Friday, November 20, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Concord, North Carolina
Tim Flock once had a live monkey named Jocko Flocko ride with him during races. Now, Jason Keller has Hearsay.
The intrepid Hearsay rode with Keller, the Nationwide Series' all-time leader in career starts and money won, during the Oct. 16 Dollar General 300. After qualifying 19th, Keller -- and Hearsay -- finished the night in 17th place, one lap down to race winner Kyle Busch.
This was Hearsay's vantage point during the race:
Before the race, Keller took time for a photo op with Hearsay:
Keller zips around the 1.5-mile Lowe's Motor Speedway, with Hearsay tucked on board:
Thanks to Bryan Hallman for the awesome photos, and to Dennis Punch for delivering Hearsay safely and soundly to the race track!
TRAVEL FROM YADKINVILLE, N.C. TO HICKORY, N.C.: 70 MILES
TRAVEL FROM HICKORY, N.C. TO CONCORD, N.C.: 60 MILES
TRAVEL DURING NATIONWIDE SERIES QUALIFYING AND RACE: 300 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 51,424 MILES
The intrepid Hearsay rode with Keller, the Nationwide Series' all-time leader in career starts and money won, during the Oct. 16 Dollar General 300. After qualifying 19th, Keller -- and Hearsay -- finished the night in 17th place, one lap down to race winner Kyle Busch.
This was Hearsay's vantage point during the race:
Before the race, Keller took time for a photo op with Hearsay:
Keller zips around the 1.5-mile Lowe's Motor Speedway, with Hearsay tucked on board:
Thanks to Bryan Hallman for the awesome photos, and to Dennis Punch for delivering Hearsay safely and soundly to the race track!
TRAVEL FROM YADKINVILLE, N.C. TO HICKORY, N.C.: 70 MILES
TRAVEL FROM HICKORY, N.C. TO CONCORD, N.C.: 60 MILES
TRAVEL DURING NATIONWIDE SERIES QUALIFYING AND RACE: 300 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 51,424 MILES
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Speedway, Indiana
One of the most famous race tracks in the world, Indianapolis Motor Speedway held its first Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 1911. Today, the Indy 500 is the biggest single-day sporting event in the world. NASCAR has also raced at the track since 1994.
Permanent seating capacity at the track is 257,000. With infield admissions factored in, total capacity is a staggering 400,000.
Permanent seating capacity at the track is 257,000. With infield admissions factored in, total capacity is a staggering 400,000.
Charleston, West Virginia
On the road trip, Hearsay made a stop at the West Virginia State Capitol Building in Charleston. The building was dedicated in 1932, and required more than 700 train loads of limestone and 4,640 tons of steel to construct. There are 535,000 square feet of floors space and has 333 rooms.
Danville, Illinois
Hearsay tagged along on a road trip to Danville, Ill. this week. Danville is the home town of actor Gene Hackman, Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, Robin Yount and astronaut Joe Tanner. One of the main landmarks in the city, which boasts a population of about 35,000, is Danville Stadium. The park is home to the Danville Dans, a team in the Prospect League. Scenes from the John Goodman movie, "The Babe," were also shot here.
ROUND TRIP TRAVEL BETWEEN YADKINVILLE, N.C. AND DANVILLE, ILL.: 1,280 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 50,994 MILES
ROUND TRIP TRAVEL BETWEEN YADKINVILLE, N.C. AND DANVILLE, ILL.: 1,280 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 50,994 MILES
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Montreal, Canada
Hearsay didn't stay home long after getting back from Iraq and Germany. Within days, he was on his way to Montreal, Canada with Katy Hamel, a long time family friend. Family friend? She's like a daughter to Rick and Jeanie.
Katy's dad, Pierre, is a native of Montreal, so Katy took Hearsay along for a visit with her dad's family. Their sightseeing tour took them to Olympic Stadium, home of the 1976 Olympics, the Montreal Expos and Alouettes.
ROUND TRIP TO AND FROM YADKINVILLE, N.C. AND MONTREAL, CANADA: 1,500 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 49,714 MILES
Katy's dad, Pierre, is a native of Montreal, so Katy took Hearsay along for a visit with her dad's family. Their sightseeing tour took them to Olympic Stadium, home of the 1976 Olympics, the Montreal Expos and Alouettes.
ROUND TRIP TO AND FROM YADKINVILLE, N.C. AND MONTREAL, CANADA: 1,500 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 49,714 MILES
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Hearsay Is Home!!!
After a whirlwind world tour that included stops in Australia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Germany, Hearsay is back home in good ol' Yadkinville. Hearsay, by the way, is now a decorated stuffed monkey, courtesy of Capt. Matthew Houston, Rick's cousin.
