Lincoln's Tomb /  by Dave Hileman

Abraham Lincoln is buried in this monumental crypt at the Oakwood cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. There are several statues around the area, most of them Civil War soldiers or patriotic symbols. The stone inside is simple and set alone in an alcove. You pass many more statues, usually small, in the corridors to and from the tomb itself. 

Tupelo National Battlefield /  by Dave Hileman

This is one of two graves on the small corner lot size site just off a busy street. It seemed infinitely sad to me. The stone was askew, not the neat rows of a National Cemetery and sort of awkwardly situated a few yards from a private home. The tattered flag may not be replaced as I read the park service was not going to use confederate flags any longer. There were two graves here both confederate soldiers. I wondered why they were buried here when the death toll among the South's soldiers numbered over 200. The battle was fought 152 years ago, today.

How to Buy an Oliver, Chapter Three /  by Dave Hileman

Before visiting the Oliver travel trailer factory in Hohenwald, TN, factory tour experiences were usually about food – chocolate, pretzels and potato chips in Pennsylvania, ice cream, cheese and maple syrup in Vermont – mostly through windows in long hallways beside the production area.  We did see F150 trucks assembled at Ford plant in Michigan but only from elevated walkways. And lets not even talk about the Hershey singing cows! So here we expected to see large machines putting together jigsaw puzzle trailers. Instead, as we walked through the cavernous building, we met people at each station on the factory floor carefully fitting together substantial metal frames and huge molded hulls of fiberglass with all of the electrical systems, plumbing and heating ducts carefully placed between two layers of the hull. Finishing and cleaning the inside of each trailer was accomplished with the same care and attention - as if each employee might drive that trailer on a family vacation.  We met Dana & Angela who did the final clean up, we talked with the electrician, the welders, the molder and more. We had a nice conversation with Jason, I think,. who addressed any flaws in the trailer with patience and craftsmanship. Each person’s pride, enthusiasm and dedication to improving each model absolutely sold us on the Oliver. So back at the showroom with Anita we turned over our chest of gold, agreed to provide the naming rights to our first great-grandchild and started home worried about what we needed to buy to bring the trailer home in a month. The MINI wasn't going to work.

Wright Flyer III /  by Dave Hileman

Another view of the 1905 Wright Flyer III. One of the major improvements of the plane over I and II was the front wing. It was moved forward a few feet and it gave the Wrights immediate control over aspects of the flights that had been most troublesome.   

Walk on Well-trod Ground /  by Dave Hileman

This is a portion of the original Natchez Trace also called the Old Natchez Trace that thousands of people traversed. Many of them from Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania would build and load barges and float down the rivers from various points and sell their goods in Natchez, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, including the barge! Then they would walk back home and, often, to it again. And well before the newly minted Americans make this long walk it was in use by Native Americans. The Pharr Mounds along the Trace are at least 2000 years old. 

Another View /  by Dave Hileman

Pilot Mountain from the base of the circumference trail. 

But you, O  lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Psalm 3:3,4 NLT

Pilot Mountain /  by Dave Hileman

One Sunday after church in Rural Hall we drove a short distance up to Pilot Mountain State Park and took the trail around the rocky dome. Then we traveled down, emphasis on down, the Ledge trail for about 2 miles and then two miles up on another trail. It was hot and exhausting. But we saw nice views, many rock climbers and more than a few of them resting in hammocks. Good choice. And you can see Andy's house from here. Or at least Barney says you can.

Happy 100th Birthday... /  by Dave Hileman

...to my favorite park, Acadia. Formed by private effort - the park was given to America, it was finally recognized on July 8th, 1916 as Sieur de Monts National Monument by President Woodrow Wilson. But it was countless determined and future oriented individuals at the turn of the 19th century that created the first eastern national park, recognizing its singular natural beauty and the need to protect it in perpetuity.

How to Buy an Oliver, Chapter Two /  by Dave Hileman

So, if you have done as we did and spent the night in Nashville, head out early in the morning toward Hohenwald. There are several routes but we wandered southwest along two lane highways past picturesque farms and beautiful ranches that I am sure were each owned by county music stars I did not know. We missed breakfast so as we approached the Natchez Trace (easiest way south) we stumbled on a great little crossroads community, Leipers Fork, with an old grocery store music venue and found an excellent breakfast across the street at Country Boys. We exited the Trace onto Highway 412 west toward Hohenwald. The Oliver showroom is right on the main road. However, you could easily drive by the nondescript building. It could have been a day-old bakery outlet. Except for the two Oliver trailers along the side and a sign. We pulled into the gravel lot and Anita was expecting us. The Oliver model we were interested in was inside and a second one outside to view. After an hour or more of looking, lots of questions and a tight grip on our box of doubloons, we went down the road a mile or so to take the factory tour. That was the highlight. 

Let It Ever Wave /  by Dave Hileman

The flag of our country represents, in this world, the best hope for a future of peace and justice. Led by always flawed people it will never be perfect, but the United States provides safety, security, freedom and hope for more people in more situations than any nation on earth. Happy 240!

From the 9/11 Memorial in NYC 

Every Day We Live by Faith /  by Dave Hileman

I have talked with people who claim to not have any faith. They live, or so they say, by what they can control and measure. But it is not true or we would never drive down a two lane road. The law doesn't keep people on the other side of the line but you have faith they will stay there. Now it is not always well placed faith and that is the real issue, what we place faith in, or rather, in whom we place faith. Drivers, doctors, the people who set the ropes or someone who can be trusted in every situation. 

"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." 1 Peter 1:7 NLT

How to Buy an Oliver, Chapter One /  by Dave Hileman

So you like to travel and need an economical way to stay for extended periods of time...tents? Not easy to set up and take down every day, they are always wet, you can't stay in a Walmart parking lot, they don't have bathrooms and then there are snakes and bears. No Tents. So, a light inexpensive trailer is what you need. You start research thinking of something you can pull with the Subaru. That lasts about two weeks until Subaru says, "Don't pull anything." OK, still lightweight and inexpensive small trailers. Look at tear-drops. No Tear Drops. Inexpensive does not mean cheap, outside kitchen, no real bathroom and you bump your head. So start with lightweight, inexpensive, small fiberglass trailers. Lots of poor choices. Then you find an Escape made in Canada. More expensive than planned but seems nice. Options push the price higher but there is one to see in Raleigh. It was OK, livable but there was the major trip going to British Columbia to pick it up after waiting months to have one built. Then Oliver showed up online. So you pack up a large box of gold coins, trade a cow and two goats for more money and take off for Hohenwald, Tennessee to investigate.

At a Tennessee State park near Memphis, TN. I missed most of the trees. 

At a Tennessee State park near Memphis, TN. I missed most of the trees. 

Today in History /  by Dave Hileman

At least three battles began on this date that people still study and remember. Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and Somme. The battle of the Somme began 100 years ago today. One of my most vivid memories of my trip in England in 1996 happened by chance. I was in London and touring Westminster Abby. As I came to the front I noticed an area of poppies covering about 25 square feet of the floor and about 5 gentlemen standing around the flowers and two in wheelchairs. They were survivors of the battle. A ceremony began shortly that only lasted a few minutes and had a very small audience but was quite moving. Most of the men were in tears and when the presenter from the news asked, "why," they replied with the names of friends and neighbors lost in the battle. 80 years on and the horror and pain was still very real. 

I have a photo that I will get scanned sometime but for today this homemade remembrance from the 9/11 Memorial in NYC to a British soldier lost in the terror attack.