Sheltered

Early Morning, Saint Philip's Churchyard, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A walk through Charleston's French Quarter may lead you to
 Saint Philip's churchyard, which has many historic gravestones
 sheltered by the arms of ancient oaks.

The Caribbean in Charleston

Tropical Garden, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



Charleston yards often have the look of
 tropical gardens found in the Caribbean.

Echos of Ancient Egypt

Pyramid Mausoleum, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Echos of ancient Egypt reverberate at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery
where a pyramid-shaped mausoleum stands at the edge of a reflecting pond.
But, as you know from your history lessons, it is not likely any mummified pharaohs were entombed here.



 

Flourish

Double Doors, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Well-worn double doors show a flourish of ornamentation
 characteristic of Charleston's old world ambiance.

Darkness Looming

Boardwalk to the Beach, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A dark sky looms over the sea
 on a moody morning at Folly Beach.

Lofty

Peaks and Clouds, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



The view from Trail Ridge Road overlooking the peaks and valleys of Rocky Mountain National Park is a lofty experience, especially when the clouds in the sky seem so close you could touch them. The road is one of the highest in the U.S., surpassing an elevation of 12,000 feet at its apex.

Survivor

Old Corinthian Capital, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Velvia slide film.)



In 1823 a fire almost completely destroyed Saint Paul Outside the Walls, 
an ancient Roman Catholic basilica which dated back to the 10th century. Architectural fragments that survived the fire, such as this corinthian capital, 
were put on display in the original cloister, adjacent to the modern day basilica 
of the same name.

Twin Lanterns

Large Lanterns, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A pair of lanterns provides soft light as well as charming ambiance
for this courtyard entry in the Historic District.

Oaken Tentacles

Live Oak, Hampton Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



The legendary Angel Oak on John's Island isn't the only
live oak in the Lowcountry with crazy limbs.
This old oak in Hampton Park has twisting arms too,
like a wildly tentacled octopus made of bark.

Resting

Bicycle Against a Lamp Post, Saint Michael's Alley, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



When your bicycle is tired of riding around town all day,
just lean it against a lamp post, and let it rest for awhile.
Lamp posts are strategically located across the city for just such a purpose.

Beloved

Gate Detail, East Battery, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A heart for my beloved.

Western Oasis

Tree Line, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A row of cottonwood trees borders Medano Creek, which
meanders through Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado.
The trees seem like a desert oasis compared to the of towering
mounds of sand gathered at the base of the Sangre De Cristo
Mountains. You would almost expect to see camels.

Relic

Twilight along Longitude Lane, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view)



Longitude Lane is a stony relic of 17th century Charleston,
when the way to get around town
was either by walking or riding a horse.

Same Old Thing

Cadillac Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Here is yet another row of old cadillacs
buried in a field at an angle, and painted with graffiti...
my goodness, you see them just about everywhere these days.
 Some things never go out of style.

Boardwalk Sunset

Boardwalk, Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Right Reserved



A splendid way to end the day is a stroll
 along the boardwalk at Shem Creek.

Afternoon Etching

Gate Shadow, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



Afternoon sunlight "etches" an ornate pattern on the pavement,
 thanks to a nearby courtyard gate.




 

Vast

Paddle Surfer, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



A lone surfer seems humbled by the vastness of the sea
on a cloudy morning at Folly Beach.

Way of the Crane

Crane Statue and Pond, Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A garden sculpture cranes its neck as if to meet the morning light...
or perhaps nab an airborne insect.
In either case, it alit amid a peaceful setting
 to strike its pose.

A Tangled Frame

Boneyard Beach, Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A tangle of old trees frames the boneyard beach
 on Pockoy Island at Botany Bay Plantation.

Summer Rainbow

Near Rainbow Row, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(iPad photography)



These colorful houses near Rainbow Row are a
 cool sight, even in the heat of summer time.