Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Epilogue
I am very glad that we made this trip. I hope that both the kids will have good memories of it in years to come. There were no arguments or fusses about anything. I realize now what a huge world we live in, and that there is no way I can see it all in the short time I have here. I believe that heaven will be so much more-- and there will be eternity to explore it!
It was hard driving over 4300 miles—next time I hope to share the driving. There will be a next time! I am grateful for cell phones, GPS, coffee at convenience stores, digital cameras, internet – these are only a few things that we didn't have 40 years ago when I traveled as a child!
It was hard driving over 4300 miles—next time I hope to share the driving. There will be a next time! I am grateful for cell phones, GPS, coffee at convenience stores, digital cameras, internet – these are only a few things that we didn't have 40 years ago when I traveled as a child!
Days 12 and 13- Returning Home
I decided to drive hard for two days and get home Saturday night. Carol really wanted to go to church Sunday, and I called Jackie Larison, my niece-in-law, and she said they would be delighted to put us up at their home in Heber Springs, Arkansas. We woke up to a beautiful cool morning Friday, and got on the road fairly quickly, but it took a long time to get out of Chicago. The traffic is bad and the freeways are confusing. Finallly, we were on the interstate, only to have two long delays due to construction. Fortunately, the weather was nice, and when we got near Heber Springs, enjoyed a beautiful sunset in the hills. Even though the visit was short, the hospitality at Travis and Jackie's was wonderful—included a nighttime driving lesson for the not to be mentioned 15 year old, and Millenium crunch ice cream. Their four year old son, Jackson, was fascinated by my video of Niagara Falls, and I enjoyed him very much.
The last leg of the trip, 542 miles to home, was hard. Torrential rain fell starting in Little Rock, and drizzle and more torrential rain around Jefferson, Texas, made for lots of sore shoulder muscles. We finally arrived home, safe and sound, around 7 pm. Johnny had started the bath water for me and it was wonderful!
The last leg of the trip, 542 miles to home, was hard. Torrential rain fell starting in Little Rock, and drizzle and more torrential rain around Jefferson, Texas, made for lots of sore shoulder muscles. We finally arrived home, safe and sound, around 7 pm. Johnny had started the bath water for me and it was wonderful!
Day 11- Chicago
Everybody slept late and enjoyed a leisurely morning. Since Rachel is in the process of moving, we made a couple of trips and I got to see where she will be living for the next three months until her marriage. It is a very nice upstairs apartment in another old house. Beautiful-all hardwood floors and very solid. Then we ordered pizza from Apart, recommended by one of Rachel's roommates, Amy Jenson. They are famous for there high quality thin crust pizza, and with good reason. It was excellent! I got a personal vegetarian pizza with corn, tomatoes, artichoke, and spinach. Yum. After we sat around and talked and let it digest, we walked about 10 minutes to Margie's Candies, which is an ice cream restaurant which also sells chocolate candy. It was quite unique. I got a scoop of coffee and one of coconut. Rachel and Amy got sundaes, and Carol got a huge ice cream soda, which she couldn't quite finish. A light rain was falling as we walked back, and we all had a very good time together.
Day 10- Chicago
The day started out with me making bad coffee. I am not used to grinding the beans and I didn't use enough. I figured it had to get better. Rachel had to work for 6 hours today, so after she left, I bought gas @ $2.94/gal, got the oil changed, found the laundromat, and went to the grocery store. Then I went “home” and made two pans of blueberry muffin cake. Then, feeling adventurous, I found the nearest library with the GPS and Carol and I set off. It was about a mile, and it was a long one. We found it, stayed about an hour so we could catch up on internet stuff, and then of course had to walk back.
The weather is absolutely gorgeous- in the 70's and clear.
So when Rachel got home, we packed up all the food (she had made her “famous” chicken quesadillas) and headed for the train station. I rode the train a couple of years ago, but it was still an adventure. Most of the trains are elevated, but we took the Blue Line, which goes underground. We got off in downtown, and Rachel led us to our destination- Millenium Park. They were having a free concert and there was quite a crowd. We found Geoffrey, Rachel's fiance, and met his parents, who had driven in from Iowa City for the occasion. We spread out our feast, and it was really good, as was the symphonic music. It was a beautiful night, a beautiful place, and it was quite enjoyable. I had a nice conversation with Marilyn, and hope to get to know her better.
When the concert ended and we said our goodbyes, we stopped and admired “The Bean” before enjoying the sights of downtown at night as we made our way back to the train. I think I must have walked five miles today, and I was glad to get the exercise!
The weather is absolutely gorgeous- in the 70's and clear.
So when Rachel got home, we packed up all the food (she had made her “famous” chicken quesadillas) and headed for the train station. I rode the train a couple of years ago, but it was still an adventure. Most of the trains are elevated, but we took the Blue Line, which goes underground. We got off in downtown, and Rachel led us to our destination- Millenium Park. They were having a free concert and there was quite a crowd. We found Geoffrey, Rachel's fiance, and met his parents, who had driven in from Iowa City for the occasion. We spread out our feast, and it was really good, as was the symphonic music. It was a beautiful night, a beautiful place, and it was quite enjoyable. I had a nice conversation with Marilyn, and hope to get to know her better.
