The Lievensberg is a 127-hectare wooded estate east of the A58 at Bergen op Zoom.

The area consists of deciduous and coniferous woodland, some captured drifting dunes and approximately 25 hectares of heathland in the area. It is near the city and is visited by hikers. It is particularly accessible from the Balsedreef. That environment is beautiful park-like landscaped with heavy beech lanes, picnic areas, a heather garden and a pond. In the heather garden one can find 30 species of heather.

The area is owned and operated by the municipality of Bergen op Zoom, but a part is in use as a water Brabant Water, which has a production plant near New Borgvliet on the other side of the A58, Mondaf called.

Thanks for your visit and comments, I appreciate that very much!

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © all rights reserved.

Regards, Bram (BraCom)

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Toute la terre est accessible au sage, car la patrie d’une âme excellente est l’univers.

Démocrite

*

Toda la tierra es asequible al hombre sensato, pues la patria de un alma excelente es el universo.

Demócrito

*

Foto: Románico catalán. Restos del monasterio románico benedictino de Sant Serni (o Sant Sadurní, o San Saturnino) de Tavérnoles en el Alto Urgel (Anserall, Valls de Valira), provincia de Lérida (Cataluña). Historia (o leyenda) sucinta de este santo mártir tal como me han contado en el Valle del Adour (Francia). Unos jóvenes paganos querían sacrificar un buey para homenajar a sus dioses. Saturnino que recorría la región con ánimo de evangelizarla, quiso oponerse al sacrificio. Por venganza, los paganos ataron al santo al buey y lo azuzaron. Despavorido, el animal huyó arrastrando a Saturnino que se rompió la cabeza…

1 In a Series

Photographed at the Lakeside STA

Yes that is the same fence from which the wet web bung in the prior photo - a two-fer.

From Cornell:

The sweet, lazy whistles of Eastern Meadowlarks waft over summer grasslands and farms in eastern North America. The birds themselves sing from fenceposts and telephone lines or stalk through the grasses, probing the ground for insects with their long, sharp bills. On the ground, their brown-and-black dappled upperparts camouflage the birds among dirt clods and dry grasses. But up on perches, they reveal bright-yellow underparts and a striking black chevron across the chest.

Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)

Located in western Martin County, the Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area plays a crucial role in the restoration of the Lake Okeechobee watershed by improving the quality of water flowing into the lake. The wetlands treats stormwater runoff from the Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough basins to the north before that runoff enters Lake Okeechobee.

Approximately 2,700 acres of Lakeside Ranch is open to the public to enjoy hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing or simply relaxing. The recreation area is surrounded by levees that are accessible to visitors on foot or on bicycle.

The largest accessible cave in the western Harz offers interesting insights into animal and geological history. Thousands of years ago bears and wolves lived there. The cave in a forest area near the Herzberg district of Scharzfeld is a naturally formed cavity in 270 million year old Zechstein dolomite rock. The cave is the information center of the Harz Geopark and a natural and cultural monument.

a breathtaking view, a place full of history and charm of the past and mysticism. It was a real surprise. Italy is truly full of wonderful places

This monument is a symbol of Piedmont Region and a place that inspired the writer Umberto Eco to conceive the best-seller “Il nome della rosa” ( The name of the rose ) , the Sacra of San Michele is an ancient abbey built between 983 and 987 on the top of mount Pirchiriano, 40 km from Turin. From it’s towers you can admire Turin and a breathtaking view of the Val di Susa. Inside the main Church of the Sacra, dating from the twelfth century, are buried members of House of Savoy (one of the oldest royal family in the world).

Dedicated to the worship of the Archangel Michele, defender of the Christian people, the Sacra di San Michele fits inside a ruote of pilgrimage (long over 2000 km) wich runs from Saint-Michel ( France ) to Monte Sant’Angelo (Puglia).

The history, the spiritual value and the landscape that sorrounds it trasform the Sacra in a special destination for visitors from all over Europe: pilgrims, faithfuls, tourists but also athletes who want to test themselves with climbing paths or mountain-bike.

The Sacra di San Michele offers to its public guided tours and events during all months of the year.

The different historical, architecture and painting sites are accessible to people with disabilities.

Accessible par un grand escalier très photogénique, cette petite calanque se compose de roches rouges et de dalles en béton. Le décor de falaises de l'Estérel rend le lieu paradisiaque Côte d’Azur

Accessible by a large, very photogenic staircase, this small cove is made up of red rocks and concrete slabs. The scenery of Estérel cliffs makes the place heavenly

Canon Eos 5d Mark IV

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Greater Stitchwort in Cubbington Woods. A location no longer accessible and soon to be destroyed by the mechanical diggers which will cut through the ancient wood in preparation for the High Speed Train Project (HS2).

Lindisfarne Castle is a 16th-century castle located on Holy Island, England. The island is accessible from the mainland at low tide by means of a causeway.

Accessible par un grand escalier très photogénique, cette petite calanque se compose de roches rouges et de dalles en béton. Le décor de falaises de l'Estérel rend le lieu paradisiaque Côte d’Azur

Accessible by a large, very photogenic staircase, this small cove is made up of red rocks and concrete slabs. The scenery of Estérel cliffs makes the place heavenly

Canon Eos 5d Mark IV

profitez de réduction sur Luminar Neo mon logiciel de poste traitement avec ce lien et obtenez en plus 10 euros de réduction supplémentaire avec le code JMLPYT

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Venice is a very unique city. Without question, Venice is interesting on so many levels.

But unlike many attractions worldwide, Venice is approachable and accessible. For many centuries people from every corner of the earth have come to see, to touch and to feel the beauty and ambiance of Venice.

