Rivers – RDZ Photography

September 2018 – Auf Wiedersehen to the Audi

Architecture, Art, Festival, History, Nature, Sports, Transportation

Over the last couple of years the cars have become frequent subjects in my photos. After 4 years of loyal service, and fantastic adventures, the Audi S5 was traded in.

This posting highlights the Audi’s trips it took us on.

First trip was to Western Ohio – and a giant fiberglass bull.

Most of the time the birthplace of Presidents are honored locales, but not for Rutherford B Hayes – his is a BP station in Delaware, Ohio.

A covered bridge in Fairfield County, Ohio – The car was not allowed to cross it, but we were.

Utopia has been found (along the Ohio River).

The settling of America – on the right is a famed S bridge of the original National Road. Overhead is US Route 40 – the main route west from the 1910s through the 1960s. A 1/2 mile to the left (not shown) is Interstate 70.

A riverboat in Cincinnati.

867 feet above the Audi the New River Gorge Bridge. They offer tours where they connect you to the beams underneath and you cross – I passed.

Polo anyone. 3 horses in the field and 340 under the hood.

After Utopia, come Paradise – in the Northern Peninsula of Michigan. I find it ironic that somewhere that gets 200 inches of snow a year is considered Paradise…

The Audi is not on a runway – it is an abandoned air force base in Michigan – with some random Jets parked around town.

Welcome to Minnesota doncha ya know.

Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area Montana/Wyoming.

Yellowstone. That is not the radiator overheating 🙂

One of the funniest moments in our travels was the day we ran into a cattle drive on a road in Idaho – this cow spent 5 minutes licking the bugs off the front of the Audi.

We drove 9 miles out a dirt road at the Golden Spike National Historic Site (where the transcontinental railroad met in the 1800s). Wondering who was dumb enough take an Audi out this dirt road, until a Tesla pulled up.

Devils Rocks Utah

Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The hotel was filled with a Corvette Club and us.

Bonjour from Paris – Texas

We went down to the Crossroads….Clarksdale, Mississippi.

We have seen Utopia and Paradise, and now the Center of the World

The original Model T factory in Detroit. They let my German car go along with all the classic American cars on the Woodward Dream Cruise all the way through the city to the burbs where the other 100,000 cool cars were cruising.

Plymouth, Massachusetts – National Monument to the Fore Fathers.

The Marine Atlantic Ferry to Newfoundland. A 600 car ferry and a 18 hour ride!

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada

The Audi and a large basket – but there are larger basket buildings in Ohio.

The historic Cincinnati Observatory and the Audi.

Watkins Glen Race Track. They were having club racing with little Mazdas, etc – if I had the safety equipment to go on the track I could’ve taken them – I think.

Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

The Auburn/Cord/Dusenberg Festival in Indiana. That car is sooo much cooler than mine.

The final road trip for the Audi – Downtown Chicago with the El in the background. While the Audi is gone – the adventures continue…..

Pittsburgh – August 2018 – Sights on a Saturday

Architecture, Art, Festival, History, Nature

In town for the Regatta, we were able to check out a number of other sites for sights during the day.

Throughout downtown there were ‘earths’ painted with messages of making the world a better place.

Flags of the world on the relief of the countries.

A very artistic earth.

Market Square is always busy with something going on.

Meanwhile on the North Shore a large artistic installation graces the riverfront.

I believe that architecture is the most beautiful art form – and functional.

Alcoa Headquarters building.

After we left the Photo Antiquities Museum we came across a festival in a park where they were promotion the protection of animals, including many vegan food options.

There were many artists as well.

But most booths had various animal protection themes.

He needs our help.

The cat rescue group leader.

Origami art

A novel use for test tubes.

I was tempted to bring home a beagle rescue – but we travel far too much – it wouldn’t be fair to the dog.

Nearby is the Children’s Museum – formerly the Buhl Planetarium – with a nice carved relief.

A series of tubes would occasionally created a fog cloud.

Making our way to the river for the Regatta we passed by the baseball stadium, and the Willie Stargell statue.

As well as Roberto Clemente, along with the bridge they renamed for him.

As we made our way to our seat for the regatta fireworks nature provided one last shot for the day.

Pittsburgh – August 2018 – Ya Gotta Regatta

Art, Festival, History, Nature, Sports

For Decades now Pittsburgh has celebrated their position on the rivers with an annual Regatta. More than just boat races, the Regatta features all sort of events – on the water, on the land and in the air.

