When Air Travel Was An Experience

Remember what flying was like before budget and cut rate airlines; when air travel was still considered and experience instead of a chore? There was a time when people dressed up to travel by air. They looked forward to the flight as something special. Passengers were pampered and airlines went all out to make sure you were comfortable. I suppose my favorite time period for air travel was the late 60’s and early 70’s when airlines like Braniff International, Eastern, TWA, National and other now defunct airlines flew the skies of America.

I came across a great blog posting about Braniff International Airlines this morning. The airline was the inspiration for a musical called “Plane Crazy“. This article brought back some very very good memories.  I remember flying on a multi-colored Braniff DC-8 and the bright orange interiors with stewardess in micro-mini’s.  I know it is not PC these days to call them stewardess or make remarks about the mini skirts and hot pants….. but those were the days.

Here is a link to the article called “Braniff Airlines: The Worlds Greatest Airline?” If you enjoy remeniscing about the good old days of air travel then you will definitely enjoy this article.

October Travels – West Virginia

Earlier this month I took my mother and father to West Virginia to visit my dad’s sister. What a great time. I had only been back to WV three times since graduation in 1977, the latest earlier this year to my 30 year class reunion.  On this trip I played chauffeur for my parents. It is 525 miles one way from where we live in Kentucky to our destination, Fairmont, WV.  The drive was fairly uneventful but certainly beautiful. Once we passed through Lexington, KY, we started a gradual climb into the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Two hours later we were approaching the West Virginia state line and heading into Charleston. Compared to the rest of the country, the intertate system in West Virginia is still fairly new and in great shape. The highway curves through the hills and mountains and always seeming to go up and up. Finally we reached our destination and checked into our hotel and relaxed for a while.  That week was spent going to the Preston County Buckwheat Festival, relaxing on the front porch of my aunts, a drive through the higher elevation areas of northeast WV and some seriously good eating.  Here are some photos from this latest trip to “Almost Heaven”  West by God Virginia.

West Virginia Interstate System is one of the best in the country

 Early Morning Fog In The Valleys

“Country Roads Take Me Home, To The Place I Belong, West Virginia…..”
John Denver

My Dad and Uncle Relaxing on a Sunday Afternoon in the WV Mountains

Almost Heaven – West Virginia – 4,000 ft altitude overlooking mountains near Cheat Mountain

Early Morning Flower Greeting The Sun

Midwest Road Trip – Kentucky and Illinois

 I went on a short road trip this past weekend to Illinois to the Dairy Days Festival in my wife’s hometown of Norris City, IL. It is a very small town in southern Illinois that has a festival each year at harvest time. It is about a 2 and half hour road trip through the country. Here are a few photos from this weekend………..  cheers…..  Eric

Country Road in Between Sturgis KY and Dekoven KY

Hogdaddy’s Saloon on Sunday Morning in Shawneetown IL

 Parade Watchers at Dairy Days Festival in Norris City IL

Norris City – Omaha High School Band – All 18 Of Them

Playing The Games At The Festival

Emerald Isle – Green River Lake Kentucky

My mother in law was married last week and all three of her daughters (one being my wife) went to Campbellsville KY to prepare for the wedding. Us husbands and boyfriends had to come too. The girls were pretty cool about the whole thing…… they all spent the night before the wedding at their mothers house, while we guys spent several nights at the Emerald Ilse Resort & Marina in a great 3 bedroom lakefront condo. It was nice and quiet and the places were very nice. We had an upstairs condo which was great. As I said three bedrooms, a full bath and half bath, complete kitchen, living room, washer and dryer (coin operated), dishwasher and a wrap around deck.  We had color tv and wireless high speed internet. Imagine us getting away and no Internet!!!  Not going to happen.

All in all it was a very nice stay. We went to the wedding then as soon as possible left the reception, once again without the wives and headed back to some peace and quiet at the lake condo. Of course once everything at the wedding reception was over and the wives came out to join us, the peace and quiet went right out the window. Oh well…. thank goodness for the one night alone we had.

If you find yourself in west central Kentucky between Elizabethtown and Campbellsville and your are looking for someplace quiet to relax, be sure to check out Emerald Isle Resort and Marina.