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Habana Vieja Renewed

The appeal of a trip to Cuba comes from a chance to see a culture frozen in time.  The cars, the architecture, even the people. A common explanation is the embargo created scarcity in resources giving the Cubans no choice, but to save what they had.  However, even after the Cubans had been cut off from the United States they still absorbed many foreign influences and resources. In addition, Cuban government policy has not been a direct line, instead branching off in various social experiments, each leaving its own imprint on Cuban identity.  In reality isolation has affected the island, but determination to preserve their past whether influenced by the Spanish, the Americans, or Communism has been just as important in creating the time capsule that is the island of Cuba. This reasoning made Cuba a perfect choice for our continued exploration of preservation and renewal.  

There is a common belief that Cuba is facing an eminent change as the centralized socialist government loosens its grip and allows for private capitalist in-roads.  From our experience it seems the Cuban government is still calling the shots, though tourism is no doubt increasing, the government is overseeing most of the preparation for an increase in tourism.   Historical Old Havana is one area where the Cuban government has undertaken large-scale urban renewal, although with increasing monetary help from the international community.  

When walking through Old Havana, in Cuba called Habana Vieja, the initiative is clear.  There is reconstruction on every street, but judging by the buildings that have not been renovated, preserving the Spanish architecture of Habana Vieja had not always been an option financially or was not prioritized.   Some of the historical structures may not have been preserved, but they were also not torn down and replaced by some modern building, so the potential to renew and preserve Habana Vieja’s architectural past is a very real option.  There are parts of Old Havana that look like Disney World, but a block away there are houses completely gutted, overgrown with vegetation.   The large-scale renovations are centered near historically significant structures and plazas. This seems to be done with some international financial assistance.

There is also small-scale redevelopment in Habana Vieja in the form of new shops, bars, and cafes with similar hip appearances to the gentrified areas of American cities. Certain spaces are also being made available for selling Cuban art and handmade goods.  

As far as residential housing, we found that the majority of the refurbished housing in Habana Vieja are Casa Particulars.  Casa Particulars are housing options provided by Cuban citizens who in effect rent the apartment for the purpose of renting it to tourists. The government heavily regulates the Casa Particulars; our host gave us government paperwork to fill out documenting our passport information and length of stay.  

A short drive east of the city lie the East Havana Beaches, an underdeveloped strip of shoreline with a few dated hotels and the remains of a few others.  Its proximity to Havana makes it surprising to find relatively empty beaches.  This area will most likely change profoundly in the coming years.

However, the Cubans are not starting from scratch in their preparation for an increase in tourism; there are many bars, restaurants and hotels around before the revolution, maintained during the revolution and are still there today.  

Plus, there has always been the Malecon.  

Stay tuned for more on our Cuban adventures in our next sections about the Cubans people's history and culture! 

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A Southern Excursion: The Deep South

On this section of our journey…

Being able to see America’s industrial past at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, the only preserved blast furnace open to the public.  Serving as a reminder of the haunting sacrifices many Americans made in order to make the United States an industrial powerhouse. 

Acknowledging the continued struggle of rebuilding New Orleans, specifically in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Bywater and making the short drive from New Orleans into the Bayou to explore Jean Laffite National Historic Park and Preserve.

Wild pig hunting along the Lumber River in North Carolina with the help of the land and wildlife conservationists from Lumber River Outdoors. 

Birmingham, Alabama

We continued south to Birmingham, Alabama for an opportunity to take a glimpse into the dangerous past of iron working at a blast furnace. Sloss Furnace had been producing iron since the late 19th century up until 1970 and is a National Historic Landmark.  

Sloss is the only blast furnace of this scale preserved as a historical site. Iron production of this scale is part of what drove the United States toward industrial dominance and ultimately global dominance, something that deserves appreciation and should not be lost.

There were many lethal dangers in this line of work leading to many casualties.  Naturally this leads to many supernatural stories.  None more infamous than the stories surrounding James “Slag” Wormwood, a foreman at Sloss during the “graveyard shift” from sunset to sunrise, who did not seem to have employee well-being as a high priority.  The furnace burned 24/7, but with fewer workers during the night.  This obviously made the work harder for the few who worked that shift and in turn made it more dangerous.  Many died during these overnight shifts.

