Day 365 - A Celebration Walk in Downtown Frederick

(Click any photo to enlarge it.)

This bud's for you!

What a great last day's walk it was.   Surrounded by family and friends, my walk today started off with a meeting in front of LaPaz Restaurant, where I handed out maps with various themes marked with colored dots.  Off we went on whatever way each chose to walk downtown; some decided to photograph the beautiful water lilies and lotus now in bloom on Carroll Creek; others went to find iron dogs; some walked the history route; my friend Karen and I went to find the Clustered Spires.  I regret that I did not think to get a group shot of everyone.

A different view of Evangelical Lutheran

The day was hot and humid, but everyone returned to the restaurant at 11:30 for a lunch and a slide presentation of some of my favorite shots from this year.  I spoke to the assembled group, telling them how this year long project began as "all about me," but that it quickly morphed into "all about my readers."

As comments and feedback started coming in from readers, I realized the impact that my daily walks were having on others, as well as on me.  Readers who had moved away from Maryland were recognizing the places I was sharing, and they would write to tell me of their memories.  A dear friend who lives three hours away from me said that checking on my walks was the highlight of her day, since we only see each other a few times a year.  Another reader who was housebound for most of the winter told me she enjoyed "going out" virtually with me on my walks.  One man in my camera club told me he has now added to his trip list at least 30 places he needs to visit, thanks to my walks.

Peace be with you!

Compromise on a brick wall.

I fell in love with where I live, and with my beautiful state of Maryland.  There is so much to see and to do, if one only takes the time to do it.  I became an advocate for small towns, many of which are struggling economically.  I always tried to put a positive spin on the places I visited, even though it might have been sad to see the decline in some of the old towns.  But regardless where I walked, there was always something interesting to photograph.

There IS a fifth dog, and I found it!
Thank you, Sherry, for chatting
at the fence with the owner.
I came to see what you were
up to and found the dog!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with me today.  I look forward to seeing your photos, and we will be sharing them at this site:  Frederick Day 365.  Give my friends a few days to get their photos posted; some may not be as speedy as I am.  I have streamlined a process that I will be sharing in my future book.

It's with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat that I am closing out this blog.  My blogging routine is taking a brief hiatus.  It will be resurrected in a new blog, "Life Through My Lens."  I'll be sharing more than photo walks, but there will be a fair number of those, too.  As one reader told me, he'll miss my "musings and edifications."  Don't worry, Doug...I still have plenty of musings and edifications to share.  Once a teacher, always a teacher.  Once a photo blogger, always a photo blogger. 

Thanks for coming along on my journey.  The best is yet to come.

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Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com

Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots

Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so