T-6 used by Tuskegee Airmen in WW II
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
2005 Air Show - Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
Last Sunday, April 17th Cindy & I attended the 2005 Air Show at Holloman Air Force Base 70 miles from here. It was a beautifully sunny day.
As we were entering the air base we saw a formation of planes flying overhead. There were 4 planes - the A-10 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, F-15 and F-16. After parking and getting through security we parked our lawn chairs in front of the F-117A Nighthawks which use stealth technology.
During the rest of the afternoon we saw the B-25, P-40, P-39, T-6 along with the MiG-17 (Russian fighter). National Areobatic Champion Mike Mangold put on an awesome show. That plane under his command performed some really dramatic moves. I was smiling through the whole performance. The afternoon finished with the sky diving performance of the Golden Knights and the precision flying of the Thunderbirds.
We missed the flights of the T-38, F-117, German Tornado and the B-1.
On the ground in static displays were many more planes including the massive C-17. All those planes are impressive. There were thousands of people enjoying the day.
I hope to go again, perhaps next year.
Shalom
As we were entering the air base we saw a formation of planes flying overhead. There were 4 planes - the A-10 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, F-15 and F-16. After parking and getting through security we parked our lawn chairs in front of the F-117A Nighthawks which use stealth technology.
During the rest of the afternoon we saw the B-25, P-40, P-39, T-6 along with the MiG-17 (Russian fighter). National Areobatic Champion Mike Mangold put on an awesome show. That plane under his command performed some really dramatic moves. I was smiling through the whole performance. The afternoon finished with the sky diving performance of the Golden Knights and the precision flying of the Thunderbirds.
We missed the flights of the T-38, F-117, German Tornado and the B-1.
On the ground in static displays were many more planes including the massive C-17. All those planes are impressive. There were thousands of people enjoying the day.
I hope to go again, perhaps next year.
Shalom
Friday, April 08, 2005
"Trinity" Site and Moped Adventure
April 7, 2005
Hi all,
I hope all of you are doing well.
During the 1940’s the atomic bomb was being developed in Nevada and New Mexico. Los Alamos is in northern New Mexico and played a huge part in the development of the “bomb”.
In July of 1945 the first atomic bomb was exploded at what is now called the “Trinity” site a few hours north of here in the middle of the desert. We have plenty of desert to go around here in these parts. Since the Trinity site is located in the middle of the White Sands Missile Range access to the site is restricted. The public are allowed to go there 2 times a year. Last Saturday was one of those times. Cindy was working so I grabbed a guy from church and we went to take a look.
The site is rather unimpressive. I didn’t really expect to see glowing rocks or people in protective gear but somehow I expected more. As you can see by the pictures the area is flat and nondescript. At the site of the actual test is this obelisk made of lava rock. The blast actually fomed a fairly large crater but that was covered up. Then the whole area is surrounded by chain link fence. On the fence were pictures taken before, during and after the test. There were people there from all over the country (license plates gave that away). A few had Geiger counters and poked around. Busses were provided for those who wanted to see the McDonald Ranch where the bomb was assembled. That is located a few miles away.
I’m glad I went because it is history but probably won’t go back again unless someone is visiting and wants to see it. The 2 times a year are the first Saturday in April and October.
The next day was Sunday and the weather was nice so I decided to take a moped trip while Cindy worked.
I packed my gear and some extra gas, checked the tire pressure, oil level and made sure everything was ready and then took off. I had checked the map ahead of time so I headed to Fort Seldon – an old adobe military fort from after the civil war that is now a state monument. It is about 18 miles north of town.
It was an awesome trip. Traveling at 25 mph means you see things and smell things you can’t when you are zipping along on the highway. I stopped frequently to take pictures and enjoy the time. It took me about an hour and 10 minutes each way.
These pictures are of the Fort and museum and of course my moped.
The trip was great and I look forward to going other places. I’m still a very defensive driver since everything on the road is much bigger than I am. And I still get stared and smiled at a lot but no one has tried to drive me off the road.
Cindy & I are doing fine. Cindy is just finishing a 13 day run of working without a day off. She is tired but thankful it is soon over.
