Cape Henry Lighthouses

The "new" lighthouse on the left was built in 1881.  The one on the right in 1792.  That, by the way, "was also the first federal construction project under the Constitution" (per both Wikipedia and information from the gift shop).  You can climb to the top of the old brick one (192 steps, I was told).

The newer one is made of iron and remains in operation.

Cardinal

OBX - Thankgiving Weekend

The Wright Brothers first powered flight markers, Kill Devil Hills, NC

 Currituck Lighthouse, Corolla, NC

 Jockey's Ridge, Nag's Head, NC

 Fort Raleigh, Roanoke Island, NC

 Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, Manteo, NC

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Pima Air & Space Museum

Over on Exploring Arizona I've just added a number of pictures from our trip to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson.  That day was one of the best I've had in a long time!

Here's an extra shot!

Charlotte Greenway

A big tree along the greenway, a pond coated with green scum, a Green Heron and a turtle doing their things, and the greenway boardwalk...

Linville Falls, NC - just off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Charlotte Uptown During "Taste of Charlotte"

Charlotte Speed Week

Charlotte Speed Week, Tryon Street, Uptown Charlotte.

Charlotte Uptown

Charlotte uptown.  Taken from the 46th floor with a cell phone through slanted glass, so not the best picture in the world...

Charlotte, by the way, has an Uptown, not a downtown...

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Christmas Time

Scottsdale has a wonderful park dedicated to miniature trains, ranging from Z-gauge on up to others that are big enough to ride on.  During the Christmas season they put up decorations along the tracks.

They've also just added a new building for their small-scale layouts.  They expect it will take the volunteers another 4 or 5 years to complete all the work that they're doing.

As you can see in the shot below, there are different layouts for each of the sizes and a lot of open framework is still showing.  I personally hope that they leave at least a little of that so that visitors can see the "behind the scenes" work.  It's pretty impressive!

Well worth a trip in July, but especially festive just before Christmas.  A word to the wise:  Go during the week and before school gets out for the holidays.  The lines get very, very long on the weekends!  Oh, and the park entrance is free, but it does cost a couple bucks to ride the train.

Cactus

We think that this is a male cactus...

Monterrey

Beautiful scenery along the California coast.

South Mountain Park/Preserve

In October, Team Diabetes visited South Mountain Park as part of our marathon training.  San Juan Road runs east/west through the park about 14 miles round trip.  This is taken facing east along the road.

Camelback

It only seems right after Pass Mountain and Piestewa that I include Camelback.  This was my 3rd attempt to get up it and I still haven't managed the top, but I'm getting closer!

The top shot is of the first real problem area on the trail. Some people can just run up this sucker, but I have to climb the rail and it's tough to haul my butt up there! The picture below was taken about half way up the climb. You never know what you're going to find!

I have made it to the top of this section every time, but this was the first time I made it past it.  There is a second challenge a little later.

The climb up, however, is rewarded with some wonderful views of the valley.

Piestewa Trail

In July, I went to North Phoenix to participate in a fun run with Team Diabetes.  Afterwards, I went partway up the Piestewa Summit Trail.

The trail goes up nearly 1,200' in about 1.2 miles, so it's steep, but most of the way there's no bigger steps than a staircase.  However, there are sections where the rocks are jagged and you do need to watch your step.  This is the one trail that I've tried so far with Minimus shoes that was actually too painful to do.