I ignored it for a while, but sometime in March, it began to wear on me. Finally one evening during supper, I pushed my plate away and exclaimed, “That’s it, I don’t care if I starve to death, I’m not eating any more sweet potatoes. “
Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.
His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.
He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.
He has published several books about his adventures.
HORSE-DRAWN CANAL BOAT
-The Ben Franklin III, launched in 1989,
was designed and constructed in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Designed as
a freighter, the vessel is 75 feet long and has a beam (width)of 12
feet. Constructed of wood and fiberglass, it holds approximately 75
passengers and crew.
As settlers moved into the Northwest Territory after 1800, transportation routes became a priority for the government. Roads didn’t exist, for all practical purposes the only roads were Indian and animal trails that had been haphazardly blazed through the primitive land.
In 1836, Indiana legislators passed the Internal Improvements Act, which began Indiana’s brief experience with canal building. Whitewater Canal was one of several projects started as a result of this act. Due to unforeseen circumstances, many weather related, the canals never were anything close to a financial success..
The Whitewater Canal began in Lawrenceburg and originally ended at Cambridge City. When the state went bankrupt in the 1840s, the canal was completed by private enterprise. Extensions and spurs on the canal were added by the merchants of Hagerstown, Ind. and by the state of Ohio to link Cincinnati to the canal. All of these factors combined to make the canal 101 miles long. Along the route, 56 locks were built to accommodate a fall of nearly 500 feet in elevation.
Two of these locks are preserved and can be viewed at the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site. One contains the massive
doors similar to the ones that were used to regulate the flow of water that would raise or lower boats to the proper elevation.
The state of Indiana assumed management of a 14-mile section of the canal in 1946 and today operates a horse-drawn canal
boat and the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site. Visitors can step back in time while taking a leisurely 25-minute cruise on the Ben Franklin III. During the voyage, the vessel passes through the Duck Creek Aqueduct, a covered bridge that carries the canal 16 feet over Duck Creek. It is believed to be the only structure of its kind still in existence.
Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean, and studied Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different cultures!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has studied and applied what he has learned to solving the many issues facing not only the United States, but the world as well.
This informative Ebook describes alternative methods of making money ,often a full time income in photography even if you have no desire to shoot wedding photography. this book gives examples and websites where you can use your photos to supply you with an income, not only to enable you to buy new equipment, but a living income as well.
Step back in history and ride the Whitewater Railroad in Metamora Indiana. The train still operates from Connersville to Metamora offering passenger service between the two towns.
Life existed in this scenic valley for thousands of years. To the Native American Indians, the Whitewater Valley formed a natural trade route. Early settlers also found the area abundant in wildlife as well as plentiful fishing in the river.
Travel was hazardous in the early days , the only form of transportation was by dirt or mud roads along winding hilly terrain. That all changed in 1836 when the state of Indiana approved funds to build the Whitewater Canal from Lawrenceburg to Hagerstown.
While improving the trade in the area, the canal was plagued from the beginning
by alternate years of flood and drought. Finally in the 1850s the canal was so damaged by a flood, the local residents petitioned the government to sell the right of way to the railroad.
The railroad continued to operate until the decline of the railways began in the mid 20th century.
Finally the Whitewater Valley Railroad was formed as a non profit in 1972 and for historical reasons began passenger service operations between Connersville and Brookville.
After a major washout in 1974 closed the tracks between Brookville and Metamora all that remains today is service between Connersville and Metamora.
Today the railroad operates passenger sightseeing service using diesel locomotives and open window coaches, and often a caboose, between Connersville and Metamora .
All Aboard!
While another train operates as the
Metamora Local, carrying passengers south on a 2-mile (3.2 km) excursion
along the restored canal, past the canal boat dock, a working aqueduct,
and a restored lock.
Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean, and studied Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different cultures!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has studied.
