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Sunday drive, February 8: A prosperous cattle farm in the bucolic hills of western Augusta County, about ten miles from Staunton.
A short while later, I came across several short-eared owls that had been roosting alongside a remote country road. They quickly flushed as I approached and took refuge in a nearby tree. Fortunately, one of them came back into camera range, and I was able to get this shot; the close-up on the right is enlarged about 8 times.
View toward the southeast from Afton Mountain, where I-64 crosses the Blue Ridge just east of Waynesboro. Charlottesville would be off to the left side.
James Madison University's ultra-scenic lake, which would probably have frozen over completely this winter if it were not for the fountain. The parking garage on the right used to be obscured by a huge tree that was recently felled to make way for some kind of drainage project. To see what this scene looks like in the summer (from a slightly different angle), roll the mouse cursor over the picture.
Bell's Lane, looking toward the northeast. We saw some Northern Harriers hovering over these fields. The Holiday Inn is next to I-81. The Blue Ridge, and Shenandoah National Park, are visible in the background. (Oct. 17, 2004)
The lovely Potomac River, with the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial in the background. I used to ride on the bicycle path seen at the bottom at least once or twice a week. (September 2004)
The Jefferson Memorial, as seen from the pedal-boat that my niece Cathy, her friend Yanira, and I rode (?) on the Tidal Basin. (June 2004)
The Atlantic side (north end) of the World War II Memorial makes special reference to D-Day, with a passage from General Eisenhower's message to his troops on that fateful day sixty years and three weeks ago. Granite engravings on that side list several of the most important campaigns and battles from the European Theater, such as Sicily, Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge. I saw some poignant photos and notes left there by family members of the fallen heroes. The Pacific side lists Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, and Okinawa, among others. (June 2004)
