Baker Park

Frederick Md.
On my walk downtown tonight I walked up through the portal to Baker Park that parallels this portion of Carroll Creek. The fountain, lights, and Bell Tower make an interesting scene. I wonder how the BB camera would handle it.

Well, it isn't nearly what my Nikon produced, but one can still get the impression of the symmetry of the scene. Now for beer, shrimp, and football at Olde Towne Tavern.
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Train at Point of Rocks

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I hear that trian a comin'

This was taken Sunday and sent to the wrong address. I shot it after the tunnel just seconds after I moved from the track when I heard that train a comin' and snapped this photo as she passed under the pike. Johnny Cash's song played in my mind as she came rolling 'round the bend blaring her whistle at me and the tunnel. Fortunately, I am not stuck in Folsom and I did see a glimpse of sunlight through the clouds as I drafted this. The rain has ceased, and I begin my trek north on the canal hoping it will stay nice for I am without rain gear
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The Rail Station

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Point of Rocks Station

Trammelstown, MD. It is good to see this old station in good heavy use. Many commuters to DC come here daily. Indeed, one must pass through here when commuting by rail from Frederick.
War Between the States
In May 1861 Jackson managed to capture 56 locomotives and 300 rail cars just east of here. On June 17 1863, CSA Cavalry captured a military train here on the B&O line and burned it and it cargo of flour. Later in the month thousands of Federal troops passed by here maneuvering against the ANV on the road to Gettysberg where they would have a "Rendezvous with Destiny". Finally, in 1864, the gray ghost, Colonel Mosby conducted his Calico or Crinoline raid to attack the garrison here
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Green Canal

Every now and then you can see water in pools in the canal. This is interesting because of the algae that covers the pool. It appears that some small creature (likely mammal like a chipmonk) was able to tread on the algae to cross from the east bank until he reached the partially submerged branch to continue on to the west bank
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Potomac. & Geese

I spied an interesting shot down on the river where several streams fed in, and a large rock was visible. Looking down river there were a flock of Canadian geese enjoying the day. I would love to be able to take one and enjoy it for Thanksgiving at Southfork
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Blasted Rock

This stretch of the canal had large rock on its eastern portion. I descended into the canal for a shot and by chance noted the rock in the foreground which has what I believe to be a blasting hole drilled in it. Perhaps a misfire or just an unused one left at the bottom of the canal and photographed this day at about mile 49 1/2.
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85 Year Old Tree

Walking along the canal I looked for a good way to represent the 85 year old forest that has overtaken the old canal since the great flood of 1924 ended its service. I think this tree says it best. If one could count the rings it could be verified, but just visually it appears as big as any tree in its girth that I have observed here. It appears to be an old oak with its rugged bark. I wonder about how it curved outward from the canal to the tow path and what might have caused such
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Commodius Lockhouse

Just as the family of the lockkeeper provided a commodius welcome to boatmen for nearly 100 years who passed this lock, so the Park Service provides a commodius stop for travelers today. Color coordinated too!
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More Points

This is perhaps the best example of the point0 just down the trial. Zoomed in at 3x
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The Real Point of Rocks

Aptly named
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Point of Rocks

This tunnel sits just below Hyw 14 Leesburg - Frederick Road. The sign says Point of Rocks in the brickwork and the interior of the tunnel is bricked. The rock formation here is interesting as well, and shows where earth pressure pushed the rock up and distorted it. I also took the first picture with my new vintage Yashica Zoom Image camera. Just next to this is the old c and o canal. Oops. Here comes the train. Time to move

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Library

Frederick
I much appreciate the sculpture. Reminds me of my kids. Rainy today so I shielded BB for this shot. This is a good Saturday to visit the library and relax a bit. Today, specifically, it was to do some searching and downloading of an out of print manual for a Yashica Image Zoom 90 Super I picked up for $5.00 on the internet in nearly new condition last week. Next to see if the old timer will still perform. BTW, I have seen it listed, when new, for over $330
Zetta asked if they still made film for these Yes and I think for a very long time to come due to quality of the result which surpass nearly all digital camera.
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Mural. 2nd and Market

Duck through a window evening light
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Bliss

Mommy and Baby Culture for Steamboat Kids :).

