One day I’ll remember to not put my cell phone next to my recorder, especially up in Shenandoah where the cell phones try really hard to communicate. Sound Bytes. Down to The Gulf via Nashville, and Shirley Jackson. Watching movie previews, getting into William Friedkin, and a pit-stop.

This sixth of the Places series is at Gravelly Point, which is a park just to the north of Reagan International Airport. There you can watch and listen to planes taking off or landing, have a picnic, or start a bike ride along the Mount Vernon Trail. I've been wanting to record the planes flying over here for years, so I'm glad I finally did it!

Another jump back to August, 2017. I've had this recording of me wandering around and talking to people about the 2017 total solar eclipse event, and what better time to share it on Switching Title than a week prior to the occurrence of the October 14th, 2023 annular solar eclipse. Maybe I'll get a new recording on that day too, and post it later.

Imagine six thirty-six a.m. from a third-story balcony of condo across the street from the beach in the Gulf of Mexico. Water is dripping from the roof from last night’s rain. You have to pack and leave, and end your vacation, but you’ll have just one more cup of coffee and this time to yourself to look out over the south-western horizon.

On my way to the movies, and I run down some ratings. I love the Goldfinch. Being a month ahead; we’ll see if I can keep it up. You have to sit through me rolling in late, and also some of the end credits - I swear I talk eventually! I sneak in a little track.

This fourth Places sub-episode was recorded at Weston Pass Campgrounds on night two of a backpacking trip I went on in The Rockies this last July. Great bird song and intense squirrels are all over this recording. You can also hear me and my brother in the distance making and eating breakfast. Luckily the animals and nearby South Fork South Platte River obscured most of what we were saying!

Not much talking on this one; more listening, and more eavesdropping. Spruce Knob trails and towers. Driving noise descriptions (because you can’t really hear them). Bugs, dogs, and bros at Antietam Creek Campground. Sounds of waves from probably the last time I was at Chincoteague. Hanging out at a bar called The Pinch in DC waiting for bands to play. Mixing the soundscape at Lake Accotink.

Out in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests resides one of my favorite escapes from the city and burbs: The Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground. I go out there to reset myself after long, grueling periods of work. There are excellent opportunities for recreation and experiencing wildlife there. Here, I wake up, build a fire, try to stay dry, and listen to birds.

I found some rambling recordings of me in nature (surprise, surprise) from August 2017. This podcast idea has now been shown to be at least a six year old idea. It’s apparent then that six years ago I didn’t know anything about birds. This one is from Seneca Rocks and Seneca Shadows Campground in West Virginia. Pre Fitbit heart and footstep rate checks. The mix of the environment. I’m a passing-hiker eavesdropper. And an anytime else eavesdropper. Always pick the camp host’s brain. 

This is the second of my new sub-show Places. This recording is up in a spot I find tranquil called Mudhole Gap, which you can reach by hiking up West on the fire road from the Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground. You can hear Little Passage Creek nearby, and it was lightly snowing at the time, which was one of the few times I remember seeing snow around here this winter.