National Museum of the USAF

After Columbus, we spent a few days with Chrissy and Shaun and made a visit together to the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world. We were here years ago, but it's so expansive and the displays often change, so it's worth multiple visits. We learned more about the Holocaust and WWII.

During WWI, homing pigeons delivered messages in tiny tubes pictured below (left) between front-line outposts and command centers. To the right, is "John Silver", one of the most active pigeons in the Army. During a firefight, he was shot and lost a leg, but still managed to deliver his message. He was nursed back to health but had to retire from active service. He lived out his days in Hawaii's Scholfield Barracks and died just shy of his 18th birthday.

This F-82G is pretty wild. It looks like two planes connected in the middle!

Learning about the underground missile launch stations was very interesting. Chrissy's dad actually served in one during his time in the military. It was wild to see how large the missiles are (above)!

This space suit weighs 250lbs! The mirror on the left hand allows astronauts to check the panel on the front of the suit while making adjustments with their right hand.  The dial on the left hand side controls the temperature of the internal liquid cooling suit.

Chrissy and I walked thru three Presidential aircrafts!

The Columbine III served as Dwight D. Eisenhower's personal airplane from 1954-1961.

The cockpit of the Columbine III

The Independence was the second aircraft built specifically to transport the President of the United States. President Harry S. Truman used it from 1947-1953.

The control panel

And THEN there was Air Force One!

The Sam 26000 was the first jet aircraft built specifically for use of the President of the United States and key personnel. When the President was on board, the call sign changed to "Air Force One" to avoid any confusion with other aircraft.

Over 36 years, this jet carried eight Presidents: Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton. In 1963 when President Kennedy was assasinated, Vice President Johnson was sworn in as President on board this plane. A section of seats were removed to transport Kennedy's body and President Johnson back to Washington D.C. for the funeral.

I found the old corded phones at every seat pretty amusing. Who were they calling? I assume other passengers within the plane.

Back at Chrissy's, we met their new cows.

They have an exchange student living with them this year. Matu is from Argentina and has much in common with Wade. They make great "brothers". 

All the boys went fishing in the creek togeher.

It's always a great time reconnecting with Chrissy, Shaun and Wade! 

Rollercoasters and Relatives

I couldn't drive thru northeast Ohio without birding some of my favorite spots. We drove thru Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge at sunset before setting up at a nearby Boondockers Welcome for the night. 

The next morning I went alone to Magee Marsh to relive my Biggest Week memories. I was surprised how overgrown it becomes by summer. In early May, this boardwalk is packed with birders for their annual birding festival during peak migration when warblers are easily spotted in the trees.

Looking out over Lake Erie. 

During spring migration, many birds traveling north will see this lake and decide to rest and refuel before crossing it. As a result, the trees nearby will hold brightly colored songbirds to be viewed at a close distance.

Finally we arrived to my brother's house where Asher and Journey got to see their cousins. Everyone had grown so much over the past year. Asher and Journey are 11 and the cousins are now 12, 14, & 16. 

They have a new puppy named Tia!

And their chickens are all grown up.

The nightly dog walks with my brother and sister-in-law are always enjoyable.

Unfortunately, we only managed one hike this visit, a 20 minute walk around Mud Hen Marsh. 

Journey has been playing ukelele for a year now so she was able to play along with Connie and Avery!

Journey had a chance to spend time with her cousins and finally show family her arial acrobatic skills.

Dad took my family plus Jason and Lucy to King's Island. They had a blast!

Lucy insisted on riding a super-intense roller coaster first, a plan that I feared may ruin the rest of the day, however my kids rolled with it and were brave enough to keep going. 

They took a break from the serious stuff to enjoy some more mellow rides. 

And then the girls saw The Slingshot!

And they DID IT! They were lifted so high, then pulled back like an arrow on a bow, then Lucy pulled the cord and they were slung forward thru the air! It was really wild! I'm impressed with their fearlessness.

After everyone else left, the four of us enjoyed a great show with people doing bike/rollerblade/trampoline tricks, while singing and dancing was going on. It was very entertaining. Then we too the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower and looked out over the entire park, pointing out the rides they enjoyed.

Another day we met Jane and Barry for lunch. 

We got to see Mom and Grammy a few times.