The Martin's Blog

This was our second visit to Mount Davis – Highpoint of PA (3,213ft). Our first visit was in 1989 with Kate and Chad and their friends David and Jessica. Here we are on the tower – Helen took the photo.

This is the marker on top of the tower

Helen and I visited again on 6/25/2022 when we were attending the Highpointers Konvention at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in PA.  We arrived at the highpoint at 11am, took photos, climbed the tower, and spoke to other highpointers who were there for the Konvention Watermelon Feast.

Note the weathered marker on top of the tower. There is a project in process to upgrade the signage at Mt Davis.

4/14 Th – I arrived in LA last night after a 4500-mile road trip from OH – see previous post for May 2022.  Today, our friends Ron & Pat from Mercer Island WA visited.  They are Kate’s godparents and Ron was my best friend growing up in Chicago.

4/15 F – outing to Santa Monica Mountains NRA. Our last visit was October 2015 – see Blog.  

“Nature in Los Angeles?”

We started at the Visitor Center, which was formerly the horse stable for the King Gillette Ranch. 

The Urban Wild

Thriving in the Suburbs

 The 588-acre King Gillette Ranch is managed by the Mountains, Recreation, and Conservation Authority (MRCA).

We hiked to Inspiration Point for an overview of the property and Santa Monica Mountains

And then walked around the Gillette Mansion grounds.  The Spanish Colonial Revival style mansion and other structures were built in the 1920’s for razor magnate King C. Gillette.  They were all part of a landscape plan including tree lined entry, pond, formal courtyard, terraces, bridges, and lawns.

4/15 F – Photo of Channel Islands from Hot Springs Canyon Trail in Los Padres National Forest (north of Santa Barbara)

Took us about 1.5 hours to get from Silver Lake to the Robert J. Lagomarsino Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center at Ventura Harbor.  Helen and I had visited here in August 2008 before we did a three-day kayak trip to four of the eight Channel Islands – see Blog.  Note the viewing area on top of the Visitor Center.  They have scheduled Ranger Dives from the islands that can be viewed live at the Visitor Center.  Like an underwater campfire program!

Nice model showing the eight Channel Islands.  The islands were never part of the mainland – they are the easternmost islands in the Pacific Island group.  “Today, five of the islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara), their submerged lands, and the waters within one nautical mile of each island are protected as Channel Islands National Park.”  The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary extends six miles from the shore of each island.  This land/water area is “. . . home to over 2,000 species of animals and plants – 145 are found nowhere else on Earth.”

After IN-N-OUT Burgers, Kate directed us to the trailhead for the Hot Springs Canyon Trail in the Ynez Mountains near Montecito CA.  

It was a 3.7-mile rt hike (1,177ft gain) to a series of small pools fed by a hot mineral spring

The water temperature went from very hot in the top pools to moderately hot in the lower pools

Dinner at Bacari in Silver Lake

4/16 Sa – shopping, games, preparing for Easter.  Also, oil change – discovered I had a leaking axle seal that had damaged the brakes, arranged to have repairs done at garage around the corner from Kate on Monday.  Kate now has a second dog – Greta

4/17/ Su Easter – returning from Easter Mass at St Francis of Assisi RCC, note Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory in background

Heather had treated Peter to a So-Cal Holiday for his birthday and they joined us for a wonderful lamb Easter dinner at Kate’s

Followed by the traditional Cracking of Eggs

After meal walk in Echo Park

“Lady of the Lake”

Celebrated Peter’s 49^th birthday – Kate gave him 49 scratch-off lottery tickets!

4/18/ M – with Kate. $2,300 for brake and axel seal repairs on Sequoia, got it back at sundown.  This was great because it allowed me to continue my trip on schedule. 

4/19 Tu – Dropped Helen off at the Burbank airport for her flight home and started my drive to UT.  Found this flying saucer cloud outside of Las Vegas. Don’t text and drive – note, I am in the middle lane with no one around me!

It was a 535-mile drive to Bryce Canyon NP.  Note the location of Bryce Canyon on the lower left of this map, and its relation to other protected areas in Southern Utah.

I arrived late afternoon.  My first stop was the Visitor Center –

Getting oriented

The Grand Canyon is at the bottom and Bryce Canyon is at the top of the “Grand Staircase.”  This region is my favorite part of the contiguous 48-states.

Fairyland Point Overlook

I decided to do the “Hike the Hoodoos” challenge.  There are nine benchmarks located along eight different hiking trails in the park.  A minimum of three miles of hiking is needed to get an “award.”  In order to “prove” you completed this task, you need to take photos or rubbings of three of the nine medallion benchmarks.  I started with a hike to Mossy Cave, which is off Rt 12 in the northern part of the park.

Along the way I took a side trail to a waterfall on the “Tropic Ditch,” a 1892 Mormon irrigation canal that brought water to the town of Tropic

I then backtracked and did the trail to Mossy Cave, where some ice remained in the “cave”

Returned on Rt 12, again entered the park on Rt 63, and drove to Sunset Point – 7:30pm

View from the Rim Trail

Hikers ascending on the Navajo Loop Trail

Slept in the Bryce Canyon Lodge parking lot

4/20 W – arrived at Sunset Point before sunrise (6am), twenty-nine degrees, – note the moon

View of Bryce Canyon from the Rim Trail before sunrise

Walked to Sunrise Point and started on the combined Queen’s/Navajo Loop Trails in order to earn my “Hike the Hoodoos” reward.  This was my fourth visit to Bryce, and my third time doing this loop.  I will be adding photos from previous trips. 

Sunrise

1982 hike with Helen, Stacy, Peter, and Kate – photos from the Queen’s Loop

Helen, Kate, and Queen Elizabeth

1967 hike with Jay – PH era (Pre-Helen)

I found the Navajo Loop Medallion Benchmark 2022

Start of the 600ft climb out of Bryce Canyon on the Wall Street segment of the Navajo Loop Trail

Wall Street section of trail

Almost there

Top – back at Sunset Point

I successfully “Hiked the Hoodoos” covering about five miles over three trails – I took my photos to the ranger at the Visitor Center and received my award – a decal – made in the USA!

Photo from Inspiration Point in 1967

Photo from Bryce Point in 1982

Peter (11) and Stacy (12) – 1982  

Drove Rt 12 from Bryce Canyon NP to Torrey UT before turning east to Capitol Reef NP.  Rt 12 is said to be one of the most scenic roads in the US.  A good part of this road passes through Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, administered by the BLM.  The monument was drastically reduced by the Trump administration in 2017 but reinstated by the Biden administration in 2021. 

In March 2009, Helen and I hiked the “Toadstools” Trail, in the Paria Rocks area off US 89 in the southeastern or Kaiparowits Plateau Unit of the monument – see Blog.

On February 8, 2018, we stopped briefly at the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Visitor Center on US 89 – see Blog.

In April 2006, we did some wonderful hikes in the northern part of the Kaiparowits Plateau Unit.  That was before the start of this Blog, so I am including some information and photos here.  That year we drove Rt 12 from Torrey to Bryce Canyon NP (opposite of this trip). 

When we reached Cannonville, we turned south on the unpaved Cottonwood Canyon Road to a point where we had access to Cottonwood Canyon.

We hiked into, down about a mile, and then back up through this beautiful slot canyon

I have no idea who put these handprints here –

Do not do this hike if there is rain anywhere in the vicinity!  Debris in the water is responsible for carving out these alcoves.

Rock – Face

Scree traverse to get into and out of the canyon

Our next stop was Grosvenor Arch, named for Gilbert H. Grosvenor, who was President of the National Geographic Society. 

It is a double sandstone arch

View from the bottom 

After deliberating for a while, we decided to climb it – back side of arch

View from top

After we descended, we met a couple who had taken photos of us on top.  They later mailed them to us.

View north from bottom of arch

Our next stop was Kodachrome Basin State Park, which is in Grand Staircase Escalante NM.  Rock formations on the Nature Trail

We hiked the Angels Palace Trail to a point called the “End of the World”

Photo of park cabins from Angels Palace Trail

Ranch scene along Rt 12

OK, now I am back to 2022, after leaving Bryce NP – entering Grand Staircase Escalante NM on Rt 12   

Mormon – Hole in the Rock Trail

Rt 12 Overlook – here is one of three informative markers

I really enjoy hiking on slickrock

Escalante Canyons Unit of Grand Staircase Escalante NM, these are the canyons related to the Escalante River

Did a hike to the Escalante River

Colorful formations

View of Escalante River Canyon

I arrived at Capitol Reef NP today (April 20, 2022) at about 1pm.    

On April 27, 2006, our first visit to the park, Helen and I arrived at sunset

That night we stayed at the Torrey Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast.  It was built in 1914 (same year as our house) and was the center for community activities.  The Butch Cassidy gang frequented its weekend dances. 

We drove back into the park the next morning – Visitor Center 

Map showing Fruita locations as well as the Rim Overlook and Hickman Bridge Trails

Our first hike that day was the 4-mile Rim Overlook Trail.  It was a wonderful hike, gaining about a thousand feet in elevation, through beautiful multicolor rock formations.

