538 steps

I did something a bit out of the norm for my usual job description, and thought I would share it. I was sent out to my favorite park for a bridge tour. A state level park official was going to give a tour of new walking trails along with a recently completed bridge. Well unfortunately I recieved the wrong date and it occured the day before. But out of curiosity I decided to go check it out anyway. Maybe I could find someone hiking over it, which is more featury and what I really prefer over staged photo ops.

I am pretty familiar with the park but got a map anyway just for reference. I was hoping for a clearing where I could see the position of the bridge, maybe getting a distant photo with the 40% to 50% of fall foilage that is getting ready to peak. But no vista view of the bridge was to be found. I decided to hike down to see where there might be a good vantage point. Step after step, this was a nice woodland hike which I have been on several times with friends and family. Still no sight of the bridge. I passed a few out-of-breath retirees that were resting in different scenic overlooks. But still no bridge. I stopped at some signs to make certain I was heading the right direction, listening closely I could hear people below, considerably down below. Then I though of course the bridge wouldn't be a span bridge 600 to 800 ft in the air. Ohhh its down near the valley floor. Ok I could use the exercise.

Finally it came into view maybe 75 feet beneath me, it spans about 87ft with a dog leg in the center due to the neccesary placement of the center post. So I spent a few minutes taking in the scenery. Walked across the bridge that is about 40 ft off the valley floor, which is fun since it is set on 1/4 inch wide gurters that you can see thru.

Of course no one was in sight, nor did I hear anyone on their way down. I waited for a bit, taking in more of the surroundings including a nice waterfall nearby. But there was no one to be in the feature photo, so the trip was a bust.

Time to head back UP!!!! I was alone and knew it would take a while. So I decided to count the stair steps just to see how many. You already know the total amount from the title, but that doesn't include the spans of hiking on the trail some over rocks and boulders.

Yes, I took a few breaks on the way up, approximatley every 75 to 100 steps. Somewhere after half way back up, I took the long sleeve shirt and tied it around my waste, the Tshirt I had on was just fine for the conditions. Then somehow I switched gears chastizing myself for being complaining yet thinking about firefighters. Jogging up stairs to the flames....with heavy uniforms and gear that is unforgiving and rediculously heavy. Not knowing whats around the next corner. Uncertainty and chaos just moments away. My hat goes off to all firefighters, especially the 343 that died in the scenario that I was playing out in my mind. Odd how some innocuous things can remind you of that day. Certainly not the first or last time that will happen..I hope. The bumper stickers may have vanished and the flags returned to only festive duties on Holidays. I am glad for the 538 steps, the sweat on my brow,for tightness in my chest...the shortness of breath for those moments.....and for that moment causing myself to be reminded of the sacrfice of others.

I may not have gotten the photo I wanted, but I got something more important. A meanial task turned into an small adventure which turned into another one of lifes moments to contemplate. It made the rest of the hike just a bit easier. I still kept count of the steps in front of me, but I looked to the trees instead of my feet. Enjoying the moment, even if its a benign walk thru the forest. As the bumper sticker on my old Trooper reads "Life is Good"

37

A few days before my anniversary of arrival, Sheila and I along with our friend Tim, went out to a music festival. The Hootenanny was held at another friend of ours amazing retreat of a property that spans over 200 acres. I go there several times a year since a wide variety of events are held there, a rugby tournament, several music events a year, survival camps, etc.

One such event had a fellow neamed Snow Bear, of North Carolina, teaching students to be one with their drum, during a class on African rhythm stylings

Meanwhile, Sheila grabs a roller to work on one of the three rooms we have been renovating over the past month, which has led us to a much needed escape if only for a day.

On this particular occassion we decided to camp after the 10 hours of music from the six bands that were on hand.
One of the artist's was Jason "Lefty" Williams from Atlanta, an inspirational blues guitar player that caused me to buy not one but two of his CD's after jamming thru a blazing set of his own stylings along with a nod to one of the Godfather's of the electric guitar - Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression"

Another well known and loved local musician, Ralph Roddenbery showed up without a band, but Lefty and a few other guys from a band named Captain Soularcat stepped in and closed out the end of the night at 1am.