……………………………………………………………….

Venise est une ville très particulière. Sans aucun doute, Venise est intéressante à bien des niveaux.

Mais contrairement à de nombreuses attractions dans le monde, Venise est accessible et accessible. Pendant de nombreux siècles, des gens de tous les coins du monde sont venus voir, toucher et ressentir la beauté et l'ambiance de Venise.

Small chapel on a tiny island accessible at low tide, Brittany, France.

04-May-2022: about turism: my perplexities towards a future with more and more bans and more and more over-taxes.

Lake Bohinj and the much more famous Lake Bled are close (less than 20 km) but the second has a mass tourism now rooted, while the first is expanding its tourist reception in recent years, coming out (unfortunately) from the shadow of Bled, that was a lightning rod for peaceful and symbiotic nature lovers.

I am totally against mass tourism because it transforms a relaxing resort into an area where it is difficult even to access it.

Around Lake Bled, even at a certain distance, there are only paid parking lots, which come to cost 6 euros per hour (about the most decentralized and in May...) that, certainly, leave perplexed about the "tourist selection" that "they" would like to implement (high-end tourism) and, in general, certainly drive away the tourist in search of nature and not restaurants, bars, concrete lake-front and crowd baths.

The naturalist tourist should not feel like a tourist in Nature, which is a single great asset of humanity and that only administratively is divided between various Countries, while in Bled, as in Rimini or Cortina d'Ampezzo, they make you feel not only tourist, but also guest, sometimes unwanted if you spend little.

As tourism increases, so do the bans, because unfortunately mass tourism includes many people who don't know anything about Nature and generally only go to very touristy places to make themselves of...people, sowing dirt and ignorance wherever they move.

The imposition of prohibitions/bans to limit the "damage from mass tourism" affects everyone indiscriminately, including locals and naturalists who have always had a symbiotic relationship with these places, thus making them become inhospitable, at least to those seeking pure contact with nature itself.

Of course this happens all over the world, but it should be condemned.

We already pay State taxes for the maintenance of the slice of Nature that falls within our administration, tourist surcharges, exploiting market laws that should be verified and contained, are for the most part unconstitutional, as well as several prohibitions that deprive access and use of public property.

With the money that the tourist municipalities pocket they could very well implement a targeted prevention (controls by foresters, cameras, ad hoc fences for areas subject to micro-pollution...) rather than closing everything and then de-empowering themself on the maintenance of roads and areas (more and more numerous), thus going to save further, starting from the basic taxes that we pay to also have access to given areas.

I can understand that you tax parking at high altitude to maintain the roads, but the amount of the payment should be directly proportional to the expenses that must be incurred to ensure accessibility, not by putting prices at random and with increases of 200% from one year to the next.

I have always appreciated the fact that Slovenia, thanks also that it is not densely inhabited and has a modest tourism (except precisely Bled, Postojna Caves and the Coast), guarantees a wide accessibility and use of its territories and I hope it can continue, limiting the prohibitions and parking lots everywhere.

"El Paisatge del Futur", Girona, España.

“Girona, Temps de Flors” arranca hoy la 70 edición con 146 proyectos repartidos en 114 espacios que se pueden visitar hasta el 18 de mayo. El Ayuntamiento de Girona ha dado el pistoletazo de salida a la muestra floral esta mañana con un recorrido por algunos de los espacios de la muestra, así como la visita a la exposición "Maestros del arte catalán del siglo XX. Colección Bassat" del Museo de Arte de Girona.

Uno de los espacios que se ha visitado es el patio del Ayuntamiento, donde existe un proyecto conmemorativo de los 40 años de hermanamiento con la ciudad de Albi.

" Esta edición de Tiempo de Flores quiere ser más inclusiva y accesible, pensada especialmente para los gerundenses y las gerundenses. Se han hecho mejoras para personas con movilidad reducida y se ha creado un Espacio Calma para personas neurodivergentes. También se han ampliado los horarios para favorecer una visita más tranquila y adaptada a los ritmos. invitar a todo el mundo a disfrutar de la muestra ”, ha destacado el alcalde Lluc Salellas i Vilar.

“Girona, Temps de Flors” kicks off its 70th edition today with 146 projects spread across 114 spaces that can be visited until May 18. Girona City Council kicked off the floral exhibition this morning with a tour of some of the spaces in the exhibition, as well as a visit to the exhibition “Masters of 20th-century Catalan art. Bassat Collection” at the Girona Art Museum.

One of the spaces visited is the City Council courtyard, where there is a commemorative project for the 40 years of twinning with the city of Albi.

“ This edition of Temps de Flors aims to be more inclusive and accessible, especially designed for Girona residents. Improvements have been made for people with reduced mobility and a Calma Space has been created for neurodivergent people. Opening hours have also been extended to encourage a more peaceful visit adapted to local rhythms. Finally, I would like to thank the public for their involvement and invite everyone to enjoy the exhibition ”, highlighted Mayor Lluc Salellas i Vilar.

Location: Holleweg, 8340 Sijsele [gps]

Accessibility: the domain is open to the public, the castle itself is not accesible

The Ryckevelde domain is situated at the border of the village of Sijsele, in the direction of Bruges. It is the largest wood on the territory of Damme. Here we are no longer in the polder area but in the sandy region. This region is by defenition much older than the rest of Damme. The area around Ryckevelde was already inhabited in prehistoric times.

