Degray lake is a beautiful state park in Arkansas that offers great facilities, wildlife, and a place to relax. Here are a few photos I took. For more information check it out here https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/degray-lake-resort-state-park
Located in the Petit Jean River Valley of Arkansas is a beautiful state park with many hiking trails, a swimming pool, tennis courts, lake, fishing, etc. I really liked Cedar Falls. If you look close you will see the falls in the hole. The valley was amazing! The rock formations are called the turtles and the cave is Rock Cave. Here are a few of my photos while hiking several areas. For more information visit here https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/petit-jean-state-park
A few photos from my visit to this exceptional park in Arkansas. In the Bible Mount Nebo is the place where Moses died. Perhaps the name for this park is derived from the similarities in mountains. These photos were taken along the rim trail. To learn more about this park visit here https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/mount-nebo-state-park
Life calls for us to detach sometimes and enjoy serenity, peace, and the sounds of nature. I do it often and have found many places that harbor much beauty. Recently, I loaded up for a trip into the Trinity River Wildlife Refuge. There are many birds, mammals, amphibians, gators, snakes, turtles, fish, etc. The quiet forest in the refuge gives way to a musical symphony of sounds uncommon in the urban jungle. A beautiful chorus of song and dance from the whimsical creatures all around. Here are a few photos I shot while exploring. Enjoy!
Rip Van Winkle is a story written by Washington Irving in 1819, about a farmer who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains of New York for 20 years, and he misses the whole American Revolution. Rip Van Winkle was played by actor Joseph Jefferson, over 4,500 hundred times, all over the world on stage. He purchased Orange Island, La in 1870 to make a hunting lodge, and to have a winter retreat. Eventually the Island was named Jefferson Island. It now has a rookery and the former home and gardens of Joseph Jefferson for tour. I enjoyed my visit tremendously! The Live Oaks and Spanish moss are worth the trip. It is beautiful! Here are a few photos from my visit including RIP’s rookery. For more information visit https://www.ripvanwinklegardens.com/
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park in St. Martinville, Louisiana is buried deep in the Atchafalaya basin. This is the place and home area to many of the swamp people you see on the T.V. show series Swamp People. It is a mystical area where wildlife abounds. As one local Cajun stated, “One doesn’t need a grocery store in these areas. We’ll survive. We have nutria, alligator, turtle, frogs, snakes, deer, hog, possum, coon (short for raccoon), honey, crawfish….and he went on. We have sugar cane, we have rice, we have all we need.” I believe this to, because the closet civilization is close to 25 miles away. Out here the night is so dark you cannot see your hands in front of you. You here sounds and movement but you cannot see. It creates much curiosity, but most of all the relaxation away from the big city is incredible. Here are a few photos from my trip. Two are outside of the park, but in the area. For more information visit https://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/parks/lake-fausse-pointe-state-park/index
Here are some random photos from my recent road trip through Louisiana. Years ago, I flew to many places, but soon learned I missed much by being stuck in a plane. Planes are necessary for certain things, but again, for me, nothing beats traveling by auto to see things I might not see otherwise. I also get a better feel for the culture and the people in the communities I visit. As you can see from the art a giant Crawfish, giant bass in Toledo Bend country, a homemade John-Deere Ice Cream machine, historical sites, beautiful Redbud trees, Pecan orchards, wide-open roads, and food you will find no place else, Louisiana is as unique as it is wonderful.
My recent trip to the Cane River Historic Site was a great experience. I was able to learn many things. One of most amazing for me was the insulation methods using Bousillage. This is horse hair, Spanish Moss, and Clay mixed together to insulate and build homes. I learned that pigeons(squab) were raised for food, and if you had pigeons to eat you were wealthy. How about that? Amazing stuff! The plantation has the owners home, young family members home, overseers home, slave cabins, the store, pigeoneers house, corn crib, fattening pins, wash house, carriage house, the cook’s cabin, and well it is very complete piece of living history. I learned that some slaves enjoyed their owners and became sharecroppers after slaves were freed, while others had horrible masters. I learned that African-Americans also had plantations and even owned their own slaves. Did you know slaves were sold on the open market in Africa by fellow Africans to willing buyers? A few things I was never taught in history class. It seems I was always taught “THE ROOTS” version of history, but I don’t blame my teachers. They could only teach what they were taught, and maybe only teach what they were told to teach, but I am glad I can learn on my own. Here are a few photos from my recent trip. I hope you visit this piece of history. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/crha/index.htm
Photography has to be one of the most relaxing things I have found in recent years. Often our memories cannot capture or remember certain things but the camera is a great friend for that job. Here is a small collection of photos that I took around Corpus Christi Harbor and Bay. Thank you for viewing and your continued support.
One of the finest museums I have ever been on is the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier. It is also known as the “Blue Ghost” because of several attempts by the Japanese to sink it. They were unsuccessful even with a dive bombing Kamikaze attack. The men and women who served, sacrificed, and died to maintained this floating city have my utmost respect. This aircraft carrier museum has so much to see and do that you could easily spend days on it. I took so many photos that I cannot post them all. It was amazing at every level! The engineering that went into this ship in 1943 was spectacular. To extract salt out of sea water and create steam for four huge turbines to power the Lexington was a marvel. To include a kitchen, sleeping quarters, machine shop, hospital, dentist office, barbershop, post office, church, and pharmacy, at that time was beyond innovative. For more information on the U.S.S. Lexington Museum visit here https://usslexington.com/
Here is just but a small sampling of photo’s from my visit. I hope these photos inspire you to visit and learn the history of this great ship.
Albert Moyer, Jr. 