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!
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!
Special note
One of my traveling companions, the 15 year old, dictated this sentence to me to post:
Amy feels that distributing information about her life on the internet violates her civil rights, so she has requested that from now on I refrain from doing so.
So I guess she wants me to pretend that I left her in New York. However,before I stop including her in my musings, I do need to mention that it was her idea to spend the night in Canada. For that part of this adventure, I must thank her. Thank you, Amy!
Amy feels that distributing information about her life on the internet violates her civil rights, so she has requested that from now on I refrain from doing so.
So I guess she wants me to pretend that I left her in New York. However,before I stop including her in my musings, I do need to mention that it was her idea to spend the night in Canada. For that part of this adventure, I must thank her. Thank you, Amy!
Day 7- Niagara Falls
I am sitting on the shore of Lake Ontario in New York.
Now I am in the tent with Amy and Carol. Carol and I had taken a blanket down to the shore, and it started raining, although it didn't last long. This was the best day yet. We slept a little later than usual, and got on the road about 8:30. We seem to have developed a rhythm to our days, and packing up is pretty easy now. It was raining as we set out,and the misty clouds hovering around the green mountaintops were so pretty I felt like crying. I guess that is silly, but I have found myself feeling emotional at the beauty of nature. I didn't know that it was going to get better and better. We went through the Allegheny Mountains, and around 4 pm got to Niagara Falls. I was really unprepared for the majesty of the falls. It is an awesome sight. We decided that we just had to take the boat ride, so the three of us donned the blue ponchos and boarded the Maid of the Mist. It took us past the American falls and very close to the Canadian Horseshoe falls. We took as many pictures as we could without soaking the camera! It was totally amazing and absolutely worth the trip. Everyone should experience Niagara Falls. After we got off the boat, we walked up some steps and were totally drenched and exhilarated. It is awesome, and I don't generally use that word except to describe the majesty of God.
Then we made the hour drive to Golden Hills State Park. The campground is grassy with flowers and clover and a lighthouse. Carol and I ended up in the gazebo on the shore and watched the gorgeous sunset. Now we are in the tent, the three of us, just hanging out. It has been the best day.
Now I am in the tent with Amy and Carol. Carol and I had taken a blanket down to the shore, and it started raining, although it didn't last long. This was the best day yet. We slept a little later than usual, and got on the road about 8:30. We seem to have developed a rhythm to our days, and packing up is pretty easy now. It was raining as we set out,and the misty clouds hovering around the green mountaintops were so pretty I felt like crying. I guess that is silly, but I have found myself feeling emotional at the beauty of nature. I didn't know that it was going to get better and better. We went through the Allegheny Mountains, and around 4 pm got to Niagara Falls. I was really unprepared for the majesty of the falls. It is an awesome sight. We decided that we just had to take the boat ride, so the three of us donned the blue ponchos and boarded the Maid of the Mist. It took us past the American falls and very close to the Canadian Horseshoe falls. We took as many pictures as we could without soaking the camera! It was totally amazing and absolutely worth the trip. Everyone should experience Niagara Falls. After we got off the boat, we walked up some steps and were totally drenched and exhilarated. It is awesome, and I don't generally use that word except to describe the majesty of God.
Then we made the hour drive to Golden Hills State Park. The campground is grassy with flowers and clover and a lighthouse. Carol and I ended up in the gazebo on the shore and watched the gorgeous sunset. Now we are in the tent, the three of us, just hanging out. It has been the best day.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I did it!
I finally figured out the slideshow. You have to have Picasa web albums and they have to be public. Also, I think I made it easier to comment, if you want to give it a try.
Good night!
Good night!
Day 6- Pennsylvania
It was wonderfully cool when I stepped outside at 6:30 am-- in the upper 50's. We are getting really good at packing up, and after partaking of the motel's complimentary breakfast, we were on the road by 7:30. The girls did their usual thing, sleeping, as I enjoyed the morning, meditating as I drove on God's sovereignty in our lives. In just a couple of hours, we had gone through West Virginia and Maryland and into Pennsylvania. We stopped at Gettysburg and took some pictures, but didn't take the entire drive around the battlefield—it is really an all day undertaking. I saw enough to get kind of emotional- the place is huge, and I got goose bumps- the second time on this trip. All those people dying. All those mothers losing sons, wives losing husbands. War is a terrible thing, and to think that it happened right here.