The castle itself is fairly recent and is in a pretty good shape. The neogothic architecture already reveals the era in which it was built. Baron Gilles de Pélichy ordered its construction; the residence was erected between 1913 and 1929. Centrally the spiky tower catches the attention, a chapel is located in the left wing. At the back side there is a spacious garden with a big pond. from one of the numerous benches along the footpath you have a splendid view on the ensemble.

The oldest building of the domain is situated at the other side of the pond. The fortified farm dates back to the 17th century but is largely in a very bad condition except for the right side. This farm has a few remarkable characteristics you'd rather expect in a real castle. At the domain, friar Verleye founded the European Education centre in the 50's of the previous century.

Le Mont Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. It is located about one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 100 hectares (247 acres) in size. As of 2009, the island has a population of 44.

The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, houses for fishermen and farmers.

The commune's position — on an island just 600 metres from land — made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, but defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned would-be assailants. The Mont remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433.The reverse benefits of its natural defence were not lost on Louis XI, who turned the Mont into a prison. Thereafter the abbey began to be used more regularly as a jail during the Ancien Régime.

One of France's most recognizable landmarks, visited by more than 3 million people each year, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France as monuments historiques.*

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel

A stunning 314 (96 meter) waterfall that is easily accessible.

This is a composite of two photos. The tell is the difference between the water of the waterfall and the river.

Shot One is the waterfall and shot Two is the rest of the scene. With the wind blowing, all the longer waterfall shots caused the trees to sway and blur. Fortunately, I had the foresight to take both fast and longer exposures.

Joli petit lac entouré de sapins, facilement accessible par la route forestière depuis l'Alpe du Grand Serre.

Le lac du Poursollet se situe dans le massif du Taillefer sur la commune de Livet-et-Gavet à une altitude de 1 649 mètres. Bordé par un petit hameau d'habitation, il est facilement accessible en voiture à partir de la route départementale 114B, appelée « Route du Poursollet », en provenance de La Morte.

L’intérêt environnemental de cette zone est certain !

La forte diversité botanique est liée à la nature du sol constitué d'une juxtaposition de substrats carbonatés et siliceux ; la diversité des milieux (marais, tourbière, lac, landes et plaine d'altitude) rencontrée sur cette zone et offrant des habitats variés accueille de nombreuses espèces animales et végétales ; la forêt alentour héberge d'autres variétés ; les tourbières abritant de nombreux insectes et amphibiens en font une zone exceptionnellement riche dans les Alpes.(source www.isere-tourisme.com/)

Poursollet lake

Nice little lake surrounded by fir trees, easily accessible by the forest road from Alpe du Grand Serre.

Lac du Poursollet is located in the Taillefer massif in the town of Livet-et-Gavet at an altitude of 1649 meters. Bordered by a small residential hamlet, it is easily accessible by car from the departmental road 114B, called “Route du Poursollet”, coming from La Morte.

The environmental interest of this area is certain!

The strong botanical diversity is linked to the nature of the soil made up of a juxtaposition of carbonate and siliceous substrates; the diversity of the environments (marshes, peat bogs, lake, moors and high altitude plain) encountered in this area and offering varied habitats is home to many animal and plant species; the surrounding forest is home to other varieties; the peatlands sheltering many insects and amphibians make it an exceptionally rich area in the Alps

An old stone bridge in Cambridge Ontario, hidden from view but easily accessible.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontcysyllte_Aqueduct

Taken from the walkway leading from the Trevor Basin car park ,down and around towards underneath the aqueduct ..Down below is the Country Park , which is accessible down steep steps , but there is a overflow car park just before the basin , which I think has a way leading to the entrance of the country park , more to explore on another visit :-)

Submerge reveal

Existence presence

Bring to light

Tangible being

Distinct experiences

Subtend one another

The green bridge - The impressive Green Bridge of Wales catches the early evening light on a summer's day with the encroaching shadows stretching out from the cliff edge.

Located close to the immense Elegug Stacks and on the on the dramatic and remote south west tip of Wales, both locations are only accessible at certain times across the MOD Castlemartin military range.

A long exposure drew out the colours of this breathtaking coastal scene.

Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales

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Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall (Namtok Huai Mae Khamin) is a major attraction in Sri Nakarin National Park. This seven-tiered waterfall is accessible by foot. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand.

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Precise expression

Accessible propagation

Life aspect

Accessible path near the ranger station at Muir Wood National Park.

After a wonderful rainbow sunset at Camel Rock, we climbed around to Horsehead rock for some astro shooting as the sky cleared magically.

The site is only accessible at low tide. The swell was picking up a bit and it was very dark. The astro shots came out well but there was close to zero light for the foreground. This shot was from when we were first setting up and some lights were left on. There was a red glow in the sky but I still like the effect. It is not a white balance problem as far as I can make out.

On a Narooma photo tour with Luke and Jay

Check out their Luke and Jay’s quality portfolio….

www.jaydidphoto.com.au

www.luketscharke.com

More information at

www.itsworthashot.com/horse-head-rock-bermagui/

Accessibility Description: A towering curtain of rain hangs suspended in the sky, glowing golden where the low sun strikes it. The rain appears to evaporate before reaching the ground, a phenomenon known as virga, while below, red rock mesas catch the last light of the day. Warm tones highlight the cliffs on the left, their rugged forms rising above a dense forest of green pines and junipers. The sky is filled with dramatic clouds, a mixture of gray, peach, and white, with glimpses of deep blue breaking through at the edges. The entire scene conveys both grandeur and transience, a fleeting desert storm dissolving into light above the enduring sandstone of Sedona.

Le centre monégasque de soins des espèces marines (CMSEM) a ouvert au musée océanographique de Monaco le 27 avril 2019. Il est accessible au public.

