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Friday, June 22, 2012

A Tempe, Arizona Interlude.......

I spent a couple days in Tempe, Arizona recently.  I like to put up photos of various areas up showing scenes that will provide an alternate view of an area than what is typically seen.  Some of the pics below will do just that, while some are of the standard cactus and desert scenes.

The origin of Tempe, Arizona is tied to the establishment of Fort McDowell on the eastern edge of central Arizona’s Salt River Valley in 1865. The town was named Tempe in 1879, after the Vale of Tempe in ancient Greece.

After World War II, the city began growing at a rapid rate as veterans and others moved to the city. In 1958, a local school was re-named Arizona State University. 

Tempe is now recognized as the seventh largest city in Arizona and mostly maintains a small-town feel. 


This safe is at least six feet wide.  It's in the old Hayden Mill on Mill St. 
Sign near the old elevator in the mill. 
Flour Mill.
Remnants of the old flour mill. 



I feel bad for sights like this because most people wont see a photo worth taking in looking at it.  For some reason, I was drawn to the  contrast between the rock formation and the power poles/lines. 
I've always been fascinated by stratum.  Hundreds, thousands or millions of years ago,  parts of this may have  been the top layer with dinosaurs, aliens, ferrets or bigfoots walking on it!!!
If you look close, there's a camo squirrel in this pic.

This hill is right nest to the ASU Stadium.
He taught he taw a puddy tat!!!!!!
Don't taze me dude!!!!!!!






Graffiti on the butte above my hotel.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Piece of Lorton Prison History / Occoquan Regional Park

I've been wanting to photograph this park on the Occoquan River for quite some time.  The park is next to Lorton Prison in Virginia and is tied to it's history.  We finally got out there for a short time and took a couple pics.  It's a very nice place and I will be back...

This kiln was used for over a hundred years by Lorton inmates to make bricks for structures in the area. 











Sunday, June 17, 2012

Waterfalls on the Potomac? Great Falls National Park.


Great Falls on the Potomac River is is located in the Mather Gorge, approximately 14 miles up river from Washington, DC. The falls consists of a series of waterfalls dropping a total of about 75 feet. This area is known as the the steepest fall line rapids of any river in the eastern United States.


We went early in the morning to avoid the crowds.  The website said the park fills up on nice weekend afternoons.  By the time we left, several more people had shown up. 






There were vultures, cranes and Osprys near the falls.  Supposedly there are eagles too but we didn't see any. 

They were looking at us, looking at them!!!!  These people were on the Maryland side.  Looks like people show up on that side much earlier.  We had one guy taking pictures, then a lady meditating.  Nice and peaceful...

Seems this is a great place to meditate...

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Quantico Run Amuck 2012


Four of us, Mason, Shawn, Jennifer and I, ran the 2012 Run Amuck today at Quantico Marine Base. This was a 3.5 mile run with 18 obstacles including PT stations; mud pits; tire dash; barbed wire crawl, 20-foot pipe slither; A-frame climb, and more! This year there were over 3000 participants!! Oh, and we got to hit Marines so that was worth it right there!!!!!

Since I was running, I had to rely on Anais and Mary Ann to get pictures of the event.  Both did great and I wanted to share a few pics.  

The Marine Corps Marathon runs this event too.
Before!!
Jen, Shawn and me.
Jen, Shawn, my head and Mason.
This is one of Mary Ann's pics.
Another of Mary Ann's pics.  She took some great shots that Jen put up in her blog.
Go here:  http://picturepages.blogspot.com/2012/06/run-amuck-2012.html

Coming down one of the last hills.  There were about 700!!!

After!!!!
Oops........

Someone just HAD to go dance!
There was.....

Thanks Anais for the pics!!!!!!!!!!!