You're right - I hadn't realized how much bigger the Blue Ridge is than the little section I visited. The page is not redundant. But put yourself in the reader's shoes: after reading your page, where do they go next for more info? I think you could be more helpful with that: maybe divide the page up into geographic sections and give links to the mountains in each? An overview map with links to each section would be ideal.
And I stand by the comment on photos - you've got a huge amount of white space at the bottom of your main section because of all the photos trailing down.
About the white space-- this surprises me, because on my computer screen, the photos and text in the main section end at about the same point, and the admittedly short camping and red tape sections begin directly below that, with no empty space. It doesn't make sense that our computers would show two different things, but maybe they do somehow. I'm very curious to see how we're seeing two different things, but I guess I'm not about to drive up to New England to do that. On my edit page, there is an empty field in position 1 that keeps appearing even though I keep deleting it. Maybe that somehow shows on other people's screens, though no one else has mentioned it. But honestly, there is absolutely no empty white space on this computer's screen. I wouldn't leave something like that up.
I like the idea about geographic sections better than the one about history. Really, I'm not going to take the time to research a useful history. So I'll think about how I'd like to do the sections (something I did do with the Yellowstone Ecosystem page I made), and then I'll work on it. Thanks for the suggestion.
And if I wasn't clear about your question about what was wrong with the existing Shenandoah page, I don't think anything is. It's just that it only covers about a fifth of the Blue Ridge; dividing the page into geographic sections may make that clearer.
Okay, last one, I hope. Read this after the long one I just sent. I wonder if your computer somehow isn't showing all the text. Sometimes the site doesn't show all photos and text when I go to a page, but it's all there later. Could that be happening here?
You're right-- they all were at the beginning. I did what you suggested about putting them after the lyrics. There's now a little white space at the bottom, but nothing bad. Tell me what you think.
I'll let you know when I do those sections. I'm pretty sure I know what I'll do, but with Halloween tomorrow and a 2-year-old to chase after, I probably won't be ready to post them for two or three days. So I'll be interested in getting your feedback then.
OK, so the fix is this: the left-aligned photos and the right-aligned ones have to alternate. Otherwise (in Firefox), the right-aligned ones don't start until the left-algned ones are done.
Actually the original idea was that instead of listing all the photos at the beginning, you insert two (one left, one right) at the beginning of each paragraph (except don't use a right one for the Dead quote, to leave room for the TOC), but just alternating left and right should be good enough.
I forgot that-- no insult meant. I tend to think of the range as a NC/VA system despite its reaching up into Maryland and down into Georgia (and SC). I will do some editing tonight.
Living here in Oklahoma, as I do, one gains an appreciation for even the most modest of mountains (the only east/west range in the U.S. is here in our state). Curtis and I visited the Great Smokies and Shenandoah a couple years ago and had a wonderful time, hiking parts of the AT here and there (and rafting the Ocoee, a real hoot!). I'd love to return and hike the AT through Shenandoah. So many places, so little time. Thanks, Bob, another excellent project! I've atch'd a few images. --mark d.
Thank you for the compliments and the attached images-- I enjoy your pictures. By the way, there is another east-west range in the U.S.-- the Uintas in Utah (and I always thought they were the only such range). What, by the way, is the Oklahoma range? Is it the Ouachitas (spelling?)?
Yes, it is the Ouachitas (in the southeast part of the state). The Ouachitas are really spectacular this time of year. There is also the wonderful Ouachita Trail, which runs along the spine of the mountains in Oklahoma before crossing into Arkansas. --mark d.
My family used to camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains when I was a kid. I remember the flowers and the rain in particular. I still remember the trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, and lily of the valley all these 30 years later. Awesome place. Thanks so much for posting!!
nartreb - Oct 30, 2006 11:02 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: largely redundantYou're right - I hadn't realized how much bigger the Blue Ridge is than the little section I visited. The page is not redundant. But put yourself in the reader's shoes: after reading your page, where do they go next for more info? I think you could be more helpful with that: maybe divide the page up into geographic sections and give links to the mountains in each? An overview map with links to each section would be ideal.
And I stand by the comment on photos - you've got a huge amount of white space at the bottom of your main section because of all the photos trailing down.
Bob Sihler - Oct 30, 2006 11:18 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: largely redundantAbout the white space-- this surprises me, because on my computer screen, the photos and text in the main section end at about the same point, and the admittedly short camping and red tape sections begin directly below that, with no empty space. It doesn't make sense that our computers would show two different things, but maybe they do somehow. I'm very curious to see how we're seeing two different things, but I guess I'm not about to drive up to New England to do that. On my edit page, there is an empty field in position 1 that keeps appearing even though I keep deleting it. Maybe that somehow shows on other people's screens, though no one else has mentioned it. But honestly, there is absolutely no empty white space on this computer's screen. I wouldn't leave something like that up.