Ps. I do think child birthing and rearing to be such a blessing and worthy culture to promote and so necessary for the continued welfare of culture. It astounds me that our institutional policies and culture actually work against this as the promote the antithesis of family
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Hippie Pot Shop

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TCP Cafe

Cafe' Cubano
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Cafe Anglais Sign

I do appreciate nice signage. It does a good deal towards making a charming cityscape. Some good examples fro Frederick follow from this evenings promenade
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Tea Time

Frederick. Md. On Market Street we have a nice little Cafe Anglais where one may enjoy a nice spot of afternoon tea in a very beautiful garden. I asked my waitress to surprise me and got this quite good shortbread with a very tasty tea. One may have a proper tea with reservations, like what friend Linda occasionally has at Lago Linda at home on Black's Ridge
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Betty Boop

I get to visit with this charming Betty Boop a few times each month and it always puts me in mind of my Betty :)
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Skirmish at Dranesville

The area about Washington was occupied by both sides throughout the war. Mosby as a partisan ranger operated fairly freely here conducting raids. As the sign indicates, foraging was a significant element for the survival of forces, but here mainly for the South. The sign immediately behind this says that Lee entered at this spot to begin his march to Maryland resulting in the taking of the arsenal at Harpers Ferry and the bloody battle at Sharpsburg

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Freedom Hill Fort

Tysons Corner Virginia
I stopped off to pick up some supplies and just for fun googled for any old forts. Viola. Not four miles away is the apparent remains of what is now known as Freedom Hill Fort. A good description is found here.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/archives/freedomhill.htm

It looks like could have held one heavy gun in this pit.. The page said it was only eight men- so one heavy gun crew is likely. No action reported here during the war.
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Holy Cross Day

Fredericksburg Va
This morning at Holy Cross Anglican Church we celebrated Holy Cross Day a day early as it is our dedication day, followed be a nice feast and fellowship. Afterwards I visited some sites around town and noticed on Marye's Heights an 1862 photo that clearly showed St George Church steeple. Later, downtown, I waked but the old church and saw that there would be an evening Eucharist--a chance for me to gain entrance to see the interior. As luck would have it I took the pew to the rear on the westward side. In the course of the service I became aware of the beautiful window at the end of the pew in front of me. As it was near the street side it got more of the evening sun than any other window. Indeed the rest of the church was relatively dim to dark. I steadied the BB on the back of the pew and captured this shot. Now it is significant in a couple of ways: Firstly, note that it has wood grain-as did the True Cross. Secondly, note that in the center it has the chi-rho, the first two initials of the Greek word-name Christi. Earlier that morning I had preached on this Christogram and its significance to Constantine, his mother Helena who uncovered the cross, and to the cohort of Rome that accompanied her from Rome to protect and defend her, and to participate in the excavations that uncovered the Cross. The legionaires bore upon their shields this very symbol that Constantine had seen in the heavens before the great battle of Saxa Ruba. It is also the symbol of many Orders today including the Labarum Guard of the Order of Centurions, whose lapel pin, a hand painted chi rho shield, I wore on my blazer that morning. You see, the cross was a rarely used symbol of the early church until this event, and now is ubiquitous. Thirdly, the timing of this string of events. I sent the photo with a link to the propers to the Order and reflected and still reflect on the things which seem to me out of the ordinary to say the least. Lift High the Cross; en touto nika.
http://www.orderofcenturions.org/documents/holy_cross.html

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Angel of Marye's Heights

Stone Wall and Killing Fields
Frederick Md
I often come to visit this site. I reflect on the great battle here, the horrific carnage at this section, and the legend of this angel. He who risked his life to comfort his fallen foe, serve us today as a model for chivalric action by good men.
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Stone House

