Monday, January 7, 2008

First balloon flight across the English Channel, 1785

This was the fun fact for today posted on our fridge, and giggles resounded through the house when I read this out loud:

"Dr. John Jeffries, a Boston physician, and Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a French aeronaut, crossed the English Channel from Dover, England, to Calais, France, landing in a forest after being forced to throw overboard all ballast, equipment and most of their clothing to avoid a force landing in the icy waters of the English Channel. Blanchard's trousers are said to have been the last article thrown overboard." from The Teacher's Calendar

No comments: