Tampa Bay, Florida

In 1924, Gandy Bridge between St Petersburg and Tampa, was said to be the longest automobile bridge in the world at six miles across. In 1956 it was re-built and used until 1997.

In 2000, the longest bridge, Bang Na Expressway in Thailand, opened at 34 miles across.

London, England

July, 1980

Last week we took a tour of Parliament rather than have class. It was interesting. We’ve seen a couple of plays – the other night Shakespeare in an outdoor theatre. Today we took a bus to Stonehenge. Needless to say I am keeping busy.

Love

Vail, Colorado

View of the Gore Range

August, 1975

This is the gondola we see outside our window and the one President Ford rode in up to give his speech on top of the mountain. I haven’t been up in it yet – maybe tomorrow. It is misty and chilly today.

Love

(We spent a week in Vail playing tennis and hiking. We actually saw President Ford getting out of the gondola.)

The Hague, Holland

August, 1981

This is a picture of the Queen’s refurbished castle in the Hague (Paleis Huis ten Bosch). She and family are moving in today so flags are flying, there is music and dancing all over the city. A “tub race” is going on in the park near my apartment. I’m going to walk over and see what it is.

Love

Wisconsin Day Tripping

Historical Marker, Prescott, Wisconsin:

“The St Croix River joins the Mississippi here. In 1680 explorers Hennepin and DuLhut both passed this point. About 1755 this area was the site of a surprise attack in which over 335 Sioux were killed by Chippewa Indians. In 1827 Fort Snelling army officers made the first claim for a town site in the upper Mississippi country at this location. To hold the claim, Philander Prescott, an Indian interpreter and trader, established a trading post and ferry across the St Croix here in 1839.”

Prescott is a small town of about 4,500 people. On summer weekends it is flooded with motorcycle riders. We saw close to 100 just in the short time we were there. They kind of overwhelmed the two block downtown area. But down the river(s) it was very pleasant with lots of boaters.

Up the road a ways is Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Ellsworth is the cheese curd capital of of Wisconsin and has a cheese curd festival every summer.

Pierce County courthouse, Ellsworth, Wisconsin