Monday, December 14, 2009

Arbuckle Mountains in Oklahoma


We have driven through the Arbuckle Mountain region on the Interstate for years, but this time we took Highway 77 instead. What a fun ride. The region is sandstone. In several areas you can see the slabs of flat sandstone rocks almost standing up and in rows around the mountain. Reminds you of a graveyard with identical tombstones!

Because they are sandstone there will be no standing water on top of the mountains. It all percolates down and creates interesting formations, caves, natural springs, and waterfalls.

There are several lakes and parks in the area, but we chose Turner Falls. In ad
dition to nature trails, caves, picnic areas and cabins to rent there are two natural swimming pools. Honey Creek flows through the park and cascades down a 77 foot fall to natural swimming pool. It was pretty this season, but would be refreshing in the summer to be swimming!

We drove to the top and hiked down to where we could see the falls from the top.

One of the trails leads up the mountain to the remains of a stone castle. It was built in the 1930's with stones from the area and patterned after an English castle. An Oklahoma University professor built it for a summer home and it was used as the headquarters for a large ranch in the area. Turrets, flat roofs, steep narrow steps to reach many different levels of the castle. Would make a great playhouse for our grandkids!

Another example of God's creation and the ability He has given to people to use and enjoy!

Next stop--Our Prairie!

Thank you for traveling with us!

Prairie Schooners


Gene Autry, Oklahoma

We left the Interstate and took Highway 77 north into Oklahoma turning west on State Highway 53 following signs to the town of Gene Autry on Happy Trail Road, Tumbleweed Drive and Prairie Street!

He owned the Flying A ranch in that area. In 1941 the town of Berwyn changed it's name to Gene Autry, OK. When the local school closed it was purchased to be used for a theater and a museum as well as the local post office.

The museum was a walk back into nostalgia for us. We used to listen to the cowboy shows on radio and then our children watched th
em on TV! Large movie posters used to advertise the movies at theaters and pictures with short biographies of all the cowboys, cowgirls and other actors that played parts in westerns over the years are hanging on the walls of several rooms and the hallways.

Do you remember the names of their horses? Roy Rogers & Trigger. Smiley Burnett & Ring Eye. Tex Ritter & White Flash. Gene Autry & Champion. Dale Evans & Buttermilk. Lone Ranger & Silver.

How many items were sold with Gene Autry logo? Cowboy boots, bed spread, mugs, coloring books, comics, puzzles, wrist watches, lunch boxes, billfolds, belts, clocks, record player, neck scarve
s & spurs.

Most unusual items: bicycles & tricycles with saddle shaped seats, horse head & a holster & gun! Gene Autry repeating cap pistol. Red rubber boots.(Our kids would have loved these!) Suspenders for little boys.

Whips were a part of some cowboys costumes as well as used in everyday life. A leather holder(holster) attached to a belt was made to hold the coiled whips.

A 16 mm large reel movie projector that was used to show these movies brought back memories for Jim. He used to get called out of his high-school classes to run the projector for teachers, who were showing movies to their classes.

One room has items from the local area showing how life was lived on the ranches.

A fun couple of hours! If we lived closer we'd attend one of their live western shows.

Headed back to Highway 77 and north through the Arbuckle Wilderness Area.

See you along the way,

Prairie Schooners



Friday, December 11, 2009

Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth



We have visited many museums and find exhibits that we can walk past with a "been there, done that!" This one had some new & interesting additions and worth your time and the entrance fee.

The flag collection is extraordinary! As a seamstress I can appreciate the time, craftsmanship & stitching that went in
to making them.

The mov
ie gives an overview of Texas citizens/soldiers involvement in the war. Another dimension to history for this area that affected our country.

(Interesting note for our grand kids: Our rock with Ft. Sumpter 1861 painted on it denotes the year that the south seceded and attacked the federal troops at Ft. Sumpter, NC! Why is it on our rock??? Good question--perhaps a wagon train going past wanted to leave a message. The trains did go through our area and there is a rocky base in the West Fork River where they could cross.)

Interesting tidbits from movie: Texas was largely free and unsettled. A new state with young males having fought for independence from Mexico under Sam Houston. He wanted the state to join the Union, but the people voted to go with the Confederacy. The US troops left the state leaving the forts to the Texans and Sam Houston resigned as governor.


General Lee liked the Texas regiments! They were fighters! They were recognized for their "Yahoo" battle cry and for not wearing homemade clothes, blankets & moccasins instead of regulation Confederacy uniforms.

Texas had fighting at their coastal ports, but no battles at their capitol.

Texans fitted old river steamers with piles of cotton bales,stunning the Yankees after they had taken the ports with their iron-clad ships.

The only medals awarded to the confederates in the Civil War were made from silver dollars for the Davis Guard who fought at the Sabine Pass.

When the war was over they discovered that the cattle had roa
med the grassland and the herds had grown. The returning soldiers rounded them up, drove them north and sold them. (This was the start of the cattle trails)

Since the
other southern states were destroyed from the battles former Confederates migrated to Texas. Most of the Union soldiers were stationed at the border forts and did not bother the settlers who were farmers & cattlemen. Land was affordable. Hard work, family & religious convictions formed the foundation for the prosperity of Texas.

Interesting items on display:
A general's trunk had a small box of white dominoes. Wonder if they played the Mexican Tr
ain Domino game??

Display of musical instruments used. When battle was imminent the musicians were generally or
dered to the rear as stretcher bearers and assisted the surgeons with the wounded.

Note the "over the shoulder rotary valve sax horn." When played the bell rested on the shoulder, thus sending the sound behind the player!



A display of small Bibles that were carried by soldiers. The Union soldiers had an identification pin or pendant so they could be identified, but the Confederate soldier only had his name written in his Bible or on a small piece of paper carried in his pocket.

A soldier's "housewife"--A piece of cloth or leather with pockets containing needles, thread, scissors, etc that was rolled up and carried.

