AN UNUSUAL DAY AT THE STADIUM!!!!!!

Recently I gave a tour to four including Mike and his wife from the north east part of the country. We were nearing the dugout when a bald eagle and his trainer arrived for a training session. Mike sent me the three attached photos. I can testify this is the closest I have ever been to America's national bird.




The trainer and his eagle are from the Wild Bird Santuary at Lone Elk park.

Thanks Mike, for the great photos.

#55 WAS SO AWESOME I WANTED TO DO A PART TWO!!!!!





A group shot minus Donovan and his dad who needed to leave early for golf lessons









The two that started this family in 1959







Grand kids minus the Donovan














The four youngest grand kids









TERRI and JOE



Five grand kids plus the back side of Grandpa

#55 WAS FUN,EXCITING,

Unusual,SIMPLY SPECTACULAR

ZOO TRAIN ENGINEER for the day

It was a very special Fathers day gift given to me by my children that was blessed with a perfect weather day. The gift became extra special as my three children,six grandchildren and others were able to share the moment with me.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORY

I was blessed with an hour more than my instructions called for and i lost count of the train trips but at least six and maybe seven.I was an announcer,whistle blower,ticket taker, and I am sworn to secrecy about actually driving the train.
Photo one is Bob and I pulling out of the Carousal station.



The day begins with a series of checks on the equipment.





My main guy was engineer Frank





















Bob the conductor and Frank the
engineer with the rookie.












You check the fluids.

You take tickets



Grandpa with the youngest four grandchildren









Kelsey and her cousins

The surprise of the day was seeing Todd as I had no idea he was in or coming to town.

He is featured with his friend Sarah and her friend Emily.

I guess he came in to be a part of #55.!!!!!!!
It was a WOW!!!!! experience and certainly number one of the first fifty five.

#54 FORT KASKASKIA ILLINOIS

On the bluff above the Menard House are the remains of Fort Kaskaskia. The Menard house is located about 1/2 mile below the fort.This fortification was planned by King Louis XV of France when they owned and occupied the land.

Nancy is standing on the fort grounds but in actuality it is the Menard family cemetery,

In pictures four and five you see only ground fortifications of where the fort was planned to be built.

Picture six is looking north and seeing the Mississippi river below the bluff. [When fort was planned you would be seeing the Kaskaskia river coming into the Mississippi river.

Photo of Nancy is looking northwest and out in the Mississippi river is Beaver Island.

#53 PIERRE MENARD HOUSE
The former home of the first Lieutenant Governor of the state of Illinois. Served from 1818 to 1822. He served in Kaskaskia the first Illinois Capitol and was near this house. Population in 1818 was about 7,000.The 2000 census lists Kaskaskia with a population of five.








What really made this event is photo three.Right behind Nancy and the trees is the Mississippi river however when Menard sat on his front porch in 1820 the river he viewed was the Kaskaskia river.This photo taken from east bank of Mississippi looking toward the west.



A flood in 1881 changed both rivers course and the city of Kaskaskia moved from the east bank in Illinois to the west bank in Missouri yet is considered part of Illinois.




Since the flood of 1881 the only way to Kaskaskia Illinois is through St Mary Missouri on the west side of Mississippi river.The Menard home is on the east bank of the Mississippi.














The kitchen of course is detached from the main part of the home.





Nancy grew up with a well [not functioning} similar look as this one at the Menard house.

TWO SPORT STAR!!!


{in the same day}


Saturday started with my watching grandson Paul play a great game of soccer. I guess the grandpa should not use the word great but he made a pass from the right forward corner to the front of goal that a high school player would be proud of. His team mate did make the goal.






I finished the day by watching Paul and his team mates come from behind in the last inning to win a well played game by both teams.


This is what grand parenting is all about.

HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY KELSEY
Sunday the family gathered at Terri's to help Kelsey celebrate her 17TH birthday.
Wow!!! When I was 17
*** I did not know Nancy McCoy {Tritschler}
*** I drove my parents 1954 Buick LaSabre
*** Gas was .19 per. gallon {you could actually get lots of gas for $1.00.}
*** I was a Roosevelt Rough Rider
*** I worked for Davis Photo Supplies
*** Possibly had a girl friend
My world was certainly different but your opportunites are endless.

Can you believe she lit and blew out 17 candles.


Sorry you missed out on the infamous baby pictures but I am not using my computer. Really sorry you missed the famous grandparent duet singing "Happy Birthday" on the 19TH.
Kelsey,Grandma and I are so proud of you.
Love
Grandpa and Grandma.

#52 Is a visit to the Lewis and Clark visitor Center.

The center is near Hartford Illinois across from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Lewis and Clark built Camp Dubois the french name for "Wood River" They needed a place to spend the winter of 1804 with their troops while finishing the preparations for the journey to the Pacific ocean.







Nancy's cousin Norma with her husband John visiting from Michigan.







A replica of the keel boat "Discovery"



Nancy and I with Lewis, Clark, and their dog.









a replica of a bunk house that slept eight in two bunk beds.


Replica of Fort Dubois

The visit included the museum,a video of the journey to the Pacific ocean and a guided tour of the fort.We plan to return

as they are building a 150" ft. tower to better view the actual confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

#51 IS HISTORY!!!!!!


We visited Cahokia Mounds Museum and Park on Thursday.


I am pretty sure I was at the Cahokia Mounds when Edward was in Indian guides.{thirty years ago}


My memory does not recall climbing to the top of Monks mound and there certainly was no museum there as the museum appears to be less than ten years old.


The museum includes an outstanding film about the history of the Cahokia Indians and the displays bring their history to life.




158 steps later I stand at the top of Monks Mound






Nancy's cousin Norma and her husband John from Detroit Mi










A view looking south from the top of Monks Mound


Obviously if you climbed up 158 steps to return you have to go down 158 steps.