Here's Hearsay with his Combat Patch from the 1st Armored Division, earned by serving in a combat zone for 30 days.
Hearsay also made a stop at the Veteran's Memorial in the Yadkin County Park in honor of the Fourth of July.
After a short rest, Hearsay will again take to the highways and skyways of the world.
TRAVEL FROM FRANKFURT, GERMANY TO YADKINVILLE, N.C.: 4,500 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 52,714 MILES
Here's Hearsay with his Combat Patch from the 1st Armored Division, earned by serving in a combat zone for 30 days.
Hearsay also made a stop at the Veteran's Memorial in the Yadkin County Park in honor of the Fourth of July.
After a short rest, Hearsay will again take to the highways and skyways of the world.
TRAVEL FROM FRANKFURT, GERMANY TO YADKINVILLE, N.C.: 4,500 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 52,714 MILES
Friday, June 26, 2009
Bavaria, Germany
Hearsay, and much more importantly, Rick's cousin Matt, made it out of Iraq safe and sound. From Iraq, Matt escorted Hearsay first to Kuwait and then to Germany, where he's currently stationed. Best of all, Matt's wife, Julie, and their daughter, Savannah, have made the trip to Germany to be with him.
Of course, they sent back pictures of Hearsay from a few of their sightseeing trips.
Hearsay at the Abbey of Ettal, a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria, Germany.
Inside the Ettal monastery ...
Hearsay with some kegs of beer made at the Ettal monastery ...
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which according to Wikipedia, is a market town in Bavaria ...
At the hotel in Garmisch. Yes ... that's the Alps in the background!!!
Linderhof, Germany ...
The Royal Castle of Linderhof, built between 1863 and 1886 by the reclusive King Ludwig II. The king didn't like being around other people, so the entire estate was designed to minimize contact with the outside world.
The Linderhof Garden. Ol' Ludwig might not have liked being around people, but he surely knew beautiful when he saw it.
The Linderhof Fountain ...
A map of Germany ... Matt, Julie and Savannah are in Baumholder, which is located close to Heidelberg, on the border with France. Bavaria is in the southeastern part of the country. (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/germany/)
TRAVEL FROM BAGHDAD, IRAQ TO KUWAIT, AL KUWAYT, KUWAIT: 346 MILES
TRAVEL FROM KUWAIT, AL KUWAYT, KUWAIT TO FRANKFURT, GERMANY: 7,150 MILES
ROUND TRIP FROM FRANKFURT, GERMANY TO MUNICH, GERMANY: 640 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 48,214 MILES
Of course, they sent back pictures of Hearsay from a few of their sightseeing trips.
Hearsay at the Abbey of Ettal, a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria, Germany.
Inside the Ettal monastery ...
Hearsay with some kegs of beer made at the Ettal monastery ...
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which according to Wikipedia, is a market town in Bavaria ...
At the hotel in Garmisch. Yes ... that's the Alps in the background!!!
Linderhof, Germany ...
The Royal Castle of Linderhof, built between 1863 and 1886 by the reclusive King Ludwig II. The king didn't like being around other people, so the entire estate was designed to minimize contact with the outside world.
The Linderhof Garden. Ol' Ludwig might not have liked being around people, but he surely knew beautiful when he saw it.
The Linderhof Fountain ...
A map of Germany ... Matt, Julie and Savannah are in Baumholder, which is located close to Heidelberg, on the border with France. Bavaria is in the southeastern part of the country. (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/germany/)
TRAVEL FROM BAGHDAD, IRAQ TO KUWAIT, AL KUWAYT, KUWAIT: 346 MILES
TRAVEL FROM KUWAIT, AL KUWAYT, KUWAIT TO FRANKFURT, GERMANY: 7,150 MILES
ROUND TRIP FROM FRANKFURT, GERMANY TO MUNICH, GERMANY: 640 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 48,214 MILES
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Zubaidayah, Iraq
Talk about a road trip ... Hearsay went from Northern Ireland to the U.S. military postal sorting facility in New York City and then ... then to Rick's cousin, Matthew Houston, who is serving in the Army in Zubaidayah, Iraq. Check out these photos that Matthew sent back ...