There is an extreme shortage of common sense in today’s world, When looking back in history, I soon discovered this has always been a problem, Benjamin Franklin once said, ”Of all the senses, common sense seems to be the one that is used the least.” As obvious as it may seem, many seem to be totally oblivious to it. Most, if not all of the problems the world faces today could be solved if people would just sit back and think about what would seem to be the most obvious and simple solution to any issue. Often times people tend to over complicate the issues. I often think back to what my parents and grandparents believed and said, at the time I thought they were totally out of their mind and ignored it. I now wish I would have listened and followed their advice. It is now evident they were a lot smarter than we gave them credit for. Many times, in today’s world, the schools and universities can no longer be counted on to teach truth and values that will guide someone through life.
Spending the day in historic Metamora Indiana is always a delight. With it’s many shops and unique restaurants, one can diddle away the day relaxing and enjoying Americana at it’s finest.
In it’s prime, Metamora was a thriving community. Nestled on the banks of the Whitewater River it was only reachable by hazardous nearly impassable roads.
The construction of the Whitewater Canal in the 1840s connected Metamora to the outside world and provided a faster means for people to transport themselves and their farm products to larger cities and markets.
Whitewater Canal Locks
The canal stretched seventy-six miles from Hagerstown Indiana to Lawrenceburg Indiana where it finally emptied into the Ohio River
Before the construction of the canal,a farmer’s only recourse to market their produce was a long and treacherous journey over mud roads to Cincinnati which required several days.
The life of the canal was short lived , as floods and the coming of the railroad soon outpaced the canal’s financial efficiency, but it served an important function during it’s short life span.
Today, very little remains of the original waterway, parts of the canal are still visible upstream near Laurel and it still provides water for the still navigable restored section in Metamora.
The grist mill has been restored and water from the canal provides power to grind corn which is available to the discerning tourist.
Metamora Grist Mill
Obviously, the canal provided much more to the tiny hamlet than transportation. The water was used to grind corn in the mill and provided hydro power that supplied electricity, not only to Metamora, but to cities as far away as Connersville until the early part of the 20th century.
Today Metamora is a quaint snapshot into the life as it was in early America.
Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean, and studied Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different cultures!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has studied and applied what he has learned to solving the many issues facing not only the United States, but the world as well.
Historic Metamora, Indiana has the
only wood aqueduct still in
service in this country. The structurally unique Duck Creek Aqueduct, located just
east of this historic village was built to
carry the Whitewater Canal 16 feet above
Duck Creek. It has a span length of 70 feet.
Duck Creek Aqueduct
At this point ,Duck Creek is is 17 feet wide and 3 feet deep.
The water flow and depth naturally varies depending on the season and amount of rain or snowfall upstream.
After the Whitewater Canal went into bankruptcy in the 1850s, the railroad assumed ownership of the property in the 1860s and the aqueduct provided a crossing over Duck Creek for what eventually would become The Whitewater Valley Railroad.
At certain times major flooding can occur with water reaching near the bottom of the bridge.
Built in 1843 (and rebuilt after the flood of 1847), the Duck Creek aqueduct
is listed as a National Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society
of Civil EngineersVideo of Historic Metamora
Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,
much of the Caribbean, and studied Mayan Cultures in Central America,
and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different cultures!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has
studied.
For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,
Things aren’t always as they seem. Often times we can assume we know where something occurred, however when the truth comes out , we can be completely surprised.
If I didn’t know any better, I would assume the above photo was taken at some exotic beach location in the Caribbean or Mediterranean Ocean. With the beautiful sand , sea gulls and small fishing boat, the photo has all the trappings of such an exotic location.
However, nothing could be farther from the truth, the photo was actually taken in down town Chicago. A little known secret , Chicago has a beach. Although small , it is a beach, no less. Nestled just off the Magnificent Mile, the beach can be a refuge from a hard day’s shopping . A welcome retreat to savor before enjoying the evening night clubbing in Chicago.
As nice and beautiful as it is, one has to remember to keep an eye on the sky. The late June day we were there, a cold front blew in from Lake Michigan and the temperature suddenly dropped from 85 degrees to 58 in just a matter of minutes. Wearing only swim trunks, a tee shirt and sandals , it was indeed a long cold walk back to our hotel.
The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.