Visitor Center from Rim Trail

On the way up we passed an outlook for Hickman Natural Bridge but couldn’t see it.  On the way back we met some other hikers who said we had to look harder – it was there.  Well, I tried and still couldn’t see it – then Helen said, “There it is.”  We were standing on a cliff right across from it but because it had a rock background from our high vantage point, we at first were unable to pick it out!  The following photos are from our 2-mile hike to the Hickman Bridge.  You can “see” the Bridge in these two photos. 

The Hickman Bridge is 133 feet wide and 125 feet high – when you can see it from below, with the sky above, it is obvious!  A “Bridge” is formed by water running underneath it.  An “Arch” is formed by other erosion forces.

I call this the “Rock Wall Mountain”

Afterward, we drove the 10-mile scenic drive to Capitol Gorge

We did the 2-mile trail into the gorge walking along a narrow wash bottom with sheer canyon walls. 

I found it fascinating how rocks and pebbles created coves in the sandstone walls of the gorge

There was a “Pioneer Register” in Capitol Gorge where people signed their names on the rock wall over a hundred years ago and water pockets that are called “tanks.”

Spring flowers added to the beauty of this April visit to the park.  Are you ready?  Name these flowers –

#52

#54

#56

#58

#64

#66

Answers: 52 -Purple Locoweed;  54 -Claret Cup;  56 – Firecracker Penstemon;  58 – Fringed Gromwell;  64 – Indian Paintbrush; and  66 – Sego Lily.

Today, 4/20/2022, I entered Capitol Reef NP from the west.  The park protects the Waterpocket Fold (about 90 miles long), which is the longest exposed monocline in North America.

Chimney Rock

I then did a short hike to the Goosenecks Overlook

Sulfur Creek flows through the Goosenecks – this photo from 2006

Afterward, I did the same 1-mile rt hike from the parking lot to Sunset Point that Helen and I did in 2006

Castle Rock

Visitor Center

Fruita Schoolhouse

I was hoping that, if I arrived at Arches NP before the close of the Visitor Center at 5pm, a ranger would allow me into the park.  This is the first year you must have a timed entry reservation to enter the park. I had a paid ($2) reservation for the following morning for the first entrance time slot of 6-7am.  After 2.5-hours, I arrived at 4:30pm – made it! – and convinced the ranger that I would leave the park by sunset if she permitted me to enter. 

This was my fourth visit to Arches NP and my main objective was to get a photo of Landscape Arch, which has the longest span in the park, 290 feet.  It is the fifth longest natural arch in the world.  There are four in China that are longer.  There are over 2,000 cataloged arches in the park.  The minimum opening to be cataloged as an arch is three feet.  This is my first Blog entry for Arches NP.  So, I will present photos in the order you would see the formations driving the road into the park.  I will also state the year each photo was taken – the Moab Fault, Visitor Center in the background 2022.

Approaching Courthouse Towers – on left 2022

The Three Gossips and Sheep Rock (center) 2022

The Three Gossips and Sheep Rock 1968

One mile trail – Park Ave Balanced Rock 1968

Rock Pinnacles 2022

Pinnacles and Balanced Rock 2022, 1982, 1968

Half mile hike to Double Arch 112 feet High 1998

Turret Arch Thru North Window – One mile Loop Trail 1968

Chad and Turret Arch 1998 (15-year-old bonding trip with Dad)

How Arches Form

Half mile hike to Upper Viewpoint of Delicate Arch 1982, note VW Camper.  We drove to LA and then flew to Hawaii on this family trip.

Stacy at Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint 1982

Delicate Arch across Valley Wash

Map of North part of park

Helen at Wolfe Ranch for start of 3-mile rt summer hike to Delicate Arch 1968.  We were married in June and were doing a NP road trip on our way to Seattle.

Tom at Delicate Arch 1998

Delicate Arch 1968

2014 Utah National Parks Quarter

Approaching Devils Garden 2022

Skyline Arch, 71 x 33 feet 2022

Sign describes how Skyline Arch increased in size in 1941

One mile hike to my objective – Landscape Arch 2022

Looking Northwest through Devils Garden 2022

2022, I continued on the Primitive Loop northwest through the fins of Devils Garden in search of two arches Helen and I had climbed to in 1968

Southeast view from top of small fin 2022

Southeast view from top of large fin – note small fin (previous pic) to the left – this photo 1968

The route through the fins was now in the shade and difficult to follow.  These deer advised me to turn around before I injured myself 2022

1968 – Helen at Partition Arch

1968 – Navajo Arch

Sunset from our Devils Garden Campground tent site in 1968.  The first time Helen washed her hair and then dried it over a campfire.  How could she not like the campfire scent in the car for the next two days?  Something a newly wed male was about to learn.

Slept in a hotel parking lot in Moab UT

4/21 Th – 1.5hrs to McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA – BLM) in West Central CO on the UT border.  It was previously called Colorado Canyons NCA and has the second highest concentration of naturally occurring arches in the world – behind Arches NP.   Its 193 square miles includes a 24-mile section of the Colorado River.  “View the fossils of 140-million-year-old dinosaurs at a working fossil quarry.” It has been proposed that this NCA become a National Monument.

The 1.6-mile Rabbit Valley Trail Through Time is just off Interstate 70

Paleontologists have found eight species of dinosaurs in the Mygatt-Moore Quarry and continue to do field work here.

Kiosk at the start of the trail

Camarasaurus Skeleton – Note disk marker on rock

Rabbit Valley Overlook

Diplodocus Skeleton

Mining Claim Marker

Balanced Rock

It only took a half hour to get to the west entrance to Colorado National Monument near Fruita CO.  

Lots of great views as you drive up switchbacks to the top of the Colorado Plateau, 2,000ft above the Colorado River Valley

The formation of a Balanced Rock

Sign describing construction of the road by the CCC from 1931 to 1950. 

Note Balanced Rock in the upper right part of the photo at the Fruita Canyon View

John Otto arrived in this area in 1906 and worked tirelessly for it to become a national park.  When President Taft declared it a National Monument in 1911, Otto became the park caretaker at a salary of $1 a month!

Otto’s Trail, I did lots of short trails to overlooks

Overlooking Wedding Canyon to Independence Monument

Independence Monument – 450 feet tall 2022

Climbing Independence Monument to Raise Flag on July 4th – the Tradition Continues

This was my third visit to this park – Independence Monument – took this photo in 1968 with Helen

Independence Monument 1998 with Chad

Grand View 2022

Grand View – 1998

Grand View – 1968

Grand View – 2022

Grand View Flowers 2022

Juniper – 1968

Sandstone Detail – 1968

Coke Ovens – 2022

Highland View – 1968

Upper Ute Canyon Overlook – 2022

Bats –

Fallen Rock Overlook – 2022

Ute Canyon View – 1968 with Helen

Red Canyon Overlook – 2022

Cold Shivers Point – 2022

Stayed with cousin Nick and wife Linda in Arvada outside of Denver, dinner at German restaurant with Nick, Linda, cousin Cathy, and Lisa (Nick & Linda’s daughter)

4/22 F – 4hrs to Camp Amache NHS near Granada in southeast CO.  This is the newest National Park Unit (#424) – bill signed by President Biden in 2022.

Old Museum in Granada foreground, new Museum and Amache NHS Visitor Center background with green awning

Santa Fe Trail and Santa Fe Railroad

The Visitor Center was to be closed today but John Hopper (APS) had opened it for me for a noon visit.  A gentleman from Great Britain happened by as well.

Granada Relocation Center, also known as Amache, was one of ten Japanese internment camps operated by the U.S. government during World War II (1943-1945).  At its peak, it housed 7,500 persons of Japanese descent, most American citizens. In retrospect, this was a black mark on the Roosevelt administration.  Japanese arriving by rail car – does that remind you of anything?

Relocation Center, Internment Camp, Concentration Camp?

Despite the difficult conditions, the residents worked to maintain their community.

That included Japanese as well as American traditions

Amache was located on the Arkansas River so that residents could produce agricultural products for the war effort.

The Relocation Center Central Area is located off U.S. 50 just west of town

This was another “Red Flag Day.”  High winds with blowing sand/dust made it unpleasant to be outside.  The following are representative of many informative markers. 

Poor visibility due to blowing sand/dust

Water Tank and Annual Pilgrimage

Guard Tower and rebuilt barracks

Cemetery

5.5hrs on U.S. 50 to get to Tallgrass Prairie N PRES in KS.  Slept in parking lot.

4/23 Sa – Tallgrass Prairie N PRES

Spring Hill Farm and Z Bar Stock Ranch (11,000 acres) represents a ranching legacy from 1878 to 1986.  The Nature Conservancy owns most of the land and manages the Preserve with the NPS.