Cinq bassins sont en place pour accueillir des tortues blessées. Une centaine seraient repêchées en détresse chaque année en Méditerranée.

Les tortues blessées sont facilement reconnaissables : elles flottent et ne peuvent pas plonger en raison de troubles de digestion liés à l'ingestion de bouts de plastique.

Le nouveau centre monégasque propose aux plaisanciers et aux pêcheurs de les ramasser et de les alerter afin de les prendre en charge. Une fois soignées, les tortues sont relâchées en mer.

On rencontre en Méditerranée plusieurs centaines d'espèces de tortues marines. Elles peuvent atteindre 400 kg et 130 cm et évoluent à une quarantaine de kilomètres au large du littoral azuréen.

The Monegasque Center for the Care of Marine Species (CMSEM) opened at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum on April 27, 2019. It is open to the public.

Five pools are in place to accommodate injured turtles. A hundred would be recovered in distress each year in the Mediterranean.

Injured turtles are easily recognizable: they float and can not dive because of digestive disorders related to ingestion of plastic tips.

The new Monegasque center offers boaters and fishermen to pick them up and alert them to take care of them. Once treated, turtles are released at sea.

In the Mediterranean there are several hundred species of sea turtles. They can reach 400 kg and 130 cm and evolve about forty kilometers off the azure coast.

Had a lovely morning ambling around the Flamborough coves, (accessible only because the tide was out).

As expected it was cold and windy on the top by the lighthouse but once we walked down the steps and onto the beach it was sheltered from the wind.

A third visit here, all very different but I've loved each one.

It was a day of meandering, discovering a baby seal on the beach (which made my day) and experimenting with a photography sphere.

It wasn't as easy as I expected and it's still a bit 'alien' to me, but also kind of cool.

Lake Garda, Italy

There are countless jetties dotted all around Lake Garda... the only problem is, you need to be an Olympic Long Jumper or Pole Vaulter to access 99% of them. Most are either the property of the adjacent lakeside hotels or private residences. Just to make sure you are aware of this most are fenced off with padlocked gates and the few overzealous ones use a little barbed-wire to keep you off them. The long jump/pole vault option comes into effect for those jetties where the lakeside section has been removed to make them totally inaccessible.

This is the first jetty I found that I could actually walk onto without any restrictions but was a good half hour walk south of Malcesine town centre. Taken half an hour after my previous posting just as the sun was beginning to touch the mountain tops on the opposite side of the lake. Just to the left of the jetty can be seen the town of Limone Sul Garda and at the very top of the lake is Riva del Garda.

Deep Lake Trail is a 10.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Cloverdale, Michigan that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.

21 yrs ago I installed the carsonite post trails markers and label for all the foot trails in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area. I was surprised to see so may in such good shape.

Location: Holleweg, 8340 Sijsele [gps]

Accessibility: the domain is open to the public, the castle itself is not accesible

The Ryckevelde domain is situated at the border of the village of Sijsele, in the direction of Bruges. It is the largest wood on the territory of Damme. Here we are no longer in the polder area but in the sandy region. This region is by defenition much older than the rest of Damme. The area around Ryckevelde was already inhabited in prehistoric times.

The castle itself is fairly recent and is in a pretty good shape. The neogothic architecture already reveals the era in which it was built. Baron Gilles de Pélichy ordered its construction; the residence was erected between 1913 and 1929. Centrally the spiky tower catches the attention, a chapel is located in the left wing. At the back side there is a spacious garden with a big pond. from one of the numerous benches along the footpath you have a splendid view on the ensemble.

The oldest building of the domain is situated at the other side of the pond. The fortified farm dates back to the 17th century but is largely in a very bad condition except for the right side. This farm has a few remarkable characteristics you'd rather expect in a real castle. At the domain, friar Verleye founded the European Education centre in the 50's of the previous century.

Loch Cluanie is a reservoir at the end of Glen Shiel that is easily accessible from the A87 road. This is the view of the north-eastern end of the reservoir captured on a cold but calm autumn afternoon and just after the first snow fall of the season. Thanks for viewing.

The Middle Fork is the most rugged and inaccessible branch of the Yuba River. It originates high in the Sierras and spends most of its 55 mile journey winding through a steep gorge before joining the North Fork near Bullards Bar Reservoir. The most accessible spot for visiting is at the confluence of Oregon Creek just outside of the small town of North San Juan.

Here at Oregon Creek, the middle fork fans out into a quiet stretch just after exiting a rocky stretch of misty rapids. This will be a great spot to let "the monster with four paws" swim once she gets a little bigger. On this day though, Kenzie was happy to sit on her leash and view the water flow quietly by.

Nevada County CA

Watched National Geographic's "Into The Grand Canyon" (on disney plus) last night and was really taken with it. It’s about two journalists that walk the entire length of the canyon- not rim to rim, or floating down the river, but actually walking along the entire length of the landforms that make up the National Park. What they see is amazing- there are deeply remote spots in the canyon that are pure wilderness and don’t look like the rest of the canyon; they look more like Zion or even Antelope Canyon. The documentary also covers the story of the Navajo National fighting back against the proposed Escalade project that would build a tramway down from the rim to the confluence of the Colorado River. The CEO of the company said that his goal was to give everyone a “deep canyon experience” and to make it accessible. While I always crave accessibility for the National Parks… and while I always want to see as much as I can… this rubbed me the wrong way. Accessibility that robs the landscape of its purity and silence isn’t accessibility, it’s hubris. Sometimes, places are meant to be hard to get to. Everyone should be able to have an experience at the Grand Canyon but not at the expense of the canyon itself. That’ll probably mean that I never get to see the amazing vistas that this documentary showed me. And you know what? That’s fine. They’re protected. I know they’re out there. And protected. And that’s more important than me getting to see it.

