"By my staff!" she exclaimed. "We are enough. I will go to my good friends at Compiegne (in France)." Thus, an 19-year-old young woman named Joan went off on May 23, 1430, with her army of 500 men to try to defeat the English invaders and their French sympathizers from Burgundy (also in France). "By nightfall she was a prisoner; a year later she died at the stake at Rouen," (The Maid of France Rides By: Compiegne, Where Joan of Arc Fought Her Last Battle, Celebrates Her Fifth Century, Inez Buffiington Ryan, National Geographic Magazine, November, 1932, p. 608.
A year and a half earlier, Joan, "a young peasant girl who, while tending her flocks, saw heavenly visions and heard heavenly voices bidding her rescue her Dauphin (king) and country," had started trying to reclaim large portions of France from the English (p. 608). At the time, the entire country of France was despondent and Charles had not yet been crowned king. After several of her astounding military victories against terrible odds, the king was crowned.
Many years after her death by fire, she was declared innocent, proclaimed a martyr, then canonized a Saint of the Catholic Church. I've always had a special fondness for St. Joan of Arc as she is my patron saint.
The town of Compiegne, and many other French towns where Joan fought, celebrates her last battle with the pageant of re-enactment every year. The 8-page color section in the article showed magnificent medieval costumes. Wouldn't it be fun to see this particular battle re-enacted!
Monday, June 30, 2014
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Solar Eclipse: From the Ground
Yesterday we flew along with Captain Albert Stevens as he and his pilot chased an eclipse from high in the sky to photograph it on August 31, 1932. Today we will see how the crowd on the ground observed this rare natural phenomenon. A Jesuit priest/scientist, Paul A. McNally, S.J., Ph.D. wrote Observing a Total Eclipse of the Sun: Dimming Solar Light for a Few Seconds Entails Years of Work for Science and Attracts Throngs to "Nature's Most Magnificent Spectacle" in the pages of the National Geographic Magazine, November, 1932.
"Late August brought groups from far corners of the world making their way toward the vantage grounds in Canada and New England, fearful, yet hopeful, that some kind of disposition of weather would bless the spot they chose, so that they might stand beneath a cloudless sky and enjoy nature's most magnificent spectacle," (p. 597). Father McNally explains for his readers more about eclipses: "Relative to the earth, the shadow of the moon where it touches the earth is small, averaging about 80 miles in width: so that a portion of the earth from which a particular eclipse may be seen in restricted," (p. 597). He goes on to reveal that exact calculations of the path of an eclipse is extremely difficult to determine due to the elliptical paths of the Earth around the Sun, the Moon around the Earth, and the influences of other planets on the Moon and Earth. (Let's don't forget: there were no fancy computers back then!)
News to me: the sun's 'corona,' the bright light showing behind the black sun during an eclipse, varies, depending on the kind of sun spots present.
There is much the astronomers may study about the sun, stars, and the universe during an eclipse. They are busy "months before the general public knows that there is to be a solar eclipse, planning the experiments they will perform and setting in order the complicated instruments necessary for the observations that must be taken. Nothing can be left to chance, the time is truly golden, and not even a fractional part is to be lost," (p. 601). Dark glasses or devices must be worn by all who were to gaze directly at the eclipse.
When the day and time of the full eclipse came, at last, the astronomers and spectators were ready. "While the astronomers bent diligently to their task, the thousands of spectators feasted themselves on the incomparably wondrous spectacle in the sky. Each second it seemed to take on new splendor. After some ninety seconds, the total eclipse was over, and the light of the sun returned. Spectators proceeded home on the jammed roads; scientists started packing their equipment. The scientific results would not be known for months.
Father McNally concludes, "after all, it was no puny task that man accomplished when he reached forth 93,000,000 miles and probed the secrets of the mighty sun during the ninety-odd seconds that marked the duration of the total solar eclipse of 1932." I particularly enjoyed the time-lapse photography of the sun from total visibility to total eclipse.
"Late August brought groups from far corners of the world making their way toward the vantage grounds in Canada and New England, fearful, yet hopeful, that some kind of disposition of weather would bless the spot they chose, so that they might stand beneath a cloudless sky and enjoy nature's most magnificent spectacle," (p. 597). Father McNally explains for his readers more about eclipses: "Relative to the earth, the shadow of the moon where it touches the earth is small, averaging about 80 miles in width: so that a portion of the earth from which a particular eclipse may be seen in restricted," (p. 597). He goes on to reveal that exact calculations of the path of an eclipse is extremely difficult to determine due to the elliptical paths of the Earth around the Sun, the Moon around the Earth, and the influences of other planets on the Moon and Earth. (Let's don't forget: there were no fancy computers back then!)
News to me: the sun's 'corona,' the bright light showing behind the black sun during an eclipse, varies, depending on the kind of sun spots present.
There is much the astronomers may study about the sun, stars, and the universe during an eclipse. They are busy "months before the general public knows that there is to be a solar eclipse, planning the experiments they will perform and setting in order the complicated instruments necessary for the observations that must be taken. Nothing can be left to chance, the time is truly golden, and not even a fractional part is to be lost," (p. 601). Dark glasses or devices must be worn by all who were to gaze directly at the eclipse.
When the day and time of the full eclipse came, at last, the astronomers and spectators were ready. "While the astronomers bent diligently to their task, the thousands of spectators feasted themselves on the incomparably wondrous spectacle in the sky. Each second it seemed to take on new splendor. After some ninety seconds, the total eclipse was over, and the light of the sun returned. Spectators proceeded home on the jammed roads; scientists started packing their equipment. The scientific results would not be known for months.