Entrance

This photo of the 110ft x 60ft Limestone Barn is from my 2007 visit

The Ranch House Mansion was built in 1881

I did the 1.75-mile Southwind Nature Trail

The scenic one-room Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse was built in 1882 and closed in 1930

Tallgrass Prairie – 2022, Bison herds once roamed this land.  Today you can see some bison in the Windmill and/or West Traps Pastures.  However, I did not see any today when hiking through the West Traps Pasture.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve with Larry – 2007

View from Overlook – 2022

Limestone Barn with Flint Hills in background

This old gas pump is by the 1882 limestone Chicken House

The Ranch House Mansion currently serves as the Visitor Center – Ice House on hill to left

Spring Hill Ranch House Office

Sitting Room

Bedrooms

Ice House from second floor window

2020 Kansas Quarter – part of National Park series, one NP site from each state – Tallgrass Prairie

11hr (745mi) drive to Springfield – slept in my own bed!

11/9/2021 Tu – arrived at the Mound City Group Unit of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (NHP) outside of Chillicothe OH at about 8:30am on a beautiful fall day.  This was my third visit to this site, which is the only fully restored Hopewell earthwork unit of the historical park.  See Blog for June 2012.

These mounds were built from A.D. 1 to 400.

Mound 7

Elliptical Mound

The Hopeton Earthwork Unit is on the east side of the Scioto River

After going through the Visitor Center, I drove to the undeveloped Hopeton Earthwork Unit and walked for two miles on the paths that were mowed through the field to simulate the location of the earthworks there.

After consuming a Philly Cheesesteak from Charley’s in Chillicothe, I visited the Hopewell Mound Group Unit.

I hiked an additional two miles here, both through the mounds area

Mound 25 – the largest Hopewell mound ever discovered, 500 feet long and 30 feet high

and along the Tri-County Triangle Bike Trail

It took about 15 minutes to drive to the Seip Earthworks Unit of the NHP on U.S. 50

This is the third largest burial mound that the Hopewell are known to have built

Stopped briefly at Fort Hill Earthworks, which is part of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System and the Ohio History Connection

My last stop was Serpent Mound, which is also a part of the Ohio History Connection.  I have wanted to visit here for a few decades and finally made it!  There is an $8 parking fee.

There are several burial mounds here as well as a Village Site

But the highlight is Serpent Mound

The next photo is from the viewing tower and shows the tail of the serpent

The following photo show the serpentine body with the mouth in the distance

Looking back toward the viewing tower, right center of photo

It was a two hour drive back to Springfield

6/12 Sat – Left home at 6am for a 2,000-mile road trip to the Atlantic Ocean.  Arrived at Friendship Hill NHS in SW Pennsylvania at 10am.  I had visited here in 2011 when I was on my way to Pittsburgh for Drago’s birth.  See Blog for October 2011.

This time, the house/visitor center was open for self-tours.  This was the “Wilderness Home” of Albert Gallatin (1761-1849).  He was an entrepreneur, politician, diplomat, financier, and scholar.  He was the Secretary of the Treasury for Presidents Jefferson and Madison. He arranged financing for the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  He also worked to end the War of 1812 with Great Britain.

Friendship Hill is on the Monongahela River.

Though it was not on my agenda, my next stop was the terminus of the C & O Canal in Cumberland MD, which is part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP.  In my post of April 2017 on this Blog, I described stops at Spring Gap, Oldtown, Paw Paw Tunnel, Williamsport Visitor Center, and Lock 44.

The Chesapeake (Bay) and OHIO Canal never made it to the Ohio River.  Construction stopped here in Cumberland MD in 1850 when railroads made the continuing digging of the canal a financially losing proposition.  184.5 miles of the C & O Canal were completed from Georgetown (Washington DC) to Cumberland MD.  The canal remained open until 1924.

The Cumberland C & O NHP Visitor Center is located in the Western Maryland Railway Station.  Goods were transferred from canal boats to wagons for travel on The National Road and on to railroad cars for points west and north.  Likewise, goods, especially agricultural, were shipped back east.

Fort Cumberland (built 1754) was an 18th-century frontier fort that was an important military and economic center during the French and Indian War (1754-63).  It was constructed at the confluence of Wills Creek and the Potomac River. 

This fort once marked the westernmost outpost of the British Empire in America and was the jumping-off point for General Braddock’s disastrous expedition against the French at Fort Duquesne in present day Pittsburgh. When Braddock was killed, a young officer of the Virginia militia, George Washington, led the troops back to Fort Cumberland.

  

As mentioned, The National Road started here and linked the east to the western part of America at the time.

I then had a 3.5hrs drive to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center in Shenandoah NP.  Skyline Drive, the parks scenic roadway, follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains for 105 miles.  At its southern end, it joins the Blue Ridge Parkway, which continues 469 more mile to Great Smoky Mountains NP.

My first visit here was in the Fall of 1966 when I went with a group of graduate students from the U of MD.  We drove part of Skyline Drive stopping at overlooks and doing short hikes.

The next year, I was invited to go along with my friend Jay and his date to climb Old Rag Mtn.  Jay and I had just completed a 10,000-mile road trip out west that summer.  This hike/climb is classified as the toughest but most rewarding hike in the NP – some say in the entire Middle Atlantic Region.  We chose a route starting from Skyline Drive at an elevation of about 3,500 feet (Limberlost Parking Area) and then dropping about 1500 feet into Weakley Hollow via the Old Rag Fire Road and on to the Old Rag Shelter.  From there, the route went up the Saddle Trail to the Byrds Nest 1 Shelter, and then on to the summit at 3,291ft.  It was about 10 miles roundtrip with a total gain of about 2800 feet. 

Jay and I carried small packs. Jay’s date, Helen Alexis, was given the task of carrying a bottle of wine for our summit celebration.  To make it easy for her, he cut off one of his pant legs and made a sling she could put around her neck to protect the bottle and keep her arms free.  Well, when we reached the top of the mountain, she was wearing the sling BUT the wine was gone!  The bottle was lost somewhere on the trail.  How could she not know that she dropped a full bottle of wine that was hanging around her neck?  Did she drink it and discard the bottle?

We scrambled around the summit rocks and ate most or our snacks before heading back to Skyline Drive.  It was a long day.  I was impressed with the stamina and good spirit of this Serbian beauty during our challenging outing.

It was dark when we arrived back at Jay’s little red convertible, a TR3 sports car.  We were hungry, all that remained was a can or sardines and crackers that Jay had brought to impress his date.  Against my better judgement, I helped finish the remains and we started descending the narrow windy road dropping down from Skyline Drive.  I was sitting sideways on the tiny bench seat behind Jay and Helen.  I swayed to-and-fro, and lurched forward and back, as Jay tried to go as fast as he could down the steep mountain road (VA Rt 211).  By the time we got to the bottom, I was sick.  I jumped out of the car and ridded myself of those sardines and crackers.  I was not going to go back to that bench seat.  Helen, being a good sport, said she would sit in my lap on the passenger side.  I found this arrangement very agreeable for the remainder of our ride back to the U of MD. 

That was the beginning – in less than a year Helen (Baba) would be my wife!

We climbed Old Rag with Jay and other graduate assistants from the east side of the mountain in the Spring of 1968.  We took the Ridge Trail for about 1.5 miles and then set up camp along the trail.  The next morning, we summited and then returned to U of MD.  This hike/climb is about 5 miles roundtrip with a gain of 2400 feet and involves a lot of fun rock scrambling on the top third of the route.

Baba and I returned in 1970 and did the same route again.  It snowed on our campsite that evening.

Christmas break 1969-70, we drove the entire length of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way to Mexico City in our new (used) VW camper. 

In the Fall of 1970, Baba was coaching the U of MD women’s swim team.  Most of the team joined us for another trek up the mountain by way of the Ridge Trail route.

After 50 years, I returned to Shenandoah NP ten day ago.  I wanted to do a couple of new trails in the park.  My first stop was the Dickey Hill Visitor Center with good views of the Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah River.

The Many Moods of an Overlook

Marys Rock Tunnel (1932) at Mile Marker 32.4 of Skyline Drive, 700ft long, 12’ 8” clearance

Skyline Drive reaches its highest point (3,680ft) at Skyland.  The Historic Massanutten Lodge (1911) is located here.

Mile Marker 45.5 – did the Lower Hawksbill Trail, 1.7 miles roundtrip, gain of 690ft, to the summit viewing platform (4,051ft).  Hawksbill Mtn is the highest peak in the park.  Park literature states that “The viewing platform on top of Hawksbill offers a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.”  Not so, when you are in the clouds!

It was getting dark as I did the 1.4-mile roundtrip Dark Hollow Falls Trail.  It has a 440ft gain on the return.

Deer at Sunset

6/13 Sun – arrived at the Richmond NBP Cold Harbor Unit at about 6am.  I visited the Richmond Unit at the Tredegar Iron Works in April 2017 (see Blog).  On this trip I wanted to see the other four Units.  All of these Units are related to the Battle for Richmond during the Civil War.  However, I am starting this description of my visit with the Glendale Malvern Hill Unit in order to present the information chronologically.

The first Union attempt to take Richmond (Confederate Capital) and defeat the Southern rebellion took place at Bull Run in VA at the First Battle of Manassas in July 1861 (see Blog for June 2019).  The Federal forces were defeated.  The second attempt to take Richmond started in March 1862 under General George McClellan and was referred to as the Peninsula Campaign.  His forces reached the east side of Richmond, but they were beaten back by General Robert E. Lee in the Seven Days Battles.