A "fid"--(remember this for your next Scrabble or Quiddler game!) It is a pointed piece of wood that sailors use when opening strands of rope.
Sail needles with holder--used to mend holes or tears in a ship's sails.
Sailor's glove--it wrapped around his hand & had thick leather padding to help push the needle through the sail.

A corn cob candle--a corn cob was wrapped in a coil of wax.

My favorite was the room filled with a display of Victorian Dresses!

Long gowns covered with rich embroidery, dresses made in two pieces to be worn on different occasions with a different bodice, hats & parasols to match, little girl's dresses and a display of bustles! Did you know there were soft bustles and hard bustles made out of wire springs???

When the sewing machine was invented in the 1850's London sold partially completed bodices or partially made clothes to dressmakers who tailored them to their customer to insure perfect fit!



Would you wear a hat with a stuffed dead bird? It seems that in the 1890's women were wearing them! Two "upper class" ladies were concerned that women would never be taken seriously (this was before they had the right to vote). They formed a club to protect the birds and indirectly protect women's self respect. This club was the start of the Audubon Society!


I could have spent more time here, but it was time to drive to Dave & Beth's for a sweet evening of fellowship.

Thanks for traveling back in time with us,

Tomorrow will be back to "cowboy" country!
Come & join us for some nostalgia!

Prairie Schooners










Ft Worth, Texas Delivery


A new model of Winnebago Itasca for this trip, a Reyo.
Diesel motor that gave us 12.7 mpg. Had 2 bunk beds in back, one slide out, an abundance of storage space, 2 flat screen TV's, satellite radio, bath room with shower, nice kitchen area, outside cameras & a comfortable ride! One RV dealer stopped by to tour, many people "oogled" as they passed!

The turning signals were "directionally challenged" when we picked it up. We are thankful for the local sheriff who let us know before we got to the Interstate! While waiting for the mechanics to fix the wiring we did had the opportunity to eavesdrop on the "professional" drivers as they made their plans and decisions for deliveries.

View through the windshield as we head South:

Southern Iowa farmers are still trying to harvest corn.
Through Kansas City.
The highway offers a panoramic view of rolling green/brown/rust grassy knolls.
The leafless trees are like black pencil lines scattered over a landscape painting.
Occasional farms,with corn & bean fields & herds of cattle.
Still some fields not harvested & deep combine tracks showing up in the harvested fields.
Piles of sand and gravel stockpiled by the Highway department ready for winter ice & snow.

The Flint Hills of Kansas with acres of pastures dotted with ponds full of water, cattle pens for truck load outs & windmills beside a storage tank and watering tank.

White caps on Eldorado Lake indicates strong wind.
Oil wells, looking like giant grasshoppers, and all the related equipment dot the landscape.
Irrigated crop land with the bright green of winter wheat fields.
Silos and grain elevators intersect the horizon.
Huge bales of cotton lined up at the ends if the fields waiting for transport to cotton gin. (Sorry Jeff, were not made with the new JD BOB picker!)

Crossing into Oklahoma and rough highways--BUT they are working on them!
Flat, wide open Cowboy country!
Crossing over Cimmeran River & Canadian River --wide & shallow with red sand bars visible.
Reminded of how it would be easy for the cowboys to herd cattle across these rivers.
Past a school for Horseshoeing! Many horses to practice on!

Through the Arbuckle Mountains. It's like God has this huge flat sand pile and right in this particular spot he put a pile of rocks! (We drove through the wilderness area on our way back--keep reading!)

Did not get to the local library to pick up audio books so are "singing along" to music CD's--Blackwood Brothers, Mark Trammel singing gospel, a collection of Folk Songs & a collection of Old Classics, pop songs from the 40's!

Across the Red River and into Texas.
Ranches & acres wooden fenced pastures in between towns and industrial areas.
Past the Texas Motor Speedway.
Tall buildings that make up the Dallas/Ft.Worth skyline are ahead.

Another unit delivered!

Have several hours before our reservation at Dave & Beth's Bed & Breakfast.

Texas Civil War Museum next stop!

See you along the way,
Prairie Schooners








Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Louisville, KY





We picked up a 40 ft diesel(150 gal tank) Tour to take to the RV show in Louisville, Ky. How long would it take to figure out all of the buttons and controls in this unit? Three flat screen TV's inside plus one outside, GPS & Satellite radio, fireplace, washer & dryer and lots of wood paneling. Seemed that we were in a bus!

Smooth traveling, early morning delivery at the Fairgrounds in Louisville, passed
inspection, unhooked and on the road heading west on state highway 150 through the southern Indiana countryside. Destination French Lick, IN.

View from the Windshield:


A variety of vistas--rolling hillside, pastures, some corn, beans & hay fields, large houses, small businesses, small towns, old buildings, new buildings, horses, cattle, hills & curves, forests, White River valley, truck farms, roses
& geraniums still blooming, antique stores, deer processing, Paoli ski area resorts, rock quarries, Amish area, and coal mines.

French Lick, IN

Driving into French Lick, we were su
rprised at the castle-like building at the end of a long tree-lined lane behind a huge arch with the words, West Baden Springs Carlsbad of America! ( We were looking for the Indiana Railway Museum.)

At the Railroad Museum we discovered that the Hotel was built to provide tourists a place to stay and experience the natural warm mineral springs in the area.

The area called French Lick, Indiana was first settled more than 200 years ago by French traders.

After the discovery of rich mineral springs, which attracted animals that flocked to lick the waters and wet rocks, this valley became known among the settlers as “The Lick.

The French had ideas about exploiting these lush salt deposits, but because of one obstacle and another, not the least of which was relentless harassment by Indians, they never did make much progress. Finally, following the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in 1803, in which Napoleon relinquished claims on that part of the frontier, the French abandoned their trading posts at The Lick.

