Eating Texas Steak

Amarillo, Texas
June 20, 2009

The posted speed limit along much of Route 287 through Texas was mostly 70 mph. Occasionally it dropped to 35 as we passed sleepy towns that had seen more prosperous days. At the end, we hit Amarillo and stopped for the night at the Amarillo Ranch RV Park on historic Route 66.

On the eve of Father's Day, Joan took Bob to the Big Texan Steak Ranch -- "Home of the 72 oz. Steak". The place was a garish tourist trap but the meal was superb.

A few web sites worth looking at at:
http://www.bigtexan.com/
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/3087

Nothing's Modest in Texas

Mississippi to Lousiana

Breakfast in Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
June 19, 2009

A sumptuous complimentary breakfast buffet was provided at the Ameristar Casino for patrons of the camp site. Besides fresh strawberries and cream, our table provided a view of the mighty Mississippi River. We could see barges tied together 5 wide and 4 or 5 long traveling under the bridge.

Mud swallows swarmed around the casino and a view from the rail overlooking the Mississippi revealed hundreds of nests overhead.

Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail

County Interpretive Center

7002 US Highway 80
Hayneville, Alabama
June 18, 2009

We drove from Montgomery to Selma and stopped at the The Interpretive Center about midway between the two cities. The photographs and displays of the historic 54-miles walk in March, 1965, convey the events that changed the United States.

The march of 300 people started in Selma on March 7, 1965, and was blocked at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. People were beaten and tear gassed and some were killed. Another march started on March 21 with around 3200 people and, 4 days later, 25,000 reach the State Capitol at Montgomery.

As a result of the excessive police brutality, the nation reacted to the images on television and President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Learn more at:
http://www.nps.gov/semo/
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/civilrights/al4.htm
http://home.nps.gov/applications/release/Detail.cfm?ID=19

The World of Coca-Cola

Atlanta, GA
June 16, 2009

While Joan explored the aquarium, Bob visited the Coca-Cola museum across the park. The tour was an enjoyable event that featured the history of Coca-Cola as a world-wide fun product.

Antique bottles, machines, trays and other ketchy items were displayed throughout the building that was part museum and a major promotional happening. Visitors strolled through a simulated bottling plant (complete with human mechanics checking dials and recording information on clipboards). A 4-D movie complete with 3-D images, water droplet sprays, blasts of air and jolting moving seats thrilled the audience.

More than 60 different beverages made by Coca-Cola from around the world were dispensed from machines in a large tasting room. The exit was through a large gift shop that sold everything imaginable with the Coca-Cola logo.


Get a look at the imaginative Coca-Cola website at: http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/ -- make sure to click on the Virtual Tour on the left menu.

What's in the Center Tower? Click on the Photo and See.

Some of the Coca-Cola Collectibles

Pop Art Produced by Burton Morris

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, Georgia
June 16, 2009

The Atlanta Aquarium is reported to be the largest in the world. Joan ranks it on the level of the Aquarium in Monterrey. She spent much of the afternoon touring the fantastic collection, some which swam through an overhead tube.

She saw three Beluga whales from the Brooklyn Aquarium in Coney Island through the tanks. The Belugas are the only whales that can bend their necks.

Manta rays, sharks, jelly fish and other assorted specimens were clearly visible. Sea cucumbers, sand sharks and sea anemones were available for Joan to touch but she resisted handling the horseshoe crabs.

Explore this fascinating place at: http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/

Martin Luther King, Jr National Historic Site

June 15, 2009

Atlanta's historic Ebeneezer Baptist Church is across the street from the Martin Luther King, Jr National Historic Site. The newer building is adjacent to the site commemorating the non-violent civil rights movement.

Video newsreels and documentaries guide visitors through the South's Jim Crow laws and the African-American people's peaceful demonstrations for voting rights. While the photographs below will give a view of the exhibit, the links provide a more in-depth revelation of the historical significance of the courage that people of many races demonstrated.

http://www.historicebenezer.org/History.html
http://www.historicebenezer.org/Home.html
http://www.nps.gov/malu/planyourvisit/index.htm

Sculpture of Marchers from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama

Wagon that Carried King's Body

Grave Marker of Rev. and Mrs. King

Stone Mountain, Georgia

June 12 - 17

Stone Mountain is rich in confederate history. Gutzon Borglum, the sculpture of Mt. Rushmore, started a carving into the side of the mountain and intended to have an image of thousands of people. The work was halted and blasted away and finally completed in is present form in 1972. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain for more information about this interesting part of American history.

Hundreds of camping sites are carved into the ridges surrounding a large lake with many coves. The shaded plots are close and the roadway is filled with potholes but the place is worth the inconveniences.

Ray and Pam bought a 1975 Winnebago Chieftain for $4,000 and had it repainted for about $6,000. They've replaced the old counter tops and appliances and enjoy taking it on trips.

Stone Mountain

Relief Carving Commemorating he Civil War

Pam and Ray's Restored 1975 Winnebago

Harper's Ferry

Harper's Ferry, West Virginia
June 9 - 10, 2009

The village of Harper's Ferry is rich in history. The old buildings have been refurbished and is located in what is now a National Historic Site.

John Brown and a small group of men attempted to steal artillery to provide to Southern slaves in hopes of starting a revolution to end slavery. The raiding party was discovered and barricaded themselves in a small engine house and held out for a time. Eventually, they were persuaded to give up and the survivors were executed.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_(abolitionist)#Raid

The area was a Union armory and armament manufacturing site. Mass-produced arms made with interchangeable parts became a target for the Confederate Army. The Union forces were defeated, the arms and machinery were moved to the South, and the Confederacy used the technology in the fight against the North.

For more information, see: http://www.nps.gov/archive/hafe/home.htm

Multi-story buildings in the hilly village.

John Brown leading 19 men in the Harper's Ferry raid.

The monument is on the original spot of the engine house.
The building can be seen to the left.

The refurbished engine house known as "John Brown's Fort."

Philadelphia

Our first stop was in Clarksburg, New Jersey. The 180 mile trip took about 5 hours going from Long Island and through New York on a rainy day.

Philadelphia was across the river and our first stop was Pat’s, a recommended steak-sandwich stand on a corner plot in South Philly. The selection includes a choice of Cheez Whiz, American or provolone cheese and onions or no onions. The long lines move quickly and there is ample outside seating.

Geno's, across the street serves the same type sandwich and we visited it the next day to compare the two. Although both were good, we agreed that we preferred Pat’s.

A pair of ship smokestacks was visible from the Walt Whitman Bridge as we crossed over the Delaware River. As we got closer, the name on the rusted hulk revealed that it was the famous SS United States.

The SS United States, built in 1952 at a cost of $79 million, was the fastest cruise ship ever built -- Bob remembered the fascination it held as described in Life Magazine. Passage on the ship was more affordable that the other luxury liners at the time. Efforts to restore it were made (http://www.ssunitedstates.org/) but it appears that it will now be sold for scrap.
(http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2009/02/23/story4.html)

Parking was available near Independence Hall but tickets were sold out.

We took a 20 minute buggy ride around the area and plan to return when we have more time. Being in the area and seeing the famous buildings was a thrill.