August 2, 1989-99

Serena to Iowa

HH's Diary 1988-1999 [lightly edited]

Wednesday 1989 - [written on some later date while catching up on news after returning home]  Article in WSJ that the US Interstate Highway System started in 1956.  In 1919 it took the Army 58 days to cross the US.  42,000 miles have been built at a cost of $95 billion.  790 miles left to build.  [Eisenhower was a young Army officer in the 1919 Army Convoy along the then uncompleted Lincoln Highway, where the pavement ended in Illinois and bridges collapsed under the weight of the convoy.  They averaged 58 miles/day.  The official name of the interstate is the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways because of his championing of the road system.  The building and history of the interstate system is described in The Big Roads: The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways by Earl Swift.]

Wednesday 1989 - [Kauai, Hawaii] After breakfast on our porch [Plantation Hale] we drove to the Lihue Port Area, walked around the Westin – what a show place.  Jean found a copy of today's Honolulu Advertiser, article about a 35-year-old gal how had killed her husband (a state legislator), who had filed for divorce, then went to the police station and confessed, then went to restroom and shot herself.   We drove to Waimea and up the Canyon Road all the way to the Kalalau Lookout, great view and easy parking.  Finally had lunch at the Golf Club House near Poipu Beach.  Neither Sheraton or Stouffer were anything extra.  Went to museum in Lahue, used to be library.  The library closes at 4:30, opens at 8am.  Had supper at the Country Kitchen across the street from Kapaa Public Library.  Drove 213 miles, took 7 gallons of gas which cost $1.65/gallon.

Friday 1991 - [Anchorage Alaska to home with Don and Martha Ann Bernard after two week trip] Left Anchorage at 2am via Delta with a change in Seattle and arrived in Cincinnati at 2pm, 8 hours later.  Bought another 8 Delta tickets for $792.

Monday 1993 - [Ashland OR for Elderhostel: Last Call! A Week at the Theater] Really surprised that Paul Jerry, who is one of our instructors, lived in NV in the 1950s.

Friday 1996 - [Calgary to Waterton National Park, Alberta Canada] Reached Head-Smashed-In [Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre], 5 floors of exhibits.  Took "shortcut" to Waterton Lakes National Park, lots of gravel.  Great view from Prince of Wales Hotel [not to be confused with the Prince of Wales Hotel at Niagara-on-the-Lake where they stayed 7/31/98] and oh the wind.  Had rooms at Bayshore Inn, #203D.

Saturday 1997 - [to Florida and on to Iquitos Peru]  Leave CVG [Cincinnati] for Miami to join Bob Hinshaw group for flight to Iquitos.

Sunday 1998 - [Toronto Ontario Canada for American Bar Association] Prayer breakfast with Elizabeth Dole speaking, $30 each.  Ken Starr, the Independent Counsel was there and was very cooperative for picture taking.  Went to R.O.M. [Royal Ontario Museum] in the pm.  Fish House for supper, Jean had a real coughing spell.

Monday 1999 - Mowed across the street, first time since June.  Serena called, she has rented an apartment in Des Moines on 17th St.  Talked with Roberta, no Iowa bike ride next year.  Item in WSJ about how new airplane seats are just 17" wide.  We are now 15 and 16 on wait list for trip to England next March.