Road Trip Day 6, Friday - Smith Mountain Lake

We got the deluxe tour of Smith Mountain Lake.  The shoreline is crowded with homes of various sizes.

Some are much more modest. (my style)

Some are sprawling mansions.

The lake is formed by damming the Roanoke River.  The level is relatively stable and trees come down to the water line.

Today is our last full day with Alan and Virginia as we will leave tomorrow morning to find our way to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  They live on Smith Mountain Lake in the community of Moneta, Virginia, very near the lake but not quite in sight of the water.  They bought a nice pontoon boat in February and took us on a tour of the lake.
   THANK YOU FOR A GREAT WEEK!

Road Trip Day 5, Thursday - The National D-Day Memorial

The roll of Allied Forces Killed in the Invasion

The roll of Americans Killed in the Invasion

Soldier Pulling His Comrade to Safety

Tribute to Commanding General Dwight D.  Eisenhower

 I made this brief video of the statuary and fountain depicting the Normandy Invasion of June 6, 1944. Bursts of compressed air simulate bullets striking the water.  There is too much here to communicate in a blog post.

Here is a summary of a longer article from Wikipedia. 

The Normandy landings were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Overlord and Operation Neptune, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 (D-Day), beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time (GMT+2). In planning, D-Day was the term used for the day of actual landing, which was dependent on final approval. The assault was conducted in two phases: an airborne assault landing of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French airborne troops shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armoured divisions on the coast of France commencing at 6:30 AM.

The operation was the largest amphibious invasion in world history, with over 160,000 troops landing on 6 June 1944. 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. The invasion required the transport of soldiers and material from the United Kingdom by troop-laden aircraft and ships, the assault landings, air support, naval interdiction of the English Channel and naval fire-support. The landings took place along a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. 11,590 aircraft were available to support the landings. On D-Day, Allied aircraft flew 14,674 sorties, and 127 were lost.

Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy. This figure includes over 209,000 Allied casualties, with nearly 37,000 dead amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 deaths amongst the Allied air forces. Of the Allied casualties, 83,045 were from British, Canadian and Polish ground forces, 125,847 from the US ground forces.

The losses of the German forces during the Battle of Normandy can only be estimated. Roughly 200,000 German troops were killed or wounded. The Allies also captured 200,000 prisoners of war (not included in the 425,000 total, above).

Today, twenty-seven war cemeteries hold the remains of over 110,000 dead from both sides. The American Cemetery at Normandy contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead. Of this number, some 307 are unknowns, three are Medal of Honor winners, and four are women. In addition there are 33 pairs of brothers buried side by side. The families of the deceased were given the option of having the dead returned to their homes to be buried. About 60% asked for their return. The remainder are buried at Normandy.

The vertical sculpture commemorates the massive concrete cliff-top gun emplacement at Pointe du Hoc. The task of the 2nd Ranger Battalion was to scale the 30 meter (100 ft) cliffs under the cover of night, approximately at 5:30, one hour prior to the landings with ropes and ladders, and then attack and destroy the German coastal defense guns, which were thought to command the Omaha and Utah landing areas. The Rangers were eventually successful, and captured the fortifications. They then had to fight for two days to hold the location, losing more than 60% of their men.

 xxAfter the somber reflection at the memorial we treated ourselves to a nice lunch at the Liberty Station in Bedford where we met the proprietor Mr. Harry Leist.

Road Trip Day 4, Wednesday, - Booker T. Washington National Monument

Alan and Virginia took us to the Booker T. Washington National Monument which is very near their home.  It has a modest museum and gift shop and 239 acres on which is recreated the farm where Washington was born.

He was born into slavery on April 5, 1856 on the tobacco farm of James Burroughs, the son of a black mother and a white man from a nearby farm.

In April of 1865 the Emancipation Proclamation was read to joyful slaves in front  of Burroughs' farm, setting them free.  Booker took a job in a salt mine, starting his day at 4:00 in the morning so he could attend school later in the day.
 