We visited the site during the week, so we basically had the place to ourselves with near free-reign.  The structures of the complex are massive, towering above you as you stroll the grounds in complete silence.  This definitely creates an eerie feeling, but also a feeling of appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices made by those who toiled to power America’s rise to industrial supremacy.   

New Orleans, Louisiana

We continued on to our southern-most destination. The historical mystique of New Orleans is well known, but many do not realize that the struggle to rebuild and preserve New Orleans is still on going, especially in the neighborhoods farther from Downtown and the French Quarter.  We stayed in Bywater, a mostly residential neighborhood, experiencing an urban renewal seeing the opening of many new shops, art galleries and restaurants. You can still see the effects of Katrina in Bywater, but there is definitely more cash coming in whether it be through these new attractions or from the growing Airbnb community that offers the opportunity to stay in classic New Orleans housing at a very affordable price. The newly renovated houses and shops of Bywater are works of art.

We also checked out some of New Orleans’ more traditional attractions. Of course Bourbon Street and the French Quarter are on the top of that list with various historical structures housing clubs, bars, restaurants and museums.

However, nearby Frenchman Street in the Marigny neighborhood provides live music in an assortment of jazz clubs, bars and in the street with a more local feel.  

…And you can’t forget the cemeteries…

We also walked the field of one of the more unique battles in US history.  The Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 pitted the British Army against an odd assortment of allies led by Andrew Jackson including militias from Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Louisiana, Native Americans from the Choctaw tribe, slaves, free African Americans, and pirates loyal to Jean Laffite.  

A portion of the Louisiana Bayou just outside of New Orleans is protected and made accessible to the public as Jean Lafitte National Wildlife Preserve. Certain areas within the park provide an opportunity for undeveloped bayou experience as minimally maintained trails lead you along various channels, making it easy to come face to face with some of the bayous residents.  If you would like a slightly more safe experience, there is also a series of boardwalks that give you an opportunity to explore the bayou from an elevated position.  

On our way back into the city we checked out NOLA Brewing Company, which brews and serves beer out of a converted warehouse in the industrial neighborhood of Irish Channel.  

Columbus County, North Carolina

You could spend weeks in New Orleans with new experiences everyday, but for us it came time to move on.  We headed north toward home, but not before stopping in North Carolina to meet our new friends at Lumber River Outdoors.  

The plans for habitat construction at Lumber River Outdoors are ambitious.  We met Derek and Ricky, two of the men behind Lumber River Outdoors, they toured us around the Co-op of private land and let us stay at their cabin they call “The Roost.”

Lumber River is a Co-op of private landowners with a common goal of improving the land for wildlife development.  Enhancing quail habitat is the primary goal, but the Co-op also holds land in swamps along the Lumber River and farmland that offer prime habitat for wildlife including deer, turkey, and the reason in which we made our stop… feral pigs.

The feral pig population is exploding across the south as the invasive species continues to devastate the ecosystem, reproducing at an exponential rate.  We thought we’d try to do our part to help stem the pig population and of course earn ourselves a delicious reward.  

Unfortunately, the near 100-degree weather made hunting very difficult and no pigs were to be found.  However, we would love to return to see Lumber River Outdoors’ progress in forestry and habitat development and of course make another try at pig hunting in the swamp.  

The Southern Excursion ended with the long drive north on I-95.

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Cuba Sneak Peak

We finally have the blog "almost" up to date from our summer adventures, so here is a preview of our latest trip. As usual we went looking for people, events and initiatives that match our interest in responsible preservation or renewal. Investigations included, but were not limited to...

The government directed redevelopment of historical Old Havana, although with increasing help from the international community, in preparing for the influx of tourism that will surely come with a lift of US travel restrictions.

The efforts made by individual Cubans as the government begins to allow more opportunities for small businesses to take advantage of the growing tourism industry and generate their own urban renewal.

The preservation of Cuba’s colonial past in the UNESCO World Heritage city ofTrinidad.

Lastly, perhaps the thing most adamantly preserved in Cuba for fear of being lost... Cuban Culture.