Father McNally concludes, "after all, it was no puny task that man accomplished when he reached forth 93,000,000 miles and probed the secrets of the mighty sun during the ninety-odd seconds that marked the duration of the total solar eclipse of 1932." I particularly enjoyed the time-lapse photography of the sun from total visibility to total eclipse.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Seen an Eclipse?
An eclipse of the sun or moon on our planet Earth is very rare. I only remember two during my lifetime; I saw one of them clearly and clouds obscured the second one. That's because the full eclipse is visible only in a specific small part of the land. A partial eclipse is visible in a greater area.
For an eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and earth need to be aligned properly so that one of them partially or completely shadows another. Wikipedia (online) states that this can happen twice yearly.
In Photographing the Eclipse of 1932 from the Air: From Five Miles Above the Earth's Surface, the National Geographic Society-Army Air Corps Survey Obtains Successful Photographs of the Moon's Shadow, Captain Albert W. Stevens first describes two failed attempts to photograph an eclipse from far above the earth's surface (National Geographic Magazine, November, 1932).
In addition to learning more about eclipses, this article has given me a deeper appreciation of our 2014 pressurized airplanes! In 1932, airplanes were flying experimentally only at altitudes of 39,000 feet where the temperature was 72 degrees below zero. Another problem is that "Oxygen, even if available as pure gas, is not absorbed properly by the blood under the conditions of lower atmospheric pressure," (p. 585). Why did these pilots want to fly so high? Because the shadow cast by an eclipse was so long that they wanted to capture it from high above.
Captain Stevens was the photographer. He and his pilot practiced the anticipated flight for many hours. It was to take place on August 31, 1932 at Fryeburg, Maine and surrounding area, including part of the State of New Hampshire. "Please remember that we had bitten off a rather large order: to photograph a spectacle approximately 100 miles across and 50 miles deep, moving at a speed greater than that of an army rifle bullet," (p. 588).
The best view of the eclipse was to be seen in the State of Maine. Captain Stevens and Lieutenant McAllister, the pilot, flew for 20 minutes and then spotted the eclipse. "The huge shadow, 100 miles across, swept toward us like a great bluish-gray wave, and the silvery white cloud tops became light gray, then dark gray, then almost black. . . The very instant that the last point of sunlight disappeared, the corona flashed out from around the black disk of the moon, exactly as if the sudden flipping of a switch. Although I had been present at other eclipses, I was awed by the situation," (p. 589).
What amazing photos the Captain took of the clouds but especially of the corona of the sun, at 5-second intervals!
FYI: Make your travel plans: the next total solar eclipse in the U.S.A. will happen in Carbondale, Illinois on August 21, 2017 for less than THREE MINUTES!
For an eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and earth need to be aligned properly so that one of them partially or completely shadows another. Wikipedia (online) states that this can happen twice yearly.
In Photographing the Eclipse of 1932 from the Air: From Five Miles Above the Earth's Surface, the National Geographic Society-Army Air Corps Survey Obtains Successful Photographs of the Moon's Shadow, Captain Albert W. Stevens first describes two failed attempts to photograph an eclipse from far above the earth's surface (National Geographic Magazine, November, 1932).
In addition to learning more about eclipses, this article has given me a deeper appreciation of our 2014 pressurized airplanes! In 1932, airplanes were flying experimentally only at altitudes of 39,000 feet where the temperature was 72 degrees below zero. Another problem is that "Oxygen, even if available as pure gas, is not absorbed properly by the blood under the conditions of lower atmospheric pressure," (p. 585). Why did these pilots want to fly so high? Because the shadow cast by an eclipse was so long that they wanted to capture it from high above.
Captain Stevens was the photographer. He and his pilot practiced the anticipated flight for many hours. It was to take place on August 31, 1932 at Fryeburg, Maine and surrounding area, including part of the State of New Hampshire. "Please remember that we had bitten off a rather large order: to photograph a spectacle approximately 100 miles across and 50 miles deep, moving at a speed greater than that of an army rifle bullet," (p. 588).
The best view of the eclipse was to be seen in the State of Maine. Captain Stevens and Lieutenant McAllister, the pilot, flew for 20 minutes and then spotted the eclipse. "The huge shadow, 100 miles across, swept toward us like a great bluish-gray wave, and the silvery white cloud tops became light gray, then dark gray, then almost black. . . The very instant that the last point of sunlight disappeared, the corona flashed out from around the black disk of the moon, exactly as if the sudden flipping of a switch. Although I had been present at other eclipses, I was awed by the situation," (p. 589).
What amazing photos the Captain took of the clouds but especially of the corona of the sun, at 5-second intervals!
FYI: Make your travel plans: the next total solar eclipse in the U.S.A. will happen in Carbondale, Illinois on August 21, 2017 for less than THREE MINUTES!
Friday, June 27, 2014
An Old Friend's Motorcar Trip (Part 3)
We can't imagine how much the entire country of China was in a near-total upheaval due to the Communists in 1931! Now they even had a new calendar, to replace the milennia-old calendar which celebrated the New Year in February. Yet life went on in China as did the lives of those in the ambitious expedition which we're following. The author noted that opium-smoking was not banned.
The adventurous men found themselves celebrating the last day of 1931 in Liangchow. Their host, the German missionary bishop, was wise and welcoming as he proclaimed, "You are thirty and you have your own supplies. Were you twice as many and without food, you would be welcome. You are French. We are Germans. Enemies? No. Here, so far from our homes, France and Germany seem like two provinces of a single fatherland," (p. 561). Mr. Maynard Owen Williams, Litt.D., the author of From the Mediterranean to the Yellow Sea by Motor: The Citroen-Haardt Expedition Successfully Completes Its Dramatic Journey, National Geographic Magazine, November, 1932, was quite pleased to be the lone American on the trip, a representative of the National Geographic Society.