Accessibility Description: A golden sunset sky glows across the horizon, filling the scene with warm amber light. In the foreground, dark ridges of pine-covered hills stretch outward, their dense forests etched in shadow. Beyond them, ridgeline after ridgeline recedes into the distance, each one softening into paler tones until the tallest mountain rises at the horizon, its peak silhouetted against the fading brilliance of the sun. The mountains seem to melt into the light, stacked like whispers dissolving into evening. The forest below rests as a shadowed sea, while the highest summit wears the day’s last ember like a crown. The whole landscape feels hushed and eternal, a portrait of quiet endurance as daylight exhales into night.

Kinloss Abbey is a Cistercian abbey at Kinloss in the county of Moray, Scotland.

The abbey was founded in 1150 by King David I and was first colonised by monks from Melrose Abbey. It received its Papal Bull from Pope Alexander III in 1174, and later came under the protection of the Bishop of Moray in 1187. The abbey went on to become one of the largest and wealthiest religious houses in Scotland, receiving the valuable salmon fishing rights on the River Findhorn from Robert the Bruce in 1312, subsequently renewed by James I and James IV.

During its history the abbey has received many royal visitors, including Edward I in 1303, Edward III in 1336 and Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1562. The most renowned of the 24 abbots the monastery had was Robert Reid.

Reid introduced organised education, erecting a new library and other buildings at the abbey. He became Bishop of Orkney in 1541 and, following his death, became the founder and benefactor of Edinburgh University with funds from his estate.

Few of the monastic buildings remain standing today. The remains of the abbey are now situated within a graveyard owned by the local authority, and are therefore accessible at all times. They are designated a scheduled ancient monument.

I got this shot in the Keyhutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Preserve in British Columbia. It is accessible only by boat. While the image looks as though I am standing right in front of the bear, I am in fact on a boat pointing my lens at this bear that has come down to the shore to eat the protein rich grass during the time before the salmon begin to run.

Creake Abbey is just outside the village of North Creake, a few miles south of Burnham Market in Norfolk. The vast majority of our abbeys and monasteries were destroyed in the Dissolution by King Henry VIII in the mid-late 1530s. But Creake Abbey, founded by the Augustinians as a priory in the 12th century, had come to grief long before that. A fire swept through the abbey in 1483, damaging the church and several of the other buildings beyond repair.

Subsequently, although extensive rebuilding of the quire and presbytery had made good progress an outbreak of the 'sweating sickness' wiped out the monastic community in 1506, the abbot himself being the last to die. This was a mysterious and contagious disease that struck England and later continental Europe in a series of epidemics beginning in 1485. The disease was last recorded in 1551.

The abbey site and estate was given to Lady Margaret Beaufort in 1507, and ended up in the ownership of Christ's College, Cambridge. The abbey ruins are Grade I-listed and in the care of English Heritage. They are freely accessible to the public.

“Perlan – the Pearl – is an immersive museum that showcases Iceland’s extraordinary landscapes and nature in an accessible and engaging way. Its impressive hands-on, interactive exhibits and shows explain the country’s landforms, geology and wildlife. State-of-the-art technology elevates Perlan from an ordinary museum to one that guests will find innovative and memorable.

Alongside a fascinating display that focuses on the characteristics of Iceland’s changing glaciers, visitors can step into a hundred-metre-long artificial ice cave. An estimated 350 tons of snow gathered from Icelandic mountains were used in its construction. In graphic contrast, the museum’s Forces of Nature exhibit addresses the country’s volcanic systems and geothermal activity.

Styrmir, the museum’s spectacular indoor geyser, shoots a jet of water 25 metres into the air through the central atrium.

In Perlan’s domed 150-seat planetarium, the spotlight turns to the Aurora Borealis. Utilising 8K projection and 7.1 surround sound, the breathtaking Áróra show takes guests on a spellbinding journey through the origins and legends associated with the Northern Lights, bringing it vividly – and reliably – to life.

Perlan’s striking architecture adds an extra dimension to a visit. Located on Öskjuhlíð, the tallest hill in Reykjavik, it’s an easily recognised landmark, comprising six water tanks that support a glass dome which floods the interior with light. The museum’s wraparound observation deck offers an uninterrupted 360° panorama of the Icelandic capital and its surroundings.

Perlan represents Iceland in a nutshell. As such, it makes an ideal first or last stop on every tourist’s itinerary, whether they plan to venture beyond Reykjavik or choose to remain in the capital.”

Read more:

visitreykjavik.is/service/perlan-museum

Here is a view down the accessible dock at the Buell Lake County Park, October 6, 2022. Disabled fisher persons have fishing stations that give them a good view of sunrise. Sometimes, the light can give the "ordinary" a crisp look, as what I thought was the case here. I thank Russ Burden's work on Outdoor Photography for giving me insight as to light and the ordinary. And, my friend Paul Sisul, for schooling us all on the composition of lines.

The Hull History Centre is an archive and local studies library in Hull, England, that houses the combined collections of both the Hull City Council and Hull University archives and local studies resources. This collaboration between Hull City Council, Hull University, and the Heritage Lottery Fund made Hull the first city in the UK to unite local council and university collections under one roof

The building itself was designed by architectural firm Pringle Richards Sharratt with the goals of providing a highly accessible and visible structure, as well as a focus of local pride. The design of the upper floor features an environmentally controlled repository while the ground level features public spaces adjoined by a linear arcade overlooking a new park....

