2025 Jude’s Bench Challenge – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

Pull Up a Seat on a Jude’s Bench or Two+

On Thanksgiving, my grandson, (Coleman) and I were joined by his mom for a lovely chilly afternoon. After devouring a delicious Turkey dinner (except for Coleman-He doesn’t like meat), my daughter (Trisha) drove us to a quaint park on the edge of Lake Norman called Ramsey Creek Park. At first, Coleman and I were not sure if his mom was going to join us hiking around the park.

Coleman and I started out walking by ourselves walking along the waters edges absorbing all the beautiful scenery. After a while, his mom joined us whilst he was picking up small seashells from the sandy seashore.

We noticed several Benches throughout our time walking around; from park benches to picnic tables and benches, they were scattered all around the park for visitors to relax and enjoy.

Here are some of the views and Benches we encountered …

***Ramsey Creek Park; Lake Norman; Cornelius, North Carolina***

Jude’s Bench Challenge -2025.11.30

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 48

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Ramsey Creek Park; Cornelius, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 OWS: 21(on 22) September

Empty Picnic Site

The Vallecito Stage Station in Julian, California was rebuilt and is a part of the Vallecito County Park operated by the San Diego County Parks. The Vallecito Stage Station was one of the Home Stations along The Butterfield Overland Mail route which carried mail from San Antonio, Texas to San Diego, California beginning in 1857. Passengers on the Stage Coaches ate a good meal once every twenty-four (24) hours at what were called “Home Stations.” Vallecito was one of the “Home Stations” that provided good meals to the Butterfield-Overland travelers from produce and meat supplied by farmers on Mt. Palomar.

Vallecito has been preserved as a 71-acre county park built around a reconstruction of the historic Butterfield Stage Station. Vallecito has been a campsite for literally hundreds of years, beginning first with the native Kumeyaay Indians. This area is part of what is known as the Anza-Borego Desert.

When I was growing up my church youth group would come out here almost every year for camping and hiking. The campground area is primitive and you must bring in your own water supplies as wet as any other supplies you might need.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Empty

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 38

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Enjoy the Outdoors. Have some fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Jude’s Bench Challenge: 15 September

*Bench in front of*
*Best Western Plus Hotel*
*at the Convention Center in*
*Long Beach, California*

*Unique Artistic Bus-stop Bench*
*Long Beach, California*

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 37

Natalie’s Public Art Photo Challenge

Location: Best Western Plus Hotel; Long Beach Convention Center; Long Beach, California, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 A Welcoming Bench in a Garden

Roscoe Village

Memorial Garden

Looking back to a trip my daughter and I took to visit (meet in person) cousins from my mother’s side of the family in Coshocton, Ohio.

There is an area in Coshocton known as the Historic Roscoe Village. The Historic Roscoe Village is an 1830 Restored Canal Town. Roscoe Village began as a small port town in 1816 after a bankrupt merchant bet that rural farmers would rather do business there than have to shell out 25 cents for the ferryboat to Coshocton.

Today, the restored Roscoe Village stands as a testament to Ohio’s bygone Canal era.

*My daughter*
*relaxing on a*
*Welcoming Garden Bench*

The Frances Montgomery Memorial Garden is one of nine gardens in Roscoe Village and is located near the Visitors’s Center. This Garden is dedicated to honor Mrs. Frances Montgomery and her passion for gardening. The Gardens are planted throughout this restored 1800’s canal town.

The flower beds were created in the early 1970’s by Frances Montgomery out of her love for gardening. Many of the gardens have historical significance and assist in the education mission of Roscoe Village.

Click images to enlarge.

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 32

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Commune with Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Pull Up a Seat on a (Jude’s) Bench, Chair or Rocker— 27 July

Domtar Forest Porch

Lake Haigler Entrance

Anne Springs Close Greenway

The Domtar Forest Porch is located adjacent to the Greenway Gateway (often referred to as the canteen) and alongside the historic Nation Ford Road. It is surrounded by a canopy of trees which provides much needed shade and sometimes a cool breeze for a bit of rest and relaxation to bone weary hikers to enjoy.

Whether you come to the Greenway to hike, attend a concert, or just enjoy the beautiful outdoors, you might like to grab some grub at the Gateway Canteen and Pull Up a Seat in one of many Domtar Forest Porch sitting selections.

On Friday Coleman, his mom (Trisha) and I delighted in quenching our thirst with some iced cold water from the Gateway Canteen sipping them within the Domtar Forest Porch.

The Domtar Forest Porch serves as a gorgeous outdoor site for events nestled in nature. From wedding ceremonies, receptions and parties to picnics and retreats, this venue is perfect for gathering and enjoying the natural surroundings.