British settlers moved in about 1812. Despite continued Indian resistance, they succeeded in establishing a permanent fort. Indian incidents continued, however. One of the first recorded was the slaying of Irishman William Charles, who was bushwhacked by Indians outside the fort. His remains are rumored to be buried somewhere beneath the front lawn of the resort.

In 1832, all the lands surrounding the accrual mineral springs, which has been reserved for production of salt, was offered for public sale.

About 1,500 acres – including all the large springs – were purchased by a Dr. William A. Bowles. Within several years he opened the first French Lick Springs Hotel, a ramshackle, three-story frame building. It was an immediate success. People flocked from hundreds of miles to partake of the “miracle waters”. They carried the mineral water away in all sorts of jugs and canvas containers. “Doc” Bowles had struck it rich.

Over the years it has been sold several times. Upgrades, renovations and additions have been built. Today it contains over 525 rooms, spas, a golf course, stables, casino and shopping mall!

Indiana Railway Museum

The museum is in a neat building that was the depot for the Monon Line. This is a branch built in the 1800's for the primary purpose to carry people to the the hotel in order to partake of the medicinal waters that flowed from the local springs.

Walking through the rich thick wooden doors into the waiting room takes you back to those "train riding days." You can sit on the wooden benches in the center and walk around the edge of the room to view the display cases. A ticket counter, where you purchase your ticket for a ride on the train during the summer, is the same as used by those early riders! The Monon Line was also known as the Hoosier Line and ran from Chicago to Louisville, KY. In addition to passengers it carried coal from the south into Chicago.

These early passenger Railroads contained a Five-star restaurant serving meals on real china, glassware and cloth tablecloths. The pullman cars (for sleeping) used only the most luxurious bedding.

On each side of the depot are tracks with old passenger cars and steam engines. The cars have a center isle with seats on each side facing each other. These are used today for the excursion rides in the spring, summer and early fall.

Vincennes, IN

The historic district of Vincennes, on the banks of the Wabash River, includes several historic monuments and museums within easy driving distance. Some are open by appointment only.

Old French House and Indian Museum:

We chose the Old French House and Indian Museum built in 1809 by the French Fur trader, Michel Brouillet. We joined a tour that was just starting and enjoyed the sense of living in the 19th century on the frontier with a fur trader & Indian trader!

It is an example of a French Creole cottage built by French settlers in the Mississippi Valley using "poteaux sur sole"(posts on sill) construction. This is unlike the Anglo-American log cabin with it's horizontal logs.

It uses 14 ft upright posts, spaced about a foot and half apart and fitted into a horizontal beam, called a sill. The posts are caped by another horizontal beam, called a plate. All the large timbers of the framework are mortised together. A projecting tongue (tenon) is cut on the end of one timber and a matching slot (mortise) in another timber. After assembly, a hole was bored and a wooden peg driven in to pin the pieces together.

Ceiling beams with a bead decoration carved on the bottom edges, slid into mortises in the upright posts. Ceiling & floor was made with boards fitted together with tongues and grooves on the edges. An A-frame roof was formed with rafters, covered with hand-split shingles.

The walls are insulated with a mixture of mud and prairie grass, known as "bousillage", daubed over wooden stakes jammed between the posts at 6 inch intervals like the rungs of a ladder. These walls are coated inside and out with a rough plaster made of sand and quicklime, then whitewashed. (In an area that was exposed we could see the hand prints of the person applying the plaster!) Lime was made by burning mussel shells from the river. Porches, called "galleries," protect the plaster walls from the weather and serve as an outdoor living room in the hot summer.

Interesting items in the home:

An enclosed bed or "lit clos." To protect from drafts the beds had doors that closed at night. This one was made from Flemish Oak with the date 1759 carved on the doors. It is decorated with carved concentric circles, called "galettes," a characteristic decoration from Brittany. It was pegged together so that it could be taken apart to move. Later they were made into armories by the addition of shelves.


The top of the dining room table swiveled to the side to expose an area for the bread dough to sit and rise. The table was always set in front of the fireplace allowing the warmth to aid in the dough making. The French liked their bread!

A top hat made from beaver fur!

A dug-out canoe used by the fur traders.

The Swiss Army knife of that era---- a pipe with an axe blade attached. They liked their pipes. In fact they measured distances by so many pipes (how many pipes full tobacco they would smoke between points.

One of the buildings on the grounds houses a museum with artifacts from all four periods of local Indian history.

Grouseland:

Earlier we had visited Berkeley Plantation in Virginia the boyhood home of William Henry Harrison. This mansion on the knoll above the Wabash River was built when he was the Territorial Governor in 1803.

A palatial two-and-a-half story Federal Style house was named for the game bird that Harrison loved to hunt. In this house he raised his family, negotiated and signed several treaties with the Indians and entertained local and government visitors. It is known as the "white house of the west."

The rooms are furnished with furniture and accessories of the 1800-1812 period, some are actual Harrison antiques. The work areas show period equipment and utensils. Campaign memorabilia from the famous 1840 Presidential campaign (Tippecanoe and Tyler too) are displayed.

Before being in office as President a month, he caught a cold which developed into pneumonia and he died. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was also President of the United States making them the only grandparent/grandchild pair of presidents.

It was interesting to know that the house stayed in the family until 1848 when it was sold and used as a railroad hotel as well as residence. The RR tracks are just across the road from the mansion. Deteriorating, the house was finally in use as a granary and livestock barn in the 1890's before scheduled for razing. In 1909 members of a chapter of the DAR raised money to buy it and refurbish it as a museum.

Back to reality! Driving to our Prairie Home with another perspective on the people and events that the Lord used to shape our country. It seems much more interesting and real when "seen" then what is written in the history books, but we are also in a different ''season of our life."

Thank-you for traveling with us!
See you along the way----
Prairie Schooners






Sunday, November 29, 2009

Rural Hall, North Carolina Delivery

This was a “fast one”! Started checking for a unit Monday AM. An hour later there were 4 that we could choose from. Picked the unit, a View, up at noon in Forest City. Had about 3 hours to pack it up before our 7:00 Bible Study on Revelation. Finished last minute arrangements before bed.