Glendale/Malvern Hill Unit – represents one battle during the 1862 Confederate defense of Richmond.  Glendale National Cemetery

The Methodist Parsonage overlooked Malvern Hill.

Malvern Hill – Union successful defense of their position against General Lee’s attacks.  General McClellan decided to withdraw after this battle and lost his advantage related to the goal of taking Richmond.  Historians believe that this encouraged the Confederates and greatly extended the Civil War.

General Ulysses S. Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign (see Blog for April 2017) began with the Battle of the Wilderness May 5-6, followed by the Battle of Spotsylvania May 8-21, and reached the outskirts of Richmond at the end of May.  At Cold Harbor, 6,000 Federals were killed or wounded during massive, ill-conceived, assaults on Confederate entrenchments.  Most of the casualties took place in one hour!  The Civil War in the East was changed from a war of maneuver to one of siege.     

Battle of Cold Harbor Unit

Garthright House – Union Field Hospital

Chimborazo Unit Medical Museum – Confederate Hospital, now Park Headquarters.

Powhatan Stone in Chimborazo Park, which overlooks the James River and Richmond

Fort Harrison Unit – including Fort Gilmore, Fort Johnson, and Fort Hoke were part of Confederate Defenses on the East side of the James River protecting Richmond.  First Fort Gilmore

Fort Johnson

Fort Harrison

Fort Hoke

My next three stops were part of Colonial National Historical Park in southeast VA.  I will start with the Cape Henry Memorial, which is located on the Fort Story Military Base, where the Chesapeake Bay opens to the Atlantic Ocean.  You must provide photo ID and go through security in order board a shuttle that takes you to the memorial area and lighthouses.  You are restricted to this area.

The first permanent English settlers landed here on April 26, 1607.  A memorial cross has been placed here by the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists. 

After taking measure of the Cape, they established the first permanent English settlement in North America on May 13, 1607, on an island in the James River.  They called the settlement Jamestown, in honor of the then king of England, King James I of England and Ireland.  Cape Henry and Cape Charles were named after his sons.

There is also a monument here to French Admiral Comte de Grasse, who defeated the English fleet on September 5, 1781, in the “Battle of the Capes.”  This prevented reinforcements from reaching Lord Cornwallis in Yorktown, leading to his surrender on October 19^th.  Britain recognized American Independence in January 1783.

In 1791, President George Washington reviewed, and Alexander Hamilton signed the contract for the first public works project of the U.S. Government – the construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse (107ft).  I paid $9 for a senior ticket to climb to the top.

The “New” (current) Lighthouse was lit in 1883.

View of the Cape Henry Memorial Area from the Old Lighthouse (middle of photo)

1883 and 1792 Lighthouses

But wait – we were not through with the British yet!  During the War of 1812 they blockaded the Chesapeake Bay and attacked Washington DC, burning the White House. 

Historic Jamestown is one hour by car from Cape Henry.  The site is administered by Preservation Virginia in conjunction with the NPS and a fee is charged for entrance.  My reduced rate was $10 because I have a NP lifetime Senior Pass.

Helen and I visited in the Fall of 1969; some photos are from that trip.  All tours start at the Tercentennial Monument, which was built in 1907 to mark the 300^th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

63, 65, 68, 71

The Memorial Church was built in 1907 as well.

This sign gives and introduction to the “Old Towne.”  Note the statue in the bottom center – John Smith.

Replicas of the three wooden ships that carried the 104 Englishmen were floating at the dock in 1969, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.  They were not there in 2021.

The James River has eroded some of the bank where the fort was located –

The real story of Pocahontas, plus two interesting characters – Me 2021 and Helen 1969.  She has said that I like Pocahontas better, because she did not talk balk!

Remembering Our Slave Heritage

Re-creation of the Virginia Company Military Outpost, 1610-14 – when Helen and I visited in 1969.

The Colonial Parkway is a leisurely (40min) and scenic way of traveling between the Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Battlefield of the Revolutionary War.

This sign, a short distance from the NP Visitor Center is close to Yorktown and is the first stop on a 7-mile loop road that takes you through the British inner Defense Line and the Allied (American and French) siege lines.

Photos from 1969, the first photo shows the van I bought for us to move from Seattle back to the U of MD.

Grand French Battery on the first siege line – 2021

A second 9-mile loop road takes you through the American and French Encampment areas.  First the American Artillery Park and Washington’s Headquarters.

Then the French Cemetery and Artillery Park

On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis’s army surrendered.  In this John Trumbull painting, Maj. Gen Benjamin Lincoln accepts the surrender of the British arm from Brig. Gen Charles O’Hara, Cornwallis’s second in command.

Following my Battlefield tour, I toured Yorktown. 

It was fun walking through and visiting the period buildings.  This is the Dudley Diggs House (1760), now the Mobjack Petite Café, where I had a great turkey sandwich.  The Customhouse (1721) is located across the Main Street.

General Thomas Nelson Jr house

Grace Episcopal Church (1697) is still in service.

General Thomas Nelson, commander of the Virginia militia, governor of Virginia, and signer of the Declaration of Independence is buried in the church graveyard.

Helen at the Yorktown Victory Monument in 1969

Yorktown was under siege again during the Civil War

After a 3.5hr drive, I arrived at Cape Hatteras National Seashore at dusk.  This NP Unit is one of ten NPS National Seashores.

It was almost dark as I took a video of the rotating beacon of the Bodie Island Lighthouse

Atlantic Ocean, next stop Europe?  Slept in the Oregon Inlet campground.

6/14 M – I was up early and drove on to Pea Island as it became light.

My first stop, and walk, was at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.

It was about 7am as I drove onto Hatteras Island.

The first photo of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was taken from the beach in 1969 when Helen and I visited the Seashore.  The second was taken today (6/14/2021).

It was not open, so I was unable to climb to the top.

You need a permit for your vehicle (only 4WDs) to drive on the beach.

There is a tiny cemetery on the island honoring British seaman lost off this cost during WW II when their ship was sunk by a Nazi U-boat (submarine).

I then stopped at Frisco Beach, which is one of the few that have lifeguards.

6hr drive to Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in NC – during my school history lessons, I learned a good deal about the northern battles of the Revolutionary War but relatively little about the southern battles.  For example, there are three National Park Units in South Carolina devoted to the Revolutionary War – Ninety Six NHS, Cowpens NB, and Kings Mountain NMP.  There are two in North Caroling – Moores Creek NB and Guilford Courthouse NMP.

Our first visit to this Unit was in 2011, (Blog March 2011).  As stated in that blog post – Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is located just north of Greensboro NC.  On March 15, 1781, Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene and about 4,400 men contested the invasion of NC by 1,900 redcoats commanded by Cornwallis.  Fierce fighting resulted in about 250 rebels and 500 redcoats dying before Greene withdrew resulting in a British victory.  However, the battle left Cornwallis’s troops weak and unable to fulfill their role as an occupying force.  Seven months later he would surrender at Yorktown.  Guilford Courthouse –

The Continentals, under General Nathaniel Greene, set up three defensive lines in this area (see map).  The British, under General Charles Cornwallis, progressively attacked all three.  The First Line Defense –

Second Line Defense

Cavalry Monument

Third Line Defense

British Perspective

General Nathaniel Greene Monument – largest in the park

Helen 2011

 

It took about 2hrs to get to Rt 80, a VERY windy/steep road up to Buck Creek Gap of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  From there, I turned south on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  After a few miles, I passed through Twin Tunnels at Marker 344.5 of the Parkway.

The very first United States Forest Service (USFS) tract of land established in 1911 by President Taft is to the east.

At 8pm, I arrived at Mount Mitchell State Park and the 5-mile road that takes you to a parking lot near the top.

Helen and I had been to the top in 1969 on our trip to Mexico from MD.  I again took the short trail to the top in 1988, and this is a photo of Peter ready for the 285yd trek to the summit in 1992.

In this 1988 photo, I am standing on the observation platform surrounding the old 25-foot stone tower that was built on the summit in 1959.

Here I am again in 2021 at the new 10-foot-high viewing platform that was erected on the summit in 2009. 

Mount Mitchell History

The current circular observation platform is the fifth structure to crown the summit of Mount Mitchell.  The first was an obelisk erected next to the grave of geographer Professor Elisha Mitchell (1793-1857) in 1888.  He died in a fall on the mountain while attempting to prove that the Black Mountains were the highest peaks in the region and the eastern U.S.  He proved, with measurement taken in 1838 and 1844, that Black Dome, the highest peak in the Black Mountains, was higher than Mount Washington (6,288ft) in NH.  Black Dome was re-named Mount Mitchell (6,684ft), by the U.S. Geological Survey, in his honor in 1881-82.   

In 1915, high winds destroyed the obelisk and a 15-foot ladder, supported by three poles was placed on the summit.  When Mount Mitchell State Park was created in 1916, a 15-foot covered wooden platform was constructed.  In 1926, NC replaced the platform with a medieval looking stone tower.  In 1928, a funeral cairn and plaque was placed on Mitchell’s grave.  The word “University” is misspelled on the plaque!  In 1959, a viewing platform was constructed on the 25-foot stone tower.