They judged the next part of their trek to be the most difficult, having traveled the 250 miles from Liangchow to Ningsia in six days. "across this eroded, worn out, humpy no man's land, obstructed by rock-like hunks of earth and hollowed by gullies, amid which the trail is usually only a half-choked gullet between walls of loess which must be crumbled with a pick-ax before our seven-ton cars can pass," (p. 562). The weary group finally reached the seemingly deserted village of Hungshui, and fell asleep in cold eight degrees below zero (Fahrenheit).
On the move again after rest, the party "entered another world. The route was relatively good. The people were well-dressed and clean. Not a beggar did we see. The wide plain beside the Yellow River had a rich look about it, even in winter, and skirted men riding bicycles gave us a sense of arriving somewhere," (p. 564).
The motorcars were nearly constantly being repaired, and at one stop Mr. Williams remarked, "A camel or horse would have seemed very efficient," (p. 566). There were soldiers everywhere. Most let the foreigners pass. Once, soldiers fired at them after they had passed. Our explorers wanted the soldiers to think they had a machine gun and fired four shots in quick succession over their heads. The soldiers bought the idea and let them pass.
At Paotow, they saw electric lights and heard the sounds of a train whistle, an experience they had been without for the past seven months. Mr. Williams was met by W. Robert Moore, a representative from the National Geographic Society, who took charge of the more than 1,500 films and photographic plates which had been so carefully preserved from heat exceeding 120 degrees and cold at 30 degrees below zero. The material was in excellent condition.
When they met with an important official, French had to be translated into Chinese, then Chinese into Mongol, and finally Mongol into Tibetan for mutual understanding.
For nearly the entire trip, the group had lived like nomads. When they were near the end, their chief Chinese guide remarked to the author, "Williams, some day you will get all shaved up again, with a fine bath, a clean shirt, and a tuxedo, and it will surprise you to discover that you are still a gentleman," (p. 577).
"At high noon on February 12, 1932, the Citroen-Haardt Transasiatic Expedition swung into the grounds of the French Legation in Peiping (Peking, China), was welcomed by the elite of many nations, and came into well-earned glory. In 314 1/2 days Georges-Marie Haardt and Louis Andouin-Dubreuil. . . had blazed a 7,370-mile trail across Asia, the first overland exploration from the Mediterranean to the Yellow Sea since Marco Polo," (p. 577). "To live with these men, to see them in action, to help record their triumph, was the greatest adventure of my life," Mr. Williams exuberantly concludes. "The findings of the explorer gain value not from the fact that they are entirely new, but that they are more widely shared," (p. 578).
"Our aim was not to court adventures, but friendships. . . we had bridged the centuries as well as a continent," (p. 580).
Postscript: Sadly, their courageous leader, Mr. Haardt, died of pneumonia the following month in Hong Kong. The entire party returned in their motorcars to their city of origin, Beirut, Lebanon. They found the roads much improved since they had first attempted to pass over them.
The adventurous men found themselves celebrating the last day of 1931 in Liangchow. Their host, the German missionary bishop, was wise and welcoming as he proclaimed, "You are thirty and you have your own supplies. Were you twice as many and without food, you would be welcome. You are French. We are Germans. Enemies? No. Here, so far from our homes, France and Germany seem like two provinces of a single fatherland," (p. 561). Mr. Maynard Owen Williams, Litt.D., the author of From the Mediterranean to the Yellow Sea by Motor: The Citroen-Haardt Expedition Successfully Completes Its Dramatic Journey, National Geographic Magazine, November, 1932, was quite pleased to be the lone American on the trip, a representative of the National Geographic Society.
They judged the next part of their trek to be the most difficult, having traveled the 250 miles from Liangchow to Ningsia in six days. "across this eroded, worn out, humpy no man's land, obstructed by rock-like hunks of earth and hollowed by gullies, amid which the trail is usually only a half-choked gullet between walls of loess which must be crumbled with a pick-ax before our seven-ton cars can pass," (p. 562). The weary group finally reached the seemingly deserted village of Hungshui, and fell asleep in cold eight degrees below zero (Fahrenheit).
On the move again after rest, the party "entered another world. The route was relatively good. The people were well-dressed and clean. Not a beggar did we see. The wide plain beside the Yellow River had a rich look about it, even in winter, and skirted men riding bicycles gave us a sense of arriving somewhere," (p. 564).
The motorcars were nearly constantly being repaired, and at one stop Mr. Williams remarked, "A camel or horse would have seemed very efficient," (p. 566). There were soldiers everywhere. Most let the foreigners pass. Once, soldiers fired at them after they had passed. Our explorers wanted the soldiers to think they had a machine gun and fired four shots in quick succession over their heads. The soldiers bought the idea and let them pass.
At Paotow, they saw electric lights and heard the sounds of a train whistle, an experience they had been without for the past seven months. Mr. Williams was met by W. Robert Moore, a representative from the National Geographic Society, who took charge of the more than 1,500 films and photographic plates which had been so carefully preserved from heat exceeding 120 degrees and cold at 30 degrees below zero. The material was in excellent condition.
When they met with an important official, French had to be translated into Chinese, then Chinese into Mongol, and finally Mongol into Tibetan for mutual understanding.
For nearly the entire trip, the group had lived like nomads. When they were near the end, their chief Chinese guide remarked to the author, "Williams, some day you will get all shaved up again, with a fine bath, a clean shirt, and a tuxedo, and it will surprise you to discover that you are still a gentleman," (p. 577).