His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.
He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.
He has published several books about his adventures.
In my opinion, I feel the most perfect month in the northern hemisphere is October. It seems that everywhere I have been, the 10th month of the year yields the idea temperatures and most colorful scenery that can be imagined.
Indiana Autumn Scene
No where is this more evident than in the midwestern section, or the bread basket, of the United States. After a spring where the weather is either too hot or too cold and with snow often arriving as late as May,as well as the threat of tornadoes well into June, sometimes both could be experienced in the same day.
A summer of intense heat follows, with either drought or heavy rains, mosquitos and deer flies , late autumn can be savored as a season of intense beauty to enjoy before the coming harsh and bleak winter.
I often stated that if we had a miserable October, we had blown the whole year as far as the weather was concerned. As soon as the first frost would occur, normally sometime during the last week of September or the first week of October the leaves would begin to turn a golden color. Various hues would be seen as some tree’s leaves gradually turned a brilliant red while many others would display a wide variety of colors from green to yellow and brown, Many different species of trees are often found in the same group or forest, so the variety would be endless.
The highways and byways are normally jammed with traffic on the weekends as many people with cameras and camcorders in hand scurry to enjoy this last piece of beauty before the winter storms and clouds arrive.
Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.
For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com
French Lick Indiana, located in beautiful and picturesque south central
Indiana has been a favorite retreat for many years. Probably most well
known as being the home of basketball great and Boston Celtics star
,Larry Bird , French Lick has a long and varied history.
Originally a French trading post, it was built near a spring and a salt lick in
the early 1800’s. A fortified ranger post was established in 1811 and
the town was officially founded in 1857. Because of the sulphur springs
the town began being promoted as a spa town in the 1840s.
French Lick
Rapidly gaining notoriety, the rich and famous began visiting for the health benefits. In the early 1920’s a casino was built which attracted the likes of Joe Louis, Irvin Berlin and Al Capone. It is a well know fact that John Dillinger used it for a hide out during his reign of terror.
At one time the Chicago Cubs held spring training there and Franklin
Roosevelt announced his intention to run for president during the
Governor’s Conference.
Today, the resort still reigns as one of the most popular destinations in the
mid west. With a golf course, a railroad excursion that passes and stops
by the childhood home of Larry Bird, and many local attractions to draw
visitors, there are many activities to keep one occupied for days.
The resort itself has much to offer, the old hotel has been refurbished and
offers American Plan dining, a complete health spa, and mineral baths.
Also included in the offering a beautiful timeshare has been constructed
with facilities to match those found any where.
Anytime of year would be a good time to go as the Indiana climate offers a
variety of activities from summer golf to winter snow skiing and world famous Santa Claus Indiana.
Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!
He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.
For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com.
Your comments appreciated
This informative Ebook describes alternative methods of making money ,often a full time income in photography even if you have no desire to shoot wedding photography. this book gives examples and websites where you can use your photos to supply you with an income, not only to enable you to buy new equipment, but a living income as well
Living in Southeastern Indiana, most our winters were relatively mild. A normal winter would consist of maybe two feet of snow spread over the entire season and a couple of weeks of zero weather. The rest of the winter would be cloudy and dreary, with highs just above freezing.
Starting in 1976, we experienced three increasingly several winters, with the grand daddy of them all in 1978. The winter started out innocently enough with a fairly mild pre-Christmas period. I remember thinking that this winter would probably see little or no snow, since the previous two had been so severe. Boy was I in for a rude awakening!
Everything went well until the third week in January, which is notorious for blizzards and bad weather. The week-end saw blizzard warnings being posted on TV and radio, however as is often the case nothing develops and not much attention is given to them. Things changed on Sunday as the first wave of snow descended upon us. Over two feet fell in a short period of time and coupled with high winds, our world was paralyzed.
I had been working for UPS for 9 years and this was the first day that nothing moved. Most of the roads had been cleared so things were better Tuesday, life was kind of back to normal.
Then the warnings kept coming, a major blizzard was on it’s way . The weather service was predicting several feet of snow . Most thought we couldn’t have two blizzards in a week, however as the sun sat on Wednesday it became apparent that something major was in the making.
