Don & Gail Travel Update # 11

It has been quite some time since our last update. We were in Florida for about a month and a half: a month in the Hudson area (north of Tampa) and two weeks in Flagler Beach (a bit south of St Augustine).  We’ve had fun times exploring up and down both the Gulf side and the Atlantic Coast of Florida, and enjoying many days of lovely weather.

We found a lovely state park to view manatee in their habitats of warm waters. The one above was actually feeding on alga on the submerged log.  His head is coming up for air (at the top of the screen) and he is much bigger than he appears.  They are quite friendly creatures, have no predators and their biggest hazard are boat propellers.  Every large manatee we saw had a number of scars from close calls.  The next two old lovely homes are Thomas Edison’s and Henry Ford’s winter homes in Ft. Meyers, Fl.  We were able to view them through open windows and doors on walk-around porches.They were lovely to see.  The grounds were planted with exotic plants from around the world, to further the search for an economical source of rubber for car tires!  The laboratories and museum explained the processes of research and testing. Mr. Firestone was also a partner in this.
   
The street view is of the oldest town in America, St. Augustine.  It was founded in the early 1560’s.  There is so much to see there, including the oldest house (over 400 yrs old) in America, a wonderful 1600’s Spanish Fort, a gorgeous bay where Indians used to fish, world explorers entered and claimed for Spain (Ponce de Leon in 1513), then France, then England, and pirates,as well as gorgeous early 1900’s luxury hotels and churches built by Henry Flagler ~ partner in Standard Oil ~  for the rich and famous in his day and still in operation today.
 
We climbed the lovely St. Augustine Lighthouse (1870’s) and toured the keepers’ house and buildings. (This lighthouse was built by James Gould, for all you Eugenia Price readers)  The view from the lighthouse is looking west toward St. Augustine and Matanzas Bay.
 
The old fort, Castillo de San Marcos, situated there on the Matanzas Bay is too huge to capture with our cameras.  It truly is a delightful thing to tour, built in the shape of a star, with several levels, dozens of cannons, wall etchings by soldiers from many eras, and even draw-gate entrances and a moat! It is one of our all-time favorite forts to visit.

# 11 continued

 

 

This is the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse on the Ponce Inlet further south on the Atlantic Coast.  It was completed in 1887 and is Florida’s tallest with over 203 steps to climb.  The views were spectacular!  This is one of the few lighthouses in America with all the original buildings preserved. For years before electrically lit, keepers carried 30 pound buckets of hot oil up to the lens burner every 2 1/2 hrs around the clock! Amazingly, even their wives did this at times. Both these lighthouses are still in operation today, operated (electrically) by private organizations for the Coast Guard but still using their original Fresnel lenses.

  

We spent a fast-paced day at Daytona Speedway.  What a great tour it was, seeing all there was to see: the entrance tunnel, garages, infield, VIP boxes, pre-race driver’s meeting room, and cars racing round the track with those who wished to go FAST in real race cars (The Richard Petty Racing Experience).  The cost for those special laps around the famous track was $500-$2200!  We thought we might just save that for another day!

 

Here we are in Winner’s Circle, where all the glory takes place.  Fun!!!  The beach shot is Daytona Beach, where NASCAR racing began!

    

We’ve stopped at a number of very old sugar cane mills all over Florida. They operated around the clock, regardless of the weather, were quite ingenuous, and all were done with slave labor.  It was grueling work, especially the hand ladling from cauldron to cauldron till cooked hot enough to become “sirup” and the molasses drained off.  Sugar, syrup, and molasses (sold for rum making) were the products of this labor-intensive and profitable endeavor.

      

In St Mary’s, Georgia, we discovered we were staying next door to the very large King’s Bay Submarine Base. No tours available, but the entrance gate was worth stopping for.  It is a replica built with earth, covered with gunnite, and the neat thing is the sail.  It is the real deal, from the USS George Bancroft, the fourth vessel named for the former Secretary of the Navy (during1800’s). This last bit of info is from our ex-submariner, son, Dean! Veterans from this sub did all the work for this great entry.

  

While here in St Mary’s, GA, we boarded a ferry to visit Cumberland Island Nat’l Seashore.  This was the island on which the Carnegie’s of Pittsburgh Steel fame had their winter home. That home, which was named Dungeness and over 37,000 sq ft, is no longer there, just ruins left from a fire. The home below with the Georgian columns was built as a wedding gift for one of their daughters. It was a mere 22,000 so ft, and fun to tour.  The little building above is the African Methodist Church built in 1800’s, and it’s claim to fame is being the place John Kennedy Jr chose to marry his bride.  He often vacationed on the island while growing up.  The last picture is of the Country Club on Jekyll Island, the island north of Cumberland Island.  It was the playground for the rich & famous of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  (J P Morgan, Rockefeller Sr, Goodyear, to name a few).  The private old stately winter homes there are really something to see.  The people in the last picture are guests there today, playing afternoon croquet, and all dressed in white!  

