A Big Time in Little Rock
We really enjoyed our time in Little Rock, Arkansas. The highlight of our trip was a visit to the Little Rock Central High School where in 1957 the Little Rock 9 integrated the school.
African-American students entering the school was international news. The renovated gas station below had a payphone where all the journalists called in their stories. (Hard to imagine in these days of cell phones and laptops.)
The William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library was closed due to Covid -19, but its a cool building. We will return some day for the tour.
Big Dam Bridge is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America. This bridge spans 4,226 feet atop Murray Lock and Dam and rises 90 feet above the Arkansas River.
Our RV site was right along the Arkansas River. We had great views of the skyline at night.
Shivering in Corpus Christi
Winter storm Uri affected many Texans. We were in Corpus Christi when the storm hit. We didn’t lose electricity, but the heater in our RV stopped working sometime during the first night of the storm. Also we were under the boil water mandate like most of Texas. It was a rough few days, but we got through it and had some fun too.
Our pals Rob and Claudia came from Houston to visit for the weekend. One of the “must do’s” when visiting Corpus Christi is seeing the USS Lexington.
Commissioned in 1943, she set more records than any other Essex Class carrier in the history of naval aviation. The ship was the oldest working carrier in the United States Navy when decommissioned in 1991.
During World War II, the carrier participated in nearly every major operation in the Pacific Theater and spent a total of 21 months in combat. Her planes destroyed 372 enemy aircraft in the air, and 475 more on the ground. She sank or destroyed 300,000 tons of enemy cargo and damaged an additional 600,000 tons. The ship’s guns shot down 15 planes and assisted in downing five more.
The Japanese reported LEXINGTON sunk no less than four times! Yet, each time she returned to fight again, leading the propagandist Tokyo Rose to nickname her “The Blue Ghost.” The name is a tribute to the ship and the crew and air groups that served aboard her.
We tested our CSI skills at a local escape room. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful, but we had a lot of fun.
Greetings from Galveston
We visited the Space Center Houston many years ago. We decided to go back to see the new exhibits.
Independence Plaza
Rocket Park
The rocket was originally outside, but weather had started to take its toll. The building was built around the rocket for protection. The rocket is about a football field in length.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster exhibit
Mission Control
Astronaut Training Facility
Astronaut Gallery
Starship Gallery
Our friends Rob and Claudia came for a visit. What a great time. Cherry Limeade for all.
2020 Year in Review
2020 will mostly be remembered as the year of Covid-19. We missed several of our planned destinations but remain thankful for our lifestyle and the time spent with friends and family. Here’s to 2021 being a New Year of adventure, prosperity, and joy.
See you down the road….
The Gateway to the West
We loved our visit to St. Louis in the “Show Me State,” Missouri.
The downtown area of St. Louis is very walkable. The Citygarden Scuplture Park was designed for larger works of art to be displayed on wide lawns. There are 24 sculptures to explore and learn about.
St. Louis’ City Hall is modeled after the city hall in Paris. A gorgeous building inside and out.
Part of the National Park grounds is the Old Courthouse. The first Dred Scott decision was rendered here.
Gateway Arch National Park, formerly known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial until 2018, is near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
I loved the below view of the arch. The view is from Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park located in Illinois on the bank of the Mississippi River. They have a camera that takes pictures 24 hours a day that you can download.
Below you can see me, Scott and Buddy posing at dusk in front of the arch. So cool!!
The tram to the top had just opened and we were fortunate that it was just us and one other couple. Below is a view straight down to the park grounds.
View from the top toward St Louis.
View from the ground looking up to the arch.
We also met some new friends, Bob and Dot, in our RV Park. They took us out for some delicious ribs in their hometown of Kansas City the following week.. Thank you so much!!!
We were also able to visit with Don and Nancy in Kansas City (sorry no new picture).
We will be making our way to Texas from the Midwest to finish out the year.
Hoosier Daddy?!?
Another walking tour in the midwest city of Indianapolis. Monument Circle is at the heart of the city. Here you can find the Soldiers and Sailor Monument. Almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty, it is dedicated to veterans of the American Civil War up to the Spanish-American War.
With its Moorish arches, domes and tower, it is the Shriner organization’s largest temple.
Beautiful canal that runs through part of the city. You can rent a paddle boat and go up and down the canal.
Made of Indiana limestone below is the Indiana State Capitol.
The Indianapolis Central Library
American Legion Mall/Veterans Plaza
This is a beautiful area dedicated to soldiers of both World Wars. There are many statues and information plaques from locals who fought in the war, including letters from the soldiers to parents and journal entries as soldiers and nurses were living through the war.
Glick Peace Walk
A designated walking trail that is part of Indianapolis’ Cultural Trail. The Peace Walk is dedicated to what they call “luminaries,” such as Benjamin Franklin, Susan B. Anthony, Albert Einstein, and Booker T. Washington. Below is the section dedicated to the Wright Brothers.
USS Indianapolis Memorial
USS Indianapolis Memorial is dedicated to the worst naval disaster in US history. A Japanese submarine in the Philippine Sea torpedoed the USS Indianapolis sinking it in 12 minutes. There were almost 1,200 men aboard, and 300 were immediately lost at sea. The remaining men floated in waters infested with sharks for almost four days before they were noticed. Only 316 survived.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Start your Engines!!!“
Brickyard Crossing Golf Course has four holes within the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500. This was way too cool for Scott to pass up so he played a round and had a great time. (No birdies were harmed in the playing of the round, unfortunately)
