Stonewall Construction

Commercial construction has been in full swing in Charlotte for a long time now. If you are a Charlottean, you've probably read quite a bit about the "Stonewall Corridor" construction. Here's a birds-eye view of that corridor. The last band of buildable land inside I-277 is now spoken for and under construction. It's still hard to believe the Charlotte Observer building is gone!

This photograph was captured with a DJI Mavic Pro drone. 

If you are a Charlotte commercial developer and need help documenting your construction progress from the air, let me know! I'm now an FAA-certified commercial drone operator.

Fishing Cat on the Prowl

The fishing cat is from Southeast Asia and is considered a "threatened" species due to urban development shrinking the wetlands that it calls home. About twice the size of a housecat, it is fast and powerful. So fast, in fact, that it's primary source of food is fish, which it catches by pouncing from the bank of a river right on top of the unsuspecting fish. 

This fishing cat lives at the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. His home seems nice but given the speed with which he traverses his enclosure, I think he would be happier in a more open space. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Trajan's Column

Trajan's Column was built in AD 113 to commemorate Roman emperor Trajan's battles and victory in the Dacian Wars. It stands over 100 feet tall and the inscription is 620 feet long as it winds around the column.

One of the things that makes Rome so great is that historic artifacts such as this are just about everywhere, proudly standing the test of time among a very cosmopolitan backdrop. That might be going a little too far. Many of the historic artifacts are not exactly standing the test of time but rather acquiescing to it.

I'm sure it's a constant challenge to balance the protection and public availability of these artifacts to not only the people of Rome but the world. And that is about as Roman as it gets. SPQR!

Foggy Curve

This curving stretch of asphalt is US-221 in the High Country of North Carolina. This stretch winds it's way around giant granite boulders from Blowing Rock to Linville. Prior to the construction of the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the 1980s, this was the only way to connect the southern and northern sections of the Parkway. When weather is too harsh on the viaduct, the section is closed and the familiar US-221 detour is re-enabled, turning a 20-minute drive into nearly an hour drive. This photograph was captured from the hills above on the Parkway. 

Inner Peaks

This is the Inner Peaks climbing center in Charlotte. What a fun place! Also, I want that fan for my garage. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Figure Eight Island Bridge

Figure Eight Island, off the coast of Wilmington, is only accessible by boat or this private swingbridge. This limited public access makes Figure Eight Island a private, secure retreat for those who choose to live or vacation there.

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Luck of the Irish Toast

May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights. 
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

May you have all the happiness
and luck that life can hold—
And at the end of all your rainbows
may you find a pot of gold.

If you’re enough lucky to be Irish...
You’re lucky enough! 

May your pockets be heavy—
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.

Parkway Views

I love it when we can time a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway at sunset. It's usually pretty quiet up there that late in the day as the tourists go home and it becomes more of a way for people to get from town back home in the mountains. This photograph was captured last Friday and it was getting really cold out, too. It was so peaceful. Everything had a cold blue tint to it until the sky turned a brilliant salmon color. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Nautilus — Living Dinosaur

People often call the Nautilus a living dinosaur but they're wrong. The Nautilus is 500 million years old. Dinosaurs didn't roam this earth until 230 million years ago.

The Nautilus lives thousands of feet deep in the ocean waters of Andaman, Fiji and the Great Barrier Reef. In scientific studies, the Nautilus has proven to have both short-term and long-term memory when exposed to Pavlov-style tests using lights and food. 

This Nautilus lives at the Riverbanks Zoo. When my Wild Kratt's-loving son saw it, he nearly lost his mind he was so excited! He announced to everybody within 100 feet that it was older than dinosaurs. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Travelocity's Roaming Gnome Visits Beach Mountain Resort

Our Travelocity Roaming Gnome arrived on our doorstep two years ago on Valentine's Day and we were thrilled to adopt him!

This little guy was left on our doorstep on Valentine's Day two years ago. I'm ashamed to admit it but he has spent the intervening time hanging out on a shelf in our den. It's not a bad perch if you can get it, relaxing between a numbered bottle of Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Tequila and a photograph of the one and only Papa Hemingway after a successful day fishing in the Gulf Stream.

However, it has always seemed a bit lonely for a Gnome known for his love of international adventure. During the holidays, he has been visited on occasion by Squeezy — our Elf on a Shelf — but other than that, he's led a far too sheltered life.

That's all about to change. He took his first trip last weekend to Slopeside in the North Carolina mountains for a little spring skiing. As you can tell, he was thrilled to finally stretch his legs. He's currently planning trips to Florida, Charleston, Mexico and Asheville. It's time to get this Gnome on the road. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.