The "View": $119,000 list price. Slide out with sofa bed, Euro Recliner w/ottoman, overhead bunk, recliner,large flat-screen TV, satellite radio, cherry cupboards, beachcomber tan walls & carpet, silver & opal exterior paint. Pretty smart looking unit. Diesel engine getting about 12.5 mpg.


Next morning we were on the road 5 AM headed east. When daylight finally dawned on the horizon we noted the clouds—reason for late sunrise! It was a good thing—no sun in our eyes. Very windy from the North making for a bouncy ride.


Through the Windshield:
Across southern IA, central IL & IN were acres and acres of corn yet to be harvested. Most of the bean fields had been combined. Driving in intermittent rain! Chose to drive through middle of Peoria to avoid road construction. Great new highway. Interesting city skyline with the older architecture of buildings mixed with the modern office buildings!


Brown landscape with an occasional accent of green grass in the ditch & some late color in the leaves of some of the trees until we headed south toward the Kentucky border—more green and more color! Wooden fences outlining corrals indicating we are nearing horse country.


Lost an hour as we drove into Indiana (eastern standard time) and we lost some $$$$ because we did not get gas before the border!!


This should make you chuckle! We had our first experience with a touch pad radio. Yes, you can imagine the interesting conversation as we tried to figure out what to press when! The tiny screen on the dashboard displays the camera’s eye view from the back of the vehicle (like a rear-view mirror) and the radio controls!


Long John Silvers, (they do have grilled meals), Walmart Supercenter, checking Goodwill store for audio books & DVD’s, bookwork, checking tomorrows route, reading & sleeping in another “doll house” make for our evening before delivery!


On the road by 4:45 and thru Louisville, KY in the dark with very little traffic. Sunrise showed blue sky above us, but clouds to the east. The highway runs through rocky ledges covered with green leaved shrubs with accents of the colored leaves remaining on the taller trees.


Rolling hills with brown or white wooden fences surrounding the green pastures indicate it is horse country. The fences divide areas into smaller corrals with their own small building for the horse’s protection from the weather. Large mansions dot the countryside. The radio newscaster tells us that Eastern KY is very dry and experiencing fires. We have not seen evidence of any along our route.


Into WV : Our view from the interstate looks down on the rooftops of the cities that have grown up in the valley along the river. The familiar gold dome of the capitol building in Charleston is brilliant in the sunlight! The yellow, gold, & rust colored leaves on the trees along the bank of the blue sun sparkled Kanawa River makes a striking picture. The mountains ahead are covered with trees, but only the oaks still have their leaves. The sunlight highlights the brilliant red/rust color.


NOAH weather warning test interrupts our music CD. Great to know that we can be warned of severe weather.


Checking our miles and the time. We can make it to the dealership today! Through the East River Mountain Tunnel and into Virginia and the Appalachian mountains. Green pines are interspersed with the rust/red of the oaks in this area. Clouds are coming over the mountains and we drive into rain!

Last Miles --Tension

14 miles from the NC border we are stopped in a traffic back-up due to an accident a mile marker 3 ahead of us. We call the dealership to let them know what is happening and to see how late they will be there. The receptionist tells Jim that if they know we are coming they will wait. They close at 5:30. We ended up in that traffic back-up for over 2 hours. But we drove through the rain and wind and was at the dealership 10 minutes before they closed. We unhooked & unpacked the unit, locked it, and found a motel for the night.


(The accident—was mostly cleaned up when we got to it. As we passed in the one lane traffic beside the mountain, the semi trailer that had been torn apart was parked and end loaders were cleaning up debris. Later we found out that often there are accidents in that area because of the severe cross winds.)

Watching the news we learned that the wind was gusting up to 40 mph and there had already been up to 3 inches of rain in this area. Rain & wind was due to Hurricane Ida and would continue until Saturday.


We had a good night of rest, repacked the car, good breakfast at Waffle House, got windshield wiper replaced at an auto parts store (buy 1 and get 1 free), filled Saturn with gas, drove back to the RV dealer & checked in the motor home.


Leaving the storm behind:


The forecast was for continued high winds and rain as a result of Hurrricane Ida. Even though the leaves were beautiful in North Carolina, the weather was not allowing us to stay & sightsee. We headed west for Virginia. Listened to audio book: One of Brock & Bodie Thoene's Gallaway Chronicles while we drove through rain & watched the clouds hover over the top of the mountains.

West Virginia and blue sky and sunshine! We started looking for something to “tour!” Had found a plantation museum along the Ohio River, but a sign along the interstate stating “glass factory tours” grabbed our attention.


Blenco Glass Factory:


We followed the signs. Our destination was the Blenco Glass Factory Visitor Center in Milto

n, WV. What a variety of glass ware is displayed for sale. Everything from marbles to 3 ft high vases & pitchers. Even glass cowboy hats!! Upstairs are examples of stained glass windows made with their glass. Artisans like to use Blenco Glass because its colors are consistent.

Outside are baskets with glass blocks for sale. Use them in landscaping edging or inserted in a wooden wall. From the 2nd floor of the Visitor Center, You can walk to the factory past the “oops” piles of colored broken pieces. Inside the factory is an area for you to stand and watch the glass blowers work.


Plan B:


We tried to find the Jenkins Plantation Museum near Lesage, WV. Could not!! (later found out that we did drive far enough North and that it was closed for some re

novation) So for plan B crossed the border and headed south on Hwy 23 known as the Country Music Highway. The highway borders a long area of industry, some scenic areas through the mountains and many small communities. Paintsville, Kentucky is our destination for the evening and a great supper at Bob Evans Restaurant!


