Roadie: Women's Rights National Historic Park

The Wesleyan Chapel, site of the First Women's Rights Convention in 1848. (10/8/18)

Though less than a sixty minute drive from our home in Rochester, New York, Anne and I had never been to the Women's Rights National Historic Park. During last October's Columbus Day long weekend, we took our day off from work to drive out to nearby Seneca Falls where the "park" is located. As (relative) locals, and residents of the hometown of suffragist Susan B. Anthony, it is easy to overlook local historic sites in one's own backyard, even those with such significance to Unites States History. More a series of interconnected museum displays than a traditional "park" (no hiking shoes required!), there is quite a bit to take in over relatively short square footage that comprises the Visitor's Center and nearby sites. The town of Seneca Falls, the basis for Bedford Falls from It's A Wonderful Life, includes a quaint Main Street with other tourist sites to investigate.

Inside the restored Wesleyan Chapel. (10/8/18)

Declaration Park lies between the Wesleyan Chapel and Visitor's Center. (10/8/18)

The Waterwall on which the entire text of the Declaration of Sentiments 
and it's signers are inscribed. (10/8/18)

Green space at Declaration Park. (10/8/18)

Entrance to the park Visitor's Center at 136 Fall Street
 next to the Wesleyan Church. (10/8/18)

Juliette Gordon Law (right), founder of the Girls Scouts of America. (10/8/18)

Display depicting the history of Girl Scouting. (10/8/18)

Replica of The Declaration of Sentiments. (10/8/18)

(10/8/18)

The First Wave statue exhibit inside the entrance of the visitor's center. (10/8/18)

Me with statues of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass. (10/8/18)

Displays leading to the second floor of the Visitor's Center.(10/8/18)

A myriad of images, artifacts and media representations 
documenting Women's Rights Movement. (10/8/18)

(10/8/18)

One of many engaging pieces for clarifying
necessity for equity. (10/8/18)

Incredible photography capture reality that these
historic events are not really ancient history. (10/8/18)

These pictures taken during our trip do little justice to the scope and power of the displays and sites at the Women's Rights National Historic Park. Each display includes quite a bit of great reading offering a wide range of perspectives on the Women's Rights Movement from both participants and those impacted. Having recently read and analyzed the Declaration of Sentiments with my students, it really is incredible that it took another 70+ years for women to fully gain the right to vote nationally. The images, statues and site at the Women's Rights park serve as powerful reminders of how far our nation has come relative to delivering equity, and in light of recent political environment, how far there is yet to go.

Roadie: Dawes Glacier, Alaska

Into the Endicott Arm. (7/1/2019)

It's been two weeks since our return from an Alaskan cruise and I am beginning to miss it. On days such as today, where it is forecast to be 90°+ and humid, pictures of our Alaskan trip bring a sense of calm cool. Ironically during our time North, their temperatures were at historic high. When our ship was near the base of the Dawes Glacier (pictured below) we heard what sounded to be an extremely loud thundercrack. It was the ice falling away from the face of the glacier. Given the rate of climate change, and its obvious impact on the world around us, that may very well be the sound the world makes as it dies. Sorry to be a bummer; fortunate we had an opportunity to see it before it diminishes too much more.

Dawes Glacier terminates in the waters of Endicott Arm and together these two sights are classic glacier visits for those travelling to Juneau.

Anne and I up at 6 a.m. to view scenery as the ship heads down 

Endicott Arm to the Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

When turning, many vantage points from all directions came
into view. (7/1/2019)

Seals on ice could be seen on floating ice as we approached the glacier. (7/1/2019)

The deeper the blue hue, the older the ice; that is a very old
piece of ice to the lower left hand corner! (7/1/2019)

Former parts of the Dawes Glacier, now set adrift. (7/1/2019)

The water, full of varying degrees of minerals and other things due to 

glacier melt, seems to change color. (7/1/2019)

Mountains and valleys without end. (7/1/2019)

Dawes Glacier stands over 200 feet tall, with another 250 feet of glacier hidden below water. Tourist ship captains who commonly travel this area are trained to maneuver the ship to make two complete turns on a dime, slowly spinning what he called “doughnuts” so that no matter where you were on the ship, at some point during the spin all guests will be facing the glacier. Our captain was no different, and did an excellent job delivering on his promise.

The Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

Close. (7/1/2019)

Closer. (7/1/2019)

Closest! (7/1/2019)

Making our way back up Endicott Arm
and on to Juneau. (7/1/2019)

(7/1/2019)

Roadie: Whale Watching

7:30 a.m. heading toward the Tracy Arm Fjord and the Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

During our 7 day cruise of Alaska, we had two opportunities intended for whale watching. These were times during which we were all but promised to see humpback whales. While neither disappointed, we also numerous humpback whales while sitting on are balcony drinking coffee or simply walking on deck. The first chance was as our ship passed through the Inside Passage and took a pass by the Tracy Arm Fjord. Later tha day we took part in a three hour whale watching tour off the coast of Juneau. During this time we saw six whales including Flame (a mother) and Bunsen (her calf). Whales are identified by the notches in their fluke (shape of the tale).

The day before going to Juneau was an "at sea day" which meant there would be no leaving the vessel for about 24 hours. At 6:30 a.m. the following morning, guests were invited to go out on deck as the ship moved into the Inside Passage. In addition to getting close to the

Waiting for whales, seals and glaciers. (7/1/2019)

Seals were very common travelers on the pieces of ice--the did not 

stick around to pose too frequently though. (7/1/2019)

When whales are around, every inch of the boat including 

the heli-pad becomes a potential viewing area. (7/1/2019)

Many seals could be seen from the deck bathing in the early 

morning sun. (7/1/2019)

Lots to see... 360 degrees of beauty. (7/1/2019)

The very early morning seemed the best time to get better 

pictures of flukes! (7/1/2019)

Later that day we arrived in Juneau and headed out on a whale watching excursion. Tourism is the primary commodity of Alaska and that is never more apparent than when looking for whales. The captain of our boat chose not to crowd in with other boats of tourists so as to not startle the whales. We came across a number of groups in the same general area all awaiting a peek at the humpbacks.

In Juneau, the humpback's dorsal fin appears first followed ...  (7/1/2019)

.. soon thereafter by the fluke. (7/1/2019)

Television would have you expecting to experience a Free Willy moment wherein a whale jumps over the boat and you can raise your arm to rubs its belly. This is not whale watching but rather, fantasy. Our experience was equally rewarding but not nearly so photogenic at least my this not-so-good photographer. It was incredibly enjoyable to just watch for groups of birds close to the water (a sign of possible whale activity) and wait a glimpse of the amazing creatures.

Many tourist boats hoping to glance a whale. (7/1/2019)

Clean shot of humpback's fluke. Note the unique notching on 

the tail by which individual whales can be identified. (7/1/2019)

Humpback whale fluke just prior to turning up. (7/1/2019)

Humpback resting before diving. (7/1/2019)

Back to shore following three hours at sea... would have happily 

stayed longer! (7/1/2019)

Roadie: Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Juvenile bald eagle. (5/11/2019)

Better late than never; on May 11 my wife took me on a short birthday roadie to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Located between Rochester and Syracuse, while we have driven past it numerous times, this was our first opportunity to actually hop off the thruway and visit. In addition to providing a great place for us to visit with our dog Bertie, as advertised the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge also gave us plenty of subjects to capture on our camera. Like most weekend photogs, from the 150+ pictures taken, maybe 40 or so are of quality. Of those, I am sharing a few here. Though many of the birds we saw are fairly ubiquitous (Red-winged blackbird, for example). We are very fortunate here in Western New York that even the majestic heron is fairly common (I even saw one driving to work on the expressway in Rochester just last week).

Avian high-rise. (5/11/2019)

Maternal Canadian goose, (5/11/2019)

Red-winged blackbird. (5/11/2019)

Scenic sky. (5/11/2019)

Great Blue Heron. (5/11/2019)

Gratuitous Bertie picture. (5/11/2019)