In 2009, a 10-foot-high, 36.5-foot diameter circular viewing platform replaced the stone tower.  It provides a 360- degree view of the Black Mountains.  Mount Mitchell is sometimes referred to as “The Island in the Sky” because it acts like an island above a sea of warmer land.  Most plants and animals on top of Mount Mitchell cannot live farther down the mountain.

Glassmine Falls – center of photo

Craggy Gardens

Looking East from around Mile Marker 370 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Sunset

6/15 Tu – arrived at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Visitor Center about 6:30am and immediately took the road to the Pinnacle Overlook.  This was my fourth visit to the park.  On this trip, my objective was the Pinnacle Overlook, where there is a great view of the Gap and information related to the strategic importance of this location during the Civil War.

This was a popular tourist spot long before the establishment of the NHP in 1955.

This is the 2016 KY state quarter – three states come together in the Gap – KY, TN, and VA.  It was not until 1803 that the tri-state point was made official.

Kate is standing on the tri-state point in this photo from 1984, which was a short hike from Rt 25E when it ran directly through the Gap.   In 1996 a tunnel was completed to bypass the Gap and the Gap was returned to a walking path – the original Wilderness Road.

As you can imagine, the Gap was a very strategic location during the Civil War.  The first photo is from 1984.

The site of Fort Lyon is on the loop trail near the Pinnacle Overlook.

On my last visit, I hiked through the Gap on a rainy day in April 2016 – see Blog.  This is where I finished my hike that day.

A 6hr drive brought me back to Springfield.

4/2 F – did a 2-mile hike from the Switzer Picnic Area in San Gabriel Mountains NM (USFS)

4/4 Sun – Easter Sunday

4/5 M – dropped Helen off at the Burbank Airport at 7:15am and drove about five hours to Lake Mead NRA.  See Blog for March 2009.  This was America’s first NRA.

Visitor Center

You can start the Historic Railroad Trail from the Visitor Center or from the Hoover Dam Lodge and Casino, which is on the upper right in this photo.   Many people do the trail from here (flat) on bikes.

I started from a 0.3-mile connector trail that descends from the Lodge.  It is 0.6-mile shorter, but you have to gain about 250 feet on the return.  I hiked about 4 miles total.

This sign shows the connection of the two trails.

There are 5 tunnels that were built for the transport of workers and supplies to the Hoover Dam construction site on the Colorado River.  Tunnel 1 –

Tunnel 2 –

Lake Mead

Tunnel 3 –

Inside Tunnel 4 –

Tunnel 5 –

After the hike I drove north on Lakeshore drive.  This is Boulder Beach.  There are many access points for beach and water recreation on Lake Mead.

Looking SE over Lake Mead from a point near the Fish Hatchery

I had a 5-hour drive to Great Basin NP – sunset in NV.  Slept in Baker NV just outside the park.

 4/6 Tu – Great Basin NP is located in East-Central Nevada near the Utah border.

 

Helen and I toured Lehman Caves NM in 1968.  It was incorporated into the new Great Basin NP in 1986.

 

We visited again in 1992 with Kate, Chad, and Manuel, our exchange student from the Canary Islands.    

Kate and Chad doing their Junior Ranger activities.

Great Basin NP entrance 6:45am – 24 degrees!

I did a short hike from the Upper Lehman Creek Campground

I then did the Nature Trail behind the Lehman Caves Visitor Center – view looking east.

“Discovery or Natural Entrance” – with bat-compatible gate.   A new entrance tunnel was blasted into the cave in 1939.

Clarence and Bea Rhodes cabin (1928), they were custodians of the cave.

Ab Lehman discovered the caves in 1885

On the way out of town I visited the Baker Archeological Site administered by the BLM.

Pronghorns are the only animals in the world that have forked horns that shed each year.

This is open range country – watch out!

I had not planned on stopping in Zion NP on this trip.  However, I was passing the Kolob Canyons section of the park, which I had not been to before, and could not resist seeing another part of the park.  Helen and I tried to visit here in 2009 but the road was closed because of snow.  So, we went to the main entrance and, among other things, climbed to Angels Landing – see Blog for March 2009.

I stopped at the Visitor Center and then drove to the end of the Kolob Canyons Road.

Photos from the parking lot at the end of the road – Kolob Canyons Viewpoint

I then hiked the Timber Creek Overlook Trail for a view from a higher perspective.

It took only an hour to get to Pipe Springs NM in the northern Arizona strip. Helen and I visited in 2009 and did the ranger tour – see Blog for March 2009.  I had only one photo from that visit, so I stopped here again today.

This has been a notable “watering place” for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years.  The Kaibab Tribe of the Paiute Nation is an active partner with the monument.

When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) came here in the mid-1800s, conflict over water and land use began.  In 1868, a small stone cabin was built here to defend against Navajo raids.  Two sandstone-block buildings, with a central courtyard and strong wooden gates, were constructed in 1870.

Some Winsor Castle rooms –

First occupants

Next experience – Grand Canyon-Parashant NM (BLM).  In March 2009 Helen and I drove through a small eastern section of this monument on our way to the Toroweap Overlook of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River– see Blog.  On this trip, I drove the same gravel road (Rt 109) to Rt 5 and then turned west to go further into the monument.  I wanted to drive a loop from the west but the rangers in St. George told me it was too early for the 4WD road to be passable.

I had to hustle to complete the Nampaweap Petroglph Trail (about 1.5mi roundtrip) before it was dark.

I then continued west into the Mount Trumbull Wilderness and the trailhead for Mt Trumbull (8,028ft).

I used my headlights to take this photo of a marker for the Historic Sawmill Site (1870s-1940s) that was used to provide the lumber for the Mormon Temple in St. George.  Teams of oxen hauled the wood 80 miles over what became known as the Mormon Temple Road.

It was now dark, so I drove a bit off the road into the forest for the night.  The night sky was amazing.  I opened the sunroof and enjoyed the dazzling display of stars as I lay in the SUV.  It was a cold night at 6,500 feet with the temperature dropping into the teens.  So cold in fact, that because I had not brought my cold weather sleeping bag, I got up at 3am and started driving to my next location! I only saw one other vehicle while I was in the monument.

4/7 W – started driving at 3am from Grand Canyon-Parashant NM.  It was a long drive (12hrs) on back roads to Capulin Volcano NM in NE New Mexico.  I was here in 1990 and did the Crater Rim Trail as well as the Crater Vent Trail.

On this trip, I only had a half hour to drive to the rim parking lot and do part of the rim trail before they closed the road for the night.

Looking West from rim parking lot

After closing I hiked the Lava Flow Trail and Boca Trail

4/8 Th – arrived at Chickasaw NRA around 11am.  The springs area was purchased from the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations in 1906 and designated Platt National Park after a CT senator who had sponsored the legislation.  In 1976 it was combined with Arbuckle Recreation Area to become Chickasaw NRA.  This was one of the few times that a National Park was subsumed under another park designation.

My first stop was Little Niagara Falls of Travertine Creek

Helen gave Kate a bath in the Creek in 1982 –

I stopped by the Travertine Nature Center and then hiked to Antelope Springs

Then Buffalo Springs

There are many natural springs in the park, the CCC built several pavilions for the springs in the 1930s.  This is Pavilion Spring

Hillside Springs

Black Sulfur Springs

Rock Creek

Famous Lincoln Bridge over Travertine Creek

Bromide Pavilion

Vendome Well

The Buckhorn area of Arbuckle Recreation Area and Lake of the Arbuckles.

I arrived at Fort Smith NHS in AR in the early evening.  The first Fort Smith was constructed at Belle Point where the Poteau River empties into the Arkansas River in 1817.

The U.S. government attempted to keep peace among settlers, Osage Indians, and Cherokee Indians in this area.

The first photo is 2021, the second was taken in 1998 when I visited this site with Chad.

The second Fort Smith was built in 1838, primarily to defend against possible Indian attack from Indian Territory on the opposite side of the Arkansas River (today Oklahoma).  It was a major installation.

The Commissary

Barracks-Courthouse-Jail-Visitor Center

The Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas was established here in 1872 and operated until 1896.  In addition to Arkansas, it had jurisdiction over Indian Territory as well.  Judge Isaac Parker came to be known as the “hanging judge.”  Of 160 he sentenced to be hanged, 79 met their fate at the Gallows.

Drove into the night and slept in Missouri.

4/9 F – I arrived at the Harry S. Truman NHS Farm Unit just S of Kansas City MO at 8am.  Helen and I had visited the Harry S. Truman NHS home and Presidential Library in Independence MO in 2018 – See Blog for February.

The NPS now owns 10 acres of the 600-acre farm.  Workers were repairing the front porch roof of the farmhouse when I was there.

Harry worked on his grandmothers farm from 1906-17, between the ages of 22 and 33.  He stated that, “. . .riding one of these plows all day, day after day, gives one time to think.  I’ve settled all the ills of mankind in one way and another while riding along seeing that each animal pulled his part of the load.”

Back of house

It was a half hour drive into Kansas City MO and the National World War I Museum and Memorial.  I parked at Union Station across Pershing Road from the Memorial.

