A bit of Cape May, New Jersey

September 26-27, 2013 – I have a cousin who lives in Cape May and his sisters were visiting from Alabama and Georgia.  We didn’t become well acquainted until about 8 years ago.  These few days were such a joy!!
My cousin once removed (meaning my cousin’s son) took some of us out on his boat.   We started in the Intracoastal Waterway on a beautiful day.  Conditions were such that we went on into Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.  These are a few of the sights.

They are dredging the waterway.

This tower was built in 1942 to spot German ships during WWII

A sunken ship – cement if I remember correctly

We saw porpoise, but they harder to photograph than whales!  We were hoping they would come to the boat and play.

The Cape May Lighthouse with a nunnery next door

This is Bunker Battery 223 which was earth covered and was well equipped for war time.

Three of us went to check out the shops and I came across this church

The Bronx Zoo, New York City

September 18, 2013 – Visiting a zoo is one of my favorite things so Carol's suggestion we visit the Bronx Zoo was terrific.  I remember taking our daughters to Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle fairly often when they were little, and it was fun watching them make new discoveries each time as they grew.  Then it was nieces, the grandchildren and now even a great niece!

These are just a few of the sights and birds I don’t remember seeing anywhere else – doesn’t mean I haven’t!

Crested Tinamou

Guira Cuckoo

I have no idea why I don’t have better photos of the grizzlies playing in the water, but they were fun!

The insect carousel

West Point Military Academy in New York

September 17, 2013 - When I was invited to visit my friend Carol in New York, she asked what I would like to see.  I had no idea!  One of her suggestions was West Point.  Carol and I first met two years ago through our connection with an online camping forum.
During certain hours, you are allowed to drive through the campus, but you are not allowed to stop.  A bus tour was offered.
First stop was the church.

Over the door - USMA - United States Military Academy

 

 

A view from in front of the church

This is a view from the parade grounds

The Hudson River

 

The museum

On the way back to Carol’s we passed this sign and statue.  I had never heard of Sibyl Ludington, but Carol had some books I read that evening.  Interesting story as this young girl made a ride similar to Paul Revere's.

Mid-America Windmill Museum, Kendallville, Indiana

August 25, 2013 - I have known about this museum for ten years and just happened to think of it while on the road.  Turned out I wasn’t far away.  I have always loved windmills.
This is a photo of the original barn built in 1889 of hand hewn wood and pegs.

In February 1994, it was moved to the current site after having been disassembled by the Amish.  It was rebuilt but with new pegs.  To preserve the barn, it has been insulated and sided so the original is only seen from the inside.

The cross beams are 40 feet long and came from the same tree.

A few of the windmills

Dinosaur National Monument, Vernal, Utah

July 17, 2013
My grandson and I met his mother and sisters in Vernal, Utah to visit Dinosaur National Monument.  My apologies for some of the blurred photos – recently repaired camera really wasn’t totally repaired or I am no longer very steady.
There is a tram to the Quarry Exhibit Hall which houses a large wall of dinosaur bones.

This guy was part of the outdoor exhibit at the museum in downtown Vernal.

Gilsonite is something I had never heard of – actually quite pretty.

Hanging flowers were abundant throughout the town.