by We spent several days bopping around Raleigh, North Carolina. We did several walks hoping to see birds and got pretty lucky, primarily in Battle Park in Rocky Mount (east of Raleigh), William B. Umstead State Park (in northwest Raleigh), Lake Benson Park (in Garner, south of Raleigh), and while at Mordecai Historical Park (in Raleigh proper). The cover photo is a great blue heron in Battle Park, which had a crazy number of herons flying around – so beautiful!
A 25-foot-long fallen red oak tree was transformed with a chainsaw into art by Jerry Redi and Randy Boni of Smoky Mountain Art. It took them a week to accomplish!
We went to Mordecai Historic Park because it had the circa 1790s cabin that President Andrew Johnson was born in, and I was able to earning more good girlfriend points with this one. There’s not much to it, and thanks to modern-day fire codes, you can’t even go upstairs where the Johnson family actually lived and where he was actually born.
The cabin was relocated here from a mile or so up the road in present-day downtown Raleigh. Several other historic buildings from the area have been saved and relocated to the historic park, as well. The centerpiece of the historic park, however, is the Mordecai House, built in 1785. At one time the house was part of a 5,000-acre plantation. We took a guided tour of the park, which spent the most of amount of time in the house and telling the family history.
Char-Grill has been serving flame-cooked burgers in and around Raleigh since 1959. Did someone say burgers? Of course Doug was going in! This Hamburger Steak Sandwich looks kinda sad, if you ask me, but Doug said it was delicious!
Cook Out originated in Greensboro, about 75 miles west of Raleigh, but now has locations all over the region. This one gets a 10 on the picturesque scale for a fast-food burger.
Loved the bird pictures and the stunning carved oak tree! Your photography has really improved!
Thanks, I really appreciate it! There are 50 crappy pictures for every one nice picture of birds, LOL!