Caledon, Virginia's Newest State Park

Caledon is the newest State Park in Virginia, officially becoming a State Park just this last weekend. (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/cal.shtml) It claims to be home to the largest concentration of Bald Eagles on the East Coast. That being said, we saw exactly NO eagles on our visit! The eagle nesting areas are closed so the little dude and dudette eaglets and grow up without being bugged by pesky humans. We'll go back after September when they open these areas back up and see if we can spot any raptors!!!!! Until then, here is a short sample of shots from around the park and the surrounding area.

There's that blur I like so much!

He was SOOOO scared of us!!!!

He posed for me fo a long and I got several great shots!
I liked the B&W version the best. 

A Short Trip to the Smithsonian's National Zoo

These are just a couple pics from the National Zoo in DC.  The zoo is free but parking is $16.  We park for free in a Metro garage (on the weekend or holidays) and ride the train up.

This is outside the entrance and represents the Giant Pandas at the zoo.

He looks mean, but I think he was a big ol' pussy-cat!

This guy came running at feeding time.

To keep bears in-- or to keep people out????

He caught me taking his picture!!!!!!

He wanted to shake hands...

I'm really happy with the quality of this orangutan shot!

Click on this and the next picture and check out these animals colors!

Colonial Beach on the Potomac

We recently spent an afternoon at Colonial Beach on the Potomac. Here are a couple beach pics and some from the surrounding area, AND a hot chick!!

Colonial Beach is located on the Potomac in Virginia's Northern neck. The resort town maintains a small-town feel and has several sandy beaches and marinas. The area is full of history with the birthplaces of both George Washington and James Monroe nearby.

My favorite subject with a rare smile for the camera!

Smile Fido......

Osprey, the "Sea Eagle". 

 

Looks refreshing except it's the Potomac and that water is NASTY!!!!!

I wonder what he's saying?  I wonder what that orange thing is?

Wonder no more!!!!!

Classic ride!!!!!!

White Supremacists at the Beach in Virginia

During a recent trip to a local beach, I captured these two guys in larger beach shots.  Zooming in on them during processing of the pics, their affiliation and likely prison past became clear. 

 What was interesting is that the beach was populated by a lot of children and people of all different ethnicities; and apparently this display of ink didn't cause any issues. 

This is a cropped-down portion of a larger beach scene.  

Zooming in on the shot even more shows a red swastika and a WAR tattoo.  WAR is the acronym used by the White Aryan Resistance, a Neo-Nazi group founded by KKK Grand Wizard Tom Metzger.

The patch below is currently for sale on a well known auction website.

This one was with the other one.  A spider web is visible on his left elbow.  Although  this means something different to each wearer, it is a common prison tattoo.

Washington, D.C., Early Morning, Part IV --The White House

This is the last part of my early morning DC Trip last week.  My trip ended near the White House.  There always seems to be something going on there and even early in the morning, it's amazing to realize your standing right there!

On Pennsylvania Ave, looking North East, above the Renwick Gallery.

A man photographs students with the White house fountain in the background.

These old call boxes at Jackson PL and Penn Ave.  These used to contain phones for police and firemen.  They remain throughout the city.

I had to laugh at these shirts because I just knew these guys hated wearing them! But it got better.....

As I walked away, this women rushed toward them yelling "Sanders, Sanders!!!" That was the name on the shirt.  She was trying to get their attention and they seemed to be ignoring her-- so she got louder!!!!

The circle in the foreground is where the White house Christmas Tree goes.  They keep being destroyed or dying from disease so there is currently no tree there...

This statue sits atop a war memorial (The First Division Monument) just tothe SW of the White house. 

Front facade of the Corcoran School of Art.

Wrought iron fence along the Southern boundary of the White House grounds.  

I GOT to get me one of those snazzy hats!!

I hope you enjoyed the DC pics. The city always has something new to see and do. I've been here a couple years now and am always finding new things to experience. I highly recommend a trip at least once to see it for yourself!!