Northern VA Tag-o-rama!

[mriderleon]

Since the tag was right on the way home, I figured I ought to get it.
There must be a lot of riders around here.



Leon.

[XDragRacer]

Please understand, Leon; these things happen.

Grab on Joplin Road at, well, South Fork, Quantico Creek.

This shot won't make the cover of National Geographic, but . . . you should have seen it before I unleashed Photoshop on it:



In the background, a view upstream of the South Branch of Quantico Creek:

[XDragRacer]

Tag:

Upon his latest grab, Ali said, "You know, I'd REALLY like to visit my own kind now; you know, some other alligators."

I responded, "Don't know about that, Ali; this far north, most alligators (if any exist around here) might decide to hole-up for the winter."

Ali, non-plussed, said, "I know where we can find some alligators, just follow my directions!"

So, off we went, 'til Ali said, "Stop here:"



"Well, o.k., Ali, but . . . "

"Just follow me!", he commanded.

We went inside, and Ali immediately scurried over to help a wounded Marine assaulting the beach at Tarawa . . .



"You see that vehicle in the background?" Ali shouted. "That's an ALLIGATOR, a Landing Vehicle, Tracked, LVT-1. If it hadn't been for my mechanical, fully-tracked cousins, you'd be speaking Japanese and eating with chopsticks!"

We pressed on; then Ali jumped up on the lifting eye of an LVT-3, dug-in as a defensive position in the Korean War (which ain't over, by the way):



He sprang to the bow of the LVT-3, facing the enemy:



"Go get some ammo!", Ali commanded, "This Browning machinegun is of limited use, without ammo!"

As we were leaving, Ali INSISTED I take his picture as a genuine Leatherneck:



Once outside, Ali said, "I'd like to spend some time with that big guy over there:"



So, I put him next to a statue floodlight:



Covered him up with cozy insulation:



If you go to grab Ali, do it before 2100 hours (9:00 p.m.). Trust me, you DON'T want to find out how well they play chess in the Marine brig!

More about Ali's alligator relatives the LVT's, here:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ground/lvt.htm

[NoVa Rider]

Very nice. My dad fought in Okinawa in WWII. . ..

[XDragRacer]

"Hey, visibility is good, roads are dry . . . where ARE they?"



"Ali, you must realize--it's kinda cold, and breezy. Tomorrow's supposed to be warmer. Have patience!"

"Cold, I know. Literally froze my TAIL last night. If they don't come soon, I'm headin' south!"

[Reconstructed]

[Boatman]

Tag>>>>





BTW,,,, I was questioned by the very serious man in the white SUV. I think the only reason I didn't get "hauled in" was the fact that I had my military ID on me.

[Boatman]

New Tag>>>>>>

Not very far.

The Shot...


The Hide...
At the base of the large tree inside the fence behind the sign.


Behind the clump of vegetation.


There he is.




This may help in finding the location...

[bwalsh]

Originally Posted by Boatman

BTW,,,, I was questioned by the very serious man in the white SUV. I think the only reason I didn't get "hauled in" was the fact that I had my military ID on me.

You wouldn't be the first tagger to be hauled in for questioning.

[XDragRacer]

Originally Posted by Boatman

Tag>>>>





BTW,,,, I was questioned by the very serious man in the white SUV. I think the only reason I didn't get "hauled in" was the fact that I had my military ID on me.

Nice going, Boatman!

Grab location:

National US Marine Corps Museum
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway Triangle, VA 22172

[bwalsh]

Originally Posted by XDragRacer

Nice going, Boatman!

Grab location:

National US Marine Corps Museum
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway Triangle, VA 22172

I didn't bother to figure the clues. I did some survey work on that site close to six years ago right after they cleared the site! Haven't been back since.
Do they treat all visitors with suspicion?

[Boatman]

Originally Posted by bwalsh

You wouldn't be the first tagger to be hauled in for questioning.

Yeah,,,, my favorite was the guy that was interogated for photographing a federal prison.

Originally Posted by bwalsh

Do they treat all visitors with suspicion?

No probably not.... just the ones that pull up on bike, park in a no parking zone and go over to root around in the shrubs.

[bwalsh]

Originally Posted by Boatman

Yeah,,,, my favorite was the guy that was interogated for photographing a federal prison.



No probably not.... just the ones that pull up on bike, park in a no parking zone and go over to root around in the shrubs.

Hmmm, haven't heard about the prison one... rooting around looking suspicious will do it!

Maybe we should start a tag-o-rama bail fund.

[ORexpat]

Wet and rainy, water hissing tires on pavement
Searching for the dead, Glascock in name
Known well in the Old Dominion
Graves now hidden, overgrown, almost forgotten . . .

But not by Ali!!

Graveyard at the Glascock Cemetery, corner of Minnieville and Prince William Parkway, Woddbridge, VA

Did the gator get eaten by the graveyard zombies? NO!!

He lives!



Interesting place, many old graves . . . . .





Bike shot . . . yes, there's an alligator somewhere there . . .



Glad I rode the XR; haven't had it out for a while and decided to give it some exercise. Little did I realize that I'd have to jump a curb and ride up the mud for about 30 feet. No streetbike parking here . . .

[ORexpat]

Ok, now where to go . . . . Hmmm. XDragracer gave me an idea . . . .

This here establishment was really close and has been tagged several times, though not the exact spot that our dear gator chose for his hiding spot today . . . . A real favorite place of many of us inmates, Not much of a Factory; don't think they manufacture stuff here. But I sure like what they've got that was manufactured elsewhere! They even Incorporated the place.

Money shot . . . . .



Looking for a nest . . . .



All put to bed . . . .



Local landmarks.







Local, well, something!!!



Here's the secret: Whoever braves the warm sunshine and beautiful riding weather next, go see Shane in the downstairs of said establishment . . . He's a nice guy--who knows, maybe he'll be nice to you!! Make sure you take his photo with the gator!