Natural Bridge State Resort Park:


After all the rain we appreciated a bright sunny day heading East on the Combs Mountain Parkway through the Red River Valley and to the Natural Bridge State Resort Park. The Combs Mountain Parkway, named after the governor who is credited with getting the road built in 1963, was originally a toll road which opened up travel to eastern Kentucky.


Through the windshield: Occasional oil wells scattered in the mountains; homes of various sizes , shapes & state of repairs scattered along the valley beside the highway; horses, puppies for sale, chickens, and an occasional farm where valley was flat & wide; very steep & curving driveways; painted quilt blocks on the barns with so

me complicated designs; Forest areas have bare trunks and branches that allow you to see further into the forest; rocky ledges; red sumac; shadows made by the peaks of the mountains; large towns & commercial areas for several miles along the top of the peak and road work signs that indicate the "blasting zones."


The Natural Bridge State Resort Park has motels and cabins for rent plus a commercial area for tourists in the summer. Only the motel is open at this time of year. Surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest it has 18 miles of trails in the park, a lake for fishing & boating and awesome sandstone rock formations.


The Kentucky Union Railway was built in 1882 to haul lumber and coal out of Eastern Kentucky but went bankrupt in 1891. Newly organized L & E bought the railroad at a foreclosure sale, finished development of a railroad resort and opened the park to the public in 1895. For many years the railroad was the only way to reach the Natural Bridge. The trains would drop the tourists off at the lodge. (As we climbed the rock steps to the "bridge", we thought of all the people over the years that had climbed the same rock steps!) Later the Louisville Nashville Railroad acquired the property and in 1926, donated the lands around Natural Bridge to the state park system. Visitors could ride the excursion train to the park until the line was dismantled in 1942.


Natural Bridge is composed of what is known in geological terms as Pottsville conglomeratic sandstone. Large blocks of stone falling off either side of a narrow sandstone ridge caused the first opening that began the transformation of the sandstone outcropping into an archway. The weathering process, along with the root systems of plants, continued to develop the unique archway that makes up Natural Bridge. The arch spans 75 feet and is 65 feet high.


The skylift was closed for the season, but the rock steps & wooden railings made the .75 mile climb easy. On the way down we met a gentleman with a cane climbing! The view from the top was spectacular!


A day and half drive back to the Prairie!

Thanking the Lord for a safe trip plus the opportunity to see His creation both through the hands of the artist and in the outdoors!


Thank-you for traveling with us,

Prairie Schooners

Friday, October 23, 2009

North Platte, Nebraska





Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center



Drive to the north west corner of North Platte, Nebraska to find the Union Pacific Railroad's Bailey Yard. An eight story tower with an indoor and outdoor observation deck staffed with a guide to answer your questions and explain what is taking place.

  • The yard covers 2,850 acres reaching a length of eight miles. From the north to the south of the yard are a total of 301 sets of tracks!
  • Every 24 hours the yard handles 15,000 railroad cars. 3,000 of the cars are sorted in their eastward and westward yards.
  • The "hump yards" use a mound cresting from 20 to 34 feet which allow four cars a minute to roll gently into any of the 114 "bowl" tracks where they become part of trains headed for dozens of destinations. These cars are computer controlled & braked as they head down the hump, but a person has to pull the pin and later hook up the hoses between the cars. Papa Jim remembers that when they used to get rail cars of bagged fertilizer in the end bags were always broken. That is because before computers there was no control of the speed of the cars coming off the "hump". The resulting jolt when it hit the next car caused the breakage. When they started shipping cars by rail, something had to be done to prevent the damage to them. The brake controls were invented!
  • A diesel repair facility provides "one-stop" servicing to trains and a locomotive repair shop. The shop replaces 10,000 pairs of wheels yearly and has a fleet of trucks to repair small defects in the train. It is possible to repair 18 to 20 cars per hour, with round the clock shifts. 750 locomotives are fixed annually.
  • Every locomotive horn is tested in the yards, also. They have to have the legal decibels of loudness & sufficient air to make them work.

  • Commodities passing through these yards include refrigerators, TV's, coal, automobiles, potatoes, fruit, wine, lumber, corn, sugar, steel, chemicals, and cars.
  • A sand tower fills each engine with a special sand that is used for traction on the rails in the snow & ice.

  • A diesel fill station fills locomotives with 14 million gallons of diesel fuel every month. The fuel is transferred by a pipeline directly from a nearby refinery!
  • A coal train has at least 125 coal cars. 36 full coal trains go east and 36 empty coal trains go west into Wyoming each day.
My pictures hardly give you a feeling for the enormity of the place. We spent over 2 hours watching and talking to the guide! A picture of the tower and a video of the yards in action is available at www.GoldenSpikeTower.com

Isn't it amazing the knowledge and abilities the Lord gives us in order to deal with the circumstances we need to survive in this world system.

Thanks for traveling with us!
Prairie Schooners



Rocky Mountain National Park

Views through the windshield:

Our "bonus" day, because of early delivery, is sunny & warm as we head north and west to Estes Park. A stop at the Visitor center where our questions are answered concerning what is open in the park and a highlighted map of the area is received.

  • A small herd of elk were grazing on the lawns in an area of the city of Estes Park.
  • Miles of motels, cabins & lodges along the Fall River.
  • Again our National Park Pass allowed us in for free. (Thank-you, VR's)
  • Snow-capped peaks ahead of us as we wind & climb our way into the mountains.
  • A stop to view Horseshoe Park--a grassy area that once had an Inn for overnight guests before area motels were built outside the Park.
  • Winter coats needed today because of the gusty winds blowing down the valley!
  • The Sheep Lakes grassy area with Fall River flowing through is an area for the wildlife to graze. Nothing spotted that day!
  • We noticed fenced in areas, wondering what was contained inside. Discovered that the fences are to keep the elk out and away from shrubs and small trees. They tend to break them off.
  • Climbing to Hidden Valley, driving on some snow-covered roads, pine trees, leaves on aspens have dropped, walked a short distance on trail beside a gurgling stream flowing over rocks. When the trail became snow-covered, we knew we had to turn back. It needed boots that we did not have with us!
  • A large herd of elk grazing & loafing among the pine trees along the road.
  • Three antelope grazing beside the road.
  • Each mile brings another vista of mountain, our personal scenery movie!
  • Clouds of snow were coming over the peaks. We felt the snow in the air.