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Hearsay, geared up and ready for patrol:
This is Hearsay in "downtown" Zubaidayah, with a mosque in the background. He's riding along with Stallion 5, en route to Combat Outpost (COP) Dolby for a logistical resupply:
Passing an Iraqi Army checkpoint:
Hearsay on his ride for the day, a MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle):
Hearsay takes his turn on watch in the MRAP's turret:
Overlooking some shops on the route:
The mission's nearly complete and almost home, with the rest of the convoy trailing:
A map of Iraq ... Baghdad is located in the central part of the country. Words cannot fully describe how much we appreciate what Matt and the rest of our men and women in the military are doing for us. God speed, Matt ... (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/middle-east/iraq/)
TRAVEL FROM BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND TO NEW YORK CITY: 3,173 MILES
TRAVEL FROM NEW YORK CITY TO BAGHDAD, IRAQ: 5,995 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 40,078 MILES
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Hearsay, geared up and ready for patrol:
This is Hearsay in "downtown" Zubaidayah, with a mosque in the background. He's riding along with Stallion 5, en route to Combat Outpost (COP) Dolby for a logistical resupply:
Passing an Iraqi Army checkpoint:
Hearsay on his ride for the day, a MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle):
Hearsay takes his turn on watch in the MRAP's turret:
Overlooking some shops on the route:
The mission's nearly complete and almost home, with the rest of the convoy trailing:
A map of Iraq ... Baghdad is located in the central part of the country. Words cannot fully describe how much we appreciate what Matt and the rest of our men and women in the military are doing for us. God speed, Matt ... (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/middle-east/iraq/)
TRAVEL FROM BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND TO NEW YORK CITY: 3,173 MILES
TRAVEL FROM NEW YORK CITY TO BAGHDAD, IRAQ: 5,995 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 40,078 MILES
Monday, April 6, 2009
Bushmills, Northern Ireland
Geoffrey and Hearsay made the trip to the Giant's Causeway, near Bushmills, Northern Ireland. According to Wikipedia, the Giant's Causeway "is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption." The location has been declared a World Heritage Site.
ESTIMATED ROUND-TRIP BETWEEN BUSHMILLS, NORTHERN IRELAND AND BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND: 120 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 30,910 MILES
ESTIMATED ROUND-TRIP BETWEEN BUSHMILLS, NORTHERN IRELAND AND BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND: 120 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 30,910 MILES
Monday, March 16, 2009
Belfast, Northern Ireland
What an amazing journey Hearsay has had, going from Sydney, Australia to the opposite side of the world. Hearsay was hosted in Belfast, Northern Ireland by Geoffrey Bowman, who along with Rick and several other writers, co-authored a book scheduled for release in 2010.
Along with Geoffrey, one of the places Hearsay visited was the dry dock at Harland & Wolff where the Titanic was built.
Hearsay overlooks the Belfast skyline, which is obviously dominated by the cranes at the Harland & Wolff shipyard.
A better view of the Harland & Wolff cranes ...
This is the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is the country's equivalent of the United States Capital.
A map of Northern Ireland ... Belfast is located on the country's eastern coast.
ESTIMATED TRAVEL BETWEEN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA AND BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND: 10,640 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 30,790 MILES
Along with Geoffrey, one of the places Hearsay visited was the dry dock at Harland & Wolff where the Titanic was built.
Hearsay overlooks the Belfast skyline, which is obviously dominated by the cranes at the Harland & Wolff shipyard.
A better view of the Harland & Wolff cranes ...
This is the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is the country's equivalent of the United States Capital.
A map of Northern Ireland ... Belfast is located on the country's eastern coast.
ESTIMATED TRAVEL BETWEEN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA AND BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND: 10,640 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 30,790 MILES
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sydney, Australia
Yes ... you read that right. Hearsay has made the long, long journey to the land down under, where he's being hosted by Colin Burgess, the editor of a book series to which Rick recently contributed.
The Burgess family took a trip to Sydney and brought Hearsay along for a day of fun in the sun.
Here's Hearsay on a ferry, coming up on the Sydney Harbour Bridge ...
This is a great view of the Sydney skyline, along with the famous Opera House ...
An even better shot of the Opera House ...
Hearsay soaks up the sun on beautiful Manly Beach after a delightful ferry ride from Sydney's Circular Quay ...
A map of Australia ... Sydney is in the southeastern part of the country, on the coast.(http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/australia)
ESTIMATED TRAVEL FROM YADKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: 9,550 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 20,150 MILES
The Burgess family took a trip to Sydney and brought Hearsay along for a day of fun in the sun.
Here's Hearsay on a ferry, coming up on the Sydney Harbour Bridge ...
This is a great view of the Sydney skyline, along with the famous Opera House ...
An even better shot of the Opera House ...
Hearsay soaks up the sun on beautiful Manly Beach after a delightful ferry ride from Sydney's Circular Quay ...
A map of Australia ... Sydney is in the southeastern part of the country, on the coast.(http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/australia)
ESTIMATED TRAVEL FROM YADKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: 9,550 MILES
TOTAL TRAVEL: 20,150 MILES
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