When he was 16 he walked much of the 500 miles to the Hampton Institute, a new school for black students where he could continue his education.  He became an instructor there and later went on to found a secondary school for black students in Tuskegee, Alabama, and built it into a respected university.  Follow the link to Booker T. Washington, and Tuskegee University.

Schools all over the country are named in his honor.  Tulsa has a Booker T. Washington High School which was the scool for black students back when Tulsa's schools were segregated.  It is now a magnet school drawing the best students of all races from all over Tulsa.
 

 

 After the park we came back to relax at Alan and Virginia's house and enjoy their good cooking.  Another nice day.

Road Trip Day 3, Tuesday - Charleston, WV to Moneta, VA

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Charleston is the capital of the state of West Virginia.  It is the state's largest city with a population of 51,000.  On our way out we passed by the state capital building which has an unusually handsome dome.

It was only 140 miles to our destination so we had time to slow down and enjoy the scenery.  Sue's brother and his wife live in a beautiful area on Smith Mountain lake east of Roanoke called Moneta.  Because of an allergy problem we will have to kennel Smokey while we are staying with them.  There is a very nice Veterinary Hospital and kennel in Moneta and we had to arrive early enough for Smokey to get a physical and get checked in.  They were amazed to see such a superb specimen of canine excellence, of course.  I have visiting privileges and will drop in every day to see how he is doing.

We drove into Virginia and began to see the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance.  Later in the week we will pick up Smokey and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway down the crest of the mountains 400 miles all the way through Virginia into North Carolina.  It is going to be a super trip

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Road Trip Day 2, Monday - Mt Vernon, IL to Charlston, WV

We got off about 9:00 this morning and made it across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and stopped for the night in Charleston, West Virginia.  I don't remember ever being in Louisville, Kentucky before.  It is the largest city in Kentucky and has a population of about 750,000 people.  It sits on the Ohio River across the river from the state of Indiana.and is a city of many bridges.  It is perhaps best known as the host city for the Kentucky Derby, the country's best known horse race.  Thoroughbred horses are big business in Kentucky.

By the time we were in West Virginia we were in the Allegheny Mountains.  We will be in the Alleghenies for the next several days.  Sue's brother and family are in part of these hills which are in the state of Virginia.  After a nice visit we will continue on scenic drives through North Carolina and Tennessee.  We will be at her brother's tomorrow evening.  To be continued.

Road Trip Day 1, Sunday - Tulsa to Mt. Vernon, Illinois

We got off a little later than expected this morning but made it from Tulsa to St. Louis then east to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, about 490 miles.  We found a dog friendly Comfort Inn and crashed about 8:30 PM.  The weather was good and we enjoyed the scenery.  This is rolling Mid-America, tracts of wooded hills, lush farm land all dressed in  the green, offset by vast yellow fields of Rapeseed, from which Canola oil is obtained.  About all I got today was highway photos but it was a good day.

Sunday Bridges - Footbridge in Linnaeus Gardens

The Linnaeus Teaching Gardens are part of the Tulsa Garden Center and are just northeast of the Municipal Rose Garden.  In Woodward Park at East 21st Street and Utica Avenue.  They are intended to show Tulsa gardeners what plants are well suited to our local climate.  Carl Linnaeus, the namesake of our garden, was an 18th Century Swedish naturalist who developed the system of plant identification still used today. He is known as the Father of Botany.

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Sunday is also the beginning of a long ROAD TRIP for Susan and myself, and of course our dog Smokey.  We are driving from Tulsa to Roanoke, Virginia to spend some time with Susan's brother Alan and his wife Virginia.  On the way back we will trace the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, then the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.  We are looking forward to some beautiful scenery.  I will be taking pictures and will try to post a few each day.  So come along with us for the next 10 days as we travel through 2400 miles (3900 kilometers) of some of America's most beautiful country.  

Weekend Reflections - Rose Garden Fountain

Fountain and pool in the Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden.

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Skywatch Friday - Storm Coming

A serious thunderstorm is on the way to Tulsa.  Such is life in Tornado Alley.

