Bragging About My Grandson

My daughter-in-law sent me this email about my 6 year-old grandson (soon to be 7) and I just had to share. Ian started BMX racing a couple of months ago and loves the competition of racing around dirt tracks, up and down the hills,and finishing in first place.

Ian had a great night of BMX racing tonight. He won his 8th race so now moves up a level to intermediate. As you can imagine, he was VERY excited and can't wait to give the faster riders a run for their money this weekend!!!! One mom of a 5 year old expert (even higher level than intermediate) already came up to him and said "We can't wait to see you race against Buddy this weekend! It'll be great cause you are so fast!" Even though buddy is only 5, since he's at expert level, he races against the 6 and 7 year old intermediate riders. There are no other 5 year old experts to put him with :) Ian is out to beat him but knows there is a chance he won't since last weekend he came in 2nd to Buddy at a different track. He had to race against him due to the lack of racers there. Sometimes you get paired up with people not at your level just because there aren't enough people in your level to put you against.

Time will tell....... intermediate is now a whole new world!


The red head on the lower left is my darling grandaughter, Raea (4).

Dayton, OH, The Birthplace of Aviation

Yesterday, Jim and I are visited the humongous National Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation.  The Wright brothers began flying here.  Yesterday, we spent the majority of the day exploring and checking out the hundreds of old and new planes…..it was right up Jim's alley.   

This B-29 dropped the second atomic bomb on Japan that lead to the end World War II.  

This is the only display of the flying wing, B-2 bomber in the country.

Defcon 5 (blue), 4 (green), 3 (yellow), 2 (red), 1 (white) was reflected on the floor of the museum.  If we hear the Defense Condition in the US is Defcon 1 or 2, we'll know the situation is very serious. 

We have many more photos of the museum and planes, but didn't want to bore you.

Two miles away from the museum was the location of Orville and Wilber Wright's airfield where in 1902 they began building and testing their invention.  The National Park Service maintains and preserves this large stretch of historical land.  It was amazing to be standing inside the hanger they stored their gear and plane parts and to see a replica of the launch mechanism the brothers used to get the plane in the air.  There was a display of 1902 - 1905 photos taken of daily events as people would come from miles around to see the flying object.  Can you imagine what those people must have been thinking??

Why is the land called Huffman Prairie Flying Field?  Who knows?  What about "Wrights Flying Field"?     

This shed is where the first plane was stored.

This contraption was the Wright brothers launch mechanism.

 

We were driving through the countryside and saw this small, old cemetery perched on a hill surrounded by corn fields.  We just had to stop and explore.

Most of these grave stones were unreadable due to age and weather, but there were some we could still read.  Some marble stones had been replaced near the original stones

This original stone was difficult to read.  This baby was born Christmas Day, December 25, 1865 and died December 26, 1865, one day old.  So terribly sad.

There were stones dated back to 1725.  Amazing!!!!  This is probably NOT the last old cemetery you will see on my blog. 

This is NOT my corn field!!

Our drive through the countryside included several community signs; Hog Roast, Pitchin Apple Blossom Festival, Pumpkin Fair, and so on.  Ah, country living.

I tried to capture this typical country, two story, tudor home, but this photo does not do it justice.  Notice the red car on the right of the big tree; it looks small compared to the tree and home.  There were more homes like this one in the Dayton area.  I'll do better next time.     

Leaving tomorrow for Amish country, Niagra Falls, and the New York wine country.  Keep tuned. 

Illionis to Columbus, OH

Seattle is PDT, Denver is MDT, Effingham, IL is CDT and today we arrived in Ohio which is EDT.   What time is it and what state are we in?   Jeez! These constant changes keep a person on her clock and state toes!  :o))

We saw the largest cross in the world today measuring 193 feet.  It was amazing and ah-inspiring for sure.   This cross happened to be in Effingham, I

Downtown Indianapolis, IL.

The traffic at rush hour moved along in Indianapolis, unlike Seattle traffic.  One thing I've noticed about the Midwest is everything is very spread out, with miles and miles of rolling fields of corn and other crops, farms, and large indigenous trees.  The large cities are few and far between.   

First thing we noticed when we got to Denver was the dryness which immediately created cracked, and bloody noses.  As we traveled into Nebraska, the humidity increased substantially to 85 percent and the temperature was 95 degrees!   Thank goodness for air conditioning.  The temperature has averaged in the 80s and 90s since we left Denver.  I think we're early enough for the fall colors.