The Anne Springs Close Greenway hosts the Rooted Rhythm Concert Series every Thursday evening from the beginning of May through July. The Live Concerts provide a variety of musical artists and genres for guests to the Greenway to enjoy in the beautiful outdoors. There is a small charge for non-Members plus a small parking fee. Greenway members are free, however, if you’re parking at the Lake Haigler entrance you’ll still be charged the parking fee to help with the extra costs for the extra parking lot aides.

Domtar Forest Porch
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 30

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Ultra Wide & Fusion Cameras.

Location: Domtar Forest Porch; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Get Outdoors and enjoy Nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us.

2025 Bench Challenge — Helix R Pocket Park

The Benches here are located within the Helix/R Pocket Park which is installed along the greenway off of Riverside Drive, near Downtown Cramerton. [This Pocket Park is just down our long block and across the road from where we live.]

Coleman’s seating choices
on Benches at
***Helix/R Pocket Park***

The Helix/R is a 20-foot tall abstract sculpture created by John Rietta, Soulptor. It was dedicated in Cramerton on Thursday, June 26 along the Carolina Thread Trail on Cramer Mountain Road. It is located in a brand new Pocket Park named the Richard Atkinson Plaza in honour of Cramerton’s Mayor Pro-Tem.

During the dedication The Carolina Thread Trail and the Town of Cramerton, North Carolina cut the ribbon on the Helix/R sculpture officially opening the small Pocket Park to the public.

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 28.2

Natalie’s Public Art Photo Challenge

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & 6-Star filter attachments.

Location: Helix/R Pocket Park; Richard Atkinson Plaza; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices (Part Three)

The Trailhead Store

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Carolina Thread Trail

Continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat. This week’s Coleman’s Choices are within the Gazebo at The Trailhead Store on the grounds of The Village at Stowe.

***Coleman’s Bench***
***Pull Up a Seat Choices***
**within the Gazebo**

Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.

Stay tuned next week for the continuing saga of Coleman’s choices of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating Part Four-The Farmhouse Seating Choices.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 26

Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments plus Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Location: The Gazebo; The Trailhead Store; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices (Part Two)

The Trailhead Store

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Carolina Thread Trail

Continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat.

Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.

Stay tuned next week for the continuing saga of Coleman’s choices of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating Part Three.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 25

Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments plus Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; The Center; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices (Part One)

The Trailhead Store

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

The Trailhead Store is a recent addition to Daniel Stowe Conservancy having just opened last year with The Farmhouse Garden Center opening in May of 2025. The Farmhouse Garden Center opening brought awareness to The Trailhead Store. [I was not aware of its existence until I read about the opening of The Farmhouse Garden Center and the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens name change to Daniel Stowe Conservancy].

The Trailhead Store is a cozy coffee shop nestled amidst the beauty of nature in The Village at Stowe. The Store is owned and operated by Daniel Stowe Conservancy. There is no admission fee for The Trailhead Store, The Farmhouse Garden Center opening, or the eight plus miles of trails on and connected to Stowe Property.

Although Coleman and I did not purchase anything in The Trailhead Store, we did look around to check out what it had to offer as well as the wide variety of seating options available to guests. The Trailhead Store’s outdoor seating consists of several rustic wood chairs and benches scattered around the lawn with magnificent charming views of the Pond Loop Trails located a short distance away.

There are so many choices for people to choose to Pull Up a Seat and relax (and naturally Coleman had to investigate them all) that I’ve elected to make this a two part post series (may be three if I add the seating at The Farmhouse Garden Center).

Here is my first edition to Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices …

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 24

Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV and CPL filter attachments.

Location: The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have an adventurous week. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for Visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Rocky Branch Benches

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge-08 June 2025

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 23

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy a hike/walk. Commune with Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pull Up a Seat on a Bench Along the Catawba River

***Catawba River Trailhead Benches***
**Does a Swing count as a Bench?**

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 22

Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Location: Catawba River Trailhead; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful day. Enjoy a hike/walk in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches Throughout the Greenway

Avon-Catawba Creeks Greenway

*Coleman*
*Gotha Greenway*
*Gastonia Sister Cities*

“Where the Green Heart of Germany meets the Gateway of Gastonia”

Dedicated on October 2, 2011

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 21

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Avon-Catawba Creeks Greenway Trail; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful day. Enjoy a hike/walk in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 OWS: 19 May — Conveniently Convenience

On most hiking trails which Coleman and I there are there are sporadically placed benches Conveniently placed for hiker’s Convenience to rest, relax, and rejuvenate to continue one’s hiking adventure.