"At high noon on February 12, 1932, the Citroen-Haardt Transasiatic Expedition swung into the grounds of the French Legation in Peiping (Peking, China), was welcomed by the elite of many nations, and came into well-earned glory. In 314 1/2 days Georges-Marie Haardt and Louis Andouin-Dubreuil. . . had blazed a 7,370-mile trail across Asia, the first overland exploration from the Mediterranean to the Yellow Sea since Marco Polo," (p. 577). "To live with these men, to see them in action, to help record their triumph, was the greatest adventure of my life," Mr. Williams exuberantly concludes. "The findings of the explorer gain value not from the fact that they are entirely new, but that they are more widely shared," (p. 578).
"Our aim was not to court adventures, but friendships. . . we had bridged the centuries as well as a continent," (p. 580).
Postscript: Sadly, their courageous leader, Mr. Haardt, died of pneumonia the following month in Hong Kong. The entire party returned in their motorcars to their city of origin, Beirut, Lebanon. They found the roads much improved since they had first attempted to pass over them.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
An Old Friend's Motorcar Trip (Part 2)
The caravan of men and motorcars left Mongolia in the dead of winter and trudged on toward Peiping (Peking, China). Their chief and never-relenting enemy was the cold. "The fact that we arrived in Peiping without exceptional hardship is due to two factors - the relative mildness of the winter of 1931-32 and the help of the Christian missionaries. The latter not only guarded our supplies during a period of rebellion and requisition, but also enabled us to divide one long journey into several shorter ones, at the end of each of which we found physical and spiritual warmth and recreation," From the Mediterranean to the Yellow Sea by Motor: The Citroen-Haardt Expedition Successfully Completes Its Dramatic Journey," Maynard Owen Williams, Litt.D., National Geographic Magazine, November, 1932, p. 539.
How cold was it? "My notes covering this period were recorded by a pen which had to be thawed out after every few words by placing it in my mouth," (p. 543).
All enjoyed the many small towns they passed through on their way to the 200-feet tall sand dunes of the Yellow River. "We saw life through the eye of the calliope player, and in each tiny town our passing set an impromtu east day," (p. 543).
Mr. Williams took his camera everywhere and it always attracted attention. "Behind my camera curious children always trailed along as behind the piper of Hamelin (the Pied Piper?). With a stand camera, you are at the mercy of a mob. Offend them and you might as well go home. Inspire their good will and they'll warm your heart," (p. 544).
It seems like nearly in all places were lurking bandits or military from the Chinese Civil War. Beside the convoy patrolled "quiet, courageous men. . . keeping contact between the closely aligned cars and looking for ambush or trouble," (p. 553.) Of course, they came in contact with the region of the Great Wall of China repeatedly. "The score of parallel ruts beside the line of the Great Wall, here merely a succession of bulky towers, gave little evidence of recent use. Ages of traffic had worn them so deep that even a high-wheeled cart must continue in the track in which it starts," (p. 553).
Even though the group saw much destruction by the war, several places were untouched, among them a lamasery (home of Buddhist monks, called 'lamas'). "Sharamuren, Lama Colony, is Asia's Spotless Town. . . many whitewashed homes surround the temples, but most of the people live in felt yurts (round structures), of which each private courtyard has at least one," (photo caption, p. 558).
The troupe proceeded and one time, after driving for fifty-two hours non-stop, they were pleased to stop at a mission. "That day of rest at the Catholic Mission outside Liangchow is full of happy memories. In touch with the world again! I devoured one North China Star after another, the latest news only 20 days old!" (p. 560).
The expedition was now halfway in its journey to Peiping. This is a good place for us also to stop for the day.
How cold was it? "My notes covering this period were recorded by a pen which had to be thawed out after every few words by placing it in my mouth," (p. 543).
All enjoyed the many small towns they passed through on their way to the 200-feet tall sand dunes of the Yellow River. "We saw life through the eye of the calliope player, and in each tiny town our passing set an impromtu east day," (p. 543).
Mr. Williams took his camera everywhere and it always attracted attention. "Behind my camera curious children always trailed along as behind the piper of Hamelin (the Pied Piper?). With a stand camera, you are at the mercy of a mob. Offend them and you might as well go home. Inspire their good will and they'll warm your heart," (p. 544).
It seems like nearly in all places were lurking bandits or military from the Chinese Civil War. Beside the convoy patrolled "quiet, courageous men. . . keeping contact between the closely aligned cars and looking for ambush or trouble," (p. 553.) Of course, they came in contact with the region of the Great Wall of China repeatedly. "The score of parallel ruts beside the line of the Great Wall, here merely a succession of bulky towers, gave little evidence of recent use. Ages of traffic had worn them so deep that even a high-wheeled cart must continue in the track in which it starts," (p. 553).
Even though the group saw much destruction by the war, several places were untouched, among them a lamasery (home of Buddhist monks, called 'lamas'). "Sharamuren, Lama Colony, is Asia's Spotless Town. . . many whitewashed homes surround the temples, but most of the people live in felt yurts (round structures), of which each private courtyard has at least one," (photo caption, p. 558).
The troupe proceeded and one time, after driving for fifty-two hours non-stop, they were pleased to stop at a mission. "That day of rest at the Catholic Mission outside Liangchow is full of happy memories. In touch with the world again! I devoured one North China Star after another, the latest news only 20 days old!" (p. 560).
