The inclement weather continued today and we headed to First Lutheran Church, where a large and appreciative congregation attended the Eucharist we sang. The church had some rather nice gas-powered standard candelabras. After lunch, the choristers headed off to a tour round the city on a DUKW amphibious vehicle. They all took turns in driving it round in circles on the Ohio River (in driving snow). The lay clerks, meanwhile, visited the Heinz Chapel, built by the food-manufacturing family in the High Gothic style. We then had a brief visit to the Cathedral of Learning, part of the University of Pittsburgh. We also visited East Liberty Presbyterian Church, built in the 1930s and the only church I've seen with a bowling alley in the basement. Your correspondent managed a perfect strike (all nine pins with a single ball) then promptly fell over in his over-exuberant celebrations, much to his embarrassment.
Rory Turnbull (Year 8) writes:
It was cold – freezing in fact. The snow fell thickly and melted on the tips of our noses which were kept remotely warm as they were insulated by thick woolly hats. The temperature and bleak outlook did not dampen people’s spirits however; we were excited at spending a window in our schedule in the city of Pittsburgh.
When our coach stopped the choristers exited, whilst the lay clerks stayed – about to depart on an architectural tour of the city. Those of us who had read the itinerary had seen that the next hour or so was to be taken up by a ‘Just Ducky Tour’; however, many of us did not know what a ‘Ducky’ was. There was some time to fill before the tour began, and so this time was spent in one of those famous American malls. This was, as you can imagine, an interesting experience, and many of the choristers used it as yet another opportunity to buy ‘candy’. Others were refused entry to a ‘Native American Smoking Parlour’, and instead admired the mechanics of an elevator. We were then ready for the tour and found out what a ducky was. Built for war service, the DUKW was a US military vehicle which could go on water as well as land. It was used to cross rivers, and gave the American army great advantage over the Germans. [The name DUKW is not a military pun - it comes from the model-naming terminology used by GMC; the D indicated a vehicle designed in 1942, the U meant ‘utility (amphibious)’, the K indicated all-wheel drive and the W indicated two powered rear axles - Ed.] We boarded the DUKW by means of detachable steps at the back, and immediately noticed the propeller tucked in above the back wheels. The weather certainly did not freeze the tour guide’s optimism and we left the street each giving our own impression of a duck. All of us admired Pittsburgh – especially the variety of architecture. Along the way we were told certain interesting facts, such as ‘It is illegal to sleep in a fridge in Pittsburgh’, and, ‘Only Venice has more bridges within its city limits’. Then we reached the banks of the mighty Ohio River, and it seemed quite strange to drive it straight into the water. However, with only a few buttons pressed, and the pulling of some levers we were afloat –the experienced captain made it all look so easy. As you can imagine, driving on water is very different to driving on land – and this was very obvious. We were sailing, the bows making ripples as it was propelled through the dark water. It was shortly after entering the river that the driver announced that he would let some of us boys drive the DUKW. As though a magnet was attached to finger tips, and was attracted to the steel life jacket rack above, everyone’s hand shot up. We formed a queue and waited our turn. Every chorister had about five minutes of being the captain, each minute being filled with steering wheels being turned, levers being pulled and the old DUKW’s horn being blown. However, as the choristers had fun, the weather worsened. Each tine a 90-degree turn was made, a wall of rain hit those sitting in the open stern. Everyone was beginning to get cold. And soon we were heading towards the bank. When some levers were pulled we were lifted up on to land. We quacked some more as instructed by the enthusiastic tour guide and when we stopped we were all grateful. Hot chocolate, though, was beckoning and we brought out our dollars. It was drunk slowly in front of a television advertising the campaign of Senator John McCain. We finished our hot chocolate and were collected by the coach – out of the rain.
Evensong followed at Calvary Episcopal Church, where we sang to a very large congregation. The music included the canticles written specially for Hereford Cathedral by Herbert Howells. In the evening, the boys had a pizza party with the choristers from St Andrew's Church and Calvary Church, while the adults went to a splendid party given by Peter and Mary Pat Luley, our contacts at St Andrew's.
