family settled in the Allegheny Valley.

I celebrate this Fourth of July and if you travel across the country you will find a hard working, diverse, tolerant, patriotic, generous, kind and happy people almost without exception.

God Bless the United States of America.

Nitch /  by Dave Hileman

If you climb the Precipice Trail at Acadia National Park, you can find this small emerging ecosystem. Over the years the rock has eroded until it holds a substantial amount of water, maybe 6 or 8 inches deep and around it you will find grasses, small trees and bushes. Each time I have been here it seems to be a tiny bit larger. All on an otherwise bare rock face.

Passing /  by Dave Hileman

This gravestone is found in the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. There is a small graveyard not far from the VC where a small number of the original guides are buried. Most of them were African American, slaves before the Civil War and free after but their work did not really change. They were “leased” to those wanting to set up guide services long before it was a National Park and most of them continued after 1865 but were now earning their own funds. Some guides passed the knowledge on to their children who continued to guide people even after it became a park. The guides were highly respected and this graveyard on property was given to them. You can also see some of their names in the candle smoked writing on the ceilings of the historic portion of the cave. This stone is one of the few remaining in situ.

Curious /  by Dave Hileman

This little wren kept pondering why we were not eating at this table in our campsite. He was very disappointed because he had me pegged for a crumb dropper. He may be right. Note how he blends into the color scheme of his natural habitat..

Mr & Mrs John Korycki /  by Dave Hileman

John and Angie had a beautiful wedding yesterday afternoon in Clermont, Florida. It was such a fun afternoon and I was privileged to officiate at the ceremony which is double fun when you have known the bride since she was a young teenager. We had dinner at our friend’s home on Wednesday night where we met John. He is an impressive guy and we expected nothing less than Angie would choose carefully! Rehearsal was on Friday evening and the wedding at 3:30 at Real Life Church.

New Bird! /  by Dave Hileman

Posing for me, just for me, on a tree about 100 yards from our campsite was a Black-bellied Whistling-duck. More importantly, he posed while I got my camera out and changed to my long lens. I got off six shots and then he flew. This bird is characterized by the red bill, white eye ring and pink legs. The upper body is a rust color, the lower is solid black, (hence the name.) This is a new bird for me, number 410. Next up, maybe a Fulvous Whistling Duck? No could not be that lucky but they do live in the same environment. Maybe?

KaBoom /  by Dave Hileman

We began with a superb breakfast at Kona in the Polynesian at WDW. What a delightful experience in a very pretty place. Loved walking the grounds. We could have had a free Disney Minnie ride but we had driven to the place. The Minnie Vans were just starting up and they were still doing some training. We went back to the campground and checked out, moved to the outside lot and took the bus into Disney Springs to do an errand. Then we moved to our campsite at Lake Louisa. We met our friends for dinner and the met with the bride and groom for a bit. Nice evening. Couple of boomers from Epcot fireworks - we watched from the boardwalk area.

Another Perfect Day in Paradise /  by Dave Hileman

What a lovely day. We took a long walk in the campground and then took the boat across the lagoon and had excellent meal at Steakhouse 71. We had always liked The Wave and were skeptical but it was still really fine. Back to the campsite by boat again we went to the pool and sat in the hot tub, not my normal activity. Then we were across WDW to the Beach Club’s ice cream shop, Beaches and Cream where we had ice cream sundaes for dinner. Brilliant decision. A walk around the boardwalk, watched the fireworks and then back to the campsite. Cindy planned these two days and made all the reservations for the meals. It was just perfect. Nice prelude to the wedding prep.

The photo today is from a Florida swamp. I think I discovered alien spacecraft refueling. I expect a Nobel Prize any day now.