The expedition was now halfway in its journey to Peiping. This is a good place for us also to stop for the day.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
An Old Friend's Long Motorcar Trip (Part 1)
Now that I'm snug back at home, I'm ready to tackle another long (69 pages!) article in the next issue of the National Geographic Magazine (NGM), November, 1932. In order to even read this article, I've had to search through my previous blogs and re-read two of them, "Getting Ready for a BIG Trip!" this blog, Saturday, December 28, 2013, and "The Original ATVs" this blog, Tuesday, January 14, 2014. If you like, read them first, then proceed with this entry.
This next article is the conclusion of an incredibly long and tortuous, adventurous, in reality, fool-hardy in some ways, journey made mostly by 'motorcar' across the world from Beyrouth (Beiruit, Lebanon) to Peiping (Peking, China) started in April, 1931. I feel like the author, Maynard Owen Williams, Litt.D., is an old friend I've met through his previous articles in the NGM. The imposing title is From the Mediterranean to the Yellow Sea by Motor: The Citroen-Haardt Expedition Successfully Completes Its Dramatic Journey.
All in all, there were eleven vehicles that appear to be hybrid Model-T trucks in the front and tractors with trailers in the back which finished the trip. One group went 3,257 miles from Kashgar (in Chinese Turkestan) to Peiping. Another group went 7,370 miles from Beyrouth to Peiping (one way!). Mr. Williams, from the National Geographic Society, was the lone American. Can you imagine this distance traveled now? Now can you imagine this trip when there were very few roads or bridges!! Add this to the equation: the speed of the vehicles ranged from one to twelve miles per hour.
Mr. Williams tells us now of part of the epic journey, beginning in Kashgar, Turkestan. The expedition needed to cross Russian territory but was denied permission by the Soviets. Now they need to cross Chinese Turkestan (Sinkiang, an independent province of the Peoples Republic of China). They were totally dependent on the whims of the local rulers, "for this was the very heart of a continent into which occidentals (white people) have gone only through the cooperation or consent of those to whom it belongs," (p. 515). In addition to the motorcars, hundreds of the double-humped Asian camels were used to carry their supplies.
At one location, the troupe narrowly missed being a casualty of a local military skirmish. "Suddenly we came upon the wreckage of war: horses killed, carts overturned, corpses lining the road and in the ditches, soldiers, women and children huddled together in utter disorder. . . we continued our way amid burning homes," (p. 528).
One goal of the expedition was to study the culture of the vast continent of Asia. "For more than 2,000 years Taoism, "now a conglomeration of animism, polytheism, and magic," has been the popular religion of the Chinese. Its philosophy is responsible for Chinese passivity in the face of suffering and emphasis on culture rather than possession," (photo caption, p. 529).
In Mongolia, an educated princess who also spoke French and English, commented on the view of we Westerners by the Orientals, "The Oriental has his psychological Great Wall, whose protection is beginning to seem less sure. The man behind it doesn't want to be loved or even appreciated. He wants to be undisturbed. People seek to protect not only property, but modes of life. Perhaps your way of life is right for you, but it threatens ours. You are in a hurry, and hence, barbaric (my emphasis). You are entranced by mechanical toys, which you haven't mastered. You like frankness; but until real understanding exists, even formal politeness helps. You dominate world ideals, which differ from ours. You are men of auto, railway, radio. You find this a backward land, without roads, speed, a free press, a balanced budget, sanitation, or familiar forms of justice. Hence you pity the Chinese. But they live in the Celestial Kingdom, the center of all the world that counts. Your progress is chaotic, at least in its impact on orientals, because its spiritual values are not recognized. We Mongols are emancipated. 'A good horse and a wide plain under God's heaven,' that's our desire, and we realize it," (p. 535.) What an insightful young lady for her time and our times! Have we made progress together in the last 80 years?
This is a good stopping point for today in this very long trip.
This next article is the conclusion of an incredibly long and tortuous, adventurous, in reality, fool-hardy in some ways, journey made mostly by 'motorcar' across the world from Beyrouth (Beiruit, Lebanon) to Peiping (Peking, China) started in April, 1931. I feel like the author, Maynard Owen Williams, Litt.D., is an old friend I've met through his previous articles in the NGM. The imposing title is From the Mediterranean to the Yellow Sea by Motor: The Citroen-Haardt Expedition Successfully Completes Its Dramatic Journey.
All in all, there were eleven vehicles that appear to be hybrid Model-T trucks in the front and tractors with trailers in the back which finished the trip. One group went 3,257 miles from Kashgar (in Chinese Turkestan) to Peiping. Another group went 7,370 miles from Beyrouth to Peiping (one way!). Mr. Williams, from the National Geographic Society, was the lone American. Can you imagine this distance traveled now? Now can you imagine this trip when there were very few roads or bridges!! Add this to the equation: the speed of the vehicles ranged from one to twelve miles per hour.
Mr. Williams tells us now of part of the epic journey, beginning in Kashgar, Turkestan. The expedition needed to cross Russian territory but was denied permission by the Soviets. Now they need to cross Chinese Turkestan (Sinkiang, an independent province of the Peoples Republic of China). They were totally dependent on the whims of the local rulers, "for this was the very heart of a continent into which occidentals (white people) have gone only through the cooperation or consent of those to whom it belongs," (p. 515). In addition to the motorcars, hundreds of the double-humped Asian camels were used to carry their supplies.
At one location, the troupe narrowly missed being a casualty of a local military skirmish. "Suddenly we came upon the wreckage of war: horses killed, carts overturned, corpses lining the road and in the ditches, soldiers, women and children huddled together in utter disorder. . . we continued our way amid burning homes," (p. 528).