  • Sprague Lake offers a nice walking path all the way around. Fantastic view of Hallett Peak located on the Continental Divide. The Lake offers trout fishing. The trout have black backs, red bellies and a white line on the bottom of their fins. The ones we saw were very small. Catch & Release trout fishing is available on the Fall River and the Big Thompson River in the Park. Ate our last sandwich in the picnic area watching a black & white magpie and a beautiful blue bird flit through the branches of the pine trees.
  • Highway #34 along the Big Thompson River is full of sharp curves through a rocky mountain canyon. The Aspens yellow leaves were brilliant against the rocks. Three big-horn sheep were grazing along the road stopping traffic!
Coming out of the mountains and into an Agriculture and Ranching area. Spent the night in Stirling, CO before continuing east.

A WOW day as we viewed God's creativity! We could definitely tell that we were "flat landers!"

Prairie Schooners

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Destination: Longmont, CO

Pick up the Unit

Arriving on the lot in Forest City is so different since the economic slowdown. Only 5 units sitting in the "pick-up" area compared to 20+!

Ours is a View, one of the smaller units with a diesel motor that averages 13 to 19 mpg. It looks like a small truck with an overhead compartment over the cab. The wind is always blowing across this lot. Today, with the moisture in the air it feels colder than the temp records!

Paperwork, hooking up the Saturn, moving bags to unit, checking out the unit, looking for scratches, etc & a stop for fuel before we head out. Nice interior colors & storage arrangement. This unit has an overhead bunk and a sofa that makes into a bed & a recliner. Should make for an interesting night's sleep for us because we are not allowed to extend the slide out to make the sofa into the bed!!

On the Road

A strong east wind makes for a rough ride until we get to I-80. This compact unit is quiet. We can see some combines in the bean fields accented with the colored leaves on the trees in the area!

Part of our job description delivering new motor homes seems to be PR! Whenever we stop someone asks about the unit & we graciously show it and answer questions.

Heading west on I-80 with wind behind us under partly cloudy skies through rolling countryside with some combines busy harvesting. Past the exit to Springbrook State Park bringing back memories of happy family times at past annual get-togethers.

There is a certain beauty to the fields ready for harvest. Rows & rows standing at attention stripped of leaves & holding the ripened grain in readiness for the combine! The shades of white-yellow remind me of the Bible verse telling us that the fields (of people) are white for harvest. We are studying Daniel & Revelation and see the signs pointing to the time of God's judgment of the world coming nearer. Do I have a heart to labor in His fields offering opportunities for other to make the choice to believe & trust in Jesus shed blood and be a part of God's harvest of believers!

Into Nebraska with rain, road construction & singing along with a gospel music CD!

Views through the windshield:

  • Pumpkin farms with activities waiting for kids on the week-end including a pumpkin thrower!
  • Large cement storage elevators stand like silent sentinels along the railroad tracks waiting for the loads of harvested grain.
  • Rows of windmills turning out electricity are silhouetted along the high ridges in the distance.
  • The curved shape of irrigation rigs are scattered across the horizon.
  • The Platte River meanders through the countryside.
  • Patches of snow left from the earlier snow fall that was pushed in piles.
  • Several flocks of wild turkeys scratching for a meal in the fields.
  • Haystacks frosted with snow.
  • Signs indicating that we are on the "Oregon Trail Auto Tour" route.
  • Welcome to Colorado State sign.
  • Blue skies and sunshine!
  • "Beef-It's what's for Supper!" Large cattle lots.
  • "Got Milk!" Super large dairy operations with many stacks of hay & white plastic covered silage piles. One had 11 of the big blue harvester silos!
  • Bright green winter wheat fields are a contrast to the shades of white/yellow/brown corn fields accented with the rust-red grasses of the ditch & pastures.
  • Scattered oil wells in the pastures.
  • A field of sunflowers ready for harvest.
  • Prairie Dog mounds of brown sand scattered through the pastures.
  • Highest peaks of the mountain range covered in snow are on the distant horizon!

Delivery

As we listen to Focus on the Family Readers Theater version of a Father Gilbert Mystery we count off the miles to the Truck Wash! Thankful for the time change giving us an extra hour to make delivery that afternoon instead of having to wait until the next morning! Oh!Oh! Reality does not match our instructions! A frontage road is partially closed. A stop to ask for directions and we found the dealership! Unhook, repack into Saturn, wait for inspection to be completed, sign papers, find a motel, do our bookwork, thank the Lord for another safe delivery, supper & make plans for the next few days.

Thanks for riding along!
Prairie Schooners













Saturday, September 26, 2009

Northern Minnesota Fishing Adventure

Anticipation

Three years ago we purchased an older 14 ft. aluminum fishing boat & trailer that had been left with our son by a neighbor who had moved. Owning a boat has been a dream of hubby for many years. What fun to go to nearby lakes & fish anytime rather than waiting for our once-a-year to a rented MN cabin with a boat on a lake! Over the years he has been gathering all the "stuff" you need to outfit a fishing boat including a used Mercury 6 motor, a trolling motor, a fish finder, poles & a full tackle box and even a pick-up for transporting!

After checking out what works best for other fishermen he worked in his spare time to make the boat & trailer ready for the road & lake fishing. It seemed that each time something was fixed there was always one more item that needed done.

Finally, it was ready! After waiting for good weather we did a short afternoon of fishing at nearby Beed's Lake. We launched it, fished from it and retrieved it successfully. A shared smile & "high five" and ready to make final plans to go North!

