March 28, 2023

Williamsburg Grand Illumination Video

I’m back in Williamsburg, Virginia today finishing up a three day tour to Colonial Williamsburg, featuring the Grand Illumination held at the beginning of each December to kick off the Christmas season celebrations here. I’ve seen the Grand Illumination fireworks before, but this year’s seemed better than ever.

Santa came to my house earlier than usual, this year, and left me my requested present — a new video camera — just in time to bring along on this Williamsburg trip! Nice of him, wasn’t it? Anyway, thanks to the new camera, I was inspired to video some of the fireworks. Here is my very first video posted on YouTube — edited down to about 5 minutes of the nearly 30 minute show. Hope you enjoy it!

Boston Marathon 2010 Photos Posted

Boston Marathon Runners on my coach

Boston Marathon Runners on my coach

I’m back from Boston, and got a few photos posted from the trip. This was my sixth trip to the most famous of marathons, but I’ve yet to actually see the runners run. There is nowhere to park my motorcoach within walking distance on race day. But it’s still a fun trip, one I look forward to every year, especially as I’ve gotten to know my passengers on this trip.

I’ve posted a few photos from the trip here: http://www.bobbergey.com/p41009462. Although I don’t see the race itself (except on TV from my hotel room), I do shuttle the runners to the starting line in Hopkinton. That’s where many of these photos were taken, just before the race started. You’ll see the group of 30 runners I took this year (and in the photo above). The hotel we stay at is also very nice, photogenic even, and I have a couple of shots there that I took just for me — including my coach, of course.

Happy Holidays

Holiday Lights at the Mormon Temple's Visitors' Center near Washington, DC The busy fall season is behind us now, and I can finally catch my breath. I’m fortunate that our company has been very busy, and I’ve had lots of work. Now it’s time to do some catching up here over the next few weeks.

A couple of days ago I updated the software that runs the forum here on EightWheels.com, as well as the blogging software itself (WordPress). The last couple of days I’ve added several new photo galleries from recent trips; I still have quite a few more to add, but I’m making progress and they’ll get posted shortly. And I’ve got several articles half written, including one on the challenges of driving and parking in New York City this month. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Christmas is nearly here, so it’s time to wish all of you who celebrate, a very Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year!

Site and Photo Gallery Updates

I’ve been working way too much recently, but you have to make hay while the sun shines, right? LOL … In between trips, I’ve made a few updates to the site and added a couple of photo galleries. The FAQ is back! Not many changes from the previous version a while back, but it’s been updated some. Also in the Links menu is a new page for State DOT Sites for each state in the USA. Plus I’ve added a few more links on the Parking & More links page.

Two new photo galleries have also been added — photos from two different, recent visits to the Arlington National Cemetery, and a few photos from a trip to FDR’s home in Hyde Park, NY. Check them out when you have a chance.
[note]Arlington National Cemetery
FDR Home[/note]

Six New Photo Galleries Posted

KABOOM! An 8 inch mortar is fired at the Gettysburg Reenactment.

KABOOM! An 8 inch mortar is fired at the Gettysburg Reenactment.

I’ve been working at getting caught up on posting photos to my Photo Gallery pages. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve posted six new galleries, including over 350 photos from the 9-day PBU Chorale Tour in early June, a day trip to Hickory Bridge Farm, almost 150 photos from my 8-day tour to Branson, Missouri, a few photos from the Culinary Institute of America, over 80 photos from a 3-day trip to Niagara Falls, and over 60 photos from my first trip of the 3rd quarter 2009 to the Gettysburg Battle Reenactment.

Prints from any of the galleries are available for purchase; just click “Add to Cart” while viewing the photo you want, and follow the directions to select quantity, size, finish, etc. Check them out today!

[note]PBU Chorale Tour 2009
Hickory Bridge Farm
Branson, Missouri
Culinary Institute of America
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Gettysburg Battle Reenactment
[/note]

Mystery Tour and Ligonier Photo Galleries Posted

I’ve posted photos from two of my most recent Hagey Tours: a Mystery Tour April 23 that included a tour of the fascinating Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ, and the Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, NJ; and a two-day tour, April 26-27, to Ligonier, PA, that included visits to two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes, Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, plus tours of the Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown, PA and Fort Ligonier in Ligonier, PA. Both were great trips, very interesting for the passengers and great photo opportunities.
[note]Mystery Tour Gallery
Fallingwater/Ligonier Tour Gallery[/note]

Boston Marathon Trip Photos

Photos taken of my trip to the Boston Marathon 2009 are posted in the Photo Gallery. Click Here to go directly to the new gallery.

Unfortunately there aren’t any photos of the race itself — I couldn’t get the coach within walking distance of the race, and with my shuttling responsibilities for both runners and passengers wasn’t able see the race, except portions on TV. But it was an exciting day! I took 23 runners from our hotel out to the start of the race in Hopkinton, Massachusetts on the morning of the race, and all 23 finished, five of them in less than 3 hours. The oldest of the runners was 59, running in his 97th marathon — now that’s impressive! He finished with a time fast enough to automatically qualify for next year’s Boston Marathon.

All photos are available for purchase. Add the photo you’re viewing to your cart, then follow the directions to choose size, quantity, shipping, etc. Photos are shipped promptly and directly to you.

My New Telephoto Zoom Lens

I’ve been saving up for a longer telephoto lens to replace a shorter one I sold recently, and bought it today just in time for my trip to the Boston Marathon tomorrow. It’s the Nikon 70-300mm VR zoom lens, and it’s a beauty. It was a perfect afternoon to be outside doing some test shots this afternoon, so I spent some time in my local park. I just uploaded a small gallery of about a dozen shots — mostly signs of spring. Check it out here if you’re interested.

New Photo Gallery: Waterfront in Lower Manhattan, NYC

I spent a couple of hours yesterday walking around the waterfront area by South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan, New York City, NY. I posted about two dozen photos; lots of photo opportunities here. Click here to go directly to the gallery.