One goal of the expedition was to study the culture of the vast continent of Asia. "For more than 2,000 years Taoism, "now a conglomeration of animism, polytheism, and magic," has been the popular religion of the Chinese. Its philosophy is responsible for Chinese passivity in the face of suffering and emphasis on culture rather than possession," (photo caption, p. 529).
In Mongolia, an educated princess who also spoke French and English, commented on the view of we Westerners by the Orientals, "The Oriental has his psychological Great Wall, whose protection is beginning to seem less sure. The man behind it doesn't want to be loved or even appreciated. He wants to be undisturbed. People seek to protect not only property, but modes of life. Perhaps your way of life is right for you, but it threatens ours. You are in a hurry, and hence, barbaric (my emphasis). You are entranced by mechanical toys, which you haven't mastered. You like frankness; but until real understanding exists, even formal politeness helps. You dominate world ideals, which differ from ours. You are men of auto, railway, radio. You find this a backward land, without roads, speed, a free press, a balanced budget, sanitation, or familiar forms of justice. Hence you pity the Chinese. But they live in the Celestial Kingdom, the center of all the world that counts. Your progress is chaotic, at least in its impact on orientals, because its spiritual values are not recognized. We Mongols are emancipated. 'A good horse and a wide plain under God's heaven,' that's our desire, and we realize it," (p. 535.) What an insightful young lady for her time and our times! Have we made progress together in the last 80 years?
This is a good stopping point for today in this very long trip.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Final Sanibel Thoughts
Sanibel Island, Florida, is such an interesting place, we came away not doing everything we had hoped to do. We hope to return sometime in the future. For one thing, we had planned to rent bicycles and ride over the many bike trails. There were many bike riders of all ages with serious mountain bikes, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and tandems. They were out at all hours of the days.
Then there are the palm trees! I know for sure, I couldn't plant one in the ground here in Kentucky, for it wouldn't survive our winters, but I could get one in a container and bring it inside in the winters. I never got around to looking for one this trip. Since I have a small two-story area in my home entryway, it could grow for years!
Lastly, Sanibel Island has a web cam. I had told several people I would find out when we would be near it and e-mail friends and family so they could get on the website and see us live and smiling! I totally forgot!
So now I must return to that beautiful place! Would anyone recommend any other islands to us travelers?
Then there are the palm trees! I know for sure, I couldn't plant one in the ground here in Kentucky, for it wouldn't survive our winters, but I could get one in a container and bring it inside in the winters. I never got around to looking for one this trip. Since I have a small two-story area in my home entryway, it could grow for years!
Lastly, Sanibel Island has a web cam. I had told several people I would find out when we would be near it and e-mail friends and family so they could get on the website and see us live and smiling! I totally forgot!
So now I must return to that beautiful place! Would anyone recommend any other islands to us travelers?
Monday, June 23, 2014
Home, Sweet Kentucky Home!
Sunday, June 23, 2014: We were pleased to leave exactly as planned, 8 a.m. Atlanta traffic was not as congested as we had imagined; it kept moving. Here are some photos from the past three days.
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| One of the three boats on Friday. |
Beautiful sunset at the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island.
Me/Jan enjoying wading in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters Saturday.
While I've seen many Horse Shoe Crab shells and parts of shells on various beaches, this one was mostly intact (but not alive).
A Father and his small Son spent a long time building this Sand Castle. They were very proud of their work!
Some days there are as many as FOUR weddings on the shore at Casa Ybel resort, we're told.
Plaque of Jesus and the Little Children at St. Isabel Church, Sanibel Island.
Theresa with the Parrot at Jerry's. She talked and he listened!
Wouldn't you like to live on the corner of Rabbit Road and Bunny Lane on Sanibel Island!
Last morning photo of the morning sun from the lanai of our Sanibel Island condo.
The following were taken from our 11th floor room, Hilton, Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday evening.
The prettiest sunset we've seen this week, but no beach!
To our left, the CocaCola building.
Across the street, the Turner Broadcasting Company buildings.
There were FIFTEEN lanes of traffic on the street below!
The following were taken on our trip from Atlanta north.
One of the Great Cities of the World, Atlanta, Georgia, is hilly, clean, and beautiful with flowering bushes of many varieties. North of the city, the hills turn into mountains (above).
They call them the Blue Ridge Mountains or the Smoky Mountains. In the summer haze, the mountains do look blue. This is in the State of Tennessee. The mountains stretch from southern border with Georgia to northern border with Kentucky on Interstate highway 75. The valleys are expansive and picturesque. It is all green and lush.
There was a new statue just before the exit at Ringgold, Georgia: a giant gray mouse eyeing a giant yellow wedge of holey cheese. At 11:25 a.m. we spot the first sign with arrow pointing to Lexington. Yay!!! Before the Caryville, Tennesse, exit, we spot the familiar giant green Dinosaur. Theresa thinks it is a Dragon. Since it has little green wings, she's probably right. We notice it is missing one ear! I must take a picture of it for you the next time I pass it!
25 miles to Jellico, Tennessee! We are very excited! Jellico is the last town before KENTUCKY!! Now there's the Superstore Fireworks complex with the giraffe, elephant, clown and not one but TWO ferris wheels! You must see it!
Exit 160 is Jellico, Tennesse!! At 12:18 p.m.: Whitley County, Welcome to Kentucky, Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, 1 mile to Welcome Center! We are tired, it is all business: rest room, peanut butter crackers and back on the road. We make it home by 3 p.m.
We love our trips, but the farther we go, the more thrilled we are to be HOME! Tonight we will sleep very, very good! Unpacking can wait, laundry can wait, we are HOME!