Here are a few benches Conveniently placed for hiker’s Convenience …

Anne Springs
Close Greenway
Fort Mill, SC

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Convenience

Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary-19 May

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 20

God Bless. Have a wonderfully fun-filled week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches around Centennial Center

*Eighth & Center Street*
*Downtown Town of Cramerton*

Coleman’s Bonus Seating

Out front of
Mayworth’s Public House
*115 Center Street*

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 18

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Ultra wide Cameras

Location: Center & Eighth Streets; Downtown Town of Cramerton; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Pull Up a Seat — Wherever You Desire and Enjoy a Time of Relaxation. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Four (oops meant five) – Eighth Avenue Benches

Benches I noticed when Coleman and I were walking through town this morning. Three on one side of the street in neighbouring front yards and two in front of the Cramerton Fire Department.

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 16

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Eighth Avenue; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Backyard Junk Pile Bench

While Coleman was playing in the backyard he was talking about our landlord’s birdbath and then I noticed the bench sitting within the same Junk Pile. Never know what one might find in a junk pile. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

I’m posting these benches for Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge and Xingfu Mama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge.

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 13

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Benches Along the Trail

On Saturday Coleman and I went hiking along the Disc Golf Trail at Goat Island Park and Greenway trying to follow the trail in numerical order for the Disc Golf Course. While hiking along the pathway crossing back and forth from paved to dirt trails we came upon these benches. Who knows, maybe people need a bit of rest in between “holes”.

I’m posting these benches for Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge and Xingfu Mama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge.

Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 12

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL Filter attachments.

Location: Disc Golf Trail; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pull Up a Seat on a Lone (Jude’s) Bench

While hiking a hidden (almost) dirt trail at Riverside Park and Greenway this past weekend, Coleman and I came upon this lone Bench in the middle of a sandy area near the South Fork Catawba River.

I am not sure if anyone else knows about this Bench and the Sandy area along the South Fork Catawba River or not. Coleman and I have not seen anyone else around the area. Most people stay near the Fishing Piers at the Greenways.

It gives Coleman an opportunity to play undisturbed in the Sand with his Little Tikes construction vehicles. He is quite the “engineer” designing his own roads, bridges and tunnels in the sand.

It also allows me to have a peaceful serene tranquil relaxing place to Pull Up a Seat to relax and enjoy watching Coleman play.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 10

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Dirt Trail; Riverside Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

Pull Up a Seat on a Trail Bench

Coleman and I hiked a new (to us) trail today after he arrived home from school and switched shoes. We had to walk approximately one mile alongside the road (not every section had a sidewalk), across the C. Claudius Dawson Bridge (which crosses over the South Fork Catawba River) and cross the forked road before reaching our destination to eventually begin our hike for the afternoon.

On our hike we periodically encountered a wooden Bench here, there, and yonder along the Rocky Branch Trail. Here are a few of the Benches we happened upon throughout our hike.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 9

Jude’s Bench Challenge

John’s Cell Pic Sunday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Rocky Branch Trail; CarolinaThread Trail; Belmont/Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a Son Shiny Day. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) — Blue and ??

Dan Antion with No Facilities blog is the host for CFFC. Dan has chosen a theme this week of Blue and ? with Blue being the dominant Color in the image.

Here are my entries for Dan’s CFFC challenge this week.

*Coleman wearing **Blue** hiking on **Blue** Star Trail*

Dan’s CFFC-Blue and ?

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 8

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 CFFC: February 18 — Red and ??

Red Flowers and Whatnot

Here are my entries for Dan’s CFFC and Judy’s Numbers Game. I’m also linking up with Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge.

*Supertunia^® Black Cherry^®Petunia hybrid*

I decided to also link to Natalie’s Public Art Challenge and Jude’s Bench Challenge .

Dan’s CFFC-Red

Judy’s Numbers Game #61-182

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Natalie’s Public Art

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Terri’s Sunday Stills: Monthly Color Challenge-Rosy Red

God Bless. Enjoy the rest of your week. Stay Warm. Take Care. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2025 Thursday Trios: 02.06

Benches in a Park

*Two Park Benches &*
*a Picnic Table with Benches*

Thursday Trios

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 5

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Be Observant. Show Gratitude. Love to all. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Coleman’s Bench Choices at a Museum

Just found out about Jude’s Bench Challenge through Sue’s post Lone bench with a view….reprised. As I looked through my photo archives, I realized I have an abundance of Bench photos to select for this challenge.

My first Bench photos for Jude’s challenge are from the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina. I took my grandson, Coleman there in 2021 for a fun day together. I am also linking this post to XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge.

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 4

Throwback Thursday

Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Location: N.C. Transportation Museum; Spencer, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Have some fun. Enjoy your day. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Share this:

Empty Picnic Site

Share this:

Share this:

Roscoe Village

Memorial Garden

Share this:

Domtar Forest Porch

Lake Haigler Entrance

Anne Springs Close Greenway

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

The Trailhead Store

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Avon-Catawba Creeks Greenway

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: