On To Ohio

We are happily heading to Bellfontaine OH.  This puts us about 40 miles west of Columbus, the location of the Clinton Anderson Tour.  (Clinton is the reason we are in Ohio in the first place). 

A few miles away Is Wright Patterson Air Force Base (Dayton, OH).  Les had heard that Wright Pat had a great air museum. The rumors are true.  It is located just outside the base perimeter to make it open to the public.  There are acres of park, monuments and picnic tables.  The museum has three large hangers, a missile silo and an Imax theater (the only cost is the Imax.  Admittance is other wise free).  This is easily a whole day if not a two day event.  Displays start at the beginning of U.S. military air involvement with balloons and planes used by the signal corps.  There is a comprehensive history of the development of wind tunnels, fighter and transport planes and finishes with drones, missiles and the space program. 

 One display shows a plane with the skin removed.  Though this is a 50 year old plane the technology shoved into crannies is incredible.  Special attention is given to prisoners of war their resilience and ability to survive (real examples of ovens, baking dishes, generators made from food cans), the liberation of the concentration camps, Bob Hope, and the aftermath of “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall “.  The museum is full of concept failures and success, artwork, and poetry. 

The B-29 Bomber “Bockscar” is in this museum.  This is the bomber that dropped the “Fat Man” atomic bomb on Nagasaki; 9 August 1945. Like it or not this is the second of two bombs that ended WWII (peace through superior weaponry).   It was fun to see how well visited the museum was by families, and old timers like us.  This is a great free stop and we are told that they will be expanding in the next few years.

I am so excited about this next adventure!!!  In our stack of mail, I had two free tickets to the Clinton Anderson Tour in Columbus OH.  For all my horse friends I need say no more.  For all others consider that he is the smartest professor on his topic and he says things in a way that you understand (and he’s cute and funny too).  If I would have known about him earlier in my horsing hobbie I would probably have fewer seasonal aches and pains then I do now.  Clinton Anderson does not promote himself as a horse trainer.  He is more of a people trainer.  

 For two days he works with several naughty horses and their weak owners.  He shows how using his techniques the owner can understand, ask and expect more from their horse.  Les sat with me both days and said he learned a lot and enjoyed Clintons humor.  I watch his show (Downunder Horsemanship) on RFD TV, watched his DVDs and read several books, so I am familiar with his style.  That just added to how fun it was to see him work in real time situations.  Clinton was addressing the audience after a very impressive “follow the leader” demo with a reformed naughty mare and she kicked him.    Everyone was surprised but it was really nothing that hasn’t happen to many of us before.  It was truth in action to see he followed his own example of  “don’t loose your temper” “move the horses feet (puts you in charge), “make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard” .  The corrections added about 10 to 15 minutes to the demo and the result was a well mannered and humble horse who had a better understanding of right and wrong. Training and working with horses has changed so much over the years and so much for the better.  It was a remarkable weekend.

Les and I learned an important lesson.   If we drink bottled water, so should Brady.  In his very own way Brady made it clear that his system is not agreeable with camping water.  So after, four loads of laundry, carpet and upholstery cleaner, lots of lysol and puppy antacid life is good and we are all smarter and healthier for the experience.

On to Carrolton OH

29 AUG 2011