ΑΦΙΕΡΩΜΕΝΗ ΣΤΟΝ ΚΑΛΟ ΜΟΥ ΦΙΛΟ ΓΙΩΡΓΟ ΘΑΝΟ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΜΗΤΕΡΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΑ ΖΩΗ.

DEDICATED TO MY GOOD FRIEND GEORGOS THANOS AND TO HIS MOTHER MRS. ZOE.

POLITIKA, EVIA ISLAND GREECE.

ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΑ, ΕΥΒΟΙΑ, ΕΛΛΑΣ.

Taken during the long "May Day" weekend, while my beloved English wife Theresa Jane Brown and I were visiting friends on the beautiful island of Evia, Greece.

EVIA ISLAND, GREECE.

The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via two bridges, an old wooden bridge and a contemporary suspension bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανασης Φουρναρακος

Professional Photographer, retired.

Athens, Greece.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!

This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:

* GALAXY HALL OF FAME

* THE GALAXY STARS HALL OF FAME

Telling NASA's Tales With Hollywood's Tools

Space Center Uses Pixar's Palette To Artfully Explain Scientific Data

By Michael S. Rosenwald

Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, August 21, 2006; D01

[We are lucky to be working with world class data visualizers and animators. This article in the Washington Post is one of the best print stories I've seen on the folks who are on the front lines of translating our science and making it accessible to our many audiences.]

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/20/...

Every once in a while when a new movie with mind-blowing special effects or oh-my-gosh-it-looked-so-real animation opens, a nondescript office at NASA Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt will mysteriously empty of employees during matinee hours.

Before an investigation is launched into the whereabouts of these workers -- particularly, say, around last year's opening of "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" -- understand that they are not blowing off work. The absentee employees are animators, NASA staffers and contractors who use the same software Pixar Animation Studios uses to tell stories about talking cars to instead tell stories about the Earth. They just want to see what their counterparts in Hollywood have been up to.

There is the occasional did-you-see-that elbow nudge, but in their case it's about craft, not cinematic delight, said Horace Mitchell, project manager at the space center's scientific visualization studio. Mitchell is a NASA employee, but the studio is staffed primarily by animators working for Global Science & Technology Inc., a government contractor in Greenbelt. The company uses the Hollywood software, including Pixar's RenderMan and Autodesk Inc.'s Maya, to translate complicated data into animated movies that illustrate what is happening in and around Earth. The videos often end up on the evening news.

The crucial difference in NASA's use of the software is that Hollywood uses it to spin inspiring, happy-ending stories about love and courage and friendship and hope, while the animators in Greenbelt are often telling stories about bad things happening in the atmosphere, such as last year's hurricane season. In their chilling short film "27 Storms: Arlene to Zeta," set to Vincenzo Bellini's eerie music, viewers can watch the ocean heat up, helping fuel one storm after another -- thanks to the same Pixar software used in the upcoming version of "Charlotte's Web."

NASA oceanographer Gene Carl Feldman frequently collaborates with the Global Science studio. He studies the ocean from space.

"Visualization is that link between the flood of data coming down from space and the ability of the human mind to interpret it," Feldman said. "That's the crux of the story. Better than most other groups in the world, they are able to take this fire hose of data coming down and turn it into images -- visual animation -- that then allows the general public to see this data in ways their brains can interpret and study."

The Hollywoodization of NASA data is in part the result of Pixar's success in creating real-life worlds from fantasy stories. People have come to expect that even the most fantastical of ideas -- a talking, curmudgeonly Mr. Potato Head -- can look and feel exceedingly real. "They don't expect to see crudity," Mitchell said. "They expect to see sophistication because they see it everywhere. In order for us to tell the story, we have to be sophisticated about telling stories and we have to use sophisticated technology to tell them."

Pixar was spun off from George Lucas's film company, and its early days were spent selling animation software and hardware -- a way to pay the bills until computer technology caught up with the firm's vision of making the incredibly life-like films that it produces today.

Today, anyone can purchase versions of RenderMan online, for $995 to $3,500.

Global Science, a private company that employs about 250 people, is definitely not a movie studio. It was founded in 1991 by Chieh-san Cheng, a former employee of an aerospace and technology company with advanced degrees in technical management and meteorology. Global Science provides services in applied science and research, geospatial standards, engineering services, and information technology. The firm's contract with NASA is a small part of its business, contributing about $650,000 a year to about $45 million in revenue.

Global Science and Pixar know about each other, but interaction between the staffs is generally limited to animation conferences and trade shows. But the Global Science staff does feel a strong bond with Pixar, particularly when watching one of its movies.

Jim Williams, a Global Science animator, said, "I'll go into it thinking I'm going to look at the technical stuff and then I'll get completely sucked into the story."

This happened during Pixar's recent hit, "Cars."

"I'm watching it, I'm totally into the story, and they get to the end and they go into that stadium, and there's tens of thousands of cars in there and I drop out of the story and think, 'Wow, that must have been a pain in the butt to get that right.' And then I'm back into the story," he said.

The difference between the storylines is that Pixar is trying to get laughing cars right and Global Science is trying to get the atmosphere right. The way in which Global Science uses RenderMan is not easy. Here's one way of looking at it: This article has been typed on a word processor. The computer received the data -- in this case, they looked like letters -- and displayed them on a screen. The lines were long, containing dozens of words. Those words needed to appear in the newspaper, and to do that a graphic designer used another program to render and squeeze the words into narrow columns of newsprint, with black type, a font, and italics , and so forth so the words appear in the paper as they do now. That's essentially what RenderMan does for data -- whether it be information about Buzz Lightyear's appearance or atmospheric models of hurricanes. RenderMan is the mechanism by which data are translated. Another program, Maya, acts as the word processor.