September is good for us because the "recreational" boaters are off the lakes. It is cool & comfortable. Usually the leaves are starting to turn colors making a spectacular background. After checking on availability of cabin,downloading the "how to's" while staying at the cabin, making a list, packing, stopping the mail, and checking Google Earth we were headed North!

Road Trip

Actually driving the Dodge Dakota pick-up with a boat trailer was pretty simple compared with the 40 ft motor homes we deliver! Gas stops were more frequent, but checking mileage proved that we were getting 20 mpg. It was foggy & raining off & on most of the 350 miles into Duluth. At a stop at WalMart in Cloquet we purchased our Minnesota fishing license.

Duluth

It was easy to drive through Duluth on I-35 and pick up Highway 6l. You drive past the harbor and commercial docks with ships loading and unloading. Past large homes on the lakeshore including the Glensheen Mansion,a 39 room Jacobean Revival built in 1908 by a business man on 7.5 acres that include formal gardens. It is open for tours. Something to think about next time. Perhaps the train museum,too! A variety of other places to visit,too.




Destination
It was raining off and on as we headed NW on a scenic highway into northern Minnesota so our view was limited to the tree-lined curves & hills of the highway. Watch for Moose signs were dotted along the way. Later on in the week we drove back for gas & groceries on a sunny day. What a beautiful view with low mountains in the background. The leaves are starting to display their fall colors!

Our log cabin is tucked into a forest area in the Minnesota north woods. Calm & quiet even when the wind blows. The tall cathedral spires of the fir trees form a frame for the blue sky and big white puffy marshmallow-like clouds that seem to form in the afternoons. Plenty of windows offer views in all directions. Comfy & home-like providing for our needs. Unusual uses of furniture and space make for lots of character in this log cabin! Fragrant phlox beside front entrance, purple asters brighten the edge of the woods and bright orange hawk weed for accents.

Laurention Divide

This is the area of the Laurention Divide, the state's major continental divide that separates streams that flow to opposite sides of the continent.

About 16,000 years ago, most of Minnesota was covers by a large sheet of ice called the Wisconsin Glacier. A great mountain range in this area was eroded when the glacier melted, leaving behind the curving range of hills called the Laurentian Divide.

On one side, the divide directs the water northward to empty into Hudson Bay to the Arctic Ocean. On the other side, water flows southward into the Mississippi River and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. In other words, two drops of rain, each one falling to opposite sides, will end up on opposite sides of the North American continent.

Lake Gegoka has a public access, but no dock! Yes, kids, we did launch the boat & by doing a tricky "board walk" on the trailer even kept my feet dry! (I believe that rubber boots for me will be on our next packing list!) One other couple were fishing on the lake that day in a canoe making for a very quiet peaceful morning under a partly cloudy blue sky!

Our excitement was catching many small Northern, we call them "hammer handles" because that is about the same size! We'll be back when they grow up!

Also located on this lake is the National Forest Lodge. A retreat with cabins that can be used year around because they are near the Minnesota trail system.

We found the public access with a dock for Lake McDougal on an afternoon of exploring Highway 1! An Eastern Grey Wolf was jogging along the edge of the highway. St. Croix logging camps are and have been located all along this highway. Another Minnesota trail system connects with the Lake McDougal campground. In fact, everywhere you go there are trails to explore.

Blue partly cloudy sky with a little breeze made for two perfect days of fishing on this lake. Dock also helped with launching the boat! Catching was good, too! Along with the hammer handles we released to grow, we caught a few fish suppers! Spotted a bald eagle flying overhead. Along one bank of the lake was a summer campground complex for kids. Wild rice grows along the edges of the lakes.

Another warm and partly cloudy day of fishing on Dumbell Lake, yes, that is the name! We are getting better at finding lakes with docks! This lake featured deep drop-offs and huge rocks. Lots of boats fishing, but not much "catching"! The wind had changed from south to the North. Hubby said there was an old saying about catching fish and the wind, he only remembered the part that says, "Wind from the South, lure floats into the fish's mouth..." After a "boat lunch" we did a scenic tour of the lake.

Ely

One day we parked the boat & trailer and took off for a road trip to Ely. We had heard about the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center, but were pleasantly surprised with the Fall Harvest Moon Festival in the park. It was an interesting hour of so of strolling past vendors displaying and selling crafts & food items. Beautiful cabin furniture, wild life prints, fishing lures, a musical group, and many ways of using rocks! A unique lawn & yard decoration was made using a large rock for a body with wrought iron bent in the shape of legs, neck & head for water birds! (Puts pink flamingos in an entirely different class!)

One end of the park had bleachers available for watching the American Lumberjack Show. Two lumberjacks participated in chain-saw contest, ax throwing contest, chain sawing carving & of course, log rolling in a huge tank. No we did not get chosen to participate!

We passed up all the "fast food" for the local Kiwanis barbecue sandwiches & homemade blueberry pie!

Driving through the town you got the feeling that canoes were definitely "in"! To rent, to buy, and on top or behind every size & shape of vehicle!

North American Bear Center

This is a great place. There is an admission charge. It is adding displays & information as money is available. Dozens of videos replace displays with a lot of reading making it user friendly for all ages.

Three live black bears actually live behind the center. Large windows offer inside viewing and an outside overhead deck is available in good weather. The bears are hand fed during the day bringing them in close to the center. They have dens for hibernation during the winter. Rangers are on hand to answer questions and presentations.

Some interesting facts we learned:
  • Lynn Rogers has never heard a bear growl in the 34 years of black bear research, but most people say they have! If a person is afraid of bear, any utterance they make is likely to be interpreted as a growl.
  • Bears do huff, meow, gargle, click tongues, blow & clack, cry, grunt & coo.
  • Only Grizzly bears kill defending their cubs. Black & brown bears do "bluff charging."
  • How do movies makers get shots of bears roaring? They dub the sound on a bear that is trained to open its mouth for a food reward!
  • What do they feed the bears in captivity? dried cranberries, fresh fruit & veggies, low fat dog food & sunflower seed.
  • The "bear nests" in tops of trees are not for rest! They are clusters of broken branches that are made by a bear sitting in the crotch of the tree & pulling branches closer to eat catkins, buds, leaves, fruit or nuts!