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A Southern Excursion: Part I

On this section of our journey... touring the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia and while supporting the privately funded attempt to preserve one of the largest hand-cut stone buildings in the world. Then spelunking into a world created by slightly acidic water through soft limestone in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky and tasting the effect of this combination at a few of the areas historic bourbon distilleries nearby in Bardstown, Kentucky.  Lastly, testing the “hype” about the renovation of East Nashville, Tennessee.

Weston, WV

The first stop on the southern leg of our journey took us to Weston, West Virginia, touring the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The Asylum had been in use since the Civil War and it is one of the largest hand-cut stone buildings in the world, second only to the Kremlin. This being the case, we were astonished that such a historically and architecturally significant building could fall into such a state of disrepair.

Weston, like many of the small towns we passed through in the mountains of West Virginia, seems to have been left behind economically. As the towns deteriorate there is little monetary power to prevent it.

Local and state government doesn’t even seem to be in any position to stem the tide, but the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum’s fate has been saved privately, by Joe Jordan and his daughter Rebecca Jordan Gleason.  Despite most of the grounds still being in a crumbling state of disarray, they’ve started giving tours to raise money for the renovation.  Naturally we had to take a tour.

Louisville, KY

From Weston we headed west toward Louisville, which would serve as the starting point for our enjoyment of the byproducts of Kentucky’s large limestone deposit. The first byproduct being bourbon as the limestone filters spring water bubbling up from below. Kentuckians claim this pristine water is the base for the bourbon flavor profile.  

Before hitting the bourbon trail we decided to go “glamping” for a night in a renovated vintage 1960’s camper.

Bardstown, KY

If you do not have the time to cover the entire Bourbon Trail, Bardstown, KY is a great way to maximize your time with a multitude of distilleries nearby. We decided to visit Willett Distillery and Maker’s Mark sampling some of Kentucky’s finest.

Willett is a family owned and operated distillery and when visiting it definitely has a more personal feeling; we met members of the family during the tour of the grounds.  However, despite its small-business feel, Willett is still a large-scale producer of bourbon and an official stop on the Bourbon Trail.  We felt this combination made them a great business to support.

We decided on Maker’s Mark for distilling in its most beautiful form. The picturesque grounds and facilities made for ideal photo documenting of the distilling process. This place just oozes classiness. Plus, they make fantastic bourbon!

Mammoth Cave, KY

The other result of water running through Kentucky’s limestone is Mammoth Cave. Water of the Green River Valley has been working its way through the earth for ages, eventually creating the longest known cave system in the world.  

The National Park service offers a multitude of cave tours, we decided on two evening tours since it’s the same amount of dark down there at all times and we wanted to use the daylight hours to explore the rest of the park. Important to note it’s also the same amount of cold down there, the temperature stays around 54°F year round, so you may want a jacket.  

We started with a lantern tour which tries to capture the experience of cave exploring from about two hundred years ago. You pass an odd assortment of man-made structures ranging from an area used to produce gun powder to a tuberculosis hospital. Exploring the meandering, intertwined network of tunnels with limited light instills a sense of respect toward the early explorers of the cave and also provides plenty of references to the Mines of Moria.

Between trips below the surface we decided to hike along the cliffs of the Green River in hope of finding a few rattlesnakes. The layers of sediment that make up the cliff face provide little crevices for the snakes to hide in that seemed like perfect habitat, but our search was in vain. We did find a few other little critters.  

For our second subterranean adventure we chose the Focus on Frozen Niagara tour because it is catered to photographers. After a brief tour most of the time is dedicated to allowing photographers free range of the Frozen Niagara area of the cave system.

East Nashville, TN

We surfaced from the damp cave into a rain-soaked Kentucky night and drove south to Nashville.  We wanted to explore the urban renewal of East Nashville and see if it lived up to all the hype as the neighborhood of country music’s younger, hipper side.  

The renovations concentrated around, but not limited to, Main Street, Woodland Street, and Gallatin Avenue are ambitious. It seems every available building is being renovated into a bar, restaurant, café, music venue, brewery or vintage clothing store regardless of the purpose it served before. We found East Nashville to be an easily walk-able neighborhood, great for aimlessly traveling from one establishment to the next.  

As mentioned before, the majority of the establishments we visited were along three main streets, so there is plenty of room for growth in East Nashville.  With some of the most visited attractions having been created from buildings that once served other purposes, combined with the fact that we observed plenty of dilapidated buildings not far from the main-strip, we feel that it is a safe conclusion that the new East Nashville is just beginning.

