Spring Fling- Week 2

SAW-HEARD-DID  

SAW…This week we saw the end of phase 1 of this multi-phase adventure to the eastern part of the US when we crossed into Virginia

HEARD…The silence of the forest…along with an occasional pitter patter of rain.    It’s a very calming sound as long as the radar stays green!  

DID…it’s been a pretty quiet week in terms of exploring.   

We did swing by Mammoth Cave National Park- if just so I could get a sticker and a stamp for my NP passport book 

The visit confirmed I’m a “wet” cave kinda gal- where the cave is filled with cool dripping stone formations.   We toured just the basic self guided section that -while indeed proved to be mammoth- didnt have any of the  cool rock crystals that I typically expect to see on a cave tour.   Thanks to a conveniently displayed placard- I learned it’s all about where the moisture goes. 

Until next time…

May the path- no matter how long and winding it may become- get you where you want to be

For us that means  moving into phase 2- a few weeks reconnecting with cherished friends from our past! 

Spring Fling Week 1.5

 SAW-HEARD-DID

SAW- I saw an opportunity and I took it!  

 Yep- for this road trip- I set myself a goal to blog weekly.   Historically- the blog gets updated monthly out of habit- so switching to weekly seemed like a lofty goal for me.   But, today- being a lazy day at camp- I thought- why not use this quiet afternoon to   reflect on yesterday's adventures.   As both had very special meaning to me.  

HEARD-  I heard the call to post at Churchill Downs!  

As a kid,  I grew up knowing exactly what we would be doing the first Saturday in May.   Dad would have made a pitcher of mint juleps (often using mint from his own garden) and the TV would be tuned to "the race".    Mom would be sitting in her cardinal chair (a chair with large wooden armrests- upholstered in cardinal fabric)-  ready to cheer on whatever horse caught her fancy (usually based on the name that she found most amusing).    It is as  they say these days "a core childhood memory" for me. 

Richard sporting one of his Derby day creations..

most likely as he perfected the batch of mint Juleps

So- when I looked up and noticed that Churchill Downs was in striking distance of our campsite for the next few days- I just knew I had to go.   

Hubby, without such childhood memories- was far less interested- even more so when we discovered that "Spring Meet" is a 9 week run that includes  44 days of racing  at Churchill Downs...and while  May 8th was not nearly as crowded as the 145k people that attend the Derby- it was still way too people-y for him!  

He dropped me off at the museum entrance with the instructions to "take your time- have fun!"  (He's a wise man that Hubby!)

The museum has some colorful exhibits and a fabulous film shown in a 360* format- where you feel like you are in the center of the track.   After that- the docent shows up to lead a tour out to the racetrack.

Imagine my surprise- when this guide announced that we had all timed it just right- as the horses were due to race in a few minutes!  

And sure enough...soon after we reached the grandstands- the bugle was played- signaling the arrival of the horses to the track and noting that the race would soon begin.   

Not often do I feel the presence of my parents these days...but in that moment I did...that bugle sound took me right back to my childhood family room...surrounded by my family.    Feeling their love yet again on a sunny day in May!

DID- In the Spring of 1984... I did a "thing".   

Taking my oath- becoming a 2LT

I applied  for an ROTC scholarship.   A decision I made at the time out of perceived necessity.    A decision that would teach  me solid  leadership skills long before my nursing peers.  A decision that would indeed change the trajectory of my career as a nurse and put me on a path to meet some really good people...to include the man I call Hubby!   A decision to this day that I take a tremendous amount of pride in having made!

So yesterday- when we stopped off at the General George Patton Museum of Leadership just outside of Ft. Knox Kentucky- the last thing I expected was to take a trip down ROTC-Memory Lane.

But- unbeknownst to Hubby and I- the museum is not just dedicated to General Patton but also serves as a tribute to  junior leadership programs such as ROTC.   I guess when the tanks left with the relocation of the Army's Armor school- they needed to restructure the museum.   And now that the base serves as the command center for all things ROTC- well, it just made sense to the museum folks to add in some ROTC history to fill those large galleries.

I am glad they did...for it gave me an opportunity to learn more about one of the military's greatest combat leaders.  

Oh sure- he had his flaws- but he also had the courage and conviction that inspired his men.  The museum in the curation of their exhibits did an outstanding job of framing his career thru the lens of core leadership skills- all of which are taught through ROTC programs across the country!  

Wrapping it up

It has indeed been a busy few days...with weather gradually warming up- and us both finding our way on this spring fling adventure...

Until next time...be it a week, or a month or maybe just a few days...

May you find yourself having an opportunity (or two) to revisit the past thru new experiences

...and may they fill your heart with joy! 

  

Spring Fling- Week 1

SAW-HEARD-DID

Wrapping up  Week 1 of what we are calling our "Spring Fling", I thought I'd see if I can at least complete a weekly blog update.   