Global Science translates scientific data this way. Recently, one of its animators sat behind a computer monitor in a dark room with an image that could have appeared as a backdrop in a Van Gogh painting. But it was a depiction of aerosols moving across the atmosphere, a way of illustrating air quality. Yellow represented dust, the green was sulfates produced by humans, the blue was sea salt. Altogether, it was sort of beautiful but apparently not good news for the atmosphere.

Like their Hollywood counterparts, the Global Science animators typically refer to their finished products as releases, but the scripts are composed of data and the script writers are some of the world's most brilliant scientists. The creative process generally works like this: A scientist or a public affairs officer will ask the animators to illustrate a concept or data set. It can be as simple as ocean temperatures or as complicated as a collection of satellite images. A discussion with the scientific team and public affairs officer ensues over the best way to illustrate the data, and the animators get to work.

Feldman, the NASA oceanographer, studies oceans from space because, as he said: "Oceans are really, really, really big and they change very, very quickly. You can't track that from a ship. What a satellite sees in a minute would take a ship a decade." Feldman is particularly interested in the relationship between the changing environment and ocean life, which he pursues by studying the first level of life in the ocean, or microscopic plants, through ocean color.

The only problem is that satellites collect a very large amount of complicated data. The visualization studio helps him make sense of it. Feldman has made animations of what happened to the ocean during the transition between El Niño and La Niña -- "it was the biggest phytoplankton bloom in the world ever observed," he said. He has animated Lake Michigan's microscopic plant blooms and a dust storm the size of Spain that blew across the ocean in the past few years. He has animated autumn in Boston, which roughly translates into, as he put it, "how life follows the sun."

If Cheng, chief executive of Global Science, has his way, NASA scientists wouldn't be the only people relying on his firm's handling of Hollywood software to explain complicated subjects. Cheng would like to use the software to better explain the human body to doctors. He said the company is finalizing plans for a medical-imaging division and is exploring the possibility of a partnership with Maryland universities.

"What we could do is use movie techniques to give the doctor and medical staff more dynamic and accurate images to make a diagnosis," he said.

© 2006 The Washington Post Company

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10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Along with the adjoining Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, it is the headquarters of the Government of the United Kingdom.

For most of its history, Number 10 was accessible to the public. Early security consisted of two police officers. One stood guard outside the door. The other was stationed inside to open it. Since the door had no keyhole, the inside officer depended upon the lone outside officer. Due to a terrorist attack 1n 1991 there is now no public access to the street.

Wikipedia

Thanks for the comments, faves and visits

This serene image captures a unique aspect of Hawaii's diverse tourist experiences - a sightseeing submarine excursion off the coast of Waikiki. The photograph, taken from the shore, offers a glimpse of the submarine adventure in progress.

In the distance, two vessels can be seen on the calm blue waters of the Pacific. The larger boat is the shuttle vessel that transports passengers to and from the shore. Beside it, partially submerged, is the submarine itself, its yellow top barely visible above the waterline. This submarine offers tourists a rare opportunity to explore Hawaii's underwater world without getting wet, providing close-up views of coral reefs, tropical fish, and maybe even sea turtles or sharks.

The ocean stretches to the horizon, its surface a mesmerizing palette of blue hues that blend seamlessly with the pale sky above. The lack of clouds suggests a perfect, sunny Hawaiian day ideal for underwater exploration.

On the right edge of the frame, a dark vertical line - a palm tree trunk - serves as a reminder that this oceanic scene is viewed from Hawaii's legendary beaches. This element adds depth to the composition and grounds the viewer on the shore, emphasizing the accessible yet adventurous nature of the submarine tour.

This image encapsulates the allure of Hawaii's tourism industry, showcasing how it combines natural beauty with unique experiences, allowing visitors to explore the islands' wonders both above and below the waves.

The Finale

So you have probably been wondering what the days and weeks mean. It actually was not supposed to be this way. Starting back in February or March, I almost completely lost the will to post. I had images from October, November, and December that were in Lightroom that I had not even looked at since the day I took them. I had a camera roll and multiple notes filled with random photos, train symbols, and all sorts of information that had no meaning until I actually associated the information with something. It was also at this time I felt fairly discouraged. From December 23 to March 16, the day before I went out again, I had only been out twice. I believe February saw one single sunny, cloudless day in the Gorge this year, a day in which I had class. There was a day that called for sun and no clouds, and I actually drove out before sunrise, planning to shoot all day only to arrive in Hood River as the sun came up to a solid sheet of clouds. I turned right around and came home. February is up there as being on of my favorite months to shoot, and I expected multiple outings this year, only to come away with none.

So anyway, about a month ago, I thought I would motivate myself to edit and post the stuff I hadn’t looked at for a few months. As much as I wish I never had to post the images, I knew that if I saved up all my favorites at the same time, it would make the posting more interesting for me. I created a note that listed in order which images I would post and what needed to be said. The list was roughly 21 images, and I thought it would make sense to do one a day, so I opted to keep the title and everything the same as it is in my notes when I post here. I guess I felt the need to explain because I do not want anyone getting the wrong idea here. By no means do I think my images are any better than anyone else’s. It was simply for me to organize my thoughts and make it easier for me to actually share some of my adventures with you all. There are plenty of amazing photographers that have come before me and who will come after me, and as someone who has only been shooting for about 4 years now, I have a long way to go before I have the right to make any claims about what’s good and what’s bad. I like looking at cool stuff, you like looking at cool stuff, and that is exactly how I want to keep it. If you made it this far, let’s add some context to what exactly you are looking at.

