Way-way back in my elementary, junior, and senior high school Geography classes, I don’t ever recall acing any tests. I don’t even remember discussing the subject, but somehow rest assured it wasn’t for the lack of teacher input. I’d like to think we were handcuffed due to the lack of tools available to make Geography a realistic, hands-on, activity.
I thought the Middle East was in Ohio, someplace, Africa was where the elephants roamed (just a little west of Wyoming), and Russia had but one time zone, the Kremlin. It is easy to see how interesting this class was for me trying to make some sense of it all with textbooks that used photographs taken right after the Civil War.
Compare that to the modern learning styles applying the tools (not those found in the garage) of high-tech wizardry which allows today’s Geography student instant descriptive, pictorial access to any square foot of real estate in the world, and beyond. By using a single click of the ‘mouse’, broadband transmissions, geo-synchronous satellite communications, today’s youth can not only locate any remote geographic interest, but gain an encyclopedia’s volume of knowledge on that subject (you don’t even need a textbook) too.
It could be easily ascertained that I would leave the Wausa School without ever having a desire to learn anything geographically beyond the boundaries of our own city dump. As it all turned out, the lack of high-tech learning actually fueled my interests to learn more about, ‘what’s on the other side of the hill’? As a child walking the cornfields, cutting cockleburs and other obnoxious weeds and thistles, I received a chance to place my feet on top of, and get real comfy with our mother-earth, covering 4-6 rows each trip up and down some ½ mile long fields.
Somehow, the same concept that I’m sure affected the movement and transition of nomadic cave dwellers, came to my doorstep as well. Once outside the ‘cave’ you find a ‘whole lot of stuff out there’! Even though my current interests in Geography doesn’t spurn a desire to be a global-nut on the subject, however, driving an 18-wheeler around the country has been able to put my eyes and ears right at the full presence with some of the most beautiful and unique countryside on this planet.
Volumes of geographical sites have been photographed and written to provide the full pleasure of being there without ever leaving your home. You can access cable TV channels and observe life, National Geographic style in nearly every part of our beautiful, good ol’ USA, and do so from the confines of your own, plush, lazy-boy (no relation to you).
But that’s NOT what I want to elaborate on with the ‘Tales’. What I really want to say is this, “there are so many beautiful and unique pieces of real estate in this country, turn off the TV, shut down the computer, and GO out and SEE them first hand!” There’s nothing more in a greater feeling than ‘just being there in person’. Reality is an inspirational and valuable teacher. You observe, you measure, you qualify the experiences of beauty before your own eyes.
As a child I used to think going to Norfolk, Yankton or Sioux City was the same as traveling to a foreign country today. I was excited to see the larger buildings, shopping areas filled with folks you’ve never seen before all speaking the same language, multiple lane traffic, with traffic lights no less. Today, with time and employment a bit more on my side, I can travel to Sacramento, New Orleans, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, the Yakima and San Joaquin valleys all in a two day’s drive (similar to a 3-Dog Night, but shorter).
The objective of this ‘Gorgeous Gorges …Part I’, is simply to invite you to read with an open mind about the possibilities of traveling to different places in America. Eliminate your, ‘I wonder what it is really like?’ Or, ‘I’ve heard it is beautiful, but I’ll never see it’.
Some of you have campers, motor homes, or travel trailers, ‘lucky you!’ For sure, you don’t need them, however, having a chance to grill-out in the woods may be more exciting that having to carry your luggage up and down 2-3 flights of stairs.
In the next Tales, Part II, I’d like to begin describing some of these natural wonders, expectations and provide some simple directions, along with adding some quirks in the process. If anyone
would like to comment on some of their travels, I know Josh and I, along with many that follow this website would enjoy hearing about them too.
Part of this geographic dissection involves more than just landmarks. The number of crazy traffic and advertising messages are worth a laugh or two as well. Do you have any idea where ‘Holy Moses Wash’ is located? How about ‘Hungry Mothers State Park’? More on all that later.
Speaking of crazy traffic stories, duh? It is worth a laugh or two, and maybe more if you knew this lad (resembles Mick Jagger/Stones) from Wisconsin. After finishing some basic shopping he proceeded to his vehicle, started it, and backed out of his parking lot stall. I will let you read his words from there: (taken from today’s facebook entry) I got totally lost driving around in a parking ramp in La Crosse last night. Took me 20 minutes to find my way out of the darned thing. Don’t ask.
In further description of the event, he adds:
I’m not going near it again! It’s like being in a maze. Freakin’ huge ramp, covers an entire city block as far as I can tell. Six levels, *no* signs indicating which one you’re on, and they all look absolutely alike. And then the arrows supposedly pointing toward the “exit” that just gets you deeper into the ramp with no exit anywhere in sight. Crazy place. Seriously!
A couple of comments from his listeners stated that it was just some ominous forces or spirits working on him, while another said, ‘hey, I’ve known people to get lost in your bedroom’ referring to his domestic skills, which in this case are like his driving! I’m still laughing out loud (LOL)!
Summer’s here…was it worth the wait? In any case, save our beautiful Pheasants.
Category: Rooster Tales
