A Texas Sized Mystery: Solved

On a flight from New York City's LaGuardia to Washington's Reagan Airport I captured some photos of this curious sight:

Given its size and proximity to a main road, I figured I'd quickly identify it. But alas, trawling through Google Maps, chatting with ChatGPT and searching along FlightAware flight paths turned up nothing.

I finally gave up, and simply pronounced: I'd have to solve the mystery on our next flight from LGA to DCA.

My Dad wasn't having it. He took one look at the photo and explained, "you're looking for a quarry. It should be easy to find."

And a few days later he texted me with the answer!

I'd taken aerial photos of the Martin Marietta - Texas Quarry:

At first, I was like, "that's close Dad, but that can't be it. My photo includes a sort of racetrack type structure in the foreground, and I don't see that in the image."

To which he replied, and I'm paraphrasing here: zoom out.

Whoa! The "racetrack" was in fact the Maryland State Fair Grounds and was an exact match for the feature I was looking at.

He'd done it! He'd solved the mystery! Thanks, Dad!

When I asked him how he did it, he explained that he asked Gemini for a "list of quarries that can be seen from a plane on a flight from DCA to LGA" and then ran them down in Google Maps. Inspired by his effort, I tried again with Gemini.

I tried the prompt: "I took this photo on a flight from LGA to DCA. It appears to be a quarry. Any idea which quarry it is?" The first time I asked, I got a false positive. Trying again with the exact same image and prompt found it!

I can't believe the answer was there all along, I just had to know how to ask. I suppose this is the quintessential challenge when working with AI: knowing how to ask.

With the quarry identified, I was curious: (a) where did it get its name from, and (b) is it significant?

The name, Martin Marietta - Texas Quarry is easy to unpack. The quarry is currently owned by the company Martin Marietta. The "Texas Quarry" part comes from the fact that it's located in a Maryland village that used to be known as Texas. This location name has been in use since at least 1847.

As for (b), the quarry does appear to be significant. From what I can tell, marble from this site was used in the Washington Monument as well as other local sites. Here's how the USGS describes the marble that was used in the construction of the Washington Monument (emphasis is mine):

Three different kinds of marble were used in the construction of the Washington Monument, which was delayed by several problems. ... The first 152 feet of the monument, built between 1848 and 1854, is faced with marble from Texas, Md. Work stopped when funds ran out.

That sounds like my quarry, or at least one in the vicinity.

Another hint to the significance of this area, is this article published in 1874. It provides extensive details about the "Beaverdam Quarry", explaining that it was also known as the Cockeysville Quarries. The article proudly notes that "the National Capitol was built of marble from this quarry." It specifically calls out the "post-office building of Washington was also constructed of the same material."

Not only is the Texas Quarry located in Cockeysville, MD, but Beaverdam Road runs adjacent to the property. So while I can't say for sure the article is talking about the same quarry I photographed, it certainly seems to be in the same neighborhood.

What a gratifying mystery to solve! Thanks, Dad!

Sun Pillar!

On my run tonight, what appeared to be a normal sunset turned into a first for me: a sun pillar:

This effect is create by millions of falling ice crystals. It's sort of like a rainbow, but also not at all like a rainbow. Either way, how magical!

Neabsco Creek Boardwalk

Last Monday, Veteran's Day, the temps got up to nearly 80° F. Fortunately, we were able to spend the afternoon outside, enjoying the perfect weather.

We hit up Neabsco Creek Boardwalk with our friend's 2-year-old. It turned out to be the perfect mini-hike.

We saw tadpoles and turtles, and two screaming bald eagles in the distance. We took in amazing scenery and soaked up the sun.

Much of the boardwalk is enclosed by railings. That meant L could explore to her heart's content, and we didn't fear we were going to have to fish her out of the water.

The hike was an out-and-back, but even that worked for us. L (mostly) toddled her way to the southern point of the trail, and then we strolled her back to the car. All told, we did a little over 2 miles of hiking. Our nearly 1-mile-an-hour pace was proof of just how fun the trail was.

Near the car, there was a playground where L could use her last bit of energy. By the time we dropped her off, she and I were fully spent. What an amazing day!

Buzzard Hill, Appalachian Trail Hike - Close to DC, Far from Easy

[Composed: 7/2/2024]

Buzzard Hill is one of those hikes that looks perfect on paper: close to DC, relatively short (only 4'ish miles!) and with at least one notable feature, in this case, a waterfall. The hike is a tiny section of the Appalachian Trail, so it's easy to extend and could be turned into an overnight with ease. With all this going, how could the hike not be a winner?

With our niece C in town, we wanted to get some hiking time in. She expressed an interest in going on the AT so Buzzard Hill seemed like the perfect fit.

About 10 minutes in, I realized that this hike wasn't the slam dunk I'd hoped for. We were smack dab in the infamous section of the 2,197-mile AT, affectionately known as the 'Roller Coaster.' While the climbs weren't massive, they weren't trivial either. Up and down we hiked, and I realized that this trail wasn't the gentle introduction to the AT I'd hoped for. This was work, and after a summer of gaming and watching Netflix, C was feeling the grind.

We took the side trail to the waterfall and it was OK. There were multiple levels of waterfall to explore, but the rocks were wet, and the whole area was fairly treacherous. So while the waterfall wasn't a bust, it also didn't quite make up for the sweat equity spent getting there.

From the waterfall, we continued on to Buzzard Hill. More uphill. There's a very nice campsite at the summit, along with hints of great views. Alas, the vegetation makes it so there's no clear vista. Like the waterfall, it earns a 'nice but not spectacular' rating.

For nearly the entire length of the trail, pawpaw trees lined the path. Unfortunately, we only saw a couple of fruit, and they weren't ready to be harvested. Still, during the right time of year, this hike would be a glorious foraging location.

Another notable find on the trail was the '1000 miles from Georgia' marker. This helps put the AT in context, and you realize that for through-hikers this section of trail will hold a special place in their hearts.

I was excited to give C a first introduction to the AT. The thick tree cover provided for a maximum green-tunnel effect, but in this case, it helped keep us cool. We saw a bit of wildlife: a turtle, frog, a number of fascinating bugs, and a skink. Alas, we didn't see a wendigo like C had hoped for. Oh well, maybe next time.

Most importantly, I now appreciate that Buzzard Hill isn't an ideal option for introducing folks to the AT. What it gains in being close to DC, it loses in the elevation gain. It may have been a 4-mile hike, but it felt like a 10-miler.

Maybe I'll come back with Shira in the winter when we can roast hot dogs at the summit and take in the views. Or maybe I'll crack the pawpaw code here, and we'll come back for an epic haul.

Regardless, it was a real pleasure to hike with C. Whatever exhaustion she incurred helped save the next unfortunate soul we might have dragged out for a 'quick hike on the AT.' For that, C is a hero.