The wind had turned to the northwest and the temperature dropped. Soon the snow was falling faster the stock market in ’29. Looking out my front window and seeing nothing but snow, it was evident we were in for the “big” one.
UPS and it’s drivers had the attitude that we could handle anything and weather couldn’t stop us. We had never had a day before this week where deliveries couldn’t be made. As a result, they were sending “feeders “to Indianapolis from Cincinnati, after the freeway had been closed. About 200 units became stranded in the snow, with some isolated for up to 2 months. Needless to say that policy was soon changed, after that, when a severe blizzard was forecast, everyone was pulled off the roads at sundown.
Nothing moved until the following Monday, needless to say the highway department didn’t have the equipment to handle all the snow. Many areas were isolated, in some locations snow was piled up as high as 20 feet .The roads would be opened and no sooner than the snow plows went through, the wind would blow them shut again. Soon every farmer with a tractor and construction worker that owned a bulldozer had been hired by the state to help clean the roads.
The local Dairy Queen housed about 200 stranded truckers and motorists. After they ran out of food, more food was air lifted in by helicopter. Most were stranded for over a week, that’s a long time to eat brazers and hot fudge sundaes.
All in all , over 60 inches of snow fell that winter.
It didn’t let up or thaw out until the last week in March, making it over two months that many people were isolated, many without heat or electricity.
My grandpa had always talked about how bad the winter of ’06 had been.I noticed he had quit talking about ’06, so I asked him why.
He just responded, ” ’78 was worse.”
For those of that are old enough to remember, there was nothing quite like a trip to the drive-in to see a favorite movie!
The
drive-in theaters have pretty much disappeared from the American
Landscape, but in their day they were quite the rage! In the northern
part of the country it was mainly a warm weather activity, however some
drive-ins had window heaters installed so if one could keep the frost
off the windshield, movies could be enjoyed in even the coldest of
weather.
There was nothing quite like enjoying a summer evening
sitting in a car, with the windows rolled down, enjoying a flick under
the stars and full moon! With a gentle breeze flowing in the window,
there was nothing to disturb the evening except the need to massacre
an occasional mosquito.
It was a great place to enjoy a date
with your main squeeze. One could count on the fact if the moment did
happen to get romantic, those immortal words would emit from the loud
speaker, “Jones, your chicken order is ready!” What a setting. As you
can imagine, overcoming that interruption always required a great deal
of concentration.
Probably the best part of the drive-in scene
was the Sunday night gathering for the weekly party. Anyone who was
anyone would be there. It was well known in the area that no one went
to the drive-in on Sunday night to watch a movie. Whatever event was
happening on Sunday it was planned around the weekly ritual of going to
the drive-in! If there happened to be a little beer left from a Sunday
afternoon party, so much the better. It sure was good with the chicken.
Cars would be coming from all directions and the crowd would start gathering
just before dark and one of the main challenges would be to see how
many people could get in for free. It wasn’t uncommon for kids to be
piling out of trunks as soon as it was dark enough to be unnoticed.
Little did we know this training became very useful for those who later
went on to Vietnam.
It wasn’t so much to avoid paying the entrance fee, it was just fun to see what one could get away with.
It was unheard of to have a date on Sunday night, why would you want to
do that? What, miss all the fun? It was always the perfect ending to a
week-end, soon the movie would end, we would pack up whatever was left and head home to face another work week and look forward to the next Sunday Night at the movies.
The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.
His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.
He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.
He has published several books about his adventures.
Each generation from the beginning of our country has contributed to what our country has become. By the same token, no one is perfect. Consequently, each generation has done and will continue to perform acts that it would have been better if some other course of action was taken. The baby boomers have contributed much and have been blamed for the decline of America. What is the true story?
. The winter started out innocently enough with a fairly mild pre-Christmas period. I remember thinking that this winter would probably see little or no snow, since the previous two had been so severe. Boy was I in for a rude awakening!
Thinking Between the Lines 