Stay tuned for the next part of our excursion into the South!

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Philadelphia to Boston to Maine: Summer Road Trip Part I

As in any Compass & Canvas endeavor, we sought the primitive, the historical and the abandoned to raise awareness for preservation, protection or potential renewal.

The trip started with a stop in Boston. Its rich colonial history is well preserved and well known, needing little introduction. One could easily spend a weekend in Boston walking the Freedom Trail, but we found ourselves drawn to the Boston Harbor Islands. The National Recreation Area surprises in its feeling of remoteness considering its proximity to Boston.

We envisioned overcrowded islands serving as an extension of the Boston Waterfront, Georges Island serves this purpose, but from there a free ferry transfer can take you to more remote islands. We caught a ferry from Long Wharf North along the Boston Waterfront, it is only $17.00 dollars to board a ferry or $12.00 if you have a student ID and then transfers are free.

Besides providing transfers to the other islands, the Civil War era Fort Warren stands on Georges Island and it has been maintained to the point that the park service allows visitors to basically have free-range in exploring.

We chose to catch a transfer to Lovells Island, one of the outermost islands. With limited ferries, Lovells provides a secluded opportunity for exploration. The island also houses a few man-made structures used by the Army up until World War II.

Just make sure you don’t miss the last ferry home!

When visiting preserved history in Boston one can’t forget to catch a baseball game. It provides a look into the sports fan experience of the early 20th century, particularly the narrow halls that seem to hold in the heat and steam from the concession stands and the thousands of people moving through them.

Much different from the open concourses that wrap around modern stadiums.

After leaving Boston we continued north to Maine. Maine’s coastline is a tribute to preserved natural beauty enhanced by picturesque structures whether they be forts, light houses or coastal towns. Acadia National Park was our final destination with a few stops along the way. The Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park and the coastal town of Cape Elizabeth, ME, with its famous Lobstah Rolls at Red’s Eats, are two such examples.

Acadia is a compilation of donated land that became the first National Park on the east-coast. If you want to move freely throughout the Park make sure you arrive early. Like way before sunrise early! You should also bring a map because network coverage is very spotty. The park also surrounds plenty of harbor towns if you need a break from exploring.

After a few days in the park we decided to drive away from the coast and farther north into the Maine wilderness. In most cases such a massive swathe of undeveloped land would be very difficult and time consuming to access, but a well-maintained private logging road that runs from Millinocket, Maine to Quebec known as the “Golden Road” provides a path into this remote region.

On our way home from Maine we decided to make a pit-stop in Salem, Massachusetts as it offers the opportunity to walk through some of the oldest houses in America with the added allure of the evils of the Salem Witch Trials.

Salem is a strange struggle between wanting to down-play the evil that happened there, and also relying on it to generate tourist revenue. This divide can be very clearly seen by the two different emphasizes in two of the city’s oldest original houses. The House of the Seven Gables provides a look into the more affluent lifestyle of those who lived between 200-300 years ago; and the Witch House provides a look into the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the men who presided over the trials.

Plus earlier this year a study used primary documents from the time of the Salem Witch Trials to pin-point the location of the hangings. They estimate the location to be on an overgrown hill behind a Walgreens, so naturally we had to investigate.

Tune in for the next leg of our epic Eastern tour of America - West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee! 

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Summer Road Trip Sneak Peek

It has been a summer full of adventuring, leaving us little time for blog posts, so here is a sneak peak at what we’ve been up to during the summer of 2016.

 Using the abandoned railroad line into Ocean City, New Jersey as passage through the “back bay” to Crook Horn Creek.

 Ferrying between the Boston Harbor Islands and exploring the Forts and other abandoned structures left from various time periods.

Appreciating the pristine condition created by the protection of the Maine coastline through Acadia National Park and driving the under-developed logging route of the “Golden Trail” into the Maine wilderness.

  Unraveling the people of Salem’s fascination and commitment to preserving three hundred years of history, trying to promote the positive while profiting off of the negatives.

Touring the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia and supporting the privately funded attempt to preserve one of the largest hand-cut stone buildings in the world.

Spelunking into a world created by slightly acidic water through soft limestone in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky and tasting the effect of this combination at a few of the areas historic bourbon distilleries nearby in Bardstown, Kentucky.  

