The Saga of Duncan's

 It all started with a 49 year old photo.

Ralph Ferrusi, my recently reacquainted hiking partner from the southern AT in 1974, sent me this picture.

That's Don, Benji, Laura, and me (from left to right) in front of Duncan's that before that day we knew as "G" that stands for grocery in the Mileage Fact Sheet from the ATC.

It was always a nice find to come across a gas station or small store at road crossings to get some snacks or extra food.  While limited offerings, I did buy "soda, ice milk & cigs (for) 97 cents."

So after getting the above pic, that I didn't have, I tried to find it today virtually since I wasn't going to drive to see it.  

Google Maps is good for that purpose and I have used it for many road crossings along the AT.  Even better is the option to use Google Streetview.  Here you can do a virtual drive down many roads, and for some areas go back in time.  For Duncan's the view in 2009 looks like this.

Then using Google Earth and historical imagery I found the same truck here in 2010

A more recent Streetview from 2021 is here.

While the imagery doesn't go back to the 1970s, it is still a thrill to see views that reignite my memories.

Lastly, here is the USGS topo from the era showing the route in 1974.

Allen Gap on the AT 1974 and later

 Left Hot Springs, NC, "carrying (must have been) 50-60 pounds" of new food and my gear after a Henderson Court Motel stay.  The date was 26th of June, 1974 and a Wednesday.

Crossed Allen Gap:

where the State Line Service Station and Cafe was found. We had ice cream (great).

This next shot is a Google Street View from 2007:

and one from 2009:

Google Earth Pro gives you aerial photography of the area back to 1985 but the earlier stuff has a crude resolution.

Film Tourism with Don Dohler

So, I have tried not to become a couch potato during this pandemic, but in the last year or so I became aware of Baltimore film director Don Dohler.  He was also a publisher and many of his magazines and movies are freely available on the Internet Archive.

Over the past couple of days, I watched his horror film called Fiend.

I watched it to see if I recognize any of the locations.  For the most part no, since may scenes were shot at Moray Court.

But I did recognize Popular Grove Church.  I have relatives there.  I also have a photo on Google Earth of the church.

The film was release in 1980 and I was living in the area.

Flights and the Great Circle Route

Ever wonder about the route your plane takes between two cities?   Since we are so used to looking a flat 2D maps, our view of a straight line is often skewed, especially if the distance is great.

You might have used one of the flight tracking programs where the thousand aircraft are enlarged so much it looks like there will be a crash over the more populated parts of our planet!  The planes are the size of Connecticut at a global view but reduce as we zoom in.

See also my 17 March 2010 report.

So first, fire up your copy of Google Earth.  Don't have it, download it today (it works on cellphones too).

From this program you can zoom out, just like you were in space, and because the earth is a globe, (sorry flat earth people) you will only see half the globe at a time. You will see for example that a flight from NYC to London takes you fairly close to Iceland.  From the flat map view, it would appear to to a arch across the Atlantic.

But sometimes, we can't take the shortest route.  Some countries don't like foreign aircraft flying over their territory.  See this interesting article about how flight paths can change.

So this might explain why a trip can vary in length.  Happy flying.

Looking out the airplane window

I like to look out the airplane windows.  It is fascinating to see the earth from about.  And just like Google Earth, it is really cool to explore the planet. 

I try to figure out my root and after taking pictures and/or video, I will retrace the route on Google Earth to try to identify what I observed.

50 deg 23 min North, 61 deg 27 min West.

Check out this landmark in Canada that I "discovered" flying back from the UK.

Spiral Jetty

Read Heidi Julavits' piece titled "The Art at the End of the World" this weekend.  As typical when I learn about some new place, I check it out in Google Earth. This form of virtual tourism is always enhanced when I can "see" the landscape from above, and from the frequent ground images photographers offer for viewing.  There are also several 360 images that let you spin around and look at the land.

If you can't visit it in person at least check it out by searching "Spiral Jetty, Box Elder County, UT" in Google Earth.  Fascinating.

Google Earth Fun

It is fun to explore the planet from a plane and Google Earth.  Here is a short video on finding the Happy Face on Earth.

Enjoy.

What in the world is this?

I like to explore the planet using Google Earth.  I use it before trips (the anticipation stage, see Clawson and Knetsch 1966).   And I use in the recollection stage as well.

When I fly I also like the window seat to watch the land beneath.

So anyway, I was playing around with Google Earth retracing a flight from Europe where we flew over Eastern Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador and discovered this.

SW of Labrador City, near Fermont

What the heck in the red stuff?  See it for yourself.  Well it is the waste from a mine.

Google Earth and Physical Geography

Google Earth is fantastic.  I have blogged about the usefulness of Google Earth for tourism but it is also great for just plain geography.

If you don't have it on your computer or smart phone, get it right away.  Not only can you see areas from above, but ground based pictures are also available.  A great way to study the Earth.

For example, next week I will be in Maryland and might be able to see this haunted landmark.

Use Google Earth to explore!

Google Earth

I probably visit Google Earth a couple times a week. As a geographer I love doing this kind of "virtual tourism" for places I want to visit or the anticipation stage of the Recreation Experience (Clawson and Knetsch 1966). I can also revisit or Recollect the experience upon my return.

For example here is a recollected image of Sapodilla Hill on Providenciales. Google this location to see the historic resources found on the hill.

Lesser Known Waterfalls of Massachusetts

I shot this picture will hiking the H. Newman Marsh Memorial Trail in the Chester-Blandford State Forest yesterday. It is a great looking waterfall that is found east of the more famous Sanderson Falls along this trail. There are several "vista" along the loop trail found on the top of the 500 foot or so climb.

Check it out and visit the Commonwealth's page.

If you check this area out on Google Earth, over Huntington, to the east, you can see a jet airline heading toward the Northwest!

Teaching Physical Geography over the winter break

I'm teaching a Brick and Click class in Physical Geography over our winter break. We met for the first time last night with a Remote Sensing Lab. Everyone is just amazed with the data available on Google Earth (or Google Maps).

It is a wonderful learning tool.

Most of the students use it to explore an area prior to a vacation. StreetView is of interest as well. Here is an image of our campus.

Tonight we do a lab on topographic maps.

Earl's past, now what about that Quake in New Zealand

Seems the Earth is pretty busy this time of the year.

Well a powerful 7.0 quake hit New Zealand earlier this morning. See some details on the USGS site:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010atbj.php

This website is really good since it includes technical data as well as a variety of maps. You can even download the KML file for Google Earth.

While many reports indicate no deaths, I am sure it is not a happy time there. My thoughts go out to the individuals impacted by this quake.

Post your photos on http://www.panoramio.com/

There are a bunch of websites where you can post your photos, but Panoramio let's you map them on Google Earth. I use Google Earth as a way to explore places I have visited, plan to visit or wish to. Google Earth has made people all Photogrammetrists! See http://www.panoramio.com/user/2492564 for my photos.