Karens Road

My husband’s aunt and uncle visited with us last evening. They retired from their jobs in Alaska and moved to sunny Arizona. They like it there but they do miss some things about Alaska. They had nice things to say about Sara Palin. It seems that most of Alaska likes her.

Aunt Carol has a GPS system in her car because she likes to have easy access to the quickest route when they travel. The GPS system failed when getting them from Ohio to our house. It took them on a route too far north. They put a lot of extra, unwarranted miles on their car. They finally made it and said the drive was enjoyable because it was such a beautiful day. Ah, the joys of being retired with no time constraints. I can only dream of how lovely it must be.

Back to the GPS discussion. My sisters and my mom each have GPS systems and they have served them well. I have my laptop. If I had wireless, I could look up routes on my laptop. If I had a problem with my car and needed a Long Beach collision repair business, I could use my laptop to find the one closest to me. www.autobodylongbeach dot com offers a listing of body shops and gives each one ratings. I can even get an estimate over the web. So, I guess my question is: If and when you travel, do you rely on a GPS service or your laptop? Why do you prefer one over the other?

I have been reading with interest, about mountain climbing. I don’t think I will ever be in physical condition to attempt to climb Mt. Everest but I admire those who are in great shape and who have tried to climb this great mountain. Did you know that in May of 1999, NOVA-sponsored climbers discovered the body of George Mallory, who died in 1924 while attempting to reach the summit? The body was well-preserved and provided many valued tips to future climbing expeditions. I found this to be an amazing discovery.

This climb is one that takes a lot of planning. The proper equipment must be acquired to ensure a safe climb.

Just a few of the items required for a climb include:
# Climbing Ropes
# Tents
# Climbing Harnesses
# Winter Outerwear
# Sleeping Bags
# Camping Stoves
# Camping Gear
# Climbing Gear
# Camp-stove Fuels

Climbers in their Berghaus jackets have found the warmth needed and have kept dry when they are dealing with temperatures that vary depending on the height of the climb. Weather is an unpredictable factor when climbing a mountain of Mt. Everest’s magnitude. Mt. Everest has no opinion about a climbers race or religion preferences. Everyone who has attempted to climb Mt. Everest has said it has left an impression on them like no other. Sitting atop the 29,028-foot summit which is the highest point on earth is a feeling not many have experienced. The descent down the mountain is just as dangerous and must be prepared for both physically and mentally as well.

The Trail of Courage, Living History festival was held again this past weekend in Fulton County. One of the many festivals you will find in Indiana, this festival celebrated its 25th year! We took our kids to this festival many times as a way to show them how things were done in the past. Participants dress in early 1800s clothing. You will see men walking around in buckskin clothing or cloth britches, blouse type shirts with wide sleeves gathered at the wrist, vests and high boots, or period uniforms. Women wear long dresses, crocheted or wool shawls over their shoulders and caps on their head. Some of the ladies had buckskin dresses on. They wore some type of leather shoes, moccasins, or went barefoot. The wooded area is perfect for places to set up giant kettles to fry potatoes and make homemade chips. We used to be able to get homemade root beer and drink it while we checked out the booths of handmade wares. Just about the only thing out of ordinary was a porta pot. Otherwise you felt as if you were in an encampment. Canvas tents or lean-to’s were set up with their campfire out in front. There were Indian teepees erected so we could enter them. I was amazed at how much room there was inside. Homemade 1800 period crafts and foods were being sold. The people were cooking over open fires, sitting on stools made from a couple of boards that could be taken apart and stored. You didn’t see any hand held games in this setting. Small children were being pulled around by older siblings in home made wagons with spoke sides and wooden wheels. For the weekend these people lived here as their ancestors did in the 1800s, -no electricity, no gas grills or stoves, no coleman burners. In the evenings the torches or lanterns were lit, or the light from their cooking fires were used for illumination.

