Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Thursday, June 02, 2011

The Indiana Time Machine

I was going to wake up bright and early Tuesday morning and go down to the Wabash.
I woke up at 6:48. Sleeping in for me. So I showered, got a waffle, and checked out of the Best Western – Inn at Old Vincennes.

I did take a trip down to the Clark memorial so I could ponder it mysteries. Still no answer.

I then decided to take a trip up to the Site Of Fort Knox II, just north of town. Don't ask me why, as when I was there in October, the gate was closed. One of those listening to the still,small voice moments.
A little note here, There was three Forts in Vincennes.
The first was Fort Sackville, which built by the British and captured By George Rogers Clark. It was on the same location as the memorial. When it became decrepit, It was wrecked, and replaced by Fort Knox I, the site of which is just to the north across Vigo Street, now the site of Downtown Vincennes. This is the fort that I'm attempting to depict in my work.
Fort Knox II was built in the early 1800's and was in use during the war of 1812. There was a Fort Knox III, which existed for a Brief time after the treaty, which would make the contemporary Military post Fort Knox IV(all named for Henry Knox, the First Secretary of War.)
Once I got there, the gate was open. I drove in. The outline of the fort, is, well , outlined.

The location was chosen because it sits on bluff overlooking the Wabash.

A neat place, even though it outside my time line.
When I had planed this trip, I had thought about going down to Shawneetown on the Ohio. I eventually decided it was too far.
I would up heading out to Lincoln City and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.(“Honest Abe” lived here from when he was 8 until he was 21.) They have a nice memorial built by the State of Indiana. Another one of those still small voice decisions.
The main reason I went here was that there is a living history farm in the park. I wanted to wander around, but had to wander back to modern times to get some water first.

The actual cabin site is outlined:

8 people lived in this little cabin.
They have a replica.

The guide had an aunt who's also an aspiring historical fiction writer. We hit it off. I learned who to make yarn from both sheep hair(wool) and flax (linen) and how to generally get my little log cabin on the cover of the May 1812 edition of Good Housekeeping. Very much worth my time, even thought it was a bit off my time frame.
I decided to head back to Evansville, stopping at Steak N Shake for lunch.
I still had some time, so I headed over to Angel Mounds State Historic Site. Look who was there:

Well, Tecumseh was a Native American. 1205 is a little out of my time range, but it did give some practice of walking through a scene and winding it back.
Deer Running was escorting his new friend, Ms Lingo, through the Village. She was amazed that they kept the commons so free of grass.

“It used to be neater.” He lamented “Then the ugly ones killed the great leader, and we cannot find one to take his place.”
Just then, he noticed a man had joined them. He was pale faced, like Ms Lingo, but was tall and gangly. He was wearing a strange black hat and had hair on his face. He extend his hand to Deer Running.
“I grew up around here, and have considerable experience leading nations in time of war, which Ms Lingo can attest. Abraham Lincoln, esquire, at your service”
Back to reality. When I got to EVV, the TSA pulled me aside. I set off the Explosive Residue Dectector. Imagine that!
N605KS arrived to whisk us to DFW. Once there I decided to head to Chapel to meditate some more:

The time machine kicked in again. This is no ordinary airport chapel.
It's 1976. Instead of a bunch of red, white, and blue ERJs parked at the gate, There are 727's. Some are orange, some are blue, some are purple. All have two letters painted on the tail. BI. Braniff International Airways. And I'm going to LAX , and don't have to worry about eating an imitation barbecue sandwich in some fast food place, because we'll get fed on the plane, even if we are setting in economy.
The Chapel in Terminal “B” is a memorial to Braniff (The “Top Star”: Tom Braniff)

I moved over to Terminal “D” and back to the present day.