It is the largest and most notable World War I Museum and Memorial in the country.  The Allied Commanders dedicated the site in 1921 and President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the completed Liberty Memorial in 1926.  It was paid for by the citizens of Kansas City.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, the same year the National World War I Museum was opened.  [The National Park World War I National Memorial is in Pershing Park in Washington DC, close to the White House.  It has recently been renovated – see Blog for October 2018 and December 2020.]

The museum and memorial are run by a non-profit organization.  “The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.” 

It has been supported by the U.S. government and I believe it should become an Affiliated National Park Unit.  View of Union Station and downtown Kansas City from the Liberty Memorial.

I arrived at Gateway Arch NP, formerly known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis at 2pm.

We have visited the “Arch” many times.  As you drive west on I70 and cross the Mississippi River from IL, Gateway Arch is the first thing you see as you enter St. Louis.  The next photo is from 1982, the following photos are from 1992 when we rode the elevator to the top. Tram cars can carry up to five.

Today, I revisited the museum.

Elevator Entrance

One Day, Three Nations

Gateway Arch is the tallest in the world at 630 feet high and is based on an equilateral triangle – base is 630 feet wide.

Old Courthouse

Old Cathedral

In 2018, the Trump administration renamed and upgraded Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to Gateway Arch National Park.  I disagree with the new designation.  There is no way that this small man-made park is on par with any of the other major National Parks.  Every other NP, among other notable characteristics, preserves a part of the natural environment.  Think Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, Acadia, etc., etc., etc.  There is no comparison!  In my opinion, the Arch should be designated a National Monument or a National Historic Site.

Six more hours of driving and I was home at 10:30pm – after having covered 8,400 miles.

Dick and Jan invited us to share their rented house in Port Charlotte for a week in March.  We had a 2.25hr direct flight from Dayton to Punta Gorda, checked out the house, and were on Englewood Beach on Manasota Key that afternoon.

The next day we attended the All Florida Rodeo Championships in Arcadia and then set our sights on the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island.  The 80 degree weather, EVERDAY, was wonderful!

We did a 4-mile loop starting on Wildlife Drive and then returning on the Cross Dike and Indigo Trails.  Jan and I hiked, while Helen and Dick biked.

Wildlife Drive

Osprey Nest

Mangrove Boardwalk

Horseshoe Crabs

Biker Chick

 

Gat

Gator

Sanibel Islands Lighthouse

St Patty’s Day

2.2-Mile Punta Gorda Harbor Walk – followed by a quart of Hershey’s Cold-Brewed Caramocha Ice Cream!

Cincinnati OH and Ohio River on return flight

Continuation of National Park Road Trip Part 1 – posted November 2020

11/8 Sun – I was up early and drove from the NJ Rest Area to Greenbelt Park outside of Washington DC – a busy day.  I had been to most of these sites before but wanted pictures of myself at those locations for my records.  Sorry about all the pics of ME!

I then went to three NPS sites in DC I had not been to before. The first was Battlefield National Cemetery

This is the burial site for 40 Union soldiers that were killed when Confederates, Under Gen. Jubal Early, attacked nearby Fort Stevens on July 11-12, 1864.  The only attack on Washington DC during the Civil War.

A short distance S is Fort Stevens

President Lincoln rode over, from his summer cottage at the US Soldier’s and Airmen’s Home, to observe the battle. He is the only sitting President to come under direct enemy fire during a time of war.

My next stop was Meridian Hill Park, center right side of this map

The W Street NW entrance has a beautiful cascading waterfall – when the water is flowing!

Not many people are aware of this 12-acre park. Thomas Jefferson wanted to establish an American Meridian (Longitude 0” 0’), through both poles and the White House, from which all U.S. land would be surveyed – to reenforce Americas independence from Britain. He reasoned it would also aid American map making and navigation. Today, there are many meridians running through different continents, but the Prime Meridian is still located in Greenwich England.

Nearby is a monument to the 15^th President of the US (1857-61) – James Buchanan who preceded Lincoln. He was our only bachelor president.

This inscription lets you know that he was James Buchanan of Pennsylvania

At the top of the double staircase is a statue of JEANNE D’ARC, LIBERATRICE, 1412-1431 (19 years old!)

Just east of Joan, is a statue of Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy, dedicated on his 600^th birthday – December 1, 1921.

16^th Street entrance to Meridian Hill Park

 

It was a ten-minute drive to Carter G. Woodson Home NHS on 9^th St NW

There is a small triangular park with statue of Woodson around the corner. I am pretending to take a book off the shelf

Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History”

 

Ten more minutes and I was at Ford’s Theater NHS. It was Sunday morning, and the country was in the middle of a pandemic. So, it was easy to drive around DC and park.

House across the street, where Lincoln died

 

I then walked to the World War I Memorial, which is east of the White House and was under construction. We were here in October 2018 as well – see that month on Blog for additional pics. The location is also known as Pershing Park – for General John J. Pershing.

This Sherman statue is located across 15^th St NW, from the World War I Memorial

As I continued, I walked past the Department of the Treasury

and a statue of Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish military engineer, who constructed outstanding military fortification for the Patriot cause during the Revolutionary War

I then continued walking around the White House.  A new security fence had expanded the area around the White House and was covered with Anti President Trump, Black Lives Matter, Count Every Vote, Equality, Justice for George Floyd, Not My President, etc. posters. President Trump was refusing to concede former Vice President Joe Biden’s election victory.

Pics of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and White House from the south

 

One of my main objectives today was to tour the new Dwight D. Eisenhower N MEM – the newest National Park Unit.  The first view is of the NE corner. The Memorial is on Independence Ave in front of the Department of Education, this was my 421^st National Park Unit.

This view is from the NW corner – Eisenhower “The Boy”

Homecoming speech in Abilene KS, 1945

There is a “Normandy Coastline Curtain Façade” on the Education Building – it is best seen at night

Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II (1941-1945)

34^th President of the U.S. (1953-1961), quote from Ike’s second inaugural address

 

The Ike Memorial visit was followed by three quick stops, see Blog for October 2018 for additional photos – World War II Memorial

 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, FDR, our 32^nd President, contracted polio in 1921 and used a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Bread Line during 1930s depression

 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial – notice everyone wearing masks because of the pandemic

 

I then drove across the Potomac River to the U.S. Air Force Memorial in VA, which is between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery

 

It was dedicated in 2006 – “The three memorial spires range from 201 feet (61 m) to 270 feet (82 m) high and appear to be soaring; its array of stainless steel arcs against the sky evoke the image of ‘contrails’ of the Air Force Thunderbirds as they peel back in a precision ‘bomb burst’ maneuver.’ Only three of the four contrails are depicted, at 120 degrees from each other, as the absent fourth suggests the missing man formation traditionally used at Air Force funeral fly-overs.”

 

Next stop, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial). The first photo is from June 7, 1968. Helen and I were married on June 8^th. My brother Mike is on the left and brother Pat is on the right.

Flag at half-mast for the death of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on June 6, 1968 in LA.  Martin Luther King had been assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis TN!

The memorial depicts the raising of the American Flag on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945 during World War II. Almost 7,000 Marines, sailors, and soldiers were killed or missing during this one battle and almost 20,000 were wounded.

 

The Netherlands Carillon, a gift from the people of the Netherlands (1954), is in the process of renovation. It originally had 49 bells but then in 1995 a 50^th bell was added on May 5^th to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from the Nazis.

 

 

 

It took me awhile to get to Arlington National Cemetery, because Google Maps kept giving me directions that did not work! Many roads and access points had been closed and I had to figure out how to get there from my maps.  This photo was taken from cemetery looking across the Arlington Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial.  The Washington Monument is in the center.

“Our Nations Most Sacred Shrine”

There were tight COVID-19 restrictions and I had to wait in line (six feet apart with mask) for about a half hour before they took my temperature and allowed me entrance

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial

Eternal flame at grave of John F. Kennedy, 35^th President, assassinated in Dallas TX on November 22, 1963

Grave of Robert F. Kennedy, assassinated on June 6, 1968 in Los Angeles, when he was running for President

View of DC from Arlington House

Most Americans are familiar with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, but few know about this monument near the Arlington House where 2,111 Unknown Civil War soldiers are buried

 

The second “main” objective of the day was to visit Arlington House (Robert E. Lee Memorial) in Arlington Cemetery – my 422^nd National Park Unit, of 423

Newly renovated but not yet opened because of the pandemic

Construction started in 1802; built by slaves, free blacks, and indentured servants

Lithograph shows Arlington Plantation in 1838

Parked along the George Washington Memorial Parkway and took the footbridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island.

This island nature preserve, in the middle of the Potomac River, is a fitting memorial to the 26^th President (1901-1909). Theodore Roosevelt established national parks, monuments, forests, bird reserves, and game preserves.

There are more National Park Units devoted to Theodore Roosevelt than any other person – his Birthplace in NYC, his summer home on Long Island (Sagamore Hill), Elkhorn Ranch in ND (part of Theodore Roosevelt NP), and his inaugural site in Buffalo NY.