Praise the Lord for keeping us safe on our 2,000 mile trip!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Due North! Sanibel, Day 9, Sunday, 6/22/14
Parting thoughts about our week on Sanibel Island:
The Small Things: what a treat to have the rare leisure to notice that at the base of a palm tree mid-way between the beach and our condo, there was a tiny ant hill about the size of a fifty-cent piece. The little ant creatures were in a line, disappearing into the hole. A few inches away were broken pieces of two white bird eggs, smaller than the blue robin's eggs familiar to me.
The People: When Theresa and I were ready to check out today, we headed to the parking lot to the car. Parked beside us was a new couple. We all chatted for a minute and the wife mentioned, "We're on our honeymoon." There were no grumps on the island!
The Pelicans: we ate a quick breakfast on the lanai this morning, so we could load up the car and get on the road. The pelicans were out to sea. Surprise! The crows returned and loudly squawked their presence in a palm tree. I wondered if the pelicans would chase them out again in a new Civil War.
On Driving: It's a nearly 15-hour driving trip one way, Lexington, Kentucky, to Sanibel Island, Florida. It has been well worth it to have the freedom to NOT have to rent a car at the airport or take a taxi or bus in order to go where we please when we please. Besides, we both love to drive and have shared the drive. And we didn't have to worry if something would get lost or broken in our luggage on a plane. This definitely was a win-win situation!
On Vacations: This last week has given me a new perspective, a brighter outlook on life! Oh, please take a vacation yourself! Shortly before I left home last week, I was excitedly telling a friend about our trip. He seemed sad and said, dejectedly, "Vacation? What's that?" It seems he thinks there's no one who can take care of his responsibilities but himself. . . I'll try to help him work something out. If nothing else, a vacation gives you the time to rest and recharge!
Now: Theresa and I are on the 11th floor of the downtown Hilton in Atlanta, Georgia. The sunset was awesome! Theresa commented, "You know, this is really better than those on the beach were, but there are all these buildings! I hope to be able to share the rest of my photos with you from home tomorrow.
Nighty-night!
The Small Things: what a treat to have the rare leisure to notice that at the base of a palm tree mid-way between the beach and our condo, there was a tiny ant hill about the size of a fifty-cent piece. The little ant creatures were in a line, disappearing into the hole. A few inches away were broken pieces of two white bird eggs, smaller than the blue robin's eggs familiar to me.
The People: When Theresa and I were ready to check out today, we headed to the parking lot to the car. Parked beside us was a new couple. We all chatted for a minute and the wife mentioned, "We're on our honeymoon." There were no grumps on the island!
The Pelicans: we ate a quick breakfast on the lanai this morning, so we could load up the car and get on the road. The pelicans were out to sea. Surprise! The crows returned and loudly squawked their presence in a palm tree. I wondered if the pelicans would chase them out again in a new Civil War.
On Driving: It's a nearly 15-hour driving trip one way, Lexington, Kentucky, to Sanibel Island, Florida. It has been well worth it to have the freedom to NOT have to rent a car at the airport or take a taxi or bus in order to go where we please when we please. Besides, we both love to drive and have shared the drive. And we didn't have to worry if something would get lost or broken in our luggage on a plane. This definitely was a win-win situation!
On Vacations: This last week has given me a new perspective, a brighter outlook on life! Oh, please take a vacation yourself! Shortly before I left home last week, I was excitedly telling a friend about our trip. He seemed sad and said, dejectedly, "Vacation? What's that?" It seems he thinks there's no one who can take care of his responsibilities but himself. . . I'll try to help him work something out. If nothing else, a vacation gives you the time to rest and recharge!
Now: Theresa and I are on the 11th floor of the downtown Hilton in Atlanta, Georgia. The sunset was awesome! Theresa commented, "You know, this is really better than those on the beach were, but there are all these buildings! I hope to be able to share the rest of my photos with you from home tomorrow.
Nighty-night!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
The Three Ship Day, Sanibel, Day 8, Saturday, 6/21/14
Boats of any size are few to be seen from the Gulf of Mexico off this side of Sanibel Island. So when we saw three in succession on the horizon, it was picture-worthy! That happened late yesterday, while it was still light.
Part of the day, we spent souvenir shopping. I found the book of Florida Lighthouses for which I'd been searching plus a book about manatees. We went back to the Island Cow restaurant to get ice cream and take it to the beach. Bowman's Beach is at the far end of Sanibel Island, before the causeway (bridge) to Captiva Island. The sunset was exactly as advertised: spectacular!
Today, however, the scene has ramped up considerably. There are lots more boats, some speeding, one pulling a round float full of children for hours and hours. Several folks are fishing (don't see that they caught anything!). There is a wispy white ribbon and flower-covered arch in front of rows of white wooden chairs on the beach; there will be a wedding. All this activity blares out, "Weekend!"
Nothing rushes the pelicans. They seem to fly to and fro at the same pace all day. One plopped down in the water very close to me earlier. They are such BIG birds! I watched this one flip the fish it just caught into its beak and swallow the fish whole. Awesome! When full, the beak is quite large.
I was determined to find out what kind of tree the pelicans had been roosting in. I walked right up to it and noticed pine needles and pine ones. It is a pine tree, for sure, odd among all the palm trees.
The waves were taller and stronger than they had been all week. This actually changed the shape of the beach somewhat. There were streams and tidal pools this morning that were not there yesterday. One particular hill of shells was a treasure chest! We saw and picked up many we had only seen in the Shell Museum. Wading knee-deep in the warm Gulf water felt good and cool today. At times, the wave came in and I felt I might be knocked off-balance but it didn't happen.
The 5 o'clock Mass at St. Isabel's church was very inspirational. I found the music and homily to be especially moving. This weekend we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. The large congregation was very friendly and welcoming.
