One More Time /  by Dave Hileman

Another of the orchids from the Longwood Gardens near Chadd’s Ford, PA. One characteristic that all orchids share is that they are symmetrical. Hard to imagine given some of the elaborate shapes, but they are.

Dwight D. Eisenhower ( NPS #316 Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial is one of the newer of the National Park units, established in 2000 it opened to the public in September of 2020. It is a large plaza with two statue groupings one as the Commander of the unified forces that defeated Germany and the other as President. There is a swath of grass diagonally along the block long plaza bordered by Kansas prairie grasses and flanked by two tall towers with his highest military rank and civilian achievements inscribed on them. The Memorial is located on Independence across the street from the Air and Space of the Smithsonian. Towering over the entire memorial is a 60 foot by 440 foot metal tapestry of the Pointe du Hoc cliffs at Normandy. It is illuminated at night - during the day is it difficult to view the whole scene. There is a small VC and audio tours are free.

Inspiring a new generation?

Memorial /  by Dave Hileman

This unique memorial is on the campus of William and Mary in Willimasburg, Virginia. The structure is just off Jamestown Road near the intersection of Richmond Road. It is near the original Indian school location. It has the names, if known, on raised bricks of the enslaved people who worked on the building of the campus from the late 1600’s. It is designed to resemble an open hearth where many enslaved worked and where they could congregate and talk. It is connected to a walk that leads to a small sculpture dedicated to the first black students who integrated W&M in 1967.

The students names are on the lower left side of the pillar and the bird represents an African proverb.

Honor /  by Dave Hileman

This morning we are attending the burial service at Arlington National Cemetery for our good friend, Tom Light. We arrived in Arlington yesterday to be here for the 8 am arrival time. In Philippians chapter two Paul commends a faithful believer who has worked hard with these words, “Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.” We do that for Tom even as his country honors him for his long service. When John Glenn lifted off in Friendship 7 he inspired a young man on a journey that led to military aviation and to this sacred place and so we echo the words to Glenn on that morning in 1962, Godspeed, Lt. Col. Thomas Light.

One of the many National Cemeteries.

"Just Like My Mom Had" /  by Dave Hileman

You do not often see a race car - or today nearly any car, with whitewall tires. I asked the owner/driver of this 60’s era A.H. Sprite about the tires. He replied that his mother bought a Sprite in 1962 and immediately changed the tires for whitewalls. So he does this as a remembrance of her.

"Take me home.... /  by Dave Hileman

…country roads” Thanks to John Denver. I find this setting a great delight and always feel more at ease and relaxed. Not to mention the food and ice cream helps. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Last Photo - Sort of... /  by Dave Hileman

This is a 1972 Porsche 914. The racing team is from Madison, VA, just a few miles from where we lived for 8 years. So I was rooting for Stray Cat Racing. Plus is was in Gulf colors, bonus points. It was well prepared and qualified near the front of the grid. During the race he was third but in a close battle with the car in second place. I focused on him as he accelerated after the chicane. A minute later we heard a loud thud from the other side of the trees where the course snaked down a hill into a sharp 180 left turn not visible from where we were. Number 32 went off. Accidents are not rare but most of these valuable cars are driven with preservation in mind so shunts are usually minor. Not this time. The next time we saw the car on the back of a truck there was nothing left past the drivers compartment. The whole rear of the car was gone. Fortunes of racing. I am sure they will be back racing in a short time.

Negotiate /  by Dave Hileman

This little Triumph came into the chicane a bit hot, locked his brakes and still flicked that car around the hay bales successfully. I was geared up for a lot of flying hay but the driver was too good.

Still the One... /  by Dave Hileman

…is an old song but in the car world I have a soft spot for the Mini. My MINI was great fun to travel for 18 years then I got to teach grandkids to drive a stick with it before it went to auction.

This one used to be green and white but after an accident and a two-year rebuild it now sports new colors.

Harriet Tubman (NPS #315 Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

This park is very near the Blackwater NWR in a corner of Eastern Shore, Maryland that is still quite rural. Harriet Tubman is a titan of American history and it is worth reading any of the books you might find about her singular life. Born a slave, escaped slavery, hunted, free woman, underground railroad “conductor,” spy, nurse, Civil War guide, farmer, leader, suffrage supporter, speaker, and in her later years - she opened and ran a home for black women that had no where to go. She did all of this with little education and little support. She had an iron will, unbreakable courage, a faith in God that might have made the book of Acts if she lived in another era and a determination that no circumstance could deflect. We visited her New York home in the Fingerlake region and were enthralled with her story. This museum is dedicated to her work on the Underground Railroad. It is built about 5 miles where she was born an enslaved person. She had a very hard life. The store pictured below is where as a girl she was hit with a heavy weight for not helping secure another slave and she suffered lapses of memory and more the rest of her life. Harriet Tubman will soon be the portrait on the US twenty dollar bill, a very fitting honor for one remarkable woman.

I like the dark storm clouds over the museum and Visitor Center, Mrs. Tubman had very few days that were not full of storms. The reeds and other fauna on a short walk are the kinds of plants common when and where she lived.

The museum has several vignettes from her life. Nicely done.

This private field was a part of the plantation where she was born and began working almost as soon as she could walk.

This store was where she first openly asserted herself and paid a price.

Fort Washington Park (NPS #314 for Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

Fort Washington, like Piscataway (see August 1, post) is not on the usual routes one might just happen across it but it is more accessible than Piscataway. Located not far off Indian Head Road on that section of Maryland south of Annapolis bisected by Route 301, it is a large park. Most of it is given over to fields and recreation for the area but the centerpiece is the old, impressive Fort Washington. The brick and stone fort was built starting in 1809 to protect Washington DC. It was an active fort until 1946 when technologies made it completely obsolete. There are buildings from the early 1800’s through WWII on the grounds. The fort can be toured on weekends, unfortunately we were not able to be there on a day it was open. Still enjoyed the old light house, the extensive green space and a nice view of the fort.

Lighthouse on the Potomac

Remains of an 1890’s artillery platform.