The trip acoss the USA to Virginia

1988 Our lives in America»July -US Nationals at Virginia Beach VA
Friday July 15, 1988 Brian, Val and Cheryl Eather arrive on my last day at work. I am no longer employed by NCR in the US but by NCR Australia. I take 4 weeks leave while in the US. Sunday July 17, 1988 05:00   Packed ready to go. My plane and Brian's are in the back of Jenni's car; we transport Bob Whitely's plane on the roof rack. Jenni and Val ride in Jenni's car while Brian, Cheryl and I ride in the older car. We drive 682 miles to Las Cruces New Mexico and stop for the night. Monday July 18, 1988 We stop for a lunch break at Fort Stockton, Texas 285 miles from Las Cruces.
We have a truly memorable meal in Stockton. The US Border Patrol stops us at El Paso and demand that we show them we are in the country legally. Luckily, Brian and Val have their passports with them and they let us continue. We continue driving to San Antonio. It's another 313 miles on Interstate 10 where we stay overnight at a trucker's motel. Tuesday July 19, 1988 The next morning in San Antonio, we take a break from driving and explore the city. This is the Alamo Memorial. Crocket, Travis and a few other names pop out - these memories are no doubt familiar from watching Disney's Historical Documentary about Congressman Crocket. Jenni poses outside of the Alamo, San Antonio. The Alamo (Spanish for Cottonwood) is an 18th-century Franciscan mission that was the site of a historic resistance by a small group of determined fighters for Texan independence from Mexico in 1836. But you already knew that didn't you?
Details about the battles This is the river walk in San Antonio. It's a bit weird but the Disney Documentary never mentioned this river. The San Antonio River Walk is a city park and pedestrian street in San Antonio, one level down from the automobile street. The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting the major tourist draws of the city. During the annual springtime Fiesta San Antonio, the River Parade features flowery floats that float down the river.
Commandancy of the The Alamo Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836 To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World- Fellow Citizens & compatriots- I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna - I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man - The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken - I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls - I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch - The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country - Victory or Death. William Barret Travis. Lt. Col.comdt. P. S. The Lord is on our side - When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn - We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves. Travis 1988 OfficialDocuments 0023 a 1988 OfficialDocuments 0028 a
At the Alamo. After the Alamo, we drive 554 miles to Sidell, Louisiana, very near New Orleans where we spend the night. Wednesday July 20, 1988 This is the New Orleans skyline. It's not we expect but we're in the wrong part of town. The right part of town is here at Bourbon Street in the Latin Quarter. Bourbon Street is full of bars, strip joints, shops and restaurants. We separate from the Eather family because Cheryl wants to do some shopping - for Nikes or Reeboks or such which are much cheaper in the USA.
Contrast between the Latin Quarter and the modern downtown CBD area. A street market. Jackson square is to our left. Lace ironwork. Most of the Latin Quarter features Spanish architecture like this, Tourist rides near the waterfront in Decatur Street. St Peter Street is on the corner.
Around to the right from the previous picture is Jackson Square; It features a horse mounted Andrew Jackson (the 7th President) cast in bronze. Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960, for its central role in the city's history, and as the site where in 1803 Louisiana was made United States territory after the Louisiana Purchase. 1988 0008 a We take a horse drawn tourist carriage through the French Quarter. Cost $8 each. Most of the French Quarter was destroyed by fire in the 1800's. These are some of the restored French buildings.
Louis Armstrong Park on North Rampart Street. Old southern mansion, now a hotel. Our guide is very hard to understand; I think it is black creole or something but uniquely New Orleansian. This paved area, St Peter Street, leads to the river front.
Mardi Gras costume - brilliant A genuine diesel-powered paddle wheeler, the Creole Queen, motors toward the Gulf of Mexico. The Creole Queen is a 1,000-passenger paddlewheel riverboat operating out of the Port of New Orleans. It was built by Halter Marine at Moss Point, Mississippi along the lines of a turn-of-the-century sternwheeler and was commissioned in September 1983. That is, it's almost new. The Creole Queen is an authentic paddle wheeler, but is powered by a diesel electric system rather than by steam. Local TV records a conversation with a local church goer. We had separated from the Eathers for a while but we meet up with them again at Pat O'Briens for lunch. We have Jumbalaya and Gumbo, creole specialties. For drinks, I forgo my vow to eschew the demon alcohol and, forgetting myself for the moment, have an alcoholic drink called the Hurricane.