The last few pictures I posted are from the site of a solar observatory 20 miles out of Cloudcroft up in the mountains 2 hours from here. On my way home from a retreat a few days ago I stopped off to see what I could see. It is beautiful up in those mountains.
Well enough for now.
When I update my blog I will send you an email to let you know. Let me hear from you and take care.
Shalom,Scott & Cindy in Las Cruces
Hi all,
I hope all of you are doing well.
During the 1940’s the atomic bomb was being developed in Nevada and New Mexico. Los Alamos is in northern New Mexico and played a huge part in the development of the “bomb”.
In July of 1945 the first atomic bomb was exploded at what is now called the “Trinity” site a few hours north of here in the middle of the desert. We have plenty of desert to go around here in these parts. Since the Trinity site is located in the middle of the White Sands Missile Range access to the site is restricted. The public are allowed to go there 2 times a year. Last Saturday was one of those times. Cindy was working so I grabbed a guy from church and we went to take a look.
The site is rather unimpressive. I didn’t really expect to see glowing rocks or people in protective gear but somehow I expected more. As you can see by the pictures the area is flat and nondescript. At the site of the actual test is this obelisk made of lava rock. The blast actually fomed a fairly large crater but that was covered up. Then the whole area is surrounded by chain link fence. On the fence were pictures taken before, during and after the test. There were people there from all over the country (license plates gave that away). A few had Geiger counters and poked around. Busses were provided for those who wanted to see the McDonald Ranch where the bomb was assembled. That is located a few miles away.
I’m glad I went because it is history but probably won’t go back again unless someone is visiting and wants to see it. The 2 times a year are the first Saturday in April and October.
The next day was Sunday and the weather was nice so I decided to take a moped trip while Cindy worked.
I packed my gear and some extra gas, checked the tire pressure, oil level and made sure everything was ready and then took off. I had checked the map ahead of time so I headed to Fort Seldon – an old adobe military fort from after the civil war that is now a state monument. It is about 18 miles north of town.
It was an awesome trip. Traveling at 25 mph means you see things and smell things you can’t when you are zipping along on the highway. I stopped frequently to take pictures and enjoy the time. It took me about an hour and 10 minutes each way.
These pictures are of the Fort and museum and of course my moped.
The trip was great and I look forward to going other places. I’m still a very defensive driver since everything on the road is much bigger than I am. And I still get stared and smiled at a lot but no one has tried to drive me off the road.
Cindy & I are doing fine. Cindy is just finishing a 13 day run of working without a day off. She is tired but thankful it is soon over.
The last few pictures I posted are from the site of a solar observatory 20 miles out of Cloudcroft up in the mountains 2 hours from here. On my way home from a retreat a few days ago I stopped off to see what I could see. It is beautiful up in those mountains.
Well enough for now.
When I update my blog I will send you an email to let you know. Let me hear from you and take care.
Shalom,Scott & Cindy in Las Cruces
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Tombstone, Arizona
Hi all,
Tombstone is only 15 or 20 miles from Bisbee so the trip was short.
I drove into town knowing that the day was going to be interesting. I was going there to see where Wyatt Earp, Virgil & Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday had gunned down Ike Clanton and others in October of 1881 at the OK Corral. I really get into that kind of stuff so I was pumped up.
I also knew I was arriving at the same time hundreds of others were gathering from all over the country to "defend the border" from the massice tide of illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Cochise County is where the majority of illegals are crossing into the states right now. As a matter of fact on the way to Bisbee on Thursday I came across 3 Border Patrol trucks parked on the side of the highway. Sitting in a circle under their watchful eyes were a dozen illegals. A few miles up the road another Border Patrol truck had just rounded up 2 more.
Illegal immigration is a very touchy subject around this area. Well over 1/2 million Mexicans & Central Americans crossed into this country around here last year. Many were caught but many were not. The ranchers are upset because their fences have been damaged and litter has been left everywhere. Did you know that the money sent back to Mexico from those working in this country has now surpased the income of the oil industry. It is the number one "industry" now in Mexico. So the Mexican government does not want it to stop. They even printed a picture book brochure to help its people cross the border and avoid the Border Patrol.
