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Retired public school teacher living in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire in the community I taught in for 30 plus years. Worked w/ emotionally disturbed middle school aged youth both in the classroom and through an Outward Bound style adventure learning program: backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, snowshoeing, community service. Summer carpentry filled out the year.

Seems like ages ago.

I am definitely no longer recreating or swinging a hammer as I did at one point in time. Low back surgery x 3! Mixed reviews; one’s body heals better and differently at age 50 than at age 65.

Two adult daughters living in NH; great to be near. They are and have been my pride and joy. The youngest is married. All three are gainfully employed in their fields. In this day and age that is an achievement . We enjoy seeing all of them; they are far enough away that we have to call ahead, which is no doubt a good thing.

We are the proud grandparents of a 4 year old grandson: Wyatt Eugene Churchill. A second grandson Silas Edward Churchill graced us with his birth and presence in our life  November 5th, 2015.

Along the way but no more: motorcycles, cross-country bicycling, rode a tandem touring bicycle, backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering and snowshoeing, a number of foreign exchange students shared our home and family, grew and managed a market garden, raised and kept goats, chickens, and pigs, owned and loved Vizslas, built a couple of houses, drove cross-country a couple of summers running in a VW camper with the family, made extended visits to Alaska, fell in love with my Scottish heritage and the Isle of Mull … !

Winters still  finds us  piloting a  24′ Winnebago View 24P on a 3500 Sprinter chassis towing a Smart Car and chasing warm temps, live string band and Celtic music and photo ops!

Did I say PHOTO OPS!!

Cancer, in the form of multiple myeloma, found us and forced us to experience the Winter of 2015 in northern New Hampshire. Felt like a winter of old from back in the day. Chemo seems to have been successful but has left lots of niggling side- and after-effects.  Slowly regaining our traveling (living) form.

Cancer is a maelstorm that everything becomes connected to and revolves around. Yet: One can and does live life with cancer.

Cuba welcomed us to it’s shore February, 2016. A wonderful and enriching experience. I would suggest it to all.

Waylaid with Ulnar Nerve Trans,  Guyen’s Channel and Carpal Tunnel Release surgeries, hand wrist and elbow : YIKES! Right arm most involved, surgery May 2016. Left arm, surgery end of July 2016. Surgeon says 18 months until we can judge the healing.

Always travel as close to the locals as possible. No sense in surrounding yourself with your culture when another culture beckons.

Stephen McKinney
Conway, NH 03818
603-447-3372
mckfam51@gmail.com

Email me for copies of image files. Be specific as to what image you are requesting. Thanks

16 Comments Post a comment
  1. 11/14/2010
    Mary Lynch

    Good luck with your travels, I’m leaving for the Isle of Colonsay tomorrow so we will all be having a break from the norm this winter.

    Stay in touch

    Reply
    • 01/7/2013
      bigdawg

      Mary Lynch

      Be in touch if you would. I have lost your contact information.

      Thanks

      Steve & Debbie McKinney
      ’09 Winnebago View 24P
      323 Allard Hill Road
      Conway, NH 03818
      603-447-3372
      mckfam@ncia.net
      http://www.bigdawgimages.net

      Reply
  2. 01/12/2011

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    Reply
  3. 01/16/2011

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    Reply
  4. 01/31/2011

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    Reply
  5. 02/21/2011
    Rachel Vidrine

    Nice to have met both of you! Great photos on here, you really have an eye. My favorite is the first photo of the old boat! If ya’ll are still around for Mardi Gras, you need to check out the little town of Mamou, for a true Cajun Mardi Gras.(chicken run included, for the night’s gumbo!) lol We also, have a run here in Gueydan, and alot of duck’s, as we are the Duck Capital of America. Also, I think you would prefer Indian Creek better than Crooked Creek. Wish we could have made a gumbo for ya’ll, and true crawfish etoufee with corn machoux! Maybe next time, lol Allons!

    Reply
    • 02/21/2011
      bigdawg

      Thanks for the kind words. Louisiana has been very hospitable.
      The image you speak of is a couple of derelict trawlers on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.
      We are going to be in Mamou/Eunice this coming weekend.

      Steve!

      Reply
  6. 12/6/2012

    Just noticed you on I-40 leaving Amarillo and on a lark googled you. Thank you for the polite “flash” as we passed you in a 38′ Monoco hauling a 22′ cargo trailer which is empty btw because we brought our younger daughter’s car out to her at college in Tennessee. We made a vacation out of it. We went down into the Florida Everglades seeing places we’ve never been. Passed through New Orleans because we love to keep an eye on that city (our third trip there) over the years.

    I appreciated the wildlife photos you posted as you caught many subjects I was trying to get but my photography skills and opportunities severely lacked.

    My husband and I are newly empty nesters and struggle with that change. Our oldest daughter, a fifth-year nursing student, is dating a young man long distance in Shreveport (on the base) and we were able to stop there and meet him for the very first time. Family is all we have in this life and it’s difficult to share sometimes.

    We are returning home to Paradise, CA where we have a business there for twenty-five plus years.

    Enjoy your travels and stay safe on the road..

    Sincerely,

    Rochelle Harding

    Reply
  7. 01/15/2013
    Kathy Kubota Fox

    Looking forward to meeting you at Quartzite. My husband, Steve, is from N Conway, his sister just bought a house in Conway. Enjoyed your blog!

    Reply
  8. 03/31/2013
    marynell young

    Hi Steve,

    Wonderful photos of birds and cute grandson?

    Where are the Fischer photos?

    I don’t know how to search your many photos.

    mnl

    Reply
  9. 04/11/2013
    Dave Burdette

    Hi Steve. Was searching for tips and saw the address, leading to your familiar name. In case you recall me, I was a local ‘banker’ and my wife taught at Conway Elem. We moved in 2005 due to my travel and to assist my mom who passed a couple years later. Fran still works in education and I retired, continually asking her to as well. We’ve got a Navion 24 V on order and are even more excited about travel prospects; certainly inspires us, seeing your fantastic photos. Hope you folks are well; take care.

    Reply
  10. 07/12/2014

    Excellent site you have here.. It’s difficult to find excellent writing like yours nowadays.

    I really appreciate people like you! Take care!!

    Reply
  11. 03/8/2015

    Found you while doing a search of 2005ish Airstream Westfalia.

    BTW
    I too retired (36 years) teaching: MA – elementary ed., special ed, and technology integration. However, I returned to the classroom here in NH after less than on year out. My wife and I have recently transitioned to more nature photography from our equestrian event work, and my race car work.

    So, I doubt it but, is your 2005 still available?

    -Don

    Reply
  12. 06/19/2015
    Denis Smyth

    Hi Stephen
    I had to change Facebook account, now cannot find your account.
    Maybe you could try from your end. I use Denis C Smyth.
    Great photos on this site.
    Looking forward to a new “Bills” album coming out in Sept.

    Regards
    Denis (Northern Ireland)

    Reply
  13. 11/24/2016

    I just spotted you last night in Emporia, Kansas, funny thing we owned an Sprinter and smart cars too!
    Have a nice and safe trip!

    Reply
  14. 01/3/2017

    Hi Steve,

    Very nice meeting you this weekend! Love the photos–

    Reply

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