Port Huron Boatnerd Gathering

June 1st saw a gathering of boatnerds in Port Huron.  Since this has been covered by those there and boats are not the focus of my blog I will only post a few pictures.

While we were there the brig Niagara headed down the river.  She will be moored at South Bass Island over the 4th of July to celebrate the anniversary of Admiral Perry's victory over the British in the War of 1812.

The CSL Tadoussac and the Frontenac were moored across the river.  They are in temporary layup.

You can see they're sitting pretty high in the water.  Here you can see the bow thruster which is is used to help the ship maneuver.

While taking the Huron Lady II on a brief cruise we encountered the Michipicoten downbound as she approached the Saint Clair River.

The Michipicoten as a squall passes behind her on Lake Huron.

The Michipicoten approaches.

Stormy Seas.

The Michipicoten enters the Saint Clair River.

River Raisin National Battlefield

One of our nation's newest National Parks is right in our back yard.  Monroe is home to River Raisin National Battlefield.  What's that you ask?  A battlefield in Monroe?  Yes.  Between January 18 and January 23rd in 1813 it was the site of fighting between American forces and a combination of British troops and Indian allies.

To be honest, while this park has historic significance, there isn't much to do or see there.  There is a short walkway with some signage and the visitor center has a very nice presentation on events leading up to the battle and how the fighting progressed. 

The short, self-guided walk encompasses this pavilion which was roughly the site the American troops were camped upon if I recall.

This type of sled was developed and used to carry artillery pieces.

After American forces drove the British troops back towards Detroit which they had captured earlier.  The British struck back and emerged from the treeline, approaching to an incredibly close range before being sighted.

The surprised American troops fought back, but were not prepared for the attack. 

Those forces that were able withdrew across the Raisin River and ultimately surrendered.

Although the British troops promised that the Americans would be allowed to remove their wounded, their Indian allies returned and killed them.  Of the roughly 1000 Americans involved in the fighting, only 33 escaped.  There were 397 killed and 547 prisoners.  This was the worst defeat the Americans suffered during the War of 1812.

The Park visitor center.  I expect that there is more planned for the park, but as with everything, funding is an issue and with the federal budget in shambles I would not expect any major development.

Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark

Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark is located just outside Altoona, Pennsylvania.  I had been there as a child and decided to return while I was in Pennsylvania.

The gift shop and museum are located below the level of the rail line.  After paying the admission fee you can either take the 194 steps to the viewing area or take the funicular.

The funicular only runs on the hour and half past.  It runs on a single track with cars passing half way up.  The cars are painted to resemble Pennsylvania Railroad passenger cars.

This gate guardian sits on viewing level near the tracks.

Construction of the horseshoe curve began in 1850 as a way to bypass a section of track that was inefficient.  The rail line needed to run from one side of the valley to the other.  To do so along the preferred route would require a grade of over 4%.  This would be too steep for most trains.

To solve this problem, the rail was laid up the valley.  Another mountain ran up the valley causing it to split in two.  Here the rail crossed the split and the end of the mountain that caused the valley to separate and curved back to the mouth of the valley.  The resulting track was about 3500 feet in length and creates a 220 degree turn allowing the rail bed to rise 122 feet.

At one time there were 4 sets of tracks, but one set was removed in 1981.  Because of the radius of the turn, tracks wear out very fast here and need to be replaced often.  

It was an ingenious design and very practical.  Since it's opening on February 14th, 1854 the only time that it has not been in use has been the result of weather or strikes.  Other than that, it has run continuously for the past 159 years.  Not bad for something that was built using pick axes, wheel barrows, shovels, black powder and the muscle power of 450 Irish.  The workers were paid $0.25/day for a 12 hour day.

Horseshoe Curve was deemed so vital that it was a target of Operation Pastorius, a plan by the Germans to sabotage facilities in the United States in an effort to help the war effort back home.  The plot failed when one of the saboteurs turned himself in.

Currently about 60 trains a day can be seen passing this location.  In the 35 minutes or so that I was there half a dozen trains passed with several more passing while I was in the museum below.  A schedule of trains is free in the gift shop.

Fort Roberdeau

The next place I visited was Fort Roberdeau near Altoona, Pennsylvania.  Fort Roberdeau was built in 1778 during the Revolutionary War.  It was constructed to protect the lead mines in the area that were the source of musket balls.  Though the fort was never attacked, it provided and American presence in the area. 

This barn serves as the visitor center and gift shop.

This building was recently built, but was closed when I passed by.  It is located outside of the fort walls.

You'll notice that the logs comprising walls of the fort are horizontal and that there is a stone base underneath them.  That is because there is very little topsoil and they were unable sink the poles into ground.

The fort was rebuilt in 1976 to celebrate the Bi-centennial.  Construction had started previously, but funding ran out after the stonework was laid.  In 1976 the construction was completed using the previously laid stonework.  Afterwards, it was determined that the footprint was two-thirds the size of the original fort.

The row of barracks with the officer's building on the right.

Since construction was done, it was determined that the barracks were built against the wall of the fort.  Right now they stand several feet from the wall.

This is the blacksmith shop.  In the background you can see the forge.  In the forge, they would separate the lead from the rock and form it into ingots which would then be shipped east to be formed into musket balls.

Along the Appalachian Trail

While in Pennsylvania I decided I wanted to take a short hike on the Appalachian Trail.  I headed to Duncannon which was the closest place the trail passes to where I was staying.

My uncle and I headed up to Hawk Rock overlooking Duncannon and the confluence of Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers.  Hawk Rock is about 750 feet above the valley.  I'm not sure how far it is from the trailhead which was off near the buildings in the center right.  The hike has a lot of ups and downs with the biggest elevation change in the last quarter of a mile up to Hawk Rock.  Just to past this vantage point heading south the trail levels out and runs along the ridge of mountain. 

The bridge in the center of the picture crosses the Juniata River where it enters the Susquehanna River.

Sherman Creek which feeds into the Susquehanna.

Another view of Duncannon nestled along the Susquehanna.    Lightning Guider sled used to be built in the town, but the factory closed in 1990.

Elizabethtown College

One of the reasons I was in Pennsylvania was that my mother was attending ceremonies at the college she graduated from.  It was 50 years since she had graduated and the college was having a ceremony honoring them.

I've been through the town before, but had really stopped at the college.  It is a beautiful campus.

Elizabethtown College was founded in 1899 as a Christian college.  The Student Union is on the right.  I don't know what the other buildings are.

I believe this is the old library.

This is the new library.

Alpha Hall was built in 1901 and houses administration.

The Dell, which is where graduation took place.  This used to be, though I'm not sure if it still is, the center for many campus activities.

I believe this is Myer Hall which was my mother's residence hall.  Her room was the top corner facing us.

The Brethren Church across the street from the college.

Erb's Bridge

I recently traveled to Pennsylvania.  While there we spent the night with one of my mother's college friends.  I hadn't seen them since I was perhaps 10 years old.  Reconnecting with the family was great and I had an incredible time. 

One of the things I've always remembered about their place is that it overlooked a covered bridge.

Erb's Bridge is an 80 foot span crossing Hammer Creek in Lancaster County Pennsylvania and was built in 1849.  Apparently, if I'd been up a bit earlier, a hot air balloon landed just off to the left side of the picture.  I would have really liked to have gotten that shot.

Looking at the bridge from the front yard.

This is the view from our friend's front steps.

The bridge from road level.

Erb's Bridge.

The home we stayed in.