One Lap

Date: 10/30/2013

Day: 34

Location: Wilmington, NC

Miles Today: 325

Total Miles:  7635

A Place Where the World Changed.  On the Road to Wilmington, Seen on the Road

  

Kill Devil Hill

In his small way, the Colonel collects places where the world has changed.  Perhaps you do, too.  Thermopylae is one.  The Trinity site in New Mexico is another.  In the same vein is the place that was once under a stadium at the University of Chicago, which is now an open space with a cast bronze object (uncertain if it is a mushroom cloud or a human skull or both) marking the spot where the first sustained nuclear chain reaction took place.  Today was a visit to such a place; the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

The Wright brothers Monument on Kill Devil Hill.

 Sometimes we get it right.  This bit of fabric and wood from the 1903 airplane went to the moon and back with Neil Armstrong 67 years after it flew here.  Less than a lifetime; that is a thought to conjure with.

 This is a photo of the Wright's bicycle shop in Dayton, looking considerably more down at the heels that it does today in Detroit.

This flyable reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer was intended to take to the air on the 100th anniversary of the 1903 flight.  It didn't -- it was too wet and windy that day.  Eventually one of these reproductions flew about as far as the Wrights first attempt.

What the 2003 aviators learned is that this thing is very unstable in pitch (nose up and down.)  We no longer put the steering mechanism on the front end.  They also learned that the difference been too slow, (you fall to the ground) and too fast, (you break the wings off) is about 5 MPH.  It is a wonder any of these guys lived through the experience.  The Wrights formed a demonstration team to exhibit the next (improved and safer) generation of Wright flyers and most of them died in accidents.

You can stand much closer to this aircraft than to the mostly real thing in the Smithsonian.  You could, although you wouldn't, put your hands on it.  Its kinship to a kite is very apparent.  Like Armstrong's Lunar Lander, you could easily break it apart with your hands.

 

 

 This boulder marks the place from which all four flights took place on December 17, 1903

 

 Looking down the line of markers.

 

 First powered flight: 12 seconds, 120 feet.

 

 Second powered flight: 12 seconds, 175 feet.

 

 Third powered flight: 15 seconds, 200 feet.

 

 Fourth powered flight: 59 seconds, 852 feet.  Broke the airplane.

 

 Looking back from the fourth marker towards the Monument on Kill Devil Hill.  The two wood structures are reconstructions of the 1903 hanger and quarters / workshop. 

 

 

 

 View from the foot of the Monument back towards the flight markers and the visitors center.

 

 The Colonel had not appreciated how close to the Atlantic all this is.

 

 This metal sculpture was a gift to the nation from the State of South Carolina on December 17, 2003.  It is really nicely done.

 

 

On the Road to Wilmington

 

 

More buildings on stilts, these pretty posh.

 

 Miniature golf is big around here; there must be a dozen MG emporia, most fancier than this.

 

 Those are Saber Tooth cats on that rock, Smilodon .

 

We are in North  Carolina.    Land of swamps:

 

Long flat bridges:

 

Sometimes with long waits for pokey nonsailing sail boats.

 

And cotton.  Miles of it, still on the plant, very ready to be harvested.

 

This is ambient cotton on the side of the road, like the tomatoes one sees during harvest all over the roads in the Great Central Valley of California.

 

 

 

Seen on the Road

There are some elegant homes along the road.

 

And some more  rustic than elegant.

 

The Farm Life Academy is apparently a failed PK - 7 private school.

 

 

 Had to capture the Ruritanettes, whatever they are or were.

 

 

Tomorrow:

Tomorrow the Colonel will go to ground.  It is time to not drive for a day and take care of some domestic concerns.  maybe there will be time to explore Wilmington, NC.  Thus far the Colonel can tell you that there is at least one pretty good Japanese restaurant with $4 well drinks.  The south shall rise again?  The Colonel thinks not.

Wellington Boot, Col.