#Benches – 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 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 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 SYD: June 15

Clare from Clare’s Cosmos invites everyone to join her in Sharing Your Desktop (SYD). Below are her suggestions for participating in the Share Your Desktop Challenge .

To do so, simply share the photo (not a screenshot) you have set as your wallpaper; Provide as little or as much detail as you wish; Use a pingback, or post a link here so I know you have joined in on the fun; Then finally, share the fun around.

I am sharing my Wallpaper from both my Laptop and my Smartphone. I enjoy looking at different images each month. Most of which revolve around Coleman (my grandson) and nature.

Here are my Desktop Wallpaper and Screensaver for my Laptop:

From My HP Laptop:

Desktop Background Wallpaper

*Coleman looking over the Pond*
*by The Trailhead Store*
*at Daniel Stowe* Conservancy

Desktop Screensaver

Color Pop of Coleman
sitting on a Fence Post
on The Carolina Thread Trail
by The Trailhead Store
at Daniel Stowe Conservancy

From My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Focus

*Coleman*
*sitting on a Cairn*
*at Rocky Branch Trailhead*

Personal Focus

*Coleman*
*sitting on a Bench*
*inside a Gazebo*
*by The Trailhead Store*
*at Daniel Stowe Conservancy*

Reading Focus

Coleman
sitting on a Fence Post
on The Carolina Thread Trail
by The Trailhead Store
at Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Hiking Focus

*Coleman*
*by a*
*Do Not Enter*
*Trail Post*
*on the*
*Rocky Branch Trail*

Click on each image for enlarged viewing.

Share Your Desktop – June 2025

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL Filter attachment; 2-6) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: 1-2 & 4-5) The Trailhead Store, Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont, North Carolina; 3 & 6) Rocky Branch Trail, Cramerton/Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Having a Wonderful Week. 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 …