I Said The D Word
Apr. 2nd, 2026 04:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zesty_pintoI went to Conowingo Dam and...
It was really, really, good. I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I thought I would, I didn't think I would get the kind of shots I did, and I definitely did not expect our accommodations to be as great as they actually were.
So context: we took an airbnb out of desperation: there's no nearby accommodations beyond a few questionable motels and a 30 minute drive from Great Wolf Lodge. I found a home available and it seemed highly received and as we drove in on a cold Friday night, we were treated to a nice house that was fairly clean and well-cared for with plenty of instructions that were fairly straightforward: no shoes in house, try not to scuff the floor, etc. It's a decent-sized house, I told the owners that we basically just needed a place to sleep and maybe eat takeout (I managed to forget my wallet meaning I was operating on a phone to charge for things and Michelle's still using Invisaligns so it ended up being more true than I thought).
Went to bed on a hard memory foam mattress and woke up to a lousy night (Michelle had coffee during lunch with her colleagues the day before and we think it affected things) but allowed us the chance to get up before sunrise to head over and catch some eagles.
Was this a good idea?
Along the drive over we saw a pair of eagles dogfighting over a rodent.
This was a great idea.
The stay was freezing but paid off: eagles kept flying over us, osprey, black vultures... At one point, I thought we should head back and then a bald eagle straight up HITS THE WATER AND LEAPS OUT WITH A FISH and after my muscle reflex relaxes on my giant lens I announce "Holy shit" because this was directly parallel to us.
I was warned that the place is full of photographers too but only saw maybe six people in the freezing cold, all older people with some form of telephoto or another. We were the only couple participating together. One older Asian gentleman with a 600/4 had his wife staying in the car bringing coffee to him and other things. Very few of us talked to each other. It felt like I was around my people lol
Okay, so we did head back but we returned again when I lost my memory card (it ended up being underneath my seat) but also because Michelle needed coffee and milk for said coffee while I needed water because I realized at a certain point that I was as dehydrated as she was (very). Took a trip to a national park nearby, then one of the shore towns before a final trip back to the dam during sunset to get some golden hour time.
I would love to show off some photos, but I tend to work on things chronologically, but here's one I'm kind of pushing ahead of my queue just to show off.
There's so many good ones, I swear.
The host seemed good with us and Michelle liked the place enough to want to come around again. I mentioned that I might consider the place for night photography too (it's bortle 5, which is one level lower than the Boston Islands, very promising).
Michelle's birthday is coming up soon and looking at this reminded me of two things that I am probably getting her: one of them is better noise software since she's using a slower lens (also gives me an excuse to buy some for myself).
Anyway, plumbers came back on Tuesday. Unannounced because that's how they are. We were promised they would cover the hole by Thursday and now that it's Thursday and they're gone, I can confirm they have absolutely not and will probably come back on Friday. I think they're closer to IDing the problem though. Or they're just going to listen to pipes some more too, who knows.
Work's coming along. We have a new hire too! With all the work we're doing, it's a big time relief, let me tell you!
I also always worry about being rendered redundant, but I think there's just so much work. Still, I'm uncomfortable that there's so much less work on my plate and it makes me anxious. Ugh, if it turns out there's less work this year, then I'm going to be more annoyed at myself since this means I'll make myself the most likely to live my fears.
Okay, enough of this, I want to get some more things done. I was worried about being too loud while the plumbers were around.
It was really, really, good. I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I thought I would, I didn't think I would get the kind of shots I did, and I definitely did not expect our accommodations to be as great as they actually were.
So context: we took an airbnb out of desperation: there's no nearby accommodations beyond a few questionable motels and a 30 minute drive from Great Wolf Lodge. I found a home available and it seemed highly received and as we drove in on a cold Friday night, we were treated to a nice house that was fairly clean and well-cared for with plenty of instructions that were fairly straightforward: no shoes in house, try not to scuff the floor, etc. It's a decent-sized house, I told the owners that we basically just needed a place to sleep and maybe eat takeout (I managed to forget my wallet meaning I was operating on a phone to charge for things and Michelle's still using Invisaligns so it ended up being more true than I thought).
Went to bed on a hard memory foam mattress and woke up to a lousy night (Michelle had coffee during lunch with her colleagues the day before and we think it affected things) but allowed us the chance to get up before sunrise to head over and catch some eagles.
Was this a good idea?
Along the drive over we saw a pair of eagles dogfighting over a rodent.
This was a great idea.
The stay was freezing but paid off: eagles kept flying over us, osprey, black vultures... At one point, I thought we should head back and then a bald eagle straight up HITS THE WATER AND LEAPS OUT WITH A FISH and after my muscle reflex relaxes on my giant lens I announce "Holy shit" because this was directly parallel to us.
I was warned that the place is full of photographers too but only saw maybe six people in the freezing cold, all older people with some form of telephoto or another. We were the only couple participating together. One older Asian gentleman with a 600/4 had his wife staying in the car bringing coffee to him and other things. Very few of us talked to each other. It felt like I was around my people lol
Okay, so we did head back but we returned again when I lost my memory card (it ended up being underneath my seat) but also because Michelle needed coffee and milk for said coffee while I needed water because I realized at a certain point that I was as dehydrated as she was (very). Took a trip to a national park nearby, then one of the shore towns before a final trip back to the dam during sunset to get some golden hour time.
I would love to show off some photos, but I tend to work on things chronologically, but here's one I'm kind of pushing ahead of my queue just to show off.
There's so many good ones, I swear.
The host seemed good with us and Michelle liked the place enough to want to come around again. I mentioned that I might consider the place for night photography too (it's bortle 5, which is one level lower than the Boston Islands, very promising).
Michelle's birthday is coming up soon and looking at this reminded me of two things that I am probably getting her: one of them is better noise software since she's using a slower lens (also gives me an excuse to buy some for myself).
Anyway, plumbers came back on Tuesday. Unannounced because that's how they are. We were promised they would cover the hole by Thursday and now that it's Thursday and they're gone, I can confirm they have absolutely not and will probably come back on Friday. I think they're closer to IDing the problem though. Or they're just going to listen to pipes some more too, who knows.
Work's coming along. We have a new hire too! With all the work we're doing, it's a big time relief, let me tell you!
I also always worry about being rendered redundant, but I think there's just so much work. Still, I'm uncomfortable that there's so much less work on my plate and it makes me anxious. Ugh, if it turns out there's less work this year, then I'm going to be more annoyed at myself since this means I'll make myself the most likely to live my fears.
Okay, enough of this, I want to get some more things done. I was worried about being too loud while the plumbers were around.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-03 10:23 am (UTC)That shot is amazing!
no subject
Date: 2026-04-03 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-03 04:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-03 11:09 pm (UTC)I didn't realize I was coming around during that intersect when the eagles would start to migrate out but also the shad were starting to make that trip, so an unintentionally ideal timing on my part.