  

Hope you all are not worn out by our long blog! We hope to check in with you all a bit sooner from now on.  Sending ‘hello’s’  and hugs to all of you, We think of each of you often.  Mom and Dad/ Don and Gail

Happy New Years

Happy New Years! I can't believe it is 2013 already. I guess those Mayans got lazy and didn't finish their calendar. :-)

Anyways, Terrie and I had a great New Years Eve party. Some friends of ours were celebrating a 40th birthday (on Jan 2nd) and so in honor of this, we all went in 1940's themed outfits. I did a "Fred Astaire" style outfit and Terrie did more of a "Jean Harlow" look.













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Don and Gail Travel Update # 10

Hello to Family and Friends!

It’s been a long time since we’ve written and a lot of miles travelled.  We’ve so enjoyed visiting places  we’ve always read or heard about and experiencing them for ourselves.  Cumberland Gap is one of those places. It’s actually a natural break (one of only a few) in the Appalachian Mountains (which is pronounced the same as saying “throw an apple atcha”).  After discovery it was used as a thoroughfare by buffalo herds, Indians (Cherokee), white men and settlers alike.  Daniel Boone was the person who widened the animal & Indian trail to a rough road for the Lord Cumberland of England, in 1775.  It opened the way of settlement into what is called The Ohio Valley.  The Gap is at the tips and edges of four states, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. It is a most beautiful drive!  We slept in Virginia, ate meals out in Tennessee, hiked and enjoyed views in Kentucky, and did sight-seeing in North Carolina within a short space of time!  Below are pictures of the old, little town of Cumberland Gap, TN, nestled right in the middle of The Gap, once bustling but no longer.

More pictures of The Gap and a bit of the original trace.  Thousands used this trail, many famous, two of which were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their return to report their findings to President Jefferson in 1806.

Then off southward to visit the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina,  another huge vista too hard to capture by camera.  Wonderful hiking, views, and discoveries about the famous Appalachian Trail, which runs diagonally from the tip of northern Alabama to the edge of Maine. Old cabins, wood and grist mills, and churches remain from the hardworking people who  lived there before the Park was established in these great mountains.

   

A trip to Gatlinburg, and Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, was one day’s outing.  One famous person from these hills is Dolly Parton. Below is an exact replica of the home in which she grew up.  Everyone we spoke to who lives and works anywhere around these two towns in Tennessee speaks warmly of Dolly and her generosity to fellow Tennesseans.  One interesting note: Dollywood originally started as Rebel Railroad in 1962, became Gold Rush Junction under the Herschen Family, Silver City, and then Dollywood when she purchased 50% ownership and lent her name and prestige to her beloved Tennessee 27 years ago. We truly enjoyed several top-notch shows and performances all based upon the true theme of Christmas~the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  We stayed for the lighting of Christmas lights, which truly was amazing~not a single place, twig, or spot missing a light!  Appalachian Lesson learned here: A study proved that Appalachian folk speak the closest to King’s English of anyone in America.  It’s just been streeeeetched out over several hundred years!

 

On our way again one day, we stumbled across another famous birthplace.  With Davy and Daniel both now remembered, we were reliving Fess Parker’s old TV shows in our minds as we traveled along.  Bet you can hear those old show theme songs if you try!

 

Stopping in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a short stay, we visited the site of the Billy Graham Library and boyhood Home.  What a great place to visit! Our hearts are truly thankful to God for men like him and his team who faithfully speak out the truth of the good news that GOD sent His Son to be the Savior of the world by dying in payment for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we, too, can know Him.

We also visited our daughter-in-law, Terrie’s, father who lives north of Charlotte in Lenoir.  We enjoyed our dinner and visit with Dennis McVerry so much!  Family is such a wonderful treasure.  We’ve been in Georgia for a week now in various places, visiting Civil War battlefields, both small and large, but very pivotal in the war.  Chattanooga ( bottom corner of TN) to Lookout Mountain for a day trip, Kennesaw Mountain and Pickett’s Mill, both northwest of Atlanta.  We walked our legs off, pondered much, and gave thanks to God who blessed this amazing country with Unity in the end.

 

Above is looking off the edge of Lookout Mountain and the battle site on the steep cliffs.  The second is the famous Chattanooga Choo Choo that carried so many from Ohio to Chattanooga, TN. It can still be ridden today on special occasions.  We also visited Rock City on the Georgia side of Lookout Mountain.  It is a private residence and large garden built (1930-32)on an overlook facing Missionary Ridge on the Tennessee-Georgia border. The garden paths go over, under and through huge, naturally placed rocks.  The garden is beautiful and planted with a myriad of plants, shrubs, evergreens, and hard woods.  Dixie loved it!  Notice Don is “caught” in Fat Man Squeeze!  I’m sure I heard Dixie say, “What’s all the huff’n and puff’n? Hurry it up, guy, I’m ready to go!”

