Magical Bus Tour

[JeffL]

OK, everyone. Let's take a tour of anywhere we want to go. Hop on board the bus, and we'll be off!

I'll drive the bus, although I'd appreciate being relieved once in a while! Since this is a magical trip, it is international in scope, and no one need worry about medical conditions or limitations, or time constraints. Of course, friends, spouses and significant others are welcome to join us! Aren't we all family?

Passengers are asked to post pictures and descriptions of places they've visited or dreamed of visiting. This tour, of course, will include military locations, but any other location will be visited!

Remember, this is magical tour, unlimited as to duration, time and space, so let's go forth and explore the wordl!

I had to pass through Michigan on the way to pick all of you up, and I took this picture on the shore of Lake Michigan near Charlevoix. Note, if you can, how much the level of the lake has gone down.

Let me know who wants to board the bus. I'll be right there to pick ya up!

[SweetSue]

memememememe.. bring yer longjohns! :D

[JeffL]

Hey, Sue. The bus is right outside your door! It's nice and warm in here, and there's an open bar (except for the driver).

What ARE you waiting for?????

[JeffL]

On our way down to pick up Esther, we swung through Arizona.

Doesn't the Mogollon Rim provide a nice, alternate view of Arizona? Oh, it's pronounced "Muggyown," for those of you who are new to this area of the United States.

[thebrad]

Jeff - I've got a few destinations I would like to see/share before I take off on a whole 'nuther journey...

I'll be at the bus station with a yellow ribbon.

[kenmar]

Get me outta here I got cabin fever....

http://www.globespeed.net/~kenmar/smilies/axe.gif

[thebrad]

Alliance, Nebraska....home of the world's only Carhenge.

No joke: this is where my brother proposed to his wife!

[JeffL]

Is that a Plymouth Valiant on top?

Ken - I out at the curb! C'mon!

I drove the bus back a year and here's what Dianne's cousin's place looked like in Buffalo. He lives near Janie.

[kenmar]

Ok' I'll be in the back of the buss snoozin', Had a long nite ......

[JeffL]

Ken! Wake up! Time for you to take over driving this thing!

No one seems interested in coming aboard. Maybe we should just park the bus.

[janecallanan]

I want to go on this trip, but have to scan some pics first. Till then, I'll snooze with Ken, and then take my turn driving!!!

[janecallanan]

Well, jeff, you said anywhere!
There is sort of a military connection, some Navy folks live off base here! Boy, what I wouldn't give to go back. I went fishing in the North Sea, which should show up in the last picture. Sorry I couldn't fit the whole pan on here.

[janecallanan]

OK, I guess the whole pan did fit. The North Sea is Waaaaaaay over to the right!

[SweetSue]

holy cow.. thought you had a giant camera janie!
I am on my son's puter and cannot access my photos from here... but I will post one as soon as i can kick the booger off of my puter...lol
don't leave without me!!!

[JeffL]

Wow, Janie! Just how big WAS that lens? :cd: :cd: :p :D

Great pic!

May I assume that it's not time to park the bus? :cd: :cd:

I'm getting close to shutting down fer the night. Tacos and enchiladas tonight, Sue. Not those limp and wimpy Canadian tacos, either; Jeff's tacos! Jalepe?os, home-made salsa, yum-yum! :ae:

Next week I'll try to make a batch of "Jeff's Gasless Onion Soup." It starts out with about 10 pounds of onions, slowly saut?ed for about 4 hours, and takes off from there........... ;)

[SweetSue]

OMG I am drooling!

[JeffL]

The soup or the tacos? Or the taco soup? :D :p

[SweetSue]

the onion soup duh

[SweetSue]

ok to find a photo for this tour now...

[SweetSue]

Camp 7 Lake in Michigan off of Hobo's dock

[Tamaroa]

and hightail it to Gettysburg. Aside from my family there are two passions in my life, trying to save that rust bucket the Tamaroa and a close second is a life long fascination with the American Civil War.

Just recently, I discovered that I had a distant confederate ancestor, a cousin on my gg grandfather's side who was killed at gettysburg on the third day. He was a lieutenant in the 37th North Carolina and ironically his name was William Doherty as well. While I do not believe as many do that the battle of Gettysburg was the high water mark of the war, I do believe it signaled the rise of the Union army and the beginning of the decline for the Confederate army. Here is a photo showing the Confederate line in the distant back ground that 12,000 brave Rebel souls started out from. When it was over 30 minutes later, 75% of the men were killed wounded or captured. Only 200 Confederate soldiers broke through the Union lines led by Confederate General Lewis Armistead. Armistead was mortally wounded as he placed his hand on a Union canon.


the distance the troops covered was about a mile. The photo was taken from the point where the Union troops formed up on cemetery Ridge.As noted before, the Confederates were formed in the background and were instructed to fix bayonets and go for the wall without stopping. The white speck in the background is the Lee statute placed where he remained to comfort his troops after their retreat.

I have been studying this war for nigh on 45 years. I still am in awe of these men trying to understand them for what they accomplished on both sides, Blue and Gray. Both sides were Americans, both sides thought they were right and both sides thought they were defending the constitution. as a result 625,000 Americans died.

Bill

[billr]

Can this bus tour make a stop to take in a ballgame? Pacific Bell Park with Barry Bonds at the plate.

[janecallanan]

So far, this is the best trip I've EVER taken!!!!

[daniel topliffe]

i am the only 4345 here so i better do the driving and you do all the talking
cause it will be much safer...never did like a talking taxi driver...stop and i'll drive...for awhile anyway...


dan t MOS 4345

everybody wave... :ah: :ag:

[daniel topliffe]

look to your left...just in time to see
the heaviest piggy back ride you will
ever see...neat o...
we sort of got off course but that's one
in a lifetime site...

dan t

[janecallanan]

Dan,
I LOVE it when you're the driver!!!!!!

[daniel topliffe]

but just ahead is a beautiful sight you
don't want to miss...

almost there....ok everybody look...

dan

[janecallanan]

That's beautiful Dan!

[janecallanan]

Sometimes you don't have to go anywhere at all to see great things.

[Tamaroa]

OH NOOOOOO!!!! Not that gasless Onion Soup!!! Jeff, please, please don't do that to these fine folks ;)

Bill

[Tamaroa]

After they left Lewiston ,NY my family settled in Boothbay Harbor Maine. Here is one shot:

[janecallanan]

Funny coincidences Bill. My family moved from the Niagara Frontier to Maine too. First to Northern Maine, but my daughter is now happily settled into a town on Penobscot Bay. We'll have to wave to all our kin as we pass by on this bus trip!

[SweetSue]

sheesh.. I have such boring photos... waaaaaaa

[daniel topliffe]

hey bill...i sure could use some of the scenery parked there at the lake in my winnebago elandan. fishing pole is always with me when driving it.
looks like heaven to me.

dan

[Tamaroa]

My family had something of a dynasty going on in Boothbay for a while. In the 50's and 60's, my grandfather owned the Harbor Motor Court on Route 27 on the outskirts of Boothbay. My Aunt owned the Lakeview motel and my Uncle and other aunt owned the Village Inn in the center of town which has since been torn down and replaced by a post office.

At any rate by the early 70's all Doherty's had either died or moved elsewhere. In 1986 I brought the wife and family to Boothbay to show them the family's old stomping grounds. On the way in to Boothbay, I stopped at a Gulf Station to fill up. In talking with the attendendant, I mentioned my family had lived here in the old days then gave him a smile. He stopped dead in his tracks and asked me to smile again. Well I did and he said"You're a Doherty, aren't you? " At which point I choked. He was paid in cash so no names were mentioned. I said "how did you know?" He said That is a Doherty smile and "Charlie Doherty was my drinkin' buddy." I said "Charlie as in husband of Barbara, father of Scott and Sarah. He was my uncle."

I was truly amazed at these downeasterners. Quite a crowd and a memory to boot. Its a great little town. Getting a little too commercial but still a beautiful place.

Dan ,that is Linekin Bay on the ocean side. Gorgeous scenery isn't it?

Bill

[janecallanan]

My grandfather lived in a little house in Kittery, right on the ocean. You could sit on his back porch and feel like you were at the edge of the world.
I was born across the border in Portsmouth. Both my parents worked at the naval shipyard at the time.

[billr]

The Yosemite Valley in June. That's El Capitan on the left.