It seem like Flight 661 always boards here, even thought this is DFW's “International” Terminal. Maybe American is trying to send us a message that Southern California is really another Country.
Aside from a slight delay (Flight to Sao Paulo was having Boarding issues, and they were in “our” gate), the flight back went OK, and I went back to twiddling bits for food Wednesday morning

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Rendezvous with the past


Well, today I used my Nissan Sentra I got from Hertz to go back in time 200 years.
I drove down to the George Rogers Clark Memorial for the Rendezvous. I was supposed to meet my guide at the "cannons". As you can imagine, the big question was which Cannons. I found some likely cannons in time for the worship service. I had a decision, but not a tough one

I walked over to the museum and saw a sign for the Northwest Territory Alliance. I asked where I could find Marilyn. We eventually met, and I spent the better part of two hours talking to various people about the roles they were re-creating.

From Evv
It was then time for lunch : turkey legs (from St James episcopal,Vincennes)

and an ear of corn from the Kiwanis. Watch out for the oxen:

I went back to the Museum. Air conditioning in 90 degree Indiana weather? ahh) bought books, and patronized the vendors who were selling period authentic goods well , except for the guy selling pens made in China) , and talked to people who caught my eye. This was hard, as I am shy. Good way to expand my horizons. soon it was time for the battle:

From Evv
I was not sure about attending the battle, but it was really a boon (lots of details caught my eye, which means, yes, lots of rewrites).
The troops marched past as I was buy yet more books(on period clothing) , some of which was from NWTA.


I closed out the day by thanking Marilyn, My host. I then attended the Closing Ceremonies on the Clark memorial:


before heading back to my car and the present day.
Mr. Turkey legs invited me back next year. we'll see if I can make it.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Only $200?

February 23, 2011 was my fiftieth birthday. I was debating what do to celebrate it in a grand manner.
I went on American Airline's website and decided to see what the fare was from Ontario to Saint Louis $200 round trip? I'm in!
I decided not to fly on to Cape Girardeau. I would have to wait 5 hours in Saint Louis both ways, and since this was a 3 day trip, I really could not afford to waste that much time.
I woke up early, went by my bank and got some money, picked up a Daily Bulletin, before making my way to ONT. Check in,security, and boarding were uneventful.
Nothing much to note on takeoff – the sky was overcast

But by the time we got to the San Jactinos:

The Salton Sea

Some craters in Arizona

We landed a little ahead of schedule at Terminal A in DFW. I had arranged with my uncle to have lunch together. He was waiting when I walked out. we had a good lunch at Braum's and he gave my a grand tour of Grapevine, before we headed back to DFW, I had some time to spend, so I took a Grand tour on the Sky train, the inter-terminal shuttle. Unlike most airports, it runs above ground.
Terminal D and a Boeing 777:

I really did not have much time to wait before going to STL. Next to our plane was a minor star N984TW, the Last MD-80 built:

We went over the other airport in Dallas, Love Field

and a Lake

We arrived in STL a little late. I went to Avis and got my car, a Chevy HHR:

both sides of I-70 were backed up., so I decided to go down the Inner belt (170) to Kingshiway (gotta visit my old neighborhoods) and got back about 6 Friday, I did noting much . Part of it is that my mother is in her mid 80's and we have a family history of Alzheimer's. so I wanted to spend some time with her while I could. Ironically, I spent of most of my time(and money) running back and forth to the Grocery store. Whose birthday is it anyway?
Sunday , we all went to church. My nephew announced his engagement, coincidentally while I 'm scheduled to be home over the 4th of July.
I did do some research for my fiction by stopping by the Old Burnt Mill in Perry County:

And stopped at the Arch Grounds

I also took photo of the Admiral. It's where Mom and Dad met. Its supposed to be scrapped soon:

I made my back to the Airport and checked in . I paused to take a photo of the Grand hall:

I made it past security and waked down to the end of C concourse
I then found a spot at the Gate and parked and observed