First up – The Red Bull Paratroopers.

They came down fast, dropping into the valley from above.

Before pulling up just before they….

Hit the water!

The XPogo crew were on hand for some amazing acrobatics.

They have amazing skills on a pogo stick.

Doing backflips while dismounting their stick.

Flipping the pogo stick between their legs in mid air.

These guys were crazy – but very skilled.

Next up – the Anything That Floats competition. When we would come to the regatta back in the 1990s there were 20 or more contestants.

While fewer this year, those that were here were enthusiastic.

A nice water touch.

The boat was misnamed.

The Isaly’s Ice Cream Shop boat wasnt fast, but it was steady.

Not sure if the beer cans were empty or not.

Sharks and Pirates together.

As they made their way down the river they met up with one of the Tiki Hut floating bars.

Which left them at the finish to sail into the sunset.

The water jet guy came out to wow the crowd.

Followed by the jet ski’s, who all were adapt at doing flips.

They seemed to be upside down as much as upright.

A perfect shot – an upside down jet ski with the Point Fountain, Ft Pitt Bridge and Mt Washington in the background.

But it was time for boat racing – the officials surveyed the river.

The crews were ready for the start.

Some less intense than others.

And it was time to race – first up were smaller boats that made a turn before the Ft Duquesne Bridge.

They were quick down the straights.

The larger boats finally took over the course.

The south turn was right at the point where the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers meet.

Another nice view of the Point Fountain.

It is amazing how fast the boats separate – just a few laps and they were all over the course with little grouping together.

Downtown Pittsburgh offers great backdrops for the racing.

After the races, we headed over to Point Park where they had other activities. One was an amazing sand sculpture dedicated to the historic (and defunct) Pennsylvania Railroad.

This entire sculpture is sand.

The detail was fantastic.

The train.

Detail of the train wheels.

After dinner we headed back to the North Side for…..

FIREWORKS!

A great ending to a great day.

Jersey City, NJ – May 2018 – Liberty State Park

Architecture, History, Nature, Transportation

Our day ended in Jersey City with a stop at Liberty State Park. As we entered we paid our respects at the 9-11 Memorial. With the late afternoon sun and lack of crowds it was a moving moment to see the names of those who lost their lives that day.

Nearby is the iconic view of lower Manhattan.

The former Jersey City rail station continue to be refurbished.

There were numerous sailboats out in the harbor.

Including a large sailboat for tourists.

The last of the day’s Statue of Liberty cruises was returning.

Later we were treated to a great full moon over Manhattan.

Vancouver – September 2017 – False Creek and Granville Island

Architecture, Art, History, Nature, Transportation

One of the inlets in the Vancouver area is known as False Creek. In the middle of this waterway is Granville Island, a man made island that was originally used for industry but most have left, as restaurants, housing and parks have taken over.

The views across the waterway to downtown are great.

The one remaining industrial business, Ocean Concrete, has gotten into the artistic spirit.

There are numerous houses build on the piers.

As well as many high end boats docked alongside.

Another view downtown.

Palm trees in Canada?

Icefields Parkway, Alberta – September 2017

Nature, Transportation

The trip continued north from Banff toward the Icefields Parkway, a 180 mile drive to Jasper that takes you past numerous glaciers on the mountains. But first we made a stop for an invigorating hike up Johnton Canyon. This hike included numerous catwalks suspended above the canyon floor, as well as traditional paths. The effort lead to two great waterfalls.

Just before the start of the Icefields Parkway is Lake Louise, a popular tourist stop – so popular there are numerous attendants directing traffic through the entire town to get to the parking lots. We stayed about 30 minutes before leaving the crowds and heading on…

Because a short drive later you were on the Icefields Parkway and has better views with far far fewer people.

At the Columbia Icefields they offer an option to take a tour onto the Athabasca Glacier that included a visit to the ‘Skywalk’, a cantilevered walkway with translucent floors to see straight down 1000′.

The special Ice Coaches were constantly ferrying people onto the glacier. They made a point about how fast the glacier is receding, you would think all the traffic can’t be helping it.

But still, we got to go on a glacier.

Our day ended at Athabasca Falls, near the town of Jasper. I have had many spectacular drives, but the Icefields Parkway is easily one of the 10 best ever.