So we continued on, going through Yorktown and near Lancaster, through some beautiful countryside with LOTS of corn growing everywhere, and arrived in Hershey. I had done a little research, and had discovered that Chocolate World has a free tour. I found the way, going by Hershey Park, which has huge rollercoasters so close to the road we could hear people screaming. Upon arriving for the tour, we were surprised to find that you get in these big cars that go through what Amy says is not the real factory, but it all looked real. It included funky music and singing cows. It was fun and I suppose it was supposed to whet your appetite to spend tons of money. The rest of it is what my father always called a “tourist trap” and steered clear of. We did spend too much money just on lunch and stocked up on enough chocolate to last a long time.
Harrisburg, which is the capitol of Pennsylvania, is just 10 miles away, and we drove through parts of the city courtesy of my helpful GPS. I really enjoy looking at the architecture. All the houses along the roads we drove on are large two story with basement and attic. I wish I could see inside! Gettysburg and the other smaller towns all have traffic circles in the center and large churches and government buildings.
So we are resting again, enjoying the lack of responsibility.
So we continued on, going through Yorktown and near Lancaster, through some beautiful countryside with LOTS of corn growing everywhere, and arrived in Hershey. I had done a little research, and had discovered that Chocolate World has a free tour. I found the way, going by Hershey Park, which has huge rollercoasters so close to the road we could hear people screaming. Upon arriving for the tour, we were surprised to find that you get in these big cars that go through what Amy says is not the real factory, but it all looked real. It included funky music and singing cows. It was fun and I suppose it was supposed to whet your appetite to spend tons of money. The rest of it is what my father always called a “tourist trap” and steered clear of. We did spend too much money just on lunch and stocked up on enough chocolate to last a long time.
Harrisburg, which is the capitol of Pennsylvania, is just 10 miles away, and we drove through parts of the city courtesy of my helpful GPS. I really enjoy looking at the architecture. All the houses along the roads we drove on are large two story with basement and attic. I wish I could see inside! Gettysburg and the other smaller towns all have traffic circles in the center and large churches and government buildings.
So we are resting again, enjoying the lack of responsibility.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Day 5- Shenandoah Valley
We luxuriated this morning by sleeping later since we were staying in the area. Actually, I woke up and enjoyed some quiet time before waking the girls.We had a continental breakfast, and then set off for the Frontier Culture Museum. It's one of those living history affairs, with real people dressed in period clothes really working the farms. They had farmhouses that were actually moved here from England, Ireland, and Germany, as well as several American farmhouses from the 19th century. It was very interesting, and also included a couple of nature walks, one very uphill. I was glad for the exercise after being in the car so much.
After a quick lunch back at the motel room, we took off for the Grand Caverns, in Grottoes, about 20 miles away. It has been a long time since I had been in a cave, Carol had never been in one, and Amy had only been in a small one in Europe. It is very beautiful and inspiring, and another example of God's creativity. When we came out, a light rain was falling, emphasizing the beauty of the greenery after being underground for over an hour.
Since everyone was tired from all the walking, I decide a scenic drive would be in order, so found the way to the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. We climbed to over 3000 feet, and enjoyed the awesome views of the Shenandoah Valley. We took several country roads in our travels today, and it was very enjoyable.
So we had a taste of history in the morning, and science in the afternoon. We decided that we would be fine just going back to our room and relaxing. Upon arriving, we decided against swimming due to the presence of about 20 junior high boys! We saw some of them yesterday in baseball uniforms, so figure they are here for some kind of competition. So, we're just chillin' – we have food and shelter, and with the addition of modern conveniences and technology, I would say we have more than what we need.
After a quick lunch back at the motel room, we took off for the Grand Caverns, in Grottoes, about 20 miles away. It has been a long time since I had been in a cave, Carol had never been in one, and Amy had only been in a small one in Europe. It is very beautiful and inspiring, and another example of God's creativity. When we came out, a light rain was falling, emphasizing the beauty of the greenery after being underground for over an hour.
Since everyone was tired from all the walking, I decide a scenic drive would be in order, so found the way to the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. We climbed to over 3000 feet, and enjoyed the awesome views of the Shenandoah Valley. We took several country roads in our travels today, and it was very enjoyable.
So we had a taste of history in the morning, and science in the afternoon. We decided that we would be fine just going back to our room and relaxing. Upon arriving, we decided against swimming due to the presence of about 20 junior high boys! We saw some of them yesterday in baseball uniforms, so figure they are here for some kind of competition. So, we're just chillin' – we have food and shelter, and with the addition of modern conveniences and technology, I would say we have more than what we need.
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A road in the Shenandoah Valley
From the internet. I hope to find this kind of beauty
