Wednesday, October 19, 2005
This morning we slept in as we were scheduled to go on the General Jackson showboat for a noon departure. We left early and went back to the Opry Land Hotel and Convention Center so I could video the unbelievable atriums between different sections of the huge complex. Karyle sat and read while I quickly went from one section to the other filming.
At 1120 hours we headed over to the nearby boat. They tell you to be there by 1130 hours, with a noon departure. We had our bags searched before we got one (that’s SOP since 9-11-01). We got on board and sought the coolest spot on the boat. We found the last two chairs on the mid-level near the front of the huge boat. I thought I took a photo of it as we came in, but I evidently took a slide as I can’t find in on the digital camera.
I looked inside the eating area and entertainment area. It was really fancy. Right at noon we departed and headed up-stream towards the north end of the peninsula that the Fairfield is located on. We saw our unit from the boat. We continued up around the bend and came back down the other side of the peninsula, but I’m not really sure how far. Around 1230 hours they announced the buffet meal was ready for whoever had tickets for it. Luckily we were right by the door. We got in line quick and had a great meal. Our tickets had our table number on them (table 13) and we found our table right next to the window, close to the stage.
We met some nice people at our round table of 10. The whole thing is pretty well organized with four serving tables (eight aisles to serve from). The entertainment started when we had all finished our meals. Tim Watson and his band were the entertainment. They were absolutely great-great music and great comedy. The show lasted an hour. Tim and his band got a standing ovation- as well they should have.
About this time, we went back out on the deck of the boat and watched as we passed the spot we had launched from. I couldn’t believe how easily that big boat (at least 400 feet long) turned around and then docked. We were both very impressed by the entire operation. It was actually cool along the river and there was a nice breeze.
We got back to the car and then drove across the Opre Land Mills Mall to the Grand Ole Opry theater. I heard the tail ending radio reports from a fire scene in Nahsville. They were just overhauling and picking up some hose. I never found out where it was. We found ourselves at the Grand Ole Opry at a bad time. The next tour would not take place until 1530 hours (it was 1445). We decided not to wait (it was 88 degrees out today- a new record for this day in Nashville).
Karyle decided to go back to the unit. I dropped her off and then headed up to Hendersonville to visit their other three stations. Station 3 was fairly difficult to find, especially when you turn off on the wrong road. I eventually got there, just as Ladder 3 was going on a reported rollover accident. Luckily, they got turned around fairly soon. I got a photo of Engine 3 and the station while awaiting Ladder 3’s return. They came back after about 15 minutes and I got photos of Ladder 3. The rig was the one that replaced the 1981 110-foot Pirsch aerial that Minneapolis bought used from Hendersonville.
I headed to Station 4, way down on the peninsula Station 3 was located on. Luckily I got directions from the crew at Station 3, or I would never have found it on my own. I met a very nice firefighter by the name of Glenn Uram. He pulled the engine out for me and returned to the station. He came back out carrying a photo album. I thought he wanted me to look at it. He said he wanted me to have it! I asked him why. He said he’s had it at the station to give to someone like myself, but nobody had ever come down that far before. So he gave it to me. Wow! I haven’t even had a chance to look through it yet.
The album has photos of fire stations and fire trucks he’s taken over the years. Glenn Uram is originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area. Most of his shots were from out east. He came here to visit his sister twenty-some years ago and took a test for a job with the HFD. He got hired. He went back to Pennsylvania, when he had a chance, and picked up his things to bring back out here to stay.
Just as we were talking, they tones went off and he said it was a run for Station 5. No it wasn’t. It was a run for Engine 4. They took off heading south on an EMS call,. When I left the station and headed back north on the peninsula, the ambulance passed me by headed on the same call.
I went up to Station 5, where they reportedly had an E One engine, but they were out. I got a station photo and looked around the area for Engine5, but couldn’t find them.. I headed to a nearby Sam’s Club as Karyle wanted me to pick something up for her. It was very busy traffic as it was rush hour here. I eventually got to Sam’s Club and then headed back in the freeway towards our unit.
This evening we went to the Bluebird Café (a local bar in SW Nashville) to hear Michael Johnson (Karyle’s favorite performer) sing, along with three other singer-songwriters. They were W.T. Davidson, Ellen Britton, and Henry Hopkins. The show started at 2100 hours and didn’t end until 2330 hours. It is a very intimate show with the four musicians sitting in a circle in the middle of the bar, with patrons surrounding the. Each musician does a song and then the next. All of the performers were very good, with their own individual style.
That’s all for today.
