Photos

Kennedy Space Center

  • Entry

    Right at the entrance, we were greeted by an array of rockets used over the years. The specific names of all the models escape me, but the largest one is the legendary Saturn 5 model - the most powerful machine ever built by man.

  • Apollo Guidelines

    A list of mission status and abort codes from the Apollo era. View full size to read it.

  • Another Crawler

    Another one of NASA's land crawlers, hiding inside.

  • Command Module
  • Seaside Bunker

    Looking out into the Atlantic, one of the main launch platforms would have been behind me. According to our guide this little bunker was used to house sensitive equipment for detecting electricity in the air, as lightning is a grave threat to launches.

Last November, I had the opportunity to visit the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, while visiting relatives living in the area.

Oktoberfest 2013

  • Traditional Accordion Player

    I really wish this photo came out better. Oh well!

  • Alphorns

    The business end of some of these horns. Looking east.

  • Cloudsplitter Gondola

    The quickest way to the top of Little Whiteface! 

  • Horn artwork

    Very pretty!

  • Olympic Bobsled Runs

    Another long distance shot at about 8 miles, the Olympic Bobsled run at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

Every October, the ski resort at Whiteface Mountain has a small Oktoberfest. Traditional German music, food, beer, and demonstrations are featured, and many local vendors come to show off their homemade crafts.

This is the first time I've gone in many years, and the first time I went being older than 21! It's a ton of fun and is definitely worth checking out if you're in the area during the skiing offseason.

Exploring Benson Mines

  • Garage Door

    Outside view of another building showing the decay of the area.

  • Transformer Gauge

    The guts of the transformer were missing, probably stolen by copper thieves.

  • Safety for All
  • Abandoned Excavator's Engine
  • Worker's Desk
Benson Mines is a long-abandoned iron mine near Watertown, NY. The mine was shut down in 1978 and the buildings and have been completely abandoned ever since. Abandoned man-made structures are my favorite to take pictures of, so I couldn't resist exploring!