Manassas Junction
House served as hospital and headquarters in the two battles here. Surely it was the most well remembered man-made landmark of the soldiers who fought here in those two famous battles. Located at a historic crossroads on Lee highway not far from this mornings shoot. I haven't shot skeet and trap before. Chris shot twice as well as I on the trap. Scoring 16 of 25. I enjoyed it and the over under I rented. Hope to do it again.
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Millstone & Moffet Station

When the citizens of Hancock greeted Andy Jackson here with a salute a citizen asked "Didn't the detonation alarm your horse general?" The President replied emphatically, "No sir; my horse and I have heard a similar sort of music before"
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Rails to Trails

One mile from the Big Pool station and the start of this trek. I plan to bike to Hancock (10 mi.) For a visit and dinner then back to Big Pool. It is shaded and beautiful, paved and flat. A party of bike camper of 10 or so just passed
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Fort Frederick

1756 Potomac River Md
The Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Maryland have done a grand job in restoring this old 200-man fort built to defend the frontier in the French and Indian War. Shown is the foundation of the headquarters in the foreground and one of two barracks constructed based on research. Also the fortress served in the Revolutionary War as a POW camp and WBS for both sides. The well is in the original location and restored. The fort walls are a French design, ironically. The 1353rd CCC Company had a camp here in the1930s to work on restoration. Uncle Earl commanded a similar type of CCC camp in More head, Ky. The officers ran military style camps and the young men learned engineering skills and military discipline which would in a very few years serve as a base for the citizens army that would save democracy from the Axis powers
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Sacred Ground

Fox's Gap
On my trek back this evening I noticed a sign about a North Carolina monument and found this beautiful memorial to the color bearer of a NC regiment who fell at the stone wall in Wise's garden as he refused to surrender to the advancing 12th Ohio. The NC flag is visible on one side and the motto Deo Vindice on the other. On the back is an official letter describing the event now captured in so movingly in bronze. The old stone garden fence stands as it did on that September 14th in 1862.
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I Love My Birkenstock Shoes

Only those who have suffered chronic foot pain can appreciate the feel of broken-in Birkenstocks. I started wearing these just a few months ago when walking or jogging two miles resulted in burning pain in the ball of my foot and shooting pain in my toes. Even standing to preach the Sunday Communion led to a hobble. Today's trek over rough and steep terrain for over four hours and probably at least twelve miles on the Appalachian Trail was a blessing.
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Wedding Bells Ringing

Dahlgren Chapel
As I finished my return trek along the trail I heard the church bells tolling. Upon emerging from the wood I came upon this scene. Note the bride in the midst of the party. I have very much enjoyed officiating these glad gatherings. I pray these two will keep their "vows"

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Trail Shelter

Rock Run
The Appalachian Trail Potomac Club manages this portion of the trail. They recently provided this shelter which has room for about 16. First come first serve :)
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Wise's Field

Fox's Gap. Sept 14. A day-long battle won finally by General Reno's 3rd Corps. He fell here to the last Confederate volley from Hood's Texans. Also fallen was BG Sam. Garland, CSA, while rallying his men. May they and their men rest in peace.
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Appalachian Trail

Neat Fox Gap Md
I once expressed the wish to hike this trail end to end. I think it takes four or five months - and good shoes and feet. I shall keep this hope alive as my foot seems to be improving in my Birkenstock shoes.
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Middletown Md

This little village sirs on the National Turnpike in the of the Catoctin Creek beyond Braddock Heights. It has several beautiful homes like this from the Victorian period
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Contra, Square, Mixers & Fun

Glen Echo Park, Md.
These folk are very good. I enjoyed the Celtic dances the best. There was one fellow in his kilt. I haven't seen folk having so much obvious fun in a very long time. The music was live and grand. Just wish these old ears could hear the calls.

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Old Carousel

Glen Echo Park, Maryland
I rode tonight. The kids rode this old carousel years ago on a visit to DC from Fort Monroe. they did not have the brass ring for us to try and grab, but the mechanism and old picture was there. The old military band organ was wonderful. Tonight I've come to also observe Contra dancing as they call it (square dancing is what it is in our region).
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