Another pic

I thought this goat downspout was interesting.

This picture is looking down to show where the goat was.

After I took the picture, I was going to check where the goat dumped down to, it drops at least 70', but I was so relieved to get out of the tight spiral stairway that I forgot to look.>>>

Peter, I think Woody muttered something about having a look at the roof and the locals figured he was a legitimate roofer, so they let him go up. I'm wondering what his estimate looked like, tho. :P>>>

Hi Woody,

Its possible the straps are lighening conductors usually fitted at the highest point of the building, on church buildings it is fairly common to use the cross at the top of the steeple as the lightening rod, in the third pic down you can see the lighening rod on top of the dome.

Very nice pics you did well with the tools to hand ;), I didn't know it was possible to go up that high as a tourist I will have to find me a guide to translate next time I'm there.

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I've been to France only twice and never made it to Versailles. Wish I had now. I did make it to Montmartre, even bought a little painting from a street artist there...dumb but fun...but what I do recommend you do if you get another chance is to rent a car and drive from Versailles to the Loire valley and go along the river looking at the 'lesser' castles in all stages of restoration or disrepair. Some are really old, some really glamorous, but I doubt any to rival Versailles. Shoulda taken the time; I can see that now. Something has to give though. You'd like Mont St. Michel on the coast. Also saw Carnac standing stones. I think I want to travel some more.>>>

Do I detect a dislike of Bourbon? :ohmy:>>>

Thanks Mike, I took the pictures with 2 cameras, cheap and cheaper. I have a Kodak that's only about $150 but 12 megapixels. But the thing really goes through batteries, so I bought a $80. Olympus at Costco just before I left for a backup. So it's basically point and shoot, level and crop to get the pictures I post. My son has a D-SLR that I used while taking pictures of his family and I was reminded of the composition abilities and discipline required to be actualy looking through the lens. When I see the pictures he got of the same things I took, mine seem scattered.

This is the only close-up I could get of the Versailles roof. It's out a window outside the kings dressing room in a light shaft. As you can see, the king didn't require the gold flashing and statues on the part of the roof only he could see. He was a real man of the people.>>>

That is just freekin' awesome. Nuff said.

Did you take the pic's?>>>

As much as they look like cracks or joints, the lines are thin metal strapping, probably for siesmic strength. This picture is of the belltower, it has strapping going in multiple directions.

This next picture shows the starting point of the roof restoration at the Palace at Versailles.

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I agree w/you about the control joints. You can see them there on the small dome also. Long time ago I saw one of those sumptuous coffee-table books with some details showing the way slab masonry roofing went together. Truly remarkable.>>>

Another one at what is probably a regular interval around the right (in red). Get a load of the stone slab tiles (in yellow) and I'm not convinced there is a membrane under the flat roof at the lower level either. Amazing workmanship and design.

Nice contribution woody.>>>

In the second pic, there's a wicked crack running down the length of the cupola... Hope their superglue is industrial-strength. :huh:>>>

They make it difficult just for the heck of it!>>>

The picture were taken at Montmarte in Paris. That translates into mount of martyrs. Way back, St Denis went up this hill, met some druids that didn't want to be preached to, so they cut his head off. According to legend, St Denis proceeded to cary his head and walk another two miles, preaching all the way. I believe it,the hill is steep enough, I bet you could get a mile just bowling your head.

The church that's there now was built to assuage the guilt of the French and Prussians for war atrocities in some long ago war. Don't know if the atrocities involved goats.>>>

This is the view where the other pictures were taken. I may or may not firgure a way to revive them.

I might be figuring it out, now. You have to follow ALL of Vaa's directions, can't be thinkin, I'll do it my way and save a couple of steps.>>>

Wish I had some goat downspouts.

Where was this taken?>>>