While driving up the Eastern Shore of Virginia on a day trip towards Delaware, I visited Kiptopeke State Park.  Located three miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Kiptopeke is known as a significant birding area.  But I stopped to visit the ghost ships.  Partially sunk in 1948, nine McCloskey ships make up the Kiptopeke Breakwater for what used to be a ferry service.  The ferry service is long gone but the mammoth hulks of concrete still protect the Kiptopeke Beach today. 

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2011 - Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA Navigational marker in the break Navigational marker in the break	2011 - Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA McCloskey Ships, head to head McCloskey Ships, head to head	2011 - Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA The Kiptopeke Breakwater The Kiptopeke Breakwater
2011 - Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA The ships, gulls, and the bay bridge The ships, gulls, and the bay bridge	2011 - Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA Bart at Kiptopeke State Park Bart at Kiptopeke State Park	2011 - Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA The pier at Kiptopeke The pier at Kiptopeke

During our stay in North Carolina's Outer Banks, we visited the Currituck Beach Light Station.  I took the little ones to the top of the lighthouse while the others visited the grounds below.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2011 - Currituck Beach Light Station, Corolla, NC The Currituck Beach Light Station The Currituck Beach Light Station

2011 - Currituck Beach Light Station, Corolla, NC Anna, Laura and Matthew atop the lighthouse Anna, Laura and Matthew atop the lighthouse

2011 - Currituck Beach Light Station, Corolla, NC A view of the Atlantic from the lighthouse A view of the Atlantic from the lighthouse

While enroute to North Carolina, we stopped for a day to visit Washington, D. C.  In addition to riding the Metro for the first time, we walked the mall from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2011 - A Capitol View, Washington D.C. The Capitol building The Capitol building	2011 - A Capitol View, Washington D.C. Laura at the Capitol Laura at the Capitol	2011 - A Capitol View, Washington D.C. Anna at the Capitol Anna at the Capitol
2011 - A Capitol View, Washington D.C. The Capitol following a rain storm The Capitol following a rain storm	2011 - A Capitol View, Washington D.C. A rainbow above the Capitol A rainbow above the Capitol	2011 - A Capitol View, Washington D.C. The Capitol hiding behind the Washington Monument The Capitol hiding behind the Washington Monument

On our drive to North Carolina, we decided to spend a day in Gettysburg.  One thing is for certain, one day does not do Gettysburg justice.  In order to maximize the time during our visit, we hired a bus tour service that took us to the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and to Little Round Top.  I suspect we will visit Gettysburg again at some point in the future.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2011 - Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA Laura on a battle cannon Laura on a battle cannon	2011 - Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA Split-rail fence along the battlefield Split-rail fence along the battlefield	2011 - Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA Eternal Light Peace Memorial Eternal Light Peace Memorial
2011 - Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA A view of Devil's Den A view of Devil's Den	2011 - Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA The Valley of Death The Valley of Death	2011 - Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA Geology atop Little Round Top Geology atop Little Round Top

On our way to an event east of St. Louis, we stopped at Hannibal, MO, which is the home town of Samuel Clemens.  Clemens is better known as Mark Twain.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2011 - Hannibal, MO Downtown Hannibal, MO Downtown Hannibal, MO	2011 - Hannibal, MO Downtown Hannibal, MO Downtown Hannibal, MO	2011 - Hannibal, MO Downtown Hannibal, MO Downtown Hannibal, MO
2011 - Hannibal, MO Memorial to Samual Clemens Memorial to Samual Clemens	2011 - Hannibal, MO Molly at the Clemens Memorial Molly at the Clemens Memorial	2011 - Hannibal, MO Memorial to Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Memorial to Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

Located in Calumet, MN, Hill Annex Mine State Park is another gorgeous Minnesota park rich in beauty and history.  If you visit Hill Annex, be sure to take the guided tour.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2008 - Hill Annex State Park Former open pit mine at Hill Annex	2008 - Hill Annex State Park Former open pit mine at Hill Annex	2008 - Hill Annex State Park Former open pit mine at Hill Annex
2008 - Hill Annex State Park Bart exploring abandoned equipment at Hill Annex	2008 - Hill Annex State Park Bart exploring abandoned equipment at Hill Annex	2008 - Hill Annex State Park Bart exploring the shovel at Hill Annex

Jungle Environment Survival Training, otherwise known as JEST, is a course in the United States Navy originally designed for Navy pilots and Marine combat units.  On my last active duty for training at NSD Subic Bay, Philippines, I had the opportunity to take this course.  While it wasn't without trial and tribulation, it is an adventure I would repeat in a heartbeat.  After the United States left the Philippine Islands in 1992, the JEST camp was converted into a survival training facility for civilians and classifies itself as an amusement park.

1990 - Jungle Environment Survival Training Jungle Environment Survival Training Certificate

Following Navy Basic Training, I attended the Storekeeper Class A School, located in Meridian, MS.  The Storekeeper (SK) rating was awarded once the technical requirements of the Naval Technical Training Command (NTTC) were met.  As of 2009, the United States Navy consolidated the Storekeeper and Postal Clerk ratings into a single rating which is now called Logistics Specialist. 

1986 - Storekeeper Class A School, Meridian, MS Storekeeper Graduation Certificate

1986 - Storekeeper Class A School, Meridian, MS Class Picture