Ron's Road Trips

A Sandwich?

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

In the mood for a great sandwich? Then this is the place. But, it's not just limited to a sandwich, they do have much more and the food is really great. Click HERE to read more about McAlister's.

Mexican Food

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Have a need for some Mexican food? Then try Charanda here by the Concord Mills Mall in Concord NC. Click HERE to read more about Charanda.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination: Watchdog Groups Slam U.S. Navy Over New Report

2012-01-25T06:23:00.003-05:00

My ticking time bomb?

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination: Watchdog Groups Slam U.S. Navy Over New Report:

'via Blog this'

Family Buffet Restaurant

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

An good place to eat with the family and it won't cost you a fortune. Click HERE to read more abut Ryan's.

The Ducks

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

A little ice forming along the shores edge.

Semper Fi: Always Faithful | The Award-Winning Documentary Film

2012-01-23T06:44:00.000-05:00

If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune NC between 1957 - 1987, then you will want to see this. Click on the link below.

Semper Fi: Always Faithful | The Award-Winning Documentary Film:

'via Blog this'

Frog Pond

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Just when I think I have been everywhere...

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Auto's With Potential

2012-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Now this auto lot also has some newer cars, but it was these older ones that caught my attention. I have a feeling that the garage next to here may restore car's like this one.

The Carolina Route

2012-01-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Heron's Own Island

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

You can see the Heron on the right hand of the island

Lumber

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Now here is a carload of lumber and I'm sure one could build one heck of a house out of all this. Now I'm getting more curious about what train cars belong to who and who made this product. I found Carrier Lumber and they are located in British Columbia Canada. Click HERE to read all about Carrier Lumber. It's funny, lumber from British Columbia heading to somewhere here in North Carolina?

How Highs The Water Mama?

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Rocky River just outside Oakboro. The water was pretty high this time out there. Usually it's pretty low and one could just about walk across it.

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Map of where the pictures were taken

Tank Car - TILX 194950

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

So in my spare time, which I seem to have a lot of, I decided to Google the letters and number of this tank car. Well low and behold, I get a hit on Google and find out all sorts of information about this tank car. Now I'm not going to put all that information here because it's not info I have created, it belongs to someone else. So, if you will just click HERE then you can read about what they have written up about this tank car. I do know it is owned by the Trinity Industries Leasing Company (TILX). I just found this to be sort of interesting; and so now you know, it doesn't take much to entertain me.

Art Train

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

On my way back to Charlotte from Myrtle Beach I was going through Polkton NC and had to stop at the railroad crossing for a freight train. I got wondering who, where, and when were the spray paintings done. What are they saying? So thus the "Art Train", or a poor man's art train.

Click HERE to see more photos of this engine, CSX 4539. There is a website that has many pictures of engines and various cars on it. They show a picture and the location where it was taken.

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Morning Sunrise

2012-01-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Looks like another great day ahead...

Norwood NC

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

City park here in Norwood

Downtown Norwood

I didn't realize that Michelin tires were even made here in NC until I took one of these back roads to Norwood.

Also stopped in on a livestock auction while passing through Norwood.

The Diner

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Perhaps a good place to grab a quick burger...

Abandoned School

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

I will need to come back here to get closer to that water tower. It sets back in the woods a bit from the school and I would love to get some better shots of it. I think I will also need to invest in some combat boots and a walking stick for some protection.

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Country Church

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

A unique design for a headstone

Reflection Or Real Thing

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Is that a view of the trees or just a reflection in the water. Some quiet time here in the Pee Dee Wildlife Refuge.

Fireworks

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

All kinds of fireworks, whatever you want, they have it. Careful kid, you'll blow your fingers off.

Apartments With A View

2012-01-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

These apartments overlook uptown Charlotte.

Wake Forest University Charlotte

2012-01-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Charlotte Skyline

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

South End Artwork

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

From the South End of Charlotte.

Pee Dee Wildlife Refuge

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Blue Heron

They are pumping more water into the marsh area from a nearby stream.

