Photos

Kennedy Space Center

  • 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.

  • Lightning Towers

    3 lightning towers designed to direct bolts away from the launch pad that they surround.

  • Saturn 5 Rocket Base

    The business end of a decomissioned Saturn 5. Walking the length of this rocket takes minutes! 20 tons of fuel per minute would flow through here.

  • Command Module
  • Saturn 5, second stage
Last November, I had the opportunity to visit the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, while visiting relatives living in the area.

Oktoberfest 2013

  • Olympic Ski Jumps

    Not the best photo, but I think it came out alright considering the range was about 12 miles.

  • Ticket

    My "Cannon" and my ticket.

  • Locking horns
  • Olympic Bobsled Runs

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

  • Grounds

    Looking out over the grounds of the area, many local vendors set up tents to show off their homemade products every year.

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

  • No Entrance

    Back door to the machine shop.

  • Abandoned Excavator's Engine
  • Abandoned Excavator

    ...With no bucket. Likely a Massey Ferguson 450.

  • 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.

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!