Life in the Bristolwood

Last night’s entry showed what we awakened to yesterday morning! Rain, rain, and more rain! The puddles at the campsite swelled and grew to the point where we wondered if we were going to need a rowboat to reach our camper when we returned early in the evening!

Mark had always wanted to see the Buffalo Naval Park, but when we got there, it was pretty late in the afternoon, and it seemed like all of the good parking spots were already taken. Mark decided to stay in the truck, but urged me to take photos. Oh boy!

All of the downpours we have had lately contribute to one glorious circumstance….everything looks fabulous! The grass is so green and the flowers, brilliant! The sidewalks all appear to have been freshly-swept and life just looks glistening when the sun appears. You will notice that in the photos that follow, colors are glowing, and the powerful clouds in the sky just amplify the intensity of sapphire skies. Yes, this was nearly intoxicating!

Remember, however, we are only a few “steps” away from the downtown of the city of Buffalo. The contrasts are beyond belief….

This photo is the USS Little Rock in the foreground. If you expand the photo, you will see the HSBC Arena (the domed shape just to the right side of the ship) where the Buffalo Sabres Hockey is played.  The long highway rising up above the water is the Skyway. I traveled that road so many times, going home to visit my family, while I was living in Buffalo! On the right of the photo are grain elevators for General Mills Foods. I will have a separate post regarding grain elevators….

Closer view of the USS Little Rock…

A very cool submarine called the USS Croaker!

This ship always gets to me and makes me cry. It is called the USS Sullivans. Yes, that is “Sullivans”, plural. This ship is named in remembrance of the five Sullivan brothers who served in World War II and were all killed.  The ship sports a shamrock on it as a tribute to the brothers’ Irish heritage.

Walking about in this park is an eye-opening experience, causing one to reflect, if only for a moment, upon the service men and women who have given their lives for our country. The park is so beautiful….perhaps a reflection of the American spirit that presses on, even in the midst of hard/bad times.