I made a brief stop at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts as I began my drive west to the Shenandoah Valley. I slept in the parking lot of a Nursing Memory Care facility in Staunton VA, which seemed appropriate.

 

11/9 M – took Rt-250 E to the Northern End of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Rockfish Gap and started driving S

The Northern End of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the Southern End of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP

Rockfish Valley

Appalachian Scenic Trail markers at Humpback Rocks; it crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway there

I hiked the Humpback Rocks Loop, which includes about four miles of the AT

Blue Ridge Fall Color

Twenty Minute Cliff, I drove 30 miles of the parkway, exiting at Whetstone Ridge

 

I then drove west, taking I-64 to the Sandstone Visitor Center for the New River Gorge National River in WV

Sandstone Falls of the New River

New River Gorge National River

One lane Bluestone River Road to former village of Lilly on the Bluestone National Scenic River

“Ye Ole Swimin Hole” – with rope swing

Bluestone National Scenic River

Foot in river – see, I’ve been there

Little Bluestone River (left) flowing into Bluestone River

I hiked a short distance on the Bluestone Turnpike Trail

Another beautiful day

 

Next stop, the Canyon Rim Visitor Center for New River Gorge National River WV

We did a fun family rafting trip on the New River in June 2000

 

Last stop, Gauley River National Recreation Area WV

Summersville Dam on this trip

Dam in October 2000, when they were doing a release for world class white water rafting, note the snow on the trees

Gauley River Overlook, rafters starting their adventure

Carnifex Ferry Civil War Battlefield is located nearby

How West Virginia became a state – On September 10, 1861, the Federals prevailed, and the Confederates retreated from western Virginia. In 1863, West Virginia became a Union state, Virginia remained in the Confederacy

In 2000, we did the trail to Pillow Rock Rapids, you can see how it got its name

Rafters knocked out – Rescuers on rock

Woods Ferry access

My Sleep Machine

 

5hr drive to Springfield, arrived home at 11pm

3/7 Th – Up at 4am to catch our 6:25am flight in Dayton. Arrived at LAX at 1:15, 2.5hrs late because of a mechanical problem in Detroit. As a result, they canceled my rental car and I had to get another, which cost me an additional $165! Anyway, made it to Kate’s, Beef Brisket at We Have Noodles, and then an Uber to the Hotel Café in Hollywood to hear a performance by Griffin House. He is from Springfield and we had heard him many times before, but this was his best performance in memory. By the time we got to bed it was 3am OH time – a 23-hour day!

3/8 F – Recover from previous day! Thrift shops and playing games – Farkle, Aces to Kings, Dominoes, Skip Bo, and Yahtzee. Kate made and excellent Asian Chicken and Rice dinner.

3/9 Sat – It took 1.5hrs to drop off Bennett and get to Long Beach to catch the 9:30am Catalina Express Ferry to Santa Catalina Island. It is one of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of southern CA.

Passing the Queen Mary as we departed the harbor

 

The ~24mile crossing took an hour and ten minutes and we landed in the resort town of Avalon

In 1919 the entire island was purchase by William Wrigley Jr (chewing-gum magnate). Wrigley proceeded to develop Avalon into a resort. He also brought his Chicago Cubs baseball team here for Spring training until 1951. Looking across the harbor, the landmark circular building is the Avalon Casino, the Chimes Tower can also be seen center left.

We started by walking through town to the Casino

Wrigley started Catalina Pottery and Catalina Tile here in 1927

We decided to take the 1.5hr tour

Wrigley built the art deco Avalon Casino 1928-29 for 2 million dollars. Casinos have become known as gambling establishments. However, casino is defined as a building or large room used for meetings, entertainment, dancing, etc. – it is the Italian word for a gathering place. This casino was built with no intention of gambling and that has remained true to this day.

The ground floor theater was designed for excellent acoustics to accommodate the first “talkie” movies. The first shown here was “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson.

The top floor contains the world’s largest circular ballroom and hosted all the Big Bands of day

Our guide Frankie, self-acclaimed professional dancer, danced with Helen and Kate

The dance floor was built for 2,000 dancers, though we were told that there were at times 4,000 on the floor

View of Avalon from Casino

View of Casino from Descanso Beach. It was too cold to swim or kayak today.

We had a fish & chips lunch and then rented a golf cart to tour the outskirts of Avalon. This is a nice view from part way up Mt Ada.

The Wrigley home on Mt Ada

Kate was our driver – they should have issued us helmets! We drove to and toured the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden

 

 

Three-fourths of the island is now run by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Lovers Cove Marine Reserve can be seen on the opposite side of the Ferry Dock.

The Ferry had a mechanical problem on the way back to Long Beach and we did not pick-up Bennett at the sitter until after 9pm.

 

3/10 Sun – Church, breakfast at Millie’s, walked Bennett in Echo Park, and ate corn, grilled in a shopping cart covered with butter, salt, mayo and sprinkled Mexican cheese. H and K also had some red pepper put on top. Helen prepared pork cutlets for dinner and we then played more games until ready for bed.

 

3/11 M – 4.5hrs from Silver Lake to Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NV) ~15 miles S of Las Vegas (I15 to Exit 25). It was difficult to find the access road because there was construction taking place for a very large housing development. When we arrived at the trailer Visitor Contact Station, we found it closed, though it was supposed to be open.

We did Option 3, the loop trail combination of the 100 and 200 trails for 4.25 miles and 400 ft elevation gain

Trail register entering the North McCullough Wilderness Area

Climbing the first waterfall

Entering canyon

Start of second waterfall climb

Start of Petroglyphs/Rock Art area

There are over 1,700 Petroglyphs here, created by American Indians from 5000 to 200 years ago

Stayed at the El Cortez Casino Hotel in downtown Las Vegas. Had $9 Prime Rib dinners at Tony Roma’s in the Fremont Casino, and then enjoyed the laser light show in the canopy along Fremont Street. We were going to do the Zip Line under the canopy but thought it was way too expensive.

 

3/12 Tu – Millie made us a wonderful breakfast at her home in Henderson, just S of Vegas. We then drove 5hrs to Walnut Canyon National Monument, 10mi E of Flagstaff AZ. I had been there in the 1960s but could not find any photos. So, I thought it would be fun to return, get some photos, and enjoy the place with Helen.

Visitor Center

Nice View from Visitor Center

Did the 1-mile Island Loop Trail

Starting down

Good view of the “Island,” a kind of peninsula created by a bend in Walnut Creek

Continuing down

The “Perfect” Shelter

Walnut Canyon’s cliff dwellings were occupied between 1125 and 1250

Looking back toward Visitor Center

Snow from previous night, elevation here is about 7,000 feet

A Community Sharing the Land

Starting back up to the Visitor Center; nice paved trail then steps

Once on top, we did the Rim Trail

End of Rim Trail viewpoint

Did a little loop back to the parking lot passing the Pueblo and Pithouse Ruins

It was raining when we got to Flagstaff, so we played Farkle in the Flagstaff Mall and had Chinese for dinner before arriving at our Airbnb at 6pm. This was the second year in a row that we stayed with Kyrie and Chris. Helen and Kyrie made brownies and Chris had made an iPad spreadsheet for keeping Farkle scores.

 

3/13 W – woke to 3 inches of snow and more coming down. We had an organic breakfast and then Chris shoveled a path in the snow to our car.

The first half of the drive to Phoenix was slow due to the weather. We passed through Phoenix and then I followed a map I had found to Hohokam Pima National Monument. We exited I17 south of Phoenix. I then followed dirt roads until I was unable to go any further toward the location on the map. I decided to walk to the location. Helen did not want to go, so she stayed in the car and cross-stitched.  I found the location a short distance away. The village known as “Snaketown” was excavated in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. After the last excavation it was completely covered. The monument is on the Gila River Indian Reservation. As I walked back to the car, I saw there was a police car next to my rental. As I approached, a second police car arrived.

The officers were upset with me and asked how I got there. I explained that I was doing National Park Units and was following my map. One took my license to his car and the other explained that I was trespassing on the Indian Reservation. I stated that I did not see any No Trespassing signs along my desert route. The second officer explained that the area was sacred ground, that they had a problem with “pot hunters,” and tribal permission was necessary to enter the area. I told him I totally understood and apologized for being there. He went to speak with the other officer. When they returned, I was given a warning ticket for trespassing on the reservation. They suggested I go to the Huhugam Heritage Center for information on the NM site and gave me directions.

The museum was under renovation; however, we were able to walk the grounds and speak with an administrator. I discovered that, since the National Monument had been closed, going to the Cultural Center was considered as having been at the Hohokam Pima NM site.

The Gila River Indian Community is made up of two tribes – the Akimel O’otham and the Pee Posh. In general, American Indians are very proud of service in the Armed Forces. Perhaps they pride themselves on being warriors.

Since the Heritage Museum was not open, it was recommended we visit the Huhugam Ki Museum of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. They even printed Google Map directions for us.

 

On the way to the Marriott we saw the exit for Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous winter home and school in the Sonoran Desert from 1937 until his death in 1959 at the age of 91. It is Scottsdale’s only National Historic Landmark.

