Reporting on: June 2, 2009

Route: None! a day off from riding!

Weather: Pouring Rain Most of the Day!

Today Carol, Champ and I went to the Eisenhower Library and Museum. We spent about 3 hours there learning about the life and events on one of our great American Presidents...Dwight D. Eisenhower. For you young people reading this blog “Ike” Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was our 34th President - from 1953 until 1961 and a five star general in the United States Army. During the Second World War, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe with responsibility for planning and supervising the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944-1945. In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO. Some of his achievements as President were that he oversaw the cease-fire of the Korean War, kept up the pressure on the Soviet Union during the Cold War, made nuclear weapons a higher defense priority, launched the Space Race and began the Interstate Highway System. He was the last World War I veteran to serve as U.S. president, and the last president born in the 19th Century. Eisenhower ranks high among former U.S. presidents in terms of approval rating. Enough history now!

After leaving the museum and checking out of the hotel we headed to Manhattan, Kansas to visit with Carol's sister and her guy, Wendy and Norm. They have a wonderful piece of property a few miles outside of Manhattan...with a barn chocked full of antiques, tractors and treasures - and full-on garden that would make any green grocer jealous! We had a cookout for lunch - and a fantastic shrimp pasta for dinner! And I have to admit that there was a glass of wine added to complete the meal. We are going to Fort Riley tomorrow - where Wendy works - to visit the Army/Calvary museums. More on that in tomorrows report!