Yum! I used to get great Kassler Rippschen at a German restaurant in Fishkill, New York, when I visited there to do short gigs at the IBM plant. Your shot brings back happy memories. Alas, neither the restaurant nor IBM are there now.

Nice shot! Bear Rocks is a fascinating place, well worth the trip up the mountain.

Thanks, everyone, for the kind comments! The mill is a great location/subject and I hope you get a chance to see it if you have not already.

Here's another to add to the Glade Creek Grist Mill portfolio on UHH. It is a world-renowned photographic destination and is quite easy to shoot, if you're willing to walk a little, climb up and down a little, and perhaps get your feet wet a little.

Many first-time visitors admire the "old" mill but in truth, it's less than 50 years old. Built in 1976, it's made of salvaged parts from various former mills in the area. It was constructed to preserve the history of milling and to provide modern visitors a view into the past. It is a fully-functioning mill that produces flours and meals you can purchase. Tours of the operation are available.

The mill is in Babcock State Park, near the New River Gorge National Park in south-central West Virginia. It's well worth a visit if you're in the area.

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We did a similar trip in 2010. My thoughts: your lens choices are good, with the 28-300 being sufficient for most things, although a really wide angle is good for some pyramid and Sphinx shots. You will NOT be allowed to shoot inside most tombs, unless they have loosened up in ten years. Lighting is good inside, however, if they do allow it. (We were told to leave photo gear on the bus or not take it with us at all on visits to the Valley of the Kings and the Pyramids.)

I used no filters. "Maybe" a light neutral density filter could be handy sometimes, but I had no trouble with sun and exposures.

There is a lot of light pollution around the Sphinx and Pyramids since they all are floodlit at night. The lights of Giza and even Cairo tend to brighten the night sky, too. You might get lucky but I never saw a good night sky on the Giza Plateau. Dust is a consideration, too, since it frequently blots out the sky with a brownish haze.

Dust-proofing your gear is something to think about. I used a gross of zipper baggies when we were on the move, and I tried to avoid changing lenses except on the bus. Your two zooms will help a lot.

Since you are taking a Nile cruise, plan to do lots of shooting from the boat. Life along the Nile is fascinating and I have some wonderful shots of people, animals, farms, etc., on the banks. Pay attention to the people around you and look for good character shots (and be prepared to offer some baksheesh!).

Egypt was a most interesting country. Enjoy your trip!

The last one is very fascinating. It looks to be in Islamic design, with the four minarets and partial dome. What is it?

Very nice! They evoke a variety of feelings and memories.

I took an assortment of lenses and ended up using my 18-300 almost exclusively. The animals and most of the birds will wait for you to approach, so even the 300mm length wasn’t used all that much. The zoom gave me all the flexibility I needed for scenery and wildlife. I definitely would not bother with a big, heavy super zoom. Enjoy your trip; it’s a fabulous place.

Not really, but I have seen comments elsewhere about which is “proper.” Just wondering what other ‘hogs’ think.

Been using Thermopen for years. You’ll love it!