Off to air-filled-bed for me and Sheila, while our friend Tim grabbed his acoustic guitar and joined the other late-night owls until 4am strumming like rural New York hippies from fourty years ago. I would include a photo of him, but he had a rather poinent salute during my 9am wake up call for breakfast Apple or Lemon turnovers while we tore down our tents. This weekend was a wonderful toast to the end of my 36th year upon this big round ball. I look forward to all the fun and entertaining voyages we make during my next loop around the sun. I'll be sure to tell you about it right here. Till then a toast to the woman who endured 9 months of back aches so that I can have a special day. Thanks Mom

145th Battle of Chickamauga

As much as I loathe the man in the photo, it's not every day that the Vice President of the United States comes to town. As I understand it he is a bit of a history buff making the trip to honor an ancestor, his great grandfather served in the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Chickamauga. Which is ironic considering he defered five times during Viet Nam and the hipocrit has the nerve to impliment a Stop Loss program upon being a civilian leader making decisions in our current war. But I promise I will try not to go off on too much of a tangent. When going thru the credentialing process a few people I know asked if I was excited about the VP, to which I responded I am looking forward to the experience.
The credentialing process and Secret Service involvement was the most interesting part for me. The credential itself is another keepsake reminder of this diversely voyeuristic view of life and community that I get to call a job. The processing and handling by the Secret Service was smoother than expect. I was thinking they would be like a TSA agent that was up for promotion, but surprisingly everyone from the screeners to the advance people, all were friendly and more importantly accommodating.
We anticipated long lines to get in and arrived two hours early. Fortunatley we (media) got a golf cart ride via S.S. agents only to be taken to the front of the line. Once inside it was just sit around and wait time, which would result in a bit of a sunburn for me. The press, both video and print were herded into one area, and were persistantly reminded to stay there. Not much shmoozing with the political types, once you were in you were there to stay. To leave the 15' by 25' media area required a S.S. agent escort. Had to be an agent, its amazing how structured the agency is. Only specific agents could take us up to the two secondary camera shooting positions we were alloted.
This shot is from the first position which required about 30 ft of "duck walking" or crawling to get into position, a mere seven feet from the podium and the Vice President of the United States. The shot was good, but two things stand out when I look at it.
First, Cheney looks much older and more frail than I would have thought, like he is in his mid eighties and sickly loosing weight. The second was the flag (12' x 36' I think) came crashing down, narrowly missing an S.S. agent that was guarding the podium an hour before Cheney arrived, along with the supports due to the gusty day we were experiencing that day. A frenzy of county workers were able to put it up in time, but not at the desired height or position. Maybe it's just me but maybe both of these are Karma's way of saying "Here's your Sign" - Bill Engvall

This shot is from alternate position # 2, it had a great picturesque quality with our great Georgian mountains in the background. It was probably also set for a great crowd shot, which didn't really happen. If it weren't for the two thousand-or-so school kids on hand, there would have only likely been about 400 to 500 adults that showed up. The VP came for an hour and fifteen minutes to this ceremony, then attended a brief private memorial in the Chickamauga Battlefield for a half hour.

An advance team of five Secret Service agent were on site for a week, not to mention dozens of deputy's, and security personnel for the two days leading up to the event. The essential motorcade escort of maybe 20 motorcycle cops along with state troopers , an ambulance, along with Federal and State level politicians. I find the organization and work they put into one little event like this truly amazing, and to think of the expense of it!!!!!

I rather like this photo, and plan to do a composite poster with this being one of the central images, which of course I will post on here once it is completed.

The way it used to be.... It was rather interesting to watch the techniques that the original war photographers had to use, like Matthew Brady. Not to mention the heavy camera, or the exposure times that lasted several seconds, thus the frozen almost constipated look of nearly all those who posed.

Dennis Boggs was an amazing Lincoln presenter at the event, it ws great to listen to his speeches along with a candid interview of what it is like to do historical impersonations. I love this shot because I knew it would happen eventually, I just had to wait and be in the right spot for the 2 or so seconds that it afforded me to take it.

Young yankee cavalry on the move....