Archive for the 'From the Road' Category

Civil War reenactment: serious business and entertainment

Published
by
Sojourn Chronicles
on June 22, 2008
in Events and From the Road
. 0 Comments

If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to be at a Civil War battlefield in the 1860s, the closest you can get to that piece of history is to attend one of the many reenactments throughout the country.

The many men, women and children that “relive” the period take their roles very seriously. Authenticity is the name of the game–everything from clothing and equipment to camping and food. It’s no longer divisions of Blue or Gray, but a community of actors who are eager to be history teachers to anyone who asks.

The “Morgan’s Raid at Georgetown” reenactment brought actors from surrounding states and hundreds of curious visitors to witness the events. The actors even brought their own “correspondents,” actors who portrayed journalists recording and documenting the battles.

Below are a number of photos from the day’s events. Make sure you listen to the four interviews with reenactors, including President Abraham Lincoln and General John Hunt Morgan.

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.
Not all reenactors are dressed in soldier’s uniforms.

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.
Morgan’s Men ride into town to repel Union troops.

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.
Confederate infantry and calvary repeatedly charge the Union line.

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.
Correspondents document the battle with drawings for the newspapers.

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.
Refusing to surrender the Union troops were dealt a death blow.

Several reenactors agreed to interviews, and one special subject appeared on the scene and graciously granted an interview.

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.
Captain Jeff Stein, USA

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.

Pvt. Greg Mudeman, USA

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.

General John Hunt Morgan, CSA

Reenactors portray a Civil War raid and battle at Georgetown, Kentucky.

President Abraham Lincoln

For your additional viewing, a slide show of the Raid at Georgetown.

Part II of the Raid at Georgetown includes the battle on the outskirts of town in the fields surrounding the Cardome Center, Georgetown, KY.

Stay tuned.–DBrent

Looking for something to write about

Published
by
Sojourn Chronicles
on June 19, 2008
in From the Road and Scribblings
. 1 Comment

I had to get out of the home office this afternoon. Call it writer’s block. Call it stir crazy. Call it whatever you want. I needed to get out of the home office to look for something to write about. I also took my camera.

I rode out along the Little Miami River–one of my favorite back roads. I stopped on one of the bridges over the river because it felt like there was a bug in my ear inside the helmet. We’ve all felt that before, right? While sitting there, wrestling with my helmet, I noticed a couple with a video camera filming the people in canoes and kayaks paddling and floating down the river. They turned the camera on me.

After putting my helmet back on, I rode up to them and chatted with them for a while. He talked about all that he was doing to video events–trying to start a video business. His mother was a photographer, and his sister has been photographing two years for stock agencies and making $2,000 per month with no training. Right. Nothing to write about here.

I wound my way along the river and up to Caesar Creek Lake. There is a large cut out south of the dam where I never stopped before today. The signs said the cutout is actually an emergency spillway that in the event of an undulation of water into the lake, the emergency spillway would allow water out to the Little Miami River without endangering a breach to the dam. The sign also pointed out that this cut in the hill, the emergency spillway, revealed an ancient seabed complete with fossils. The estimated age of the seabed was 250 million years ago. I spotted some of those fossils in the shale. Interesting, but nothing to write about here.

On the other side of the lake, I wondered up and down the park roads to see what was at the end of the road. Mostly people enjoying the park or fishing, and very few people were actually in the water at the beach. The temperature probably contributed to the lack of swimmers. At the end of one road, very near the lake with an inlet, I spied a Harley Davidson sitting in the parking area, but could not identify the rider in the few people there. There was also a park vehicle and a large tank-type truck with a big sign on the side, “Live Fish.” Several men were netting pretty good sized fish out of the truck and putting them in the inlet. It looked interesting, but … nothing to write about here.

I decided to ride home. It was pleasant, but uneventful. Nothing to write about.

DBrent

One ride was not enough; 2nd ride to Ripley, Ohio

Published
by
Sojourn Chronicles
on June 15, 2008
in Destinations and From the Road
. 3 Comments

Happy Father’s Day!

It is a little unusual, but just the way things got scheduled. I am alone on Father’s Day. My wife is at a convention in San Antonio, and my son is out in the wilderness where he works in St. George, Utah. He sent his FD wishes before heading out to the job. Lin expressed her wishes before leaving, and of course, gave her blessings for the new bicycle helmet and accessories purchased yesterday. :)

The regular scheduled Sunday Morning Breakfast Ride was great. Seven of us headed out for a short ride–short because it’s Father’s Day, and several had plans for later in the morning.

Arriving home just a little early, I pondered what to do with the rest of the day. What to do? What to do! I decided I did not have enough motorcycling for the day. Living in river country, I set out for the banks of the Ohio River and points east. Something historic.

Riding straight south on a number of roads and primarily Ohio SR 132, I arrived at New Richmond on the Ohio River. Then I turned east on US 52, the Ohio River Scenic Byway. It’s a great road. A lot of motorcycles were also out enjoying the great weather and road.

My destination: Ripley, Ohio. Ripley, or perhaps I should say its inhabitants, played a significant role in the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. One in particular was the Rev. John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. His home, on the register of the National Historic Places, sits on the top of the hill overlooking the Ohio River. Escaping slaves would make their way across the river and up the hill to the Rankin House.