We have met a couple of interesting travelers in the last few days.  Last night our resort neighbor paid a visit and gave us a bag of frozen crawfish from Louisiana with two recipes taboot!  Haven't fixed the crawfish yet, but I'm anxious to try the Louisiana recipes.

Tonight an elderly gentleman pulled up beside us in Columbus, OH and became an instant friend.  He is probably in his late 70s and has been traveling the US for 7 years, alone.   He is retired Navy and has seen may parts of the US and world.  He spent the summer in Maine and shared photos of his travels.  His recommendations for parks in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine were noted. 

I imagine many of the folks we meet on the road will be much older than Jim and I!!  :o)) 

Missouri and Illinois

Navagale gave us bogus directions last night.  It was dark so we followed her directions and ended up on a dead end dirt road.  We were trying to find our campground site when we found ourselves in someones steep driveway and the only way out was down the driveway.   I started to panic and Jim was sweating!  At the end of this driveway was a closed gate which we didn't see from the top.  What do you do with a 60' rig?  Jim cranked the wheel to the left and drove straight through a field of muddy muck!  With a little backing up and moving forward, we made it back up the hill to the main road.  We didn't start breathing again until we got to our camp site.  Our first whoops encounter.

Today we drove from Higgensville, Missouri to Effingham, Illinois.  I know, I know,..... you're asking where the ef'g are they.  We're wondering the same thing.  All we know is we crossed the mighty Missouri River, then the even mightier Mississippi River.  Someday a trip down the Mississippi River in a "river boat" would be excellent fun!   Whose in?

Missouri River

Mississippi River

Ahhhh,,,,,rest for the night at beautiful Camp Lakewood!

Beautiful spot to lay our heads.

Tomorrow we're headed to Dayton, Ohio for a couple of days to visit the air museum where the Wright brothers flew their first plane.  Yea, it was Jim's idea.......I have other things on my bucket list.  hehe! 

Goodbye to Colorado

The time came so quickly, it almost seemed impossible that our departure to the northeast had arrived.  We postponed our leaving three or four times to help with this or that project, but when we noticed the Aspen trees turning color, we knew it was time to leave.

Beautiful yellow quaking Aspens between Breckenridge and Denver. 

To show appreciation for our help this summer, the Allens presented us with a gift certificate to the beautiful Briarwood Inn in Golden, CO for a special dinner.....and it was REALLY special.  All the way from the English Manor design with dark walnut and oak contrasted with white table cloths, china and silver, and beautiful candle centerpieces.  Mostly men waiters wore waist coats and treated us most elegantly.

Of course Jim and I had to get dress up for the occasion, which was painful as we'd been wearing shorts all summer.  The family showed up in the front yard.to take photos.

 

Aahhhhhhh

In addition to the dinner, we received two tickets to the Bronco vs. Seattle football game from Joe (Jim's nephew).  So on Sunday, off we went to the Mile High Stadium (the name recently changed to Invesco Field for some unknown reason).    I like the name "Mile High" better. 

Here's Brad and Carrie enjoying the bus ride through Denver to the game.  Much better than paying $25.00 for parking at the stadium!

We had to tailgate before the game, of course,....but on top of Tom's truck??

Fourth row baby!!!!  South side goal posts where we appeared on TV several times......every time the Broncos made a touch down.  :o(

There were probably 70,000 people in the stadium and 5,000 Seahawk fans.  These two guys were friends, thank goodness!  The Bronco fans go all out for their team, win or loose.

Nice view of all the putts!

Nice, closeup view of the bods!

.

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We finally left Denver on Tuesday, September 21.   Driving through eastern Colorado has got to be just as boring as driving through eastern Washington.

Good thing it was our first day, all excited to get on the road!!

The scenery improved somewhat in Nebraska

Elm Creek, Nebraska is not much of a town, but we found Sunny Meadows Campground in the middle of no where, surrounded by corn fields (feed corn for horses).  We ate, slept, and got out of there sooner than later. 

Check this out.  We're driving somewhere in Nebraska along I-80 and here is the "Great North Platte River Road Archway Monument.  You can read about the interesting history of this structure on the Internet, if you're so inclined.   

After Nebraska, we cross through a small section of Iowa, then into Missouri, south bound on I-70.  Come to find out, we were following the Lewis and Clark trail.  Their route was IN the Missouri River, ours wasn't! 

It is currently 6:20 pm CDT and we're almost to Kansas City, MO our second day.   We just crossed the Missouri River, again, with barges carrying goods to unknown places.  

More updates tomorrow!  Hope all is well at home.