All the tour slots were taken, but we were able to walk the grounds

It took an hour to drive through heavy traffic to our hotel. We checked in and then walked to Caramba’s where we shared a beer and a Fajita dinner

 

3/14 Th – It was a 4hr drive to get to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area in CA, just south of the Salton Sea. This is a BLM area

We saw a couple of dune buggies driving across the sand, but most were stopped and waiting because of the high winds

The flag states – “Trump 2016, No More Bullshit.” How ironic, Trump is a habitual liar.

The dunes continue south all the way to the US-Mexico border

 

Another hour brought us to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We came here for the wildflowers. There was a “super bloom” this year because of all the rain and snow during the winter. The wildflowers themselves have their season as well. So, we saw some we had not seen when we were here in March 2005 and others, we had seen then, were either past bloom or had not yet bloomed.

We began our visit at the Ocotillo Wells Discovery Center on Hwy 78. The volunteers were very helpful giving us a Desert Wildflower Guide and maps that indicated where the wildflowers were blooming. Our first stop was the Ocotillo Forest. Yellow desert dandelions were in bloom as well as some cacti, but the red flaming flowers of the Ocotillo – the tall thin mix between a cactus and a shrub had not yet opened.

There were metal sculptures in the desert all around Borrego Springs – camels, horses, elephants, dragons, etc. The tourists were as interested in these as the wildflowers – lots of folks out taking pictures. Fossils of Columbian Mammoths have been found in here.

In general, I don’t like these sculptures unless they have some historical context. But I did like the Dragon/Snake. This picture does not do it justice, as two more smaller curves of the tail were on the other side of the road.

Our next stop was north of Borrego Springs on the Coyote Canyon Road where there were fields of yellow dandelions on both sides of the road

Our next stop was along S22 east of Borrego Springs where there were hillsides covered with wildflowers. The purple sand verbenas were close to full bloom.

I felt it a privilege to walk through this beautiful setting.  White Desert Lillys and a close-up of a Sand Verbena

 

Our last stop was in Coachwhip Canyon.  After we had driven as far as we could on the 4WD road, we were rewarded with blooms of Arizona Lupine and yellow Brittlebush

It was a 3hr drive to Silver Lake where Kate had a delicious Asian Chicken dinner waiting for us

 

3/15 F – Kate and I did the 4mi Hill Walk this morning. The route went over the hill to and around the Silver Lake Reservoir and then back by way of Sunset Blvd. Went to Maria’s for lunch and then the Hollywood Cemetery – interesting People,

Monuments

and Stories. For example, I learned that the LA Times Building was bombed in 1910 resulting in the death of 21 newspaper employees! Domestic terrorism is not new –

Helen showed Kate how to make spinach and cherry pita. We played games into the night. Kate, the Yahtzee Queen, had 4 Yahtzee’s in 3 games!

 

3/16 Sat – Did the Farmers Market at Sunset Triangle Plaza and then the Silverlake Flea Market off Sunset Blvd. Helen repaired and replaced the buttons on her faux leopard coat for Kate.

Had In and Out Burgers (Animal Style!) on our way to Santa Monica. It cost a fortune to park and go to the ArcLight movie Theater there. The National Geographic movie/documentary, “Free Solo,” about the first free climb of El Capitan in Yosemite NP by Alex Honnold, kept us on the edge of our seats. If you like rock climbing, you will love this movie!

 

3/17 Sun – St Patty’s Day: Saint Francis of Assisi church for mass, breakfast/flea market in church hall (Tom Hawaiian shirt, Kate mixer), and then a Celtic Art lesson at the Barnsdall Art Park. We were asked to draw/color a picture using the first letter of our first name. We were given some examples of mythical Celtic figures to use in our drawing. Leprechauns, shamrocks, green beer, etc. were not mentioned! You can tell who has the art talent in our family!

We listened to Irish music while playing games. Helen and Kate made, one of my favorites, potato pancakes for dinner.

 

3/18 M – 1hr to Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument and National Memorial; it is located in Angeles National Forest NE of Santa Clarita. This is a new (2019) National Memorial and is the only one administered by the USFS. We proceeded up Francisquito Canyon Rd to a Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power site where there is a plaque describing the disaster. When the Visitor Center is built it will tell two stories; (1) the story of the aqueduct system providing LA with water, and (2) the Saint Francis Dam Disaster.

A little further up the road is the site of San Francisquito Power House No. 2 where there is additional information on the disaster. This Power House was 1.4 miles below the dam and was destroyed when the dam burst on March 12, 1928.

A bit further up the road is the old Francisquito Canyon Rd, which is now blocked off but can be hiked to the dam site. We continued past this point to where the old road re-joins the new road north of the dam site. We parked the car and started to walk down the old road toward the dam site but found it covered with water. I then drove back about a half mile to a point where I could access what remains of the earthen part of the Saint Francis Dam and parked along the road. The reservoir behind the 200-foot high concrete dam was part of the new Los Angeles Aqueduct system built to bring water 233 miles from Owens Valley on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada Mtns near Mono Lake to Los Angles. It had just filled when the dam burst sending a wall of water 54 miles down Francisquito Canyon and then the Santa Clara River to the Pacific Ocean. It is estimated that about 450 men, women, and children died as a result of this disaster. This is a view of the area, including parts of the dam, about a half mile downstream from the dam site – note the white crosses.

I decided to hike up a steep slope to get access to the top of the Dam; Helen stayed with the car – view looking back toward our car.

Walking toward the canyon and dam site

Remains at the top of the concrete and earthen part of dam

Dam is gone, Francisquito Creek is in the canyon below

This photo was taken about a mile downstream from the dam site. The dam site can be seen in the center right of the photo with Francisquito Creek in the lower right.

 

Helen wanted to see the poppy fields Kate had told us about. So, we continued north on San Francisquito Canyon Rd toward Lancaster. After we passed through Green Valley, we found the hills covered with poppies.

Continuing toward Lancaster we came across a dense field of poppies. We drove a dirt track to get closer and then hiked up into the amazing color.  It reminded me of the poppy field in the Wizard of Oz.

We continued through Lancaster and then discovered Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Park. We started to drive in but found it packed with tourists. We much preferred the “private time” we had already experienced with the poppies, so we continued toward our next destination on Rt 138.

We connected with I5 south and then took Rt 126 west to Santa Paula to see the Saint Francis Dam Disaster Memorial Marker there. The dam burst just before midnight. About 1.5hrs later an urgent message reached the police department here of the imminent disaster. Two officers rode through the night to warn citizens in low lying areas that a torrent of water would soon inundate their homes. Their ride ended at 3:05am when a wall of water swept through Santa Paula.

Persian dinner at Raffi’s Place in Glendale

 

3/19 Tu – LAX 1:15pm, arrived home at midnight

End of our CA+ Trip.  We really enjoyed the time we were able to spend with Kate

 

Visited Vera and Bill in Madison, enjoyed good company, food and local sites.  Bike rides of 10 and 15 miles provided for a close-up view of the city.  I thought this bike service area with rack, tools and pump was a good idea.

Camp Randall stadium – this is a column of footballs

where the “Fighting Wisconsin Badgers” play,

and is named for Camp Randall, which was located here.  It was a staging area for 70,000 WI soldiers during the Civil War.

Confederate prisoners of war were also housed here and about 150 are buried in this cemetery.

We were told that the WI state capital dome was the largest in the U.S. and 4th largest in the world.

Rotunda

Impressive interior, and parts of two of four wings that are laid out in line with the cardinal directions of a compass

We were able to walk around the outside base of the dome – great view and statuary

Dome and statues made from Vermont granite

Perfect day

 

Donny & Marie – their Las Vegas show

Next, drove to Chicago – had dinner at the Rosebud in Naperville with Jim and Cathie

and then saw the Donny & Marie show at the Paramount Theater in Aurora IL; a high energy, well done and enjoyable show

 

Cantigny Park, Wheaton IL

The next day we visited Cantigny Park in Wheaton IL outside Chicago.  I’m embarrassed to say that, though I grew up in Chicago, I didn’t know this place existed!

Cantigny Park was endowed with $55 million by Robert R. McCormick in 1955 when he died and includes his mansion,

extensive grounds and gardens,

a Tank Park; showing, with actual tanks, the evolution of the U.S. tank up through Desert Storm

and a First Division Military Museum – the 1st Infantry Division is known for its continuous and distinguished active duty since its organization on June 8, 1917.  Col Robert McCormick, editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, was an artillery unit commander in the First Division and renamed his estate from Red Oaks to Cantigny in honor of the Battle of Cantigny in France on May 28, 1918.  It was the first American victory of World War I and a defining moment in his life.

The museum has excellent displays and information related to the American soldier from the Revolutionary War through the War in Iraq

 

Kankakee River IL near IN border

On Labor Day we were invited by Dave and Suzette to their refurbished summer cottage on the Kankakee River for a pontoon boat ride and a steak dinner!  We have to dutifully record here, that though Little Dave warned his father that he was going to run out of gas if he went too far or fast, we ran out of gas about a hundred yards from the dock and started drifting backwards with the current.  Fortunately, we were rescued by another boat and towed to shore.

It was a fun day.  After dessert, we headed back to Springfield.