‘Travel’ Posts⁽⁴⁴⁾

Summer vacation at one of my favorite places, Bluestone State Park. I’ve been coming just about ever-other year since 8th Grade, and it never gets old. Cheap too … something like $350 for a week-long cabin rental. hiked the River Trail.

Bluestone State Park
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148552/

After a morning hiking Mt. Constitution, we spent the afternoon kayaking around the West Sound off the San Juan Islands. We kayaked accross the sound to what I *think* was the unfortunately named “Victim Island.”

Kayaking the West Sound, San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148572/

Mount Constitution is the San Juan Island’s highest peak, though at a relatively meager 2,409 ft.

Hiking Mount Constitution, San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148616/

We took a day trip out to the Conservancy’s Yellow Island Preserve, a tiny island in located in the middle of the Puget Sound. Through the island’s history, an absence of grazing has helped preserve an unusual diversity of native plants, including 50 species of wildflower and bald eagles.

Yellow Island Preserve, San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148645/

San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148681/

Part of orientation to The Nature Conservancy is a trip to an ecologically significant place, with a 4-day conservation immersion course. My trip is to the San Juan Islands in Washington’s Puget Sound. On our way out there, we stopped by at the Conservancy’s Port Susan Bay preserve, which is one of the finest estuarine habitat in the Puget Sound.

Port Susan Bay Preserve, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148717/

Puget Sound, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148675/

Went to Dallas for a wedding, but managed (being the pol that I am) to make a pilgrimage to Dealey Plaza and the rest of the “historic” area.

Dallas, Texas:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151020/

Trip to Chicago for NTEN 2005. Got out a couple of times to take pictures of a very cold, dark city.

Chicago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151062/

At the last minute, I got invited to see Wicked in NYC. The performance happened to coincide with the close of The Gates in Central Park (by that guy who seems to have made a career out of wrapping things). Ran out of the show, which was about 6 blocks south, and managed to get some shots before dark.

The Gates, New York City:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151112/