We arrived at Cherry Hill campground, Gary caught a 2 lb bass, we went to the orientation meeting, and then on the night tour of Washington DC. Great tour, only problem was that we did not get to spend as much time as we would have liked at the 5 stops we made.
back of Jefferson Memorial
our first view of the capitol
We bought tickets that included the cyclorama, movie, museum, and bus tour of the Battlefield. Taking the tour really brought the battle alive. After the tour, we drove the car to spend more time at some of the stops. There are lots of memorials to the different divisions of both Union and Federal troops. Gary wanted to climb to the top of Big Round Top so we did. Hard to imaging the rebels running up the hill trying to attack the Union army, especially when you consider it was in July and very hot. We did not visit any of the other museums in the area.
largest monument
we climbed to the top of the outlook. 6 flights up, 6 flights down
Lee’s statue
Longstreet
When Eisenhower was in the army, he spent some time training in Gettysburg. When he finally got out of the army, he purchased a farm in Gettysburg thinking that he would retire there. But, he became president and did not get to really stay there until after his term. However, he did use the farm when dignitaries from the other countries came to the US. He would make sure they got a two-hour tour of the whole thing before he even took them into the house. We purchased the tickets for this tour at the Gettysburg visitor’s center. You must go on a bus to see the farm and the house.
The puff.
greenhouse
Most of us can remember where we were and what we were doing on Sept. 11, 2001. Flight 93 was the last plane to crash, killing all 40 aboard. Via phone conversations with family and friends, passengers aboard the flight learned about the other attacks and decided that take over the plane after the 4 terrorists had taken control.
While the memorial is not finished, completion date is Sept 11, we were very moved by the things that we saw. The building that houses the temporary visitor’s center was in the flight path of flight 93.
One of the things I learned was that a Bible was found 15 feet away from the crash. It was later returned to the family.
We were able to talk to a volunteer that lived in the woods just to the left of the crash site. She had left 11 minutes before the crash to spend the day with her girlfriend after hearing of the attacks on the twin towers. She has since been volunteering her time at the memorial.
chart of flight 93 with timeline of other attacks. Flight 93 had been delayed for 25 minutes.
Flag is location of where flight 93 went down. The authorities had the large hole filled in after they dug down 40 feet and determined there was nothing new to be found.
Flight 93 flew over this building before crashing. This building served as the headquarters for the investigation and now serves as the temporary visitor’s center.
Enjoyed our visit to the Arch today in Saint Louis. We took a ride to the top of the arch and viewed both films that were available. Did not get to take the boat tours because the Mississippi River was too high.
We also spent time inside the museum located under the arch.
This is what 5 people sit in to make a trip to the top of the arch. 4 minutes to the top, 630 feet, 3 minutes down.
beaver trap
Our second visit here was just as great as our first. The museum has been enlarged and does a great job explaining Japan’s reasoning for starting WWII with us. One of the thins that impressed me was the way the exhibits were set up. The uniforms of many soldiers were displayed with the names of the soldiers who wore those uniforms-to me-that makes it more personnel. If you have never been there, you should really try to go. The museum is located in Fredericksburg, Texas. Website: http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org
Worn during battle of Pearl Harbor
Pistol Pete’s cap
Japanese Val
2 man Japanese sub
Pima Air Museum, located in Tucson, Arizona, is one of our favorite places to visit. We arrived around 9:45 am, should have gotten there earlier, and took the 10:30 am guided tour of hangar 1 and then stayed with our tour guide for tours of hangar 2 and 3. Our tour started at the replica of the Wright brother’s plane with our tour guide providing lots of information about the brothers and the first flight. The tour was free and only lasted 50 minutes per tour. Tour was well worth the time-so much information for our minds to process. Sure wish I could remember it all, oh well, there’s always next year.
Phantom-used by Thunderbirds in aerial shows. Our tour guide flew phantoms.
Viet Nam era
Tom Cat- Tom Cruise was in the movie “Top Gun” which featured the Tom Cat.
Black Bird Huge plane
Wow are these planes huge!!!!!! Many planes to see outside. Tried to imagine myself sitting in the pilot’s seat trying to land one of those giant planes. We took the tram tour, $7 each, first. Our driver gave lots of info about the planes we passed by. Afterwards, I took a walking tour and tried to take pictures of all the planes; but alas, I ran out of time. Gary called me on the phone 3 times to tell me they were closing the place down. Oh well, maybe next year I can take pictures of the planes I missed.
NASA astronauts nick-named this plane the “Vomit Comet”. This was used to get the astronauts used to weightless they would experience in space.
one of the many migs.
Ardvark
One of the many B-52s
Gary and I finally made it to where the Blythe Intaglios are. Giant figures made in the desert 17 miles outside of Blythe, Ca. We were left with many questions, why were they made, who made them, why only three, did they serve a spiritual purpose, and many more questions.