Ripley, Ohio, played a significant role in the Freedom Trail. Many escaping slaves found their way to ripley where they were given assistance by sympathizers. 
Looking at Kentucky across the Ohio River.

Ripley, Ohio, played a significant role in the Freedom Trail. Many escaping slaves found their way to ripley where they were given assistance by sympathizers.
Escaping slaves would make their way up the steps leading to the Rankin House.

Ripley, Ohio, played a significant role in the Freedom Trail. Many escaping slaves found their way to ripley where they were given assistance by sympathizers.
The last steps to the Rankin House, Ripley, Ohio.

Ripley, Ohio, played a significant role in the Freedom Trail. Many escaping slaves found their way to ripley where they were given assistance by sympathizers. 
John Rankin House, Ripley, Ohio.

After satisfying my need for historical steps, I crossed the Ohio River just east of Ripley and into Maysville, Kentucky. Then back towards Cincinnati on Kentucky SR 8.

Bridge to Maysville, Kentucky from Ohio.

It was a great day for motorcycling. Fifty miles for a breakfast ride and 170 miles for an historical visit for a total of 220 miles.–DBrent

Take me out at to the ball game, take me …

Published
by
Sojourn Chronicles
on April 8, 2008
in From the Road
. 1 Comment

I love baseball. It is America’s game.

Without trying to be too poetic here about a game, it was a joy to take Mom to the Arizona Diamondbacks home opener on her 80th birthday. She’s a big fan, but has not attended too many games, especially since Dad died in 2001.

Mom's 80th birthday at the Arizona Diamondbacks home opener. 
Mom, 80 years young, April 7, 2008.

It was a exciting for me to see the D-Backs play, for I know a couple of the players from their days at the South Bend Silver Hawks, where I was the team photographer for five seasons.

Mark Reynolds, 3rd Base, was at the Class A Silver Hawks for two seasons. He was called up to the D-Backs from their AA Minor League team, and he has started off this season showing why he was called up. Tonight, he hit two home runs. I managed to photograph the second one from our seats.

Mark Reynolds hits his second home run at the Arizona Diamondbacks home opener. 
Mark Reynolds second home run of the evening.

The game was sold out. Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 3.

Mom's 80th birthday at the Arizona Diamondbacks home opener.

Mom's 80th birthday at the Arizona Diamondbacks home opener.

DBrent

Is it vacation? Or, work?

Published
by
Sojourn Chronicles
on April 4, 2008
in From the Road
. 1 Comment

Mesa, Arizona–The weather is beautiful in the Valley of the Sun. Nothing but sunshine today, and the high temperature 85 degrees. Where is my motorcycle when I really want it? Back home in the garage while the rain continues in the Ohio River Valley.

Two tasks dominated my attention today: diagnosis and resolution of my abnormal car sounds, and completion of edits on an interview done recently.

Carla King and I interviewed motorcycle legend Ted Simon for Carla’s podcast program Miss Adventuring. Then, I had a computer crash, so the finished product had to wait on the new computer and installation of all the old software. Today, it’s finished, but I am without a local Internet connection.

Superstition Springs Honda listened intently to my car issues, and then promised to have a diagnosis within 90 minutes. When you’re on the road with auto problems, you feel a little vulnerable. So I was pleased with the initial treatment. Secondly, the rather large dealership offers free wi-fi connection in their waiting area for customers. I began to see a plan coming together.

The car was dropped off, and I returned to my home away from home at Mom’s kitchen table to complete the podcast edits. Then the phone call came from the dealership. They identified the problem–they recommend the axles be replaced on the Honda’s front wheel drive. What! It only has 162,000 miles on it! Yes, but the rubber boots protecting the axles’ vulnerable joints were shot and had been letting in the elements for quite some time.

They agreed to let me look at what they were seeing. An appointment was made for 1:30 p.m. I showed up at 1 p.m. with computer in tow to upload the mp3 file and send an e-mail to Carla for her download. I also called. We finished our conversation at 1:30. Time for car talk.

The mechanic put the Honda up on the hoist and showed me the problem. Frankly, if I had seen that back in Cincinnati (and, I don’t know why my shop didn’t see this when it was serviced two weeks ago) I would have told them to fix it. The protective rubber boots were shot and had been for quite some time. It was very evident. “Go ahead and fix it. I’ll drive home knowing it’s safe.” Three hours later, they called. The car was finished.

When I picked up the car, not only did they honor the estimate when they claimed to underestimate the actual repairs, but they also ran the car through their car wash! I highly recommend Superstition Springs Honda in Mesa!

After picking up the car, I returned home to make pizza for those of us who have already gathered for Mom’s 80th. The pizza was good, as was the beer.

The fact, and just the facts:

  • Car fixed–two new axles for $400. I’m happy, but poorer.
  • Carla King’s podcast edited–40 minutes of conversation with Ted Simon. She’s happy.
  • The pizza was good–family is happy and full.
  • I talked with the lovely Lin for about 20 minutes this evening. I’m happy. She’s happy. But, we miss each other terribly. That’s to be expected of best friends, lovers, companions, confidants, spouses, and soul mates.

DBrent

Coming tomorrow–Will I actually experience vacation? Why did I bring all this camera gear? Will the Hasselblad come out of its bag? And, what about that portable digital recorder and microphone in the backpack? Stay tuned.