Testing the “hype” about the renovation of East Nashville, Tennessee.

Being able to see America’s industrial past at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, the only preserved blast furnace open to the public. Serving as a reminder of the haunting sacrifices many Americans made in order to make the United States an industrial powerhouse.  

Acknowledging the continued struggle of rebuilding New Orleans, specifically in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Bywater and making the short drive from New Orleans into the Bayou to explore Jean Laffite National Historic Park and Preserve.

Wild pig hunting along the Lumber River in North Carolina with the help of the land and wildlife conservationists from Lumber River Outdoors. 

So stay tuned!

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The Chatsworth Cranberry Festival | Chatsworth, NJ

Saturday October 15-16, 2016 | Chatsworth, NJ | 9am-4pm

The Cranberry Festival is a celebration of New Jersey's cranberry harvest, the 3rd largest in the United States, and offers a tribute to the Pine Barrens & Local Culture. The main attraction is the diverse showing of many artists & craftsmen, some of which will also be demonstrating their crafts as well as displaying them for sale.

To find out more about this show click here.

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Buck Hill Inn | The Heart of the Honeymoon Capital of the World

The Poconos are still thought of as a vacation destination, but the “Honeymoon Capital of the World” is not what it once was.  Many of the luxurious mountain hideaways have closed, but that doesn’t mean these spaces in nature should no longer be enjoyed. Buck Hill Inn will soon be demolished by Smart Recycling Inc. rather than renovated or preserved.  We are grateful to have been able to collect these images before it was too late.  It is sad to lose such a historic landmark, but we can only hope that in doing so, more people will be able to enjoy nature responsibly.  

Buck Hill Inn is a quintessential representation of the decay the resort industry has undergone in the Poconos.  Built in 1901 with a number of large additions over the span of its 89-year life and surrounded by natural attractions including waterfalls and swimming holes, its age and size is unmatched among the abandoned resorts.  

The resort property is owned by Buck Hill Falls company and is not open to the public.  The grounds are patrolled by security guards, so this large swathe of developed land and a vast amount of the surrounding forest is not open to the public.  Those curious about the "Honeymoon capital of the world" will soon not have the chance to explore and enjoy the beautiful architecture, while imagining the potential for such a space.  

We decided to explore the series of waterfalls and swimming holes along Buck Hill Creek first.  Trails ran from the Inn down to the stream, so visitors could take a short stroll for a swim.  We hiked in from High Acres Park off of Creek Road, Barrett Township.  

The following morning we explored the inn at sunrise.  Hiking from PA-390, Cresco.

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Exploring the Delaware Water Gap Part II - The Hunt

The other recreational activity Zack has introduced me to is hunting.  The Water Gap has provided Zack and his family hunting adventures and wild fare for over 10 years.  It took some convincing, with promises of “free-range, steroid-free” meat and remote photo-shoot locations, but this past spring we embarked on a hunt for wild turkey. However, I quickly realized in observing the nuances of the hunt and Zack’s intimate knowledge of the area that has come from hunting the area for so long would provide plenty of unique photography opportunities.  Here is a general guideline for the process of turkey hunting and some photographs along the way.

Locating Turkey Populations

Before the hunt can begin the turkeys’ approximate locations must be found.  We narrowed our search to old farm fields and the wooded ridges that surround them.  Some of the fields are completely over-grown now, some are mowed and others are still leased out and used for farming.  All make for great turkey habitat.  Turkeys can be located using any number of calls impersonating a turkey.  Zack uses a “box call.”  It is ideal to find their location just before dark because the turkeys roost in trees for the night, so you know they’ll still be there in the morning.

The Morning Hunt

The key is to get close enough to where you think the turkeys are roosting, but not too close as to alert them of your presence.  The turkeys must be lured to you using a call, but using a decoy turkey can also add incentive, if you can find a spot open enough for the decoy to be visible while also offering enough cover for hiding.  As the sky begins to lighten, the turkeys begin to talk to each other.  We knew their approximate location, so we tried to plant ourselves amongst them in hopes of luring one within range.  All morning we could here them calling in what seemed like every direction, but no luck.