The ducks

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Pee Dee River

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

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Need Some Heat

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Gotta get a fire going for today. It's only suppose to be in the 40's here today in Charlotte NC. What a change from yesterday. But then again this isn't as bad as it's suppose to be back in Muskegon Michigan, where I'm originally from. It's suppose to be only in the mid 20's with about 10" to 12" of snow and then throw in some 40 to 50 mph winds. What a day to stay in and sit by the fire. Hey Bro, enjoy your day off up there.

Gathering Spot

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

A place where friends gather for some friendship and just maybe a brew or two. And this is a high class place because they also have a TV out there. Oh what a life, eh?

Eat Your Greens

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

Get your collard greens here

It's that time of the year... get ready for New Year's Eve

Need A Drink?

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Don't forget about Emma's, now I'm not all sure what beverages you can get here, maybe a brew to go?

Dollar Spot

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Gotta wonder what this place is all about.

Meat Market

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Old Country Store

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Belt Sale

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Tom Higgins: A NASCAR Christmas story

2011-12-24T07:05:00.000-05:00

A touching short story about a Christmas event... Just click on the link below

Tom Higgins: A Christmas story | www.thatsracin.com:

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas In Oakboro NC

2011-12-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Small city park here in Oakboro

Main street in Oakboro

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Christmas In Mt Gilead NC

2011-12-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

My guess is that this has to be a great place to have a burger

No "big box" store here, just a local hardware store. How refreshing for a change.

Cash & Dash

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is Cash and Dash NOT Gas and Dash. If you do that you will go to jail.

The Pines

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

A Tree And The Waterway

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Beautiful Snowy Egret

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

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Map of where the pictures were taken in the Vereen Memorial Garden & Park in Little River SC

Old Wasp Home

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Intracoastal Waterway

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Barnacle's

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Once Adrift

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Jellyfish

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

A few jellyfish washed up on shore here in the Vereen Park, Little River SC

The Trawler

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

I guess if I were able to afford a boat then I would want this one, but then I would want to live on it full time also.

Need A Tow?

2011-12-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Gull

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Shells

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Thousands and thousands of shells.

Fishing Boat

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Returning from another day on the ocean fishing.

Vieques PR

2011-12-07T08:34:00.001-05:00

Today would be a good day to be back down here making just one more landing... Miss those days... Miss that lifestyle...

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Saltwater Marsh

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

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On The Hunt

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Woody

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

Woody, the red headed woodpecker.

Ring Of Fire

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

See the ring of red leaves through this tree?

Hypnotic Fire

2011-12-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

What is it about a campfire? Why is it so hypnotic?

"Every fire is the same when it starts.”

– Seneca

Black Birds Migrating

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Bee Hives

2011-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Was smart enough not to drive in there with my Honda Civic. If I had, I would still be there.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Helicopter

2011-11-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

I took these pictures out at the Wilgrove airport. I was assuming that they were doing some practice approaches, landings, and take-offs.

Hot Rod Mailbox

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

One fast mailbox

Memories

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

When I catch the smell of the ocean it brings back so many memories. I was down at Myrtle Beach for a wedding and sitting outside watching the ocean and enjoying the warm gentle breeze off of it. The smell is what floods my mind with memories of when I was stationed at Camp Lejeune. I remember being on the USS Wood County (LST-1179) heading to the Caribbean for a cruise. Sitting back on the fantail late at night, just the moon shinning, and hearing the propeller churning the water and seeing the wake of the ship. Or sitting on a hill on Vieques PR with some Marines and few cold beers watching the F4's coming in for their bombing runs they did on the end of the island. It's that smell that brings all these memories back, I guess this is what I really love about the ocean. I can go back in time, to a time that I so loved and miss.

Memories are like a garden carried in the heart.

The Blue Herron

2011-11-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

This one was a good 200 yards away and this was about as close as I could get at this time.

Tried to catch a couple of them in flight.

The Silo

2011-11-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Now I did give some thought about climbing up here. I thought, wow, what a view that would be from up there, but then I also thought what happens if you fall. There is NO ONE around and NO ONE knows you are even here in this area. So here are the pictures from the ground looking up, but at least I'm standing on my own two feet.

Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge

2011-11-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Jet Truck

2011-11-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Click HERE to read more about the Motz Jet Truck.