Theresa and I ate a hot dog supper then toured the Wildlife Refuge. The shores of the large lakes and swamps were blanketed with mangrove trees so dense that a human couldn't pass through. We enjoyed many different varieties of birds, a raccoon family near the road and all the fish jumping in the lakes.
When we returned to the shopping area, we had to get some ice cream. I chose coconut almond and Theresa got banana nut. We sat in the courtyard of Jerry's and tried to get the big parrot to say something - anything! But the parrot just sat and watched us.
Oops! I missed noticing that the library closes early on Saturday! So I can't include photos on this blog today. Sorry! I promise to include them ASAP! Just another day in paradise! Tomorrow is another day. Good-night!
Part of the day, we spent souvenir shopping. I found the book of Florida Lighthouses for which I'd been searching plus a book about manatees. We went back to the Island Cow restaurant to get ice cream and take it to the beach. Bowman's Beach is at the far end of Sanibel Island, before the causeway (bridge) to Captiva Island. The sunset was exactly as advertised: spectacular!
Today, however, the scene has ramped up considerably. There are lots more boats, some speeding, one pulling a round float full of children for hours and hours. Several folks are fishing (don't see that they caught anything!). There is a wispy white ribbon and flower-covered arch in front of rows of white wooden chairs on the beach; there will be a wedding. All this activity blares out, "Weekend!"
Nothing rushes the pelicans. They seem to fly to and fro at the same pace all day. One plopped down in the water very close to me earlier. They are such BIG birds! I watched this one flip the fish it just caught into its beak and swallow the fish whole. Awesome! When full, the beak is quite large.
I was determined to find out what kind of tree the pelicans had been roosting in. I walked right up to it and noticed pine needles and pine ones. It is a pine tree, for sure, odd among all the palm trees.
The waves were taller and stronger than they had been all week. This actually changed the shape of the beach somewhat. There were streams and tidal pools this morning that were not there yesterday. One particular hill of shells was a treasure chest! We saw and picked up many we had only seen in the Shell Museum. Wading knee-deep in the warm Gulf water felt good and cool today. At times, the wave came in and I felt I might be knocked off-balance but it didn't happen.
The 5 o'clock Mass at St. Isabel's church was very inspirational. I found the music and homily to be especially moving. This weekend we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. The large congregation was very friendly and welcoming.
Theresa and I ate a hot dog supper then toured the Wildlife Refuge. The shores of the large lakes and swamps were blanketed with mangrove trees so dense that a human couldn't pass through. We enjoyed many different varieties of birds, a raccoon family near the road and all the fish jumping in the lakes.
When we returned to the shopping area, we had to get some ice cream. I chose coconut almond and Theresa got banana nut. We sat in the courtyard of Jerry's and tried to get the big parrot to say something - anything! But the parrot just sat and watched us.
Oops! I missed noticing that the library closes early on Saturday! So I can't include photos on this blog today. Sorry! I promise to include them ASAP! Just another day in paradise! Tomorrow is another day. Good-night!
Friday, June 20, 2014
Sunning and Shopping, Sanibel, Friday, Day 7. 6/20/14
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| If you look carefully, you can spot at least four or five Pelicans as they claimed this tree on the day of their Civil War. |
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| More of the Sand Castles, Sanibel Island Beach. |
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| Sunset and Palm Trees, looking west on the beach today. |
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| This Momma Manatee and baby are coming home to be with the other Sea Pets, the Alligator, Lobster, and Sea Horse. |
Breakfast at the Island Cow restaurant.
A big frog on the ceiling of the Island Cow entertains us.
We spent a lovely afternoon yesterday at this museum of shells, one of the finest museums we've ever seen. We first watched a video of how the sea creatures form and live in and expand their shells, and how they move around.
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. FYI: the late actor Raymond Burr made a large donation to this.
A giant squid is suspended from the tall ceiling!
An Octopus! Both mollusks and invertebrates were displayed from all over the world.
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| Theresa is ready for the beach while I. . . |
. . . Head off to the Sanibel Island Library to post photos on this blog.
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| One day's 'catch' of seashells drying after rinsing off the sand, on our lanai. I particularly like the bi-valves like the large one at the top. |
More plans today include returning to the Island Cow for ice cream, trying to watch the sun set at Bowman's Beach, and going to the Wildlife Reserve. Will check in with you tomorrow!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
On the Go! Thursday, Day 6, 6/19/14
Views of St. Isabel's Catholic Church, Sanibel Island, Florida, exterior and interior. The Statue is St. Isabel. The crucifix above the statue here is the most realistic image of Jesus I've ever seen. Below are views of the Meditation Garden.
What a serene, cool place this garden and lake is!
Now, I'll try to catch up with photos from previous days.
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| We SO enjoy the different varieties of birds. This Ibis has a black beak and legs. |
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| Another Ibis has a red beak and red legs with variegated brown markings. |
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| A colorful sunrise on the beach. |
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| There are plenty of sand sculptures! This mermaid stayed in place for several days. |
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| We very much appreciate all the protection wildlife is given on Sanibel Island. |
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| Views of our condo/suite. |
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| Views of the Gazebo and one of the lakes at Case Ybel. |
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| My favorite tree on the whole island. I MUST find out what it's called! |
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| The Thistle House, replica of the original home built early in the 1900's. |
Me/Jan, waiting for dinner at the Thistle House, Tuesday, at Case Ybel.
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| The Sanibel Island Lighthouse. |
Oil House of the Lighthouse. This is the first lighthouse I've seen that was built without a conical exterior.
We finished our day at Pinocchio's for wonderful Ice Cream!
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