The Late-Morning Hunt

In New Jersey turkey hunting is only permitted until 12pm to prevent hens from being disturbed as they hunker-down in their nesting areas for the afternoon.  In the final hours before noon Zack likes to find a sunny-open area, preferably on a ridge close to a stream and take a little nap.  After putting our decoy out about 30 yards from us, we relaxed under cover amongst dense vegetation surrounded on all sides by a mowed field.  Zack would pop his head up every 15 minutes to look around and call.  Sure enough, after about an hour two turkeys came out to investigate.  The result was turkey chili. 

Finishing the job

Shooting the turkey is not the end of the hunt.  After properly tagging and checking the turkey in at the proper location, the task becomes removing and cleaning the meat.

If you missed part I of our favorite things to do at the Delaware Water Gap, click here. 

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Carlisle Christmas Craft Show | Carlisle, PA

Saturday November 5, 2016 | Carlisle, PA | 9am-3pm

Held every year at the Carlisle High School, the Carlisle Christmas Craft Show brings together over 170 vendors for a fun shopping experience of hand-crafted items. The show benefits the CHS Model UN team.

Address: 623 W. Penn Street in Carlisle, PA

To find out more about this show click here.

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Clover Market | Bryn Mawr, PA

Sunday September 25, 2016 | Bryn Mawr, PA | 10am-5pm

Founded in 2010, the Clover Market is a seasonal open-air market featuring over 100 vendors with antiques & collectibles, vintage jewelry & clothing, finely crafted handmade items, and original art.  A selection of Philly's finest food trucks, free crafts & live music complement the lineup. 

To find out more about this show click here.

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Our Favorite Things To Do at the Delaware Water Gap

The Delaware Water Gap National Forest boasts a large swathe of preserved land on both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey sides of the Delaware River, offering endless recreational activities. Plus, exploring past human developments ended by the purchase of the land by the Federal Government, now frozen in time by the protection of the park, can be just as fun.  It is awesome having land preservation on such a large scale less than 2 hours away from Philadelphia. The miles of, at times treacherous, back roads make one feel as though they are in a remote wilderness.   

The Delaware Water Gap National Forest came into existence in the 1960s when the federal government began buying up land in the area in order to put a dam on the Delaware River.  The plan fell through and the land was turned over to the National Park Service who continued to buy up land in the area from anyone willing to sell.  In many cases the settlements on that land, farms, inns, houses and even small towns remain and are left untouched.  This scattered abandonment offers a unique natural experience and a glimpse into the areas history.  Plus, it makes for some damn good photo ops.  Here are a few of the best locations for abandoned development in the Delaware Water Gap National Forest…

As far as more traditional recreation activities, we love hiking through the park, specifically in the summer when the destination is a waterfall or some sort of cliff where we can jump into a pristine, or at least refreshing, body of water.  There are opportunities for this on both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey side of the park.  Here are a few locations for swimming, cliff jumping, or at least sight seeing in the Delaware Water Gap National Forest.

Plus, there's always plenty of wildlife along the way...

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Art on the Green

Saturday September 24, 2016 | New Castle, DE | 10am-4pm

Free Parking – Shuttle bus service provided – refreshments available. FREE Shuttle bus parking as you come into New Castle on routes 9 / 273 / 141 at New Castle School, New Castle Baptist Church.

To find out more about this show click here.

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Bass River State Forest Valentine's Weekend

In honor of our Valentine's Day photo shoot, I decided to answer some questions prepared by Zack, my boyfriend and master navigator, concerning our time in the woods, so that you can read over them as you peruse my photographs from Bass River State Forest.

Where did you spend your Valentine’s Day?

Zack and I decided to go to Bass River State Forest in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey to rent a cabin-like structure called a Lean-To to spend a “snuggly” Valentine’s Day.

How were you convinced to spend Valentine’s Day in freezing conditions in a Lean-To heated only by a small wood stove?

I think the phrases “cozy” and “it won’t be that bad” were used. I also couldn’t fathom how cold it was going to be. The thing I hate most about camping are bugs and I thought, “This is going to be great. All the bugs are dead, no worries.”

How cold was it?

It was record lows all weekend, single digits. It was frigid and numbing. There were other people that decided to brave the elements that weekend. We weren’t the only crazy ones.

What did you think of the Lean-To when you first saw it?

