Gone, But Not Forgotten

Some scenes along the way to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. May, 2013
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Cows and churches go together like, well, uhh, oh never mind.
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Even if these folks didn't go to a "better place", this place ain't too bad. I wouldn't mind pushing up worms here someday.
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This headstone must have cost the Borden children a pretty penny.
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I dunno what this rock border is for.
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This gentleman died 137 years ago.
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Sarah was well thought of.
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First Lt. Gentry died in Vichy, France, in 1913.

Posted by Dave

Luray Caverns

These were taken at Luray Caverns in Virginia several years ago. I've got caves on my mind.
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Dayum! Stalag-whatevers!
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Cave pics are tough because of the low light. These are the best 3 pics from the hundreds I took.
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Luray is beautiful like this from end to end.

Posted by Dave.

Old Airplanes!

I found these old family slides from the 1950's. Airplanes!
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This is my Grandpa. He loved that yellow plane.
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I have no idea where this photo was taken. Granddad did aerial mapping all over the world.
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I'm pretty sure this is Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. My Dad was there during the Korean War.
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Yep, there's my Pops. He met my Mom while he was stationed there. Chemistry ensued, and that's how I came to be.
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I have no clue what any of these planes are. Pops used to wrench on 'em.
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This runway looks a bit primitive.
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The landscape is much greener here, so I think this was taken in Ohio. I used a lens brush on all these slides, but it looks like this one could have used some more cleaning.
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My Dad and his Mom. I need to ask my Dad about this picture. It doesn't look like an Air Force plane.
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Boulder Dam, back when Lake Mead had water.
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My Grandpa used to love to take pictures like this, but I more suspect that my Dad took this photo. Another one I gotta ask him about.

Posted by Dave

Quickly, To The Batcave!

Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky. 300 miles of cave, with several more miles discovered every year.

Here's one entrance. Stairs take you down, down, down.
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Here is the original, main entrance.
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No shortage of stairs and steps.
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I took two two-hour tours. They hustle you along. It's hard to stop and get a picture.
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Mammoth Cave was discovered again in 1796 by a hunter that shot a bear and followed the wounded critter into the cave. Thousands of years ago, Native Americans used this cave for purposes unknown.

In the War of 1812, slaves mined salt peter here. After the war ended, the slaves became tour guides.

In the early 1900's the Park Service starting buying up the land from the approximately 600+ different owners. The park is now 7 square miles and contains 86 cemeteries.

Posted by Dave

Astro Pics

I took these photos last night. I piggybacked a Nikon D5100/20-35mm lens onto an Orion 80mm scope. I was kinda randomly shooting along the Milky Way. No particular target. I was just seeing what I could capture with a regular camera lens.
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Above, 147.8 seconds, f5.6, ISO 400.
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Different area. 242.3 seconds, f5.6, ISO 400. Picking up some Milky Way "cloud."

Posted by Dave

Grapevine Canyon

Grapevine Canyon was on the way home from Spirit Mountain.
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I didn't get any pictures, but there are grapevines galore growing here. Hence the name Grapevine Canyon.

Posted by Dave

Spirit Mountain

My big sister let me tag along on a hike to the peak of Spirit Mountain, which is alongside the Colorado River, west of Lake Mohave. I'll let the pictures do all the talking. Click 'em to embiggenate.
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Posted by Dave