I like the idea about geographic sections better than the one about history. Really, I'm not going to take the time to research a useful history. So I'll think about how I'd like to do the sections (something I did do with the Yellowstone Ecosystem page I made), and then I'll work on it. Thanks for the suggestion.
And if I wasn't clear about your question about what was wrong with the existing Shenandoah page, I don't think anything is. It's just that it only covers about a fifth of the Blue Ridge; dividing the page into geographic sections may make that clearer.
Thanks for the comments and suggestions.
Bob
Bob Sihler - Oct 30, 2006 11:22 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: largely redundantOkay, last one, I hope. Read this after the long one I just sent. I wonder if your computer somehow isn't showing all the text. Sometimes the site doesn't show all photos and text when I go to a page, but it's all there later. Could that be happening here?
Bob Sihler - Oct 31, 2006 12:23 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Re photosYou're right-- they all were at the beginning. I did what you suggested about putting them after the lyrics. There's now a little white space at the bottom, but nothing bad. Tell me what you think.
I'll let you know when I do those sections. I'm pretty sure I know what I'll do, but with Halloween tomorrow and a 2-year-old to chase after, I probably won't be ready to post them for two or three days. So I'll be interested in getting your feedback then.
Bob
nartreb - Oct 31, 2006 1:11 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Re photosOK, so the fix is this: the left-aligned photos and the right-aligned ones have to alternate. Otherwise (in Firefox), the right-aligned ones don't start until the left-algned ones are done.
Actually the original idea was that instead of listing all the photos at the beginning, you insert two (one left, one right) at the beginning of each paragraph (except don't use a right one for the Dead quote, to leave room for the TOC), but just alternating left and right should be good enough.
rasgoat - Oct 31, 2006 1:21 am - Voted 10/10
Blue Ridge mountains, Shenandoa riverCountry roads,Take me home, to the place that I belong, West Virginia!, mountain mama, take me home, country roads.
Bob Sihler - Oct 31, 2006 1:36 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Blue Ridge mountains, Shenandoa riverThat's how I feel out there, even if the geography in the song isn't right.
BobSmith - Nov 2, 2006 12:30 am - Voted 10/10
Georgia.You left out Georgia in your description of the Blue Ridge. Most of the high country in my native state are Blue Ridge ranges.
Bob Sihler - Nov 2, 2006 12:42 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Georgia.I forgot that-- no insult meant. I tend to think of the range as a NC/VA system despite its reaching up into Maryland and down into Georgia (and SC). I will do some editing tonight.
Bob Sihler - Nov 2, 2006 10:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Georgia.If you know of any Georgia mts. on SP, please feel free to attach them or tell me about them so I can attach them.
BobSmith - Nov 2, 2006 10:12 pm - Voted 10/10
SC too!I forgot to mention SC!
Bob Sihler - Nov 2, 2006 10:38 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: SC too!Don't worry; I put it in.
Mark Doiron - Nov 5, 2006 10:09 pm - Voted 10/10
Wonderful!Living here in Oklahoma, as I do, one gains an appreciation for even the most modest of mountains (the only east/west range in the U.S. is here in our state). Curtis and I visited the Great Smokies and Shenandoah a couple years ago and had a wonderful time, hiking parts of the AT here and there (and rafting the Ocoee, a real hoot!). I'd love to return and hike the AT through Shenandoah. So many places, so little time. Thanks, Bob, another excellent project! I've atch'd a few images. --mark d.
Bob Sihler - Nov 6, 2006 1:17 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Wonderful!Thank you for the compliments and the attached images-- I enjoy your pictures. By the way, there is another east-west range in the U.S.-- the Uintas in Utah (and I always thought they were the only such range). What, by the way, is the Oklahoma range? Is it the Ouachitas (spelling?)?
Mark Doiron - Nov 6, 2006 11:59 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Wonderful!Yes, it is the Ouachitas (in the southeast part of the state). The Ouachitas are really spectacular this time of year. There is also the wonderful Ouachita Trail, which runs along the spine of the mountains in Oklahoma before crossing into Arkansas. --mark d.
Bob Sihler - Nov 7, 2006 1:55 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Wonderful!Thanks for those links. The area does look really nice. Another place to put on the list...
MelbaToast - Nov 7, 2006 8:50 pm - Voted 10/10
Childhood MemoriesMy family used to camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains when I was a kid. I remember the flowers and the rain in particular. I still remember the trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, and lily of the valley all these 30 years later. Awesome place. Thanks so much for posting!!
Bob Sihler - Nov 8, 2006 12:25 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Childhood MemoriesYou're welcome, and thank you!
Bob Sihler - Nov 8, 2006 10:55 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Lovely page!Thank you so much! I'm glad you like them.
CRiedel2 - Dec 27, 2006 5:16 am - Voted 10/10
Glad To See a Blue Ridge PageI'm a little late on this, but I'm glad to see a page on the Blue Ridge Mountains finally. Nice work!