Virginia Blue Bells in the spring

Delicate pink and blue flowers a dew drenched early in the morning.

A bouquet of Blue Bells show how delicate and soft pastel they are.

Charleston Gray

Sidewalk slate with fallen leaves.

Porsche sitting in an alley.

Alley to no where but has gray pavers.

 

Bear's Roar

A little recognized feature of the Blackwater Main Falls is the Bear's Roar as shown below. If you can't see it in the first photo it is obvious in the second image.

The flowing water forms a straw broom formation.



Bear's Roar

Sunrise over Dolly Sods West Virginia

Doll Sods sits in the edge of a mountain facing a large valley to the east offering a wonderful vantage point to view sunrises. These are typical spring views.

Looking south

Looking north with pools of water

This would be a high cost bear den based on location, location, location.

Beaches in Charleston, SC

Boneyard Beach near Charleston, SC

A cloudy sunrise still offers some pretty colors

Boneyard Beach offers reflections at high tide

Sunrise over the Lotus

A double fancy lotus with morning glow

A double fancy that is fully open

A different lotus pose - horizontal reach

It was quite humid this morning with dew abounding on the petals.

Barns and Grain Elevators

This is Wheel Barn located in the Palouse, Washington state.

This is what we call the Beast.

Tank cars on the siding along side a grain elevator.

Harvesting on the Palouse

A John Deere 9610 Combine load the Peterbuilt grain truck.

Two john Deere 6622 combines work the field.

A Kenworth grain truck receives wheat from the John Deere 6622 to be taken to the grain elevator for transport to market.
 

Lotus in prime season

Fancy double lotus (not many of this variety) in full bloom.

This one was playing peek-a-boo under a large lotus leaf.

A nice white lotus with a few petals already past prime.

Steam and reflections of Shay Steam Engine

Shays pulling a freight and logs down the tracks from Cass Railway Station.

Pressure vales pops with a plum of steam at Cass Railway Station.

Reflections in the head lamp of Shay #5 at Cass RR.

Water Lilies and a friend

This praying mantis is on the fence about breakfast.

 

Crimson red water lily - first truly colorful lily in a while

 

These and the pure white lilies are the traditional ones that we normally see

 

Prison Grunge - the Red Chair

This is a short study of a red barber chair in a prison - among the grunge...



Obviously, the light needs bulbs....

Next, the chair is empty and waiting!

The skylight is providing the glow of the chair..

Shay Steam Engines at and leaving the stations

Here are several Shay steam engines at and leaving the Cass railway stations. Lots of smoke!

Shay #5, #11 and #6 belching smoke as they leave Cass Station at full throttle.

Three Shays at the Cass Station.

The log training leaving the Cass Statation.

Things that make a shay steam engine GO!

This collection shows 'items' that make a shay steam engine go. Not everything but somethings.  More to come.

What makes steam? Burning coal and it doesn't get into the firebox by itself. Back breaking shoveling by the fireman does.

There are a lot of wrist turning on any machinery and a steam engine is no different. These hang off of the cab for easy easy acees by the crew.

These knuckle couplers are what keep the whole train together. Massive iron pieces.

Shay Steam Engine and saw mill ruins

Cass Shay #11 getting a touch up cleaning while waiting for a run.

Pulley and shafts from the saw mill ruins.

Baltimore & Ohio Caboose on a siding.

Maintenance performed on Shay Steam Engines

Shay #4 and #5 are receiving coal which is a daily if not twice activity.

After a long winter, these Shay steam engines are being cleaned, filled with coal and getting ready for a steam excursion the next day.

Shay #11 is having is running gear steam cleaned.



Shay #11 is in the shop yard being clean front to back.

Charleston - three diverse items

Charleston has detail where ever you look - here is an interesting nautical knocker

She's a cutie but does not have much to say...

Another obvious architectual detail is the use of iron work through out the city. They even use it to inlay wooden doors.