So now a group of people are gathering on this side of the border to "help the Border Patrol." The news trucks, reporters and anyone trying to make "political hay" from this were in town along with protesters with t-shirts saying "Let the Border Patrol Do Its Job" and vigilantes wearing shirts saying "I Defended the U.S. Border". I just pray there will be no violence.
Into this mix of people were tourists trying to see the sights. It was an interesting day. I saw a shoot-out, picked up my copy of the Tombstone Epitaph, visited Boothill Cemetery and generally enjoyed myself. I would like to see it again.
Shalom,
Scott
Tombstone is only 15 or 20 miles from Bisbee so the trip was short.
I drove into town knowing that the day was going to be interesting. I was going there to see where Wyatt Earp, Virgil & Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday had gunned down Ike Clanton and others in October of 1881 at the OK Corral. I really get into that kind of stuff so I was pumped up.
I also knew I was arriving at the same time hundreds of others were gathering from all over the country to "defend the border" from the massice tide of illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Cochise County is where the majority of illegals are crossing into the states right now. As a matter of fact on the way to Bisbee on Thursday I came across 3 Border Patrol trucks parked on the side of the highway. Sitting in a circle under their watchful eyes were a dozen illegals. A few miles up the road another Border Patrol truck had just rounded up 2 more.
Illegal immigration is a very touchy subject around this area. Well over 1/2 million Mexicans & Central Americans crossed into this country around here last year. Many were caught but many were not. The ranchers are upset because their fences have been damaged and litter has been left everywhere. Did you know that the money sent back to Mexico from those working in this country has now surpased the income of the oil industry. It is the number one "industry" now in Mexico. So the Mexican government does not want it to stop. They even printed a picture book brochure to help its people cross the border and avoid the Border Patrol.
So now a group of people are gathering on this side of the border to "help the Border Patrol." The news trucks, reporters and anyone trying to make "political hay" from this were in town along with protesters with t-shirts saying "Let the Border Patrol Do Its Job" and vigilantes wearing shirts saying "I Defended the U.S. Border". I just pray there will be no violence.
Into this mix of people were tourists trying to see the sights. It was an interesting day. I saw a shoot-out, picked up my copy of the Tombstone Epitaph, visited Boothill Cemetery and generally enjoyed myself. I would like to see it again.
Shalom,
Scott
Trip to Bisbee, Arizona
Hi all,
It has been a busy few days. Once the Easter celebration was over I took a few days to go to Bisbee to visit my brother Paul and wife Deb who were visiting from Milwaukee. It had been a while since I last saw them.
It was a great time catching up. After getting there on Thursday Paul & I walked around Bisbee while talking and joking. Deb, her sister Kay Lynn, Kristin & Lisa went their own way and shopped.
Bisbee is the sight of an old copper mine. Paul & I took some time and toured the mine. It was very interesting.
The town has been transformed from a town revolving around mining to one attracting artists and other creative laid-back folks. The little shacks that once housed miners have been purchased by folks from all over and made into nice and expensive homes. The downtown area is now full of shops, galleries, and a lot of stairways. It is a really neat place to go. I would like to see more.
I bid goodbye to Paul, Deb, Kristin, Lisa, Ty & Alex and headed to Tombstone the sight of the infamous shootout at the OK Corral.
Shalom
Scott
It has been a busy few days. Once the Easter celebration was over I took a few days to go to Bisbee to visit my brother Paul and wife Deb who were visiting from Milwaukee. It had been a while since I last saw them.
It was a great time catching up. After getting there on Thursday Paul & I walked around Bisbee while talking and joking. Deb, her sister Kay Lynn, Kristin & Lisa went their own way and shopped.
Bisbee is the sight of an old copper mine. Paul & I took some time and toured the mine. It was very interesting.
The town has been transformed from a town revolving around mining to one attracting artists and other creative laid-back folks. The little shacks that once housed miners have been purchased by folks from all over and made into nice and expensive homes. The downtown area is now full of shops, galleries, and a lot of stairways. It is a really neat place to go. I would like to see more.
I bid goodbye to Paul, Deb, Kristin, Lisa, Ty & Alex and headed to Tombstone the sight of the infamous shootout at the OK Corral.
Shalom
Scott
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)