Swamp

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Was waiting to see the "Swamp Creature" appear...

She's A Runner

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

All you need to do is get it out of the woods.

Cotton

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Now that is a bale of cotton. Just how many t-shirts, shorts, and socks can be made out of this one bale?

Haunted House

2011-11-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Haunted house? Well someone had posted once to me that this house was haunted.

Fixer Upper

2011-11-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Might not look like much, but it does have potential.

Two of the three porches.

Ripples

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

"Success is more dangerous than failure, the ripples break over a wider coastline."

Quote by Graham Greene

Turtle Soup

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

I think this one is big enough to feed a family of eight.

The Tree

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Tree

It's reflection on the pond

Morrow Mountain State Park

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

What a view.

Lake Tillery

Downtown Badin NC

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

A Baptist Church located in the downtown area.

Center of the downtown area.

Local pizza.

Downtown

Moon

2011-11-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

"The growing and dying of the moon reminds us of our ignorance which comes and goes- but when the moon is full it is as if the Great Spirit were upon the whole world."

Black Elk, Oglala Sioux

* * * * * * * * * * *

Communion On The Moon July 20, 1969

On Sunday July 20, 1969 the first people landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were in the lunar lander which touched down at 3:17 Eastern Standard Time. Buzz Aldrin had with him the Reserved Sacrament. He radioed: “Houston , this is Eagle. This is the LM pilot speaking. I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, whoever or wherever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the last few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way.”

Later he wrote: “In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute Deke Slayton had requested that I not do this.”

NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O’Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly . I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility . It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.

“NASA kept this secret for two decades. The memoirs of Buzz Aldrin and the Tom Hanks Emmy-winning HBO mini-series, From the Earth to the Moon (1998), made people aware of this act of Christian worship 235,000 miles from Earth.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:4

Cheap Gas

2011-11-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Now talk about cheap gas, well this is it. Now if one can just get any gas out of here.

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Private First Class Jerry Lee Ruiter
RECON PLT, HHC, 1ST BN, 327TH INFANTRY, 101ST ABN DIV, UASRV

Died Nov 12, 1966 in Vietnam

Time To Reflect

2011-11-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

One place where one can come and there are only the sounds of nature and one can reflect back on life.

Native American Spirituality

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Explanation of Native American Spirituality

"The Indian loved to worship. From birth to death, he revered his surroundings. He considered himself born in the luxurious lap of Mother Earth, and no place was to him humble. There was nothing between him and the Big Holy (Wakan Tanka). The contact was immediate and personal, and the blessings of Wakan Tanka flowed over the Indian like rain showered from the sky. Wakan Tanka was not aloof, apart, and ever seeking to quell evil forces. He did not punish the animals and the birds, and likewise, he did not punish man. He was not a punishing god. For there was never a question as to the supremacy of an evil power over and above the power of Good. There was but one ruling power, and that was Good."
-Chief Luther Standing Bear -
Teton Sioux, Born 1868

The Sea

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

I could never stay long enough on the shore, the tang of the untainted, fresh and free sea air was like a cool, quieting thought. - Helen Keller

The Sun

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Sun

The light of the world see His face as He comes.

He makes beings on earth happy and they

rejoice. O Wakan Tanka, I offer to You this

world of light.

Black Elk

Fall Colors

2011-11-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Michelin

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Gaddy Covered Bridge

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

I first thought I would be going on some type of death march to reach the bridge but it's only about 150 yards down the path.

A view from inside the bridge

Old No. 7

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Prizm Express

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Mack Daddy

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Nightmare

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

BOO!

Duel

2011-10-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Click HERE for more info on the 1971 TV movie "Duel", starring Dennis Weaver, that this truck was in.

Smokey And The Bandit

2011-10-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

"Snowman, you there?"

Ol' Blue

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Kenworth Truck

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

One bad working truck...

The Beast

2011-10-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Click HERE for more info on the Elizabeth Truck Center

Check out those suede seats.... soooooo nice

TV & a fantastic stereo system

Monster Energy

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Photo's taken at the Charlotte Diesel Super Show at Z-Max

Click HERE for more info on Monster Energy

Click HERE for more info on Turner Motorsports NASCAR