This is BNSFs Oregon Trunk Subdivision. Minus all the CTC upgrades within the last few years, this whole piece of railroad feels a bit like a time capsule. Estimates in the early 2000s put the traffic levels for this line somewhere in the teens or low 20s, numbers that are nowhere in sight today, and quite frankly, numbers that will never exist. The line, running south out of Wishram, WA to Chemult, OR, where it meets with the UP Cascade Subdivision, sees about 4-6 trains a day. Seeing trains in good light on this line is incredibly challenging. There is a reason that this shot, which is fairly accessible to anyone who hikes and is not afraid of heights, is scarcely seen given how photogenic it is. If the searchlights and pole line were not removed, this line would almost feel a bit like Raton is now. The road into here is actually the old ROW for the competing company (backed by Edward Harriman) that built along the eastern side of the Deschutes River Canyon. You can find abandoned infrastructure in a few places in the canyon.

Within the first 71 miles, there are 3 sidings, 2 real ones. The first siding, being Moody at MP5, is 4329 feet and has rarely ever been used. The first real siding is Oakbrook at MP38.4, being 6232 feet in length. Dixon, at MP 70, is 5469 feet, and the sidings continue from here at regular 20 mile or so intervals all the way to Chemult. Every train through here is very short, almost every single one is a manifest, and the speeds are very slow. A few more trains per day and it would almost be perfect. What you are looking at is a location known as the Twin Bridges. Instead of following the curvature of the Deschutes, the railroad crosses the river, through a tunnel, and then crosses it again immediately upon leaving the portal. The train originated from the ballast pit at “Missile Base”, a location on the Lakeside Sub. It is running to the yard at Lookout, CA, presumably for a maintenance project on the Gateway. This is, perhaps, about as peaceful a rail line you will find.

As for the current Favorites Series, it will be something I continue in the future, but this will be it for a little bit. All I have is worthless junk again, some of which I will throw around here and there. It has been fun. Thanks for viewing. Until next time.

U MBALOO5 28B

March 30, 2024 - 5:33PM

Sherar, OR // BNSF Oregon Trunk Sub

| Buy this photo on Getty Images |

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El Glaciar San Rafael es uno de los mayores glaciares del Campo de Hielo Norte en la Patagonia Chilena. Es la mayor masa de agua congelada mas cercana al Ecuador en el mundo. Tiene un ancho de 2 kms y un frente de 50 mts de altura, con un largo de 20 kms desde su nacimiento en el campo de hielo hasta llegar al mar. Cada tanto grandes trozos se desprenden de su frente dando origen a la Laguna San Rafael y al Rio Tempanos que la conecta con el mar. Se ubica dentro del Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael y es accesible solo por via maritima. Se puede llegar navegando en cruceros o catamaranes y en los ultimos años se abrio una nueva ruta mixta via Bahia Exploradores, que conecta con la Carretera Austral permitiendo recorrer salvajes territorios inhabitados cubiertos de Selva Vadiviana siempreverde y alcanzar el glaciar en pequeñas lanchas.

La Carretera Austral es uno de los mayores atractivos de la Patagonia chilena. Esta larga carretera que nació como un sendero de colonización a fines del siglo XX, actualmente es una ruta turística de un creciente interés para viajeros y aventureros de todo el mundo que quieran recorrer la salvaje belleza patagónica. Se ha consolidado como destino por ser una de las mejores 10 rutas escénicas del mundo para viajar ya sea en auto, motocicleta o en bicicleta.

La Carretera Austral o Ruta CH-7, nace en la ciudad de Puerto Montt, recorriendo mas de 1.240 kilómetros, en su trayecto cruza varias veces la cordillera de los Andes, junto con bordear el litoral y los fiordos de la Patagonia Occidental, para luego internarse en los bosques australes siempre verdes, acercándose a numerosos glaciares, grandes lagos y los ventisqueros de los Campos de Hielo Norte para finalizar en Villa O’Higgins, a unos cuantos kilómetros del Campo de Hielo Sur.

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The San Rafael Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the Northern Ice Field in Chilean Patagonia. It is the largest mass of frozen water closest to Ecuador in the world. It has a width of 2 kms and a front of 50 mts of height, with a length of 20 kms from its birth in the ice field until reaching the sea. Each time large pieces are released from its front giving origin to the San Rafael Lagoon and the Rio Tempanos that connects it with the sea. It is located within the Laguna San Rafael National Park and is accessible only by sea. You can get there by cruising or catamarans and in the last years a new mixed route was opened via Bahia Exploradores, which connects with the Carretera Austral allowing you to travel through uninhabited territories covered with the evergreen Vadivian Rainforest and reach the glacier in small boats.

The Carretera Austral is one of the biggest attractions of the Chilean Patagonia . This long road that began as a path of colonization in the late twentieth century , is now a tourist route of a growing interest for travelers and adventurers from around the world who want to explore the wild beauty of Patagonia . It has become destiny as one of the top 10 best scenic routes in the world to travel either by car , motorcycle or bicycle .

The Carretera Austral or Route CH -7, born in the city of Puerto Montt , traveling more than 1,240 miles in its path crosses several times the Andes along with skirting the coast and fjords of Western Patagonia then deep into the southern evergreen forests approaching numerous glaciers large lakes and the glaciers of the Northern Ice Field to finish in Villa O'Higgins a few kilometers from Southern Ice Field .