John’s Home Page

I had a free day out in California, so I drove up to Sequoia National Park. I was in the park before dawn, and came across a lone bear walking the road.

After I climbed up Moro Rock, I met a couple from Thibodeaux, LA of all places. It was a good trip, and I was able to get some good hiking in.

I saw Harvey Danger this weekend, and chances are you that didn't, so I guess that makes me the winner. The show rocked; the openers were decent. The first act was US Funk Team, a local Philly band. They were spastic and fun. The second opener was So Many Dynamos. They were merely okay, but sound better in the studio. They had all their levels up way too high - more distortion than music.

We were down in Fort Lauderdale for work two weeks ago, and had a pretty good time. The hotel (Embassy Suites) was great, as was the sushi place a block down the street (they even had a lounge singer).

On one of our free days, DW, JL, and I chartered a boat for a three hour fishing trip.

We boarded the Lady Pamela II in the morning, and set out for adventure on the not-so-high seas. The captain took us off a few miles off shore, where we fished for bait. After catching enough bait we headed a bit further out and started the serious fishing.

While fishing in the Rehoboth Bay, we came across a wrecked ship. SW climbed aboard to see what could be seen.

I took some pictures while we were at an old land-line switching site. The batteries there are 30 years old, and it was powered by old AT&T rectifiers.

We had a whirlwind tour of the country this past week - Seattle, San Francisco, and Dallas. Before we flew from SF to Dallas, we stopped at Point Reyes National Seashore. There is a 4 mile trail (one way) named Bear Valley that starts at the Visitor's Center and ends at Arch Rock. It was a beautiful hike, through coastal woodlands.

I will master alliteration someday. For now though, I will be content to master the posting of images to the Internet. I have a selection of pictures taken during the 4th of July weekend at the Rock Ledge cabin. For those of you new to my site, click the "read more" link below to view the pictures. The pictures are not necessarily in chronological order, but don't worry: time is an illusion anyway.

The siren call of batteries tempted us back to sunny California. We stayed in the Quality Inn on Aviation Boulevard, just five blocks from the beach. We took some time to explore the Santa Monica Mountains, particularly Topanga Canyon. Topanga. Ahaha. Anyways, "read more" for pictures.

Had a great time with the Millersville crew on Saturday, courtesy of Junior and his new apartment. We went to the Mad River, and drank a bit too much alcohol. The 2 AM cook-out helped a bit, but I was greeted by a wicked headache when Sunday morning dawned.

Today I drove up to Centralia, PA. To summarize Wikipedia: in 1962, a trash fire caused a seam of exposed coal to begin burning. The coal is still burning away underground. All but 11 or 12 families have left the town. Most of the town was razed after the others left, and is today covered in new forest growths.

Well this past week, DW and I were sent, with protest, to the bowels of America. Back to the depressing, barren fields. Back! To the chemical plants disgorging their putrid wastes into the sky. Back, once more, to Louisiana.

DW and I were driving to a job in Thibodaux, LA. Our drive was interrupted by around a dozen police screaming down the street. We followed after them and soon encountered this scene. I managed to snap a few pictures before we drove past. The police were arresting a man who had fled from an officer after the man was pulled over for driving erratically. The police were taking no chances with this guy.

You can read more about it from the Daily Comet (PDF).

...is coming to take you away. Last Friday, the Douglas Battery Manufacturing Company graciously allowed myself and the Raleigh crew to tour their Winston-Salem manufacturing plant.