From the Fulton County Historical Society, Inc. webpage, The Trail of Courage
Living History Festival
by Elaine Shepard:
It all began in 1976. Shirley Willard’s son was looking for a project to earn his Eagle badge in Boy Scouts. He asked his mother if there were any old Indian trails in the area. They started to do their research and discovered that Chief Menominee, a Potawatomi, had refused to sign the treaties and sell his land. He and his band and all Potawatomi within about a 30-mile radius of his village at Twin Lakes south of Plymouth were rounded up and marched at gunpoint down Rochester’s Main Street on September 5, 1838.
Further research showed that on September 27, 1838, a band of 850 Potawatomi Indians camped near Niantic at Long Point. They were on what was to be called the “Trail of Death”, forced removal at gunpoint from their homeland in northern Indiana to Kansas. Many of the Potawatomi walked the 650 miles to present day Osawatomie, KS. It took two months. More than 40 died, mostly children of typhoid fever and the stress of the forced removal according to the official journal kept by a government agent.
It started with a project to earn an Eagle badge, to find the “old Indian trail” and erect a marker to commemorate the Potawatomi who traveled that forced removal. Since that time 53 trail markers have been erected by communities and boy scouts through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. Mrs. Shirley Willard, a former history teacher who is now the president of the Fulton County Historical Society (FCHS), requested the assistance of the Indiana Historical Society and had the Trail of Death route declared a regional historical trail by the Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas state legislatures in 1994-96.
The more research that was done, the more they (Fulton County Historical Society) began to wonder about the descendants of the people of the “Trail of Death.” They began looking at treaties for the names of the chiefs that signed and finding the descendants, and then contacting them asking them to come and be honored at the “Trail of Courage-Living History Festival.” Each year the “Trail of Courage Living History Festival” honors a different Potawatomi family with roots in Indiana’s frontier history. This year it was the descendants of Chief Menominee.

Did you know that there is a Cabbage Patch Doll hospital in Georgia? I had no idea until Donna, a blogging friend of mine, told me about it. It is in Cleveland, Georgia. This looks like such a fun place to visit that I might have to take a detour on our next trip to Florida. There are directions to their location on the website. I hear that Colonel Casey, the resident stork, is hard to miss as he points the way to the hospital. BabyLand General has a quarter of a million visitors each year!

Babyland General offers tours where you can actually see your “baby” as it is born. BabyLand General Hospital tours are available Monday through Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 10 to 5 eastern standard time, except certain holidays.

You will see older dolls on display that are from the 70’s and 80’s. When the Cabbage Patch dolls were first made, they were known as “little people” and could be adopted for a fee of around $30. These older dolls have been known to be adopted again at prices of over $25,000. There are over 115 million Cabbage Patch Kids worldwide.

Here is a picture of my 23 year old son when he was a few months old. He is beside his Cabbage Patch baby. My son is the one in blue.

Here is my baby now.

Another beautiful ride for motorcycle enthusiasts is the ride to Mabry Mill in Virginia. The mill is a favorite of painters wanting a beautiful subject for their artwork. The restored gristmill/sawmill/woodworking shop and blacksmith shop is fun to visit and watch the volunteers use the old fashioned equipment. Old time skills (basket weaving, seat caneing, spinning, and weaving) are demonstrated. You can watch apple butter being made on Sundays in October. Listen to oldtime bluegrass music on Sundays from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Before you arrive at the mill, you will want to stop at NASCAR’s most beloved venue; Bristol Motor Speedway. On the Tennessee side of Bristol you can visit country music legend, Ernie Ford’s birthplace. I love listening to the oldies stations that play his old tunes. He sang Sixteen Tons and a host of other well known tunes. He had such a beautiful voice.

Bristol’s State Street features country music murals and monuments and features live music throughout the summer and fall, such as the annual Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion in September.

I had a nice surprise this morning. PK over at Blogging Us-Exploring Colorado, gave me the “I Love Your Blog Award”. Thanks so much PK. Everyone should add Blogging Us to their daily read list. This blog has the most beautiful pictures and is fun to read. I learned so much and laughed a bunch while reading her post about learning to blow an Elk bugle. She was preparing to go Elk hunting!