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Thursday Challenge: Beautiful - Willy's Buzz Cut

School will be out in a few weeks for our grandson Willy.  School pictures are today and he wanted a haircut.  Willy's preference is an annual buzz cut.  He had a great mop of hair that had accumulated since last summer.  We neglected to get a "before" shot but you can see the mass of hair he picked up after the cut.  It made a rather startling change in his appearance but he is now ready for the heat of summer.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Willy likes his new haircut.

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Wordless Wednesday - Father Luke

Fatherhood has come to my youngest son Luke and he is enjoying it.  Wren has him tightly wound around her finger.

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Ruby Tuesday - Dove and Roses

A pair of Improved Blaze climbing roses arch over the supports of my front porch.  Just inside the upper canes is a nest occupied by a Turtle Dove.  She is very brave and does not startle when the front storm door is opened.  The interesting thing is that in previous years this same nest has also been home to English Sparrows and House Finches.  I guess it is first come first served.  I will try to post some status reports over the next few weeks.

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Blue Monday - Sue's New Car

Yesterday Sue traded in her old car on a brand new Honda Fit.  It is very nicely equipped and gets excellent gas mileage.  This is the first time that Sue has had a new car, all her previous cars being purchased as used or "previously owned" models.  It smells nice and new and she is rather excited about it.  Of course as soon as we came home yesterday she had to show it to her daughter and her family.  This afternoon we drove over to Wagoner to show it to my boys.  It drives very nice and seems bigger inside than outside.  The photo does not do it justice.  It is a sweet little car.

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CDPB Theme for May - Mailbox

Lobby mailbox of the Pythian Building, 423 South Boulder, Tulsa.  It was built in 1929 as the Gillette-Tyrrell Building and sold to the Knights of Pythias in 1933.  It is an excellent example of the streamline "zig-zag" art deco style which was carried out even to the mailbox.  If you are curious there is a nice article HERE.

A City Daily Photo Blog (CDPB) is a blog that publishes a photo each day taken in and around a particular city.  Currently there are 2,202 such blogs.  Tulsa Gentleman is a City Daily Photo Blog for Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The first day of each month there is a theme for all City Daily Photo Blogs. The theme for May is "Mailbox".


Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Weekend Reflection - Swimming Lesson

View from the pier at Pensacola Florida. "Look at me, Grandpa!"

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Skywatch Friday - Mammatus Clouds

Leaving our church last Tuesday evening I looked up to see some very unusual clouds.  The church is at 109th St on South Yale Ave, and it was about 8:30 PM, just after sunset, and I am looking due East.  I don't remember seeing clouds like this before but a few minutes on the Internet with Google has enlightened me.

These are called Mammatus, or Breast Clouds from their udder like shape.  They typically either precede or follow strong thunderstorms and we have been having a lot of storms lately.  To read more about this interesting phenomenon there is a thorough but rather technical article in Wikipedia HERE, or a less technical explanation with lots of pictures HERE.  You see, it is a good idea to keep looking up.

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Thursday Challenge - Spring: Redbuds and Tulips

Spring has come to Tulsa and it seems like everything is in bloom.  As a sample here are some native redbud trees and a nice assortment of tulips.  Nearer the house are some red azaleas and a sprinkle of white from a dogwood tree.

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Wordless Wednesday - Doors: Eyelash Salon?

Hair Salons I understand.  Susan gets her fingernails done at a Nail Salon.  But an Eyelash Salon?  Boggles the mind.

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Ruby Tuesday - Great Wall of Knockout.

There is a hedge of Red Knockout shrub rose that runs all the way down the east side of my back yard.  It grows like crazy and is tough as a boot.  Once it is established it requires no care other than to be topped off once a year when it gets higher than my 6 foot wooden fence.  It blooms continuously from mid April until frost in late October or November.  I planted these about 5 summers ago and am more than pleased with them.  Since then I see that there are now more varieties in different colors, but that's OK.  Mine have a 5 year head start.

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Blue Monday - My Friend Avery

Avery is my foster son Mike's younger boy.  That makes him my foster grandson.  He is a cool little guy, and dressed in blue shirt and jaunty cap.

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