 

Soooo…. “Pardon me, boys,…it’s the Chattanooga Choo Choo…..” or I should say our own little “choo choo” pushing on south to sunnier and warmer days of discovery.  Till the next chapter… and sending warm hugs to all,  Mom and Dad/ Don and Gail

New Family Members for Dean and Terrie

Yes, this is a blog post about cats (so typical of cutsie blog posts). But hey, I am not afraid to admit I like Cats better than Dogs.

That said, Terrie and I would like to introduce everyone to our newest family members, Edna Mode…

…and Dude (No, not "Guest")!

NOTE: Click images for larger versions or go here to see more.

Don and Gail Travel Update #9

 

Hello Dear Family & Friends!

This news update covers several states and a number of miles. We’ve been quite busy, too.  The latest new John Deere tractor sits outside the Waterloo, Iowa,  tractor plant for all to see.  We were so delighted to take a tour on a tram pulled by a John Deere tractor, of course!  The entire tram was painted in John Deere colors which really made us seem  a real part of it all.  Sorry, these are the only pictures we could take there, since everything is quite protected from competitors.  They have numerous plants in a number of states and most are tourable.  This particular plant has more than 40 acres under one roof. The most expensive tractor there is  round $550,000. Anyone need one? 

The next pics are of the Herbert Hoover house (our 31st president) known as a great engineer and a great humanitarian. He was born here and lived here for several of his early years.  He grew up thru his teen years with an uncle in Newberg, Ore, (!) after becoming an orphan. He made a wonderful mark on history during WWI and all his following years. New Branch, Iowa, is  picturesque and busy “small town USA”. His Presidential Library is very informative and well done.

 

 

 We’ve really been into the Presidents lately!  These two pics above are in Springfield, Illinois.  We thoroughly enjoyed visiting all the Lincoln sights we could.  The first is the only home he and Mary ever owned. The tour was super, the home lovely, and contained more than 60% of their personal belongings.  They lived here during the years after becoming a successful attorney and statesman.  This is also the porch where he met the parades of people from Illinois and elsewhere that desired him to run for president.  The second pic is of his tomb, which is tourable, and very beautiful inside. All of his family but one son are buried here as well; son, Tad, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. We absolutely loved the Presidential Library there. So fun, so beautiful, and the two theaters terrific! (better than Disney!) 

 

And then…..off we went to racing in Indianapolis, Indiana!  Don’s long-time dream of going to the Indy car races came true!  Well, not quite.  No race that day but still lots to see.  The building pictured above is the Racing Museum and sits in the Indy race track infield.  It is filled with famous race cars, trophies, memorabilia and shops.  Really worth seeing. If anyone is old enough to remember Parnelli Jones from back in the 50’s,60’s & 70’s, his personal collection, cars and all, are displayed there permanently.  Way back in his early years of racing, Don & I used to go see him race at Ascot Raceway in Torrance, and Gardena Race Track in Gardena, California, nearby where we grew up.

Here we are driving the famous Indy Speedway! ! Yep, we did, one time round the entire track! Looks like we’re doing it in our motorhome, huh?  Pooh! We had to do it in a tour bus!

The second picture is our next race!  We were racing around the beautiful Churchill Downs Horse Racing Area in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.  Actually, just by car, for there was no place to stop, even for a second, due to activities of some sort taking place there that day.  Probably MUCH cheaper for us to just do a drive-by!    

While in Louisville we just had to tour the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum.  We really recommend this to everyone.  It was great to see. It still remains under the same family’s ownership and operation. The Hillerich family got their start in lathe turning of bed rails and spindles in 1855, and then into famous baseball bats when his son hand turned his first bat and gave it to a local player dubbed “The Louisville Slugger” by fans.  An interesting fact: During WWII they produced gun stocks for the army and also billyclubs for military police…..a very different kind of slugger.  Hillerich’s great grandson is the current CEO. The museum was hands- on with all the past and current baseball sluggers represented.  Very well done.

 

Now, everyone’s going to start worrying about us by the looks of the next two pics.  We were right in the area known as the Bourbon Trail.  This is the area south of Louisville, Ky, where most of American bourbon is made.  This is the oldest and largest bourbon distillery in America.  We had to take a tour, and as you can see, Don got to bottle his own. Of course it would be his if he forked over the $37.50 for it.  We did do some sampling, and I’m happy to say, we’ll let someone else buy it.  One amazing fact I doubt I’ll ever forget: There are more barrels of bourbon aging in Kentucky than there are people in the entire state!

So here we are at Mammoth Caves a little further south in Kentucky.  (An item on my “bucket list” is to see as many national parks as possible.)  We took the shortest tour available, (and quite scenic I might add,) since there are now 390 continuous miles of interlocking tunnels in this cave.  This is the largest known cave in the world. They fully expect to continue discovering new areas in the future.

 

Last, (but certainly not least!) we were delighted to spend some time with a very dear niece, Chelsea Walker, living in Indianapolis, and  Minister to Children at a large and lovely church there.  We are so proud of her.

Sending love and hellos to all,

Mom & Dad, aka Don & Gail