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Hundreds of thousands of Muslims throughout world finalized their plans to make Hajj, Pilgrimage to Mecca, which is incumbent on followers of Islamic faith at least once in their lifetime. More than three million Muslims made trip last year and for each of them experience may differ, but common thread is understanding of humility and sincerity and acceptance of Will of their Creator. Those desiring to make Hajj must obtain a visa from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and this was easily attainable in past years. However, following September 11, Saudi Government has taken certain measures to ensure that those making trip are Muslims, and secondly, that they are devout followers of Islam and have no connection with others who are bent on creating problems for certain countries.

Before Sept. 11, devotees wishing to make Hajj would contact various organizations which are involved in making arrangements for annual Pilgrimage. They are required to have six passport-size photos, their passport, and certain vaccinations required by Saudi Goverment. This package is sent to Saudi Embassy in Washington (if eminating from USA, otherwise from other foreign embassies outside Saudia Arabia) and it is processed in just over two weeks. Now, leader of any group making Hajj must TAKE relevant documents first to Saudi Embassy and they are examined in detail and background checks made. The leaders of various groups have to go to Saudi to uplift visas.

The Saudi Government is custodian of Islam's Holiest Shrine...the Kaaba, as well as Holy Prophet's Mosque in Medina, but has come in for strong criticism for its support of American backed coalition which was formed to track down Osama Bin Laden and his followers who have been accused of terrorist action which resulted in deaths of some 3,000 individuals, including followers of different faiths and people from a number of different countries including Caribbean. The Pilgrimage represents world's largest single gathering and is not be considered a vacation, as it is for strong and healthy, demanding sacrifice. It demands humility, patience, tolerance and understanding, and above all, it calls for sincerity in whatever one says or does.

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I found a gem of an aviation museum while on a Hapaq-Lloyd German Cruise Lines voyage of Great Lakes.

The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre is located in historic former Ontario Provincial Air Service hangar at edge of St. Mary's River in downtown Sault Ste. Marie (often called Soo), Ontario, Canada. The original hangar dates back to 1940s; this is where bush piloting started, as well as firefighting using belly drops of water and chemicals.

Sault Ste. Marie is actually two cities separating USA and Canada, split by St. Mary’s River and also is industrial hub for lock system that raises and lowers ships from Lake Huron to Lake Superior. The C. Columbus, Nassau, Bahamas registered ship that I was cruising on, was not due to channel locks until late that night, so a stroll a few blocks down Bay Street on Canadian and larger of two Soos (100,000 plus) found me piloting my way to "Yellowbird" museum.

The bush planes are all in original 1948 era hangar, and I have chance to stop and visit with renovation crew and mechanics clanging away on steel and aluminum. They perform superb jobs to bring new life back into rare and often still serviceable and flyable relics.

The Beaver was built around blueprint of a pickup truck, or so I learned from a fun film presentation at Wings Over The North Theater, adjacent to hangar. The Beaver is still flying bush patrols throughout Canada and world, and it is one of most rugged, dependable, and famous of bush planes. A Beaver turboprop version rests a few yards away, and it still works, too.

The Canadian built deHavilland DHC-2 Beaver is a classic plane first constructed in 1948 and it is second Beaver to ever be built, and first of 44 purchased by Air Service, and oldest Beaver still flying, located near Fire Camp, a replical of a typical 1940s fire crew camp, complete with tent, radio, and gear.

The deHavilland Mk III Turbo Beaver, when compared to standard Beaver, has a turbine powered engine that carries additional passengers, climbs and cruises faster, and has a higher service ceiling. The turbo’s snout is more tapered than blunt nosed Beaver, and engine is hundreds of pounds lighter, thus needing a bigger tail, according to one of bush plane engineers. Engines are still to this day ground tested after overhauling and before bolted back into use on planes within hangar.

Many of planes were used to deliver medicine and supplies, air ferry fishermen and hunters into hinterlands, or to spot forest fires.

The story of Beaver unveils in theater through Pilot Ron and his canine co-pilot Charlie's adventures, a story that is brought to life through objects and artifacts right in theatre, and with use of special lighting and environmental effects that make for an unforgettable flight.