Well, to start, I had envisioned a cute, cozy cabin. The lean-to was neither of these things. It’s one room with a wood-stove and our inflatable bed (the kind that needs a pump, which naturally, I forgot) took up most of the space. 

How was spending the night in the Lean-To? Did the wood-stove work?

There was minimal insulation in the walls, not much between you and the elements. It was definitely cold, like see your own breath cold. I stuck my hands in the stove, almost in the fire itself, but it was not enough. The stove did work to an extent. There was one night where we had a hard time starting the fire, which made it hard to do anything else except think of how to get warm. The lean-to, as small as they were, did not get as warm as I thought.  

What did you eat for your V-Day dinner?

We brought red wine, which got so cold that we had to store them in front of the fire. We cooked some turkey chili in a pot on top of the wood stove.  We brought some cheeses, crackers, and olives, our favorite snack. We definitely did not have to worry about chilling the food.

What were your impressions of the Pine Barrens and the BATONA Trail?

The Pine Barrens are creepy. It was only heightened by the fact that we didn’t see or hear any wildlife, even the animals seemed to know it was too cold.  I could only hear the occasional sounds of the trees. The wind didn’t blow much, so everything was so still. It was unreal, but the lighting and the eerie stillness made for some great photos.  The Pine Barrens are very flat, so it made for easy walking along the well maintained trail.  Everything looks the same in the Pine Barrens, if you venture of the trail its easy to get lost.

What wildlife did you see?

Nothing. It was weird.

How was hiking in the freezing conditions?

It was difficult, but I’m glad that I did it. I didn’t have great gloves. My hands would be really stiff when I would try to take a photo. We wore facemasks because it was just too cold to have your face uncovered. My eyeballs even felt cold. With all my layers I looked like a creature from Lord of the Rings.  

Any advice for braving the elements?

Invest in the gear. Having a great jacket really makes a difference. Pack many layers. Don’t forget to keep drinking water, even if it partially freezes, you can still get dehydrated. This was the first trip that I used my new MindShift backpack. This bag made it easy, especially in these elements, to access different lenses with the rotational pack that swings around your waist.

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Abandonment Series Sneak Peek

By the end of the Phoenixville project my focus shifted toward open spaces created by abandonment.  This fascination has continued and I have done a few other shoots centered on the decay of what man once built.  Here is a sneak peak…

These are a few of the photographs that inspired the abandonment series.  They came from my time in Phoenixville and the surrounding rural area while I was putting together a show for the Historical Society of Phoenixville.  You can also check out my three-part blog post, Barn and Vine: The Lost Path to Phoenixville.

 I spend most of my time in the Philadelphia area, which is filled with abandonment, so there are many opportunities for exploration.  The size and number of abandoned structures left behind as the cities industrial economy crumbled provide endless adventures.

You can also find abandonment in more remote areas.   As the resort businesses of the Poconos died, the large structures that housed the vacationers remained.  The occupancy of houses and farms in the Delaware Water Gap National Forest also came to an end as the Federal Government bought the land.

Look for the complete collections from abandonment in Philadelphia and from my trips to Buck Hill Inn and the Delaware Water Gap National Forest coming soon!

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The Road Trip to Atlanta Part II

The drive down didn’t leave much time for stopping, other than a night in D.C.  visiting some friends, but that stop did not produce many useable photographs.  We had more time on the drive home providing opportunities to make a few stops.  With stops planned at a friend’s house in Asheville, North Carolina and a self-guided tour of the Petersburg Battlefield National Park in Virginia, we headed home.

If you missed The Road Trip to Atlanta Part I, click here!

[taratayan]

The Road Trip to Atlanta Part I

I joined Professional Photographers of America in 2014, mostly because they insure my photography equipment.  However, PPA also hosts Imaging USA out of their headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center.  I had never been to a photo convention before and the PPA gives you a free ticket for the first time you attend Imaging USA.  Plus, I assumed January in Atlanta would be more enjoyable than Philadelphia. Perfect excuse for a road trip!  With a few other stops planned out along the way, we embarked on our journey.

Along the way I kept a journal chronicling the details of our trip. I've always enjoyed making books and combining my love of drawing, collage, and photography. I inserted some highlights from the various places we visited. Enjoy!