Graceland (April 30-May 7, 2023)

Trip to Memphis, Tennessee started with an overnight stop in Bowling Green, Kentucky to break up the miles. Arrived in Memphis on May 1 and visited Sun Records which is a very historic recording studio and then wandered around Beale Street which is the Home of the Blues.

Very cool seeing these historic places which can be seen at left and below. Was a great time, and enjoyed a beautiful day to explore them. 

Weather was very nice and the time of day made it very safe. Memphis is a rather dangerous town from what I have heard and from what I saw on the news with a lot of wild things going on while we were there. Thankfully we had no issues but it is a good town to keep your eyes open and to keep aware of your surroundings.

May 2 we explored Graceland which was the home of the legendary Elvis Prestley. Had a great time there, and explored the house and grounds. We were there two years ago during Covid and the crowds were much lower then. This time, the lines were much longer. 

Visited the house, and the famous "Jungle Room" is below. We also saw his grave while there. Beautiful house! We also toured the museum which is impressive across the street. Cars, motorcycle and especially stage outfits which can also be seen below. The leather suit from the 68 Comeback Special and just a small selection of others. 

May 4 we left Memphis and again stayed in Bowling Green. Both visits we toured some sights there. It is a home of The Corvette Museum (which is well worth seeing) a cool downtown, a train museum, and this aviation museum which can be seen at left. I love aircraft and enjoyed visiting these planes. 

On May 5th we stopped for a couple of nights in a favorite place, Rising Sun, Indiana. There we went to a Derby Party and enjoyed the sights on the river. 

Saw the Steamboat "American Countess" rolling down the Ohio River on May 7 from Louisville where it was during the Kentucky Derby the day before. 

We rolled back home after a remarkable 8 day trip exploring some fun places. Was our second trip to Graceland, hopefully not the last !    

 

Along the Ohio River (April 10-12, 2023)

Once again we visited Rising Sun. It is a favorite place for us to go, and we enjoyed it as usual. Especially so this trip as temperatures were in the 70's and under clear blue skies. 

Took the photo at left in Aurora, Indiana which is nearby. Was the former residence of a riverboat captain, and is now a museum that you can tour. Beautiful house with a commanding view of the Ohio River. 

Directly below is some old buildings in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. That is also a fun town to wander and explore. Below that the Bicycle Shop in Aurora. Owner is fantastic and a wonderful guy.   

A morning view from the hotel room in Rising Sun. Love the mornings and evenings at sunset there. A lot of interesting sights. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky also along the Ohio River and have always enjoyed walking along its shores to see the sights and the animals wandering along and above its shores.

Below is the boat Hoosier Boy which set some speed records back in the day. The engine is a WW1 Liberty Aircraft engine. Many of those motors were surplus after the war, and were used in other aircraft as well as put to other uses...such as hydrofoils.   

 

Wandering Dayton (April 7, 2023)

Explored Dayton on a Wonderful Good Friday. Took the photo at left at the Dayton Dragons Ballpark. Have been there a few times for minor league baseball, nice park. I also have wandered through the 2nd Street Public Market directly below. 

Civil War Monument below is on Main Street, was a war to end slavery and racism. The first was accomplished, the second is a continuing battle. 

Below that a view of the Great Miami River in Dayton. 

 

Went to Hollywood Cemetery. At left is the grave of Erma Bombeck, famous American humorist. Below that is the grave of the poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar. He was also a friend of the Wright Brothers who are buried near him, and are in the 3rd photo below. 

Finally, a nice view of Dayton from the heights at Woodlawn Cemetery. I enjoyed exploring the city and thank you for visiting my page!

Huffman Prairie Flying Field and the Wright Brothers Monument (March 30, 2023)

Taken from a motorcycle ride today to Huffman Prairie Flying field. The field was used by the Wright Brothers after Kitty Hawk for flight test of later designs and flight instruction. Unlike Kitty Hawk, NC  the winds were not as strong here in Ohio so to launch their aircraft a catapult was used which is seen at right. 

The site covers some 84 acres and was used by the Wrights starting in 1904. They perfected the Wright Flyer III (which is on display in Dayton, Ohio) and tested some other designs here. I also went to The Wright Brothers Monument which has the monument to the brothers as well as a small museum. The monument can be seen behind my motorcycle on my "Racing with the Wind" Page. Here are some of the displays in the museum near the monument. Some of the people who learned to fly at the above mentioned flying school, and below a photo of the Wright Factory in Dayton. Sadly, just last weekend, that building was heavily damaged in a massive fire at the site. 

Below is some of the later designed planes by the Wright Brothers, including the Model L and G which were designed after Wilbur Wright's death. Part of the Model G, which was a 'Flying Boat" is on display at the museum on loan from the Smithsonian. Those photos can be seen below.   

As always thank you for visiting my pages!
 

Return to Rising Sun (March 13-15, 2023)

We returned to Rising Sun, Indiana for two days (drove back on the 15th). Had a great time, though was firmly in the grip of winter. Temperatures were in the 20's most of the time, the best day weather wise was the day we left. Only blue skies of the trip, and even warmer in the 40's. I took the helicopter photo in Aurora, Indiana which is just down the road from Rising Sun. Took one walk to the river, but did not stay long due to temperature. 

That said, always a fun place and some nice towns, and we had a great time there. Looking forward to the next visit

Rising Sun Indiana (March 4-5, 2023)

First trip of 2023 with my wife and her friend to Rising Sun, Indiana which is a favorite place of ours. Saw my first "Hoosier bunny" of the year there, and in fact saw a couple more a few hours later. Wandered around the town viewing the river, the aircraft (flew once on the center one). Saturday had breakfast at the Main Street Diner which is in downtown Rising Sun and enjoyed an excellent meal. Nice relaxing town to visit and we had a great time under blue skies.

 

Since Christmas (January 16, 2023)

A few post Christmas photos. My decorations are all put away (as of yesterday) and the lights at other places are going out (although not all). Been enjoying the usual winter activities and the sights. Been to the Air Force Museum a couple of times, the usual air operations at the lakes and even checked out some motorcycles at the bike shop in Dayton. Went to the Elvis Tribute Show in Dayton a few days ago with my wife and some friends and we had a great time. He did a very good job and enjoyed the show. Snow other than the Christmas storm has been a no show so far . Going to be a great 2023.