We'll check out the Wolf Center next time!

As with all vacations, they do have to end. The ride back to the Prairie was sunny & clear highlighting the changing colors of the leaves, the expanse of Lake Superior and the familiar fields of corn & beans waiting for harvest.

God is indeed an awesome Creator!

Thanks for traveling with us,
Prairie Schooners




















Saturday, August 15, 2009

National Museum of the United States Air Force

Last year we stopped at this same Museum, but in one day only were able to see a small portion of it. (July 2008 blog to Newport Beach, VA) The museum and parking are free. It is located on the edge of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. The Imax theater is fun, too. There is a charge for the shows. There are picnic tables outside if you want to bring a lunch or a cafeteria on the top floor with reasonably priced food. Come along as I print a few tidbits of the interesting information that is presented in the exhibits!

National Aviation Hall of Fame

Air Mail:

We started our day with this section.
The U.S. Signal Corp purchased the 1909 Wright Military Flyer for $30,000. It is the world's first heavier than air military craft. It met the following specifications: carry 2 people, fly for at least an hour, take-off & land from same spot, fly at speed of 40 mph.

In 1918 the USPS takes over air mail service from Army Signal Corps using newly hired Civilian pilots, surplus post-war "Jennies." The USPS discovered that flying mail was hazardous to your health. Air Mail pilots had life expectancy of 900 flight hours. They had to fly in all weather with no radios or navigational aids.

By 1927 all air mail was via commercial contractor. Two of the routes went to Henry Ford, auto manufacturer, and his fledgling air craft company. He later manufactured bombers for WWII.

Want to be an inventor???

Time tested scientific method:
Observe
Develop theory to explain what you have observed.
Use theory to make a prediction.
Perform experimental test of the predictions.

Cabbage Patch Rocket:

During 1920's Robert Goddard, pioneer in the development of rocketry, conducted experiments in propulsion. He launched his liquid fueled rocket in 1926 from a cabbage patch at his Aunt Effies' home in Massachusetts!

Modern Flight Gallery

Korea and southeast Asia Conflicts are the time frame for the planes in this section:


The underside of this plane shows that it is carrying cameras to take reconnaissance photos for the military. In the 1950's two cameras(K-22) with 40" focal length telephoto lens were used. Each camera could take 200 exposures on its 9" X 9" format. A K-17 camera was also available. It was fitted with telephoto lens up to 24".

Photos that have been classified for 45 years are on exhibit. They were taken of airfields, submarine pens & factories in Soviet Union, North Korea and China.

By using 2 photos taken with slightly different perspective a stereoscope created the mental expression of a 3-dimensional model. Now we have Google Earth!


Korean Conflict:

The B-29 Bomber was used to destroy major military and industrial targets important to enemy forces. We could walk through the body of this bomber. There was a large round tube for the personnel to slide through to get over the wing structure and into the tail of the bomber to load the bombs.

The first large-scale use of the helicopter for aerial evacuation of wounded personnel and rescue from behind the enemy lines

Battle Hymn:

This book by Dean Hess is his personal story. It was made into a motion picture starring Rock Hudson. Dean Hess was an ordained minister of Christian Church, who enlisted during WWII. He was called back to duty, stationed in Korea to train Korean pilots. While there he started an unofficial program for giving food and shelter to the real victims of war--the children who had lost their parents and homes.

In the midst of an offensive he requested help to evacuate hundreds of children from the area of fighting to an island. It was called Operation Kiddy car.

POW:

The exhibit shows the horrible conditions the POW had to endure. To maintain strength and a sense of community they found ways to communicate. One way was by tapping walls with a message using a code. Abbreviations were common. An example would look like your text message!

They showed ingenuity in making articles from soap, toothpaste, bread, charcoal and whatever they could get their hands on.



Auro Car

In the early 1950's an experimental flying saucer shaped aircraft was produced. Nicknamed "Star Wars!" It did not make it! If it flew more than 3 feet above ground it was uncontrollable!

Missile & Space Gallery:

Hey, VR's! We found the missiles that are stored underground in South Dakota!!!!
The picture shows the rockets that launched missiles and satellites from underground silos.

Did you know that our cordless tools were experiments used in space?

One not successful experiment was a spring-powered shaver with an attached bag to collect whiskers. Common brushless shaving cream did the job without any development!

Food for eating in space was an interesting exhibit. The first food was dehydrated. A peanut butter sandwich was shrunk down to a 1 inch square! Water would have to be added to the bags and allowed to soak into the food before being eaten.



This "Stargazer" gondola was used with a helium balloon for testing high altitude flights in 1959-1962. Joseph Kittinger, Jr did high altitude jumps from balloons to test the affects of high-altitude bail outs on pilots. He joined astronomer, William C. White and rose to 82,200 feet, hovered for 18 1/2 hours checking variations in the brightness of star images caused by the atmosphere.

Cold War Gallery:

We took a picture from the balcony in the Missile & Space Gallery to give you a feel for what the museum looks like. This is just a very small part of the Cold War Gallery hangars!

This is the B-36! Papa Jim remembers hearing them and seeing them fly over their farm when he was growing up. It was the largest mass produced piston engined aircraft ever made. Had the largest wing span in a combat air craft ever built. had 6 engines each driving an immense 3 bladed propeller. Was the first operational bomber with an intercontinental range.

So much history under one roof!
What can we learn from it?
To see stories about real people dealing with the situations during their lives and using what was available or inventing what was needed to adjust to them, makes me aware of my responsibility to use what God has given me to accomplish His purpose for my life in the time He allows me in this world
!