Friday November 28 2008 by Leland.

(Images are thumbnails, click on them for larger view)

Thanksgiving morning, after looking up a local Model Airplane club location and making contact via email, we traveled down to John’s Island and found a really neat little grass field to fly at.  There were three guys out flying and I got in about 4 flights.  I was so rusty that my plane was in dire danger for most of the first flight.

After a handful of flights and some good “airplane talk” we headed back to the Butterfly.  We fixed some turkey stuff and had a potluck with our neighbors from Oregon.  We ate, sat and talked till almost 6 I guess.  It was a good day of thanksgiving.

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Monday November 24 2008 by Leland.

(Photos are thumbnails, click for larger view)

Fort Sumpter is a National Monument.  It is where the Civil War Started.  Sunday afternoon we took a tour boat from Patriot’s Point to the island fort.  The boat ride was about 30 minutes across Charleston Harbor.  Above is the view from the boat as we approached.

On the island we joined the group with the ranger who explained about the walls, the cannons and the back and forth engagement of the fort.  The Union General had moved his troops from another closer island fort to Fort Sumpter knowing it was more defendable.  The problem was that it was in cannon range of two forts controlled by the confederates. 

One night, a huge Mortor shell exploded high over Fort Sumpter.  This was the signal for the Confederate bombardment to start.  The shore and other island locations fired on Fort Sumpter for 34 hours straight.  The Union surrendered and the Confederates held the fort till the Union came back later in the war, blockaded Charleston for over 500 days and eventually captured it all back.

Fort Sumpter has a great history and our National Anthem is about this fort and that night.  “Oh say can you see that Star Spangled Banner…..”

It was a fun day.  Life is good.

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Sunday November 23 2008 by Leland.

(as always all images are thumbnails - click for larger view)

After arriving in Charleston on Thursday afternoon, I spent Friday and most of Saturday recovering from my annual cold or flu.

Sunday we drove down to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum and along with touring the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier and other things, we toured their new Vietnam Firebase Exhibit. 

I was in Vietnam in 1969/70 attached to HAL-3. 

This was Helicopter Attack (light) Squadron #3.  No idea where 1 or 2 were but don’t think they existed.  Our squadron mission was close air support for the river patrol boats in the delta.  When I first arrived our maintenance base was at Vung Tao, on the coast closer to Saigon.  After several months the base was moved to Bien Tui to be closer to the boat base.  I have a ton of memories from both places and from that whole year.  This exhibit was a simulation of a fire base, we called them detachments.  The squadron had 7, 8 or 9 of these.  They were out in the boonies, had two helicopters each with air crews.  I didn’t go out to the dets, too much gunfire and etc.  I was at the maintenance base and worked on the choppers. 

 We had UH-1B model hueys.  They were Army helicopters that we borrowed.  Later the Navy got their own, L models.  But that was after I left. 

These helicopters flew almost as close to the water as the river boats  but not quite floating/touching and were not “safe” places to be most of the time.  Our door gunners did their major amount of damage and the rockets in the pods were vicious. 

When these brave guys got a helicopter messed up to the point that it wouldn’t fly, it was brought in for maintenance and my crew and I did the electrical system requirements, others patched the holes, made the turbine run right etc.  I flew in them only for maintenance checks and test flights. 

Loads of memories, like I said.  Some hadn’t surfaced for a lot of years if ever.  Interesting reaction…

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Saturday November 22 2008 by Leland.

After leaving Tugaloo State Park we headed towards Charleston but It was very apparent when I woke up that all was not all right in my body!  I had come down with a nasty cold.  I drove all day but it was miserable.  We pulled into the Lake Aire RV parkby about 4 p.m., I unhitched the car, plugged in the electric and went to bed.  The next day and most of today I also “took the day off” in bed but am feeling a little better now.  I think that tomorrow we’ll get out and around a little.  It’s great when my sweetie is feeling good and can take care of me. 

The Weather is supposed to be down to 25 tonight??  Aren’t we well below the Mason Dixon Line?  It’s this warm back in Billings.  Oh well. 

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Wednesday November 19 2008 by Leland.