From 2-19-2011
My ride has arrived
From 2-19-2011
I had a row to myself on the 2 seat side with a bulkhead behind me Not bad!
We got to Dfw early , arriving at C39. I made my way to D22, and got there just as they announced a gate swap to D38. I grabbed a quick bite at Popeye's made to D38 with about 10 minutes to spare. The flight to ONT was surprisingly not full. I was on the 3 sea side, and did have a row mate, but had an empty middle seat. Can't beat that!
Upon landing , there was an Antonov an124 being loaded, since this was about 10:00 at night, I decided to leave it unphotographed. 20 minutes after stepping off the plane, I was unlocking my front. I love the Ontario International Airport!
As far as the trip goes, I'm glad I did it I'd love to be back there, butI know I can't go back. Eddie says it better

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Vincennes, part I

Recently, I got a nice break. The state of California resolved a tax dispute in my favor. Did I spend the on bicycle parts? no.
Plugging away on my writing, I decided to take a research trip. One of the pivotal place in the colonial northwest was Vincennes, Indiana. Since my Characters would have to gone thought there, I thought I need to go there . Was is it on a Bluff. What was still left?
I started by pricing my flights. I wound up on American with a 6Am departure from Ontario to Evansville, IN via Dall/ Forth Worth airport, TX. It would have been cheaper to fly to Indianapolis, but then I would have had a two hour drive. I woke up early Friday Morning and went over to ONT. I spent my time taking some photos of the murals.

Archie Mitchell and Waldo Waterman, The Fathers of the Ontario Airport

We were soon aboard the “Mad dog” (Mc Donnell Douglas MD-80, a second generation DC-9) for the trip to Dallas Forth DFW.
You never know what you will see at ONT. I noticed that there was a 727 with the Los Angeles World Airports(LAWA) logo on the Tail. Turns out, The airport maintains it as a movie Prop, so they must have been doing some filming
Once at DFW, I spent some time by taking a loop around the airport on the SkyTrain before alighting in Terminal b. Unlike most airports, the people mover is above ground
Despite all my trips through DFW before, I had never been in terminal B. It called Terminal "B" because it was the hub for another airline:

I had lunch at Mc Donalds before getting on the “Jungle Jet” - an Embraer ER1J45(so called because it's built in Brazil) for the trip to Evansville. Once there, I got my car, a Dodge Avenger (Enterprise must have gotten a great deal on these) and made to the Super 8 In Vincennes:

The hotel was beside a nice lake:

I went over to Wal mart , got some sodas, and lost my sun glasses, the next morning, i went back to get some sunscreen and lost my hotel key. eek!
I started by going across the Bridge to where Abe Lincoln first stepped foot in Illinois:

I then walked back into town ,and met some re-enactors, appropriate, yes?

From 10-11-2010
From 10-11-2010
The bridge is flanked by stylized statues of Tecumseh and his Brother , Tenskawata, The Prophet:

From 10-11-2010
From 10-11-2010
From 10-11-2010
Theres also a statue of Father Pierre Gibualt:
From 10-11-2010
Father Gibualt is one of the figures that's been forgotten by History and shouldn't have. He had a parish at the time of the American Revolution that encompass Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Vincennes was the site of one of his Parishes (the others being Kaskaskia, IL and Sault Ste Marie,Mi. He was instrumental George Rogers Clark's liberation of the West and the battle of Vincennes
another Figure in the Battle was Francis Vigo

Finally, we have the Memorial itself

The Memorial has Various Murals relating to Capture Of Vincennes and Statue of George Rogers Clark inside. The Ranger was nice enough to take a picture of me posing with George

The Ranger wanted to turn off my Flash, but neither she nor I could figure out how to do it. It turns that Google did a good job of cleaning up the image
I then wandered over to the vistor's Center. Actually, I had gone there First, but the Ranger stationed there sent me to the memorial. The Visitor center had a nice short film (much better than the usual fare) and some exhibits. I think the ranger was a bit surprised to find out that I knew who Mr Clark and Father Gibault were. I purchased a book on Colonials being adopted into tribes (another theme of my work) before moving on. We'll get there tomorrow