Did you know small aircraft pilots pull their planes manually using a bar hooked to the front of the plane just below the propeller? I hadn’t realized this was part of the process until Da Viking, Chuck, had started taking flying lessons in 2019. After Chuck experienced two helicopter crashes […]
Educational
142 posts
he summer residence of Chase Osborn represents an interesting and complex time. Now, called the Chase Osborn Preserve, it is used by the University of Michigan for natural research. But, the historic value seems to be ignored by the University. Perhaps they had to promise to allow it to fall [...]
How did Raco, Kincheloe and a radar station in Michigan’s upper peninsula work to protect the Soo Locks and our nation? We were intrigued by these sites. We had heard about them from Chuck’s father, Nile Hayden, so Da Viking and I visited these areas in the U.P. to learn […]
Da Viking and I wanted to experience the engineering marvel of the Soo Locks. Traveling by our zodiac, Thor, brought many questions and smiles from the Soo Lock’s Tour Boat. Before the locks were built, ships were skidded or portaged on rolling timbers along road to traverse the twenty-one foot […]
Defending the Soo Locks. In the sleepy wilderness and towns of the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan lies the ruins of a retired war machine. . . that had enough destructive power to level 300 major cities. We explore Raco Auxiliary Air Field, 753rd Radar Station and Kincheloe Air Force [...]
Not only did Chase S. Osborn serve as Michigan’s 27th governor (1911-1913) but he had a variety of skills and occupations: newspaper publisher, world traveler, naturalist, prospector, postmaster, railroad commissioner, fish and game warden, a member of the board of Regents for University of Michigan, and an author of many […]
As Chuck and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in December, I have glanced back over so many memories and crazy trips. This “trip” was the start of a wonderful life together! After two years of friendship Chuck and I had grown in our commitment that took us by surprise. […]
During prohibition, there were thousands of illegal runs across the Canadian border to Michigan. They brought whiskey into the United States, which was illegal because of the Volstead Act. While organized crime gets much of the credit, there were also average Americans that risked life and limb to bring in [...]
Can you imagine teaching a group ranging from pre kindergarten to eighth grade? (Some of you probably can with our virtual learning this past spring.) Wendy Spray has taught on the remote island of Bois Blanc for over 15 years. One year her one room school had a population of […]
In the quaint village of Gergei, Sardina is Mario Cesare’s cottage tucked between stone walls, which was our housing for one night. Mario had been an artist who painted and drew portraits of locals capturing their character. His scenes were of village life. He didn’t reach for fame, but rather […]