0 Lonely Cries, Lonely Cries
In the air there’s a feeling of loneliness
Wearing clothes tattered and torn
Hear them say, “can you spare for me a dime?”
City sidewalks, busy side walks
Crowded streets, children crying, people hurrying
Meeting frown after frown
And on the street corner, you’ll hear
“Can you spare for me a dime?”
An ambulance with strobes of lights flickers red, blue, and white
With nowhere to call home, here lies another unknown.
By Richard Smith
On this particular day, My journey starts at Newport News Park, in Newport News, VA. The park offers a 5.3 mile, hard-packed gravel, bike loop beginning at the Campsite Office. The path is fairly well shaded with an overhead canopy from beautiful trees. About half- way through the loop, a placard on the trail indicates George Washington’s Headquarters.
If you decide to further your bike ride another 5.6 miles and back, this loop crosses into the Colonial National Historical Park, in Yorktown, VA which leads to George Washington’s Headquarters, this route is mostly flat and wide wooded trails and some paved one lane roads.
Gravel bikers, mountain bikers, and hikers will see ramparts still in place from battles past.
This section is known as the French Artillery Park, it was an open field where the French established its ordinance depot. Damaged pieces where brought here for repairs.
I biked a little further on the trail, wondering where this will lead me. My bike computer reads I am six miles into my unknown journey. I thought, should I turn around or keep on. About 20 yards ahead of me, I got spooked when two deer ran in front of me; not knowing if there were more, I stopped and took out my iPhone ready to take a picture, but I didn’t see any. My history lesson continues as another placard appears.
A little further on the trail was Daboville’s Headquarters. It is difficult for me to visualize this area was inhabited and with plantation buildings.
On one side of the gravel road, stands a lonely marker, known as the Essex Lodge Cemetery. It is dedicated to the memory of those who rest here. The forebear’s and descendants of Thomas Wynn. Host of General George Washington, October 1781.
This simple cross is thought to mark the burial place of about 50 unidentified French soldiers killed during the Siege of Yorktown.
Now, I am off onto a beaten path; where I see a group of turkeys. There are a dozen or more, but as biked closer most of them scattered into the brambles. I took a picture, but I only could photograph two turkeys.
I hope you all enjoyed gravel bike ride through history. Comments are welcomed.
A lonely sparrow stands high on a tree to search for his mate. With a shrill pitch sound, he desperately sings a lonely song, that can be heard all around. In the distance an echo he hears, the happy sparrow tilts its head from side to side, he spreads his wings and flies to meet his love so dear.
This is a photo I took, that inpired me to write the avove paragraph. I hope you all enjoy. Comments are welcome
While in Lancaster, PA, my wife and I toured the Amish area. Through our tour guid, we learned about the passion and purpose, which inspires these Godly people. Their Christian spirituality is the framework that sets their lifestyle.
The picture below show mules that are the power force to pull the plows, hay wagons, balers, hay cutters, and wagons through the acres of farm land.
Tractors often must be adapted for off-road use only, lest they provide the opportunity to go too far from home. This usually means steel tires rather than rubber.
The Amish look to God for help in this dangerous world. When they are face with problems, their first instinct is to pray rather than to seek a quick fix. They learned patience; they feel demanding a quick fix signals a lack of trust in God.
I hope you enjoyed this little article and have an opportunity to tour and visit an Amish community.
On our one-day bus tour, we arrived at the Jefferson Hotel a luxury hotel located in Richmond, VA, opened in 1895. In 1969, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Not only is the Jefferson Hotel known for its authentic opulence, it has become synonymous with its extraordinary dining, breathtaking architecture and flawless service. This is what we saw as we entered the hotel. The photo to the right is the rear view.
You can see the stairs that led us to our dining area. This particular day a group of school children sang Christmas carols as we journeyed up the stairs to our tables.
We did not stay in the hotel rooms, but we did enjoy the feel of luxury. We had a great luncheon with our bus group of 50 spread across five tables (10 each to a table). We sat on the second tier of the rotunda which gave us a birds eye view of the plush, phenomenal décor of statues, columns and paintings.
We were instantly served a mixed salad with a house dressing. After we finished the salad, the servers brought our meal, a choice of salmon or pork tenderloin, garlic mashed potatoes, assorted vegetables, and warm rolls. My thick salmon was garnished with a lemon sauce that seeped through the salmon. My taste buds savored every bit of this fine cuisine. Desert was a cheesecake garnished with fresh strawberries and whipped cream along with a choice of coffee or tea.
It is beautiful every day of the year, but exceptionally stunning during the Christmas season with its beautiful Christmas display of ornaments, an ideal time to visit the Jefferson Hotel.
These very common small birds are friendly birds and are often surrounded by half a dozen or more of its kind. During cold winter months they feed on seeds and grains. In the spring, summer and fall they feed on insects, flies and mosquitoes. Normally sparrows are noticed in joyful conditions, sing musically and chatterers about the day’s business. There are times a sparrow will mourn; this only happens when the bird’s mate has been killed or its nest and young is destroyed. Although some people may consider them a nuisance and of no monetary value, but accordance to the Bible in the days of Jesus, these tiny birds were an article of commerce as they are now in the Far East.
Eastern Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Your comments are appreciated
I photographed this Egret from my kayak on the Warwick River; a 14.4 mile tidal estuary that meanders through tall grasses and cat-o-nine tails to cut its way into the James River.
This piece of paradise is a birders’ delight. I spotted Herons, Egrets, Sandpipers, and at least six other small bird species I couldn’t identify. One hairy critter smoothly swam across my bow. As it went ashore I identified it as a muskrat.
This beautiful peaceful setting is in Newport News, VA. In 2013 the population was estimated to be 183,412, making it the fifth-most populous city in Virginia. According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 120 square miles (310 km2), of which 69 square miles (180 km2) is land and 51 square miles (130 km2) (42.4%) is water.
Wow!!!! Here is another of God’s creations known by the non-scientific name as a dragonfly. I wonder if this insect inspired man’s flying insect called a helicopter. Maybe in the very existence of the dragonfly they were giant flying dragons and through time they dwindled down to the 3 to 5-inch colorful insect we see now during our warm and hot summer months.
It is written that the dragonfly in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and the perspective of self-realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity also the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.
1kayaker 