.

One of the things Kitten and I enjoy doing is tracking down quirky things similar to “The worlds Largest Ball of Twine.” or the like.  One of the things we got interested in was a thing called “The Georgia Guide Stones.”  Touted as being the Georgia Stone Henge.  The web site http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ has this and jillions of others.  The story about the large pieces of granite and how some mysterious stranger left money for this project were interesting but suspicious so we had to go take a look.

This afternoon we found the site.  It was (or should have been) a beautiful work of art.    The stones are carved with messages in multiple languages.  Some of the sentences are pretty normal sounding but some are a little more political if you look up things like “the new world order”. 

So someone with no other outlet for their lack of intellect had spray painted their opinion of things on the stones.  I guess they couldn’t do anything creative like this for their own view point so destroying or spoiling others creations is their mode of operation.  I don’t support or have great problems with either point of view or the phrases carved in the stones but I think it wrong when idiots do this kind of vandalism.

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Tuesday November 18 2008 by Leland.

Cathy and Sharon. (My photo of Dave wasn’t good enough to publish)

WAY BACK in the later ’60s Cathy and I along with Dave and Sharon were stationed by the Navy in Kingsville Texas.  We met Dave and Sharon there but only knew them a short period of time.  The Navy did it’s thing and sent Kitten and I on a path that included short stays at Norfolk Va. Imperial Beach California and several other one week stints on my way to a year in Vietnam.  After the Navy Cathy and I moved to Oklahoma and back to Montana, raised a family and etc.  Dave and Sharon went on their way to other places and after the Navy settled in New Hampshire, raised a family and moved to Georgia etc.  (Boy, talk about compacting and generalizing.) Over the years we have continued to exchange the annual Christmas letter and card but never expected to actually get to see them again. 

This week we called them up, drove the Butterfly to thier driveway and stayed the night there.  We visited throughout the afternoon, went out to dinner and chatted till midnight.   They are still really really neat people.  It was a great time.  You’d think such a short time together 40 some years ago wouldn’t really leave us with much in common but you know what - It felt good catching up on the things that have come to each of us over the years and revisiting some of the memories barely remembered. 

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Tuesday November 18 2008 by Leland.

This morning we left Altoona Lake, North of Atlanta.  Just a short drive down I-75 to the downtown area, an easy boulevard and a large parking space and we were at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.

 Wow!  What a neat place.  History from our generation.  I think Jimmy Carter was one of my favorite presidents.  The displays and memorabilia provided us a very great time. 

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Monday November 17 2008 by Leland.

While visiting Justing and Steffanie we stayed at a Corps of Engineers Campground on Lake Altoonah near Acworth Ga.  Typical of a semi military operation there are rules for everything.  Some of the things would just seem like common sense but then I came up on this sign while walking on the beach.  In case you can’t read the little photo, the sign says “Boats Keep Out.”  This is on a path from the beach to the woods and I wonder about how many people run their boats down woods trails.  Most I know stay in the lake but this is the south???

Posted in Travel | No Comments »

Monday November 17 2008 by Leland.

The photo is a thumbnail so you can look at a larger size by clicking on it. 

Today we had lunch and a super neat visit with Justin and Steffanie.  We knew his parents in Oklahoma.  Justin is about 2 years younger than our youngest and was only about 7 when we saw him last.  Justin and steffanie (I have no doubt that I am spelling her name wrong but ….)  are super young people who are both artists.  Stephannie (may get it right once?) teaches music and/or art at two schools here in the greater Atlanta area.  Justin does Caracature art for a living.  You know he is good if he can make a living at it!   send me an email and I’ll get you his website so you can see his work.  I simply can’t believe the talent in this guy.  wow. 

 We went to an Asian restraunt and the food was excellent.  Good choice guys, although as we discussed they were a little adverse to spice for my taste.  I ordered Thai Curry and it wasn’t quite hot enough - my lips only burned for half an hour, not quite up the scale enough. 

I know this is a jump from Knoxville but I’ll fill in the gaps as I get to it.  I had some problems with photos that may now be solved.  later later. 

Posted in Travel | No Comments »