Rich Stranger's State Street Promenade

Rotary Snow Plows are large pieces of railroad equipment with a rotating metal wheel that slices through large snow drifts and throws them to the side of the tr...acks, clearing the way for other trains to pass through. These days, very few of these plows exist, let alone operate. In the winter of 2020, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad operated one of its steam rotary plows over Cumbres Pass for the first time since 1997 to celebrate the railroad's 50th anniversary as well as 140 years of steam over Cumbres Pass. Come along as we see Rotary OY in action during this special 2 day event! See more

On a weekend not long ago, during the peak leaf change in Ohio for the autumn, we stopped in at a location that we'd visited long before we ever got involved in... photography. Along the Olentangy River near Delaware, Ohio, we stopped off briefly to check out one of the most intact and impressive examples of former 1800's -era gristmills in Central Ohio; the Bieber Mill (not in any way related to THAT Bieber...) From the Abandoned, Old and Interesting Places in Ohio site, a little history: "From 1843 to 1844 Shubal W. Knapp and John Blinn built a three-story frame gristmill. In 1848 Knapp and Blinn sold the mill to George Bieber for $3,000. James Bieber and George Bieber's son, assumed the operation of the mill after his father's death. James continued to expand his land holdings through purchases from family members. He acquiring over 100 acres adjacent to the mill site. James Bieber's gristmill operations were very successful. In 1876 - 1877, James Bieber and his brother Henry built an addition to the frame gristmill. On the north side of the gristmill they erected a 3 1/2 story, stone mill with a full basement and foundation. The new stone mill housed a sawmill on the first floor. The remaining space in the huge mill was never used for any milling process. The gristmill, however, continued to operate successfully. James Bieber found himself in financial difficulty in 1880 when he could not pay for the stone mill's construction. He was in debt to William H. Marvin for $13,098. Bieber tried unsuccessfully to pay Marvin, but his beautiful stone mill was auctioned at the Delaware County Courthouse on March 9, 1889. Jesse Eury paid $2,505 for the Beiber Stone Mill. Jesse Eury did not operate the mill due to poor health. Eventually the gristmill was placed back into operation. Elmer A. Wigton was the miller in 1896 and eventually became the owner. Wigton was a bachelor and lived in the mill. While Wigton operated the mill, the stone dam was destroyed in a flood. Wigton constructed a log and brush dam but it too was ruined by a flood. Elmer Wigton sold the mill in 1923. The old frame gristmill met the fate of many other mills and was devastated by fire. Unfortunately, due to the proximity of the stone mill, it too was destroyed. The stone mill lost its roof, floors and massive beam structure to the fire. Today, the Bieber Mill stands as one of the most impressive mills ever constructed in Ohio. The walls are 3' thick and are constructed with beautifully cut limestone. The local area is famous for its limestone and the mill is evidence of the skilled stone masons of Delaware County in 1876. The side that faces the river is still intact and provides the visitor with the impression that the mill was a gigantic structure even by today's construction standards. The other three sides of the building have deteriorated, but are still beautiful. The structure sits on the Olentangy River and has braved many floods. Three stone arches, one on the north side and two on the riverside indicate the route the water was channeled to power the waterwheel. The millrace and basement where the water flowed through the wheel have been covered with silt from the river. The stone arches are still visible several feet above the silt." The day was perfect for documenting the old mill, with the leaves turning and the sky a gloomy grey. Enjoy this short tour of the ruins! -Mr. P.

The Great Temple of Rameses II at Abu Simbel and The Temple of Hathor. which was built in honour of Rameses’ Great Wife and most favoured of his consorts, Nefertari.

05NOV2020: It's official! Hannah and Majestic tied the knot. My first time seeing Hannah in person in months! What a site, seeing the 2 side by side like this... again- butterflies and heart pounding experience. 2021 Here we come...fingers crossed. ~Simon See more

South County pet owners: don't miss our Pet Wellness Day at Friendship-Manor in Goleta on Sunday, November 8. Walk-in hours are 10am-1pm for low-cost shots, mic...rochips, flea treatment, dewormer, nail trims and emergency pet food distribution, plus dog licensing by Project PetSafe. We still have a few spay/neuter and medical appointments open. Address: 6647 El Colegio Road See more

No nursing home for me.... I’ll be checking into a Holiday Inn! With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way wh...en we get old and too feeble. I've already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $59.23 per night. Breakfast is included, and some have happy hours in the afternoon. That leaves $128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies. Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc. Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap. $5-worth of tips a day and you'll have the entire staff scrambling to help you. They treat you like a customer, not a patient. There's a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free. The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp). To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays. For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there. While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up. It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today . And you're not stuck in one place forever -- you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city. Want to see Hawaii ? They have Holiday Inn there too. TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem.. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience. The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they'll call an ambulance . . . Or the undertaker. If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life. And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation. The grand-kids can use the pool. What more could I ask for? So, when I reach that golden age, I'll face it with a grin.

Bridges and other Cleveland landmarks

Any Nomad Owners out there.

The Venice Electric Light Parade rolls on Ocean Front Walk #SantaMonica, Sunday November 1, 2020.

Tucked away in a tranquil wooded valley very near downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania lies a remnant of a past now long gone. A mere 30 second walk from a main ro...ute out of town lies a place removed from all of the bustle of Pittsburghian daily life, a place that showcases the architectural genius and style of our forefathers in the form of the Beechwood Seldom-Seen Greenway. Featuring an old decommissioned road that now serves as a walking trail, a beyond fascinating old brick train viaduct that demonstrates what I can only describe as a scalloped texture within, and two old steel train trestle overpasses covered in graffiti, the Greenway was an amazing place to spend an hour or so on a hot summer day, especially after sweating so hard the rest of the afternoon exploring the Burgh. We had a hellish time just GETTING to the Greenway, what with the lack of turnarounds and the fact that it is relatively hidden from view, unless you know exactly what you're looking for. As a train fan of old, this was a great spot to see remnants of an age when rail was King and Pittsburgh's industrial base was at full tilt. Enjoy this short look at the beautiful splendor of the Seldom-Seen Greenway and check it out if you're even in Pittsburgh for the day! -Mr. P. See more