The End of an Era

Over 30 years ago we witnessed the first Space Shuttle being ferried around the beltway on the back of a 747.  At the time, the Shuttle represented the apparent future of space travel. A reusable vehicle that would fly back to earth after each mission.  Anyone excited about the space program in the late 70s had very high hopes for this not so small step for man’s space exploration.   With great fan fair the first shuttle, Enterprise, was flown around the nation for Americans to see.   It was an awesome site lumbering through the air as it circled Washington, DC.  It was unique.  It made us feel proud to be American and the prevailing power in the space race.

 

 

Well this past Tuesday we once again witnessed this awesome sight but unfortunately this time with the sad knowledge that we were witnessing the retirement of the last of the operational fleet of Shuttles.   A fleet of vehicle that made it possible to launch and then later repair the Hubble space telescope.  A fleet of vehicle with unique cargo capabilities that made the building of the international space station possible.  A fleet of vehicles that completed 133 successful missions between 1981 to 2011.  Tuesday’s fly over represents the end of the future of space flight and brings with it an uncertainty about the new future of NASA and space exploration. 

 

 

With the Orion Capsule being the only thing on the drawing boards, one has to wonder if we are not taking one giant leap backwards for man kind.  It all makes me wonder what this little guy has to look forward to over the next 30 years. He was very cute with his Lego space shuttle flying it around in anticipation of seeing the real thing… Will he have proud and fond memories of adventures in space 30 years from now?  Or will he have to settle for the mediocrity that seems to have settled into the culture of our leadership.  We got into the space race over 50 years ago not through mediocrity but with the national pride that drove us to beat the Russians and be the worlds best.   The most ironic turn of events today is the simple fact that, with the retirement of the Shuttle program, we are now dependent on the Russians to get back into space.  Makes me ask, who actually did win the space race. 

 

 

Nevertheless, Tuesday’s fly over was a sight to be seen.  The shear power of the 747 was incredible, as it flew directly over our heads west to east over Rosslyn and the Iwo Jima Memorial at 1500ft.  It brought goose bumps and the shaking that accompanies the excitement of seeing such an awesome event.  Terry and I were privileged to witness the flight 30 years ago and Tuesday we were once again privileged to see the final flight of Discovery.  

 

 

By now we’ve all seen hundreds of photographs of this historic event. Just like most of mine, many are close up shots of a magnificent piece of machinery. But standing on the grounds of Netherlands Carillon, adjacent to the Iwo Jima Memorial and looking out over the city, I found this image very ironic as Discovery flew over the very body of government that chose to mothball the program.

 

 

It makes you wonder if we are really watching our superiority in space exploration fly off into the sunset.

 

 

I certainly hope not for the sake of all the small children who witnessed Discovery as it enjoyed its final flight to the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. 

A Few From Biltmore

Spent over 12 hours today at Biltmore and we didn’t even touch the grounds.  We did the Architects and Butlers behind the scenes tour as well as the full house tour.  We also had a great lunch at the Stables Café and dinner at Deer Park.  At the end of the day we went back to the house to take a few night photos. 

It was a long day and my feet are killing me but we had a great time, especially Caroline.  We off to the Winery in the morning and then home. 

Caroline and the Smoky Mountains

Twelve years ago we took Amanda on a trip to Asheville, NC and the Smoky Mountains. That year the area was slammed with a huge snow storm while we were there.   Although the snow presented some challenges we had a wonderful time.

Fast forward to today and we’re back with Caroline around the same time and once again in the mitts of another big snow.  Today we made the trip from Gatlinburg, TN over the mountain to Caroline’s name sake, Asheville, NC.  Just as it was 12 years ago, the drive was fantastic and provided several photographic moments. 

Tomorrow we do Biltmore which is certain to provide more photographic moments. 

D.C.F.D. to the Rescue

Although the air temp and humidity was very comfortable for a late August day in DC, the sun was still a scorcher this past Saturday.  As we were leaving the Mall near the WWII Memorial the District fire department had this truck setup as an industrial strength sprinkler system.  Kids and adults alike enjoyed themselves as they ran through the water and cooled off.

 

Restoring Honor Rally

August 28, 2010

Spent the better part of the day yesterday on the National Mall at the Restoring Honor Rally.  We, Terry Caroline and I, had the privilege of spending several hours with some of the nicest, courteous, proudest, and patriotic folks I’ve ever had the privilege of being around.  It was a very enjoyable day and quite uplifting from what I was able to hear, as we walked all the way around the reflecting pool and Lincoln Memorial photographing the event.  The only aggravating part of the day was coming home and reading the liberal press.  “Thousands come to the mall for Glenn Back Rally”  Thousands?  Really?  what rally was the press covering? The Al Sharpton rally?  There were at least a few more than thousands in my humble opinions. You look at the photos and you decide.

Arriving on the mall around 10am.  The rally is on the other side of the Monument grounds.

Love this kid!!!

The crowd at 10am; is this what the AP calls ‘Thousands’?  Shot from the grounds of the monument.

Just relaxing under a tree.

Even good ol’ Abe was at the rally.

If this is his thing than it’s ok by me.  It’s called respecting others beliefs.

The guy has a point.  Don’t think it will happen but its a good point none the less.

Does this shot look familiar?  How many were at the rally in ‘63? This was shot at 11am from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Again I ask you, ‘thousands’? It’s somewhat difficult to see but the crowd fills in both sides of the Reflecting Pool into the trees and across the pathway that runs on the other side of the trees.  To the left is the Vietnam memorial and to the right the Korean.  You couldn’t even get to the Korean for the people and the crowd extended to the grounds of the Vietnam Memorial.  Looking to the Washington Monument the crowd fills in the entire WWII memorial grounds, crosses the street and runs up the Monument grounds just about to the Monument itself. 

Ok now here’s the only fringe group we found all day.  This group has protested Obama before, once reported on CNN during the 2008 campaign.  The surrounding crowd politely asked them to move on as this was not the type of rally for protesting or politics.  

Eventually, the Park Police moved in and the group moved on.  They were very respectful to the policemen and respectfully acknowledged the regulations restricting such protests on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  I thought for sure I was going to see some of the violence promised to me by the liberals but it was not to happen.

An impromptu tribute to the late Martin Luther King.

Some proud flag waivers.  These flags were all around the area, state, and US alike, along with a few Gadsden flags and even a couple Join or Die flags.

Abe brought along his friend George.

Jesus meets Colonel Washington? I knew Glenn was religious but this takes the cake.  ;-) 

Love this shot even if I have to say so myself.

Dude!!!  Love the shirt!!!  Must really piss off your progressives friends.

What’s with the funny hats? 

Yet another shot of the ‘thousands’ of people.

I’m not sure Glenn, the Tea Partiers, or any other conservative would use such violent a term as ‘Declare Eternal Hostility’ but if she added the word Marxism and used the word END I’m sure she’d get Becks full support.  

And what’s up with this dude?  Doesn’t he know he looks foolish?  Is there some discriminating message in his dress about the people who attended the rally?  Isn’t this the sort of behavior the left calls hateful? And why so crude?  I thought the liberals were supposed to be the cerebral thinking type.

Both these liberal protesters where just outside the WWII grounds. Apparently they didn’t get the message that the rally wasn’t a political one.  Frankly, I’m not sure why anyone would want to protest a rally fostering Hope, Charity, Faith and Honor. 

Caroline enjoying a nice bottle of water. 

Crowd at the end of the rally around 1pm, shot from the street between the Washington Monument and the WWII monument. 

Just a cool shot of the subway system at Farragut West on the way home. 

 

You can watch the rally in its entirety here