A little background- when Thing 2 moved east earlier this year- there were a few things that couldn't be shipped but that she still wanted to have.   As loving parents- we offered to bring them to her.   Ok- that's sort of only part of the reason...we also want to see how she's settling in, we enjoy a good "slow mode" road trip, and have crafted an itinerary that also gives us a chance to see a handful of dear friends that call the east coast home.  

4.29-5.5

SAW

This week I saw that not everything mentioned on Roadside America warrants a detour-

I give you Exhibit A- Truckhenge..

On the outskirts of Topeka Kansas- is a place called Truckhenge.   After a dispute with the county- where the county insisted the owner do something about all the debris on his property- he turned it into art- ending the argument (or so the story goes- court cases still found him guilty of some offense).  

Let's just say- Cadillac Ranch it is not.   Overgrown with an overall weary and tired appearance- it wasn't the kitschy fun that we often discover with this app.  

HEARD

In our first stop on the road...I heard the sounds of silence...

Situated about 15 miles south of the interstate, near Wakenny Kansas  sat a quiet little state wildlife area.   A gem of a spot- to hear the birds chirping and to discover that central Kansas isn't as flat as one would think- made it well worth the fuel cost for this little excursion.

Next would be Blue Springs campground- part of the local county park system.   Sadly- there was so much road noise from the nearby highway and fools on motorcycles- that the charm of the campground was almost lost.  

And now- we sit listening to the steady pitter patter of rain here at Coles Creek COE campground- on the shore of Carlyle Lake- just east of St. Louis (by about 60 miles).

Fear not- the skies should clear tomorrow- which is good as we are out of eggs and need to make a grocery run! 

DID

Week one- We did a lot...who knew that Kansas and Missouri are packed with some seriously well done museums!

First on the list is the National WW1 museum in KC, MO.    What a wonderfully curated museum- filled with multi-media presentations that help bring the exhibit collection to "life" if you will. 

Curious as to how this museum ended up in Missouri?   While only 441 citizens of the Kansas City area died in the conflict- many came from very prominent families.  So prominent- that when it came time to raise money to build a memorial (as was the practice of the era), the good (and apparently very wealthy ) people of Kansas City raised a record setting  2.5 million dollars (35 million in today's numbers) in just under 10 days!  

How it became the "National Museum"...the docent I asked said- it was mostly a case of congress deciding we needed one, and declared that this museum in Kansas City would receive the official designation in 2004.  Then in 2014- they added that the tower and surrounding features would be designated as the official memorial for the nation.   

Absolutely worth the cost of admission.

Next on the museum tour- would be the Arabia Steamboat museum.   Normally- I don't think it would have caught my attention- but a friend recently shared that this museum is a classic KC attraction- that by the end of the year- would be closing its' doors- essentially go see it now or risk never seeing it.

The story behind this museum is as interesting as the artifacts themselves.   

When the mighty Steamboat Arabia sank near Kansas City on September 5, 1856, she carried 200 tons of mystery cargo. Think of it like- an Amazon delivery truck- loaded down with an assortment of goods- from tools to clothing- even perhaps 400 barrels of precious whiskey- disappears without a trace.  

The steamer would be lost for over 130 years- when in 1988- a determined group of locals set out to remove the sunken ship from the Missouri River muck.    Rather than cash in on their findings- they decided to save it all and created this museum that not only shows off the treasures- but tells the story of the recovery along with a history of the Missouri River boat and the role it played in the 1850s of transporting goods and people headed to the west. 

Last on our tour agenda would be a visit to the town of Independence Missouri.  

Here we would learn about all things Truman- who grew up in the area, married his childhood sweetheart (much to the dismay of his mother-in-law) and returned to the area after serving nearly 2 terms as the 33rd president of the US.

Both the home tour (run by the National Park service) and the Presidential Library and museum helped us both understand who this man was- and the challenges he faced during both his career and home life.    Both proved to be worth the cost of admission!   I personally enjoyed the home tour a little more- it was a small group of 8- with a docent led tour- who shared stories of President Truman and his life.    While the library was well curated- I think by the time we visited there- we were approaching a saturation limit on all things presidential.  

And that about wraps up week 1 of our travels...oh wait...

There was one last museum- the National Churchill Museum in Fulton Missouri

Yes- that Churchill...

Turns out- in 1946- the president of the local college (Westminster College- rather fitting don't you think?) invited by then "former" prime minister Winston Churchill to visit the college...he also coordinated with an alumni of the college who was working for President Truman- also a native of Missouri- to join in the fun.   

Or something like that...but what makes this visit remarkable- was it was here during the visit that Winston gave the speech known as the Iron Curtain speech.

The museum itself is located in the basement of an old church- a church that was shipped over from England and restored brick by brick.  

Another example of how impressive these museums can be- located in what you might think is the middle of no-where.  

Until next time... 

"Never trust a man that has not a redeeming vice"...

wise man was that Mr. Winston Churchill...