Richmond Bridge

This bridge in the town of Richmond, Australia on the island of Tasmania, was completed in 1825 using convict labor.

More Picture of Central Tasmania here.

Classic Keath

Last night we celebrated my friend Keath's bachelor party. This is a classic of him after a night of partying at a wedding in college.

#133 The Old Post Office Tower

The Old Post Office Tower is located on Pennsylvaina Avenue (At 12th Street) and is part of the Pennsylavia Avenue national Historic Site. The building was completed in 1899 and is the tallest commercial building in downtown Washington, and is third tallest structure. The building itself was only used for 15 years as a Post Office, and probably would have been demolished in the 20s or 30s but was not due to lack of funds caused by the Great Depression. In the early 1970s local citizens rallied to save the building. It was added to The National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and was extensivly rennovated in 1976.

#132 Arlington House

This is actually a picture of Arlington National Cemetery, where Arlington House, once the residence of Robert E. Lee, is located. In an unbelievable oversight, I did not take a picture of the house itself while visiting the cemetery. The Cemetery is a touching place and a living memorial to the thousands of men and woman who have died in defense of our country.

#131 Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial was designed by Henry Bacon and the statue inside was sculpted by Daniel Chester French. Inside the memorial are inscriptions of two of Lincoln's most famous speeches, The Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second Inaugural Address. Many famouse speeches and events, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech have happened on the memorial's steps.

See more pictures here.

#130 Vietnam Veterans Memorial

This monument is also located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The wall was designed by American Architect Maya Lin and is visited by more than three million people each year.

See more pictures here.

#129 Korean War Veterans Memorial

This monument on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is dedicated to men who served in the Korean War in the 1950s. It was designed by Frank Gaylord, and has a granite wall nearbly reading "Freedom is not Free."

See more pictures here.

Engagement Pics

Here's another picture from our Engagement session a coupleweeks before our wedding in October 2007.

Gizzmo

This is Gizzmo, or Mr. Poo, as we called him. He's been gone for 10 days now and we miss him lots.

Luxembourg

I've been slacking off and not blogging the last few weeks. I always go through a down period when I come back from a trip. This one has lasted longer than the ones in the past, I can't really explain why.

Here's a random photo from my summer in Europe in 1998. This one is from Luxembourg, an very underrated destination.

To the ends of the 48

Here are the furthest most points in the 48 contiguous states. From top to bottom: The Geographic Center near Lebanon, Kansas (2009); South- Key West, Florida (2004); East- West Quaoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine (2008); West - Cape Flattery, Washington State (2005) ; and North-Northwest Angle, Minnesota (2009).

Mackiac Bridge

Knife River Indian Villages NHS

This is a replica of a Hidatsa earth lodge from the time Lewis & Clark first visited.

Fort Mandan

This is an impressive replica of Lewis ' Clark's winter quarters in 1804-1805.

Theodore Roosevelt NP

This photo is from the parks less-visited North Unit. I saw Bison later but they were too far away to get a picture on my phone camera.

Fort Union Trading Post NHS

This was the first in a series of forts built near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers.

Why do they call Montana 'Big Sky Country'?

Yellowtail Dam

This impressive power producer for 8 states is located in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Southeastern Montana.

Anaconda Smoke Stack

This unique state park preserves this gigantic Copper Smelter smoke stack. It is still under development, and will focus on the importance of copper mining to the area.

Big Hole National Battlefield

This picturesque valley was the site of a bloody battle between the US Army and the Nez Perce Indians in August of 1877.

Craters of the Moon NM

Here's a picture from up top of Inferno Cone. It almost killed me, but I did make it up!

Unbelievabear

Erik says he climbed that cinder cone behind me. I don't really believe him, but I guess the next picture proves me wrong.

My mobile apartment

I'm traveling in my parents van. I've removed both bench seat and brought a single mattress so that I can camp right out of it. This set up is also ideal because when I was traveling with my dad (he flew home from Salt Lake City yesterday) one could drive while the other one got some rest in back. This was especially helpful on the first two days when we drove almost 1400 miles.

Hagerman Fossil Beds NM

This site along the Snake River in Southern Idaho protects a large number of fossils in bluffs along the river.

Minidoka Internment NM

This site is the remnants of a World War II Japanese Internment camp near Twin Falls, Idaho. Not much remains today, and the site is still under development by the NPS.

Big Storm

This storm set in at Dinosaur National Park and convinced us we wouldn't be camping tonight.

Petey says...

Ugh, this is just embarrassing...

Colorado National Monument

This is a series of amazing canyons outside Grand Junction, Colorado.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

This spectacular canyon is located in Central Colorado.

Molas Pass

This is the view from 10,910 foot Molas Pass, on the Million Dollar Highway in Central Colorado.

Silverton, Colorado

This is a view of the very touristy, yet cute, old silver mining town of Silverton.

Bear-y sick of Indian ruins

Petey's become a bit worn out on all the Indian ruins we've seen the last couple of days.

Mesa Verde National Park

This is the Spruce Tree House ruin. It dates from 1200 B.C.

Priceless

This is at our campground in Cortez, Colorado.

This is getting old...

Ugh!

Four Corner Bear

Ok- he was in all four states at once, but the wind was blowing so hard, I couldn't keep him there long enough to take the picture!

Aztec Ruins NM

This is a reconstructed kiva. A kiva was a place of ceremony and worship in Puebloan cultures. The name of the park, Aztec Ruins, is misleading, since the Aztecs never lived in this part of the continent. It was given by early settlers who were mistaken.

Tricks of the trade

I've gotten some questions about why there are so many pictures of my dad and I using the same angle. Well, here's the answer. My brother and sister-in-law got me the apparatus that allows me to hold the camera at a distance and get a picture of us (or me) without needing to carry a tripod or asking someone else to take a picture for you. I'm told the inspiration for this gift was the 'idiot' photos I take at each place. If you don't know what an idiot photo is- check out the trip page at www.eriksmith.com/OutWest2009/Idiotp1.htm .

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

This park preserves a number of 'great houses' of the ancestral Puebloan people. This canyon was the hub of their activity from 800 B.C. through 1200 B.C.

Another One of Great Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes NP & Preserve

This is another really cool place. It is a park that offers a tremendous amount of recreational opportunities, from hiking and swimming to off-roading and wildlife viewing.

Collegiate Peaks

This range contains many of Colorado's famous 14,000 foot mountains

Florissant Fossil Beds NM

This is a gigantic petrified redwood stump from the late Eocene Era, some 34 million years ago. This is another great park, and we enjoyed our time talking with the passionate and informative Ranger Jeff.'

Amazing scenery

This picture is from this morning. Trail Ridge Road has the most amazing vistas.

Elevation

Petey is enjoying the views, just not the snow!

Copeland Falls

This is Copeland Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park.