With predictable results. Here is the liquor menu 1988 OfficialDocuments 0012 a My Hurricane punch costs around $4.00
1988 OfficialDocuments 0013 b This statue of Louis Satchmo Armstrong is in Louis Armstrong Park. He was born 4 August 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Inside Louis Armstrong Park Picture taken from the corner of Royal and St Louis in the French Quarter. This building is completely overhauled by 2022. It features beautiful lace work.
Around Bourbon Street somewhere After a long tiring day, we return to our motel in Siddell on the NE side of Lake Pontchartrain. And yes, Cheryl does find some suitable sports shoes. To get back to our motel, we cross the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. It's six miles long Tired people after a full day in New Orleans. We spend the night in Sidell, leave early next morning Thursday July 21, 1988 and drive through Mississippi and Alabama to Gainsville in Florida.
Friday July 22, 1988 The next day we go a bit south of Gainsville to the Epcot Centre in Orlando Map of the Epcot Centre in 1988. The Magic Kingdom is situated next door and is not a part of this facility Kodak. Remember them? Spaceship Earth is a dark ride attraction at the Epcot theme park at the Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida. The geodesic sphere in which the attraction is housed has served as the symbolic structure of Epcot since the park opened in 1982.
Jenni sits in Epcot's computer centre. From here we go to the Universe of Energy. The Universe of Energy is a pavilion on the eastern side of Future World at Epcot. It was one of Epcot's opening day attractions in 1982; it explored the world of energy through four large format film presentations and a slow-moving dark ride through a jungle diorama filled with audio-animatronic dinosaurs. Audio-animatronics in the Universe of Energy Pavilion. The Universe of Energy pavilion was first sponsored by ExxonMobil from 1982 through 2004. After years of dwindling popularity, it closes permanently on August 13, 2017 and is replaced with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which reuses the building. We visit the GM exhibit in the World of Motion exhibit. The display here shows what GM could have done if it had wanted to.
Beautiful surrealistic shape by GM Cheryl sits one of the less bland GM cars, a Pontiac Sunbird. The engines were the carryover 2.0L 96 hp four and the turbocharged 165 horsepower 2.0L four. Journey into the Imagination introduces a character called "Figment". In the Image Works within the Journey into the Imagination exhibit. After this we watch "Captain Ed" a 3D movie with Michael Jackson.
In front of Journey into the Imagination Brian's feet are buggered and he does not enjoy. The Living Seas at Epcot - fantastic aquariums. Aquaria? The age of Aquaria? Lagoon ferry ride with Mexico exhibit in the background. Flamingos lakeside, beautiful gardens, immaculately kept.
Inside the American Adventure. These singers sing without accompaniment - capella. The Germany Pavilion. From the lakeside looking across at the China Pavilion with the Norway Pavilion in the background. The Italy Pavilion
Looking across the lake from the wharf to the Germany Pavilion. Inside the British Pavilion. We have lunch here. Inside the Mexico Pavilion A Macaw sits in front of the Mexico Pavilion.
The Temple of Heaven in the China Pavillion. Shopping in the China Pavillion The temple in the China Pavillion. We watch a "Wonders of China" a 360° circle vision presentation The entrance gate to the China Pavillion which is just behind us.
Inside the dome of the temple Dusk looking across the lake at the World Showcase exhibits Brian at the end of a long hard (and for him boring) day. His feet are too sore to walk on. And Epcot requires a LOT of walking. Saturday July 23, 1988 We visit the Magic Kingdom. Brian's feet are very bad so he stays behind in the motel at Gainsville while the rest of us go to Disneyland. Cinderella's Castle is in the background and seems bigger than California's Castle.
The Magic Kingdom still has the same basic "lands" as the California with the same attractions. It is however much larger. Disney also bought the land surrounding the Magic Kingdom so that it would not become surrounded by motels, gas stations, fast-food joints and busy traffic like California. The Magic Kingdom looks much cleaner as a result. Map of the Magic Kingdom 2022. It still has the same basic "Lands" as the California Disneyland Main Street USA
Val, SWMBO and Cheryl Starjets in Tomorrow Land with a people mover below it. The ride lasts 1½ minutes after maybe a 30 minute wait. This is the nature of most rides in Disney theme parks. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontier Land. This ride lasts 3½ minutes - not too bad. Being a railroad, they can fit a lot of people on board. Look at the length of the queue. Liberty Square Riverboat.
It pours. It really pours and everyone ducks for cover. Fantasy Land, wet and dreary. Conclusion: We think Florida is not as good as California; Florida is too big with bigger crowds but with the same attractions. The next day Sunday July 24, 1988 we drive 700 miles up I95 to the NAS Virginia Beach, VA and check into our motel. End of this segment