When the concert ended and we said our goodbyes, we stopped and admired “The Bean” before enjoying the sights of downtown at night as we made our way back to the train. I think I must have walked five miles today, and I was glad to get the exercise!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day 9 - Michigan (to Chicago)
I was very glad to get back to the USA. Even though we are just across the river, I definitely felt like a foreigner. All I had to do was open my mouth, and everyone would know I was not from around there! So we drove across Michigan, and now the thrill of seeing new things is over, as we had traveled this road 4 years ago. I started simply anticipating seeing Rachel. We stopped at the Berry Patch and Carol and I picked almost five pounds of blueberries. Then on to the Chicago Skyway, Chicago traffic, and finally, Rachel! She lives with four other young women in the city, in one of those tall narrow houses with two stories, an attic, and a basement. They live in the first floor apartment, and are crowded by themselves, so the addition of three more people makes for getting to know each other quickly!
Rachel and sisters went to see the new Harry Potter movie, and I relished the time alone, not driving, and made a blueberry muffin cake. (Used a muffin recipe, but just put it all in a pan.) I enjoyed getting to know Abby and later Amy (roommate), and we ate it all!
Rachel and sisters went to see the new Harry Potter movie, and I relished the time alone, not driving, and made a blueberry muffin cake. (Used a muffin recipe, but just put it all in a pan.) I enjoyed getting to know Abby and later Amy (roommate), and we ate it all!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 8 - Canada!
I really haven't been sleeping much. Every night as I try to relax, my mind reviews the events of the day and looks forward to the next. Yesterday's experience at Niagara Falls must have been very invigorating. And , I have to admit that I was a little nervous about driving through a portion of Canada. So, even though it must have been past midnite before I finally slept, I woke at 6:10, and, given my surroundings, I quickly dressed and went down to the lake to watch the sunrise. How cool is that? To be able to see both sunset and sunrise from the same place! There were quite a few seagulls around, and several of them roosted on the roof of the lighthouse.
We went through our usual routine, and took the drive along the lake back to the border crossing in Niagara Falls. It was very easy- and I am glad that we all had passports so we could do this. Yesterday there were long lines, since it was Sunday, but this morning we proceeded across without delay. The customs guy just asked me if I had any guns or knives or pepper spray or mace. My SUV is loaded to the roof so I hope it is just as easy going back!
My traveling companions stayed awake this morning due to the thrill of being in Canada, although the countryside was nothing really out of the ordinary. A lot of it looks like Kansas- lots of cornfields – but the illusion is shattered at the sight of the huge evergreen trees and weeping willows. I listened to “their” music- Tegan & Sara and White Stripes being the most popular at the moment. I was happier when we switched to Coldplay.
We made it to Sarnia around 2, and found a very nice park with a supervised beach, where we ate our picnic lunch. Carol and I rolled up our jeans to go wading, but the water was so cold that only the toes got wet. There were quite a few people in the water, to my amazement. The sign said that the beach is only open in July and August. I am amazed that people can actually live this far north.
So then we found the motel that I had reserved through Hotwire. I did that for the one in Atlanta and got a really good price on a very nice hotel. This time.... well,the building is old, but it is clean, air conditioned, has a fridge and microwave, not to mention the very important wifi internet. So we are catching up and I am going to try to rest. I have driven over 2500 miles in just one week!
We went through our usual routine, and took the drive along the lake back to the border crossing in Niagara Falls. It was very easy- and I am glad that we all had passports so we could do this. Yesterday there were long lines, since it was Sunday, but this morning we proceeded across without delay. The customs guy just asked me if I had any guns or knives or pepper spray or mace. My SUV is loaded to the roof so I hope it is just as easy going back!
My traveling companions stayed awake this morning due to the thrill of being in Canada, although the countryside was nothing really out of the ordinary. A lot of it looks like Kansas- lots of cornfields – but the illusion is shattered at the sight of the huge evergreen trees and weeping willows. I listened to “their” music- Tegan & Sara and White Stripes being the most popular at the moment. I was happier when we switched to Coldplay.
We made it to Sarnia around 2, and found a very nice park with a supervised beach, where we ate our picnic lunch. Carol and I rolled up our jeans to go wading, but the water was so cold that only the toes got wet. There were quite a few people in the water, to my amazement. The sign said that the beach is only open in July and August. I am amazed that people can actually live this far north.
So then we found the motel that I had reserved through Hotwire. I did that for the one in Atlanta and got a really good price on a very nice hotel. This time.... well,the building is old, but it is clean, air conditioned, has a fridge and microwave, not to mention the very important wifi internet. So we are catching up and I am going to try to rest. I have driven over 2500 miles in just one week!
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A road in the Shenandoah Valley
From the internet. I hope to find this kind of beauty
