Local Sight-seeing

On a mountain a few miles from our base there are some ruins.  
The map calls it a shrine, and the locals call it the castle
of infidels.  The Mujahadin used it as a fortress during the
Soviet invasion, parts of the wall had been destroyed by tank
cannon fire.

It was a heck of a climb up there...150-200 feet...not too
bad until you actor in 50+ lbs of weapons and gear...when you
got about 100 feet up, the trail forked, the right went up to
the old curtain walls that were on a cliff that was about 200
feet high I went there and took some pics with a disposable...
then back down to the fork and up the left passage.  There was
an old well partway up that path, supposedly the defenders that
were killed were thrown into the well, I could not see the
bottom.  I went up the left fork as far as I could, to another
wall over a cliff, to reach the top from there, you literally
have to climb the rock face.  Sans armor and weapon, I would
have made the attempt, the main portion of the castle is at the
very top, but there was no way I could do it, encumbered as I was.
Going to try to get pics from the guys that took their digi-cams...

It was an exhausting climb, but well worth it.  I would love to be
able to come back here one day and climb all the way to the top.  
Hopefully by then, some enterprising Afghani will have set it up as
a tourist spot and installed a skytram to the top!

Veteran's Day

A Tribute to Our Vets

We built this country on the strength of our devotion,

Freed our fellow countrymen from foreign tyranny,

We have served our nation in countless climes and countries

From the burning deserts of North Africa to the killing jungles of Asia

From the vast plains of America to the fertile fields of France…

We have faced our brothers on the field of battle

Then offered them our hands in time of peace

We have vanquished our enemies utterly

Then rebuilt their lands with our sweat

We have made former foes the staunchest of allies

Our brothers lie buried across this world

And we who survived came not home unscathed

Wounded in body soul or mind

We returned to our homes

To our families and friends, to heal

We are soldiers and sailors

Airmen and Marines

Coast Guardsmen

Brothers and sisters

Mothers, fathers, friends and kin

We are teachers and firefighters

Police Officers and Rescue workers

Nurses, doctors, factory workers

We are your friends and neighbors

We are the shield of your freedoms

We have served our country and our flag

For two and a quarter centuries

With our lives and our blood

We have watered the tree of liberty

Long may it grow and bloom.

Citizenship Test

Take the test...tell me how many you got correct in the comments.

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

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